This Time Next Year

The narrative shifts to 2010, with Minnie working at a prestigious French restaurant as a pastry chef. Her abusive boss, Rob, condemns her work, though his criticism is really due to Minnie turning down his sexual advances. Minnie is overworked and exhausted, adding to her dread of her birthday. A customer finds the plastic from a piping bag in a dessert Minnie made, and Rob gleefully fires her. Minnie imagines standing up to him but instead exits quietly in disgrace.

The narrative turns back to Minnie in the present day, having breakfast with Greg in his flat. Greg blames Leila for their business’s failure and suggests that Minnie needs to see her life emergencies as insignificant compared to climate change. Minnie feels ignored and dismissed.

When Minnie arrives at work, she is surprised to see Leila jubilant, literally jumping around the kitchen. They have received a massive number of orders from corporate clients that will allow them to remain open. Minnie is upset about this deviation from the bakery’s social mission. She assumes that Greg might be responsible since the newspaper he works for is one of the delivery addresses.

Leila and Fleur probe Minnie about Quinn.