Call the Midwife

Human beings thrive on the known, and the predictable.

We like our routines...

Morning.

...the calendar and the clock.

We like the familiar, and the expected.

Human beings are foolish.

Life is full of other plans.

Oh...

Morning, Nurse.

- Good morning. - Morning.

Have you seen this? In a free vote,

the House of Commons passed the Abortion Act.

Does that mean it's legal now?

Well, only as far as the statute book is concerned.

There's still a great deal to put in place

before any woman will be able to, well,

legally have a termination.

But that will be... next year?

At least?

And until then, shall we get on?

- Oh, sorry. - It's always worth sharing good news.

And if it means we're any closer to the last backstreet abortion...

- It is good news indeed. - To the business of the day.

Nurse Robinson, Mrs Jenner is out of hospital.

Would you check in on her?

Sister Frances,

you are required at the maternity home.

Nurse Corrigan,

you've a number of new mothers to visit, I believe.

Nurse Corrigan?

Yes, I got all that.

As for me...

Ah, yes, Mrs Corbett.

She can't have long to go now.

Another few weeks,

but she's struggling with her symphysis pubis.

That can be very painful.

It's easy to take for granted how the joints

of the pelvis work together in perfect unison...

...until they don't.

I hope you can help her.

I'll do my very best. Shall we?

Oh.

Hm...

A high temperature, swollen glands, sore throat and extreme fatigue.

- Your diagnosis, Dr Turner? - Glandular fever.

But I already knew that.

I'm not the only one in halls to come down with it.

Don't they call it the kissing disease?

It does raise the question.

Which I'm not prepared to answer at this time.

Well, the only known cure for glandular fever is rest,

and plenty of it.

We were right to bring you home.

Come on,

let's give your brother some peace and quiet.

I'm concerned.

Nurse Corrigan may have been left to her own devices

a little too often.

Her progress has never been unequivocal.

Are you worried that she might be slipping?

I think she sometimes loses her concentration.

Would you like me to speak with her?

Can I suggest that, instead of running

the risk of undermining her confidence,

we show her what she IS capable of?

The poor boy looked as though he hadn't slept for a month

when he arrived. And I didn't say anything,

but his hair is a disgrace.

He looks like a Shetland pony!

I always thought long hair and late nights

were rather typical for students.

I had a short back and sides,

and I was virtually nocturnal for my first three years.

Ooh, is that so?

Because I was spending so much time in the library

and not the pub.

Well, Timothy will be getting

his full eight hours while he's home.

Whilst I have your attention, Doctor,

the travel arrangements for the Midwifery

and Obstetrics Conference in Chelmsford,

how many train tickets will you be requiring?

Three myself, Mrs Turner and Sister Julienne

- will be attending. - Very good.

Ooh, and in other tidings pertinent to movement,

I have today received a postcard from our Nurse Crane.

Ooh, and where is she now? Marrakech?

Coastal Kent.

Ah.

Back on the British landmass, for the last week of her leave.

Go on. Don't be shy.

I've... got an appointment. For the baby.

Name?

Carole Reece.

Carole. It's nice to see you again.

Oh, hello!

Sister Frances helped deliver Dean.

Hello, I'm Norma. Carole's foster mum.

And how's this little fella doing?

Oh, dear.

It's his skin. It's ever so dry.

I'm sure we can do something about that. Come through.

Go with the Doctor.

It's all right, I'll just be out here.

Will you come with me?

Of course.

I know... they get younger every day.

It does look very sore.

Do you use soap in his bath?

Yeah, baby soap. I thought that'd be all right.

In normal circumstances, it would be,

but Dean has a condition called eczema,

which means his skin is very sensitive.

I didn't know.

Well, you can dress him now.

I'm going to prescribe some lotion

and some emollient to go in his bath.

That should clear things up.

But you need to remember, it will make Dean very slippery

when he comes out of the bath. Like an eel.

Especially if he's a wriggler.

He really is. So, that's it? He'll get better?

It will ease his symptoms,

but you'll have to keep an eye on him.

If you like, I could pop round, check everything's all right?

I'm at Norma's for now.

But when I turn 16,

the council are giving us a place of our own.

Oh, good morning, Roberta.

I believe your mother's expecting me.

Yeah. She's in the kitchen. You can just go in.

Ah, lovely.

Mrs Corbett?

It's only me.

Oh, I was hoping it would be. SHE GROANS

Please don't feel you have to stand on my account.

I see the pain in your hips has got worse.

In the last couple of weeks,

I've been finding it difficult to get up the stairs.

Oh, we can't be having that.

Let me speak to Dr Turner.

Oh, you don't need to bother him.

I respectfully disagree.

Edina hates making a fuss.

Whilst I rather enjoy it.

In fact, it's a favourite pastime of mine.

I've only two or three more weeks to go.

And there is absolutely no reason why we can't try to ease your pain.

Thank you.

And you complain about me?

I'm going to make you that appointment at the optician's.

How do you expect to drive a train?

His glasses are wrong. They're giving him headaches.

That's her polite way of saying I'm getting old.

Not at all.

You look the same as the day I married you.

Maybe with a few more grey hairs.

I knew it!

It comes to us all, Mr Corbett.

In you go.

Let's get changed out of our uniforms.

Mummy, look!

Carole might have a little boy,

but she's no more than a child herself.

Where is she to live?

I think the council are just going to put her in a flat

and hope for the best.

She is able to bring up her own child.

Some of us might have liked the chance.

She does seem very excited about having

a place of her own. If it's OK with you,

I would like to keep an eye on her until she's settled.

- Did you hear that, Nurse Corrigan? - I did.

From tomorrow, Nurse Corrigan,

you will be in charge of the morning orders.

We think it will help you get a better idea of how things work.

Of course if, if you don't feel ready...

I didn't say that. I'll give it a go.

..with early morning sunshine giving way to the...

And what delaying tactic did they employ tonight?

Oh, I'm sure you can guess.

"I need the light on." "I need a glass of water."

Oh, and not forgetting, "I'm not even tired."

Usually said with closing eyes and nodding head.

Although, I heard that one from our eldest this afternoon.

Even though he'd got through a whole percolator

of black coffee trying to stay awake.

Well, you have to admire his work ethic.

Not if it's making him ill.

The glandular fever is making him ill.

And he's not going to get any better unless he rests.

But there's no point me telling him that. He has to hear it from you.

I don't see why.

Well, where do you think he learnt to burn the candle at both ends?

I'll have to go in a minute.

Well, best make the most of the time we've got then.

Carole?

What you doing out here?

Like I need ask.