We are nothing without others.
In their presence, we unfold.
A smile exchanged,
a confidence shared,
a joining of forces as we make our way.
These are the things that unite us
and enable us to thrive.
Perhaps, above all else,
we are what we share -
a glance, a task,
a passion, a child...
...our happiness, our home.
Nonnatus House. Midwife speaking.
Nurse Anderson!
There's an emergency at Tavistock Buildings.
Sister Frances has the details.
It's a BBA - born before arrival -
so be as quick as you can.
Nurse Hopkiss can come with me.
Yes, Nurse Crane.
Well, don't just stand there gawping, lass.
We haven't got all day.
You took your time, if you don't mind me mentioning.
Flat 3? Mrs Chawla? Which way, please?
- Oh, you want the flat upstairs. - It's a green door. - Thanks.
I'm the one who phoned you.
It's the last door on the right!
What are you doing nosing?
This is women's business.
Blood. So much blood. Help her. Please. Help her.
- What's your name, precious? - Manju.
I'm Nurse Anderson, midwife from Nonnatus House,
and this is Sister Frances.
She's just going to take a little look at Baby
while I have a look at you.
Thank you.
There we are. Let's clean you up.
Oh! You've got a beautiful little girl, Manju,
with a fine pair of lungs!
Can I see?
Not yet, precious. Let me feel if your womb is contracted.
I need to see where the bleeding's coming from.
I'll be as gentle as I can.
Tea. No custard creams, but there are ginger snaps.
You won't find any complaints from me.
It looks like John Peel's report on the Abortion Reform Bill
will be published some time in December.
Gosh. They were quick once they got started.
- What do you think they'll recommend? - In all honesty, I don't know.
I know what I hope they'll say, but...
It's a difficult subject for a lot of people, I know.
Well, we'll just have to wait and see what transpires.
- There's a piece missing. - Manju, listen to me, precious.
I think some of your placenta,
your afterbirth, is still in your womb,
so we have to get it out. Do you understand?
Manju, the injection will help your womb contract again
and get rid of it.
That's it, precious, well done.
I know it's uncomfortable.
Here it comes.
That's it, precious. That's it.
Well done. You're doing so well.
Sister Frances is going to take a look to make sure it's all there.
There's still some more.
Manju, we have to get you to hospital now
- in case you need an operation. - No...
No. No, no, no, no.
Can you tell her it's an emergency and she has to go?
She needs urgent medical care.
She's lost a lot of blood and could even die.
She'll go.
She's upset because it is Sutak.
Only family should see women after birth.
We need the flying squad.
Hello, Ethel.
Ladies...
...please!
You are in a respectable medical establishment,
not going ten rounds with Henry Cooper.
You coming?
Hello, Mrs Watson.
Gosh, your little one's grown since the last time I saw her.
Why do you think I'm here, Nurse? Milk tokens. She's drinking me
- out of house and home. - Well, if you join the queue,
Miss Higgins will be able to give you some. Shouldn't take too long.
Sorry. Will you watch her? I think I'm going to be sick.
If we'd have arrived just a few minutes later,
Mrs Chawla could easily have died.
It was just lucky that neighbour phoned us.
- It's always been hard to get the Indian women to come to us. - Why?
Lots of reasons, I imagine. They don't all speak English,
and they have their own way of doing things.
Their family take care of them.
That's all very well if everything goes to plan.
Exactly.
It's when there's complications that the problems start.
Mrs Chawla needed a midwife today, that's for sure.
Do you know what we've done before to let them know about us?
As far as I know, Nurse Crane had leaflets printed
and sent out round the district. She even had them translated,
- but it didn't do that much good. - Well, perhaps we need
- to think of something else. - Perhaps you do.
Right, Mrs Watson, pop yourself up there,
and Nurse Corrigan will make you a nice cup of tea.
How many sugars,
- Mrs Watson? - Two. And one for luck.
I don't know why I always say that. It never works.
Did you want a biscuit? I can get you one.
- Better not. Dicky tummy. - Sure enough. Back in a tick.
Ooh, that looks nasty. How did that happen?
Jammed it in the door. It looks worse than it is.
- So how long have you been feeling sick? - Three weeks. Maybe four.
- I think we should do a urine test. - You don't have to.
I've been through this enough times to know what's what.
I know it must be hard, Mrs Watson, with four of them.
I thought it would be easier when the twins went to school,
but there's still six of us. Top it all, Pete lost his job
- a fortnight ago. - Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
God knows when he'll get another one.
I don't know how I'm going to tell him about all this.
I won't be able to hide it for long, will I?
I was the size of a bleedin' house with the last one.
Oh!
This smells very good.
Go wash. Then we will eat.
I hear Mrs Chawla had her operation,
and she and her baby are doing very well.
I'm happy for Manju.
Those midwives saved her life, Sarita.
Go. Wash.
Come in.
Leaflets are important, Sister, of course,
but I wonder if a more personal touch
- wouldn't work better in this instance. - Go on.
What if we offered evening classes?
We have regular classes, Sister Frances.
Yes, but these would be different. These would be just for
the Asian mothers. It might make it more appealing to them,
especially if we hired a translator. It would be for them to find out
about us, but it would also be for us to learn about them
and their customs and what they need from us.
That does seem like a very sensible idea, Sister.
However, these are testing times financially,
and your classes would incur extra costs, money we just don't have.
That's not to say we should dismiss it out of hand.
Why don't you plan the first one, on the strict understanding
that you find some means of covering all future costs?
In truth, without that, they couldn't take place.
Can't you do something to stop them making that bloody racket?
They're only kids, Pete. They're not doing any harm.
I can't hear meself think, Cherry.
You, think? Careful, you might do yourself an injury.
I didn't mean it.
It was a joke.
I'll go see to them now.
- You not eating, pet? - Not hungry.
Probably a good thing. You look like you've put on a bit of weight.
You know I like you just the way you are.
Mrs Turner, do you have one of the old leaflets
we sent out, so I could see it?
Yes, I think there are some spares in the bottom drawer there.
I think you'll find I've moved them, Mrs Turner.
They now sit alphabetically - where they always should have been.
I've refiled most of the records that relate to our Asian mothers.
Most Sikh women, for example, have Kaur as their surname,
so they should always be filed under their given names.
How do you know so much about them?
My father was in the Indian Civil Service.
We came back to England when I was ten,
but he continued to instil in me a sense of order
- that has stood me in good stead. - It certainly has, Miss Higgins.
If you give me the date of your first class,
I'll print new leaflets on our Gestetner duplicator.
I could possibly translate them into Punjabi myself
and find others to help with Pashto and Urdu.
That should suffice, for the time being.
That would be wonderful, Miss Higgins. Thank you so much.
Oh! Can I help you?
My name is Raj Gupta. I have come about my wife.
I am greatly concerned about her.
Better come in, lad.
My wife Sarita and I have been in Poplar for nearly a year.
Our family are in the East Punjab, so we have no-one here.
I have a very good job in a warehouse. I am a foreman.
We have very nice rooms. Sarita takes very good care of them...
Young man, I don't wish to be rude, but time is of the essence.
Could you tell me exactly what's wrong with your wife?
You can be as direct as you like.
It won't be anything I haven't heard before.
- I assume she's expecting a baby. - I think it will come soon,
but she will not see a doctor.
I have asked her many times, but she refuses.
Do you know why?
She is scared.
And now I am scared of what might happen.
And your wife doesn't know you're here, is that it?
I will just give you our doctor's number.
He's a very kind, gentle man, and your wife can trust him.
Also, one of the Sisters here is holding a meeting
just for our Asian mothers.
Do you think you could persuade your wife to come to it?
It would be better if you invited her.
I'm sure we can sort something out.
Oh, Sister Frances! How lovely. What can I do for you?
Well, I'm here to talk to you in your official capacity.
Ooh! In my official capacity? How intriguing.
You see, I'd like to discuss how I might go about
applying for some funding from the council.
Funding from the council? Well, you have piqued my curiosity, Sister.
Now, you've certainly come to the right person
but not the right place.
I prefer to conduct official council business at my evening surgery.
Oh, of course. No, but... May I give you some idea of where...?
Sister, I'm so sorry, but I must stop you there.
Right now, you're addressing me as Mrs Violet Buckle
of Buckle's Haberdashery.
However, at my evening surgery,
you will be addressing me as Mrs Violet Buckle,
local councillor, a small but very important difference.
So, I look forward to seeing you there.
Oh, er, Mrs Gupta?
I'm Nurse Crane from Nonnatus House. May I come in?
Please put those heavy bags down. I can bring them in for you.
I forgot something at shop. I-I will go back.
Oh, please... Let me help you. It'll only take five minutes.
We're holding an evening get-together
for our local Asian mothers-to-be. It's a chance to meet us.
Is this your first baby, Mrs Gupta?
All the more reason to come along.
I will try, but I am very busy.
It'll only be for an hour or two.
Our midwives are all very friendly.
It won't be long before Baby's here, Mrs Gupta.
It might help you.
- I will come. - Good. I'll tell them.
Right, well, I'll, er... I'll let you get on.
Have you tried cleaning with white vinegar
and just a touch of soap?
It brings everything up beautifully...
...at half the price.
I will ask in shop.
Oh! Don't worry. I can see myself out. Cheerio.
Good afternoon. I wondered if it might be possible
to have a word with the Mother Superior.
I'm in the area conducting some family business.
I'm afraid the Mother Superior doesn't live here,
but Sister Julienne will be able to help you.
- May I tell her who's calling? - Matthew Aylward.
Come in, Mr Aylward. Take a seat and I'll tell her.
Thank you.
♪ Hush, little baby
♪ Don't say a word
♪ Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
♪ And if that mocking... ♪
- What's wrong with you? - Something I ate.
You must think I'm stupid. I don't think that. What is it with you,
Cherry? I only have to hang my shirt up at the bottom of the bed,
- and you're in the club! - The pill didn't suit me, you know that,
and... you won't...
So this is all my fault, is it?
No! I didn't say that. I just...
Don't you ever blame me.
Not ever!
I've done nothing but my best for you and the kids.
Your best?
Is that what you call it?
Look at this place.
It's not fit for animals to live in, let alone kids.
If this is your best, I'd hate to see your bloody worst.
It's my father's company, actually.
We have property in this area, so as we're neighbours,
I thought I'd come and introduce myself.
I've heard a great deal about the splendid work that you do here.
That's always so pleasing to hear.
Er, my wife died recently, not long after giving birth...
...and she was greatly helped by one of your midwives
who was working at the private hospital at the time.
- Nurse Franklin? - Yes.
It became apparent then just how important your work is.
You have my sincere condolences, Mr Aylward.
Thank you.
Now, I've been doing some research into this area,
and it seems that Nonnatus House
was in a somewhat precarious position a while ago.
Eviction was threatened, was it not?
Yes, it was a worrying time, but, thankfully,
that ship has now steadied, though our finances
- are still somewhat precarious. - That is why I'm here, Sister.
I'd like to make a donation on behalf of our company.
I was thinking somewhere in the region of £100.
Mr Aylward...
...I-I don't know quite what to say. That's extremely generous.
It's the least I can do.
My wife's final days were greatly eased by your midwife.
Your work is hugely beneficial.
I'd best be off.
I'm deputising for my father today, but I am a barrister,
so if there's anything else I can do to help,
- then please don't hesitate to ask. - Thank you.
We are grateful to you, in our turn.
Thank you, Councillor.
Next, please.
Ah! Name?
Sister Frances.
Thank you, Sister. Lovely. And what can I do for you?
Well, I'd like to apply to the council for some charitable funding.
And what would the purpose be?
Well, we'd like to hold a series of evening classes
to encourage the Asian mothers-to-be
living in Poplar to come to us more regularly,
at Nonnatus. Oh. What sort of financial contribution
were you looking for?
Oh, I haven't done a full breakdown yet.
Well...
...we will need that before we can proceed.
Have you had any of these meetings yet? I mean, do we know
if they will be well attended or not?
As ever, council funds are overstretched, unfortunately.
Well, the first meeting is on Monday, and we're covering the cost
ourselves, in the hope that the council will help us
- if it's successful. - Hmm.
You will, um, need to fill out one of these...
...in triplicate.
Thank you, Sister.
Next!
Ah, Sister Frances! The leaflets are ready for your perusal.
I think you'll find them to your satisfaction.
I did have a little tussle with the ink-roller earlier,
but I appear to have conquered it.
Miss Higgins, these are almost professional.
- Thank you. - My only problem now is
I have to find a translator before this evening.
I'd be happy to step into the breach.
My Punjabi may be a little bit rusty, but, well,
I can do it to a level that might be almost professional.
Manju is still in Sutak, but...
...we've brought you these as a gift.
They look delicious, Mrs Chawla,
- and they smell even better. - Where's yours, Sister?
I'm only messin'!
I'm Sister Frances,
this is Nurse Anderson and Pupil Midwife Corrigan.
Thank you for coming. This is our first meeting.
We hope it won't be our last.
We're here to answer all your questions.
Our door is always open and we're happy to welcome you inside.
Please help yourselves to refreshments, and then we'll start.
That was very impressive, Miss Higgins. Well done.
Even more proficient next time.
If there is a next time. I still have to convince Sister Julienne
these classes are worth doing. I'm not sure tonight's rather small
attendance will be enough.
Does anyone know if Mrs Gupta's here?
Oh! Er, now, I took the liberty of asking everyone
their names and addresses.
- No. There's no Mrs Gupta listed. - That's a shame.
Nurse Corrigan is just here to assist today, Mrs Watson.
It's all part of her training.
Can you just pop up there for me?
I'd like to have a little feel of your tummy first.
- Are you in pain? - It's just a bit sore. It's nothing.
I think I should take a little look, just to be on the safe side.
Can you slip your undergarments off?
I don't need all of this rigmarole.
- It's just a bit of an itch. - It's best to be safe than sorry.
Thank you.
It looks like you have an infection, Mrs Watson.
I'd like Dr Turner to take a look. It does look very sore.
Nurse Corrigan, can you ask him to come in here, please?
Sarita?
There. Breathe now.
Drink.
Oh, Sarita, why do you do this? Why?
I love you, but this cannot carry on.
You're going to hurt yourself and the baby. Think of the baby.
I cannot stop thinking...
...of the train...
...the noise...
...the dirt... The dirt...
...and the baby...
...in the dirt...
...not moving!
What happened to you on that train was a terrible thing.
You were a child during Partition. We all were.
We saw things children should never see.
But we are here now, Sarita, and we are safe.
You are safe.
Right, Mrs Watson, you can get yourself dressed again.
You have a severe vaginal infection,
so we're going to have to treat it with a course of antibiotics.
Now, they should do it, but we will need to keep a close eye.
We don't want anything passed on to Baby.
Mrs Watson, I'm afraid I have to ask you this.
Did you do anything to hurt yourself?
Down there?
No! What do you think I am? What kind of a question is that?
It looks as though you've used something that wasn't very clean.
Is this the case?
I understand how difficult this can be,
but we need to know so that we can treat you properly.
Treat me? For what?
Not for what's wrong. You can't give me a decent place to live
or enough money coming in every week
so I can keep the kids I've already got. The damage is done.
Can you tell us what you used, Mrs Watson?
A skewer, all right?
It was all I could find.
But I couldn't even do that properly.
May I look at your hand, Mrs Watson?
No. No!
If that gets infected too, you could become quite ill.
Cigarette burns?
I did it.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
We can't help you if you don't tell us.
Nothing.
Nothing!
Will I be arrested?
Abortion is against the law, Mrs Watson.
Now, there's nothing to be gained for anyone
from me taking this any further, but it is very important
that you know how dangerous that was.
You could have injured yourself very badly.
You could even have died.
I... I love my kids...
...so much. This... this is not because I don't...
We know that, Mrs Watson.
We know.
That burn and the bruise on her face - her husband, I assume?
I would think so, yes, though she won't ever say.
There are so many women like Cherry Watson...
...at their wits' end.
In my opinion, this new bill can't come quickly enough.
Hmm. If it goes through, Dr Turner. There's a long way to go yet.
And, sadly, women like Mrs Watson don't have the time
to wait for men in the Lords to decide what's best for them.
So, ladies, yesterday's clinic. Does anyone have anything
interesting to say about the cases you observed?
This is your chance. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
If I never see another sample jar, it won't be too soon.
Sorry to disappoint.
I'd like to talk about something that happened.
Go on.
Mrs Watson tried to get rid of her own baby,
which is a criminal act, but Dr Turner was sympathetic.
- Yes, he was. - As were you, Nurse Franklin.
- Yes, I was. - But that's not our job.
We have to be professional. She broke the law.
We WERE being professional, Nurse Corrigan.
We diagnosed her infection, gave her the appropriate medication
and stressed how dangerous her action was.
But we were also here to listen and to understand.
Mrs Watson lives in shocking poverty.
She's already got four children. Her husband has no job
and beats her regularly. This is a woman at the end of her tether.
Then why isn't she on the pill?
It's single women that can't get the pill.
- There's no excuse if you're married. - She was. It didn't suit her.
She might be Catholic.
There are other types of contraception.
Her husband hits her, Nurse Hopkiss.
He's the last person she can rely on.
I'd up and leave anyone that treated me like that.
Well, perhaps, but you're not in her situation.
We've all seen attempted abortions,
and we'll all see them many times again
- unless there's a change in the law. - But the law is the law now,
and we all have to follow it! Or everything falls apart.
What's wrong, Sarita?
The baby...
...too quiet.
Come. We must go see a doctor.
Sarita, please.
The baby's fine, Mrs Gupta. The heartbeat's strong.
Probably just having a little rest, getting ready for its big day.
- Thank you. We were so worried. - I'm sure.
Mrs Gupta, these chemicals can be very dangerous when you mix them.
I would advise caution from now on.
Raj...
...I have to clean.
Floor will be filthy. I must get rid of...
Rid of what, Mrs Gupta?
The blood.
Tell them, Sarita. Tell them about the train.
What train?
The train from West Punjab to East Punjab.
It was Partition, and Hindus like us were put on trains
and forced to flee.
Train...
Filthy, dirty train.
Guards were shouting.
Shouting.
Beating us.
Kicking us.
Hurting my mother.
Four of them.
Again and again and again.
Till she was quiet.
Then they...
Urinated on her mother.
Like animals.
Then they threw her from the train.
My aunt's baby...
...born on the train...
...on the dirty floor.
She screamed...
...but no-one came.
Baby...
...dead.
How old were you, Mrs Gupta?
Five.
We call what happened to you a trauma.
You didn't cause it or make it happen.
You were the victim of it. Do you understand what that means?
It's not your fault.
And we will do everything we can to help you and your baby.
And why did they have to flee?
The British had just announced the Partition of India
into two parts - India and Pakistan.
Britain pulled out of India too fast
and utterly failed to see the chaos that was coming
or the human cost of their stupidity and arrogance.
The poor woman is still paying for that.
She was five.
Just a little younger than Angela and May.
Doesn't bear thinking about.
Her obsessive cleaning has obviously got worse
- since she became pregnant. - You can understand why.
We're going to have to refer her to a psychiatrist...
...but it's going to take time. She's almost at term.
Sister Frances, I know that you've been working with the Asian women,
so it might be appropriate
if you were involved with her case from now on.
Of course, Dr Turner. I'll do everything I can.
Morning!
You're up and about early, Nurse Franklin.
I'm after a copy of the Times. I didn't want it to sell out.
- Oh, no danger of that. Most people have it on order. - Excellent.
Looking for anything in particular?
Possibly.
Well! Good for her!
For who?
- Nurse Franklin. - Trixie?
She's written a letter to the Times
- in support of the Abortion Reform Bill. - Oh, my goodness.
- Why did she do that? - Because it's what she believes.
- Frankly, I applaud her. - Well, you might, but I'm not sure
others will feel the same. Read it out. What does it say?
"Dear Sir. I have been a midwife for many years"
"and I am writing this in a personal capacity."
"These views are mine and mine alone."
"I have seen first-hand the terrible consequences"
"of illegal terminations, both for women and their families."
"Women in despair about their circumstances,"
"often through no fault of their own,"
"resort to desperate measures."
Oh, dear.
"These dangerous procedures, carried out in unsafe environments,"
"can lead to permanent damage and often death."
She's only saying what she's seen, Fred.
What they've all seen.
The point is, should she be saying it in a national paper?
She's for it now.
And so she should be. It's not professional.
She's the one meant to be teaching us.
- I hope you're not gossiping, ladies. - No, Nurse Franklin.
And just to warn you, Limpet Street is blocked with roadworks.
I know what you're all thinking, but somebody had to say it,
and I stand by every word I said. I made it very clear
I was speaking for myself and not all of you.
That's as may be, lass, but you work here, with the Sisters.
Yes, Mother Mildred, I'm afraid I have seen it.
I believe she wrote it a week ago.
Trixie!
Lucille! Lucille...
- Caught you! - Can't talk for long.
I have a list of calls as long as my arm.
Did you see the Times?
Yes, I did. We've all seen it.
It made me think.
- About what? - The things you've seen
and how hard it must be to make sense of them.
Sometimes, yes. But all I can do is be guided by my own conscience.
- And that's what Trixie's doing now. - Hmm.
Your blood pressure's completely normal, Mrs Gupta.
That's a very good sign.
And it looks like Baby's getting itself ready.
They're very clever when it comes to being born.
If we listen to Baby, it'll tell us what to do.
Have you thought about where you'd like to give birth?
You could have Baby here. It would be perfectly safe,
and Dr Turner and I will stay with you the whole time.
Or we could arrange for you to come into our maternity home.
We'll do whatever feels safest to you.
Maternity home.
Is there enough water in the kettle for another cup?
Sorry. You'll have to fill it up.
Nancy, I can't help feeling you're angry about my letter.
I'm not angry about the letter.
But you are angry?
Can I help in any way?
No.
Thank you, but... no.
Hush now! Stop crying, that's a good girl.
Oh, I've got to answer the door.
Good morning, Mrs Watson. I've come to check you over and
to make sure the antibiotics are doing the trick.
I'm sorry about all the mess.
Oh, don't worry about it. I'm hardly Miss Tidy!
You should see my dressing table.
I know I should be waiting for your evening surgery,
Mrs Buckle, but this is rather urgent,
and I wanted you to have it as soon as possible.
Well, I suppose I can make an exception this once,
but don't make a habit of it, Sister.
Apologies. That just slipped out.
It's looking much better, but keep taking the antibiotics.
You have to finish the course.
Would it help if I had a word with social services?
Why?
Well, you're not going to tell them, are you? You can't.
They'll take my kids away.
I know that sounds stupid...
...considering what I tried to do, but...
Mrs Watson, there is no doubt in my mind that you love your children.
- Do you mean that? - I do. What I'm saying is
I could talk to social services about your housing situation.
There could be an argument for having you rehoused.
- It might ease some of your difficulties. - Would you do that?
Yes, though I can't promise it will have an effect.
What I can't do is change the other things in your life.
He's not a bad man.
He's just...
...lost.
And he does love me...
...in his way.
Why do you think I keep falling pregnant?
You could go back on the pill when the baby comes.
- Couldn't get on with it. - There are other types. We could
- try you on a different one. - Why are you doing this for me?
It's my job, Mrs Watson.
- Do you have midwives like us? - Not in uniform, like yours,
but there are women in our villages
who are called dais, who bring our babies into the world.
We want to learn more about your traditions.
There are many different ones, all over India. In the Punjab, the cord
is cut with a special knife then rubbed with melted ghee.
Er...
Do not worry, er, he not stay.
I am.
Thank you for coming, Mrs Gupta.
- I'll Be There - be Gerry and the Pacemakers
♪ Don't you, don't you worry, darling
♪ Don't you know I'll be there?
♪ I'll be there
♪ When all your dreams are broken
♪ Answer your unspoken prayer
♪ I'll be there. ♪
"Ah," said Willy, rubbing his hands together
before he gently taps on the door.
"Who is tapping at my door?" said Granny.
"It is Red Riding Hood with cakes and wine. Please let me in..."
...in a sugary voice
he thought resembled Red Riding Hood.
Oh! How was it?
- Good, I think. - It was very good, Phyllis.
Sister Frances is far too modest to take any credit.
Well, we did learn about some of their customs tonight.
They told us that Punjabi mothers dip their finger in black powder
just after Baby's born
and put a little black dot behind its ear, for protection.
As customs go, that's a very nice one.
Did Mrs Gupta come?
- She did. - Good. Baby steps, eh?
The baby...
...is coming.
We've got the room all ready for you, Mrs Gupta.
Dr Turner's coming, too.
We'll take good care of you and Baby, I promise.
Oh, Mr Gupta, you'll have to wait out here for now, I'm afraid.
I will not move. Not one inch.
You must move. And you must eat.
Right. Ready?
You are doing so well, Sarita.
That's it. Breathe. Just breathe.
Well done.
Now let's get you back up on the bed so I can examine you.
The sheet...
It's just fluid from when your waters broke.
It's nothing to worry about.
But we'll change it and put a clean one on.
I'll do it now.
Thank you.
Sarita, you're eight centimetres dilated. That's very good.
This baby's so keen to meet its mother now. Not long to go.
It's going well, Mr Gupta. Your wife is coping much better
than any of us could have expected. You should be very proud of her.
Sarita, I can see that Baby's head is nearly here.
So on the next contraction, I need you to give me a big push
and Baby will be here. Just one more push.
You can be as loud as you want. Let it all out. Nearly there.
That's it, Sarita, big push! Big push!
Just one more.
One more.
You've got a little boy, Sarita, a perfect little boy.
You did it, Sarita. You did it.
It's a boy, Mr Gupta. Would you like to see him?
He's beautiful.
Like his mother.
Powder, Raj.
- He is safe now. - He is.
Sister Monica Joan took a message for you today. It was by the phone.
From the BBC? Surely she's got that wrong.
She's written down the name. I think she's got it very right.
It must be something to do with your letter.
Oh, my goodness. What am I going to do?
- Phyllis... - Mm-hm?
Can I ask your advice about something?
Of course. Always happy to give advice,
wanted or otherwise.
I've been invited onto a BBC radio programme
to discuss David Steel's Abortion Reform Bill.
I see!
I've been invited as myself, not as a midwife from Nonnatus,
so I'd be representing myself entirely.
The letter caused enough consternation,
so I'm well aware this might be the straw, so to speak.
Do you want to do it, lass?
Yes, I do.
- You'll need Sister Julienne's blessing. - I know.
And I'm well aware she might not give it.
I would very much like to do it.
Of course, if you'd prefer that I didn't,
I would abide by your wishes.
I'd hate to do anything to bring the Order into disrepute.
The decision is not mine but Mother Mildred's.
As you know, she was extremely concerned about your letter.
I assume you would be participating
in this radio programme as an individual
and not as a midwife from Nonnatus House.
Absolutely.
Sometimes I envy young women like you,
young women who may not have a deep faith but have strong convictions,
convictions they're free to follow. I have made a choice, however,
to live both in the service of God and my patients.
Most of the time, there's little conflict.
But on occasion, they pull in different directions,
and that pull can be very strong.
In the end, in matters of conscience...
...my faith will always come first.
I understand, Sister.
I will speak to Mother Mildred on your behalf.
Thank you.
Would you like a lift to the studio, lass?
- Phyllis, I... - I'm going that way anyway.
You're not putting me out. Not one bit.
Then I would like it very much.
...our listeners a thought-provoking debate
on a topic that has divided the nation
and, indeed, members of the same household,
the Abortion Reform Bill.
In the studio today, we have a live...
I'm nervous, Vi, so I don't know how she must be feeling.
Well, speaking as someone who's very experienced in public speaking,
Fred, once she gets going, she'll be fine.
...controversial views on...
Speaking as a lawyer, I see no reason whatsoever
to reform the current abortion law.
It functions perfectly well as it is.
Precisely. If this bill is approved,
then doctors will feel pressure to use it. The floodgates will open.
- I think you'll find... - My concern goes further.
The champions of this bill say it is to allow for women in situations of
social or mental distress to be considered for termination.
But does this not give doctors the right to dictate
which women may or may not be suitable to have children?
- They're not letting her speak! - This is a power beyond, surely.
Yes. What happens if society doesn't
approve of a certain type of women, of how they live?
Then will doctors be encouraged to terminate these pregnancies?
No, of course not!
No doctor would subject a patient to a medical procedure
that carries risks unless they felt it was necessary.
No doctor would consider termination lightly.
It's very often the last resort. These changes are being proposed
to allow doctors to use their professional discretion
when faced with women in desperate straits
and to stop them from being castigated as criminals.
Most babies are loved and wanted,
but there are women who find themselves in situations
that are harmful to their health and to their sanity.
They simply cannot cope. They are living
in dreadful social conditions with no hope and no money.
How can that be beneficial to any child?
Then change the conditions. Give them better housing, more jobs.
Allow them to bring their children up in safety.
Why can't we do both? I'm not here to speak for all midwives,
just for myself, and all I know is what I've seen,
women bleeding to death in dirty rooms,
up back alleys, women desperate to avoid the stigma of
an unplanned baby. And there IS still stigma!
I know that this is a question of conscience,
and my conscience tells me that this bill should pass!
Oh... Well, did you hear it?
We did.
She spoke well.
She was very brave.
Yes, she was.
But those men!
How dare they? They haven't got a clue what it's like
when you have to make the hardest decision of your whole life.
But I have.
Why, what happened?
I didn't have an abortion.
I didn't even know what an abortion was.
I had a baby.
Don't look at me like that.
Nurse Corrigan...
...come with me, please.
When did this happen?
In Cork...
...when I was 16.
At the orphanage?
- Yeah. - I see.
It wasn't a prison! We could get out sometimes.
I was one of the nuns' success stories until then.
They presented you to us as one of their success stories.
They couldn't be seen to fail.
Besides, the Catholic Church is good at managing misfortunes.
Or covering them up.
What happened to the baby?
She was sent to a London orphanage run by the Order
called Fatima Lodge.
A couple of the Sisters in Cork who were on my side,
they arranged that instead of adoption.
And when I got the chance to train as a nurse over here...
...I couldn't get on the boat fast enough.
Nurse Corrigan...
...did the Sisters who brought you here,
who asked us to give you lodging and look after you,
did... did they know this?
Course they knew! But nobody knows everything.
Colette thinks I'm her sister.
- Colette being your daughter? - Yes.
How often do you see her?
I'm allowed to visit once a month, but only on Saturday afternoons.
So if I have ever had a Saturday afternoon off,
I've been to see her then.
And where did you tell us you were going?
To see the nuns.
- It was only a bit of a lie. - Lies are lies, Nurse Corrigan.
All I've ever wanted is to make a respectable life for myself...
...because if I can do that...
...then I can make a life for my daughter, too.
Those Sisters falsified your character references
and your professional references.
I don't know of a single hospital in London
who would knowingly employ an unmarried mother
or, indeed, admit her to a training course.
Can you not use your discretion?
Nurse Corrigan...
...there is my discretion and there are principles,
and, as yet, I do not know how they can be reconciled.
You may go while I consider the matter.
Secrets can maim us.
Shame can close us off.
What we bury drags us down,
and there can be no flight from it.
Speak. Speak up.
Speak out.
Find the words to express the facts that matter.
Bring them out into the light, into the air.
Hiding heals nothing.
Silence saves no-one.
When we are heard, we can be acknowledged.
When we are known, we can belong.
Bound together, we are stronger and braver than we know.
Alone, we are fragile,
at the mercy of the storm.
Lisbon Buildings has always been a byword for filth.
And I can still have my sister with me for the birth?
She's the one who'll be adopting the baby.
- Nancy! - What are you up to?
If you're thinking of kissing me here in the street, Cyril Robinson,
I advise you against it.
Every single item goes to the council fumigator to be stoved.