Episode 2 Call the Midwife

MATURE JENNY: 'It seemed to us in 1963

'as though the world was spinning a little faster on its axis.

'We bought new things, followed new trends,

'sought at every turn a more vibrant,

'vivid version of our homes,

'our lives, ourselves.

'Our energy and thirst for change seemed limitless.

'We wanted to be the very best that we could be.'

That's not your usual reading.

Sister, are you sure you wouldn't like to join us?

Wool crafts are the refuge of a dull mind.

I must say I was rather dubious when I received the pattern,

but these knitted bosoms will be just the job for teaching

breast-feeding in my Mothercraft class.

-Mine looks terribly realistic. I'm actually rather proud of it.

-GIGGLING

-Looking forward to seeing you. Bye.

-Ooh, my back.

Oi, wake up.

It's a salon, not a dosshouse.

Oh, sorry, Mae. I don't do well on nights.

Still, at least I've got today to catch up.

Hear that, Marj? You'll have to wait till tomorrow if you want Val to

-deliver you.

-I don't think I can hold off that long.

-You getting twinges?

-Bit more than that.

-You're in labour?

Look, I reckon I can get through my afternoon ladies without any

excitement. I mean, I was going, what, three days with them two.

Besides, Mum don't let you have a day off for a little thing

like having a baby. Do you, Mum?

Well, you'll only be sitting upstairs.

Plenty of time for that when the kid comes.

You watch, right - she'll have me back down here inside a week.

-I will!

-Ooh!

-SHE GROANS

Ooh, sorry, Marj. Looks like it's time to hang up your scissors.

-Mae, can you call Nonnatus?

-Yeah.

-Oh, I'll give you a hand with that, Sister.

-Thank you, Fred.

Blimey! Iced buns?

It's breast-feeding night at Mothercraft class.

I had hoped to borrow Nurse Crane's car to transport my props.

But unfortunately it's not convenient.

She's become rather over-protective of her clutch.

Ah, well, that can be expensive if... SHE GASPS

Perhaps I can borrow your van.

I've got an errand to run, but I can drop you off on the way.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Sergeant Woolf.

I appreciate the power of the whistle more than most,

but I find its efficacy is decreased by overuse.

I'm obliged to inform you that there have been a number of car

thefts in the vicinity.

You might want to take the relevant precautions.

I always keep the keys in a safe place, Sergeant.

Thank you for the intelligence.

I'll bear it in mind.

You'll find nothing amiss!

Oh!

Iced buns.

Get those curlers out or she'll look like she's just off the boat.

Midwife.

To see a Mrs Chivvers?

Upstairs. I'll take you.

What are you lot goggling at?

-MARJORY GROANS

-That's it. Lean into it.

Midwife's here.

Nurse Anderson, this is Marjory Chivvers.

-Hello, Mrs Chivvers.

-Marjory'll do.

Mae, why don't you take over here

while I bring my colleague up to speed?

Two previous deliveries, both straightforward.

Textbook pregnancy this time too.

Now, Marjory's in school.

Biggest complication is likely to be the mother. Bit of a character.

Mrs Chivvers, once this contraction has passed, can you lie down, please?

-I need to examine you.

-Who died and made her the boss?

Look, if you're going be funny, you can clear off!

-Can't no-one take a joke these days?

-Right, Mae.

Why don't you get back down to the salon?

I ain't going nowhere. And neither are you.

Then, why don't we pop through to the kitchen

-and you can make me a cuppa?

-MARJORY GROANS

You'll be close at hand if you're needed.

Baby's mouth needs to come up and over,

rather than attach straight on.

-That's it, Mrs Romaine. Lovely.

-Thanks, Sister.

Well done, everyone. Next week we'll be tackling nappies,

along with what to expect in the immediate aftermath of the birth.

Does that include the bit on how to get your fella out of the pub? LAUGHTER

Sorry, Norma. That's not my area of expertise.

Mine neither, Sister. My Alan's not a big drinker.

He likes to keep himself fit, what with him

being the coach of the Fairborough Under-16s.

Oh, is he? You didn't say.

Nothing wrong with being married to a man you can be proud of!

Well, if he's so marvellous,

you should get him down to the next class,

train him up in changing the dirty nappies.

-Maybe I will. He's keen to learn.

-Oh, you're having a laugh!

What's funny about a man being involved in raising his child?

There's nothing funny about it, Mrs Romaine.

Nothing at all.

MARJORY GROANS That's it.

Oooh!

Just relax there until you're ready to push again.

Not long to go now, Mrs Chivvers.

How many times have I got to tell you - just call me Marj.

How about we split the difference and settle on Marjory?

All right, then.

-Another one coming?

-Ooh, yeah!

Is, is Dennis home? I just need to know that he's here.

I'm sure he'll be here soon.

MARJORY MOANS Let's get you onto the bed.

Oh, Dennis! Dennis!

Don't know what she's shouting for him for - useless lump.

-There's a lot worse than that.

-Tell me about it.

Don't think I ever met Mr Stanton?

23 years ago he went to the second showing at the Palais Cinema,

never came home.

Was it the Blitz that took him?

No, one of the usherettes.

Off they ran, leaving me with a toddler

-and a dose of something itchy.

-The toddler was Marjory?

We did all right, just the two of us.

-Who needs them?

-FRONT DOOR OPENS

-HE PUFFS AND PANTS

-I came as soon I heard!

-How is she?

-Doing just fine without you.

Dennis!

Come on, then, let's have a look at her. Who's she look like?

She looks like Dennis. She's a boy!

-We don't do boys.

-Yeah, well, we do now.

And if you want this one in the trade,

you better open up a barber shop!

Well, come on, then. Do you want to look at your little brother?

I told you we'd get our little man in the end.

Oh, Marj! Hello!

Don't get much better than this, does it, girl?

Alexandra. Night-night.

You're very important to her.

To both of us.

I love the time the three of us spend together.

When do you think we might get away again?

If you're free tomorrow evening,

I might be able to find a way for us to spend a little time together.

Oh?

7:30 sharp, and don't be late.

ROCK AND ROLL PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

Nice hair! Vidal Sassoon?

Stanton's Styles.

Marjory Chivvers had her baby while I was getting my hair done.

LAUGHTER

Oooh. "Home Management'"?

My parents tried their best,

but domestic science wasn't really on the syllabus at Casa Mia.

"Budgeting"? "Household routine"?

Something to tell me, Nurse Franklin?

What are you inferring, Nurse Dyer?

"Advice on Entertaining with information on weddings

"and christenings." Hmmmm.

I'm afraid you're getting rather ahead of yourself. However, it is

true that Mr Dockerill and I are getting along splendidly.

Which is why I'm cooking for him tomorrow evening.

Ah.

-And just when it was all going so well.

-Cheeky!

I've been known to boil an egg with great success.

Now, if you don't mind, I need to devise my menu.

I'm ever so pleased for you.

Mr Dockerill is quite the catch.

Not so long ago I thought I'd never be happy again.

And yet here I am.

The human heart really is most resilient.

Let's hope Mr Dockerill's stomach is similarly robust.

LAUGHTER

We prepare our ladies for parenthood, but the fathers are

left to their own devices and are often quite at sea when baby's born.

So I thought I might open the next session to husbands.

Men? In a Mothercraft class?

Not every week, obviously.

Perhaps just one session out of the six that the women attend.

And only if we're all agreed that it's a good idea.

I'm not sure.

Those classes are a place where women can relax,

escape the pressures of family.

Yes, but if a man can help his wife with childcare,

then she might also get some time to relax when the baby comes.

Sister Monica Joan, what is your opinion of the matter?

-There's much of value in the old ways...

-Exactly!

..but one must not become like Lot's wife,

frozen in the act of looking backwards.

Then it seems there is a majority in favour of the scheme.

So, the au pair...

According to this, she'll be here this evening.

Will you be able to pick her up from the railway station?

Of course.

Though I've no idea how I'll recognise her.

There won't be that many Hungarians arriving on the 5:15 into Victoria.

I don't imagine she'll be wearing national dress.

Well, in case she's not, she's sent a photograph.

She does look rather stern.

She grew up in a Communist country.

I doubt that's conducive to a cheerful disposition.

Then she'll get on well with Timothy.

He's been very glum about having a stranger living in the house.

I'm sure he'll warm to the idea.

He'll have to.

Miss Magdalena Kovacs is already halfway across the English Channel.

-Congratulations, Mae.

-Thanks, love.

-All right, Mae?

-All right, Val?

I brought a little present for the baby. Can I drop it up to Marjory?

-One of your lot's already up there.

-Ah, Nurse Anderson.

Yeah, the foreign one.

I've seen her type on the buses, but I've never seen

one in a...midwife's uniform.

Actually there are lots of Caribbean nurses in England.

-Ah.

-We didn't have enough, so the Government asked them to come

-over to help us care for our own.

-Oh.

-Ah, hello, girls.

-Hello, Auntie Val.

Only I heard she's not a proper midwife.

Someone told me she used to work in a library.

Hmm, that's right.

Then she came to England, trained for four years

and passed all her nursing and midwifery exams with flying colours.

Oh. Maybe I should set them rumours straight, then.

Yeah, you should.

-I'll go on up, shall I?

-Yeah.

Look at him.

Dennis could have spat him out.

I think they all look like their fathers.

Nature's way of reassuring a man that the child is really his. LAUGHTER

You saying my daughter's been round the houses?

I don't know how people behave where you come from

but you're in England now. We're civilised.

Mum!

I'm sorry, it's not because you're coloured,

she's just a bit of a cow to everyone.

It's nothing much.

Just a little rattle, and Mum knitted a cardie.

Oh, how kind!

Oh, will you thank her for me? Mum's just off downstairs.

Valerie, your timing is excellent.

Baby needs a cuddle while I retake mother's blood pressure.

-It's a little high.

-Come on, then, Denny.

Here, I think he's filling out already!

He feeds like a champ.

You know, he had me up every two hours last night.

That'll be good for your milk supply.

Tell me about it. I think I could stock a dairy!

And a florist's. These are lovely.

Oh, yeah, carnations.

We had an April wedding and I had a big bunch of them in my bouquet...

-Oh!

-SHE GRUNTS IN PAIN

-Something wrong?

-My head!

Ah! I'm going to be...Oh! Think I'm going to be...sick!

-What is it? What's wrong?

-Ambulance, please!

-Is it the baby?

-Suspected post-natal eclampsia.

Marjory, show me your fingers. Are they swollen?

And the other one?

-Marjory?

-I can't...can't... won't move.

What's wrong with her? Why's she talking funny?!

Can you look at me and try to smile?

What are you doing?!

Ambulance on its way.

There's no oedema. Blood pressure has dropped.

Her speech is slurred and she appears to have a left haemiplegia.

I'm not so sure about eclampsia.

I think she's had a stroke.

AMBULANCE BELL

There's room for one in the van.

Can you look after the children for me?

BABY GURGLES

Mummy.

AMBULANCE BELL

No daffodils?!

The harsh winter has taken its toll.

Why is everything so faded?

Hmmm?

-What's happened? Where is she?

-You can't see her.

They're getting her comfortable.

Oh, Marjory!

-She was fine this morning!

-She's had a stroke.

-What?!

-No, that's something old people get.

-You a doctor, are you?

No, but I want to speak to someone! I want to find out what's what!

She can't talk. She can't walk.

Maybe won't ever again.

Well, I want to speak to someone.

They'll only speak to the next of kin.

I've told them that's me.

How'd this happen? Whose fault is it?

Wow, look at that!

-That's your father's car! Welcoming committee at the ready!

-CAR HORN HONKS

-Oh, Timothy? Jam.

-I know, I'm saving it for later.

You won't get into medical school with cheek like that!

Here we are.

Magdalena, meet the family.

-Hello.

-Oh!

-Mrs Turner?

-Uh, Magdalena?

-Magda.

-Whatever you prefer.

Your home is very pleasing.

-Thank you.

-And so is your husband.

-Oh.

-SHE CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY

And these are the children...

-Teddy, Angela and...

-Timothy.

Hello.

You must be exhausted after your journey.

Let me show you to your room. Patrick, can you bring the bags?

-I'll take those!

-Thank you, Timothy. That is very sweet of you.

This way.

A house so full of gentlemen.

Goodness!

She's not at all what I expected.

She's very...

confident.

Isn't she? I had the most interesting conversation in the car.

-It's quite refreshing.

-BABY CRIES

SOOTHING MUSIC PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

SOFT LAUGHTER

Ta-da!

-Oh, I, I thought, I thought we were going out.

-But I've cooked dinner.

Don't worry, it's just the two of us.

I got everyone out of the way.

There are only three rules when planning an intimate dinner party.

The food should be cooked to perfection

and presented with style,

and the guests should be agreeable.

I'd say two out of the three isn't bad.

It's called a "grapefruit surprise".

The surprise, in my case,

being that sugar burns remarkably quickly under the grill.

HE CHUCKLES

It looks...delicious.

And don't worry, my love, we won't go hungry.

We can always have bread and jam.

I'll make it.

Then after I graduated I toured the continent,

working as a mother's help.

Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, then back to Paris where

I cared for a family of a professor at the Sorbonne.

We must seem very unsophisticated by comparison.

No, not at all.

My father is a doctor. I like medical men.

-More coffee?

-Oh, thank you.

What a bonus. We didn't anticipate you'd bring your own coffee pot,

-did we, Shelagh?

-Everyone knows English coffee is very bad.

Well, this certainly beats the stuff I'm used to.

We had no idea you'd be so well travelled.

It's important, I think.

-I plan to travel.

-Oh, where?

Extensively.

Well, Angela's bath is long overdue.

-I'll go and get her ready.

-Oh, please, Mrs Turner,

bath-time is my job now.

I'll show her where we keep the towels.

Oh, Patrick. What have I done?

I don't know why we didn't get an au pair years ago.

BICYCLE BELL RINGS

I've never seen a stroke in a new mother,

not in all my years.

It was Lucille spotted it.

-Not sure it would have occurred to me.

-Nor me.

I'm not surprised.

It's so very, very rare.

If the stroke is as severe as they say,

she may be left permanently incapacitated.

Life really can change in the blink of an eye.

Oh, no, those, those are for my wife.

She's only getting you a bloody vase!

Now, before we move onto the subject of caring for a newborn,

we'll have our usual recap on last week's topic

which, as you'll remember, was the birth itself,

and specifically how to breathe.

In and out's always worked fine for me, Sister. LAUGHTER

Sorry, Sister. He's such a joker.

But Sister? If you're going to be telling my Alan about the birth,

does that mean he can come to the actual thing?

Only I've heard men aren't allowed in the hospital.

You're quite right,

but as we do home births, we offer a little more flexibility.

Do you think it's something that you and Mr Romaine might consider?

My Alan would love to see his baby being born. Wouldn't you Alan?

-Ah!

-SHE LAUGHS

That showed them. Just cos their husband's ain't worth tuppence.

And now you get to be with me when our baby's being born!

Yeah, look, about that...

er, you know it might be a bit tricky.

It might clash with a match.

Oh, come on. In all the time you've known me, have I ever missed a game?

And in all the time you've known me, have I ever had a baby?

I'm just saying, you know I'd rather not.

I don't think it's something I'd enjoy.

Enjoy? What's enjoy got to do with it?!

Do you really think I enjoy going to your stupid football every Saturday,

freezing on the touchline, chopping up the half-time oranges?

-Morning!

-Magda! Goodness, you're up early!

Yes, today I make spicy eggs for Timothy and Mr Turner.

Really, there's no need. Porridge will suffice.

Everyone likes to try something new.

You might want to put on a cardigan.

You're not on the Continent now.

Nothing unexpected to report this morning, except that

Marjory Chivvers is to be discharged today.

Gosh! That seems very soon.

There's little more the hospital can do for her.

Her mother insisted she be at home with her family.

Nurse Anderson will continue twice-daily visits for as long as

is required. Her family will need significant support to manage

-Marjory's care, as she's largely immobile.

-Of course.

Sister Winifred. How was last night's class?

It was marvellous! Thank you, Sister!

The most tremendous success!

Who's going to look after her?

Everything is as it should be.

There we are, nice and comfy.

The hospital looked after Marjory well.

They didn't fix her, though.

I'm afraid there's little we can do for strokes.

There are medical advances being made every day, but for now...

-This is it?

-The, main thing is to keep Marjory comfortable

while she recuperates.

Keep her clean and changed, and look out for bedsores.

-I don't know how to do any of that.

-I can show you.

That won't be necessary. I'll be doing it.

I understand that you want to do everything possible

for your daughter, Mrs Stanton, but it's not easy caring for an invalid.

I'd advise you to accept help where it's offered.

If that's everything....

A nurse will call tomorrow to do the usual mother and baby checks.

Thank you, doctor...nurse.

-Do you want to hold him, love?

-She can't.

I could put him on the bed next to her.

What, so she can topple on him? Take him downstairs.

Alison'll look after him while she's working.

Take these an' all.

I'll be staying in here from now on,

in case she needs me in the night.

You're all right, Marj,

Mum's here.

Back to the cubicle.

Have you altered your diet at all, Mrs Romaine?

Only you've dropped a pound.

Hmm?

I've not had much appetite.

Me and my husband have had a bit of a falling-out.

He's not the man I thought he was.

SHE SOBS

I won't be long.

Just down the clinic to get milk tokens.

Come here, darling. There you go.

You know you can't have him on your own, darling.

Come on, give him to me. There you go.

There you go. There you go.

You can't have any of them.

Come on, girls. Let's give Mummy some peace.

Bye, love. See you next week.

Course, you know what they say.

Well, I imagine you're going to tell me.

Well, Mae had that girl working like a dog

right up until the baby came. All hours!

And that's what did for her.

That's what caused the stroke?

Well, it's the only thing that makes any sense.

Have you ever heard of a stroke in a young girl like that?

-All right there, Mae?

-Violet.

Come on, girls, come on.

How's she doing?

Come on, kids.

We're one of them couples that does everything together.

"Soppy", my mum calls it.

But now he doesn't want to be with me at the most important moment of my life.

Mrs Romaine, not every husband has the stomach for childbirth.

A man's job isn't to guide his child through the birth canal,

but through life itself.

I never thought about it like that.

Well, wipe those tears and we'll get this all sorted out.

But not before you've had another Garibaldi.

-Mae Stanton. Milk tokens.

-Of course. Let me see.

Hello, Mrs Stanton. How nice to see you.

-There you go.

-Thank you.

-Hello, girls.

-And how's little Denny?

-Hands off!

Mrs Stanton!

Come on, girls.

-Come with me.

-You've already done for my daughter.

You're not going near my grandson.

What's going on?

There was nothing wrong with my Marjory

-until she got her filthy hands on her!

-That's enough!

Oh, I haven't even started yet!

I want everyone to hear what I've got to say!

What happened to my daughter was nothing to do with me

working her in the salon,

but everything to do with her not having a proper English midwife!

Mae, stop! You're not being fair.

-Not fair? Not fair?!

-SHE SOBS

My daughter should be up and about, feeding her baby,

changing his nappies.

Instead, I'm changing hers!

If this is the National Health Service, then you can stick it!

I don't want you lot anywhere near my family.

And especially not her.

Come on, girls.

Nurse Crane?

Why has Marjory Chivvers been put on Nurse Dyer's care?

I've been the one most involved with her!

And you have provided exemplary care,

but Sister Julienne and I decided to spare you any more unpleasantness from that quarter.

I see.

If you will excuse me.

With respect, Sister Julienne...

I am always wary of the phrase "with respect," Nurse Anderson,

I generally find it is a forerunner to candour,

or possibly impertinence.

I hope I would not be impertinent to my superiors,

but I must be frank, it's not up to you, or to Nurse Crane,

to decide how much unpleasantness I can bare.

But if you stop sending me to Marjory,

it will look as though Mrs Stanton's slurs are justified.

And as though you accept her attitude towards me.

Nurse Anderson,

I do not accept it.

Then, with respect, Sister Julienne,

you know what you should do.

I feel terribly foolish.

You just got carried away.

It's easy to overburden a man.

They think they must give the impression of being more

substantial than they actually are.

I'll visit Mr Romaine after he finishes work this evening.

See if I can get to the bottom of things.

Might I take your car?

No.

Right, love, I've got two minutes before Mrs Finney's rinse

needs to come off. Let's get you shifted.

Don't want you getting bed sores.

There you go, that's better.

I'll see you at tea time.

Have a good rest. You'll soon be on the mend.

SHE MUMBLES

M-mend...

What confuses me, Mr Romaine, is that you were perfectly prepared to come to the class.

So I can see that you're keen to support your wife.

Yeah, I am, Sister.

I'd do anything for her.

Except...

..be by her side at the birth.

I'm the oldest of six.

Me mum had them all at home.

It's very thin walls in the house.

I can still hear the screaming.

It's all right, Mr Romaine...

..I do understand.

The fears we have in the present

often lie in the experiences of the past.

Now, why don't you go home and tell your wife what you just told me?

I think she'll understand too.

Morning.

Good morning.

We missed you last night. We had the Scrabble board out,

we could've done with someone who can spell!

I had a headache.

Lucille...

..what Mae Stanton said was unforgivable.

Why would you apologise?

Because I'm from the East End, and I'm embarrassed

and ashamed to think that one of mine would treat you in that way.

Listen...

..I've been made a scapegoat before today.

I've been picked on, and I've been bullied.

When?

When I was in the Army.

There weren't many nurses from my sort of background,

and there was one Sister who thought there shouldn't be any at all.

Everything I did was wrong,

every tiny mistake was punished and put on file.

I kept holding out, holding on,

not letting her get the better of me.

A soldier was brought in wounded,

after an accident during a live firing exercise.

He was crying for his mum, he was only 18,

and I squeezed his hand and I said, "I'll be your mum till morning."

Never saw morning.

And that Sister spoke against me at the inquiry.

I wasn't to blame,

the inquiry said that...

..but I'd had enough.

I bought myself out my post, came home.

You shouldn't have felt you had to do that,

you are an excellent nurse.

I could say the same to you.

I've had patients who won't let me touch them

because they think the black will rub off on their skin.

I'm sorry.

I know that's not enough.

Mrs Stanton, I understand that you are looking for someone to blame,

but what happened to Marjory was not my fault,

and it was not your fault either.

I never said it was!

I heard some gossip...

..people saying that Marjory became unwell

because she was on her feet, working in here for her whole nine months.

To think those silly gossiping women believe they know better

than all the highly-trained doctors at the hospital.

Only the good Lord himself knows why she had that stroke.

I brought a prescription for Marjory.

May I take it upstairs?

Yeah.

Once you're washed, Marjory, we'll brush your teeth and do your hair.

Who does yours?

Hair.

I go to a woman who runs a salon from her kitchen.

That don't sound very professional.

I like it.

Reminds me of back home.

When I was a child my mother used to plait my hair at the kitchen table.

She made them so tight.

I can still remember the pain!

Do you miss her?

Your mum?

Of course.

But she writes with all the news.

I'll get the powder, shall I?

You're a good boy today, Teddy!

Hello!

-You're home early.

-I haven't got many classes now.

It's mainly private study.

After all, I'm practically at University.

Ah. Well, in that case you can help me peel the potatoes.

Shall we put on the radio?

Absolutely.

It's a shame it's a bit early for Radio Luxembourg.

It's a bit more groovy than the boring old BBC.

# Tomorrow

# Ah

# Wa-ooh

# You say that you belong to me

# And I rule the world

# A queen in all her majesty

# Knowing I'm your girl

# But will I wear a golden crown

# In the morning light?

# I am a queen for tonight

# Queen for tonight

# But will I have a king tomorrow? #

Give me that. You're making a right mess!

Have a rest, Mrs Stanton.

I'll take over here.

Thank you.

Come on, then.

Let's have another go at these teeth, eh?

On...the...

..mend.

So you keep saying, darling.

So you keep saying.

BABY CRIES

Goodbye, Mr Chivvers.

Yeah.

See you tomorrow.

BABY CRIES

Sounds like baby needs something.

Maybe a cuddle with Mum?

It'll only end in upset.

Mae'll be out in a minute.

She'll deal with it.

You could see to him?

What, and get my head bitten off for not doing it right?

Come on, baby.

Oh, there-there.

You know, Marjory, she's...

..she's started to speak.

Same three words over and over again,

but it's a start, innit?

Absolutely.

I miss her, Nurse.

I really do.

She's still there, Mr Chivvers.

You just have to look a little harder to find her.

It's supposed to be a man's job looking after the family.

Only I never had to do that cos Marj,

she kept things running lovely.

Now...

..the way she is...

I can't make things right.

Not for her...

..not for any of us.

Nanna Mae's here.

Give him to me.

I'm, erm, I'm off down the pub.

No surprise there, then!

KNOCKING

Enter.

Ah, Nurse Anderson.

Nurse Crane said you wished to see me, Doctor.

Yes, it's about Marjory Chivvers.

I've managed to find her a place at an occupational therapy clinic.

I think she should be encouraged to accept it.

They usually treat geriatric patients,

but I've made them aware that Marjory has a new baby to care for.

She'll need to work on different skills.

I think that might really help her.

Marjorie needs to believe that she has a future,

and so do the people who love her most,

meanwhile, we must never say

that there's nothing we can do.

All right?

You're back late.

I'll get your supper.

Magda did a coq au vin.

Ooh, delicious!

If you like that kind of thing.

Do I detect a tone?

Oh, no.

But I can see why it wouldn't suit everyone.

Coq au vin?

Having an au pair!

There are challenges in having a young woman around the house,

one who wanders around half dressed.

Heads could be turned.

Shelagh, I assure you, I've never looked at Magda in that way.

Not you! Timothy!

Oh, I see.

Though now you mention it!

I only have eyes for you.

Although perhaps you're right to be concerned about Timothy.

On the bright side, she has got him doing the dishes.

So what can they do for Marjory here?

The idea is that she'll come here weekly to regain strength

and learn new approaches to everyday tasks.

This place could give her some hope for the future.

I've seen enough.

-There's more, Mae.

-No, there ain't.

I'm not having her dragged down stairs

and across town to sit with a bunch of...

If this is your hope, Dr Turner,

I'd hate to see your despair.

Mrs Stanton glimpsed the future

and she did not like what she saw.

So nothing changes.

Marjory is trapped inside those four walls.

Unable to walk, or speak, or care for her children.

What cannot be changed must be endured.

Do you believe that?

When I was a girl? No.

But with experience, and age...

..hope dims.

Do you mind if I sit a little while?

I could read to you?

If you are lonely, I can keep you company.

Right, dig deep. No slacking,

and you work on your skills.

Right, lads, get out there and give it some welly!

Ooh...

You cut your finger again, love?

No, it's just these practise contractions.

Ooh...

That don't look like a practice one to me.

Ah! Allan, will you please come here and help me?

I'll get her to the maternity home and be back here,

-as soon as possible.

-Oh, Allan, come on!

Allan! Allan!

Practice your keepie-uppies in the meantime.

Get back here now.

Oi! It's not funny!

Allan! Allan!

Mr Chivvers.

You want to make things right for your family?

Yeah, I do.

This is your chance,

your chance to build a proper future for your wife.

Hold tight, Jan!

Go easy on the corners, Allan.

It's all right. Nearly there.

How's Marjory?

She's on the mend.

I'd love to pop up and keep her company.

Another time, eh? She's having a nap.

All right, Mrs Buckle?

Oh, all right, Dennis?

-I'll have my son, thanks.

-Course.

Yeah, we've got things to do.

Come on girls! Let's go see your mummy.

Come along, Karen.

What you doing?

She can't go out in her nightie.

She needs to look nice.

Going out? Going where?

To them classes...

..at the hospital.

I called Dr Turner,

she starts on Monday.

Blue cardie all right, love?

She's going nowhere.

Do you think she wants people seeing her like that?

I think she wants out this room and to have some kind of life!

Look, I'm grateful for everything you've done,

Mae, I really am...

..but I'm the man of the house.

-Don't make me laugh!

-I mean it!

Sorry.

Actually, no, I'm not,

cos this is how it's going to be now.

Me, Marj,

the kids, and you,

all working to get through this.

And we will.

We will get through it.

And if she needs someone in the night,

then I'll be here...

..cos I'm her husband.

It's not far to go now.

You can hang on.

I can't! I can feel something down there.

I think it's the head!

Allan!

Hold on, love. I'm calling for help.

Get back here! Allan!

Don't panic, Mr Romaine.

A midwife is on their way.

Should I let her push or...?

No, it's very important that she doesn't push yet.

Perhaps you could encourage her to pant.

To pant? Pant, pant, pant, yeah, thank you.

Mrs Romaine has gone into labour.

She's in the team's football bus, which is down by the river.

If you take your bike you should be there in no time.

Mr Romaine?

-Oh, thank goodness, Allan!

-Yeah, I'm here, I'm here.

-Allan!

Midwife said she'll be here in a minute, all right?

ENGINE REVS

Uh, come on.

Help me off with my knickers!

I can't do that! I can't go down that end!

It's never bothered you before.

That's how we got here in the first place!

Come on! Allan!

Allan! Get back in here.

Allan!

You all right, darling?

Oh, what?

HORN BEEPS

Please, if I could just get through? I'm a midwife on call.

Sorry, Sister, no can do.

The brakes have seized, we can't shift her.

Oh, dear.

Can you see anything?

I ain't looking!

You have to! You can't catch a baby with your eyes shut!

Hurry!

Oh, my days.

Another one coming!

All right, Jan.

You give it some welly!

Good girl.

That's it, it's coming!

Here now.

Goodness, Mr Romaine, you are doing well.

Erm, do you have something we can wrap baby in?

Yeah, clean strips, bag on the front seat.

Perhaps you could?

Ah, yeah.

Hello!

Thank goodness you're here, Sister.

-He won't stop barking orders.

-I can imagine.

But between the two of you, you have done rather a marvellous job.

Just a few more pushes and baby will be born.

You hear that, Jan?

Next one that comes, you give it some...

Thank you, Mr Romaine.

I think Janet knows exactly what to do. Ready?

Well, well, well.

Well done, Mrs Romaine. Pant, pant, pant.

The head's out. When you're ready, another push.

SHE GROANS

You have a little girl!

Well done, both of you.

Do you want your mummy? There we go.

There we go.

Would you like to cut the cord, Mr Romaine?

Head between your knees, and deep breaths.

I'll have one of these, please.

Mrs Edwards!

Nurse Dyer, how are you?

It was stolen while I was out taking my daily constitutional.

It's a Morris Minor four-door saloon...

That was found abandoned at the entrance to the southbound

tunnel just up from the Black Sail.

Oh, thank goodness!

Well, I'm afraid I don't share your elation.

It was impeding the flow of traffic.

Well, that's hardly my fault.

Do you have any clues of the identity of the thief?

Well, whoever it was, they left the keys in the car.

That was amazing.

You were amazing.

Next baby, I promise I'm going to be right by your side the whole time.

No, you're bloody not.

You look lovely.

So I brought you something.

They're nothing fancy.

Wed-ding.

Yeah.

Wedding.

-Oh, hello.

-Hello, indeed.

All right, my girls?

Marjory Chivvers faced her future with her family by her side.

Her quest was not for novelty, but wholeness.

Not for change, for restoration of the things she'd lost.

Together, she and Dennis found new ways to care for each other

and their children

and discovered reserves of strength

that they never knew they had.

The longest paths lead into sunlight

when they are paved with love.

Hello.

We only asked Mrs Edwards for a couple of recipes

so we could cook something to make you feel at home,

but she rather exceeded expectations.

Ta dah!

I don't know what to say!

How about a quick Grace, and then we can all tuck in?

These little dumplings look scrumptious.

What have I told you about helping yourself?

I don't know how many more times I can apologise for borrowing your car.

I'll let you know when you're done.

Now...

Everything is just a bit too much for your wife at the moment.

-She's going nowhere.

-Fit for a queen.

We've just got to find entrants!

I will enter.

She loves you almost as much as I do, Trixie.

Oh, dear!

These young girls are

offerings to the fertility gods.

There's no treatment for it.