- 12 minutes ago
Call the Midwife - Season 14 Episode 101 -
(special) Christmas Special 2025 (2)
(special) Christmas Special 2025 (2)
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00:00How on earth can an entire building just collapse?
00:23Esther Tang gave us the greatest gift we've ever had.
00:26And we can't abandon her.
00:28So I've come home to die.
00:30My last was a stillborn.
00:33No, it's a baby left to be found.
00:37It's not safe.
00:39Give me the key.
00:51We don't get snow in the Caribbean, but nothing's ever perfect.
00:56I don't think it could be more perfect.
01:02Keys.
01:03Money.
01:05I'm afraid it really is that simple.
01:09Who let it simple?
01:10We have paid a deposit on that rental.
01:14You mistake our intention, sir.
01:17We are a religious order, and we've come here to do good, not harm.
01:22We're doing women's work.
01:26I'm surprised it doesn't have any interest at all to men, with guns or without.
01:31The other sister said they were doing Jesus' work.
01:35Jesus' work belongs to the devil!
01:38Give him the keys.
01:40Please, wait, wait.
02:00Please, no!
02:01Get off, get off, get off.
02:02I took your money, all of it.
02:25Do not be kind to me.
02:29You were at least as frightened as we were of that man.
02:32And I suspect you have been so for a great deal longer.
02:36Has he been here before, Mrs. Ma?
02:40Many times.
02:41I pay him to keep my business safe.
02:44I think you need to pay someone to keep you safe from him.
02:47Mrs. Ma, what has happened here tonight is not acceptable.
02:52If we have brought trouble to your door, that is not acceptable either.
02:57And we will move on as soon as we are able.
03:03You keep holding her clothes while I check her temperature.
03:09Do you think she's opioid addicted, sister?
03:12You have more experience of that than me.
03:16It's a different type of crime.
03:19I think she's cold and hungry.
03:25Feels the want of her mother's arms around her.
03:30Babies are not ignorant creatures.
03:37Ladies, Nurse Clifford and I were wondering,
03:41since everything's now running smoothly,
03:44whether we might be permitted to have a little seasonal gathering
03:47here at Nanata's house?
03:49I love the idea of a seasonal gathering,
03:50but it's certainly not up to me to give permission.
03:54It would really just be ourselves.
04:01Plus a few of our friends from nursing and hospital circles.
04:05Will there be popular music playing and will there be dancing?
04:09And the presence of young men?
04:12Well, Cyril will be coming.
04:14And we thought we'd invite Harry Chopra and Timothy.
04:18I consider myself persuaded.
04:23Life is short.
04:25And Christmas, as we are so frequently reminded,
04:29comes but once a year.
04:34Morning.
04:35I'm looking for Queenie.
04:36Queenie, I know it's hard to talk about
04:42what went wrong with the baby that you lost.
04:46But not talking might make it harder.
04:50In a different way.
04:55I think this window lean is dried.
04:58If you pass me a rag, I can get ahead with it.
05:00They said I wasn't to see it.
05:13Even though I heard it cry.
05:16Queenie, if you heard your baby cry,
05:19it wasn't stillborn.
05:21It was a girl.
05:24They told me that.
05:26I said I wanted her baptized.
05:29But they said that the priest came too late.
05:38If you don't feel like eating,
05:39then you must try and keep up for liquids.
05:42Soup would be particularly good.
05:43Soup?
05:45I never cared much for soup.
05:47When I was a child, soup was a sign
05:49that ends were not meeting.
05:51But now, soup is a sign
05:54that I am meeting my end.
05:56You don't have to joke about this, Mr. Fisher.
06:01Not unless you want to.
06:03Nothing really matters now but your comfort.
06:05And there are things we can do with regard to that.
06:08Even though there are things that we can't change.
06:12Isn't that right, nurse?
06:14That's absolutely right.
06:17What would you most like to happen
06:19over the next few weeks, Mr. Fisher?
06:21I came here because I wanted to come home.
06:25But I failed to allow for the fact
06:26that home is where your family are.
06:29Or were.
06:31Mine are all gone, so...
06:33Ghosts are good companions for the heart.
06:40But they're not company.
06:42Are you saying you don't want to be alone?
06:45Yes.
06:45I asked the midwife what happened to the baby.
06:57All she would say was she had the biggest eyes.
07:01And she said biggest like it was a compliment.
07:05She was kindly.
07:09Two other nurses came in and watched me.
07:11I heard one of them say
07:17that my baby had no head.
07:25But I knew they were lying
07:27because the kindly midwife
07:29said that she had the biggest eyes.
07:34I wish I could tell you what happened to your daughter.
07:38But I can tell you the truth.
07:41That she was loved.
07:45Loving's not the same as being baptized, though, is it?
07:49I believe it's very similar.
07:51More hot water.
08:05Now you have to give her name.
08:08Chinese and English.
08:10What's your name?
08:11I'm afraid it's not very with it.
08:14It's Phyllis.
08:15It is too hot to say.
08:17We sisters all have two names, too.
08:20The one we were born with
08:21and the one we took when we gave our lives to Jesus.
08:24What yours?
08:26Pamela.
08:27Semi-classical with rather a nice ring to it.
08:30Hmm.
08:32Sister Julienne was baptized Louise.
08:36I know two bar girls called Louise.
08:40You a bon name?
08:41Uh, Beryl.
08:43Beryl Burroughs.
08:44Although the surname isn't relevant.
08:46Beryl's a precious stone, isn't it?
08:49And we can't say this one isn't a little gem.
08:53Beryl, it is.
08:54Beryl's a precious stone, isn't it?
08:57Tag it.
09:01Dr. Turner's surgery?
09:03Oh, Miss Higgins.
09:04I've been offered half a dozen shifts on male surgical.
09:07At St. Cuthbert's?
09:08Uh, yes.
09:08I'll be supernumerary, but it's under Mr. Beryl.
09:11Oh, Mr. Beryl is held in the very highest regard.
09:17Oh, I assume, however, that if you take up this chance,
09:19it may threaten the stability and security of the children's routine.
09:22It could be devastating.
09:27Queenie's had no complications at all in this pregnancy,
09:31apart from mild anemia,
09:33despite her age,
09:34and despite the fact that it's her ninth.
09:37But she is desperately anxious.
09:40Well, does she think the same disaster might be visited again?
09:44How can I tell her it won't,
09:46if I don't know what happened either?
09:47Oh, that's clever.
09:54It is a better use for this contraption
09:56than the plucking up and putting on of shoes,
09:59which is supposedly its purpose.
10:03Sister Annika Jo,
10:04I wondered if I might ask for your help.
10:07It's good.
10:14It's certainly stable.
10:17You're doing well, lass.
10:18What is lass?
10:20Oh, it means girl.
10:23It's what we call a term of endearment.
10:27A way of being kind.
10:28My mother used to say leu-leu.
10:32Where is your mother, Yu-chan?
10:35In our village in Guangdong.
10:39If she's still alive.
10:42Could you write to her a letter?
10:48She does not know how to read.
10:53I do not know what to say.
10:55I do not know what to say.
10:58Oh, I come here.
11:01I have a baby.
11:05We need you to stay well and happy
11:09until this baby comes.
11:15I'll be your mother until then.
11:17Hibiscus Street isn't part of my division,
11:30but it's notorious, even within Kowloon.
11:33There are four branches of Triad active in Hong Kong
11:36and they run everything.
11:38Gambling, prostitution, drugs, the whole nine yards.
11:41Which is why our work there is so essential.
11:44The old clinic came under a branch run by a crook
11:47who calls himself the Cormorant.
11:49The Cormorant?
11:50He's a Liverpool Chinese.
11:52Born there and deported here during the war.
11:55Never went back.
11:56And why should he?
11:57He's made a decent living over here.
11:59Runs a nightclub called the Crimson Lantern
12:01and other rackets.
12:03How come you know all this,
12:04but crime's still running rampant?
12:06Knowing what Triad are doing
12:08doesn't mean we can stop them.
12:09We don't want to put you in a difficult position, Derek,
12:12but the sisters need advice.
12:16My advice is they should look for premises
12:18outside the Cormorant's area.
12:21They've done something to offend him
12:22and he won't let it go.
12:24Oh, Esther.
12:47Oh, where did you appear from?
13:02I've seen entrances on stage like that.
13:05Generally, they involve a trap door.
13:08The landlord provided the key
13:10and the district nurse hung it on a string
13:13inside the letterbox.
13:14What year were you born?
13:191897.
13:21Then you cannot be the child
13:23I delivered in this chamber.
13:25I did not arrive in Poplar until 1903.
13:29My brother Sammy,
13:31he was born in 1903
13:33and the others came after him.
13:37Then
13:37you must be the child
13:40with the large round eyes
13:42that sat on the bed
13:44and watched as I bathed
13:46this infant sibling.
13:48You had a remarkable gaze
13:51even then.
13:53Yes, I remember that.
13:56And I hope I remember you.
13:58I am most grateful for your assistance.
14:02Good day.
14:05Harry.
14:06Yes, Auntie.
14:07Miss Higgins.
14:10Just while we're in the surgery.
14:11Now, take Dr. Watkins her coffee.
14:14Then I need you
14:15to go to the records office for me.
14:18All right.
14:25And that
14:26was our kindly supporter
14:27at the British Army base
14:28informing us
14:30that Sister Prudence
14:31also tested positive
14:32for tuberculosis.
14:34And so have
14:35two of the children.
14:36This is a really
14:38vicious strain.
14:39Thank goodness
14:40we've all been vaccinated.
14:41We will have to get them
14:42transferred to the sanatorium
14:44and fumigate their room
14:46as well as Sister Ediths.
14:47Patrick,
14:48there's something
14:49you need to see.
14:52Hello, Teddy, dear.
15:02Teddy, whatever happened
15:03to the Christmas tree?
15:05Petula knocked it down.
15:07Where are the girls?
15:08In their bedroom.
15:10Playing with nail varnish.
15:12Nail varnish?
15:14Angela and May Turner.
15:16Hello, Miss Higgins.
15:22I have brought
15:23savoury mince
15:24and a peach blancmange.
15:26You will come and eat it.
15:28After which,
15:29we will re-elect
15:30the Christmas tree,
15:32erase all evidence
15:33of these manicures,
15:36and discuss a plan
15:37for the remainder
15:38of your parents' absence.
15:40There are photographs
15:44and letters in this bag
15:46that we sent to Esther
15:47from England.
15:48There are also
15:49what look to be
15:50her personal belongings.
15:52There's a comb
15:53and lipstick
15:54and underclothes
15:55and a child's shoe.
15:56Mrs. Ma,
15:58Esther is a very,
16:00very important person
16:01to our family.
16:04This is her daughter, May,
16:07who is our daughter now.
16:09You make good life
16:11for this girl.
16:12But Esther has another child now.
16:15A little boy.
16:17A little boy
16:21who was missing his shoe.
16:22And possibly missing
16:23his mother.
16:25Mrs. Ma,
16:26we don't even know
16:27if they're together anymore.
16:30Sister Edith, no.
16:32You are Sister Edith.
16:43No.
16:45Mrs. Forsyth.
16:47The midwife
16:49who attended
16:49your little girl's birth
16:51took great care
16:52to record her birth
16:53and her death
16:54in the proper way.
16:56I said she was kindly.
16:58And it seems
16:59that your daughter
17:00was born with a condition
17:02called anencephaly.
17:05The top of her head
17:06hadn't developed
17:08in the womb
17:08as it should have done.
17:10And her brain
17:10would have been
17:11very badly affected.
17:13Could it have hurt her?
17:14No.
17:15But I heard her cry
17:17and all babies cry,
17:18Queenie.
17:20It's a sign of life.
17:23And it's beautiful.
17:25Even if that life
17:27doesn't last very long.
17:32Was it something I did?
17:34No, Queenie.
17:36It wasn't.
17:37I can promise you that.
17:39All I want
17:40is to hold a life child
17:42in my arms
17:43and to tell it
17:45that it's mine.
17:46that the child's name
17:55is Christopher.
17:56She will protect him
17:57with her life.
18:00His father wants
18:01to take him from her.
18:03And his father
18:04is a criminal.
18:05A gangster?
18:06Of the worst kind.
18:08He has offspring
18:12by numerous women.
18:14But Christopher
18:15is his only son.
18:18What has Esther done
18:19to make him
18:20turn on her like this?
18:22Every time she conceived,
18:23she came to us.
18:25Aghast that this
18:26had happened again.
18:28But all she ever wanted
18:31was love.
18:34It happens the world over.
18:35I've seen it
18:36time and time again.
18:38No.
18:39You have not
18:40seen a man like this.
18:43They call him
18:44the Coormorant.
18:47He has ordered her
18:48and her child
18:49to be hunted
18:50down like dogs.
18:53At one point,
18:54we persuaded
18:55Mrs. Ma to hide her.
18:57But Sister Edith,
18:58it's as though
18:59they are both vanished.
19:02There is one place
19:05she thought
19:06that no one
19:07could ever find her.
19:09Will you tell me
19:10where it is?
19:11I must.
19:13Or when I die,
19:14the waters
19:15will close over her.
19:20What does that say?
19:21I think those
19:22two pictograms
19:23together mean
19:24for auction.
19:25We won't be
19:26going down that route.
19:27We won't be
19:28going down the rental route
19:29or the purchase route
19:30either, sister.
19:32I'm going to have
19:32taken every penny
19:33you possess.
19:34We're quite
19:34accustomed to poverty.
19:36Yes, we gave up
19:37money when we
19:38gave up men.
19:40What about
19:40this one?
19:41It says,
19:42Dancing Girls.
19:43You've dropped off
19:44property and drifted
19:45into nightclubs.
19:46Oh, please.
19:48I can read this one.
19:49It says,
19:50Police.
19:52Huh.
19:52We've got no apartment
20:12number,
20:12no floor number.
20:14We just have to keep
20:16on going.
20:17Keep on looking.
20:18Can she even survive
20:20like this?
20:21I want to find her.
20:34I just don't want
20:36to find her here.
20:36Here.
20:39Esther?
20:54Esther?
20:56Esther?
21:00Esther?
21:01Can we talk to you?
21:04I have
21:04Mrs. Turner with me.
21:24Hello, you.
21:25You must be Christopher.
21:27I'll be waiting
21:28to meet you.
21:35Do you keep forgetting
21:36that it's advert?
21:37Yes.
21:38And it's not even
21:38the absence of cold
21:39that I marvel at.
21:40It's the absence,
21:42the absolute erasure
21:43of weariness.
21:44Do you feel it too?
21:45I've never felt
21:46such energy in years.
21:48You have to let us
21:50get you out of here.
21:52It is somewhere
21:52where you can be nursed
21:53and given food and shelter.
21:56I don't go out.
21:56I stay here.
21:59I always stay here.
22:02The altar in the corner
22:03is beautiful, Esther.
22:05I pray always for you
22:06and for the souls
22:08of my parents.
22:10They have no sons.
22:12Christopher's father
22:13wants him very much,
22:14doesn't he?
22:15He will give him
22:16a wicked life,
22:17make his child a criminal.
22:22Sisters,
22:23I don't tell your sincerity
22:25and I do accept
22:26that you
22:27and your associates
22:28have been targeted
22:29by local undesirables.
22:32Triad.
22:33Let's call a spade
22:34a spade, shall we?
22:34We have been targeted
22:35by triad.
22:37The Order
22:37of St Raymond and Artis
22:39have given shelter
22:40to abandoned babies,
22:41provided medicine
22:42and alternative employment
22:43to street girls
22:44and persuaded addicts
22:47to turn their backs
22:48on heroin.
22:50That, according to Mrs. Ma,
22:52is our crime.
22:54A young man
22:55enslaved to drugs
22:56is at the mercy
22:57of his masters.
22:58He will do
22:59whatever he is asked
23:00to do
23:01in exchange
23:01for the one thing
23:02that will give
23:03his body peace.
23:05But if he is
23:06freed from addiction,
23:07if he finds
23:08there is a better way
23:08to live,
23:10he will turn his back
23:11on crime itself.
23:12They become free men
23:14and, sometimes,
23:17police informants.
23:19I'm not going
23:20to deny that.
23:21Then you cannot
23:21deny the fact
23:22that we are
23:23doing you a service
23:24and in so doing
23:25warrant your protection.
23:28And how do you
23:29propose that we
23:29provide that?
23:32Property is vacant.
23:33Third column across,
23:34fourth paragraph down.
23:36This was an annex
23:38of the old training school.
23:40No longer in use,
23:41standing empty,
23:42and, crucially,
23:45still in police possession.
23:50I can't believe
23:51we're leaving them.
23:53We are coming back
23:54tomorrow with food.
23:56They're both sick,
23:57Sheila.
23:57But I need to run
23:59some tests
23:59on the little boy.
24:01There's something
24:01very, very wrong with him.
24:03mind your fingers.
24:13Everything's under control.
24:16What?
24:17I need tasters.
24:18Joyce,
24:19you can pronounce judgment
24:21on the whiskey cream punch.
24:23Sears,
24:24I want your opinion
24:25on the coconut frappe.
24:28That's going to give
24:29my snowballs
24:29a run for the money.
24:30I know.
24:31It slips down
24:31like a tart stocking,
24:32doesn't it?
24:33Sis?
24:34It's divine.
24:35Call me a miracle worker.
24:37It's mainly condensed milk.
24:39Oh, Geoffrey,
24:39that's going to make it
24:40very calorific.
24:41It's Christmas.
24:41I have personally
24:42declared an amnesty
24:44on Slender Rising.
24:50Ninata's house,
24:51midwife speaking.
24:52Hi, Trixie.
24:52I've just been observing
24:53a bowel and anastomosis.
24:55That's nice.
24:56I asked you around the canteen.
24:57I've drummed up
24:57a few more for the party.
24:59Miss Higgins
24:59is staying the night
25:00with the children.
25:03Everyone's bringing a bottle.
25:09Ninata's house,
25:10midwife speaking.
25:10Nurse Hilward,
25:11are you able to come
25:12to the maternity home?
25:13Queenie Forsyth
25:14has just arrived.
25:18Hello, Mum.
25:22Busy again?
25:24I've managed
25:25to persuade
25:26Hong Kong Rotary Club
25:28to offer a modest grant
25:29to the sisters
25:30to set up a new clinic.
25:32I'm trying to work out
25:34if it will stretch.
25:36Chin up.
25:37Sun's over the yard on.
25:39Derek,
25:40gin and tonic.
25:41Madam?
25:41Thank you, Grace.
25:42I'm not sure.
25:43I wouldn't normally imbibe
25:45when I've got
25:45the ready reckoner app.
25:46Mum, please,
25:47take a break.
25:49Please stop doing stuff.
25:50Stop doing sums.
25:51It's all I can ever remember.
25:53You with your head
25:53in a column of figures.
25:54It's who I am,
25:56it's who I am, Derek.
25:57I know.
25:58I'd love it not to be
26:00just for half an hour,
26:02just while we have
26:03a drink together
26:03in the sun.
26:05Shall we do something
26:06together tomorrow?
26:07All right.
26:17Very good.
26:21Esther,
26:34I think Christopher
26:36may have a problem
26:37with his kidneys.
26:39I need to take him
26:40to a hospital.
26:42No.
26:44We'll stay here.
26:44Will you let doctor
26:47examine you now,
26:48Esther?
26:49We can talk about
26:50Christopher after that.
26:55Esther,
26:57you have breast milk
26:59soaking through
27:00your clothing.
27:01You don't still feed
27:03Christopher, do you?
27:05No.
27:05There is no baby.
27:10Not here.
27:11Have you given birth
27:12to another child,
27:14Esther?
27:15If there is another baby,
27:18will you tell us
27:19where it is?
27:23I leave my daughter
27:24where she will be safe.
27:28I leave her with sisters
27:30at the step of the restaurant
27:32in a box.
27:35Two copies
27:41of the Pickwick Papers.
27:43One
27:44from the Poplar
27:45Public Library.
27:48The other
27:49from mine own shelves.
27:51Oh.
27:52I am driven
27:53from my heart
27:54by the frivolities
27:56of youth.
27:57Oh,
27:57they have formed
27:58memories
27:58of the frivolities
27:59of youth.
28:01The appreciation
28:03of such pleasures
28:04passed me by.
28:06Any regrets?
28:08That is between
28:09myself
28:10and the Almighty.
28:18We can take you
28:19back with us,
28:20Esther.
28:20We can reunite you
28:21with your baby.
28:23I cannot go back
28:23to Hibiscus Street.
28:25My daughter is saved
28:25and my son's not.
28:26Esther,
28:28have you had to choose
28:29one child
28:30over the other?
28:30My son's father
28:32only want him.
28:33He will kill for him.
28:35Is this man
28:36the cormorant
28:37your little girl's
28:38father too?
28:39I made you alive.
28:41I thought he was
28:42a better one.
28:43A better man.
28:47I was wrong.
28:48When do you think
29:15it's a good time
29:16to start party games?
29:17I don't think
29:17it's ever a good time
29:18to start party games.
29:19Oh, Cyril,
29:20this house is full
29:21of nooks and crannies.
29:22It's just crying out
29:23for a game of sardines.
29:24Oh, hey!
29:36I've tucked Marie
29:37and baby Luke
29:38up for the night
29:38on the sideboard.
29:40They're both
29:40fast asleep already.
29:41Nurse Aylward,
29:47could you listen
29:48to baby's heartbeat
29:49for me?
29:50What's wrong
29:50with his heartbeat?
29:51Nothing's wrong,
29:52Queenie.
29:52We just like
29:53to keep an eye
29:54on things.
29:54I want to go home.
29:55I'm not good here.
29:56I can't do it.
29:57You're only married
29:58mother of God.
29:59I can't do it.
29:59Sweetheart,
30:00this is where
30:00you need to stay
30:01as calm as you can
30:02and save as much
30:03strength as you can.
30:04You're going to be able
30:05to start pushing
30:05this baby out soon.
30:06The heartbeat's dropping
30:09and she's exhausted.
30:10We need to get her
30:11to hospital.
30:21By now to disperse
30:22as soon as you
30:23get to the landing,
30:24all of the lights
30:25will be turned off.
30:2720 minutes doesn't count
30:28as rapid transfer
30:29in my book,
30:30I'm afraid.
30:31The practice doctor
30:32is not answering
30:32her telephone
30:33and the flying squad
30:34are not available.
30:35We need an ambulance
30:36as soon as possible.
30:38I hope I find you.
30:46Now this is a good
30:48part of the game.
30:50It's bedlam out there.
30:52There are three
30:53medical students
30:53in the airing cupboard.
30:56Why don't we just
30:57go to your bed setter
30:58for a bit?
30:59This is all getting
31:00so raucous.
31:02As long as we don't
31:03do anything improper.
31:06We never do
31:07anything improper.
31:08The rules of the
31:09studio couch
31:09are very firmly
31:10established.
31:13If you haven't
31:15got the strength
31:16to push,
31:17just pant,
31:17Queenie.
31:18The ambulance is on
31:23its way.
31:25Queenie, would you
31:26like us to wake
31:26Marie?
31:27And she could
31:27come and hold
31:28your hand.
31:28No, I'd be
31:29after worrying
31:30about her.
31:31I have seven
31:32children alive
31:33and living
31:33underwater,
31:34but the only
31:35one I can think
31:35about now
31:36is one inside
31:37of me.
31:38I need to
31:39hold it in
31:40my arms.
31:41We've had
31:44half an hour
31:45of second stage
31:46contractions
31:47and there's
31:47been no
31:47descent of
31:48the head.
31:50I'm going to
31:50deliver this
31:51baby now.
31:52My forceps.
31:54The only
31:54doctors deliver
31:55my forceps.
31:56Sister,
31:57we don't have
31:57the luxury
31:57of making
31:58that distinction.
31:59This baby's
31:59heartbeat isn't
32:00picking up
32:01and if we delay
32:01we're going
32:02to lose it.
32:03I'm not
32:08sure I know
32:09what the
32:09rules of this
32:09game are.
32:10I mean,
32:11we are sat
32:11in a cupboard
32:12with no drinks
32:13and there's
32:14no room
32:15for dancing.
32:16So we have
32:17to wait
32:17to be discovered
32:18and then the
32:20next person
32:20who discovers
32:21us has to
32:21squeeze in
32:22and the next
32:23one and the
32:24next one.
32:24Right.
32:27Found you.
32:33What do
32:33we do
32:33now?
32:34We wait.
32:35Apparently.
32:39Well, to
32:41misquote
32:41Captain Oates,
32:42I'm coming
32:42in.
32:47And that
32:48may be
32:48some time.
32:51Oh, can I
32:52smell old
32:53clothes?
32:54Yes.
32:56My whole
32:56childhood's
32:56flashing before
32:57my eyes in
32:58here.
32:59I can see
32:59the jumper I
32:59wore in
33:00grammar school.
33:00Oh, I see
33:03nurse's
33:04uniforms.
33:05And a
33:06nun's
33:06habit.
33:09Sweetie, I
33:10know you're
33:10tired, but
33:11three women
33:12are stronger
33:13than one
33:13on her
33:14own.
33:15We're going
33:15to work
33:15together to
33:16get this
33:17baby out
33:17and in
33:18your arms.
33:21Together,
33:22Queenie, do
33:22you hear that?
33:23We're all
33:24going to join
33:24forces.
33:30Will you
33:32tell me
33:32when you
33:32can see
33:33its head?
33:36Geoffrey
33:37Franklin,
33:38Timothy
33:38Turner,
33:39Harry
33:39Chopra.
33:39What are
33:40you doing
33:41in my
33:41bedroom?
33:42Good
33:42things come
33:43to those
33:43who've
33:43waited.
33:44Geoffrey!
33:44Try to
33:45bear down,
33:46Queenie.
33:47As soon as
33:47you feel
33:47the next
33:48contraction,
33:49bear down.
33:54Now.
33:54I can hear
34:16the oculips.
34:24And it's
34:26out.
34:28No
34:28ambulance
34:29required.
34:43Do you
34:43hear that,
34:44Queenie?
34:45Isn't that a
34:45beautiful sound?
34:46Glory be,
34:47but I love
34:48you.
34:49You are
34:50perfect.
34:52And you
34:52are complete.
34:54And you
34:56are mine.
34:58And you're
34:58crying.
34:59They didn't
35:00even tell me
35:00if you're
35:01a boy or
35:01a girl.
35:02Oh,
35:02sorry.
35:03I forgot.
35:04It's a
35:05boy.
35:05It's a
35:06boy.
35:15Baby
35:15Lord,
35:16my
35:17baby
35:17Lord,
35:18I need
35:19you,
35:19oh,
35:20I need
35:21you.
35:22By
35:23doing
35:23this
35:24treatment.
35:24day.
35:26Break my
35:26heart and
35:27leave me
35:28say.
35:29Tell me
35:30what they
35:31had wrong
35:32to make
35:33you stay
35:34away so
35:35long.
35:42How many
35:43old
35:43recollections
35:44and how
35:45many dormant
35:47sympathies does
35:48Christmas time
35:48awaken?
35:49Year
35:50year after
35:50year after
35:50year
35:50after year
35:50we met
35:52on that
35:52day
35:53a merry
35:54and joyous
35:55circle.
35:56Many of the
35:56hearts that
35:57throbbed so
35:58gaily then
35:58have ceased
35:59have ceased
36:04have ceased to
36:04beat.
36:06Many of the
36:07looks that
36:07shone so
36:08brightly then
36:09have ceased
36:11to glow.
36:12the hands
36:19the hands we
36:19grasped
36:20have grown
36:22cold.
36:25The
36:25eyes we
36:26sought have
36:27hid their
36:27luster in the
36:28grave.
36:29And yet
36:29the old
36:30house,
36:30the room,
36:31the merry
36:31voices and
36:32smiling faces,
36:33the jest,
36:34the laugh,
36:35crowed upon
36:35our mind at
36:36each recurrence
36:37of the season
36:37as if the
36:38last assemblage
36:40had been
36:40but yesterday.
36:42Happy,
36:43happy Christmas
36:44that can
36:45win us back
36:46to the
36:47delusions
36:47of our
36:48childish
36:48days.
36:50That said,
36:52I'm Jewish,
36:54Sister Monica
36:54Joan.
36:56That does not
36:57prevent us
36:57from being
36:58companions
36:58in nostalgia.
37:00Christmas is
37:01but one
37:02instance of
37:03a glimmer
37:03into the
37:04darkness.
37:05Yes,
37:06we have
37:07our
37:08feast of
37:09lights too.
37:10Hanukkah.
37:13It falls
37:14almost on
37:16the same
37:17date as
37:17Christmas
37:17this year.
37:36joyce,
37:41I'm dressed
37:43as a nurse.
37:44If it's
37:45any
37:45consolation,
37:47you weren't
37:47the only
37:48one.
37:48Is there
37:49anything else
37:49I need
37:50to know?
37:57It's
37:58alright,
37:58I think
38:00we're
38:00safe.
38:06if that
38:32unholy racket
38:33you're
38:33making
38:33is supposed
38:34to be
38:34my
38:34punishment.
38:35I accept
38:35it,
38:36as long
38:37as it's
38:37followed
38:37by strong
38:38black
38:39coffee.
38:40Go,
38:40you'll get
38:40coffee,
38:41and it will
38:41be accompanied
38:42by a dustpan,
38:43a brush,
38:43and a pair
38:44of rubbered
38:44loves.
38:45Suppose we
38:46ought to roll
38:46up our
38:47sleeves?
38:47We?
38:49We?
38:50Geoffrey,
38:50I have been
38:51up all night
38:52delivering a
38:53baby.
38:53And I've
38:54been wielding
38:54a bucket
38:55for this
38:55poor lamb.
38:57Florence
38:57Nightingale's
38:58got nothing
38:58on me.
38:59Good morning,
39:03Rosalind.
39:04Or should I
39:05say,
39:05Nurse Clifford?
39:06I'm sorry.
39:07I stayed
39:08the night
39:08at Cyril's.
39:09Morning
39:09orders will
39:10take place
39:10in three
39:11minutes.
39:16Nenata's
39:16house,
39:17charlady
39:17speaking.
39:18Has no
39:19one observed
39:19that I did
39:20not sleep
39:20in my
39:21accustomed
39:21bed
39:22last night?
39:22Sister
39:23Monica
39:23Joan,
39:23this morning
39:24that is
39:24scarcely
39:24cause
39:25for comment.
39:26Our
39:26charge,
39:26Mr.
39:27Fisher,
39:28fell into
39:28a decline
39:29before
39:30midnight.
39:31I assisted
39:32him to
39:32his bed,
39:33then deemed
39:34it inexpedient
39:35to leave
39:36him.
39:40Oh,
39:41good morning,
39:42Harry.
39:42The cloud
39:43of cologne
39:43on which you
39:44enter does
39:44nothing to
39:45reassure me.
39:46Would you
39:46like a cup
39:47of coffee,
39:47Harry?
39:57Merry
39:57Christmas.
39:59And thank
39:59you very
39:59much to
40:00all concerned.
40:00chase your
40:10rainbow
40:11anywhere you
40:13find it
40:14and maybe
40:15you'll find
40:16it tomorrow.
40:19Love is a
40:21rainbow to
40:22light up your
40:23life.
40:24It's a strong
40:25wind that
40:26blows away
40:27sorrow.
40:28when you
40:30walk along
40:32lonely
40:32road.
40:34When you're
40:35down and
40:36all the
40:37world can
40:38see.
40:39When you
40:40want to
40:42run away
40:42and
40:43hide.
40:48I was afraid
40:49both Christopher
40:50and his mother
40:51would test
40:51positive for
40:52TB,
40:53but I was
40:53wrong.
40:55They're clean.
40:55You
40:56weren't
40:56wrong
40:56about
40:56this
40:56though.
40:57Unilateral
40:57renal
40:58mass.
40:59Right
40:59hand
41:00side.
41:01There
41:01isn't a
41:02scrap of
41:02fat on
41:03him.
41:04I could
41:04feel it
41:04on
41:05palpation.
41:07Soft
41:07tissue
41:07x-ray
41:08can be
41:08quite
41:09equivocal.
41:10Nothing
41:11equivocal
41:11about this
41:12though.
41:13Wilms
41:13tumor.
41:14Haven't
41:14seen a
41:14Wilms
41:15in general
41:15practice
41:16for nearly
41:16a decade.
41:18Yes,
41:19cancer of
41:20the kidney.
41:21And
41:22he's two
41:22years old.
41:23There
41:24was
41:24nothing
41:24here
41:24for
41:24him.
41:25I
41:25know
41:25that.
41:27But
41:27nine
41:29months
41:29ago we
41:30did
41:30have
41:30a
41:30remy
41:31sergeant
41:31whose
41:31daughter
41:32had
41:32it.
41:32We
41:33got
41:33the
41:33family
41:33sent
41:33back
41:33to
41:34the
41:34UK
41:34on
41:34compassionate
41:34grounds.
41:35Did
41:36they
41:36lose
41:36her?
41:36Far
41:36from
41:37it.
41:38There's
41:38a
41:38new
41:38chemotherapy
41:39being
41:40trialled
41:40at one
41:40of the
41:41London
41:41hospitals.
41:42Brutal
41:42but
41:43spectacular.
41:44Is
41:44it
41:45working?
41:46Yes.
41:49I
41:50had
41:50a
41:50penny.
41:52A
41:52bright
41:52new
41:53penny.
41:54I
41:54took
41:54my
41:55penny
41:55to
41:56the
41:56market
41:56square.
41:58I
41:58wanted
41:59a
42:00rabbit.
42:01A
42:01little
42:01brown
42:02rabbit.
42:03And
42:03I
42:03looked
42:03for
42:04a
42:04rabbit
42:04most
42:05everywhere.
42:07For
42:07I
42:07went
42:07to
42:08the
42:08store
42:08with
42:09a
42:09sold
42:10sweet
42:10lavender.
42:12Only
42:12a penny
42:13for
42:13a
42:13bunch
42:14of
42:14lavender.
42:15Have
42:16you
42:16got
42:16a
42:17rabbit?
42:17Because
42:17I
42:18don't
42:18want
42:18lavender.
42:19They
42:20didn't
42:24have
42:25rabbit.
42:26Not
42:26anywhere
42:26there.
42:29You
42:29must be
42:30baby
42:30Beryl's
42:31mummy.
42:32Esther
42:32would like
42:33to feed
42:33Beryl.
42:35Sister,
42:35do you
42:35think she's
42:36hungry?
42:36Well,
42:36certainly.
42:38She is a
42:38peckish
42:39little thing.
42:40I
42:58can
42:59remember
42:59lying in
43:00bed
43:00and
43:01seeing
43:01exactly
43:03this
43:03view
43:03of
43:05the
43:05snow
43:05pouring.
43:08There
43:08were four
43:08of us
43:09under
43:09the
43:09eye to
43:10down.
43:11Do
43:11it
43:12semi
43:13with
43:14Isaac
43:15and
43:16me.
43:17I
43:17have
43:17often
43:18pondered
43:18what
43:18it
43:19must
43:19be
43:19like
43:19to
43:20share
43:21a
43:21bed
43:22with
43:22others.
43:24It's
43:24warm.
43:30Knock,
43:30knock.
43:31Oh,
43:32it's not
43:33a
43:33com plan
43:34of yours
43:34again,
43:35is it?
43:35No matter
43:35how often
43:36you gussy
43:37it up
43:37and
43:37those
43:37paper
43:38umbrellas
43:38of yours
43:39I'm
43:40still
43:40bored of
43:41it.
43:41It's
43:41actually
43:42a
43:42whisky
43:42cream
43:43punch,
43:43a recipe
43:44that proves
43:44so efficacious
43:45at our
43:46Christmas
43:46party.
43:46I'm
43:47thinking
43:47of
43:47applying
43:47for
43:47a
43:48patent.
43:48Oh,
43:49is it?
43:50Is it?
43:53Is it
43:54the 22nd
43:55today?
43:56It's
43:57the 21st,
43:58Mr. Fisher.
43:58Hanukkah?
43:59Oh,
44:00then it's
44:02tomorrow.
44:03What's
44:03tomorrow,
44:04old chap?
44:05The first
44:05night of
44:06Hanukkah.
44:09Feast
44:10of
44:10lights.
44:13Would
44:14you like
44:14me to
44:14find a
44:14rabbi
44:15for you,
44:16Mr. Fisher?
44:18It
44:19wouldn't
44:19hurt.
44:20Can
44:26you
44:26just
44:26take
44:26a
44:27kiddie
44:27halfway
44:27round
44:27the
44:28world,
44:28Doc?
44:28If
44:29he
44:29needs
44:29life-saving
44:30medical
44:30treatment,
44:31and his
44:31mother gives
44:32permission,
44:32yes.
44:34But you
44:35don't have
44:35to adopt
44:36him?
44:36No,
44:37thank
44:37God.
44:38It
44:38took us
44:38years to
44:39adopt,
44:39May.
44:40Christopher
44:41won't
44:41have
44:41years.
44:42He
44:42may
44:42not
44:42even
44:43have
44:43months
44:43if
44:44we
44:44don't
44:44act
44:44fast.
44:45It's
44:45good of
44:45the
44:46army
44:46to
44:46donate
44:46stuff.
44:47I
44:47just
44:47hadn't
44:47reckoned
44:48on
44:48there
44:48being
44:48so
44:49much
44:49of
44:49it.
44:49We
44:50need
44:50a
44:50taxi.
44:54We're
44:55in
44:55luck.
45:00Hibiscus
45:01house,
45:0179
45:02Elgin
45:02Gardens,
45:03please.
45:05Blimey.
45:11You
45:11know,
45:12Mum,
45:12you've
45:13done
45:13great
45:13things.
45:14Here?
45:15In
45:15Hong Kong?
45:16Here
45:16and
45:16at
45:17home.
45:18I've
45:18only
45:18heard
45:19heard
45:19about
45:19you
45:19being
45:19mayor
45:19in
45:19Tower
45:20Hamlets,
45:21but
45:21now
45:21I've
45:21seen
45:21you
45:22being
45:22someone,
45:23doing
45:24something
45:24in
45:24a
45:24city
45:25I
45:25can
45:25barely
45:25get
45:25to
45:25grips
45:26with.
45:26All
45:26I've
45:27done
45:27is
45:27raise
45:28a bit
45:28of
45:28money
45:28and
45:29got
45:29people
45:29who
45:29can
45:30help
45:30talking
45:31to
45:31people
45:31who
45:31need
45:32help.
45:33It's
45:33what
45:33I
45:33do.
45:34Perhaps
45:35because
45:35it's
45:35all I
45:36can
45:36do.
45:36Well,
45:37that's
45:37not
45:37nothing.
45:39I'm
45:39sorry.
45:40I
45:40needed
45:41evidence
45:41before I
45:42could
45:42respect
45:42you
45:42for
45:43it.
45:43There's
45:43no need
45:44to be
45:44sorry
45:44for
45:45anything
45:46ever.
45:47You're
45:48my
45:48son.
45:48Hello,
45:53Grace
45:53dear.
45:55Do you
45:55need
45:56something?
45:56Mr. Fred
45:57and the
45:57doctor
45:58are in
45:58trouble.
45:59What
45:59sort
45:59of
45:59trouble?
46:00Worse
46:00than
46:00trouble.
46:01They're
46:01in
46:01danger.
46:02Please
46:02don't
46:03ask me
46:03how
46:03I
46:03know
46:04this.
46:04If
46:04you
46:04don't
46:04tell
46:05me,
46:06I
46:06can't
46:06act
46:06on
46:07the
46:07information.
46:08My
46:08husband
46:08works
46:09for
46:09the
46:09comrade.
46:10I
46:10hear
46:10talking
46:11on
46:11the
46:11phone.
46:18You're
46:38not
46:38taking
46:39my
46:39son
46:39to
46:39England.
46:41If
46:41we
46:41don't
46:42he
46:42will
46:42die.
46:43You
46:43don't
46:43know
46:43that.
46:45You've
46:45given
46:45me
46:46no
46:46proof
46:46of
46:46that.
46:47Or
46:48any
46:48proof.
46:48that
46:49you're
46:49even
46:49a
46:49doctor.
46:50I
46:50can
46:50assure
46:51you
46:51his
46:52credentials
46:52are
46:53totally
46:53bona
46:53fide.
46:54I'm
46:54even
46:54a
46:55scouser.
46:57What
46:57school
46:57did you
46:58go to?
46:58Liverpool
46:58Institute.
47:00My
47:01father
47:01had an
47:02iron
47:02monk
47:02shop
47:03in
47:03Cornwallis
47:03Street.
47:05I
47:06probably
47:06walked
47:06right
47:07past
47:07it.
47:10When
47:10war
47:10broke
47:11out,
47:12they
47:12took
47:12me
47:12to
47:12a
47:12ship
47:12to
47:13be
47:13deported.
47:14I
47:15had
47:15an
47:15English
47:15wife
47:16I
47:16never
47:16saw
47:17again.
47:18Sometimes
47:19you
47:19lose
47:19people.
47:21Sometimes
47:22they're
47:22stolen.
47:23Or
47:23you
47:23are.
47:26Are you a
47:27gambling man,
47:27Dr.
47:28Tanner?
47:28No.
47:30I
47:30am.
47:32If you
47:32want my
47:32son,
47:33you have to
47:34play me
47:34for them.
47:36How about
47:37Margell?
47:39What
47:39cards?
47:41Poker?
47:42Jameer
47:42Defer?
47:43Blackjack?
47:45You
47:45choose.
47:46Baruch
47:58Adonai
48:00Eloheinu
48:02melech
48:03haolam
48:04asher
48:06kitshanu
48:07v'mitzvotav
48:09v'tzivanu
48:11lahadlik
48:12ne'
48:12asher
48:13lech
48:14hanukah
48:17Amen.
48:19Amen.
48:34Is he
48:34allowed to
48:35choose a
48:35deputy?
48:36I could play
48:36on his
48:37behalf.
48:37I don't
48:38think that
48:38would help
48:38Fred.
48:40You can
48:41play as
48:41many games
48:42as you
48:42want.
48:44With
48:44cards,
48:46with words,
48:47with me.
48:49But if
48:49Christopher's
48:49life is
48:50lost,
48:51who will
48:51pray for
48:52him at
48:52your altar?
48:54Who will
48:55pray for
48:56you?
48:57Who will
48:58carry on
48:58your family
48:59line?
49:02You
49:03could have
49:03all of
49:04those things.
49:05I can
49:05find a
49:06Chinese
49:07doctor
49:07for
49:07him.
49:09I could
49:09be the
49:10one
49:10that
49:10saves
49:11his
49:11life.
49:12Or
49:12you
49:13could
49:13just
49:13have
49:14your
49:14pride.
49:14It
49:14doesn't
49:15matter
49:15who
49:16saves
49:16his
49:16life.
49:18As long
49:18as it's
49:19saved.
49:20And if
49:21it is
49:21saved,
49:22I guarantee
49:23I will
49:24send him
49:25back to
49:25you.
49:32Let's
49:33continue
49:33this
49:33conversation
49:34elsewhere,
49:35shall
49:35we?
49:35go.
49:37Doctor,
49:37take the
49:39kit.
49:40Yes.
49:45Tell him
49:46they're
49:46giving him a
49:46chance.
49:47let him
49:57breathe as
49:58nature
49:58intended
49:59him to
49:59breathe.
50:04There is no
50:05consolation for
50:06him now
50:07in artificial
50:08air.
50:09better,
50:16old chap.
50:16That's
50:17her, old chap.
50:18Mm-hmm.
50:19Mm-hmm.
50:20Mm-hmm.
50:20Mm-hmm.
50:21Mm-hmm.
50:22Mm-hmm.
50:23Mm-hmm.
50:25It will take
50:45time to
50:46rebuild, but the
50:48foundations have
50:49been laid.
50:49are you happy
50:52to be staying
50:53on?
50:55Yes, because I
50:56don't doubt our
50:57purpose here.
51:00Are you happy to
51:01be going home?
51:03Yes, because I'm
51:05more convinced than
51:05ever that our work
51:07is vital wherever
51:08we are called.
51:10Where do you
51:10imagine we'll be
51:11called next?
51:12I don't imagine,
51:15but I will go and
51:16do whatever I am
51:17asked.
51:21Things are ticking
51:22along like
51:23clockwork, Doctor.
51:24Well done,
51:25Yuchan.
51:26Pre-eclampsia isn't
51:27easy, but you did
51:28everything you were
51:29told.
51:30Do you lie down
51:30there's no hard work?
51:32Good, lass.
51:33Good, lass.
51:39I'm glad this baby's
51:40arriving before we
51:41leave, but if it's
51:43the first baby born
51:44in the new brunch
51:45house, it seems to
51:46me it should be
51:47brought into the
51:48world by one of the
51:49sisters.
51:51Yes, it should.
52:04Oh, I'm keeping
52:07people waiting.
52:10They're all just as
52:11they were when they
52:16were here, when we
52:20were all at home.
52:21home.
52:22Oh, I hate me.
52:40Oh, I hate me.
52:41A little girl, you child.
52:48Congratulations.
52:50Look at her.
52:55Just look at her.
52:58And laugh, she's gorgeous.
53:05You have been my mother.
53:07Now I'm hurt.
53:10I give a name that always bring your face to me.
53:15We all agreed that Phyllis was too hard to say.
53:18No, Phyllis.
53:20Ness.
53:21Ness is easy to say.
53:23I'm happy to remember.
53:30I have seen death before.
53:32It is terrible.
53:34And it can be beautiful.
53:37I think today it was that.
53:39I have seen lovers come to fetch the dying.
53:44I have seen mothers come.
53:47But I have known no lover.
53:49No lover.
53:50I have born no child.
53:52And my parents have spurned me.
53:57I have asked myself, more often of late than in years gone by,
54:02who will come for me when my time on earth concludes.
54:12Those you knew in life.
54:13Those you knew in life.
54:14Those who coached you through the novitiate.
54:17Those who knelt beside you in prayer.
54:21And by the beds of everyone you served.
54:25So many sisters will come.
54:28God can't have you yet, sister.
54:31We can't spare you.
54:33We should perhaps turn our attention for the return of those we love.
54:46The Hong Kong party.
54:48Let us light light with the living and marvel at them while we may.
54:54Christopher, you're going to give your mummy a kiss.
55:11Please, keep him warm.
55:18I have a coat to put on him, as well as this card again.
55:22It used to belong to his sister.
55:25I like that.
55:28I like that.
55:29And I like that.
55:30It's the beauty of a girl.
55:31So, if you don't care about that,
55:32you can see my mom and the boy.
55:33And I like that.
55:34I like that.
55:35I like that.
55:36And I like that.
55:37I like that.
55:38What not?
55:39I like that.
55:40You're the only one?
55:41I'm the only one.
55:42I like that.
55:44What not to be the only one.
55:45Are you getting away?
55:46It's my mother?
55:47It's my father, I'm the only one.
55:51I don't know.
55:52Hey.
55:53Hey.
55:54The little boy will get better.
56:00We're in here.
56:01There's every chance he'll get better.
56:04Till then we just have to take care of him.
56:06And be his family.
56:09Oh, they're here.
56:11Oh, Miss Higgins, haven't they managed?
56:15Well.
56:17And this is Christopher.
56:20You look so sweet.
56:22Baby Christopher.
56:23Oh, you look at your smile.
56:27His hair feels like mine.
56:32Christopher.
56:35Couldn't be something dying to see your face.
56:40Christmas can start now, can't it?
56:42Yes, it can.
56:43Because I'm a tea and you're home.
56:46Oh, yes.
56:48Does Christmas come at the end of the year?
57:13Or does it provide its turning point?
57:17Is it the moment where we close the door on all that has passed in the months that have
57:23preceded it?
57:24Or is it the time where we open our arms and say, come, we are ready.
57:31We will embrace it all.
57:34Christmas begins with a baby.
57:36Therefore, Christmas is all that is unknown.
57:40All we must cherish.
57:42And all we must shield from the winds of fortune like a candle flame.
57:48You'll be pleased to hear there's a new series of Call the Midwife coming soon.
58:09With the slew of holiday crimes and a heartwarming reunion on the line in the new Beyond Paradise Christmas special,
58:15press red to watch now on iPlayer.
58:17So thank you for listening.
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