Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (yes, still online) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. As summer fades into autumn, we have more than just the metaphorical birth of a new season to contend with: it’s also time for the return of PBS favorite, Call The Midwife. Between our scrappy nurses, sassy nuns and gut-wrenching emotional trauma that somehow keeps you wanting more, there’s a lot to be excited about. Need a refresher on what happened last season? Check out our Season 9 and 2020 Holiday Special recaps here. Ready? Take a deep (lamaze) breath, and prepare yourself for Season 10!
Remember how I thought last week was unusually grim, even for Call The Midwife? Episode 2 is shaping up to be no different, starting with the Nonnatus crew reacting to news of the Moors Murders, a horribly upsetting true crime story that Americans may not know (it involves a couple who murdered and sexually assaulted five children, which explains why all of our midwife friends are so righteously furious). The episode also starts with a family, the Clarkes, getting evicted while a crowd boos their landlord, so it seems that the housing crisis in Poplar is only getting worse.
Back at Nonnatus, Sister Julienne checks in on the still very unhappy Sister Monica Joan.
Sister Julienne: Hey, so I got a letter from our boss.
Sister Monica Joan, still has jokes: Well I guess that’s better than a visit.
Mother Mildred, in letter form: LOL, good try with the new outfits; yes, they’re cute, but we don’t need to look cute, so donate them all.
Sister Hilda:
Across town, Cyril helps the Clarke family carry their stuff, and notices that Mr. Clarke seems to have a pretty serious limp.
Cyril: Hey, look, I’m happy to help, but do we need to get your leg checked out also?
Mr. Clarke: Nah, it’s a minor workplace injury. I got fired for this, and now I can’t get an accountant job.
Cyril: Ah, the old “no jobs” thing?
Mr. Clarke: Yeah, exactly: not for Black folks like us.
Way to continue to be incrediby racist, England (yes, I know the US is just as bad if not worse). Anyway, this being Call the Midwife, I have a feeling that something good will happen for this family by the end of the episode, but ugh, this sucks. At the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie buttonholes Very Posh Doc.
Trixie: Hey, am I reading this right? Was Can’t Have It All, my patient from
Episode 1, re-admitted?
Very Posh Doc: Yeah, she’s got a fever. I’m running some tests, want to join me? Oh, and are we sure that the placenta and membrane were all intact?
Trixie: 100% sure.
Very Posh Doc: Well, she was pretty upset when she got here, so let’s be extra reassuring.
Here’s the deal, for those who don’t know: Very Posh Doc is asking about Can’t Have It All’s placenta because sometimes pieces get stuck in the uterus after birth, which can cause life-threatening hemorrhages. Just another fun addition to my weird-ass browser history; you’re welcome, GBH IT. Anyway, Can’t Have It All’s temperature hasn’t gone down at all, so Very Posh Doc prescribes some antibiotics and Trixie’s care, to the mutual delight of both women. Can’t Have It All’s husband, who’s earned himself the recap name A for Effort due to his suitcase packing “skills” last week and his tea making attempt this week, is also here, and doing his best just as his recap name suggests. Very Posh Doc tells Trixie to run some tests, then bustles out, giving the actually fun characters in the room a chance to have an adorably animated chat about their mutual interest: the Can’t Have It All/A for Effort baby, Jonathan.
Back in Poplar, there’s a less happy reunion going on. Lucille excitedly greets a former patient, who’s arrived at the clinic looking very posh indeed, and seems to want to go unrecognized by everyone. When she finally gets into the exam room, Undercover Mother is faced with the preternaturally naive Sister Frances.
Sister Frances: Ok, well let’s just figure out your due date!
Undercover Mother, dripping with unhappy gravitas: I know exactly when I got pregnant, if that helps.
Sister Frances, completely missing the vibes: Neat! I bet you’re hoping for a boy since you’ve got girls at home?
Undercover Mother: I don’t care. I’m giving the baby up for adoption, that’s why I’ve been avoiding coming here: I just want to forget the whole thing?
Sister Frances, short circuiting: But… babies good? And you’ll need to do some paperwork.
Undercover Mother: Can’t you just fill out the paperwork for me?
Sister Frances: I just don’t get it — aren’t you married?
Undercover Mother, bristling: I need to speak to someone more senior who knows what she’s talking about. Now.
Sister Frances, getting a backbone: Look, I’ve been here for two years, I’m senior enough. Can we start over? We all make mistakes.
Undercover Mother: Oh, you have NO IDEA.
Me, mostly here for the drama:
Back at the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie checks on a sleeping Can’t Have It All and sees something that obviously sets off immediate alarm bells: a huge honking bruise on her arm. Out in the waiting room, she finds a very harried A for Effort trying to do work from the lobby phone, and in the process, knocking a vase over onto the desk.
A for Effort: Ugh, I’m so sorry, I’m a mess. Look, was I right to bring my wife back to the hospital? Very Posh Doc said she might feel faint, but she went down like a tree and I freaked out.
Trixie: You definitely did the right thing. Women often feel bad after they give birth, but it’s always a good thing to check in situations like these.
Well, that exchange makes me feel better about the likelihood that A for Effort isn’t abusing his wife, but giant honking mystery bruises are no joke.
Back at the clinic, Undercover Mother spills the tea to Sister Frances: her husband is away at sea. And he’s been away since before the baby was conceived, if you know what I mean. Sister Frances is shockingly understanding about the whole thing: you can’t undo a mistake, and Undercover Mother has to face up to what’s happening.
Undercover Mother: Look, when my husband was home last, I wasn’t showing, and hopefully he won’t be back until after this baby is born and I give it up for adoption. I think that’s the best, easiest solution.
Sister Frances: Are you not concerned that your other kids might figure this out?
Undercover Mother: They’re little, I’ve hidden it from everyone. I wear a girdle most of the time, so people just think I'm gaining weight.
Sister Frances: Ok, if that’s what you want, then come straight to the maternity home when labor starts and I will help you.
I’m not gonna lie to you all: Sister Frances has impressed me today! Not that I think this “no one will ever find out about my secret baby” plan is a good idea, but she’s getting much better about keeping any judgemental feelings under wraps.
At the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie checks in on Can’t Have It All, who seems even worse. She’s not eating, insists on going to the bathroom solo even though she’s not very steady on her feet, and is generally trying to pretend nothing is amiss. Thankfully, Trixie is just outside the door when Can’t Have It All falls, and with only a little prodding, convinces her to take Trixie’s assistance. Still, she's definitely not getting better.
At Fred and Vi’s shop, Cyril comes in with Lucille to do some shopping: not for him, but for the newly homeless Clarke family he’s ministering to.
Fred: WTF? It’s the 60s, no one should be homeless.
Me: You said it, Fred.
Lucille: Unfortunately, it’s more common than you’d think. They got evicted for getting behind on the rent.
Cyril: So we all have to help out where we can.
Fred: We sure do: put your money away, no charge.
Now, individual contributions like this obviously don’t fix the systemic issue at play, but I still love to see it from our generous, warm-hearted squad. Back at Nonnatus, the midwives sit down to dinner and chat about the future.
Sister Hilda: Dang: is it all really gonna work out?
Me: Slow your roll, Hilda, it’s only episode 2.
Sister Julienne: So far, so good. I’ve been reporting everything about our collab with Very Posh Doc back to Mother Mildred, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Lucille: Look, I’m not gonna come right out and say it, but is Very Posh Doc as cute as I picture him?
Trixie: Well, maybe once, but now he’s old.
Phyllis: Hey! Age comes with experience, don’t knock it.
Sister Monica Joan, done with everyone’s crap:
Lucille, getting everyone back on track: Well look, a bunch of money doesn’t mean anything: women get powerful when they’re faced with the rigors of childbirth; no need for expensive faff. What do you think, Sister Monica Joan?
Sister Monica Joan, reverting to her impenetrable idiom of yesteryear: Don’t hang out under wise old trees; stand next to saplings for clarity.
Everyone else:
Later, Sister Frances drops in on Undercover Mother, and she comes bearing gifts: iron tablets.
Sister Frances: Oh, is this a picture of your husband? He seems sweet!
Undercover Mother: Yeah, sure. He always wanted the whole white picket fence dream scenario. I guess two girls, instead of a girl and a boy, will just have to do.
Sister Frances: Maybe he’d be cool with it?
Undercover Mother: No, he only wanted his own family.
Sister Frances: Well, whatever happens, I have your back!
Undercover Mother: You know what’s weird? We’re like… the same age. And we ended up super different.
At Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie and Very Posh Doc chat about Can’t Have It All. She’s not getting better, and what I thought was a big honking bruise is a rash: they thought it might indicate septicemia, but the rash hasn’t spread. Very Posh Doc hasn’t been idle though: while they’re waiting for test results, he looked at Can’t Have It All’s prenatal tests, which might not actually indicate an iron deficiency like they’d assumed. He’s called in the blood expert at the local hospital, who wants to extract bone marrow to learn more about her blood cells, and see if something more serious is happening.
At Nonnatus, Sister Frances plies Sister Monica Joan with cake and comes right out with the question everyone wants to know: is she sad?
Sister Monica Joan: Sad? That’s such a specific emotion.
Sister Frances, diving right in: Well, *I* feel sad. A patient said we’re the same age, but we’re on completely different paths. I mean, this isn’t the first time someone’s said that to me, and it’s always upsetting. I know some nuns think about what we give up to do this all the time, but I don’t. I don’t feel like I gave up anything; I joined the convent when I was 17, before I went on a date or got kissed or anything. And I’ll never wear a miniskirt, thank god. You know, the first time I saw someone wearing one I thought she was having a wardrobe malfunction and that no one had said anything... so I did. She was SO mad. Anyway, how am I supposed to understand my patients’ problems when I’m so… what did this recapper call me? Preternaturally naive?
Sister Monica Joan: Do you have a solution?
Sister Frances: No :)
Sister Monica Joan: I’m also going through it, and can’t find an answer. Solidarity!
Sister Hilda, has been quietly lurking in the background this whole time: If I may, I might have an idea.
I bet it’s a good one too, but we’re going to have to wait to find out. At Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Can’t Have It All is even worse, and miserable with wanting to go home and be with her family.
Trixie: You must miss it. And I bet your journal is full of juicy gossip!
Can’t Have It All: Not really! I know I look all fancy, and I had that high flying job, but I’m actually secretly pretty old fashioned.
Trixie: Same here — I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine!
Can’t Have It All: OR we can make plans to run around in the fancy part of town in bikinis when I get out.
Trixie: You’re on.
Back at Nonnatus, Sister Hilda’s plan starts to take shape: she calls up Miss Higgins and asks if she’d pass along any “groovy” magazines from the surgery waiting room once they’re done with them.
Miss Higgins: Well, I don’t actually know what “groovy” means, but ok?
Sister Hilda: Do you have Tit-Bits?
Miss Higgins, offended: MA’AM. This is a doctor’s office, not a beauty parlor!
Sister Hilda, suitably chastised: Sorry!
At Very Posh Maternity Hospital, the blood doctor arrives to extract Can’t Have It All’s bone marrow. Can’t Have It All is quite brave about the whole thing, with Trixie’s support. Everyone’s still pretending like this is probably no big deal, but A for Effort isn’t having it.
A for Effort: Trixie, I’m not a doctor, but even I know that isn’t standard procedure. What’s wrong with my wife? I just want to know.
Trixie: We don’t know yet, that’s why we’re doing the test. It’ll rule out… some specific things.
A for Effort: That’s a euphemism, and we both know it. Do we need to move her to a real hospital?
Trixie: Possibly, depending on the results. In the meantime: she’s going to be here for a while. Why don’t we set up an adjoining room so baby Jonathan can stay with her?
A for Effort: That is an actually good idea. Yes please.
Trixie brings baby Jonathan in to see his mom, and then stops in Very Posh Doc’s office on her way out to ask if she can attend a surgery with him tomorrow.
Very Posh Doc: Sure, which one?
Trixie: I’d like to watch a D&C — you do a lot of those.
Me: Wait, WHAT?
Very Posh Doc: Sounds good, see you tomorrow.
Folks, here’s why I’m so surprised: D&C stands for dilation and curettage, and is mostly known as a surgical abortion, which was still very much illegal in the UK in 1966. D&Cs can also be used to prevent infection after a miscarriage and treat/diagnose heavy uterine bleeding, but those probably wouldn’t lead to a lot of volume at a maternity hospital. As we all remember from prior seasons, our nun friends really aren't down with abortions; I shudder to think what Mother Mildred is going to say about this.
Back in Poplar, the Clarke family spends an uneasy evening in a limited shelter. Despite their setbacks, Mr. Clarke feels strongly that trying to make their lives better isn’t foolish, no matter how much they wish things were going differently. And at Vi’s shop, she finds a till that’s slightly emptier than expected. No, it’s not just that one charge from earlier: Fred is keeping an IOU list, and Vi is pissed.
The next day, Sister Frances visits Undercover Mother, who’s been knitting up a storm: these little cute outfits will be the only thing the baby has of her.
Sister Frances: Oh, they’ll have so much of you, don’t say that!
Undercover Mother: I never knew my mom — she left my dad when I was young, and I always wished she’d taken me with her. I just have this locket left… and my nose, people tell me. Anyway, I always used to wonder if we were alike. When I touch this I feel like I can feel her. I always swore I wouldn’t do what she did, but I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.
At the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie observes the D&C. Very Posh Doc explains what he’s doing throughout, and makes it very clear that he’s happy to do this procedure, and is glad this young woman had the money to get it done safely. Trixie? She’s somewhere between shock and horror.
Trixie, storming into Very Posh Doc’s office after: Um, what the hell? That was an abortion!
Very Posh Doc: Yeah, you knew that though, right?
Trixie: I was suspicious, not certain. I have to report this back to Sister Julienne!
Very Posh Doc: Do you though? We could just not talk about it. Look, women don’t die here.
Trixie: Yes, this is less lethal, but that’s not the issue — you’re breaking the law! This is criminal, and I can’t let the nuns walk into that. You shouldn’t have put them in that position either.
Very Posh Doc: Read a paper — it’s about to be legal.
Trixie: “About to be” doesn’t help me. I need to bring back the relevant facts asap!
Very Posh Doc: Will you keep this on the DL though?
Trixie: Sister Julienne has integrity for days, I’ll leave it at that.
Look: Very Posh Doc isn’t wrong about the parliamentary side of things. It’s 1966, so The Abortion Act of 1967, which made abortion widely legal in the UK (except for Northern Ireland), is about to come into law. But this is still throwing a rather huge wrench in the “save Nonnatus” works. In Poplar, Sister Frances takes Sister Hilda’s advice, buying not one but TWO frivolous ladies magazines from Vi. Good for her! After, she stops in to visit Undercover Mother, who opens the conversation thusly:
Undercover Mother: I’m the worst woman in the world!
Sister Frances: Ok, well that’s provably false, so.
Undercover Mother: You can’t change my mind! I feel dirty. I’m giving my baby away, and that makes me a bad person.
Sister Frances looks like she’s trying to dredge up a rebuttal, but she won’t have a chance, because guess who just walked in the door? Undercover Mother’s seafaring husband, that’s who! He happily greets his daughters, completely unaware of the icy terror currently being experienced in the kitchen, as Sister Frances and Undercover Mother try to figure out what the hell they’re going to do.
In The Navy: Hello? Where are you babe?
Sister Frances:
In The Navy: Uh, babe? Are you becoming a nun? And why won’t you look at me? Wait, what’s going on?
At this point, there’s really nothing for it: Undercover Mother turns around, and In The Navy immediately figures out what’s happened. Unsurprisingly, he’s pissed. Sister Frances jumps to Undercover Mother’s defense, but this fight is pretty much inevitable, so it plays out pretty much exactly the way you’d expect (and thankfully without physical violence). And speaking of inevitable fights, over at the Buckle residence, Fred finally explains his recent acts of charity to Vi.
Vi: Look, that’s nice, but we’re going to be in money trouble if you keep giving everything away.
Fred: Vi, they’re homeless, and you told me there’s a housing shortage.
Vi, rather missing the point: Maybe I shouldn’t have even locked up the store then! Just let people go in and take what they want! And you have to stop letting people buy stuff on credit!
Fred: Just come with me, you’ll see.
Back at Nonnatus, after an evening spent pacing back and forth in front of Sister Julienne’s door, Trixie finally bites the bullet and knocks. Sister Julienne takes everything in stride: yes, it really would have been preferable if Very Posh Doc had given them a heads up about the whole situation without Trixie having to go full Nancy Drew, but here we are.
Sister Julienne: Well, looks like our private practice plan is shot. You ok?
Trixie: No, I'm mad! It’s not ok that wealthy women can go to that nice clinic while our clients get seen in a room above a pub, and often have permanent damage. It’s not fair, and at the same time I also like and respect Very Posh Doc, and I’m mad about that too.
Sister Julienne: Well, anger does often leave us with a lot to unpack. Give your notice, and keep working another week, and then I guess we just won’t ever speak of this again.
Across town, Cyril brings Vi and Fred back to where the Clarke family is staying. They, of course, immediately express their gratitude and insist that they’ll pay back the costs of the food, but Vi, finally getting on board, won’t hear it: they’re in the East End now, and there’s a culture of sharing here, dang it!
At Undercover Mother’s house, the fight seems to have petered out. She tells her husband to take his dirty boots off in the house, or at least to not step on the rug if he’s going to insist on tracking the street inside.
In The Navy: Uh, I feel like as the wronged party here I get to make the rules. Don’t tell me what to do. You cheated, and according to the court system, that makes you an unfit mother. I could take the kids.
Sister Frances: She’s not an unfit mother, she’s a great mother!
In The Navy: Nobody asked you! The courts would side with me, and just so you know, I’m only here to see my kids while I figure out what to do. I’ll be reading my paper on the balcony.
Undercover Mother: Well, I guess I’ll walk you out, Sister Frances.
Sister Frances, suddenly furious and heading for the balcony: Hold your horses, I have stuff to do. In The Navy, what’s wrong with you? Do you not get how hard it is for her to be left alone while you’re out at sea? Life isn’t black and white like in those agony aunt columns, and I know it’s hard to forgive what feels like a massive betrayal!
In The Navy: It IS a betrayal!
Sister Frances: Look, I get it, I’m a nun. But I know she’s a good woman, and she just wants what’s best for ALL of your children.
In The Navy: All? I’ve only got two. That… thing… isn’t mine.
Well, yikes. I can’t say I blame him for feeling that way, especially since he’s only had like 2 minutes of screen time to process this whole thing, but I do think Sister Frances is right, and I hope he comes around. Anyway, if you were hoping things would lighten up, I have some bad news for you, because we’re heading back to Very Posh Maternity Hospital, where Very Posh Doc is telling A for Effort that he better sit down (never a good sign).
Trixie: Why don’t I hold that baby for a bit?
Very Posh Doc: Can’t Have It All, we got the results of your bone marrow test, and it’s not what we hoped: I’m sorry to tell you that you have leukemia.
A for Effort: What the hell did you do to her? She came in here for a fever!
Very Posh Doc: I’m so sorry: post-birth fever and leukemia have very similar symptoms.
A for Effort: So you missed something then? You missed this?
Very Posh Doc: That’s not what I’m saying, but you’re getting kinda heated: shall we talk in the hall?
Can’t Have It All: Uh, I think I want to hold my baby now please. A for Effort, nobody made a mistake, and nothing you do can change the fact that I’m… sick.
Well I hate it! In the hall, A for Effort isn’t ready to give up that easily. There’s gotta be something they can do! Very Posh Doc agrees: they aren’t about to give up. He has a specialist colleague he’s about to call, and a blood transfusion might also help. But Very Posh Doc doesn’t think it’s a good idea to move Can’t Have It All to another hospital: she’s just too weak. That’s really not good news, but A for Effort still wants to try everything possible. Can’t blame him, but I hope he’s got someone who can help him deal with what I’m guessing is the ultimate end to this story: Can’t Have It All is dying.
Back in Poplar, Sister Julienne catches up with Sister Frances.
Sister Julienne: So…. I hear you were in Vi’s shop the other day.
Sister Frances:
Crap, I broke a rule. Right?
Sister Julienne: Look, I think it’s a good thing you’re trying to understand your patients, and if reading those magazines is helping you, I’m all for it. I’m officially giving you permission: read one a week, as long as you do it in the parlor during recreation and don’t bring it up to your room.
Awwww! Back at the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie checks in on Can’t Have It All, who’s updating her journal.
Can’t Have It All: Can you do something for me? I’m writing a letter to my husband just in case… if I dictate, can you write it for me? I’m just so tired.
Trixie: Sometimes when you have to do something hard it’s best to just say everything that’s in your head. We can always edit later. I don’t mind re-writing this a hundred times for you. We’ll make it perfect.
Back at Nonnatus, Trixie gets support from Lucille. The blood transfusion doesn’t seem to have helped Can’t Have It All in the slightest.
Lucille: It seems like she’s deteriorating pretty quickly. It’s probably best to just let nature take its course.
Trixie: It’s just wild to think that literally no amount of money will make her better, you know?
Lucille: Yup. Illness really is the great equalizer.
Back at the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, A for Effort tells Can’t Have It All about some of the weird nonsense his mom is up to with their kid (TBH mostly seems like typical grandparent shenanigans, but I’m guessing it’s also normal for parents to rebuff a lot of typical grandparent shenanigans). His main takeaway is that he doesn’t want his kid to go off to boarding school like he did; they wanted to all be together at home every night for dinner. Before Can’t Have It All has a chance to talk with him about how different his future is suddenly looking, her parents arrive.
Back in Poplar, In The Navy is taking a sadness bath when Undercover Mother goes into labor. Despite his talking a big game about how mad he is, he sure hops outta the tub in a hurry to rush to help, and then listens when she tells him to go call the dang midwives.
When he returns, it becomes clear that labor progressed MUCH faster than anyone expected: the baby is already born, but doesn’t seem to be breathing. Moving past his anger, In The Navy comes into the bedroom to help his wife and rub the baby’s back. Despite his complete lack of training, it works: the baby wakes up and starts crying, just in time for Phylis and Sister Frances to arrive. They send him off to put the kettle on, which is probably a good thing: your man clearly needs some space to process all the emotions.
Later that evening, at the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie takes care of a crying baby Jonathan while the rest of his family sits at a now unresponsive Can’t Have It All’s bedside. A for Effort, finally coming to terms with her death, holds her hand and tells her that if she needs to go, it’s ok: he and the baby will be fine. That does it: her breathing slowly evens out, and then stops. I’m sorry, but this is an awful lot of tragedy this early in the season, Call The Midwife. I’m not ok with it! A for Effort makes his way into the hall to take the baby back from Trixie and tell both her and baby Jonathan the news.
At Undercover Mother’s house, Sister Frances praises her patient for delivering her baby solo, while she and Phylis prepare to help Undercover Mother deliver the placenta.
Phyllis: Hey, do you know what it is yet? It’s a boy! After 2 girls! Let me know when you’re ready to hold him ok?
Sister Frances: She may not want to.
Phyllis: Well that’s ok too. We did a lot in a rush today, you just take your time.
Danger averted, Phyllis heads into the hallway where she finds In The Navy still having a mini meltdown instead of making the tea as he was instructed. When he seems unable to move, she gently insists that he get it together.
Back at the Very Posh Maternity Hospital, Trixie, barely keeping it together, passes along the letter that she helped Can’t Have It All write for A for Effort.
A for Effort: Do I have to read it now?
Trixie: Oh my god, I would never tell you what to do with that — read it when you’re ready.
A for Effort: Is it going to hurt?
Trixie: Yes. It’s beautiful.
A for Effort: When is the undertaker coming?
Trixie: Not yet. I’m going to leave so you can cry in peace.
And with that, she leaves the room, and A for Effort does as she suggests and cries. Back in Poplar, Sister Julienne appears at the Turner residence in the middle of the night.
Sister Julienne: I know it’s late, sorry I’m here.
Shelagh: Ma’am, please. Sit down, I’ll bring tea.
Dr. Turner: You said there would be news? News we’d like?
Sister Julienne: Well, we’re cutting all ties with the Very Posh Maternity Hospital.
Dr. Turner, inside:
Dr. Turner, out loud: Well, I did have my concerns. I know you always mean well, but I just HATE privatization SO MUCH.
Sister Julienne: Well, we also had some issues with… morality and legality. You know what I’m talking about.
Dr. Turner: Oh. I see.
Shelagh, bless her heart: What do you mean?
Sister Julienne: Abortions, Shelagh.
Dr. Turner: They all do it, you know. Why wouldn’t they?
Sister Julienne: I was naive, I guess. I just thought it would make such a difference to have some money coming in.
Dr. Turner: Look, you did what you thought was right: that’s always a good thing.
Sister Julienne: And I guess I better think of something else, or we’re all doomed.
Good gravy: they should have called this season Call The Midwife: Dark Night of the Soul. In less depressing news, Cyril is busy pressing a suit jacket for Mr. Clarke, who has a job interview tomorrow. Once again, our pal, church lady Mrs. Wallace, came through in a pinch: she knows a dry cleaner who needs a part time bookkeeper.
At Undercover Mother’s house, In The Navy faces up to having a conversation with the new baby.
In The Navy: Hey kiddo. Glad to see you’re ok; thought we lost you for a second there.
Undercover Mother: I’m so so sorry. I don’t even have an excuse. I just got lonely. But he’s here, and I know you’ve always wanted a son. It’s not his fault what happened…
In The Navy: I want different things now.
Ominous! Later that day, A for Effort calls Trixie up to thank her for everything she did for his wife.
Trixie: Delivering your baby was a joy. Looking after her was a privilege.
A for Effort: Ugh, I don’t want to hang up, because then I’ll have to go to the funeral.
Trixie: I wish I could be there.
A for Effort: I wish Can’t Have it All could be here. Which I know is silly. Anyway, goodbye.
Trixie: Bye.
Everyone:
In less depressing news, Mr. Clarke prepares for his job interview with a newfound spring in his step. He looks great, he’s confident, and he knows there are some actually good people in this neighborhood. At Undercover Mother’s house, In The Navy is preparing to go back to sea. But things aren’t as gloomy as they seemed earlier: when he comes back, he expects to see his whole family, all four of them, waiting for him. Obviously it’s not going to be a complete cake walk, but they all seem really happy, which is good to see. And speaking of changing one’s mind: at Vi’s shop, when a customer can’t pay, she gets out the store credit list and adds a new name.
Whew. Well, I can’t say that this episode didn’t have it’s tragic bits, but it ended on a somewhat hopeful note, and that’s just going to have to be enough for the time being. Will we finally get a somewhat drama-free episode next week? Fingers crossed!
