Rachel Mason (Waterloo Road)
Template:In-universe/Television
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 | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2009) |
| Rachel Mason | |||||||||
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| Waterloo Road character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Eva Pope | ||||||||
| Duration | 2007— | ||||||||
| First appearance | 3x07 | ||||||||
| Created by | Ann McManus & Maureen Chadwick | ||||||||
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Rachel Mason (née Amanda Fenshaw) BSc(Hons) MSc is a fictional character in the BBC television drama series Waterloo Road. She is portrayed by Eva Pope.
It was revealed in 2009 that Pope will exit the show sometime during the fifth series.
Series 3
Rachel became headmistress of Waterloo Road in 3x07 following the resignation of Jack Rimmer. One of her first acts in office was to defuse an ongoing situation between two recently split couples: Donte and Chlo Charles, and Brett Aspinall and Mika Grainger. (Chlo had slept with Brett, the boyfriend of her sister Mika, and had since run away)
She has a dark past, that is partially revealed at the end of Series 3 Episode 10 (through a newspaper clipping about a vice crackdown), that she is desperate to keep a secret from the students and staff. She ranked up huge debts at University as she had gained a reputation as a good time girl and qualified with two degrees. To get rid of the debts she met a mystery figure who introduced her to an insalubrious lifestyle. It's a period of her life she's so ashamed of, she'd rather change her identity then carry on living with the same name. It formed part of the cliffhanger ending when Series Three entered its Christmas break. There is also a noticeable spark between her and Deputy Head Eddie Lawson, which becomes more apparent as the series develops. His protective nature comes out when Stuart Hordley arrives on the scene from Episode 12 of Series 3.
In Series 3 Episode 12 property developer Stuart Hordley (played by Silas Carson and briefly heard of at the end of episode 10) and his secretary Tess Doyle (played by Jo Fisher and previously seen in Series 3, Episode 10), show up and Stuart starts to reveal her dark past with a document showing that she changed her name from Amanda Fenshaw to Rachel Mason and used to live in Hertfordshire and blackmailed her into getting his bid for the new training school re-instated, which she did.
In Episode 13 Stuart took Rachel out for dinner during the lunch break in the LEA meeting to pile on the pressure regarding his bid for the training centre. Stuart's company won the bid, after Rachel quoted a phrase ("a bit too uppity") that Councillor Philby uses while he is on the phone to somebody from a rival company, Ladmore Construction. Philby has no choice but to back Hordley as Rachel has threatened to resign if Hordley is not chosen.
In Episode 14 Stuart took Rachel out for dinner at the end of the day to explain why he blackmailed her, revealing that Tess Doyle has all the evidence that Stuart had been using. Stuart apologises for blackmailing Rachel and says that he will give her all the evidence that Tess has about her past as Amanda Fenshaw and the ones of her as Rachel Mason.
In Episode 15 Stuart gives Rachel the evidence that Tess had, but before she can hide it Eddie walks in, he spots where she has put the envelope. Later Eddie phones a taxi firm and while he is waiting his curiosity get the better of him. He looks in the top drawer of Rachel's desk. Spotting the envelope he looks inside and finds that Rachel (as Amanda Fenshaw) used to work as a prostitute. He is shocked and unhappy as he trusted Rachel very much and was pleased with the way she was turning around the school.
In Episode 16 Eddie confronted Rachel about her past. She told him that she got involved in prostitution when she was 17 and that things, at the time, were bad at home. She also said that it took two years for her to get out of the habit "The only route out was to get myself an education and that is why I'm here." She was offered £1000 a week when she was a prostitute. Rachel also revealed that Stuart Hordley's secretary, Tess Doyle, knew her before she went into teaching. Eddie thinks that Rachel was in on the plan to get Hordley the training centre, he is also concerned that Rachel has slept with Hordley. Rachel denies this and after pressure from Eddie (who has cottoned onto the fact that Rachel may have been blackmailed) confesses that Stuart was blackmailing her. Eddie wants to go to the police, but Rachel says no as the truth will come out and if it does she will resign. Eddie talks about how it seems to him that her career is more important than the students and he says the truth will come out anyway. Rachel says that they have nothing on Hordley and that it would be her word against his. Rachel then tells Eddie, "I had sex with men for money 20 years ago because I had nothing else," then adding, "You can't see past that." Eddie walks off. Later Eddie hands Rachel his resignation. At the end of the episode a nervous Rachel is sat behind her desk.
In Episode 17 Rachel had to deal with Mika Grainger and Brett Aspinall and their eco-friends. She also had to convince deputy head Eddie Lawson to stay at Waterloo Road, which he does. She is also under pressure from Stuart Hordley as the building work has been delayed and can be seen trying to keep calm whilst informing him what is happening with the building work. Near the end of the episode Rachel and Eddie are having a drink, Eddie will only agree to stay if Rachel phones the council, which she pretends to do after Eddie shows her a bounced cheque from Staurt Hordley. Once Rachel has 'phoned' the council (she really phoned a takeaway place) Eddie says they will face Hordley together, believeing that Rachel has spoken to the council.
In Episode 18 Rachel fought the deportation of pupil Sameen. Eddie said that he would stay at Waterloo Road and help Rachel get rid of Stuart Hordley once and for all or else he would always be influencing and following her. Rachel is threatnened by Stuart after Eddie goes to see him and warns him to stay away from Rachel Meanwhile Rachel decides to talk to Sameen herself. After a heartfelt talk from Rachel Sameen decides to go and be with her family and go back to Iran. Eddie persuaded Rachel to lure Hordley to the school, after they found evidence of him being involved in illegal child labour. She did this and recorded the blackmail conversation on her mobile phone. Eddie then walked in and they confronted him with everything they had. Hordley then taunted Rachel about her past and taunted Eddie about his relationship with her. Eddie lost it and punched him. At the end of the episode Rachel and Eddie watched Stuart drive away. Eddie said he thought they have seen the last of him, but Rachel was not convinced.
In Episode 19 Rachel met Steph's French businessman who refused to put money into the Language Labs. After Steph turned on the charm and Claude complained to Rachel, Rachel removed Steph from her position as Finance Director. Rachel and Eddie later encountered Steph at the pub, where Rachel told Steph that she was being removed from her post.
In Episode 20 (final episode of Series 3), Eddie prevents her from finding the newspaper clippings and then asks her out, to which she says yes. Stuart turned up at a Spelling Bee competition and revealed Rachel's secret past to all of Waterloo Road, the visiting school and the staff. Afterwards Eddie goes to find Rachel and we see how much he cares for her when he asks her to stay. However she says she can't, as it could damage the school. Rachel then bumps into Stuart and a fight ensures and Rachel kicks Stuart where it hurts and he falls down the stairs. She goes to check on him but her day goes from bad to worse. Stuart realises there is nothing left for him and chucks his cigarette in the bin. As Candice is walking through the hallway near the school canteen, she trips over a gas pipe near the bin and an explosion rips through part of the school. She is seen to help an asthmatic (from visiting school Forest Mount) out of the school, and then Eddie comes to find her to make sure she is OK. She goes back into the school building (after sending a reluctant Eddie to the Assembly Point) to check if anyone is still trapped inside after the fire, only to find Stuart Hoardley (her blackmailer) on the floor. During an attempt to save him part of the ceiling collapses on them and leaves them both trapped.
Series 4
Rachel returned to Waterloo Road for series 4 and faced a lot more to deal with because of the arrival of the Kelly 'Family From Hell'. On the first day she helps to settle the Kellys in, holds interviews for next school roles and ensures the new initiatives are working, with the help of Eddie. After the school is evacuated following claims of a gun, Rachel goes back into the school (much to Eddie's dismay) and manages to diffuse the situation. That evening, Eddie confesses his feelings for her but she rejects him due to the scar she received during the fire. Also arriving was her nephew, Phillip Ryan and her sister, Melissa Ryan who is quick to start a relationship with Eddie. It becomes increasingly obvious that she is upset about their relationship - particularly when they get engaged.
There was more trauma for Rachel and the rest of the school when Earl Kelly shot dead fellow pupil and former girlfriend Maxine Barlow in Episode 8; shortly after she had dumped him when she met a homeless girl who had claimed that Earl was the father of her three day old son. Rachel came to the scene of the murder (Steph Haydock's house) and saw Maxine's body being carried away in a body bag. Earl was swiftly cornered by the police and gave himself up as a murderer. In episode 9; Rachel feels that she had no option but to resign from the school as she feels Maxine would still be alive if she had taken the opportunity to expel Earl. Despite numerous attempts from Eddie to dissuade her, she is adamant about leaving. She also learns from Paul Langley that it was Earl's whose gun was found in the school, and that Earl's 11-year-old brother Denzil had taken possession of it under intimidation from Earl in a bid to get away with possessing the gun. Further talks with Eddie showed her commitment to the Kellys and the school as a whole, as she began to help Bolton and Paul confess. After a heart-to-heart with Bolton, Rachel decided to stay.
In Episode ten, Rachel discovered from Phillip that Melissa was still married to two men and that she had, in fact, lied about her divorce. As Melissa and Eddie were about to leave she confronted them both, forcing Melissa to tell the truth to both herself and Eddie. An enraged Melissa then revealed that Eddie was in love with Rachel and that she knew Rachel secretly harboured feelings for him. Melissa tried to force Eddie to choose between them but Rachel promptly stormed out shocked. Just as she was leaving she was stopped by a voice - Eddie. Episode 11 showed a new term at the school, with relations between Rachel and Eddie strained, as it transpires that Melissa and Eddie have split up and Eddie is staying at Waterloo Road. It also becomes apparent that Phillip is now staying with Rachel. She is very excited by the return of Kim Campbell, and the two get along immediately - due to their similar drive and passion. At the end of the episode Rachel and Eddie were seen discussing Phillip and Eddie reveals that he never loved Melissa, he just didn't want to be alone. Episode 12 showed Rachel and Eddie trying to settle Phillips behaviour as they both feel responsible after Melissa's departure. Rachel has not yet denied or confirmed Melissa's accusation that she had feelings for Eddie. Eddie decides the three of them should have dinner together to show Phillip their support, Rachel agrees but suggests bowling as Phillip likes bowling. At the bowling alley, Phillip cancels but Rachel and Eddie decide to stay. Rachel teases Eddie about his lack in bowling skills. After some brief but major flirtation, the pair share their first kiss. In Episode 14, Eddie and Rachel go out on another date. They are currently in a relationship with each other. When Melissa returns pregnant to her boyfriend's baby, Rachel becomes unsure about this. She risked her own life to save Waterloo Road when mad, Ralph Mellor tries to destroy the school. Rachel tells Eddie that she cannot be a headteacher plus, Melissa's sister, Phillip's auntie, the baby's stepmum and auntie, and his girlfriend. Even though she loves Eddie and envied her sister's engagement to him, she terminates the relationship breaking both their hearts. Eddie said that he couldn't work with her because of this and he Rachel agreed. Eddie left Waterloo Road because of this but may be in contact as an unseen character.
Series 5
Rachel starts the new term on a high, with the arrival of new Deputy Headteacher Christopher Mead. However, all is thrown into chaos when new Executive Head Teacher Max Tyler arrives with a very different approach to her own. Branding Rachel incapable of running the school alone, he informs her that he intends to base himself permanantly at Waterloo Road, leaving Rachel fuming.