Overend - Chapter 04

Overend – A Year In Crime
Chapter Four

Wednesday March 27th 2002

They had been lucky with the weather and the Gods had smiled on them.
You always run the gauntlet, to some degree, where the British weather is concerned when filming the popular BBC television program “Changing Gardens”.
It was a fairly simple premise; someone would contact the show with an idea to surprise a friend or loved one.
A plan would be conceived for the, friend or loved one, to be away from home and out of the way for two days and then the team would swoop.
Adam Pritchard was the host, a well-known and well-respected member of the horticultural community and he would supply the design and he would do the majority of the shots to camera.
Also on the team were Frankie Simpson, a fellow horticulturalist, and her specialties were water features and getting her breasts on camera at every opportunity.
Then there is Harry Tyler he’s the builder, or should I say hard landscaper, patios, paths, raised beds, pergolas and decking.
Basically anything Pritchard can come up with Harry will build it, with the able assistance of Shane Doherty, the navvi.
Adam Pritchard stood up and surveyed their handy-work.
Harry and Shane were fixing the handrails around the decking and Frankie was putting the finishing touches to the water feature.
Not bad he thought to himself and looked at his watch.
Despite the fact that the garden was going well and there had been no major crises he was uneasy.
There host for the last two days has been Charles Herbert a quiet and rather nervous man in his middle sixties with wavy salt and pepper hair and a short stocky physique.
The last thing Pritchard needed on a prime time television program was someone monosyllabic and nervous who would end up looking shifty and diverting the viewer’s attention away from his creation.
Perhaps they could edit him out later and anyway his wife Mary might yet steal the show.
He lived in hope.
Mary was away in Newcastle visiting an old friend and would be back around 5.30pm.

“Right she’s coming” Said Steve Gladman, the producer very camply “Quick Everybody, hide”
“Ok round here” Adam said pointing, and they all crouched down in the corner.
Over the fence they could here Charles talking to his wife, Mary.
“Well go in the back gate Luv” With his hand on the latch.
“Why?” she said suspiciously.
“I have a bit of a surprise for you” he said brightly.
“Oh God what have you done now” she responded dourly.
The gate opened and he ushered Mary through.
Mary was quite an elegant sixty something a few inches taller than her husband and slimmer. But the overall impression was elegant.
“Oh you’ve done the garden, yes nice,” she said with no hint of expression, on her face or in her voice.
“I had some help”
“I don’t doubt that for a moment”
Then the team appeared.
“Oh my goodness” and she smiled, though not with her eyes.
“Hello Mary” said Adam taking her hand. “What do you think?”
“Its nice, yes” said Mary.
Adam thought to himself, this may not be the most spectacular garden they had ever worked on but it was better than “nice”.
He gave up trying to make conversation and introduced the rest of the team instead.
Adam led Mary around the Garden and explained what they had done and naming the various plants and shrubs.
“Yes I can see you have been busy.” Mary said unenthusiastically.
The plan was to lead her around the garden culminating with her and Adam seated in the Arbor which would give the director a great shot of the whole garden with them seated in the background.
“Did you have any idea?” Adam asked Mary.
“No”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes”
“Will you enjoy it?”
“I’m sure I will”
Adam gave up and left her sitting on her own in the Arbor with Charles hovering to one side.
As he got out of earshot he caught Steve Gladmans eye.
“Steve for God’s sake get the Champagne before I strangle the miserable cow”
This was the worst reveal they had ever had.
The Champagne was quickly distributed and the final shot was set up.
“So from a quiet corner in sunny Nettlefield until the next time with the “Changing Gardens” team TaTa”
Then with everyone raising there glasses, and in an effort to liven up the final shot more out of desperation than anything else, the whole crew was on camera so it was everyone.
“CHEERS” they all, shouted.
They held the pose for a few seconds until:
“Cut” Said Quentin Le Good the Director.
“Ok, well done everyone” he said flamboyantly “lets get cleared away”

They quickly said their good byes and left the garden while the rest of the crew was still packing away.
Sometimes it was difficult to drag themselves away and more often than not it was such a nice atmosphere they just stayed on.
This was not one of those occasions.
They stopped briefly by Harry’s truck.
“That went well,” Harry said.
“I thought it was a little chilly in there” offered Adam.
“She was not a happy bunny that’s for sure,” added Frankie
“Im glad I’m not married to her” Shane said climbing into the truck.
With that they departed with Harry and Shane in the “Changing Gardens” truck and Adam and Frankie leaving with Steve Gladman, the producer, in his people carrier.