Call the Midwife (2012–…): Season 10, Episode 2 - Episode #10.2 - full transcript

In the spring of 1966...

...the ground did not feel
entirely firm beneath our feet.

We were shaken by new
revelations

and stirred by ancient fears.

The modern world
brought uncertainty,

and our troubles did not
always vanish

when we turned to face them.

Let me help you there, Mr Clarke.

I had a letter from Mother
Mildred this morning.

I think it is...

...somewhat
preferable to a visitation.



Would you like to come to my office
and hear me read it to our Sisters?

I would not.

"I request you express my gratitude
to Nurse Crane for her diligence

"in providing photographic
images of the exceedingly...

"..innovative new habits.

"My response is as follows.

"If the Almighty had intended us
to dress in drip-dry fabrics,

"the biblical plains should not
have... bloomed with flax.

"Are Ruth or Esther recorded
as wearing Crimplene?

"Did our Holy Mother ever appear in
a pinafore dress? I think not.

"As the cost of this frivolity
was presumably immense,

"I instruct that every garment
is put

"direct in the charity box
for the benefit of others.

"They might in due course
be deployed as...



"..office wear."

We are so grateful to you,
Pastor Robinson.

I'm happy to be able to help.

I'm just sorry for your trouble.

Take your time, Mr Clarke.
We're not in any hurry.

Do you need to see a doctor
about your leg?

It's an old injury. I was driving
a lorry at the packing plant

and there was an accident. They
blamed it on my inexperience.

Back home, he was an accountant. But
when he was discharged from the hospital,

the packing plant wouldn't
have him back.

And there's no work in
book-keeping.

- Mmm.
- Or at least, no work to be had.

Not for people like us.

Of course. That's fine.

Excuse me, Mr Scarisbrick,

has Fiona Aylward been re-admitted?

I'm afraid so. Her husband
telephoned to say she was feeling

faint and running a temperature,

so I asked him to bring her
straight in.

- Does she have an infection?
- I'm running all the usual checks.

Come with me. We'll pop
along and look at her.

Was there any doubt,
when the baby was delivered,

that the placenta and
membrane were intact?

None at all.

She was a little bit tearful
when she arrived,

so let's give her
lots of reassurance.

Hello there!

It's Mrs O'Malley, isn't it?

I didn't know you were
on our books again.

You look so glamorous.

Like a film star.

Off anywhere nice?

Oh, go on with you, Sister.
I'm coming here for me check-up.

But it never hurts to make
a little effort.

Know what I'm saying?

I can tell it's not going down.

Well, temperatures
can be naughty things.

Yes, I see no harm in some
precautionary antibiotics,

and we'll run a few tests to see if
we can shed any light on the cause.

Sister Franklin will keep a kindly
eye on you in the meantime.

It makes me smile
just seeing you again.

Likewise.

I made this all by myself in a
little kitchen down the corridor.

A pretty stern-looking matron
gave me quite the stare.

- Hello, Sister.
- Hello, Mr Aylward.

An orderly would have been
more than happy to do that for you.

Ah!

Sister, we'll need to take bloods and
swabs before we start the antibiotics.

- Of course, Mr Scarisbrick.
- Good day to you.

I'm looking forward to hearing
all about baby Jonathan.

Oh, he's simply glorious!
Getting bigger and bigger.

- Who's looking after him for you?
- Matthew's mother.

I have to get out of here in short
order, as I'm not sure she knows

one end of the baby from the other.

She always had nannies
for Matthew and his brothers.

Mrs Aylward,
have you lost a little weight?

Oh, I hope so. Last time you
saw me, I was giving birth.

But you have been off your food.

She didn't touch
last night's beef stroganoff.

Beef stroganoff?

No prizes for guessing
who cooked that.

It was me.

Not exactly cordon bleu. It
should've been cordoned off.

Ah!

I better organise your blood tests.

I'm so sorry. You say
you've lost your co-op card,

but I can only find records
for your little girls.

Is this the first time you've been
seen with this pregnancy?

Better late than never! Eh, Sister?

Well, let's start at the
beginning, shall we?

Can you remember
the date of your last period?

We'll work out your due date
and we'll take it all from there.

You're all right, Sister. I know
exactly when I got pregnant.

I imagine you'll be wanting a little boy
if you've already got two little girls.

Mind you, it's always good to keep
an open mind, don't you think?

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

That's why I don't
care what sex it is.

That's why I've never
been here before.

Now, if I could, I'd like
to forget the whole thing,

but every day I'm finding it
harder to ignore.

But... why are you ignoring it?
Even if you...

...you do want to give up the baby, there
are things that have to be set in train.

Is there a form I need to fill in?

You can take care of that
for me, can't you?

And anyway, aren't you married?

I want to speak to
someone more senior.

I need to see someone
more official, like.

I-I didn't mean to upset you,
Mrs O'Malley. I...

Someone senior. You heard me!

- Is anything amiss?
- No.

No.

Everything's in order.

Or it will be.

Actually, Mrs O'Malley,

I've been working here
for nearly two years now.

I'm senior enough to deal with this.

Maybe I can start afresh.

We all make mistakes.

You're preaching to the
choir on that one, Sister.

Well, if you move the
three o'clock to four

o'clock, we should just
about get away with it.

Why not?

Well, I-I could take a taxi.

Very well. I'll familiarise myself with
the prosecution's arguments en route.

Ah! Er...

All right, all right, excellent.
Thank you.

I'll see you when I get there.
Thank you. Goodbye.

I'm so sorry. I...

I've dealt with worse spillages,
believe me.

Did I do the right thing,
bringing her in?

Mr Scarisbrick talks about
"feelings of faintness",

but she went down like a tree.

She was out for the count.
I just panicked.

Of course you did the right thing.

Women are often a bit below par just
after they have a baby,

but it does make sense
to look into any problems.

We'll soon have her back
with baby Jonathan.

My husband, he's
away at sea a lot,

months at a time.

And a girl can get lonely.

You know what I'm saying?

I think you're saying...

...you've done things you regret.

Are you still in contact
with the baby's father?

It was so quick.

A fling, I think you'd call it.

What's done is done, Mrs O'Malley.

We need to deal with what's
before you now.

The last time Dessy was home,

I wasn't showing,
so he was none the wiser.

And touch wood,
if everything goes to plan...

...he'll be away till
after my due date.

So, what I think is best is that...

...I have the baby...

...don't tell him...

...and put it up for adoption.

Do you not think your other
children might work it out?

They're very young.

I've hidden it from them.

I've hidden it from everyone.

I've been wearing a girdle
when I go out,

and then people just think I've been
hitting the cream cakes.

Very well. I suggest that as soon
as your labour starts,

you come straight to
the maternity home.

If there's anything you'd prefer,
I'm sure Chef would be more than

happy to prepare it for you. It's
imperative we get your strength up.

I need to visit the lavatory. I could
bring a commode, if that's any easier.

That won't be necessary.

Please I... I just want you
to take my plate.

Of course.

I want to do this alone.

I'm being mindful of my dignity!

Of course.

Oh, Fiona! I should never
have left you.

Oh, I shouldn't have been
so ridiculously stubborn.

Let's bite the bullet
and join forces.

And I can assure you your dignity
will be protected at all times.

Fred, can we take
a fresh loaf, please?

Someone's cooking up a
storm tonight.

Chocolate biscuits, as well?

My kinda meal!

Ah, not for me, I'm afraid.

For a homeless family
I'm ministering to.

Homeless? No-one should be
homeless in this day and age.

Hmm. It happens more often
than we realise -

eviction, simply for getting
behind on the rent.

It's not right, but it's real. And
we must help where we can.

No, no.

Put your money away.

Thank you, Mr Buckle,
but there is no need.

It's too late for Mrs O'Malley
to regret her mistakes.

I shouldn't have made her
feel awkward about them.

She didn't need that.

Mrs O'Malley needs good,
solid encouragement

and an efficient midwife,

and it sounds as though
you gave her both.

I'll be giving her a home visit,
too. She's anaemic.

And she'll need iron tablets.

The main lesson you
need to digest from this

is that we need to be ready when
a patient wrong-foots us.

It's like having a shilling
in your pocket for the meter.

We must always be prepared.
Now, I believe we have

an appointment with
a cheese and onion flan!

Gosh, it all feels as if it might
soon be within our reach.

Has Mr Scarisbrick been in touch
with you directly, Sister Julienne?

He has indeed.

And I am reporting everything
to Mother Mildred.

It certainly seems very
"all systems go".

We shall see.
But the information

thus far seems...

...extremely satisfactory.

In my mind's eye, him look like
Dr Kildare on the television.

Mr Scarisbrick?

He's certainly quite suave, and
there is a hint of a cheekbone,

but he's very definitely the wrong
side of middle-aged.

Maturity can bring
very valuable experience.

Anyway, there's scant time for
getting square-eyed at the moment.

We're rushed off us feet,
being one man down.

The standard of care
at the Lady Emily is excellent.

And no-one can deny that
Mr Scarisbrick is genuinely caring,

but I also am quite certain

there is something
we can take to the table there

in terms of midwifery practice.

All the luxury in the world
cannot take the place

of kind and sensible support when
a woman is at her most fragile,

because when she is
at her most fragile,

that's when she finds her strength.

What do you think,
Sister Monica Joan?

Seek not wisdom beneath
the branches of the mighty oak.

Its shadows cast confusion.

Stand, instead,

beside the saplings.

There is more light.

You will gain clarity.

Ohhh!

- Iron tablets.
- That's what I call service!

- Come on in.
- Thank you.

Oh, we aim to please.

Is that your husband?

He looks lovely.

All he ever wanted
was a family of his own.

Had a picture of it in his head.

Little house...

...garden...

...doting wife...

...little boy...

...little girl.

I gave him two girls.

It was near enough.

Maybe he'd understand.

His own family, Sister.

Well, from here on in,
whatever happens,

I can help you
every step of the way.

Look at you.

You must be my age.

What happened, huh?

I ended up like this
and you ended up like that.

Mr Scarisbrick? Do we have the
results of Fiona Aylward's tests?

Not yet.

- How's her temperature this morning?
- She's still pyrexial

and seems unusually weak.

I didn't like the look of that
petechial rash you spotted, as you know.

Septicaemia crossed my mind, but
the rash hasn't spread.

I thought I'd root out the last set
of blood tests we have for her

whilst we wait for the results
of her new ones.

Her antenatal tests?

Yes. They're not entirely consistent

with a straightforward iron
deficiency picture,

so I've consulted with the
haematologist at St Luke's.

He'd like to perform a bone
marrow aspiration here on Friday.

He'll take a sample of soft
bone tissue

so we can see what's really
going on in her blood cells,

and to see if there's anything
more serious lurking.

I do hope there isn't.

So do I, but we must
investigate and wait.

You take good care of her in the
meantime... and her husband.

I will.

Ta-da!

Are you feeling sad,
Sister Monica Joan?

"Sad"...is such a...

...specific word.

I feel a bit sad, if I'm honest.

It was something a patient said,

not for the first time!

But each time I hear it, it...

...punctures me.

She pointed out that
we were the same age

but were on completely
different paths.

We've led such contrasting lives.

Now, I know some Sisters think all the
time about the sacrifices they've made

to join the Order. But I don't.

I hardly had to give up anything.

I entered the convent
when I was seventeen...

...before the Beatles,
before the pill.

I've never had a boyfriend...

...never mind been kissed.

Plus, I've never worn a miniskirt.

And I never will.

The pinafore dress was...

...quite sufficient.

I was mortified when
they made me wear that.

The first time I saw a miniskirt

in Harrogate, I was quite perturbed.

I thought, "Oh, that... that poor
lady's skirt's ridden up

"and no-one's told her." So I did.

I was very polite about it,
but... she gave me short shrift.

Can I really understand my patients'
problems when I'm so...

...unworldly?

You are faced with a conundrum.

Conundrums require solutions.

Do you have one?

No.

I, too, am challenged...

...and can find no answer.

May I interject

and venture a suggestion?

Life never quite goes to plan,
does it?

I was just getting into my
routine with Jonathan, and...

Oh, if I talk about him I shall cry.

You must miss him dreadfully.

I miss everything.

I just want to go home.

I miss my own bed.

I miss... lining up my
Le Creuset pans

and musing on what I'm
going to cook for Matthew!

I miss writing in my journal,

with Jonathan's head tucked
in up against my neck.

You keep a journal?

I hope it's full to bursting
with delicious scandal.

You'll have to kill me to find out!

Oh, there's nothing in it, really.

I always looked rather fashionable -

I worked in advertising
- but deep down,

I'm actually quite old-fashioned.

You're in better company
than you might think.

You too?

I won't tell anyone if you don't!

Who knows, maybe one day
we'll both break out

and run down Regent Street
in our bikinis!

It's a date!

I'll book a baby-sitter.

Dr Turner's surgery.
How may I be of assistance?

Miss Higgins, it's Sister Hilda.

Oh, Sister Hilda,
how may I help you?

I'm telephoning... on the
cadge, so to speak.

Hm... Next time you're throwing out
any magazines,

would you mind passing them
our way? I'm talking

specifically about periodicals
from the, er...

...the more "groovy" end
of the spectrum.

Well, I'm afraid I'm not familiar
with the term "groovy".

Er, but I could offer you Woman's
Realm and The People's Friend.

I was rather hoping for Tit-Bits.

Might I remind you that this is
a doctor's surgery and not a...

...a beauty parlour
on the King's Road?

Of course, Miss Higgins.
I stand corrected.

I think it's best if you don't
linger by the coatstand.

Miss Higgins is in an acerbic mood.

What's wrong with her?

Oh, words have been had with Nonnatus
House. It wasn't to do with medical matters.

There is such a lot of tension
underneath the surface.

Miss Higgins knows
as well as we do

that our fortunes are
tied up with the Order

but we have no control
over what they choose to do.

Patrick, even if the Sisters
do expand to the Lady Emily,

they won't leave us in the lurch.

Sister Julienne's whole reason for doing
this is to underpin their work in Poplar.

I do know that.

And I don't want to see them shut
up shop for lack of funds.

Our general practice
could survive without them,

but the maternity home can't.

Just as they can't
survive without us.

I'd grown to cherish the fact that
we're so dependent on each other.

But things really do feel
quite precarious right now.

It will fall on deaf ears
if I tell you to have faith.

But I will say this -
I am praying every day.

That's my girl.

Keep staring at the flowers, Mrs Aylward.
The local anaesthetic is working.

You shan't feel a thing.

Look at me, if that helps.

We're just double-checking
a few things.

It won't take too long.

I might not be a haematologist,

but even I know why doctors
do bone marrow tests.

Mr Aylward...

What is wrong with my wife,
Sister Franklin?

Please. I just want someone
to tell me the truth.

The truth is...

...we don't know.

But we're trying to find out.

The bone marrow test will help us
rule out certain things.

"Certain things"?

"Certain things" is...

It's all euphemism!

Do we not need to move her
to a proper hospital?

With the best will in the world, this
is a maternity clinic! If... If she...

Mrs Aylward will be moved when the
test results are in, if necessary.

And in the meantime, I've been
thinking, if your wife is going to

be here for a longer period than we
first envisaged, we could set up

an adjoining room for baby Jonathan,

if you so desire,
and bring in a nursery nurse.

That is a wonderful idea.

Thank you.

I managed to find some clothes for
the children in the charity box

at Nonnatus House.

We can take those over with the
food for Mr and Mrs Clarke.

It's so warm and toasty in here.

I shudder to think how cold
they must be in that place.

We'll warm them up soon. Come and
have a taste of this.

Cyril Robinson!

You are beating me at my own game.

Fred Buckle!

Hello, sweetie.
I have someone to see you.

Ohhh!

Hello, you.

Oh, I've missed you.

Oh, what a beautiful face.

- I'm about to leave, Mr Scarisbrick.
- Sister Franklin!

In another very soignee ensemble.

I wonder, Mr Scarisbrick,

if you'd allow me to observe you
in theatre tomorrow.

Of course. Any particular surgery?

I'd like to watch a D&C.

You seem to do
them quite frequently.

I admire your diligence. You are,
of course, most welcome to attend.

Read another!
This is jolly good fun.

"Mothers, beware!

"My three-year-old niece

"recently locked her mother
in a cupboard by mistake,

"and she had to wait for my
brother-in-law to return from the office

"to get her out again.
Fortunately, they all saw the funny side.

"Miss AC (Wimbledon)."

I hope they're not renting
a room out to any tennis stars.

Centre Court will be empty.

Do people really have nothing
better to do with their time

than to write such banalities
in to women's magazines?

I'm surprised the nation hasn't
been driven to narcolepsy.

Tell us again about the Beatles' favourite
family Christmas gifts. I enjoyed that.

They feel like...

...important matters for the woman
about town. Don't you agree?

It's hard to believe they're the
same stars we saw back in Rodney Bay.

Do you think they're looking down at
us and thinking, "Fools"?

No man who tries to get something
better for his children is a fool.

And no woman, either.

I'm sorry, Faith.

I wish things were
going differently.

Sister Franklin will be observing us
today, ladies and gentlemen.

She has assured me there'll be no
jeering from the cheap seats.

Hegar's dilator, if you would,
please, Nurse.

A routine D&C.

Let's see what we'll find.

You've been busy.

It's the only thing he or she will
have that's a little part of me.

Oh, I think they'll have more
of you than you'll ever know.

I never knew my mammy.

She left when I was six weeks old.

And my dad had a bit of a
temper, so...

I used to always think,

"Why couldn't she take me with her?"

This is hers.

It's the only thing of hers I have.

Well, apart from her nose,
apparently.

I used to wonder, were we alike

in temperament,
were we, like, similar? Or...

I don't remember her.

Sometimes I think I do,

but I'm kidding myself.

When I touch this...

...I dunno...

...I can feel her.

Is that mad?

No.

No, not at all.

I always swore I'd never do to
my kids what she did to me.

Well, guess what?

The apple doesn't
fall far from the tree.

I'm now preparing to remove

the products of conception.

This young lady was not entirely
candid about her condition.

She's three months pregnant,

not nine or ten weeks,
as she told me.

I'm just glad she had the means and
the common sense to come here.

God knows where she might have
looked for rescue otherwise.

They have some wonderful
competitions in there.

A lady who comes in here

won a year's supply
of Avon's new Tender Tints.

Not that you'd have
much call for that, though!

Ooh, and in that one, there's a
wonderful true-life romance.

A young woman opens her heart

to a doctor, and he helps piece her
back together physically...

...and emotionally.

I'll just take these two, please.

Thank you for letting me
observe, Mr Scarisbrick.

I trust you found it informative.

I most certainly did.

That operation was entered into the
theatre record as a D&C.

And it will remain on
the record as a D&C.

It was an abortion!

Sister Franklin, you knew what you
were going to see in there.

That's why you asked to watch
me working, was it not?

I didn't know.

My suspicions were aroused.

And, meanwhile, I am under orders
and honour bound to report back

everything I learn about the Lady
Emily to Sister Julienne.

- You know that!
- And will you?

There's much that could go
unspoken. So much does.

Women don't die here.

I'm not going to say that makes no
difference, Mr Scarisbrick...

...because this is less lethal than
a backstreet kitchen table.

We're both entirely aware of that!

But you are still
breaking the law!

All morals, all beliefs,
all views aside,

what you are doing is criminal,

and I cannot allow the Order
to walk into it.

I couldn't do it to them.

And you shouldn't want to!

Do you not read the papers,
Sister Franklin?

The idea of hospitals performing abortions
is being discussed in Parliament.

Being discussed in Parliament
doesn't make it legal! Yet!

I'm not interested in
having a debate with you.

I'm interested in collating
all the relevant facts

so that I can put them
before Sister Julienne

and allow her to come
to her own conclusions.

I trust this will all be done
in confidence.

You're good at doing things in
confidence, aren't you, Mr Scarisbrick?

I think you'll find Sister
Julienne's defining virtue is integrity.

It's so clean in here.

Everything smells so fresh.

It's a constant battle
against the damp.

You have to keep on top of it.
Honestly,

they chucked up these flats
without a second thought

of what it's actually like
to live in them.

As soon as you put fresh
paper up, it's mouldy.

The wind gets in, the rain...

Oh, Jacinta, I'm sorry.

I'm the worst woman in the world.

I'm not going to let you say
that, because it's just not true!

I wouldn't waste your breath,
Sister.

Nothing you can say to
change my mind.

And no matter how much I clean,
I still feel so... dirty.

I've told you, I'm
not having this!

I'm giving my child away,
my newborn baby.

Every time I think
about it, I just...

...fall to pieces.

Hello?

Is that your husband?

Hey, yous. How are you? Look how
much you've grown!

Look what Daddy has for you.
One for you and one for you.

Where's your mammy? Huh?

OK...

Where's your mammy? Huh?

Jacinta?

Jacinta, guess who?

OK...

I'll...

Jacinta!

- What the...?
- Hello, Mr O'Malley.

Suffering ice cakes! Are you... Are
you taking holy orders now?

Jaysus, do I not even get a hello?

Jacinta?

What's going on?

- Why won't me wife turn around?
- Erm...

You dirty little tart!

Mr O'Malley, no!

Keep away from me, Dessy!

Well, it's not mine,
is it? Well, is it?

Mr O'Malley, I'm going to have
to ask you not to be violent,

or I shall call the police.

Oh, shut your hole.

Well?

No.

It's not yours.

Oh?

Are we offering a delivery
service now?

It's just a couple of loaves
and a... and a few bits.

Nurse Anderson and Cyril told me

about this family
fallen upon hard times.

Well, we'll fall on
hard times

if you keep on
giving things away.

But, Vi, they're
living in a squat.

And you said yourself there was a
shortage of houses at the moment.

I don't know why I bothered
locking up the shop today.

I should've just left the door open

and invited everyone in
for a free-for-all.

And no more tick!

I'm going to put my hand in that
till one day and find it empty

because you've given
everything away for free.

Please, Vi, just come with me.

I'm so sorry, Sister Julienne.

I know I'm interrupting the Great Silence,
but when you hear what I have to say,

I-I think you'll agree
it can't wait until the morning.

Just through here.

This is Mr and Mrs Buckle.

They're the people that sent
you that food the other day.

Er, we've brought you
some more bits and bobs.

Er...

Er, some more corned beef, and...

...swiss roll for the kiddies.

You're very kind.

You are most welcome.

We will reimburse you as soon
as our circumstances allow.

We'll not hear of it.

You're in the East End now.

And in the East End, what we have

we share.

- And this is commonplace there?
- Yes. It is.

Mr Scarisbrick has offered up
a full disclosure.

One wishes he had done so
without being asked.

It would appear our bid
to save Nonnatus House

by going into private
practice is now over.

- Is there something you wish to say?
- I'm angry.

I'm angry that wealthy women
can go there,

and ordinary women end up on a
table in a room above a pub,

that whether you are damaged internally
is down to how much money you have.

The haves have it all, and the
have-nots are yet again cast aside.

And yet I...

...I like Mr Scarisbrick.

I respect him.

And just in this moment,
that makes me angry, too.

Anger is always
an interesting emotion.

It never comes without
questions in its wake.

You will work a week's notice at the
Lady Emily, after which...

...we will not speak of it again.

They're your dirty shoes.

Take them off. Or don't step
on the rug.

Er, you don't tell me what to do.
I tell you what to do.

Ball's in my court now.

Talking of which,
you've been unfaithful.

Any court in the land would say that
you're an unfit mother

- and give them kids to me.
- She's not an unfit mother.

She's a very good mother.

Who cares what some nun thinks?
It's what the courts think that matters.

And they'd agree with me.

She's damaged goods.

And for the record,
I'm only here to see my kids...

...while I make me
mind up on what to do.

I'll show you out. They should
have mended the lift today.

Sorry, there's
something I have to do.

Do you have no sympathy
for your wife, Mr O'Malley?

Left alone while you were at sea?

I know life isn't as black and white
as it is in the agony columns

and letters pages! And I
know it must be very hard

to forgive what Jacinta's done.
It... It must feel like a betrayal.

Feel like a betrayal?

It is a betrayal.

Look, there's a lot in life that
I don't have the greatest grasp on,

but I do know
that she's a good woman.

And I do know that she just wants
what's best for all your children.

"All"?

I've only got two, love.

That thing in there...

...is not mine.

It might be best to sit down,
Mr Aylward.

That sounds ominous.

Why don't I take baby Jonathan
off your hands for a while?

Dr Carlson has got the results
of your bone marrow aspiration.

We've consulted. I'm afraid
it's not the news we'd hoped for.

The tests show that you have
acute myeloid leukaemia.

This... This is ridiculous.

I mean, she only came in with a
fever. What have you done to her?

- Matthew...
- I am sorry, Mr Aylward.

Puerperal fever and leukaemia have
very similar symptoms.

So you missed it?

Is that what you're saying? This was
some sort of misdiagnosis?

I'm not saying that.

Perhaps you and I could
speak outside, Mr Aylward.

- Please may I have my son?
- Of course.

Darling?

Nobody's made any mistakes.

And nothing you do or say now is
going to change the fact that I'm...

...ill.

There must be something
more that you can do for her.

Trust me, Mr Aylward,
we will explore all avenues.

There's a specialist in Manchester, a Dr
Prince, I wish to telephone for guidance,

and we should try a blood transfusion,
see if that can't perk your wife up.

I fear she needs a little more
than just perking up, sir.

No. Currently, I do not advise
moving her to another facility.

She's just too weak.

Call me naive, but I refuse
to give up hope.

Oh!

Mrs Buckle mentioned you were
in her shop the other day...

...purchasing some magazines.

I've broken a rule, haven't I?

Have I?

I think it's tremendous that, er,

you're keen to understand young
women like Mrs O'Malley,

on many levels so very
different from yourself.

If reading such publications
facilitates that...

I am learning a lot.

...then it can only be good.

I hereby grant you permission

to read one women's magazine a week,
so long as you do so

in the parlour during recreation

and you don't take said
publication up to your room.

Are you writing in your journal,
Mrs Aylward?

Please call me Fiona.

It seems rather pointless
standing on ceremony now.

- Could you do something for me?
- Yes, of course!

I'm writing a letter to Matthew.

Well...

...just in case.

If I dictate it,
could you write it for me?

Of course.

I only got as far as "Dear Matthew"
and then I rather ran out of steam.

Sometimes, when I have to do
something incredibly difficult,

I find it best to...

...just say what's in your head.
Who cares if it jumps about?

We can always fillet it down

and... make more sense of it later.

I don't care if I have to write it
a hundred different times.

We'll make it wonderful.

Ready?

Ready.

And the blood transfusion?

Doesn't seem to have helped.

If she's deteriorating rapidly,
you just have to let nature

take its course.

It's funny...

...no amount of money can make
Fiona Aylward better.

I suppose at times like this we are
all as poor - or rich - as each other.

My mother went to Harrods yesterday,

bought Jonathan a sailor's suit.

I'm worried he might
look like Popeye.

I think she's...
reliving my babyhood.

The next thing you know, she'll be
putting his name down for prep school.

We always said...

...we don't want him to board,
didn't we?

We want him home every night...

...all three of us round the table...

...eating supper together and...

...watching the television.

Fiona's parents are here.

Go! Phone box!

Phone Nonnatus House.

Now.

Come here, sweetie.

Darling, if you need to go...

...go.

- Mum?
- Jacinta?

Back to bed, girls.

Back to bed now.

Is it dead?

It's not breathing.
Please check it now.

Darling, don't worry about
me and Jonathan. We'll be fine.

Do not worry about...

...anything.

You can go.

Do something, please.
Just rub its back.

- Yeah, rub.
- Come on, little one.

Come on, now.

Come on.

That's more like it.

I can't believe it.

Oh, thank God.

Oh, you certainly wrong-footed us,
Jacinta. You've delivered this baby

- all on your own!
- Thank God you're here, Sister.

- Is it all right?
- Well done, lad.

You can stand down for now.

And go and put that kettle on.

Tell me, is my baby all right,
Sisters?

All's well, Jacinta, all's well.

Thank God you're here.

Pulse 96.

Placenta still appears
to be attached.

She's gone.

It's just us now, soldier.

Just us.

Aren't you the cleverest
mother ever?

Do you know what you've got yet?

A little boy.

How about that...

...after two girls?

You let us know when you
feel ready to hold him.

She may not want to.

We've done enough in a rush
for one day.

All in good time.

He's so gorgeous.

I hope that cup of tea's on its way!

And then we'll be needing
more hot water to bathe the baby.

We don't want any heat escaping.

Or any cold coming in.

Mother and baby
need to be kept warm.

Water.

Warm.

As a last kindness to
your... lovely, lovely wife...

...I have to give you this.

I was with her when she wrote it.

And I promised her I would.

Do I have to read it now?

Sometimes, some things are
best left for another day.

Will it hurt?

Yes.

Because it's beautiful.

When will the undertakers come?

Not yet.

I'm so very sorry to intrude
out of working hours.

Can I tempt you to a nice cup
of Earl Grey, Sister Julienne?

There's some in the pot.

I would have been perfectly content
with ordinary tea, but thank you.

And a little home-made shortbread?

Oh, just the tea would be
delightful, thank you.

You said you had news.

Indeed.

I do.

And that it would
be music to our ears.

I have decided to cut all ties

with the Lady Emily clinic
and with Mr Scarisbrick.

No partnership
with them would be...

...appropriate.

I was always concerned
about it, Sister.

I know you acted at all times

in the interests of those
people we care for in Poplar,

but at what cost?

Not at the cost of legality
or the Order's moral standing.

Ah. I take it Mr Scarisbrick
has a certain sideline.

What sort of sideline?

Indeed. He does.

The termination of
unwanted pregnancies.

Oh!

Sister, they all do it.

Why wouldn't they?

I have been naive at best,

wilfully, doggedly blind at worst.
The scheme had...

...too much to commend it.

It... It could have made
such a difference here.

But at what cost?

You've cancelled the
relationship on point of principle.

In my experience, there's no better
reason for ever doing anything.

Thank you.

And now we have to find
another way ahead...

...or Nonnatus House will not
be serving anyone.

I'm sorry.

- Goodnight.
- Good evening.

This is for Mr Clarke.
He has a job interview!

Really? Your trousers are going
to be very long on him.

Mrs Wallace has come
to our rescue again.

She knows a dry cleaner in need
for a part-time book-keeper.

Mr Clarke has his
interview tomorrow.

A dry cleaner?

It's a wise move to
send him in a suit.

Do you want me to
pick him out a tie?

Mm-hm.

What's going on in that little
head of yours, pal, eh?

We thought we'd lost you
there, you know.

Thank the Lord we didn't.

Dessy, I'm so sorry.

There isn't even an excuse.

We all get lonely.

But he's here now, and...

...well, you always had
that picture in your head...

...the house...

...a boy.

Well, this little boy's come along
through no fault of his own.

There's a new picture now,
all right.

The reason I telephoned was...

...I wanted to thank you...

...for everything
that you did for Fiona.

I appreciate it hugely...

...more than I can...

...I can ever say or will ever
get the chance to say,

probably.

Delivering her baby was... a joy.

And looking after
her was a privilege.

I don't want to hang up.

If I hang up, it means
I have to go to the funeral.

- I so wish I could be there.
- I keep wishing

Fiona could be there...

...which is just
bloody silly, really.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Mr Aylward.

You look like a gentleman again.

I have been helped by one.

And there are some good
people in this country.

Right, then.

I better go and call the lift.

I'll, er...

I'll...

I'll see yous when I get back.

All four of you.

Really?

Oh, Dessy!

Goodbye, girls.

Goodbye, little fella.

Certainty isn't everything.

Sometimes the unknown is
better than the known,

and courage and love make
many things possible,

if not all.

Much is asked of
people on a journey.

Humility is called for...

...and acceptance

and resolve.

These are the quiet gifts.

These are the qualities
that help us to stand fast

when the world
would have us falter,

and our path is
strewn with stones.

So move forward,

putting one foot in front of
the other, other lives...

...in front of ours.

There is pain...

...but there is love...

...and there is hope.

It seems we are to have a visitor.

And where will the young
gentleman be sleeping?

Three hours I waited.

I won't be coming here again.

How bad do things have to be
before you'll help me?

You know, children, you have

- an exceptionally clever mother.
- Yay!

I may be verging on decrepitude,
but I am not yet dead!