Episode 2 Call the Midwife

MATURE JENNY: 'In the early 1960s,

'the entire world still seemed to flow through the London docks.

'We were shown an image of plenty and it encouraged us to want

'and made us hungry for more.

'For some, these new luxuries brought ease

'and wonder into tough, hard-working lives.

'But for others, they made it more difficult

'to accept the lot was truly theirs.'

It's saving. Regular amount each week till it's paid off.

Better than the never-never.

Johnny don't hold with no more credit.

He should want to treat you.

Mrs Beckett? Midwife's ready.

Your blood pressure's a little up again - you aren't overdoing it, are you?

Chance'd be a fine thing.

It's just staring at four walls now I can't work.

And them flaming tramps dossing outside.

What kind of world's that for a baby?

Whenever I worry, my father tells me to trust God, he says God has

a plan and no matter how dark the world appears the sun always rises.

Your old man thinks a lot of God, don't he?

I should probably add he's a vicar.

Well, God don't seem too bothered about Poplar.

Breathing can ease anxiety.

Deep breath in, so you can feel your chest rise,

and then...

breathe out slowly - it really can help.

That's the tip, is it? Breathing?

Here we have the Marlowe's product.

As you can see, the tin is a very convenient size for the kitchen.

Now, Marlowe's are the first company to create a whey-based formula...

What's all this?

An exercise on behalf of Marlowe's Baby Formula.

A photograph and free tin of formula for each baby. They're American.

It's "public relations".

Propaganda more like.

..so much easier for baby to digest and enriched with vitamins.

Some doctors say formula can make baby more intelligent,

more attractive.

Can you really afford not try it? Doesn't baby deserve the best?

Baby has the best. And it's free - the breast.

This is nonsense.

Nonsense? Offering mothers choice?

Healthy mothers don't need choice.

Well, maybe she wants to go back to work.

Maybe she wants her shape back.

This is just shillings and pence to you, isn't it?

You're all charlatans.

Perhaps we should get on with clinic? You have Mrs Manley.

Ah. C'mon, Connie.

If you can tear yourself away from Professor Flimflam here.

Cup of tea?

How are you getting on with the Woolwich shells?

Do I have to keep on with them?

Yes. Because they're doing their job.

They're drawing out your nipples.

And we can't feed baby with inverted nipples, can we?

That formula looked ever so tempting.

I thought you had more sense than that.

You're a healthy young woman and what you can give your baby,

no fancy slogan or doctor can better.

It's practically a sea view.

Imagine we're dining in St Tropez with David Niven.

Quite what he'd make of cockles and chips, I don't know.

It's David Niven. It doesn't matter what you're eating.

There are chips going uneaten, Nurse Franklin.

And while not an emergency, it is cause for concern.

Patient shows no sign of elation in the presence of deep-fried matter.

I don't know what it is. I'm trying to look after Mrs Beckett.

She's got high blood pressure and she's very anxious.

But she won't talk to me.

Whatever I say, she makes me

feel like if I'm straight out of Malory Towers.

It's the same for all of us at the start - it's about building trust.

But I'm not new any more.

No, but you're newer. You just need a few more battle scars.

I have them. I just choose not to display them.

Well, we think you're wonderful and we couldn't manage without you.

And your knowledge of Bunty is quite unsurpassed.

RADIO PLAYING

-MUSIC INCREASES IN VOLUME

-Remember dancing to this?

# Somewhere beyond the sea

# Somewhere waiting for me

# My lover stands... #

Even you wouldn't mind pushing that.

It's handsome all right.

Rita was saying with the mail order, you pay for it in instalments.

We ain't getting in the red for a pram.

How else are we going to manage it?

Cos you ain't bringing nothing in.

Ain't my fault the docks are slowing down.

You got to try harder.

You got to want less!

I just... I just mean, things are tight.

I ain't asking for a week in Paris.

It's a pram.

# It's far

# Beyond the stars

# Near beyond the moon

# I know beyond a doubt... #

A new system - help us get the most out of every day and ourselves.

Each coloured pin represents you and your patient visits.

We can see straight away if we're covering the same patch.

Nurse Mount - you're on district with me.

You're yellow.

Not my best colour.

I'm blue. Efficiency, ladies.

We need to do more and we need to do it faster.

Why not simply give us radio transmitters

so we can telegraph our whereabouts?

There are people in Poplar falling through the cracks.

I've persuaded the borough council to provide a number of home helps.

So, when you're on your visits,

make a note of anyone you feel cannot cope, we'll

put their names forward, and see if we can't make life a little easier.

-Mission accepted.

-Quite so.

Oh, and while I've got you,

we have visitors of many lands now amongst us and I thought

we might equip ourselves with languages to serve them better.

I had hoped to find a class in Urdu or Punjabi but these have eluded me.

However, there is a module in Spanish starting this evening.

Anyone who wants to join me,

I shall be leaving at seven o'clock, sharp.

Half the day's gone, Johnny.

There's men down at the docks from dawn waiting to take work

and you're still half asleep.

There is no work.

Fill it. Cos that's your side of things.

And this is mine.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Midwife calling.

Them tramps are back again.

They ain't doing no harm.

A decent man don't live on charity, he goes out and finds work.

I'll pop the kettle on.

Finch!

-Yes!

-Pence!

-Paterson.

-Sir.

Milling. Tender. Watts.

And the Turpin brothers. That's it.

MEN GROAN

We want you to have baby at home but if your blood pressure

remains high we'll have to bring you in.

Be a relief.

Oh, Mrs Beckett, Oh, please don't be upset.

The thought of baby's daunting, but you're not alone...

I'm talking about having no home.

In the past six months, Johnny's brought in next to nothing

in shifts and I'm living off what my sister can send us.

I don't know how we'll make next rent.

Have you applied for National Assistance?

He won't beg.

But the Assistance Board's there for hard times.

My father's parish serves the docks in Liverpool

and he's referred many men to the Board in recent years.

There's work for those who wants it.

The man I married, he would've died for his family

but Johnny ain't the same no more.

Some men are overwhelmed by the thought of fatherhood.

There ain't no time to be overwhelmed!

Well done, Connie... Yes!

BABY CRIES

Here's your beautiful little son, Connie.

What did I tell you?

You made that look easy - just like your mum when I delivered you.

I wish she were here now.

She'd be very proud of you, Connie. And her little grandson.

DOOR OPENS

I heard the crying - I couldn't wait any longer.

-Oh, Connie...

-We got a little boy, Frankie.

We are not yet done, Mr Manley.

And until we are, this is my delivery room.

And you will knock.

Sorry, Sister. But I do so want to see him.

All right, one quick look and then out, please.

Going to be putting baby to the breast.

Well, he's just perfect, Connie. He's just perfect.

We haven't slept, we've been that nervous.

No need for nerves - your wife can take all this in her stride.

Isn't that right, Connie?

I hope so, Sister.

Good evening. Buenas noches a todos, and welcome, everyone.

-I'd like to welcome Phyllis.

-Miss Crane...

ALL: Hola, Phyllis.

Let's begin. The verb "ser".

Yo soy.

Yo soy.

Tu eres. El, ella es. Nosotros, nosotras somos.

Vosotros, vosotras sois.

Might I say what lovely accents you young people have.

-Past tense.

-DOOR OPENS

Oh, I've missed that sound.

Glad you could make it, Tommy.

ALL: Hola, Tommy!

May I?

I don't believe I've seen you here before? Tommy Smith.

Oh, Phyllis Crane.

Vosotros, vosotras fuisteis.

Ellos, ellas fueron.

Ole!

THEY LAUGH

I can't be the only one drinking Campari?

I told my class my complexion was purely down to the lemons

in my lemonade.

I must live as I teach.

Do we get a mention in that letter home?

It's more to do with my father's experience with

the National Assistance Board - advice to help Mrs Beckett -

she and her husband are having quite a struggle.

How dreadfully dull for your parents.

Wouldn't they rather hear about your exciting London life?

Excitement is what parents want for other people's daughters.

When I used to help my father on his visits, he would introduce me

as Barbara, his parish assistant.

-Oh.

-Black mark, Mr Gilbert, in my book.

It's quite all right. It's just his way.

Though I suppose when I was younger, I did wish he might say,

"This is Barbara, my daughter."

So, "Weather mixed, work splendid, social injustice is still rife.

"No accidents, injuries or boyfriends."

Well, good night, Mr Smith.

May I ask, senora or senorita?

It's Miss.

Buenas noches, Senorita Crane.

Oh. Buenas noches.

Puedo acompanarte a casa?

Now you've lost me, I'm afraid.

May I walk you home?

Thank you, but I have my motor car.

Might I drop you somewhere?

I would miss the night air of spring.

I'm a flaneur, Miss Crane.

Hopeless romantic, strolling through London

as if seeing it anew at every turn.

Oh, we can always roll the windows down.

Hope to see you at the next class.

I should like that.

It's got spring suspension and an anti-tip device

and look at that brake, I mean, you'd think it was ivory.

We'll be the pride of the street with this.

I'm so happy for you, Mrs Beckett. For both of you.

And me cursing him like I was.

I can be harsh, can't I, Nurse?

You've had an awful lot on your plate.

Yeah, you were right - he was all a tizz about the baby.

But he's getting the shifts again. We're going to be all right.

And your blood pressure agrees.

He, he, he won't stay on the breast.

He will, if you give him time.

Can't I try him on a bottle of formula, please, Sister?

I know you're struggling but we can't give up.

This is colostrum, it's the first fluid.

Nothing like it on earth, certainly not in formula.

It's packed with goodness and you don't want him

missing out on that, do you?

We can top him up with a little water in the meantime

but we must keep trying.

Now, come on. Relax...that's it.

We want the very best for baby, don't we?

HUBBUB OF CONVERSATION AND LAUGHTER

Excuse me, if I could just... Excuse me....

Shift it, gents!

Thank you, Florie - you're busy today.

Busy every day, dear. They the cooling powders for Esme?

Tell her to just rub a little on baby's gums.

It will help with the teething pain.

It'll help with keeping me sane.

Me granddaughter cries like a sea nymph.

-I'll see she gets it. Ta, love.

-Bye.

Excuse me! Excuse me.

Sorry. Excuse me!

Oh, Mr Beckett. Hello.

Nurse.

Early finish.

Of course.

Ain't you got no home to go to?

Never known a man make a pint last longer.

Nurse!

I wouldn't want my wife to get the wrong idea, you understand?

I wouldn't want her worried.

Baby Travers is making good weight gain now her colic has cleared.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Ah, just the person. How are we getting along with Baby Manley?

Is he latching more successfully?

Not yet, a little more time, we'll get there.

Perhaps we should encourage formula

if matters continue for another day or so.

Shall I include her on my list of mothers not breastfeeding?

No need to put Mrs Manley on a list.

She wants to keep trying and I've every confidence in her.

Meantime, we're topping him up with water.

-Hola.

-Hola.

Hola.

Oh. Well, I hope it's nothing serious.

He may have a weakness in the chest,

that's why he wears those odd sweaters.

I think that's the fashion. What a shame about tonight, Mr Smith.

Tommy, please.

Will your wife have kept you back some tea?

I lost my wife many years ago.

I am sorry. That was careless of me.

Miss Crane, as two scholars in want of a lesson,

may I suggest we attempt it ourselves?

Perhaps over a cup of tea and, if the mood takes us, a slice of cake?

Well, given that I put aside this evening, I don't see why not.

And, please - it's Phyllis.

Take care. See you tomorrow. Thank you.

You make soup for the tramps every night?

Soup's a loose term, I make something hot

and wet for the poor devils.

Every night?

Everyone deserves one meal a day.

Tom, what do you do

when you learn something about one parishioner that another has

a right to know, but knowing would probably cause quite a bit of upset?

I deal with confidences every day.

There's no need to be quite so cryptic.

One of my patients - her husband's not been working,

and she has high blood pressure with the worry

and now she thinks he's back in work and she's so relieved.

But he's not working, he's in a pub all day.

Well, I've never been thanked for interfering in a marriage.

I can't just stand by.

You're quite the warrior, aren't you?

I thought cleanliness was close to Godliness.

Apparently not.

I'd have liked to have travelled more, I suppose.

But work got in the way?

I love nursing, but, yes, it leaves little time for a private life.

You must see the Spanish coast.

I went there several years ago.

Just a smatter of fishing villages, really, but the warmth,

smell of the flowers at night.

It was magical.

Do you have a motor car?

I couldn't justify it.

It is an expense, but it's freedom, Tommy.

The Great North Road, a picnic and a fine day.

It rivals anything the Mediterranean can offer.

I'll hold you to that. The next fine day.

You had a drink?

Just with the lads.

Good for you.

Back on track, aren't we? Our little family.

Rita was showing me this cot,

and before you say anything, it's not dear.

And now you've got your shifts back, we know where we are.

MUSIC: Quizas, quizas, quizas by Nat King Cole

Nurse Crane, I've Mr Danvers and Miss Lane down for home helps.

Bravo, Nurse Mount.

# ..desesperado... #

Long may these Spanish lessons continue.

Have you ever known Nurse Crane speak so little yet say so much?

SHE CHUCKLES

# Estas perdiendo el tiempo

# Pensando, pensando. #

COUGHING

BELL DINGS

Mr Gibson, I don't mean to interrupt you. Keeping well, sir?

Fit as a butcher's dog, Mrs Beckett.

What dock's Johnny on? He forgot his dinner.

I can't be no help to you.

I don't follow you, sir.

I just want to know what dock Johnny's on.

Look, there's been a confusion. Johnny don't work here.

But he got his shifts back.

No, no, I'm afraid not. Your Johnny's been telling lies.

Go home, Mrs Beckett.

But he must be back, he bought the pram.

Mrs Beckett. Oh, good God.

Someone fetch one of the Sisters!

BABY CRIES

I don't understand how he's losing weight, I'm doing all I can.

It's perfectly normal for a little while after birth -

he'll soon start putting it back on.

Connie, is it still difficult for you, feeding?

I just got to keep going with it, is all.

Like Sister Evangelina says, it gets easier.

It does. But not always for everyone.

You would say, wouldn't you? If you needed help?

The milk's where the goodness is.

It's, it's where my baby gets his best start in life from.

I just got to get on with it, is all, like Mum did.

I want to do this right, Sister.

I, I want to be the best mother I can be.

Well, you don't have to manage alone.

I'm here if you need a little more support.

I best see to him, Sister.

Excuse me. I need to get through.

Mr Beckett. You must go home. Your wife's collapsed.

She's all right, she's resting now.

But she collapsed at Mr Gibson's.

Strike me down - you told her.

You told her I weren't working. You had no right.

She came to the docks to bring you your lunch.

My only concern is the health of your wife and baby.

If you knew how hard I'd tried.

Mr Beckett, please. Talk to your wife.

What, tell her how I worked like a slave for Billy Gibson?

Shifted fortune every year in what I lifted, same as me dad, same as his?

And now he's put me out like I'm no better than a dog?

How do I tell my wife that?

It's the truth. What other way can you tell it?

I wanted to get straight back up.

I just ain't had the energy. My battery's all run down.

It's me who's having the baby, for crying out loud!

It's just a dip.

We got each other, that's all that matters.

How, if you ain't got the backbone to work?

How did you buy the pram?

Don't matter.

You pawned it, didn't ya? Your docker's hook.

How are you going to get work without it?

I'm sorry.

That ain't enough for more than a deposit.

We don't even own that pram? Oh, God, Johnny!

Look I'll, I'll, I'll sort it, I'll take care of us.

I'm sorry, it's not my place, but Mrs Beckett -

we have to think of your blood pressure.

Please, both of you sit down, please, we need to be calm.

You heard the nurse.

Get out.

What you talking about?

Mrs Beckett - that's not what...

This ain't your business!

My blood pressure's all cos of you.

You ain't, you ain't making no sense.

I got another life in here.

I can only carry this, my baby.

I can't carry you an' all. You ain't no good for me!

I want you gone.

Come on! Come on!

What's the matter with ya?!

It's good of you to come by.

Now, you be sure to give her our best.

Actually, I'm here about MR Beckett.

It's just it's a terrible struggle for them at the moment.

I think Mrs Beckett's health is suffering

because Johnny has no work.

I don't take petitions, Nurse. You see this place?

Industry, not charity.

But surely three generations of one family's labour must

count for something?

Johnny's labour?

We'd find him asleep through his shifts,

curled up like a stray in the haulage crates.

Well, perhaps he was just under the weather.

Yeah, and perhaps he was workshy.

The docks are brutal and I need men that's fit for them.

Now, if you need a worthy cause, Miss, I suggest you find

a Seaman's Mission.

Men give you their lives, Mr Gibson.

At least respect them, even if you won't protect them.

-I think it was when we were at the community centre.

-I really don't...

Am I disturbing you?

Not at all.

It's just I couldn't help hearing your gramophone the other evening.

Are we too loud again?

No, that's by the by. For now.

No, I wondered if you'd show me how to use it -

there's a long playing record I'd like to hear.

Oh, how thoroughly romantic.

It's simply to put me in the Latin mind-set - for the Spanish.

Of course.

Then I'll do better than show it to you, I'll play it for you.

MUSIC PLAYS

I'm so glad you've found something you enjoy so much.

We all need more than just our work.

I sometimes think there must've been a terrible

hole in my life before Keep Fit.

Charming - those were probably the evenings you spent with me.

They weren't.

Can I interest anyone in a barley sugar?

Oh, yes, please!

You know I rather envy you. You live life as you please.

You have a motor car, your work and now a genuine passion.

And no-one ever bothers you with endless questions about

when you'll marry and why you don't have a gentleman friend.

Oh, we must always live as we please.

So long as no-one gets hurt in the process.

Recklessness is quite another matter.

But these are wonderful days, girls.

Go out there and take hold of them. You're not GIVEN opportunities.

You GRAB them. With both hands.

I'd adore to.

I thoroughly enjoy my class but it feels

a little like Grandmother Hen has landed in a nest of chicks.

Well, I hope those chicks know that Grandmother has two deadly

midwives on her side.

"Put 'em up. Put 'em up."

You're very kind, but there's no need.

I did wonder - might it be possible for you to...

.."polish" me a little? Just a touch of powder,

something around the eyes, perhaps. Nothing dramatic.

Phyllis, you look quite magnificent.

I'm sure I don't know why.

Mind you, this is a new cardigan.

-Shall we?

-Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you.

Before we get caught up in the class.

Of course. What is it?

I have a half day coming up.

Now, I can't promise the weather

but I can promise you a good sandwich

and a flask of tea.

I think, with a fair run we could get to Rutland

and still be back before dark.

I shall pay the petrol, of course.

We shall go Dutch.

Then I shall buy us supper.

The service station at Watford Gap.

I've been itching for an excuse to try their restaurant.

So, it's a yes, then, is it?

Only if I can get us

tickets for the flamenco performance at the class next week.

My diary's getting rather full.

So's mine.

Oh, Sister, come quick, please. It's my Connie. She's in a bad way.

DOOR OPENS

I told you not to call no-one.

I told you I was managing.

-But you're not. You can't feed him.

-Connie, please, let me help.

What kind of mother can't feed her own baby?

Oh, you're bleeding. Connie, all right now, we're going to stop this.

This isn't fair on you.

No. I got to keep trying.

You've tried.

It may be your nipples,

perhaps the inversion's still making it difficult. May I?

-When did you last change him?

-Hours ago - he's been good as gold.

That's because he's dehydrated.

His fontanelle's depressed.

His mouth's parched. He needs fluids now.

Bring me a clean spoon, some sugar and some boiling water.

I, I won't have him on that charlatan's milk.

Connie, what are you talking about?

You know what the Sister says about formula.

All a baby needs is what his mother can give him.

If I can't give him nothing, what good am I?

Connie, listen to me.

Baby needs fluids and he needs them quickly.

So we're going to put aside all those other thoughts

and focus on what is best for your little boy.

Do you understand?

This way, doctor.

He's just round here.

We found him like it.

He's breathing, but he won't wake up.

We need an ambulance. Right away.

And bring something to keep him warm. Hurry!

Like the magpie, I am enamoured of all things shiny.

How about you be "enamoured" of all that is yet to be tidied?

Might I have a word, Sister? In private, please.

Well? The magpie, give it a go?

It may.

There's much to do, Sister, so snap to it, if you would.

-I've just been with Mrs Manley.

-How's she doing?

Mrs Manley cannot breast-feed.

We know it's difficult, particularly with a first baby,

-but we just have to keep trying.

-No-one could have tried harder.

So hard, in fact, she's bleeding.

Yet still she won't consider formula

because she thinks it makes her a bad mother.

Well, you put her straight, I hope?

In fact, I'll go and do so myself, now.

I'm afraid your opinions got there first, Sister.

Whatever do you mean?

She refuses to consider anything other than the breast.

But that isn't what I meant.

Unfortunately, that was the implication.

I didn't mean that.

Another day and baby would've been seriously dehydrated.

I'm sorry, Sister, but you have such influence.

Please take care how you use it.

Johnny has regained consciousness.

He's been able to talk to the doctors.

But he's very poorly, Mrs Beckett. He has pneumonia.

Oh...

I didn't know what you was going to say then.

Pneumonia.

It's the dust down at the docks, he just needs a vapour bath.

The chest specialist is treating Johnny,

but he is concerned there may be some underlying cause.

Your husband mentioned to staff he'd been exceedingly tired

for a good while.

Well, that'll go, won't it? With the treatment?

The London are going to run some further tests.

I should like to go to him, doctor.

If I might suggest you go this evening.

The consultant may have some of the test results back.

I'll go with you, Mrs Beckett.

It will fit in quite well with my rounds.

Your husband said I could come up.

I tried so hard, honestly I did, Sister.

I wanted to do it like you said. I wanted to be like my mum.

I wanted to do it right. But look at me.

He's almost died of thirst, because of me.

I put his little life in danger.

No, no, no, it wasn't you that put him in danger.

I'm so s...

I'm so sorry.

I'm not family, I'm just the neighbour,

I, I sit with her when I can.

Mother! You came.

She don't half get confused.

Old age comes to some sooner than others.

Mrs Smith.

We have you on our list as a possible

beneficiary of the home help service.

I thought you were going to France.

No, love.

Does Mrs Smith live alone?

No. She has a husband.

I shall add that to her notes.

He does what he can but it's ever such a strain.

I mean, one minute she knows him,

the next she thinks he's a boy who stole her sweets at school.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Nurse calling.

DOOR OPENS

Oh. Hello.

Good afternoon, Nurse Mount, to what do we owe the pleasure?

You weren't assigned to this visit.

The yellow pin on the map says otherwise.

Oh, well, yellow pin,

blue pin...

Mrs Smith appears to be suffering from senile dementia.

Perhaps you could pop by the telephone box

and ask Dr Turner to drop in on his rounds.

I'd like his opinion so we can see how best to help.

Of course.

I'm back!

Oh! You must be Mrs Smith's husband.

Yes...

I am.

We're here at assess your wife,

with a view to providing home help for her and for you.

This is my colleague, Nurse Crane, and she...

Nurse Crane and I are in fact acquainted.

We attend Spanish classes together.

That is of no consequence. Mrs Smith's wellbeing clearly is.

Please. Let me explain.

No, no explanation is required, Mr Smith.

Everything is perfectly clear.

Could I buy you a cup of tea?

We've a great deal to do and no time for tea.

I shan't ask you a thing about it

but you don't have to pretend nothing's happened.

We all do that too much of the time.

It's utterly exhausting.

I'm very happy with my life, Nurse Mount.

It's exactly as I want it.

But for a moment, perhaps, I saw something else...

..something I neither expected nor sought, and I liked it.

It's very kind of you - the offer of tea.

ENGINE STARTS

I wish it weren't him who'd told me.

The consultant?

What a cold man.

Talking about my Johnny like, like he was a stranger, not my husband.

What did he call it?

"Cancer of the blood"?

Leukaemia.

But we got a baby coming.

You should go to him.

Be with your husband and say all you want to say to him.

I'm sorry, Johnny, I'm sorry.

All those things I said.

Oh, God, Johnny, I wish I could go back.

Let me go back. Please, let me go back.

You can't leave us. I love you.

I want my family.

I can't have this baby without him.

You're not going to be alone.

I mean I won't have it without him.

How long? Till I'm due?

A week? Two?

About that, but the dates are never exact.

Johnny's got days to live, and he must see this baby

so I need it to come now.

You can make it come.

We would only induce a mother if her health was at risk.

My heart is breaking.

Ain't that risk enough?

You promised me you'd get me through.

Well, now I'm asking - will you stand by your word?

I will. I will stand by my word.

I want to ask permission to go away.

For six months at least.

To the Mother House?

No. I want to spend time with an enclosed order.

The Sisters of the Blessed Infant Christ.

But the Sisters of the Blessed Infant Christ are very austere.

Silence is kept throughout the day.

I need to be somewhere where the only being

I can speak to is a higher one.

I've got so wrapped up in my work, I've forgotten my calling -

to be a vessel for God, to do His work.

I've...I've got to start listening again.

Connie tried to tell me she couldn't breastfeed.

I thought I knew best. My way or no way.

We both know how I am.

I'm all mouth, and He knows that too.

This is not a decision you can make alone.

At the very least,

you will need permission from Mother Jesu Emmanuel.

Please, speak to her on my behalf.

I will come back, if that's what He wants, but speak to her.

Oh, Sister...

Please.

Nurse Crane - a distressed gentleman wishes to speak with you.

I beg your pardon.

A Mr...Smith.

Oh, erm, tell him I'm not at home.

He awaits you in the front hall.

I don't wish to see him.

And I do not like greens, yet they are very good for me.

I asked if you were married, you said you were widowed.

I said I'd lost my wife.

Don't stoop to semantics.

For five years, she hasn't known who I am.

No matter what I tried, I couldn't reach her.

It was as if she'd died, as if we both had.

Those classes have been my happiness.

Meeting you, well, it lifted me, Phyllis,

gave me something I thought I'd lost forever.

I'm sorry for your loss.

But the facts are the facts and we can escape them

no more than your wife can.

I thought we were friends.

I don't need another friend.

You've made a fool out of me, Mr Smith.

Don't come here again.

Mr Beckett has days left at best.

He will never see his child.

There is no medical reason to induce baby.

And Mrs Beckett's blood pressure is now regulated.

But she has a history of it - wouldn't that be reason enough?

No obstetrician would hear of it.

Obstetricians will never be satisfied

until women are entirely absent from the sacrament of birth.

Dr Turner has always been happy for us to expedite labour.

When a mother is past her term.

Mrs Beckett must be very close now - and the dates can be a little hazy.

We know our ways work.

Bath, oil and enema to bring on the contractions.

A man is dying.

We must ask ourselves,

is it right to put Mrs Beckett through a traumatic procedure

when her husband may pass away before the baby is delivered?

To give false hope when perhaps she should use

these last precious hours to be at his bedside?

You are unusually silent, Sister. What miracle is this?

Forgive me, Sister. But we don't just deliver babies.

We build families.

Isn't hope for that, however faint, better than none at all?

If you believe this is what is best for your patient, then we will

support you.

But it is a great responsibility - Mr Beckett may

pass before the baby is born and I worry about that burden for you.

And it won't be hers alone. I'll work with her.

I want to try to build this family.

What will I do?

Pray for me.

Stella, we're trying to trick your body into thinking

labour's started.

The castor oil we gave you last night irritates the bowel.

That can start contractions. The enema will do the same.

Then you'll take a hot bath to help you relax -

the heat intensifies the effects of the castor oil...

He's not on his own, is he?

Dr Turner's with him. Johnny is waiting for this baby.

And I promise you, he will see it.

Doc? Nothing's wrong, is it? Not with Stella?

The very opposite.

Your wife is in the maternity home and everything's going

so well I'm quite redundant.

I heard you're a Spurs fan.

So I thought I might try to keep you posted on how the Cup goes.

We're on for the double.

Well, you'd better keep your strength up, Johnny.

We have a long Saturday ahead of us.

It must be coming. Oh, the cramps.

The cramps are from the castor oil.

Your contractions haven't started yet.

Oh...

Try to relax, Stella.

Dr Turner wonders if there is any progress?

We're still in the early stages.

-WHISPERS:

-We need to hurry things along.

Stretch and sweep.

We're just going to feel what baby's up to.

We need to do a little more to bring on contractions.

I'm going to gently stretch your cervix and them I'm going

to ease away the membranes holding baby.

Oh, God.

The procedure will release a hormone that will start your contractions.

Now, another deep breath.

Well done. You're about four fingers dilated.

That's very good. This should move things along for us.

Another deep breath.

SHE MOANS WITH PAIN

-That's it.

-Breathe out.

Think about Johnny meeting his baby.

Think only of that.

My old man used to take me to the game.

His old man took him.

I got so much in here.

But my child won't know it.

Come on, Johnny.

Kick off's nearly here.

You are going to tell your little son or daughter

that Spurs won the Cup.

Stay with us, your baby's coming.

That's it. Keep moving, it's bringing on the contractions.

Come on. Come on.

You got to see your daddy.

Very soon you're going to be on your way to the London with your baby.

Keep going, Stella.

SHE MOANS

That's it. That's the one. Baby's coming!

Just breathe, breathe through the contractions.

Tell them I love them.

You'll tell them yourself. Because you're staying with us.

Do you hear me?

I can't protect them.

What will happen - to my baby?

Your baby will have an amazing mother -

one who is moving heaven and earth to get to you today.

And you will be here waiting for her.

Do you hear me?

BUZZER

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

That's it, keep pushing.

-I can't.

-That's it! You can do it.

-I've got nothing left.

-Stella?

Johnny is waiting, he is waiting for you and your baby.

Now, I know you have it but you need to find it -

you need to find your fighting spirit because baby is coming.

That's it, Stella, one big push, that's it.

Come on, Stella, push! Yes, that's it, keep going, nearly there!

Nearly there! Gentle breaths...

That's it, head's born!

Stella, you have a son.

BABY CRIES

Johnny, you must hang on. Whatever strength you have,

hold on, man.

Hello, little one. That's it!

You came,

you came in time to meet your daddy.

Mrs Beckett. He's wonderful.

I'll have an ambulance standing by once you've delivered the placenta.

Thank you.

Johnny?

Here he is, my love.

This is your daddy. Remember him.

Please remember him.

Our son.

"John".

John. Another Beckett at the docks.

I love you both.

I want to stay.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Ah, Nurse Mount, just the person.

We've good news from the Council.

They are providing 20 home helps. I shall be pushing them for more.

Super! You deserve the night off.

If we got what we deserved, I'd be driving the Daimler SP250 with

Gene Kelly on hand to change my tyres.

Well, I can't manage that but I can cover the telephone

so you can go to your Spanish class.

I visited Mrs Smith - to arrange for Dr Turner to see her.

I witnessed great care from Mr Smith.

But he could've been anyone for all she knew him.

He might as well be a widower, poor man.

But he's not.

I'm sure it takes a terrific strength to

manage as he does at home and still find a passion for the world.

And it would take a very long time

to build the trust to share such a painful and private truth.

FLAMENCO GUITAR PLAYS

Esta ocupado este asiento?

I say, is this seat taken?

You came.

For the flamenco, that's all.

Poor souls, falling through the cracks

with no-one there to catch them.

You're there, ain't ya?

I'm just one man, Mrs Beckett. They need an army.

A good man's an army by himself.

He has your husband's smile.

He does, doesn't he?

I thought I couldn't bear to be on my own,

thought that would be the worst in all this.

But I don't feel alone. Not with little John.

I'll pick my job up again - when he's older.

We'll manage.

Dear girl, I'm more sorry than I can say.

He was a fine man.

He was.

And I should've taken greater care.

You made me look to myself, Nurse. Not before time.

You don't need to listen to my regrets.

So I'll say it how I speak best...

It's not a king's ransom, but it'll see a little prince right.

And you put this back where it belongs, eh?

To Johnny.

ALL: To Johnny.

To you, Johnny.

In the future, Barbara, don't listen to me.

A warrior was just what the Becketts needed.

You know far more about marriage than I do.

MATURE JENNY: 'It was a world promising all that we could desire,

'newer, better, brighter.

'We put our faith in the dreams they sold,

'in machines to save us labour,

'clothes to make us more alluring,

'furnishings to give us greater comfort.

'Yet the one thing we could not do without could never be bought,

'no matter how generous the terms -

'and it was love.

'Love, in all its forms.

'Precious, fragile and enduring -

'the priceless gift that

'made our lives worthwhile,

'invisibly upholding us,

'demanding no repayment,

'offered in silence,

'more precious than gold.'

I appear to have won a meal in an Indian restaurant.

Gosh. How exotic.

Well, come with me, then.

I mean it's not "going out" going out.

How do you know it isn't "going out" going out?

Is there any chance at all that you might be pregnant?

There are things you can...do.

Send me to some...

butcher in a back alley?

What's the matter?

Mrs Mahoney, could you go call an ambulance, please?

It's the only time I've seen those pink spots.

Typhoid.