Narrator: Time reveals all. At 52, Iya Paso could remember her father's words more than two decades ago when she decided to marry the young Bamgbose. Her father was a widely known wealthy man flabbergasted when his youngest daughter chose to marry this sweet-talking, handsome playboy. He had carried out his investigation and realised that the boy was up to no use. He was trouble. He shared his reservations with his daughter, who instead was too blind and drunk In love to see the deceit. He warned her, but she didn’t listen. But he made a daring move, gave his daughter and her new husband properties in her name. He used it as insurance. In case something went wrong, his daughter won’t be left stranded. She had quit everything for the man, including her studies. He concluded that the boy had 'Jazzed’ his daughter because that wasn’t love. Well, now she’s 52, she had finally seen what my father saw all these years. Bamgbose was up to no good, then and also now. She didn’t want to believe that she had been hypnotised. She must’ve been very foolish, instead. Now that the scales her off, she had one decision to make, break free from the claws of Bamgbose and save what is left of her inheritance. She placed a call to her father’s lawyer for the first time in more than two decades.
(Morning 9:00 am)
(Emekus and Bayo standing in front of their shops, gisting with one another)
Bayo: Omo, some people dey live fake life for this country o!
Emekus: Like our Baba Landlord
Bayo: You be mad man, who mention name now?
Emekus: You no sabi talk truth, when no be say I lie.
Bayo: You no lie, but the man fuck up big time.
Emekus: All these years, e go dey form bravado, and no be am get anything.
Bayo: Iya Paso, na woman o!
Emekus: Tah, which kind woman, na mumu dey worry am.
Bayo: Maybe na Jazz the man use.
Emekus: No be Jazz anything, na she mumu. How you go just allow make man dey use you like that?
(Moriya and Patricia, Joins the conversation)
Moriya: it’s called love, don’t be so close-minded Emekus.
Emekus: me closed minded? Okay o, make ona dey use love dey deceive ona self.
Moriya: Love exists and she was obviously in love with her husband, he was just too greedy to notice.
Bayo: Yes, you’re right, so does it mean that you can give me your inheritance if you love me, Moriya?
Moriya: (Eyes him)
Patricia: If Na me be Iya Paso I for don leave am since, I no get time for nonsense.
Emekus: (Pushes his nose)
Patricia: Emekus Wetin that one mean na? You believe say I no fit?
Emekus: I no say anything o
Patricia: (Frowns) better talk
Bayo: E mean say your husband dey do worse than Baba Bamgbose
Patricia: Ah!
Moriya: Bayo, you talk too much, who sent you?
Bayo: No vex
Emekus: No be Wetin I mean be that Sha
Patricia: Wetin you come mean?
Emekus: I get customer we go talk later.
Patricia: ....
(Everyone disperses; as Emekus returns into his shop to attend to his customer)
(Afternoon, 2 PM)
Iya Malik: (In deep thoughts)
Eli: (In Yoruba) Mummy won’t you eat?
Iya Malik: (Silence)
Eli: Mummy (Taps her shoulder)
Iya Malik: (Jerks instantly; In Yoruba)What?
Eli: (In Yoruba) I was asking if you won’t eat, it’s pass your lunch time.
Iya Malik: (In Yoruba) You’re a fool, and you don’t think, with my current predicament it’s food that is my problem?
Eli: (Grumbles; In Yoruba) I didn’t know Ma
Iya Malik: (In Yoruba) Is there anything you know?
Eli: (Grumbles; In Yoruba) I was just trying to be nice.
Iya Malik: (Eyes her) O Je Bi
Eli: (In Yoruba) Don’t be offended
Iya Malik: (In Yoruba) Sorry for yourself (Goes back in thoughts; sighing at intervals; cursing Baba Bamgbose at intervals).
(3:20 PM)
(At Iya Paso’s shop)
Baba Bamgbose: (In Yoruba) Bose, I apologise for what I did, I know I was thoughtless, see I couldn't even sleep last night, I slept in the car.
Iya Paso: (Laughs; In Yoruba) Are you a witch? Why are you confessing? This isn't the first time you're sleeping outside, so how is it my business, you could've slept in one of your concubine’s house, for all I care.
Baba Bamgbose: (In Yoruba) Ah! And it's not like that o! It’s your own I’m doing.
Iya Paso: (In Yoruba) My own? Did I ask you to be greedy, promiscuous and wicked towards me? I accepted everything you did out of love, even when you disrespected and mistreated me I never uttered any word.
Baba Bamgbose: (In Yoruba) It’s the devil, and you know I’m not like that o!
Iya Paso: (In Yoruba) You’ve always been like this, I was just foolish enough to realize it, you that I brought from nothing. See I’m done with this conversation, you’ll be hearing from my lawyers.
Baba Bamgbose: (In Yoruba) Ah! Bose dear, please don’t let us do this, let’s settle this amicably between us like old times.
Iya Paso: (In Yoruba) There’s no such thing as old times, I’ve worn the cloth of witchcraft there’s no pulling it off now, if you can’t afford a lawyer I’ll get one for you, all my properties in your care have been repossessed.
Baba Bamgbose: (In Yoruba) Ah! Bose, don’t do this, I’ll die. What will you tell our children? Please Bose, I have changed. I’m born again now.
Iya Paso: (In Yoruba) You’re born again? You’re a funny person, and stop calling me Bose, you lost the right to call me that a long time ago. Call me Iya Paso, like everyone else. Or better still, Madam Landlady.
Baba Bamgbose: (Looks downcast, walks slowly away)
Iya Paso: (Turns her face away, tears welling up in her eyes, whispering,In Yoruba) Father I’m free, thank you.
(Evening 5:30 PM)
Patricia: Guys, come and collect your letter.
Moriya: (Collects hers from Patricia; opens it, and smiles)
Emekus: this one Moriya dey smile, which kind letter be that? Na our Cheques?
Moriya: No, it’s better than a Cheque
Emekus: Nothing fit better pass money
Bayo: All your life na money
Emekus: (smiling) Yes!
Bayo: Shior!
Iya Malik: (In Yoruba)Eli, go and collect my letter!
Patricia: Omo, Iya Paso, means business. She’s now our landlady.
Bayo: What will now happen to her husband?
Moriya: Who cares?
Emekus: Me I care o, hope say we no go need pay another rent, because the old man dey owe me my rent o!
Moriya: can’t you read the letter you’re holding? It states clearly that we don’t need to pay any amount, and we also don’t need to evacuate the building.
Emekus: (Smiling) Insult me o, Moriya, I no sabi read na.
Moriya: (Laughs) You deserved it
Bayo: Moriya why are you laughing with him? Is he that funny?
Moriya: (Eyes him and Hisses)
Emekus: I funny die!
Patricia: I go show my husband this letter, make e know Wetin dey come for am of e fuck up!
Emekus: Wetin you get?
Patricia: Nna Emekus shut up!
(Suddenly they all hear a loud scream from Iya Malik’s shop)
Iya Malik: (Wailing; (In Yoruba)Ah! My enemies have succeeded! They’ve won!
(A loud thud is heard; everyone rushes to the shop)
Eli: Help me carry her, please, she’s fainted!
(Curtain closes)
(This marks the end of another day, in Bamgbose Plaza.)
“Or better still madam landlady” that’s right! team iya Paso