Chapter 4

As we moved into the summer season, the main sales at the Village were swimwear and we weren’t needed so much. We spent that time with the drama group. The first show we did was a stage version, greatly edited, of ‘Some Like it Hot’ as a farce. It went down well, and then we worked on another show where we played a married couple. That was the one where we were seen by an agent from London.

She didn’t talk to us until she had come back for our third show of the season, where I played Mrs. Doubtfire. That was when we were invited to have a drink with her, at the hotel bar. She spoke about the two of us being ideal as new faces on TV. I, for one, wasn’t keen on shifting. I was born and bred in Swindon, and it was all I needed. Abigail was enraptured by the thought of being famous. What messed it up was when I went to the bar with the agent to help carry the next round back, she spoke to me.

“You do know that you’re the one I want. You have a real future in TV. Your wife is good but will never be picked as a leading lady.”

That did not sit well with me, so we finished our drinks and spoke some more. I told her that we would think about it. The next day, at rehearsal, I told the drama teacher and Abigail what had been said to me.

“I am not happy with what she said. If we’re signed up, it will be as a couple.”

“I agree my love. As far as I’m concerned, she can stick her offer where the sun don’t shine. That has taken the gloss off this acting lark for me. I get a lot more enjoyment doing the shows at the Village. I’m happy here, with you.”

“Look. If the two of you want to reduce your involvement with us on stage, I can’t say that I’m pleased, but I fully understand. You are giving our other actors tips that they wouldn’t usually have. It is improving their skills, which then improves our own productions. If we can carry on, as we’re doing, I’ll be with you all the way.”

We organised a meeting with the Village Manager and spoke to him about new things to liven up the place. We suggested small dramatic events, which could be taken up by any shop that was interested. An example was that we could do a Shakespeare play, heavily edited, with the stores offering period clothing at a big discount or dressing in period outfits. Another one could be short snippets of Gilbert and Sullivan. That was our first outing, doing some scenes from ‘Pirates of Penzance’.

We had a small area next to the steam train and we had a screen with the lyrics shown. We had a soundtrack, did a bit of dialogue and then a song, with the audience singing along. I played more than one character, in a sort of universal costume, only changing hats for different parts as we went on. We were bolstered by other members of the drama group. Some of the shopgirls dressed like pirates, and some like eighteenth century ladies. It wasn’t hard to do but was a laugh. The Manager told us that we needed a name for the troupe, if we had more members, and Abigail told him that we would be the ‘Layabouts’.

We ended up doing one show a month, along with the normal work that returned with the autumn sales season. As we pulled in more of the drama group, we also found that we were seeing a lot of the same people in the audience at every show. There was a hiatus in February of the following year for Abigail when she gave birth to our daughter. We had done the Grotto, with me and another girl from the salon, and I had done the January sales. Abigail had been able to do Halloween, but we were two of three witches around a cauldron. Of course, this being the Village, we had the punters sitting in the cauldron with photos being taken with us cackling behind them.

With the start of fatherhood, I was more Hedley than Melody. I stopped wearing female clothes at home and went back to pyjamas instead of a nightie. We started doing more shows where I played male parts. When we did events at the Village where I needed to be female, I would change at the Village. Abigail came back to work when Samantha was six months old, and she was left in the Village creche while we worked.

While Abigail was in her third trimester, I had taken my driving test to upgrade from a scooter licence to a car and traded her car for something more family friendly. I also sold the scooter through the newspaper. We were as much in love as we could be, with a bit left over for Samantha. We knew that there would be bad times, when she was teething and had colic. But we were looking forward to adding to our number when the time was right.

Things moved forward and we hardly saw the changes that were occurring. The drama group used our shows to put new members into the spotlight without a huge production. Then another big shopping centre wanted us to perform for them. We built small sections of stage so we could use them to fit whatever space we had been given, so needed a van to move them around.

Needing somewhere to store a van led to the leasing of a commercial unit, where we also stored the accumulating costumes that we were using. Then, we started getting requests to appear at fairs and country shows, so the van was sign written with ‘The Layabouts’ and a logo of a reclining boy and girl, holding hands.

With all the new work, we both resigned from the Village, but continued to help out when we could. We were both regarded as ‘Villagers’ and were welcomed when we turned up for the special days and events. Even if we weren’t getting paid, we were creating a connection that the ‘Layabouts’ could benefit from.

I was finding myself working more as the manager of the operation, with Abigail acting as the secretary and booking agent. The Village, and other shopping centres, were now paying us a set amount for each show. The Village helped us buy radio mics that were patched into the public address, and other places followed suit with the set-up. We then had to buy an amplifier and speakers to use in the open at fairs.

A year on, and we were working closely with the drama group, and had gained the attention of the newspapers. They even started writing reviews on our shopping centre performances. There were a couple of good writers in the group, who started writing original short shows. We did reviews and short plays for the adults. The children’s shows became our breakthrough events, though.

It started at the Village, like much of what we did. We were asked to present a special children’s show on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. It was designed to bring the parents into the complex on the slowest days of the week, and did so, brilliantly. We blatantly ripped off characters from fairy tales, cartoons, and TV shows. Some changes were made to stay away from litigation, but the kiddies knew who they were looking at, they could see past the subterfuge.

We ended up doing three sessions a day with those shows, often with fifty or sixty children. Many came along regularly, which meant that the parent became familiar with the Village and the various shops. Of course, we were visited by people from other venues, so ended up doing children’s shows at other centres. It helped that we could use the costumes across the range of places, as well as having enough talent on hand to be in more than one place at once. Then we were asked to perform these at fetes and school events, so becoming a complete business.

By this time, we were the drama groups biggest employer, and there had been agents and talent scouts sniffing around. We registered the ‘Layabout’s Agency’ and signed everyone up, and they all signed an agreement that the agency would take ten percent of their earnings.

This started to give a return, about two years in, when some of our actors were asked to appear in local TV productions first, followed by national shows. Most of our children’s show cast were snapped up by the TV channels to appear as the characters for promotions.

I was run off my feet managing the businesses, and Abigail now had an office to go to, in one corner of the commercial building, with another girl to help. We now had two vans and two children, as Abigail had a second daughter, Caroline. We had set up the office with a play area and proper facilities for them, until Samantha would go into school. I had flashbacks of my time in childcare, and no daughter of mine was going to be abandoned every weekday like I was.

The agency now leased an office near the city centre, where I spent a lot of time. We now had a second family car, paid for, that I used. We had become a respected entity, now handling actors who were local, but had never been in the ‘Layabouts’. I had no need to act, as a man or a woman, and flung myself into the work with joy. It wasn’t physical, but mental, and I realised that I had been a layabout at school, never reaching my potential.

I investigated and found a course where I could go for a degree in Business Studies but would need to achieve the higher school qualification that I had not taken. With the businesses running smoothly, I worked with a tutor to do my higher certificate, passing in the following year. I now had a much better work ethic, as well as a reason to succeed.

I started the Business Studies course and worked hard at it, some of it being made easier because of the experience I already had. I left my secretary to do the day-to-day things and was available whenever something important came up. Just over two years later, I graduated with my certificate.

The ‘Layabouts’ were getting continuous work around the local area, and Abigail had left the running of that part of the business to her secretary to concentrate on Samantha, about to start primary, and Caroline, now close to four. We also now had our son, Phillip, and had decided that this was enough. We were now earning enough through both businesses to pay our actors, taking ten percent back, as well as covering expenses and paying ourselves a small, but liveable, wage.

We were cruising along when I got a phone call from a very large company, involved in TV, film, and looking after their actors. It was a humungous version of us, and they asked me to see them in London, if I could. I wondered if it was going to be a deal where they would have the ‘Layabouts’ providing a TV show. That was an exciting thought.

We left the children with my Aunt for the day, something she was always happy to help with, and drove into London for the meeting, finding a park and then going into the imposing reception area.

“Can I help you?”

“Mister and Mrs. Pearson to see Mister Harrison.”

“Oh yes, Mister Harrison is expecting you. If you take a seat, someone will be down to escort you. The offices are a bit of a rabbit warren, I’m afraid.”

We sat and looked around at the pictures of various stars on the walls. It was only a couple of minutes before a smartly dressed girl exited the lift and came over to us with a big smile.

“You must be the Pearsons. I’m Candace Saunders and I’m the PA for Joel Harrison. It’s so good to see the people that have been hot topics around these offices lately.”

She led us to the lift, and we got out on the fifth floor, with her leading us through corridors until we arrived at an office door. She opened it.

“Joel, the Pearsons are here for their appointment.”

She ushered us in, and a middle-aged man came around his desk to welcome us, with handshakes. He ushered us to some comfortable chairs by a window that looked out on the city skyline. He asked us what we wanted to drink, and Candace went off to organise it.

“You’re probably wondering why I’ve asked you to come to this meeting. For the past couple of years, we have been watching the growth of the ‘Layabouts’ group. I have to tell you that we’ve been impressed with how it’s grown and diversified. We have had some from this office go to a lot of the shows and they have all brought back glowing reports.”

Candace opened the door and another girl brought in a tray, handing around the drinks. Candace sat by the desk and opened up a notebook.

“I’ve just told these good people how impressed we’ve been with their operation, Candi. Do the two of you mind if Candi takes notes? I’m about to put forward a proposal.”

We both said that it was all right and took a sip of our drinks, worrying what his proposal might be.

“I’ll cut to the chase, straight away. This company likes the model that you have developed in Swindon, and would like to roll it out nationally, using local drama groups, as you have, with a core of our employees, that is actors on our books, to lead each area. We know that you do not have the finance or organisation to do this yourselves, and that is where we come in.”

Abigail put her drink down and reached out to take my hand.

“We are prepared to make you an offer for the business name of the ‘Layabouts’ and the logo, taking it over as a part of this company, along with all the plant and equipment. We will also make you a second offer for your talent agency and all the clients, bringing them under our umbrella.”

Abigail was gripping my hand almost hard enough to hurt, but I just smiled.

“What sort of figures are we looking at? And what would happen with all the venues we now play at?”

“We intend to keep things running exactly as they are for the foreseeable future, just mirroring your model in more places with new talent. We may use some of your existing group to teach the new people.”

Then he quoted the two figures that he was prepared to pay.

“We do, of course, must confirm that the two of you are the only principals of the two businesses, and we will have to ask you to sign an agreement not to start a new business that mirrors the old one. That would be for a five-year period.”

“That’s a very generous offer, Mister Harrison.”

“Look. I’m Joel. Can I call you Abigail and Hedley?”

“I repeat, Joel. That’s a generous offer. We do need to discuss this with all the stakeholders first. We’ll have to have a meeting with the core of the drama group and talk to some of our long-term clients. We will never sell out without them all knowing what’s happening. Just about every place that we play are friends, which is one of the ways that we have found the success that we’ve had.”

“I appreciate that, Hedley. It’s that image of local involvement that we want to foster around the country. Not only will it put us at the forefront of a lot of peoples’ minds, but it will also give us a talent pool unlike anything in the industry. We don’t want to take your ideas without you, and your friends, being happy with their future prospects.”

“We’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve spoken to the others. Give us a couple of weeks. The offer is tempting but we do need to fully process it before agreeing.”

We stood and shook hands and then Candace showed us the way back to the ground floor. We walked back to the car, hand in hand, and it wasn’t until we were in the car before Abigail spoke.

“Did I hear right? The two figures he quoted would be enough for us to live our lives without needing to do anything else.”

“You know, my love, that’s not our way. When I was a teenager, I would have bitten his hand off to have that kind of money. We will have to declare it as income and pay tax, but, yes, it will be substantial. My first thought is buying a new house, somewhere close to good schools, for our little ones. If we do the deal quickly, we could be somewhere before Samantha starts primary.”

“What about the one you went to? They could go through to the exams at the same place.”

“That’s an idea. We can look at any houses in the area that may be for sale. We won’t need to go into the Village anymore unless we’re going there as visiting characters at the different events. It will allow us to have a rest.”

“It will allow you to stop for a while! You haven’t had more than a couple of days, now and then, in the last five years. The success of the ‘Layabouts’ is your making, my darling, and if it allows us a good future, I’m all for taking the offers.”

We drove back to collect our little ones and take them home. When my aunt wanted to know what the news was, we just told her that we had things to work through. It was good to be back to normal, getting the children fed and then getting our own meal. We threw out ideas to each other as we lay in bed, almost too excited to sleep.

The next day, we went to see the drama teacher and asked her if she could organise a meeting with all our core actors and stagehands, as there was something good that we needed to talk about. Two evenings later, there was a big crowd in the theatre, along with our two secretaries. I stood up and told them the facts, that we had been made an offer for the two businesses and that they would all come under the umbrella of the big company if we sold. Hardly anyone was against it, after the implications of national exposure was discussed. We told them that the agency would be closed, but all the staff and clients would remain as part of the new agency, with a lot more benefits with paid expenses and the like. The meeting ended on a high.

The day after, I called the Village and organised a meeting with the Village Manager that afternoon. When we arrived, he greeted us warmly.

“Abigail and Hedley, it’s good to see you both. What can I help you with?’

I explained what the future may hold and that it would just be new managers of the ‘Layabouts’ with the shows carrying on as before.

“So, that will leave the two of you free as birds? Have you thought about what you will do afterwards?”

“We plan to move to an area where our family can go to school together. I was brought up in Westlecot Road and went to Commonweal for my entire schooling. We will not be allowed to start anything in opposition to ‘Layabouts’.”

“I am going to tell you something, strictly between us, at the moment. I am up for retirement in a couple of years. Your name, Hedley, has been bandied around at board level as a likely replacement in this seat. You have the skills, you have the drive, and you have the backing of the entire Village should you take it on. On top of that, Don now tells me that you have the Business Studies certificate, the only thing that would have held you back.”

He sat back as I tried to take it in. It was Abigail who spoke first.

“That would be wonderful, sir. It will give us time to move and resettle, then take a break. If it’s offered, he agrees.”

I laughed.

“I love it when you’re forceful, my darling. It’s how you got under my defences when we first met. Yes, I’ll take the job on if it’s offered. The Village gave me a new life once before. No! It’s given me a new life more than once. The place is part of me, so if I can be part of the place, I’ll be happy.”

We shook hands and we left him, with me in deep thought about anything I would do differently if I was in charge. We collected the children from the creche and walked through the place, meeting some of the shop managers and old friends. The children had lots of hugs, and we were all eating ice cream in the eating area when Abigail took a moment from making sure the children didn’t spread it everywhere.

“You do realise, my love, that we can get a decent sized house, with the children getting their own rooms when they’re old enough. There may also be a room for a train set for Phillip. Who knows, we may let him play with it sometimes.”

That decided me. I hadn’t realised how much I had missed my old layout, or how much it had been part of my breakdown. Building up a new one would take time, and would be, I decided, therapeutic.

The following week we were back in Joels’ office, signing away our two companies and also an agreement to not go into competition for five years. In return, along with our countersigned copies, we sat while the money was transferred to our personal account. They now had the companies, the plant and equipment, the leases and the two employees, along with the two working accounts.

We went to the real estate agents and found a house in walking distance to the Commonweal School, on the northern side of the school. It was on The Mall, with not much parking at the front, but access to a lane behind, with good garaging. It was semi-detached, but was a long house on a long block, and plenty big enough for us. On the other side of the lane was the big sports field for the school. We were able to register Samantha for primary, with my mother still remembered with respect. They would even take Caroline in at the same time, to see how she went. That would leave only Phillip with Abigail when I started a new job.

We could afford to buy a lot of new furniture, and, once we had the keys, we filled the extra rooms with it. We moved our things from Rackham Street and put it on the market, selling it inside a month. We had looked after it and it was the sort of house that up-and-coming couples wanted. It had done me well, and it had been where our family was conceived. It was sad when we closed the door for the last time, but we did have a new beginning to look forward to.

After we had settled in, we took the family for outings until the girls started school. We spent a couple of weeks in Devon, staying in Torquay at a good hotel, spending time on the beach, visiting the Paignton Zoo and riding the steam train from Paignton to Dartmouth several times. The girls loved the views from the train and Phillip had a big smile when he smelled the steam. He was a chip off of two blocks.

We did get a good-sized baseboard, and built a new layout, over a year or more, just as we had built our lives and our family - together. By the time I started work as the new Village Manager, we even let Phillip play with it.

Marianne Gregory © 2024