Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (34) The Actresses and the Bishops

(Part 01)

Amanda Flanders and Tamsin Pearce got to know each other when they both worked on a very popular TV soap and during their time on the show they became firm friends.
In addition to the soap they had also worked in the theatre and even in pantomime.
Amanda had lived on Teardrop Lake all her life and she still lived in Forest Lodge with her brother Peter and his wife Claire when she wasn’t away working.
Tamsin also lived on the lake, though she had only been there for the last six years, and she had a flat in Dancingdean Hall.
They both worked away for a lot of the time, sometimes working on things together and sometimes not.
But they always made a bee line for Teardrop when there was a break in their busy schedules.
Which wasn’t as often as they would have liked but on the reverse it did mean they were working.
The last time they were home was in February, over the Valentines weekend and the weather was very kind to them and they even managed to do a bit of sailing and a riding out which were two of their favourite pastimes.
And as there was no romance on offer at the time they took advantage of the Lake and the woods.
Successful actresses they may well have been but neither of them had been able to repeat that success in the man department despite their obvious attributes.

At 30 years old, Amanda was stunningly attractive, slim with shoulder length brunette hair and hazel eyes but even Tamsin, who was three years older, put her friend in the shade with her looks.
Tamsin was slightly taller and a little curvier than Amanda with a shock of flame red hair.
Their problem was that in their profession it was difficult to meet men, well the right kind of men anyway.
They were fed up of being hit on by all the usual suspects.
Men who wanted to either been seen with a famous actress on their arm or wanted the glamour lifestyle they imagined went with being a successful actor or just wanted to have sex with a celebrity.
There was another alternative to those types of men, which was to date someone from their own world, someone on a par with them but in their experience actors tended to have huge egos and small personalities.
So they were no different to any other human being, looking for love or companionship or a family.
What they needed was someone who would like them or love them for who they were rather than thinking of them as a backstage pass to a celebrity life.

It was May before they both had chance to take a break and it was the first of June when they arrived on the Lake.
They had decided to take off a couple of months and do some writing, they had been bouncing ideas off each other for a few years and they had committed some of it to paper but they thought as there was a break in their schedules they would give it a proper go.
Her brother, Peter Lutchford was a renowned film director and producer and had his own production company, Teardrop Productions and he had said that if they presented him with a half decent screenplay he would consider taking it on.
So it was a no brainer really, they had nothing to lose, they would still get out on the Lake and sail and ride out in the forest as well as doing some writing.

(Part 02)

Amanda Flanders always called Peter “brother” but he was actually her half-brother, they had the same mother but different fathers.
But she never drew any distinction, she just loved him as her big brother.
Tamsin on the other hand was from a large family she was the middle child of 5, two elder brothers and two younger sisters and she was the only one who lived in England, her siblings were scattered to the four corners of the globe and her parents had retired to Spain.
So she was kind of adopted into the Flanders family and was as close to Amanda as any sister ever could be.

The girls had been home for a couple of days and bright and early on Monday morning they were up and out for an early ride.
Tamsin drove down from Dancingdean House and picked up Amanda on the way and then they drove a mile or so to the stables in Shallowfield.
Tamsin parked the car and then they walked towards the stable block.
“Does my bum look big in these jodhpurs?” Tamsin asked not really happy with the fit
“No” Amanda replied after having a look
Tamsin seemed happy with her reply
“Your arse looks big in whatever you wear, it’s not the jodhpurs” Amanda added and ran off laughing
“You cheeky cow” Tam said chasing after her “we can’t all be little miss bony butt”

It had been such a beautiful morning that they rode considerably further and longer than they originally intended.
On the way back to the stables they decided to walk the horse’s part of the way to rest them a little.
So they were walking down the northern perimeter road and both girls were spattered in mud.
They were just passing the gate of Chapel House as Ellen Huston was just getting out of her car.
She gave them a wave and they waved back and then there was a bit of a commotion ahead of them and two men suddenly appeared from the woods causing Amanda’s horse to rear up.
“Whoa! Steady old thing” she said as she tried to calm him down
Tamsin took hold of her horse and lead him aside by the bridle.
“Alright” Amanda said patting the horse’s neck
Once she had complete control and order had been restored one of the men said
“We’re terribly sorry”
“We didn’t mean to startle you” said the other one
“No harm done” Amanda responded and as she turned around she added
“Good heavens”
It was at that point that Tamsin also looked at their bushwhackers
“Damn I think I’m seeing double” she said
What they were actually seeing were twins, identical twins,
Around thirty five years old, over six feet tall, pleasant looking with short sandy hair.
“Identical twins” Amanda said
“Ian Bishop” the first one said
“Dave” added the other
“Amanda Flanders” she said
“And Tamsin Pearce” Tammy chimed in
“We’re not quite identical” Ian said and lifted the hair away from his forehead to reveal a horizontal 4 inch scar
“I got him with a Cricket bat when we were seven” Dave confessed proudly and Amanda thought the scar was rather fetching.
“I don’t think they recognize us” Tamsin said
“Really?” she said and the two men looked puzzled
“I’m sorry should we know you?” Ian asked
“Well we’ve never met” Tamsin replied enigmatically
“Are you famous then?” Dave asked
“A bit famous yes” Amanda admitted
“We’re actresses”
That revelation left them unmoved and after five minutes of listing their extensive credits it appeared that they didn’t watch TV or read the tabloids.
“What about films?” Tamsin asked “Do you watch films?”
“Yes we do watch films” Ian said
“Excellent” Amanda said
“But” Dave qualified “We tend to watch 30s and 40s films Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard”
“No we weren’t in any of those” Tamsin said

(Part 03)

They had been walking and talking and they were soon approaching the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel.
“So what do you two do for a living?” Amanda asked
“We are academics” Ian said
“Oh?”
“Yes from Abbottsford University” he added
“So you’re geeks” Tamsin said
“Science geeks” Dave accepted
“Even worse than that we are Christian Science geeks” Ian added
“Though not Christian Scientists in the rather more disturbing and sinister sense of the term”
“I’m glad to hear it” Amanda said and they were all laughing when she asked
“So why are you at Teardrop?”
“We’re surveying the Chapel site” Ian said
“Are you staying at the Lodge?” Tamsin asked nodding in its direction
“Yes” Dave said “We’re sorry again for startling you both”
“Perhaps we could take you for coffee by way of an apology?” Ian suggested
“Well we need to get these old fellas back stable to the and rub them down” Amanda explained as she mounted her horse “But why not come to us for lunch”
“That’s very kind of you” he said “So yes”
“Good its Forest Lodge the third house along from the Hotel” Amanda said “About 1.30 ok for you?”
“Yes perfect” They both said

Amanda and Tamsin rode back to the stables and rubbed down and groomed the horses before driving back to Forest Lodge via Tamsin’s flat so she could pick up a change of clothes.
“Hi Peter” Amanda said as they walked into the house
“We have a couple of archaeologists coming for lunch”
“Oh ok” he said
“I’m going up to get changed” Amanda said and whispered something to Peter and he nodded, then a few moments later he said
“Are you sure you should be wearing Jodhpurs with your figure Tam?”
“Did she tell you to say that?” Tamsin yelled “you’re a pig Peter Lutchford”
Then she shouted up the stairs
“And so is your sister”
“You look gorgeous as usual” he said and hugged her
“Amanda’s just jealous because she’s all skin and bone”
“Yes she is isn’t she?” Tamsin agreed
“Yes, she looks like she’s been through a famine” he said “And you look like you caused it”
As soon as the last word passed his lips Peter ran and Tamsin chased him through the kitchen and out onto the patio and then across the lawn and out through the side gate just as the Bishops were walking down the drive.
“You can’t hit me, I think our guests have arrived” Peter said
“I’ll get you later” Tamsin said
“Ian and David Bishop this is...”
“Peter Lutchford” David said shaking his hand warmly “very pleased to meet you sir”
“It’s an honour sir” David said and took over the hand shaking
“Call me Peter” he said “only the tax man calls me sir”
“Oh I see” Tamsin said “you recognise a crusty old film director but you didn’t know who the gorgeous multi-talented actresses were”
“That’s because Peter directed a series of historical documentaries which were extraordinary and ground breaking”
“Is that an in joke in your profession?” Amanda asked suddenly appearing in a lemon coloured dress.
“Would you believe it Mand they recognised Peter”
“Typical archaeologists” Amanda said
“They probably recognised him because he’s an old fossil”
The girls just fell about laughing
“Come on in you two I need some moral support” Peter said

(Part 04)

Tamsin had also been upstairs to change and had returned wearing a summer dress and joined the others sitting on the patio as Peter said
“So Amanda tells me you’re academic’s doing something up at the Chapel”
“I think we may have slightly mislead them we are actually Professors from Abbottsford University”
“You’re Professors?” Tamsin said
“Yes Archaeology Professors” Dave explained
“Aren’t you a bit young for that?” Peter asked
“Leave them alone Methuselah” Amanda said
“I was only saying”
“We are older than we look” Ian said
“I thought you were geeks” Amanda said “But you’re actually super geeks”
“Well Professors, so what is it you’re doing at the Chapel?” Peter asked
“Initially we’re going to survey the site using GPR” Ian said
“In non-geek please Prof” Amanda said
“Sorry Ground Penetrating Radar”
“We’ve been wanting to do a survey of the site for a number of years, but we could never get approval from the preservation society”
“That would have been Daniel Travers” Peter said
“Indeed Mr Travers wasn’t at all keen” Ian added
“He could be a difficult man” Peter said
“We applaud his passion for the Chapel and his fervent desire to protect it, he was a good man” Dave
“Did you ever meet him?” Amanda asked
“Yes several times and his wife Winnie” Ian replied
“She was a marvellous woman”
“She always fed us cake” Dave said
“Yes she was a diamond” Peter agreed
“We were very sad to hear they had both passed”
Dave added

There was a brief break for lunch during which the enthusiastic Bishop Brothers told them the unabridged legend of Olwen’s Chapel and the Christian Lady who persuaded her husband the pagan King to grant her permission to build a secret Chapel in the forest.
This was followed by a brief period of non geeky conversation and then Ian continued
“We won’t be digging anywhere on the site until we thoroughly analyse the results of the GPR”
“The ground penetrating doodah” Tamsin said helpfully
“So what are you hoping to find?” Peter asked
“Well with us being archaeologists and Christians, the Chapel is particularly close to our hearts and we believe through our research that there was a lot more to the Chapel than the Victorians discovered” Dave said
“We believe there is a lot more to the sight than an old wooden Church and a few stones, so we will bring in the ground penetrating doodah to find her secrets over the next week or so”
Ian explained
“And if the radar doesn’t confirm your theory?” Peter said
“Then we will leave it as we found it” Dave said

Over the next few days the weather turned more than a little inclement so Amanda and Tamsin set themselves up in the latter’s flat to do some writing.
But ideas that had come to them so readily on studio sets or in theatre dressing rooms failed to materialise when they had plenty of time to expand upon them.
They pored over the copious notes in their numerous note books but they could do nothing with any of them.
After three days inside Tammy’s flat banging their heads against a brick wall the weather brightened up considerably so they set up on the patio at Forest Lodge.
But even the change of scene and some lovely June sunshine failed to energise their brain cells.
“Do you think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew?” Tamsin said
“No I don’t” Amanda replied “We can do this”
“Are you sure?”
“I know we are just as capable as most of those spotty graduates, with no life experience who churn out that mindless rubbish for the soaps” said Amanda
“But we’ve been at it for four days and we don’t even have a synopsis” Tamsin said
“We just need the hook, the idea, and once we have that we’ll be away” she said confidently

(Part 05)

They broke for lunch and then two hours later they still hadn’t made a beginning.
“Come on let’s go for a walk and get inspired” Amanda said positively.
“Thank God you’re so sensible”
“It’s a blessing and a curse” She said

They walked along the southern perimeter road and went anticlockwise around the lake.
“We should choose something we know about” Amanda suggested “Something familiar to us”
“Acting” said Tam
“Possibly”
“Teardrop then” she said “We know about that and you grew up here”
“Well that’s a good starting place” Amanda agreed
“What about characters?”
“Well we both know plenty of those” Tamsin said and laughed

As they passed each house in turn they proposed increasingly larger than life and flamboyant back stories for the occupants.
When they reached the eastern end of the Lake they began the uphill section leading up to the cliff top and as they were on the downhill stretch of the northern road Tamsin suddenly suggested
“Let’s go and see what the yummy professors are up to”
“Yummy Professors?” Amanda questioned mockingly
“Don’t you give me that” Tam said “I saw the way you were looking at the one with the scar, and the way you hung on his every word”
“I don’t know what you mean” she said innocently “I was merely being polite”
“Poppycock” Tamsin exclaimed
“And I’m not the one who called them yummy” Amanda pointed out
“They are nice though” she added
“Yes they are aren’t they” Tamsin agreed
“But apart from being yummy” Amanda said
“I think it’s really cool that they have no idea who we are”
“I know” Tam agreed “isn’t it brilliant”
“It’s so refreshing” Amanda added
“I really hate it when I go on a date and they know more about me than I do” Tam said
“Me too” Amanda agreed “I particularly dislike it when they correct you”
“I know that’s so annoying” Tam concurred
“So it will be nice to go out with the Profs and tell them about ourselves”
“They might google us” Amanda said
“Oh I do hope so” Tam replied
“You dirty mare” she said and then emitted a very dirty chuckle
“Shall we then?” Tamsin asked
“Absolutely”

As they got close to the path to the Chapel a thought suddenly dawned on Amanda
“Hang on we don’t even know if they’re interested in us, they might prefer geeky girls, brainiacs”
“Nonsense” Tamsin said “We’re gorgeous”
“But is that enough for them?” Amanda asked doubtfully
“Don’t start back peddling now” Tamsin said forcefully “we are enough for any man”
“You’re absolutely right” she agreed “what was I thinking? Let’s go”

They walked along the path and emerged to find the two yummy Professors engaged in good humoured conversation with a local man Colin McCredie.
Colin was a small thin man in his 60s and was the St Mary’s Church Warden and more importantly as far as Olwen’s Chapel was concerned was the Chairman of the Preservation Society.
“Well I’ll convene an emergency meeting of the full committee for tomorrow evening” he said “so you can present your findings”
“Excellent” Ian Bishop said shaking his hand and then Dave did the same before he turned and headed towards the path where the girls were stood.
“Good afternoon ladies” he said and touched the brim of his hat
“Hello Mr McCredie” Amanda said and Tamsin smiled, then they walked towards the Bishops
“Its good news then?” Amanda said as they approached
“Oh hello, yes it’s very good news” Ian said
“So you found what you were looking for?” Tamsin said clearly directing her inquiry to Dave Bishop.
“Yes indeed” he replied “and more”
“How intriguing” Tamsin said “do tell?”
“Well that path that you came in on, which has been used as the path to the Chapel since the Victorians rediscovered the site, was not the one used by Olwen and her fellow worshipers more than a thousand years ago” Dave said “And…”
“And why don’t we tell you the rest over dinner tonight?” Ian interrupted
“What a great idea” he agreed
“That would be lovely” Tamsin replied but Ian’s eyes were firmly on Amanda.
“Yes thank you” she said directly to him
“Great we’ll pick you up at 7.30am” Dave suggested
“It’s probably better if we pick you up” Tamsin suggested
“I live at the other end of the lake”
“Oh ok” he said

(Part 06)

Tamsin drove to Amanda’s and then picked up the Bishops from the Shallowfield Lodge.
The Professors had booked a table at the Phoenix Restaurant in Shallowfield.
As they sat drinking their aperitif’s the yummy Professors took turns telling them the story of the Chapel and how they secretly cleared a large area of forest and built a small timber Chapel to Olwen’s specific design with only a small number of trusted woodsman knowing what was being built in the woods.
Stones brought from Thanet Island were placed around the outline of the building, and the Lindisfarne Altar stone was given pride of place.
While they ate their starters they elaborated on what they had since discovered, local flag stones formed the floor and there was also a large baptismal bowl set into the floor on one side of the transept where Olwen’s husband King Ryce and their children were baptized.
“The baptismal water was drawn from a natural spring besides the clearing, which the faithful believed only sprang forth when the church was completed” Ian said
“That’s amazing” Tamsin said “and you found all that out with the ground thingy doodah?”
“And about 10 years of research” Dave said
“So how old was Olwen when she married the King?” Amanda asked
“She was 17” Ian replied “that was in 645”
“Wow she sounds like she was a remarkable woman” she said
“We should right her story Tam”
“I think you’re right” she agreed
“Writing?” Dave asked confused “We thought you were actors”
“We are” Amanda replied “But we’ve got the summer off and thought we would do some writing”
“Oh I see” Ian said
“It will give us something to fall back on when our looks start to fade”
“You won’t have to worry about that for a very long time” Ian said
“Oh thank you” she responded, with a girlie giggle and blushed

When the main course arrived and Amanda had stopped blushing she asked
“So what happens after you see the committee tomorrow?”
“We pack up and return to Abbottsford” Dave said
“What? You’re leaving?” Amanda said barely able to hide her disappointment
“What if they say yes, you can excavate?” Tamsin asked
“We fully expect that they will say yes” Ian explained “Which is why we need to go back”
“I don’t understand” Amanda asked
“Well we need different equipment and we need help on the ground” he said “so we need to recruit those students who aren’t already going away for summer”
“Some of whom may already have signed up for other digs, so we need to persuade them that our dig is more significant”
“So how long will you be gone?” Amanda asked
“Well I would say at the very least” Ian mused “two weeks”
“Well that’s alright then” she said and laughed

After that the conversation turned to more 21st century topics and Tamsin was easily persuaded to relinquish her designated driver status so after the meal was over and the bill was settled they all tottered off in the direction of the lake.
They walked arm in arm more out of necessity than familiarity as none of them were steady enough on their feet to go solo.
But when they reached the Hotel there was a collective clearing of the heads to facilitate very satisfactory good night kisses.

The two actresses proceeded on to Forest Lodge alone and after about 20 yards they looked at each other and said in unison “Yummy”
The Bishop boys stood by the Hotel entrance and looked on as the girls walked up the Lane and although they heard their laughter they didn’t hear what they had said.

(Part 07)

Being the worse for drink Tamsin stayed the night with Amanda but despite their condition the next morning they appeared downstairs bright and early to start work.
Peter went into Shallowfield and got Tamsin’s car from the restaurant just in case she was still over the limit, which she probably was.
So with a mug of black coffee each they sat out on the patio in their pyjamas and started writing and now that they had their subject matter the words just flowed.

“Well that’s a respectable start” Amanda said
“Yes it is” Tamsin agreed “of course you do realise we will need regular input from the Profs”
“How is it you manage to make everything sound dirty” Amanda asked
“It’s just a knack” she replied

The writing went so well that they were still in their night clothes when Peter made them omelettes for lunch and they still hadn’t dressed in time for afternoon tea.
“Right you pair of mingers” Peter said “as soon as you’ve finished your tea go and get dressed”
“Ok bossy” Amanda said “What’s the rush”
“I’m burning dead meat for dinner” he replied “and we have company”
She didn’t bother asking who the guests were as there were always people at the house, from the studio or the production company.
Peter would tell her if it was someone she wanted to avoid but as he didn’t mention anything she didn’t bother asking.
“Ok I’m on my way” she said obediently “read this while I’m getting changed” she said and handed him her laptop.

“I’d better go home and change, I’ve exhausted my clean clothes stash” Tamsin said “I presume I am invited”
“Of course you are, just wear something nice, wear a dress, something flattering on the hips” he said and chuckled
“I really hate you Peter Lutchford” she said and kissed his forehead and headed into the house “Thanks for picking up the car”

Peter’s wife Claire came home from the Health Centre at about six o’clock and her husband greeted her with a large gin and tonic
“Bless you darling” she said and took the drink and kissed him
“Do I have time for a soak?” she asked with eyes that said “please say yes”
“Of course” he replied “everything is prepared, you have two hours before our guests arrive”
“I love you” she said and kissed him
“I love you too now off you go" he urged and patted her bum I’ll bring you another drink in half an hour and if you’re lucky I’ll rub your back”
“Ok darling” she said as she walked away

Peter took the drink up and was gone for an hour so he started burning the meat at about seven thirty
“Dinner will be a little late” he said to Amanda “as the doctor insisted on giving me a thorough examination”
“Eew Oooh” she responded I hope you’ve washed your hands

Neither Tamsin nor Amanda particularly glammed up for the evening but they were both perfumed and powdered and wearing summer dresses.
There was a little flair in Tammy’s but she didn’t need to flatter her hips because she had a nice figure and Peter knew that and she knew he knew it, it was just a game they played.
“You look lovely” he said to Amanda
“Thank you brother dear” she replied and looked across at her friend
Who looked up and was waiting for his next sentence
“It’s a shame Tam didn’t make an effort”

(Part 08)

Amanda’s laptop was on the table and as she opened it Peter said
“Well done you two, that’s really good”
“Did you read it?” She asked
“Yes I did”
“So what did you think? Be honest” Amanda asked
“Suffice is to say you have my attention” Peter replied
“That’s good right?” Tamsin asked
“Yes I liked it very much” he assured her
“The character studies are good as is the general synopsis”
The girls looked at each other and smiled
“But I would just caution you in regard to historical accuracy” he said “and I would strongly recommend you speak to some experts in the field”
“Ok” they both said
“Like them” he added and got up
“Good to see you” Peter said let me get you both a drink.
If they had realised the yummy professors were coming they would have glammed up, but it was too late at that point.
“We didn’t know you were coming” Amanda said and kissed Ian while Tamsin followed suit with Dave.
“Haven’t you got a meeting with Mr McCredie’s society?” she asked
“We’ve had it” Dave said
“What do you mean?” Tam asked
“We’ve had the meeting” he said “it only took ten minutes and they gave us the green light”
“That’s fantastic news” they said in unison and took the opportunity to kiss them again which was when Claire arrived.
“Ah darling” Peter said “Come and meet the Professors Bishop”
“Ian and Dave” he said “this is my wife Claire”

With the introductions done, Peter had to adjourn to the coalface as he called it, the BBQ to the uninitiated, while Claire dispensed drinks and spoke with Dave and Tamsin.
Ian and Amanda ambled away and sat at the table on the lawn.
“So what is it you need expert help with?” Ian asked
“Peter was just saying you needed help with something”
“Well Tamsin and I have decided to write a screen play about Olwen” she said
“In fact we have already started it”
Ian was unresponsive.
“You look doubtful” Amanda
“Well history isn’t often portrayed well by the arts” Ian explained
“Yes but we have the extraordinary and ground breaking Peter Lutchford directing” she said
“Well that’s a plus” he agreed
“I thought we, the writers, would probably require some pretty close collaboration with you, the history geeks”
“Well we in the realms of academe are always happy to collaborate in the interest of better understanding between Art and History”
“Good answer Professor” Amanda said

When it got to ten o’clock Claire excused herself.
“I’m sorry to be such a wet blanket” she said “but I have an early start in the morning”
The Bishops looked at their watches and apologised profusely for imposing on their hospitality and stood up.
“No please don’t go on my account” she insisted “Stay and keep the girls company”
She then kissed them all and went up to bed.
Ten minutes later Peter got up and said
“I’ll just go and tuck her in”
He never returned, but Amanda didn’t really expected him to, it was their way of being tactful.
Although she had notice that Peter was particularly fond of tucking Claire in.

At the end of the evening, which was sometime after midnight, Amanda and Tamsin escorted their respective twin to the side gate.
Tamsin came to a halt just the other side of it and she smiled sheepishly at Amanda as she walked past and on up the drive a little way.
When she stopped and glanced back Dave and Tam were already kissing.
Amanda wasn’t as bold as that.
“So how long will you be away?” she asked already knowing the answer
“At least two weeks” he replied
“But you can ring me any time”
“I may have to phone you a lot” she said
“I’m counting on it” he replied and then he could resist no more and kissed her.

Ian and Dave were on the Chapel site on and off for the two years following their first meeting that summer, while the girls split their time between acting and writing.
Once the screen play for Olwen’s Story was completed the flood gates opened and a tsunami of ideas flooded out of them.
Peter Lutchford directed and his company produced it and it was to be the first of many collaborations, the next one was about a Fugitive Cavalier.

As the years went by they spent more and more of their time writing and less and less acting although there was always a cameo for them in a Teardrop production whenever they wanted it.
And the Bishop Brothers continued to visit Teardrop Lake long after the work was completed on the Chapel because that was where their wives lived.