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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 2	By : keithcompany Category: G through L > Land of the Giants Views: 1504 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Land of the Giants show, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
(Vertag carries Janet into her bedroom. She calls out to Lessala who is unseen)
Janet: G'night, Lessala!
Lessala: (voice) Good night, Janet. Don't be too long, Vertag.
Vertag: I won't. (Cross to the dollhouse, places Janet inside, then stands in front of the house, giving her privacy. She undresses, dons pajamas, then leans out her window)
Janet: Okay, good night.
Vertag: Good night. (he doesn't move)
Janet: Vertag, I've been back for a week. You don't have to tuck me in every night.
Vertag: (kneels down by the window) I know. (They look at each other for a bit) Are you telling me not to tuck you in?
Janet: (smiles) No. No, I guess I'm not.
Vertag: Okay, then. (he sits on the floor, leans on the wall and places a hand on her roof. Janet shakes her head and crawls into her hammock)
(Close up on Janet's face. The only sound is Vertag's steady, deep breathing. She smiles and snuggles into her sleeping bag. His breathing slows, so does hers.)
[Flashback to Season 2, Episode 8, Janet in Vertag's hands on his pillow on his lap]
Janet: I missed you. (strokes the hand) I don't think I've ever felt as safe as I do right now.
(Back to the dollhouse. Still smiling, her lips part and she starts to snore.)
(Back outside the dollhouse, the sound of her snoring signals Vertag. His breathing softens and he silently stands. He rests his hand on the dollhouse roof for a moment, then leaves the room.)
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Roll Titles
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(Charity's crew comes out of a tent and loads gear into a waiting Hummer. They glance at the tent. Inside, Charity is putting final touches on her hair. Perez appears in the mirror)
Charity: Eep! (turns) Major! I…didn't hear you come in.
Perez: Good.
Charity: What can I do for you?
Perez: It's something I can do for you. You have your interview with Vertag and Miss Crane today?
Charity: You know I do. You certainly made sure I didn't get one before today.
Perez: The unit feels rather…protective towards Miss Crane. We didn't want anyone stressing her until she was recovered from her ordeal.
Charity: You think I'm going to be stressful?
Perez: The two of them have been on a taped interview before. It did not turnout well. So, yes, there's a potential for some unpleasantness.
Charity: Unpleasantness.
[Flashback to 1-3, in a TV studio]
Sellets: And where are these credits coming from? (she leans forward as Vertag holds a hand out to Janet. Janet gets tangled in the wire for the microphone) Our money is sucked out of the economy in 2nd Nation, so that 1st Nation can get fat on the tech from the Little Planet that Could!
Vertag: Come on.
Janet: I’m trying!
Sellets: (to the camera) You all know the score! We just cannot trust the Directorate to keep our needs in mind as they
(Vertag reaches down and yanks the cord free. He plucks Janet up, microphone, cable and all. A floor technician steps forward. He may be after the equipment, but he’s just too close when the hostess goes bug nuts)
Sellets: (screeching) THIS IS WHAT COOPERATION LEADS TO! IT’S EXPLOITATION!! (Throws her stack of cards at Vertag. He spins to cover Janet, finds himself facing a tech that he didn’t know was there. Strikes out with a fist. As the tech goes down, Vertag stuffs Janet into his pocket. Sellets comes at him from behind, swinging a tripod. He reaches for the chair he was sitting in.)
(The scene changes to a drawing of an antenna being hit by lightning. “We’re experiencing technical difficulties” is the caption. )
(Back to the tent)
Perez: I would avoid politically charged questions, if I were you. And questions about sex.
[Flashback to 2-4, on Vertag's desk]
Charity: Lessala, what about sex?
Lessala: Oh. Well, okay. (she reaches out to grab Charity, one hand starting to unbutton her blouse)
Charity: EEK! Stay back! (Lessala raises her hand away from the humans, looking confused)
Drury: Maybe we should stop for the day?
(Back to the tent)
Charity: Not a problem, Major, not a problem.
(the POV is from Charity's camera on the end of Vertag's desk. Janet sits near the camera, Vertag sits at the other end so that both can fit in the shot.)
Charity: So. I have to say, you two are about the most popular Exchange Liaisons on Earth.
Vertag: We're not on Earth.
Janet: I think she means to say that on Earth, among Earthlings, we're popular.
Vertag: Ah.
Charity: You two seem to work together comfortably, and communicate well. What's your secret.
Vertag: Mutual respect.
Janet: Oh, yes. I have a very high opinion of Vertag…
[Flashback to 1-3]
Janet: You’re insane.
[Flashback to 1-7]
Janet: You miserable, manipulative bastard.
[Flashback to 2-8]
Janet: VERTAG! Wake up, you big git!
[Flashback to 1-18]
Janet: Hey, Vertag? Can we hurt you?
[Flashback to 1-19]
Janet: Jackass. (but with a smile)
[Flashback to 1-13]
(Vertag’s office. He’s writing something down as the elevator opens. Janet storms out on her wheelchair.)
Janet: You absolute bastard!
[Flashback to 1-9]
Adams: Did she say anything? Before the medics put her out?
Perez: Yes, sir. She said, “Dammit. He was right.”
[Flashback to 1-4]
Perez: I’m also the Intel Officer for the unit.
Adams: We’d appreciate it if you didn’t share that fact with the giant.
Janet: Oh, don’t worry. He’d rather figure it out for himself. (Perez’ eyebrows rise) He’d never forgive me if I told him.
[Flashback to 1-8 ]
Janet: Would you have shot me?
Vertag: (puffs air out) I would rather shoot myself than have this conversation.
Janet: (raises the grenade launcher) I can help you with that.
[Flashback to 1-19]
Lessala: Snappers are on page three, under ‘backwater, backwoods, probably inbred weirdoes and what they think is high cuisine.’
Janet: (wide smile) Vertag! Does this mean you’re a redneck?
Vertag: I don’t know. (adopts a thick accent) It means that anyone what knowed my homing township, they assured themself that I ams a hick. And as likely be to lock myself out of a outhouse by mistake as most. (Janet covers her mouth and giggles. He returns the smile)
(Back to the interview)
Janet: …and his very professional approach to the plight of humans here.
Charity: Excellent. And you say the respect is mutual?
Vertag: Of course. Miss Crane is a highly motivated individual. The high standards she sets for herself are practically contagious. One can't work with her for long before you find yourself adopting at least a few of her goals.
[Flashback to 1-9]
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.
[Flashback to 1-14]
Janet: The giants are our enemy! (another hit) Humans should be cooperating! (he hits the wall, she slugs his stomach) Humans shouldn’t hurt humans! (he slides down to the floor. She turns to see Brute3 stomping towards her, takes a defensive stance. Someone taps 3 on the shoulder with a table leg. He turns to face that person, Janet lays him out with a single punch. Looks down at the three Brutes on the floor) Um. I mean…
Vertag: I love the irony of shouting peace while you beat them down.
[Flashback to 1-14]
Janet: So have we done the right thing or the wrong thing?
Vertag: Janet, you are incapable of doing the wrong thing.
[Flashback to 1-19 ]
Janet: What would you have done if I didn’t invite you inside?
Vertag: I live in constant hope. Plus, you’re incapable of doing the wrong thing
[Flashback to 1-17]
Janet: Okay! Okay, okay! I’ll just stay here and play solitaire or something. (enters the elevator)
Vertag: That’s good. (turns to go, turns back) Unless that’s a euphemism for something obscene?
Janet: (smiles) Wouldn’t you like to know! (doors close.
[Flashback to 1-15]
(Vertag checks for a pulse, finds the amputated limb and a great deal of blood. Looking at the bloody stump) You threatened Janet, I see.
(Back to the interview)
Charity: As your own? Does that mean you've compromised your principles?
Vertag: No, of course not.
Janet: Vertag is a patriot. He sees a stable government as the best possible protection for his people. But he also supports getting humans off of the planet, letting the giants get on with their lives, as it were.
Charity: So…overlapping goals.
Vertag: Or at least, some goals that are mutual.
Charity: Okay, okay. So, how does this mutual goal thing work? Does it help or hinder?
Janet: Oh, helps, of course. Always.
Vertag: It has helped, from time to time, to know how Janet would react in a stressful situation. I know what to do, that will match her, without having to spend much time in discussion.
Charity: Yes, I hear that you two work well together in a crisis.
[Flashback to 1-7]
Vertag: (focused on driving) How’s your first aid?
Janet: I can get as far as step 2.
Vertag: What’s step 2?
Janet: Call a doctor.
Vertag: Ah. What’s step one?
Janet: Find your freaking phone!
[Flashback to 1-1 ]
Janet: It’s okay. Really. I’m here to take you home.
Male1: More lies! I’m supposed to believe you because you ride in a giant’s pocket?
Male2: You’re working with them.
Janet: Well, we’re cooperating, but I’m really from Earth. We’re here with-
Male1: You’re a collaborator! (The other man reaches into the wood chips and pulls up a wicked shard of glass. String is wrapped around one end to make a handle. He moves forward slowly. The first man runs over and punches Janet in the face) COLLABORATOR!
Janet: (holding her face with one hand, using the other to ward off Male1) No! No, please-
Male2: Dammit, just leave us ALONE! (He raises the makeshift knife. Just as he stabs down, Vertag’s hand moves between him and his victim, blocking our view)
(The view shifts to the back of Vertag’s hand. The human rakes the glass down the back, opening up a long, bloody cut. As soon as he sees what he’s done, he gasps, drops the glass and backs away, horrified. The other humans move away from him. The mother screams as the kids cry)
Vertag: Are you okay? (back to Janet’s side. No blood is visible from here.)
Janet: Yeah. Yeah, don’t hurt them. I’m fine. (She stands)
Vertag: Maybe you’d better get out of there.
Janet: (a little dazed) Yeah. Okay. (she backs to the door. She has to squeeze out because Vertag is not removing his hand from protecting her. When she’s out, he pulls out and closes the door. She sees the blood and winces)
Vertag: Are you okay?
Janet: Yeah. I said I’m fine. Are you?
[Flashback to 1-5]
Janet: I thought you were different.
Vertag: Different from what?
Janet: I thought you saw us as people. You’re just killing a human because that’s convenient.
[Flashback to 1-6]
Vertag: Okay. I was bluffing.
Janet: No, you weren’t!
Vertag: Shut up, Janet.
[Flashback to 1-6 ]
Vertag: Back in a flash. (he holds his hand over the cage handle, adopts a formal tone) If I may?
Janet: (equally formal) You may. (steps away from the cage. He lifts and walks to the security door.)
Lessala: (Once the door closes behind him) What happened to you two?
Janet: Nothing.
Lessala: Nothing? You two are like fingernails on a chalkboard. It hurts just to listen to you. What did he do, step on you?
[Flashback to 1-6]
Lessala: So my cover is still intact.
Janet: No, it isn’t!
Lessala and Vertag together: Shut up, Janet!
[Flashback to 1-2]
Vertag: Put down the human, put down the knife. (Giant3 puts down the knife; Vertag sidesteps out of the way. The giants shuffle out, Giant3 holding Sonya out as a shield. As he reaches the door, he holds her out. Vertag starts to lean forward to take her. We see that Giant4 has another knife, gripped behind his back. He starts to raise it, then his shoulder explodes. The knife clatters to the ground, he staggers against Giant2. Everyone freezes.)
(On the table, Janet pants heavily but holds the grenade launcher steady.)
Janet: PUT! THE WOMAN! DOWN!
(Looking back to the door, all five giants are staring at Janet. Vertag recovers, reaches out and plucks Sonya out of Giant3’s grip. They shuffle out, half-carrying the wounded man. Vertag walks over and puts Sonya down on the table.)
Vertag: Thanks.
Janet: You’re supposed to say, ‘I didn’t need your help’ or something like that.
(Back to the interview)
Vertag: I don't know that I'd call anything we've done a crisis.
Janet: Time crunched, every so often.
Vertag: Yeah. Busy. Not really a crisis.
Charity: No? I must have been misinformed by the other humans.
Vertag: It may just have been a misunderstanding.
Janet: Humans aren't usually accustomed to working with Vertag. The scale can be disorienting. If someone our size sees him move suddenly, they may misinterpret it as desperate.
Charity: So, Vertag doesn't spend much time with the Marines? They don't have a rapport established?
Vertag: I have worked with individual humans a time or two.
Janet: But I'm not sure if they ever have gotten comfortable with him.
Charity: Agent Vertag, how do you get along with the others of the mission? What do you think the other humans think of you?
[Flashback to 1-6 ]
Vertag: I don’t see anything. But it’s dark, anything could be out there.
Perez: There are two deer on the other side of the cabin.
Marine1: A raccoon is asleep in this tree over here.
Marine2: There’s a fire set in the cabin. (View changes to an Infra-red image of a fireplace. A few other warm spots dot the field) No sign of any people. Giants, I mean.
Vertag: I am so jealous right now…
Perez: Maybe Santa will bring you a pair.
Vertag: Thrombeldinbar never brought me anything I could use. If he brought me your binocs, he’d keep them at your size.
Perez: Life sucks. Are we going to do this?
[Flashback to 1-13]
Janet: Actually, she’s taken something of a shine to you.
Vertag: Yeah, she likes me twice as much as any other giant on the planet. And almost as much as an infection in her-
Perez: AHEM!
[Flashback to 1-7 ]
Perez: I still don’t like giants.
Vertag: Well, that’s too bad. I like human.
Perez: Humans?
Vertag: Human. Well done. Deep fried until they’re a dark brown. (looks over at the Jamaican) That’s why I find you so appetizing. I mean, attractive
[Flashback to 2-5]
Vertag: That’s what I like about you Damerae. You think like I do.
Perez: Mean assed bastard?
[Flashback to 1-14 ]
Janet: You’re a remarkably sensitive guy sometimes.
Vertag: Please, do not tell Perez. She’ll be crushed.
[Flashback to 2-5]
Vertag: Do you get seasick, Major?
Perez: What? I’m a Marine!
Vertag: That’s an answer?
Perez: Damn skippy.
Vertag: THAT is an answer?
Perez: Fuggin’ a ditty bag!
Vertag: Okay, now you’re just having me on.
Perez: That’s a ten fower, good buddy.
[Flashback to 1-12]
Perez: So… you weren’t being a manipulative bastard? Or at least, not JUST a manipulative bastard? Great….
[Flashback to 1-16]
Perez: No, ma’am. I was going to say that Agent Vertag is not what I expected.
Admiral: Oh?
Perez: I don’t exactly trust him, but he isn’t always the enemy.
[Flashback to 1-15 ]
Vertag: Styles? Sergeant? (pokes her gently. No response) Little Marine person?
[Flashback to 1-17 ]
Vertag: What do you know about zombies? (Chaplain looks up at him and blinks) You know? Animated dead, shambling walk, immune to bullets or grenades?
Chaplain: You might…want to talk… um, to the Wiccan chaplain.
Voice(Female): (From inside the meeting tent) The hell he does!
[Flashback to 2-1]
(Vertag slides behind the desk in his office and sits with a sigh. Notices the SOG)
Vertag: Sergeant Touch! You’re back!
Touch: Yes, sir.
Vertag: Did you get the care package? Did they let you have yours?
Touch: (laughs) Oh, yeah. (laughs some more. Vertag smiles, waits patiently) It’s just… Man, if I had known ten years ago? I mean, imagine me telling my mom: “Mom? When I grow up, I’m going to get my leg bitten half off by a rat, in one bite, and while I’m in the regen tank, in orbit around a planet we’ve never heard of yet, a giant’s going to send me T-Rex sandwiches as a care package….” (shakes head) She’d have beat me half to death with her Bible.
Vertag: (Nods) My mom had a similar approach to basic truth challenges. Except her favorite was the index volume of the encyclopedia. (they both rub the backs of their heads unconsciously. When they see the other doing it, they laugh and lower their arms)
[Flashback to 1-17]
Admiral: Does anyone in Coastal City know what he’s doing there?
Tech1: Miss Crane reports that he’s helping a friend move furniture.
Tech2: Vertag has friends?
[Flashback to 1-18]
Janet: Hey, Vertag? Why would Cheryl and her giant be afraid of you?
Vertag: I’m SID. Everyone’s afraid of SID.
(Back to the interview)
Vertag: They are consummate professionals. I think they are optimistic that I'm not an enemy, but they keep a distance, if only for safety.
Charity: That's nice. And you, Miss Crane?
Janet: I…get along well with the humans.
Charity: No, no. I mean, how often do you meet other giants? And what do they think of you?
Janet: Those in the program have always been courteous. Some of those that aren't SID…
[Flashback to 1-6]
Janet: (steps forward) Can we help you?
Bruiser: Hey, look, Macik, a Earthling broad.
[Flashback to 1-6]
Macik: (to Lessala) Look, missy, I wanna talk to your boss. Not the pets.
Lessala: She more or less IS my boss.
Macik: Really?
[Flashback to 1-9]
King: Hey, she talks!
[Flashback to 1-9]
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?
[Flashback to 1-2 ] (On the table, Janet pants heavily but holds the grenade launcher steady.)
Janet: PUT! THE WOMAN! DOWN!
(Back to the interview)
Janet: Well. They've been a bit more difficult to deal with, but we've gotten by.
Charity: Good, good. Now. What are you two learning from each other?
Vertag: What?
Charity: Learning. Have there been exchanges of ideas? Have you peeked inside each other's hearts, learned the motivations, seen the depth of the human condition and how it pertains to the giant life?
Janet: Who the hell writes this stuff?
Charity: My editor. (laughs) But seriously, how much have you two learned from your partnership?
[Flashback to 1-1]
Vertag: (as they pass a window in front of the plane. It’s a relatively small passenger jet) Must seem pretty impressive to someone of your size.
Janet: (rolls her eyes) Oh, yes. Very imposing.
[Flashback to 1-4]
Vertag: Oh, my…
Dordell: Son of a…(shift to a view of the Inflict. It looks like a cross between the Spindrift and a battleship. The bow curves to match a shark’s jaw, with paint to enhance the image. Weapons blisters cover the sides. Gun turrets, missile launchers, various antennae and spotlights wave back and forth as it lowers straight down to the ground, the camera following. At the last second, the view drops enough to show the compound. In comparison to the giants, the INFLICT is the size of a nuclear sub. It barely fits in the staging area, stopping to hover over the ground about one giant’s height above it)
Janet: (giggles) Must seem pretty impressive to someone of your size.
(Back to the interview)
Vertag: I've learned not to underestimate humans. What you guys decide to do, it's only a matter of time until you do it.
Charity: Well, Agent Vertag, allow me to thank you in the name of all of us humans.
Janet: I've learned that Captain Burton's warnings certainly can't be ignored. But not all of the giants are the evil monsters he seems to recall from his time here.
Vertag: Why, thank you, Janet.
Janet: I was talking about Lessala!
Vertag: Of course. I don't think Burton ever met anyone with legs like my secretary's.
Lessala: (Offscreen voice) Wow! Thanks! Both of you! (all laugh a little bit)
Charity: Alright. Well. Some folks back home speculate that Vertag, here, is crucial to the whole idea of the Exchange. And that for him to participate, we need you. Are you two, is your relationship the linchpin that's going to make the Exchange work?
(Vertag and Janet look at each other for a moment. Fond smiles. Vertag nods and gestures for Janet to speak)
Janet: I think…giants LIKE Vertag are crucial. They see the exchange as a positive effort. As a beneficial one. And they are honest. Some of the SID minions he's got working for him are starting to see this as a good thing, or at least they don't resent working for the detail. I hope so, at least.
Vertag: I think so.
Charity: So, is it a benefit? Are you guys working together to make a human/giant society a future possibility?
Janet: Oh, gosh, no.
Vertag: Not in the foreseeable future, no. But…maybe the Exchange is forcing us to take a closer look at what we've done to humans? Maybe we'll make different choices if we meet again.
[Flashback to 1-1]
Vertag: Hell of a first day. But you have your first rescues, huh.
Janet: You tried to tell me.
Vertag: Yes, but you wouldn’t have believed me without seeing it.
Janet: (sigh) It’s not what I expected.
Vertag: Nothing ever is.
Janet: How’s your hand?
Vertag: (shows her that there’s no blood, not even a scar) Fine.
Janet: You’re not going to punish them?
Vertag: They did what they did because of what my people have done to them. I think that’s enough.
Janet: Thanks. (they sit in silence for a moment) You still think we have no rights?
Vertag: None at all. (sincerely)
Janet: But you don’t like what was done to those families, do you?
Vertag: No. But not because of the humans. (he slides down a bit to bring his head closer to her) See, you seem to be a very good person. Nice, polite, beautiful, intelligent. Everything I’d look for in a friend.
Janet: Except that I’m three apples tall.
Vertag: (looks at her skeptically) One good apple, maybe two measly ones.
Janet: Never mind. Go on.
Vertag: It’s just… As near as I can tell, your height is the only thing that’s different about you. It seems almost arbitrary to discriminate against you because of it. Next we’ll be saying we can exploit all blondes, or everyone from Mining Town, or everyone born between the 1^st and 12^th of Suntime.
Janet: But you still don’t think we have rights?
Vertag: No, no, no. You don’t, you’re not part of our society, you don’t get rights. It’s my people I’m worried about. If we can come up with one reason, one difference, that justifies doing the things those researchers did, to someone that’s like us… Well, then we can come up with reasons to torture just about everyone, if we try. I worry that we’re damaging our own moral fiber every time we do this.
Janet: (nods slowly) Oh. Okay. Enlightened self interest. I can work with that. I’d prefer sympathy, or empathy. But I’ll take what I can get.
Vertag: Okay. (another moment of silence) You want to get dinner?
Janet: I think… I think I want to sit here, for a while.
Vertag: (slips further down to lay flat on the floor) Hmmm. ‘Enlightened self interest.’ I like that phrase.
(View changes to Janet's dollhouse bedroom. She's in her sleeping bag, snoring lightly as Charity's voice closes down the interview.)
Charity: (Voice) Well, there you have it. The two hardest working Exchange liaisons think they can trust each other…
(Camera pans up and over the dollhouse roof. Vertag's hand is draped over the roof)
Charity: (voice) …But they don't think that it's the dawn of a new age for human/giant relations. We can only hope that they at least set an example.
(Camera pans up Vertag's arm to his face. He sleeps, snoring lightly. Beyond him we see Lessala's legs as she enters Janet's bedroom)
Charity: (voice) …And who knows? Maybe they aren't out to change society, but how many innovators truly started out with that intent? This is Charity Tomms. And my fingers are crossed.
Lessala: Oh, not again. Come on, big guy. Janet's safe for the night. (She tugs until he wakes and follows her out)
-------
Roll credits
- 8
- 9
- 10
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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 2