Call the Midwife

"It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"

Can I have a go?

Chestnuts, chestnuts!

All right, boys?

You all right?

'At Christmas we like to see things in their proper place.

'We unwrap the ancient legends and the oldest truths.

'We like our angels unchanged and our rituals familiar.'

Chestnuts!

'We like the right faces around the table,

'the right carols to be sung,

'the promise that this is how it is and will always be.'

Happy Christmas, Nurse! Hello!

Mistletoe! Hello, Fred.

Merry Christmas to you. Season's cheer and a ho-ho-ho!

'Because that is Christmas.

'The one still point in a world forever turning.'

Hello, Nurse Lee. Hello, Shirley. Merry Christmas.

Boys. Your antlers are very big, aren't they?

Buy yourself some mistletoe!

Christmas cheer and a ho-ho-ho!

Buy yourself some mistletoe...

You got a hawker's licence for that, Fred?

Don't want the costermongers kicking off.

I can't just give it away. I've been all round Epping Forest!

Proper countryside, that is. I need danger money.

It's a shilling a bunch.

Sixpence. And a blind eye.

Christmas cheer and a ho-ho-ho!

Oh, sorry, Sister Evangelina, I nearly forgot.

Half a pound of dolly mixtures, as requested.

I requested barley sugar twists. But it's Christmas.

I thought dolly mixtures might be a bit more festive.

Oh, yes, very festive for the child who's had his jab,

dithering over which one to take!

Meanwhile, the child behind works himself into the heebie-jeebies,

and won't roll his sleeve up for the needle! Sorry, Sister.

Afternoon. Ready for the off?

Make yourself useful. Take all the jujubes out of there.

They're everyone's favourite, and we don't want a riot on our hands.

After which you can give them to Dr Turner, as a thank you

for setting all this up on the day the kiddies have their concerts!

I hadn't much choice.

The national programme's been rolling out too slowly,

and we've had half a dozen cases in the district since November.

I've got the eights-to-elevens booked for first thing in the New Year.

Hopefully we can avert an epidemic.

I can't believe he's getting married in three days.

And to Sister Bernadette! He really does look happy.

Men generally do when they've got everything they want.

That's right, get it all out your system!

Now. Who wants to go first, Dasher or Dancer or Donner or Blitzen?

I want to go first! Me!

Yes. Father Christmas will come and see Freddie. Yes, he will.

I can't tell you how glad I am to see you!

I've been followed around all day by the smell of young sir's vomit,

and I've just found out it's in the turn-up of my trousers.

Guess what I've got behind my back?

Not the smallest idea,

but if it's a steak and kidney pie, I shall love you forever.

Sorry.

Never mind.

Same sentiment applies.

Hello! Whose turn is it now?

Petticoat tails?

Another Yuletide gesture from a grateful patient.

I thought you were doing the polio vaccinations.

Finished. I need some addresses for my house calls.

What are you doing?

I'm trying to bring on the hyacinth

in Sister Monica Joan's table decoration.

It's going to be all hands to the pump on this one.

I told her they'd be too cold on that sideboard. And damp.

The Christmas serviettes were absolutely green with mould.

And have you seen the mushrooms growing in the cloisters? Yes,

but don't tell Sister Monica Joan.

She'll be sprucing them up with tinsel and some glitter.

Alec thinks we could be here for another 18 months.

They're behind on the rebuilding programme.

Until they catch up, they won't knock Nonnatus down. Really?

We'd be none the wiser if your new squeeze wasn't a council surveyor.

Oh, speaking of which...

He called and left a message.

Nonnatus House, midwife speaking. Oh. Hello, Sergeant.

Dare one ask if you had any luck with the estate agent?

Camilla, there are no family homes to rent anywhere. I know.

But one mustn't give up hope!

Yes?

The station called.

There's been an incident at the building site on Rake Street.

At least it's only round the corner.

Ah, Nurse Lee! Our usual teatime appointment.

My dear Shelagh! Hello, Sister Julienne.

It's so very good to see you. The bride to be!

I was on my way to sit with Timothy while he does his homework.

Dr Turner's out on call, and my lodgings aren't far away.

Is there something very special in that box?

My wedding dress.

I've just been to collect it. It's knee length. Really quite simple.

And for that very reason, you'll look exquisite in it.

Christmas Eve is a beautiful day to be married.

It'll be a quiet ceremony.

Timothy will come with us, of course.

I understand. Nevertheless, we'd hoped we'd see you more often.

I don't like to trouble you.

Nonnatus House is such a busy place.

We aren't too busy to include you in our prayers.

That means a very great deal to me, Sister. And I thank you for it.

Six days overdue. If it hasn't come by Christmas,

I'll be skipping the sherry and swigging castor oil.

Baby's head's well down and nicely engaged.

It won't be long now.

Alan! You can come in.

Everything all right, Nurse?

Couldn't be better.

What about you? Are you ill in bed?

Oh, had a bout of malaria. It flares up every now and then.

Did you pick it up during National Service?

Yeah, Korea. Makes me sweat like I don't know what,

but the doctor gives me quinine pills.

I'll be fine in a day or two.

She's the one who wants looking after.

Yvonne? She's in fine fettle.

She can potter about as normal. Just stay close to home.

What if Yvonne has it on Christmas Day?

What if there's no-one there to help? It gives me nightmares.

Alan, Nurse doesn't want to hear about your nightmares.

Just telephone Nonnatus House.

We're like the Windmill Girls - we never close!

You blasphemous lot!

The nuns'll have us all thrown out onto the street!

I doubt it. We just sidled past the parlour

with these innocuous little bottles of Babycham under our cardies

and they were all drinking whisky sours and playing poker.

They're getting themselves in the mood for carol singing!

We've got exactly ten minutes to have a quick brightener ourselves.

Gosh. Do you suppose you ought to be

traipsing round hospitals and clinics smelling of strong drink?

Babycham isn't a strong drink, Chummy. It's made of pears.

There's no limit to her sophistication

now she's got a boyfriend!

Are you sure you won't come with us?

No, I've hung up my carol singer's lantern.

Some things are worth staying in for.

Cheers!

What do you think?

Why are you asking me?

I'm not a woman. I'm not even a girl.

I needed a second opinion.

And I can't ask your father. He's the groom, so it's unlucky.

Why isn't it white?

It's nearly white.

It's grey.

I wanted something... understated.

Oh. I heard a woman in the sweetshop

saying you were doing it all hole and corner

because you'd been married before.

To Jesus. She said you were like a divorced person.

You're doing that in quite a cross way.

I am cross.

But not with you.

It's all right, Maggie.

Just breathe deeply.

Doctor has everything in hand.

Blade's in position.

Can I hear singing?

Yes.

That'll be something to tell baby, won't it, in the years to come?

Now, here we go, now, breathe!

That's it, Maggie, now, there we go! Push!

Push, there we go. Good girl!

A little girl, Maggie.

Aren't you just the best thing anyone ever got for Christmas?

Textbook forceps, if I say so myself!

What was the problem?

Deep transverse arrest. Oh, dear!

We were all done and dusted

by the time the nuns got onto Away In A Manger.

It's the first year I haven't joined in the carol singing.

You've other things to think about.

I know.

I ordered your bouquet today.

White roses and carnations.

And freesias,

because the shop lady said a bride should carry scented flowers.

Patrick, that's terribly extravagant!

In the convent, we only had roses on St Raymond's Feast Day.

Shelagh...

The Sisters ask after you every day.

It's not too late to invite them to the wedding. Yes, it is.

I know I saw them all at Freddie's christening.

But I just felt so... awkward.

They wouldn't want you to feel like that.

They love you.

And I wish they didn't.

Because I left them for something I loved more.

I can't get over the sense that I've rejected them.

You'll feel better than this.

We'll find a way, I promise you.

There were rules in the religious life.