Knowing You

Chapter Thirteen - OLD FRIENDS

Old man Rusty was enjoying his usual serene alone time in the theatre while scrubbing the stage floor and whistling a tune as he is doing so when the door opens. Rusty turns to see his guest slowly descend on the carpeted stairs and he greets him with a big smile on his face. It was no other than Mr. Gibbs who just came from his meeting at the Russeau’s Restaurant. He has with him the chilled vintage Port and a pair of wine glasses.

“What have we got here? Old Leonard finally pays his old pal a visit.”

“Did you miss me?” He said to Rusty.

“Not just I but also the chairs, the stage and the walls…we all missed you!”

Mr. Gibbs walks to him and embraces him tightly. Unbeknownst to most, these old souls were the best of friends. Rusty has always been the bubbly and friendly one while Leonard was the reserved type who also wasn’t very expressive.

“How long has it been?” he asked Rusty as they sat on the edge of the stage.

“Thirty years is a long time indeed.”

Mr. Gibbs pours a generous amount of the well aged liquor onto the two glasses and gives the other one to Rusty. He shakes it and smells the smooth aroma before taking a sip.

“The Burrow and the Magnificent Duo.” Mr. Gibbs said as his eyes wander around to scan the whole edifice in front of him.

“Those were the old times.” Rusty added.

“I remember the noise of the crowd every time they saw us on this stage. All the yells and cheers…it was all overwhelming. Such were the best of times.” Mr. Gibbs said while gesturing with his hands to describe the large crowd that was there to watch them.

“We were much younger back then Leonard. The ladies and gents were very much determined to watch our shows. I don’t know if it was us or our good looks that filled this theatre with women audiences.”

They both laughed loudly that it reverberated throughout the hall. Leonard Gibbs and Rusty Kirkland were the stars of the Burrow Theatre when the existing company back then took their day-off. They were stand-up comedians who entertained their audiences with their hilarious antics. They both grew up in the lime light as well and although they had contrasting personalities they found in each other certain commonalities and their love for the stage solidified their friendship.

“Say Rusty, is the old phonograph still working? I’d like to hear some good music.” asked Mr. Gibbs.

“Sure it does! Just like brand new. I never failed to handle it with care through these years. I even kept all the old records. It’s all in your office. Why don’t we take this conversation to a much more comfortable place, shall we?”

“After you old man.” Mr. Gibbs jokingly said to Rusty and again they laughed.

“I think your memory is failing you my friend. I ain’t the only old man around here.”

So they laughed their way to the old office where Mr. Gibbs used to own. The old furniture has been maintained by Rusty quite impressively that it looked the same as it was ten year ago. He opens a wooden cabinet on the left side corner of the room and lo and behold, Rusty was true to his word, he did a great job in maintaining the phonograph. He took out a vinyl record from the drawer below. The cover bears legendary band in English history, The Beatles. It was the debut album entitled “Please Please Me”. Rusty carefully places the record on the player and as the needle touches on the surface of the spinning record, the song starts. Mr. Gibbs masterfully sings along and impressively remembers the lyrics. Soon they were both singing aloud with their wine glasses on their hands.

While the two old gentlemen were enjoying themselves, Louis dropped Carlyn off in front of her apartment building. He remembered Old Man Rusty. He thought the old man must be alone and lonely. His good news would surely bring a smile to his face, Louis thought. So instead of leading home, he drives his SUV to the direction of Burrow Theatre to bring the good news to Old Man Rusty.

The Beatles’ song was still playing but the old men have settled in their seats. Mr. Gibbs was on his chair while Rusty sat on the soft sofa. They were reminiscing the good times.

“I will never forget Margaret. My sweet, loving and kind Margaret…” said Rusty.

“Oh she was a beauty to reckon with. And her talents even added to her amiable qualities. I must say you were a lucky man my friend.” He said as he took a sip from his glass.

“Yes, indeed, that is before she left me for good.”

Rusty’s reply turned them both quite silent.

“I love you…never stop smiling. Those were her last words. Oh Margaret, why did she have to go so soon? She was everything to me.” he sadly continued.

Seeing that his bubbly friend is turning sour again, Mr. Gibbs stood and approached him. He sits on Rusty’s side and puts his hand on his shoulder.

“You said it yourself. She wants you to keep smiling. So why the long face? You’re supposed to be the smiley face between us two and I your polar opposite. The grumpy old Mr. Gibbs.” and he makes a grumpy face as he said so.

Rusty was already laughing at his friend’s effort to look ugly.

“That never fails to make me laugh. I know you were always the grumpy one but I guess your grumpiness didn’t work on Cecilia. You seemed to have been bewitched by that woman.”

“Don’t mention her. She is the worst mistake that ever happened to me. I loved her Rusty, you know that. I thought I found my Margaret in her. T’was very unfortunate of me that she would choose that talentless spoiled brat who only knew how to please women in bed and with his fortune. How was I to know she was after the catch?”

“See? She still has a jinx on you. Look at your forehead, the lines are more visible than mine.” And he giggled a bit.

“Oh women, I don’t think I would ever find anyone fancier than your Margaret. I truly envy you.” He said with a smile.

Outside the theatre, Louis just got off from his car and speedily walked his way inside the empty hall. He called out Rusty’s name but nobody answered. He looked around and proceeded to search for the old man in his quarters. He calls out his name as he opens the door but finds the room empty. As he was on his way back to the hall, he saw the light in the old office and figured that Rusty was there. He didn’t call out his name this time for he was sure that he will find him there and he wants to surprise him. As he is approaching closer to the door, he hears Rusty laugh. The old man is not alone, he thought. He could hear another person’s voice. He was about to knock on the door when an interesting subject came out from the other man’s mouth.

“I bought this theatre because of her. Could you imagine that?! I bought it for a woman who took off with someone else.”

“But you gained more than you bargained for Leonard. The Burrow Theatre would not be known if it weren’t for your efforts though at the expense of your humor.”

Louis could recognize the voice but he could not believe it. He has to hear more to confirm his speculation.

“I haven’t fully lost it. I just grew up and became more mature…and grew old.” he joked.

“And became grumpy…” Rusty added to his words and they laugh again.

“That filthy rich buyer did save me from the depression of being reminded of her, you know. At last I get to step back here without any hesitations and free from those torturous memories. I’m just a plain gentleman visiting an old friend in an old theatre.”

“This is a celebration indeed. Louis must be very happy at the moment.”

“I don’t know…baffled is more like it. And who wouldn’t be? It’s not every day that someone buys an entire theatre and gives it to you and all you have to do is do what you know best which in this case is acting. It’s a very simple condition yet it’s very suspiciously mysterious.” Mr. Gibbs said with a glowering expression on his face.

“And who is this mysterious buyer any way?” asked Rusty.

Louis straightened up upon hearing it and moved his ear closer to the door. He could only make out an audible enough sound of the voices through the music that is being played inside.

“I wish it was that easy but I can’t. I am prohibited from divulging any information about his identity to anyone and I had to sign an agreement of it or else the deal was over. I didn’t have much choice so now my lips are sealed. You mustn’t and you cannot make me say anything.” he said and gulped the remaining contents on his glass.

“I wasn’t going to force you into saying anything but you don’t seem to realize that you just gave me a clue.”

Mr. Gibbs gave him a stern look.

“You said it’s HIS identity. Then I must presume it’s a HE…”

Louis was delighted to hear this revelation but he craves for more clues so he stayed and listened.

“No need to worry Leonard. As what I’ve said I won’t force you into divulging more so even that tiny bit of clue is safe with me. But I must ask, does this new owner plan to continue being anonymous or is he going to make himself known in the future?” asked Rusty.

There was a long pause before Mr. Gibbs spoke, “I completely have no idea…”

Suddenly they heard something fall outside the door. Rusty puts his glass on the table to investigate on the intruder.

“Who’s there?!” he called out but nobody answered. Instead more clattering sounds are heard. It seems the intruder is fixing his mess.

Mr. Gibbs stood from his seat and waited as he watched Rusty go to the door and opens it. To their surprise it was no other than Louis Travis who has been eavesdropping the whole time. He was holding the coat rack as he carefully placed the coats over it, apparently after picking it up from the floor. When he sees Rusty on the doorway he swiftly straightens up and greeted him.

“A pleasant evening to both of you…” Louis said, abashed.

“A pleasant evening Louis. What is it you’re doing here in this wee hour?” asked Rusty.

Mr. Gibbs now stood behind Rusty as he interrupted, “Isn’t it obvious?! He’s been listening to us talk. Have you no sense of propriety, boy? Didn’t anyone teach you it’s wrong to eavesdrop?”

Louis knew what he did was terribly wrong and he had no plans of denying it. Although he still hated Mr. Gibbs, he humbly admits his mistake.

“I am utterly sorry for secretly prying on your conversation. Believe me it wasn’t planned. I just came here to deliver the good news to the Old Man. But I guess he is already well informed. I have already done so much intrusion, I believe I must leave you to your own privacy now…”

“Of course you should! Why else should you be staying here?” exclaimed Mr. Gibbs.

Rusty turned to his friend with a smile, “Oh don’t be too cranky Leonard. He just came here to deliver me the news such as yourself.” Then he turns to Louis is still stood there with a pale face. “Come on inside and have a glass of wine. You look rather feverish.”

Mr. Gibbs was grumbling under his nose but did not resort to extreme measure to keep Louis outside. Rusty poured half onto the glass and Louis drinks it. Releasing a refreshing air of “Ahh!” after gulping the tangy, bitter and sweet taste of the fine wine.

“Thank you Rusty.” Louis said. “So I guess the legend of you two is true after all? I didn’t want to believe it until awhile ago. Considering that Mr. Gibbs here is known for his bursts of tantrums. I thought it was unlikely that he was endowed with the talent of entertaining an audience.”

“How dare you insult me after what you just did awhile ago?! You do not have the slightest idea of who I am. I was already conquering the stage while you were still a whimpering babe!” Mr. Gibbs snapped at Louis. “Have you even the slightest idea of the gravity of your actions? Eavesdropping…It would have cost me everything if I did speak of the sponsor’s name. In fact it wouldn’t be just my problem, it will be yours as well!” he was now pointing his finger at the younger gent who was rather maintaining his dignified posture evidently unyielding to the dominance that Mr. Gibbs is trying to impose upon him.

“Then it would be truly most unfortunate if you did reveal who the sponsor is. Although I can proudly say that I am very good at keeping secrets. But I can assure you I am not that kind of person Mr. Gibbs. In fact, I was already leaving to give you all the time you needed with Rusty here when you found me. But perhaps no matter what reason I give you, you will only refuse to believe me.”

Rusty did not want the evening to end with both men still bickering. So, he took the chance of stopping the argument.

“Time-out both of you!” exclaimed Rusty with his hands raised towards each of the gentlemen. “Fighting isn’t going to change how both of you look at each other. I insist that you talk this over…right…now!”

They were stunned at Rusty’s sudden reproach for they never saw him that way before.

“I believe this is just another case of misunderstanding and a long history of prejudices. I want both of you to lay everything on the table and get it over with.”

Louis and Mr. Gibbs swallowed hard and looked at each other. They pointed at each other and said in unison, “You go first!”

“No, you go ahead first you’re the elderly one so go ahead.” said Louis

“Why me?! It’s you who has an issue so you speak first.” said Mr. Gibbs.

They both sighed and crossed their arms while glowering at each other. Then again in unison they said, “Fine, I’ll go first…” and they exchanged a glare again before looking away. Rusty was shaking his head. Silence filled the room but the tension has somehow subsided. Louis decided to sit it out and declared that he will keep his mouth shut, giving Mr. Gibbs the chance to spill out everything that needs to be known.

Mr. Gibbs started narrating the events from before. It turns out that he received a Notice of Order of Sequestration from the government and that the theatre was going to be demolished. He said it was due to the reports that the actors he acquired from a certain scheming agent were illegal immigrants. Because he dearly loved the theatre, he decided to bribe the authorities not only to save himself but to save the property from immediate sequestration as well. He did not know what to do with all the actors though. He could not support them and his money could not save them from the authorities. He could not save them even if he already tried to negotiate. But only Rusty knew all about this. Mr. Gibbs then had to pay a huge amount every year to keep the property. Without any actors and after a ruined reputation, Leonard fell into depression and ordered for the closure of the theatre. That was the time when he ran to his old friend, Rusty. Rusty and Margaret took him in and helped him through those dark times. The couple swore never to tell anyone of what has happened to the well-reputed Leonard Gibbs and many speculations were born mostly against him. Tragedy followed unfortunately for Rusty. Margaret died of leukemia without leaving an heir. Rusty was alone and he refused to live in the house. Every corner reminded him of Margaret. He requested Leonard that he be allowed to live in the theatre for although he will be alone, his memories of the spotlight will flood him and soon sweep away the loneliness. Or so he hopes it to be. It seems both Leonard and Rusty were meant to spend the remainder of their lives together. But Leonard Gibbs had a remaining spark of ambition in him.

Leonard Gibbs decided to make a return to the entertainment industry. He toiled and struggled until he could regain his morale and when he was already back on his feet, Leonard went back doing his entertainment business with his past behind him.

“That is how I came up with my own agency. You might say it’s some sort of rectification of what that scheming bastard had done to me. I don’t give a damn. All I knew then was that they have not seen the last of Leonard Gibbs.” He said.

At first his business sailed on fairly but it wasn’t long until another dilemma caught up with him. For the last three years he has failed to pay his dues to the government because he is losing so much without getting anything back from the dormant theatre. It is a relief to have sold it. He admits he did not trust Louis. He was utterly in doubt that he and his friends could ever pay for the property so he had to shun them away. Yet he always hoped and prayed that a miracle would happen and the mysterious buyer turned sponsor was undoubtedly an answered prayer.

After hearing what Mr. Gibbs had to say Louis remarked, “Is that all of it?”

The two old men exchanged stunned looks before looking back at Louis in disbelief.

“Are you expecting me to believe it right away?” Louis said as he looked at both men clearly aghast at his comment.

“Well, if you wish to find any proof of it it’s all inside the suitcase I gave you. I wouldn’t waste my saliva to concoct an intricate lie such as that.” Mr. Gibbs said with a sigh.

Rusty was scratching his head as he added to support his friend, “I can attest to everything he said Louis.”

Louis stood from his seat and poured wine over each glass and gave them to each gentleman. They were puzzled by this gesture. Louis took the bottle and raised it for a toast. They stayed in place frozen in disbelief and confusion. Louis gestures them to raise their glasses as well and they did so with looks of suspicion.

“No need to fret gentlemen. I was only sizing you up Mr. Gibbs. My notions about you have completely crumbled. I don’t have anything to say anymore. Perhaps just to extend my gratitude for both of you, I will reserve seats for you on our grand opening presentation and all succeeding shows in the future. And I promise to both of you that the Burrow Theatre will be restored to its glory.”

Both Rusty and Leonard gave a sigh of relief.

“You’re going to give us a heart attack!” exclaimed Mr. Gibbs.

“You really got us there Louis.” said Rusty.

Their laughs echoed through the room and they stayed until dawn. Louis left the two old gents to continue their recollection which he unintentionally interrupted and drove home for he is still bound to make the wonderful announcement to his colleagues. As he gazes at the crimson tainted sky as dawn breaks, he looks forward for better days to come free from the worries of the past and free from pent up bitterness at last.