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1 Thank you for coming in time for Christmas.

Hello! Guess who?

Is this where we live now?

- Would you come out with me? - Things are a bit busy.

Have you seen the time? Reggie will be waiting.

- Is this Poplar? - Poplar's miles away.

Reggie!

♪ With angelic host proclaim

♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem

♪ Hark! The herald angels sing

♪ Glory to the newborn King. ♪

Police, fire or ambulance?

Er, police.

I need to report a missing person.

Hello. Do you come here often?

I might be a repeat offender, yes.

Are you a nun?

Do I look like a nun?

Nuns are all mod these days.

I'm sorry, if I seemed...

..offhand when...

When I asked you out? Ah, you're all right.

I thought it was worth a try.

It was.

And it would be again...

..if you asked again.

Now?

Yeah.

- Great. Come on, then. - Ooh!

- What? - Pictures or funfair?

Funfair.

Give me two minutes, and I'll be back.

Who's in there?

If you don't open up, Mr Sarwar is calling the police.

Get out!

Oh!

Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.

Nurse Crane, have you seen Violet?

I've been trying to get her on the phone. Is she at the carols?

No, she's gone on to the Seamen's Mission with the brass band, Fred.

Is something amiss?

Hmm.

I think she needs more colour in her cheeks.

Fairground lights can be quite unflattering.

Mm, you're right.

- She's very pale. - Hmm.

I'm Irish. So is he.

He'll be used to going out with girls who look like milk bottles.

Oh, lacquer!

If he takes her on that Ferris wheel, it's going to be windy.

Do you think it matters that...

...I didn't tell him I had to organise a baby-sitter?

No! What matters is that you go and have a lovely time.

We'll be waiting up and wanting to hear all about it over a Bournvita.

Go.

Are you all right, Mum?

I'm fine. I reckon it's just a touch of what your dad's got.

No... I'm fine.

Thanks.

You haven't had any tea.

There's a tin of corned beef over there. Can you open it?

Hey!

Where's Poplar?

Trixie has already gone to the Seamen's Mission

to inform Mrs Buckle and to escort her home.

The assumption is that Reggie tried to make his own way

back from the coach station and has either lost his way or...

..otherwise...

..otherwise come to grief.

Do you think he might have wandered off with someone?

He's awfully trusting.

He's also quite confident if he gets an idea in his head.

I've marked out his likely routes back to Poplar

from the coach station, which is five miles away.

Nurse Crane and I will each take one of the routes by car.

Others should use bicycles or go on foot, as seems appropriate.

Ah, Jesus, will you let me take over the steering?

Where do we go to claim danger money?

I offered you the choice of the pictures or the funfair.

- You made your choice. - Come on.

Reggie?!

Excuse me, I'm looking for a friend.

A young man who really shouldn't be out in the dark on his own.

You shouldn't be out in the dark on your own.

Come on, dozy duckling.

You won't grow big and strong if you don't drink your milk.

Have you seen our friend Reggie?

We are concerned that he may have got waylaid

trying to make his way home.

Oi, Sid! Have you seen this lad?

Mr Curran! How are Alma and the baby?

Oh, I just left them all tucked up in the caravan.

I thought they went home to Kent?

You should be having daily visits from midwives.

I'll make sure somebody calls round.

And I'll look out for this fella.

No-one ought to be lost or in trouble, not at this time of year.

Hello?

Get out.

No. I'm a nurse and you are bleeding.

He has red hair, which may be concealed by a blue bobble hat.

And he always wears spectacles.

If you see him, please, please telephone the police,

or one of the numbers on this piece of paper.

Of course, love.

I carry a bag, usually,

full of antiseptic and all sorts of handy things.

But this needs a bandage and possibly stitches.

What we can do is press on the wound very hard to see if it helps.

- I can do that. - All right.

Where did you get these?

From my mother's home.

Gertie Torrance was your mother?

Was?

Did you not know she had died?

I'd wondered.

But you do a lot of wondering

when you don't see someone

year after year.

I once read about a survey by a Paris perfume company

in which 1,000 men were asked what their favourite smell was.

And 83% of them said fried onions.

What did the other 17% say?

I'd put my money on bacon.

Reggie!

Stop.

Eating or walking?

- Both. - Why?

Because at some point in the course of this evening,

I am going to kiss you.

Possibly more than once.

And it might as well be now.

Thank you.

That was lovely.

It'll get even better.

Rosalind?

I'm over here!

This is Jock.

He has an injured hand,

And he's just learnt that he's been bereaved.

I'm sorry, my friend.

You're in need of help. I can see that.

Jock says he won't go to hospital.

But there's blood everywhere.

We need something we can cut up and use as a bandage.

Is this a prison shirt?

Yes, it is.

I don't know who you are, but I know where you've come from!

- Cyril! - I'm making a citizen's arrest!

Stop with the pigging drama!

I broke out of jail,

but I escaped nothing!

And I'm tired.

You can take me where you want.

Hand me over to who you want.

Just let me open my Christmas present first.

I forgot, living in America,

how absolutely vital tea can be in a crisis.

Tea when babies are born.

Tea when elderly people die.

Tea when there's a burglary or a road accident.

Oh, Violet.

I'm sorry.

Should I just shut up?

Or even go?

No. No, no. I'm... I'm glad of the company.

It's just that all I can think about is that,

if Reggie was here, he'd be the one making the tea.

You know, it's what he does when he wants to show that he cares,

when he wants to play his part,

when he wants to join in.

None of these things are easy for him,

because of the way he is, but...

..when he makes tea,

it's like he grows taller.

It's a tie.

A smart one, like a businessman would wear.

She never gave up hope.

I don't want to get blood on it.

Now take me...

..and turn me in.

Is Reggie with you?

I've got his bag. It's got all his warm clothes in it, Vi.

His wallet, with his spends.

I thought he might have rung you or something.

You know he can't use a phone box without help, Fred!

Yeah, I know, I know. I told the police that.

What are they going to do, Fred?

They said they were going to revisit the situation in the morning.

What?!

Officer?

Officer!

Can I help you, madam?

Yes, I believe you can...

..by locating someone who is extremely vulnerable

and may come to grave harm overnight

if you don't make every attempt to locate him.

May I ask for your name and address, madam?

My name is Lady Aylward,

currently staying with friends at Nonnatus House, Wick Street.

More pertinently, Reggie Jackson,

who is currently logged with you as a missing person,

calls the Mayor of Tower Hamlets Mum.

That wasn't mentioned.

It shouldn't have to be!

But I have contacts at a number of newspapers and BBC Radio,

and they'd be extremely interested to hear about this.

If I'd been a better criminal, I might have more to show for it.

I'm sure you did your best.

I had this notion...

I'd turn up in a fancy car one day

and hand her a big mink coat, because she felt the cold so bad.

And when she met a man and married him and came to England,

I wanted to prove myself all the more.

I ended up getting three year for burglary.

Then out.

Then 18 months.

Then out.

And then five.

Did your mother know you were in prison?

She was widowed... again.

She didn't need bad news.

I wrote and told her I was in the merchant Navy...

..and she didn't argue.

Are we nearly there?

My shoes are letting the wet in.

Harry!

Oh!

I wasn't expecting you till Christmas Eve!

I was looking forward to seeing you so much.

And then I thought, "Why wait when I don't have to?"

Oh...

Can you believe that actually happened?

We handed him over and gave our statements,

and he was taken to the cells.

The police want to question him about the shop burglaries

and the post office hold-up.

I hope they won't treat him unkindly.

Let's go and retrieve your bike.

And I'll walk you home.

That was the longest queue in X-ray I've ever seen in my life.

We had a grand game of I-spy, though.

- Is it hurting? - On and off.

It's only a sprain.

Well, at least I persuaded them to give you pethidine.

No, this is on me.

Bye.

Thank you... for everything.

N-A-M-A-S...

...G-I-E-T-O-I-M-L.

Have you not had enough of I-spy for one night?

Nicest and most appropriately skilled girl

I ever took out in my life.

I told Nurse Clifford she can have an extra hour in bed

after last night's adventures,

which I am still struggling to digest.

I think we all are.

I shall have to send Sister Julienne out

on the domiciliary visits this morning.

- Nurse Crane? - Hmm?

May I talk to you about a Mrs Alma Curran?

I delivered her baby at the hospital.

John "Jock" McKechnie,

the last of the four escaped prisoners to be apprehended,

was held in custody overnight.

Meanwhile, the police have, this morning, issued an alert

regarding 26-year-old Reginald Jackson,

from east London, who is missing.

Thank God they're doing something!

Reginald disappeared after taking a coach

from his residential home in Sussex to visit family for Christmas.

He is 5'7" in height,

wears spectacles and has auburn hair.

If anyone knows of Reginald's whereabouts...

Oh, Patrick. He's been out all night.

..as he's a vulnerable young adult with Down's syndrome.

I'm so glad you came.

Everyone says you need to get them into a routine,

but I wouldn't know where to start.

We'll be visiting every day now, until things are more settled.

Sister, he's either crying and not feeding

or just sleeping and sleeping,

and twitching like he's having nightmares.

May I see him?

Baby is very, very jaundiced, Alma.

He's much more yellow than he was last night.

He looked like a normal colour until this morning.

Is that the twitching you described?

He started doing it last night.

I think baby may be fitting.

Mr Curran, do you have access to a motor vehicle?

I want Richard to see a doctor as soon as possible,

and it will be quicker if we go to him.

Andrea's hungry. She doesn't like corned beef.

You'll have to go to the shops for some bread.

And candles. Something's happened to the candles.

I think it was the rats.

I heard them in the night.

He's having full-blown convulsions.

Get the incubator ready and send for an ambulance.

I think we may be dealing with fulminant undiagnosed jaundice.

That can lead to brain damage and... even death.

This is what happens when babies are discharged too early.

Put that down, love!

Love, is your name Reginald?

Reggie.

I haven't had a minute's peace since I heard about you on the wireless.

We're going to get you back to your mum.

Pass me that bag, Sharon.

Do you like mince pies?

No. But please can I have one?

Mum wants candles.

I shall be absent over the lunch hour

as I need to feed my grandson.

Please be advised he will be calling me Auntie

in any given public setting.

It's a general term of respect in India,

and many overseas students have guardians.

I understand.

Is that coffee?

No, it's honey and hot lemon,

with a Beechams powder in it for good measure.

Oh. A thermometer is not required.

I'm postponing all your appointments

for this afternoon and sending you home.

I'm hungry.

Shoulders back, Angela.

And, May, remember you've got to make sure your voice

gets right to the back of the church.

Love came down at Christmas

Love, all lovely Love divine

Love was born at Christmas

Star and angels gave the sign.

I don't think you're quite loud enough.

I'm going to go to the back and listen from there.

Carry on reading.

Worship we the Godhead

Love Incarnate Love Divine

Worship we our Jesus

But wherewith for sacred sign?

Louder!

Love shall be our token

Love be yours and love be mine...

..Love to God and all men

Love for plea and gift and sign.

Karen?

Whatever are you doing, Karen?

Don't shout.

No. I won't shout.

But you must tell me what is happening.

♪ The happiest Christmas

♪ Is a homecoming Christmas

♪ With the snow fluttering down

♪ Till the world seems new

♪ Bright candles burning... ♪

- Reggie! - ♪ ..Old friends returning

♪ The wishes of children coming true... ♪

Reggie...

♪ ..And the happiest wishes

♪ Are just old-fashioned wishes

♪ May your days be merry... ♪

- These are for you. - ♪ ..Your sorrows be small

♪ May the ones you love be near you

♪ That's the happiest Christmas of all. ♪

I'm sorry if the paediatrician spoke so bluntly,

but he is an expert in his field

and he will do everything within his powers

to bring about a good result for Richard.

A good result will be if he lives.

They aren't promising us more than that, are they?

They aren't promising us anything.

Have they started the blood transfusion yet?

Yes.

Will it stop his brain from getting damaged?

We hope so. Very much.

I'll see if I can find you some tea.

I keep thinking about how your life started.

With your mother walking out of the hospital and leaving you.

His is going to start with us going nowhere.

I'd sit here for a year, if I had to.

I'd sit here for ever.

Pain's in my side.

Can't... can't breathe in.

I think you may have pneumonia.

I'm going to send for an ambulance.

When is your baby due?

I've always just said Christmas,

like Santa Claus is going to bring it.

I thought you'd come to arrest me again.

I'm here in my capacity as a minister of religion.

Minister of religion?

You're a dark horse.

No offence.

It was the only way I could get through the door.

Your mother's funeral is taking place quite soon.

All the arrangements have been made by the council.

I want to say I can do better for her than that,

I can see her buried with dignity and honour...

..but I can't. A religious ceremony won't cost money.

I can vouch for that myself.

Would they let me go to her?

Just see her before they take me back up north?

All I wanted was to visit her for Christmas.

At least that way I can finish what I started.

I think your temperature's gone down.

Ooh! Thank you, Nurse Turner.

Do you need anything?

Only Sellotape.

We're wrapping up all the broken Dinky cars

and old bits of metal for Blue Peter.

Better late than never.

Fetch me a mince pie.

This is like the labours of Sisyphus.

Every time I turn around, there's another mound

of apples and tomatoes that need a seeing to.

Thank the Lord for the cooking brandy.

- Do you want some more? - Oh, no...

Well, I'll compromise.

Put it on a spoon and pretend it's medicine.

Ooh!

I'm not even supposed to open my mouth

to speak after compline, never mind put alcohol in it!

- God will forgive you. - Oh.

Because the Order can now give savoury Yuletide favours

to all of its associates.

You do lift our spirits when you come to visit, Mr Franklin.

You always seem so...

..happy.

I take a certain pride in my performance

in the ordinary world, but when I'm at Nonnatus House, I...

..often find I'm... I'm quite sincere in my contentment.

Perhaps it's because I'm with other spinsters.

Or maybe it's simply because...

..I feel at home.

We are all spinsters, aren't we?

I know I'm the bride of Christ, but it comes to the same thing.

I keep putting this thing to the test

by asking it if I'll ever get married.

But it always says... no.

You skin, Sister.

I'll slice. Rrr!

Are you going to the surgery? You have the flu!

I've woken up feeling fine.

Look, have you seen my car keys?

I've got a list of cases as long as your arm this morning.

Can you use the spare set?

Timothy took the spare set up to Edinburgh by accident.

I put mine on the table when I came in.

I'm going to have to go.

I'll have to find another means of transport.

You go. I'll keep on looking.

Oh! Can you post this on the way?

It's the children's parcel for Blue Peter.

I need to go and see Pete.

I don't care if the hospital say that he's turning a corner,

I need to go and see him.

Not until you've shaken off this flu.

Think of this as the beginning of a plan of action.

First and foremost, we must get the whole family signed up

with our local GP practice,

for Karen's sake most of all.

When she was born, they said I'd never rear her.

I was only 16.

But I done all right, didn't I?

Dilys, I take my hat off to you.

I had a show this morning.

Great big clump of it.

Have you been having any pains?

A few.

It doesn't look to me as though you've come to any harm, Reggie.

Sometimes, in life, things go wrong,

but we survive, and all we can do is learn from them.

Mm.

I've learned not to get on the wrong bus.

How are you feeling about it all now?

Sad, because I was hungry.

Well, you've already made up for that

with half a tin of shortbread Santas.

Some people are hungry all the time.

It hurts your stomach and your heart.

And it's Christmas.

Nonnatus House, mid...

Do you need to speak to a midwife?

I think I just need to speak to anyone who's free

to come and help at a home delivery.

The mother's circumstances are absolutely pitiful.

Ow.

Hello.

Hello.

Would I be able to speak to Nurse Nancy Corrigan, please?

Are those flowers because you're a grateful patient?

Sort of. She's about to go back to work for the afternoon.

Mummy!

Mummy, a man brought you flowers.

So I see.

Nancy...

Please. Come and have a cup of coffee with me.

I'm working.

And like I said in the first place, Christmas is a very busy time.

Hello, Daddy.

Angela?

What are you three up to?

What postbox did you put the Blue Peter parcel in?

Why do you want to know?

May put my best Dinky car in it.

It was an accident.

And your car keys. That was an accident, too.

- Oi! - Oh!

Just a cup of coffee, Nancy.

And if you don't want coffee, I'll take you for an ice cream.

- Ice cream?! It's flamin' December. - Nancy, sooner or later,

I am going to tell you that I love you.

I thought I might as well give advance notice.

In the grand tradition of warning me of romantic developments?

I thought it might change your mind

about the coffee/ice cream situation.

Oh, tell your man to pull over, and I'll stop.

Pull over, mate.

Pastor Robinson has arrived.

And Sister Monica Joan says the chapel's ready.

I'm afraid I shall have to leave immediately afterwards.

I have an appointment with the Board of Health.

My bottom's cold.

I hate Blue Peter.

Mum gets cross when we say "hate".

Not as cross as Dad got about the car keys.

What time is the postman coming?

You are welcome in our home.

Which has been your mother's also.

Erm... thank you...

..for your kindness.

Come on, lad.

Do her proud.

How long does it take for a baby to be born?

Nobody knows, sweetie. That's all part of the fun.

But all the time, all the way through it,

we know we're all going to get a present at the end.

What sort of present?

Well, a baby. What do you want most?

A little brother or a little sister?

A sister, Cos we've only got girls' clothes.

I did not know Gertie during her time on Earth,

but I had the privilege of being with her

after she departed it,

and in doing so, I met a woman

who was dignified...

..and principled and...

..steadfast.

Therefore, I respect and mourn her.

I wish our paths had crossed sooner.

This might have been a different tale.

I will remember this day.

I will remember it like I remember her -

peeling potatoes,

with her wedding ring shining in the muddy water.

And her tearing a strip off the teacher

when I got caned at school,

and crying when I took coal home to her

because it was midwinter and we had no fire.

I thought then she was crying...

..because she was happy.

Now, I think she knew I nicked it.

But we were warm... for a while.

Loving my mother was the only decent thing I ever did.

And I did it from further and further away.

We used to joke that we'd forget each other's names.

But we never did.

I never will.

I'm glad you found good people in the end, Ma.

You deserve them.

Guess who.

Please, please, can I have gas with the next one?

Gas doesn't go well with the candles, sweetie.

And you're doing wonderfully well without it.

We need you to concentrate now, Dilys, and push as hard as you can.

Baby's slipping back a little between contractions.

I think we might have to ask gravity for a helping hand.

Gravity's what they talk about in space.

I'm not a ruddy astronaut!

You won't be doing it on your own, Dilys.

I'll cover the floor.

As you can see, we are now in full possession

of the deeds of Nonnatus House.

And?

And this marks the end of our relationship

with a really quite remarkable and very generous benefactor.

Hmm. He was probably glad to be rid of it.

The building is under a compulsory purchase order.

Which is yet to be enacted.

Meanwhile, our domiciliary and district services

are more essential than ever.

Have you come to ask for an increase in fees?

I will, next June, when our arrangements are reviewed.

For now, I simply need money to see to the wet and dry rot,

and our roof.

The building is scarcely fit for any purpose,

let alone as medical premises.

Its primary purpose seems to be as a house of religion.

Yes. That has been the case since 1864.

Which is why your presence in this community is

wholly inappropriate in 1969.

Women don't want nuns delivering sex education,

contraception, or treatment for venereal disease.

And they don't want to ask them for abortions.

We don't provide abortions.

You won't be providing anything if I have my way.

You can ask for as much money as you like

when your review comes up,

but I warn you now, we will be discussing other matters.

I'm scared I'm giving you germs.

Oh, that's the last thing you should be worrying about, sweetie.

Just hang onto me and do as Mrs Turner says.

This is the best thing you could possibly have done, Dilys.

Baby is almost with us.

Catch it. Catch it!

Promise me you'll catch it.

It's a little boy, Dilys!

A boy!

A boy, after all them girls!

When did I get so lucky?

Me mopping up sick... is funny.

Me being useless on the dodgems...

..is funny.

Me telling you all about the orphanage

and doing all the nuns' voices,

I can make that funny, too.

But becoming a mother at 16...

..is the biggest and the most serious thing

that's ever happened to me.

I can never make that into a joke, so I didn't tell you.

Were you scared of what I'd think?

I was scared I'd scare you off.

The only thing that would scare me off

is if you expected me to keep laughing all the time.

Because that wouldn't be normal or genuine or...

..real.

And... I... I want this to be real, Nancy.

All of it.

Everything I've felt ever since I first clapped eyes on you

and thought you were Miss Higgins.

Cos it's been like I'm dreaming.

Or on drugs or something.

And you'd know all about that, being a pharmaceuticals salesman.

Do you think that this is all happening quite fast?

Yeah.

But I think it's meant to.

Yeah.

Me, too.

Introduce me to your daughter.

Let me take you both out.

To the funfair again.

Or the pictures.

Make it the pictures.

Less dangerous.

♪ Away in a manger

♪ No crib for a bed

♪ The little Lord Jesus

♪ Lay down his sweet head

♪ The stars in the bright sky

♪ Look down where he lay

♪ The little Lord Jesus

♪ Asleep on the hay. ♪

What are you playing at?

I'm playing Everything Is Really Something Else,

And he's Baby Jesus.

He's going to look a devil in all that pink!

Jock was taken straight back to prison.

I went with Gertie as far as the grave in the council cemetery.

I took note of her position, so one day he can go

and put flowers there.

Or we can.

She couldn't have flowers in here because of Advent.

There's always one more thing that can be done

to make a hurt better, isn't there?

Always.

Put them on the desk.

A quick visit to the dodgems before we all go home?

- Yeah! - Yeah!

The Shaughnessys are on our books now,

and Sister Veronica's books.

After Christmas, they can apply to be rehoused.

Oh, and how long is that going to take?

I suppose it might help

that little Karen's so poorly,

but they're in for a wait.

Oh... I'm accustomed to seeing poverty,

but we're led to suppose that squalor is dying out,

that we're poised on the brink of 1970

and the whole world is on the up-and-up.

But the sad fact is, the world is on the up-and-up,

and too many people are being left behind.

Mm-hm.

If I said I walk down Fifth Avenue dreaming about testing urine,

I'd be fibbing!

If I said I lie next to my husband at night

dreaming about riding my bike on the cobblestones in heavy rain,

I'd probably go to hell because I'd be lying my head off!

But...

..today wasn't a dream.

The squalor of the room,

the... pain of the mother, the paraffin smell

of those cheap candles were all...

..completely real.

And everything that came out of her labour and our work...

..was absolutely...

..beautiful.

And true.

I can't stop wanting that.

I don't know that I can get back to it.

I belonged in that room.

Just as I belong in this one.

I've learned to be good at not craving things that hurt me.

But I can't stop craving the things that make me whole.

Having no particularly gainful employment to attend to

between now and Christmas Day itself,

I'm entirely happy to spearhead the whole enterprise.

Oh!

Well, you're the only man I know who knows

one end of an oven glove from the other!

And there are so many lonely people out there,

all the lonelier because they won't admit to it.

How did loneliness ever come to be a source of shame?

Hmm.

Because it's a kind of hunger.

And one way or another, hunger is always seen as a failure.

Not this Christmas.

And not here.

Then this is how I propose that we proceed.

We've been offered access to five domestic kitchens.

Nonnatus House is kitchen number one,

our esteemed Mayor, Mrs Buckle, has offered kitchen number two,

Turner residence, kitchen number three,

Miss Higgins' cottage furnishes us with kitchen four,

and bringing up the rear, Pastor Robinson is kitchen five.

Each to roast one large, donated turkey,

accompaniments to be assigned.

And here comes Harry with the invitations,

fresh from the Roneo at the library.

The bit where it says, "Please bring your own chair,"

hasn't come out very clearly. I might have to go over that in pen.

Well, do it quickly. We need to get these out this afternoon.

Well, let me do that. I'll be flying back tomorrow morning

and missing all the fun.

Pen.

Your uterus is reducing nicely.

You can take Epsom salts if you wish, to dry up your milk.

Or we can try and keep things going, until he comes home

from hospital. I'm hoping to see

another improvement in him when we go in later.

Have they given you any indications about his future?

Only that there are no guarantees.

They said he might be... disabled.

I've never heard of that before,

but they said it's the same as handicapped?

So often when newborn babies have problems,

only time can tell whether they will be permanently injured.

Time can tell us what it likes.

Richard is our baby,

and we're going to love him, no matter what.

Most mothers would say exactly that.

But not all.

Hmm. I know that all too well.

And that's why there will never be anything wrong

with my child in my eyes.

As long as he's happy.

And lo, the great Poplar Christmas Comestible Heist

has borne fruit, somewhat literally,

and in the most spectacular way.

Ugh!

Good! Because you'll need to be setting an extra place

at the table. My flight to New York has been cancelled.

Thank you, freezing fog, and thank you, industrial action.

Oh!

Your turn now. Let's see if you can do better.

That's enough.

Don't try too hard.

I'm going to refer her to a different specialist

at Imperial Hospital.

They've been developing a new type of surgery there

called a Potts shunt.

The idea is to bypass the hole, even if it can't be closed.

Do you think that's worth a try?

Of course you may stay for Christmas.

To have you with us would mean a very great deal,

as long as your husband can spare you?

Well, he has no choice but to spare me.

But I'll be home by bedtime on Boxing Day.

Home?

Well, home won't be England for another year or so.

The business is doing well, but getting in the way.

Do you intend to resume midwifery when you return?

I never intended to stop.

It takes ages to get registered in America,

with different exams in different states.

And I'm worried my skills will decline if I stay away too long.

You must come back to us.

For a short time, at least.

I don't want you to have to find work for me to do!

For as long as the Order is able to stay in Poplar,

there will be work for all of us to do.

We may have to present ourselves a little differently.

I will explain more in due course.

You're doing a most meticulous job, Harry.

I am pretending they are teeth.

Dentists need to develop manual dexterity.

Thank you for introducing me to Christmas.

We've had quite a few introductions, haven't we?

A few months ago, we hadn't even met.

But we were always family, we just didn't know.

What's that sound?

It's the Christmas bells! It must be midnight!

Do they do this everywhere?!

My father would have loved this!

I love it now!

Not everyone is where they ought to be

at Christmas.

Children unwrap their futures and their gifts,

and the years will whisk them all away.

Nothing stands still.

Not time, not life on Earth, or in the heavens.

And so, we must give each other what we can,

and whilst we may.

Warmth. Safety. Love.

Hope. Laughter.

Give it all.

The wrapping should not matter,

but if there are ribbons,

make them red.

Some dreams come true at Christmas.

But not all. The season can be shaped by things we lost.

Or lacked or yearned for.

But then, if we're lucky, remembered for the blessings

that we found instead.

The reaching out, the meeting of needs,

the pulling together that makes the magic spark.

Home will forever shift and change,

like the moon or a star.

Home circles on its axis,

marking our days, and the miles we must travel.

But its core remains constant,

the one fixed point on our fragile human map.

Home is the chamber of the heart

that we constantly revisit,

and Christmas beats inside it

year after year after year.

Perennial and steadfast

and enduring.

There it is again!

The open door, the extra chairs,

the nearness of each other and the dark made distant.

Time will pass and much will pass away,

but this will always be the same, because here, at home for Christmas,

we can relish all we share

and cherish all that we receive.

Find all that we love

and know to be eternal.

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