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Watch Episode 1 medical drama
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00:26Which flavour lives on
00:29Longest in the memory
00:31Is it the bitter or the sweet
00:33The sour surprise of a thing
00:36We did not ask for
00:37Or the warmth of expectations
00:40Met
00:41The pattern of the years embraces both
00:44The honeyed and the harsh
00:46I've passed
00:48In the dark days
00:50Before the spring begins
00:52We can't foretell
00:53What will distinguish the summer
00:55When it comes
00:56Or who we will be
00:58When the snows return
01:01For now
01:02We cling to ritual
01:03This is where we once were
01:06This is where we are now
01:08This is where
01:09If the fates are willing
01:10We will be again
01:12I can't tell you
01:14What a joy it is
01:15To have a pancake
01:15With sugar and lemon again
01:17What do they eat them with in America?
01:19Maple syrup
01:20And sometimes
01:22Bacon
01:23That continent is a cauldron
01:25Of all perversities
01:27I think it sounds quite delicious
01:29We could experiment with
01:31Spam and treacle
01:32We have both in the cupboard
01:34If that is how you would like
01:36To celebrate
01:37Passing your exams
01:38You have only to say
01:40It's wonderful news, lass
01:42Welcome to our profession
01:50Wonderful work
01:51That's wonderful work, Maxine
01:53You forget how much
01:54It ruddy has
01:55Oh, Steve
01:56Steve
01:59Stevenson
02:01I'm leaving
02:03When you do the solicitor's office
02:05They don't like the pine
02:06Disinfectant in the toilet
02:07You have to use the lemon
02:10I'm supposed to be doing
02:11Her cleaning shift for her
02:12Do you have to leave now, Mr Drummond?
02:15This baby's about to be born
02:23Oh, Reggie, love
02:24You've even sliced the lemons
02:26Aren't you good?
02:27I thought it would speed things up
02:29Well, no one ought to be kept
02:31Waiting on pancake day
02:33Oh, good on you
02:35You've been practising your own money
02:38It's easier than old money
02:40Now, that is what the government told us
02:43When they said that we were going decimal
02:45Although, two weeks in
02:47I don't think they've convinced
02:49A single shopkeeper
03:07You have a little girl, Maxine
03:08Another girl
03:09We got another girl
03:11I thought you wanted a boy
03:14What?
03:15Never
03:16Never, ever
03:30Can I kiss her?
03:34Go on
03:37I'll kiss you first
03:54Razalyn?
03:55Oh, I didn't knock
03:57I thought it was too late
03:58The pancake batter's been standing all evening
04:01I was listening for the sound of your bike wheel
04:05Cyril, in my uniform
04:07And you were in your slippers
04:11Good delivery
04:12Actually, it was inspiring
04:17Oh, good girls
04:20Bang on time
04:21Oh, that's nice, isn't it, Christopher?
04:25Lovely kisses to start the day
04:30He's getting better
04:31From having his kidney removed, isn't he?
04:33Yes
04:34And we'll find out
04:35When he starts his chemotherapy soon
04:38Girls, don't forget the rota
04:40We're wiping round the sink
04:42In the downstairs bathroom
04:43We need to be extra careful of germs
04:47All Teddy ever does
04:48Is feed the rabbit
04:50That's because
04:51Chores need to be assigned
04:52To people I can trust
04:54Patrick
04:55Are you up yet?
04:56The coffee's on
05:00I'm on district duty
05:01For the rest of the week
05:02We need a thorough review
05:04Of all our diabetic patients
05:05Sister Catherine
05:07In honour of your first day
05:09As a fully qualified midwife
05:11I have assigned you
05:12The antenatal round
05:15Entirely solo
05:17Unsupervised
05:17And independent
05:19I hope you've eaten
05:21A hearty breakfast, honey
05:22You'll be riding a bike for miles
05:24I've just added
05:25Thelma Cutler
05:26At 8 Loman Street
05:27To your list
05:27That poor lady
05:28Who was sick
05:29On the floor
05:30In clinic
05:31Six months are long
05:32And her nausea's intractable
05:34It's rare
05:35But I think the poor lass
05:36Might be stuck with it
05:37For the duration
06:00District nurse
06:02Mr Kingsley
06:04I found this
06:05Little scamp
06:06Halfway down the stairs
06:08To the street
06:09Come here
06:10Oh, Terence
06:14If you keep doing this
06:15I'm going to get you
06:16A collar and lead, huh?
06:18Mr Kingsley
06:18It's February
06:19It's cold
06:21He needs more on
06:23Than one sock
06:24And a vest
06:26What is that child
06:27Doing up at the window?
06:30Oh, she likes looking down
06:32Seeing what's going on
06:34Edna!
06:36I actually came from
06:38Dr Turner's practice
06:39To make sure that
06:41Everything was up to date
06:42With your diabetes medication
06:43We haven't seen you
06:45For a while
06:45Yeah, I'm under the hospital
06:47In a serious case
06:48Edna!
06:53Hello, nurse
06:54Mrs Kingsley
06:55I didn't know
06:56You were expecting a gun
06:58Do you have any clothes
07:00For these children?
07:02Loads
07:04Just need to sort the washing out
07:18Hello, midwife calling
07:20It's on the latch
07:27Poor love
07:28There's nothing to bring up
07:30It's just bile
07:32I'm not calling
07:33It's just
07:33Our eyes are watering
07:38I'm not crying
07:40You don't have to be brave
07:42All the time, Thelma
07:44Sometimes it's alright
07:45To say this is hard
07:46And it's hard
07:48I remember flushing
07:49The contraceptive pills
07:50Down the toilet
07:51When we decided
07:52To start trying for a baby
07:56I feel like I've done nothing
07:57But stare down that toilet
07:58Ever since
08:01A bed and a washing up bowl
08:02Are probably better
08:12I've got another three bags of this
08:18Lass, you need to attend clinic
08:20And you need to get your home
08:23Ready for the new arrival
08:24Got it ready for the last arrival
08:26Still got the cot and bottles and everything
08:30Yeah
08:32Hair brushed
08:33Lippy on
08:36That better?
08:38Sometimes getting dressed and ready to face the day
08:40Is half the battle
08:42It felt like a battle since we lost our oldest
08:47You've had a lot to come back from, Edna
08:49What I would advise is
08:51I don't need advice
08:52From someone at the ark
08:58The father's not doing his daily urine tests
09:01And that flap
09:02Weeks to high heaven
09:03An army of lice
09:05On all four kiddies
09:07And the eldest should have been in school
09:09Faye Marie
09:10Born November 1965
09:12And there was that little boy who died
09:15When they were at a different practice
09:16I'm afraid we've missed
09:18St. Cuthbert's Diabetic Clinic for this week, Doctor
09:20Would you like to assess Mr Kingsley yourself?
09:22Yes, as soon as possible
09:24I haven't seen Faye or Nicky for two years
09:28And there were gaps in their record before that
09:31We'd better tell social services
09:34Go on through
09:34They're all in there
09:36Oh, come on in, nurse
09:38We're just having a women's lib meeting
09:39You don't mind me getting on with things
09:41While I'm feeding, do you?
09:42Oh, no, not at all
09:44But once baby's finished on the breast
09:45I will need to examine you
09:46Fair enough
09:47Take a pew
09:49Go on
09:50You can join us
09:52It doesn't matter if we're supported or derided
09:54On the Women's March through London
09:56The most important thing is that we are seen
09:58And we are heard
10:00Does derided mean made fun of?
10:02Yes
10:02But it can also mean dismissed
10:04Or belittled
10:05Women have been put down since time immemorial
10:07And we aren't going to put up with it anymore
10:09We want to get that on a placard
10:12You might have to make it a bit shorter
10:14And the point me and all the other women on the Cleaners Association want to make
10:18Placards or no placards
10:20Is that we want equal rights
10:22Equal status
10:23And equal pay
10:25Which is why
10:26We are all going to be marching shoulder to shoulder through London
10:32Thelma seems to be living on bits of toast and boiled sweets, Doctor
10:37And she can scarcely keep those down
10:39If she ends up clinically dehydrated, we'll send her to St Cuthbert's
10:44I've not seen many cases of true hyperemesis
10:48But every time
10:49It's the lowest I've ever seen a pregnant woman brought
10:53Mentally as well as physically
10:55There's not really any medication for it, is there?
10:58Not after thalidomide
10:59There will never be any medication for it after thalidomide
11:05A political meeting at the bedside of a newly delivered mother
11:09I'm amazed she had the energy
11:11It was as though all the women were getting energy from each other
11:14I've never seen anything like it
11:16They even gave her some homework
11:17Show them your book, Gile
11:19The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
11:24What a very striking cover
11:26What I want to know is
11:28Where do they come from?
11:30All these educated ladies
11:31Campaigning side by side with cleaners from the East End
11:35I think mostly hamstered
11:37Although there's no doubt the movement's spreading
11:39Women of all classes have always been involved in women's advancement
11:43My granny used to finish a factory shift in Paisley
11:47And go out campaigning
11:50Will you come on the march with Joyce and I, Phyllis?
11:55Perhaps I should come to the meeting
11:58I've no objection to finding out more
12:00I think that's extremely public-spirited
12:03The sisters and I look forward to hearing all about it
12:21You forgot the knit lotion
12:23I'm sorry
12:23I must have got distracted putting a new diabetes kit together for Mr Kingsley
12:27I deal with him myself but I've two new cases of Venus also
12:31And I think the family as a whole might respond better to a younger person
12:37Thank you
12:41So the projected budget details are in the blue folder
12:45But we're still missing the sign returns from the Board of Health
12:47I'm afraid you've drawn a dreadfully short straw
12:50I have assigned myself nursery duties in the maternity home
12:53For delicious little newborns
12:56Including twins
12:57I'll be down at feeding time
12:59And we agreed that secular staff make better inroads with the council
13:03Go
13:04Lead me to get on
13:08Asking you to fill in the 1971 census
13:11An army of men and women with light blue satchel
13:13Honey
13:14I'm the nurse
13:16Are your mum and dad at home?
13:18The form is secret
13:19There is nothing to fear from completing it
13:22What are you doing with those pills?
13:25These are saccharine tablets
13:27Never put them in your tea
13:29What are you doing with them, child?
13:37Is that all you have to eat?
13:49Your daughter should be at school
13:51And all of your children are hungry
13:53They need to be deloused
13:54But first, they need to be fed
13:56Who gave you leave?
13:57To come in here and start shouting odds, eh?
14:00My wife has been diagnosed with depression
14:03I'm going to go to the corner shop
14:04And buy a loaf
14:05Some margarine and some jam
14:07And when I get back
14:09We're going to discuss our plan of action
14:14I'm calling on behalf of Nunata's house, Hendy Street
14:17With regard to our projected budget from June of this year
14:20Please hold for a moment
14:22Of course
14:24Would that be my friend, Lady Aylward?
14:28Yes
14:29I wasn't expecting to be put through to you, Dr Threpwood
14:32I asked to be connected directly, should you call
14:35I feel I should forewarn you of certain developments
14:39Now?
14:40It would be expedient to meet within the week
14:46Come on
14:47Nurse Highland
14:50Mr. Kingsley refused to cooperate with their diabetes protocols
14:54And I'm taking the children to the cleansing station
14:57There's no way of heating water in that flat
14:59And I think the youngest has scabies
15:01As well as lice
15:03I'd better take a look at them
15:05Come on
15:06Oh yeah
15:08I know
15:14This belly aches worse than the sickness, sister
15:16If I could just go
15:17Go properly
15:20You know what I mean
15:21If you're dehydrated, that might well lead to constipation
15:24But I'll have a feel of your tummy
15:26Just to make sure things are as they should be
15:28I'll be back
15:31Bye
15:32Bye
15:33Bye
15:33Bye
15:34Bye
15:36I am putting in a complaint as soon as I get back to the surgery
15:39That cleansing station needs to be open at all times
15:42Not on request or by appointment
15:45I've never seen a family in a worse state than this
15:47I've thought that so many times
15:53May I come in?
16:00Have your bowels moved at all, Thelma?
16:08I'm going to get you back to bed
16:10With a hot water bottle
16:12Then I'm calling Dr Turner
16:15There's nothing you can give me
16:17Don't waste his time
16:18The surgery's three minutes walk away
16:20And we won't be wasting his time
16:22If we ask him to pop round
16:23And rule out early labour
16:26We need to take care of you, Thelma
16:28And your baby
16:33I wish there was no baby sometimes
16:50We're going to have to get them taken into care
16:53It may take a few days to implement
16:55But this is a clear case of neglect
16:58I think it's worse than neglect
17:00There's bruises on the backs of the children
17:04And I need you to look between Nicky's toes
17:07I think there's a cigarette burn there
17:25Something's moving it to the toilet
17:27Can I see?
17:31Was it the baby?
17:34Yes, sweetheart, it was
17:42Don't look
17:48Sweetheart, we need to get you up
18:00It's all right, Thelma
18:01I'm with you
18:05I'm going to leave you
18:06But only for a moment
18:07I need to fetch my bag
18:34I'm afraid I always fear the worst
18:36When Dr. Threepwood starts taking an interest in our fortunes
18:39All I could do was arrange to meet him at his office next week
18:43Baby
18:4328 weeks gestation delivered into the toilet
18:46Still breathing
18:47Dr. Turner
18:48Dr. Turner
18:50He was breathing
18:51What's happened?
18:53Premature baby
18:54Six months gestation
18:55Get the flying squad
18:57Sweetheart, whose baby is it?
18:59Thelma Cutler
18:598 Lawman Street
19:02Kenilworth Row
19:03Yes
19:03The infant is still showing signs of life
19:08The centre is still scratched
19:11The skin
19:12The skin is like tissue paper
19:16We've lost respiration
19:20Come on
19:21Come on, little warrior
19:29It's all right, Thelma
19:30Everything's going to be all right
19:33Where did this gathering go?
19:35She took your baby to the mortality home, Thelma
19:39Because it was dead?
19:41No
19:42Because it's alive
19:46Is it a boy or a girl?
19:48I don't know
19:51We're taking it to Imperial Hospital
19:53It's the only place in London with any expertise
19:55London this early
19:57And this small
19:58We haven't weighed him
20:00Weight was the least of our concerns
20:02Fingers crossed
20:03It survives the journey across town
20:05Blue lights all the way
20:07It
20:08Is a little boy
20:19Three
20:20Four
20:21Ready to knock
20:23Turn the lock
20:24Oh
20:25Play school
20:27I wouldn't generally advise taking the bull by the horns in such a way as Highland
20:32But in this case, it's as well you did
20:35It's the indifference that angers me
20:37The indifference and the laziness
20:40As well as the cruelty
20:41Life is more of a struggle for some people than it is for others
20:46We're fortunate
20:48Our struggle is only with our feelings
21:03Good afternoon, Mr. Kingsley
21:04Have you got my kids?
21:05Your children are all here
21:07They have been receiving hygiene treatment
21:09We're taking them home
21:10I suggest you come inside and speak to Sister Veronica
21:13As a health visitor, she is the best person to advise
21:16As a father, I'm best placed to advise the lawyer
21:20You do not have the right to enter private premises in this manner
21:24And you do not have the right to abduct my children
21:28Edna
21:30Edna
21:31Nurse Highland brought your children here because they were in desperate need of bathing
21:35And now we have found bruises that will have to be explained
21:39You'll have to prove they weren't inflicted here
21:41I know the way your sort operate
21:44And we know our rights
21:47Edna
22:07And thank you, Eleanor, for reminding us
22:14That women are not just discriminated against in the professional field
22:17They are also discriminated against at home
22:22The time has come for us to declare our self-respect
22:25And to claim a full identity
22:27And to get equal pay for equal work
22:31Before we move on to discussing the logistics of the march
22:38Maxine will highlight the things we're going to do to publicise it
22:42Namely the one-day strike on Saturday
22:44And the exhibition of bra burning
22:46First, I'd like to open the meeting to the floor
22:48In case anyone has anything to say
22:50I would like to say two things
22:53Thank you very much to the Women's Liberation Movement
22:56And it's high time
22:58I would like to say thank you too
23:05To the women who welcomed me round this table tonight
23:08To the women who showed me that this fight is necessary
23:11And to the women who I will stand with
23:13When we shout this from the rooftops
23:29Enter
23:32You need not concern yourself with your attire
23:36The Lord gave you those tresses
23:38And if they are his delight
23:40They do not offend me
23:56I have prepared you a beverage
23:59Out of concern for the day you have endured
24:04But I find I have left it in the kitchen
24:08I'm happy just to have your company
24:12It was a terrible day
24:15I have seen its like many times
24:20An infant lost or maimed
24:24Or not shaped well
24:29I keep turning it over and over again in my mind
24:35Did I do all I should have done?
24:39Did I do anything to make things worse?
24:42I recall that unabating voice
24:46The doubt that pursues you home
24:49And seeks to be your bedfiller
24:54But say this to yourself
24:57Tonight
24:58Tonight
24:59A child breathes
25:01Tonight
25:02A mother lives
25:07Tomorrow
25:08You will resume your tasks
25:10But what is my task now?
25:14The child is born
25:16It has arrived
25:19But the mother is still on the journey
25:23And you must bring her home
25:29I've never once doubted the importance of female solidarity
25:33But for women of my age it went unspoken
25:37If we'd had a motto it would have been deeds not words
25:40But we had a war to be getting on with
25:42But even in the war
25:44Too many women were forced into limiting roles because of damaging stereotypes
25:49That's why burning bras is so important
25:51It's about the rejection of frivolity
25:54A good bra is a very practical item and not frivolous at all
26:00Trixie tell me you're not going to be joining in with all that carry-on
26:03Well perhaps not with my current bras
26:05I bought them at a New York lingerie department
26:08But definitely something from my back catalogue
26:11You were quite quiet in the meeting Joyce
26:16Didn't you enjoy it?
26:18I go quiet when I think
26:19And I was doing a lot of thinking
26:22So was I
26:23I kept thinking
26:24My husband had the power to run our finances into the ground without telling me
26:29My husband beat me so badly
26:31I left him without telling him
26:33But what I learned tonight is that
26:36It's not what men have done to us that matters
26:38It's what we do as women going forward
26:42That I can't argue with
26:44And that's it
26:54We're ready for your outing
26:56Shoes on
26:57Coats at the ready
26:59And I've got your washing up bowl
27:01I don't need to give
27:02I haven't been sick since yesterday
27:05I keep trying to picture the baby
27:08I never even saw his face
27:10The sooner we get you to the hospital
27:12The sooner you can have a proper look
27:14You'll feel better then, I promise you
27:22I can't believe the ideas women's liver coming up with
27:26A one day strike
27:27We'll draw attention to the march at a local level
27:30And give women who can't attend the chance to demonstrate their views
27:33They're trying it last year in America
27:35Women with through their labour right across the country
27:38No cooking, no ironing, no childcare
27:40And there were no reports of any deaths
27:45Prescriptions signed by Dr. Turner, all present and correct
27:48Thank you
27:49We're very low on pethidine
27:51And Mrs. Kumar's penicillin was becoming urgent
27:53It's good of you when you're so busy
27:56Well, I might be a lady of leisure tomorrow if I join him with this strike
28:00Will you be participating?
28:02No, Mrs. Turner, I've decided to forego the pleasure
28:05Why is that?
28:08Because I come from a generation of women that got on with it
28:11No histrionics, no sloganeering
28:14And our foundation garments stayed intact
28:24Baby weighed in at exactly two pounds and a half an hour
28:26We've had a couple of two-pounders do very well this past year
28:29The doctors here are very skilled
28:32Learning all the time
28:34What's with the blade paint?
28:36I think those are the transistorised monitors
28:38There's one attached to every incubator
28:41If a baby stops breathing
28:43Or there's a problem with the heartbeat
28:45An alarm goes off
28:46That's correct
28:48Here he is
28:49Baby Cutler
28:51We can update the labels once you've picked a Christian name
28:55We liked James, didn't we?
28:57James Kevin or James Paul
29:01Look at him, Selma, he's beautiful
29:04He's gorgeous
29:07Baby Smith has collapsed
29:12She needs a chair
29:15I can't look at him, I'm sorry
29:17It's alright, Selma
29:19You only gave birth yesterday
29:22What did I give birth?
29:24It was nothing that felt like a contraction
29:27I didn't even realise that I pushed
29:30My body just blew
29:33That government
29:36I failed
29:37You didn't fail
29:40You were valiant throughout your whole pregnancy
29:43I wasn't even a whole pregnancy
29:44I wasn't even a whole pregnancy
29:47I wasn't even look like a baby
29:51It's my fault
29:54It's my fault because I said that I wished that there was one
29:58But baby James is doing well
30:04Oh, Lady Aylwood
30:06What an unexpected pleasure
30:08Are you looking for anything in particular?
30:10Yes
30:11Support for the Women's Liberation March on March 6th
30:14Women's Lib?
30:16Would you want me as Violet Buckle Haberdasher
30:19Or me in my mayoral robes?
30:22Either or both
30:23Violet Buckle Haberdasher is a highly successful businesswoman
30:28And the mayor of Tower Hamlets is a trailblazing female politician
30:33I never thought of myself as liberated
30:37Probably because you've been too busy
30:39It's not necessarily men holding women back, Violet
30:42But if we don't stand shoulder to shoulder with each other
30:45We're never going to realise just how strong we are
30:49I'll come, but only as myself
30:51The Alderman might object if I wear the mayoral chain
31:03What happened to your moped?
31:04It fell foul of budgetary cuts
31:07Do you need to brief me on anything before we head in?
31:11The gap in their records is because they were out of the area when their son died
31:16I've telephoned Greenwich, but we still don't know what happened
31:21It's nice to see the children eating a cooked meal at lunchtime, Edna
31:25Well, Faye gets a hot dinner at school and I want you to see I'm not incompetent
31:29Social services are not your enemy
31:31We're here to help
31:33Especially with the children
31:35You were meant to help when Martin died
31:37Hmm?
31:38Fat lot of you, she were then
31:41Ian, do you want to tell us what happened to Martin?
31:43He had a fit
31:45That's all
31:45Babies have fits all the time
31:47Martin wasn't a baby
31:49He was four and a half
31:51You're just setting a trap
31:52Nobody's setting a trap
31:53But we do need to understand why there are injuries on your children
31:57Then look at how we can help you get back on your feet as a family
32:00We've heard that before
32:02When they took the kids away from us
32:03After Martin died
32:04It took us six months to get them back
32:08You
32:09I'm not having them this time
32:16Blessed are the midnight riders
32:21For in the shadow of God they sleep
32:30Blessed are the huddled hikers
32:35Staring out of falling rain
32:39Wondering at the retribution
32:43And their personal acquaintance with pain
32:53Blessed are the blood relations
32:58Of the young ones who have died
33:02Who had not the time or patience
33:07To carry on this earthly ride
33:16Rain will come and winds will blow
33:20While deer die in the mountains snow
33:25Birds will beat it heaven's low
33:30Ticking away like a little clock
33:32Just the way I like to hear it
33:34You have obviously been doing everything right
33:37Not many people say that sort of thing to me
33:40Edna
33:41Doctor and I were wondering
33:42If you'd like to come and have a look at the ward
33:44And deliver your own work
33:45Oh we thought you'd like to mull over having the baby with us
33:48Instead of at St Cuthbert's
33:49I've decided against St Cuthbert's now
33:52I'm having a home birth
33:54This is your sixth pregnancy Edna
33:56And you just tell me I've been doing everything right
33:58I'm not spending one night away from our kids
34:01This will be a home birth
34:02So you best get that in your reds
34:12I used to work as a paediatric nurse, sister
34:16And I know the quest to heal can cause terrible suffering
34:20Baby James was born at 28 weeks
34:22He is considered viable
34:24But what does viable mean?
34:27Does it mean he'll go home as a happy, healthy baby?
34:30Or could he be brain damaged and blind?
34:34We're working to regulate the amount of oxygen these babies receive
34:36Now we know too much can affect their eyesight
34:40Sister Wilmot, do you share that information with the parents?
34:44We tell the parents what they need to know when they have to make decisions
34:49James' mother is in no fit state to make any decision
34:54She struggles to even believe he is her child
34:56And without that bond, how can she choose what's right?
35:02Sometimes the parents don't choose
35:04Sometimes the problems overwhelm the babies and they simply declare themselves
35:08We can't help them all
35:11But you can help the mothers
35:13Or at least
35:15You could help me to help this one
35:19I'm sorry, Mr. Robinson
35:21Sister Veronica has left for her district visits
35:23The Kingsley family's case notes have come through
35:26I have more details on the death of Martin
35:29Good, I don't like having a child
35:31Merely marked as deceased in our records
35:34It seems to speak of want of care
35:38Martin died of oxygen deprivation
35:41From a seizure that was only witnessed by his parents
35:45The post-mortem noted old bruises on his upper arms and back
35:50And a cigarette burn was found between his toes
35:52Were the parents ever charged?
35:55No, they were not
35:56There was thought to be insufficient evidence of child battery or neglect
35:59And the police fell back on a compassionate approach
36:02Will surveillance of the family increase now?
36:05It's ten past five on a Friday
36:08But yes, it will
36:11Hands through the portholes
36:13Like that
36:15Excellent
36:16And then just clean his little face with the damp cotton wool
36:20I'm worried if you're sore with that big blaster on it
36:24I swear he's smiling
36:26It's like his lips just turned up a little bit at the corners
36:31Stand back, you stop breathing
36:42That's the three of us, often ready for our big adventure
36:45Sister Veronica will collect Christopher
36:48She's going to read to him from some Cantonese storybooks
36:51Oh, that's great
36:52Teddy and me are going to do an airfix model
36:55But we're on strike, Patrick
36:57In preparation for the Women's March next Saturday
37:00And I'm all for it
37:01Some of the newspaper coverage has been really thought-provoking
37:05But, Daddy, you need to do the ironing and washing
37:08I was in the army
37:11Ironing holds no fears
37:13Have you left us a casserole or something?
37:16That's not how Women's Strike works
37:22Yes
37:24What's this, Viya?
37:25It's a list
37:26It's a list of everything that I usually do on a Saturday and Sunday
37:29In order to keep this household on the straight and narrow
37:32But it starts with, run a haberdasher shop
37:35And then it says, batch bake
37:37And then it says, clean all the shoes
37:40And then it says, and my handbags
37:42I mean, how do you fit all this in an afternoon?
37:45You've got more handbags than the Queen Mum
37:48I do your shoes
37:50Then I do my shoes and my bags
37:52While the batch bake's in the oven
37:54Why do you think I close the shop at four o'clock at weekends?
37:58A home and a family do not run themselves, Fred Buckle
38:02But I can't run the haberdasheries
38:04I don't know the names of all the different types of elastic
38:08And people come in and ask for, um, female things
38:13I'll stick with the paper shop
38:15Cyril's running the paper shop
38:17He's strongly in support of feminist ideals
38:27I'm sorry we're having to do this here
38:30I do need to ask you a few questions about bleeding
38:33And what goes on in the bathroom
38:36But we can do that before Kevin gets back with the tea
38:41Kevin keeps pushing me to agree to give James a tracheotomy
38:46I have the consultant said it's for the best
38:50They've said it's best for his chance of survival
38:53How do we know it's the best thing for him?
38:56A tracheotomy will prevent James from suffering so many collapses, Thilma
39:02They'll cut into his throat from the outside
39:05And stick a plastic nozzle in
39:07They'll have to breathe through his neck
39:10How's that better?
39:13Why is it better to just keep him surviving?
39:17Even if he may never see
39:18Even if his brain is going to be damaged
39:21We don't know any of those things are going to happen, Thilma
39:24And we don't know that they won't
39:28You know more than me, Sister Catherine
39:30But when it comes to a baby like James
39:34Nobody knows anything
39:42Hey, keep it up
39:48There's probably a cub badge for potato peening
39:51It's taking you an hour to do two shirts
40:04Trixie, you made it
40:06Yes, Jaunty's nanny said she'd go on strike next week instead
40:10We worked out between us
40:12Compromise is power
40:13Are you sure that's right?
40:14When I have arguments, I like to win them
40:16Oh, Mrs Turner, you are quite the dark horse
40:24Whoever invented new pens wants hanging
40:28I've had to charge people in decimal for things that I'm measuring in yards
40:31And that's before you start talking about two-ply wall and press tuts
40:36Oh, flaming Nora
40:45Flaming scones
40:48Being a man is terrible
41:01What happened?
41:03She fell out the window
41:06Where are parents?
41:07I don't know
41:08Do you know the child, sir?
41:10Yes
41:11I'm a social worker
41:15Excuse me, love
41:17You haven't got such a thing as a compact mirror, have you?
41:21I'm sorry, it's not a thing I generally carry around
41:24I suppose not
41:25I've got five minutes before a photographer arrives
41:28Me and my Nina are going to be in the papers
41:30We're taking her home
41:3314 months we've been in here
41:3514 months?
41:37She must have been in the wars
41:38Not half
41:39Born at 28 weeks
41:41Bowel surgery
41:42Tracheotomy
41:43They thought she had a brain bleed
41:46Now all we're waiting for is a set of ankle splints and we're off
41:49Is my lippy all right?
41:51For the photograph
41:53It's a bit smudged
41:54Here
41:57I owe you a favour
42:05I told the consultant you'll need a statement
42:08But he confirmed that Faye has a fractured femur and collarbone and concussion
42:13The police really look happy too
42:15They also found she had catastrophically low blood sugar
42:20She seems to have swallowed prescription drugs or been fed them
42:24Why would anyone feed a child prescription drugs?
42:26Because low blood sugar makes a child dozy and compliant
42:31I don't know
42:32It is the honest answer
42:33Just as I don't know how anyone
42:36Blessed
42:37Blessed with such beautiful children
42:40Could treat them with such hideous contempt
42:51Millicent
42:52Do you think I'm barking up the wrong tree
42:56Resisting all this women's lib talk
42:58Well
42:59Not everyone is in support
43:01I've heard quite a number of ladies saying I'm not a feminist
43:05But
43:05I just don't like the gimmicky way it's all been put together
43:09I would always counsel against objecting to a book because of its cover
43:16Innocent, you're reading the female eunuch
43:18The authoress makes a series of very sensible points
43:24Notably regarding female sexuality
43:28It's a thing
43:29I spent much of my life being ashamed of
43:35I never did, oddly enough
43:39It's like being a vegetarian
43:41As though I was wired to run counter to the general view
43:48But why am I being like this?
43:50Why am I picking holes in something the young people are full of fervour for?
43:58Do we, perhaps, fear losing our place in the scheme of things?
44:04Two weeks ago, I was standing outside the Draper's on Inkerman Street
44:08And there was a blouse in the window with a psychedelic pattern
44:13Dual tones, but it was such a beguiling design
44:19And I was looking at it
44:20And I thought
44:23I will never wear that blouse
44:26Why?
44:27There's no harm in breaking out a bit, fashion-wise
44:31Phyllis
44:32There is no harm in breaking out
44:36And if we don't, we'll be left behind
44:40You're not wrong
44:44Psychedelic pattern or no psychedelic pattern
44:51Police?
44:54Don't answer it
44:56Mr. Kingsley?
44:58Mrs. Kingsley?
45:00Because of concerns about the welfare of your children
45:03A place of safety order has been issued
45:05We have come to remove them
45:07Don't let them take them in
45:09They're our kids
45:11They're not going anywhere
45:12They're terrified
45:13Mr. Kingsley will force entry if you do not cooperate
45:16As well as the police, I have Sister Veronica with me
45:18The children will be well taken care of
45:22Mr. Kingsley?
45:25Mrs. Kingsley?
45:27This is uncultful
45:29I ain't Kingsley
45:30And to marry Kingsley
45:31I'm arresting you
45:32I'm suspicious of child neglect and cruelty
45:34This is what they wanted all along
45:38We've already lost one of our children
45:41Doesn't that mean anything to you?
45:44It means a very great deal, Mrs. Kingsley
45:47And I wish
45:49That we didn't have to do this
45:58Mali
46:01Mali
46:06Mali
46:07Mali
46:08Mali
46:09Mali
46:09Mali
46:24Honestly, love, you wouldn't have given a tuppence apenny for her chances in the first few weeks in old money
46:28or new money.
46:29She's as bonnie as anything now.
46:31Look at her chubby little cheeks, Phil.
46:35How's she with normal food?
46:37After all those months with the tube up her nose.
46:38Oh, she's great with chocolate pudding.
46:41Not so good with her greens, though, but as long as it's all mushed up, she's just like any other
46:46baby, really.
46:47Do you ever feel like any other mum, Bernice?
46:50I feel like her mum.
46:53It's not so different from having any other child.
46:56You can't turn your back on them.
46:58You can't work out what they're thinking.
47:00You can't picture the future.
47:03The doctors never gave us any guarantees.
47:07No baby gets a guarantee, really.
47:10Guarantees are the things you buy in shops.
47:12And we're lucky.
47:13We get to call our babies miracles.
47:22Oi!
47:24My waters are broken and I'm not going to hospital.
47:30Edna Kingsley is in labour, screaming blue murder and refusing to get into the ambulance.
47:36Police said she wants one of us to attend and I'm first on the court board.
47:42Whatever's gone on in the past, or is yet to come, she is still a mother.
47:51Let me know if it's a boy or a girl and I shall add it to my notes.
48:04I'll get my back.
48:24I'm afraid this isn't good news, Lady Edward.
48:27And it can't be countermanded, even with all the womanly wiles at your disposal.
48:32A simple statement of facts will suffice, Dr Threatwood.
48:36Very well.
48:37By 1974, all medical service provision across the country will be taken out of council hands
48:44and given direct to the National Health.
48:46But the Order have worked hand in glove with the National Health since its inception.
48:50And this council has been the go-between.
48:52Without our future involvement, there can be no more cajolery, no more persuasion.
48:59It is over.
49:00A great deal could happen between now and 1974.
49:03The new rules will be facing from this year.
49:06And there is one I know the sisters won't accept.
49:13Let's know it's Edna, lass.
49:15Save your strength.
49:17I want it to be alright, nurse.
49:19You're on the home straight, I promise.
49:22There's no reason to suppose anything will be amiss.
49:25I don't mean with the baby, I'm in with everything.
49:29Come on.
49:30So come up, Barley Sugar, and concentrate on what's happening here and now.
49:35They can't take a newborn off you, can they?
49:38Edna.
49:42Save your energy for this last big push.
49:46Come on now.
49:48Steady push.
49:51Steady, steady push.
49:56You have a beautiful little daughter, Edna.
50:22Morten looked just like that when he was born.
50:25You forget when we haven't got a fight with him.
50:29We never had a camera.
50:34I'm going to give you the best life.
50:38Do you think?
50:40The best life.
50:47Hello, you.
50:50Oh, Mr. Franklin.
50:53It's so good of you to go out of your way.
50:56What sort of friend would I be if I didn't tip up with a cup of rosy and the chips
51:01are down?
51:03Dr. Threepwood is right.
51:05We will not accept that diktat.
51:08But it is a diktat, Sister Julianne.
51:10You aren't going to be allowed to wear the habit anymore.
51:13My sisters and I have dressed like this since the inception of the Order.
51:16It is the outward expression of the reason why we do this.
51:20The powers that be don't give two hoots why you do this.
51:24They just want it done.
51:26If Narnata's house is to survive at all, we are all going to be national health employees.
51:31And the new rules state that we will have to dress as such or leave the system.
51:36We have never been a part of the system.
51:39We have rejoiced in that.
51:41Dr. Threepwood said he'd like your response by the end of this month.
51:45I think it ties in with the end of the financial year.
51:51Who is this man to lay down the law in this way?
51:57This decision will be driven by prayer, not by the fiscal calendar.
52:01Therefore, I will choose the appropriate date.
52:06We will tell him what we are going to do on August 31st,
52:11which happens to be the feast day of St. Raymond Narnatus.
52:17People think I talk too much.
52:19I don't.
52:21I know.
52:23And I know you listen.
52:25I've never seen here she goes again, writ large on your face.
52:30But the thing I think people don't understand about the life I chose
52:41is so much of it is silence.
52:45I understand.
52:47It isn't about when we can't speak.
52:50It's about what we can never say.
52:56What we can never name because that might expose us.
53:03Lay us bare.
53:07We can't afford that, can we?
53:10No.
53:11Because really, who wants the whole wide world to hear them howling?
53:18Well, I don't think I can silence the howling anymore.
53:25What is it you want, Veronica?
53:31If we're going to drop the sister bit,
53:36I think you'd better call me Beryl, my real name.
53:42You can call me Geoffrey if it's not too much of a stretch.
53:48What is it you want?
53:54I want a child.
53:59I want a child of my own
54:02to hold in my arms
54:05and
54:06keep safe
54:08and cherish
54:09always.
54:11I want
54:12a child
54:14before it becomes impossible.
54:20I feel like he ought to have a special little night
54:22even if he's dad had an operation.
54:25I feel like his dad should have had the day of work.
54:29James' first year is going to be a long haul, Thelma.
54:33Keeping up a normal routine is going to be good for everyone.
54:36I'm good at routines.
54:38Before I fell pregnant,
54:40I used to dream I'd have all the nappies on the line every Monday.
54:44Dreams are a lovely thing to have.
54:47Sometimes
54:48we just have to dream for longer than we thought.
54:51He'll be a baby for longer too.
54:53I think I might like that.
55:04Have you come to take James for his tracheotomy?
55:07I'm his mother.
55:18I'm his mother.
55:20What's this?
55:25Something to wear on Saturday, perhaps?
55:37On your marks.
55:39Get set.
55:40You want a sausage roll?
55:41I'll have one.
55:45I'll tell you what, pal.
55:48I love our lady folk.
55:49All of them.
55:50But it's liberation, Mark.
55:53It's hard work.
56:04I went for cotton.
56:06I thought it would burn longer.
56:08I bought this one from discounted stock.
56:11Nobody's buying long line these days.
56:14I relented.
56:15Bergdorf Goodman's finest.
56:19Girls!
56:20Where did you get that from?
56:21The charity cupboard.
56:24Provenance?
56:25Uncertain.
56:26Sisterhood takes many forms.
56:29I think we should celebrate them all.
56:38There will always be things that we cannot change,
56:42even when there is the will
56:44and the belief that we should try.
56:49Change chooses its own seeds,
56:53sows them in its own selected soil.
56:57Our task is to alter them
57:00and not trample green shoots underfoot.
57:05In the spring of 1971,
57:08there was so much that was altered.
57:12There were endings
57:13and there were beginnings.
57:16There was uncertainty
57:17and there was confidence.
57:20There was rage
57:21and there was love.
57:24And so we marched together
57:27into all the things we did not know,
57:31hoping and also fearing
57:33things would never be the same.
57:38You may begin!
57:40I started out in Bombay
57:42and then I worked my way
57:43right up to Ladakh.
57:44Find a way to make a living.
57:45I can't see any gas.
57:47It'll be in the delivery room, won't it?
57:48So many mothers looking after him.
57:51I'm telling you, nurse,
57:52the one thing his baby isn't
57:53is a Protestant.
57:55More tea, Mrs Clifford.
57:56Yes, please.
57:57And expect to all grey.
58:02Before then, celebrate the sisterhood
58:04with access all areas.
58:05Call the midwife.
58:06Press red to watch on iPlayer now.
58:08Here next, shadows from the past
58:10continue to haunt the night manager.
58:12But just how dangerous are they?
58:14And for mystery with your drama,
58:15meet an iconic mismatched duo in Lindley.
58:18Watch the entire first series
58:19now on iPlayer.
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