Just as it’s starting to get hot here in Boston, the autumn chill is coming on in Poplar. Our friends keep busy with work, family games, and car repairs (just Phyllis’ luck: first day back, and her tire springs a leak). But the biggest piece of news is that a date has been set for Joyce’s disciplinary hearing: the powers that be have upheld Bernie’s complaint, so now Joyce has to defend herself against a charge of misconduct and disobedience. Thankfully, she’s got all of Nonnatus backing her, but this will still probably be a fairly wretched experience.
Meanwhile, Cyril drops into the shop to get new shoelaces, and to tell Fred all about an upcoming film premiere in town, which will be attended by Princess Anne.
Fred: Oh, believe me, I already heard about it. Vi is obsessed.
Cyril: Well I’m excited to go! It’s nice that they’re premiering here, since so many locals were in the picture.
Fred: Vi’s getting the fur replaced on her mayor robes, and she’s making me get a new suit. I’m doomed. How many tickets did they send you?
Cyril, a glint in his eye: Two!
Oooooooh. At clinic, Shelagh greets a nervous young mum named Jacqui. Jacqui tries to hand her urine sample to Joyce, but it slips between their hands and breaks. This is not a huge problem, except that Jacqui seems afraid that she’ll get in trouble, and so does Joyce. During the exam, Jacqui tells Sister Catherine that she wants to keep on her sweater because she’s cold, even though it’s hot in the clinic, but chalks her symptoms up to being tired (fair enough: she’s been caring for her older kiddo Kerry AND getting kicked by her baby). Sister Catherine is still concerned: Jacqui’s blood pressure is low, and her baby seems to be on the small side. Shelagh suggests extra rest and monitoring from the midwives, and says they should keep Jacqui there until she can give them a urine sample. But later, when clinic wraps up, Jacqui leaves without giving one, claiming she didn’t need to go and that she’ll bring one next time. I don’t want to disparage this young lady, but it feels like something fishy is afoot. Shelagh shares my suspicions, partly because she knows this family well enough to remember that both Jacqui and her husband Laurence used to be heroin users. She flags the issue with Sister Catherine, and they decide to make a house call soon.
The next day, the midwives chat before morning assignments. Fred may be lukewarm on the film premiere, but Trixie is desperate to attend. Royalty in Poplar: it’s a big deal! Also a big deal? They’ve had a call from the surgery about a patient named Ellen, who Shelagh doesn’t like because Ellen said Dr. Turner had bad bedside manner. This is actually a hilarious complaint, so the rest of the team is quick to back up Shelagh’s energy and point out that Dr. T is pretty dang pleasant. It turns out that Ellen might just be kind of difficult to please; the doctor she left their practice for also didn’t pass muster, so she’s back.
I’m sure that will be fun, but first, we follow Dr. Turner to a clinic where they’re testing out a new treatment for opioid users: methadone. Dr. T is excited to get a positive update, which is that the methadone seems to be working fairly well, and we even see a familiar face. Jacqui’s husband Laurence is one of the test subjects, and he seems to be really benefitting from the trial. Laurence tells Dr. Turner that while the methadone doesn’t totally take away his cravings for harder drugs, it’s been enough to keep him from using. Dr. T, for his part, is thrilled: this is an experimental program, and it seems to be working pretty darn well for Laurence!
Laurence: I can’t argue; I’ve been able to hold down a regular job, we’ve got a council flat, and another baby on the way! I’m so grateful.
Dr. Turner: I’m grateful to YOU for sticking with this. Here’s your dose for the week!
Across town, Vi greets a young man who’s rather sheepishly attempting to purchase adult diapers for his mother. He’s fairly mortified, but Vi, who knows what his mum normally orders, tells him which brand to purchase. This kid is doing his best, but is still extremely pleased when Phyllis arrives later that day to check on his mom: she’s having a hard time, so much so that he’s taken a mediocre job nearby so that he can pop in frequently. Inside, we meet the patient, who turns out to be Ellen (the lady who complained about Dr. Turner only to return to the practice). Ellen tells Phyllis that she’s in constant pain. As they chat, Ellen’s son Mark takes notes diligently in the corner.
Phyllis: The medication you’re on for your thyroid should have helped with your symptoms… and it looks like your last doctor wanted you to stop doing enemas?
Ellen: Oh, that’s why I left that practice. I can’t go without the enemas, and I can’t walk to the privy because of my legs.
Mark, sensing his cue to leave: Well, I better get back to work.
Ellen: His mind wanders. I think he’s got a girlfriend.
Phyllis: He’s a good kid.
Ellen: Well if he’s dating someone she better be a good kid too; I don’t want just any roommate.
Phyllis: Don’t most young people live on their own these days?
Ellen: Not my Mark! He’ll have to live here with me! I lived with my mother!
Yikes. Meanwhile, as planned, Sister Catherine and Shelagh arrive at Jacqui’s flat for their house call. It takes her a long time to come to the door, and she’s not thrilled at the surprise visit, two additional red flags that have Shelagh very visibly concerned. It only gets worse: when they remove Jacqui’s sweater to take her blood pressure, they’re able to see the signs that she’s been injecting drugs again. She tries to brush it off as a one time thing that she’s over, but Shelagh puts her foot down: if Jacqui doesn’t let them help her, it could be very bad for the baby.
Next stop? The maternity home, where Dr. Turner examines Jacqui and gently informs her that her baby will have been exposed to the drugs she’s taken. Jacqui is horrified to find this out, but Dr. Turner has a plan: to get her off of the heroin and lessen the withdrawal symptoms by giving controlled injections of a different opiate. Not only will this be easier for her, it’ll be easier for the baby. But she wants to go cold turkey, partly because she feels so guilty about having taken drugs while pregnant. Dr. Turner says they’ll support her no matter what, but after she leaves, he shares his concerns with Shelagh and Sister Veronica. Coming off heroin is horrible at the best of times, and much harder for someone who’s pregnant.
Sister Veronica: Yes, AND: I’m worried about Kerry — do we need to get her into foster care?
Dr. Turner: No, Laurence hasn’t been using. Does he know that his wife is?
Shelagh: Apparently she hid it from everyone.
Well, not for long: out in the ward, Laurence has just found out about his wife’s relapse. He’s trying very hard to be supportive, but obviously is pretty upset about this news.
Jacqui: I’m so sorry. I hate that I did this. But I just get so lonely at home by myself; you’re never there.
Laurence: Yeah, because I’m working! Trying to set us up for success!
Sister Catherine: So obviously we don’t want to jeopardize your job, but someone needs to watch Kerry. Is there anyone who could help?Jacqui: No, neither of us is in contact with our families. My mom made me choose between her and Laurence; they’ve never even met Kerry.
Sister Catherine: That sounds incredibly hard. Sister Veronica can help, and we may be able to find some childcare.
Laurence: No, I’ll take some time off. We’ll figure it out. We’re all the family we need.
Across town, Rosalind and Cyril go out for their cute coffee date. They’re both having a fantastic time, so much so that Cyril says it’s time to go for a proper night out: to the film premiere, of course! Rosalind is delighted, not the least of which because she’ll get to tell Trixie, who’s going to be extraordinarily envious.
And over at the Turner house, the whole family is in celebration mode. Why? Because they’ve received the final adoption papers for May! All that’s left is a trip to the magistrate’s office to sign everything (after, of course, some celebratory ice cream). Some other big news? At Nonnatus, Sister Julienne invites Sister Catherine in for a meeting with all the nuns. After a chat with the mother house, they’ve all agreed that it’s time to offer Sister Catherine the opportunity to take her vows and become a novice in the order. Sister Catherine eagerly accepts, to everyone’s delight.
Later, at the surgery, Mark has a checkup with Dr. Turner. And not just any checkup: Mark’s getting all his paperwork in order to take to the military recruitment office: he wants to join the Royal Army Medical Corps (the same branch where Dr. Turner himself served).
Mark: I’ve always been interested in two things; nursing, probably because of my mother, and the army, well, because.
Dr. Turner: Because you’re a service-minded guy! You’ve got a lot to offer, and you’ll get a lot out of this too.
As Mark leaves, he runs into Phyllis, who says hello and asks after his mom. Mark makes an effort to hide his paperwork, and then finally gives in and just asks Phyllis not to say anything to Ellen.
Phyllis: Oh, I see! Of course, your secret is safe with me!
Mark: I haven’t told her yet. They could send me anywhere in the world, and I don’t know how she’d handle that.
Phyllis: Take it one step at a time, ok?
Meanwhile, in the next room, Jacqui is starting to go through the painful experience of withdrawal. She’s miserable, and it’s about to get more complicated: she’s also in gone into labor. After some time, her water breaks, and reader, something is not quite right: the amniotic fluid is a dark brownish color. Sister Catherine and Shelagh notice right away, but they guide Jacqui to a hospital bed before she sees. Dr. Turner does a quick listen to baby’s heart rate, and, finding it high, says that they need to get this baby out ASAP. Sister Catherine guides Jacqui through the delivery, and right after the baby — a boy — is born, Dr. Turner whisks him off to be cleaned and have his mouth suctioned. While he works, Dr. T quietly asks Shelagh to call an ambulance, but tries to keep Jacqui calm by playing down the seriousness of her son’s condition. Thankfully, he’s able to get baby’s airway cleared, and the ambulance arrives to take him off to St. Cuthberts where he can get specialized care. Jacqui wants to go with her baby, but she’s too sick to leave the maternity home, so she has to stay behind.
Jacqui: Wait, don’t take him yet. Can we call him Michael?
Laurence: After your dad? Why?
Jacqui: Because I haven’t stopped thinking about him… or my mom. I know they’ve been horrible, but I know they loved me as a baby, just like I love him.
Laurence: Babe, your parents cut you off, because of me.
Jacqui: It wasn’t my dad; that was my mom’s fault.
Laurence: Well ok. If you’re sure.
Across town, Phyllis arrives for her house call at Ellen’s place only to find that her patient, who earlier claimed she couldn’t walk, is up and about. Ellen dashes back into bed and tries to pretend she’s been there the whole time, but her secret snack stash gives the game away.
Phyllis, not one to beat around the bush: Good to see you’re able to get up and fetch a snack!
Ellen: I don’t know what you could mean. I’m having a horrible life here; stuck in bed, can’t even go to the toilet on my own.
Phyllis: It doesn’t have to be like that though! Your legs can get back into working order with some exercise, and your bowel has become lazy from too many laxatives. We can fix those things! You’d be independent!
Ellen: That’s cruel! Just like the medical establishment!
Phyllis, calling her bluff: Hm, well, in any case, I’m going to make your next appointment over at the office. We’ll have tea and a biscuit waiting for you there.
And a few days later, Mark helps Ellen down the stairs to the waiting taxi that will take her to her appointment. Not without complaints, mind you. But it seems like Phyllis’ brand of tough love mixed with Mark’s support did the trick. Unfortunately, that go-getter attitude disappears when Ellen and Mark arrive at the surgery.
Mark: She won’t get out of the cab. Or can’t?
Phyllis: Well which is it? You know what, don’t answer that. Just go out and wait with her.
A few minutes later, Dr. Turner and Phyllis head out to the taxi, where Ellen insists she won’t be able to get up the stairs to the surgery. Look, I suspect that Ellen’s doing a bit of malingering, but those stairs ARE an accessibility nightmare. Even a broken clock, ya know?
Dr. Turner: Ok, well, then I guess I’ll need to do the exam in this here cab.
Ellen: This isn’t dignified!
Phyllis: You could thank Dr. T for coming out to help you, though.
After the exam, Dr. Turner tells Ellen that he can’t find anything wrong with her legs, and that her bloodwork is normal. It’s all good news! Except it’s not, to Ellen, who gets very upset at Dr. Turner for “calling her a liar.” Dr. T pushes through her nascent meltdown, saying that if they all work together, she can get walking again, and even reverse her bowel issue. Outside the car, Mark worries about how he can get away for his army interview the next day.
Phyllis: Tell her. She’s not as helpless as you think, and she might need to hear it.
Meanwhile, Joyce’s smoke break is interrupted by Cyril. Obviously, he’s heard all about what happened, and being the kind of guy he is, he’s come to offer some support.
Cyril: I’m so sorry. Sounds like a pretty obvious case of racism to me.
Joyce: They WANTED us to come here, and then when we did, there really wasn’t such a warm welcome, was there?
Cyril: You know, I came into this exact port, and I haven’t actually gone that far since. Sometimes I feel like an astronaut.
Joyce: Same. But this is home now, whether I’m wanted or not. I can’t go back.
Back at the maternity home, Sister Catherine pops in to check on Jacqui to find her patient is missing! Thankfully, they’re able to track her down pretty quickly, because she’s just gone over to St. Cuthberts to be with her baby. All in all, this day went about as well as it could have, but later that night, Sister Catherine is clearly struggling to process what happened. Sister Monica Joan gives her a supportive pep talk, but doesn’t sugarcoat things: the life they’ve chosen comes with challenges.
Sister Catherine: I’m really struggling with how similar I am to this patient I’ve been caring for. We’ve both lost our connection with our families.
Sister Monica Joan: You both wanted something more.
Sister Catherine: Yes. But at what cost?
Sister Monica Joan: My family also couldn’t accept my calling. And they couldn’t forgive me. But over time, I was able to forgive them.
Sister Catherine: Is it wrong to want their blessing when I have so many good things?
Sister Monica Joan: You’re only wrong to assume you’ll never repair your relationship with them. Sometimes feelings just take time.
Wise words, as ever. Upstairs, Rosalind’s struggling to figure out what to wear to the movie premiere, and asks Joyce for advice. Unfortunately, Joyce is understandably decidedly NOT in the mood for this, and also doesn’t really want Rosalind to go on this date in the first place, so she suggests that her friend should wear something that won’t draw any attention.
Joyce: People are already going to notice you; and that’s not good.
Rosalind, upset but trying to play it down: You keep saying that.
Trixie: HI, update! I’ve been bullying Vi this whole time, and I convinced her to get us all premiere tickets. I thought it might be a good way to celebrate after your hearing, Joyce.
Joyce: Celebrate? Seriously? If I lose, I’ll lose my job, my life, and my home. Are you kidding?
Joyce leaves the room, and both of her friends are left to grapple with the fact that they’ve been pretty insensitive about this entire situation.
Trixie: We’ll go apologize when Joyce has had a minute to herself. And in the meantime, we need to talk about this outfit you’re wearing.
Oh good: Rosalind should have gone to Trixie with this outfit conundrum in the first place, and it’s about time these gals were a little more intentionally supportive about this trumped up sham of a hearing. Meanwhile, across town, Mark talks to his mother about the Royal Army Medical Corps. He’s clearly really worried to share this news with her, and it’s pretty clear why, because her first question is about herself.
Mark: We’ll figure something out, but I can’t keep working at the tailor shop. It’s suffocating me.
Ellen: I’ve sacrificed my life for you! Raised you totally alone, and this is how you repay me?
Mark: Please don’t do this.
Ellen: I don’t need anything from you anymore. Go live your dream. Get out!
So, that went well. The next day, Sister Catherine and Sister Veronica check in on Jacqui, who’s through the worst of the withdrawal symptoms and doing a lot better. A lot better, however, is relative: she’s pretty lethargic, and hasn’t been able to do the shopping. Laurence has also had to return to work, so she’s home alone with her older kiddo Kerry. Sister Veronica explains that they’ve connected the family to a social worker (Cyril), but Jacqui is resistant: she’s clean, and her husband has a job. They don’t need help!
Meanwhile, Ellen stands at the top of the stairs in her flat, holding a cup of tea. What she’s NOT holding, pretty conspicuously, is the bannister. Please don’t do the self destructive thing I think you’re considering, Ellen! Thankfully, it turns out that it’s attention Ellen wants, not pain: she stages a scene at the bottom of the stairs just before Phyllis arrives for a surprise house call.
Ellen: I’ve fallen down the stairs and now I can’t move! Get my son!
Phyllis, noticing the cup of tea in its saucer three steps up: Wow, miraculous that you aren’t bruised or scraped… and that this cup of tea isn’t spilled. If I hadn’t stopped in, Mark would have found you here, am I right?
In a much less alarming development, the Turner parents and May arrive at the magistrate’s office to sign some very important paperwork. May’s nervous, but excited. Inside, various legal representatives state their case, and then confirm with May that she’s happy to join the Turner family, legally. She is, so they make it official: Dr. T and Shelagh are her parents now, for keeps!
Back in the land of crummy parenting, Phyllis pulls Mark aside at his job to talk about what just happened. At first, he’s very worried about his mother, but Phyllis pretty quickly explains what ACTUALLY went down. So, later that night when he returns home, Mark tells his mother that he wants to talk… but not in her bedroom. At the dinner table. Go Mark go! He tells her that the way they’ve been living isn’t healthy for either of them. He wants her to support him in his goals, and he wants her to have dreams of her own.
Ellen: I put my dreams aside to raise you.
Mark: Well, you better take them out and clean ‘em up, because I’m taking this job if I get it. I want to see the world and make you proud. I want your blessing.
At Nonnatus, Sister Catherine thanks Sister Monica Joan for her advice, and explains that she’s writing a note to her family. And upstairs, Joyce looks for her uniform in a panic, only to find that Rosalind and Trixie have taken it for an iron and shoe polish.
Trixie: We’re here to support you; we’re your friends!
Across town, Laurence comes home from work to find his wife fully asleep on the couch. He also notices pretty quickly that she’s not wearing her wedding ring. She claims she’s lost it, but a quick search of the couch cushion next to her reveals a small bag of heroin.
Jacqui: Don’t throw it out; I just need something until he can come home! Then I’ll be fine, I swear!
Laurence: What? No!
Jacqui: Please don’t look at me like I’m dirty; I never would have even tried this stuff if it wasn’t for you.
Laurence: Babe, we’d moved on! At least, I did! I’m doing my best to stay clean so I can take care of our family.
Jacqui: Please, don’t throw it out! You remember what it’s like; we could do it together. Like that first time you got me to try it with you. I did it because I love you; if you love me you’ll take it with me now.
At Ellen’s house, Phyllis stops in for another house call.
Ellen: You must think I’m selfish.
Phyllis: I think you’re afraid of being alone, but you don’t have to be. Mark is a great kid, and he’s clearly devoted to you. He’ll visit, and check in. Look, when I left home to train, it was really hard on my mom at first. But then she found her own hobbies to enjoy. What do you miss?
Ellen: I used to like a jumble sale.
Phyllis: See, that’s a good goal! Small steps first — let’s see if you can get these shoes on for yourself.
Later, across town, Sister Veronica and Cyril stop by to talk to Jacqui, but no one answers when they knock. Hearing Kerry crying inside, they ultimately break down the door and find that the poor kid hasn’t been changed in hours. Cyril opens the bedroom door, hoping that Jacqui might just be sleeping, but the worst has happened: Jacqui and Laurence have overdosed together in the bed, and it appears that they have been dead for some time. Later, Dr. Turner signs the death certificates while he and Sister Veronica hope that Cyril has some luck finding Kerry’s grandparents.
In what I really really hope is better news, it’s time for Joyce’s hearing. Sister Julienne starts things off by going over Joyce’s amazing record: she’s won multiple awards, after all. When the board directs the discussion back to these specific accusations of negligence, Sister Julienne puts her foot down.
Sister Julienne: Bernie’s complaint is completely unfounded. She’s trying to avoid her own responsibility for what happened, which is that she refused care from a nurse whose race she didn’t like. I think that’s appalling, and I hope you agree.
Board member: That’s not what we’re here to discuss.
Ridiculous. Hate it. The questioning moves to Joyce, who’s told that Bernie claims Joyce made her feel uncomfortable and criticized.
Joyce: That was never my intention at all. I was only hoping to get her to engage in mild exercise, which is in line with our most recent guidance for new mothers.
Board member: Can you explain why you left without conducting an exam?
Joyce: I wanted to examine her; she was in pain, and it looked to me like there was serious inflammation in her leg. I tried, but she refused to cooperate… she said she didn’t want a Black person to touch her.
Seems pretty cut and dry to me, and thankfully, the board agrees. After a brief recess, they conclude that Joyce did nothing wrong, and she is fully exonerated. They’ve also added what Sister Julienne said about Bernie’s attitude to the record. There won’t be any more action.
Across town, at Ellen’s house, Mark returns home to find boxes of stuff everywhere. Is his mom moving? No, she’s just preparing for a jumble sale, with Phyllis there to help. But that’s not the biggest news in the family: he’s been accepted into the Royal Army Medical Corps, and even better, Ellen’s so proud of him that she gets up from her chair to give him a hug.
Back at Nonnatus, Sister Catherine finishes up her notes on Jacqui, which are heartbreaking. The only spot of good news is that Kerry and her baby brother have been taken in by Jacqui’s parents. As Sister Monica Joan puts it, sometimes things work out in a different way than one would hope. And that’s not the only family reconciliation to be had this episode; Sister Catherine also receives a letter back from her sister, who says that she’ll be there for the ceremony no matter what it takes. The rest of the family still hasn’t come around, but having her sister there is clearly a huge joy for Sister Catherine.
Later that evening, the whole crew prepares to attend the movie premiere in their fanciest outfits. Rosalind has already left with Cyril, and unfortunately, as Joyce predicted, they run into some crappy racist behavior on the walk to the movie. Rosalind is ready to square up with these guys, even after they’ve walked away, and Cyril’s tried to talk her down.
Rosalind: But if they just keep on with their night thinking what they said was ok, they’ll say it to someone else, and nothing will change!
Cyril: Change will come, but it takes time.
Rosalind: We don’t have any time to waste! I want to be with YOU, and share things with you!
Cyril pretty obviously wants that too, and, chance to fist fight some drunk racists over, the couple makes their way to the movie, where they join the rest of the crew for a fancy night out. Will the rest of the squad get on board with Rosalind and Cyril dating? Will this season ever have an episode without a major tragedy? We’ll just have to wait for next week’s season finale to find out.
