Too Many Failed Login Attempts Please Try Again Later Santa Barbra Scholorship

Snow is falling. If y'all're lucky, you have a friend who bakes, and you're in possession of some truly remarkable cookies. Winter is here, and so is a drama fan favorite holiday tradition: the Call The Midwife Holiday Special! I'm here to recap the show just in case you missed it, or but couldn't get enough of our favorite nurses, nuns, and other assorted denizens of Poplar.

This yr's holiday extravaganza kicks off with our pals putting on a birth play, directed and produced past the dream team of Phyllis and Miss Higgins, and featuring some really exceptional foley piece of work with coconut shells from Phyllis.

Sign Upward For The Drama Newsletter

Tin can't go enough drama on GBH? Get recommendations and articles delivered right into your inbox.

You're at present subscribed.

We're sorry, there was a trouble. Please effort again later, or contact our Help Desk at wgbh.org/contact.

Anyway, the show goes also as any production starring small-scale children really can, and everyone is having a pretty swell fourth dimension. I besides experience that I must tell y'all that, in the front end row, Dr. Turner is wearing one of those ubiquitous gigantic oatmeal colored sweaters that British television men seem to favor for some unknown reason.

Meanwhile, at the Buckle'southward house, Lucille, Vi, and Trixie are working on the final fitting for Lucille's wedding dress when Fred Kool-Aid Mans into the house.

Fred: Assistance, my pants ripped, and I take to go practise the whole Santa thing as shortly equally that nativity play is over!
Vi, and let's face it, me: Fred, I beloved yous, but you lot're less important than finishing Lucille's dress.

And lest y'all think Cyril's wedding ceremony clothes aren't getting looked afterward, our young friend has a fitting with the input of our favorite church building lady, Mrs. Wallace. Cyril, ever practical, explains that information technology'll be a good suit for preaching, but even Mrs. Wallace is more focused on the wedding ceremony correct at present. And guess who Cyril has chosen for his best man? Fred, who stumbles in, nonetheless desperately searching for someone who can stitch. Despite beingness less than impressed, Mrs. Wallace jumps into the fray, and with no fourth dimension to spare: merely as the nativity play wraps upwards to a resounding applause, Cyril and Fred gear up in the hall.

The next day, at breakfast, everyone's basking in the glow of a fundraising evidence well done when Phyllis arrives with not so groovy news: St. Cuthberts has just assigned the squad another 23 patients.

Sister Julienne, not a trace of irony: Merely our lists are full! There'southward no room at this inn!
Sis Hilda: Can't they send them in the new year?
Phyllis: I asked, but patently most of them are due imminently.
Boots, cheeky: What practice y'all think was happening in March?
Sister Hilda: LOL! Just for real: what are we going to practice? Can we bring back the trainees?
Boots: I'd be upwards for it!
Sister Julienne: No — you need time to report, and time with your kiddo.
Phyllis: Well, I guess I'd better start trying to trounce my rolodex into submission. If I believed in god, I'd be praying for a phenomenon correct well-nigh now.

Mood, Phyllis, mood. After, Lucille grabs the mail service, which includes a packet for her. Inside is a stunning locket her family sent and then she could article of clothing it at the wedding, which leaves both Cyril and Lucille in awe of both the beauty of the slice and the sentiment behind it.

At the clinic, the St. Cuthberts overflow situation is already causing problems in the form of a truly gigantic line. While Trixie and Miss Higgins handle crowd control, Dr. Turner and Shelagh run into their offset patient, a mum who's incredibly cheerful despite being very overwhelmed by all the household responsibilities of the season.

Dr. Turner: Well, you need bed rest!
Rise and Grind: HA, you're hilarious. I won't get residual at home.
Dr. Turner: Yous'd be able to rest at the motherhood dwelling. And if you lot promise to be cool, we could even let you out for Christmas.
Shelagh:

Why's our resident ex-nun so worried? It turns out she has a good reason: with this many patients due before long, they might run out of beds! And given that, Shelagh wonders: is it really a adept idea to give i up for someone who's merely… tired?

Dr. Turner: She's nearly to have her Fifth kid! She's exhausted at present, and her blood pressure level isn't great. Preventative measures might exist a good phone call here.

I hateful, allow'southward exist existent, they're both right. While the Turners endeavor to solve one of the biggest challenges of the modernistic healthcare arrangement (good luck!), Sister Julienne examines a mom I'll be calling Dodger, who starts the engagement by apologizing for missing so many previous ones.

Sister Julienne: Well, you're here now, and that's what counts! I'll become some forms so we can become yous all upwardly to date, including blood and urine tests.
Dodger: But I did those final fourth dimension!
Sister Julienne: Yes, well, nosotros repeat them regularly to make sure everything is ok.

For some reason, the prospect of more testing is likewise much for Dodger to handle, so she does a runner as shortly every bit Sis Julienne leaves. This is bad news: Sister Julienne had hoped to go Dodger examined by Dr. Turner, worried that their patient looked underweight and pale, which could indicate anemia. Any'southward going on is besides causing poor Dodger to lose her dejeuner in the alley outside the clinic, and while she pulls herself together equally all-time she tin can, she looks truly miserable, and then I promise our friends track her down soon.

At the Turner house, after the kiddos have gone to bed (despite their vehement protestations, naturally), Shelagh and Dr. Turner talk about how happy the family unit has been this season. Unfortunately, this inevitably leads to a give-and-take of what stressed them out in Season 9: May's childhood in the foster system and the uncertainty effectually whether she'd go to stay with the family unit. Shelagh, of class, jumps straight to beating herself upwardly most not existence there for their kiddo when she was a baby, just her married man correctly points out that fifty-fifty though she'southward an awesome mom, and basically Mary Poppins, even she tin can't travel back in time.

Back at Nonnatus, as the squad prepares for another fun day of midwifery, Vi asks for Lucille to head over for nevertheless another fitting. Now expect, would I be stressed about making a hymeneals dress for a friend? YES. Simply Lucille will look cute no affair what, and TBH I suspect we're getting to the level of nitpicking that isn't going to help matters. Anyway, despite anybody aggressively preparing for what Sister Hilda describes every bit an avalanche of babies, bodily births continue to be thin on the ground as the episode progresses.

Sis Julienne: You know, I feel like they're all waiting for Female parent Mildred's visit later in the episode. Information technology would be peak drama.
Boots: I think it'll wait for the full moon; we all know that seems to jumpstart labor.
Sister Monica Joan: It's true! The moon impacts the tides, makes sense that it does the aforementioned thing to the amniotic fluid.
Trixie: You know, I like some of those old superstitions. Similar putting a knife under the mattress to cut the labor pains!
Sister Julienne: Or that a infant born breech will grow up to be a healer?
Sis Frances: Oh, I was born breech! Still the only breech birth I've always been involved with actually, other than the two I had in preparation, which I watched from a safe distance.
Me: SISTER FRANCES. Do you Want to be dealing with a solo breech delivery by the end of this episode? Considering that'due south how you end dealing with a solo breech delivery past the finish of this episode!

Earlier my dire pronouncement can immediately come true, the phone rings, sending Trixie to the first delivery of the episode. And where should she exist headed just Miserable Disaster Apartments, which, thankfully, I'1000 going to have to rename. Outside, signs proclaim the presence of a renovation company AND a pest control company, and inside, Trixie and her patient Esmee hash out the newly replaced sink and ceilings.

Esmee: Seems like the landlord has money to burn down. Ugh, I'm pitiful, only I need the bedroom pot; unfortunately we nevertheless don't accept individual loos.

Well well well, good task, A for Effort! Meanwhile, at the Turner house, young Tim's kickoff night back from university is predictably interrupted: no, it'south not Gondor, calling for assistance, but a patient, and naturally the Turners (including young Tim) will respond the call. Across town, wedding preparations go along apace, as the nuns host Mrs. Wallace and some of the other church ladies for a planning coming together.

Sis Julienne: You have all done and so much to make this twenty-four hour period special!
Mrs. Wallace: Well of class! Cyril is like a son to u.s.a..
Sister Julienne: You know, I sometimes experience like I'k Lucille'southward mom; I get that!
Mrs. Wallace: It's too bad yous don't get to wearable a hat.

Sister Hilda gets a good chuckle out of that (perhaps because she, as I did, pictures a chapeau nesting doll situation where Sister Julienne wears a fabled church building lid on top of her wimple, simply I tin't ostend). Anyhow, equally they go over the details it's articulate that everything is planned, just also that in that location MIGHT be a few besides many cooks in this kitchen. Literally.

Sister Hilda: The block is ready, and if I may say so myself, it is awesome.
Mrs. Wallace: Well that's nice, just nosotros're going to do the Jamaican tradition where the ladies of the church make cakes and behave them into the reception in procession.
Lucille: Oh! That'south so prissy, I didn't expect that!
Mrs. Wallace: Well, we weren't sure if it would work out, just information technology did, praise god!
Sis Hilda, injure and not trying very hard to hide it, TBH: Well tin can't argue with God, I gauge. Allow's talk lunch.

Across town, as the Turner boys approach their patient's flat, Dr. Turner coaches his son.

Dr. Turner: So. The patient is feeling faint and having neck pain. What are you ruling out?
Tim: Fractured vertebrae, maybe a stroke?

Now, when they arrive at the flat, who should respond the door but the 1 and only Dodger, who's wearing a truly spectacular spangly dress and informs our md duo that her husband was the one who chosen. Is her husband, maybe, the hulking giant of a man behind her? No, and equally the fellas walk further into the flat they detect what I can only describe as a fundamental casting passel of mobsters. One time we spot the patient, it'due south clear that we can dominion out a stroke and fractured vertebrae: the hurting is very obviously coming from the giant bleeding wound in the neck of a guy I'm sure Dodger's husband would call "one of his associates." Thankfully for everyone involved, Dr. Turner has seen a lot of weird stuff over the years, and so while he's annoyed that they left out some primal, knife related details, he quickly gets to work. Tim, lurking in the corner, makes his mode to a couch and is handed a rum and coke, which he sips with the exact face of someone who knows they actually shouldn't beverage, but also that their dad is before long preoccupied with a bloody stab wound.

Dr. Turner: So did yous phone call the cops?
Dodger'southward Mobster Hubby: Nah, didn't want to carp them.
Knifed Neck Guy: They're obviously as well busy dealing with criminals, doc.
Dodger's Mobster Husband: Is it his jugular?
Dr. Turner: No, if it was, he'd be dead. This is no big deal, but he is going to need stitches and clarified.
Knifed Neck Guy: I don't want antiseptic, it stings!

Dr. Turner, amusing himself (and me!), takes that opportunity to employ pressure to the wound, which equally yous can imagine, too stings.

Dodger, spooky in the corner, to Tim: You don't have to drink that if you don't want to.
Tim, a typical teenager: No, I want information technology! It'south nice!

Beyond the room, Dr. Turner, plainly deciding this evening is a good bonding opportunity for the mobsters, tells Dodger'southward Mobster Husband to employ pressure to his buddy'due south neck.

Dr. Turner: Look, y'all should have taken him to the hospital. I obviously know why you didn't, but still.

Is this, perhaps, an unnecessarily bold opinion to take when you and your kid are surrounded by literal mobsters? Yep buddy! But like all characters on Telephone call The Midwife, Dr. T is a badass, and then what can you do? Meanwhile, across town, Trixie runs into A for Effort in the hallway while elimination the chamberpot.

Trixie: Oh hey! What's a nice daughter like yous doing in a recently less horrible hellhole of an apartment block like this?
A for Attempt: The pest control people wanted me to look at a particularly gnarly rat nest and needed to exist paid in cash.
Trixie: Well they're doing a proficient job; I haven't seen even a unmarried roach this whole time!
A for Endeavour: Hey, success!
Trixie: And look, I COULD say "it'south most time" merely I won't. Well done.
A for Effort: Yeah, you don't need to say it, I go it! And y'all're here to deliver a baby, I presume?
Esmee, right on fourth dimension, through the wall:

A for Effort: Well, that's that answered, have a great remainder of your evening.
Trixie: Same! Bye!

Aw, nice! Too nice? The sweet sew task Dr. Turner just finished on Knifed Cervix Guy. Dodger's Mobster Husband, kind of a weirdo, insists on shaking Dr. Turner's still blood-covered gloved mitt, and then offers Tim a accommodate. In his specific measurements.

Dr. Turner:

Tim, bless his heart: Oh, that IS my size!
Dr. Turner: No, cheers.
Dodger's Mobster Hubby: Well, at least take some pie, I bet you're starving. Dodger, get these guys pie! I bet you know her from dispensary already!
Dr. Turner: Oh, howdy! No, I don't remember we've met yet.

Dodger gets up to take hold of the pie, and makes a weird confront, which fortunately does not get unnoticed past young Tim, despite the rum and coke. Back at No Longer Miserable Disaster Apartments, Esmee is at that phase of labor where she's just DONE.

Trixie: Just 1 more than push, sweetie, the worst is over.
Esmee: No, I mean I'm DONE washed. I want to keep the damn pill but the pope won't allow it.
Trixie: I hear ya, but this isn't the time to argue for Vatican 3! You got this.

While she labors, out in the hall, it turns out that A for Try hasn't left yet, and is sitting in the hall freaking out. Existence traumatised by childbirth certainly makes sense in his example, but it does beg the question of why he'south decided to stick effectually and put himself through a clearly stressful situation. Soon, Esmee's labor is over, and while she's thrilled to snuggle her new baby, she still brings up the fact that she doesn't accept access to birth control, which makes Trixie's huge smile falter merely a bit.

Across town, pie in hand in the stairwell exterior the mob layer, Tim proves that he was watching after all.

Tim: Hey, did you notice that girl? She looked scared, and not of… what was happening in the flat. She looked scared of You lot.
Dr. Turner, half listening: Look, Tim, don't say annihilation nearly this to your mom, she'll FREAK.
Tim, a regular standup comedian: Well the new suit might be a little difficult to explain.
Dr. Turner, teachable moment-ing the whole "knife wound to the neck" state of affairs: Sometimes the job is virtually asking questions, and sometimes information technology's about not asking questions at all.

But Dr. Turner is so defenseless upwardly in this after schoolhouse special moment that he doesn't hear Dodger sneak downwards the stairs backside them. As the two Turners leave, we finally see what'south been keeping her away from our midwife pals when she locks herself in the laundry room and pulls out her hidden stash of drugs.

Beyond town, Trixie, brilliant eyed and bushy tailed, leaves her delivery to observe A for Effort waiting outside, and a pile of tangerines in her bike basket.

A for Effort: Some random dude left those?
Trixie: Oh aye, that happens all the fourth dimension during the holidays. Look a second, didn't yous go home?
A for Effort: I thought you might want a ride, and I forgot you have a cycle.

Of course, his car can't really fit her bike, and being a gentleman, our pal walks Trixie habitation.

Trixie: You know, I think tangerines are the most Christmas smell ever. More than pino needles, or cigars, that's for certain.
A for Effort: I always buy a box of nice cigars at the holidays. I don't even similar them, I simply do it to be polite. Feel the aforementioned way about cigarettes and booze too.
Trixie: Well, I will always observe cigarettes appealing. Merely drinkable I can live without.
A for Effort: Ugh, my mom is probably gonna cascade a whole raft of booze down my pharynx on Christamas day, and if I say no she'll worry about me.
Trixie: It is a lot to be processing: both your get-go Christmas as a dad and your first Christmas as a widower. Are you dreading it?
A for Endeavor: I'm dreading my mother'south bread sauce.
Trixie: You accepted Sis Julienne's invite to the wedding, correct?
A for Effort: Yes, but I'thousand sure she only asked me to be polite.
Trixie: LOL, dude, you're our guardian angel, you lot're going to get invited to everything at present.
Sister Monica Joan, busting up the cute moment every bit is her wont: I can't say how-do-you-do or wish you a happy holidays, it'southward the great silence and I'm not talking!
Trixie: Look, it might practice you lot good to practice something different for Christmas this year. Come to Nonnatus if you tin handle it.

Inside, Sister Hilda surveys her apparently unwanted cake with dismay, before sadly ripping the tiny bride and groom off the top to swap it out for some holly.

Boots, right: Look dude, Cyril and Lucille are having an English way hymeneals with a lot of English guests. It's normal and skillful for them to have traditions from home!
Sister Hilda, kind of missing the point simply at least she's doing it in a fun fashion: Well I'one thousand going to evidence off a tradition from here: nosotros're going to take a hen dark for Lucille. Political party games, punch, all the fixins!
Boots, amused: Uh… have yous ever been to a hen night?
Sister Hilda: Hey! I had a life before I became a nun!

Honestly, I have exactly aught problem assertive that. The next day, Cyril arrives at Vi's store to find Fred and Reggie working on the window display, and possibly fugitive a hymeneals-obsessed Vi.

Cyril, to Half dozen: Hey hey! I heard you finished the dress!
Half dozen: Cyril, I'm going to be honest with you lot, I almost lost it when I gave it to Lucille.
Cyril: Well I'm going to lose it when I run into her in it. I can't await!
Reggie: Inquire near the stag dark!
Fred: Do it, she tin't resist you!
Cyril, understands the consignment: Please let Reggie come out with us? It'south my last nighttime of freedom!
Six: I wouldn't permit FRED go if he wasn't your best human!
Me: Six, this is hardly going to turn into The Hangover, be cool!
Cyril: What the recapper said! Information technology'south merely me and some friends from church building playing dominos!
Vi: Fine. But only if Reggie just has shandies!

Oh Half-dozen. Sweet Half dozen. This is Cyril we're talking almost, you don't have to worry! Over at the maternity home, Rise and Grind is following the letter if non the spirit of Dr. Turner's prescription for bedrest, cranking out a big stack of holiday cards.

Rise and Grind: Tin can you transport these for me with that urine sample?
Shelagh: Ah, non so much, the pee goes straight to the lab.
Rising and Grind: Well maybe 1 of the nurses tin take these out for me afterwards? It's non like you lot're busy.

And then, uh. This is going to go slap-up! Out in the waiting room, Knifed Cervix Guy and the dude who handed Tim the rum, hereafter Captain Morgan, make it looking for Dr. Turner.

Miss Higgins: He'south in with a patient, but take a seat!
Captain Morgan: Oh, nosotros can't stay, nosotros just brought this to the doc with compliments from Dodger's Mobster Husband.
Shelagh, arriving on the scene: Oh my, this is so sweetness! Wow, is that a ham?
Miss Higgins: Woah, and that'due south a canteen of sherry!
Shelagh, who can't know how funny this is: It'south actually rum!
Knifed Neck Guy: Hey Doc! With my boss' compliments.
Dr. Turner, trying to prepare a boundary: I really can't accept this.
Shelagh: Well I recollect it's very generous! Please pass on our appreciation. Holy cow, is this perfume?
Miss Higgins: Yeah, and it smells awesome.
Knifed Neck Guy: Seriously, thank you. I capeesh it.

Dr. Turner, deciding this is a battle he's going to lose and not keen to explain his new "doctor to the mob" status to Shelagh: You're welcome.

Tin't wait to find out what Shelagh thinks when she discovers that ham fell off a truck! Over at Nonnatus, Phyllis returns from the bathroom to the room she shares with Lucille to encounter that the wedding dress is hanging in the corner, and almost immediately bursts into tears. Of course, being Phyllis, she tries to hide information technology from Lucille.

Lucille: Oh no, did I upset yous?
Phyllis: No, no, it's not you lot, it's just that in that location was a dress on that same claw once before.
Lucille: Oh my god, Barbara'south dress. I'm and so sorry, that was insensitive of me.
Phyllis: WHAT? No, you lot're not insensitive! You're being a normal bride, and I'one thousand over here thinking nigh my own feelings and a person y'all didn't even know very well.
Lucille, maxim exactly the right matter: No i will e'er forget her: I feel lucky that I came here after her. Tell me virtually her wedding?

And so Phyllis tells Lucille about Barbara'due south wedding. Information technology's bittersweet, of course, simply talking nigh it clearly helps Phyllis process her grief. She tells Lucille most a set of pearls she wore as Barbara'due south bridesmaid that she hasn't been able to habiliment since, then apologizes again for talking about bridesmaids, when Lucille isn't going to have any.

Lucille: Well, I couldn't have my sisters, and I think you should only have the people closest to yous. Barbara chose well.

The adjacent morning time, Phyllis pops into the waiting room at the surgery to visit Miss Higgins. Why?

Phyllis: Well, it'southward partially a social phone call, but I too demand your professional help.

Miss Higgins looks set up and excited to oblige, just earlier they can say annihilation more, some of our mobster pals come bursting through the door with a fella draped over their shoulder, request for Dr. Turner'southward immediate help. Phyllis assesses the extremely grey mobster and turns him onto his side but as Dr. Turner appears. The human being has vomited, and betwixt that and his tiny pupils, blueish lips, and shallow breathing, Dr. Turner immediately and correctly suspects an opioid overdose.

Phyllis, at Dodger'due south Mobster Married man: HEROIN?
Dodger's Mobster Married man: Nosotros demand help!
Dr. Turner: The only place that can do that is the emergency room. Miss Higgins, phone call for an ambulance.
Dodger's Mobster Husband, angrily boot a chair: I hate drugs. The only people who do them tin't command themselves.
Dr. Turner, eyeing the dented chair: And you can?
Dodger's Mobster Husband: Last twelvemonth my brother died because of that stuff. I found him with the needle in his arm and I was as well scared to have him anywhere because of the law.
Dr. Turner, sick of pulling his punches: It's definitely a different level of criminal offence than selling stolen suits, huh? Phyllis, can you grab cleaning supplies, this man has voided his float.

At the Buckle residence, Vi sits down with Reggie to pick out his tie for the hymeneals. Reggie, who has inherited Vi's sense of taste, immediately picks the pure silk tie, and won't exist swayed to the artificial i Half-dozen suggests (they may have pure silk tastes, but, alas, they definitely have an bogus silk budget): information technology'south for a wedding ceremony! And speaking of anybody's progeny: the Turner kids continue to adorably count downwards the days until Christmas, and over at Nonnatus, Boots brings Colette for a visit, where the daughter gives Lucille an extremely cute paw-crafted wedding ceremony card. Lucille is in the middle of accepting the card and chatting to the two "sisters" about their Christmas at Nonnatus house when Mrs. Wallace approaches at a run. The homo who was meant to walk Lucille down the aisle has broken his shoulder: there's no one to give our bride abroad!

Later, at Cyril'south place, the couple talks over this dilemma.

Lucille, clearly upset: I'll have to walk myself down the alley! I tin't ask anyone else from church building without hurting their feelings :(
Cyril: I picked Fred for my best human being considering he and Six were the showtime English friends I fabricated. Why don't y'all ask him to give y'all away?
Lucille: I couldn't! He'southward already got a task!
Cyril: Baby, I take Jesus and a movie of my granddad to continue in my pocket; I won't be solitary.

And and so they caput right down to ask Fred, who honestly looks a little overwhelmed at the prospect.

Fred: I've never given anyone away before!
Lucille: Information technology's non really something that needs a lot of practice. And I'll be new to it besides!
Fred, violent up: We'll work it out together then.

Awwww! The sweet fun continues over at Nonnatus for Lucille's hen nighttime. As the ladies all play some kind of hot murphy game, Sis Hilda wanders around refilling spectacles.

Vi: Uh, there'due south something besides fruit juice in this punch, right?
Sister Hilda, sneaky: Miss Higgins brought some RUM! It was donated!

At present look: Cyril's stag night is pretty wild, simply only because all the gents seem to be getting VERY competitive at dominos. Simply Lucille's hen party is wild because almost anybody is at least slightly tipsy courtesy of the spiked punch (Trixie, of grade, is having tea instead).

Lucille: Sister Hilda, y'all're ever a surprise. This dial is great.
Sister Hilda, definitely has been sampling her own wares: I'm non totally sure I got all the flavors balanced right. Meliorate add more rum.
Anybody's vibe right at present:

Afterward that dark, the ladies all stagger up the stairs, giggling abroad, and poor Lucille trips and falls. She speedily laughs it off, and they all stumble to their beds, but the next morning, our blushing bride has 1 heck of a shiner. Everyone crowds around trying to assistance… to mixed results.

Sister Julienne, bringing water ice: But recall, it's only a black eye.
Sister Frances: And there are three whole days until the nuptials!
Boots: It'southward gonna get worse before information technology gets ameliorate.
Phyllis, forceful: But information technology Volition get better! And we all know Trixie would exist an Instagram makeup influencer if she was born in a dissimilar generation.
Trixie, inbound on cue: I remember we should put this raw mince under the ice pack. Yeah, it's supposed to be steak, only we all know the Nonnatus fridge isn't exactly brimming with fancy cuts.
Sis Hilda, possibly still drunk and opening the aspirin bottle when Sister Julienne spots her: Uhh… Aspirin will assistance bring down the swelling.
Lucille: Oh god, there's swelling too? I feel like crap!
Trixie: You're going to be a beautiful bride, and that's a Trixie Franklin hope!

Later, at the dispensary, Sister Julienne asks Miss Higgins if there's been whatsoever sign of Dodger. Unsurprisingly, the reply is no, so Sister Julienne makes a note that they'll take to arrange a domicile visit. Across the room, Sister Frances meets with a first fourth dimension mum who's worried most the prospect of having her baby at dwelling house instead of at the hospital, until Sister Frances ably sets her at ease. Sister Julienne is with her next patient, a mum with very puffy ankles, when Lucille makes a surprise appearance. It seems that Boots' prediction that the shiner would get worse was indeed correct, and poor Lucille's eye is swollen shut and a striking shade of purple.

Dr. Turner and Trixie hustle Lucille back to the authoritative areas of the clinic then they tin can examine her middle, and the news is not good. Lucille has a large amount of blood pooling nether the skin, and Dr. Turner wants her to go to the hospital, because she might also have a cleaved os, which could crave surgery. Trixie, determined to be supportive, proclaims that they can't worry nigh the exterior adventure that Lucille needs surgery: there's only one nuptials, afterward all!

In completely separate news, apparently our team is in the centre of a very mild winter, and they REALLY aren't loving it. At 6'southward shop, Reggie asks to read the weather condition report again: isn't there whatsoever run a risk of snow?

Fred: It's just going to say the aforementioned matter: we're in a warm snap. I know it doesn't feel like Christmas when you're sweating, but Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and it'south hot at that place!
Reggie, undeterred: What does the newspaper say?
Fred, resigned: Mild night, moderate breeze.

Dorsum at Dodger's apartment, she takes a residuum on her way support the stairs, and starts to leak amniotic fluid. Unbothered, either considering she seems to be under the influence or considering she'southward deep in deprival, she makes her style home, where she's greeted past her mobster husband, who has decorated their flat very nicely and sent his various goons away for the evening.

Dodger's Mobster Hubby: Are y'all tired after the dispensary? What did the medico say?
Dodger: It was just the midwives. They said I've got tons of time.
Dodger'southward Mobster Husband: Well my mom said she thinks you might need more milk, and so I asked her how to brand cheese on toast for you. Tada!

Dodger is touched by this overnice gesture, and honestly, so am I. He might be a mobster, but never permit information technology be said this guy isn't a thoughtful partner. And speaking of thoughtful partners, Cyril runs over to Nonnatus house to check on Lucille. At the door, he's greeted by Boots, who gives it to him straight: it's going to take at to the lowest degree a week for the swelling to go down, and Lucille'due south eye looks similar blood pudding! Cyril, of grade, takes that in stride and heads upstairs.

Lucille: You tin talk to me from out there in the hall!
Cyril: I don't care what you look like! You're the about beautiful adult female to ever alive and I don't care if your eye looks like blood pudding!
Trixie, at Boots, when the claret pudding reference sets Lucille off:

Boots:

Lucille, sobbing: You aren't going to see this! If it isn't going to get better for ten days the wedding ceremony is off!
Cyril: Trixie, tin't you only tell her you'll cover information technology with a veil?
Trixie: Cyril, nosotros couldn't cover it with a tarp. Information technology'south bad, dude.
Sister Monica Joan, diggings into the hall: Hello. I've been talking to the doctor, and my memory isn't always the best simply I think in that location are some quondam remedies that might practice the fob here!

What's the plan? Haven't the foggiest, and we'll have to wait to notice out. First, nosotros have to greet Mother Mildred, who I somehow forgot was making an appearance, and arrives on the back of the milk truck.

Mother Mildred: So, I'k sure you have a ton of weird activities planned for me?
Sister Julienne: Actually, we're kind of in the eye of a medical emergency.
Mother Mildred: Well in that case, we need milk.

And so she stares down the milkman until he donates some bottles to the cause. Look, is Female parent Mildred slightly terrifying? Yeah. But do I dear her more because of that? Too YES. Inside, Dr. Turner sets the stage for Sister Monica Joan's handling program.

Dr. Turner: Ok, hither's the bargain. This is going to seem foreign, and yep, we don't do this often anymore, but that doesn't mean information technology won't work!
Sister Monica Joan: We used to exercise this all the time when doctors were a luxury! Theocritus even wrote near it!
Lucille, panicking slightly: You're gonna do something to me from 300 BC?! They didn't know about germ theory!
Sis Monica Joan: Don't worry about it. We're going to starting time past bathing your eye with sterile water.
Boots: That'due south it? No iodine?
Dr. Turner: Nope, no iodine, no antiseptic. That'll kill the leeches!

And so he plonks down a giant jug of the writhing vampire-adjacent beasties on the tabular array. Goth invertebrates? In the Nonnatus kitchen? It'due south more likely than you think! Hither'south the best part: this is a genius plan and it will almost certainly work. In fact, leeches are even so sometimes used today: their spit contains anticoagulant and chemicals that increment claret flow, making them a good choice for certain types of surgical aftercare.

Across boondocks, at the motherhood habitation, Ascension and Grind packs her numberless and prepares to leave for the holiday every bit previously bundled with Dr. Turner.

Rise and Grind: This is corking! The timing is perfect, I'll get home just in time for Christmas and if I'm lucky my family unit already cooked dinner!
Trixie: Bad news, one-time sport, you aren't going anywhere: your blood force per unit area is just too loftier.
Rise and Grind: WHAT.

Anyway, enough of that, back to the leeches, which Dr. Turner is conscientious to explain are medicinal, and procured from the lab at St. Barts.

Boots: Well they're gross.
Sister Monica Joan: Doctors used to farm their own!
Dr. Turner, clearly non realizing Lucille is probably as well nervous for fun facts: Don't worry, you lot won't experience any pain once nosotros go started. They release natural anesthesia!
Sister Monica Joan: If they were at room temperature they'd just go to town on your blood like an all you can eat buffet, simply they're a little cold.
Dr. Turner: So I'thou going to make a tiny prick to your eyelid with a sterile needle just to become the ball rolling.
Sis Monica Joan, holding Lucille's hand: Don't worry, you're in a long line of folks who've had this treatment!
Lucille: How's it looking?
Dr. Turner: Proficient! And this leech is friggin ginormous so I think we'll only demand the one. We'll bank check back in 45 minutes.

Across town, Dodger's Mobster Husband heads out for a day of collecting ill-gotten gains. Volition his married woman be ok alone? She says yes, but the second he leaves she has a contraction, so hard to say actually. Back at Nonnatus, the 45 minutes are up, and with Mother Mildred now looking on, Dr. Turner takes off the dressing.

Lucille: What if it doesn't work?
Mother Mildred: Then science AND prayer have failed us: we're pulling for ya!

Once the dressing is off, information technology's immediately clear that the wee beastie did it'southward job: Lucille tin open up her eye! Dr. Turner, similar a behemothic nerd, immediately starts going into the same spiel I did earlier about the chemistry of leech spit, until Sister Monica Joan cuts him off. No ane cares most chemistry right now, dude, our helpmate is back in activeness!

And that isn't the just Christmas miracle: exterior, Fred and Reggie are out for a walk when it starts snowing! And at Nonnatus, Phyllis and Miss Higgins render from their secret mystery errand. We still don't know what it is, merely we exercise know information technology was a success, and that Miss Higgins wants to celebrate with some sherry (fair enough!). Before they can get within to get their beverage on, Dodger appears and calls out for help, which of course they rush to provide. Phyllis bundles Dodger into her car and drives over to the maternity home, and they get her inside simply in time: Dodger soon gives nascence to her girl, who thankfully seems totally healthy.

Meanwhile, Cyril calls Lucille upwards on the phone. Tomorrow is Christmas, which means he won't be able to see her due to the wedding ceremony happening the next day, but every bit Lucille points out, it isn't tomorrow yet. They both caput exterior and spin around in the falling snowfall similar the angels they are.

Lucille: Look, cheque out my middle!
Cyril: I see information technology! Information technology's perfect.
Lucille: You'd have said that no matter what!
Cyril: I'd have meant that no matter what!

And you know what, I believe him, both because Lucille is perfect no matter what AND because Cyril is the homo embodiment of the heart eyes emoji. Doubling downwardly on beingness the best, the two start building a snowman, with lots of mutual ribbing about it'south construction, when they see Reggie turning the corner.

Lucille, worried: Reggie, what are you lot doing out this fourth dimension of dark?
Reggie: It'south snowing! I wanted to savor it in instance it melts.
Cyril, in expert spirits: Can't argue with that, nosotros had the same idea!
Lucille: Seriously, do Fred and Violet know you're out? I'm calling them.
Cyril: Well bring back a carrot for the snowman, we'll terminate it!

Instead, the 2 men have a snowball fight and a quick chat nearly the upcoming wedding ceremony.

Reggie: I'1000 glad you lot're getting married, yous won't be lonely so! I feel sorry for people who are lonely; I have honey, and so I'thou lucky.
Cyril: And y'all're wise too; that'south a very practiced bespeak. Hey, do you accept a tie picked out for the nuptials?
Reggie: Uh, yes buddy, and it's SILK.
Cyril: Well in that instance, there's something I want to inquire you.

Back at the motherhood dwelling, Dodger chats with Rise and Grind, who's trying to cheer up her subdued surprise roommate when Phyllis brings in the baby and an update.

Phyllis: I just talked to your hubby, and he's going to come up by tomorrow. In the meantime, you demand rest, and this infant should try breastfeeding.
Dodger, vehemently: I'one thousand not feeding her myself!
Phyllis: Ok, that's fine — I'll give her a canteen tonight.

The next forenoon dawns, and brings with it Dodger'south Mobster Husband, who's about equally excited about his infant as anyone we've always seen a dad exist on this prove to date.

Dodger'due south Mobster Husband, over the moon: The but thing I've ever wanted was to be a dad; this is the best Christmas nowadays ever.
Dodger: Practice you want to proper name her after your brother?
Dodger's Mobster Husband, hardening up instantly: No. I'yard not naming her afterward anyone who threw their life away.

Just so, Rise and Grind walks back into the ward and announces to the room at large that she'south just lost a massive mucous plug. To be off-white, this is a pretty reasonable topic of conversation for a maternity ward, and everyone there seems to concord, taking it in step. Trixie calls upwards Dr. Turner at the Nonnatus house Christmas party to tell him that St. Cuthberts doesn't have an additional bed for Rise and Grind, so she'll have to deliver at the maternity dwelling. He'due south not worried, but tells Trixie to telephone call back if whatsoever issues arise. She might take a hard time getting to the telephone, however, considering Rise and Grind is busily using it to call her hubby with directions most preparing Christmas dinner.

At Nonnatus, Sister Frances gets the offset commitment call and heads out to help her nervous kickoff-time mum, while at the maternity home, Trixie attempts to soothe Dodger's baby to no avail. Realizing the time has come for reinforcements, she grabs the phone from Rise and Grind, hangs it up, and dials out, merely as Rise and Grind's water breaks. When Sis Julienne arrives, they start with Dodger'southward baby, who'south all the same crying and won't swallow anything.

Trixie: I don't like how high pitched that cry is. And I'one thousand worried almost mom as well.

While Trixie takes a look at Ascension and Grind, Sister Julienne assesses Dodger, who's starting to testify signs of withdrawal.

Sister Julienne: Then your water broke before you called us. How long did you wait before you called?
Dodger: A day? I didn't have whatsoever pains.
Sister Julienne: I'chiliad worried that y'all might have an infection, so I'thousand going to have Dr. Turner come take a look at you and the baby.

Easier said than done: every bit Dr. Turner makes his fashion over to the maternity ward from Nonnatus, he has to leave backside all iii of his very sad, very cute kiddos, who are not thrilled about this evolution. Meanwhile, beyond town, the first part of Sister Frances' patient'south labor goes pretty well, especially for a first timer — the biggest challenge is that her poor married man is a nervous wreck, hovering and asking if he needs to boil water. But later, But AS I PREDICTED, we run across a challenge: the baby is in a breech position. Sister Frances asks the husband to retrieve Nonnatus, and does a pretty good job pretending she'due south not worried, merely allow's be real: she'south kinda freaking out!

And of course, because when it rains information technology pours, some other laboring mother has arrived at the maternity home, prompting Sister Julienne to call up Nonnatus to have them transport Sister Hilda over. This phone call neatly ties upwards the phone line so that Sister Frances' patient's married man only can't become through with HER call for backup. In the exam room at the maternity dwelling house, Dr. Turner finally gets the info he needs from Dodger. She explains that she's non a super frequent drug user, just that she uses information technology to help cope when she feels unwell mentally.

Dr. Turner: Where do you even GET this stuff?
Dodger: Acquaintances. Information technology's pretty easy when y'all know who to ask, and it's popular.
Dr. Turner: Well, what I just gave you is medically similar to heroin, and since I've prescribed it it's legal.
Dodger: When will it start working? Before my husband comes?
Dr. Turner: He doesn't know, does he?
Dodger: I handled it really well.
Dr. Turner: Uh, not certain you lot did, friend.

Earlier they can stop THAT conversation, Sister Julienne hurries Dr. Turner into the nursery: Dodger'southward babe is having a seizure. They quickly lower her temperature, which helps finish the seizure, merely it's clear that the poor kiddo is also experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Sister Julienne: Ugh, she knew what she was doing, that's why she avoided appointments and wouldn't breastfeed. Do we have to give this child opiates?
Dr. Turner: I'm not sure what else we can do. Only I have nothing idea what to do about dosage or frequency — I've never seen this before.

Beyond boondocks, Sister Frances tries to psych both herself and her patient up for the breech nascence. It'south non that unlike!

Breech Mum: A butt is pretty different from a head, only go off I guess!
Sis Frances: Don't worry, you're withal going to button that baby out correct here, nosotros're just going to guide you through it!
Breech Dad, back from the phonebooth: Uh, correction: you lot're going to guide her through it. I couldn't get through to Nonnatus, the line was decorated!
Sis Frances:

Breech Mum: Look then this isn't usual?
Sister Frances, trying to convince herself: Breech births are fairly normal, and they're zip to be scared of!
Breech Mum: But are You lot scared? You know what, your hand isn't shaking, so I trust yous: you got this.

Sister Frances snaps into activity, telling Breech Dad to go warm up some towels, bring back chairs, and put on a gown: he'south going to assistance out. She tells her patient to button hard, wraps the baby up in a warm towel, and once the head has had time to reorient in the nascence culvert, Breech Mum pushes the baby correct out. Yay! Two downwards, two to go!

Back at the maternity home, Shelagh and Mother Mildred have simply arrived with plates of dinner when Sister Hilda appears and explains that Sister Julienne's patient (the one with the swollen ankles) volition have to deliver on the ward, as Rise and Grind is already in the commitment room. Shelagh, realizing she might exist needed, goes to change, followed closely by Female parent Mildred. Commencement terminate: Dodger's baby. Female parent Mildred has seen babies born like this many times, and tells Shelagh and Dr. Turner that May was really ane of them, to their horror.

Dr. Turner: We never knew! No 1 told us!
Mother Mildred: It's in her by, just like it'll exist in this i'south past. I know exactly how to treat this kiddo.
Shelagh: I want to do it; I'll concur her and then she's not solitary.
Mother Mildred: It'south going to be hard, but information technology's an honorable task. Now wait, we're going to need to sedate this infant, so eventually transfer her to the children'south hospital.
Dr. Turner: Information technology's and so decorated over there I can't even get the consultant on the phone.
Mother Mildred: Well for this evening I'll advise, we can send her tomorrow.
Trixie, poking her head in: Sorry, Dr. Turner, I need you with Ascension and Grind; the commitment is taking as well long.

Shortly thereafter, Dr. Turner comes into the waiting room to grab Timothy: they're going to demand to use forceps, and he correctly assumes that his son will want to observe. Meanwhile, Shelagh talks with Dodger: they're going to have to contact child services.

Shelagh: It'due south about doing what's best for your baby.
Dodger: I know almost child services. My mother was an alcoholic; I can't even be about a pub at present because of the olfactory property.
Shelagh: Did child services put yous into care?
Dodger: I wanted them to, but they didn't; my mother needed me, and I was good at beingness needed. She died of a hemorrhage when I was 11. I should have washed ameliorate than my mother, not worse. Tin can I agree my baby?
Shelagh: Of form.
Dodger: She'south never gonna odor annihilation bad on me.

While Dr. Turner delivers Rise and Grind's babe with forceps (and poor Timothy gets the absolute shock of his life when actually faced with the realities of childbirth), Sis Hilda coaches Puffy Ankles in the other room. Finally, afterward much pushing and an episiotomy, Rising and Grind's baby is out, merely when the infant doesn't immediately cry, Dr. Turner starts immigration it's airway. Unfortunately, that isn't the merely emergency happening at the motherhood home: on the ward, Sister Julienne brings gas in for Puffy Ankles only to notice that she'due south started to hemorrhage. Sister Hilda immediately heads back into the delivery room, grabs Dr. Turner, who'due south just cleared Rising and Grind's baby'southward airway, and brings him back. Together, they motorbus Puffy Ankles to deliver her baby every bit speedily as possible, while Sister Julienne calls the ambulance. When the baby arrives, he's in daze, and then Sis Julienne quickly takes him to administrate oxygen. Equally Dr. Turner delivers the placenta and works to stop the bleeding, Puffy Ankles grabs Sis Hilda'south hand and begs her to start praying. It's very intense and scary.

Afterwards, while Mother Mildred tries to enjoy a moment of silence with Sister Monica Joan (both of whom have fled the parlor, overrun as information technology is past sorry Turner children), and Sister Julienne and Sister Hilda make clean up the blood in the ward, Dodger finally talks with her husband about her habit.

Dodger: I was terrified yous'd find out. That anyone would find out.
Dodger's Mobster Husband: What did you think I'd do?
Dodger: Stop loving me? Hate me, like you do your brother?
Dodger'southward Mobster Husband, surprisingly self-aware: Hating him is easier than missing him. And I don't want to miss you.
Dodger: They're trying to become me treatment.
Dodger'due south Mobster Husband: When you become back, things volition be better.
Dodger: You lot need to prepare yourself for the fact that information technology might only be the two of us: we can't know if the authorities will take the baby.
Dodger'southward Mobster Husband: Well I don't listen to the authorities!
Dodger: At present we both take to, and information technology'due south my fault. I'g sad.
Dodger's Mobster Husband: I would do anything for you, and I'd practice even more than for her. Yous need to be able to say the same, and so yous have to go clean. We need you lot.
Dodger: Well beingness needed is what I am All-time at, so that actually works out.

Need a suspension from very intense emotion? Nosotros become it, in the class of Mother Mildred giving an absolutely masterful reading of A Christmas Ballad, and so, fifty-fifty better, Dr. Turner telling Shelagh the adept news that while both Puffy Ankles and her babe needed blood transfusions, they both volition recover. Dodger's baby will also be headed to the children's hospital that night, to slowly be weaned off the heroin. All four holiday babies sorted, all of our midwives and doctors return to Nonnatus and sneak into the parlor to hear Mother Mildred'south recitation.

The next morning dawns, and in case you forgot in all that perilous childbirth, information technology's fourth dimension for a hymeneals!

Phyllis arrives in her shared room with Lucille, which is a shock to Lucille, because Phyllis was supposed to be using the bathroom: it was her turn! Where was she?

Phyllis: It'south a surprise! Look, what'south this wrapped present on my bed?
Lucille: Open it :)

Every bit you might have guessed, it'due south the pearls, with a beautiful note telling Phyllis to wear them at the nuptials in award of Barbara. Did it of a sudden get super dusty in anyone else'southward house when this happened?

Downstairs, Trixie brings the corsages inside, which look fresh because she kept them in the outhouse overnight. I know this was a temperature control thing, but I certain hope no 1 tells Lucille. And speaking of things we don't desire to tell Lucille, Boots arrives with bad news: Cyril's boss just chosen, and the promised wedding ceremony motorcar? It broke downwards. Next door, Reggie and Fred arrive to bank check on Cyril. Every bit you might accept guessed, that favor Cyril asked earlier was for Reggie to be his best man. Reggie, of class, takes his duties seriously, and carefully adjusts Cyril's corsage and then it's on direct. Fred, seeing that the two are all set up, leaves them at information technology.

Now if Y'all were Trixie Franklin, and you found out that the nice machine for the wedding was cleaved, who would you call? If you guessed the merely redeemable rich man on television, A for Effort, yous'd be right, and he arrives just in time, even offering to wearable a chauffeur cap if Trixie requests it.

No time for me to brand a joke about THAT, because inside, Lucille is making her chiliad entrance down the staircase, and she looks absolutely breathtaking. Fred helps her make her mode outside, and at the church building, while Cyril waits excitedly at the altar, Lucille is greeted outside by a group of kiddos in matching outfits.

Lucille: Phyllis, who are these children?
Phyllis: You told me bridal attendants should have meaning. These kids are all babies you've delivered since you lot arrived in Poplar.
Me: SHUT Upwards (affectionate).
Lucille, trying not to cry: I think all of them.
Phyllis: Their moms made these outfits, and every unmarried one of them said they'd never forget y'all.

Then Lucille heads inside and we have an absolutely beautiful wedding between these two absolutely beautiful (inside and out) people. Everyone tears up. It's the best. Subsequently, at the reception, the cake procession is just as absurd as it sounded when Mrs. Wallace explained it earlier (and Sis Hilda even brings hers up too). Everyone has an amazing time, lovingly photographed by Phyllis. And subsequently, the newlyweds walk dwelling together, just the two of them, to embark on their married life together.

Well folks, as holiday specials go, we really couldn't ask for more: love, leeches, mobsters, and perchance even a record-breaking number of deliveries! What will they think of adjacent? Thankfully, we won't have to wait besides long to find out: Call The Midwife flavor 11 will be on our screens in March. Until then, may your winter be full of as much love, warmth, and friendship as we saw on tonight's episode.

smithburem1948.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.wgbh.org/programs/2021/12/25/call-the-midwife-holiday-special-2021-recap-sucker-for-you