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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 1	By : keithcompany Category: G through L > Land of the Giants Views: 2011 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Land of The Giants, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Perez leads a tactical squad through a giant ventilation shaft. The only light is from widely spaced grills. They walk quickly but quietly through the shadows, glancing out each grill then moving on. Finally, Perez pauses at one.)
Perez: This is it. (Gestures at the bolts holding the grill to the ventilation piping. Marines slap explosives on each bolt. Others begin setting up rappelling gear secured to magnetic clamps on the far side of the shaft. Those Marines fade back and a heavy weapons squad sets up.) Cover him.
(View through a bazooka sights. A fat giant sits behind a garish desk. The wall beside him has a huge window showing a casino. People gamble at several tables. Some of the games are recognizable, some are not, obviously native to the planet. There’s an air of ‘speakeasy’ to the room, though. It’s not a legally sanctioned casino. The door opens and Vertag is escorted inside.)
King: Thanks, Beeko. Siddown. (Gestures at a chair in front of the desk. Vertag takes it. Beeko stands behind him, a huge and ugly bruiser. The more he looks like Lessala’s ‘Bruiser,’ the better.) Don’t worry about Beeko, there.
(view shifts to the other side of the office. We see the giants, behind them we see the grill the humans must be behind, but not any sign of the Marines.)
Vertag: I’m not. My secretary could handle Beeko.
King: (laughs) Sure. Sure. So. We don’t get too many SID agents in here.
Vertag: We’re usually too busy to bother with vice, Mr. King.
King: Just King. Not Mr. And nobody’s too busy for vice, kid. You guys are just more careful about who sees you indulging.
Vertag: You could be right. Now. I’m here because the word is that you have a number of Earthlings.
King: Have? Have is not the right word. I know where some are.
Vertag: I’m really not in the mood for word games. I’m trying to find Earthlings while the government is still in the mood to pay for them.
King: Pay, huh? Well, what if I told you someone made me a better offer?
Vertag: Then I’d say you should take it. Enjoy it while you can, though. Because eventually, the Directorate’s desire for Earth tech will exceed their toleration of your business.
King: (Laughs) I provide a public service.
Vertag: Yep. Same as Caosort did in Centerville. Until he got in the way.
King: (humor gone) Are you threatening me, Agent?
Vertag: I said no word games. If I was threatening you, I’d just shoot you.
King: Beeko! Did you search him?
Beeko: Yes, sir. He had no weapons. He just has that Earthling dame in his pocket.
King (visibly relaxing): A dame? I’m always on the lookout for females of the Little People. What do you want for her?
Vertag: She’s not for sale.
King: Ah, kid, did you swallow the policy book or something? EVERYTHING is for sale. That’s a cornerstone of my trade. (gestures to the window) Do you want to guess how many of those people are police? Or on the mayor’s staff? (Vertag stares. King gestures dismissively) Never mind. You’re one of the Faithful. What do I have to do to get you out of my office?
Vertag: Earthlings.
King: Yeah. Okay. Sure. (stands, moves to the back of his office. Works a control that drops blinds down the big bay windows. Then he swings a painting out from the wall. There is a hole, about the size of a drain pipe. It extends into the wall and beyond sight) They’re in there. Help yourself.
Vertag: What do you mean?
(Up in the shaft, the open painting blocks their view of the hole. Perez gets a bit terse)
Perez: What are they looking at? Where is that? Is it a safe? A secret room? (techs beside her look at electronic screens and shrug) Find out! Where’s the floorplan file!
(in the office, Vertag stands and squints. The tunnel bores back through an apparently solid cement wall. There’s no other way back to wherever it leads)
Vertag: Oh, no.
Janet: Hey! This is why we came here, right?
King: Hey, she talks!
Vertag: This is too much risk.
Janet: I decide how much risk is too much!
Vertag: Not when it’s this risky, you don’t.
King: They’re cute, aren’t they Beeko? Like a married couple?
Beeko: Are they married, King? Wouldn’t he, like hurt her on the wedding night?
Janet: PUT ME IN THERE!
Vertag: Are you seeing that? It’s a solid wall of cement. I won’t be able to protect you through that.
Janet: Yeah, that’s a big consideration!
Vertag: What?
Janet: Just put me in there. If it isn’t too much trouble. Maybe you’ll get lucky and someone will kill me.
Vertag: Fine! Good luck! (plucks her out of the holster, shoves her into the hole as far as his arm will reach) Call me if you need help. So I can say I told you so.
(Inside the tunnel, Janet staggers away from his hand, recovers, straightens her cammies. She checks her pistol, makes a face at Vertag’s hand then starts walking down the line.)
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(Roll titles)
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(Janet walks with a flashlight, passes through a section of the tunnel with glass shards embedded in the cement. Beyond that there is a sharp turn, then more glass. Walking slowly and carefully, she manages to get around the jagged edges. After that, the tunnel widens.)
Janet: Hello?
(She comes up on a guard post. Two humans with clubs stand there, big muscular guys in patchwork armor looking down on Janet.)
Janet: Hi! I’m Janet Crane. I’m from Earth. You guys want to get repatriated? (They hook thumbs over their shoulders. She steps between them. A rough wooden door opens. A woman invites her inside. The woman wears rags and a metal collar.)
Janet: Um…is there someone I could talk to? (the woman bows and points. Following her gesture, Janet passes through a dark smoky room. To one side, two women (dressed like the doorkeeper in rags and collars) turn a giant chicken leg over a fire. A small chimney sucks most of the smoke out, but not all. Finally, she comes face to face with William.)
William: (Sitting on an elaborate throne (Slightly off-scale, the doll it’s made for isn’t human sized), wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with a bright purple baldric over his chest. The baldric says ‘Bite Me.’) Hey, doll-face. What can you do for me?
Janet: Um…are you in charge, here?
William: Babe, you have no idea.
Janet: Okay. Um. Maybe you haven’t heard of the Exchange program we’ve established with the-
William: Yeah. Heard about it, ignoring it.
Janet: Ignoring it? Why?
William: I don’t want to go.
Janet: (Stunned) What? Why would you want to stay here?
William: Power. (Janet stares) Hey! Number twelve! Get the woman a chair. (A woman rushes in with a rocking chair painted bright pink with a happy face on the back. Janet sits. Oh, the woman is dressed…well, let’s say the pattern is developed.)
Janet: What do you mean, power?
William: Back on Earth, I was a two-bit hood. When I was shipwrecked here, I had been on the shuttle to escape prosecution for stealing a car.
Janet: That’s a little embarrassing.
William: You know it. BUT, now that I’m here, I’m on top of the world.
Janet: (glances around the den) You have a whole hole-in-the-wall.
William: Wait and see. I’ve been helping that King guy take over the underworld. See, not only are they behind us in technology, they’re behind us in organized crime organization.
Janet: You’ve been tutoring the giants on felonies.
William: Exactly. And now, when you guys are selling them more and bigger tech, I’ll be in the position to tell them how to hack it.
Janet: Wonderful. You’ll be a giant criminal’s little pet lockpick. Maybe if you’re good, he’ll take you for walkies.
William: I’m not a pet, lady. I’m in charge.
Janet: Sure. I’ve seen both of your offices. That King just hangs on your every word.
William: Close enough. (Holds out his hand. A woman puts a beer stein into it) He keeps me happy.
Janet: Well, enjoy it while you can. I figure the government will eventually make it more profitable for him to turn you over than to keep you.
William: Eh, he can’t reach me in here.
Janet: Maybe…
William: In fact, you can help me there.
Janet: Why would I help you?
William: Same reason you’re ‘helping’ the giants. (Whistles. Ten slave women rush in to line up between William and Janet) Saving them.
Janet: You want….?
William: Yep. But I don’t want know how. Give me weapons. I can arm my guards, so we can protect ourselves if King gets grabby. Or if he gets replaced by another dirtbag. For every shipment, you can have one of the women, or one of my other slaves that doesn’t like it here. (stands to wrap an arm around the shoulders of the woman at the end) Of course, I’ll have to keep my favorite Amy, here.
June: I’m June. Amy’s over there.
William: Dammit, woman, if I say you’re Amy-
Janet: Look, this is the most original offer I’ve heard this week (stands), But we’re not arming you.
William: Then I guess I’m keeping all my slaves.
Janet: I’m not sure the Fleet is going to leave them with you.
William: Well, maybe ‘the fleet’ won’t hear about them! Get her! (muscle men rush into the room. Janet draws her pistol and ducks behind some furniture.)
Janet: I don’t want to hurt anyone! Not humans anyway!
William: Not my problem! (ducks behind his throne. Slave women rush to the wall and cower. ) GET HER!
Janet: (as the muscles get close, waving their clubs) I can offer movie contracts to anyone that helps me! (Some of the muscles pause, look thoughtful)
William: It’s a bluff! She hasn’t got that kind of authority! (Janet pops up and shoots any of the thugs that are still approaching)
(In the giant office, King has a small game board set up. There are chips on both sides and he gestures towards it)
King: How about a friendly game, agent?
Vertag: I’m not your friend, King.
King: How about a game of cutthroat, then?
Vertag: (shrugs) Okay. I take vertebrae. (sounds of gunshots from the tunnel) Crap! Seriously, how do I get in there?
King: Can’t. It’s giant-proof.
Vertag: You’re too two-faced to let your pet stay out of your reach.
King: He’s too paranoid. Watched every step when we built it. Besides, I control all the exits, I don’t have to reach him. (waves at Beeko) I think we’re done here. Escort the agent to the street.
(Beeko barely raises his hands before Vertag slams him in the face with his chair. Vertag slides over the desk, kicking King to the floor. Lands on top of him, hands at King’s throat.)
Vertag: I need in there!
King: (bleeding slightly from his nose) You’re dead. There’s twenty of my men between you and the door. You’re alone and unarmed.
Vertag: Just makes it challenging. (slugs King unconscious. Searches body) Damn. No weapon. (more gunfire from the tunnel) JANET!
Perez: Hey! Giant! (vent grate pops off and falls to the ground. A rocket fires. Camera follows the flight to where Beeko is sitting up, gun drawn. His chest pops and he sinks back to the floor. Marines begin to rappel from the vent to the desk.)
Vertag: Huh. I have backup. Who’d have guessed? (Rips the painting off of the wall, lowers it to the desk. Marines jump on top of it, he lifts it to the level of the tunnel. They rush in, Perez at the front. He raises it to the vent, more Marines jump down, run into the tunnel when he lowers it)
(There’s a big burst of gunfire. Then a few solitary shots here and there. Vertag waits impatiently. Walks back and forth. Stoops to pick up Beeko’s gun. Checks ammo, checks the chamber, pockets it. Takes it out again, points at King. Reconsiders, pockets it. Moves around some more. Listens at the tunnel, which is quiet.)
Vertag: Man, having backup sucks. (searches Beeko, finds another magazine. He moves a bookcase over to sit under the hole. It looks like a big jump from the hole down to the top. He rips a shelf out of the bookcase and places it on the top. The distance (for humans) is comparable to jumping down from the back of a pickup truck. He paces a time or two.)
(A Marine appears at the opening.)
Marine: Sir? (holds up coils of a rope) Major’s respects and she was wondering if you could pull on this? Gently?
Vertag: Sure. What is it?
Marine: Prisoners, sir. (jumps down, readies his weapon. Vertag pulls and eventually gets a string of the thugs. Men and a few women in patchy armor, hands bound and clipped to the rope. Vertag pulls until they’re all on the shelf. More Marines come into view and set guard on the thugs. The thugs are downcast. All have scratches and bandages)
Vertag: You took prisoners? Not a typical rescue, then.
Marine: No, sir.
Vertag: I knew it.
(Perez jumps down, gestures. Marines escort a number of slaves. Mostly women, some men, all dirty and nearly naked. Some have collars. As they group around the entrance, squinting up at Vertag in fear, a Marine moves among them with bolt cutters, removing the collars. More Marines keep coming out into view. Some of the Marines are slightly wounded.)
Perez: Sir? There were quite a few more humans than we anticipated. I can extract the slaves with us, but I’d rather not make them travel with the slavers. They keep trying to gouge out eyes and testicles.
Vertag: (turns to scan around the room) Slaves and slavers? So, in one mission, Janet freed humans from giant oppression, AND from human slavery? (finds a large canvas money bag. Picks it up and upends it, cash spilling over King where he lays) Man, that will keep her happy for days. (he stops to think) Of course, now I can never convince her that the risk was unjustified.
Perez: Uh…
Vertag: (grabs one end of the rope, lifts the thugs like a chain of toy monkeys. Lowers the string into the bag) I’ll take them out. (closes the bag). The King (nods to the man) says that there are twenty made men between me and the door. I’ve got twelve bullets and I’m bored out of my skull. Should be easy enough.
Perez: Thank you. Would you like darkness? We can blow the fuse box. We saw it on our way in.
Vertag: No, I’m not that familiar with the layout. (shakes the bag a bit) Which one’s the leader?
Perez: He, uh… He successfully resisted arrest. But did not manage to escape.
Vertag: Ah. Suicide by cop? I hate it when they do that. Forty two shots in the back, worst suicide I’ve ever investigated.
Perez: Sir, are you making an accusation?
Vertag: Not at all, Major. I’m just willing to accept your story.
Perez: Uh…thanks. (looks back in the tunnel) Okay, come on. (Every Marine suddenly starts to shift away from the tunnel. Medics come out, pause to look up at Vertag, then wrestle a stretcher down to the shelf. Janet is strapped into it. She is unconscious, an IV installed, massive gauze covering her chest. Some bandages on her head and one arm. The medics are absolutely terrified as they wait for Vertag’s reaction)
Vertag: (deadpan) Will she live?
Medic: Yes, sir. It was touch and go for a while there, she-
Vertag: Can you get her out of here?
Perez: Yes. Yes, we’re sure of that. We’ll get her back to the Compound and Dr. Roth. She’ll be fine.
Vertag: Good. (lifts the entire shelf up to the ventilation. The humans quickly disappear into it.)
Perez: (last person on the shelf, looking down at the giant) Are you going to be okay?
Vertag: Why wouldn’t I be? I was right. (She leaves, he tosses the shelf away. Picks up the vent grate and jams it into the hole. Steps over to King and kicks his head. Steps to the door, readies Beeko’s pistol. Smiles.)
Vertag: I told her so.
(Opens the door and walks out of view. In the distance we hear a voice.)
Voice: Hey! What are you-
(Gunshots)
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(Dr. Roth steps out of the medical tent in the Earthling Building. Adams and his senior officers wait.)
Roth: She’s stable. I want to send her up on the next shuttle so they-
Adams: Is that a medical necessity, Terry?
Roth: (eyes bug) What? Yes, the best medical care available in the system is 400 miles up. Yes, that’s medically necessary.
Adams: The Excelsior has the best (he stresses the word). I want to know if care here is sufficient.
Roth: You want to risk her life for- For what?
Adams: I will not risk her life. If that’s a risk. But if she goes up, another liaison has to come down.
Peterson: Oh.
Adams: Damn right, oh. Is he in any sort of mood to deal with a new liaison?
Brown: Sir, he’s in a normal mood. Lessala calls every half hour for a status, but he hasn’t called once. He seems unaffected.
Perez: (rolls eyes) Men. (the others glance at her, except for Adams, who nods)
Adams: The bottom line is he has an established relationship here. As long as he knows that she’s coming back, we can keep trading on that relationship with the giant. If he has to adapt to a new one, there’s no telling how it will affect our operations.
Roth: I can see what you’re saying, Colonel, but I’m not comfortable with keeping her here.
Perez: What does she want?
Roth: She’s not conscious.
Perez: Then what do we think she WOULD want, if she could ask?
Brown: To complete the mission, of course.
Adams: My judgment exactly. If it is at all possible to keep her here until she’s recovered, as that seems crucial to our mission, then she would demand to stay here.
Roth: Well, it’s doable. I will have to ask some specialists down on the next flight. (Pauses) No. YOU, Colonel, will have to ask. And to explain why we’re keeping her here instead of taking the intuitively obvious course.
Adams: Give me their names, some medical words, I’ll take care of it. (To Brown) Fred, I’m going to want to talk to the Admiral in about ten.
Brown: Yes, sir (Turns to go)
Adams: Wait. (looks from face to face on his staff) Obviously, if our actual liaison is unable to liaise, then someone is going to have to deal with the giant on a daily basis until she can. (looks at Brown) Someone to keep the lines of communication open. (looks at Perez) To coordinate the sharing of intel. (Perez and Brown grimace)
Peterson: (laughs) Boy! Am I glad I’m not a line officer. Poor little supply boy gets to-
Adams: Well, there are some things we need from the giants. (Peterson’s face wilts. Brown and Perez perk up. Adams gives a half-smile) See me after my phone call, we’ll coordinate who sees him and when. Dismissed. (they turn to go) Damerae.
Perez: Colonel?
Adams: Did she say anything? Before the medics put her out?
Perez: Yes, sir. She said, “Dammit. He was right.” (Adams shakes his head)
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(Roll Credits)
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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 1