Biscuit Crumbs
Illustrated by Tula Wild.Juliet is 17. She works at a cafe after school. Her mother, Martha, owns the cafe.
Eva is 24. She has a part-time job at the cafe. Her mother, Jane, can’t let her go.
When Martha has to rush off because of a family emergency at closing time, Juliet and Eva are stuck in the cafe with no clue as to when Martha will return. Neither of them have a key to lock up the shop. They are trapped.
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A cafe. An assortment of delicate cakes sit on the counter next to the till. Wooden tables are scattered across the stage with mismatched chairs and stools. Crowded with house plants, the cafe is forest-like.
Eva, quiet and attentive, is sitting at a table centre-stage. Juliet, boisterous and intrusive, sits opposite her.
Juliet sips slowly on a smoothie, slurping it up. Eva’s phone vibrates on the table.
The screen faces downwards- Juliet and the audience are unaware of who is calling.
Juliet curiously stares at the phone.
EVA She’ll only be like an hour, won’t she?
Juliet shrugs.
JULIET Leave if you want. I can wait alone.
EVA Does she do this a lot?
JULIET What?
EVA Your Mum- disappear like this without saying anything.
JULIET It’s probably something to do with my sister. She’s been -
EVA Is everything okay?
JULIET She’s fine. It’s just sometimes, well, there are hiccups. She can’t help it. They splurge out violently and she’s just stuck, waiting for one of us.
Eva nods apologetically, frowning.
JULIET Honestly though, you don’t need to stay. You’re not babysitting me.
EVA I never said I was.
JULIET Well, you’re looking at me like I’ll steal cash out the counter if you turn your back. It’s unpleasant.
EVA I’m unpleasant?
JULIET No. Not you. Just your face. You’ve got these frown lines. They’re unpleasant.
Eva wiggles her eyebrows up and down.
EVA Better?
Eva’s phone continues to vibrate on the table. Eva pushes the phone further away from her.
JULIET It might be my Mum.
EVA But, it isn't.
JULIET You’re sure?
Eva grabs the phone, stands up and walks over to the other side of the room. She answers the call. Eva frowns. Juliet looks to the ground.
EVA (On the phone) Can we just talk about this later? Please. There’s just been a mixup at work. I won’t be long.
Eva puts the phone down and sits back at the table.
JULIET Was that your boyfriend?
Eva laughs and shakes her head.
JULIET So, your girlfriend then?
EVA It wasn’t her.
JULIET Did she come in yesterday?
EVA Who?
JULIET Your girlfriend.
EVA She’s in Florence.
JULIET Italy?
EVA Wait, who did you think I was dating?
JULIET That woman who spilt the coffee. The bastard got it all down my top. You saw me. Kelly snorted like a donkey and said it looked like someone had shat themselves on my chest.
EVA How could I forget.
JULIET The bitch didn’t even think to apologise. The woman with the coffee, I mean. Not Kelly. Just sat down - at this table actually - and smirked. Chewed on the double chocolate muffin I’d had my eye on all afternoon that she did not fucking deserve. I just had to watch, stained and muffinless.
EVA I’m pretty sure she was drunk.
JULIET The only reason she tripped was because she was staring right at you.
EVA Probably because she was drunk.
JULIET You keep telling yourself that sweetheart.
EVA Don’t call me sweetheart.
JULIET Why? Don’t you like it?
EVA You sound like your mother.
JULIET You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Eva shrugs her shoulders.
JULIET What’s the issue?
EVA There isn’t one.
JULIET Come on, get it off your chest. If she hasn’t paid you for a shift or something, I can talk to her.
EVA No, she’s a great boss.
JULIET What is it then?
EVA I just told her something and assumed she would keep it to herself.
JULIET Oh, there’s a secret.
EVA Not exactly.
JULIET So, you’re not going to tell me?
EVA I just mentioned something about me possibly leaving.
JULIET What?
EVA I made it clear plans weren’t finalised - I was only thinking about joining Lily in Florence. But-
JULIET When are you leaving?
EVA Maybe next month.
JULIET I don’t understand.
EVA Martha let it slip to my Mum. Was chatting to her in Sainsbury’s or something. I hadn’t told her yet because I wasn’t 100% sure if I was going to go through with it. I just wish it had been on my own terms. That I could have prepared her.
JULIET Was that your Mum on the phone?
Eva nods.
EVA She says she wants to talk things through tonight.
JULIET And you don’t?
EVA I told her I don’t have a single reason to stay here. And I meant because I can’t find a job- well, one that isn’t part time in a cafe. But, she said that I obviously don’t appreciate what she’s sacrificed for me if I’m just going to disappear at the drop of a hat like this. And I really do. Appreciate her, I mean. More than anything. But-
JULIET But, you don’t need her anymore.
EVA I’m 24. That shouldn’t exactly be a shock.
JULIET But, you relied on her for so long.
EVA Sorry?
JULIET At school.
EVA What about it?
JULIET When I was in Year 7, you were Deputy Head Girl. Right?
EVA Yeah.
JULIET You always skipped assemblies. That American girl - the one with the bleached hair and those chunky, red glasses - had to step in for you.
EVA Always? It was only a couple of times.
JULIET More than a couple.
EVA What has your sister told you?
JULIET My sister?
EVA Maya.
JULIET You and Maya?
EVA We were friends.
JULIET But, she was older.
EVA Only by a year. We both did art. She was always in the sixth form studio. We snuck sandwiches out of the cafeteria and ate lunch together there, playing 80s classics on that shitty, ancient radio.
Pause.
JULIET Are we talking about the same Maya? It’s just that you two would never have got on. You’re opposites.
EVA What do you mean?
JULIET You keep yourself to yourself most of the time. You’re polite. Thoughtful. You care what people think. Maya- well, she’s difficult. Loud. She can be cruel-
EVA That’s not how I remember her.
JULIET How do you remember her?
EVA Well, I don’t know. She. We. It was easy, I felt-
JULIET It’s odd. She never mentioned this. You and her. Being friends, I mean.
Eva pauses, glaring at Juliet. Juliet stands up.
JULIET I need a coffee. Want one?
EVA Sure.