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Series: Flash Gordon
Show: Episode 3
Date: May 11 1935

MUSIC:

UP and UNDER

ANNC:

For the benefit of those who missed the earlier episodes, here is the story to date: Flash Gordon, internationally famous American athlete, his beautiful American sweetheart, Dale Arden, and Dr. Zarkov, a great scientist, left the Earth on a rocketship. They crashed on the planet Mongo and were captured by Ming the Merciless, the cruel Emperor of Mongo, who commanded Dale Arden to marry him and ordered that Flash be killed. But Flash escaped with the help of Emperor Ming's beautiful daughter, Aura, who fell deeply in love with him and proposed marriage, which Flash refused saying he loved Dale Arden.

Flash then met Thun, the powerful huge bearded Prince of the Lionmen and Prince Barin, a former member of Emperor Ming's court. Joined by Dr. Zarkov, these four friends plotted to overthrow the government of Emperor Ming and rescue Dale Arden. They were almost successful, but at the last moment with victory practically within their grasp, we re-captured by Emperor Ming's soldiers and the four friends, together with Dale Arden, were condemned to a fate far worse than death. Securely bound they were placed on a gyroship and sent as slaves to the prison city of the Hawkmen.

Now we continue the story.

SFX:

(rocketship in flight)

ANNC:

The prisonship carrying our friends roars through the stratosphere on the way to the prison city of the Hawkmen. In the cell room Flash and Prince Thun work feverishly on each others bonds.

Flash:

Can you get the knot untied, Prince Thun?

Thun:

It is almost loosened, Flash. Just another twist. Arrgh, there. Thou art free.

Flash:

Thanks. Now I will set you free. If we work fast we may be able to release Zarkov and Barin and get control of the ship.

Thun:

Good. As soon as thou canst loose my bonds I will help thee capture the guard and take his keys when he makes his rounds.

Flash:

There, the ropes undone.

Thun:

Hark! I hear the guard approaching.

Flash:

Put your hands behind you back, like this, and lie still until he bends over to give us food. Then we will overpower him. Quiet now, here he comes.

SFX:

Footsteps

Guard:

Here is your food prisoners.

Flash:

Now, Prince Thun!

SFX:

Struggle

Thun:

I have him, Flash! Take his guys

Flash:

Stop squirming fellow. I will give you something to squirm about!

SFX:

Guard is punched unconscious.

Flash:

Now, I've got his keys, Thun. Now to save Dale, Barin and Zarkov.

SFX:

Crash

Thun:

What was that?

Flash:

We must have struck something. Are you alright, Thun?

Thun:

Yes. And thou, friend?

Flash:

I'm okay.

Zarkov:

Flash! Flash Gordon!

Flash:

Here! Prince Thun and I are in here.

Zarkov:

And you are free.

Thun:

Yes. And didst thou gain thy liberty, friends?

Barin:

The crash broke the lock on our cell door. Come quickly, we must go to the control cabin and see about the girl.

Flash:

Yes, hurry. This way.

SFX:

(footsteps)

Flash:

Dale? Where are you? Dale?

Dale:

(gagged) I'm in here!

Flash:

Are you alright, Dale?

Guard:

Let me go! Let go of me! I've got to call Ming on the space-o-phone!

Barin:

Send this to Ming with my regards! (punches guard unconscious).

Zarkov:

Hmm. He won't be able to transmit your message for quite some time, lad.

Barin:

Let's get out of here.

Zarkov:

We shall let the others go, too. Thun, I need your great strength to help me remove the valuable scientific apparatus from the ship.

Barin:

Come Flash, come Dale, we have no time to lose (fade off)

Flash:

(Off mike) We're with you, Barin.

Zarkov:

Thun, rip those space-o-graphs from their sockets. I will take this space compass.

Thun:

What else wouldst thou like to have removed, friend?

Zarkov:

That is enough for this trip. Come on outside.

SFX:

(footsteps)

Thun:

Where are our friends Barin and Flash and Dale?

Zarkov:

They must have gone into the forest over yonder. What is that rushing sound?

Thun:

By the great god Pau-oo, look up there . . . Hawkmen! Run friend, run for your life!

ANNC:

Flying with lances held in readiness, a squadron of savage Hawkmen hurtle from the skies. They seize Thun and Zarkov and sweep them into the air. While in the forest, numb with horror, Flash, Dale and Barin watch their friends carried away towards a city suspended in space . . . the prison city of Hawkmen.

Flash:

There they go with Thun and Zarkov.

Barin:

And that, friend, is the end of them.

Dale:

What do you mean, Prince Barin?

Barin:

No man captured by the Hawkmen has lived to tell about it.

Dale:

How terrible.

Flash:

We'll see about that, Barin?

Dale:

It's hopeless, Flash. Look, their city drifts high in the heavens, held up by powerful light beams.

Barin:

What are we going to do now?

Flash:

Lets go back to the wrecked ship. We may be able to fix it.

Barin:

I am afraid the ship is beyond repair, Flash. But perhaps it wont do any harm to see.

Dale:

Flash! I hear a rumbling sound.

Flash:

Why its a rocketship bearing down on us.

Barin:

Its going to land.

SFX:

(rocketship landing)

Flash:

It made a perfect landing. I wonder who the pilot is.

SFX:

(door opens)

Barin:

A girl is getting out. She's holding a ray pistol.

Flash:

Why it's Princess Aura. Well, Princess this is a surprise.

Aura:

I followed you to give you your last chance, Flash Gordon.

Dale:

What do you mean?

Aura:

Keep out of this, Dale Arden. He knows what I mean.

Flash:

I suppose you still want me to marry you.

Aura:

Yes. Marry me and the Empire is yours and your friends go free.

Flash:

And if I refuse?

Aura:

The Hawkmen, with my aide, will kill all of you. You shall never marry this Earthgirl, Dale Arden.

Flash:

My dear Princess, if I must make a choice, I choose Dale and death.

Dale:

Flash, darling.

Barin:

Good for you, Flash.

Dale:

You have signed our death warrants, but I don't care as long as we are together.

Flash:

I am glad, Dale. Thats just how I feel, too.

Aura:

Very well, you have made your choice. I go to the Hawkmen.

SFX:

(door closes, rocketship takes off)

Barin:

Well, there goes the haughty beauty. In an hour every Hawkman in Mongo will be after us.

MUSIC:

UP and UNDER

ANNC:

Prince Barin's prophecy becomes true. He, Flash and Dale are captured by the Hawkmen and dragged before the throne of their King, mighty Vultan. There the prisoners find Aura leaning on the arm of the great throne while King Vultan explains to her:

Vultan:

The laws of Mongo allow you judge the fate of one of these prisoners, Princess. The others belong to me.

Aura:

I will take the yellow-haired youth. I will make him pay for scorning me! Hmm. Mmm hmm. Incidentally, by torturing him I can also torture the Earthgirl.

Vultan:

So be it . . . heh heh heh. Take them into the torture chamber.

Dale:

No, no! I beg you! Kill me, but spare Flash.

Vultan:

Then let the girl stay with me!

(General protests and commands as Flash et al led to torture chamber)

 

Vultan:

So you are in love with this youth, eh?

Dale:

In love with him? Why just because I begged for Flash's life doesnt mean I love him.

Vultan:

No?

Dale:

He is but a youth. You, most impressive majesty, you are a man.

Vultan:

Ahh, ha ha ha, my pretty bird, you have discernment. I took you at face value, but I see I was wrong. You have an unusual appreciation of men.

Dale:

Thank you, impressive majesty. I can also appreciate compliments.

Vultan:

Soon I will show you how your friends have failed to withstand the rigors of the torture chamber.

Dale:

I dont care much for torture, your majesty, but I guess you cant help doing what the Emperor's daughter tells you to.

Vultan:

Emperor's daughter!! Ha ha ha! I give orders in this city. But now . . . as to your fate . . .

Dale:

Yes, impressive majesty?

Vultan:

I shall make you my wife as soon as the High Priest can be summoned.

MUSIC:

UP and UNDER

ANNC:

In the meantime, down in the torture chambers, Flash and his friends have been put to work stoking the great atom furnaces of the Hawkmen. Driven nearly mad by the terrible heat and the anxiety of wondering what is happening to Dale, Flash is all for rebelling. He throws a shovel full of flaming radium at a guard.

The captain of the guard reaches for the switch which would electrocute Flash by passing a current through a wire fastened to his leg irons. But Dr. Zarkov rushes up and pleads:

Zarkov:

Do not kill him, Captain. He is but an impetuous youth. We will make him work.

Captain:

Then see that he does. If he starts any more trouble he shall die.

Zarkov:

Thank you, Captain.

Captain:

(off mike) Get back to work the rest of your slaves.

Flash:

Thanks, Dr. Zarkov, but I just as soon die. Dale is lost to me.

Barin:

Patience, Flash. Dr. Zarkov and I have plan. Come over here, behind this lead wall.

Flash:

What are you going to do, Barin?

Barin:

I shall keep watch for the guard. Get to work, Zarkov, quickly.

Zarkov:

Here, Flash. Take these wires off your manacles and wrap them around your shovel.

Flash:

All right, there. Now what are you going to do?

Zarkov:

You heard what the captain said. If you start any more trouble he will electrocute you. When I give you a signal, jump up and throw your shovel into that radium beam over there.

Flash:

And get myself killed for it?

Zarkov:

I promise you, you will not die. Do as I tell you.

Flash:

All right. Now?

Zarkov:

Is the coast clear, Barin?

Barin:

(off mike) No one is looking this way.

Zarkov:

Now Flash!

Flash:

Come on, men! Follow me. Better death than slavery.

Captain:

Mutiny! Then die like a rat. Here goes the switch!

SFX:

(explosion)

Flash:

The electric current ignited the radium ore.

Zarkov:

It worked! It worked!

Barin:

Now's our chance to escape.

Flash:

I am going to find Dale.

MUSIC:

UP

ANNC:

Back in the sumptuous quarters of Vultan, King of the Hawkmen, he and Dale are awaiting the arrival of the High Priest to perform the marriage ceremony.

Vultan:

Well, my pretty little bird. Soon you will be the bride of Vultan the Mighty. Suppose you give me a little kiss while we are waiting for the High Priest, eh? Come here.

Dale:

No! Don't touch me!

Vultan:

What!?! You repulse me Earthgirl? Come here.

Dale:

Get away from me, you fat fool! Flash! Flash darling.

Flash:

Take your hands off her, Vultan!

SFX:

(struggle)

ANNC:

With a yellow fury, Flash drives his fist into Vultan's jaw. The mighty King staggers back and bellowing like a mad bull places his steel taloned fingers into Flash's throat. His left hand reaches for his dagger.

Dale:

Flash, look out for his dagger!

ANNC:

With a smashing left and a crushing right hand uppercut that would have killed an ordinary man, knocks Vultan into unconsciousness.

Flash:

That settles that ox. Dale, did he hurt you?

Dale:

No. Oh, my darling. I feel so safe in your arms. They are so strong, yet tender.

Flash:

These arms were meant to hold you and protect you. By heaven they will as long as I have life.

Dale:

My dear. Oh, where are Barin and Zarkov and Thun?

Flash:

Zarkov and Barin are working on some scientific gadget. Thun and I separated looking for you. Come we will join them.

Dale:

Did you kill Vultan?

Flash:

I dont know. There is no time to waste finding out.

Dale:

Which way do we go from here?

SFX:

(footsteps)

Flash:

Look! Soldiers coming this way. Turn to the right, Dale, down that other passage.

SFX:

(footsteps)

Dale:

More soldiers! Flash, we are trapped!

Flash:

Back to Vultan's quarters, Dale. We can bar the door and hold them off while we arrange to escape by the window.

SFX:

(running)

SFX:

(door close)

Flash:

There we are back in Vultan's quarters and we have escaped the soldiers.

Dale:

Now what?

Vultan:

Now for the firing squad!

Dale:

Vultan!

Flash:

Why you ---

Vultan:

Stay where you are. I have this ray pistol trained on you. The slightest move and both of you will be blown to atoms.

Flash:

Don't touch the girl. I surrender.

SFX:

(loud metal/mechanical sliding)

SFX:

(electrical noises and explosions)

Vultan:

What's this?! What's happening!? The lights are out!

Dale:

Flash, the floor is tipping up!

Flash:

Don't worry, Dale, I'll save you!

MUSIC:

UP

ANNC:

What is happening to the city of the Hawkmen perched so perilously five thousand feet above the ground on the planet Mongo. What terrifying experiences await our friends? Be sure to listen in again next week for the continuation of the Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon!