Call the Midwife (2012–…): Season 4, Episode 7 - Episode #4.7 - full transcript

Sister Evangelina returns to work as old school friends Shirley and Marion come to the maternity ward. They both have daughters but when a fire breaks out, in the confusion, Sister Evangelina gives them the wrong babies. When Marion's baby is seen to have a heart murmur the parents have to be told the truth but Marion's reaction is surprising. Barbara attends Fred's elderly cousin Tommy Mills, who is bed-ridden but when Tommy's wife Gert is diagnosed with cancer she refuses to leave him for a hospital operation. Barbara and Sister Mary Cynthia rise to the occasion to help. Fred declares his feelings for shop-keeper Violet but for Patsy and her girl-friend Delia life is not so simple.

In Poplar in 1960, the
midwives of Nonnatus House

were on perpetual duty.

New life arrived with every
season, at every time of day.

And in the mists and darkness
of the autumn...

Nearly there, my love.

.. birth sparked a little
light into the gloom,

bringing mystery and hope, the
unknown and the longed for...

burning like a candle in the night.

We've got her from here, Mr Dent.

All right?

That's it.



Thank goodness the water in
Bow is only off for tonight.

We're bursting at the seams.

~ Ah, Mrs Dent.
~ Yes.
~ Let's get you settled.

We've the delivery room ready and
I've commandeered Dr Turner's office

as a second delivery area,
though I'm just wondering

if I should call in
another pair of hands?

Delivering baby when the
Luftwaffe's raining down all

kind of carnage, that's a challenge.

But a lack of running
water and a packed ward?

We'll take that in our
stride, Mrs Turner.

No, it can't be.

"Goldilocks?"

I'm sorry?

Marion Gold? It's me, Shirley Copper.



Well, Dent now.

That's about right,

I can't walk two paces without
bumping into something.

Bow Girls, '48?

I was going out with Ian Dent
and you was stepping out

with that posh one from the Grammar.

Oh, he fancied himself
something rotten.

What was his name? Geoffrey...

Godfrey. My husband.

You ain't changed a bit.

I sent a Christmas card
every year to your mum's.

Well, if this ain't the
cherry on the cake!

This'll make the time
fly by, won't it?

Let's get you into bed, Mrs Dent,
see how far along you are.

And you've done all of this
with your pinhole camera?

Imagine what I could do
with a real camera, Dad.

Getting into the Photographic Club
almost guarantees you a merit badge.

As does making sure this bathroom
is back in working order

by the time Mum comes off duty.

You didn't have to walk me home.

Well, I take the safety of
my volunteers very seriously.

Anything could happen,
this time of night.

You didn't seem too bothered
about Arthur Tuft.

He lives in Limehouse.

Well, maybe I didn't
like his conversation.

Never knew a man could make a
week in Sorrento last so long.

You should keep that locked.

Don't be daft, I know
everyone round here.

Besides, I've got protection.

Good night, Fred.

Night, Vi.

Come on, keep it coming,
yes, not long now, not long.

That's it, go on, go on!
Oh, nearly there, now!

Listen to me, in a minute
I'm going to ask you

to do some little breaths
- just gentle ones.

Like playing the flute?

Yeah, if you like, like
the flute, that's it.

But when I ask for it, all right?

Yes, here we come!
Push, push, push, yes!

Little breaths, please,
little breaths.

That's it. Keep it
light, keep it easy.

Good, very good.

MARION GROANS

~ Ooo, you've got a little girl.
~ BABY CRIES

You have a beautiful daughter...

.. and every inch of her is yours.

I love you.

Has Goldilocks had hers yet?

I need all your concentration.
Nothing else matters.

Another push?

~ Come on, Shirley.
~ I can't do it any more.

We know you're exhausted,

but we want Baby out and
you're doing so brilliantly.

Contraction coming.

Come on now, Shirley,
all the energy you have.

One more push for Baby.

That's it.

You're so close now, Shirley.

Push now, I know it stings.
Keep pushing, it will help.

That's it. That's it. That's it!

You've got a daughter, Shirley.

Now, do remember to push
my borough laundry service.

It's available to all
incontinence patients.

Bed linen washed and returned,
quite free of charge.

That's a list of all our sufferers.

Of course, Nurse Crane.
I'll do my best.

Your best is a tick against
every name on that list.

PHONE RINGS

I'd lead the charge with you, but
I'm telephone bound this morning.

Dad!

I was up half the night
looking for that.

I used to take it everywhere.

A real camera for you, Tim.

Thank you.

It's even got a timer.

For the great self portrait.

"Photographer as a young tyke."

There's a girl.

BABY VOICE: Yes!

Yes, that's right.

Oh! Fingers all strong
like monkey paws.

Ooh, yes.

LOUD EXPLOSION

Good grief! What on earth?!

Fire in the laundry room!
We need to evacuate.

We need to go now. Take the babies.

~ That's it!
~ I'll get the others. BELL RINGS

That's all right. Nothing to
worry your cotton socks about.

We have a fire and we need
to leave quickly and calmly.

Anyone who doesn't feel able
to walk, say so immediately.

Take my arm, Shirley.

~ Can you manage, Mrs Smith?
~ Yes, yes, yes.

They've dropped it, haven't
they? The bomb.

ALL: What?!

Oh, where's my baby, Sister?

Sister Evangelina has your
babies, don't worry.

Your babies are safe. Hurry now.

Fast as you can.

Is anyone hurt? Where's Shelagh?

COUGHING: She's getting them out.
We got everyone. She's coming.

This way, ladies. Quickly,
there you are.

Careful!

Are you all right?

Yes.

There we are.

Everyone to Nonnatus. We'll check
you and your babies there.

This way ladies.

Do let me help you, Mrs Mills.

Oh, no, Sister, it's good for me and
Tommy would hate for anyone to see.

Ah, I've put your egg white
on the side, Sister.

~ Hello, Sister.
~ Hello, Mr Mills.

Let's see to that dressing for you.

Uh-oh!

I'm going to roll you now, Mr Mills.

Ah!

I'm sorry, I know it's
uncomfortable for you.

No, not at all.

It's looking very much better.

I'm going to seal it
with the egg white.

Sister...

There's a new lady and she says

I can't do the washing
for Tommy no more.

(Is she from the Government?)

This is Nurse Gilbert.
She's with us at Nonnatus.

I was just explaining to Mrs Mills

about the council's
new laundry service.

Nurse Crane is very keen that anyone
entitled should make good use of it.

May I put your husband
down for it, Mrs Mills?

It's free of charge

and you can't possibly manage
like this at your age.

Will you tell the lady
she's very kind,

but we wouldn't need a service?

But the damp!

It's a terrible risk to your husband.

I see he had pneumonia
this time last year.

Thank you, Nurse Gilbert.

So sorry to have disturbed
you, Mrs Mills.

I'll come back tomorrow.

I don't understand.

Surely she would benefit from
the service more than anyone.

She's so frail.

But Mr Mills would be terribly upset
if he thought he was on a list

in a council office or at Nonnatus.

You do know he's a
relative of Fred's?

I had no idea.

And Mrs Mills may be frail,
but her pride's strong.

We must help her keep hold
of it as long as she can.

I just want to help.

I see he suffers with bedsores and,

well, this would be one
thing off their plates.

Sometimes we have to wait for
our help to be asked for.

Nurse Crane wanted a tick against
every name on the list.

Then, with the greatest of respect,
Nurse Crane will have to be patient.

Now, everyone, because we can't care
for you in the Maternity Home,

we're going to visit you
daily in your own homes.

But if there is anything
that concerns you,

you telephone us immediately.

Your husbands are expecting
you, we've informed them all.

Er, Mr Smith will pick you
up himself - he's on his way.

Mrs Lawes? Dr Turner will see
you now. Please come through.

I thought we was goners.

It's all been very
upsetting, I must say.

What a little darling.

And yours.

She's lovely, Shirley.

Did you hear what Auntie
Goldilocks said?

Marion, are you all right?

She's beautiful.

Can you believe it?

We don't see each other for
years, then here we are -

daughters on the same day.

That's fate, that is.

You probably don't remember
Shirley from school, do you?

Take Baby, Godfrey.

I want to get home.

Well, that's us, then, Shirley.

Oh, right. You on the phone?

I don't suppose there's much
point. We're moving to Basildon.

That's even more reason
for a good old natter.

School's a long time ago, Shirley.

We've both got busy lives now.

Right you are.

~ Your usual, dear?
~ Thank you, Miss.

~ Will there be anything else?
~ Oh, no, Miss.

Thank you, you're very kind.

MUSIC: Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison

You sure you don't want me
to stay? Delia won't mind.

Don't be ridiculous...

even if you do so obviously
prefer her company to mine.

Patsy, I'm quite all right.

No-one was hurt.

Besides, I need to read
my copy of Vogue -

there's a waiting list
for it after me.

Go!

I'll try to be quiet coming back.

♪ Only the lonely

♪ Only the lonely

♪ Dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah

♪ Know the way I feel tonight

♪ Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah

♪ Only the lonely

♪ Dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah

♪ Know this feeling ain't right

♪ Dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah... ♪

Sounds terrifying.

Evangelina, terrified? You
have met her, haven't you?

Sorry.

Just...

.. don't know what
I'd do if I lost you.

(I'm the same.)

I sometimes feel as if we're ghosts.

Half with each other,
but mostly without.

I think it would be easier to do what
everyone's so bloody insistent on

and get married and just accept
that you and I can never be.

Delia, do you think I can bear it?

I think you cope better
with facades then I do.

Can we buy two pretty girls a cake?

We don't like cake.

♪ Only the lonely

♪ Dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah

♪ Know the heartaches
I've been through

♪ Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah... ♪

You don't really want
to get married, do you?

Yes, more than anything.

To you, you fool.

And I can't.

So that's that.

♪ No more sorrow

♪ But that's the chance

♪ You've got to take

♪ If your lonely heart breaks

♪ Only the lonely

♪ Dum-dumb-dummy doo-wah. ♪

You dip a little at the
bottom, Nurse Mount.

Not for the first time.

Do you think it's wise for the
children to be carrying turnips

with lighted candles?

Well, it is a lantern parade.

It is the turnips' glow that
lights the way of the dead.

Do you mean ghosts, lady?

No, dear, of course we don't.

Do not speak for the Pagans.

They say Halloween is the night that
the dead return to walk among us.

~ Which we have absolutely no evidence for.
~ You mustn't worry, dear.

Jesus came back from the
dead and did miracles.

So is Jesus a ghost?

I'd like to see a ghost.

You can put your hand through
them, they feel like a cloud.

I've never touched a cloud but
I bet it feels like candyfloss.

Glenda Severs, come back at once.

My mother's dead and I
should like to see her.

Will you bring her
back for Halloween?

Glenda Severs.

I don't think either of us
actually heard you say "no".

Am I the authority on
all in heaven and earth?

~ Fred.
~ Uh-huh.

Do you think you might find
the time to visit Mr Mills?

I know he and Mrs Mills are
on their own a good deal.

I'm sure your friendly face now and
then would be much appreciated...

if you get the time.

Oh, Sister, I'm so glad I caught you.

I couldn't sleep last
night for worrying

about how I'd rather put my foot
in it with Mr and Mrs Mills.

You mustn't upset yourself.

A friend of a friend, a nurse,
she's making a study of bedsores

and I thought it might be useful
for you to help Mr Mills.

She advises against cleaning the
sores with hydrogen peroxide.

She can't be suggesting
we do nothing?

She seems to have had success
by simply turning the patients

every two hours.

Of course, I'll read these
but I just don't know

if I could manage to
visit every two hours.

Then might I help you?

Now, how are we doing
on my laundry take-up?

G-Getting there, Nurse
Crane. Pushing on.

I believe it was you who said,
"Softly, softly, catchee monkey."

Mmm. Not too soft, mind,

or monkey scarpers.

I must say, I'm rather surprised.

BABY CRIES

She's gained a whole 2oz.

That really is very well done...

Jackie.

Though if you heard Ian, you'd
think she'd be called Princess.

Oh! Glad to see you're
concentrating on security.

Well, now that you've made
me all nervous, Fred...

Sister Monica Joan is doing
something with turnips

and she wants some nice
ribbon to hang them on.

Right, well, if you're hanging
them and they're hollow,

then the half inch should
be strong enough, but...

take the inch wide,
be on the safe side.

My dad's cousin...

he's not too good these days.

I haven't been in as
much as I should have.

I've left things and now I don't
know quite where to start.

Fred, you just go.

It's just, oh...

I'm no good at the old chitchat.

Oh, Fred.

I had that dream again last night.

You know, the one I get,

the one, the one I had
at the end of the war.

When I came home?

And I could smile again.

We danced all night.

~ GERT GASPS
~ Ow, ow, ow!
~ Gert?!

DOOR OPENS IN DISTANCE

It's just old bones,
that's all, dear.

DISTANT: Nonnatus House calling.

There, all fresh again.

Now, Mr Mills, this is Nurse Gilbert.

She has some very
interesting suggestions

as to how we might help you.

By turning you every few hours,

we should relieve some of the
pressure on your bedsores.

We hope you'll be more
comfortable as a result of it.

No, no, no, no, don't
trouble yourself.

Oh, Nurse, if you could make
him more comfortable...

We'll do our best, Mrs Mills.

In the meantime, I'm afraid
you'll have to put up

with seeing a little more of us.

Let's pop you on your side, Mr Mills.

(One, two, three.)

Now then, Deborah, what have you
got to be grizzling about, hey?

BABY FUSSES

What is it, Sister?

There's a blueness to her lips.

I would like Doctor to
have a little look at her.

May I use your telephone?

My old dad loved that picture house.

It's where he met my mum.

Same for me and Gert.

Oh! Oh, let me help, Mrs Mills.

Oh, no, dear. It's just
lovely you're both here.

(She's very nice, Frederick.)

(Yes, she is, isn't she?)

~ 50 years married, we are.
~ GERT GASPS QUIETLY

Not ever apart...

except for the war.

That's lovely.

And you each know what the other's
thinking before you even think it.

And you don't need to talk, even.

Me and my Bert weren't together that
long, but we was just as happy.

I'm going to have Deborah seen
by the Hospital for Sick Children.

I can't be sure, but I'm picking
up what may be a heart murmur.

Oh, Lord.

Oh, Mrs Smith, worrying won't help.

Great Ormond Street has
some wonderful doctors.

The hospital has a
specialist heart unit.

Mrs Smith, we will
find out what's wrong.

Oh...

I thought I'd save you a journey.

Oh, Mrs Mills...

that's why you buy the napkins?

KNOCK AT DOOR

Oh, that'll be the nurse.

UPSET: She mustn't be troubled,
she's got Tommy to care for.

I'm sorry, Mrs Mills, but this can't
pass and you'll not dissuade me.

Oh, whatever's the matter?

I can't worry Tommy.

You're right and that's
why you must be helped.

Please, Mrs Mills...

let me help you.

Oh, I manage, Nurse.

You don't have to manage alone.

GERT WHIMPERS

Oh, Mrs Mills...

~ There are dressings in the tin...
~ But they're for Tommy.

I shan't take from his care.

We have enough care for both of you.

(I'm sorry...)

Gert kept all that worry to herself,

because she didn't
want to upset Tommy.

They couldn't live without each
other, you can see it, can't you?

You need a hot drink.

You made your point.

Turkish coffee.

My son, Derek, brought it back from
a holiday and I've been saving it.

He says the secret's hot milk.

And these cups...

Well, these are what the
Italians are using in Soho.

So consider yourself spoiled.

Gert will get good care.

The Nonnatuns will make sure of that.

And we'll look in on them all we can.

Thank you for what you done.

I should be getting back...

I meant to put a bicycle
chain on one of the bikes.

It needs to be done before tonight.

Fred?

We're too old to be silly
about this, aren't we?

Now either you like me...

.. or you don't.

I do.

Oh, I do.

But I know how hard it is.

You can't let them go...

.. and they can't let you go either.

Fred, I've known him since 16.

I know.

All your life, Vi.

How is she?

Please.

Professor Gribben oversees
the heart and lung unit here.

He knows more about the infant heart
than almost anyone in the world.

Deborah couldn't be in better hands.

But what is it?

What's the matter with her?

She has a heart murmur.

What we don't know is why.

They can't make a diagnosis
without gauging

the blood pressure within her heart.

Deborah is in the very
best place, Mrs Smith.

KNOCK AT DOOR

DR TURNER: Tim? Are you still
developing or can I open the door?

No, don't.

I'm at a crucial stage.

What was on there?

I'm trying to think
when it would've been.

You must have had your
finger on the lens.

There's nothing on them.

Sister Monica Joan,

you've a visitor waiting
on the steps.

~ Hello!
~ Oh, hello!

Did you find out about
my mother? Is she coming?

Supernatural beings...

are not mine to give
assurances on behalf of.

I've written her a letter.

You will give it to her, won't you?

She might not recognise me, you see.

She died when I was born.

Glenda, dear, does your
father know you're here?

He don't care about me, he's
got Maureen and the new baby.

Besides, I've got to
get back to school.

Oh.

How exactly do you propose
communicating with the departed?

~ Leonora Severs, departed?
~ HE CHUCKLES

The only place she's passed
on to is Liverpool.

This is where the hole is, between
the lower two chambers.

Please, I don't want
to see that picture.

I'm so sorry.

I thought it might help explain what
Professor Gribben is suggesting.

I know how difficult this must be.

Her heart...

.. it's her soul, isn't it?

Her nature.

How will she be complete?

How will she love if it's opened
up, if it's changed in any way?

Her soul won't be touched, my love.

This is a procedure that could
help the blood flow properly

to her lungs in order that
it obtain enough oxygen.

Nothing would be done until
she is at least 18 months.

But if it can wait until then,
why does she need it at all?

It's a matter of
practicality, Mrs Smith.

She's too small.

If she were older and
you were agreeable,

the surgeons would operate now.

That's how much she needs it?

Without the shunt operation,

the fear is Deborah may
not survive infancy.

Mr Severs?

Glenda's father?

What's happened? Is she all right?

Please don't be alarmed and
forgive me tracking you down.

Glenda seems to think
her mother's passed away

and is hoping her ghost
will return on Halloween.

That won't be possible, will it?

Even if it were possible,
if you follow.

That woman...

still wreaking havoc.

As far as I'm concerned,

my wife, Maureen, she's
Glenda's mother now.

It's not my business, I know, but
Glenda wants to see her very much.

See her?

Leonora ran out on her
when she was three months.

Oh, Mr Severs, I had no idea.

Well, it's not something
a man wants to talk about,

how his wife cheated on him.

But I loved that little kid
since the day she was born,

just as if she were my own.

and I'd rather she mourned
a ghost than know the truth,

that her mother never even
wrote to ask after her.

It's a nasty lesion, Mrs Mills.

I'm going to arrange for you
to be seen by a specialist.

I just want some cream for it.

You'll be seen at The London

and we'll make sure Nurse
Gilbert can go with you.

I'll be in touch as soon as I can.

Thank you, Dr Turner.

Tommy can't manage on his own.

No-one will be managing alone.

Sister Mary Cynthia will
look after Mr Mills

while I'm with you at the hospital.

(Oh, right.)

Thought I'd find you here.

I hate to think of her alone.

God watches over all of us...

.. even when we think he's forgotten.

She's got an angel's kiss.

The little birthmark,
on her right leg.

My granny used to call it
a kiss from the angels...

.. for protection.

Sounds like she knew a thing or two.

When you return from memory
lane, Nurse Franklin,

may I suggest you organise an area

in which we can store
those records securely.

Mrs Dent wants some details
for her birth book.

Mmm.

I'd quite forgotten little
Jackie had a birth mark.

It's faded now, but it
was rather distinctive.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

SHE SIGHS

Oh!

SHE GROANS

SISTER EVANGELINA GASPS FOR AIR

Sister Evangelina? What is it?

I've made a terrible mistake.

I've made a dreadful,
dreadful mistake.

What could you possibly do that
could cause such distress?

The Dent baby is with the Smiths

and the Smith baby is with the Dents.

SHE SOBS

All the other babies were tagged.

It's just those two because of the
fire and I had them in my arms,

and I knew which was which!

~ SHE WHIMPERS
~ Thought I did!

I muddled them up.

I gave each baby to the wrong mother.

What am I going to do?

What on earth am I going to do?

Ah!

Thank you.

Godfrey Smith had surgery for a
broken arm a couple of years ago.

We'll have his details.

Yes, here we are.

Blood group A Negative.

And Marion Smith...

blood group, O Negative.

And the baby?

Here we are. Deborah Smith.

Blood group...

O Positive.

Two rhesus negative parents cannot
make a rhesus positive baby.

It is not possible.

What of the Dents, Mrs Turner?

We only have Mrs Dent's details.

O Positive.

Well, that explains our
rhesus positive baby.

Debbie belongs to the Dents

~ and Jackie to the Smiths.
~ SHE SOBS

This is not your mistake alone.

We are a team and we
will resolve this.

How?

I hear you've been rather prodded
and poked today, Mrs Mills.

I'm sorry about that.

Oh, it's no matter, sir.

The lesion is what we
call a fungating wound.

Are you in pain?

Oh...

it's not too bad, sir.

Considerable pain, sir.

I'm sorry, Mrs Mills, but you are.

We'd expect that with
a lesion of this type.

I'm afraid it has revealed...

a cancer beneath your
skin, Mrs Mills.

We'd like to perform
a radical mastectomy.

The procedure would involve
removing the breast...

Oh, God.

.. and underlying pectoralis muscle

and a number of underarm lymph nodes.

That way we'll know, without doubt,

if it's spread to the
lymphatic system.

If it's spread to the lymph nodes,
we'll follow up with radiotherapy.

I-It's an awful lot to take in.

I think we'll need some time.

We'd want to bring
Mrs Mills in quickly.

Am I dying, sir?

~ Without surgery, yes.
~ Oh.

A-And with it, am I still dying?

You'll have less pain and
more time, Mrs Mills.

Lightning Chance might
do well tomorrow.

Gert said no more bets.

Quite right, too.

She was always the brains.

Mmm. I was the looks.

Mmm, to be fair,

that's Gert, too.

~ You're a lucky man, Tommy.
~ So are you.

Mrs Gee's a lovely lady.

Yes, she is.

She is.

I think her Bert must've been like
you, cos she can't forget him.

Well, does she have to?

I can't compete with
someone who's perfect.

Nobody's perfect.

Love makes us that way.

You have to open your
heart to them first.

We'll get back and we'll
put the kettle on

and we'll have a nice cup of tea and
we'll think about what to do next.

You mustn't worry and you won't
be on your own for any of it.

Do you need to sit down, Mrs
Mills? O-O-Or some water?

I thought he'd go first.

I always wanted it that way,

that I should always
be there for him...

that he would never be alone.

Oh, Nurse...

what do I say to him?

You mustn't think that way.

~ You must only think of getting better.
~ Yes.

(Oh, Tommy.)

I think we must come
straight out with it.

There is no way to soften the blow.

~ KNOCK AT DOOR
~ I think you're right.

Are the parents on their way?

I should face these
poor people alone.

This is not your mistake.

And it's not your punishment.

This must be about a resolution.

~ What will condemnation solve?
~ It's what I deserve.

You deserve a medal.

You put all those babies
before your own safety.

Because of you, all are well.

I've destroyed two families.

Sister Evangelina, you are my family.

We will find a way
through... all of us.

The Smiths, the Dents and Nonnatus.

DOOR OPENS

I'm always saying what
a small world it is.

I'm afraid it's no coincidence that
you're all here together, Mr Dent.

Paperwork, is it? For the babies?

Please sit down.

Our baby's in the hospital.
What's this all about?

The hospital?

What's wrong?

Marion, what's wrong?

I'm afraid we have some very...

difficult news.

In the evacuation following the
fire in the Maternity Home,

a very grave mistake was made.

I didn't put the name tags on the
babies before I took them out.

I thought I knew who was who...

but I'm afraid I didn't.

Your babies were muddled.

Mrs Dent...

your baby was born with a birthmark,

which I know you've seen
is no longer there.

Mrs Smith...

.. baby Deborah now has a birthmark
on her lower right leg,

the size of a sixpence?

But the nurse said it could fade,

so it stands to reason
they can come up an' all?

For protection...

an angel's kiss.

We've confirmed our mistake
from your blood groups.

It's not biologically possible
for Deborah to be your child.

I can't take this in.

We know how very distressing this is.

I'm sorry that you are faced with
the possibility of losing a child

that you've grown to love.

Our hope is that, because events
happened relatively swiftly,

bonds could be re-established.

You gave our baby to them while
we've been to hell with theirs?

And we've given our love to yours.

Please.

Tell me what's wrong with my baby?

Deborah has a heart condition

that stops her blood
receiving enough oxygen.

I wish I could say you have
all the time in the world,

but a decision will need to be
made over Deborah's surgery.

Surgery?

But she's just a tot.

She needs a great deal of care.

She's very delicate.

She needs her mother.

She needs someone capable.

And you think I'm not?

You never took anything seriously.

Not school, or life.

And I can't imagine you with a baby
with a heart that does not work.

Oh, come along, Godfrey.

I've got to be home in case the
hospital telephones, not here.

This is an awful lot to take in.

Go home, Mr and Mrs Dent,

where you may have peace
to think matters over.

I can't see the good of it.

The operation, I mean.

I'd be away, I wouldn't
know for how long.

I don't want to be away.

I want to be here for you.

You must have the operation, Gert.

But it might all be for nothing.

They might not get the cancer out.

We'll pray that they do.

I don't want to lose you...

not until every last fight's lost.

We go through what we
go through together.

We live for one another, Gert.

Be with me as long as
ever you can, please.

Mmm.

Her little heart's not working.

And we're not in the
hospital with her.

I can't hardly take it.

How can I love Jackie so much?

She ain't even mine.

She's my world.

I never knew happiness like it.

Everything's different
now she's in our lives.

I keep thinking...

are they kind?

Do they love her? The way
we love Jackie, I mean.

It can't be made right, can it?

Whatever we do, we've
lost our little baby.

They say God works
in mysterious ways.

He tests us with pain.

And yet, he's sparing us. He...

He's giving us another chance.

Course, it will hurt
in the short term,

but in the long run, we'll
forget all of this.

We're blessed. We can
have our baby back.

Our baby is in Great Ormond Street.

She's not.

She's with those fools.

You said it yourself!

~ And, well, she's perfect.
~ Stop it!

Don't ask me to bring up a child
who's not even mine, who...

~ who won't even live beyond infancy.
~ She will live.

~ She'll have the surgery and she'll live.
~ She's not ours.

Shirley can't look after her.

Not like I can.

SOFT CRYING

Useless, useless!

SOBBING: You fool!

My thoughts exactly.

I have always found that drainer
an exercise in precarious balance.

I never liked this china.

Whereas...

.. YOU are irreplaceable...

and we would be so lost without you.

SISTER EVANGELINA CRIES

~ You need to wrap up, the mist's coming in.
~ Ow!

Oh, promise me, Sister.

Promise me you'll look after him.

I promise. And already, his bedsore
is looking a good deal better.

Think only of getting
well, Mrs Mills.

We live for each other,
we always have.

We will have more time, Tommy.

Hurry back to me.

~ Hmm?
~ Yes.

Pack, and non-pack, remember
what we do with our lanterns?

Where is she? Where's Mother?

Glenda, dear child.

I cannot bring your mother to you.

But your father's here and
he very much wants to see you.

~ He don't care about me.
~ Don't talk that way.

Glenda. Glenda!

I came to see you, didn't I?

See this parade you're part of.

I'm sorry you miss your mum.

She'd have wanted to see you tonight.

She'd have loved you so much.

Why don't you talk about her?

It hurts.

But I will, love, when you're older.

I wanted her to watch over me.

That's my job, you see.

And your mum...

made me promise her that,
just before she passed on.

She said, "My little girl is the
most precious thing in the world

"and you're to treasure her every
single minute of every day."

And I do.

But I'm sorry for the
times you don't see it.

We're not dead...

.. and we won't live as we were.

We'll find a way to be
together, I promise you.

I'm on first watch tonight.

Oh, you're staying?

We're to look after you
until Mrs Mills can.

That was our promise.

Hello, Fred. It's nice to see you.

~ What's all this, you having a clear out?
~ Yeah, well, I'm packing it in.

I mean, I've just
been pottering along

and I can't see the point any more.

My son's suggested I stay
with him in Plymouth.

For your holidays?

SHE SIGHS Bit longer than that, Fred.

I mean, what's to be here for, eh?

I'm after a padlock.

Oh. Er...

I could let you have a bit off
the price on this one, cos...

Fred?

I don't want you going to Plymouth.

Don't want you going anywhere
unless it's with me.

I don't care if I have to share you
with Bert, or the memory of him.

Violet...

.. I wish we were a pair.

I wish you'd marry me.

Well, why don't you ask me, then?

I just did.

Oh, yeah!

Well, then...

yes.

Yes!

You know I said I'd give you a
bit off the price of that padlock?

It's cos I don't have the key.

Well...

we'll have to stay here
forever, then, won't we?

There's nothing more you
could have done, my love.

I have to make sure it
never happens again.

The Maternity Home
must be above error.

We have the name tags, the
identification records.

I couldn't love Angela more.

Not even if I'd given birth to her.

It's the same as I
feel about Timothy.

And if you were in Marion
or Shirley's place?

If you had the choice?

So different, what those
poor parents are facing.

Angela is ours.

There are a billion other babies out
there, but I don't think of them.

Only of her.

It's not about reason, or logic.

(We shouldn't be talking
like this in front of her.)

Oh, do you have to?

Not strictly, but it embarrasses
you and that keeps us entertained.

I feel rather different about
saving your bacon now, Mum.

Ooh.

Well, perhaps we'll feel different
about your pocket money on Saturday.

You photograph each
baby when it's born.

That way, no-one will
ever lose their mothers

and you won't have to feel rotten

~ about something that wasn't your fault.
~ Oh, Tim.

Thank you.

Now my finger definitely won't
be over the lens this time.

So we have the chance...

.. of a picture worth keeping.

Say "cheese".

Cheese.

She will live, won't she?

They don't make promises.

She'll need so much care, Shirley.

We were friends once.

We're not children any more.

Deborah may not live.

Why would you take that on?

Because I carried her for nine months

and I loved her more with every day.

I don't want another
minute without my baby.

JACKIE FUSSES

You carried Jackie.

How could you be without her?

I can't think that way.

It isn't right, what's happened,

but it's happened and we
have to just go on with it.

JACKIE CRIES

I don't want a choice.

I don't want to wonder and
I don't want to compare.

I want to love what feels like mine.

You can't even stop her crying.

You couldn't manage Deborah.

I can't let her down.

She needs me.

JACKIE CRIES LOUDER

They both need us.

Do you think I could
bear to lose Jackie?

The thought of it makes me ill.

This ain't in my head, Marion.

This is in my heart.

I need to be with my baby.

I'm sorry, what I said...

the other night.

Truth is, I always
wanted to be like you.

You always seemed happy.

It's because I was.

I had my best friend.

We go forward, Sister. Together...

.. as a family.

Light will often pierce the darkness
when we least expect it.

And if we're fortunate,
when we need it most...

.. science can pave the way.

But we need human hands to guide us

and love to illuminate
the path that lies ahead.

Hi. Ah!

Oh!

TRIXIE: The one thing that
makes me feel better...

is a glass of Scotch.

I'm aware there are better
times for me to be going off

to do a fortnight's
course at The London.

Have you managed to prepare
any food for Neil?

~ I can't face boiling milk.
~ SHE RETCHES

Oh, this is more than morning
sickness, Mrs Turner!

The boiler has died from inattention.

I may yet suffer the same fate.

PATSY: Oh, Delia. You don't
want to end up in some...

filthy hole, living cheek by
jowl with a lot of students.

FRED: Did you get the letter
about my lady friend?

Yes, Dad, I did.