10x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

MATURE JENNIFER: Sometimes in life
we get the chance to start again.

We breathe deep, stand tall.

We prepare to make our way.

The future waits, the night is
ended.

The light is flooding in.

This is the morning that we dreamed
of when we struggled.

This is the dawn,
the new day, the road back.

SIGHS

This is everything we wanted,

everything we thought was lost.

And our journey begins

with steps so few that a child
could count them,

forged by the force of life itself.

Straight to the maternity home as
soon as you're ready,

Nurse Anderson!

- Yes, Nurse Crane.
- Good morning, ladies!

One delivery of iodine paste
for the venous ulcer cases,

fresh from the chemist,

and one tin of biscuits,
fresh from my daughters' hands!

Angela and May always like to bake
something

when Mother Mildred visits.

I'm not telling you what I'd like to
do when Mother Mildred visits.

Oh, gingerbread monsters.

That's, er, novel.

They're actually shortbread nurses.

The girls wanted to make them
nun-shaped, but I...

...I thought that might be seen
as disrespectful.

Good morning, ladies.

I've just been informed that
Mother Mildred will not be arriving

- at teatime today.
- She's not gonna come early, is she?

She's not going to come at all.

Nevertheless, we have important
matters to discuss,

and Mother Mildred will telephone
later this morning.

Sister Hilda, I'd like you to join
me.

If you would bring a tray of coffee

I shall require two spoons of
Nescafe.

- Morning, Mrs Buckle.
- Morning.

CLEARS HER THROAT

When you close the shop at
lunchtime,

I need you to nip to the
cash-and-carry and fetch a gross

of assorted chocolate eggs.

We've only just had Pancake Day!

Ha, well, that's as may be,
Fred Buckle,

but we don't want the Easter Bunny
being caught on the hop!

The Easter Bunny being you.

Vi, I wanted to get across
to the allotment.

There's daffodils need deadheading
and I think Mr Rat's back,

underneath that shed.

You can't go wandering all over
Poplar doing whatever you like

until we can afford an assistant.

And we can't afford an assistant

until we've rented the flat
upstairs.

That card's been
stuck in the window for weeks.

Needs to be bigger.

Mrs Winch!
Whatever do you think you're doing?

Scrubbing my step, Sister.

I thought you'd approve -
cleanliness being next to godliness

and all of that.

It isn't next to godliness when
you're nine months pregnant.

I've brought your delivery pack

and I've come to do your antenatal
check.

Oh, I was going to the clinic
this afternoon anyway.

I've already washed out a jar
to have a wee in.

We make an outing of it
every Tuesday, don't we, Glenys?

I can help her with the twins,
they're into everything these days.

You have mine, Sister.
I'll fetch myself another.

Oh, are you feeling better?

You were bent double with bellyache
this morning.

Your vulgar language is
offending my shell-like ears.

I don't get bellyache,
I have a delicate stomach.

You can't live on rice pudding,
Derek.

Oh, yeah? Hasn't k*lled me yet.

Sister, you're knocking that back
like a stiff gin.

I've never had a stiff gin in my
life,

which isn't to say
I wouldn't like one now.

And no wonder.

You've just told Mother Mildred that
Nonnatus House is going private?

Correction - I've suggested
that the Order supplies midwives

to a private maternity hospital
in Mayfair.

The finances raised
nursing the richest women in London

will be ploughed back
into Nonnatus House

and enable us to carry on serving
the very poorest.

And as Mother Mildred responded,

"Rather in the manner of Robin Hood
with wimples!"

I heard every word.

I've been corresponding with

Mr Scarisbrick of the Lady Emily
clinic

for some time now.

He wants the cachet of religious
Sisters nursing on his premises,

and we need the money
he is prepared to pay.

But Mother Mildred says no Sister
may set foot on his premises

until all due diligence has been
observed.

How on Earth are you going to do
that?

I know exactly how
I'm going to do it.

Oh!

I'm sorry, Sister Julienne.

Althea Mulligan's episiotomy needed
a bit of a once-over,

and I was late leaving the maternity
home.

Miss Higgins said you asked to see
me.

Yes, Nurse Franklin. I did.

Promise me it's not another
set of twins, Dr Turner! Promise me.

You say that at every appointment,
Mrs Winch!

And Doctor will say
what he always says.

If you were having a second set of
twins,

he'd have worked it out by now.

He didn't work it out last time till
he saw the second one's backside!

AUDREY: Stop giving him a hard time,
Glenys!

You're only half the size
you were with the twins!

Aude, you might be my mate
but you are not a midwife!

I've got my Brownie First Aid badge!

That's enough, thank you, ladies.

I'm not kidding, Sister.

When Glenys was having the demon
duo,

she was like the ruddy Hindenburg.

What, you mean on fire?

No. Just massive.

- Oh.
- LAUGHS

Ah, it used to hurt me,

somewhere pushed inside
where I couldn't let it show.

Well, cos she was my friend and I
was, I was glad for her,

but me and my Derek, we'd been
married five years and nothing.

Well, nothing until now.

I've enjoyed every minute of it.

It's been so nice being able
to share things.

The Lady Emily is one
of the smartest clinics in London.

Their garden parties are in Tatler.

If you don't want to be involved
with this proposal,

there are others I could ask.

When did I say I didn't want to be
involved with it?

It might be the thing that saves
Nonnatus House!

You will work there for six weeks.

Mr Scarisbrick and I both feel
this would give ample time for you

to examine the day-to-day running
of the Lady Emily

and for all involved
to plan the way ahead.

I think I would be in dereliction
of my duty if I didn't go.

I've never heard anything like it!

Religious Sisters have been
involved in private practice

since time immemorial.

- EXHALES
- Well, not these Sisters.

Shelagh, did you know about this?

No, I did not know about this,
and I'm as startled as you,

but if the people of Poplar are to
get what they deserve,

we have to be inventive.

We shouldn't have to be inventive.

The National Health should be able
to keep its promise

of protecting people from the cradle
to the grave!

We do keep that promise and we will.

If the powers that be

don't make that easy, it's not our
fault or Sister Julienne's.

CAR BOOT SLAMS,
SIGHS

BELL RINGS

Nurse Anderson!

What's that you have there?

Mrs Wallace made me
some chicken, rice and peas.

Did she have any news on finding
a new home for the church?

She'd been all the way to
Whitechapel in a special hat.

Lord, was it a special hat!

The sort of hat that say,

"I used to be a bank manager's
secretary in Kingston"?

Oh, yes.

But the minute she arrived,

the landlords realised what kind of
church she came from,

and it turned out
the building was already rented.

Was it in Isaiah that the Lord
promised

everybody would sit
under their own vine and fig tree?

It was Zechariah and Micah.
And the First Book Of Kings.

So it's definitely going to happen,
then.

Right now, I don't care about having
my own vine and fig tree,

so much as my own roof and bed.

My rooming house has been condemned.

They put the notice up this morning.

There is an empty flat
above the Buckle paper shop.

You could try that.

Dr Turner, could you take
a look at Enid Chu before you go?

She has a slight temperature.

I think she needs to stay another
night with us.

Of course.

There will be no charge.

A state of affairs
I hope will never have to change.

Patrick, I don't believe
that was called for.

That was the first cross word

I've had with her in almost
years.

I hope it's going to be the last!

I'm sorry.

But I just struggle to see
who this is going to benefit.

This Lady Emily clinic must have
money to burn -

sending a frock round in a taxi
cab!

It's not a frock, Phyllis,
it's my new uniform!

Mr Scarisbrick's sister was
a couture model for Balenciaga.

I believe he drew on her expertise
when designing for his staff.

It's got too many frills and
falderals, it's too form-fitting

and, according to this label,
it's "professional laundering only"!

Oh, how the other half live!

PHONE RINGS

Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.

I think I'm in labour.
And my Derek, he's gone up West

to his National Service reunion!

EXHALES SHARPLY

- Oi!
- GASPS

Private Fleming!

Evening, Corporal Delamore!

And what, may I ask, are you doing
loitering in a public place

and with no alcohol in your
possession?

A, I'm waiting for you, Corporal D,
and B...

...I'm not guilty of the second
charge.

Wahey! Brahms and Liszt
and all their mates await us,

but, come on, we can save
all the backslapping for later

- till I get this cine gear down.
- CHUCKLES

- KNOCK ON DOOR
- Knock, knock.

I'm heading out to a delivery,
Sister Monica Joan.

Have you got your black veil to hand
for compline?

I may say the office alone,
from my breviary...

...as I was wont to do
when I was not in my dotage...

...but in my prime...

...and called away to work,
as you are.

I need you to pray on my behalf,
Sister...

...otherwise it's just Sister
Julienne and Sister Hilda

praying for everyone, and I think
that's spreading things a bit thin.

I cannot concern myself
with such matters.

The officer in Softly Softly appears
to be involved in an altercation.

You might increase the volume
before you depart.

If you have anything to say,
I suggest you'd better say it,

because when I come back... For the
hundredth time, I'm telling you...

CHANTING: Catch it, catch it, catch
it, catch it, catch it!

CHEERING

Before you look askance,

I'm not going to say anything
negative about our planned expansion

into the world of silver trays
and lacy pillowslips.

- I'm glad to hear it.
- What I am going to say is this.

If the staff nurses at the Lady
Emily

all look as dainty, pink and white
as a posy of carnations,

I really don't think the Order can
go there dressed

in medieval hand-me-downs!

I don't disagree.

I've got the number in mine,

which means it was previously
worn by Sister Ermengarde,

and she d*ed of old age
before the Second World w*r.

Exactly!

You... you aren't arguing with me?

No. The Roman Catholic Orders have
been modernising for some time now.

I don't see any reason why
we shouldn't at least explore

the possibilities of a refreshed
and revised habit.

What about Mother Mildred?

We'll deal with Mother Mildred
in due course.

The pains are slowing down,
aren't they?

They've tapered off completely
over the past couple of hours,

and your cervix hasn't dilated yet.

Oh! I feel such a fool.

LAUGHS

Dragging you out in the dark,
getting my layette lined up.

Everything's on the brink of moving,
Audrey.

But with a first baby,
things take time.

DOOR SHUTS

Someone's left a bike outside
the house!

DEREK LAUGHS

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

Derek! What do you think
you're doing with the Sister's bike?

Well, someone will nick it out
there.

It's a Nonnatus bike!
Nobody ever steals them!

And whose coat have you got on?

Oh, somebody a lot taller than me,
it would appear.

- Are you having the baby?
- No, I am not!

Go to bed, Audrey.
You need your rest.

Your husband can sleep down here
tonight.

DEREK GROANS

SISTER FRANCES SIGHS

'Ey!

I can see the pram from here.

That makes me happy.
LAUGHS

You've got your own khazi.

All refinements being offered.

The hot-water heater in the bathroom
takes shillings,

the gas is shillings
and the electric's pennies.

Basically, you've got more slot
machines than Southend Pier.

You are representing us.
You don't have to speak for us.

Simply refer any questions to me.

Hmm.

TRIXIE EXHALES

It's perfect, Fred.

But I can't afford it.

Oh, well, I'm sure we can knock a
bit off.

Violet's a bit unbending,
but she's got a soft spot for you.

No. I'm sorry.

I thought the price was monthly,
not weekly.

That was my mistake, and all the
generosity in the world

won't bring the price down far
enough.

Well...

...it's just standing empty, Cyril.

The right tenant will come along -

someone who can pay what it's worth

and help you put a bit away
for your old age.

This is your business, Fred.

Me...

...I'm still working my way.

- DEREK VOMITS
- I've no sympathy with you, Derek.

Your stomach's bad enough

in a general way, without you
necking back the pale ale.

I just brought up a load of blood.

AUDREY GASPS

Nurse Franklin...

...clearly as punctual
as you are ornamental.

I think we'll promote you to Sister
while you're here.

Sister sounds more senior,

and it'll make my patients feel
so confident.

One would hope they were feeling
confident already, Mr Scarisbrick.

Birth is a natural process,
after all.

And therein lies a world of horror,
hope and pain.

But I have two guiding principles
I hold above all others.

One, no-one should do penance
for being a woman.

And two, I never examine anyone
with cold hands.

It's a hot-water bottle, Sister.

If you'd be the most kind
and considerate of angels

and make sure
it is always topped up and handy.

Do you think you could make your way
to St Cuthbert's, Mr Fleming?

This morning.

If it's an emergency,
he needs an ambulance.

It's not an emergency,

but I'd like you to see a specialist
in case you have an ulcer.

They still haven't found
the World Cup.

"Police continue to comb London
for the Jules Rimet Trophy,

"stolen from its display case
at Westminster on Sunday."

Hmm.

What I don't understand is,
if they don't find it,

can there actually be a World Cup?

I hope so.

Our Chambers has already bought
a block of tickets for the finals.

- Hmm, Brazil versus Mexico, then!
- CHUCKLES

Mrs Fiona Aylward?
The doctor's ready for you now.

STRAINS

Will you be joining us, sir?

In the consulting room?
Er, gosh, no.

Er, Mr Scarisbrick usually comes

and exchanges pleasantries
afterwards, once you're done.

Of course.

Mrs Aylward!

Looking absolutely radiant, if I may
say so,

and in another very elegant
ensemble.

I do hope you paid heed
to my views last time

and resigned that unhelpful job!

I handed in my notice to huge relief
all round.

They bought me
a bouquet the size of the Oval.

Advertising and motherhood were
simply never going to mix.

Once I started to show,

the other account managers kept me
in a backroom,

like the mad aunt from a Gothic
novel!

Sister Franklin will help you get
comfy,

and then we'll see how the little
stranger is getting along.

I shall be revealing all three new
designs at a very select

soiree at Nonnatus House.

I saw a nun at the bus stop the last
time I went up to Letchworth

and she was in a very neat
dove-grey two-piece.

I think it was Courtelle.

I'd put money on that being
drip-dry.

Be still, my heart!

Once through a hot wash
and back on by morning!

Would, erm, a cowl neck
be pushing the boundaries?

I think it would, as a matter of
fact.

Oh, Derek,
I never thought they'd keep you in!

I'm down for a barium meal in the
morning.

If it is an ulcer, they'll give me
anti-acids or something.

Antacids, I think they're called.

'Ey, I've been promised rice pudding
if I behave.

Won't be as nice as yours, though.

Or come in such lovely tins.

Now, I promise you, Sister Frances,
you will not be showing your knees!

I will when I'm riding my bike.

All that upping and downing on the
pedals.

I hate showing my knees.

It's one of the reasons
I became a nun.

Prototype number one - the pinafore
dress. What do you think?

It's a bit short. Can see her knees.

I'm on my way to Audrey Fleming.

She's gone into labour
with her husband still in hospital.

I'd like there to be two of us.

Mr Scarisbrick said he's admitted
you.

I'm anaemic, apparently,

and must be brought iron pills on a
silver salver!

I imagine those are they.

There's no harm in resting,

but, to be quite honest,
you could take these at home.

Hmm. Might also stand an outside
chance

of wearing a comfortable nightdress.

Matthew dropped off my case
and then dashed off to a meeting.

When I opened it I realised...

- WHISPERS
- ..he'd packed it himself.

It's full of black scratchy things
that I took on honeymoon.

- Fond memories, perhaps.
- Ooh!

This soap has a lovely perfume.
Has somebody been treating you?

Derek.

It's what I used to use
when we first started courting,

just before his National Service.

When he was in the South Seas,

he used to keep a wrapper in his
wallet,

so he could smell it
and think of me.

I think that's one of the nicest
things I've ever heard.

Do you think he knows? Do you think
they've got the message to him yet?

I spoke to the ward sister
personally.

She assured me that he'd be kept
informed.

GASPS

Breathe. Breathe.

Oh, you like peas. Oh, you like
peas, OK.

Oh, no, no, no. No, no, no. No,
Sooty! No, I don't want any more...

Agh!

- Whoops!
- GROANS

Um, can I have some more, er,
sausage, please, Sweep, yeah?

- Yeah?
- For God's sake, Phil.

Will you just eat your ruddy dinner
and then help me bath the twins?

GROANS

I reckon we're gonna have to
call Nonnatus House.

- What, now?
- No.

When we've put the kids to bed.

PHONE RINGS

Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.

Has she had it yet?

- Derek, what are you doing here?
- You're supposed to be in hospital.

I ran away. Well, I ran home.

We've no objection to you being here
to support your wife, Mr Fleming,

but you are not coming one step
nearer to her bedside

unless you put on a gown and gloves.

I don't want him in here!
Not until we're done.

And I'm washed and tidy,
and the baby's bathed and perfect.

I want it to be like the films.

Audrey, please.

The next bit's not gonna be
like the films, Mr Fleming.

AUDREY GASPS

AUDREY GROANS

Why have they sent for you?

There's two of them up there
already!

I'm actually going next door.

There seems to be
something of a street party.

I made the bed.

Er, newspaper and the rubber sheet

- and, er, the actual sheet.
- Thank you.

Glenys, when you're ready, we'll go
upstairs and get settled in.

Oh, I'm feeling it in my back
passage.

GASPS

No, I'll never make it up the
stairs!

GROANS

Pant, Glenys, pant.

Do not push until I've examined you.

- What shall I do?
- Go outside.

Hey.

Got a light, mate?

You're fully dilated now, Glenys,

and you can push as hard as you like
on the next pain.

- Oh, am I going to have it here?
- Yes, you are.

Oh, I can see Rice Krispies
on the lino.

SCREAMS

- That's it, that's it. Good girl.
- GROANS

Baby's head is resting in my hand,
Audrey.

Is it? Is it?

- Is it?
- Well done.

GASPS

GROANS
That's it! That's it!

SCREAMS

BABY CRIES

You have a little girl!

Ohh!

- As long as it's just the one!
- BABY CRIES

STRAINS

You are magnificent, Audrey.

Keep it up, precious.
Keep it up and...

Congratulations!

AUDREY LAUGHS

You have a...

AUDREY LAUGHS

...a son.

Oh! Oh, God, I've been dreaming
about hearing that for months!

Come on, sleepyhead!

You have a mummy
waiting to meet you.

We need Dr Turner.

- Boy or a girl?
- Stay there!

He's got... he's got no legs,
Mrs Turner.

Just stumps.

Doctor will be there within
minutes.

He will bring oxygen

for the baby and decide the next
steps.

Well, what... what can I do?

Remember that you are a midwife
and a nurse.

For as long as you're in that room,

your training will give you
all the tools you need.

Thank you. Thank you, Mrs Turner.
That's very good advice. Thank you.

EXHALES

I know what you're thinking.

You don't have to say it out loud.

Yes, I do.

What if it's thalidomide again?

I want to hold him.

I haven't held him yet.

Can't you get an ambulance?
Get him to a hospital?

He's too weak.

Let them hold him now.

LUCILLE: Pass me that shawl.

AUDREY GASPS

See how beautiful he is?

GASPS

His little eyebrows.

That nose.
Where did he get that nose?

Why isn't he breathing?

He can't die.

AUDREY SCREAMS

Audrey, precious...

...Baby is at peace now.

And Baby isn't in pain.

I wanted him called Christopher.

We said we'd call him Christopher.

AUDREY CRIES

KNOCK ON DOOR

DOOR OPENS

Tell me what I can do.

We can't leave her.

And she won't let us take the child.

I would say, "Just be here,"

but I know you don't have to be
asked...

...and you can't put a price on
that.

The cooler we keep the baby,

the longer he can stay with his
parents.

BABY GURGLES

I could hear her screaming.

You can hear everything
through these walls.

May I take both of them?

You can take anything you want.

Thank you.

Patrick, babies are born with limb
anomalies for other reasons.

What if Audrey had Distaval
in the back of a drawer somewhere?

Or... or had a cough and took a dose
of linctus

from a bottle she'd almost forgotten
she'd had?

There are no suspect medications
on her notes at all.

I promise you.

The baby's father has been
on our books for five years,

ever since his discharge
from the Army.

You have prescribed nothing
of any potential relevance.

It isn't just me who wants answers.

The baby's parents will
want them too.

BABY CRIES

I thought he was crying.

It's Glenys's baby next door.

She had a little girl.

Oh, good morning, Sister.

You're being very diligent
with your exercise.

My physiotherapist insists on it.

And it goes against the grain for me
to disappoint a child.

I know Miss Jones looks very young,
but she is highly qualified.

Did you hear we had a neo-natal
death last night?

It is a less frequent occurrence
now...

...than it was in times gone by.

I've sent Nurse Anderson back
with ice packs,

and Sister Frances upstairs
to catch up on her sleep.

She coped well enough,
but she's very upset.

I wondered if you might be able to
take her to one side

and pass some of your wisdom on.

I can speak to her,
midwife to midwife, but...

...you could suggest a prayer,
perhaps,

or something from the Scriptures?

You approach me
as a physician of the soul...

...but I have no panacea to offer.

Mr Scarisbrick, you're
always trying to think of things

that might appeal to your clientele.

And you also do your very best
for them as patients,

but sometimes, and please don't
think I'm being impertinent,

you forget to ask yourself what
they might actually want, as women.

As women?

You charm them.

You nurture them,
and they do trust you.

The trouble is,
they don't trust themselves.

You think they trust the nuns more?

They trust midwives more, but you
scarcely let your midwives in.

It doesn't matter if we're dressed
as nuns, nurses or can-can dancers,

we can have an intimate
relationship with them.

We can help them to help themselves.

So, who do you want
to help the most?

Well, I've become quite interested
in Fiona Aylward.

She's a very intelligent woman,
but quite sensitive...

She's all yours.

- All mine?
- Manage the whole labour.

One way or another,
we're all going to learn something.

An antacid prescription should be
perfectly straightforward.

I'll find out what your consultant
had planned.

Have you had anything to eat, Derek?

What are we going to do about the
pram?

I'll put it in the yard for now...

...where Audrey doesn't have
to look at it.

And before I leave,
I'll do you a round of toast.

An empty stomach does
an ulcer no good.

I keep thinking Glenys will come,
but she doesn't.

I'm sure she will,
as soon as she is able.

Sister Julienne, the water's ready.

I'll always want to know why it
happened.

Always.

Precious, you may never know.

We may never know.

I can live with not knowing.

I can't live with not loving.

I'll love everything
that he is for ever.

Please don't hide him from me,
not even his little legs.

Will you wash him with this?

EXHALES

"Coconut sandwich, date and walnut
loaf, fruit scones with butter,

"plain scones with jam, rum baba,

"swiss roll, macaroons"!

Is this the refreshment menu
for the mannequin parade?

No. It's all the varieties of cake
that Sister Monica Joan has refused

in the last six weeks.

I've taken to making notes.

It does sound as though
there's something clinically wrong.

She hasn't even interfered
with the new habits.

I could have done with her support
over these short veils.

They're like miniskirts for the
face.

Well, once upon a time she'd have
had her finger in every buttonhole

and bust dart.

SIGHS

I shall have a word with
Fred and see if he can get her out

and gardening again.

Maybe it will help her
just to watch things grow.

We're ready now, aren't we, Derek?

KISSES

He smells beautiful.

He smells like you.

What's all this? You're a bit early
for penny-for-the-guy.

Sister Julienne said you
were following on behind her.

She rides a bike faster than you do.

I took a detour to the newsagent
in Litton Street

to see if they had any bedsits
in their window.

I looked there this morning.

SIGHS

Sufficient unto the day.

You come on inside now.

♪ Don't laugh at me cos I'm a
fool... ♪

Hello, Bobby.

Is it Bobby, or is it...?

IMITATES NORMAN WISDOM

Look.

Norman Wisdom!
Brought your coat back.

Dez, you know he had no legs,
your little lad?

Christopher.

Christopher.

Don't mean he was any less beautiful
or any less yours.

Thanks.

I ain't saying it to be kind,
I'm saying it cos I know.

My little Tracey came out
missing three fingers.

This one, this one, this one

like they'd been snipped off with scissors.

Is she all right?

Yeah, it's like she don't even know.

Me and the missus,

we joke that she must have been made
on a Friday afternoon.

Come off the assembly line
not quite right.

I wish you'd had our luck, Derek.

I wish that's all it was for you.

Good morning, Mr Scarisbrick.

What are you doing in here? I rather
think you're needed in Room .

Doctor...

...have you ever heard of, erm,

stomach ulcers being
caused by food poisoning?

Food poisoning?

When we were on operations
in the South Pacific,

me and my mates all came down

with it after eating a load of dodgy
fish.

Throwing up like dogs, we were.

Most of us, we bounced back,

but some of us have had gippy
stomachs ever since.

Some of you? You mean your comrades?

Yeah, I mean, my mate Bobby, he gets
shocking heartburn still.

And he ate the fish?

Yeah.

Well, he caught half of them,
but his, erm...

...his daughter, she was, erm,

she was born with
some of her fingers missing.

And I wonder whether that had
something to do with it.

Maybe the fish had mercury in it,
or something, I...

...I don't know.

Whereabouts in the South Seas
were you?

It was a place called Christmas
Island.

The manoeuvre was called
Operation Grapple.

It was to do with the nuclear b*mb.

EXHALES SLOWLY

I didn't believe you when you said
there'd be a pattern to them.

Every time I think I get to the
point

where I can't stand any more pain,
it subsides.

Oh, I thought it would be harder!

Labour is never easy, Fiona,

but it really can be very simple.

Dr Turner, this is most irregular!

Yes, Miss Higgins, I suspect it is.

Ah! Derek Percy Fleming.

Born March nd .

Put it down!

Down! Now!

And then tell me what you would like
me to do with Mr Fleming's records.

Ring the Ministry of Defence

and ask for access to Derek
Fleming's Army medical records.

And, in the meantime,
see if we can establish

whether there is any other young man
on our books

who was involved in Operation
Grapple.

Mr Aylward?

I haven't even started smoking
yet.

It isn't obligatory,
but I have brought you a gown.

Thanks.

My... my father promised me a box
of Cuban Havanas for afterwards,

but the fact of the matter is,
I hardly smoke at all,

unless of course it's at a social
event,

where people are watching
and it's expected.

Sorry, what is this for?

Fiona's asking for you.

KNOCK ON DOOR

I have just spoken very firmly
to the Ministry of Defence.

I had to make three calls

and to hold the line for a total
of minutes,

after which I was informed
that they were not able to forward

Derek Fleming's medical records
for the years and ,

because, and I quote,
"They are marked confidential."

But the MOD have always sent us
National Service records on request.

It's just a formality.

Exactly so.

Now, between calls, I also
established that a Terence Wylie,

born in July , seemed to have
served in the South Pacific.

There were notes relating to
malaria treatment

after he returned home via Hong
Kong.

- Terence Wylie?
- Yes.

He was referred to the Royal Marsden

last autumn after developing
leukaemia.

Can we contact him?

I'm afraid he d*ed.

And when I asked the Ministry for
his records,

they said that they were missing.

With this next pain, I want you to
push, push, push into your bottom

with all the strength you have!

I'm tired.

Come on, listen to the midwife!

I am listening!

SCREAMS

That's it, that's it, that's it!

That's it, that's it, that's it!

- It's all right.
- Bit of mischief with the cord.

Well done, well done.

You have a lovely little boy.

BABY GURGLES

BABY CRIES

Do you want me to take over?

No, I've got a system going now.

Oh, a person could go mad and blind

trying to skim-read every
letters column in the Lancet.

Maybe it wasn't even the Lancet.

Maybe it was the British Medical
Journal.

But I definitely read something,
somewhere,

about deformed babies being born

to mothers who lived in the testing
zone.

But nothing about babies
fathered by soldiers who were there?

Not that I can recall.

And nothing about effects
on the soldiers either.

They didn't have food poisoning.
They had radiation sickness.

Audrey, precious, it's too soon
for you to be going out.

It's a big day.

We're gonna register Christopher's
birth and his death.

He's gonna get certificates,
like he would have got at school.

And we're doing it together.

Sometimes you hang on,
sometimes you let go.

Today, we're gonna do both those
things.

I'm sorry, but I'm coming with you.

Oh, there you are!

I thought you were still
in the telephone room.

One of the nannies said
I could look at him.

You can do more than just look at
him. You can hold him, if you like.

No, she said I mustn't,
he'd just been bathed and changed.

- Support his head.
- Oh.

EXHALES

Gosh.

Gosh.

That's not really quite
adequate, is it?

I'm reliably informed
there's no feeling quite like it -

meeting one's own child
for the first time.

No.

You know, it is quite
like something else.

Have you ever been on a blind date?

That may have come within
the realm of my experience.

I met Fiona on a blind date.

We were set up by my cousin,

who thought I was looking rudderless
and, I quote, "a bit unkempt".

I had a haircut and
bought a new tie.

When I walked into the restaurant
and saw Fiona...

...I looked at her face...

...and all I could think was that
suddenly everything was possible,

and everything was.

When I look down at this face,
this new person..

- LAUGHS
- ..and I think to myself,

"I am on a blind date for the rest
of my days."

Well, don't cross over, Glenys.

Look, pretending this hasn't
happened won't take my

pain away... or yours.

I know you're sorry, Glenys, for me
and for walking past.

I... I didn't know what to do.

Show me your baby.

- Is it just the one?
- Yeah.

We've called her Janine.

I'll come and see you
properly soon, Janine.

We'd like that.

Good grief.

Hmm. Photographs and cine film,

it was all a new hobby for me back
then.

We weren't supposed to take
pictures of anything.

How did you get all this back to
England?

I worked in the post room
on the main camp.

A lot of them weren't like this -
they were of the local wildlife.

Local wildlife and dancing girls.

I didn't bring any of them here.

How close were you
to the expl*si*n of the test b*mb?

I was on the shore.

The mushroom hung in the air
minutes, nearly an hour,

just like you see on
those newsreels of Hiroshima.

I got loads of sh*ts.

Derek - he was on the deck of a ship
a lot nearer.

Those men, they had to sit
with their backs to the horizon,

cover their faces with their hands.

Derek said he could see
all his finger bones

glowing through his hand,
like they was burning.

HUMS QUIETLY

Mrs Wallace?

Nobody calls me Mrs Wallace here!

Once I'm in this overall,
I'm just Gertrude.

And I keep me hats for church
and for church-related business.

Mrs Wallace, this is church
business.

I have had an idea, which has become
more of a proposition,

but it requires your approval
and your help.

Audrey, what happened?

Derek's had an haemorrhage.

He vomited so much blood!

There were pints and pints of it
all over the floor!

Come, come, come, come.

The parlour is of an exceedingly
appropriate size,

the kitchen is adequate,

and the bathroom facilities are most
acceptable.

Well, that's why the rent is set as
it is.

The church will be paying the rent.

TRAIN RATTLES OVERHEAD

Two extremely important matters
need to be made plain.

We will require your assistance
to get the piano up the stairs.

And our pastor, Mr Robinson, will be
living on the premises.

Ladies, you can do
whatever you like.

MUSIC: I'm Still Waiting
by Bob Marley & The Wailers

♪ I said-a my feet won't keep me up
any more... ♪

Church has a home and so do I.

♪ Well, every little b*at my heart
beats, girl... ♪

I came to this country as a civil
engineer

and I've yet to build a road
or a bridge or a tower block.

It just seems I've been called to
construct something else.

♪ So why won't you come out to me
now, girl

♪ Oh, can't you see I'm under your
spell

♪ But I got to, got to go

♪ Why, girl?

♪ Oh why, girl? Oh

♪ Oh, my gosh... ♪

- Greetings, Mr Robinson.
- MUSIC STOPS

We got six strong men
to bring the piano up,

and we bought you some ornaments.

DOOR OPENS

What does that say?

That Derek has had a partial
gastrectomy.

It means that they've surgically
removed some of his stomach.

I'm learning new words all the time.

- I'm not supposed to have these, am I?
- No.

And there are notes and records
I should have,

that Derek himself should have
access to,

that simply seem to have vaporised.

Gone up in a puff of smoke,
in other words.

What do you think that's all about?

I think that the soldiers on
Operation Grapple

were exposed to radiation.

And it's highly likely
that they and their children

suffered damage as a consequence.

Hmm. Will anybody help us?

I don't know if anyone will accept
that harm was done.

Well, Derek said it best.

"Sometimes you hang on
and sometimes you let go."

And when he comes out,
when he's feeling better,

- we're both gonna hang onto this.
- Good.

We're not gonna let it go,
we're not gonna let it pass.

There's nothing else
we can do for Christopher.

Sister Monica Joan,

I went to a lot of trouble fixing
a short handle on that hoe,

especially so you could garden
sitting down.

And Nurse Crane has knitted you
those lovely gloves.

And you ain't even trying.

I am returning to my room.

Or, as monastic parlance would have
it, to my cell.

Well, I ain't helping
you back indoors,

because going back into hiding
is not going to help you.

All this misery, it's about more
than just a broken leg, isn't it?

It is not my body that has failed.

It is my faith.

I perhaps took too much pride
in my powers of concealment.

Religious vows are not called
"taking the veil"

merely because of our attire.

We are trained to hide
so many things from others.

Fear, loneliness...

...doubt.

The less we speak of our
faults to others,

the louder they roar
in our own ears.

Our flaws are a work in progress,

between ourselves...

...and God.

He's never let you
down, though, has he?

It always looked to me as if you
and him are right old pals.

You seek to simplify the matter.

Well, I could try and complicate it.

But I don't think it would help.

In the religious life, we speak of
an extended period of doubt...

...as a dark night of the soul.

There is no light anywhere.

And the very act of seeking it,

of seeking him...

...only emphasises the void.

You are to tell no-one.

Only God can help me.

And if he does not exist...

...then my life has been wasted.

It's an absolute N-O
from Sister Monica Joan.

I stood at her
bedroom doorway, pleading,

but now the guests are
starting to arrive.

Well, somebody's got to wear
the two-piece, Sister Hilda!

I'm wearing the pinafore dress!
I can't come back in another outfit,

people will think
I'm enjoying myself.

Well, don't look at me, I'm the
compere.

CHEERING

Thank you, Sister Frances.

And now we have Sister Hilda...

CHEERING

...wearing an elegantly
streamlined shift

in saxe-blue Courtelle.

UNDER HER BREATH: With a white rollneck collar.

With a white rollneck collar

and detachable cuffs
for formal wear.

Thank you, Sister Hilda.

Bringing our trio of
modes to a close,

we have able assistance from...

MATURE JENNIFER: Nonnatus House
was far from doomed.

Instead, it was changing,

keeping pace with the dance
of time itself.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

Smile for Mother Mildred. That's it.

The spring of was full
of new beginnings.

Some were as evident
as daffodils in sunshine,

others barely stirred
beneath the earth.

They would be revealed
when their season came.

Nonnatus would not give less
or strive less.

And it would not falter,
as it tried to find its way,

because those who lived and worked
there knew what it was to love

and why love mattered.

Love was all,
regardless of its source.

With love, all things were possible.

Only without it could
anyone be lost.

I'm giving the baby up for
adoption, Sister.

I'm under orders, and honour bound,
to report back everything

I learn about the Lady Emily
to Sister Julienne. You know that.

Fred Buckle!

She only came in with a fever.
What have you done to her?

And now we have
to find another way ahead,

or Nonnatus House will not be
serving anyone.