Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 17

EPISODE 17

My Last Duty

EXT. THE KINGS’ MANOR- CONTINOUS

The big sliver moon illuminate the dark earth as a Mercedes Benz drives to a stop before the front door of the main building, Imade runs out of her car, hurriedly goes up the few stairs outside the house and goes inside. She barely acknowledges the maids that were greeting her and rushes through the living room. On her way to the staircase, she hears Wemimo’s loud voice without seeing him

WEMIMO

Hey, I am here

She retraces her steps and meets Wemimo in the dining room

IMADE

(In an angry loud voice) Where the hell have you been?

WEMIMO

(Equally angry) If anyone is to be angry here, it should be me. Do you know how scared I was when I didn’t find you at home, my first instinct was that you hurt yourself, where did you go?

IMADE

I went looking for you

WEMIMO

Was I missing?

IMADE

You were nowhere to be found this morning, I called your number and it was switched off. No one knew where you were, I was this close to calling the police, turns out it is normal for you to go MIA. So I think my worries and fear is justified

WEMIMO

(Relaxes) I am sorry but I was not expecting you to break your routine, why are you even out?

IMADE

It does not matter, where were you?

He graps her hand

WEMIMO

It does not matter too, come… We need to talk

He pulls her into the dining room and pulls out a chair for her. Imade sits and places her hand bag on the massive dining table while Wemimo sits next to her

IMADE

Is everything okay?

WEMIMO

About yesterday…

IMADE

I am sorry

WEMIMO

Let me talk… you can retire

IMADE

(Shocked) What?

WEMIMO

Yes, you can

Imade looks around confused

WEMIMO

I did some thinking today and… your need has always been the priority to me before we had kids

IMADE

Are you saying now that we have kids, it is not any longer?

WEMIMO

Did I not just said you can retire

Imade smiles softly

WEMIMO

You were right, it was suppose to be for five years and the fact that you are still in KINGS should make me grateful and let you go gracefully without going all macho on you

IMADE

I get to keep my shares right?

WEMIMO

It was never in the contract

IMADE

What?

WEMIMO

And the fact that you think I will do that to you is offensive

IMADE

Well, you did ask me to ask Ann to confirm and that kind of made me believe you

WEMIMO

I am sorry about that, I panicked for a second and Ann’s suggestion was the only thing I can think of to make you drop the issue

IMADE

Of course, Ann will suggest something like that. I can’t believe Sister Elizabeth knows you more than I do

Wemimo gives her a wary look

IMADE

And that is probably not something I should joke about

WEMIMO

Thank you and how is the good sister?

IMADE

She started the next phrase of chemo

WEMIMO

Will she survive?

IMADE

I don’t know

He put his hand on hers to give her comfort

WEMIMO

I am sorry, I know she is someone very important to you

IMADE

I am just spending as much time as I want with her and thank you, Wemimo

WEMIMO

Don’t worry, she will get the best care, I promise

IMADE

I am not talking about Sister Elizabeth, am talking about my retirement. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you, thank you for letting me go

WEMIMO

I won’t exactly say I am letting you go

IMADE

(Puzzled) What? But you just said I can retire

WEMIMO

From designing, from responsibilities as the Chief designer but you are still the CEO and you gat board meetings to attend

IMADE

(Groans) Damn it

WEMIMO

It is just a once in a month board meeting, I am sure that is okay for retirement

IMADE

Fine

WEMIMO

You can’t be late for this meetings

IMADE

Fine

WEMIMO

And about the surrogacy?

IMADE

Don’t worry about it

WEMIMO

Of course, I should worry about it, your needs are important to me

IMADE

You know it is okay if the kids are a priority to you, they are lucky to have you as a father. I wish I was a priority to my father

WEMIMO

The three of you are a priority to me

IMADE

You were right, we shouldn’t waste time trying

WEMIMO

We are going to try, at same time we go for surrogacy. It does not matter how many kids we have, we have the resource to take care of them

Imade nods and sighs deeply

WEMIMO

What is it?

IMADE

The reason why I am pushing us to try is because I don’t think I love the kids

WEMIMO

(Surprised) Are you fucking kidding me?

IMADE

I know that makes me…

WEMIMO

I heard how you went berserk on one of the nannies for not doing her job today

IMADE

About that, I think we need to start locking the door to the basement, Jowaloju could have gotten hurt today

WEMIMO

And here you say, you don’t love them

IMADE

I snap at them

WEMIMO

I can remember more than one occasion that Maami has snapped at you, does that mean she does not love you

IMADE

I made them cry

WEMIMO

I am pretty sure every parent does that once in a while, that does not mean you don’t love them

IMADE

But you don’t make them cry

WEMIMO

I get mad at them too you know, just because I don’t raise my voice at them does not mean I don’t scold them, we just have different ways of parenting

IMADE

Well, mine makes them cry

WEMIMO

See it like, Jowa and Tawa knows not to go down to the basement again.

IMADE

You think?

WEMIMO

I know, before you came home, we had a talk. They know they did something wrong

IMADE

So, they don’t hate me

WEMIMO

Why will they hate you? You are their mother and they love you a lot… wait a minute, did you think you don’t love them because you didn’t carry them

Imade looks away guilty

WEMIMO

Oh!

IMADE

I know, I feel like an idiot

WEMIMO

How long have you been feeling like this?

IMADE

Too long

WEMIMO

Why didn’t you tell me?

IMADE

I was ashamed I guess, I can’t believe Sister Elizabeth is right again

WEMIMO

I really need to do something nice for this woman, something other than making sure she is comfortable in the hospital. It seems that she is the only one talking some sense into you

IMADE

I am sorry

WEMIMO

It is nothing to be sorry about, I wish you talked to me earlier, that way you won’t be feeling like this. Are you good?

She stands up

IMADE

Ah! Since I am no longer the Chief Designer, can you call Mama Ruka and tell her she does not need my approval anymore

WEMIMO

Your name is already on the catalogue as the chief designer, so you still need to approve it

IMADE

As my last duty, I will do that and…I will check on the girls

She picks her bag up and move few steps, then suddenly turns back to him

IMADE

Talking with Sister Elizabeth got me thinking

WEMIMO

About what?

IMADE

I discovered that I have neglected you for too long and I am neglecting my girls… I want to make some changes

WEMIMO

What kind of changes?

IMADE

First, I don’t hold up in that basement during this time of the year anymore

WEMIMO

Imade, it is fine

IMADE

No, it is not. This has gone far too long

WEMIMO

So what do you want to do?

IMADE

Today is also his birthday

WEMIMO

Yes

IMADE

How about we celebrate him with the kids?

WEMIMO

Oh yeah?

IMADE

Yes, we can have a birthday cake, watch some of his videos. Tell the girls about him, so that they have something to remember him with

WEMIMO

Like a tradition

IMADE

(Nods) Like a tradition, I will prefer that over crying in the basement

WEMIMO

(Chuckle softly) Let do that

Imade turns to leave

WEMIMO

How about we start tonight?

She turns back to him with a smile on her face

IMADE

Can we?

WEMIMO

Absolutely

IMADE

Do we have cake?

WEMIMO

I am sure we can order or we can go out

IMADE

Is it not too late?

WEMIMO

It is just 7.30 pm, some of our restaurants should still be opened

IMADE

I want to go somewhere no one knows us and also simple

WEMIMO

Alright! let go and tell them

His phone rings, he picks the call and speaks to the phone

WEMIMO

Please tell me you got the building (Pause) Fuck!

He looks unhappy

WEMIMO

I will be in South Africa first thing in the morning

He drops the call

IMADE

Was that Aunty Bebii?

He nods

IMADE

What is it?

WEMIMO

The building we have been lobbying for got sold to someone

IMADE

Offer the new buyer more money

WEMIMO

He is not bitimg, he wants to talk directly the CEO. Don’t worry about it, I will make him change his mind

IMADE

Let me meet him

WEMIMO

IMADE

How badly do you want this building?

WEMIMO

Badly

IMADE

Then let me do this for you, I will talk to him and get him sell to us

WEMIMO

You have never been in a negotiation before

IMADE

Aunty Bebii will be with me, won’t she?

WEMIMO

Yes

IMADE

Then I will be fine, let go and see the kids

WEMIMO

Okay

He walks few steps to her and his phone rings, on checking the caller ID, Imade sees the name, ANITA. She watch Wemimo’s face lighten up

WEMIMO

Go on, I will meet you

He moves away, Imade looks wary watching his back. Few seconds later, she goes upstairs to the kid’s room. On entering, she sees the room scattered with different of toys and her kids playing chasing after the nannies. One of the nannies sees Imade at the door way and freezes

NANNY

Ma’am

The girls turns and see their mother and their face explodes in a bright smile

TAWA

Imade!

WEMIMO

(In a scolding voice) how many times have I told you not to call her Imade,it is…

Imade touches him

IMADE

It is fine

WEMIMO

What?