01x39 - The Rites of Zesnan

[bunniefuu]

♪ Defenders of the Earth, Defenders ♪

♪ Out of the sky his rockets ignite ♪

♪ Jets into battle, flies faster than light ♪

♪ Flash Gordon ♪

♪ Lord of the jungle, the hero who st*lks ♪

♪ The beasts call him brother, the ghost who walks ♪

♪ Phantom ♪

♪ Defenders of the Earth, Defenders ♪

♪ Master of magic, spells and illusion ♪

♪ Enemies crumble in fear and confusion ♪

♪ Mandrake ♪

♪ Defenders of the Earth, Defenders ♪

♪ His strength is a legend, his skills conquer all ♪

♪ Armed with his power, we never will fall ♪

♪ Lothar ♪

♪ Defenders of the Earth, Defenders ♪

♪ With our new young heroes, proving their worth ♪

♪ Four become eight, defending the Earth ♪

♪ Defenders of the Earth, Defenders ♪

♪ Defenders of the Earth ♪

-Phase one-- begin!

-Come on, guys!

Can't you keep up?

-Save your breath, Rick-- you're going to need it!

-Meet me at the finish line.

-Who's winning?

-Looks like it may be a three-way tie, Kshin!

-Begin Phase Two!

-Saved by the bell, you guys!

-You'll eat my vapor trail up there!

-Says who, Ace?

-Simulated battle - commence.

-When this drill is over, I'll give you both flying lessons!

-You were saying, Hot Dog?

-I think turkey is more like it!

-Why do I get the feeling

that this is no longer a friendly competition?

-What are they doing up there?

-They are flying like fools!

-This simulation is over-- return to base immediately!

-What's up, Dad?

-Yeah, why did you call us back?

-What's wrong, Father?

-I'm very disappointed in you, Jedda.

-Disappointed in all of you!

-We were just having a little fun,

proving who's best!

-You have only proven

how foolish and irresponsible you are.

-What are you talking about?

-Your hot-dogging not only endangered you individually,

but you also jeopardized the entire flying unit.

-We're sorry!

But we just wanted to see who was best!

-Being the best at the expense of your friends

is not being the best at all, Jedda.

-But, in battle--

-In battle the Defenders work as a team.

-Competition among friends has its place.

Now, I remember an ancient ritual--

the Rites of Zesnan.

The Zesnan tribe in the Amazon used it to teach their warriors

not to compete with each other in combat

but to work safely, as a team.

-May we compete in the rites of Zesnan, Father?

-I'm ready! -Count me in!

-The Rites of Zesnan sound like they were made to order

for our young warriors here!

-Six Ming fighters have left Ice Station Earth

and are heading in the direction

of Central City.

-Ming must have found out

about our global satellite scanning dishes.

-That's my guess.

We have no time to lose, let's move!

-Target approaching.

Stay in formation until my command.

-Is the attack ready?

-Yes, Excellency.

-Find those satellite dishes.

If the Defenders' global scanning program

becomes operational,

Ice Station Earth will be constantly watched.

We must prevent that-- permanently!

I don't care what you do

to Central City or its Earthlings--

destroy those dishes!

-Squadron B leader?

Maintain formation and begin radar scan.

We must find those dishes-- fast!

-Primitive mode of transportation.

-But we're here before Ming's fighters.

Flash and the others should be here soon.

It must be them.

-No. It sounds like Ming's fighters.

Quickly, Lothar, we will engage the enemy.

-On the ground? Against fighters?

-There is more than one way to deal with an Ice Robot.

-Target ahead!

Arm all lasers!
[ … ]

-You did it, Mandrake!

-All it takes is a little style

and perhaps a dirt-free set of clothes.

-It is done, Excellency.

-Let me see the destruction.

Activate rear camera!

-You have fallen for another trick.

-But--

-Silence!

Return and destroy them!

-Even the best illusions hold an audience's attention

for only a short while.

-We must do something!

And quickly!

-It's Flash!

-Ice Robot ships straight ahead.

-Is everybody ready? -Ready!

-Let's see what you guys do with some real action!

-What the--

-Jedda!

-Come on!

-Rick! L.J.!

-Let's go!

-You don't think you're going to get away that easily.

-You've got one on your tail.

I'm moving in.

-Thanks but, no, thanks.

I'd rather play follow the leader.

-Now we'll see who's the best.

-I hope you bet your money on me, Jedda!

-I don't make losing bets.

-You guys are going to fly the speed limit

or answer to me.

Follow my lead.

Do I make myself clear?

-Yes, Sir!

-Return to base at once!

-Nice work, Flash.

-Let's head for home.

I think we have some more talking to do.

-Look, we're sorry for what happened up there.

-There is no room for hot-dogging

in a fighter plane.

-Remember, L.J., there is a time and a place--

-Zesnan!

-Come again?

-You know, the Rites of Zesnan.

Father told us about it.

The tribe in the Amazon

that has a contest for its warriors

to see who is the best.

-What do you say, Dad?

-If that's what it takes

to bring the three of you to your senses.

Dynac, set a course for the Terry to the Amazon.

-All right! Can I join too?

-There'll be creepy, crawly snakes.

-I'm not afraid of anything!

-Good!

Then you can protect us from the snakes!

-Sire, data intercepted from Dynac X indicates

Defenders of the Earth are heading for South America

to take part in the Rites of Zesnan.

-The Rites of Zesnan will be more of a test

than they expected.

Prepare my Throne Room for departure immediately!

-These are the paths of the ritual.

They start and end together

but each of you will have a different path.

Swamp, jungle, or the cliffs.

Select a paper from the tray in front of you.

-Swamp.

-Cliffs.

-Jungle. -We'll be there soon.

-Zesnan, Zesnan, Zesnan.

-I am Zesnan!

You will obey the command of Zesnan!

-Zesnan, Zesnan, Zesnan.

-Intruders have come to invade the sacred ritual ground.

Find them and destroy them.

I command it!

-The starting point is below.

We drop you here

and wait for you at the end of the course.

-Are you ready? -Yeah!

-Let's get started! -Ready to go!

-I don't feel good about this contest.

-It is a harmless test, Flash.

If anything, it will teach our young friends

that working together

is far better than working alone.

-How you can be sure?

-Because that is the way the Phantom planned it.

Isn't that so, Phantom?

-You had this planned all along?

-Their competition could have become a difficult problem.

-This time I'm gonna put it right into orbit!

-Are you scared, Zuff?

-Stay here! I'll get it!

-I found it!
[ … ]

Hey, come on, Zuff, let's go back.

Ow! My leg!

Zuff!

-Talk about luck--

Jedda gets the jungle--

she grew up in it!

L.J. with his martial arts

is a natural for climbing cliffs!

And look what I choose!

-First swamp water and now-- booby traps!

-That was just luck, young Gordon!

But good luck lasts only a short time.

-This is as easy as a walk in the park on Sunday.

I bet I'm miles ahead of Rick and Jedda.

Maybe we can't carry any weapons

or communication devices

but the Phantom didn't say anything about souvenirs.

These are beau...

Oh, no!

Easy as a walk in the park on Sunday?

-I haven't the time to go around,

so - I must go over it.

Hope this vine holds.

Concentrate-- concentrate--

I thank you! Thank you very much!

-Kshin was stung by a rare poisonous plant.

The antidote can be made from several herbs.

-Will it save Kshin?

-Yes, if I am fortunate enough to find the right herbs.

-Ming!

-Very good, Flash Gordon!

I would not do anything too hasty

until you have heard what I have to say.

-You have nothing I want to hear, Ming!

-Fool!

The Beams!

-What in the world?

-And now, for a little demonstration.

-Interesting, wouldn't you say, Defenders?

-Ming, you...

-Silence!

One false move--

and you become just a bad memory.

-There are Rick and Jedda.

I'm gonna have to run double time!

What was that?

Rick! Jedda!

They're in trouble!

-Never thought I would be so happy to see dry land.

Doesn't look like much of a welcoming committee!

-Hey, fellas! The action's over here!

Okay, clowns! I'll meet you halfway.

-We're supposed to do this alone!

-I think we'd work better together.

Don't you?

-You're absolutely right.

-I saw them moving in on Rick!

-Let's hurry!

-I know the way-- follow me!

-Just my luck.

Try this move, big fella!

-L.J., grab my feet! -Why?

-I'm gonna save him.

-He tried to k*ll you!

-Come on. Grab it!

-No.

-I said grab it!

-L.J., pull us up!

-Who are you? Why did you want to k*ll us?

-I am Saba of tribe of Zesnan.

You have invaded our sacred place.

-What are you talking about?

-For a thousand years,

we have waited for our God Zesnan--

today he appeared.

-Where did you see your God, Zesnan?

-He came in a flying machine.

-Ming!

Saba, that was not Zesnan.

It was Ming the Merciless!

-He's the most evil man in all the universe.

-You saved my life.

I believe you tell the truth.

-If he sent you to destroy us, that--

-We've gotta get back and warn the others!

-Saba.

We must get to the end of the course quickly.

-I will show you fast way. Follow me!

-I hope I am in time.

-What?

-Thank goodness you will be all right, Kshin.

-Whatever you do-- don't move.

-The ritual should be ending soon.

-We must find a way to warn the kids!

-I have a feeling, my friend,

that they have probably received

more than a warning by now.

-The clearing is just ahead.

I must leave you now.

-Thanks, Saba.
[ … ]

-What is it?

-A sensor beam grid.

Any object that penetrates the grid

is destroyed in seconds by laser fire.

-What do we do now?

-Destroy those lasers.

-Fan out.

Whatever you do, don't touch that grid.

Try to get those laser towers.

-This is too good to be true!

I will destroy all of the Defenders at once!

Octon! Deactivate the sensor beam grid!

-The grid is down!

-The sh**ting has stopped!

-As long as there's no movement,

the lasers can't track you and they won't work.

-Rick!

-Don't worry, Dad, we got it under control!

-According to Dynac X,

your odds are one in six million

against those things!

-At least we have the one.

-Our only chance is to reach the top of the ship

at exactly the same time.

-Are you ready? -Ready!

-Ready! -Go!

-Hurry!

-Meet in the center!

Run!

Jump-- Now!

No!

-We have no more defenses, Sire!

-Your days are numbered, Defenders!

This I swear!

-We did it.

-We sure did!

-Great work, guys!

-Father, we now understand

what it was you were trying to teach us.

-It is like the fingers of your hand--

each has its own purpose in the balance of things,

but when pulled together, there is great strength!