Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) has branded herself a ‘monster’ in an explosive argument with mum Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) in EastEnders.
It comes after the two reunited for the first time in two decades.
Kat’s eldest son Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) had ran away from home to try and find his sister, who is clearly in a bad way.
Zoe’s been living in a run-down block of flats, her bank account has run dry and she’s desperate to escape London to return to Spain.
Exactly why, we’re not sure.
Tommy promised her that he could get some quick cash if they returned to Albert Square, and at the end of last night’s episode, she stepped out of a taxi in the middle of a thunderstorm.
It became immediately clear that Kat’s feelings towards her estranged daughter weren’t reciprocated, as when she ran towards her, Zoe looked on spooked.
The mother of all reunions
Kat noticed the hostile reception, and cautiously approached her daughter. Zoe was furious that Tommy had lured her to Walford under false pretences, as he had actually promised her that they could steal his dad Alfie’s (Shane Richie) credit card before darting off again.
Realising that money was the issue, Kat invited her inside and said she could have as much cash as she wanted from the safe as long as she dried herself off and allowed them to have a conversation.
Walking into The Queen Vic, Zoe saw a number of faces from her past, including great grandmother Mo Harris (Laila Morse) and Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey).
Before she had chance to walk out, Kat dragged her upstairs and tried to prove she was a changed woman.
Zoe was reluctant to believe it, and didn’t know how to react when her youngest brothers, Bert and Ernie (Elliot and Cody Briffett) rushed in and hugged her.
With the atmosphere frosty, Zoe snuck out of the kitchen, claiming that she was going to use the loo. But that wasn’t the case – she was actually trying to leave.
Luckily, she was spotted by Mo, who convinced her to stay for dinner.
It seemed that Kat had finally made a breakthrough when the whole clan sat down to eat fish and chips, but then Tommy’s social worker arrived, and Zoe got the impression that not everything was sunshine and roses.
What did Tommy do to Kat?
On multiple occasions last year, Kat struggled to gain control over her son, only for his anger to bubble over and punch her in response.
Because she was worried about what could happen to Tommy and the twins if his violence was exposed, Kat kept the ordeal a secret.
Eventually, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) reported Tommy to social services, having heard about the abuse he’d inflicted on the family.
He was placed in temporary foster care with Zack Hudson (James Farrar), with the family fighting to get him home for Christmas.
Since then, Tommy has remained under supervision from social services, with a meeting that was due to take place on his first day back at school stunted by his disappearance.
Kat and Alfie made a quick lie, saying that he was delayed while returning from a holiday.
But one thing they’d totally forgotten about was her return later that evening, straight into the middle of the unfolding drama!
Zoe prepares to leave
After putting on a brave face for Tommy’s sake, Zoe ran into the bedroom to try and find the safe.
She began to raid the flat, turning the place over in a bid to get some cash and make her escape.
Kat attempted to reason with her, saying that they had made amends over 20 years ago, so she had no idea why there was still animosity between them both.
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She also noted that she had a wonderful childhood, and that it only turned awry when Zoe discovered the truth about her maternity.
Throughout the years, Kat had realised that she was a survivor of her Uncle Harry’s abuse, and that she had stopped hating herself for keeping his abuse a secret.
But for Zoe, she couldn’t look past the fact she ‘a product of rape’, referring to herself as a ‘monster’.
The scales fell from Kat’s eyes when Zoe said she wishes she’d had an abortion.
Surprisingly, the women then had a tender moment. Zoe collapsed onto the dining room table and Kat comforted her, and it seemed that she was about to open up about her struggles.
Outside in the street, Zoe asserted that she’d done something that would destroy the family if they found out.
But before Kat could get her to open up, a gunshot fired in their direction.
Which of the women was hit?
