Kayla, The Landlord Slayer

Which is more important; friendship, loyalty or love? Kayla's friend has a dragon of a landlord. Marcie, a single mom with a 5-year-old daughter, has been working long hours, struggling to make ends meet. Kayla has a wonderful landlady in Mrs. Langley. Kayla is trying to find a way to help Marcie when Mrs. Langley, announces that she is moving away to be with her family. She wants to sell the duplex where they live to Kayla. At first Kayla doesn't know what to do. She has no money saved for a down-payment, nor does she have enough income for a monthly mortgage payment. Kayla and Mrs. Langley have an unusual relationship – more like friend and caregiver. Mrs. Langley is old and vulnerable and Kayla doesn't want to take advantage of her. Mrs. Langley wants her to have the duplex, and eventually they settle on no down payment and a price and payments Kayla can afford. Kayla is young and naive. She knows nothing about being a landlady. She only knows that she doesn't want to be one like Drake the dragon. She downloads a standard rental contract and is shocked at all the unnecessary requirements on it. She doesn't need all that stuff to rent to a friend. She buys the duplex and prepares to move her friend into one of the two apartments, but first, she must get Marcie out of her current lease. Marcie doesn't want to face him, so Kayla does it for her. Drake isn't as bad as she expects and she walks away victorious. Marcie is out with no penalty! It doesn't take Kayla long to realize she made a mistake. Marcie isn't living up to her responsibilities and she is blaming Kayla for all her woes. Things keep going from bad to worse and Kayla starts to realize why there were so many conditions in the rental contract. In an act of desperation, Kayla turns to Drake for advice. She finds that he is a fledgling landlord too, but he kept in place the procedure that his parents had used for years before they died. He is willing to help Kayla. He tells her she has no choice but to evict Marcie, but Kayla is concerned about depriving Stephanie, Marcie's daughter, of a home. Every time Drake comes up with a solution, Kayla has a reason why she shouldn't do it. Drake doesn't give up on her, though. Marcie keeps making poor choices that worsen her situation, until Kayla finally gives up on her. She tries to evict her, but Marci won't move out. Kayla feels guilty about seeking Drake's advice, yet not using it, but mostly she is concerned about Stephanie losing a stable home and letting down Mrs. Langley. Kayla is running out of time on her mortgage payment due date when she thinks of an idea. If she decides to do it, she must have Marcie's full cooperation, and she might not get that. If she fails, they will all lose their home. Will Marcie let her down again? Do people ever really change?