04x04 - Episode 4

[bunniefuu]

MATURE JENNY: 'There was a
rhythm to the days in Poplar.

'Church on Sunday, clinic
on a Tuesday afternoon,

'wages paid each Friday

'and babies born early or late
and hardly ever when expected.

'But that they would arrive
was never doubted, or

that for some there would
be pain as well as joy.'

I don't know what's happened
to acting Sister Franklin!

Clinic isn't going
to get any less busy

just because she's decided
to make her grand entrance

15 minutes late!

Chop, chop!

It would help if we didn't have to clear
up after the youth club every time.

We have 32 expectant

and post natal mothers
on the list today

and 15 babies for vaccinations.

In which case, you need to do your
best work, so we nurses can do ours.

I'll make sure all of our patients
get ample time with a midwife

and with Doctor, if they need it.

Ample time?!

Just keep moving them along
and lining them up.

The medical staff will
decide what they need.

If you're looking for your ashtray,
it was put in the wrong box.

Nurse Crane. Once seen,
never forgotten.

I was a midwife for ten years!

BANGING ON DOOR All right, all right!

Do you want me to call in
the bobbies on horseback?

Nurse Mount, take Nurse
Franklin's list.

And step to it, we can't
afford any slackers today.

CHILD: Come on, let's get in first.

Good morning, ladies!

BABY WAILS

Good morning!

I've been on the telephone with the Bishop's
secretary for the last half an hour.

Well, go on. Don't be a tease.

What did the Bishop want
with a lowly curate?

Apparently, he likes the
work I've been doing,

wants to meet me in
person to tell me so.

How marvellous.

Are we supposed to go to
him or is he coming here?

Well, he'll want to
meet me too, won't he?

I didn't actually ask him.

Well, of course he will.
I'm going to be your wife.

Well, I think the bishop would
be very foolish not to want to

meet the best asset
this lowly curate has.

Make sure you get straight back
on the telephone and tell him so.

NURSE CRANE: Come along now.

Oh, rotten pains in my back, yeah.

Oh, and the midwife telling
me I'm not even in labour.

Mrs Colter, please. Didn't
we discuss this?

Not upsetting these mothers
with your anecdotes,

not least of all your daughter-in-law.

I won't have her believing
any fairy stories,

nurse, about the "miracle
of childbirth".

But you'd happily fill her
head with Grimms' tales?

~ Mrs Cole? Mrs Bridget Cole?
~ Me.

There's a very reliable clock
on the church tower -

I suggest you set your watch by it.

I'm sorry, Nurse Crane.

It's not good enough.

As acting sister, you should
be an example to the others.

Pull your socks up!

I sometimes think you've got
as many frills inside that

head as you've got on that cap.

King Henry VIII, six
wives he wedded -

one d*ed, one survived,

two divorced, two beheaded.

Poor Anne Boleyn was the first
to have her head chopped off with

a very sharp sword.

~ Ugh!
~ One good swing and off it rolled.

What do you think you're doing?!
They're five year olds!

Mrs Bowe, what's the matter?

She was telling him such stories.

I'll not get him off
to sleep tonight.

I was merely nurturing
our fledging historians.

I know you were, Sister.

But perhaps, just for now, you
might help me roll some bandages?

Your pregnancy is quite advanced for this
to be your fist clinic visit, Mrs Cole.

I haven't really had time before
now - been busy working -

and it's 'Miss'.

Do you think that makes
me a wicked woman, Sister?

You're here as a mother-to-be
and I'm here as a midwife.

Let's leave questions of wickedness
at the door, shall we?

The first thing we'll do is
take your medical history,

then check your weight and blood
pressure and baby's heartbeat.

After that, Dr Turner will need
to take a blood sample from you.

Pass it through.

We've got orders from Billingham's
for more cable-laid rope

and Reeks want lengths
of 18 thread yarn.

~ That's what we like to hear!
~ Isn't it just?

We're heading for the best summer
we've had for a fair while.

It'd mean the world to my old dad,

seeing the business thriving,
seeing it all kept alive.

This would mean the world and all.

Someone to follow in his footsteps

and mine.

Mrs Robbins, I thought
I'd missed you!

Sorry, I didn't see the time.

This is my husband Frank.

Pleased to meet you.

Is everything all right?

Oh, it's just a routine call.

~ Need to check everything's
ready for the baby.
~ Ready?

She's bought enough and knitted enough
to kit out a full ship's crew.

There's nothing like being prepared.

~ See ya.
~ See ya.

I sometimes reckon he's the
hardest working man in Poplar.

When it comes out, Nurse, just
you make sure it's a boy.

SHE LAUGHS

On an invitation

you'd put "The Right Reverend
the Lord Billy Smith,

"Bishop of wherever".

But in person, you should call
him either just "Bishop"

or "My Lord Bishop".

Oh. I was going to call him "Your
Grace". Have I got that wrong?

Your call, Babs!

"Your Grace" is just for Archbishops,
not that I've ever met one.

My father's parish was in the
roughest bit of Liverpool.

When I turned 21, my godmother
said I could choose

between a holiday in Portofino
or a course at Lucie Clayton.

I'm starting to wish
I'd picked the latter.

I've never been abroad. I'd plump
for Portofino every time.

Oh, you'd hate it.
They don't sell Tizer.

THEY LAUGH

To be frank, Trixie, I don't know why you're
rolling out all these whistles and bells.

Surely all the usual
etiquettes apply.

Don't talk with your mouth full
and never discuss politics,

money or religion.

How can I not discuss
religion? He's a bishop.

Perhaps you should make a list
of interesting things to say

about the weather and what's
going on in Somaliland.

Why Somaliland?

It's been in the news and clergymen
love news from Africa.

SHE SIGHS

I need another drink.

~ WOMAN: Hello, sweetheart.
~ You all right, Brenda?

Going inside, are you?

JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS

SHE COUGHS

PEOPLE CHATTER

Hello, I'm Sister Winifred.

I think nobody here wants
saving. Thanks all the same.

No, actually, I'm the midwife.

I'm here to see Miss Cole.

Ah!! Bridget! Come after me, please.

Yes, up.

Everything here seems
to be in good order.

I'm sure I must have
forgotten something.

MAN: 'Where you going?!'

It's not always so bad as this.

Hope you remember what you said, about leaving
talk of wickedness outside the door.

Do you intend to go back to your
business after baby's born?

I never really stopped.

I don't do the full works.

Can't lose my regulars.

I'm just wondering...

Do you think this is the right
kind of place to bring up a child?

It's my home, my family.

This baby won't ever want for love,

isn't that what's important?

GLASS SMASHES

Dora!

Dora, come away from
there in your bare feet.

Did I do that? Break that?

It's OK.

Who's this?!

Dora. This is Sister
Winifred, the midwife.

She's come to check everything's
ready for my little bun.

I should have a look at that for you.

Let the sister have a look.
She's from the clinic.

No! I'll have no doctor lock me up!

Dora, don't be silly.

I'll go to no hospital!

I just want to clean the wound, Dora.

Once they get their hands on
me, they won't let me out.

Let me. She'll be fine if I do it.

It's probably best if you
go, Sister. I'm sorry.

She won't calm down
while you're here.

I'm sorry.

When she gets in a state, only
really me can calm her down.

She doesn't really trust
any of the other girls.

Is she always
disorientated like that?

Comes and goes.

But she has been getting
worse, the last few months.

Those lesions, they're
known as gummas.

~ I'd like to bring Dr Turner
to examine her and...
~ No.

You heard how she is about doctors.
It's a terror she has.

She needs treatment.

I think what Dora is suffering
from is quite advanced syphilis.

You knew?

She'd had it for years,
ever since I've known her.

~ You can't go on looking
after her in your condition.
~ We're fine.

We look after each other.

I think we're ready. I hope we are.

~ Goodness!
~ Please.

I see what your husband meant!

And what about this beautiful
little thing? Did you knit this?

No, my mother,

God rest her soul. Was
mine when I was a baby.

She saved it for me...

in case I have a daughter of my own.

Mrs Robbins, whatever
your husband says,

it's perfectly all right for
you to want a little girl.

As long as it's healthy,
I don't mind what it is.

I don't want to let Frank down.

I really can't believe when the
day comes he'll see it like that.

We've been wanting a baby
for such a long time.

We got to thinking it was
never going to happen.

And now it has and that's
just wonderful -

boy or girl.

Isn't it?

I wanted to go straight
round to that ropery

and tell Mrs Robbins' husband
he was being most unfair.

It's one thing to quietly hope
and quite another to go on and on

until his wife is terrified.

Male or female, for good or ill,

that baby's gender was
decided months ago.

All the same, I'm baffled that
anyone thinks that girls

aren't the equal of boys.

I don't think they are the equal
of boys - I think they're better.

But what if the girls themselves
don't think they're better?

The women I visited today are
selling themselves so cheaply.

What other wares have they to offer,

but to live in the rank sweat of an
enseamed bed, stew'd in corruption,

honeying and making love?

I sometimes wonder what the last
two wars were for, in that respect.

Every time the world
goes up in flames,

they draft women in to pick up
the slack and then once it's over,

it's back in your box
and don't say boo!

And now, keeping one hand
under baby's bottom,

we lower our little boy
or girl into the bath.

If you've tested the water
correctly, with your elbow,

baby shouldn't be too startled
by the change in temperature.

~ QUIET SOBBING Mrs Robbins?
~ Sorry.

I know it's a doll,
not a real baby...

I think everything's getting
just a bit too much, isn't it?

Hormones can be beastly things.

Nurse Gilbert!

I think Mrs Robbins needs
a little sit down.

~ Sister, are you free to come
with me on a house call?
~ Of course, Doctor.

~ Which patient is it?
~ Bridget Cole. Her blood tests came back.

I'll have a word with Dr Turner and
tell him you haven't been sleeping.

If you're lucky, he might give
you a sedative to help you sleep.

The most important thing is that
you rest and try not to worry.

I wouldn't be surprised if
he's not already thinking

he can find some young
slip of a thing instead.

What on Earth do you mean?

Some girl still young enough
to give him... two,

three... half a dozen sons.

I'm sure it hasn't
even crossed his mind.

Didn't I say? Dora doesn't want
to see a doctor, she just won't!

Miss Cole, he's not here about Dora.

Go on, Dora. Go on.

It's about the blood sample
we took at the clinic.

Miss Cole, the result shows that
you're infected with syphilis.

I can't be. How can I?

If it goes untreated, there are
very serious consequences for you.

I always took precautions,

always used a proper peroxide
douche after all my customers.

The use of a douche is not enough
to fight an infection like this.

This syphilis could also endanger
the life of your baby.

We need to transfer you to
the maternity home to begin

a course of penicillin injections.

There is a chance, if the disease
is at an early stage,

the infection may
still be contagious.

Oh, my God!

~ Good afternoon, Mr Robbins.
Are you here about your wife?
~ No, I'm not.

It's my father's birthday today.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to intrude.

No, it's all out in the open, Nurse.

Frank was my father.

His sons are me and my
brothers, Bill and John.

17th of September 1939, my
dad's ship was torpedoed -

he went down with it.

In the spring of '45, my
brothers got blown up.

They were on a minesweeper
in the Bay of Biscay.

I ended up with three sets of
medals and the family business.

This is their memorial,
most of the time.

But on special occasions,
I come here.

I'm going to bring my son
when he's old enough.

Mr Robbins, the baby may be
a boy, but may also be a girl.

Your wife can't choose
and neither can you.

I promised my dad to carry
on the business with a son.

I need a son.

Hello there.

Tom, what do you think about offering
the Bishop something more

continental for afternoon
tea? Or is traditional best?

Dainty sandwiches, jam, cream
scones, lots of Darjeeling?

I could ask Barbara.

She seems to know everything about
bishops and all the etiquette.

~ Trixie...
~ You see, her father is a canon,
he's a residentiary one,

not an honorary one.

Did you know there
are different kinds?

Trixie, when the Bishop comes,
you just need to relax.

Remember, he's coming
primarily to speak to me.

Now, I'm expected by the
summer fete committee

and I'm at least 20 minutes late.

Welcome to the Poplar Ritz. Full room
service and tea in constant supply.

I'll leave you to unpack.

I'll be back shortly to give
you your first injection.

I tried to get rid of it, you know?

Gin and a hot bath.

Never fails, Dora said.

By the time I knew it hadn't worked,
must have been four months gone.

Went to a woman to
have it dealt with.

Got as far as her door,
but I couldn't do it.

Why not?

I thought, if it's so keen to get
itself born, might as well go

and have it...

and love it.

Give it the love I never had.

And now,

I could be bringing it
into the world diseased,

~ like I'm diseased.
~ Bridget, you're here to have treatment.

There's a decent chance your baby
will be healthy when it's born

and that you'll be well enough
to take good care of it.

I am grateful, Sister.

SHE SIGHS

I just don't understand why after
such great strides in modern

medicine, we're still treating women
like Bridget Cole for syphilis.

Well, it's largely

because these girls refuse to ask
their clients to use sheaths.

But that doesn't make sense.

~ Has nobody explained to them?
~ Yes. I tried myself some years ago.

They told me their customers
don't like them

and that was the end of the matter.

~ But surely their customers are at risk too.
~ Of course they are.

Here's last year's report
from the Board of Health -

every instance of venereal
disease meticulously noted.

If I could, I'd force every man who
sidles down Cable Street to read it

and they'd still say using a sheath
is like going for a paddle

with your socks on.

♪ Para bailar La Bamba

♪ Para bailar La Bamba

♪ Se necessita una poca de gracia

♪ Una poca de gracia

♪ Para mi, para it, ay
arriba, ay arriba... ♪

I must have cycled 20 miles today.

I walked in from those bike
sheds like John Wayne.

I was beginning to
think you'd forgotten!

We said we'd go to the Hand and Shears
to have a little brightener.

Out of your uniform, spit-spot.

If you're good, I'll treat
you to a bitter lemon.

~ Sergeant Noakes?
~ Oh, evening, Sister.

I was testing out what they
say about a watched pot.

~ Oh, what's that then?
~ That it never boils.
~ Oh.

Sergeant Noakes, how many
prostitutes are there in Poplar?

Um...

Well, I don't know exactly. Um...

As an educated guess, perhaps...

Six or 700?

Can you introduce me to some?

And what exactly is it
you plan to do, Sister?

I'm hoping that by educating
the women in these places and

encouraging them to use sheaths, I'd
be helping them protect themselves,

meaning we won't have
any more Bridget Coles.

Might I be excused Compline?

~ You want to start tonight?
~ Yes. And not too late.

Sergeant Noakes thinks we ought
to try to miss their rush hour.

I'm in your hands, Sergeant
Noakes. Where shall we start?

This way, Sister.

You'll be all right.

♪ Come on to my house, my house

♪ I'm gonna give you candy

♪ Come on to my house, my house

♪ I'm gonna give you apple,
a plum and an apricot... ♪

Could I give you some information
about using sheaths?

Oh, ta.

♪ Come on to my house, my house

♪ I'm gonna give you... ♪

Excuse me, could I give you some
useful information about using

~ sheaths to prevent yourself
from infection...
~ Get lost!

Excuse me, could I give you some
useful information about using

~ sheaths to prevent yourself from...?
~ Are you trying to lose me business?

There's plenty of other
girls he could go to

if I start waving
rubbers in his face.

Binky?! Really?

His wife calls him Binky?

The more I hear about my
Bishop, the more I like him.

Well, this is all according to Pop,
who only knows him by reputation.

But he tells me the Bishop
is teetotal and rather

passionate about it, so don't let
him know how much you like a drink!

~ How much I like a drink?
~ Oh, you know what I mean.

At the end of a day,

Patsy and I always like to guess
how soon Trixie's Bar will open!

And that's what you
call it? Trixie's Bar?

It's all said in fun, Trixie.

Aren't you coming down
for tea, Sister?

I understand we have Battenburg cake.

I saw them marching, like Amazons,

banners billowing, votes for women!

I would have joined them,
had I not labours of my own.

See how young she is.

My 40th year.

Such a summer it was.

I remember women, decent women,

wading into the Serpentine on
the day of the coronation...

for King George.

I carried my purpose
wherever it was needed,

putting the putrid beasts of squalor
and disease to the sword.

I was so capable then...

.. agile...

like a swift in slight.

At the very height of my powers.

And now...

SHE SCOFFS

~ Sister, you're still a valued
part of Nonnatus House.
~ No.

I'm a relic,

a curiosity and a nuisance.

They say in the newspaper
we're degenerate.

They call us common
prostitutes. SHE WINCES

And all of that makes
us stick together.

Do you want your child growing
up in an environment like that?

Not really.

But can you see me working
in an office, day after day?

Or as a housewife?

~ I went to visit a very nice
mother and baby home last week.
~ Oh.

I know about those places.

Dormitories, daily chores,
lots of prayers...

This place isn't at all like that.

One of the midwives from
Nonnatus works there

and she's very good at setting
up fresh chances for new mums.

KNOCK AT DOOR

The desk woman say it's OK.

Well, all right. But you
must put on this gown

and take it off and wash
your hands before you leave.

Everybody miss you, Bridget,

especially Dora.

~ So, Dora's going crazy since you not there.
~ What are you talking about?

So, put the clothes on. I will
check if the nurse is coming back.

Tom, I'm not sure if my
secretary told you why

I wanted to meet you today.

No. Just that you were reasonably
happy with the work I've been doing.

Very happy. Very happy indeed.

You've shown the kind of freshness

and vigour that the
modern Church needs.

No.

So much so that when I heard about
a parish that was coming vacant,

not immediately, the man in the
chair, an old and dear friend is

due to retire in a year, I thought
you might be just right for it.

I see.

Goodness!

I... I'm very gratified, Bishop.

It's in St Anne's,

a pretty challenging area
of poverty in Newcastle.

Newcastle?

I'm sorry, it's just that we
had in mind a more rural home to

bring up our children.

I'll make another
pot of tea, shall I?

The parish has its fair share
of delinquents and unfortunates,

but I'm sure there are rough
diamonds to be found.

You'll be glad to hear Mrs Alice
Ambrose has had a healthy baby girl.

Oh, splendid! I'm afraid you
won't have time for a rest.

We've just had a call. It sounds
like Mrs Colter's in labour.

Right, off I go!

Oh, you can sterilise
when you get there.

Was the call from June Colter
or is her mother-in-law still

~ staying over?
~ I'm afraid it was her mother-in-law.

Trixie, all I'm saying is
it wasn't your place or mine

to take the Bishop to task.

He was talking about sending us
to a slum district in Newcastle!

I just said I was hoping for
something less... challenging.

And then sat there with a face
like thunder for the rest

of the afternoon.

It was made very clear that
I shouldn't talk while the men

were discussing important matters
that clearly I have no say in!

Trixie...

This morning, I sat with
a man whose wife had d*ed.

She was 21 and had Hodgkins Disease.

He wanted me to explain God's plan.

He wanted to know why it was
worth him living any more.

That, for me, is what life
in the Church is about

and that is why I will go where the
Bishop feels I can do most good.

I understand that. Really, I do.

But after four years in Poplar,
all I want is for our children to

grow in a place with trees
and maybe no tenements.

Trixie, when you marry me,
you'll be marrying the Church.

Be honest, have you ever wondered

whether that's really
going to suit you?

No, I haven't.

Have you?

LAUGHTER AND MUSIC

Everybody's laughing.

Move! Move! Out my way!

Shift it! Will you move?

Move! Dora?

Dora?

It's me. Hello.

All right?

You all right?

Let's get you upstairs.

Come on, let's get you out of here.

You should be ashamed
of yourselves! Move!

♪ Sometimes, we'll sigh

♪ Sometimes, we'll cry

♪ And we'll know why just you
and I know true love ways. ♪

WATER SPLASHES

Oh!

You're doing really well,
June, but do try to relax.

We've plenty of time before
baby's ready to pop out.

Plenty of time. You think
this is proper labour,

you've got another think
coming, hasn't she, Nurse?

Mrs Colter, could I have a word?

I have delivered babies in
many different circumstances -

routine or complicated.

Now, compare your own largely
third-hand experiences

and decide which of
us you trust more to

help your daughter-in-law bring your
first grandchild into the world.

Has she reached full term?

No, she's only eight months.

MUSIC AND CHATTER

This way.

She's upstairs.

SHE MOANS IN PAIN

Bridget.

Sister, I'm sorry. I only
came back to check on Dora.

Let's take a look at you.

Bridget, this is Nurse Crane,
here to give us a bit of help.

And how often are the
contractions, Miss Cole?

They feel about every bloody minute!

Oh!

Good, strong heartbeat. Legs up.

She's too advanced to move her
back to the maternity home.

Bridget, we're going to have
to deliver your baby here.

~ Knees down.
~ If she hasn't finished her treatment,

we have to assume the syphilis
is still contagious.

I'll call for Dr Turner?

~ My back is k*lling me.
~ Well, let's get you onto
your hands and knees -

~ that'll ease the pressure.
~ Ooh!
~ Here we go. There you go.
~ Oh!

~ BANGS DOOR
~ Help! Is anyone there?

I need a midwife!

~ BANGING ON DOOR
~ I need some help!

BANGING CONTINUES

~ I need help!
~ Here's a knocking indeed!

~ Is anyone there?
~ If a man were porter of hell-gate...

~ Oh!
~ What are you about?
~ It's you!

This is no night to be abroad!

Can I see a midwife?

Please!

This is highly untoward.

Why did you not utilise
the telephone?

My husband took the
kids to Canvey Island

and the phone on the bottom
of our street is... bust.

SHE WHIMPERS IN PAIN

All will be well, my dear.

All will be well.

I'm scared it won't be.

I came cos my waters broke...

and it don't look right!

It was sort of...green coloured.

You did well to seek assistance

and it shall be obtained for you.

I need a proper midwife!

All abed?

Will nobody attend to us?

We are in need of assistance!

Come with me.

~ Come where?
~ To a place of safety,

where you will be cared for.

Argh!

~ Breathe. Breathe.
~ It's never coming out!

I can see the head now, Bridget.

Slow and controlled pushes now,
Bridget. Slow and controlled.

You're in the home straight.

No more pushing now. Let me see you
blowing out those candles for me.

The head's out.

~ Shoulders are out. You're nearly there.
~ Argh!

Urgh!

BABY CRIES

Well done!

My baby.

There she is.

You have a little girl, Bridget.

We need to examine her and clean her.

Dr Turner's on his way.

Are you sure this is the right way?

You must take your lead from Lao-Tzu,

the Chinese philosopher.

He has it that a journey of
a thousand miles begins with

a single step.

This is Poplar, not bloody China!

Indeed.

I'm pleased to say June Colter
had a large, very sweet, baby girl

without a single complication.

Excellent. That's two in one day.
And how is her mother-in-law?

I tried being firm with
her - it seemed to work.

Mr Robbins just called - he
thinks his wife is in labour -

but you've been on your
feet since breakfast.

Go and alert Nurse Franklin - she
should be ready to take over.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Wakey-wakey!

Trixie?

Oh, Trixie!

I'll take care of this one for you.

Careful.

We're in need of assistance!

Sister Monica Joan! What's happened?

Mrs Bowe presented herself
at Nonnatus House.

Her waters broke.

There was... She knew
there was a problem.

You've both done exactly
the right thing.

The doctor isn't here just now,

but we'll get Mrs Bowe out of these
wet things and come up with a plan.

Baby's heart rate is a little slow.

I'm going to check
how dilated you are,

~ but I think you're going to have
to have baby here and quickly.
~ No!

Fortune has favoured us, Mrs Bowe.

Mrs Turner has delivered
more babies than

there are stars in the
Great Andromeda Nebula.

We'll need a delivery pack and clean
towels from the storeroom, Sister.

~ And the breathing was normal
just after the birth.
~ Yes.

But now the respiration rate is over
60 and the heart rate is over 150.

Baby's not pinking up
well. It's cyanosed.

~ She looks so beautiful, doesn't she?
~ She does.

Very beautiful.

But so fragile. Oh, there can't
be anything wrong with her.

Please, don't let there be!

Argh!

Argh! Ah!

Baby's head is almost here, Eileen. I
know it stings, but just pant for me.

Pant. Pant. Pant.

All is well, my dear.

Do as Mrs Turner says.

Pant, Eileen.

SHE PANTS

~ Your baby's head is born, Eileen!
~ Argh!

How blessed we were to
meet with Mrs Turner.

How blessed I was to
meet with y... Argh!

Now, I think if you can give
me one enormous brave push,

we're going to be able to meet
this beautiful, beautiful baby.

I can't!

~ I can't!
~ Now, now.

Be of good courage!

~ Nurse, she's through here.
~ Thank you, Mr Robbins.

You're doing really well, Susan.
Another big push for me.

I can't push any more.

You can. Just one more.

Goodness, I can see the head, Susan!

This little one's in quite a hurry
to come and say hello to you.

Here come the shoulders.

Oh! BABY CRIES

~ There you are, little one.
~ Is it a boy?

You have a very lovely baby.

A beautiful daughter.

Say hello to your little girl.

Isn't she beautiful?

Hello.

That's all the hard work over.

Now, we just have to
wait for the placenta.

~ KNOCK ON DOOR
~ Nurse? Is everything all right?

BABY CRIES

Look at her. Now, wasn't she
worth all that hard work?

Aren't you...?

Aren't you just?

~ I thought I was going to lose her.
~ No.

Let us give thanks
to the Lord, our God.

I'm going to have a thank
you list as long as my arm.

I looked straight past you
when you opened the door -

~ I shouldn't have.
~ Oh, it's no matter.

I've been struggling for a
name for this little madam.

Everything I liked,

I heard being yelled out in the
street by somebody else's mother.

I want something... special.

Like er...

Yours might do the trick...

as long as we drop the Joan.

I had an aunt called Joan
- I couldn't stand her.

You're going to call the baby Monica?

It is an honour...

.. unearned.

No, it ain't.

It goes lovely with her surname.

Don't it?

Miss Monica Anne Bowe.

I was hoping the injection of
Ergometrine would do the job,

but the placenta doesn't
seem to want to come.

What's happening in there?
Is everything all right?

Don't tell him it's a girl, not yet,

please!

I won't,

I promise.

But I do need to speak to him, Susan.

~ You need to make a telephone
call, Mr Robbins.
~ What's going on?

Call Dr Turner and tell him that
your wife has a retained placenta.

The ambulance will take you
to the hospital, Mrs Robbins.

They'll take good care of you there.

She'll be all right, won't she?

They'll give her a
general anaesthetic.

Everything will be easier
once she's there.

And the baby?

Is it a boy?

Tell me, what is it?

You have a very beautiful
baby daughter, Mr Robbins.

Frank, please...

Just look at her, at least.

Frank...

How could you turn your back
on your own newborn daughter?

Are you listening to me?

Nurse Gilbert, I'm going
to drive you home.

He can't treat his wife like that!

You have had a long
and exhausting day.

We can collect your bicycle
in the morning.

There is nothing more
for you to do here.

The London called, about
booking in Mrs Robbins.

They told me that you and not Nurse
Franklin were the nurse attending.

~ Sorry, Sister.
~ You didn't help the problem by hiding it.

APPROACHING VOICES

There's no need for anyone
else to know about this.

You look exhausted.

Go and get some rest.

I'll get Nurse Franklin into her bed.

From a grand total of ten deliveries,

which I'm reliably informed is
the most in one day since 1957...

GASPS

.. Sister Winifred delivered two.
I also delivered two - twins.

Sister Julienne and Nurse
Mount only managed one each.

~ GIGGLES
~ But an exhausting three babies, all girls,

were brought into the
world by Nurse Gilbert.

~ THEY APPLAUD
~ Oh, bravo!

Not forgetting our very
own Sister Monica Joan,

who so ably assisted Mrs Turner.

~ Hurray!
~ Hurray! THEY APPLAUD

Although, I do seem to have
forgotten Nurse Franklin.

~ Where's she disappeared to now?
~ She's upstairs, resting.

A little under the weather.

The way Mrs Turner tells the tale,
all credit goes to you, Sister.

But now, it's time everyone
went up to their beds.

Tomorrow is another day.

Thank you.

The perineum was intact and
there was minimal blood loss.

But Patrick, I was so nervous.
I still can't believe I did it.

I can! You were always
the most accomplished

midwife at Nonnatus House.

~ Skills like that don't
just vanish when you retire.
~ I suppose not.

It was as though everything
I'd ever learned or known was

there at the flick of a switch.

I sometimes think you're
wasted as my receptionist.

No, I'm not.

When I let somebody else take over
your office you were in utter

chaos within weeks.

There are plenty of other
midwives in the world.

But I only have... one wife.

This, Angela, is them
doing their mushy stuff.

You really need to get used to it.

I feel foolish and so selfish
for what I did last night.

A few days ago, it felt like
everything was in place.

I'm sure things are not as terrible
as you might feel they are.

The wedding was all planned.

The Bishop was delighted
with what Tom was doing.

Tom's a good committed man.

And what am I?

Nurse Franklin, you make a great
contribution to our work -

one slip cannot alter that.

Perhaps he's right.

Perhaps I'd never make
a good curate's wife.

I'd never had a row with
him before about anything...

not really.

Felt like it was all
starting to fall apart.

I had a drink.

Then I couldn't stop.

I used to hear my father
telling the whole world

he didn't have a problem with drink.

~ Have you spoken to Mr Hereward about this?
~ No.

Please. He mustn't find out.

Are you sure that's how you
want your marriage to begin -

with a deception, a secret?

He won't want to marry me if
he found out. What man would?

Think very carefully.

A secret can be a very corrosive
thing between a man and wife.

She's such a beautiful thing.

I can see she has Frank's eyes.

When she smiles, she's
a Robbins, she really is.

Oh, he's driving me mad,
him and his stupid promise.

Mr Robbins lost his father
and two brothers in the w*r.

He made a promise to their
memory that a son of his would

carry on the family name.

He'll come round, Susan.

He's not even held her.

He's hardly even looked
at her, his own daughter.

Mrs Robbins, it won't do your health
any good to allow yourself to

get so anxious about this.

I keep looking at the suitcase
on the top of that wardrobe

and I keep thinking, "Will
I come home one day to find my

"things are packed and him telling
me he doesn't want to see her?"

Of course he won't.

I can't apologise for the Bishop...

.. or his plans for a parish
for me in Newcastle.

I know that, now.

Then, what?

~ You were right to say that
I wouldn't make a good wife.
~ I didn't say that.

To be a curate's wife is
a challenging thing. I...

I wanted you to be sure.

And I'm not.

Tom...

.. the truth is,

I can't live up to what you
and the Church expect of me.

And so I can't keep the promise
that this ring represents.

Trixie, what are you doing?

Trixie...

Trixie!

Bridget?

~ Is everything all right?
~ Oh.

Look at me.

I'm crying every time I look at her.

She's a beautiful little girl.

I'm glad to hear, so
far, she seems healthy.

I am the luckiest mummy
in the world, aren't I?

And when this little girl grows up?

Will she follow in
the family business?

Are you here to tell me off,
or to check on my baby?

I'm sorry.

I'm glad to hear your
treatment's working, too.

I owe you a lot, Sister.

Thank you.

You could do something for me.

You could help stop what happened
to you happening to the other girls.

I'm not so fond of paperwork
either, Mr Robbins.

Doctor.

My wife send you?

~ Did she tell you I was
being a terrible father?
~ No.

I came because I'm a father myself.

Good for you.

Any sons?

One.

And I promised his mother,
before she d*ed,

I would always keep him safe.

I'm sorry... for your loss...

.. but this isn't your business.

Last year, he was almost
taken from me...

by polio.

So, you see, I know a bit
about family promises.

I've let my father down.

By your own measure, yes.

But do you really think
your father would care

more for the sign above this door

than the happiness of your family?

About his grandchild?

I needed a son...

not a girl.

Times are changing, Mr Robbins.

There are women in
Parliament, already.

By the time the two of
us are in the ground,

this world will be unrecognisable.

We have to be proud
of our children...

and give them all the love we have.

Your daughter needs you.

Go to her.

Be a proud father to her.

BABY STIRS

That's your grandfather.

He taught me everything
I know about cables,

yarns and hawsers.

No rope, no Navy.

No Navy, no Empire.

My grandfather used to
say that to me when...

I thought it was time to tell my daughter
how important this place is...

.. for our family.

Big smile, and...

'The longest nights are
seldom seen approaching.

'The storms may not be
heard until they break,

'like life itself.

'Challenges and change are
there to be confronted...

'.. and we must weather
them - alone or together,

'watching for the sunlight

'and waiting for the dawn.'

Hello.

Can I help?

She doesn't speak English.

This is a happy day,
Sister Mary Cynthia.

Welcome home.

I'm not sure it's a
good idea, Patrick.

You're looking terribly
tired as it is.

We can help with the birth
and after - all free.

Oh, sorry, can you
translate all that?

Of course!

It's like something you could
see after a car accident,

or some other great force,
such as an as*ault.