Participants:
| Scene Title | Gravely Mistaken |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Adam presents Linderman with an ultimatum. |
| Date | June 26, 2009 |
Central Park — Belvedere Castle
Constructed from the same stone as the Vista Point which supports it, Belvedere Castle seems to rise out of the earth itself. The miniature Gothic castle is easily visible from a distance, courtesy of both its height and the American flag fluttering from the turret's pinnacle. Its windows overlook views of Turtle Pond, the Delacorte Theater, and the Great Lawn. The interior, however, is anything but Gothic; the halls on both floors are filled with telescopes, microscopes, paper-mache birds, skeletons, and feathers, all laid out as parts of an interactive exhibit. In the Henry Luce Nature Observatory, visitors can borrow binoculars, notepads, maps, and guidebooks with which to study the wildlife of the park.
Adam has arrived early to Central Park, he actually likes it here. While he looks out over the wall onto the rather manicured lawns, he closes his eyes and feels a breeze. He has men here, they are scattered out across the park, but none join him in this specific part of the castle that he awaits his meeting. They aren't polished men, they're goons really, hardly anything that inspire any majesty, but a gun is a gun.
Footsteps sound against stone, though the leather loafers Daniel Linderman wears on his feet absorb the majority of the noise his approach makes as he winds his way up the staircase that leads to Adam's roost. He, too, appears to be alone — but as with anything, appearances and Linderman are often deceiving. He's clothed in a pair of business slacks and a long wool coat just a little too heavy for the weather, his large hands tucked into even larger pockets, dress tie flapping like a banner in the cool summer's breeze. When he crests the top of the stairs, his blue eyes settle on the man waiting for him and he pauses, expectant.
"Don't you enjoy it, Daniel?" he questions, "Just the smell when you close your eyes, when you can ignore everyone else and just pretend it's there for you." he opens his eyes and glances over for a moment, "You seem as if you might be hot in that, but I suppose you wouldn't admit it." he turns around and leans back against the ledge, "Well, we have a lot to talk about, I think. Do you think we should get chairs?"
"I'd rather remain standing, thank you." Which most likely means he doesn't intend on lingering in Adam's presence any longer than is necessary. He closes some of the distance between them in a series of measured strides, slow and cautious but without any of the reluctance or uncertainty one might expect — he is unafraid. "If you have something to say to me, then stop shilly-shallying and do so. This friendly veneer is a waste of both my time and yours."
Adam sucks in air between his teeth, disappointed, "Ah Daniel." he says, "So unnecessary. But, I suppose I understand why." he pauses for some moments, "You know…thirty years in prison does things to a man. Especially when it's isolated." his tone becomes low, "All I could think of was revenge. On all of you…the world…anything." he looks at Daniel, "Perhaps you most of all. My finest student." he looks a bit pained, "I had so much hope in you…you were like a son to me." he sighs, "And then you turned your back on me…You say because you couldn't fathom my methods and then.." he gestures vaguely towards midtown, "Of course, that's not true…what was it I wonder. Was it fear? Was it Angela?" he shakes his head and turns around, "I don't care anymore. I've found my…mentality has changed since I've been out. The world is still such a petty mess, but.." he shrugs. "I've decided that for the love I once had for you, I would forgive you." he pauses, "Of course, it wasn't alone I made this choice. I think you know that, I would." he looks back towards Linderman, "I'm expecting you to not involve yourself."
Linderman's lips crease into the thinnest of smiles. "Out of what?" he asks the elder man. "Gratitude? No, Adam. There is a difference between sacrificing a few thousand lives for the betterment of a nation and comparing the whole of the world to Sodom and Gomorrah." He removes one of his hands from his pocket and rubs its heel along his jaw, calloused skin scraping against the wiry white hairs of his beard. "You're no better than some of the company you've kept since your escape from Bishop's facility." He blows out a low snort of disgust through his nostrils. "Kazimir Volken. Do you have any idea what would have happened if he'd succeeded? If you'd succeeded?"
Adam chuckles, "Few hundred thousand. Don't you see, Daniel. You're talking about differences in degree, but not differences in kind. But, I suppose it helps you sleep at night." he pauses as he considers the other words, "Kazimir…one thing could be said of him, he stood by his principles and didn't hide behind semantics." he says as he glances towards Daniel a bit accusingly. He shakes his head, "To be honest, Daniel. I didn't believe he would succeed. Anymore than I think Arthur will. There's something…willful about mankind. Much like roaches, I suppose. They find a way to survive. And so, it's clear to me that wiping them out isn't an option. Not really.." he shrugs, "But, perhaps I should emulate you and find a few nuclear devices to explode?" he shakes his head, "She's the only thing that's keeping you alive. That's keeping your empire together. You know, once I set my mind to something, I usually get it done."
"Do you?" Linderman inquires with a skeptical lift of his bushy brows. "Apart from tying up the loose end that was our good friend Mr. Nakamura, of course. You couldn't even liberate yourself — you had to rely on Volken's little lapdog to do it." The hand at his chin drops back to his side, curling into a loose-fingered wrist, arthritic knuckles bulging beneath skin blotched by age. "If you think your relationship with my goddaughter grants you immunity, then you are gravely mistaken."
Adam mms, "Immunity?" he questions, "Immunity from what? You may try and interfere. But she knows enough about your operations to give her doubt. What if she were to find out exactly why New York is the way it is." he shakes his head, "You don't want this fight, Daniel. I give you truce. Do you really think you want to throw that in my face?" he questions, "Let this die between us and you will find your own immunity."
The expression on Linderman's face grows cold and steely. "You'd destroy Zoe's relationship with me to have your way." There's a pause as he slips that hand back into his coat pocket. "Very well," he says, "do as you will." Whether this means he's willing to let this — whatever it is — die between them isn't immediately clear, but he's already drawing away, heading back toward the darkened stairwell. "I think you underestimate how dedicated Angela and Bishop are to putting you back in that concrete box of yours. Siding with Arthur was a poor decision, on your part."
Adam tilts his head towards one side as he considers Daniel and then, "I think you underestimate the problems Angela and Bob are going to have on their own." he replies. "It was nice to see you, Daniel." he says as he turns out towards the lawn, "Do keep yourself well."
Wordlessly, Linderman disappears down the stairs, his footsteps reverberating off the stone walls until the echo dwindles away into nothing.