S09E06 is the sixth episode of Series 9 and the 76th episode overall of Call the Midwife. It originally aired on 9 February 2020 in the UK.
Overview[]
Valerie's cousin Maureen endures a difficult labour and subsequent issues, while the Turners' adoption of May comes under threat.
Plot[]
Shelagh Turner and her youngest children water their sunflowers while Fred Buckle and Reggie check on the produce they've grown in preparation for the upcoming Horticultural Extravaganza.
Maureen Bryant's son and daughter spray Fred with water guns and then run off to join their mother, who apologizes.
Doctor McNulty arrives at the Iris Knight Institute with Doctor Turner welcoming his help for a busy Tuesday clinic. Nurse Beatrix Franklin examines Maureen Bryant, who is doing well and expects her baby to come within the next week. Maureen asks if Trixie can give her castor oil to induce labor as she'd like the baby to be born on her dad and grandfather's birthday. When Trixie says that they only use castor oil on very overdue mothers, Maureen requests a second opinion from her cousin, Nurse Valerie Dyer. Trixie says that Valerie is a professional midwife and won't tell Maureen anything different.
May and Angela excitedly greet their parents as they come home. Timothy, who was babysitting, says that May was worried that their parents had gotten lost because they were late and that someone from the Hong Kong Adoption Project called while his parents were out. Shelagh vows to call tomorrow and hopes that the call is regarding the date for May's adoption hearing.
Sister Monica Joan welcomes Doctor McNulty back to Nonnatus House. He is happy that Nonnatus House was able to take him in at such short notice--even if it is the attic room--as the lodgings he'd secured were earmarked for demolition in a few weeks. Phyllis Crane says it's common in Poplar these days. Sister Hilda, nervous about the secret she has been keeping for Sister Julienne, says Nonnatus House will probably still be there in 2000. Everyone laughs, but Sister Julienne decides to come clean. Nonnatus House will be demolished sometime within the next year. Sister Hilda pleads her vow of obedience in apology for helping to keep the secret.
Phyllis, Trixie, Valerie, and Lucille discuss their future while indulging in toffees and cigarettes. While the nuns can return to the Mother House, Nonnatus House is the nurses' only home. They cannot afford the rent elsewhere, lodgings are difficult to find, and they will all be out of work. Trixie hopes the Sisters will be able to carry out their work in a new location and everyone will be able to keep their jobs. It happened with the previous relocation of Nonnatus House. Phyllis remarks that their are fewer babies with the popularity of the birth control pill and that the council is putting as much money into family planning as it is to midwifery. If the council stops supporting the Order, then the Order cannot afford to operate. Valerie says that at least they'll be in the same boat as everyone else in Poplar--up to their eyes in rubble and unsure of what the future holds.
Valerie, Trixie, and Lucille pass a sign for the Horticultural Extravaganza. Valerie's father use to enter every year expecting to win something, but never did. She compares her father's show record to Fred's.
At the surgery as soon as the clock hits 9, Miss Higgins calls Doctor Turner's first patients, Mrs. Hamid and her son Rizwan, and then assigns Mr. Prentice to Doctor McNulty.
Mr. Charlie Bryant enthusiastically greets his wife and children as they approach his current job site. He's going to work on a church in Limehouse next and asks if Maureen would like him to put in a good word with God about her due date while he's there. She says her plan has got a better chance of working and shows her husband the bottle of castor oil she has purchased. They both agree that Maureen is very cheeky.
Shelagh receives a call from Miss Williams at the Hong Kong Adoption Project and asks if they have a hearing date for May. Miss Williams tells her there has been a complication, though it likely won't affect things long-term. May's mother, Esther Tang, who was previously believed to have died more than 2 years ago, is in London. Her drug addiction appears to be behind her and she is working as an amah, taking care of the children of a British Forces family who are currently in London on furlough. There is a knock on the door and Miss Tang arrives to see Miss Williams. Miss Williams asks her to wait in the hallway, but Shelagh hears over the phone that she is there and becomes worried. Miss Williams says that she does not believe that Miss Tang intends to interrupt the adoption, but that she has asked to meet the Turners and see her daughter.
Fred is sad to see that the Horticultural Extravaganza has been cancelled and heads to speak with his wife to sort things out.
Doctor Turner arrives home and he and Shelagh share their worries that if there has been a mistake and May's mother is alive that there is a good chance the adoption will be affected. Neither can bear the thought of losing May.
Violet tells Fred that while she agrees the East End has a long gardening history, if there's going to be a horticultural show, there needs to be some horticulture to go in it. Reggie suggests exhibition gardens, which Fred thinks is a good idea, but too ambitious. Violet says it's up to Fred to address the issue this time.
Maureen Bryant takes her castor oil. Her husband asks how long it takes as he's excited to welcome their newest little one. She doesn't know how long it takes, but has a feeling that it will be on her dad and grandfather's birthday the following day, as she planned. She's excited for their child to share a birthday with her dad, as he passed away before meeting any of her children.
Fred and Reggie begin going door to door, with Reggie pointing out to skip one home because even the flowers in their window box are dead.
Nurse Dyer takes care of Maureen, who is worried that her child will be born in the bathroom as she has diarrhea as a side effect of the castor oil. Her contractions, however, are still 30 minutes apart and she has a long time to go before the birth. Valerie chides Maureen for taking the castor oil, asking what else she thought it was going to do besides give her diarrhea. She says that the baby will do whatever it likes and that Maureen's dad would be proud of her no matter what happens.
Sister Julienne apologizes to the Turners for the mistake with May's adoption and the Turners' involvement. Doctor Turner says involvement is not something they regret. The Turners haven't told May about her mother yet, and plan to meet Miss Tang and get a better idea of her intentions.
Sister Frances takes aspirin as she and Doctor McNulty prepare for District rounds. She assures him she's not unwell as Miss Higgins lectures Doctor McNulty about putting sputum samples in with the blood samples. She says that if Doctor Turner intends to leave him unsupervised then Doctor McNulty must have a good knowledge of their systems. Sister Frances advises Doctor McNulty not to worry about Miss Higgins, but he says that he's not sure Miss Higgins knows he's an adult.
Fred appeals to the residents of Nonnatus House for help with the Horticultural Extravaganza. Trixie will provide floral decorations and teach the other nurses to make their own. Sister Hilda says they need something to grab attention and make people want to participate. Reggie once again proposes exhibition gardens like at the Chelsea Flower Show and explains the concept. Fred now embraces the idea, proposing to Phyllis that the Cubs participate and have a campfire party. Valerie proposes that Miss Nadine's Dance School do country dancing and she'll make them some peasant dresses. Fred thanks the women and lauds Reggie as a genius. Sister Monica Joan proposes that they make a garden for St. Raymond Nonnatus, whose feast day is the day after the bank holiday, to ensure blessings for the event. She insists that she will make it herself.
Lucille tells Valerie that Mr. Bryant has called. It's Maureen again, who is now further along in her labor. Both nurses attend to Maureen, who is worried that the baby won't arrive on her dad's birthday as it's almost midnight. She gives birth to a baby boy before the clock strikes 12 and Charlie bursts in to congratulate her.
Sister Hilda offers to help Sister Monica Joan with the garden, but Sister Monica Joan insists that she and St. Raymond Nonnatus have things well under control.
The Turners meet with Miss Tang and Miss Williams. Miss Tang shares that she very nearly died several years ago, but things are different now and she'd like to know how May is doing. Shelagh shares photographs with Miss Tang, remarking that May looks like her, and she tells her about how May is doing in school. Miss Tang tries to give the photographs back, but Doctor Turner says they brought them for her to keep. Miss Tang thanks them, but says she wants to see her daughter in person. Miss Williams says they will decide what is in May's best interests. Miss Tang says her daughter will miss her, as a daughter must want to see her mother. She pleads with the Turners as she's only in England for a few weeks and this could be her last chance.
Maureen tells Lucille that her son, Warren, hasn't gotten the hang of feeding yet. Lucille says they'll keep an eye on it and can always top him up with a bottle.
Patrick and Shelagh discuss the meeting in their car. While Patrick says the meeting was the right thing to do by Esther, he only hopes it was the right thing to do by May. Miss Williams gives Miss Tang the papers of consent to sign to allow the Turners to adopt May. Miss Tang cries and says she can't read them. While Miss Williams offers to go through the papers with her, Miss Tang immediately says she must go back to work. She takes the papers with her.
Doctor McNulty hears Sister Frances groaning and goes to the kitchen to check on her, asking why she's using a hot water bottle in August. Sister Frances bundles up further and refuses to speak with Doctor McNulty. He says that he knows it's the Great Silence and she is not supposed to speak, but she's very obviously in great pain. She says that she can't tell him because he's a man, and he counters that he is a doctor. He asks if she's having period pain, and she says she feels stupid. Doctor McNulty says that as a midwife she knows that dysmenorrhoea is not the same for every woman and can be debilitating. Sister Frances is scared that she will make a mistake with a patient. She has taken aspirin and paracetamol, but neither has helped. He gives her a very small dose of pethidine to get her over the worst of the pain.
Maureen tells Lucille that she fears something is wrong with Warren. He is hardly eating and seems floppy. Lucille tells Maureen and Warren to go back to bed, and she telephones Doctor Turner to come examine Warren. The doctor tells Lucille to call for an ambulance and incubator. There is a cloudiness in Warren's eyes which could mean vision problems and a blueness around his mouth, fingers, and toes that could indicate a problem with his heart.
Miss Tang looks at the photos of May and the adoption papers then buries them deeper in her bag before tending to her employer’s children.
In the hospital, Warren is hooked up to several monitors. Maureen laments to Charlie that they’re not allowed in to see him. The couple cry and comfort each other.
Trixie and Lucille look over Maureen’s records, saying there’s nothing of note and that she has had three healthy pregnancies. Valerie asks if something has happened and Lucille shares that Warren was admitted to St. Cuthbert’s with a suspected heart defect and possible other complications. Valerie is shocked as the baby’s heart was fine at birth and as recently as yesterday. As they look at her records and note that Maureen has hardly been to the doctor all year, Valerie says that she saw Maureen at the surgery earlier in the year as her kids were ill with German measles, also known as rubella. The nurses give each other a knowing look at Trixie runs out.
The nurses, nuns, and Doctor McNulty look at a newspaper article predicting 56,000 attendees at a Beatles concert in New York City. Doctor McNulty questions what it must be like to have 56,000 women screaming at you. Phyllis likens it to a bad Tuesday clinic. Doctor Turner arrives with news that the specialist found that Warren has severe congenital heart deformities and the left side of his heart hasn’t developed properly. He is also blind and there is a high likelihood of brain damage. All of this is consistent with a diagnosis of congenital rubella syndrome, and Warren likely has weeks, at most, to live.
Maureen tells Doctor Turner and Lucille that if the hospital can’t make Warren better they want to bring him home. They are holding out hope that he'll get better if he's home. Doctor Turner says that if they follow protocol to avoid contagion he can have Warren discharged, however it will not change his prognosis.
Fred asks Reggie if he can see what Sister Monica Joan is doing. He is worried that she's going to replant the dandelions and nettles and call that her garden, as she often replants the weeds in the Nonnatus House garden. Fred offers to help, but Sister Monica Joan declines.
Maureen and Charlie Bryant take Warren home, but are scared to sleep in case he passes in the night. They vow to make the most of the time they have.
Phyllis is taking inventory and notes that someone has been taking supplies without signing for them. She suspects Sister Monica Joan and finds the eight missing blankets tucked under the nun's pillow when she goes to confront her. Sister Monica Joan says she requires them for the celebration of St. Raymond Nonnatus. Phyllis is flustered but leaves the blankets and tells Sister Monica Joan to not get any holes in them.
Doctor and Mrs. Turner bring May to meet her birth mother. Miss Tang speaks to May in Cantonese, but the girl is frightened and clings to Shelagh's legs. Miss Tang cries and reaches for May, but May moves to hide behind Shelagh. As Miss Tang continues to yell in Cantonese and shake May's arm, Patrick intervenes and says it's too much for May and they need to leave. May claims that Miss Williams turned her child against her.
Maureen says she wishes she could do more for Warren. Lucille advises trying offering her finger for Warren to suck on as it may provide comfort. Maureen calls to her older children, telling them to see what their brother is doing. It's ok to be sad, but they should be happy about things that make Warren happy. She tells the older children where she hid their water pistols and urges them to show their little brother how much fun it is to be a Bryant.
Patrick tells Shelagh that while he's sorry for Miss Tang and her past, he doesn't want to do this to May again. Shelagh agrees, cradling May who has fallen asleep in her lap.
Lucille asks Phyllis why she is walking and where her car is. She claims it was in need of emergency attention, gesturing to Cyril Robinson who is currently taking a look at it. Cyril says he has looked it over twice, but can't find any reason for it to be making the noise Phyllis described. Phyllis says that's perplexing and offers to get Cyril some tea, even though Sister Monica Joan brought him some. She says the tea has gone cold and leaves with the mug, leaving Lucille and Cyril alone. Lucille correctly surmises that there was never anything wrong with the car. Cyril says he had to go along with what Phyllis said--especially if it gave him the chance to bump into Lucille. Lucille claims he can bump into her whenever he'd like and has the time. However, neither of them seems to have time as they're both always working. She asks if he's only there to do a job, and he says he's trying to make a life out of almost nothing. He works, studies, saves money, and prays, and pays for it all while having to wait for the things he wants--like Lucille. She tells him there's no point in waiting if she's not going to wait for him, declining the tea Phyllis brings and saying Cyril's too busy for tea for two.
The Bryants want to hold a gathering for Warren.
Miss Williams arrives at the Turner home unannounced and asks to speak to Shelagh privately. Miss Tang has refused to sign the adoption consent papers and wants to take May with her back to Hong Kong.
Sister Julienne asks the Turners if Miss Tang has given any indication as to how she could support May. Patrick says none, but she's absolutely determined to take her back and refuses to meet or discuss it. Shelagh says that they would support this, even though it would break their hearts, if they thought Miss Tang was truly in a position to care for May. They urge Sister Julienne to try to talk to Miss Tang, as she trusted the Order once before.
Lucille takes a group photo of everyone at the party for Warren and refuses reimbursement from Charlie Bryant for the cost of the film.
Miss Tang meets Sister Julienne in the park and immediately says she won't change her mind. She says that the Turners and Hong Kong Adoption Project made her child afraid of her, and Sister Julienne disagrees. May is frightened because she is confused and has repeatedly been taken from everything she knows without her control. Miss Tang says that a child should be with her mother and Sister Julienne agrees if the mother is able to care for her and keep her safe. Miss Tang says that she has a job taking care of English children who love her and run to her before they run to their own parents. She knows how to keep a child safe. Sister Julienne does not doubt it, but questions what will happen to Miss Tang's job when her employers know she has a child of her own. She says that there will be no job. Sister Julienne asks what will happen then, and Miss Tang says that Sister Julienne thinks May is better off here with the Sister's friends, forgetting about her mother, her language, and that she is Chinese. However, other people won't forget that she's Chinese. As she grows older, other people will look at her and discriminate against her. Sister Julienne says there is no ideal situation here, but the worst is if May ends up back in an orphanage. Can Miss Tang be sure that won't happen. Miss Tang cries and says that if she signs the paper how will May know that she loves her.
Maureen reads a story to all three of her children, rocking Warren as the older children fall asleep on her bed. Charlie comes to check on them and when he moves to wake the children, Maureen asks him to leave them so they can all be together. He agrees and puts Warren in his bassinet. They agree it was a lovely day, and Maureen falls asleep holding Warren's hand. When they wake in the morning they find that Warren has passed away over night.
Doctor Turner and Lucille visit the Bryants' as both parents stare vacantly at Warren's bassinet. Doctor Turner fills out a death certificate and then cries in his car alone.
As the nurses prepare for the Horticultural Extravaganza, Trixie asks if Phyllis should sic the Cubs on Cyril. Lucille doesn't want to talk about it.
Doctor McNulty checks on Sister Frances who says she is feeling better.
Miss Tang meets with Miss Williams and The Turners. She knows that Turners give May a good home, that they love her, and that she expects May loves them too. However, if she can't take May she's content for the Turners to be her foster parents but will still not sign the paper and that May should not be brought here. Miss Williams says the Turners could still pursue May's adoption and the court would likely side in their favor. Miss Tang knows, but cries and asks them not to. Patrick states that May needs security and a legal next of kin in this country. If May were to have an accident, the Turners might not even be allowed to see her or make decisions about her treatment. Miss Williams says this is true and that the Hong Kong Adoption Project cannot be a child's legal guardian long-term. Miss Tang says that the Turners should then be May's guardians in this country, but not her parents.
Shelagh tends to her daughters' sunflowers, telling Patrick they survived better than she thought they would. Patrick says they all have. All of their children are there and blooming, and even if it's not forever they need to make the most of it now.
All of Nonnatus House prepares for the Horticultural Extravaganza, loading flowers and supplies into the van. Charlie Bryant stops by and says that the photos Lucille took are great. He gives a photo of Warren to Lucille to keep. Cyril arrives with flowers for Lucille, telling her that he is sorry. She says she overreacted and he says she didn't and was clearly upset. He says he should have been there, supporting her and not working on another car. Lucille is proud of him for helping their community, but Cyril says there are more important things. He offers his arm to Lucille and escorts her to the show.
At the Horticultural Extravaganza there is music, dancing, prizes for produce, Tombola, tons of flowers, games and songs. Violet congratulates Fred on a job well done. Everyone stares at Sister Monica Joan's St. Raymond Nonnatus garden, which is simply a crate with a small statue of the saint on top of it. Trixie, irritated because help was offered on numerous occasions, asks Sister Monica Joan where the flowers are. Sister Monica Joan says that the flowers of St. Raymond Nonnatus are the most beautiful of the day, gesturing to a procession of Poplar mothers bringing their babies dressed in bonnets for the garden display. Fred and Reggie's squash wins second prize and Teddy, Angela, and May are awarded for their sunflowers.
Miss Tang, carrying a baby, gets into a car.
Lucille takes the photo of Warren Bryant, pins it to her flowers from Cyril, and puts it on display with the other Poplar babies in Sister Monica Joan's garden.
Characters[]
Midwives[]
Valerie Dyer
Beatrix Franklin
Lucille Anderson
Phyllis Crane
Nuns[]
Sister Julienne
Sister Monica Joan
Sister Frances
Sister Hilda
Patients[]
Maureen Bryant
Warren Bryant
Mrs. Hamid
Rizwan Hamid
Mr. Prentice
Other[]
Patrick Turner
Shelagh Turner
Timothy Turner
Angela Turner
May Tang
Frederick Buckle
Violet Buckle
Reggie Jackson
Kevin McNulty
Millicent Higgins
Esther Tang
Cyril Robinson
Miss Williams
Charlie Bryant
Maxine Bryant