Title:Comeback - The Alternative Ending
Chapter: 7
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: sure, let me know where or visit my site
at http://www.landofthegiants-tv.co.uk/Entrance.html
Feedback: always welcome and cherished
Disclaimer: Never mine, all IA's...but lots of fun to play with

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Steve had everything ready. Two of the nails were shoved point first into the socket, just waiting for the third to be dropped on top to complete the circuit and blow the transformer. Dan and Barry were keepin tabs on the Giants still searching around the jungle set for Manfred's Little People. Dan had noticed some movement in a drain pipe poking out of the side of the set but couldn't verify if it was Mark and the others or just a trick of the light. Steve couldn't wait any longer, the search was starting to move their way and Egor was being kept busy looking after the Gorilla. Waving to Dan to take Barry and stand back, Steve took the remaining nail and dropped it onto the two sticking out of the socket. There was a deafening boom and a shower of sparks as the transformer short-circuted. The warehouse was plunged into darkness, only faint daylight coming through the grime smeared windows high in the roof provided any light at all. The Giants were now shouting in a panic, Baby was getting in on the act as well, hooting and screaming at the sudden loss of light. Steve, his eyes quickly adjusting to the near stygian gloom, saw a flash of light in the direction of the drain that Dan had seen movement in. Taking a bet that it was their missing friends, Steve shouted for Dan and Barry to join him. They made their way over to the set and found a cable hanging down, not far from where the pipe stuck out from the set wall. Steve quickly climbed the wire, reaching the ledge that ran around the edge, just wide enough for one man to walk. Dan and Barry, on the ground saw Steve start along the ledge, his back against the wall. Behind them, the Giants were starting to sort themselves out, a few torch lights wavering in the dark. Manfred could be heard directing Quigg to find the fuse box and get the lights on.

Steve had reached the pipe and hit his fist on it, alerting its occupants to his presence. Mark eased himself out and managed to balance himself at the end of the pipe.

" Steve ?"

" Here Mark, are you all okay ?"

" All present and in one piece, do we thank you for the lights ?"

" Yeah, but we don't have much time, climb out and give the others a hand, if we get Val and Fitz onto the pipe they should be able to reach the ledge."

With much fumbling and a couple of scary moves all three former actors reached the ledge where Steve waited. Everyone was keyed up and running on nerves but they managed to reach the cable and get to the floor without a single Giant flashing their torch in their direction. Dan and Barry were an enthusiastic welcoming party but Steve quickly led them all away, back to the costume boxes, once everyone was on the ground.

They had just reached the boxes when the lights came on, blinding them momentarily. Steve, quinting in the harsh glare, pushed them towards the half open box, checking behind them to make sure they hadn't been observed. Fortunately the Giants were affected even worse by the change from dark to light and were milling around in confusion.

" That was a close run thing, Captain Burton," wheezed Fitzhugh, laying back and clutching his heart.

" Timing is everything Fitzhugh," said Steve, " being an actor, you'd know all about that,"

" I'm quite happy to forego my film career for a nice warm bed and a hot meal back at camp," Fitzhugh replied.

" Betty must be going out of her mind," said Valerie.

" I spoke to her earlier today, Val. She's waiting on standby, in case she can help," Dan told her, patting his radio.

" What now, Steve ?" asked Mark, joining him at the entrance to the box. The two men watched the Giants make a half hearted effort to find the missing Little People. After half an hour, and much shouting and arm waving from Manfred, the Giants appeared to give up. All but Manfred left by a side door, apparantly for the night. Manfred continued to look around, calling Egor over to help.

Baby was back in her cage, but Manfred, obviously deciding to take his frustrations out on somebody, started to poke the Gorilla, using a piece of wood. The Gorilla hooted and screamed and Egor rushed over to stop the enraged man before he really hurt the animal. Steve decided it was enough of a diversion to get the rest of them out, so he marshalled the group together and they started the long trek out of the warehouse.

Manfred was now argueing with Egor, waving the stick around and whacking it against the bars of Baby's cage, further angering the animal so that she shook and rattled the bars, her weight making the cage sway alarmingly.

Steve and Mark, keeping an eye on the confrontation, were nearing the huge sliding door, the only barrier now between them and freedom. The others were strung out behind them, using anything for cover as they traversed the floor.

Suddenly, with a loud shout, and a splintering of wood, the Gorilla cage was broken open and Baby, screaming her outrage, leaped on Manfred. The man screamed himself, holding his arms over his head as Egor vainly tried to pull the angry ape off his former employer. Baby was finally given the opportunity to pay back all the abuse suffered at Manfred's hands over the years. Bundling the cowering man into her former prison, Baby slammed the cage on Manfred's fingers and leered at her tormenter. Manfred tried to reason with the Gorilla but only succeeded in enraging her further, to the point where she picked up the stick he'd used on her and poked the caged man savagely, through the bars, making him leap around the confined area like a flea in a fit. Egor watched the whole proceedings with a wide smirk on his face. He knew his career was on the rocks, but he didn't care. Manfred would never make any money out of the film, and it was unlikely that his crew would be back without a show of wages, so it only remained for the Little People to be restored to their freedom and Egor could blow this joint and go home. He wondered how his landlord would feel about having a Gorilla in the apartment block.

Looking round the warehouse, Egor spied the Little People about to reach the sliding door. Checking that Manfred was fully occupied in trying to pacify Baby, Egor hurried over and crouched down.

" I can carry you out of here and return you to where I found you, if thats any help ?" he offered.

" We can find our way home from here, but thanks for the offer Egor," said Steve, the others gathering round behind him.

" I'm sorry I couldn't be more help to you, you weren't injured were you ?" he asked, looking particularly at Mark and Valerie.

" We're fine Egor, but what are you going to do about Manfred ?" asked Valerie, eyeing the caged Manfred with interest.

" I'll get Baby calmed down, then take her to a man I know. He takes care of animals no one wants. He gets them resettled in zoo's or animal sanctuary's. She'll finally get to be with her own kind," said Egor.

" We're sorry we spoiled your film comeback, will you get another chance ?" asked Fitzhugh, looking up at the Giant face.

" I think it's time I found a new career. With this face, I'm sure I'll find work somewhere, maybe in advertising, you never know," said Egor.

" Take care Egor, and say goodbye to Manfred for us. We're just not cut out for a film career," said Steve, raising his arm to wave goodbye.

The rest of the group waved as well, filing out through the sliding door into the warm sunshine outside. Egor watched them go, then took a deep breath and awkwardly raised himself back onto his feet. Dusting himself off, Egor made his way back to where Baby was leaning against the cage door, having exhausted herself, for the time being.

" Taking a rest Baby ? how about a nice banana ?"

In the cage, a bruised and battered Manfred eyed the man and Gorilla with loathing.

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It took them a further day and a half to reach the campsite and a very anxious Betty. On the way they had done some scrounging for food and water, coming up with several items to boost their stocks. Betty had hugged each and every one of the group on their return. Her own ordeal, alone at the spaceship, had made her appreciate their arrival back even more. Valerie slept for a full twelve hours, their first night back, exhausted by her experience with Baby and Manfred. She left the telling, to Betty, of their adventures to the men. Betty had hardly been able to believe all that Mark, Fitzhugh and Steve told her about their experiences as Manfreds 'actors'. Barry had taken great delight in relating their final escape from the studio, making them all laugh when he told Betty how Baby had turned the tables on her tormentor and shut Manfred in the cage.

It had been one hell of an adventure, but no-one, not even Fitzhugh, was keen to risk pursuing an acting career, atleast not while they were stuck in the Land of the Giants.

The End.