Original subtitles

Once upon a time, the season that is new today was old and closed and packed

away. Advent had erupted into Christmas.

Darkness retreated in the face of light, and the wheel of the year kept turning.

But once again we gather as the sky grows cold, and leaves have

tumbled, the fresh snow falls.

Pages turn as new doors open.

Time and time and time again.

Merry Christmas, Fred. Merry Christmas.

Medical supplies packed and labelled and ready for hand delivery to the branch

house. A biscuits clinic?

You think you should write on it in Chinese?

Hong Kong is a British colony.

I'm quite sure everyone is competent in our mother tongue.

I detect a want of enthusiasm in your visit.

When adventure beckons, you should embrace the call. This trip is a

opportunity for Violet to see her son. And the sisters at the clinic will be so

grateful for these supplies.

I'll just be glad of a chance to run an errand, if I'm honest with you, Sister

Julian. There's talk of cocktail parties.

The lines represent the edges of the lorry.

You too, Teddy.

We don't want you falling off the float and getting run over.

Do you think they're going to need bigger roles for their mouths, Mrs

I'm worried that they're going to be deprived of oxygen.

Oh, please, please, don't anyone stop singing on my account.

Hello, Diane.

Oh, now, Pack, what do we say when a very important lady like Mrs Buckle, our

mayor, is kind enough to come and visit us?

Good evening, Mrs Buckle.

Thank you, Pack. Now, off you pop and work on your knots.

It's all set out on the table.

One piece of cord between two.

I've bought a dozen pairs of brown tights for the reindeer.

I managed to get them on a special order.

You'll not get lads of this age to wear tights, Mrs. Buckle. Well, you'll have

to tell them that it's in a good course. I mean, the whole Christmas carnival is

in a good course.

Um, elastic, black felt squares, um, sleigh bells,

and WD -40.

What's that for, to oil the sled runners?

Fred needs to do the paper shop bell before we leave.

Mrs. Buckle, go.

Go to Hong Kong.

And do not give the Christmas carnival the second thought.

Mrs.

Buckle! I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Turner. I'm not quite sure which way is up this evening.

I wondered if you could take a tiny parcel to Hong Kong for me.

It's a letter and some photographs for May's mother.

We haven't heard from her for over a year.

But the sisters say they still see her from time to time with her little boy.

Of course I'll take it. It must all be such a worry. I used to fret about my

Derek when he was in the Navy, but now he's in the Hong Kong police.

They have to wear guns.

It was terrible.

It makes me know you'll be back by Christmas with wonderful memories.

And we've got Reggie coming home. I'm already hoping that it will be nothing

him.

Whoever guesses the mystery ingredient in this year's chutney gets to eat the

first mince pie and make a wish.

I'm getting definite top notes of tamarind.

Have you been on another cooking course? No, Matthew took her to Antigua for

their wedding anniversary.

It's mango.

It's good to hear you're moving back to London, love.

Matthew has to stay in New York until autumn.

And John's starting pre -prep at Easter.

I need to get him home and settled.

Sister Julianne, I will be free for midwifery duty should you be short

We very seldom are at present. Things have been remarkably quiet.

I have offered her a receptionist role at my new osteopathy practice on Harley

Street, but no dice, apparently.

You're only there four hours a week.

Nevertheless, his couch sees a constant parade of celebrities, by all accounts.

Celebrities? Coming to with their crooked necks. I hope you're going to

names. Professional discretion is my watchword.

Have a mince pie.

The party was running late and I didn't want to disappoint the kiddies. Get in

the cab.

You can change out if you've got costume on the way.

Please, let me knock my hanky and put it on my head vibe.

No, we'll get you a nice, smart Panama hat as soon as we've left these parcels

with the sisters.

We're looking for a sign that says Hibiscus Street.

Derek says it should be written in Chinese as well as English.

There it is.

Stay

back,

please. The building is collapsed. Please stay back.

There must be fatalities.

I'm sorry to intercept you, sister, but Mrs. Buckle has just telephoned from

Hong Kong.

It's about the branch house.

How in a sudden an entire building just collapsed?

I've never heard of anything so colonial.

There were rumours that the ground in that area was unstable.

But whatever the cause...

consequences that are truly shocking.

Sister Alice and Sister David were both killed, along with the doctor who worked

with them. Some of the children in the nursery did not survive.

Meanwhile, the maternity ward has been destroyed, the sisters are homeless, and

the people who depend upon them are scattered across Kowloon.

Once they have overcome this, they will need somewhere to live and carry on

their work. Now, they need a doctor.

They need nurses.

And they need midwives.

In short, sister, they need us.

I keep thinking we should be making Christmas trees for the carnival, not

trees. The theme of the float is a Caribbean Christmas.

There's going to be a steel band playing carols and a gospel choir.

I need the palm trees.

Mm -hm.

I'm starting to think we should be making jacarandas.

So, what's this letter you want to talk to me about?

If ten days on the ground in Hong Kong means that we can get them through this

crisis, I am more than happy to put a locum in the surgery.

And, Sister Veronica, you must go.

You were three years at that branch house. You're the only one with even a

glancing knowledge of the way things work out there. I will go wherever I'm

told. I will do whatever I'm told.

Very well. Dr. Turner will go, as will Nurse Crane, Miss Veronica, and myself.

So this man, this Mr. Fisher, who writes with an educated hand from an address

in Belgravia, wants to rent this flat with immediate effect.

For a period of time that he is unable to specify for an amount that we are

to name.

Well, call me ruthless if you want to, but, Pastor Robinson...

What I make of it is money for the church.

Running a church is always going to cost somebody something.

I'll find somewhere else to lay my head for all you go to.

The truth is, I'm more worried about me missing you over there than I am about

me being missed over here.

You were vital to everything when we were in South Africa.

And I came home with Teddy on the way.

Look, Timothy is quite old enough to hold the fort if you came to Hong Kong.

He's home on study leave for a month.

Patrick, I'm needed here.

The last box, Miss Higgins.

Dr.

Elise Watkiss is our first choice for locum cover.

She's young but has excellent GP experience. I will attend to the

paperwork.

Timothy, you might call the pharmacy regarding the export performance whilst

do this.

Yes, Miss Higgins.

The posters have turned out an absolute treat.

I found a photo that must have been taken years ago, and you'll never guess

what. You can see it clear as day now it's blown up like a wave.

Well, look.

Oh, it's me as a baby.

Before we even knew her, I would recognize her anywhere.

Come on, ladies.

Dig as deep as you can.

Merry Christmas.

Thank you very much.

Every penny counts.

Don't be sad.

Some of these clothes are ours, Mum.

I went up into the loft and there were bags full of woolly that went back

This was mine.

I remember this.

You had it when you first arrived from China.

Would you rather we didn't send it all?

The radio reporter says, ready when you are.

Ten -year -old May Turner has a special reason for helping with the appeal

today. Can you tell the listeners what it is, May?

I was born there.

A photograph of May, aged 12 months and held safely in the arms of an anarchist

nun, features on posters for the rescue mission.

As an anarchist, this is a popular head east to help.

Do you have a message for people listening, May?

Please give all you can.

Because... some of the children there have nothing.

Sister Hilda will be joining the nanar party at Heathrow. At least that's only

one plane we have to meet, Fred.

Derek, you're eating the lime marmalade.

I'm not going to lie to you.

I've laid awake at night dreaming of this stuff.

Thanks for bringing it. And the mustard. Proper taste of home.

It's even got English written on the tin.

Fred and I were wondering about popping over to Kowloon to see if there's

anything we can take for poor sisters. Mum, Kowloon isn't the East End.

Nobody pops over there. And not to that bit of it, anyway.

Hibiscus juice is about as dodgy as it gets.

Drugs? Prostitution, smuggling. Makes you wonder why the sisters are so keen

stay there.

Well, it's famous popular, isn't it? Bad things happen, good people sort it out.

Best people in the world couldn't sort triad out.

What is triad, Derek?

Organised crime.

It's invisible and it's everywhere.

Got used to him not being here because he's at medical school.

What I can't get used to is him not being here because he's in the pub.

Mum and Dad.

You should be in bed, Tilly Mint.

We've been talking. It's very late.

We've all been talking.

And we all want you to go to Hong Kong, Mum.

Do you?

Yes.

And I want you to take this.

And that was confirmation that you can refer any health visitor business over

Miss Haynes at the Stepney Clinic.

If I say so myself, the plan is impregnable. You, meanwhile, are the

trust with my Rolodex. I will guard it with my life.

And Nurse Elwood considers herself on call at any time should you require her

support with any administration.

I'm also available for midwifery duty.

You only have to pick up the phone. Thank you.

It's most unlikely that it will come to that.

This is a mercy mission.

It's also a mercy dash, and we'll be home soon.

By the time we all gather here again, we will have left our friends in Hong Kong

in a place of hope and of comfort and of joy.

Thank you, all of you, for helping us to help them.

I am reminded of Spitfire streaming overhead, disguised in fights,

half -known but undetermined.

They'll all be home by Christmas.

That was our motto in a different war.

I still don't like the idea of you living in a bedsit.

Like you've just come off the boat.

It's a better bedsit than I had in those days.

It's got fitted carpets and hot water.

You, I take it, are Pastor T .A. Robinson of the Shining Tabernacle

God? And you must be Mr. Fisher.

Please, come in.

We got rid of the electric meter to stop the lights going out when people were

testifying.

And this is the bedroom.

We put up thick curtains so the trains won't bother you in the night.

Oh, the trains won't bother me at any time of day.

I thought you'd be saying lords in your room, Sister Monica Jones.

In Hong Kong, they will be saying the afternoon office.

And the sum does not vary, no matter from which corner of the globe we offer

our praise.

I shall raise my voice with yours.

And...

The big news, Dr Turner, you just have to keep your nerve.

I haven't lost my nerve, Fred. I have lost sight of the van containing all of

the medical supplies and the donations.

I told the driver at the airport I said they were to follow immediately behind

us. I wonder what you were saying.

You sounded commendably forceful. We just have to hope you said what you

you said.

If we have any problems whatsoever, my Derek has told me which police station

go to and to use his name.

That's one of our sisters.

It's Teresa!

I greet you in the Lord Jesus Christ's name.

We greet you likewise.

There is much to be considered.

Seventy. I have them upstairs.

Sick nuns, sick children.

And we could not be more grateful.

Thank you.

Let's see that time come to me.

Thank you. I know. Thank you. Not important.

Trouble. I know also. You have trouble. Come.

They

can't

all be living here.

On what?

I can hear the child crying.

I believe Sister Simon will need to go to hospital and have her wrist reset

under anaesthetic.

And I suspect...

Mr. Prudence has a broken collarbone.

We're going to have to stand them all down and send them for hospital

When did the diarrhea start?

Before the cough or after? Doctor, I know what ails me. I have tuberculosis.

Are you sure? Would you simply fear it?

Milliary tuberculosis. The worst kind.

The tuberculosis is very contagious.

It has spread from my lungs throughout my body.

I have little time left to live.

When were you diagnosed?

The day the clinic collapsed.

I was told by our doctor, Dr.

Lee.

I took myself out for a walk while she arranged for me to go to a sanatorium.

And when I returned, there was no clinic.

And no doctor.

No bed in the sedatorium.

And no choice but to carry on handling the children.

Your

kindness.

Just doing my job, love.

At least the mainstream of a pre -eclampsia is bed rest.

Both these ladies have had that.

Rudimentary though the beds may be.

Once we've unpacked, I'll ask them to oblige me with some samples and get the

dipsticks out.

This is infected.

I don't think it's been properly cleaned.

Is it any wonder? With them all huddled up here without even the barest

essentials. Not to mention ignoring their own injuries.

If you ask me, the sisters worked miracles enough just keeping everyone

And now it's our turn.

This place reminds me of a cash and carry.

There must be a gross of tin bamboo shoots in this box and enough soy sauce

float about it.

Do you reckon Mrs Marr would mind if we moved stuff about?

We'll have to ask her, Fred.

I know she's a Christian convert and she has been very accommodating, but these

are her premises.

I need the labelled crates and medical supplies, Fred. We have to run urgent TB

tests on everyone.

Over here, Doc.

Excellent. Excellent.

No.

No, no, no, no.

These have been forced open.

Is that the new Vista sanatorium?

I have a very sick lady who requires urgent admission.

You have been charity itself, Mrs. Marr. You took the sisters in and gave them

food and shelter.

Only to your rescue.

You are rescue. Now you're all go.

But we have nowhere else to go.

We will find a new clinic. We will...

Find a new convent. But we cannot do that today.

It's not safe. Why is it not safe?

You stay.

Stay now.

But go through.

And use that door, not run.

The night is home.

Midwife speaking.

Can I bring my wife to the Masonic home, please? Of course, sir.

What name is it?

She says what name?

Diane Mary Edgar!

Diane Mary Edgar.

I made myself a cup of coffee, Miss Higgins.

Do you want one?

Thank you. I generally keep myself in check until elevensies.

You're quite... coat should be hanging on the back of the door of the

room. Would you like me to fetch it? It's fine. I don't need it yet.

We've got bad coughs coming in at half past nine and ten past ten and at

all in the over -50 age group.

Have these patients been referred to the East London Chest Clinic?

I'm sure they have, if Dr Turner considers that appropriate.

Excellent.

I'll have a quick rummage through her notes just to make sure.

The files are through here, aren't they? They are indeed.

No fluids in the filing room, if you'd be so kind.

Perfect work.

You certainly know what you're doing.

Oh, I feel terrible about bringing those reindeer in.

I'd have never gotten finished otherwise.

Good morning.

May I help you? My name's Queenie Forsyte. My daughter's in childbed. We

last night.

That's six massive pushes I've done now.

It's not budging, nurse.

Let's get you back on the bed, and then I can examine you.

We'll soon have a better idea of your progress.

I'm telling you now, there hasn't been any.

This one's not playing the same game as my others.

Oh,

my.

Midway's calling.

Congratulations. It's like the first day of the film. here.

Can we open one of those windows and let it a bit of air?

How long have you been feeling that you need to push, child?

I don't know.

Every time they yell at me to push, I try.

Five hours.

Five hours she's been after.

Okay, honey.

Until we know what's what, you must not push. Do you hear me?

You must not push.

I am not a bossy woman, but I am being bossy now.

How much did your other babies weigh, Diane?

Seven pounds six and eight pound nine.

Darren was like giving birth to a sofa.

This one feels like a ruddy three -piece suite and a coffee table.

I think baby might be on the bonny side.

But I don't think he's read the book that tells him how to line up nicely for

delivery. Doctor, could you pop across and speak to Dr. Watkins?

A right occipitotransverse.

And quite a big baby.

But my dad, Dr. Turner, always attends in the event of any transverse position.

Well, I'd better come through then.

That poor girl started pushing long, long before she was ready.

Has she damaged her cervix?

It's not torn, but it's full swollen. I can actually see it at the entrance to

her vagina.

No baby's going to get through that unless we bring that swelling down.

We need ice.

I think I saw a refrigerator.

If we don't make this work, she'll need a caesarean section.

Diane, don't cry.

There are all sorts of things we can do to get things moving.

Would Dr. Turner try the bone tooth, do you think?

No.

He always uses orthops in a transverse position.

In which case, we'll continue with trial of labor.

We'll transfer you to the cupboards if we get no joy.

Timothy,

this won't do.

Nanauta's house.

If you pursue midwives, they are all abroad.

Or otherwise at large.

There's nobody there at all.

Nurse Clifford has a multi -parous woman in obstructed labour.

And the locum doesn't know how to use forceps.

Supply the details and I will provide the advice.

You're going to be grateful to me in the long run, but I'm not going to lie to

you and say this ice pack is the nicest thing you ever had to put underneath

your covers.

Are you allowed to have things like that?

I don't get the chance very often.

There's your right for being disrespectful.

Diane, we need you head down and with your bottom in the air.

This position will stretch your pelvic ligaments and give the baby enough room

to adjust its head position.

I hope you have that on good authority.

The best authority you can possibly imagine.

Let her have a little nap.

Is there anything else wrong with her?

I don't think so.

But, Queenie, women need skilled help when they're given birth. Especially

it's their first.

I took her to the doctor when she first knew that she'd fallen.

We were up in the far north then.

You should forget where you've been.

I haven't decided where you're going.

And besides, I went to the hospital with me last one.

I wouldn't venture that again.

I'll examine her.

I hope it's worked.

I just want to lie down.

Baby has shifted position, Diane.

All we need to do now is make plays with gravity.

I'm going to have to push.

That's all right, Diane.

You give it everything you've got.

This is the bit where I'm glad I did the animal.

I feared verbal instructions alone would not suffice. Verbal instruction has

done more than you could imagine. possibly imagine.

Baby's head is beginning to crown.

The swelling has gone down, Marie, but I need you to do exactly as I say. Listen

to Nurse Hyland. On the next one, I want you to turn on your chin and a slow,

quiet, steady push.

Slow.

Slow.

Quiet.

Steady.

Can you see, Mr. Monica Jones?

I can see every aspect of the miracle.

You have a daughter.

This stinging will end soon, Marie. Just breathe.

Just breathe.

And we have a head!

Stand down, honey.

We also have my cornea.

You've a little boy, Marie.

How are you?

All will be well, Marie.

I promise you, all will be well.

He must be baptized.

Now, there'll be a chaplain at the hospital, Queenie. This is his home, and

is not leaving his mother's arms until he is baptized.

Dr. Watkiss's curriculum vitae stated very clearly she is fully trained in

obstetrics. She has now revealed that in almost five years of GP practice, she

has only delivered two babies, neither with any complications.

That's the way it is these days.

We're all trained in obs and gynae, but the expectation is that almost every

baby will be born in hospital.

Dr. Watkiss wanted to continue trial of labor, but we couldn't countermand her

because she's more senior.

And next time we may not have Sister Monica Jones to call on.

Any wisdom I have was hard won in the days when there might have been no

to send for. We were wise out of necessity.

And you are skilled in your own right.

Nevertheless, I will not permit this to happen again.

I am sending for Nurse Elwood.

Lord Jesus Christ, who took little children in your arms and blessed them,

this infant, Luke Michael, in your matchless love today and always.

Fill his mother and father with your peace and cherish him according to thy

will.

Amen.

Mae's mother was a nanny for a British service family.

Is it worth asking if the army have any record of her?

She would have just been cheap, casual labour.

After she lost her job, she must have been desperate.

And where would desperation take you in a city of this size?

We have to find out.

Lester Tan gave us the greatest gift we've ever had.

And we can't abandon her.

No, we can't.

Mr. Hilda.

Are you lying awake for the same reason that I'm lying awake?

I don't know.

Well, I'm lying awake because we've flown halfway around the world on a

mission. And if we get thrown out of this place by Mrs. Marr...

We're going to be in as much need of rescue as anyone else.

The injured and the sick sisters are leaving in the morning.

Sister Edith to the sanatorium and the other sisters to the Roman Catholic

Hospital. We have orphans to care for and expectant mothers, any one of whom

could have caught TB.

And out in the street, there are prostitutes and addicts who will look to

help. I know there are, but we will pray.

And we will wait to see what love can do.

I'm sorry, Miss Higgins. I've been through all of these cases and there are

least half a dozen who should be at St Cuthbert's and not here.

Well, Mr Parry himself expressed satisfaction with our care.

Good afternoon, ladies.

Dr Watkiss, I presume.

Nurse Elwood.

Sister Elwood, as it happens.

I've accepted a promotion during the absence of Dr Turner, under whom I've

worked for 16 years ever since I qualified.

So we have...

Three mothers over 40, two gestational diabetes, and Maureen Santaro. I know

already. She had her first set of twins with us. The second set isn't unheard

of. I've never handled a multiple pregnancy, sister. Well, this will be

first time.

Dr. Watkiss and I will call out our cubicle once, send them all to us, and

see how we do.

Hello?

Have you brought Marie?

She's still above in the hospital with the baby.

He's after taking the antibiotics.

She's doing grand.

It's me that needs to see you.

Are you expecting Queenie?

Under this coat and having me ninth.

You don't shout about it when you get to my age.

But I heard what you and the other nurse was saying.

I need skill to help.

If you want it, we'll make sure you get it. I do want it.

My lad would have had it for me.

Even though I had it in hospital.

I'm so sorry that happened to you, Queenie.

But we're going to walk beside you now.

I'll start by filling in your co -op card.

A tin of carnation milk, if you please.

Ah, and a quarter of humbugs, if you'll be so kind.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Perhaps just two ounces.

I do not consume them in any conspicuous place.

You don't want them turning sticky at the bottom of the bag?

No.

Oh!

I thought I heard that.

It catches.

Doesn't it?

I think Mr. Buckle was supposed to oil it before he went away. He must have

forgotten.

Then I... I thought I'd imagined it.

It catches.

It's all very well and good complaining that all the people who can deliver

babies have gone to Hong Kong. I'm more concerned that all the people who can

sew have gone to Hong Kong. You're always waving your magic wand and

costumes, Geoffrey.

And no one's going to see the details for a carnival.

Everything's going to be moving past the speed.

Well, moving past.

I'm an ideas man.

And a contact man. I'm not a needle and thread man. And it was not my idea to

dress up the midwives of Nanata's house as angels complete with ostrich feather

wings. I thought we could do it with just a bit of cotton and sticking, like

drizzling in our Christmas tree. The palm tree.

I heard rumors the sewing machine was out.

Angela just tried on a spoon costume and ripped it.

You look like you could do it at Snowball, honey.

Do you want some maraschino cherry in it?

I'll have two.

What sort of wounds have they taught you to suture at medical school?

Oh, the highlights include closure of incision after two appendectomy.

And I did a rugby player's scalp once.

Needle, thread.

If you want a cocktail, you're going to have to earn it.

This is not the way I intended my service to end.

A patient in a sanatorium.

You have given all you can, Sister Edith. That is enough and more.

It was the children I lived for and loved the best.

I remember your daughter well.

Me? Oh, she's ten years old now.

And so many children passed through the orphanage.

I took medicine to her mother, Esther.

Three months ago, she was living out on Dow Street, number 122.

The numbers daubed on the door.

Sister Edith, do you think she might still be there?

She was there once, and not too long ago.

Beyond that, I cannot say.

The sooner we are able to move into the premises, the better it will be for the

people in our care.

We can even overlook the pigeon infestation for a small reduction in the

The outpayment will be 2 ,000 Hong Kong dollars.

The sisters had the fun for that. And there will be ongoing support from a

number of private philanthropists, plus the Rotary Club of Hong Kong.

Very well.

We shall prepare the documentation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's hope the army can help with our medical supplies.

The collapse of that clinic barely made the news here. And of course, we're

delighted to assist now that we know there's a Red Commissioner.

The sisters need all the help they can get, sir. It's not disinterest because

buildings fall down all the time. It's avoidance.

Because it's going to happen more and more.

Everybody knows that and there's nothing we can do.

Because of the overcrowding?

Because they just keep building upwards on insecure foundations.

One misplaced mudslide could obliterate Kowloon.

At least we can improve on the human side of things.

Morning, Major. Morning, Corporal.

I'm coming with my best party manners and a begging bowl.

It really is extraordinarily

kind of you to accompany us, Mrs. Buckle.

I thought it may be necessary to tell untrue, sister, and I thought if that

the case, then better me than you.

Mrs. Buckham, have you told untrue? No.

I may have slightly preempted one or two realities, although I'm sure the Rotary

Club will be only two weeks to what there's thought, once I make contact and

explain the situation.

I don't even ask about the... private philanthropist.

One of them is me.

And I'm sure there will be others.

It's not just the TB kits and penicillin I'm grateful to the major for.

It's use of the army labs for processing the test.

Oh, so well and good the sisters have in faith in God.

But I reckon the military beat him every time.

The military is certainly better organised.

Well, I suppose they have to be the same as the police, especially with all this

triad malarkey.

Just like the Kray twins.

And then some.

I've stitched wounds inflicted by the Kray twins.

They never bothered us.

Morning, artist house.

In fact, the sisters were revered. I don't reckon the triad revered the

here. If they did, they would help them. I think you're right.

You know, Violet Derrick says there's somebody triad in every street that

people have to answer to or pay.

And Mrs. Marr is living in fear of someone.

I'm searching for a young lady called Esther Tang.

She used to live at this address and has a young boy about the same age as this

little one.

I wonder if you or your wife might know where she moved to?

She has gone.

She will not return.

Esther left one week ago.

Did she say where she was going?

She was sick and she was afraid.

Don't look for her, please.

Can I ask your name?

Great.

Don't look.

Merry Christmas.

Merry, merry Christmas.

Once again, as in olden days, happy golden days of

yore.

Faithful friends who were dear to us, gather near to us once more.

Joy,

Trixie's supposed to be doing our make -up, isn't she?

We know her. She's not the only one who knows what to do with a bit of eye

shadow. And if she doesn't turn up on time, our float is leaving without her.

Isn't it going to look a bit feeble with just the three of us?

We are midwives, not the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Pack, pack, pack.

You are all to visit the toilets now and come straight back here as soon as you

have washed your hands.

Now, Harry.

who has arrived from university just in time to help us tonight, is now going to

hand out cough candy to help us all with our singing.

Promise me you'll always have me home for Christmas.

We're going to be late, Geoffrey. If you were content with boarding a carnival

float... wearing improperly attached angel wings, well, I can assure you I

wasn't. Oh, for pity's sake. Putting this pram through snow is like dicing

insanity.

What's that?

A walking stick.

That's actually rather elegant. I think it's got a solid silver top.

Oh, no, no, sis, I know this.

This belongs to one of my Harley Street patients.

Maurice Templemore, he was an enormous film star when the tour kit first came

out. What's he doing here in Poplar?

Also, if there's one thing I do know, if you find a walking stick lying on the

ground, you're likely to find its owner nearby and lying in a similar position.

Sir? No.

Maurice Templemore cannot be in Poplar. I doubt he even knows where Poplar is.

He must have been burgled.

Sir?

Sir? Over here.

I'm terribly sorry. I seem to have rather overstretched myself.

Thank you.

Mr. Templemore.

Please don't call me that.

Not here.

What are you doing in this insalubrious part of town?

You're in the same insalubrious part of town.

You're not well. I know that because you said so when I was sorting out your

fibrocyte.

A blood disorder, you told me. What kind of blood disorder?

A malignant one.

But I didn't tell him that.

I was born in this flat.

When the paper shop was a greengrocer.

My father came all the way from Russia straight off the boats.

All he knew was beets and turnips, and so he made a life from that.

And you made a life out of different things entirely.

Yes. Little Manny Fisher became Moise Templemore.

New York, Hollywood, and then home.

Well, London's West End.

A fairly eastern and a life of comfortable obscurity.

But... Everyone had gone.

Your family had gone.

Yeah, yeah.

All manner of humanity that I once loved had gone.

So I'd come home to die.

Mr. Templemore, you live in Belgravia.

Not anymore.

And I'm no longer Mr. Templemore.

There I truly was.

He needs medical care, sir.

And I'll arrange that in the morning.

But at this precise moment in time, we have a carnival to catch.

Come along.

I used to make them... I used to make them... Oh,

no. No.

A baby left to be found.

She's happened all the time at the hibiscus clinic.

A girl.

I've not pushed it more than two days old.

And the cord looks to have been chewed through.

What do you mean we can't have a house on Half Lotus Street?

We have the keys and we have paid the deposit.

It is not suitable.

Extremely suitable. And we can move there immediately with the children and

adult patients.

The men who own the buildings say no. Give me the keys.

If we are to return them, it can only be in exchange for the money we have paid.

Do you think it's loose?

Esther is a

very, very important person to our family.

It's as though they have both vanished.

It's around 30.

All the doctors deliver by four minutes.

Everyone's bringing a bottle.

Run by a crook who calls himself the Cormorant. A gangster of the worst kind.

And Mr Fred and the Doctor are in trouble.

Call the Midwife continues tomorrow evening at 8 .30 on BBC One.

Press red now for Humphrey's ultimate surprise in the Beyond Paradise

special on iPlayer. And stay with me on BBC One for a Saunders and Lumley

reunion in the Amanda Land Christmas special next.