12x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

MATURE JENNIFER: Some things
are so easy to spring-clean.

Glass can be restored to sparkle,

tiles to a warm, smooth glow.

Cobwebs vanish at the duster's touch

and wood reveals its perfect grain
once more.

The world itself appears to gleam
and rendered spotless,

we can start afresh.

Right. If our newcomer
can find one speck of dirt

in this clinical room,

I will personally eat my hat
with a Kn*fe and fork.

I'm afraid we might have
rather over-catered.

I wasn't sure how many would be
sitting down.

A simple afternoon tea with those of us
who will become her closest colleagues -

that's what we were told
by Sister Julienne.

She didn't want her to feel overwhelmed.

It's the fact
that she's a health visitor

that overwhelmed me. What was it?

"A specialist interest
in children and families

"with particular regard
to preventative medicine."

- I thought we did that anyways.
- We do! We just call it nursing.

PASSER-BY: Sister.

WOMAN: Sister, good morning.

Welcome, Sister Veronica!

Well, it's a good thing I arrived
feeling slightly peckish.

SHE CHUCKLES

What a tremendous amount of trouble
you've gone to just for me.

Oh, it's always like this.

Oh! I almost forgot.

Marmalade. All my own work.

It is grapefruit, though,
so I'm afraid it's out of bounds

for anyone taking Nembutal.

I doubt you'll find anyone
on that medication round this table.

My first foray into medicine was
as a trainee dispensing chemist.

I've kept a keen interest
in pharmacy ever since,

although, of course, I seldom
get the opportunity to work

with Chinese medicine, now the Lord
has called me back to Blighty.

Sister Veronica was with the Order
in Hong Kong for years.

So you must have worked
with Mother Mildred.

I was well prepared for it.

My father was
a regimental sergeant major.

Can you sing?

I don't think you'll find me
troubling the hit parade.

I do not refer to the performance
of novelty songs.

I refer to the liturgy, to
the raising of our voices in praise.

We have been somewhat challenged
musically while Sister Monica Joan

and I have been
the only sisters in choir...

...even though Mrs Turner is
kind enough to join us at compline

from time to time.

I remember your voice
in the chapel at the Mother House.

PHONE RINGS

Oh! Oh...

It is not coming?

Aaj nahi, Mrs Patel. Not today.

- But I have so many pains!
- I know.

Your body is preparing itself
for the work it must do

to bring baby into the world.

But these are not real contractions.
Not yet.

Contractions?

Pains.

When the real pains start,
they will be much stronger,

and they are going to push baby out.

- But not today?
- No.

It was very kind of Sister Julienne
to include me.

But it's always so hard to break
the ice with sisters who knew me

- when I was living the vowed life.
- Why do you suppose that is?

Because I don't have any regrets,
and I think they think I ought to.

Why should you have any regrets?

Well, my old life was a good life.
But this is better.

And I don't doubt
Sister Veronica thinks the same

about the choice she made.

I just wish things didn't feel
so awkward.

♪ Thou also shalt light my candle

♪ The Lord my God shall make my darkness

♪ To be light

♪ For in Thee
I shall discomfit a host of men

♪ And with the help of my God
I shall leap over the wall. ♪

You got a little headache?

Yes.

It's my time of the month. Again.

Maybe next time.

Yes.

I can't believe I fell pregnant
by accident the first time.

Now we're having to try so hard.

HE CHUCKLES

Sometimes the Lord just likes
to take the scenic route.

We need everything in that toy box
cleaned every week,

and I am taking the cowboy hat
completely out of circulation.

It's my opening salvo
in the w*r against nits!

I have good news, Sister.
The GPO have agreed to install

an additional telephone line
as a matter of urgency.

Oh, that is marvellous. I can use
the one on the main desk till then.

Oh...

Sister Julienne
will be first on call today.

Nurse Robinson,
I've put you on the mid...

CLATTERING

DRAWER SLAMS SHUT

...the midwifery roster with me. I've
given you Greta Pickard and her...

BANGING

...varicose veins. She will not wear...

- THUDS
- ...her support hose.

Meanwhile, Nurse Corrigan, we have
a new patient with terminal cancer.

The lady discharged herself from
hospital against medical advice.

- Oh, God love her.
- Mmm.

Here you go. This one has got
a brand-new chain on it.

No expense spared.

Ooh! No, no, no.

No, this saddle's far too high.
I'm going to do myself a mischief!

POP MUSIC PLAYS IN OTHER ROOM

- Knock, knock!
- Hi.

I'm looking for Mrs Greta Pickard.

- Is she in?
- Bless you, Nurse.

Kenny would sleep in that box
if I'd let him.

Right, come in. I've just made a cuppa.

I'm glad you don't take sugar.
I'm clean out of it again.

GRETA SIGHS
What do you want to look at first?

- Do I need to take me knicks off?
- Not yet.

GRETA SIGHS

Oh, Mrs Pickard...

Nurse Crane said these veins
were getting worse.

I've told my Wally I'll train them
to grow in the shape

of his initials. Or maybe I should
get some sort of dockers' motto -

"Arise ye workers." Might look
quite good running down me shins.

Mrs Pickard, you really need
to wear your support hose.

You must have knocked this one,
and it's become infected.

- Also, you need to rest.
- GRETA CHUCKLES

I'm on me fifth, Nurse.
And I've had to take on extra work

down the rag stall on the market.

- Are you always on your feet?
- I have to be,

because my husband is always on
his arse.

He's either out of work,

on strike or sat down the Black Sail,

planning the revolution.

No. I'm so sorry.
This one definitely keeps listing

to the left, and I just don't trust
the brakes on it.

HE GROANS

I can always work on the brakes.

Also, I'm not keen on the handlebars.

District nurse calling.
Is Dr Turner here?

I had to send for him. My poor lodger...

...she's in so much pain. Thank you.

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

The anti-emetic is in your system now,

and so's the morphine. It will work
- just give it a few minutes.

SHE PANTS

It's... like a Kn*fe. It's like
being stabbed again and again.

It will ease off. And Nurse Corrigan
and I are going to work out

a plan to pre-empt the pain
and keep it at bay.

Oh, look at the state of you.

Al right, let's put this to one side

and get you a bit more comfy.

It's Olive, isn't it?

Is the pain in your tummy?

It's in my breastbone and my ribs.

There are two types of morphine here -

injectable, which we'll see to
when we visit,

and an oral suspension,
which you can take as needed.

The sooner we can get this from the
pharmacy, the better.

I'll go now.

See? We'll be on top of this in no time.

I'm a lucky woman. Not many people
have such an obliging lodger.

OLIVE RASPS AND WHEEZES

Poor woman.

Multiple myeloma is one of
the most painful cancers there is.

The lesions are studded
throughout the bone marrow.

And she's going to be
desperately anaemic

so too weak to get out of bed.

We'll have to guard
against pressure sores.

And we need to be alert
to signs of kidney failure.

That's probably what will
take her in the end.

How long does she have?

We never know.

But so often in these cases,
for the patient,

it tips over from them longing
for more time to begging for less.

All we can do is make sure
the latter doesn't happen.

Fred, your mince is getting cold.

It's from the authorities. They're
disbanding the Civil Defence Corps.

Well, they've been talking
about that for months.

Well, now it's official.

I don't know what I'm going to
do with myself.

I do. You can spend more time
in the paper shop,

and the outside of this building
needs painting.

I've had a uniform
of one sort or another...

...since .

I just feel...

...finished.

Hmm. These have got worse with
every pregnancy, haven't they, Greta?

I'm shutting up
shop after this one, Dr T.

Will they get better then?

They may not get worse, but even so,

I think we're looking at surgery
within a year or two.

You wouldn't have a look at my Anita
while you're here, would you?

It's her mouth. It's got
a great big lump in it.

Right, young lady. Open wide.

Hmm. It's an abscess in her gum.

I can give her antibiotics
to tackle the infection,

but, really, you need to get her
to a dentist.

We're not with a dentist, Doctor!

They cost money.

Matthew!

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

The caterers have to have agreed
to all of our requirements.

The canapé list will include
miniature beef Wellington,

salmon mousse en croute and pea pods
filled with swirls of Primula...

- ...for the vegetarians.
- Will there be many vegetarians?

Nurse Crane has
a surprisingly hearty appetite.

- And there's your cousin Venetia.
- Ah. Of course. Venetia.

I liked her when I met her,
although I think she might

give us some of her pottery
as a wedding gift.

HE CHUCKLES
Yeah. Sorry.

I will be placing a tasteful
but comprehensive list

at Peter Jones. It should keep
unsolicited gifts to a minimum.

Dinner service and bedding aside, is
there anything you'd like me to add?

Do you know? I was actually
thinking about a set of golf clubs.

- Golf clubs?
- Mm.

You can't mark our eternal union
with a set of golf clubs!

I'll put a lawnmower down. I expect
we'll have a lawn eventually.

Now, how are we getting on
with meeting each other's families?

- I've crossed Venetia off the list.
- And my Uncle Ted and Aunt Maude

will be over from Singapore
at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, there's, erm,
afternoon tea with Fiona's parents.

It's already in the diary.

I know that you've met them before,

but, er, not as my fiancee...

...or even as my girlfriend.

I've bought a fawn two-piece
and brand-new beige accessories.

Everything's in hand.

Right.

I always think I get five times
the amount of information

about any given patient
if I visit them at home.

Sometimes it's the level
of overcrowding or untidiness.

Sometimes it's just the smell.

Does Greta Pickard's home smell?

There's a whiff of Star drops
around the sink,

so I know she's trying,

but the toddlers reek of urine,
so I know she's overwhelmed.

This is exactly the kind of family
a health visitor can help.

CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE

KNOCK ON DOOR
District nurse.

I come bearing gifts.

Look at this! Brought to you
by beautiful technicolour prisms.

Yeah, Jessie put them there.

Are you warm enough
with that window open?

I like hearing what's going on outside.

I grew up in Poplar, so when I hear
the factory hooters

and the coal cart going past,

I know I'm home.

I was away a long time.

Oh, did you run away to see the world?

SHE CHUCKLES
Sort of...

...except I joined the Land Army,
so all I saw was ploughed fields

and potatoes and turnips!

Erm... am I right in thinking you're
keeping on top of your pain, Olive?

A certain person is keeping me in line.

I shall be putting my prices up.

OLIVE CHUCKLES

Your children are entitled
to free treatment, Mrs Pickard,

and so are you as an expectant mother.

If we fill in the forms now,
it'll be that much easier

when you take Anita to the dentist
tomorrow morning.

I can really see her as soon as that?

I told them she was at risk
of blood poisoning.

Even with the antibiotics?

Now, you are up to date in terms of
claiming your family allowance,

and you've been signed up
for milk tokens since .

Full marks!
But according to our records,

you've missed out
on vitamin tablets for the children.

DOOR OPENS
Daddy's home, kids.

Hello, my duchess.

Afternoon, Sister.

You must be Mr Pickard. Have you
finished work early today?

Oh, there is no work, Sister.
There's nothing to unload.

I come in every day
and head for a swill at the sink.

And more often than not,
my hands aren't even dirty.

Meanwhile, Paul and Anita
are at St Mark's, I believe.

I've put the paperwork in place
for them to have free school meals.

What?

That way, they can be sure
of meat and two veg every day

with a nice, robust pudding to follow.

It also means they can be sure of
finger-pointing, stigma and ridicule.

Don't you dare raise your voice to
the sister. She's only trying to help.

It's up
to me what type of help we accept.

I don't mind getting
what other people get.

That's called entitlement.

Getting free food is called charity.
And we don't want charity,

cos we ain't poor.

What do you mean, you don't know
what shade it is?

Well, there wasn't a label on the tin.

That's why it was half-price.

I mean, it was a bargain,
even for cash-and-carry standards.

Anyway, the clue is in the name -

Purple Heart.

See?

Well, perhaps you'd better test it
on a bit of hardboard first.

Er, it might look better
in the daylight.

WHISTLE BLOWS

GROANING

OK.

I can't... even move.

I can't even roll over in bed
unless someone helps.

I could get you a bedpan,
if you need to go.

The day I give in to a bedpan,

you'll know I'm dying.

Do you want to see if we can
get you onto the commode?

Yeah? All right.

OLIVE GROANS

OLIVE GROANS AND SOBS

So sorry.

I'm sorry.

It's all right, love.
It's what I do. I'm a nurse.

And I'm not, but she needs me more.

Come on, darling. No more secrets.

Come on.

Oh...

OLIVE SOBS

Can't we have them in a less tight size?

Or maybe fishnets?

If they're not tight,
they're not working.

I'm going to look like
a right tragedy case with these on.

People already feel sorry for me
cos I'm pregnant AND working.

My neighbour, Mrs Saeed, she brought
me over a pot of stew this morning.

- That was nice of her.
- She's a nice little woman.

I say stew...

- It's actually curry.
- Lucky you! I love curry.

Oh, you eat it, an' all?
Oh, you wouldn't take it, would you?

Only I can't throw it out
cos we use the same bins.

I think it's got spices in it.

It certainly does.

I will take it home
to my husband, with pleasure.

Maybe wrap it in your car die.
I wouldn't want to cause offence.

She's finally nodded off.

The liquid morphine does seem to help.

I'm going to get this sample tested,
just to check her potassium levels.

But it... does look as though
her kidneys are failing.

What does that mean?

She may start to have
some trouble with her breathing.

It might be better
to put her back into hospital.

No. Not under any circumstances!

SHE EXHALES

SHE SIGHS

We met in the Land Army.

She'd never been outside the East End.

She'd never seen a cow or an owl
or a cabbage patch. I...

I'd never seen anyone like her.

We were both fish out of water.

Then we realised...

we were both
swimming at exactly the same pace.

I mean, after the w*r,
the Government was crying out

for teachers, so we became
Miss Macketts and Miss Parris.

I taught physics...

...and she had a flair
for children's art.

That's where the prisms come from.

It was something we both had
in our classrooms.

I knew the science.

She simply knew
that they were beautiful.

We've spent the last years
hiding in plain sight.

Landlady and lodger, usually.

But we often forget who's who.

We didn't even get a dog

in case it would obey us both
equally and give the game away.

Sorry. You didn't need to know this.

I think I do.

I'm her nurse, and...

...you make her feel better.

I tell you, Lucille,
I don't know who Mrs Saeed is,

but I need to shake her hand.
That was a magnificent curry.

I wish we had something for dessert.

I got something better than dessert.

The pictures from Celine's wedding?!

"Contains photographs. Do not bend."

THEY CHUCKLE

It's not that I was shocked.
I've heard of lesbians before.

I've just never met any.

You probably have. The thing about
people who lead unusual lives is

they tend to mind their own business,

and so should we.

Is it still illegal,
like it was for men?

Lesbianism has never been illegal.

So why are they so scared?

Because it's not laws

that rule this country, it's attitudes.

There's no law against unmarried
mothers, but you and I both know

more about that shame than most.

I suppose that's why Olive
doesn't want to die in hospital.

Jessie can't be her next of kin,

so she wouldn't be allowed
extended visiting.

She wouldn't be allowed
to be there when she dies.

That's criminal.

Nobody ever forgets
what happens at a deathbed.

It's like you feel everything
ten times more intensely -

the hate and anger and resentment...
as well as love.

Mm.

Auntie Pries said she was going to
wear yellow with a turquoise hat.

The thing is, a photograph
can't really show you

how yellow or how turquoise.

And I can't tell if Celine's bouquet
has step ha not is in it.

And she is taller than Edwin.

No, I think it's just her headdress.

My mother kept hinting he was small
in her letters,

and you can't see
how short his legs are.

Lucille, a man's height
has no bearing on his...

...on his character.

You don't know that.

And what I know is this.

Celine's my sister.

I haven't seen her for years.

I've never met her husband.
She has never met you.

We used to plait each other's hair.

When she was a baby...

...she used to suck my thumb
so she could go to sleep.

And now we just send photographs
of all the things that matter.

SHE SIGHS

Oh, Fiona...

SHE YAWNS

Goodness me, Doctor. Are you
up early or going to bed late?

I was called out to Olive Macketts'.

She's developed pulmonary oedema,

so she's going to need
oxygen and diuretics.

Nancy's built up
quite a rapport with them.

Do you want to give her
particular instructions?

You'll need to be involved, as well.

Olive is going to need someone
with her most of the time now.

It won't be for long.

Hmm.

I telephoned Phyllis.

I told her you were ill
and you couldn't come in today.

Did you say it was a tummy upset?

I did.

But I don't like lying.

You're not sick, Lucille.

You're just sad.

And maybe that needs
a different kind of medicine.

Oh, I'm sorry, Fred.

I mean, I've looked at it
in the dark, in light rain,

under a street lamp and now
in early-morning sunshine.

And?

There is no way on this Earth that
you're painting my shop that colour.

I mean, this is a respectable
neighbourhood haberdashery,

not one of the fleshpots
of Carnaby Street!

I sometimes have to remind myself
that even moths are God's creatures.

And delayed GPO engineers.

BOTH CHUCKLE

Also bicycles.

Have you not found one that suits yet?

The problem isn't to do with
any of the bikes.

It's to do with me.
I have health concerns

that mean I must avoid
all vigorous activity.

Mother Mildred said nothing about this.

I really think it might be best
if the Order were to purchase

- a car for me.
- A car?

Well, once my programme of home,
school and nursery visits starts,

I could be covering miles a day,

which would be quite a challenge...
on one and a half lungs.

Sister!

Have you had... part of a lung removed?

Life in the Far East
can take quite a toll.

SHOP BELL RINGS

Evening, Fred. Got any Turkish Delight?

Oh, you're trying to butter up
that missus of yours, are you, eh?

I know it's her favourite.
Here y'are, on the house.

Oh, no, Fred.

Here, have it.

And, er... got some free paint, too,
if you want it.

What sort of paint?

Purplish. You could give the flat
a once-over, if you like.

We like it the colour it already is.

Fair enough.

HE SIGHS

There you are. Nothing like the good
stuff to set you up for the day.

I think the oral morphine
has stopped working.

I was telling Olive before you came

that it's like the difference
between Ribena and neat whisky.

Are you going now?

I just popped in
to make the introductions,

but Nurse Franklin will stay
with you for a few hours.

We're like the Windmill Girls.

Great legs?

No. We never close!

BOTH CHUCKLE

FRED: Oi! Over here!

Come on, then.

Yes! Bobby Moore!

Yes!

What a sh*t!

Yeah!

Nobody else about, Sister?

Everyone is engaged.

Saturday is not a holiday
at Nonnatus House.

I have deliberately sought out
honest toil,

lest I be accused of sloth.

You can give the woodwork
a bit of a touch-up, if you like.

Just going to park this paint
in the shed in case we need it.

But this is purple, a colour of
intense ecclesiastical potential!

I shall require sandpaper,
brushes... a rag and turpentine.

I have received a letter from
Mother Mildred...

and I quote...

..."Sister Veronica came to the Order
in perfect health

"and has had no serious illnesses,
hospitalisation or surgeries

"in the intervening years. Her
propensity for tactical falsehoods,

"however, remains an enduring flaw."

She's saying I tell fibs, isn't she?

Yes, she is.

I never do it lightly.
I do penance every single time,

but sometimes embellishment
is such a useful tool.

SHE GASPS
Suggesting the Order purchase a car

for you is not embellishment.

It's highway robbery!

Part of my remit as health visitor

is to convince the people of Poplar

to embrace everything
that's positive, modern and new.

I can't do that on a s bone-shaker.

Unless you can find some way
of funding an alternative,

I'm very much afraid you will have to.

The minute I saw those photographs,

all I wanted to do was go home.

Jamaica felt like
the solution to everything.

But you've a home here now.

You've a career and purpose
and people who love you.

Hiding away won't help you
to believe that.

I know.

And I'm going to go to church on Sunday

and work on Monday

with a smile on my face.

In the meantime,
I'm going to clean this flat.

MUSIC: Love Is All Around by the Troggs

♪ I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes

♪ Love is all around me
And so the feeling grows

♪ It's written on the wind
It's everywhere I go... ♪

Whoops!

Afternoon, Nurse Crane.

You've got your hands full.

The girls have all been
to dancing class.

I'm just dropping Colette off
with Nancy.

OVER RADIO:
And now some breaking news.

Shadow Defence Secretary Mr Enoch Powell

has today denounced the rising number

of Commonwealth immigrants
in Great Britain.

Mr Powell's speech, coming just days
before the Race Relations Bill

is heard in the House of Commons,
has provoked criticism...

POWELL: In this country,
in or years' time...

- I don't want to hear this.
- We can't turn it off.

...the black man will have
the whip hand over the white man.

We must be mad, literally mad,
as a nation...

Incitement to racial hatred
in this country is a crime.

Who is going to arrest a politician?

And who'll stop people
from acting on his words?

...busily engaged in heaping up
its own funeral pyre.

Mrs Turner! I was just
about to make sandwiches.

Will you be staying for tea?

That's very kind of you, but we have
to get back for The Monkees.

You have monkeys?

CHILDREN LAUGH

Oh, no. It's a television programme
about a pop group.

It is quite wholesome.

I was wondering when I might see
little May again.

Did your paths cross
at the Hong Kong orphanage?

I was in charge of the Jasmine Room.
That's what we called the nursery.

Gam daai go neoi laa, mui mui zai.

Is that Chinese?

Oh, don't worry.

I'll forget mine soon, too.

Thank you for looking after her.

Thank YOU.

One way or another, we're both

still doing the same job, aren't we?

May the Lord Almighty grant us
a quiet night and a perfect end.

- Amen.
- ALL: Amen.

♪ O God, make speed to save us

SISTER JULIENNE JOINS IN:
♪ O Lord, make haste to help us

♪ Glory be to the Father and to the Son

♪ And to the Holy Ghost

♪ As it was in the beginning

♪ Is now and ever shall be

♪ World without end. Amen. ♪

It is simple afternoon tea, Trixie.

There's nothing simple about it
at all. They are Fiona's parents.

I understand that it might be awkward.

Painful, even. For them,
as well as for you.

It isn't painful for me.

Fiona was their only daughter.

To them, she was irreplaceable.

And for me to be meeting them
as your future wife

suggests that we both think otherwise.

HE CHUCKLES
They were... they were so lovely,

so generous about me marrying again.
They think it's wonderful for Jonty.

"Wonderful" was the word that they
actually used.

I wish we had a...

...cleaner slate!

I wish that I hadn't have been
with them when she d*ed!

I wish I hadn't have seen them
at the christening when...

...everything was still so raw!

I wish that I hadn't have been
Fiona's midwife.

I wish that I hadn't have been there
at her deathbed.

It makes for such a complicated story.

Yeah, well, not in my mind.

But it does in mine!

Don't stand up and just flounce out.

This isn't a row.

Well, I think it's a row.

Yeah, well, it takes two to tango.

And if you don't want to take tea
with my former in-laws...

...then... then I respect your wishes.

It has a high-gloss finish.

It... merely requires
a longer drying time.

I am responsible for the maintenance
of this building,

and I expect to know
what is going on inside it.

You are... fracturing the sanctity
of the great silence.

Indeed. I am.

And I don't do it lightly.

I find myself under instruction...

to donate this to the wider community.

Have you any inter...?

Oh! Oh, lass...

What happened to best foot forward?

It's the news, Phyllis -
the things Enoch Powell said

- and the support he's getting.
- Lucille, he's been sacked.

- It was on the news.
- The damage is done.

He has said that resenting
immigrants is acceptable.

SHE SNIFFS

Listen,

Enoch Powell or no Enoch Powell,

you're in no fit state
to go out this morning.

I'll add your house calls to my list...
while you collect yourself.

Thank you for letting me know,
Councillor Reed.

And if I am approached by the press,

either local or otherwise,
you can rest assured

that I shall be telling them
EXACTLY what I think!

Violet...

...got any brown paper? I'm going to
wrap this up and put it away.

The dockers are going on strike
in solidarity with Enoch Powell!

That is people from this borough,
people that I represent.

And what is more, they're staging
a march on Parliament tomorrow.

What do you mean, like a demonstration?

And the slogan is going to be...

..."Back Britain, not black Britain."

We can't afford for you
to go on strike again, Wally,

- even if it is just for one day!
- And if we don't, who will?

You said the Smithfield porters
will be at the march.

Why can't they support
ruddy Enoch Powell?

Mrs Pickard, I need to look
at your dressings

as well as check your blood pressure.

And I'm afraid my time is limited.

Well, it shouldn't be. The National
Health wouldn't be in the state

it's in if the doors weren't
wide open to all and sundry.

Shall we adjourn to the bedroom,
Mrs Pickard?

He just goes on and on, Nurse.
It's like he's boring into my brain.

- WEAKLY: Thank you.
- You're welcome, sweetie.

I thought you might prefer
the lemon flavour

to the boring old spearmint.

Do you remember the first time
you had lemon in a gin and it?

.

We hadn't seen lemons
the whole of the w*r,

not during the whole time
we'd known each other,

and suddenly there they were,
behind the bar

of an otherwise frightful hotel
in Margate.

Your lips were chapped.

You said the lemon made them sting.

WHISPERS: Afterwards, when everyone
had gone, I kissed them better.

WHEEZING

You're in for a long night, Jessie.
Lie down when you're tired.

SHE EXHALES
Thank you.

GAS HISSES

This is a disgrace.

Immigrants
have never taken dockers' jobs.

The dockers wouldn't let them in!
What are they going to

put through the door next,
Mrs Wallace? Dog dirt?

Well, if they do,
we'll put it in the dustbin,

which is where this is going.

Uh... uh.

I thought the church was welcome here.

No-one else said otherwise until
the... Member of Parliament said

- we should go home.
- Home?

We ARE home! We have earned
our place in this country.

We work and we pay our taxes.

And you know what the trouble is?

We are on the way up,
with the help of Jesus.

And you see all of these people,
these protesters,

they are on their way down.

SOFTLY: May I come in?

Yes.

She's gone.

When?

A few minutes ago, I think.

Difficult to tell.

How long will she stay warm for?

A little while.

There's a shirt on top of the dresser.

Would you help me put it on her?

Of course.

Land Army uniform.

We only kept one of them.

We could never work out
whether it was hers or mine.

I'd put a prism in her coffin, but...

...there'd be no light there.

PHONE RINGS

Nonnatus House. Midwife speaking.

Dr Turner has asked
if a midwife could come

to the maternity home directly.

Mrs Greta Pickard has arrived
and is in labour.

Oh, I like Mrs Pickard.
I'll be coming myself, Miss Higgins.

Tell her I'll see her shortly.

Come on. Here you are.

Grab a placard. Grab a placard, mate.

, London dock workers
are on strike today.

We will be marching shoulder to shoulder

with our fellow workers
from Smithfield market.

Dr Turner was right. Things
are just starting to get going.

Did you have any breakfast this morning?

No, I wasn't in the mood.

Oh!
SHE GROANS

We will march to Westminster together.

We will support Enoch Powell together.

PROTESTER: Enoch's right!
He's right, you know!

WALLY: And together, we will fight
to keep Britain for the British!

PROTESTERS: Yes!

Stand in solidarity
with British working men.

Come on!
PROTESTERS SHOUT

Dr Turner will come to certify
Olive's death shortly.

And then you can take the paperwork
to the registrar.

DOOR OPENS
I heard the news.

I just came to give you a hug, really.

Thank you.

It was a privilege looking after her...

...and you.

You've both been so good
about not saying anything.

In fact, no-one has ever said
anything, not even us.

JESSIE SIGHS

Once she's gone...

and everything's cleared away,

there won't be a single thing
to show we were here at all.

JESSIE SIGHS
I'm so sorry.

I was part of her story.

And she was mine.

It matters.

Fred, I have a question for you.

Where did those marchers
get that purple paint?

- What purple paint?
- The paint daubed all over their banners.

The paint that they have used
to write obscenities.

The paint that you were trying
to give away!

No! I would never...

FRED SIGHS
Look, the tin I had

went up to Nonnatus House. I think
Sister Julienne got rid of it.

I would have poured it
down my throat rather than let it

get into the wrong hands.

Wotcher, Fred.

We've got a carload heading
up to Parliament for the march.

British jobs for British workers,
all that.

Any chance of some free fags?

No!

Al right. Don't ask, you don't get.
See you later.

I'm sorry, pal.

Oh, it's not you.

I've known dockers and porters
around here for years.

I've never seen them
organise themselves so quickly.

CHILD SCREAMS, TYRES SCREECH

THUD

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

See if she's hurt, Fred. You're
on the CDC. You know first aid.

Call . Get the ambulance
and the police.

I need something to put under her head.

She needs her mum. Find out where
she lives - I'll go and fetch her.

You're going to be all right.
I'm going to look after you now.

I'm hot. Do you have to
keep touching me?

It's the best way of checking
on your progress, Mrs Pickard.

- Have I made any?
- Yes, you have.

You're not fully dilated, but you're
getting close.

I want the gas.

I want to go in the delivery room.
You said I could have the gas there.

We need to get to the bottom
of your disappointing record

- with regard to measles.
- Disappointing record?

Would you care to clarify?

Well...

ZOYA GROANS

Help me! Please help me!

It's all right, Mrs Patel,
you're in the right place.

All day, I think it is just...

...just practice pains. Oh!

This is not just practice pains.

Mr Patel, sit over there.

With me. That's it. That's it.

Uh-huh.

Mrs Patel is in second stage,
Nurse Robinson.

I'm taking her
straight through to delivery.

No... What about me?

I'm meant to be going in there.
You promised me the gas!

One portable gas and air machine,
as requested.

Now, Dr Turner is taking a look
at Mrs Patel,

then he will be with you forthwith.

I didn't realise I was in a queue.

Do you know? Enoch Powell was right!

GRETA GROANS

Let's just concentrate on
what's best for baby.

I want you to breathe as calmly
and deeply as you can, Zoya.

Just breathe. That's it, breathe.

She's fully dilated,
but baby's head is very high.

And the membranes are still intact?

SHELAGH GASPS

Not any more.

We have meconium.

I'll prepare forceps.

ZOYA PANTS

GRETA GROANS

If you're sure
you're comfortable on your feet,

you can start to push
when you feel the urge.

But we don't want you
taking in too much gas.

Don't...

Mrs Pickard?

It's bad enough
being shoved in a corner,

let alone being left in bloody agony

because of somebody
who has no right to be here

coming in and queue-barging
like the place belongs to them!

Mrs Patel is having her first baby.

She's better off in a delivery room
if there are complications.

The complication is immigrants

coming here, grabbing things
other people have paid for

and taking all the jobs.

British people were born here.
We come first.

They should all go home!

Of course, I don't mean you, Nurse.

I'm sorry, but you do mean me.
I am an immigrant,

but like everybody else
from the Commonwealth,

I came here to work and to play
my part and to take my place.

I came to make Britain my home and I
did not expect to be made unwelcome.

I just walked out on Mrs Pickard.

She's going into second-stage labour.

Zoya, we're almost
at the end of the journey.

Soon you're going to see
your baby's face.

You will help me?

The doctor and I are going to
give you so much help.

We're going to do this together.

GRETA GROANS

Have I upset Nurse Robinson?

Yes.

- Now, where were we?
- No, you said you were a health visitor.

I hope you're experienced.
In my previous incarnation,

I delivered babies -
boys, girls.

Have you any preference?
It's not too late to place an order.

Just keep pushing, Zoya.

Long, strong pushes now.

Long and strong.

ZOYA STRAINS

It's out.

It's a boy.

Oh...

We need to clear its airways.

Huh?

Oh, please tell me
you can see the ruddy head!

Greta, I can. Now, just keep
bearing down gently.

That's it. Down.

Oooh!

BABY CRIES

Wh... Why is he silent?

Why does he make no sound?

BABY CRIES

Oh!

It's a little girl, Greta.

Beautifully delivered.

You could do this professionally.

So could you!

I'm going to call her Marie.

There's been Maries in our family
ever since we came over from France

as silk weavers years ago.

We ain't seen silk since!

But we don't care, do we, darling? Eh?

Drink this.

I should never have
walked out of that room.

If you had been alone
at a home delivery,

you would have been
severely disciplined.

But Sister Veronica was able
to step into the breach

and fortunately all is well.

All is not well with me, Sister.

I know.

TRIXIE: I should be no longer
than two minutes!

- Or possibly three.
- Mm-hm...

Oh! Mr Aylward, how fortuitous.

I was just waiting on Nurse Franklin.

- She's just getting dressed.
- Perhaps in due course,

you would care to come
and see me at my desk.

I have a request to make of you
as our benefactor.

I shall be telling you
about my pulmonary problems,

so you must steel yourself.

I've decided against the fawn
two-piece. What do you think?

Er, it's great. It's great.

I need this to be
so much more than great.

It has to say so many things
when I meet Fiona's parents.

Are you sure you want
to go ahead with it?

I'm part of their story, too...

...just like Fiona was...

...and just like you are.

And that matters.

Cyril...

...want to go home.

Just take the sick leave.

Sick leave for your nerves,
like Dr Turner said.

I'm not sick.

I'm sad.

And like you said, maybe that needs
a different kind of medicine.

Going home is not the answer, Lucille.

I can't leave my job,
not even for a holiday.

And we're saving for a house. Mm?
That's where our home will be...

...you and me and...

...whoever God sends along
to keep us company.

Hm?

We'll work on that another time.

You sleep now.

BABY CRIES IN OTHER ROOM

Is that yours or mine?

ZOYA SOBS
Hey...

Nurse Crane'll go in. She's a bit of
an old iron knickers,

but there's nothing she don't know
about newborns.

When my baby was born,

it didn't cry.

All I wanted was to hear it.

And now it cries and I'm not there.

Have you got slippers?

- BABY FUSSES
- Shh...

Mrs Patel thought her baby was crying.

No. It's Mademoiselle Marie
that's giving me the runaround.

I was just about to give her a bottle.

Right.

Thank you.

Hussein is not hungry, I think.

He's a lovely little thing.

And your daughter is beautiful.

BANGING

FRED: Violet!

I've got a surprise!

What sort of surprise?

I've been down the council and
I got myself a little part-time job.

It involves a uniform,

and I get to make the world
just a little bit safer.

Doing what?

That little girl getting
knocked over made me think.

So... I'm going to be...

...a lollipop man!

One can understand
the desire for acknowledgement.

My defining relationship
was always with my parents,

and it was such a consolation

to know that I was recorded
as their daughter on the census.

Olive and Jessie were recorded

as... landlady and lodger,
which is a lie.

She's going to have to
register her death.

What's she supposed to put
for description of informant?

Tell her she can fill in that
section with "present at death".

Present at death?

There's no more intimate
connection, really.

It will speak
long after all of us are dust.

- KLAXON BEEPS
- Whatever is that?

Make sure you turn the engine off
before you kick the stand.

Sister Veronica, what is this?

A scooter! Courtesy of Mr Aylward.

The Order has entered the s...
barely eight years late.

MATURE JENNIFER: Not every
new beginning is a good one.

There ARE things we cannot clean away.

But we can invest in the water
and the light.

Thanks.

We can choose to listen and speak.

We are more enmeshed
in others' lives than we imagine.

We are all somebody's memory,
someone's joy... or their regret.

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

We are the weavers
of each other's cloth...

...the keepers of
our fellow travellers in time.

Change is not a thr*at. It is a chance.

And if we embrace it,
we can begin again.

Whoa! Slow down, Lil!

THEY LAUGH
I don't think you're a Londoner.

You'd think I was dead already!

CHILDREN YELL

- Cease this at once!
- BABY CRIES

Lucille!

She needs help.