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00:00There are challenges that are eternal. How do we stand and face our fears? And how do we let go?
00:09We forge on because we must, with weapons as fragile as courage, as simple as work, or as precious as
00:21compassion for our fellow human beings.
00:24These are the threads that bind the very warp and weft of days. The things we think we will remember,
00:34then move on from and forget.
00:42You poor child.
00:44I'm pretty sure that's it for now.
00:47Go and get ready. I'll cover for you.
00:52Mum, what's going to happen when we close the maternity home?
00:56I wish there was a simple answer, May. The truth is, nobody knows.
01:02Will we have to move house?
01:04No. This is our home and that's not going to change because Daddy will still have his surgery.
01:12I promise you, sweetheart, everything will be all right.
01:17Angela and me used to do everything together. Now we don't even get the same bus.
01:22She'll be home tonight, just as she always is.
01:26And Timothy's back in London, living at St Cuthbert's.
01:29So that's good, isn't it?
01:32I know.
01:34New things are always hard.
01:40Nurse Crane's been held up at the maternity home. She's asked me to give out morning orders.
01:44Sister Catherine, are you happy to be on first call this afternoon?
01:48Of course.
01:49I was top of the call board myself, but I know how I'm meeting halfway across London.
01:53Good morning, all.
01:55Rosalind Ladadette Ice. She's just sodding out a fresh beer.
01:58Well, I hope she's eaten a hearty breakfast.
02:00She's going to be cycling all over Poplar today.
02:10See you later.
02:10Six o'clock. And don't be late.
02:18Come in.
02:27And it is wakey, wakey, rise and shine for my favourite slugger bed.
02:34I bring grapefruit tea and a French toast chaser.
02:40Oh, I overslept again.
02:42You're keeping not dissimilar hours to Princess Margaret.
02:45Although, I am told, her cooling tray has nothing on it but black coffee and an orange juice.
02:50She probably wakes up with a hangover.
02:52I've never had a hangover.
02:54Mm.
02:55Are you getting a bad back sleeping on the sofa?
02:58I did think of sending for an osteopath.
03:01Then I remembered I am one.
03:03Well, I've slept like a log every night since I came here.
03:06It's like I'm getting over an illness.
03:08You look to me as though you are recuperating nicely.
03:12Apart from the faintest suggestion of a few split ends,
03:16dare I make you a little appointmentette at the salon on the corner?
03:19Not the hairdressers.
03:20Oh, no, I really don't think I can go to the hairdressers.
03:23Not with my hair in this state.
03:29In a moment, we'll be inviting the ladies and gentlemen of the press inside
03:33to view the magnificent Ground Four extension funded by the Bathroom Grant scheme.
03:39But first, I'd like to ask Mrs. Rhoda Mullocks,
03:42who's here today with her daughter Susan and son Paddy,
03:46to say a few words about how she and her family have benefited
03:50from this council initiative.
03:53This has been a really fortunate development for us.
03:57As many of you know, Susan was affected by thalidomide.
04:02And we were struggling a bit more than most
04:04with the old outside toilet and tin bath.
04:08Hello, Mum.
04:09For those of you who don't know, this is my second eldest, Perry.
04:13He's at Technical College.
04:15My grandma was actually born in this house,
04:19and the addition of the bathroom has brought us
04:22bang into the middle of the 20th century.
04:25And what do you have to say, Susan?
04:27It's fantastic.
04:29That's great.
04:31In you go, members of the press,
04:33straight through to the back of the house.
04:35Oh, and Mrs. Mullick's sanitary wear
04:37is in a new colour called Pampers Beige.
04:40So you might want to caption your photographs accordingly.
04:47Come on, love.
04:49Let's bump you up.
04:58I can't believe we're under notice of closure,
05:01yet we've still got a cohort of junior doctors
05:03coming in for district obstetrics.
05:06And all the more unsettling,
05:07because my own son's one of the doctors.
05:10Oh, he was such a little boy when he came into my life.
05:14You were younger than he is now
05:16when your path first crossed with mine.
05:19And look at us now.
05:20Shutting up shop to all intents and purposes.
05:23Where do you think we'll be this time next year?
05:26Possibly in a better place than this.
05:30Possibly in a worse one.
05:32But not here.
05:34Sheila,
05:36the council are not going to give
05:38Nonata's house any more money.
05:41We'll have to see what God thinks.
05:44And what the order proposes.
05:48Hurry up, please, gentlemen.
05:50The mother is feeling the urge to push.
05:52And Mr. Parry wants all junior doctors to be in guns.
05:58I'm sorry, Dr. Turner,
06:00but I have begged for an extraordinary meeting
06:03of the Board of Health.
06:04And Dr. Threatwood says we have to wait
06:06until the next one's scheduled on Friday.
06:09They might announce more closures at that one.
06:12There are half a dozen other maternity homes
06:14just waiting for the axe to fall.
06:16Which doesn't give the Board the right
06:18to treat you or Nonata's house
06:20like a canary down the mine.
06:23Meanwhile,
06:23I fear the fact that our GP practice
06:26is remaining open has confused matters.
06:28I mean, I'd expected some degree of local uproar,
06:32but no-one has so much as started a petition.
06:34The system we're heading into
06:36is going to be so big,
06:37it dwarfs people's comprehension.
06:39Then, by the time they realise what's afoot,
06:42their voices will seem too tiny to be heard.
06:46Well,
06:47my voice isn't too tiny to be heard.
06:57Now, Mother,
06:58let's concentrate on the task in hand.
07:01Less noise equals more effective bearing down.
07:04I'd do better without a ruddy audience!
07:06Come, come.
07:08Just keep reminding yourself
07:09you're making very satisfactory progress.
07:12Now,
07:13whilst this contraction ends
07:14and Mother has ceased her exertions,
07:17would one of the gentlemen present
07:18like to step up
07:20and describe what he can see?
07:22Ah,
07:22Dr. Turner, Jr.
07:26Rule one of obstetrics.
07:28There is often something liquid on the floor.
07:35The fetal scalp
07:36is not visible at the introitus
07:38during the pause between contractions, sir.
07:41The presenting part is the vertex
07:43in a cephalic presentation.
07:46The head is beginning to distend the perineum
07:49that the crowning has not yet occurred.
07:52And?
07:54Boy or girl,
07:57it's reassuring to know your expertise
07:59knows its limits.
08:10Now, Lady Aylward,
08:13matron of the Lady Emily Clinic
08:14for women and babies
08:15does have rather a ring to it.
08:17Yes, it does.
08:19And I'd like to accept,
08:21with caveats.
08:22You know I'll grant you
08:23any caveat you desire.
08:26I can't commence until the new year.
08:28I have to give him my notice
08:30to Nonata's house.
08:32They're not in the best shape
08:33at the present time.
08:41Had I to feel this bell much longer,
08:44I would have been in need
08:45of embrocation from my elbow,
08:48as well as assistance
08:50to the laboratory.
08:51This means the diuretics are working
08:57and helping to cleanse your body
08:59of all the excess fluid.
09:02I am not in want of a biology lesson,
09:06merely your age.
09:08It might be more convenient
09:10if we set up a commode for you.
09:11I have always pried dignity
09:15above committance.
09:20I've spent the whole of my career
09:22in the East End,
09:24which equates to almost all
09:26of my adult life.
09:27You would have served
09:28less time for murder.
09:30I don't see it that way,
09:31Mr. Scarrisbrick.
09:33It wasn't a sentence.
09:34It was, and still is,
09:37a privilege.
09:39And now our maternity home
09:40is closing down.
09:42And the domestic delivery of babies
09:45could end up virtually outlawed.
09:47Thank you, Peel Report.
09:48I don't want to work in hospitals.
09:51I want to get to know
09:52the women I'm caring for.
09:54I want them to feel safe,
09:57as though birth is a miraculous
09:58but normal part of life.
10:01Soon I won't be able
10:02to provide that,
10:03and in my view,
10:05that's a terrible loss.
10:08I'm simply grateful
10:09we're able to offer
10:10an alternative.
10:12To those who can afford to pay.
10:15Nevertheless,
10:17we have new adventures
10:18to look forward to.
10:20In due course,
10:21I'll have something else
10:22to put to you,
10:22but not today.
10:24We have quite enough
10:25to celebrate.
10:27Perhaps you'll allow me
10:28to take you out to dinner.
10:30Perhaps.
10:31In a week or two.
10:35Oh, good evening.
10:37Is that the Gazette?
10:38Oh, Miss Leverett.
10:40Glad they caught you.
10:41Could you put me through
10:42to Mr. Reynolds
10:43on features?
10:45Paddy, what noise?
10:46Oh, uh,
10:48sheep make.
10:52I'm going to have to take Susan
10:53to the surgery tomorrow,
10:54Bernie.
10:55That blister looks like
10:56it's become infected.
10:57You can't have that,
10:58can't you?
10:59Eh?
11:00What's the matter?
11:01How beautiful, eh?
11:03It hurts when I put the legs on.
11:05Doesn't it?
11:06If I take her first thing,
11:08can you drop Paddy at nursery?
11:10Oh, no, I can't.
11:11I've got a funeral.
11:12At ten o'clock,
11:13out in East Ham,
11:13Mr. Albion wants us
11:14lined up at the hearse by nine.
11:16Sometime drew the day
11:17you took that undertaking job.
11:20Oh, it's a steady line of work.
11:22You're drinking more
11:23of that milk and magnesia
11:24than you ever did
11:25when you were pregnant.
11:26You're not trying to tell me
11:27we've got some news, are you?
11:28Chance would be a fine thing.
11:32God, our almighty Father,
11:34we ask today for a blessing
11:36to add to all the blessings
11:38you have given us.
11:39And as we thank you
11:40for leading us to one another
11:42and for letting us love one another,
11:45enfold us as my hands,
11:47enfold hers,
11:47and protect us
11:48as her body protects our child.
11:50Amen.
11:53Amen.
12:01Oh, gosh.
12:02It is beautiful, isn't it?
12:07I've always loved pearls.
12:09The idea that
12:10inside all that sheen
12:12there's a tiny speck of sand.
12:19The heart of a pearl
12:21is so much stronger than we think.
12:26I didn't even know
12:27we kept Sherry on the premises.
12:28When a house is a home
12:30to a lot of young women,
12:32it's always wise
12:33to be prepared
12:33for a celebration.
12:35I managed to grab
12:35some twiglets
12:36and smoke your bacon crisps.
12:38Fred sends his congratulations.
12:40This is turning
12:41into quite a shindig.
12:45Have you given
12:46any consideration
12:47to a date yet?
12:48I went to the
12:49registry office this morning
12:51and filled in all the forms.
12:53It's going to be
12:53in three weeks' time.
12:57Three weeks?
13:02And what of your parents?
13:03Are they as delighted as we?
13:06They don't know yet.
13:08They've been away
13:09on the school trip to Bruges,
13:10so I'm going to call them
13:12tomorrow night.
13:14They are educated
13:16and they are inhabitants
13:18of the modern world.
13:21Congratulations.
13:23Congratulations.
13:25Congratulations.
13:31I've stopped short
13:32of going the full
13:33bit Elsa soon
13:34and giving you
13:36a geometric bob,
13:37but
13:38I think that's
13:39taken the curse off.
13:41Farewell, Splatoon.
13:43I've never had eggs
13:44rubbed in my hair before.
13:46It felt quite nice.
13:47Trixie put me
13:48onto the protein rinse
13:49when I decided
13:50to go long.
13:51But, Beryl,
13:53now that you've
13:54had a rest,
13:55we need to talk
13:55about the future.
13:58The Order
13:59want my answer
14:00in three weeks.
14:01And what are you
14:01going to do
14:02with those three weeks?
14:03Are you just going
14:04to sit them out
14:05indoors in the hope
14:06that clarity
14:07will come floating
14:08through the window?
14:10Or are you going
14:11to try to live a little?
14:12I think I'm living
14:13quite a lot
14:14just being here.
14:16Beryl,
14:17you know that's not true.
14:20Today,
14:23whilst I'm out
14:25manipulating
14:26the vertebrae
14:27of London's jet set,
14:30I want you
14:30to make a list
14:31of every single thing
14:33you wish to do
14:34before you tell
14:35the sisters
14:35whether you're going
14:36to leave or stay.
14:38To what end, Geoffrey?
14:41It may help you decide
14:43which sacrifice
14:44is bearable.
14:49What do you mean
14:50Mayor turns midwife?
14:53You can't deliver
14:54babies,
14:54Mrs. Buckle.
14:55You're not qualified.
14:57I'm not intending
14:59to deliver them.
15:00The idea is
15:01that I follow you
15:02and the other ladies
15:03round Poplar
15:04as you go about
15:05your work,
15:06lending a hand,
15:07you know,
15:08as and when appropriate.
15:09I'm guessing
15:11photographed by the Gazette.
15:12The Gazette feels
15:13that it will draw
15:14attention
15:14to the destruction
15:16of midwifery services
15:18as we know it.
15:20That I can't deny.
15:23But so far
15:25we've left the news
15:26to seep out slowly
15:28so we don't cause alarm.
15:30Nurse Craig,
15:31in my opinion,
15:32we need to cause alarm
15:34to save the maternity home.
15:37If people protest,
15:39it might make a difference.
15:46How often do you wear
15:47the artificial legs?
15:49Every day.
15:50They make them wear them
15:50at school.
15:51There's three other
15:52Thalidomide kids
15:53and the teacher says
15:53they all have to set
15:54an example to each other.
15:56What do you think
15:57about it all, Susan?
15:58I don't really like them
15:59very much.
16:00The other kids?
16:02The legs.
16:04They're heavy
16:05and they hurt
16:05and they don't look
16:06like proper legs.
16:07You're probably ready
16:09for a bigger set.
16:10She's grown like a weed.
16:12Um,
16:13while I'm here,
16:13Dr Turner,
16:14I won't mind
16:15some more milk
16:16of magnesia.
16:18Rhoda,
16:18you really need
16:19to get that
16:20gallbladder removed.
16:21You've been at the top
16:22of the waiting list twice
16:23and cancel the operation
16:25both times.
16:26I'm too busy, doctor.
16:28Belinda's away
16:29at university
16:29and I'm busier than ever
16:31with Paddy
16:32and Susan
16:33to look after.
16:34I can look after myself.
16:36Susan,
16:37you know that's not true.
16:38And the campaign
16:39for compensations
16:40has had so many
16:41ups and downs.
16:42I'll write you
16:43a prescription.
16:44It's cheaper
16:45than buying it
16:45over the counter
16:46but promise me
16:47the next time
16:48your name comes up
16:49you'll get
16:49the operation done.
16:53They don't complain
16:54like this
16:54in male surgical.
16:58He's hungry.
17:01Oh,
17:01sorry, mate.
17:02We don't run
17:03to bar snacks.
17:06The infant stomach
17:08is a small
17:09fusiform organ
17:11situated
17:12in the upper abdomen.
17:13the capacity
17:15of approximately
17:1630 milliliters.
17:21Anatomically,
17:22it's comprised
17:23of the cardia,
17:25the fundus,
17:27the body
17:27and the pilaris.
17:30And the gastric
17:31agusso
17:32is capable
17:33of submitting
17:33hydrochloric acid.
17:34What do you think
17:35you are doing
17:36with that infant?
17:38I was comforting him.
17:40His cry was quite
17:41high-pitched
17:41so we might have colic.
17:44And he stopped
17:45the moment
17:45you picked him up?
17:47Yes, sister.
17:48He just didn't
17:49seem very happy.
17:50A well-managed baby
17:52is a contented baby.
17:55Doctors do not
17:56care for babies.
17:57They diagnose them
17:59and they treat them.
18:01And junior doctors
18:02are on this ward
18:04to learn.
18:07Sorry, sister.
18:09Oh!
18:10I don't know
18:11what's gone on here.
18:12This one's covered
18:13in lipstick
18:13and there's a whiff
18:14of whiskey.
18:15Oh!
18:19Now,
18:20you don't get a belt
18:21or badges
18:21because you're not
18:22a nurse.
18:23Your hair must be
18:24off your collar,
18:25there's to be
18:26no coloured
18:27eyeshadow,
18:27and I shall be
18:29inspecting your
18:29fingernails.
18:30Not that we'd let you
18:31tune near the
18:32business end.
18:35I'm just so used
18:36to seeing you
18:36do everything.
18:38The caring
18:39and the medicine
18:40were mixed up.
18:41In a perfect world,
18:43the caring
18:43and the medicine
18:44would always be
18:45mixed up.
18:46And in obstetrics,
18:48most of all.
18:49Obstetrics and hospital
18:50just seems like
18:51another branch of surgery.
18:52There's so many
18:53rules and protocols.
18:55You'll be doing
18:55your rotation
18:56on the district
18:57soon enough.
18:58You'll probably wish
18:59there were more
18:59rules then.
19:00I just wish
19:01the maternity home
19:02wasn't closing.
19:03The maternity home
19:04was an innovation
19:05once.
19:07Practice evolves
19:08all the time.
19:09And as a doctor,
19:10you have to lean
19:11into it
19:12or medicine
19:13won't grow.
19:16Sometimes,
19:16change is for
19:17the better.
19:19I mean,
19:19look at us tonight.
19:20Putting on fireworks
19:21for the children
19:22just like we always
19:23have.
19:23but timing them
19:25so Angela
19:26and May
19:26don't miss
19:27their pop music
19:28programme.
19:29If you're talking
19:29about the Partridge
19:30family,
19:31that is not
19:31change for the
19:32better.
19:39looks like the
19:40Sunday Times
19:40has come out
19:41on our side
19:42again.
19:42Like the
19:43manufacturer's
19:43latest compensation
19:44offer.
19:46And manufacturers,
19:47they want their book
19:47thrown at them.
19:49Three million
19:50corporate,
19:50four hundred
19:51children,
19:51arms missing,
19:52legs missing,
19:53some deaf
19:54blind.
19:54I've heard the
19:55campaign leaders
19:56say the kids
19:56deserve twenty.
19:58Million?
19:59I've never seen
20:00numbers that big
20:01until we started
20:01this campaign.
20:02And they'll never
20:03be big enough.
20:04Money can't buy
20:04what that girl
20:05will never have.
20:09Susan,
20:09what's the matter?
20:11She's screaming
20:12at David Cassidy.
20:14He's a pop star.
20:15You have to scream
20:16when you see his
20:17picture.
20:24David Cassidy.
20:26I'm going to scream
20:27every time I see
20:28his hair cut.
20:28It's better than
20:29their T-Rex fella
20:31Belinda likes.
20:36That's Susan's
20:37going to grow up
20:37soon.
20:39Isn't she?
20:40I think it's
20:41happening already.
20:47Right, Nurse Clifford,
20:49I'm assigning you
20:50to juice and milk
20:51tokens.
20:52That way you can
20:53show off your
20:53engagement ring.
20:54Thank you,
20:55Nurse Crane.
20:56Are you ready
20:57with the petitions,
20:58Miss Higgins?
20:58I have personally
21:00typed up four copies
21:02to be presented
21:03to the board,
21:04and they will be
21:04circulated while
21:05the clinic is in
21:06progress.
21:09Mrs. Buckle,
21:11and a gentleman
21:12of the press,
21:13unless I'm mistaken,
21:14you are most welcome.
21:21I've drawn up
21:22a list of suitable
21:24poses, but first
21:26you'll need to help
21:27me with the hat.
21:30I'm telling you now,
21:32you'll not last long
21:33in a slingback
21:33car show.
21:40You may enter.
21:44I bought you
21:45some crescent,
21:46sister.
21:47They're still
21:48coming up lovely
21:48on the allotment.
21:53There was an earwig
21:55in the last bouquet.
21:56I watched him
21:58climb from
21:59petal to petal
22:00for an hour.
22:01It was so like
22:03being out in nature
22:04that I almost
22:05fancied I
22:06felt sunlight
22:08on my face.
22:09Would you like us
22:10to get you
22:11into the garden,
22:12sister?
22:12I could light
22:13the brazier,
22:13you could have
22:14a blanket
22:14on your knees.
22:15I think you
22:16mistake me
22:17for one
22:18elderly
22:18and frail.
22:21Never.
22:26I'm sorry
22:26to confess it,
22:31but I do not
22:32think my feet
22:33will carry me.
22:38sit with me
22:39for a while.
22:44That's right.
22:45Give me the joy.
22:47Give me the excitement.
22:52Trouble with this
22:53is
22:54we do our
22:55most important
22:56work when people
22:58aren't smiling.
23:07do you reckon
23:08Sister Monica
23:09turns far
23:09you didn't
23:10sister?
23:10She's certainly
23:11weakening
23:13and the worst
23:14thing is
23:14she knows it.
23:17She must be
23:18getting scared.
23:21Not of death
23:22but
23:24letting go
23:25of life
23:27and
23:27life
23:28means so much
23:29more than
23:30breath
23:31and a heartbeat.
23:33It's
23:35independence
23:36and
23:37company
23:38and joy.
23:41Even nuns
23:42take pleasure
23:43in things
23:43and with
23:45every day
23:45that passes
23:46she's
23:47denied
23:48a little more.
23:53Maybe
23:53it's time
23:54to move
23:55the telly
23:55to the bedroom.
23:56That said
23:57I don't even
23:58think the TV
23:59will perk her up.
24:01I still need
24:02a test card
24:03after time.
24:05We need
24:06to get her
24:06outside.
24:10Why aren't
24:10you and Sarah
24:11making this
24:11call together?
24:13Because
24:13in case
24:14you've forgotten
24:15my parents
24:16haven't spoken
24:16to him
24:17since the day
24:17I introduced
24:18them
24:18which was
24:19also the day
24:20they said
24:20he wasn't
24:21the man
24:21for me.
24:22I think
24:23I need
24:23to break
24:24the ice.
24:25Honey
24:26you're going
24:27to need
24:27a pickaxe.
24:28My mother
24:29and father
24:29aren't bad
24:30people Joyce.
24:31They're just
24:32very
24:33blinkered
24:33and my
24:34marriage
24:35is their
24:35chance
24:35to see
24:36things
24:36a different
24:37way.
24:38You're a good
24:39child
24:39try.
24:51My name's
24:52Bernie.
24:53I'm an
24:53alcoholic.
24:55I used
24:56to be a
24:56warehouse man
24:58before they
24:59closed the
24:59docks.
25:00I was good
25:00at it.
25:02Things
25:03on shelves,
25:04things in
25:05boxes,
25:07lists
25:07to take.
25:10I was
25:11in control
25:12and then
25:12I lost
25:13my job
25:14and I
25:15have to
25:16have a
25:16reason to
25:16get up
25:17every morning
25:17to get
25:18dressed,
25:19go out
25:20or else
25:21the drink
25:21comes creeping
25:22in.
25:23So when
25:23Mr Albion
25:24offered me
25:24a job
25:26I thought
25:27yeah,
25:28things in
25:29boxes.
25:31That feels
25:32familiar.
25:34I didn't
25:34know that
25:35I would
25:35find my
25:35calling.
25:37that it
25:38would make
25:39me more
25:39human,
25:40that it
25:40could make
25:40me feel
25:41so much.
25:42And you
25:42don't feel
25:43much of
25:43anything
25:44at all.
25:45Apart from
25:46safe in a
25:48warehouse.
25:53Rosalind!
25:59A little
25:59while back
26:03we had to
26:03take care of
26:04a family
26:05who had
26:05come to
26:06grief
26:06in their
26:06own
26:06home.
26:08Carbon
26:08monoxide.
26:12It took
26:13a mum,
26:13it took
26:13a dad,
26:13it took
26:14a little
26:14girl.
26:18And the
26:19little girl
26:19was the
26:20same age
26:20as my
26:20youngest
26:21daughter.
26:24Even their
26:24names were
26:25nearly the
26:25same.
26:26Suzanne
26:26instead of
26:27Susan.
26:31And her
26:32hair.
26:36I had to
26:37wash and
26:37brush her
26:40hair.
26:46But it
26:47was when I
26:47was washing
26:47her feet
26:49that I
26:49thought
26:50these
26:53perfect
26:55little
26:56feet
26:58will never
26:58go dancing.
27:04We all
27:04found that
27:05one hard.
27:07It was a
27:08hard job.
27:10But I
27:11can't put
27:12those feelings
27:14on the
27:14shelf
27:16that keeps
27:17things safe
27:21because my
27:22Susan's
27:22feet,
27:24they'll
27:25never go
27:25dancing
27:25either.
27:28Her
27:29hands
27:30never wear
27:31a wedding
27:32ring,
27:33never hold
27:33a child.
27:38And I
27:39love her
27:39so much.
27:42every
27:43imperfection she
27:43has is
27:44beautiful to
27:44me.
27:46There are
27:47days I
27:47think I
27:48just live
27:48to see
27:49her laughing.
27:52And
27:53sometimes,
27:56sometimes,
27:57when,
27:59when I
27:59stop to
28:01look at her,
28:05I'll stop.
28:06and
28:14but I know
28:15I am not
28:16at ease
28:24with what was done
28:27to her.
28:31because sometimes
28:33I,
28:37sometimes I compare
28:39her to the
28:40dead.
28:47Rosalind,
28:49a telephone call he
28:50could have made
28:51together,
28:52telling you
28:53we couldn't
28:53deliver in person
28:54was never going
28:55to end in happiness
28:56for anyone involved.
28:58I suppose I just
28:59thought that
29:00the niceness
29:02I'd always seen
29:03in them,
29:05the general decency
29:06they'd always
29:07show would
29:08somehow come out
29:10on top.
29:13But it didn't.
29:15What did they say
29:16about the baby?
29:18Nothing.
29:21Because I
29:22didn't tell them.
29:25Rosalind,
29:26the baby is
29:26more important
29:27than the wedding.
29:28I know that.
29:29I just,
29:31it's agony
29:32enough
29:32having them
29:33reject the man
29:34I love.
29:35I'm not going
29:36to give them
29:37the chance
29:37to reject
29:37our child.
29:44one.
29:45Buy a new dress.
29:47Oh,
29:48Beryl.
29:49Well,
29:49that's a bit
29:50basic.
29:51I have put
29:51not in navy blue
29:53in brackets.
29:54Our lad
29:55mustn't go
29:56with a wimple
29:57and lace-ups.
29:59I could see
30:00you in
30:00tiger print
30:01chiffon.
30:02No,
30:02I don't think
30:03animal print
30:04ever really works
30:05if you're bigger
30:05than the actual
30:06animal.
30:06The only member
30:07of the feline
30:08species you
30:09outrank
30:09in the size
30:10department
30:10is
30:11tabby cat.
30:13The door
30:13is wide open
30:14for tiger print
30:15and,
30:16indeed,
30:17leopard.
30:18Two.
30:20Drink wine
30:21while making
30:22crepes
30:23we demer
30:24at the galloping
30:25gourmet
30:25while I can
30:25put a line
30:26through that
30:26one after
30:27tonight.
30:27And we'll
30:28get the scorch
30:28marks off
30:29the frying pan
30:29eventually.
30:31Three.
30:32Oh.
30:33Earn some
30:34money.
30:36How am I
30:36going to
30:37earn money?
30:38Sing hymns
30:39in the street
30:40and put a hat
30:40down?
30:41I need a
30:42secretary.
30:43You could be
30:44the Miss Higgins
30:45of Harley Street.
30:46I don't have
30:47a felt hat
30:48or a petrifying
30:49manor.
30:50No, no, no.
30:50It makes
30:50perfect sense.
30:51I hire space
30:52in three sets
30:53of consulting
30:54rooms and
30:54I'm always
30:55missing calls.
30:56But do say
30:57yes.
30:58Only if you
30:59forgive me
30:59for the
30:59frying pan.
31:00I'll do
31:00more than
31:01forgive you.
31:01I will
31:02buy you
31:02a felt
31:02hat
31:04and an
31:04ocelot
31:05two-piece.
31:11Oh,
31:16it all spells
31:17through that.
31:18Oh,
31:19you.
31:20What?
31:23What's the
31:23matter?
31:24The pain.
31:25What?
31:25The pain.
31:27I can't
31:28stop being
31:28sick.
31:30I've
31:30woken up
31:31Paddy now.
31:32He's got
31:32nursery in
31:33the morning.
31:33I'm going to
31:34call 999.
31:39Thank you
31:40for attending
31:41this seminar
31:42today,
31:42gentlemen.
31:43This practice
31:44was established
31:45in 1947
31:47under the
31:48auspices of
31:49the then-new
31:49National Health
31:50Service and
31:52the maternity
31:53home was
31:53opened in
31:541958.
31:55Is it true
31:56that it's due
31:56to close
31:57down?
31:59Yes,
32:00in a word.
32:02Do you have
32:03any questions
32:03relating to
32:05your training?
32:06Do we have
32:06to ride bikes?
32:08Proficiency
32:08in cycling
32:09is considered
32:10an advantage.
32:15evolution gave
32:16you two hands,
32:17Dr. Drinkwater.
32:18Can we see
32:19one on each
32:20handlebar,
32:21please?
32:22Now,
32:22gentlemen,
32:23if you would
32:23all oblige me
32:24by signalling
32:26as if you
32:26were turning
32:27left.
32:31That's the
32:31other left,
32:32Dr. Turner,
32:33Junior.
32:36Sorry.
32:38He was like
32:39that as a
32:40little lad.
32:40I had him
32:41in cubs.
32:45Any oil
32:46left in that
32:47can,
32:47Fred?
32:50They're going to
32:51operate tomorrow.
32:52Take the
32:53whole thing
32:53out.
32:54I know.
32:55And the nurse
32:55says that it's
32:56worse because
32:57it's an emergency.
32:58Dr. Turner's
32:59not getting
33:00on at you
33:00for the
33:00good of
33:00his health.
33:01It's for
33:02yours.
33:02And you
33:03ignored him.
33:04I've got
33:04too much
33:04to do.
33:06There,
33:06you've got
33:07too much
33:07to do.
33:08I'll cope.
33:10Your sister's
33:11going to come
33:11and pick
33:11up Paddy.
33:13Avis?
33:14I'll have
33:15to give
33:15her a list.
33:17What about
33:17Susan?
33:25It's not
33:25the most
33:26luxurious
33:27mode of
33:27transport,
33:28but with
33:30a couple
33:30of cushions,
33:30it'll be
33:31just the
33:32job for
33:32taking you
33:33out in
33:33the fresh
33:34air.
33:35By fresh
33:36air, do
33:37you mean
33:38in public?
33:41Sister,
33:42you need
33:43stimulation,
33:44and you're
33:45capable of
33:45embracing it.
33:47Why then,
33:48did you bring
33:49that infernal
33:50television into
33:51my chamber?
33:53It is the
33:53equivalent of
33:55putting straw
33:56down in the
33:57street, so a
33:58moribund patient
33:59will not be
34:00disturbed by the
34:00carriage wheels.
34:02You make all
34:03these gestures
34:04because you
34:06think I am not
34:06long for this
34:07world.
34:08Can you not
34:09see that all
34:11of these gestures
34:12are because we
34:13love you?
34:14I have neither
34:15the time or the
34:16temper to engage
34:17in violent
34:18sentiment.
34:20love is not
34:22violent, sister.
34:24Love is
34:25patient, and
34:26love is kind,
34:28and sometimes
34:29love pushes us
34:30to places where
34:31we do not wish
34:31to go.
34:32I thereby
34:33refer you to my
34:34feelings regarding
34:36that conveyance.
34:43she was as
34:44mewlish as I
34:45have ever seen
34:46her, and I
34:46came as close to
34:48losing patience as
34:48I ever have.
34:50When I was in
34:51formation, Mother
34:52Albert used to
34:53say that our
34:54greatest trials
34:55would always come
34:57from within our
34:57family circle.
34:58I've had flesh
34:59and blood
35:00sisters, as well
35:01as sisters in
35:02Christ.
35:03The thing is,
35:04you don't have to
35:04forgive the flesh
35:05and blood ones.
35:06You can just
35:07roll around on
35:08the floor and
35:09smack each other
35:10and forget.
35:11That sounds
35:12quite appealing.
35:17Sister Catherine,
35:18I'm afraid I have
35:19to increase
35:21your nursing duties.
35:23Mother Mildred
35:24has asked me to
35:25go to the
35:25mother house to
35:26discuss plans for
35:28our missionary
35:28work.
35:29You've always
35:30said we are
35:31missionaries here.
35:32And there's a
35:33whole world in
35:34need of healing.
35:36Let us see
35:36what is proposed.
35:46Belinda.
35:48Hello, love.
35:50Yeah, we need
35:50you to come
35:51home.
35:52Help look
35:53after Susan.
35:55Did Mum say
35:55that's what she
35:56wants?
35:56No.
35:57She wants you
35:58to prioritise
35:58your studies.
35:59It's me.
35:59I'm asking you.
36:01Then I'm doing
36:01what Mum wants.
36:02I wouldn't be
36:03at university
36:03if she hadn't
36:04worked so hard
36:05to help me.
36:05I owe it to her.
36:06To work hard
36:07and make the
36:07most of the
36:07opportunity.
36:08But what about
36:09Susan?
36:10I can't, Dad.
36:11I just can't.
36:15You don't have
36:15to stay here
36:16for this,
36:17Rosalind.
36:19from now on,
36:20from now on,
36:20we share
36:20all the
36:21hard things.
36:26So,
36:27Pastor Robinson,
36:28Rosalind,
36:30what's all this?
36:32We wanted to
36:33talk to you
36:33about the
36:34engagement
36:35and the
36:35wedding.
36:36This is the
36:36wedding that's
36:37taking place
36:37in three weeks'
36:38time.
36:39Less than
36:40three weeks,
36:40now.
36:42And you
36:43think I
36:43don't have
36:43eyes in
36:44my head?
36:45There's a
36:45look to
36:46young mothers
36:48even before
36:49their bodies
36:49tell the
36:50tale.
36:52Have you
36:52guessed,
36:53Mrs.
36:53Willis?
36:54I have.
36:55I must
36:56have said
36:57some terrifying
36:57things in
36:59your imagination.
37:01Yes.
37:03Then let
37:04that be
37:04your punishment.
37:06Now make
37:06me a cup
37:07of tea.
37:08Yes.
37:11Yes.
37:41Yes.
38:14This newspaper
38:15story certainly
38:16made a splash.
38:17Will it make
38:18any difference,
38:19do you suppose?
38:19My dad went
38:20along with it,
38:21but I don't
38:21think he's
38:22very optimistic.
38:25I keep
38:25feeling as though
38:26I should be
38:26helping you.
38:28You're a
38:28junior doctor
38:29now, not a
38:30student.
38:31No donkey
38:32work allowed.
38:36There's some
38:36sort of spring
38:37sticking out of
38:37this saddle and
38:38into my backside,
38:39Joyce.
38:41District work
38:42is all about
38:43determination
38:43in the face
38:44of challenge.
38:45And if you
38:46can't get
38:46on board
38:46with that,
38:47you're not
38:48getting your
38:48red card
38:49again.
38:53I feel
38:54for the
38:54pair of
38:54them,
38:55Mrs.
38:55Wallace.
38:56Nothing
38:56takes a
38:57shine of
38:57a wedding
38:58like parental
38:58disapproval.
39:00It was
39:00always going
39:01to be
39:01under our
39:01shadow
39:01because
39:02of
39:02Pastor
39:02Robinson's
39:03divorce.
39:04But he
39:05deserves
39:05as much
39:05happiness
39:06as any
39:06other man.
39:08Now his
39:08mistakes are
39:09behind him.
39:09I don't
39:10think his
39:11marriage to
39:11Lucille was
39:12a mistake,
39:13Mrs.
39:13Wallace.
39:14It was
39:14never a
39:15union without
39:15love.
39:16What it
39:17was,
39:18was a
39:18union without
39:19luck.
39:20Perhaps
39:20matters would
39:21have turned
39:21out differently
39:22if they'd
39:22been able to
39:23have a
39:23child.
39:24A baby
39:25is always
39:26a blessing.
39:29And now
39:29we must
39:30look to
39:30the future.
39:33Let us
39:34say nothing
39:35further.
39:38Meanwhile,
39:39it's still
39:40arranged though
39:40it may be.
39:42This is
39:42Rosalind's
39:43first wedding.
39:44How do
39:45we make
39:45it special
39:46for them?
39:47How do
39:48we make
39:48up for the
39:49fact that
39:49her parents
39:50have treated
39:51them so
39:51coldly?
39:52It's
39:53simple
39:53enough,
39:53Nurse
39:54Crean.
39:55we show
39:56them
39:56love.
39:58Nurse.
40:00Nurse,
40:00my wife
40:01is on
40:01the second
40:02floor.
40:02I will
40:03take you
40:03to her.
40:04That's
40:04okay,
40:05honey.
40:06Let us
40:06park these
40:06bicycles and
40:07we'll head
40:07straight out.
40:08This is
40:09young Dr.
40:09Turner,
40:10by the way.
40:11Uh,
40:12doctor,
40:12yes?
40:13He'll be
40:13working under
40:14my supervision.
40:25Do you
40:26have running
40:26water,
40:26Mr.
40:27Das?
40:27We have
40:28only one
40:28room.
40:29We use
40:29this stack.
40:38Oh,
40:38that's
40:38Island.
40:40It's
40:40Mrs.
40:41O'Day,
40:41isn't it?
40:41I remember
40:42you're from
40:42the clinic.
40:43You
40:43couldn't
40:44come and
40:44look at
40:44my little
40:44Barry,
40:45could you?
40:45He
40:46don't
40:46seem
40:46right.
40:47I'm
40:47on my
40:47way to
40:48a lady
40:48in
40:48labour.
40:49What's
40:49the
40:49matter
40:50with
40:50him?
40:51It's
40:51like a
40:51cold and
40:52a bit
40:52of a
40:52cough.
40:53Please?
40:54I can
40:54hear
40:54crying
40:55out.
40:56Have
40:56you
40:56taken
40:56him
40:57to
40:57the
40:57surgery?
40:58I
40:58haven't
40:58got
40:58the
40:58bus
40:59here.
40:59I
40:59don't
41:00get
41:00my
41:00money
41:00till
41:00tomorrow.
41:01Please.
41:03I'll pop
41:03down later,
41:04honey,
41:04when I get
41:04the chance.
41:10I'll have
41:10to run or
41:11the chippy
41:11will be
41:12closed.
41:13Don't
41:13cod or
41:14haddock.
41:14Cod.
41:15And get
41:16haddock for
41:16dad.
41:17He's
41:17hungry when
41:17he comes
41:18in from
41:18picking up
41:19dead
41:19bodies.
41:20I'll
41:20be
41:21back
41:21in
41:21ten.
41:24Perry!
41:26My
41:26Jackie
41:26magazine's
41:27still in
41:27the bedroom!
41:55my
41:55husband
41:56cannot
41:56touch
41:57me
41:57now
41:57even
41:58though
41:58he
41:59wishes
41:59to.
42:02Are you
42:02Hindu,
42:03Mrs.
42:03Sars?
42:04Yes.
42:05And we
42:05are
42:06Bengali.
42:07We could
42:08not stay
42:08in our
42:09own
42:09country
42:09anymore.
42:10Don't
42:10worry
42:11about
42:11where
42:11you've
42:11come
42:11from.
42:12The
42:12only
42:12thing
42:13that
42:13matters
42:13tonight
42:13is
42:14what's
42:14going
42:14to
42:14happen
42:14in
42:15this
42:15room.
42:15I
42:16should
42:16not
42:16be
42:17here.
42:17No
42:18man
42:18should
42:18be
42:19here
42:19unless
42:20he's
42:20a
42:20doctor.
42:22But I
42:22have
42:22nowhere
42:23else
42:23to
42:23go
42:23and
42:23I
42:24do
42:24not
42:24want
42:24to
42:24leave
42:24her.
42:26We
42:26could
42:26rig
42:26up
42:26a
42:26screen.
42:27I
42:28can
42:28go
42:28out
42:28onto
42:28the
42:28landing
42:29and
42:29requisition
42:29a bit
42:30of
42:30washing
42:30line.
42:31You
42:32get
42:32cracking
42:32but
42:33I
42:33need
42:33you
42:33back
42:33quickly
42:34or
42:34this
42:34won't
42:35come
42:35towards
42:35your
42:35rotation.
42:51key
43:08Do
43:09it
43:09It
43:09can
43:09to
43:10we
43:22Now, with this next pain,
43:24we're going to need a really long, strong push from you, Anjani.
43:28I am too tired.
43:30You're stronger than you know,
43:31and you've come further than you think already.
43:34This one talks a good talk.
43:36Let's see if we can prove him right.
43:46It's excellent, Anjani.
43:48It's excellent.
43:49Check for it to send her to the head.
43:56It's crowding.
44:00The baby's head has been born, Anjani.
44:04It's resting right here in my hand.
44:08Help! We need the nurse!
44:14Do you mind?
44:16A lady is having a baby in here.
44:17I can't stop breathing.
44:31Just rest, Anjani.
44:34Just rest.
44:37And I'll talk you through the next bit.
44:39Help!
44:41I'm sorry!
44:44What's all this, young man?
44:46You can...
44:48What happened?
44:49Did he choke on something?
44:51It was just like he was just choking on the air and then he just stopped.
44:56Why is he going to blow it?
44:58What's...
44:58Somebody call an ambulance!
45:11This is just your baby turning, Anjani.
45:14Everything's okay.
45:15I've got a guy.
45:20Larry, Larry, please, Larry!
45:23Is he breathing?
45:24Is he breathing?
45:25Is he breathing?
45:29What's...
45:29It's...
45:30It's not working!
45:32It's going public!
45:33It's going public!
45:34It's going public!
45:35Did somebody call an ambulance?
45:39You're almost there.
45:41This is it, Ranjani.
45:51And you have a little girl.
46:08I'm not going to stop until the ambulance gets here.
46:23Where is the midwife?
46:42Ranjani, I'm going to have to give you an injection.
47:06I'm going to need to go to the hospital and be checked.
47:32I suppose many house calls end up with two ambulances arriving.
47:36Well, the baby seems to have had croup, and they do bounce back from that.
47:42And Ranjani will be all right after a blood transfusion.
47:45I froze for a moment.
47:48But then it was like my heart rate shot up and my brain kicked in.
47:53That would be the adrenaline.
47:56I wonder if anyone's ever done blood tests on doctors immediately after a crisis situation.
48:01That might make an interesting research paper.
48:03Yes.
48:10Belinda, I can't show you the bruises your sister has all down her back,
48:15but I'm telling you, you have to come home.
48:17You said I was to throw everything I've got at university.
48:20You said it was something you never had.
48:22This isn't about you, and it isn't about me.
48:25This is about Susan.
48:27Rhoda, it's all a shame really necessary.
48:29Everything is always about Susan.
48:32And I know you love her as much as us.
48:37There are essentially two ways of approaching makeup.
48:39One can purely use it to disguise nature's shortcomings,
48:43or push things a little further and deploy it as a sort of costume.
48:46You mean like a disguise?
48:47No, people hide behind disguises.
48:51Bold lips and defined eyes can bring out our inner confidence.
48:56Try putting this on by yourself this time.
49:01And then I'll show you how to blot.
49:13Do you ever have to bring out your inner confidence?
49:17More frequently than you might imagine.
49:22It's jolly hot in here.
49:25Bear with me a moment.
49:26It's the excitement of seeing yourself transformed, perhaps.
49:29No, I suspect it's something else.
49:33It's past now.
49:35Let's get on with your nails.
49:40And before we turn our attention to the riveting recent investigation
49:45into unlicensed butchery operations,
49:48we have item five on the agenda,
49:51the closure of Kenilworth Row Maternity Home.
49:54Which counts as unlicensed butchery all on its own.
49:58Thank you, Turner.
50:00Any comments from the wider committee?
50:03Yes, from me, Dr Threatford.
50:10This is what midwifery looks like in your district.
50:14And this is what local people think about your proposal.
50:19The women of Poplar know how vital and how valuable the sisters are.
50:24And you're closing them down, too.
50:26This is the direction of travel dictated by the National Health.
50:32Meanwhile, Turner, rest assured that even as you progress to this next phase,
50:37we continue to learn from you.
50:39Will you be watching to see what goes wrong?
50:42Because there'll be plenty.
50:46May we move on now to item six?
50:54I will pray for you when I say the offices.
50:57You will not be as alone in the chapel as you imagine.
51:01Oh, keep the home fires burning and all that.
51:05I will telephone from the mother house if there is anything to report.
51:35Are you happy to take your diuretics
51:38with just water, or would you like me to make some hot blackcurrant?
51:44I require no beverages, for I will take no pills.
51:54But the treatment is working.
51:57It is not treatment.
51:59It is merely postponing all that is to come.
52:05You would have me out in nature.
52:08But I would sooner admit nature into this room
52:13and let it take its course.
52:21Sister, I'm speaking to you nurse to nurse now.
52:25If you refuse your medication,
52:28you will progress from chronic kidney disease
52:31to end-stage renal failure very rapidly.
52:38And what if that is what the Lord intends?
52:58Sister Catherine, what's this?
53:04I chose this life because I wanted certainty.
53:09There was work and a rule of life
53:14and there was faith to knit all together.
53:19But now nobody is where they ought to be
53:22and we don't know what's coming next.
53:27Sister, are you doubting your vocation?
53:31No.
53:32I have made my vows
53:35and those vows are indivisible from my soul.
53:40But if I felt I could leave,
53:43I would leave.
53:46Because right now it would be easier.
53:49It would not.
53:50I can promise you that.
53:54I'm sorry.
53:58But just now,
54:00just today,
54:03I feel so alone.
54:08I'm almost at the end of Harry's new jumper.
54:11I suppose I'll be casting on for Rosalind's baby after this.
54:14There is going to be a baby, isn't there?
54:17Of course there is.
54:18The girl's been locked in the bathroom every morning.
54:27There's so much change afoot.
54:35Phyllis,
54:36I often find people speak of change
54:38as if they're speaking about rats.
54:41As if change is something
54:44hiding underneath the house,
54:47attempting to get in
54:48and gnaw at all that we hold precious.
54:51Perhaps we would be better to compare change
54:55to the birds.
54:58Enlighten me.
54:59Well,
55:00birds do what birds will.
55:03They carry twigs in their beaks
55:04and seeds.
55:07So they build nests
55:08and sow flowers.
55:11However accidentally.
55:14Maybe you should put that in a poem.
55:23Good things can come from birds
55:26and it's the same with change.
55:31Oh,
55:32it's Mrs Turner.
55:38Is that Belinda?
55:40Oh, hello, darling.
55:42Hello.
55:43Hi.
55:45Welcome home, love.
55:56I'm eight months gone.
55:58I managed to hide it
55:59over the summer holidays.
56:01And then once I went back
56:03I thought I'd be safe,
56:04I thought I wouldn't have to tell you.
56:06And then I had to come home
56:07because of Susan.
56:11Susan.
56:16It's good.
56:35What's wrong?
56:38outgunned and love expressed becomes love doubled and ignited whether we light the fire through
56:48words or deeds. There is always a way ahead, a route through the woods, a path that leads us
57:01to the place we need to be. We listen always for the voice that calls us. But sometimes love speaks
57:17loudest
57:18as we let it go. I have news to impart. Would you consider entering into partnership with me? I'll
57:26never finish with God. Thank you for your patience, ladies. May I present the brow? I would
57:31like you to summon someone from this establishment. Albion and Sons is an undertaker. And every bed,
57:37kidney bowl and set of clamps is staying on these premises until the last mother and baby go out
57:41of those doors.
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