Topol: Dr. Hans Zarkov

Flash Gordon

Dr. Hans Zarkov

Kala: We're going to empty your memory as we might empty your pockets... Doctor.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: Don't empty my mind! Please, I beg you! My mind is all I have! I've spent my whole life trying to fill it!

Princess Aura: [attempts to use her ring to open the door, it doesn't respond] They've changed the code!
Prince Barin: I've changed as well, Aura.
Princess Aura: And so have I.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: Oh, it's okay. I think I can work it out.
[starts to use Princess Aura's ring at different angles on the door]
Prince Barin: I love you. Will you marry me?
Princess Aura: I don't know; we'll try...
[breaks away as Barin moves in to kiss her]
Princess Aura: Not now, Barin...!
Prince Barin: You haven't changed at all...!
Princess Aura: If I'm not at the wedding, I'll be shot!
Dr. Hans Zarkov: [Finally manages to picks the electronic door lock with Aura's ring] A-ha! I thought it was one of the prime numbers of the Zenith series. *I* haven't changed.

The Emperor Ming: Every thousand years, I test each life system in the Universe. I visit it with mysteries, earthquakes, unpredicted eclipses, strange craters in the wilderness... If these are taken as natural, I judge that system ignorant and harmless - I spare it. But if the Hand of Ming is recognized in these events, I judge that system dangerous to us. I call upon the great god Dyzan, and for his greater glory...
[leans forward, smiling]
The Emperor Ming: ... and for our mutual pleasure...
[leans back again]
The Emperor Ming: ... I destroy it utterly.
Doctor Hans Zarkov: You're saying... it's my fault the Earth is being destroyed?
The Emperor Ming: [grinning] Precisely... Doctor!

Dr. Hans Zarkov: We are only interested in friendship. Why do you attack us?
The Emperor Ming: Why not? Pathetic earthlings. Hurling your bodies out into the void, without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here. If you had known anything about the true nature of the universe, anything at all, you would've hidden from it in terror.

Dale Arden: So that's why they let us escape; Klytus thought he'd wiped out your memory.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: But do you know why it really failed?
Dale Arden: I can't imagine.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: As I was going under, I started to recite Shakespeare, the Talmud, the formulas of Einstein, anything I could remember, even a song from the Beatles.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: It armored me, girl; they couldn't wipe those things away. You can't beat the human spirit!

Dr. Hans Zarkov: What do you find? The moon out of orbit?
Munson: By more than 12 degrees. This must be some sort of mistake.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: No, it's no mistake... IT'S AN ATTACK! I've been right all these years!

Dr. Hans Zarkov: Look at them! The poor wretches are just waiting for someone to lead them in revolt...!
Flash Gordon: [annoyed] Oh, are you looking at ME, Zarkov?

[Munson refuses to go aboard Zarkov's rocket ship]
Dr. Hans Zarkov: I swear, Munson, I'll shoot!
Munson: Get shot or go up in that thing? What's the difference?
Dr. Hans Zarkov: This way, you'll be giving your life to save the Earth! Haven't you any spirit at all?
Munson: NO!

Flash Gordon: My God!
Dale Arden: What is this, a civic reception?
Flash Gordon: More like a police state.
Dr. Hans Zarkov: If it is, that could be our good luck.
Flash Gordon: Why?
Dr. Hans Zarkov: It means we'll find allies on every side. Look at them, the poor wretches are just waiting for someone to lead them in revolt.
Flash Gordon: Are you looking at me, Zarkov?
Dr. Hans Zarkov: Yes.
Dale Arden: Please, stop talking about revolts, I just want to get back home alive.