Original subtitles

Translated By The Community Of WWW.MY-SUBS.COM

1 INSTRUCTRESS: And one,

and two,

and three...

MATURE JENNY: The female body is a complex thing.

At once fragile,

and formidable,

vulnerable, and brave.

It carries the seed of our hopes,

the bloom of our youth,

the weight of our fears.

It can nurture, and tremble,

inspire and terrify.

It oppresses and protects us,

holding within it all that we are,

projecting less than we wish to be.

It is our enemy,

our friend,

the very vessel of our being.

What the body takes,

it gives.

And what it costs,

we never question.

One of the newest, and yet most diligent,

recruits to the Keep Fit Movement,

has accomplished something rather wonderful.

Despite only starting classes last November,

and having a full-time profession,

she has qualified as an instructor in record time.

Beatrix, would you like to come forward and receive your certificate?

- (INSTRUCTRESS LAUGHING) - Oh, thank you.

Is there anything you'd like to say to the class?

Yes, there is.

I started coming to Keep Fit at an absolutely ghastly time in my life.

It meant that for an hour or two each week,

I didn't have to think about all the horrible and wretched things

that made me so frightfully unhappy.

But after a while,

Keep Fit didn't just distract me,

it started to make me stronger.

And what's more, I've lost two inches from around my waist,

and gone up a whole cup size in the bra department.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

This really is the very best thing I have ever done.

Ripped By mstoll

(BOY MIMICKING ROCKET NOISES)

Oh! Good afternoon.

Are you on your way to Mars?

Nah. The Moon.

There's no air on Mars.

Oh, of course there isn't. Silly me.

Me mum wants milk of magnesia.

Her name's Mrs Mullucks.

Oh, yes.

Hello, Perry.

Your mum really needs to come in and see Doctor,

so we can give her a free prescription.

But let's see what we can do.

(KEYS CLACKING)

MAN: Oh! Hello, love!

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

(CHILDREN YELLING)

(PERRY IMITATING ROCKET NOISES)

(BRAKES SQUEAKING)

BOY: Oi, Perry!

Mum, I got your medicine.

Oh, you're a smasher.

Bless you.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SIGHING)

- BOY: Smile! Smile! - (SHUTTER CLICKING)

CHILDREN: Yay!

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

Do hurry up.

You're late for the delivery.

(GIGGLING)

Oh, spoilsport.

Let's hope it includes what it says it includes.

I'm not sanctioning this fandangle

until every button, bow and apron string's correct.

Nurse Crane,

the suppliers assured me that all is in order.

The new uniform is going to be everything we hoped for.

Professional, practical, and really rather pretty.

If I might make an observation, Sister Julienne,

we are midwives, not glamour pusses.

(DOOR OPENS)

(WOMEN CHUCKLE)

Oh, go on, I'll race you!

(WOMEN YELLING EXCITEDLY)

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

(LAUGHING)

(SIGHING) No new look for us, Sister.

Still, better 600 years out of date than six.

- (LAUGHING) - Yes.

(WOMEN GIGGLING)

Goodness.

These do seem to be rather more nipped-in

- than the last ones. - Mmm.

I've no complaints.

It's horribly dispiriting, slaving away to maintain a waist when no one sees it.

Midwives in Scandinavia have started wearing slacks.

I read it in Nurse Crane's Journal of Nursing.

Imagine what bliss that would be,

cycling down the dock road at 3:00 in the morning.

I don't like slacks.

The tops of my thighs are a really funny shape.

Then you absolutely must come to Keep Fit!

Regular leg overs would make all the difference.

(SIGHS) Trixie, do stop trying to inveigle everyone

to signing up for your wretched class!

You'll be standing on the Commercial Road soon,

throwing shark nets over every girl who passes by.

- (LAUGHS) - (KNOCK AT DOOR)

I just think that both you and Barbara stand to benefit.

Besides, I'm terrified no one will come.

Hello, Phyllis.

Ooh, do you want to join Trixie's new Keep Fit class?

I do not.

I am content with performing my Canadian Air Force routine every other morning,

as well you know.

And I cannot make head nor tail of these new fastenings.

(SIGHS) Come on in.

You'll have to turn a blind eye to all of us in our scanties.

Oh, well, we're all girls together, aren't we?

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

(POP MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

Mum, can I do me homework in the parlour?

(SWALLOWS)

I just cleaned in there, Belinda.

Sit at the table.

Perry, move your rocket!

The washing's gonna drip on my maths, and all the sums will run.

Homework in the holidays?

I like homework.

(GROANING)

Still...

More homework now,

- less housework later. - (MACHINE CRANKING)

Be able to get yourself a nice job in an office.

Or a bank!

- (RHODA SIGHING) - Mum,

sit down.

I've got too much to do. (BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SISTERS EXCLAIMING HAPPILY)

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

You all look every bit as smart as I imagined.

What I want to know is, are those waspy belts practical?

If there's one thing midwifery's always involved

it's a good deal of bending at the midriff.

One protracted birth on a low-slung mattress,

and you'll end up cut in half.

Bless us, oh, Lord, and these thy gifts, which we receive by thy bounty.

- Amen. - ALL: Amen.

I was at Lisbon Buildings with Mrs Gallagher and young Jeffrey.

Is he the baby born with missing thumbs?

(SIGHING) And his mother's no nearer getting over it

than she was six weeks ago.

(SIGHING) The trouble is, Mrs Gallagher's quite a nervy type.

She was demanding sleeping pills the moment she knew she was pregnant.

I'd demand sleeping pills if I lived at Lisbon Buildings.

Surely she's on the list to be re-housed?

Everyone at Lisbon Buildings is on the list to be re-housed.

But the new flats aren't being built fast enough.

I'll talk to Dr Turner.

Perhaps he can help with a medical note.

Bad housing has a lot to answer for.

I think you'll find family planning has a lot to answer for.

These young wives get themselves a diaphragm,

and once they can pick and choose their family size,

the picking and the choosing never stops.

They want everything just so.

And if it isn't, they don't know where to turn.

I hope they know they can turn to us, Nurse Crane.

Kind words won't give Jeffrey Gallagher his thumbs,

but it may help his mother to cope.

PHYLLIS: Kind words are a universal panacea, Sister.

And like you, and can dispense them quite liberally when occasion demands.

And like you, I temper them with common sense.

Would you like some bread and butter, Nurse Crane?

Thank you.

I would also like the honey.

As I see there is still no cake.

One wonders why you comment on its absence,

given that it is our common sacrifice for Lent.

Meanwhile, Islamists have festivals of fasting

in which the frail and elderly are not deprived.

I have no objection to our Asian neighbours,

but when it comes to Lent, we do things our way,

thank you very much.

- Honey, Sister? - No.

Bread and butter for me.

(MAN SINGING)

- (DOG WHIMPERING) - Shh, shh.

♪... tulips from Amsterdam ♪

You know I don't like tulips, I like daffs.

That's all right, I didn't bring you any, anyway.

Well, they don't sell flowers down the Hand and Shears, do they?

- Huh. - Don't come near me!

Unless you want de-fleaing.

- What's gotten into you? Huh? - (RHODA SIGHS)

- (DOG WHIMPERING) - You'll find out soon enough.

I'm in labour.

What, now?

What do you think of the name Jonquil?

For a boy?

For a girl!

- It's a flower name... - (CHUCKLES)

Like, Daffodil,

only French.

Well, names are your department.

Yeah...

And carrying bags is yours, Bernie Mullucks.

Come on, it's time to go.

I can smell spring in the air.

My other two are winter babies. I haven't had a spring one.

Not till this little afterthought. (GROANS)

Little accident, more like.

(RHODA CHUCKLES)

BERNIE: Ah, we'll manage. RHODA: Mmm.

BERNIE: Always have.

It's like we used to say when we had to get married,

and live with your mum and dad.

Let's look at what we've got.

BOTH: Not what we've not got.

Give us a kiss, Rhoda.

And that's your lot.

Should've said that to you nine months ago! (LAUGHING)

(RHODA GROANING)

The neck of your womb is what we call nicely effaced,

Mrs Mullucks,

so it is thinning out, ready for the main event.

However, you're only one finger dilated.

The pains are terrible. You heard me yelling just now.

Seems to me, Mrs Mullucks, that the best thing for you

would be to settle down with a magazine

and a nice hot drink.

Have a good night's rest,

then breakfast in bed on a tray.

You know I'm putting it on a bit, don't you?

Two children myself.

I know what it is to crave a bit of peace and quiet.

Now, Woman's Realm, or are you more of a Titbits lady?

(GASPS) Woman's Realm.

They have Princess Margaret most weeks and I love her.

Especially in Norman Hartnell clothes.

(WHISPERING) Can I have a cigarette?

We don't encourage it on the ward.

(MOUTHING)

Now, I'll go and find the orderly and get you that hot drink.

(RHODA CHUCKLES)

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(RHODA GASPING)

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

Morning, Reverend.

Morning, Fred.

You look busy.

(SIGHS)

The Jersey Royals are coming on a treat.

Half a crown deposit secures the first crop.

I'm a curate, Fred.

I'm so poor, church mice feel sorry for me.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Morning, Barbara.

What's all this?

Oh, these are our new uniforms.

New hats, too?

Yes?

New hats are the reason why I'm calling.

Well, Easter hats, or more precisely, bonnets.

Which don't necessarily have to be new,

but they do actually have to exist,

or we can't have an Easter bonnet parade.

And I need help.

I've left it all to the last minute, Barbara.

Please be a sport.

Sister Mary Cynthia and I will take the district list today...

Sorry, mad dash.

Mrs Akintola's waters just broken,

she's contracting every three minutes.

Um, would you see to the board?

- Naturellement. - And you can take the post-natal checks

this morning, Nurse Franklin.

And make sure you call in on Mrs Riley...

- (PHONE RINGING) - In Egerton Buildings.

I think an episiotomy suture's been left in situ, and she's very sore.

Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.

Ah, and Nurse Gilbert has joined us!

How very kind of you to spare the time.

You can accompany Nurse Franklin.

- (HANGS UP) - (SIGHING) Maternity home for me.

Mrs Mullucks' labour appears to be revving up.

(SIGHS)

Trixie, please wait.

- Oh, really, Barbara. - (GROANS)

My cape keeps pulling at my neck,

and I've already laddered one of my brand-new stockings.

An elegant woman wears her clothes, they don't wear her.

When you get off, you'll just have to walk with your knees close together.

- (BOTH LAUGH) - Perhaps I could,

colour in my leg with some ink,

or a wet pencil...

Excuse me, Miss.

- Yes? - Do you mind if I take your picture?

Oh, that's rather a bold request on a first acquaintance.

I do have a business card.

All this says is that your name is Denny Wrey,

and you're a freelance photographer.

I'm trying to compile a record of life in the old East End,

before it vanishes.

Well, life in the new East End has a lot to recommend it.

Little things, like vaccinations

and indoor bathrooms.

But you wouldn't know that, seeing as you live in...

Holland Park.

Is she your boss?

No.

Fortunately.

Miss, if I can't get behind closed doors,

I'm gonna get nothing on film, but kids kicking footballs,

and meths drinkers.

And that's what the rest of the world will see.

He's right, Trixie.

Do you have a bike?

I have a scooter.

Very well.

As long as you don't inconvenience our patients,

I see no reason why you can't tag along.

Do you know any gangsters?

That's for us to know, and for you to find out. (CHUCKLES)

(SHUTTER CLICKING)

Swap around.

(RHODA GROANING)

(GROANING LOUDER)

They're sending men into space,

you'd think they'd find a way round this by now.

We'll have another try with the gas with your next pain.

(PANTING)

I feel a right chump, with my bum stuck in the air.

Believe me, Rhoda, I've seen it all before.

I was hoping for a nun, not one of you young 'uns.

Bet you've all got lovely bleeding bums.

(GROANING)

(SHUTTER CLICKING)

There we go.

All right?

- (GROANING) - Good girl, Rhoda.

(EXHALING DEEPLY)

(EXHALING DEEPLY)

Rhoda...

Baby's got himself into a bit of a pickle,

so we're going to have to help him out.

How do you mean, a pickle?

His head seems to be a bit off-centre,

it's nothing we can't sort out between ourselves,

but you are going to have to change position.

(GROANS) I can't.

I'm too tired.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Doctor's still on his rounds, but he called

and asked me to check on Mrs Mullucks.

Perfect timing, Mrs Turner.

(INHALING) Rhoda and I need a hand with our gymnastics.

- (GROANING) - PATSY: Keep it coming.

- (YELLING) - Keep it coming.

Glorious work, glorious.

(STRAINING)

We're crowning!

- (PANTING) - There you are,

Rhoda, well done.

Oh, we have a head!

(RHODA CRYING)

- (PANTING) - And that, Rhoda Mullucks,

is why women ought to run this country.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Can I lie down now?

In a minute or two.

Just catch your breath for now.

(GROANING LOUDLY)

(RHODA CRYING)

(RHODA PANTING)

(GASPING) What is it?

A boy or a girl?

(PANTING) I don't mind, I've got one of each.

(INSTRUMENTS CLINKING)

(RHODA PANTING)

It's a daughter.

(CRYING)

(GROANING)

(SIGHS)

Mrs Turner, will you give Baby a rub?

(GROANING)

We've a bit of a Speedy Gonzales of an afterbirth.

(GROANING)

(STRAINING AND GROANING)

There you go.

I'll just fit that over, if it's all in order, then we're done.

Come on, little one.

Mummy's waiting to meet you.

- (BABY CRYING) - (LAUGHING)

(BABY CRYING LOUDLY)

Bring her over, I want to look at her.

Baby's a bit chilly, Rhoda.

I'm going to pop to the nursery with her,

and just put her under the heat lamp for a minute or two.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Oh, Patrick.

Has Rhoda Mullucks delivered?

A little girl.

(SIGHS) She can't live.

She can't.

A malformation like this can't only be external.

What about the mother?

Did she see the baby?

No.

I should've just let her slip away.

Shelagh.

She's limbless, Patrick.

(CRYING)

You said yourself, she's probably just as damaged on the inside.

Who knows how much she'll suffer.

Even if she only lives an hour.

- (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) - (KNOCKING AT DOOR)

- Come in. - (DOOR OPENS)

I made you some tea.

Sister Monica Joan wanted to bring it up,

but there's a Gypsy Cream in the saucer

and I was afraid it might not stay the course.

You heard about the Mullucks' baby, then?

Is it very bad?

It was ghastly.

Trixie wondered if you were still going to Keep Fit.

Oh, Lord.

Should I tell her you're not feeling up to it?

No.

I think this is one of those occasions where one has to...

Buck up and knuckle down.

If we can retrieve even half a dozen

potential bonnets from this lot,

then we can throw ourselves at the mercy of the crepe paper for the rest.

Oh!

Perfect.

You really are a wonderful person to have on your side

when the chips are down.

And the very best thing of all is you've not once said,

"Why can't the children make their own Easter bonnets?"

Well, they can't, can they?

- Or, at least, some could. - (DOOR OPENS)

But some would be left out, because money is tight,

- or things aren't right at home. - (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Oh, hello, you two.

Trixie. Patsy.

Have you come to do a bit of knees bent, arms stretched, rah, rah, rah?

What?

It's my inaugural Keep Fit class tonight.

Barbara, I brought you a leotard and tights.

Oh, I was just going to wear my gym skirt.

Oh, Barbara, please don't start that nonsense about your thighs!

Denny's here to take photographs.

And we'll look much more stylish if we're wearing matching outfits,

so say goodbye to Tom and go and get changed.

You look as fresh as a daisy.

It's amazing what a sponge down and a nice nap can do.

Can I have my little girl with me for visiting time?

I want to show her to her dad.

Baby's to stay in the nursery for tonight.

She had a rather rough ride of it, just like you.

(BOSSA NOVA MUSIC PLAYING)

And we will begin the class with some gentle exercises,

designed to loosen our muscles.

So, stand up straight,

knees slightly flexed, and a hand's width apart...

Oh! I'm doing smashing so far!

- (WOMEN LAUGHING) - And now we're going to turn our head,

from left to right.

Like so.

If you feel inspired, you can do it in time to the music.

But it is a bossa nova beat,

so don't panic if you can't keep up.

(LAUGHING) Oh, I'm not so sure about this one!

(WOMEN GIGGLING)

I spoke to a registrar at the Children's Hospital.

He says it sounds like a very, very rare condition called phocomelia.

It means "seal limbed".

But, what could cause it? Why would it happen?

He said usually the best way to explain it to the parents

is to say that Mother Nature made a mistake.

I once said that to a mum whose baby had a huge port wine mark on her face.

She said, "In which case, Mother Nature must be a right old..."

I'm not going to repeat the word, but it was uncomplimentary,

and possibly accurate.

The registrar said that if she survived the night,

they could find a bed for her,

but that survival wasn't likely.

She's breathing steadily enough,

but I can't interest her in feeding.

The registrar said not to force her.

There might be pathologies of the gut.

He said to keep her comfortable,

and watch for a gradual tapering off of vital signs.

- She mustn't suffer. She mustn't. - Shelagh.

Go home. To our own children.

Don't get involved with this.

(BABY PANTING)

(SINGING HYMN)

(FUSSING)

(BABY CRYING)

Shh.

(BABY WAILING)

(SIGHS)

There's no mistaking what you want, is there, young lady?

DR TURNER: "Over the past decade,

"hyperparathyroidism

"has been recognised as a fairly common disease,

"especially amongst patients with renal calculi."

Who's getting involved now, Patrick?

(COOING)

She is.

She wants to live.

Oh, I hardly slept a wink last night.

I don't know how you manage,

going to bed with a head full of ironmongery night after night.

One must suffer to be beautiful.

Do you have any special plans for your day off?

No, I'm just meeting a friend.

RHODA: My husband never came in last night.

I fell asleep.

When I woke up, gone 11:00!

- Too late. - He does know Baby's been born.

Mrs Turner telephoned him at the warehouse.

Oh, that's nice of her.

Expect he's already down at the Hand and Shears, wetting the baby's head.

Yes, and you needed to rest, Rhoda.

Why are you calling me Rhoda?

I thought it was formal terms on a ward, just like the clinic.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound disrespectful.

You don't. You sound kind, like there's something wrong.

They said I could hold her this morning.

Baby had a very good night.

- I'm sure you'll see her soon. - Oh, ta.

Mmm.

I spoke to the Children's,

they said to send her in for assessment.

The ambulance is booked for 2:00.

Patrick, her mother has to see her first.

I know she does.

There. You have a nice little sleep.

I'll be back soon.

Oh, Mr Mullucks!

Is there any chance of me seeing my missus and my kid?

It's just, I got a bit tied up last night, so...

Why don't you take a seat?

I'll pop through and see if your wife's ready for visitors.

Would you like a cigarette, Rhoda?

What, in here?

I will if you will. (LAUGHS)

(GRUNTS)

(PHONE RINGING)

Excuse me.

(CHUCKLING)

As you know, Rhoda,

your baby needed a bit of extra care when she first arrived.

But the little nun says she's doing all right now.

She is doing all right now.

It seems she had some problems when she was still in the womb.

(BABY CRYING IN DISTANCE)

She has the most beautiful, beautiful face.

Has she?

It's just that she...

Seems not to have grown quite as she should.

(WHIMPERING)

(BABY COOING)

(WHISPERS) Hello.

Are you saying she's a dwarf?

(WHISPERS) No.

(SOBBING)

- (FUSSING) - Shh, shh, shh...

Hello.

- Mr Mullucks. - How could you even let that live?

(SOBBING) I need to see her. I need to see her!

You will, Rhoda.

I'm going to fetch her myself, bring her to you and put her in your arms.

Everything else, we can talk about later.

There ain't nothing to talk about, do you hear me?

Nothing. 'Cause I've seen it.

And there ain't no way that thing is coming back to our house.

(SOBBING)

It's all right, Rhoda.

(BABY COOING)

We're with you every step of the way.

Come on in, Rhoda.

Sit down and I'll hand Baby to you.

I'll pop out and get you a cushion if that chair's too hard.

It isn't.

(FUSSING)

(SIGHS) She smells like my others.

Can I just be by myself with her?

We'll be right outside the door.

(SIGHS)

Oh, love.

Oh, what a mess.

What a mess, eh?

(SNIFFLING)

We'll sort something out.

I promise.

'Cause you're mine.

Mine.

And I'm not bailing out on you.

Pats?

Were you looking at your watch?

- No. - Fibber.

I was given a spotless bill of health,

and went straight to see Matron.

I walked into that hospital a patient, and walked back out an employee.

(CHUCKLES)

(LAUGHING)

Mr Mullucks!

Mr Mullucks!

DR TURNER: Your daughter is going to be admitted to hospital.

DR TURNER: (BANGING ON DOOR) Mr Mullucks!

(SIGHS)

Rhoda?

Mrs Turner's just gone to see to some paperwork.

She wondered if you'd like to give baby a name?

She can fill out the forms without one, it doesn't matter.

No, it does matter.

I gave my other kids fancy names.

Belinda Louise.

Perry Keith.

I had a fancy name. Made me stand out, it was great.

I'm gonna call her Susan.

She'll never have to spell it or explain it.

There'll be nothing said by anyone.

She might be glad of that.

The only fly in the ointment is having to wait until June.

But unless Staff Nurse Winters gets knocked up

and brings her wedding forward, we'll just have to bide our time.

(SIGHS) It still seems too good to be true.

There you are!

That's a right wild goose chase you sent me on to that foundation garment shop!

They don't stock Miss Mary of Switzerland girdles at all!

Hello, Mum.

You remember Patsy, don't you?

Of course I do. Nice to see you again, dear.

There's scum on that tea.

Wouldn't see that in Pembrokeshire.

I was just telling Patsy my news, Mum.

It's wonderful, isn't it?

Well, I'm glad she's recovered from her accident.

But I don't want her coming back to London, or to work.

- Mum? - Don't you "Mum" me, I'm your mother.

Every time I walk through those hospital doors, I feel ill.

I go right back to you lying there, with your head cracked open

- and your mind half gone. - That was six months ago!

- Delia's made a complete recovery! - MRS BUSBY: I haven't.

Neither has her dad.

We don't want her leaving home again, ever.

Besides, they've even knocked the nurses' home down at the London,

she'd have nowhere to live.

- Lots of nurses live in rented digs. - Digs?

Digs? She can't be fending for herself like that, she gets tired!

I'm sorry, cariad, I'm putting my foot down.

RHODA: You're not taking her!

Not to hospital, not to anywhere out of my sight!

What are they gonna do with her?

Dump her in a corner, shut her in some side room like you have?

Rhoda, Baby's received the very best of care here.

Her name is Susan.

And if that's true, why can't she stay?

Why can't she stay?

They may be able to do tests on her in hospital.

What sort of tests?

Tests to make her arms grow?

Tests that magic her legs out of nowhere?

No.

Come on. Doctor prescribed this for you.

(SOBBING) Oh.

(SNIFFLING) What is it?

Just something to help you settle down.

Will there be a test that can tell us why?

I'm afraid that's not likely, Rhoda.

Then she ain't going!

And I ain't signing any forms!

When Nurse Crane gets back tonight,

I'm asking her to look at the roster for Easter weekend.

We need extra time for our devotions,

and there are several babies due.

I'm afraid the younger generation will need to step up to the plate.

That's all right, Sister.

I'll arrange for an extra-special lunch for Easter Monday.

Before the Bonnet Parade.

Shall I invite Mr Hereward?

Why not?

Morning, Sister.

- Smashing article in the paper. - What's that, then?

- Right, Nurse Franklin! - Present and correct.

There's nothing whatever correct about this, Nurse Franklin.

- Oh. - What is it?

I would rather you didn't look, Sister Julienne,

but I'm happy to spell out the headlines for you.

"Keeping Fit", exclamation mark.

"Poplar Midwives Take Care of All Aspects of Health."

Two photographs of Nurse Gilbert and Nurse Mount in their new uniforms,

and then two photographs of all of them

cavorting in their combinations!

Those aren't combinations, Sister, they're called leotards.

BARBARA: Oh, Trixie!

We aren't in the paper in our leotards!

I'm afraid you are, Nurse Gilbert.

Showing every outline that God gave you!

If God gave us those outlines, Sister,

then I'm sure he won't object to them being on display.

But, Nurse Franklin, I'm very much afraid we do.

The problem is, the nappies are just too big.

On a normal baby, the towelling comes halfway down the thighs,

but Susan's feet keep getting caught.

Could we try, uh, cutting one up and hemming it? See if that works.

I'd like to put her in little nighties, too.

Not just vests all the time.

Could someone bring in some baby clothes from home for you?

We could experiment and see what works.

My husband won't come in and, um,

the rest of the family's in Canvey Island, and...

God knows what he's told them. (SNIFFLING)

I suppose we're out of sight, out of mind? (LAUGHS)

Rhoda, in a few days, when you go home...

We can't go home!

(VOICE BREAKING) He won't have her in the house, and...

I'm not putting her in a home.

She's mine.

(GUNSHOTS ON TV)

I won't bow down to them, I won't!

I'd mind less if we weren't spending all weekend on duty so that they could pray.

Hurry up, Babs. We're breaking rank and getting our own tea tonight.

I suppose we ought to stoke up

if we're going to go out "cavorting in our combinations".

Do you want to join us, Sister Monica Joan?

I am engaged in watching television.

I await the news, so I might decide which cataclysm to pray for.

(GASPS)

- Éclairs? - Four. It was two for half a crown.

- Gosh. - Oh!

You break your Lenten fast! Yet it is only Maundy Thursday,

and too soon to cease the deprivations of the flesh.

Jesus didn't deprive his flesh on Maundy Thursday.

He sat with his disciples and broke bread at the Last Supper.

And I believe, in Eastern Orthodox tradition,

Lent actually ends today.

When I was a child,

my nurse would never let me eat every morsel put before me.

Something must always remain for Mr Manners.

I know now that Mr Manners is a myth,

and it is madness to appease him with delights of any kind.

(GIGGLING)

And now we take our right arm and raise it upright.

Moving it backwards, we perform a circle.

Repeating the move four times.

And then we switch to the left side and do the same again.

Gives the Windmill Girls a whole new meaning.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

It's certainly very stimulating to the humours.

And remember, feet 12 inches apart.

Now we reverse the action, moving the right arm forwards.

(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)

Good job I swirled under me arms this morning!

But if Rhoda's husband won't let her take Susan home,

and she won't put her in an institution, where will they go?

There has been talk of finding her a room in a hostel,

where she could take the baby, but she has two other children to consider.

It's not going to be easy.

No.

But things might resolve.

The situation doesn't have to be impossible.

Seems fairly impossible to me.

I had a little brother born with water on the brain.

Oh, I had no idea.

We aren't encouraged to talk about personal things.

My mother wouldn't put him in a home.

When we took him out she'd say,

"If people stare, stare back."

And I never could, because...

After they'd stared, they'd turn away and shake their heads.

And when they did that, I could see him through their eyes.

But we knew we loved him.

He died.

A long time ago.

And that was when we realised how much he'd really mattered.

God bless you, Sister.

And him.

(SOBBING) Thank you.

I just wonder if it's not something in the atmosphere.

The father of the baby with the missing thumbs

is a chemical mixer at the matchworks.

There are atom bombs going off in the Sahara

and a polluted river running right past our front door.

I'm not sure any good can come of asking why, Sister.

We have to accept things are as they are and...

Reach out with all the love we can find.

I suppose that's what we're doing now,

with Susan's clothes.

The trouble is, these aren't Susan's clothes.

They're what we could find in the charity box,

things people threw away, and that just isn't good enough.

I do know it must be hard for you to manage without Rhoda, Mr Mullucks.

She's such a wonderful wife and mother.

She's not bringing that monster home.

I know Susan's deformities are shocking at first glance.

At first glance?

Are you saying I didn't see what I saw?

No.

First glances are for strangers,

and shock is just for passers-by, for people who don't know Susan,

or love her.

But if you bring her home,

and bring her up with your other children,

she'll become as familiar

and as beautiful to you as they are.

And what makes you such an expert?

I'm not.

This sort of situation, nobody ever is.

But Rhoda loves Susan and I believe,

I know, that you love Rhoda.

These are the things that Mum got ready.

Well done, Belinda.

I left some things upstairs because they are blue.

Mum got all colours ready.

She said, "You never know what you're going to get."

Ain't that the truth?

I wish we could see her.

It'll be a challenge, Mr Mullucks, whatever you choose to do.

But it'll all be so much harder if the family's pulled apart.

- (ALL CHATTERING) - (TRIXIE CLAPS)

Now we've finished our tea and biscuits,

we're going to move on to a more challenging exercise,

where we work our arms and legs together,

trimming our flanks and tightening our upper bust.

It's a case of "good luck with that", as far as I'm concerned!

(WOMEN LAUGH)

Sister Monica Joan,

you can do these moves in a seated position.

(SIGHS) She's such a slave driver.

- (BOSSA NOVA MUSIC PLAYING) - No talking, please!

We need to save our breath for our exercises.

Just follow me!

Hands to the cleavage then out horizontally.

Hands to the cleavage then out horizontally.

Then we add a marching step.

Knees high!

Oh!

(GROANING SOFTLY)

Carry on, ladies.

(OLIVE SOBS)

Olive, is everything all right?

If you've injured yourself, I'll need to put it in my report book.

No, don't.

Please, please don't. (SNIFFLES)

I've had an accident.

Oh, it's not the end of the world.

It was that exercise.

My clothes are soaked.

Would you, erm, fetch me mac for me, so's I can go out through the hall?

Of course.

Has this happened to you before?

Well, it does, doesn't it, to women?

Not necessarily.

Not unless there's something wrong.

I reckon there is something wrong.

It's like there's something slipping away, down below.

Oh, Olive, you must see the doctor!

He'll just say I've had seven kids, it's par for the course.

Besides, I manage.

There's things you can do.

And they obviously aren't working, are they?

(CHATTING INDISTINCTLY)

Good evening, ladies, and Sister Monica Joan.

You're just in time for Compline.

You were all greatly missed at high tea.

We had to eat early so that we could make it on time for my Keep Fit class.

All of you?

Yes, Sister, all of us.

I can assure you,

I have not in any way contravened our Lenten vow.

I have consumed only potato chips

and they are savoury, not sweet.

Nurse Franklin, will you please come to my office at 9:00 tomorrow morning?

I shall be otherwise engaged at 9:00. I shall come at 9:30.

I wanted to make something special for Belinda Mullucks.

I thought she needed to know that someone was looking out for her.

What about young fellow-me-lad, the son?

Perry.

Tom's making him an aerial for his space helmet.

He's actually quite good at metalwork.

- (PHONE RINGS) - I'll get it.

Do not remove them.

The entire creation is hanging in the balance.

(RINGING CONTINUES)

DELIA: I'm sorry, Pats.

I'm so sorry.

Delia, you're 24.

When I said that to my mother, she said,

"And it's only by the grace of God you'll see 25."

If I come back to live in London it will break her.

I owe her so much and she's fighting so hard.

Well, can I see you before you go?

We're getting the bus back home on Monday night.

Can I meet you for lunch?

You could come here, I know everyone would be so pleased to see you.

All right.

But I can't leave Mum.

MARY CYNTHIA: Morning, Rhoda.

We had quite a sewing bee last night.

I've brought some nappies and dresses to try on Susan.

Oh...

Well, look at all this, Susan Mullucks. Eh?

Norman Hartnell better watch his back.

She's going to be a right little head-turner.

Yes.

It's just as well he's not a young man,

I wouldn't know where to put me face.

Doctor's not embarrassed, Olive, nor should you be.

I'm glad you came in, Mrs Nattrass.

You have what we call a prolapse of the womb.

It's advanced enough to mean that your womb

is periodically slipping down through your vagina.

Is that the medical word for it?

Vagina.

I never heard that said before.

Even when I was having me nippers, we just used to call everything

our "down-belows".

The nuns never used to call it anything at all.

Have you ever tried to remedy this yourself?

Well, I, I tried...

I tried shoving things up there.

Er, me mum, she used to say she'd tie a knot in a bit of old flannel.

I've had a go at that.

I've heard of people using a bit of rolled-up cardboard.

Even apples, some of them, or a spud.

So have I.

But you have to draw the line somewhere, don't you?

Yes, you do.

And I am drawing a line under this right now

and referring you for surgical repair.

Will that be on the National Health?

DR TURNER: Everything's on the National Health now.

Has been for quite a long time.

All you had to do was ask, Olive.

Never had the words, did I?

No.

Daffs, tulips, iris. Fresh for Easter!

You should get some flowers, Dad. She likes daffodils.

We have a particular way of doing things at Nonnatus House, Nurse Franklin,

and we've found over the years

that everything's much more harmonious if those who live with us respect that.

But, Sister Julienne,

there's a difference between respect and living by your rules.

We're nurses, not nuns.

We're nurses too, so in that respect our vocations overlap.

But if you make social arrangements

that take half our team off the roster at the same time every week,

then our patients may suffer.

And we have yet to address the business of those disappointing photographs.

I'm not giving up Keep Fit.

You already take one evening off each week to attend your other class.

Sister,

Alcoholics Anonymous, and I'm not afraid to say the name,

isn't my "other class", it's the thing that saved me.

And Keep Fit is the thing that makes me whole.

I do see how well you look, and how happy.

And I'm not just doing Keep Fit for myself.

There are women in my group who can't even name parts of their own anatomy.

They expect to be in discomfort, even pain,

because they haven't been taught that owning a female body ought to be a joy.

But it so often isn't, Nurse Franklin.

- That's what our work's about. - And it shouldn't have to be!

This morning I spent time with a patient who,

with all due respect is nearer your generation than mine.

And her experience isn't one that we need to see repeated.

I'm sorry, Sister.

No, Nurse Franklin.

I am.

She looks a bit like you, Perry.

Same little nose.

(CHUCKLES)

Not so much like Belinda.

She always had a clever-looking face.

Did Dad tell you she didn't come out quite right?

BOTH: Yeah.

But it's not the end of the world.

When she's wrapped up, she looks just like a normal baby.

And later on, if people call her names,

you'll just have to fight them, won't you, Perry? Yeah!

'Cause she's ours.

BELINDA: She's so soft.

She's going to have skin like a Camay advert.

The first thing the nurse said to me was,

"She's got a beautiful, beautiful face", and she has.

You see, sometimes in life,

you've got to be grateful for what you have got.

Not what you've not got.

Can I hold her?

- Yeah. - No.

He'll be too rough. He might hurt her.

Give her here.

(COOING)

We'll manage.

We always have.

Bring her home.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

What a beautiful table you keep, Sister Julienne.

Family meals are very important at Nonnatus House, Mrs Busby.

It was never like this at that nurses' home, was it, cariad.

I still wish they hadn't demolished it.

Where are you going to stay when you take up your job again?

I'm not. I'm going home to Wales.

Really?

There's nowhere suitable for her to live, Sister.

She's been so poorly.

Your daughter is welcome to lodge here with us.

I think that's a most-suitable suggestion.

So do I.

(MRS BUSBY SIGHS)

I don't know.

I do.

We cherish our young women, Mrs Busby,

and they keep us on our toes.

I fear, without them, we would flounder.

(OTHERS LAUGHING)

Thank you so much...

MATURE JENNY: And so the Easter festivities ended

and several new chapters began.

(CROWD CHEERING)

In the spring of 1961, the sun shone.

The moon was suddenly within the reach of man.

Science was all-powerful.

All medicine was good.

Belinda!

(CROWD CHEERING)

The day would come, too soon,

when Susan could no longer be wrapped up

or protected from the gaze of strangers.

Her parents' questions would be matched by those of other people.

And in time, their bewildered "whys",

would meet with a one-word answer.

No-one foresaw this,

or that a scandal would be sparked that would rock the world for years.

And there was love,

because love grows when nothing else is certain,

changing its shape, to fill the space required.

The docks are brutal and I need men that's fit for it.

Men give you their lives, at least respect them.

We need an ambulance.

These are wonderful days, girls.

Go out there and take hold of them!

You're quite the warrior, aren't you?

Baby has the best and it's free, the breast.

Can't I try him on a bottle of formula?

I thought you had more sense than that.

Connie, what are you talking about?

If I can't give him nothing, what good am I?

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