The Loyal Lieutenants Act Ten Scene Two Sub Scene One

 

Act Ten

Scene Two

Sub-Scene One

Pompey’s Stand

 

Across the city at the wharf, Pompey checked the Browning on the bullets clip. He has thirty of his boys in the vicinity of the warehouse, all heavily armed. Junior approached him earlier.

“Father, let me stay. I can handle Mark.” Junior looked at his father.

“I was on the line with Brutus. The game is up now, and Mark will come for me.” Pompey looked at his son. “You must leave here and continue on if I fail.”

“Father, it was my involvement. Not yours.” Junior looked to his father again. “I collaborated with Cicero and Moses. I had them...”

“Silence, Junior. You are still learning the ways of Rome. I will take the fall here.” Pompey smiled. “I was once defeated when Caesar revolted. He was killed, but the Consul spared me after pleading with Caesar. I was to be the fall guy—the guy that everyone will know failed to take over the Romans. Caesar played his role well and won many battles after that or negotiated out of them. Me? I was to be the caretaker of the wharfs.”

“Not too bad a role. I made my fortune again and... partake in another attempt to topple Caesar, but I lost again. Mark Antony is an unknown factor in the plan; he is more than a foe; he is an enigma of pain to those who will challenge Caesar.”

“We can leave together, Father.” Junior pleaded.

“No, Junior. I will die defending the wharf as I always do for these years.” Pompey looked at Junior. “You will go. I have Brutus tell the Consul that you are unaware of the revolt here. You will be my successor to the wharfs. Do it better, and one day soon, topple whoever is Caesar.”

“Father, I have a barge ready for you at Pier Nine. It will be there if you need it.” Junior told the older man. “I will be... driving to Philly for a meet as planned.”

“Go, Junior.” Pompey shooed his son off. He then picked up the Browning and holstered it below his armpit. He then took up the sawn-off shotgun, which he would aim at Mark.

“Boss, Mark just drove in.” The leader of his boys told him.

“Tell them to get ready. We will show Mark Antony how we fight.” Pompey gave the order.

It was then that Brutus stepped into the library and met the trio of lieutenants. They were waiting for him. He walked to the table and took a glass to pour himself the whiskey.

“Today reminded me of the tale I once read some years ago. One old man was carried by his son on his back up the mountain. It was a tradition for the elderly to be left there to die once they were incapable of being taken care of by the children. Once the son reaches the spot where he was to place the father, he asks the father for forgiveness.

“Do not worry, son. You have done well for me, and now it is time for me to go. I will be fine here. I may not last the night, but I will get to see you leave. Be safe at home.”

“I do not want to leave you.” The son looked at the trail he took. It was getting dark, and he was unsure of the way back. “I may get lost.”

“You will not be. I have left a trail of broken twigs for you to follow.” The father told him. “Go with my blessing.”

The son did, and after wandering for many years, he finally made it home. His son recognized him and told him that he had aged. They could not find him for those years. He looked at his son and then at the mountain.

“Take me there. I will be fine on my own.” The father told the son. “Make your own trail to return. The one I may do will not lead to your home.”

Brutus laughed.

“Tell me, Brutus. What did you mean by that tale?” Agrippa asked.

“Well, I told the same tale to the Consul. Some of them were confused, and some were amused. I explained the reason for the tale. Pompey was the older man. He thought he could challenge us all, and he made his son the new Caesar. Genus Pompey never learned from his past mistake; he was defeated then. He is going to be here again. As we speak, Mark Antony is challenging him. He will lose to Mark Antony today.”

“Junior will not be the next Caesar. However, he is my godson, and for that, I will protect him. I told him to leave Rome. He will not bear the wrath of the Romans; he lived in exile for his father’s mistake.”

“After I completed my speech, the Consul was... ”

“Speechless, Brutus?” Agrippa asked.

“No, they agreed to it. It was I who was speechless.” Brutus smiled. “I was to say, do not trust the old man. He may fail you. That was why I sent Junior away. I do care. Pompey made one mistake and is now doing the same.”

“Maybe we are not that merciless anymore. Pompey will be the last of the murderous ones. We will all be civilized and live in... togetherness.” Brutus looked at the trio. “I declare to all... Consuls, Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent so that you may hear. Believe me for mine, honor. . . If then that friend demands why Brutus will not rise against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I do not love Caesar, but that I love Rome more than him. For now, I hail Caesar to lead us.”

“Bravo, Boss.” Menas stood up and cheered the Consul member. Those words will be said by Brutus one day when he does declare his true love.

“And your role was mentioned by Cicero?” Agrippa asked.

“Was there any? I do not recall any of it. The folder given to me did not say my name. Are you implicating me in the revolt? I shall submit to Caesar and Rome my loyalty and report on your insolence here.”

Both men stared at each other. It was Agrippa who broke the silence.

“My apologies, Brutus. I was out of line. It is a pleasure to know that... only Pompey was involved.” Agripa smiled.

“I am ever generous, Agrippa. I will leave all of you now. I may have a funeral to attend soon. Or two if both get shot.” Brutus took leave, and Menas voiced out.

“Who dares you to accuse Brutus?”

“I was mistaken. At my age, I may have misread the contents. I will let Caesar decide on the matter.”

Lepidus remained silent even though he read the report.

“Did Lady Fulvia play us for fools to give different folders to the Consul and us?” Menas was demanding an answer.

Agrippa remained silent with Lepidus. It was Menas who pulled on the argument for Brutus.

“If Brutus was mentioned, but there was no evidence he had a part in it, It could be prefabricated by Cicero to get Brutus in trouble.” Menas looked at the others. “Maybe the folder we got was edited and not the true folder. Only Lady Fulvia knows the truth.”

“Or Mark Antony did that. He... may be protecting Brutus.” Agrippa defended the folder he held. He held out the accusation to fuel the fire there.

“Do you still...” Menas was upset. “Mark Antony? He is the loyal lieutenant of Caesar.”

“Are we not his lieutenants? Agrippa, when we first met here, you mentioned...” Lepidus voiced out.

“Are we not to challenge Caesar anymore? It was our intention then when we convened as the Triumvirate.” Menas glared while he drove on the argument towards Agrippa.

“I was misled. I still regard Caesar as the leader of the Romans.” Agrippa looked away and then back towards Menas. “I hail Julius as Caesar.”

“I……” It was Mena's turn to be speechless.

“Hail, Julius Caesar.” Lepidus voiced out. He was the deciding factor.