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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 1	By : keithcompany Category: G through L > Land of the Giants Views: 2010 -:- 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
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More Disclaimer: This work is my own. Do not repost this story beyond the limits of the Fair Use standards of Copyright Law (quotes, examples, �you gotta read this� excerpts, the usual).
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I do not own the characters or setting of LOTG. I make no profit from this fanfic.
More Disclaimer: This work is my own. Do not repost this story beyond the limits of the Fair Use standards of Copyright Law (quotes, examples, ‘you gotta read this’ excerpts, the usual).
A young man sits at a desk in an office of four desks. He’s the only one in the room at the moment. He wears a suit and tie, business formal.
The desk is covered with office equipment spanning about forty years of development. An electric typewriter sits next to a Ma Bell, rotary dial phone, for example. No computer. A clock-radio has big red LED numerals, but an analog tuning bar.
He reads through a report in a manila folder as a second man enters, much older but dressed similar.
Boss1: Vertag! You’re in early.
Vertag: As always, sir.
Boss1: Well! Today, being early gets you a significant honor.
Vertag: (putting the folder down and looking up) What would that be, sir?
Boss 1: (pulls something out of his pocket and places it on Vertag’s desk) A phone.
Vertag: What? This? (He lifts it up, we see that it’s a sleek but relatively large cell phone.) A phone?
Boss1: You can use it in any city with over 6000 people, and along any major highway with a Plus-Two rating. (He smiles, but notices that Vertag is looking at it rather distastefully.) What’s wrong with you?
Vertag: It’s just… (gestures at the phone in his hand) I keep thinking of what this piece of technology must represent.
Boss1: The triumph of science and research!
Vertag: (rolls eyes) No, the triumph of someone else’s science, and our triumphant exploitation of that someone.
Boss1: (Turns to leave, talks over shoulder) That’s the kind of talk that got you demoted to this office, Vertag. I’d consider not repeating it, if it were me.
Vertag: (Glares at the door as it closes) You would, wouldn’t you? (Shakes his head and pockets the phone. As he does, it rings loudly. He fishes it out and hunts the face. Finally pushes a button and lifts it to his ear.) Yes? Yes, sir. Right away. (Closes phone, stands, walks out. As the door closes behind him, we can read the title: Special Investigations Department. On the lower line, in smaller print: Career Criminal Archives)
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(Vertag walks down a hall, knocks on a door. A voice directs him to enter. This door is titled: Special Investigations Department. On the lower line, in smaller print: Earthling Division. One line below that: Inspector Kobick)
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(inside the office, Inspector Kobick sits behind a large desk, reading through a folder. The materials on that desk seem more advanced and Vertag’s were. He has a green-text computer monitor, much like an ‘80’s Apple screen, though no computer is visible. His phone is pushbutton, etc. He looks up as Vertag enters, gestures to a seat. Vertag sits down)
Kobick: Officer Vertag. I was just reading through your file.
Vertag: (sinking a bit in his chair) Oh.
Kobick: Yes. Oh. It seems that you’re a man of many talents, but very few promotions. (He looks up at Vertag, inviting an input).
Vertag: Yes, sir. I have a small blind spot in politics.
Kobick: Politics?
Vertag: I have suggested, a time or two, that our relationship with the Earthlings is not the most…efficient.
Kobick: Go on.
Vertag: It’s just, we capture them, interrogate them, even torture them, and we get a few scraps of technology. I can’t help thinking that if we had a better relationship, we’d get more technology, faster, and in a more useful manner. Maybe even improve our own science, not just our reverse engineering skills.
Kobick: (Nods. he lifts a page from the folder) You let an Earthling escape from custody?
Vertag: Yes, sir. He had information on the location of a kidnap victim.
Kobick: So you made a deal with him?
Vertag: (angrily) No, sir. I took him to the building he identified, entered, found a serial killer abusing a small girl…and in the attempt to arrest the man and free the girl, the Earthling escaped.
Kobick: Wasn’t the Earthling your professional priority?
Vertag:   I don’t think so, sir.
Kobick: (leans forward and glares) Don’t think so? Or didn’t think so?
Vertag:   (Shifts a bit in his seat) Sir, the SID chases dissidents, rebels, terrorists and Earthlings. (Kobick nods) We do this to protect the people, sir. That girl, and any future victims, are all people we’re chartered to protect. I thought so at the time, and still think so.
Kobick: Do you see the Earthlings as a threat?
Vertag:   To our government, yes. As things stand. We predate on them, that makes them allies to the rebels. I think that if we could reconstruct our relationship with them, the threat could be…lessened.
Kobick: (leans back, relaxing) So, you would grant rights to Earthlings.
Vertag:   (tenses up, as if thinking this is a trap) No, no sir. Rights are a function of citizenship. They are not citizens of our society. We can treat with them, but I doubt we could socialize with them.
Kobick: Interesting. (he points to the folder) Vertag, you may have heard that I’ve been on Special Assignment for the last couple of years. You may not know that if it weren’t for the political problems you’ve had, you’d have been a prime candidate for that SA.
Vertag:   I didn’t know I was considered for the SA, sir.
Kobick: Well, you were. Now you are.
Vertag:   Sir?
Kobick: The Special Assignment was created after we established contact with Earth. With a few governments on Earth.
Vertag:   (sits perfectly still for a second, then deadpans:) They must have been pissed.
Kobick: (laughs) Oh, you have no idea. Anyway, they’ve found our dimensional lock, and found a way around it. They’ve identified the wormhole that brings Earthlings here. And they’re here.
Vertag:   (sitting forward showing interest) Here?
Kobick: (Points to the ceiling) They have a fleet in orbit.
Vertag: Fleet.
Kobick: We’ve been arranging transfers. (he taps the pushbutton phone) They give us tech, we give them Earthlings.
Vertag:   (looks off to the side) That explains the surge in ‘inventions’ lately.
Kobick: Yes. That’s classified, by the way.
Vertag:   Of course, sir.
Kobick: Now, the operation is moving into phase two. That’s where you come in.
Vertag:   Finding something the Earthlings want to trade for once we’re out of captured ones to trade?
Kobick: No, that’s phase three. We need to collect Earthlings that are not in our current control. Find them, transfer them to the Fleet, get credit we can use to get more technology.
Vertag:   Oh. How can I help with that?
Kobick: (turns back to the folder) You let this human go in…. Coastal City? I hear that you have something of a reputation in Coastal City.
Vertag: (slowly) Not…a good one, sir.
Kobick: (waves away the objection) Good, bad. You’re known. To at least some humans. And the local law enforcement. You’re going to be the director of the Earthling Exchange Program in Coastal City. At least, if your partner approves. How about it?
Vertag:   (scans around the room, looking from door to door) Partner? (Kobick points to the bookcase beside Vertag’s chair)
Janet: (A tiny woman steps out from behind a small statue on the shelf. She’s blonde, dressed in military fatigues, and about six inches tall (in comparison to the men). She smiles and nods) I think he’ll do, sir. Hi! I’m Janet Crane.
(Roll titles)
Airport tickets counter. Woman behind the counter looks up as Vertag arrives. He is wearing something similar to a shoulder holster, but it rides high on the front of his chest.
The boxy leather case is about twice Janet’s height, more than her arm’s lengths wide. The full contents of the Earthling Carrier will develop in future scenes, but it should look like there’s room for a few chambers in the thing. A gun rack and a tiny water closet would make sense, maybe a communications station.
Janet rides in the top level, looking out like a soldier in a tank turret. Aside from this, Vertag is wearing what Dragnet used to refer to as their ‘soft’ clothes. Business casual for the rest of the world. Collared shirt, slacks, shoes that are not sneakers.
Vertag:   Flight for one to Coastal City.
Ticket Agent: Of course, sir. (she types) One way?
Vertag:    Yes.
Ticket Agent: (glances at Janet) And will you be needing a restraint?
Vertag:    No.
Ticket Agent: (stands on tiptoe to look down at Vertag’s luggage) Do you have a restraint?
Vertag:    Yes. (she looks quizzically at him) Janet, do you plan to make the plane crash?
Janet: Um, no.
Vertag: So, you’re not going to rip through the wiring, or penetrate the pressure hull, or put additives in the fuel tank?
Janet: No. I have nothing like that planned. I promise.
Vertag: (turning to agent) See? She promises.
Ticket Agent: I’m afraid Directorate regulations…
Vertag:    (opens wallet to show his badge) This Earthling is cooperating with Us. She needs no restraint.
Ticket Agent: (Deflates rapidly) Yes, sir. Of course, sir. (she bows her head and types. Slips a boarding pass to the Agent, who turns and walks away.)
Janet: Um, hey, thanks for sticking up for me, Vertag.
Vertag:    It’s just a stupid rule, to think that every single Earthling is suicidal and deranged.
Janet: uh, yeah. That’s what I meant.
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.
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On the plane, Vertag settles in, removes the holster and straps it around the seat next to him. He makes sure Janet is comfortable, she nods.
Vertag: So, you were saying. You volunteered.
Janet: Well, that’s about it. I passed the screening, spent six months in training, and now I’m here as a liaison.
Vertag: (gazing into the distance) Exactly what would the training have involved?
Janet: We watched a lot King Kong movies. (He stares blankly) Sorry. Inside joke.
Vertag: Cultural reference? (she nods) Okay. Anyway, I don’t imagine a lot of hand-to-hand combat-against-giants drills?
Janet: No. Your planet, human conditions, what we knew of your laws, government….
(fade out)(fade back in, the plane is airborne.)
Vertag: …make a good liaison.
Janet: Thanks.
(A stewardess places a dish of food before Vartag. He looks to Janet)
Vertag: Do you want some of this?
Janet: Oh, I have some military rations.
Vertag: (Looks at his food, sniffs, looks back at Janet) You, uh, want to save that? For emergencies? If your government contractors are anything like ours, even airline food…
Janet: Well…. (Vertag holds out his hand. Janet ducks down, comes back up with a military mess kit. She hops over the rail and onto his palm.)
(We watch from his point of view as she scoops out a serving from his plate, then sits down in the corner to eat.)
(fade out)(fade back in, the plate is gone, she still sits on the fold-down table.)
Vertag: …then the Senator complained and I got transferred once more. And I was in the Archives until I got the call to Kobick’s office.
Janet: Was this when you got the reputation Kobick mentioned?
Vertag: Ah. No, that was Coastal City. There’s…complications with Coastal City.
Janet: Oh?
Vertag: Well, it’s an independent nation.
Janet: Really? We were told that the Directorate controlled the entire planet.
Vertag: Yeah.
Janet: And…?
Vertag: Oh. Well, it’s a nation. Second Nation, in fact. They have their own government, and they were completely apart some time ago. Then First Nation got some industrial advantages-
Janet: From captured humans.
Vertag: Humans…
Janet: It’s what we call ourselves. Instead of Earthlings.
Vertag: Okay. Yes, captured Earthlings have given us an advantage. But rather than go to war and conquer our enemies, we just convinced them that there were economic benefits of joining in an alliance.
Janet: Was any country not convinced?
Vertag: Yes. We conquered them. It went a long way to convincing everyone else of the benefits.
Janet: (Gazes up at Vertag, trying to gage if he’s joking)(Shrugs) So, they’re allies?
Vertag: Mostly. And that’s part of the problem. They only barely tolerate SID or First Nation troops on their soil.
Janet: And you pushed the envelope?
Vertag: What? No, it was field work. Not an office.
Janet: No, no, I mean, you-
(fade out) (Fade in: A bird’s eye view of a compound is shown. It is about the size of a city block, with a high brick wall on all edges. Large solid gates are in the center of the walls at each end. There is one building built into the corner against the walls, a few others along that side do not touch the walls. Half of the compound is empty ground. Two cars are parked on the road out front. Sparse traffic passes by. A taxi pulls up to the front)
(Down on the ground, Vertag gets out of the taxi. Stands on the curb while the cab driver pulls out suitcases. A door in the corner opens. Man in a suit steps out.
Vertag: Agent Dordell! (smiles and gives a small wave)
Dordell: Agent Vertag. (no smile, arms folded, leaning in the doorway) Never thought you’d come back here.
Vertag: Well, I go where they send me.
Dordell: I know that. I just thought you’d never get field work again. So, where’s the Earthling?
Vertag: (walks closer to the door) Janet? May I introduce my former partner, Agent Dordell?
Dordell: Senior Agent Dordell (he stresses his title)
Janet: Hello.
Dordell: A woman? They sent a woman for this post? (looks up to Vertag’s face) A woman Earthling and you. Tells you what they think of this post.
Janet: Now, wait-
Vertag: Dordell, they don’t like us. They don’t like our government, they don’t like how we treat them, and they don’t like how we treat women. Do you think there’s anything you could do to be more offensive right now?
( Dordell shrugs, Vertag smiles slightly, then turns to start lifting suitcases in through the door. Dordell moves out of the way but doesn’t help)
(Inside, Dordell leads them through a simple waiting room. Desk, a few chairs. Vertag wears Janet’s case, carries a satchel over his shoulder.)
Dordell: This used to be a military staging facility. This is the entry.
Janet: (just loud enough for Vertag to hear) Oooh, the giants are years ahead of us in receptionist know-how. (Dordell turns to catch another small smile on Vertag’s face) Something funny?
Vertag: Just the big rip in the back of your trousers, Senior Agent Dordell, sir. (Dordell’s hand grabs his behind, then he fumes)
(In another room, a small tower of glass cages sits in the middle of the floor. As they draw near, we see that the cages have human-sized furniture.)
Janet: Cages?
Dordell: Humans that are turned over to SID for the exchange will be kept here.
Janet: Cages?
Vertag: Furniture. That’s actually a bit better than they’ll be used to.
Dordell: Over here, there’s a greeting line. (A long counter runs along the bottom of the cage stack. There are chairs next to little wire windows, looking much like the visiting rooms for a prison. There are chairs on the other side, in a glassed in hallway, that leads to a glass tube running through a wall). The Earthlings from the Fleet can communicate with the little people, start identifying them, whatever.
Janet: Cages? Why not just turn the humans over?
Dordell: (turns to face the other two) Now, I want to be clear on this.   You (points to Vertag) don’t have the authority to turn them over, you (points down to Janet) don’t have the authority to accept them from him. I’ll be traveling down here to formally sign them over. I’m the senior agent for Second Nation, it’s my responsibility.
Janet: So, they just sit in the cages until you get around to releasing them?
Dordell: As he said, it’s better than they’ve got right now. And I’m overseeing transfers in five cities. So you wait until I get here. I’m the authority.
Vertag: Yes, Janet. Dordell is in the position of authority here.
Janet: I see what you mean. We must obey.
Dordell: Damn straight.
(Outside in the compound, Dordell waves to the corner building)
Dordell: Now, this is the SID building. You two live here, you keep the transfers here. (turns. As the camera tracks, we see a glass hallway from the cage room running to the next building. This one stands apart from the compound wall.) This is the Earthling building. (he opens the door and enters. The two story building is one big, empty space, stretching from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. At one spot, the glass hallway stretches one (giant) foot into the room and stops.)
Vertag: Roomy.
Dordell: Well, they can do whatever they want with it. There are power and water hookups. And the drains, of course.
Janet: It’s fine. What was this building used for?
Vertag and Dordell (together): That’s classified.
(Back outside, Dordell waves to the empty field half of the compound. Hard-packed dirt without any sign of life.)
Dordell: The staging area could be used for their landing site.
Vertag: (gazing from end to end) Is that a long enough runway for you?
Janet: (Close up, we see a wide, wicked smile) Oh, it’ll be fine. We’ll make do.
Dordell: Good. Now, let me show you your rooms.
(Inside the corner building, we see the two giants coming to the top of a flight of stairs. Dordell points to the left and right)
Dordell: She’s in there, you’re in here. (They go into Janet’s room. On a folding table, a small, cheap dollhouse faces the door. Vertag rolls his eyes)
Vertag: I was wrong. You could be more offensive.
Janet: No! It’s okay. I brought a sleeping bag, I can set up anywhere. (Vertag lowers the satchel to the table and opens it. He lifts Janet down, she walks into the bag and starts dragging out a few duffel bags. Dordell nods his head to the door. Vertag follows him out.)
Dordell: You see? (seems triumphant)
Vertag: That you’re an idiot? (they enter the other room on this floor. Vertag’s quarters are much like a cheap motel. A single bed, one lamp on one table, a chair and a door to a bathroom)
Dordell: No, no. The Earthling! She’s cooperative.
Vertag: (confused) And…that’s a bad thing?
Dordell: She’s putting up with everything! Everything’s fine, everything’s okay! (he closes the door) Everyone at HQ is acting like the Earthlings are something to be afraid of. They’re saying be nice, be gentle, be cooperative.
Vertag: Which she is….?
Dordell: Exactly! The Earthlings are desperate to get these exchanges. If they had any real power, they’d be telling US what would happen, and we’d be the ones saying ‘it’s fine, thank you, please cooperate.’
Vertag: You know, not everyone in a position of power reacts the way you would.
Dordell: The winners do. Those jackbutt’s at HQ are obviously weak.
Vertag: Or, they know something you don’t.
Dordell: What could that be? (snorts)
Vertag: You’re aware, of course, that she most likely put a listening device on me. (Dordell gives a start) So, she’s probably transmitting to the Fleet, and if they get upset with you, they’ll send a message to HQ about what you think about them.
Dordell: (hems, haws, and flees) Well, I have to get back to Centerville. I’ll call you when we can arrange a transfer.
Vertag: (steps into the hall to watch his senior down the stairs. Sighs, then knocks on Janet’s door) Sorry about the dollhouse. What can we do to make it better? (he walks around to the back to watch her set up. She’s on the second floor, in what’s painted to be a bedroom)
Janet: Oh, really, I don’t mind. (she pulls a rolled up hammock out of a bag and starts looking for a place to hang it.)
Vertag: I could get you some thumbtacks. I think we have an office downstairs.
Janet: I have nails. (puts the hammock down and walks towards the edge) You know, I didn’t put any bugs on you.
Vertag: But you do know what I said.
Janet: Hello? Your voice box is the size of an elevator. Any human in the building would know what you said.
Vertag: Yeah. I just needed him to shut up. And placing bugs is what he would do.
Janet: So he believes I did it. (she looks around, hands on hips) I think, though, that this would be more convenient on the floor.
Vertag: (Starts to reach for the dollhouse handle, looks to her for permission. She holds onto the door frame as he places it in the room corner.) Your wish is my command. (moves the satchel to lay beside her front door).
Janet: Thanks.
Vertag: No problem. Now, we need to find dinner, then get some sleep, then tomorrow start looking for…humans.
Janet: (looking less than confident for the very first time) Um, could we get anyone tonight? It’s just, I don’t think I could sleep without trying to rescue at least one person? Please? I’ve been kind of aiming for this for the last two years…
Vertag: Oh, yeah. Let me get the list.
(In Vertag’s office behind reception, he pulls a stack of paper out of a valise. Janet stands on the desk beside him as he scans the paper)
Vertag: Ah. There’s a research facility near here. They have a few Earthlings. They’ll have been alerted to our authority, we can pick them up any time.
Janet: We can go now?
Vertag: (looks at watch) If we hurry.
(The scene is a much more affluent reception lobby. A man in a lab coat is speaking urgently to Vertag)
Scientist 1: This is most irregular, Agent Vertag.
Vertag: Sir, my whole life, this week, is irregular. Now, you were told to end all experiments a week ago, and to be ready to transfer all Earthlings to SID custody at an unspecified date.
Scientist 1: Yes, well, we just assumed there would be some sort of warning.
Vertag: And this is it. I’m here to pick up six Earthling subjects. (looks at his watch) Any time now.
Scientist 1: Well, you just can’t expect- (a woman in a lab coat brings a wire cage into the room. Inside, two men, two women and two children crouch in the center. They are disheveled, their clothes worn. The bottom of the cage is covered with wood shavings. There is a water bottle on one side. They look around with obvious fear.)
Janet: (Close up to her face, horrified at the conditions the humans are in) Oh, dear.
Scientist 2: Here they are, sir. (places cage on the counter by Vertag’s elbow. One of the human males moves to the side of the cage and shouts)
Male1: You can’t do this! You have no right to do what you’re doing!
Vertag: (not really looking at the cage as he sorts through some paperwork, signing here and there) The bad news is, I have every right to do this. The good news is, I’m not doing what you think I’m doing.
Male1: I’m not falling for that! That’s what they said at the crash site! Your lies won’t work! I’m not telling you anything! (One woman tries to calm him down. The other woman holds the children close while the other man stands apart, looking confused)
Janet: Oh, Vertag, put me in there. I can calm them down.
Vertag: I don’t think that’s a good idea, Janet.
Janet: I’ll be fine, they’re just scared.
Vertag: I really don’t think-
Janet: Please?
Vertag: (sighs) Okay. But be careful. (he lifts her down to the desk and opens the cage door. She climbs in and walks slowly to the center. The two men move to block her from the others.)
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?
Scientist 2: Here, let me get that. (She pulls out a handkerchief, dabs at the wound, then starts binding it.) Nothing major. Put some liquid skin on it…
Scientist 1: We have some right…(steps out of the room)
Vertag: Thanks, but I just want to get back to the compound. (he glances down. Janet stands just outside the cage, watching the humans reaction. The mother has her eyes screwed shut, moaning ‘please don’t hurt him,’ over and over again.)
Scientist 1: (returning) This will only take a minute.
Scientist 2: You don’t want to try to drive with that cut.
Vertag: Okay. (holds out hand. Scientist 2 lifts up the cloth while Scientist 1 dabs something on it.)
Scientist 1: You know, technically they’re right. She is collaborating with us.
Vertag: (glares at the man) Well, more technically, we’re collaborating with her.
(Back in the cage room, Vertag opens the wire cage on the top of the stack of glass ones. The humans move slowly and cautiously out. Vertag points)
Vertag: (wearily) There’s food in the red boxes, showers on this end of each level, clean clothes in the closets… And if you need anything else, I’ll be by every so often to check on you.
Male1: Um…we’re sorry, sir. So very sorry for your injury…
Vertag: (shrugs) You’re terrified. I understand that. (leans closer to the humans) But if you ever hurt her again, you will regret it. (lifts away again) That’s not a threat. You really do owe her an apology. Whether you realize it yet or not.
(As the humans move to a clear staircase leading down into the stack, he lifts the wire cage and turns to the door. Halfway there he stops, staring at the cage. He hurls it against the wall, smashing it open. He stalks off)
(in her bedroom, Janet is sitting on the floor, up against the wainscoting between the door and the dollhouse. He enters, looks around, sees her, hunches down on the floor next to her)
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. (fade out)(roll credits)
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.Escape from Land of the Giants Season 1