NURSE TRIXIE: I sometimes think the work we do is better than any spouse could ever be.

MISS HIGGINS: Just three weeks until your due date.

Now Jeanette doesn't attend our Tuesday clinic.

JEANETTE: It clashed with school.

MATTHEW: I have to find another nanny.

Or I'm not going to be able to go back to work.

You will help me sift through the applications?

[CHEERING] MRS. SANDS: Dr. Turner, what about the new baby?

Could it have the same thing?

NURSE SHELAGH: If you didn't care, you wouldn't be a midwife.

But everyone will benefit if you observe the rules.

This program was made possible in part by contributions to your PBS Station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Older Jenny, voice-over: 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... [ringing] 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 B.B.A.-- born before arrival-- so be as quick as you can.

Nurse Hopkiss can come with me.

Yes, Nurse Crane.

♪ So don't just stand there gawping, lass.

We haven't got all day.

♪ Woman: 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 the green door.

Thanks.

I'm the one who phoned you.

It's the last door on the right.

♪ What you doing nosing?

This is women's business.

[scoffs] Mrs. Chawla: 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.

♪ [baby fusses] thank you.

♪ There we are.

Let's clean you up.

[baby crying] ♪ Ohh.

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.

Ha ha.

It looks like John Peel's report on the abortion reform bill will be published sometime in December.

Gosh!

They were quick once it 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.

♪ Frances: 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'll 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'll 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.

Mrs. Chawla: She'll go.

She's upset because it is sutak.

Only family should see women after birth.

We need the flying squad.

♪ [women speaking at once] Ladies, please.

[women stop arguing] You are in a respectable medical establishment, not going 10 rounds with Henry Cooper.

[chuckles] ♪ If we had arrived just a few minutes later, Mrs. Chawla could easily have died.

It was just lucky that neighbor 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.

And Mrs. Chawla needed a midwife today, that's for sure.

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.

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.

Trixie: 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 4.

I think we should do a urine test.

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.

Thought it'd 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.

Trixie: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Watson: God knows when he'll get another one.

Don't know how I'm gonna tell him about all this.

Won't be able to hide it for long, will I?

I was the size of a bleeding house with the last one.

♪ Oh.

This smells very good.

Go wash, then we will eat.

♪ I hear Mrs. Chawla had an operation and she and her baby are doing very well.

I'm happy for Manju.

Those midwives saved her life, Sarita.

Go wash. ♪ 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?

Oh, 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.

Oh.

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.

[kids yelling] Can't you do something to stop 'em 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--I'll go see to them now.

[exhales] ♪ You not eating, pet?

Not hungry.

Well, 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.

Higgins: 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 10, but he continued to instill 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 your leaflets on our gestetner duplicator.

I could possibly translate them into Punjabi myself.

I'll 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.

[Sister Frances chuckles] 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.

[rips sheet from notebook] 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.

Well, 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'll be addressing me as Mrs. Violet Buckle, local councilor, a small but very important difference.

♪ So I look forward to seeing you there.

♪ [clears throat] Oh, uh, 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 5 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, uh, 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.

[opens door] [shuts door] [shallow, rapid breathing] [rings doorbell] ♪ 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.

[baby crying] Cherry: ♪ Hush, little baby ♪ don't say a word ♪ mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird ♪ ♪ and if that mocking-- ♪ and-- ♪ [retches] [coughs] Pete: 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 have to wear me 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--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.

[baby crying] It's my father's company, actually.

We have property in this area, so as we're neighbors, 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.

Uh, 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 best be off.

[clears throat] I'm deputizing 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.

[bell rings] Man: Thank you, councilor.

Next, please.

Ahem.

Oh.

Name?

Sister Frances.

[chuckles] ♪ 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?

Oh.

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.

Hmm.

What sort of financial contribution were you looking for?

Oh, I haven't done a full breakdown yet.

Well, ahem, 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.

Huh.

You will need to fill out one of these in triplicate.

Thank you, Sister.

Violet: 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.

♪ Ah.

Mrs. Chawla: Manju is still in Sutak, but, ohh, we brought you these as a gift.

They look delicious, Mrs. Chawla, and they smell even better.

Where is yours, Sister?

[chuckling] I'm only messing.

[chuckles] I'm Sister Frances.

This is Nurse Anderson and pupil Midwife Corrigan.

[Higgins translating into Punjabi] thank you for coming.

This is our first meeting.

[Higgins translating] Frances: We hope it won't be our last.

Ha ha.

We're here to answer all your questions.

[translating] Our door is always open, and we're happy to welcome you inside.

[translating] ♪ Anderson: That was very impressive, Miss Higgins.

Well done.

I'll be 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?

Ooh.

Uh, now, I took the liberty of asking everyone their names and addresses.

No.

There's no Mrs. Gupta listed.

That's a shame.

Trixie: 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?

♪ [coughing] ♪ 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... [sobbing] 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.

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?

Cherry: No.

What do you think I am?

What kind of 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's 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.

Turner: 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've injured yourself very badly.

You could even have died.

I--I love my kids...

So much.

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.

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.

♪ Trixie: So, ladies, yesterday's clinic.

Does anyone have anything interesting to say about the cases you observed?

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.

You know, 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're also here to listen and to understand.

Mrs. Watson lives in shocking poverty.

She's already got 4 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's the law now, and we all have to follow it, or everything falls apart.

♪ [scoffs] ♪ ♪ What's wrong, Sarita?

The baby.

Too quiet.

Come.

We must go see a doctor.

Sarita, please.

♪ Turner: 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.

The floor will be filthy.

I must get rid of-- Rid of what, Mrs. Gupta?

The blood.

Raj: 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.

♪ Tthen 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.

Shelagh: She was 5, just a little younger than Angela and May.

It doesn't bear thinking about.

Turner: Her obsessive cleaning has obviously got worse since she became pregnant.

You can understand why.

Turner: 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.

Good 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.

[drops coin on counter] ♪ 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 firsthand 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.

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.

Baines: No, Nurse Franklin.

♪ And just to warn you, Limpet Street is blocked with road works.

Trixie: 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 me arm.

Ha ha.

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.

Huh.

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.

♪ Trixie: 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.

[sighs] [bell rings] [indistinct chatter outside] 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.

[chuckles softly] 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 gonna tell 'em, are you?

But you can't.

They'll take my kids away.

I know that sounds stupid considering what I tried to do, but I -- 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.

♪ 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.

I 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.

♪ Uh... Do not worry.

Uh, he not stay.

Hmm?

Uh...I am.

Thank you for coming, Mrs. Gupta.

[chair slides on floor] "'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...'" [sighs] "...in a sugary voice he thought resembled red riding hood."

[bell rings] Crane: 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?

[exhales] We 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?

♪ Frances: Sarita, you're 8 centimeters dilated.

That's very good.

♪ This baby's so keen to meet its mother now.

Not long to go.

[door opens and shuts] It's going well, Mr. Gupta.

Your wife is coping much better than any of us could've expected.

You should be very proud of her.

♪ Frances: 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.

[groans] That's it, Sarita.

Big push, big push.

[breathing heavily] Just one more.

One more.

♪ [baby crying] You got a little boy, Sarita, a perfect little boy.

♪ ♪ You did it, Sarita.

You did it.

♪ [baby laughs and coos] It's a boy, Mr. Gupta.

Would you like to see him?

♪ Raj: He's beautiful, like his mother.

Sarita: 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.

And 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?

[exhales] Phyllis, can I ask for advice about something?

Of course.

Always happy to give advice, wanted or otherwise.

I've been invited on to a BBC radio program to discuss David Steele'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 program 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.

♪ [tuning radio] Radio Announcer: Now, listeners, some thought-provoking debate on a topic that has divided the nation and indeed members of the same household, the abortion reform bill.

In studio today, we have a live-- [radio signal cutting in and out] 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.

[program plays softly] Man: Speaking as a lawyer, I see no reason whatsoever to reform the current abortion law.

It functions perfectly well as it is.

Different man: Precisely.

If this bill is approved, then doctors will feel pressure to use it.

The floodgates will open.

I think you'll find-- first man: 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.

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.

Second man on radio: Yes.

What happens if society doesn't approve of a certain type of woman, 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.

Ohh.

Well, did you hear it?

We did.

Cyril: 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.

♪ Crane: Why?

What happened?

I didn't have an abortion.

Oh, 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.

♪ Julienne: 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 they know this?

Of 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 'noon 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 a single hospital in London who would knowingly employ an unmarried mother or, indeed, admit her to a training course.

Oh, 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.

♪ ♪ Older Jenny, voice-over: 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.

♪ Older Jenny, voice-over: 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.

♪ Older Jenny, voice-over: Alone, we are fragile, at the mercy of the storm.

♪ LISBON BUILDINGS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BYWORD FOR FILTH.

WOMAN: 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 OUT HERE IN THE STREET, CYRIL ROBINSON, I ADVISE YOU AGAINST IT.

EVERY SINGLE ITEM GOES TO THE COUNCIL FUMIGATOR TO BE STOVED.