Kat and Zoe come into the Queen Vic, they are carrying quite a few bags between them. Kat is laughing at something Zoe said. They look for a free seat and sit down in a booth in the corner. Zoe roots round in her handbag for a purse and walks up to the bar. Alfie smiles at her and leans over the bar to talk to her.
Alfie: Looks like you two had a good day then?
Zoe: (Looks back at Kat and then nods) Yeah it was lovely. You know, I've been away for so long I'd sort of forgotten what she was like.
Alfie: Well that will have been a pleasant surprise for you. Alfie grins slightly
Zoe smiles back at him.
Zoe: It was pretty lovely actually. Can't really remember why I stayed away so long.
Alfie: Well Kat will be pleased to hear that.
Zoe: (Zoe smiles at Alfie and then remembers what she came to the bar for) Can I have a vodka and lemonade for Kat and a small glass of red wine for me please Alfie?
Alfie: No problem and put away that purse family don't pay here.
Zoe: Thanks Alfie.
Zoe and Kat are sat at the table at the Vic, their heads are close together in conversation. Mo walks in.
Mo: Now here's a sight I haven't seen in a long time.
Zoe: What's that then?
Mo: Two Slater sisters back in the Vic.
Kat: (quickly with an angry look on her face) Except we're not sisters are we?
Mo: Oh Kathleen, I know that, don't pretend you don't know what I mean.
Zoe: So how are you then Nan?
Mo: Not too bad love, hip's giving me a bit of jip though.
Zoe: You should come out to Spain, the hot weather's meant to be good for arthritis.
Mo: It's not arthritis, you idiot, I'm fit as a fiddle me. I just slept funny.
Kat: (quickly again with a tone of worry in her voice) You won't be going back to Spain for a while though will you? You'll stay with your old Mum a bit longer.
Zoe: Yeah, for a little bit. But I can't stay too long. Don't think Ed could cope without me for that long. We run this restaurant together you see Nan. It's lovely. Traditional Spanish cuisine. I'm the only one who can speak to the punters in English, don't imagine it's going so well without me. Good job we'd just had some good English menus printed off before I left.
Kat: (as if an idea has just come to her) 'Ere Nan, did you know Zoe was in Valencia?
Mo: Did I know she was what?
Kat: In Valencia, she don't live in Ibiza no more.
Mo: Well I didn't know that was where she was, but I figured she weren't in Ibiza.
Zoe looks puzzled, so does Kat. But Zoe is smiling and Kat looks annoyed.
Zoe: How did you figure that one then?
Mo: Well you just stopped mentioning certain people; like if I said 'How's Greg?' you would say 'Oh fine I fink." Not 'Oh yeah he's good I saw him two days ago'.
Kat: Hang on a minute. Who's Greg?
Zoe: Oh no-one just a friend of mine.
Kat: Oh right, why does Nan know so much about this "friend" of yours and I know nothing?
Zoe: I don't know Kat, no bad reason, are you sure I didn't mention him to you?
Kat: Yeah I think I'd remember if you had.
Zoe: Kat, he wasn't my boyfriend or anything, we was just mates.
Kat: Why does Nan know so much about him then?
Zoe: (slightly exasperated) She doesn't. It was just a name she picked out of a hat. Wasn't it Nan?
Mo: Yes love, I was just trying to say I could tell from what she was talking about that she weren't in Ibiza no more.
Kat: (tears welling in her eyes) Oh right, so it was just me that didn't notice. Everyone else realised that Zoe had moved across Spain, no one thought to tell me.
Mo: Kat! I didn't know where Zoe was living. I just knew it weren't Ibiza. I didn't ask her where she was because she didn't want to tell me, and to be honest Kathleen, it wasn't like I knew where you were either to tell you. And then when you came back I just thought you might know but maybe you didn't want to say neither. This is not some conspiracy.
Kat: See Zoe, everyone thinks I should know, but you didn't did ya? Just kept it all a secret kept us all in the dark.
Zoe: (looking hurt) Kat, we've been through all this. I've told you why I didn't tell you. It was too complicated.
Kat: See that's just it Zoe, I don't buy it. Me and you, we tell each other everything, why wouldn't you tell me this? What is really going on?
Zoe: (angrily) Tell each other everything do we? There is so much you don't know about me Kat, this is so stupid. This is why I didn't want to come back, it's just constant guilt trip. For Christ's sake Nan can't even say Slater sisters without you jumping down her throat. I've got a new life and I am sorry for not telling you about it, but I am not going to stay around and be made to feel guilty about it when I could be in Spain where I'm appreciated.
Mo: (quietly) You are appreciated here darling, that's why I asked you to come back.
Kat: That's why you what?
Kat stares aggressively at Mo, Zoe looks sharply at Mo. Mo looks confused. She starts to speak slowly, hesitating a lot.
Mo: That's why I asked Zoe...
Zoe: (cutting across her Nan) Shut up Nan.
Kat: (she laughs, but she is on the verge of tears) So Zoe, you didn't come back for me, you came back because you were forced to. Do you even care about me at all?
Zoe: Just because I was asked to come back, didn't mean I didn't want to.
Kat: Oh yeah, you wanted to come back so much that you weren't even here for the funeral. Really trying to be there weren't you.
Zoe: Kat, I live in Spain now, I can't just drop everything.
Kat: What? Not even for your baby brother's funeral. Not even to say a goodbye, when you didn't even get to say hello.
Zoe: Kat, I'll admit, I was scared of coming back, I wasn't sure what I would say to you, I tried to explain how I felt.
Kat: Yeah you did. You said you was scared I wouldn't love you anymore. Pretty selfish reason for not coming back; nothing to do with me, nothing to do with Tommy. Just your reasons. You're selfish, Zoe Slater.
Kat storms off. Zoe looks upset and Mo takes her hand. Alfie swirls round confused as Kat heads upstairs. He mouths 'What happened?' at Mo who shrugs. Zoe wipes the tears from her eyes.
Mo: Come on love, don't cry. She doesn't mean it.
Zoe: That's just it Nan. I think she does. I don't think I can stay. I can't take all this from her. I think I might leave tomorrow, I don't think I'm doing Kat any good. I thought she was getting better a bit today, back to normal, but then today... I don't think I help her Nan. I think she never got over giving me up, and that's not what it's about anymore. I'm her daughter, but I think she feels safer in that when I'm not here.
Mo: What does that even mean?
Zoe: Like for me, when I'm in Spain and someone asks me what my Mum looks like. I describe Kat, if I'm telling a story about her, I say "and then my Mum said". But when I see her... I don't call her Mum. It's easier for our relationship to be okay from a distance.
Mo: Oh what, you mean like how much she enjoys not knowing where you live?
Zoe: Look, I know that was a mistake. But maybe, maybe, being here; back in Walford isn't good for me, for us. Out there, out on that street that's where I found out she was my Mum. She just screamed it at me in the street. The history it's all around us, I think I need to escape from it. Maybe so does Kat.
Mo: Not all history is bad Zoe, what about the places where she said she loved you. What about when you said goodbye at the train station. She told me about that, sounded lovely.
Zoe: It was.
Mo: Well there you go, you can't give up just because the going got tough Zoe, you can help her; she's lashing out at you because she's hurting so much. You can help her. Leaving now would be stupid. You've only been here three days. You can't leave now.
Zoe: Maybe.
Mo: Definitely.
Alfie comes over, under the pretence of collecting glasses.
Alfie: What was that all about then?
Zoe: Kat just misunderstood what I was trying to tell.
Alfie: (looking unsure) Right, well maybe go upstairs and explain it to her then. You can get your phone while you're there. You dropped it earlier.
Zoe: Okay, thanks Alfie.
Zoe heads up the stairs. Alfie sits down next to Mo.
Alfie: So tell me then Mo, what is this "misunderstanding"?
Zoe is upstairs in the Vic, she is searching frantically for her mobile. Kat walks into the room and stares at Zoe.
Kat: What you looking for?
Zoe: My phone, Alfie said I dropped it.
There is a buzzing noise.
Kat: Sounds like it's in here then.
Zoe: (snappily) Yep it does.
Kat: So you've got nothing to say to me?
Zoe: What would I have to say?
Kat: I don't know. Maybe that you're sorry.
Zoe: Sorry? What have I got to be sorry for?
Kat: For only coming back because you were forced to.
Zoe: Kat, how was I forced? Nan rang me and I came. Alright I might not have come if Nan hadn't rung but that was only because I wasn't sure whether I would be any help. Nan thought I could help you so I came as soon as I could.
Kat: But not for the funeral?
Zoe: No, I wasn't here for the funeral. I am sorry, but I didn't know if I could help and it looks like I can't.
Zoe gets down on the floor to look for her phone. There is another buzzing noise. Kat opens her mouth trying to find the words to say to Zoe but she says nothing.
Zoe: Kat, I am so sorry, I am sorry for everything that happened with Tommy. I'm even sorry for everything that happened with me, none of it is my fault but I thought I could help you get through it. I can't though and maybe that's my fault. Maybe it's just that our relationship isn't strong enough.
Zoe finds her phone on the worktop. A message flashes up '9 missed calls'. The background is Zoe and a tall, olive skinned, dark short curly-haired man. He has his arms around her shoulders and is pulling her into a hug.
Kat: That's the famous Ed then.
Zoe: Yeah it is.
Kat: He looks nice.
Zoe: He is. You should come out and visit us sometime when you are feeling a bit better but I don't really feel like there's any point in me being here today.
Kat: Just going to run away again then?
Zoe: This isn't running away, this isn't my home anymore. I am just going back home. It's not running away.
Kat: Feels like it to me. You talk about having changed. You haven't changed one bit (Kat getting steadily angrier). You're still the same Zoe who runs scared when things get tough, you're still the same Zoe who blames everything on me and our bad relationship but never tries to fix it. It's just better for you isn't it to have a mother who you can blame for everything. Never having to admit that you're weak. You're a weak person Zoe Slater.
Zoe: I don't have to listen to this.
Kat: Well go then.
Zoe: (collecting her stuff) Bye Kat, have a nice life.
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