Call the Midwife Christmas Special - 2022 (2022) - full transcript

MATURE JENNIFER: Miracles,
like angels, are not rare.

Neither do they always
fall into our lives

as if cast down from heaven
to surprise us.

Some, like Christmas,
simply offer up their magic.

But some come
in response to prayer,

or effort, or extended longing.

CHILDREN LAUGH

GROANING

And time and time again,
we learn that miracles

are something
that we lab our for and make.

BABY (RES.



Oh!

See what you did?

Oh...

SHE SOBS

Maxine, do you want to come
and look at Mummy's new baby?

MOTHER LAUGHS

I told her Father Christmas would
be bringing her a present.

I reckon she'd rather
have a bike.

Now, careful. I don't want
this scratched

within an hour
of taking ownership.

I drove nigh on 50,000 miles
in Old Faithful.

By the end, it showed.

There!

It's perfect.



It has the most glancing
relationship

with the perpendicular.

Maybe it grew at that angle!

In the wild.
What do you reckon, Fred?

MUFFLED: I reckon some of this
soot's been up this chimney

since the Queen Mum was a kiddie.

Mr Aylward.
What a magnificent specimen!

Thank you. Oh, you're most welcome,
Sister.

Is it quite straight?

There are four defaulters
on the first two pages.

This is not how a Christmas
club is supposed to work, Fred.

They are supposed to pay in
every week

and then they get
all the goodies at the end.

I don't know what's gone wrong
with the Smiths,

but the other three were all
caught up in the train crash.

Well, why didn't you say?

They can have all the works.

Nothing's felt right
since that accident.

It's not that people
have lost money

or even family. It's like...

...we've all lost
a bit of heart.

Or who we are.

So Sister Hilda
isn't coming back at all?

You heard Mother Mildred.

She is of the view that we can
do very well without her.

She hasn't even iced
the Christmas cake.

Or marzipanned it, come to that.

I know.

I'll do it.

I've got my cookery O—Level.

Thank you.

We'll manage.

♪ Halleluiah

♪ Thou shalt reign
and thou alone. ♪

Amen. Amen. Amen.
Praise the Lord. Praise God.

Brothers and sisters,
may we all keep the meaning

of the season within our hearts

as we watch and wait
for the arrival

of the child Jesus Christ.

Pastor, before you lead us
any further,

let us welcome Nurse Robinson
home from her day of work

and ask how
the labouring mother fared.

She was strong,
she was courageous

and she delivered
the most beautiful little boy.

Amen. Praise the Lord.

A boy, in this,
the holiest of seasons.

Welcome home, Nurse Franklin.

Oh! It's so good to be back.

And for everything to be
just as it was.

We have much to be grateful for.

But whatever kept you, lass?

We've been watching the clock
for an hour or more.

Er...

...we ran out of petrol
just outside of Heathrow.

It falls to the wanderer

to place a wreath
upon our threshold.

Ta—da!

DOOR CLANGS SHUT

Two cardigans, grey,
two dresses, beige,

prison—issue hose, shoes
and undergarments

all present and correct.

They let me out early
for good behaviour.

Opposite of
what got you in here.

I've served my time now.

Well, three month of it, anyway.

It says here you're going back
to live with your fiance.

Yeah. He's coming to meet me.

Right!

Off you pop.

DOOR SLAMS

SHE GASPS

Nancy, have you never heard
Coco Chanel's adage

"elegance is refusal"?

What's that supposed to mean?

Refusal to indulge
in every passing trend.

Refusal to over—accessorize.

Refusal to buy more clothes
than you have room for!

Now, if that's not the kettle
calling the pot black,

then I don't know what is.

I had a complex roster
of fashion requirements

in Portofino and had to
transition between seasons.

My clothes aren't just clothes.

They're assets.

And mine aren't just clothes.

They're bargains.

Can you not just hang some stuff
on one of the picture rails?

SHE GIGGLES

I'm going to ask Sister
Julienne to provide us with

a second wardrobe and
an additional chest of drawers.

KNOCK AT DOOR
Three points of order.

All rounds, maternity
and district,

are curtailed this morning.

A working luncheon
of sandwiches is planned,

and I have finally obtained the
keys to the Florence Dean Hall,

where we will meet at 12.30
precisely to set up for clinic.

QUIET CONVERSATION

♪ Why are we waiting? ♪

Good afternoon, ladies.

Hand your urine in
to the counter on your left.

I need your opinion
of this mincemeat

when you have a moment.
I threw caution to the wind

and put a dash of Drambuie
in it.

Mum?

"Mrs Turner" when in clinic,
please, Timothy.

Which one is Gravely, Joyce,
3rd of the 3rd '38?

She must be near dead
of diabetes.

What did she bring the urine in?

A rose hip syrup bottle.

Oh, Mrs Turner!
I was hoping I'd see you.

We're so pleased
to have you back with us.

I'll see to Mrs Mullucks myself.
Of course.

It's not felt real, having a
fourth at the age of 40, but...

...now I'm back with the sisters,
I know it is.

Everything seems to be
in perfect order.

Oh, it is.

Every arm, leg, finger and toe.

The hospital gave me an X—ray.

When did they give you an X—ray?

Er, last week.

They said I needed
extra reassurance.

Not one mother
of a thalidomide child

has ever gone on to have
another affected baby.

That drug will never hurt
anyone again.

St Cuthbert's said...
I couldn't know for sure!

HE SIGHS

All the toys are in a bit
of a mess today.

It's the first time
we've been in this hall.

I like the doll's house.

I don't actually know
where that is,

but we've got dolls and quite
a few teddies we can play with.

SHE SIGHS

I'm hot.

Let's get that coat off you.

Rhoda, I really think
the maternity home

would be the best place for you

to have this baby,
simply because of your age.

But if I have the baby
in my own bed,

then I won't have to worry
about Susan.

Anyway, my eldest two
are teenagers now.

They don't wear you out
the same as the little ones.

It's all systems go for the Sunday
School Nativity in our house.

Two angels and a camel.

The camel has nearly broken me.

When I asked Mrs Avis about it

she said the parts
hadn't been assigned yet.

Why would she say that?

The children have been
practicing since November.

On Sundays?

Susan's there every Sunday.

Angela and May said
she just watches.

Oh, Rhoda. I thought you knew.

DOG BARKS

Can I help you?

My fiance lives here.

Not any more he doesn't.
We've been here two weeks.

His name's Andreas Jorgensen.

Mm. There's a letter came,
and another one he left.

Er, you may as well take them.

I don't want debt collectors
coming around. Er, wait.

BABY (RES.

DOG BARKS

Here. I'm sorry, I'll have to go.

The baby's mithering the dog.

BARKING

I saw Dr Turner's eldest
in clinic today.

He's a medical student there.

Do you think they might
let me help, Mum?

It'll all add up when
I apply for nursing school.

You two, wait here.

Mrs Avis!

Oh, afternoon, Mrs Mullucks.
I'm afraid I can't stop.

I've got to get this material
dropped off urgently.

We've had two false starts
with the Three Wise Men.

I waited and waited to find out

what Susan was going to be
doing in the Nativity.

Susan joins in very nicely
with the other children

when we're doing our Scripture.

But it's not safe
having her on the stage.

Not safe for who?

Well, she might fall over
or get knocked down.

We're thinking about her safety.

You're thinking about what other
people might think, Mrs Avis.

What it might look like to
have her there on that stage,

in that play, in the photographs

like everybody else.

Susan isn't like everybody
else, Mrs Mullucks.

You've no idea
how much she wants to be.

Oh.

Mrs Mullucks forgot
her milk tokens,

and Susan's entitled
to free orange juice.

She's also entitled to
an apology.

From whom?

From the scientists
that created thalidomide,

from the drug companies
that sold it.

Those pills took her limbs,
Miss Higgins.

I believe some infants
didn't survive at all.

When I had polio...

...the doctors were so powerful.

I thought all medicine was good.

But what happened to Susan
in the womb is obscene.

Now I'm going to be a doctor.

I feel ashamed.

As a colleague,

I don't disagree with a word
you've said.

But as someone older
and wiser...

...I beg you never to say that
to your father.

Poplar needs a treat, Violet.

Something that will
bring everyone together.

Well, there is the small matter
of Christmas on the horizon.

We need something else.

Something that will help
raise money

for the people affected by
the train crash.

What do you suggest?

We book Florrie Hall...

...and organise a talent show.

A talent show? Yes!

With singing, dancing,
magicians.

And maybe someone will have
a budgie act!

Knife—throwing... Yeah!

Knife—throwing?

The police would shut us down
before curtain up.

I can see it now.

Lights, music.

AS HUGHIE GREEN: Ladies and
gentlemen, Poplartunity Knocks!

SHE SHIVERS

FRED: And then what we do is,

we turn the stage
into a giant television set,

put a frame around it,
and knobs,

so that you can turn
the sound up and down.

The actual sound?

The actual sound of people
performing?

I dunno. I just... Excuse me?

Yes, dear? How can I help?

I'd like to write down some
particulars from the window,

but I haven't got a pad
or a pen.

Thanks, flower.

You'd better get back
to your job.

Your coat's not warm.

Last time I had this on,
it were a summer's day.

But let's just say,

for once I think you're
onto something...

Spotlights. Spotlights.

A microphone. A microphone.

Live band.

BELL DINGS A live...

Hello?

You all right, Reggie?

I was looking for someone
who was cold.

Oh!

SHE GASPS

This really was the most
remarkably nippy work

by Sister Julienne.

A new wardrobe and a new chest of
drawers in a single afternoon.

That's all your fancy man's doing.

You mean Matthew?

Yeah, he makes sure the Order
always has a cash fund

for emergency purchases.

He never said.

But then I suppose there's
a lot of things he never says...

...or doesn't show.

Like what?

His sensitivities,

his sense of fun.

Yeah, I'd say he's quite good
at concealing that.

I suppose it shouldn't matter
if I know it's there,

but I... I just...

I wish he'd let the world see.

It's his only flaw.

Come on.

THEY GRUNT

SNIFFING

Are you crying?

No, love. Chopping onions
for the tea.

Evening, all.

Where's my beautiful?

Hey?

Hey?

MW ah'.!

And my gorgeous.

And my surprise of a...
Give over, Bernie.

SHE SNIFFS

You been down
the Hand and Shears?

There's nothing doing down
the warehouse

and we're all getting
laid off tomorrow, so...

There's not been a ship
in that dock all this week.

Look, Susan, why don't you go
into the lounge and play, yeah?

I'll come in in a minute.

See how fast you can go.

Go on.

So, the Hand and Shears.

Did you see your mate?

Immaculate. Never used.

One... luxury doll's house,
ours for a favourable price.

Picking it up
in a couple of days.

Best thing in the world, making
that one smile. Bernie...

...you've had another letter about
the thalidomide compensation,

pushing for the families to settle.

Well, you know my view.
We should settle right now.

Susan needs all the help
she can get.

And she'll need that help
her whole life.

What they're offering is nothing
in the scheme of things.

It's thousands. The other parents,
the ones who know about money,

say we should stick together,
hold out for more,

however long it takes.

The parents who know about money,
they've got money, haven't they?

What they don't know is what
it's like for families like ours.

Us falling out about it
ain't going to help matters.

Nancy!

Is this something to do with
Matthew and his charity fund?

No, I bought it for Colette
for Christmas.

He says it's to go upstairs.

I thought me and her
could sit on the bed

and watch it together
when she comes to visit.

It'll be good practice for when
we get a place of our own.

Shall I take it up, then?
Absolutely not!

There's no space left
in that room.

My chamber, meanwhile, is
a great deal more commodious.

And also, it is on the ground floor.

This is only £2.10.

You said £1 a week for the room,

and that you'd only let me
have it for a fortnight.

I've added a premium
on account of you being female.

Women put more pressure
on the facilities.

When you due?

Not till Easter.

You'll have to be gone
before you have it.

I'm not having no babies
on my premises.

Nurses, social workers,
authorities,

all up and down my stairs
asking questions.

You're self—contained. You've
got your own electric meter.

The bath's down the hall,

but you'll have to go use
the outside lav.

We've got Miss Nadine's Dancing
School doing a tap routine

and the Stevedores Glee Club
singing In A Monastery Garden.

Move over Beatlemania.

I think it's very touching that

so many Poplar organisations
want to be involved.

My church choir will do
something, I'm sure.

I'll telephone Mrs Wallace.

And it's high time
that my keep—fit ladies

got back into their leotards
and fishnets.

Oh! I've got a backlog
in fishnets.

The Cubs are already rehearsing
for the Gang Show,

and we've a decent Great War
medley coming up to

a rolling boil.

As long as Miss Higgins doesn't get
her recorder out, we'll be laughing.

GIGGLING

I told Sister Frances
I'd do it, save her a job.

But when I went in the shed,
the rats had got there first,

and what they haven't chewed,
they've wee'd on.

Or worse.

Yeah. I think there is in fact
some sort of...

...dropping stuck to Joseph.

Well, flick it off
with your finger!

Urgh.

Nancy... Nancy.

May I ask a favour of you?
It's to do with Trixie.

WHISPERING: I need to know
her ring size.

What?

You need to know her ring size?

Well, I can't propose
in the correct romantic fashion

if I don't have the appropriate
piece of jewellery to hand.

No pun intended.

I don't want to find
I can't get it on her.

And if... she says yes...

She will say yes.

Well, probably.

Yeah. Well, look, I mean,

could you rifle through
her jewellery box,

try to find out
if she's a size I or a K

or an M, or however they
calculate these things,

and without her guessing
or finding out?

Well, you have my word.

And in the meantime, I have
something I want to ask you.

FLOWERPOT MEN BABBLE

Hello!

'And there they both were...'

You watch your programme.

I'll go and see your mum and dad.

All right.

SHE GIGGLES

I'll get her reading books out
in a minute.

She's too old for
Watch With Mother, really,

but she had such a screaming
fit over her artificial legs.

Shouldn't Susan be at school
today?

It's an hour on the bus,
and it's freezing, so...

And besides,
when she gets there,

it's all just playing
with Plasticine.

She's a bright kid, Dr Turner.

The other children, most of
'em ain't got working brains.

It's not ideal.

It's criminal.

The other day, when Rhoda rang
the Education Office, they said

that Susan has
no legal entitlement

to any education
because she's handicapped.

I am going to speak to them
and get that put in writing.

But what good's that
going to do?

It gives us something to fight!

And you've been fighting
for Susan

since the day she was born,
Dr Turner.

You walked the floors
with her all night,

and I'll never forget that.

Every baby deserves and gets

the very best care
we can give them.

HE SIGHS

Including the one
you're having now, Rhoda.

I really need you to take
these iron tablets.

Your blood tests show
that you're mildly anaemic.

No.

No. And we're agreed on this.

Nothing that comes out of
a chemist's shop

is going inside her body
while she's expecting.

Rhoda...

...you don't have to
punish yourself like this.

Yes, I do.

I think it's absolutely lovely
that you want to help out

with the talent show, Reggie.

You made everyone teas
on the night of the crash,

and working backstage
is just carrying on like that.

I don't want to be backstage.

I want to be on stage.

Did you reckon Nurse Crane
would let you join in

with the Cubs? I'm not a Cub.

I want to play my guitar.

Well, you haven't been learning
for very long, Reggie.

Anyway, you've left it at home
at the Village

for Christmas.

They could post it.

If you don't know your National
Insurance number, I'm afraid

I can't be of any assistance.

Where would it be written down?

On a wage slip.
From your previous employer,

if you're no longer working.

I've never had a wage slip.

I've always worked for cash.
And I'm not of no fixed abode.

I do have an address.

I thought if you have an address,
you can get help with housing.

If you have an address, you don't
need help with housing, surely.

Well, I need help
to get things for the baby.

I heard about something
called maternity money?

If you are referring to
government maternity grant...

...it is possible
to make an application.

KNOCK ON DOOR

One red cardigan,
one set of hair bobbles,

both retrieved
from the parlour table.

What are you doing
in Trixie's jewellery box?

I'm trying to work out
her ring size.

I think I'm going to have to
smuggle one to a jeweller's.

Why do you want to know
her ring size?

Don't you dare tell a soul...

...or I'll get boiled alive.

Before I hand over
a significant amount

of welfare—related paperwork,

might I enquire

as to whether you are, in fact,
a British citizen?

My father was an American.
An American GI,

but my mother was English.
I was born in Bradford.

Well, you will be required
to provide evidence of that.

Oh! Good afternoon, Nurse Crane.

How very timely.

Dr Turner has just gone in
to Mrs Mohammed.

Forceps were required.

I should make a start with
the ulcer clinic

while he's otherwise engaged.

Meanwhile,
on a more frivolous note,

I shall require your assistance

with my performance
at the talent show.

Your performance
at the talent show?

Well, I will be playing
my recorder,

but I have devised
an entertainment

about the history of
the woodwind instrument.

With a twist.

And the twist... is you.

With all the Poplartunity
Knocks committee members

present and correct,

including Lucille,
stage manager,

Cyril, set designer,

and Timothy Turner,
musical director,

there are no apologies
to receive.

So agenda item one...

Can we start with item five?

I'm item five.

Most of the acts that I've got
applied need all the musical help

they can get. How do you know?

Cos I've heard most of them
sing down the pub.

Fred, are you saying that
nobody in the talent show

has got any talent?

If we want this to be
like Opportunity Knocks,

we're going to need to run it
like Opportunity Knocks

and have auditions.

I've put a five—piece band
together

and some of the acts will
need to rehearse with them.

Er, excuse me? Did we agree
we're going on to item five?

Because item two is scenery, and
if I'm going to turn that stage

into a television,
I need to get to planning.

Do we have an exact date
for this event yet?

Well, I have made enquiries

and the hall is booked
for December 30th.

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

The frame of the stage
is going to be made of plywood,

so I can round the corners off

and make it look the exact
shape of a screen!

THEY LAUGH

I have to figure out
how I'm going to do the, um...

...Clapometer.

Cyril, it's snowing!

Will you just look at that?

Every winter,
every time it snows,

it's going to remind me
of our wedding.

And it's going to remind me
to buy you some flowers.

Yeah. Here we go.

Oh, is that cold?

You've got snow on you.

I'm going to show you a snowflake
through a magnifying glass.

Cos you never see two the same.

Did you know that?

Every single one is different.

What's a magnifying glass?

It's a little magic window
on a stick

that you look through.

It shows you
how beautiful things are.

You doing business?

Yeah. A quid.

CHILDREN SQUEAL

LOW CONVERSATION

Mummy!

You call that a snowball?

Come on, girls. Three against one
and we might just beat her.

SQUEALING

Nurse Crane, I need Sister
Frances to help me look over

the Christmas altar cloth.
Have you seen her?

No.

Neither have I seen the
identical twins she must have

if she's to fulfil all
the positions on this roster.

She was down for twice the
usual number of house calls.

I suppose we are fortunate
that she is so available.

Unlike her secular colleagues,
she never takes time off.

At least,
unlike her secular colleagues,

she isn't likely to go running
off and getting married.

Who's getting married now?

TV: '...Deirdre Curtis.

'Deirdre lives in Billingshurst
in Sussex'

and it's a snowman table
decoration, and there it is.

The base of it,

or the sort of main part of it,
is a jar,

and cotton wool is covering it
all the way round. Then the...

Come on, Susan. Left leg.

Right leg.
Swivel from your tummy,

like the physiotherapist
showed you, OK?

Mm—hm. That's it, that's it!

I'm too high up.

You've got to practise with
these new legs,

and, no, you're not. They're
just making you the same

as the other children.
DOOR OPENS.

Mum! Hello, love.

Did you get good marks?
Top in woodwork again.

Ooh! Can I go out and play?

How old are you?

Go on. Tea will be at five.

Can I go? No.

I want you to try again.

Watching!

All I need is a costume now.

Well, I was thinking,

what about a nice dinner jacket
and a bow tie?

Old men wear bow ties.

Hello there.

Hello again.

Is that yours?

I'm in Poplartunity Knocks.

Reggie, why don't you
take this upstairs

and then I can serve
this young lady?

Just a couple more minutes,
Susan,

then you can take them off.

LAUGHTER

Oh!

My advice would be
to start with the basics.

So a shawl, some vests,
some nighties

and a dozen terry nappies.

I can knit.

Maybe I should buy some wool
and needles.

Of course. And I will throw in

a complimentary pattern.

Careful. You know how wobbly
you are.

All right, one step.
There we go.

Just step here. There we go.

All right? I want to play.

Please?

Stay there, Susan.

Perry, help me!

SQUEALS Susan!

Perry!

Perry...

What the hell's going on?

It wasn't his fault.

Any news?

I feel like I'm in
the French Resistance.

All I need is a beret
and a belted mac.

She's a K and a half.

And now we have
other work to do.

OFF—KEY TRUMPET

BANGING

It's a novelty.
Colourful costume.

She's got charisma?

She's out of tune, Fred.

OFF—KEY TRUMPET CONTINUES

BANGING

BALLOON POPS

Next.

MELANCHOLY TUNE

I'm looking for spangles.

Showmanship.

This is like
Dracula's night off.

Next.

THRASHING GUITAR MUSIC

She's got a very good...

...sense of rhythm.

We'll never get this past
Lucille and Violet

in a million years.

BANGING

Cyril! Cyril!

This lady's an artiste.

Try and show a bit
of sensitivity.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

The biggest challenge
is going to be the sleeves.

Snowmen don't have sleeves.
They don't even have arms.

Don't they just have twigs
sticking out of their sides?

I'd have thought the biggest problem
was going to be the carrot nose.

Can I go to bed now?

Don't wake the others.

Rhoda.

She's had stitches on her head,
Dr Turner.

I know.

The night sister told me
when she telephoned.

Visiting hours are long over.

I turned my back on her
for one minute!

Rhoda, all children
have accidents.

And all expectant mothers
need to steer clear of stress.

Now, this isn't good
for your baby.

You need to let me
drive you home,

and everything else can be
worked out in the morning.

SHE GROANS

Sh...

You don't want to be born yet.

You're just restless.

Come back to bed with me,

we'll keep each other warm.

I can still smell the beer
on you from here.

If you have the time and the money
to go down the Hand and Shears,

where's this doll's house?

My friend didn't know
I was going to be there.

You're always ruddy there!

I made Susan a little push
with a hook

so she can move the furniture
about.

I want to try it out,
see if it works.

Oh, that's very thoughtful
of you, I'm sure.

It's the thing he came top for
in woodwork, Mum.

How I was I supposed to know that?
No, because you never asked him,

just like you never ask
anybody anything...

...unless it's to do with Susan!

Apologise to your mum right now!

Why? You never do.

FOOTSTEPS

DOOR SLAMS

Rhoda, Baby's ticking over
very nicely indeed.

But we're really quiet
in the maternity home just now,

so Dr Turner wants you
to come in

for a night or two of bed rest.

Wh—What about Susan?

Susan is being beautifully
looked after.

A break will help you to cope much
better when the baby comes.

And it is coming, innit?

Just like Christmas.

Yes.

We're going to help Santa Claus

give out presents
to sick children.

Do you not think you ought to
wear some nice bright colours?

Lucille, I've been poring over
photos of Princess Alexandra.

She gives presents
to sick children all the time,

and she always looks elegant,
poised and restrained.

Why do you want to look like
Princess Alexandra?

I shall be distributing gifts

with a notable local
businessman and philanthropist.

I need to look polished
and dignified.

'And does it not seem hard to you

'when all the sky is clear and blue.

'And I should like so much
to play..

'..To have to go to bed by day?'

That's sad.

Do you want to read a comic
instead?

Yeah. We love Susan,
don't we, Katie?

Such a little sweetheart
with her blue eyes, in't she?

Oh, thank you.

Shame about her arms and legs,
though, eh?

Enter.

You asked me to pop in
if I was passing by.

Is it about the dry rot?

Er, no.

It's about Nurse Franklin.

I feel it necessary to issue
a word of warning.

Warning?

No—one could fail to see the
depth of feeling between you,

Mr Aylward, and no—one can fail
to be delighted by it.

Might |...

...ask if you intend
to propose marriage?

Erm...

Yes.

Yes, of course you can ask.

And my... my answer,
as far as that goes,

is also in the affirmative.

Oh!

Of course, you know Nurse Franklin
was once previously engaged.

Yes, some time ago, to a clergyman?

God had other plans.

I think quite rightly.

But there is something
you should be aware of.

Really?

She was extremely disappointed
in the ring.

It was a family heirloom
on her fiance's side,

but it came as quite a shock.

Gosh.

My mother always said to me,

"Never let a man surprise you
with jewellery."

The advice wasn't pertinent
in my case.

HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

But do confer with
Nurse Franklin before

making any rash purchases.

Of course. Of course.

Merry Christmas, young lady.

There you are.

Happy Christmas, oh—ho—ho!

A merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Father Christmas,
let's see who we have here.

Oh, that is Susan Mullucks
from Jubilee Place.

Acting like a little tearaway!

HE CH UCKLES

Merry Christmas!

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

What are you doing running
around in your smalls?

I run a respectable
establishment.

I'm not well.

I need a hot—water bottle
for my stomach.

That sprog's not coming, is it?
No!

I told you I'm not due yet.

You said Easter!

I may not be a churchgoing woman,

but I know the difference between
Easter and flaming Christmas!

I want you gone now!

Here's a refund
on your second week's rent.

But I'm having a baby!
Not in here, you're not.

That front door is barred to anyone
representing the authorities.

I've got nothing
to do with the authorities!

You will do if you don't shift.

This house has been condemned.

If the welfare find out you've got
a kid, they'll take it off you.

Now go and get yourself
an ambulance!

Wait!

Help me!

Do you want me to say
that you wrote this?

Oh, no.

Oh, no. That would be
rather self—aggrandising.

I've asked Mr Buckle
to put it in the programme.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

"Now let us take you by the hand

"into the far and distant land,

"of history, when knights of old

"approached their lady,

"feeling bold.

"First they bowed
and then implored her,

“Listen to my sweet recorder'".

SHE PLAYS SCARBOROUGH FAIR

Please, open the door.

Go away! Please!

Go on! Please! Hop it!

"Hark to the bass
so sweet and low."

"Think of it played
in frost and snow..."

Millicent, is this meant
to be you playing or me reading?

Reciting. What? Reciting.

Well, you're going to have to
learn it off by heart.

SHE GASPS AND WHIMPERS

I'm just of the view

that before we move on to the
stanza beginning...

..."Now we enter
the age of Baroque..."

...we need to stop
and think about this

from the point of view of
a paying audience.

Of course.

And I think you need to project
your voice a little more.

Stage presence is everything.

Help me!

Phyllis, did you hear that?

Yes.

Help me! Oh!

SHE SOBS

Hello?

Help me!

Over there! Help me!

Oh, you poor lass.

Poor lass!

Listen, my friend and
I are going to help you.

We're going to start by taking
you somewhere warm and safe.

She must have been assaulted.
I'll send for the police.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

You have absolutely nothing
whatsoever to apologise for.

I do! I'm having a baby!

SHE SOBS

There's loads of stuff in here.

All the bedding, all the nappies.

It's like Mum knew there was going
to be another baby all along.

If one more person asks me

if we think this one's
going to be all right,

I'll swing for 'em, I swear.

I'm sick of fending them off

and I'm sick of people
telling me that they were

offered them pills
and that they didn't take 'em.

Do you think that's true?

Well, if it is, Perry, what does it
say about your mum and me, eh?

And Susan, what's she going to say
when she's old enough to understand?

Dad, go and fetch the doll's
house. And come straight home.

SHE STRAINS

All is well, Cindy.

You are warm and you are safe.

Sister julienne was preparing
to go into compline,

but she asked
to be kept informed.

Where will you send me now?

I don't think we'll be
sending you anywhere.

I'm still confident an ambulance

would reach us very swiftly.

Not swiftly enough.

I can't do it. I can't.
I don't know what to do!

I know this is your first baby,
but it isn't mine.

Can you think of something
you once did

for the very first time

and you had no idea how to start?

I don't know.

I think...

I think I can remember learning
to knit when I were little.

Who taught you?

My mum.

I can remember her voice

talking me through the stitches.

In, over, through, off.

And that's what I'm going to do.

I'm going to
talk you through it.

Do you remember Mummy?

Mm?

Poor love.

And poor you.

But it doesn't matter.

Because she'll love you always.

SHE STRAINS

The head is out.

Breathe.

Push down for the shoulders.

SHE GROANS

And we have a baby!

BABY (RES.

A clean towel, if you would be
so kind, Millicent.

And Mother may like
a sip of water in a moment.

A little girl, Cindy.

We have a very courageous
mother here, Sister.

And a beautiful baby.

God love you all.

If you had crowns, you'd look
like the Three Wise Men.

THEY CHUCKLE.

DRUNKENLY: ♪ On the first day
of Christmas

♪ My true love sent to me...

♪ A doll's house... under a tree. ♪

CHEERFUL SHOUTING

Lads! Oi, lads!

Lads, lads, here y'are!

Oi.

Eh, come on.

HE LAUGHS

I just came down for a biscuit.

I'd say, "What in the name
of Jesus are you doing?",

but that doesn't look like
a very religious act.

I've got to do the marzipan
tonight,

otherwise it won't dry out
in time for me to do the icing.

There'll be yellow stains
seeping through the snow scene.

Sister, how do you do it?

Do what? Keep on going.

Keep on being a nurse
and a midwife and a nun.

And not just one nun, but two,

because you're filling in
for Sister Hilda, and you're

picking up the slack for Sister
Julienne and the other one.

Well, I could shrug and say
that God gives me the job

and the strength to do it.

But...

...I made a rule for myself
when I was still a postulant.

Find the beauty.

And that's what I'm doing now.

You're decorating a cake
in the middle of the night.

Yes.

And it'll probably be on
the sideboard for a week

being blamed for
everybody's heartburn.

But people will come together
around it. That's its beauty.

And where there is beauty,
there is God.

Yeah. I believe
you believe that.

It's funny to think
you weren't a nun once.

That you had a different name.

Me and Colette play a game where
we try and guess what it is.

I'll tell you,
if you get it right.

How long can I stay here for?
Ten days is quite usual.

Neither you nor Baby
are going anywhere just yet.

Hello!

Nursery for you.

Then you can get some sleep.

BABY CRIES Come on.

Here we go.

Hey... Nurse?

I hardly got a wink of sleep.

I often have slow lab ours,

but I'm starting to think
there's something kicking off.

Right you are, Rhoda.

Mrs Mullucks is in lab our.

I need to call Nonnatus House

and then get word
to her husband.

I, meanwhile, have been to
Cindy's lodging house

and retrieved her belongings.

Is that all the poor lass owns?

These, the clothes
in which she came to us,

and her name. The latter
seems to be the only thing

she hasn't lost along the way.

Her entire life appears
to be an abject failure

of the thing that matters most.

Love?

No.

Administration.

THUDDING

Dad's up.

Dad?

Where did you put Susan's
doll's house?

HE SIGHS

We need to find
your birth certificate,

your National Health number,

and your National Insurance
number,

and from these,
the rest will follow,

including an application
for Supplementary Allowance.

I can't do forms.

They all end up full of blanks.

They begin full of blanks.

Correctly completed,

they become both record and
representation of our lives.

What if I don't want my life
recorded?

My clear, it already is.

It's simply a matter
of knowing where to look.

You said there was a string
of coloured lights. Dad!

Do you think
you might have left it

somewhere round here?
I don't remember, Perry!

I put it on a dustbin.

Where, Dad?

There.

CLATTER I NG

Is that supposed to
make it better?

Almost the first thing
I can remember is

when they took my mum away
to the mental hospital.

Policewoman
stayed the night with me.

She gave me a pen to play with.

It were one of those Biros

with the button that you can
click up and down.

I'd never seen
anything like that before.

And she opened up a paper bag

for me to draw on,

or write.

And I wrote...

...Cindy Louise Dalvert.

Cindy being your given name,
not an abbreviation?

Yeah.

Then I wrote
Balaclava Buildings,

Greenleaf Street,

Manning ham, Bradford,

Yorkshire, England,

Great Britain, The Earth,

The Universe.

I had to keep on asking
the policewoman

how to spell the words, but...

...as long as I kept my head
down and only thought

about my address,
the world stopped spinning.

Next morning,
when it were light,

she drove me to
the council home.

She let me keep the pen.

Sometimes one has to
express kindness

in the only way one can.

SHE SIGHS

I lived in so many addresses
after that.

Don't take this the wrong way,
but...

...when's Mrs Turner coming?

She'll be here any minute now.

We've got plenty of...
Mr Mullucks!

You can't just go barging
into the delivery room.

I just want to see my wife.

Bernie! Get out!

Black, with two sugars.

CROCKERY RATTLES

I don't suppose you've got
anything medicinal?

To put in it? A...

...nip, something like that?

No, but I can... I can find
some paracetamol

if your head's aching.

It aches.

Every day.

Does drinking alcohol
help with that?

Every day.

Mr Mullucks, we don't know
each other particularly well,

but I think just at this moment,

I know what you're feeling.

And what you're thinking.

You're thinking that
you're utterly alone.

And you're not.

I promise you that.

I can show you that.

I can take you somewhere

where you'll never feel alone
in this again.

But you have to ask.

What's this?

Alcohol—free champagne?

I'm so glad you're here.

Mr Mullucks needs to go
straight home.

I don't want this.

This is normal lab our, Rhoda.

You've coped before
and you'll cope again.

I mean, I don't want this baby!

Rhoda, sweetheart.

You don't mean that.

You can't mean that! You mean can't
as in it's impossible, or...

...can't like that's not allowed?

It's neither of those things.

If that is how you feel,
I respect that.

And the thing
that might help most is

if you try to tell me why.

I feel like...

...I'm betraying Susan.

She asks for nothing,
but she needs so much.

And now there'll be
another child, another mouth,

another body clinging to me.

And I don't know how
I'm going to manage!

You will manage, Rhoda,
because good mothers do.

And you are the best,
most generous,

most resilient
and most resourceful mother

I have ever seen.

Look, it's hard, Mrs Turner,

and it's going to get hard
for Susan.

She's going to get her nose
pushed out of joint,

that's for certain.

It happens to children
all the time.

They learn to share

and they learn to budge up
and make room.

And one way and another,

we learn that the most
miraculous organ

in a mother's body is her heart.

Because it never stops growing.

You promise?

I promise.

EMOTIONALLY: This is what drink does.

It batters down
everything that matters.

The children were trying to
mend it with Air fix glue,

but it's completely destroyed.

If it can't be repaired,

can it be replaced? How?

The shops are already shut, and
tomorrow it's Christmas Eve.

You're not getting the forceps.

I don't want the forceps!

I'm just looking for
things to do.

I'm feeling like
a bit of a spare part.

SHE GROANS

That's the head, Rhoda!
Go with it! Push!

SHE SQUEALS
Come on, you can do it!

SHE WAILS

BABY (RES.

It looks like you have
another son, Rhoda.

Born at two minutes
past midnight

on Christmas Eve morning.

Oh, it's a boy!

Oh, then I've done it
girl, boy, girl, boy.

It all fits together,
doesn't it?

He's beautiful.

Aww!

Oh, gosh.

Oh, and he's mine.

Oh, he's mine!

Oh! Oh, oh...

Oh, it's one of them
after pains.

I think it might be
the placenta coming.

Dr Turner?

Will you take him, walk around
with him in your arms?

You're good at that.

BABY (RES.

I hope you don't think
this is a liberty, Dr Turner,

but...|'d like to call him
Patrick.

Oh, hello! Hello!

Where'd this come from?

I could say that it fell off
the back of a lorry, but...

...I'd be fibbing.

Merry Christmas.

CHILDREN LAUGH AND SQUEAL

CHILD SQUEALS Oh!

DOORBELL RINGS

Merry Christmas!

Come in out of the snow.

Is it... Gillian?

No.

Is it Amanda?

No.

Is it maybe Maureen? Or Doreen?

No!

THEY GIGGLE

I'm afraid there's been
a call—out

for a woman in lab our.
Not a name I recognise.

Here.

Is this where your auntie
lives, Yusuf?

WOMAN CALLS OUT

You must be Gulshan.

Don't be afraid.

Please don't be afraid.
I'm here to help.

Is this your first baby?

Or perhaps your second?

Is this one or two?

So bad!

SHE WAILS

Gulshan...

Gulshan? Please don't worry.

OK?

We are going to
make this... beautiful.

Go on, Susan, love.
Hold the baby.

That's it.
You're a big sister now.

Oh...

We're all changing, Bernie.

You've got to change, too.

SISTER FRANCES: Shabbash.

I said there'd be no time to
get you to the hospital.

Hey. Hey, come here.

Can you feel that?

That's Baby's head.

OK. OK.

Baby's coming now.
Baby's coming.

Just breathe. Just breathe.
It's OK.

GASPING BREATH
Just breathe for me.

Just breathe, and here we go.

BABY (RES.

He's perfect.

INTRO MUSIC ON TV

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls,

'we present
for your entertainment

Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp.

Gulshan?

I'm just going to pull
very gently on the cord

to see if the afterbirth
has come away.

BABY (RES.

LAUGHTER

PHONE RINGS

Lucille?

The delivery
was straightforward,

but the placenta
hasn't separated.

Did you give her Syntometrine?

Yes! Yes, but then the cord
just snapped right off.

I tried doing the Crede's
manoeuvre on my own,

but we need to try again,
the two of us.

I'll get there as soon as I can.

Argh!

SHE GROANS IN PAIN

Oh, Lord,
in thee have I trusted.

Please never let me
be confounded.

SHE SIGHS

Penny for them.

Have you ever had that feeling

that somehow, in spite of
everything in the world

that's... fractu red or imperfect

or out of joint...

...you're exactly
where you belong?

Yeah.

He's in the hallway now.

I was trying not to look,
but I could see the ring box

in his trouser pocket
all through tea!

Oh, no! No!

You can't go down there.

Sorry.

I used to look at the map
of the East End

on my father's office wall.

It had all the pins stuck in it

which meant that we owned
this tenement

and th—that warehouse, and it...

It was just the geography
of money.

I never guessed
I'd look at it...

...and think that those streets,

those buildings...

...that is where my life is.

And is it?

Trixie, I'm not a man
that's never known love.

But here...

...I see what love is.

In all its hardship
and its glory.

I see it too.

I...

I want to go on seeing it
together, and...

...through your eyes.

Trixie...

Oh, Mr Aylward! I'm so sorry, but
Jonty's just been very, very sick.

It's mostly selection box,

but it's all over
Sister Monica Joan.

TRIXIE CH UCKLES

We're going to do
the Crede's manoeuvre.

I'll work internally,
and you take the abdomen.

That way, you only need to use
your good hand.

I'm sorry, precious.

My hand might be a little bit cold.

SHE TRANSLATES FOR HER

All is well.

Ready?

Mmm.

Prepare to apply pressure.

It's all right.

MOTHER (RES OUT.

Am I pushing hard enough? Have
you managed to get hold of it?

Yes.

The placenta has separated.
I can feel it beyond the cervix.

It's coming.

A second injection of
Syntometrine,

then I'll check
to ensure it's complete.

Gulshan can't stay here.
It's filthy,

and she doesn't have
adequate support

and she needs to go to hospital.

I've already sent for
an ambulance

and there'll be room in it
for two.

I think you've broken
your shoulder.

I'd like to speak to
Nurse Franklin, please.

Of course. Come in.

Did I have an operation?

You sustained
a nasty double fracture —.

The top end of the humerus
and the clavicle.

The bones had to be reset
under general an aesthetic.

The Order is in the wars,
isn't it?

First you with your ribs.

And as soon as you're better,
it's my turn.

Oh, you wonder what God
wants from it.

I think God wants the Order

to take better care
of its sisters.

Not work them like mules,

not assume that
where there's the will,

there's limitless strength.

I'm all right!

There's plenty
I can do one—handed.

We'll be arranging for help
from an agency

until Mother Mildred
sends someone

to replace Sister Hilda.

You are to go to Chichester
until your arm heals.

You need rest,

and the privilege
and discipline of prayer.

You mean...

...just be a nun?

Yes, for a while.

It is your right,
and you have earned it.

That's moss stitch,
unless I'm mistaken.

You've done well, lass.

And so has Miss Higgins.

Approved for
Supplementary Allowance,

assigned a social worker,

and offered a long—term place
at a hostel

for mothers and babies
on the Essex coast.

I pursued a connection
I have at a private charity.

You've done all that for me?

HE SIGHS

My name is Bernie.

I'm an alcoholic.

Well done.

I could say that I'm here
because I'm ashamed.

Because I'm an idiot.

But the friend...

...who brought me here said
I could talk about anything,

and I want to talk about love.

Because no—one ever does
where I'm from.

Except if it's your wedding day
or...

...someone around you is dying.

But no—one tells you
that love can...

...be a knife.

That it can twist inside of you

and you can't tell no—one
that you're bleeding.

My little girl is so beautiful
to me that...

...I can't describe it.

Thalidomide took her arms,
took her legs.

And I want the world for her.

And she'll never get it.

She'll never have a job.

She'll never have a husband.

That's what they say.

And I don't know whether
I drink to drown them out

or to stop myself from
screaming. I think...

...I must...

...hide in it.

In the glass or in the bottle.

But does that mean
I'm hiding from her?

I don't want to be a coward.

I just want to love
without it hurting.

I want to love
like my little girl does.

I want to love...

...like it's easy.

Like I don't know any better.

And I can never be...

...innocent again.

But I can change.

I can stop.

If I can stop...

I can stop...

...then I can love.

CHEERFUL CHATTER.

BAND PLAYS

Oh...

That's good. That looks good!

Do not let yourself be
distracted by the wolf whistles

in the audience.
It's extremely important

you follow the beat of the music

at all times, and the other way.

Hello.

Hello, Susan!

Perfect timing.

VOCAL WARM— UPS

I still think you should have
worn your lounge suit.

Hughie Green always wears
a lounge suit.

That's why I'm wearing mine.

AS HUGHIE GREEN: I mean that
most sincerely, folks.

Fred, I am not getting up
on that stage

in front of half of Poplar

looking like I'm preaching
or I'm civil engineering.

Wear it. No! I want to feel like

I'm in show business.

A tuxedo is show business.
FRED LAUGHS

Violet says Reggie's forgotten
his bow tie!

I'm not wearing it. Reggie?

I think you're feeling a little bit
like how me and Fred are feeling.

A little nervous,

and a little bit wondering
why we said we'd do this.

Overtures and beginners, please.

BAND PLAYS

Hey—hey—hey!

Ho—ho!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Lords and lasses!

Welcome, one and all,

to this evening gala performance

in aid of the
Train Crash Relief Fund.

You've bought tickets
to see Nurse Nancy

and Matthew Sinatra!

Poplartunity knocks!

♪ I know I stand in line

♪ Until you think you have
the time

♪ To spend an evening with me

♪ And if we go someplace
to dance

♪ I know that there's a chance
you won't be leaving with me

♪ And afterwards we drop into
a quiet little place

♪ And have a drink or two

♪ And then I go and spoil it all

♪ By saying something stupid
like I love you

♪ The time is right
Your perfume fills my head

♪ The stars get red
And oh, the night's so blue

♪ And then I go and spoil it all

♪ By saying something stupid
like I love you

♪ I love you

♪ I love you

♪ I love you. ♪

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Bravo! Bravo!

Oh!

But just remember, folks,
the Clapometer's just for fun.

It's your votes
that really count.

MICROPHONE WHISTLES

SHE PLAYS A SIMPLE TUNE

HITS WRONG NOTE

SLOWLY PLAYS "THE HOLLY AND THE IVY"

SCATTERED APPLAUSE

I think the Clapometer
must be broken!

You've broken the Clapometer!

Come on, Colette,
give it a helping hand!

How about we give the two
lovely ladies a cheer instead?

Yeah! Hip—hip... BOTH: ..hooray!

Five minutes till curtain up!

That's five minutes
till curtain up.

Hello.

Reggie, isn't it?

I'm Cindy, and this is Melissa.

Nice baby.

Looking forward to you
playing your guitar.

I'm not.

Why not?

Too many people,
and I'm not going to do it.

It can be a bit overwhelming,
can't it?

Bit much, when there's
lots of strange faces.

Yes.

Sometimes all it takes

is knowing that there's just
that one person.

That one person rooting for you.

I'll root for you.

You can look out and see my face,
and I'll be smiling.

But you'll be too far away.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Up next, we have a wonderful
young man

who needs no introduction
to many of you.

He is East End born and bred,

and it is my pleasure and my
honor to call him a friend.

This evening he is going to
play his guitar for us,

so please give him
the warmest welcome.

Tonight, Poplartunity knocks
for Reggie Jackson!

PLAYS AWAY IN A MANGER

AUDIENCE HUMS ALONG GENTLY

CHEERING

And, in a change
to our advertised programme,

Angela, May and Teddy Turner

will be joined on stage for their
rendition of Frosty The Snowman

by their friend, Susan Mullucks!

♪ Frosty the Snowman

♪ Was a jolly happy soul

♪ With a corn—cob pipe
and a button nose

♪ And two eyes made out of coal

♪ Frosty the Snowman

♪ Is a fairy tale, they say

♪ He was made of snow
but the children know

♪ How he came to life one day

♪ There must have been
some magic

♪ In that old silk hat
they found

♪ For when they placed it
on his head

♪ He began to dance around

♪ Oh, Frosty the Snowman

♪ Was alive as he could be

♪ And the children say
he can laugh and play

♪ Just the same as you and me

♪ Frosty the Snowman

♪ Had to hurry on his way

♪ But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry

♪ I'll be back again some day. ♪

CHEERING

You have it.

For being my friend.

Now, you take as much rest
as you need.

Nurse's orders.

You come back now.

Colette.

Do you want to know a secret?

Are you going to tell me
your name?

It's Rosemary.

SHE GIGGLES

Bye.

HORN TOOTS

I love the river at New Year.

The first time I ever heard
the bells ring

and the ships
sound their foghorns,

I thought I'd never heard
anything so alive.

For years, when I was
in the grip of drink, it was...

It was as though the racket
was inside me.

Trixie...

I love you.

I love you for who you are.

I love you for all the places
that you've been

and come back from.

I love you for all the things
that you've shown me...

...and all the places
we've yet to go.

So will you just come with me,
Trixie?

Will you come with me?

As my wife?

TRIXI E GASPS

Oh!

Well, I mean, I can get you
a sapphire

if you'd rather,
or an emerald, or a ruby.

I don't really care about...
I don't care about the diamond

or... I don't know what to say!

All I care about is you.

All I've ever cared about is you!

Oh! Wait! Trixie! Wait! Wait!

Trixie, be careful.

Careful?

Careful?! You just threw
a diamond the size of Big Ben

into the Thames!

Well, I suppose you could say it's
the ultimate London experience.

I know I've said it several
times already, but...

...I really do love you, Trixie.

I love you so much
that I'm doing this

in a brand—new pair of
suede shoes.

Oh, gosh.

Oh!

Will you marry me, Trixie?

Yes.

Yes!

♪ ...and never bought to mind

♪ Should auld acquaintance
be forgot... ♪

MATURE JENNY: Love your miracles

as if they are your children.

Whether you make them
or whether you find them,

cherish them, name them,
hold them close.

There will always be others,

there were miracles before,

but each is as complete
as any that preceded it,

as perfect as any
that will ever come again.

And each is as fragile
as a single flake of snow.