MUSIC:

THEME

ANNOUNCER:

Presenting for the first time on radio, the amazing interplanetary adventures of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden.

MUSIC:

UP AND UNDER

ANNCR:

These thrilling adventures come to you as depicted each Sunday in the Comic Weekly, the world's greatest pictorial supplement of humor and adventure. The Comic Weekly, now printed in 32 tabloid-size pages, each page in full four colors, is distributed everywhere as a part of your Hearst Sunday newspaper.

MUSIC:

UP AND UNDER

ANNCR:

Racing high above the earth, comfortably seated in a giant airliner, Flash Gordon, internationally famous athlete, looks admiringly across the aisle at Dale Arden, the lovely young companion of his air voyage. The minds of both are intent on the terrible destruction which for many months has been approaching the Earth with terrific speed. The new planet, hurtling through space directly in the path of the Earth. Suddenly there's a violent jar.

SFX:

Plane goes down, then siren.

ANNCR:

The plane lurches into a spinning nose dive. Flash Gordon's trained muscles carry him across the aisle to the frightened girl, to gather her in his arms and then leap free of the falling plane. And pulling the ripcord of his parachute, glides to Earth.

SFX:

Siren out.

FLASH:

Don't be frightened, Dale. The plane has crashed, we're safe.

DALE:

Yes, thanks to you.

FLASH:

Hold fast, we're landing now?careful?easy?

BOTH:

GRUNT AS THEY LAND

FLASH:

Are you all right, Dale?

DALE:

Yes.

FLASH:

Good.

DALE:

Oh, look, Flash! There's a large steel door. It's closing!

FLASH:

Why, that's the laboratory of the great scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov. He's coming this way! I'll call him to help us. (CALLS OUT!) I hope you'll pardon us for breaking in on you so unceremoniously, Doctor, but you see, we had to bail out.

ZARKOV:

(GERMAN ACCENT) I see you for what you are -- spies! Come to steal my secrets! But I have the answer for that. Come with me!

FLASH:

Put that gun away, Professor Zarkov. (ASIDE TO DALE) The man is mad, Dale. We'll have to humor him (TO ZARKOV), All right, professor, all right. We'll come with you.

ZARKOV:

Get down this ladder, into this tower. Down I tell you!

FLASH:

All right, all right.

ZARKOV:

There now. We are in my rocket ship, and in ten seconds we will be on our way to the new planet. We will all die - die for science! (LAUGHS MANIACALLY)

SFX:

TURNS WHEEL ON DOOR TO CRANK IT SHUT. ROCKET TAKES OFF.

DALE:

Oh, Flash! The doctor is mad! This rocket ship is breaking away from the Earth with the speed of light. Right into the path of the new planet!

FLASH:

Hold tight, Dale. We'll escape somewhere.

ZARKOV:

To the new planet (LAUGH) The new planet! We three will save the Earth!

FLASH:

Dr. Zarkov, there's still time to swing your rocketship out of the path of the new planet.

ZARKOV:

No, no! (LAUGHS)

FLASH:

What will you gain for science if we're all killed in the crash?

ZARKOV:

I know who you are, Flash Gordon! The world's greatest athlete! But your trained strength will not save you, only my mind! The mind of Zarkov, the scientist can save you. Can save any human soul upon the Earth!

DALE:

The turbo drive! He's reaching for the controls!

FLASH:

Stand aside, Dr. Zarkov

ZARKOV:

(LAUGHS) Feel it! The gravitation pull of the new planet! We crash in five seconds! (LAUGHS)

SFX:

CRASH

MUSIC:

UP THEN UNDER

ANNCR:

The rocket ship hits the planet! Dr. Zarkov and Dale are thrown from the rocket ship unconscious. Flash is thrown clear of the wreckage and lands on his feet, uninjured. He rushes to the side of the unconscious girl, picks her up, and starts to carry her toward the distant towers of a city on this weird new planet. Suddenly, strange soldiers armed with ray guns appear, and capturing Dale and Flash, force them to come with them to them to the throne room of Ming the Merciless, emperor of Mongo and supreme ruler of the universe.

MUSIC:

UP AND OUT

SLAVE:

Oh, thou indulgent Ming, most merciless majesty of Mongo, supreme ruler of all the peoples of the new planet, thy slaves salute thee.

MING:

Good. Ming shall want the Earth people.

SLAVE:

Thy slaves obey, oh Ming the Merciless.

FLASH:

Get your hands off me! I'm no slave, I'll meet your emperor as a free man and an equal.

MING:

So, Earth man, you are a free man, and my equal. Throw him to the red monkey-men in the arena. I would be forced to make this free man my equal.

SLAVE:

THERE is thy freedom, Earth man. Now you go into the arena to meet the red monkey-men of Mongoid.

DALE:

No!

MONKEY-MEN SQUEAL

FLASH:

Don't worry dear. (TO MING) Emperor Ming, I will show you that I, a free man from the Earth, are more than a match for your brainless red monkey-men.

ANNCR:

Flash reaches the bottom step leading to the arena. He leaps and swings at the nearest red monkey-man. Then grasping the fallen man-beast under the armpit, Flash whirls him around in a flail, knocking the others in all directions. Emperor Ming, fearing that his monkey-men will all be killed, orders his soldiers to destroy Flash with their ray guns. In the midst of the confusion, Princess Aura, the beautiful young daughter of Emperor Ming, calls to Flash.

AURA:

Quick brave Earthman, this way! Here to my balcony!

ANNCR:

Flash leaps to the royal balcony and joins the gorgeously jeweled princess, who commands the slaves to keep back, while she takes Flash though a secret door and into a passage leading to a private elevator. The two get in and Aura closes the door and presses the switch.

SFX:

HUM OF ELEVATOR

FLASH:

Who are you, beautiful maiden?

AURA:

I am the princess Aura, only daughter of Ming the Merciless.

FLASH:

Princess, I owe you my life.

AURA:

You are brave and handsome, and strong. You must not end so young. I have never seen anyone like you, Earthman.

FLASH:

Where I come from, princess, there are many stronger men and better looking. But tell me, princess, where are you taking me?

AURA:

I am taking you to the private landing frame of my own rocket car. There you will be safe.

SFX:

ELEVATOR STOPS

AURA:

We have arrived, Earthman. Get in this rocket car. No one can harm you here.

FLASH:

But Princess, I don't --

SOUND:

GUARDS IN BACKGROUND. GETTING NEARER.

AURA:

Hurry, hurry!

FLASH:

But Princess Aura, how am I to rescue the Earth girl, Dale Arden?

AURA:

That is why you are in my private rocket car, Earthman.

FLASH:

Why, what do you mean?

AURA:

Dale Arden can never be rescued by you.

FLASH:

But princess, I??"

AURA:

As for you, Earthman, you shall love me or die!

MUSIC:

THE THRILLING CLIMAX BUILDS? THEN UNDER?

ANNCR:

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Emperor Ming is talking with Dale Arden.

MING:

Your companion Flash Gordon has escaped. But not for long. My men will soon capture him.

DALE:

What are you going to do with me, Emperor Ming?

MING:

You are pleasing to me, Earthwoman. You will become my wife.

DALE:

Never! I don't love you!

MING:

We men of Mongo have no human traits. No love, no mercy, no kindness. Whether you love me or not makes no difference. You shall become my wife as soon as the ceremony can be arranged.

SLAVE:

Your majesty, look into the spaceograph. Our city is being bombarded by the space gyros of the lion-men!

MING:

The lion-men! Order the entire space fleet to the attack!

MUSIC:

UP THEN OUT

ANNCR:

In the terrific battle which takes place between Emperor Ming's space fleet and the gyros of the lion-men, the attacking gyros are driven off. The rocketship in which Flash Gordon had been held captive is destroyed, and Flash is thrown to the ground unconscious. He opens his eyes to find himself staring into the great bearded face of Thun, prince of the lion-men. Thun lets his great sword fall as he sees Flash Gordon's white skin.

Thun:

Who art thou, white-skinned youth? Speak! Answer me before I cleave thy white body in pieces! Art thou a new kind of soldier of Ming the merciless?

FLASH:

I am the sworn enemy of that fiend emperor Ming of Mongo. He has captured a girl who is from the Earth, like myself. I live only to rescue her.

Thun:

An Earthman, thou sayest?

FLASH:

Yes.

Thun:

And an enemy of Ming the Merciless?

FLASH:

That's right. Tell me, are you friend, or enemy?

Thun:

I am Thun, prince of the lion-men. Hereditary enemies of the men of Mongo. If thou would accept me as thy friend, Earthman, I will gladly join thee against Ming the Merciless.

FLASH:

Here's my hand on it, then, prince Thun.

Thun:

Good. What is thy name, Earthman?

FLASH:

I am called Flash Gordon upon the Earth, your highness.

Thun:

Call me Thun, friend. And I will call thee, Flash.

FLASH:

Friend Thun, do you know how we can gain admittance to the palace, that we may rescue Dale Arden?

Thun:

Come. I will show thee a secret way into the palace.

FLASH:

Good.

Thun:

The emperor Ming is away persuing my gyro fleet. We may be able to rescue the Earth girl before Ming's return.

MUSIC:

UP AND OUT?

ANNCR:

Flash Gordon and his powerful new-found friend go first to the space gyro of Prince Thun, and there they gaze intently into the thought projector, in which they not only see Dale Arden captive, but they also have revealed to him a secret way leading into the throne room of the palace. The secret passage is known as the Tunnel of Terror because of the deadly beasts which lie within its gloomy walls. Fighting each step of the way, Flash and his new friend prince Thun finally find themselves within the palace. A door with great steel bolts stands before them.

FLASH:

Quick Thun, this door must lead directly to the center of the palace.

Thun:

From my memory of the palace, I should say that beyond this door is the great throne room of the emperor Ming.

FLASH:

All right, then. Here we go!

SFX:

DOOR OPENS. WE HEAR CHINESE MUSIC IN THE BG.

FLASH:

Ah. There. (WHISPERS) You're right, Thun! It IS the throne room!

Thun:

Yes. This great statue before us is the god of death which stands at the top of the altar steps, directly behind the throne of the emperor.

FLASH:

Listen. Thun, what's that?

Thun:

By the great god Pau-oo. It is the royal wedding procession. Ming the Merciless is taking another bride.

SLAVES:

(DRONING) Long live Ming the Merciless!

FLASH:

He's coming up the altar steps, Thun. I'm going to look around the idol.

Thun:

To look around the idol means death! Thou must not ??"- Come back! (OFF MIKE!) Come back, Flash!

FLASH:

Thun! Save yourself! I'm going to the rescue of my Earth friend, Dale Arden! She's being forced into a marriage with Ming the Merciless!

Thun:

Prince Thun of the lion-men does not save himself at the expense of his friends. If thou must die, I will die fighting with thee.

FLASH:

Dale! This way, Dale!

SOUND:

MUSIC STOPS, SHOUTS FROM CROWD. HALT, ETC.

MING:

After them!

FLASH:

This way, Dale!

Thun:

Down this passage, Earthling, and fast as thou canst run, quick you!

FLASH:

They're swarming up the altar steps. Help me topple the idol over on them. Now! One...two...THREE!

SFX:

CRASH! SOUND OF STARTLED SOLDIERS

ANNCR:

With a grinding crash, the giant idol topples over on the onrushing soldiers of Ming the Merciless, killing those in front and throwing into confusion the whole company. Flash Gordon and prince Thun, with Dale between them, dash into the secret passage beneath the idol. The way becomes steeper. They slip ??"- and fall. Down! Down! A hundred feet or more into a whirling underground river. They're swept along down a raging current and over a falls into a lake. With the powerful strokes of a champion swimmer, Flash sets out for the shore, towing Dale by the hair. They reach the shore, and as Flash reaches down to drag Dale to safety, (WE HEAR HER SCREAM) she screams and disappears beneath the calm surface of the lake, clutched in two powerful green, scaly arms. With no thought of his own safety, Flash Gordon dives to Dale's rescue (WATER SOUNDS) and finds an adventure stranger than any which has gone before.

MUSIC:

UP THEN UNDER

ANNCR:

Follow the thrilling adventures of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden each Sunday in your Hearst Sunday newspaper. You will find them graphically portrayed in full-color pictures in the Comic Weekly. Only in the Comic Weekly can you follow the escapades of the Katzenjammer Kids, those perennial rascals; or thrill to the adventures of King of the Royal Mounted. Only in the Comic Weekly can you enjoy the good, clean fun of Bringing up Father, Tilly the Toiler, Way out West, The Little King, or in the language of his hillbilly friends, "those clean cantawampus over the bodacious goins-on of Barney Google." Your old friend Skippy, and all his little pals are waiting for you in the Comic Weekly. Along with Pinky, Molly and Pat, in their great adventure story, Radio Patrol. And there is Ace Drummond, the demom aviator; Johnny 'round the World, and many, many others. Be sure you get this big 32-page all-color comic weekly supplement with your copy of next Sunday's Hearst newspaper. And don't fail to listen again next week to the continuation of the amazing interplanetary adventures of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden.

MUSIC:

UP FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND FADE OUT.