by Lucy Coleman
He cups his chin in his hand, running his fingers down each side against the light stubble, in thinking mode.
‘You have reason to believe there’s a message in there she wanted you to discover?’
Shrugging my shoulders, I stare down into the open box. There’s no order to anything, no conveniently numbered covers. Just two rows of spiral-bound notebooks about six inches by five and a few keepsakes, by the look of it, wedged in between them.
‘Look, I can see this is upsetting you. Why not pop the lid back on and stash it away in the drawer until you’re ready to make a start? Wait and see if I can uncover anything at all about what she was involved in at the palace. Maybe even find out where she stayed and take you there. How about that?’
I nod gratefully, then almost without thinking I close my fingers around one of the small notebooks and I lift it out of the box.
‘Can you just do me one favour?’
He looks at me, unblinking.
‘Open the first page and tell me what it says, but don’t go any further.’
There’s a hint of reluctance as he takes the book from me, then slowly opens it, his eyes scanning the words written on the page.
‘Goodness.’ His glance confirms he’s intrigued. ‘It’s a title page. “Nature is a formidable teacher. Embrace the lessons if you want the seeds of your life to grow and be fruitful. My personal journey.” She’s signed it Vivian Hanley and that’s it.’
I hesitate for a moment, then pop it back into the box before closing the lid. I can tell he’s curious and would like to investigate further, but I’m not ready to trawl through Grandma Viv’s personal collection quite yet.
‘I’m sorry, I bet it’s a bit frustrating for you, Ronan, as a researcher. I know that her time here is a part of the history of the garden in a very small way. If I bring myself to read through the contents, then anything I think might be useful to the work you’re doing, of course I’ll share with you. Maybe that’s what it was all about, anyway. But without a clue over where this might lead, I need to be cautious and not merely curious. I hope you can understand that.’
He turns slightly in his seat, reaching out to place his hand over mine as it languishes between us on the sofa. As our skin touches, the warmth of him is exciting and I can feel my pulse begin to race.
‘You could be right. There was a lot of tension at Versailles at the time and tussles over what should be given priority. Egos came into play and the internal politics really affected the people to whom the gardens were their life’s work. But it’s all history now, and the majority of the people involved are long gone.’
He’s right, of course.
‘But not all of them,’ he adds suddenly. ‘There is someone I could arrange for you to meet, who was a trainee here in the early sixties. He retired at the age of fifty-three, after being involved in a terrible car crash. He’s in his late seventies now, but I’ve visited him on numerous occasions over the years. It’s true that our relationship is a bit strained at the moment, but I think he’d enjoy talking to you, given the connection.’
‘That would be incredible, Ronan. I’d love to know if someone remembers my grandma when she was here. She might have given up on her dream career for the love of my granddad, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth celebrating her other big achievement. And that was for a whole year to be a part of the team of gardeners helping to tend one of the most famous gardens in the world.’
7
Day One in the Can
I’m buzzing this morning, fuelled by nervous energy and excitement. Elliot arrives looking tired, but his cough seems a little better than it has been and he’s more like his old self. It takes just over an hour to set everything up.
We’re filming in the North Parterre this morning and we want to get the majority of the interview out of the way before the gardens are at their busiest. We need to wrap by noon at the latest, but it’s going to be a complicated first session. Monsieur Theron Picard is a senior gardener and very knowledgeable, but he doesn’t speak any English at all.
It’s finally time to film the intro for this episode, after which I’ll be briefing Ronan, ready for the interview.
‘Okay.’ I run my hands through my hair, flicking it out at the back where it tends to fall a little flat and straightening my collar. A quick check by Cameron that the wireless microphone is firmly attached to my lapel and I’m about as ready as I will ever be.
‘I’ll count you down from ten,’ he informs Elliot and myself. I draw in a couple of really deep breaths to help me focus. Forcing a smile and then relaxing my facial muscles several times in quick succession, I’m all set. This has been a long time in coming and the moment has finally arrived.
‘… four… three… two… one!’
‘I think few would argue that André Le Nôtre was one of the most famous and influential landscape architects in French history. As we take you… argh!’
I catch a sudden movement out of the side of my right eye and take a quick step backwards, almost losing my balance, as two squabbling birds swoop out of the towering hedgerow, dipping and missing my cheek by the merest of whispers. Cameron, being the nearest to me, instinctively grabs my flailing right arm to steady me and in the process dislodges his headset. Having steadied my legs, he slowly releases his grip and I give him a grateful nod.
‘Thanks. That was unexpected. Guess it isn’t people we’re going to be dodging today but the birds, who clearly love this hornbeam hedging.’
He nods, stepping back and taking a minute or two to readjust his headphones before checking he didn’t yank on any of the leads when he sprinted forward.
Elliot has lowered the camera from his shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’ he asks, and I can see he’s anxious to get on. A sudden fit of coughing catches him unawares and we wait patiently, trying not to put him under pressure by watching him. It’s a painful sound, but he recovers well.
‘Sorry. You’re all set now?’ Elliot checks, his voice sounding rather gravelly.
‘Yes, I’m fine. The birds just caught me off guard. Count me down from three this time, Cameron. I’m good to go, really.’
Cameron strides forward to double-check my mic first and then steps back, giving Elliot a thumbs up.
‘Three… two… one.’
‘I think few would argue that André Le Nôtre was one of the most famous and influential landscape architects in French history. As we take you on a journey around the magnificent park and gardens at Versailles, designed to complement the Sun King’s sumptuous palace, the question is – was this Le Nôtre’s finest achievement?’
I half turn, indicating the vista behind me, and Elliot pans around to capture the magnificent backdrop.
‘I’m standing in front of the North Parterre, one of four areas situated to the rear of the palace. These level spaces house the formal gardens, separated by connecting pathways and occupied by ornamental flower beds. The symmetrical displays are flanked by vast rows of iconic hedging and we will be looking in depth at the work involved to maintain these wonderful, living structures.’
The words just seem to flow, but I’ve practised them so many times over the last few months that I could probably repeat a lot of it in my sleep. We move on to do several short promotional pieces that we are hoping to use to demo the series. Then a run of fifteen-second break bumpers, that can be shown before a commercial break. These are one-liners that will have the same soundtrack and will advertise other episodes in the series.
Finally, I’m done and I can relax my face once more. Elliot pans back around to capture the rear elevation of the palace building before lowering the camera from his shoulder, a little awkwardly.
‘How did it look?’ I ask and his smile is reassuring.
‘Good,’ he confirms. His voice has recovered, and that rasp has gone.
‘It looked perfect to me too.’ Ronan’s voice suddenly fills the air and I turn round to give him a welcoming smile.
‘Great timing,�
�� I reply, glancing at my watch. ‘We have about an hour until Solange appears with our expert. Elliot, are you happy to get some footage of the walk down to Neptune’s Fountain while it’s still quiet?’
He nods. ‘Yep, no problem. See you in a bit.’
As I stand here and gaze around, it’s the sheer scale of the layout that screams bold, audacious even, planning. It’s quite a walk to follow the straight path between the mirror-image sections to the left and right-hand sides of the North Parterre. Beyond this is the fountain named the Pyramide, a very elaborate affair comprising statuary and stonework. It’s a central focal point but also an art form. It leads on to the water walk, which stretches off into the distance and the main event – the infamous Dragon Fountain. Beyond that, the enormous Neptune Fountain completes the picture.
‘Now you’re done with me for the moment, Elliot, I’ll head to the Grand Café d’Orléans to grab a coffee and run through the interview questions with Ronan. Anything we can bring back for either of you guys?’
Elliot and Cameron both shake their heads. Cameron has already removed my mic and I know he won’t wander far from his kit. He’s already fiddling with knobs and settings on the sound box, one hand pressed against his right ear as he listens intently.
‘Give me forty-five minutes and I’ll be ready for you,’ Elliot confirms.
‘See you in a bit, then.’ I nod to Ronan and we head off in the direction of the café.
‘It’s such a relief to be making a start,’ I admit to Ronan as we walk. ‘I feel as if my head might explode with the information buzzing around inside it. How are you doing this morning?’
He casts me a glance and I wonder if he’s a little nervous.
‘Great,’ he says, sounding confident. ‘I’m sure we’ll get all the information you need, but I’m a little concerned about making sure the answers don’t go off track. How do we handle that, given that you won’t really get the gist of Theron’s replies?’
The gravel beneath our feet is a little annoying when you’re wearing heels, especially as Ronan is striding out.
‘Don’t worry too much about that. I’d rather have too much material to trawl through than not enough. Obviously, if you feel he’s missed something crucial then by all means jump in and give him a steer, but we’ll just keep rolling. It’s going to be a massive editing and voice-over job anyway, once we’re in the studio.’
Any doubts I had about Ronan are long gone; his background, working for his father, means he knows the score. As long as the questions I pose today are well constructed, hopefully we’ll have a happy interviewee who can give us everything we need, and more.
After a long session filming, we all chink bottles, raising our cold beers in a toast to what has been an amazing first day.
‘Well, guys, I don’t think that could have gone any better,’ Elliot says, beaming from ear to ear.
‘You did a brilliant job, Ronan and Cameron, especially putting Theron at ease. My heart did start pounding for a moment at the start, especially when I asked that first question. Theron looked at me, then at the camera and back again as if nothing was going to come out of his mouth! As soon as Ronan jumped in to interpret, Theron didn’t take long to find his stride though.’
There’s a real buzz in the air as I glance around the table.
‘Yes, I thought the exact same thing. The seconds began ticking by and I thought he’d frozen, but he recovered well,’ Cameron adds.
‘Once he relaxed a little it really flowed and I’m pretty sure we covered everything you needed, Lexie,’ Ronan says. ‘Maybe not quite in the right order, but it’s all there.’
‘You did well redirecting him on several occasions, Ronan. I picked up bits of it, but I can’t wait to get into the studio because it all sounded fascinating. I’m sure it will piece together well and make a cohesive interview. I’m looking forward to filming the second half, when we get to follow the team as they trim the hedges and shape some of the wonderful topiary.’
We’re all on a high but I know that when the adrenaline begins to slow down, I’m going to feel shattered and just want to sleep. But for now, it’s all about enjoying the high.
‘That’s some camera you have there, Elliot,’ Ronan enthuses. ‘Nice bit of kit – bet that put a dent in the bank balance, for sure.’
Elliot smiles knowingly. ‘You get what you pay for and Lexie and I saw it as a necessary investment. Think big, I say, and it doesn’t get any bigger than Versailles as a starting place,’ he muses.
They have a little back and forth chat about frame counts and Ronan seems very impressed when Elliot informs him it can handle up to two hundred and forty frames per second. At that point my eyes glaze over, and I zone out for a few minutes, taking in the ambience of our surroundings.
We’re sitting outside one of those cosy little bars that isn’t quite a café but isn’t a traditional tabac either. It’s lovely to be able to enjoy the warmth of such a beautifully sunny March day, even with the sound of traffic and honking horns in the background.
‘So, the next interview for you lot is in two days’ time, then,’ Ronan reflects, looking around the table at Elliot and Cameron, his eyes coming to rest on me.
‘Yes. Anton Mereux. We’ll be filming in front of the Orangery. You said he won’t need an interpreter?’ I query, double-checking.
‘Anton speaks several languages rather well. It’s important in his role, as his team comprises a lot of foreign students who come to hone their skills in topiary. And you’re off to Paris tomorrow, then, Elliot?’
Elliot nods his head. ‘Another pre-production session. The bigger the budget, the more meetings it generates. I’m not sure all of them are necessary or productive, but it pays the bills so I’m not complaining. How about you?’
Ronan shifts a little in his seat, easing back his shoulders in a circular movement, and I realise he was probably a little tense today. I hope he’s getting the message loud and clear that both Elliot and I are extremely happy with his part in today’s filming.
‘I’m working on book three in my Versailles – The Living Garden series. But I’m struggling to find the catalyst to help me focus on this one. Both of my other books are based on anecdotal information gleaned from interviews, which I then researched. The history is well documented, of course, but I’m concentrating on modern-day characters and the personalities who have been instrumental in shaping and running the horticultural programme here since the early 1900s.’
Elliot and I exchange a quick glance. Ronan is turning out to be more of an expert than either of us expected.
‘If I’d realised beforehand, then I would have read your books as a part of my research,’ I reply, feeling remiss.
Ronan shrugs his shoulders. ‘I doubt it would have been relevant. Much of it focuses on internal politics and why certain decisions were made at various points over time. The books are a celebration of the dedication of key characters in the modern history of the gardens, who I think were unsung heroes. Passions have always run high at Versailles. When someone dedicates their entire working life to something it’s more than a job; it’s a legacy for everyone who has a hand in the process.’
‘I can well believe that after today’s interview. Even though I couldn’t understand very much of what Theron said, it was his intensity and the way he kept reaching out to touch the hedging around him as he spoke. Like a proud father talking about his children,’ I muse.
They all nod in agreement. Elliot suddenly begins coughing again and has to lean forward until he can catch his breath.
‘I’ll be glad when this clears up,’ he eventually voices, sounding jaded. ‘It’s a damn nuisance. Right, I should head back to prep for tomorrow, as I’m up at the crack of dawn to do battle with the traffic.’ He jumps to his feet in a sudden burst of energy. Elliot knows I’m worried about him and he’s trying to allay my concerns.
Stooping to give me a hug, he then turns to shake Ronan’s hand, thanking him for his efforts
today, and leans across to fist-pump Cameron.
As I watch Elliot walk out, I can’t help thinking that what he needs is a few days of rest.
‘What’s up?’ Ronan asks, picking up on my concern.
‘He’s been overdoing it. And now his girlfriend, Mia, has caught this flu thing too. Was it my imagination, or was Elliot struggling a little today with his left shoulder?’
Our eyes meet. ‘I thought the same thing, but he didn’t mention it, did he?’
I sit quietly, mulling over my thoughts.
Cameron clears his throat before speaking. ‘A couple of times I saw him wince,’ he throws in, stopping for a moment to drain his bottle of beer and glance at his watch. ‘When you went off to the café, he admitted that he thinks he’s pulled a muscle. Sadly, I should head off too, as I need to pack a few things and get on the road. It’s a five a.m. start for me tomorrow. Onwards and upwards from here, guys.’
He stands, leaning across the table to shake hands, and says he’ll be back on Thursday.
As Cameron walks away, Ronan turns towards me, making eye contact.
‘It was obvious that Elliot was struggling a little at times,’ he agrees. ‘Look, if he needs a bit of a break from filming at any point I can easily jump in and cover for him when you don’t need me to interpret. Book three isn’t going anywhere fast, at the moment, to be honest. Obviously, I won’t step on any toes, as it looks like Elliot is determined to power through, but if it comes to that then the offer is there.’
‘Thanks, that’s really appreciated. If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll suggest he sees a doctor. You can’t be too careful, can you? And I’m sorry your research isn’t going well. It must be frustrating, ploughing through endless records to glean a little information you can really latch on to. Do you ever miss working for your father?’
That thought randomly jumped into my head, but as I look across at Ronan, I can see he wasn’t prepared for it.
