Rachel Mason

Infobox_character
status = Single
name = Rachel Mason


first = 3x07
last =
born = 2 July 1970
color = #BBAAFF
age = 37 (when enters the show)
occupation = Headteacher
portrayer = Eva Pope

Rachel Mason is a character on "Waterloo Road" and is portrayed by Eva Pope. She made her first appearance in episode 7 of the third series.

Rachel became headmistress of Waterloo Road from Series 3 Episode 7 following the resignation of Jack Rimmer. One of her first acts in office was to diffuse 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. 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 enverlope 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 concerened that Rachel has slept with Hordley. Rachel denies this and after presure 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 impotant 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 RachelMeanwhile 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 when an explosion (caused by Staurt's disguarded cigerette) in the canteen rips through 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 reluctatnt 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, although we are left on a cliffhanger as to whether either of them have been killed or not. However, there is a strong feeling among Waterloo Road fans that Eva Pope will return for at least part of the next series.