Original subtitles

(THEME MUSIC)

(JENNIFER) Miracles like angels,

are not rare.

Neither do they always fall into our lives

as if cast down from heaven

to surprise us.

Some, like Christmas, simply offer up their magic.

But some come in response to prayer,

or effort,

or extended longing.

(KIDS LAUGH)

(GROANS)

And time and time again,

we learn that miracles

are something that we labour for and make.

(BABY CRIES)

(SOBS)

See what you did?

(BABY CRIES)

Oh, oh, oh.

Maxine, do you want to come

and look at Mummy's new baby?

(CHUCKLES)

I told her Father Christmas would be bringing her a present.

I reckon she'd rather have a bike!

- (CHUCKLING CONTINUES) - (BABY COOS)

Now, careful!

I don't want this scratched within an hour of taking ownership!

I drove nigh on 50,000 miles in Old Faithful,

by the end it showed!

There! It's perfect.

It has the most glancing relationship

with the perpendicular.

Maybe it grew at that angle. In the wild.

What do you reckon, Fred?

I reckon some of this soot's been up this chimney

since the Queen Mum was a kiddy.

Mr Aylward, what a magnificent specimen!

- Thank you. - Oh, you're most welcome, Sister.

Is it quite straight?

(QUIRKY MUSIC)

There are four defaulters on the first two pages!

This is not how a Christmas Club is supposed to work, Fred!

They are supposed to pay in every week

and then they get all the goodies at the end!

I don't know what's gone wrong with the Smiths.

But the other three were all caught up in the train crash.

Well, why didn't you say?

They can have all the works.

Nothing's felt right since that accident.

It's not that people have lost money,

or even family. It's like...

we've all lost a bit of heart

or who we are.

So Sister Hilda isn't coming back at all?

(EXHALES DEEPLY) You heard Mother Mildred.

She is of the view that we can... do very well without her.

She hasn't even iced the Christmas cake!

Or marzipanned it, come to that.

- I know. - I'll do it.

I've got my Cookery O-Level.

Thank you.

We'll manage.

♪ Hallelujah! ♪

♪ Thou shalt reign ♪

♪ And thou alone ♪

- Amen, amen! - Praise the lord. Praise God.

Brothers and sisters,

may we all keep the meaning of the season within our hearts,

as we watch and wait for the arrival

of the child Jesus Christ.

Pastor, before you lead us any further,

let us welcome Nurse Robinson home from her day of work.

And ask how the labouring mother fared!

She was strong, she was courageous

and she delivered the most beautiful little boy!

- Amen! - Praise the Lord! A boy.

In this the holiest of seasons!

(LIGHT MUSIC)

Welcome home, Nurse Franklin!

- Oh... - It's so good to be back!

(GASPS)

And for everything to be just as it was.

We have much to be grateful for.

But whatever kept you, lass?

We've been watching the clock for an hour or more.

We er... we ran out of petrol,

er, just outside of Heathrow.

It falls to the wanderer,

to place a wreath upon our threshold.

Ta-dah! (GIGGLES)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Two cardigans, grey.

Two dresses beige, prison issue hose,

shoes and undergarments all present and correct.

They let me out early. For good behaviour.

Opposite of what got you in here.

I've served my time now.

Well, three months of it, anyway.

It says here you're going back to live with your fiancée.

- Yeah. He's coming to meet me. - Right.

Off you pop.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

- (DOOR CLOSES) - (GASPS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

Nancy, have you never heard Coco Chanel's

adage "Elegance is refusal"?

What's that supposed to mean?

Refusal to indulge in every passing trends.

Refusal to over-accessorise,

refusal to buy more clothes than you have room for!

(SOFT CHUCKLES)

Now, if that's not the kettle calling the pot black,

then I don't know what is!

I had a complex roster of fashion requirements in Portofino

and had to transition between seasons!

My clothes aren't just clothes, they're assets.

And mine aren't just clothes, they're bargains!

Can you not just hang some stuff on one of the picture rails?

(CHUCKLES)

I'm going to ask Sister Julienne

to provide us with a second wardrobe

and an additional chest of drawers.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Three points of order!

All rounds, maternity and district are curtailed this morning.

A working luncheon of sandwiches is planned.

And I have finally obtained the keys to the Florence Dean Hall,

where we will meet at 12:30 precisely,

to set up for Clinic.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SIGHS)

♪ Why are we waiting ♪

(NURSE CRANE) Good afternoon, ladies!

Hand your urine in to the counter on your left!

I need your opinion of this mincemeat

when you have a moment.

I threw caution to the wind and put a dash of Drambuie in it.

Mum!

"Mrs Turner" when in clinic, please, Timothy.

Which one is Gravely, Joyce, 3rd of the 3rd, 38?

She must be nearly dead of diabetes!

What did she bring the urine in?

A rose hip syrup bottle.

Oh, Mrs Turner! I was hoping I'd see you!

We're so pleased to have you back with us!

- I'll see to Mrs Mullucks myself. - Of course.

It's not felt real, having a fourth at the age of 40.

But...

now I'm back with the Sisters, I know it is!

Everything seems to be in perfect order.

Oh, it is.

Every arm, leg, finger and toe! The hospital gave me an X-Ray.

- When did they give you an X-ray? - Er, last week!

They said I needed extra reassurance.

Not one mother of a Thalidomide child

has ever gone on to have another affected baby.

That drug will never hurt anyone again.

St Cuthbert's said I couldn't know for sure!

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

All the toys are in a bit of a mess today.

It's the first time you've been in this hall.

I like the doll's house.

I don't actually know where that is.

But we've got dolls and quite a few teddies

we can play with.

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

- I'm hot. - Let's get that coat off you.

Rhoda. I think the maternity home would be the best place for you

to have this baby.

- Simply because of your age. - But...

If I have the baby in my own bed,

then I won't have to worry about Susan.

And anyway, my eldest two are teenagers now,

they don't wear you out the same as the little ones.

It's all systems go for the Sunday School Nativity

in our house.

Two angels and a camel! The camel has nearly broken me.

When I asked Mrs Avis about it,

she said the parts hadn't been assigned yet.

Why would she say that?

The children have been practising since November.

On Sundays?

Susan's there every Sunday!

Angela and May said she just watches.

(EXHALES DEEPLY) Oh, Rhoda, I thought you knew.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(DOG BARKS)

- Can I help you? - My fiancée lives here.

Not anymore he doesn't. We've been here two weeks.

His name's Andreas Jorgensen.

Hm. There's a letter came and another one he left.

Uh, you may as well take them.

I don't want debt collectors coming round.

Erm, wait.

(BABY CRIES)

Here. I'm sorry, I'll have to go. The baby's mithering the dog.

(DOG BARKING)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

- (BABY CRIES IN DISTANCE) - (DOG BARKING)

I saw Dr Turner's eldest in clinic today,

he's a medical student now.

Do you think they might let me help, Mum?

It will add up when I apply for nursing school.

You two, wait here.

Mrs Avis!

Oh, afternoon, Mrs Mullucks. I'm afraid I can't stop,

I've got to get this material dropped off urgently.

We've had two false starts with the Three Wise Men.

I waited and waited to find out

what Susan was going to be doing in The Nativity!

Susan joins in very nicely with the other children

when we're doing our Scripture.

But it's not safe, for her on the stage.

Not safe for who?

Well. She might fall over. Or get knocked down.

We're thinking about her safety!

You're thinking about what other people might think, Mrs Avis!

What it might look like to have her there, on that stage,

in that play.

In the photographs, like everybody else!

Susan isn't like everybody else, Mrs Mullucks.

You have no idea how much she wants to be!

Oh, Mrs Mullucks forgot her milk tokens.

And Susan's entitled to free orange juice.

- She's also entitled to an apology. - From whom?

From the scientists that created Thalidomide.

From the drug companies that sold it.

Those pills took her limbs, Miss Higgins!

I believe some infants didn't survive at all.

When I had polio,

the doctors were so powerful.

I thought all medicine was good.

But what happened to Susan, in the womb, was obscene!

Now, I'm gonna be a doctor. I feel ashamed.

As a colleague, I don't disagree with a word you've said.

But, as someone older and wiser,

I beg you never to say that to your father.

Poplar needs a treat, Violet.

Something that will bring everyone together.

Well, there is the small matter of Christmas on the horizon!

We need something else.

Something that will help raise money

for people affected by the train crash!

What do you suggest?

We book Florrie Hall...

and organise a talent show!

- A talent show! - Yes!

With singing, dancing, magicians!

And maybe someone will have a budgie act, or knife throwing.

- Yeah! - Knife throwing!

The police would shut us down before curtain-up!

I can see it now, lights, music.

Ladies and gentlemen, Poplartunity Knocks!

(CINDY SHIVERS)

(FRED) No. And then what we do is

we turn the stage

into a giant television set!

Put a frame around it and knobs,

so that you can turn the sound up and down!

The actual sound?

The actual sound of people performing?

- I don't know. I just thought... - Excuse me.

Yes dear, how can I help?

I'd like to write down some particulars from the window.

But I haven't got a pad or a pen.

Thanks, flower.

(CINDY SHIVERS)

You'd better get back to your job.

Your coat's not warm.

Last time I had this on, it were a summer's day.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Let's just say, that for once, I think you're onto something.

(FRED) And we're gonna need spotlights.

(VIOLET) Spotlights.

- A microphone. - A microphone.

- A live band. - A live...

(REGGIE) Hello?

You all right, Reggie?

I was looking for someone who's cold.

Oh. Ah. Oh. (PANTS)

This really was the most remarkably nippy work

by Sister Julienne!

A new wardrobe and a new chest of drawers in a single afternoon.

- It's all your fancy man's doing. - You mean Matthew?

Yeah, he makes sure The Order always has a cash fund

for emergency purchases.

He never said!

But then, I suppose there's a lot of things he never says,

or doesn't show.

Like what?

His sensitivities,

his sense of fun.

I'd say he's quite good at concealing that.

I suppose it shouldn't matter if I know it's there. But I...

I just... I wish he'd let the world see.

It's his only flaw! Come on.

(BOTH GROAN)

- Are you crying? - No, love.

I'm chopping onions. For the tea.

Evening, all!

Where's my beautiful?

Ey?

Ey?

And my gorgeous!

- And my surprise of a... - Get off, Bernie!

You been down The Hand and Shears?

There's nothing doing down the warehouse,

we're all getting laid off tomorrow. So...

There's not been a ship in that dock all this week.

Look, Susan, why don't you

go into the lounge and play, yeah?

- I'll come in, in a minute. - Um-hm.

See how fast you can go. Go on.

So, The Hand and Shears.

Did you see your mate?

Immaculate, never used,

one luxury doll's house.

Ours for a favourable price!

I'm picking it up in a couple of days.

Best thing in the world, making that one smile.

Bernie. You've had another letter about the Thalidomide compensation.

Pushing for all the families to settle.

Well, you know my views. We should settle right now.

Susan needs all the help she can get!

And she'll need that help her whole life!

What they're offering is nothing in the scheme of things!

- It's thousands! - The other parents...

The ones who know about money,

say we should stick together

and hold out for more! However long it takes.

The parents who know about money they've got money, haven't they?

What they don't know

about is what it's like for families like ours!

Us falling out about it ain't gonna help matters.

Nancy!

Is this something to do with Matthew and his charity fund?

No, I bought it for Colette, for Christmas!

He says it's to go upstairs!

I thought me and her could sit on the bed and watch it together

when she comes to visit.

It'll be good practice for when we get a place of our own.

- Shall I take it up then? - Absolutely not.

There's no space left in that room!

My chamber meanwhile is a great deal more commodious.

And also, it is on the ground floor.

This is only two pound ten.

You said a pound a week for the room

and that you'd only let me have it for a fortnight.

I've added a premium, on account of you being female.

Women put more pressure on the facilities.

- When are you due? - Not till Easter.

You'll have to be gone before you have it.

I'm not having no babies on my premises.

Nurses, social workers, authorities,

all up and down my stairs.

Asking questions.

You're self-contained, you've got your own electric meter.

The bath's down the hall,

but you'll have to go use the outside lav.

We've got Miss Nadine's Dancing School

doing a tap routine

and the Stevedores Glee Club singing

In A Monastery Garden.

Move over, Beatlemania!

I think it's very touching that so many Poplar organisations

want to be involved.

My church choir will do something,

I'm sure! I'll telephone Mrs Wallace.

And it's high time my Keep Fit ladies

got back into their leotards and fishnets.

I've got a backlog in fishnets!

The Cubs are already rehearsing for the Gang Show

and we've a decent Great War medley coming up to a rolling boil.

As long as Miss Higgins doesn't get her recorder out,

we'll be laughing.

(VIOLET) Yes.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

I told Sister Frances I'd do it, save her a job.

But when I went in the shed the rats got there first

and what they haven't chewed,

they've weed on! Or worse.

Yeah, I er, think there is,

in fact, some sort of dropping stuck to Joseph.

- Oh, flick it off with your finger. - Don't... mind...

Nancy, Nancy, may I ask a favour of you?

It's to do with Trixie.

- I need to know her ring size. - What?

You need to know her ring size!

Well, I can't propose in the correct, romantic fashion

if I don't have the appropriate piece

of jewellery to hand.

(SOFT CHUCKLES) No pun intended.

I don't want to find I can't get it on her hand if...

- You know, if she says yes. - Ah she will say yes!

Well, probably.

Yeah, well. Erm, could you rifle through her jewellery box?

Try and find out whether she's a size L or a K or an M

or however they calculate these things?

And without her guessing, or finding out?

Well, you have my word.

And in the meantime, I have something I want to ask you.

(TV CHATTER)

Hello!

(GIGGLES)

You watch your programme, I'll go and see your Mum and Dad.

(TV CHATTER CONTINUES)

I'll get her reading books out in a minute.

She's too old for Watch With Mother really, but...

she had such a screaming fit over her artificial legs.

Shouldn't Susan be at school today?

It's an hour on the bus and it's freezing so...

And besides, when she gets there,

it's all just playing with Plasticine.

She's a bright kid, Dr Turner!

The other children, most of them ain't got working brains!

It's not ideal.

It's criminal.

The other day, when Rhoda rang the Education Office

they said that Susan has no legal entitlement...

to any education, because she's handicapped.

I am going to speak to them and get that put in writing!

But what good's that gonna do?

It gives us something to fight.

You've been fighting for Susan

since the day she was born, Dr Turner!

You walked the floors with her all night!

And I'll never forget that.

Every baby deserves and gets

the very best care we can give them.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

Including the one you're having now, Rhoda.

I really need you to take these iron tablets.

Your blood tests show that you're mildly anaemic.

(BERNIE) No!

No. And we're agreed on this.

Nothing from a chemist's shop is going inside her body

while she's expecting.

Rhoda.

You don't have to punish yourself like this.

Yes, I do.

I think it's absolutely lovely that you want to help

with the talent show, Reggie.

You made everyone teas on the night of the crash

and working backstage is just carrying on like that.

I don't want to be backstage.

I want to be on stage.

Do you reckon Nurse Crane will let you join in with the Cubs?

I'm not a Cub. I want to play my guitar.

(SCOFFS)

Well, you haven't been learning for very long, Reggie.

Anyway, you've left it at home at the Village, for Christmas.

They can post it!

If you don't know your National Insurance Number,

I'm afraid, I can't be of any assistance.

Well, where would it be written down?

On a wage slip.

From your previous employer, if you're no longer working.

Well, I've never had a wage slip. I've always worked for cash.

And I'm not of No Fixed Abode! I do have an address!

And I thought that if you have an address

you can get help with housing.

If you have an address

you don't need help with housing, surely?

I need help to get things for the baby!

I heard about something called Maternity Money?

If you are referring to Government Maternity Grant,

it is possible to make an application.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

One red cardigan, one set of hair bobbles,

both retrieved from the parlour table!

What are you doing in Trixie's jewellery box?

I'm trying to work out her ring size!

I think I'm gonna have to smuggle one to a jeweller's.

Why do you want to know her ring size?

Don't you dare tell a soul.

Or I'll get boiled alive!

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

Before I hand over a significant amount

of Welfare-related paperwork,

might I enquire as to whether you are

in fact a British citizen?

My father was an American, an American GI.

But my mother was English. I was born in Bradford!

Well, you will be required to provide evidence of that.

Oh, good afternoon, Nurse Crane! How very timely.

Dr Turner has just gone into Mrs Mohammed.

Forceps were required.

I shall make a start with the ulcer clinic,

while he's otherwise engaged.

Meanwhile, on a more frivolous note,

I shall require your assistance with my performance

at the talent show.

Your performance at the talent show?

Well, I will be playing my recorder!

I have devised an entertainment about the history

of the woodwind instrument, with a twist.

And the twist is you.

(SOFT LAUGHS)

With all the Poplartunity Knocks

committee members present and correct,

including Lucille, Stage Manager, and Cyril, Set Designer,

and Timothy Turner, Musical Director,

there are no apologies to receive...

So Agenda Item One...

- Can we start with Item Five? - I'm Item Five!

Most of the acts I've got applied need all the musical help

- they can get. - How do you know?

I've heard most of them sing at the pub.

Fred, are you saying that nobody

in the Talent Show has got any talent?

If you want this to be like Opportunity Knocks,

you're gonna need to run it like Opportunity Knocks

we'll need to have auditions!

I've put a five-piece band together

some of the acts will need to rehearse with them.

(CYRIL) Excuse me, did we agree we were going on to Item Five?

Item Two is scenery.

And if I'm going to turn that stage into a television,

I need to get to planning!

Do we have an exact date for this event?

Well, I have made enquiries.

And the hall is booked for December the 30th.

Oh, I know exactly how I'm going to do it!

The frame of the stage is going to be made of plywood,

I'll round the corners off

and make it look the exact shape of a screen!

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

I have to figure out how I'm going to do the...

Clapometer!

(BOTH CONTINUE CHUCKLING)

Cyril. It's snowing!

Will you just look at that?

Every winter, every time it snows,

it's going to remind me of our wedding.

And it's going to remind me to buy you some flowers.

(LAUGHS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Here we go.

- Oh. Is that cold? - Yeah.

You've got snow on you.

I'm gonna show you a snowflake through a magnifying glass.

'Cause you'll never see two the same.

Did you know that?

- Every single one is different. - What's a magnifying glass?

It's a little magic window on a stick, that you look through.

It shows you how beautiful things are.

- (DRIVER) You doing business. - Yeah, a quid.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Mummy!

You call that a snowball? Come on, girls!

Three against one and we might beat her!

(GRUNTING)

Nurse Crane, I need Sister Frances

to help me look over the Christmas altar cloth.

- Have you seen her? - No.

Neither have I seen the identical twin she must have

if she's to fulfil all the positions on this roster!

She was down for twice the usual number of house calls.

I suppose we are fortunate that she is so available.

Unlike her secular colleagues,

she never takes time off.

At least, unlike her secular colleagues,

she isn't likely to go running off and getting married!

Who's getting married now?

(QUIRKY MUSIC)

(KIDS LAUGH)

(VALERIE) Deirdre Curtis.

Deirdre lives in Billingshurst, in Sussex

and it's a Snowman Table Decoration!

And there it is.

The base of it, or the sort of main part of it is a jar

and cotton wool is covering it all the way around. Then the...

Come on, Susan! Left leg, right leg.

Swivel from your tummy,

like the physiotherapist showed you, okay?

- That's it! That's it! - I'm too high up!

You've got to practise with these new legs.

And no, you're not.

They're just making you the same as the other children.

- Mum! - Hello, love!

- Did you get good marks? - Top in woodwork again.

Ooh.

- Can I go out and play? - How old are you?

Go on. Tea'll be at 5.

- Can I go? - No. I want you to try again.

(BUBBLING)

(SIGHS)

Watching!

All I need is a costume now.

Well, I was thinking what about a nice dinner jacket and a bow tie.

Old men wear bow ties.

- Hello there. - Hello again!

- Is that yours? - I'm in Poplartunity Knocks.

Reggie, why don't you take this upstairs

and then I can serve this young lady.

Just a couple more minutes, Susan! Then you can take them off!

(KIDS' INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(GASPS)

My advice would be to start with the basics.

So, a shawl, some vests,

some nighties and a dozen terry nappies.

I can knit. Maybe I should buy some wool and needles.

Of course. And I will throw in a complimentary pattern.

(KIDS LAUGH)

Careful, you know how wobbly you are.

Careful. All right, one step, there we go.

A step here, there we go. All right.

I want to play.

Please.

Stay there, Susan.

- Perry! Help me! - Susan!

(BERNIE) Perry! Perry!

- What the hell's going on? - It wasn't his fault.

- (NANCY SIGHS) - Any news?

I feel like I'm in the French Resistance.

All I need is a beret and a belted mac!

She's a K and a half.

And now we have other work to do.

(TRUMPET TOOTING)

It's a novelty, colourful costume.

- She's got charisma. - She's out of tune, Fred.

(TRUMPET TOOTING CONTINUES)

Next!

(ACCORDION PLAYING)

I'm looking for spangles, showmanship!

This is like Dracula's night off.

Next!

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

♪ Girl, you really got me going ♪

She's got a very good sense of rhythm.

We'll never get this past Lucille and Violet in a million years!

Cyril, Cyril!

This lady is an artiste! Try and show a bit of sensitivity!

♪ You really got me now ♪

♪ You got me So I can't sleep at night ♪

♪ You really got me ♪

(PIANO PLAYS)

The biggest challenge is going to be the sleeves!

Snowmen don't have sleeves! They don't even have arms.

Don't they just have twigs, sticking out of their sides?

I'd have thought the biggest problem

was going to be the carrot nose.

Can I go to bed now?

Don't wake the others.

Rhoda.

She has stitches on her head, Dr Turner.

I know.

The night sister told me when she telephoned.

Visiting hours are long over.

I turned my back on her for one minute!

Rhoda. All children have accidents.

And all expectant mothers need to steer clear of stress.

Now, this isn't good for your baby.

You need to let me drive you home

and... everything else can be worked out in the morning.

(GROANS)

Shhh.

You don't wanna be born yet.

You're just restless.

Come back to bed with me.

We'll keep each other warm.

I can smell the beer on you from here!

If you had the time and the money

to go down the Hand and Shears, where's this doll's house?

My friend didn't know I was gonna be there!

You're always ruddy there!

I made Susan a little pusher with a hook

so she can move the furniture about.

I want to try it out, see if it works.

That's very thoughtful of you, I'm sure!

It's the thing he came top for in woodwork, Mum!

- How was I supposed to know that... - No! Because you never asked him!

Just like you never ask anybody anything

unless it's to do with Susan!

(BERNIE) Apologise to your mum, right now!

(RHODA) Why? You never do!

(DOOR CLOSES)

- (SIGHS) - (DOORBELL RINGS)

Rhoda. Baby's ticking over very nicely indeed.

But we're really quiet in the maternity home just now.

So, Doctor Turner wants you

to come in for a night or two of bed rest.

Oh, well what about Susan?

Susan is being beautifully looked after.

A break will help you to cope much better when the baby comes.

And it is coming, innit?

- Just like Christmas. - (BOTH CHUCKLE)

Yes.

You're going to help Santa Claus give out presents to sick children!

Do you not think you ought to wear some nice bright colours?

Lucille, I have been pouring over photos of Princess Alexandra!

She gives presents to sick children all the time

and she always looks elegant,

poised and restrained.

Why do you want to look like Princess Alexandra?

I shall be distributing gifts

with a notable, local, businessman and philanthropist.

I need to look polished and dignified.

"And does it not seem hard to you,

When all the sky is clear and blue,

And I should like so much to play,

To have to go to bed by day?"

That's sad.

Do you wanna read a comic instead?

(TED) We love Susan, don't we Katie?

Such a little sweetheart with her blue eyes, isn't she?

Oh, thank you.

Shame about her arms and legs though, ey?

(SISTER JULIENNE) Enter.

(MATTHEW CHUCKLES)

You asked me to pop in if I was passing by.

- Is it about the dry rot? - Er, no.

It's about Nurse Franklin.

I feel it necessary to issue a word of warning.

Warning?

No one can fail to see the depth of feeling between you, Mr Aylward.

And no one can fail to be delighted by it.

Might I ask if you intend to propose marriage?

Erm... yes.

I mean, yes of course you can ask and er... my answer,

as far as that goes is also in the affirmative.

Of course, you know,

Nurse Franklin was once previously engaged.

Er, yes, erm some time ago, to a, to a clergyman?

God had other plans. I think quite rightly.

But there is something you should be aware of.

Really?

She was extremely disappointed in the ring.

It was a family heirloom, on her fiancée's side,

but it came as quite a shock.

Gosh.

My mother always said to me,

"Never let a man surprise you with jewellery."

The advice wasn't pertinent, in my case.

(CHUCKLES)

But do confer with Nurse Franklin before making any rash purchases.

Of course, of course.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

Merry Christmas young lady, there you are.

Merry Christmas. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Father Christmas! Let's see who we have here!

Oh, that isn't Susan Mullucks, from Jubilee Place

acting like a little tearaway?

(ALL LAUGH)

Merry Christmas!

What you doing, running around in your smalls?

- I run a respectable establishment! - I'm not well.

I need a hot water bottle for my stomach.

- That sprog's not coming, is it? - No!

I told you I'm not due yet!

You said Easter! I may not be a churchgoing woman,

but I know the difference

between Easter and flaming Christmas!

I want you gone. Now!

Here's the refund on your second week's rent.

- But I'm having a baby. - Not here, you're not!

That front door is barred to anyone representing the authorities!

But I've got nothing to do with the authorities!

You will do if you don't shift. This house has been condemned!

If the Welfare find out you've got a kid, they'll take it off you.

Now, go and get yourself an ambulance.

Wait! Help me!

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Do you want me to say that you wrote this?

Oh, no! Oh, no, that would be rather self-aggrandising.

I've asked Mr Buckle to put it in the programme.

(CLEARS THROAT)

"Now, let us take you by the hand

Into the far and distant land.

Of history. When knights of old

Approached their lady, feeling bold.

First, they bowed, and then implored her,

'Listen! To my sweet recorder!'"

(RECORDER TOOTING)

(KNOCKING)

Please! Open the door!

- Go away! - Please!

- Go on! Hop it. - Please!

(GRUNTS)

"Hark to the bass, so sweet and low!

Think of it played in frost and snow."

Millicent, is this meant to be you playing, or me reading?

- Reciting. - What?

Reciting. Well, you're going to have to learn it off by heart!

(PANTING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(GROANING)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(RATTLING)

(GROANING)

I'm just of the view,

that before we move onto the stanza beginning,

"Now, we enter the Age of Baroque!"

We need to stop and think about this

from the point of view of a paying audience!

Or course.

And I think you need to project your voice a little more.

Stage presence is everything.

(CINDY) Help me!

- Phyllis, did you hear that? - Yes.

(CINDY) Help me!

(SOBS)

Hello!

Help me!

- Over there! - (CINDY) Help me!

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Oh, you poor lass! You poor lass.

Listen. My friend and I are going to help you.

We're going to start by taking you somewhere warm and safe.

She must have been assaulted. I'll send for the police.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

You have absolutely nothing whatsoever to apologise for.

It's due. I'm having a baby.

(GRUNTING)

There's loads of stuff in here! All the bedding, all the nappies.

It's like mum knew there was gonna be another baby all along.

If one more person asks me if we think this one's

gonna be all right, I'll swing for 'em.

I swear!

I'm sick of fending them off.

I'm sick of people telling me that they were offered them pills

and they didn't take them.

Do you think that's true?

Well, if it is, Perry, what does it say about your mum and me, hey?

And what's Susan, what is she gonna say when...

she's old enough to understand?

Dad. Go and fetch the doll's house.

And come straight home?

(CINDY GROANING)

All is well, Cindy.

You are warm and you are safe.

Sister Julienne was preparing to go into Compline

but she asked to be kept informed.

Where will you send me now?

I don't think we'll be sending you anywhere.

I'm still confident an ambulance would reach us very swiftly.

- Not swiftly enough! - I can't do it!

I can't. I don't know what to do!

I know this is your first baby, but it isn't mine.

Can you think of something you once did, for the very first time

and you had no idea how to start?

I don't know!

I think...

I think I can remember learning to knit.

When I were little.

- Who taught you? - My mum.

I can remember her voice, talking me through the stitches.

"In. Over. Through. Off."

And that's what I'm going to do.

I'm going to talk you through it.

Do you remember mummy? Hmm?

Poor love.

And poor you!

But it doesn't matter...

because she'll love you, always.

(GROANING)

The head is out,

breathe and push down for the shoulders.

(GROANING CONTINUES)

And we have a baby.

(BABY CRIES)

A clean towel if you would be so kind, Millicent.

(BABY CRIES CONTINUE)

And mother may like a sip of water in a moment.

A little girl, Cindy!

Oh, we have a very courageous mother here, sister.

And a beautiful baby.

God love you all.

If you had crowns, you'd look like the Three Wise Men!

(ALL CHUCKLE)

♪ On the first day Of Christmas my... ♪

♪ True love said to me ♪

♪ A dolls' house... ♪

♪ Under a tree ♪

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Lads. Oi, lads.

Lad, lads, here are, here are, oi, oi, come on...

(BERNIE LAUGHS)

I just came down for a biscuit.

I'd say what in the name of Jesus are you doing,

but that doesn't look like a very religious act.

I've got to do the marzipan tonight,

otherwise, it won't dry out in time for me to do the icing!

There'll be yellow stains seeping through the snow scene.

- Sister. How'd you do it? - Do what?

Keep on going!

Keep on being a nurse and a midwife

and a nun and not just one nun but two,

because you're filling in for Sister Hilda

and you're picking up the slack for Sister Julienne

and the auld one!

Well, I could shrug and say that God gives me the job

and the strength to do it.

But...

I made a rule for myself when I was still a postulant,

find the beauty.

And that's what I'm doing now.

You're decorating a cake in the middle of the night.

Yes. And it'll probably be on the sideboard for a week

being blamed for everybody's heartburn.

But people will come together around it.

That's its beauty.

And where there is beauty, there is God.

Yeah, I believe you believe that.

(SCOFFS)

It's funny to think you weren't a nun once.

That you had a different name.

Me and Colette play a game where we try and guess what it is.

I'll tell you if you get it right!

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

- How long can I stay here for? - Ten days is quite usual.

Neither you nor Baby are going anywhere just yet.

Hello.

Nursery for you.

Then you can get some sleep.

- (BABY CRIES) - Come on.

There we go.

- There we go. - Nurse!

I hardly got a wink of sleep!

I often have slow labours

but I'm starting to think there's something kicking off.

Right you are, Rhoda.

Mrs Mullucks is in labour!

I need to call Nonnatus House

and then get word to her husband.

I, meanwhile, have been to Cindy's lodging house

and retrieved her belongings.

- Is that all the poor lass owns? - These...

The clothes in which she came to us and her name!

The latter seems to be the only thing

she hasn't lost along the way.

Her entire life appears to have been an abject failure

of the thing that matters most.

- Love? - No. Administration.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Dad's up.

Dad.

Where did you put Susan's doll's house?

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

We need to find your birth certificate,

your National Health Number and your National Insurance Number.

And from these, the rest will follow.

Including an application for Supplementary allowance.

I can't do forms!

They all end up full of blanks.

They begin full of blanks.

Correctly completed,

they become both record and representation of our lives.

What if I don't want my life recorded?

My dear. It already is.

It's simply a matter of knowing where to look.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

You said there was a string of coloured lights. Dad!

I think you might have left it somewhere round...

I don't remember, Perry!

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

I put it on a dustbin.

Where, Dad?

There.

(CLATTER IN DISTANCE)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN DISTANCE)

Is that supposed to make it better?

(SIGHS)

Almost the first thing I remember

is when they took my mum away to the mental hospital.

A policewoman stayed the night with me.

She gave me her pen to play with

it were one of those biros

with a button that you can click up and down.

I'd never seen anything like that before.

And she opened up a paper bag for me to draw on.

Or write.

And I wrote, Cindy Louise Dalvert.

Cindy being your given name, not an abbreviation?

Yeah.

Then I wrote Balaclava Buildings,

Greenleaf Street,

Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire,

England, Great Britain, the Earth, The Universe.

I had to keep on asking the policewoman

how to spell the words, but...

as long as I kept my head down and only thought about my address,

the world stopped spinning.

Next morning, when it were light, she drove me to the council home.

She let me keep the pen.

Sometimes, one has to express kindness

in the only way one can.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

I lived in so many addresses after that...

Don't take this the wrong way, but when's Mrs Turner coming?

She'll be here any minute now. But we've got plenty of...

Mr Mullucks, you can't just go barging into the delivery room!

- I just wanna see my wife! - Bernie! Get out!

Black, with two sugars.

(CLATTERING)

Don't suppose you got anything medicinal to put in...

A nip, something like that?

No. But I can, I can find some paracetamol if your head's aching.

It aches...

every day.

Does drinking alcohol help with that?

Every day.

Mr Mullucks. We don't know each other particularly well.

But I think, just at this moment,

I know what you're feeling.

And what you're thinking.

You're thinking that you're utterly alone.

And you're not.

I promise you that.

I can show you that.

I can take you somewhere

where you'll never feel alone in this again.

But you'll have to ask.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(BERNIE) What's this?

Alcohol-free champagne?

I'm so glad you're here!

Mr Mullucks needs to go straight home.

(TONGUE CLICKS)

I don't want this!

Oh, this is normal labour, Rhoda.

You've coped before, and you'll cope again.

I mean I don't want this baby!

Rhoda, sweetheart, you don't mean that!

You can't mean that!

Do you mean "can't" as in it's "impossible"?

Or can't like that's not allowed?

It's neither of those things.

If that is how you feel, I respect that.

And the thing that might help most is if you try to tell me why.

(RHODA) I feel like...

I'm betraying Susan!

She asks for nothing, but she needs so much!

And now there'll be another child.

Another mouth, another body clinging to me.

And I don't know how I'm gonna manage?

You will manage, Rhoda, because good mothers do.

And you are the best, most generous,

most resilient and most resourceful mother

I have ever seen!

But it's hard, Mrs Turner!

And it's gonna get hard for Susan! (SOBBING)

She's going to get her nose pushed out of joint,

that's for certain.

It happens to children all the time!

They learn to share and they learn to budge up and make room.

And one way and another,

they learn that the most miraculous organ

in a mother's body is her heart.

Because it never stops growing.

- You promise? - I promise.

This is what drink does!

It batters down everything that matters!

The children were trying to mend it,

with Airfix glue but it's completely destroyed.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

If it can't be repaired, can it be replaced?

How?

The shops are already shut and tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

You're not getting the forceps? I don't want the forceps!

I'm just looking for things to do

and feeling like a bit of a spare part!

(GROANING)

That's the head, Rhoda! Go with it! Push! Don't waste this!

Come on! You can do it!

(YELLS)

(BABY CRIES)

(LAUGHS)

It looks like you have another son, Rhoda!

Born at two minutes past midnight on Christmas Eve morning!

Oh, it's a boy?

Oh, then I've done it girl, boy, girl, boy!

It all fits together, doesn't it? He's beautiful.

- (BABY CRIES) - (RHODA) Oh.

Oh, and he's mine!

Oh, he's mine!

Oh.

Oh, oh, it's one of them afterpains!

I think it might be the placenta coming.

(BABY COOING)

Dr Turner? Will you take him?

Walk around with him in your arms? You're good at that.

(BABY CRIES)

I hope you don't think this is a liberty, Dr Turner,

but I'd like to call him Patrick.

- Oh, hello! - Hello!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(SCOFFS)

Where'd this come from?

I could say that it fell off the back of a lorry.

- (LAUGHS) - But I'd be fibbing.

Merry Christmas!

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

(LIVELY MUSIC)

(KIDS LAUGH)

(ALL LAUGH)

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Merry Christmas!

Come in out of the snow.

- Is it Gillian? - No.

- Is it Amanda? - No.

Is it maybe Maureen? Or Doreen?

No!

(KIDS LAUGH)

I'm afraid there's been a call out for a woman in labour.

Not a name I recognise.

Here.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Is this where your auntie lives, Yusuf?

(GULSAN SPEAKS IN SYLHETI) Help me.

(IN ENGLISH) You must be Gulsan.

Don't be afraid,

please don't be afraid, I'm here to help.

Is this your first baby?

Or perhaps your second?

Is this one? Or two?

So bad!

(IN SYLHETI) Everywhere is filthy.

There are men here.

(IN ENGLISH) Gulsan. Gulsan. Please don't worry, okay?

We are going to make this beautiful.

Go on, Susan, hold, hold the baby.

That's it. You're a big sister now!

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

We're all changing, Bernie.

You've got to change too.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

(SISTER FRANCES SPEAKS SYLHETI) Well done!

(IN ENGLISH) I said there'd be no time to get you to the hospital.

Hey, come here.

Can you feel that?

That's baby's head.

Okay, okay, baby's coming now, baby's coming, just breathe.

Just breathe, it's okay,

just breathe for me, just breathe and here we go.

(BABY CRIES)

He's perfect.

(LIVELY MUSIC)

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

boys and girls we present for your entertainment,

Aladdin and his wonderful lamp.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

- (BABY CRIES) - Gulsan.

I'm just going to pull very gently on the cord,

to see if the afterbirth has come away.

(BABY CRIES CONTINUE)

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Lucille?

The delivery was straightforward, but the placenta hasn't separated!

- Did you give her Syntometrine? - Yes.

Yes, but then the cord just snapped right off!

I tried doing the Credes manoeuvre on my own,

but we need to try again, the two of us.

I'll get there as soon as I can.

Ah!

(GRUNTS)

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Oh, Lord, in thee have I trusted.

Please never let me be confounded.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(SIGHS)

Penny for them?

Have you ever had that feeling that somehow,

in spite of everything in the world that's fractured

or imperfect or out of joint,

you are exactly where you belong?

Yeah.

He's in the hallway now!

I was trying not to look, but I could see the ring box

in his trouser pocket all through tea.

Oh, no, no.

You can't go down there! I'm sorry.

I used to look at the map of the East End

on my father's office wall.

At, at all the pins stuck in it,

which meant that we owned this tenement

and that warehouse and...

It was just the geography of money.

I never guessed I'd look at it

and think that,

"Those streets, those buildings.

That is where my life is."

And is it?

Trixie, I'm not a man that's never known love.

But here...

I see what love is,

in all its hardship and its glory.

Hmm, I see it too.

And I... I want to go on seeing it, together

and... and through your eyes.

- Trixie. - Oh, Mr Aylward! I'm so sorry...

But Jonty's just been very, very sick!

It's mostly selection box,

but it's all over Sister Monica Joan!

(BOTH LAUGH)

We'll do the Credes manoeuvre.

I'll work internally and you take the abdomen.

Okay.

That way you only need to use your good hand.

I'm sorry, precious.

My hands might be a little bit cold.

(SPEAKS SYLHETI) Shob tha tik asseh.

All is well.

- Ready? - Um.

Prepare to apply pressure. It's all right.

(GRUNTING)

Am I pushing hard enough? Have you managed to get hold of it?

Yes. The placenta has separated.

I can feel it beyond the cervix, it's coming!

(GRUNTING)

A second injection of Syntometrine,

then I'll check to ensure it's complete.

Gulsan can't stay here, it's filthy.

And she doesn't have adequate support.

And she needs to go to hospital!

I've already sent for an ambulance and there'll be room in it for two.

I think you've broken your shoulder.

I'd like to speak to Nurse Franklin, please.

Of course, come in.

Did I have an operation?

You sustained a nasty double fracture.

The top end of the humerus and the clavicle.

The bones had to be reset under general anaesthetic.

The Order is in the wars, isn't it?

First you with your ribs.

And as soon as you're better, it's my turn.

Oh, you wonder what God wants from it.

I think God wants The Order to take better care of its Sisters.

Not work them like mules,

not assume that where there's the will,

there's limitless strength!

I'm all right.

There's plenty I can do one-handed!

We will be arranging for help from an agency,

until Mother Mildred sends someone to replace Sister Hilda.

You are to go to Chichester until your arm heals.

You need rest and the privilege and discipline of prayer.

You mean...

just be a nun?

Yes. For a while.

It is your right and you have earned it.

(SIGHS)

That's moss stitch unless I'm mistaken!

You've done well, lass.

And so has Miss Higgins.

Approved for Supplementary allowance.

Assigned a social worker.

And offered a long-term place at a hostel

for Mothers and Babies on the Essex coast!

I pursued a connection I have at a private charity.

You've done all that for me?

(SOBS)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

My name is Bernie.

- I'm an alcoholic. - Well done.

I could say that I'm here because I'm ashamed.

Because I'm an idiot.

But the friend...

who brought me here said I could talk about anything

and I wanna talk about love.

Because no one ever does, where I'm from.

Except if it's your wedding day, or if someone around you is dying.

But no one tells you that love can...

be a knife.

That it can twist inside of you

and you can't tell no one that you're bleeding.

(SIGHS)

My little girl is so beautiful to me that...

I can't describe it...

Thalidomide took her arms, took her legs...

and I want the world for her and she'll never get it.

She'll never have a job.

She'll never have a husband.

That's what they say.

And I don't know whether I drink to drown them out,

or to stop myself from screaming. I think...

I must...

hide in it.

In the glass, or in the bottle.

But does that mean that I'm hiding from her?

I don't want to be a coward.

I just want to love, without it hurting.

I want to love like my little girl does.

I want to love...

Like it's easy.

Like I don't know any better.

And I can never be... innocent again.

But I can change. I can stop.

I can stop...

I can stop.

(SNIFFS)

Then I can love.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(SIGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(LIVELY MUSIC)

Oh, that's good, that looks good.

Do not let yourself be distracted

by the wolf-whistles in the audience.

It's extremely important you follow the beat of the music at all times

and the other way.

- Hello! - Hello, Susan!

Perfect timing!

♪ Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, si, do ♪

I still think you should have worn your lounge suit.

Hughie Green always wears a lounge suit!

And that's why I'm wearing mine. "I mean that most sincerely folks!"

Fred. I am not getting up on that stage

in front of half of Poplar

looking like I'm preaching, or I'm civil engineering!

- Wear it. - No!

I want to feel like I'm in show business!

A tuxedo is show business.

Violet says Reggie's forgotten his bow tie!

- I'm not wearing it. - Reggie.

I think you're feeling a little bit like how me and Fred are feeling.

A little nervous? And a little bit wondering why we said we'd do this?

Overture and beginners, please!

(LIVELY MUSIC)

Hey! Hoho!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Lords and lassies, welcome, one and all,

to this evening's gala performance

in aid of the Train Crash Relief fund.

You've brought tickets

to see Nurse Nancy and Matthew Sinatra!

- Poplartunity Knocks! - Knocks!

♪ I know I stand in line ♪

♪ Until you think You have the time ♪

♪ To spend an evening with me ♪

♪ And if we go some place To dance ♪

♪ I know that there's a chance ♪

♪ You won't be leaving with me ♪

♪ And afterwards we drop Into a quiet little place ♪

♪ And have a drink or two ♪

♪ And then I go and spoil it all ♪

♪ By saying something stupid Like I love you ♪

♪ The time is right ♪

♪ Your perfume fills my head ♪

♪ The stars get red ♪

♪ And all the nights so blue ♪

♪ And then I go and spoil it all ♪

♪ By saying something stupid Like I love you ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ I love you ♪

♪ I love you ♪

(APPLAUSE)

(ALL CHEER)

- (AUDIENCE) Bravo. - Bravo, bravo!

(FRED LAUGHS)

But just remember, folks! The Clapometer is just for fun!

It's your votes that really count!

(BASSOON TOOTING)

(BASSOON TOOTING CONTINUES)

(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)

(FRED) Oh, I think the Clapometer must be broken,

you've broken the Clapometer!

Come on, Colette,

- give it a helping hand! - Yeah.

Erm, how about we give the two lovely ladies

a cheer instead!

Hip, hip, hooray!

(MANAGER) Five minutes 'til curtain up,

that's five minutes 'til curtain up.

Hello!

Reggie, isn't it?

I'm Cindy. And this is Melissa.

Nice baby.

I'm looking forward to you playing your guitar.

- I'm not. - Why not?

Too many people. And I'm not gonna do it.

It can be a bit overwhelming, can't it?

A bit much.

When there's lots of strange faces.

Yes.

Sometimes, all it takes is knowing that there's just that one person.

That one person rooting for you.

I'll root for you.

You can look out and see my face and I'll be smiling.

(SCOFFS)

But you'll be too far away.

(AUDIENCE CHEER, APPLAUSE)

Up next, we have a wonderful young man

who needs no introduction to many of you.

He is East End born and bred,

and it is my pleasure and my honour to call him a friend.

This evening, he is going to play his guitar for us.

So please give him the warmest welcome!

Tonight, Poplartunity Knocks for Reggie Jackson!

(GUITAR PLAYS "AWAY IN A MANGER")

(AUDIENCE CHEER, APPLAUSE)

And in a change to our advertised programme,

Angela, May and Teddy Turner will be joined on stage

for their rendition of Frosty The Snowman

by their friend, Susan Mullucks!

(AUDIENCE CHEER, APPLAUSE)

♪ Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Was a jolly happy soul ♪

♪ With a corn cob pipe And a button nose ♪

♪ And two eyes made out of coal ♪

♪ Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Is a fairy tale they say ♪

♪ He was made of snow But the children know ♪

♪ How he came to life one day ♪

♪ There must have been some magic ♪

♪ In that old silk hat they found ♪

♪ For when they placed it On his head ♪

♪ He began to dance around ♪

♪ Oh, Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Was alive as he could be ♪

♪ And the children say He could laugh and play ♪

♪ Just the same as you and me ♪

♪ Frosty the Snowman ♪

♪ Had to hurry on his way ♪

♪ But he waved good bye Saying, "Don't you cry ♪

♪ I'll be back again someday!" ♪

(AUDIENCE CHEER, APPLAUSE)

You have it.

For being my friend.

Now, you take as much rest as you need.

Nurse's orders!

You come back now.

Colette!

Do you want to know a secret?

Are you going to tell me your name?

It's Rosemary.

(CHUCKLES)

(LIGHT MUSIC)

(HORN HONKS)

I love the river at New Year.

The first time I ever heard the bells ring

and the ships sound their foghorns

I thought I'd never heard anything so alive!

For years, when I was in the grip of drink it was,

it was as though the racket was inside me.

Trixie. I love you.

I love you for who you are.

I love you for all the places that you've been

and come back from.

I love you for all the things that you've shown me...

and all the places we have yet to go.

So will you just come with me, Trixie?

Will you come with me, as my wife?

(TRIXIE GASPS)

I mean I can get, I can get you the sapphire if you'd rather.

Or an emerald or a ruby? I, I don't really care.

- I don't care about the diamond! - I don't know what to say.

All I care about is you!

All I've ever cared about is you!

Wait, wait, Trixie! Wait. Be careful!

Careful? Careful?

You just threw a diamond

the size of Big Ben into the Thames!

I suppose you could say

it's the ultimate London experience.

I know I've said it several times already,

but I really do love you, Trixie.

I love you so much that I'm doing this

in a brand-new pair of suede shoes!

Oh, gosh, oh!

Will you marry me, Trixie?

Yes. Yes!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

♪ And never brought to mind? ♪

♪ Should auld Acquaintance be forgot ♪

(JENNIFER) Love your miracles as if they are your children.

Whether you make them, or whether you find them,

cherish them, name them.

Hold them close.

There will always be others.

There were miracles before.

But each is as complete as any that preceded it,

as perfect as any that will ever come again.

And each is as fragile

as a single flake of snow.

(CLOSING THEME MUSIC)