[overlapping chatter] its on its on its on [laughter] hurry up, everyone come on [overlapping Street Vendors shouting] i cant see [excited chatter] [festive music playing] [laughter] mature jenny, voiceover my first christmas in poplar was unlike any other i had known. The streets, like all streets, were strung with colored lights, and children drew up lists, like children everywhere. As the days ticked down, it seemed as though the district was fizzing with delight. But at nonnatus house, a different magic was at work. The sisters spent advent in prayer and meditation, and the atmosphere was not one of excitement, but of expectant, joyous calm. I wasnt entirely sure what i should make of it. I was young, and faith was still a mystery to me. [telephone ringing] nonnatus house. Midwife speaking. Its me neighbor. Shes started having pains. Name, please . Hilda levons, lisbon buildings. Youre meant to be sending her down to hospital. Shes already crying her eyes out. Woman on phone third one, she was in labor for 3 days. Ill come out and assess her. Keep her tucked up and warm till i get there. [fussing] its all right, baby. Its all right. Come on. [baby crying] its all right. Mrs. Levons was very anxious at the last appointment. Ill come with you to reassure her, and then go on to the mastitis case. Oh, straw for the crib. Well done, sister monica joan. I availed myself of the kindness of some costers in the market. The spirit of the season would appear to be amongst us. [exhales] [bicycle bell rings] [distant baby crying] woman nurse you got to come quick, nurse hurry, quickly shes in here come on shes through here hurry hurry up [panting] oh take that. Just follow me. Please, hurry up. Hilda [prolonged scream] hilda its all right the nonnatans are coming. Stop pushing. I cant stop jenny let me through, please im a midwife. Hilda i need to go to the hospital i had to have forceps with the last one second stage, sister. Sister julienne dont distress yourself, hilda. All is well. [moaning] please, will everybody stand right back so we can assist mrs. Levons . It might help if you were dispersed elsewhere. Man begging your pardon, this is a communal toilet, and i was in the queue. Get yourself down the other bloody landing hilda i cant do this on my own jenny yes, you can. I want you to take nice, steady breaths in between each contraction. It will help you to feel a lot calmer. Good. [alarm blaring outside] oh, thank god thank god. [cries] who sent for an ambulance . It wasnt necessary at all. If you really want to be of help, you will boil a kettle, fill some hot Water Bottles, fetch clean, dry towels, a basin, and a blanket. Hilda im going to need forceps again sister julienne thank you, gentlemen, for your attendance. All is in order, for the meanwhile. Man all right, sister. Jenny i want you to inch forward for me, hilda. Thats it. Good girl. It moved. I cant have it here i havent had my enema vertex is visible, sister. Sister julienne shall i tell you something, hilda . Youre doing splendidly. Nurse lee and i arent going to leave your side. Oh. Now, on this next contraction, i want you to make as little noise as possible. I want you to put all that energy inwards as you bear down. Hot Water Bottles are on their way. Right. Thats wonderful. Well done. Well done. Keep going. Now, on this next contraction, i think were going to have the babys head. Ohh noooooo [groaning loudly] really good. Really good there. Oh, well done. [baby crying] oh, there. There. Woman lovely girl, hilda. Oh. Every time a babys born . I cant believe it. [baby crying] cant believe it. Mature jenny, voiceover there were days and deliveries where i couldnt believe it, either. Birth was and will always be the most commonplace of miracles, an event at once familiar and phenomenal, timeless and immediate, briefly making angels of us all. [babies crying] [overlapping chatter] over 18 pounds. Bravo. About the same size as a turkey. All the children for vaccinations over this way, please, and anyone who doesnt line up nicely will be reported to father christmas. Trixie and you neednt think i dont know where to find him. Ooh last year, he left his number in my stocking. [chuckles] lynette, take the boys over for their needles. Mum, dont say needles in front of them. You know theyll kick off. If theyre frightfully brave and wellbehaved, theyll get a jelly baby afterwards. But youd better hurry up; otherwise, all the black ones will be gone. [grunts] watch out. Come on. Mind out of me way. I want a star on top of this, not somebodys eyeball. Seasons greetings to you, too. Do i have to undress him . Its on the nippy side in here. Down to his napkin, if you would, mrs. Duncan. Handknits weigh rather heavy on the scales. Got it stop it ha ha get off ha ha ill see you at tea time. Better hurry. [bicycle bell rings] theres a baby been born. Jenny yes, there has. Is it thriving . Yes. Is it . Yes. And the mother . Is she thriving, too . Mother and baby are both doing well. Im afraid you must let me pass. Im expected elsewhere. Both doing well. Thank god, nurse. Woman thank god. Hmm. Theres a bulb loose somewhere, i reckon, or a wire. Go on, sonny. Go and wiggle that plug for me. Fred the electric always slows down in the cold weather. Its what you call atmospherics. Now, dont tickle it. Clump it one. Well be sat in the blooming dark at this rate, and then hows the reindeers gonna find their way, eh . Ah. [bzzt] ow [all laughing] you wont be laughing come cubs nativity. Hows bethlehem gonna look without tree and lights, eh . [laughing continues] what ho, lynette . Looking for the pamphlet on 3month colic. Oh. Something caught your eye . Not really. Are you interested in coming into nursing . You must be finishing school soon. Easter, then i start as a filing clerk down at cousens wool. My dads their warehouse foreman. Gosh. Nothing like connections. Must be rather jolly, seeing doors begin to open. Big, wide world, all of that. Suppose. Happy reading. [boys giggling] fred stop messing about with that plug now, and no one told you to touch the cypress. Youd have had more success pulling her teeth out one by one. One cant help having a sort of spasm of fellow feeling. Do you remember what it felt like, feeling as if youd never stop growing . Like alice in wonderland when she ate the cake, dreading being noticed, and fearing you arent visible at all. Cant say i do. Never seen anyone so decrepit. I have to say, ive got a jolly robust nose, but a meths drinker asked me for small change the other day. It was all i could do to keep my bran flakes down. I dont think she was a drinker, and there was actually mildew on her coat. She was asking after the baby, you say . Yes. Sounds like someone we used to see a lot of at stepney borders. Used to call her mrs. Jenkins. I dont think that was her real name. Not quite the full picnic, if you ask me, but she always knew if a birth was taking place. Never have thought lisbon buildings would have been her stamping ground. Do you know, i think i saw her the other day . Im sorry to say it, but the poor old thing was. Widdling in the gutter. Oh, well, thats definitely her, then. Been a lot of demolition up stepney way. She may moved her lodgings or lost them. Rightyho. For the next two hours, i only answer to akela. Things you see when you havent got a gun. [children clamoring] pack pack pack pack pack pack shut up thank you, jack. Stop pushing me neil and kenneth, we do not need any flags. Were putting our semaphore to one side this week and concentrating on our nativity play. [all cheer] now, as you know, were going to perform it for our mothers and fathers on the last thursday before christmas. Everyone taking part will get their entertainer badge, apart from timothy turner, wholl be getting his musician badge for playing the violin. Now, calling all shepherds. Jack, what about you . Arent you supposed to be a shepherd . O, what blazing light is this . Jack ive grown out of me old dressing gown. You said we had to have dressing gowns. Well, why doesnt garrett take your part . He could be a shepherd. You can play balthasar. Can i still have a crook . [tweets] stop it, please. [tweets] timothy. [stops playing silent nigh] ooh donkeys ears. Ha ha ha heehaw now, the alice band has already perished, so i want you to treat those as though theyre made of porcelain. Jack what . Porcelain . Boy not him again. Oh, bravo. Reinforcements. Excuse my tardiness. Ive been making inquiries about a manger. Boy . Putting up the christmas tree. Ha ha gosh. Move over, prince rainier of monaco. Do you suppose your mother will run you up a cape . Ahem. Chummy thats it. Now, come on, boys. We havent finished yet. Boy wait. I dont know. [sniffles] you all right there . Picking my brothers up. My mum and dad dont like them running around unsupervised. Good for them. Thats what i say. Chummy now, in a horseshow, please. All akela cubs, do your best. All well do our best [door closes] [whispers] letter for you from the vicar. Into bed, camilla, and calm down. Calm down . The vicars invited the mayor of poplar to the nativity. [sighs] i know one shouldnt speak ill of a man of the cloth, but it was bally cowardly for him to put it in a letter. Its only a bit of fun. It was only a bit of fun. If the mayors intending to descend, thats a different kettle of plaice entirely. I cant just have a few cubs in their nightwear and tiny tears in swaddling. Camilla, why are you getting so upset . This is our district, peter. All saints is our church. I feel proud of it. I dont want anyone to feel as though were somehow. Lacking. Into bed now before you get pneumonia off the lino. What ever happened to nil desperandum, eh . You forget what youre capable of sometimes. I know exactly what im capable of. Thats the problem. [babies cooing] oh. Oh. Whos a lovely un, then . Whos a lovely, then . Two little dicky birds sitting on a wall, one named peter, one named paul, fly away, peter get away from my baby do you hear me . Get away id never take him. Im not accusing you of taking him im accusing you of touching him mrs. Jones whatevers happening . Its her, the filthy old crone i only nipped in to pick up me orange juice. Oh, shh get off oh mrs. Jones, thats enough. Now go back in the clinic and ask them to replace your juice. Nurse lee, would you clear up this mess . Mrs. Jones its all right, my darling. Shh. No one can resist a baby, mrs. Jenkins, but mothers can be fierce when they think their child is threatened. Was only dicky birds. I know. Dicky birds. Just little uns. Its a hard time of year to spend too much time alone. Can you tell me where you live . We can send someone to look in on you, to make sure youre being properly taken care of. She doesnt look well. Old age. Poverty. Chronic malnourishment and exhaustion, i suppose. Why doesnt she accept help . Who knows what brutality she knew when she was young . Help then didnt mean what help means now. Once more unto the breach and all of that. Its simply a matter of scaling things up. I just waylaid brown owl at the bus stop and were combining forces now, so there will be 8 angels, a female mary, a full compliment of cattle, and quite the sizeable flock of sheep. Chummy. Its the parish hall, not the london palladium. Well, that sort of attitude will get us nowhere. [sighs] [train whistle blowing] [sighs] [bicycle bell rings] lynette. Oh, hello, nurse noakes. By all means, tell me im a frightful bore, but would you consider doing me a kindness . Ill be glad to if my mum dont mind. Its all connected to church affairs; the nativity play, to be precise. We need a sort of capable senior angel to rule the little brownies with a rod of iron. Oh, i dont know, nurse. I might be needed at home. I might let you down, and id hate to let you down. I always think it best to travel hopefully. Oh, but, nurse youre not at home to miss pessimistic. Now, well rig you out in the best crepe paper. A shame. I havent got my tape measure in my pocket. You dont need it. Im a 40inch hip. Oh, bravo. Splendid. Man nells in . Yeah, first door on the right. Hey there. Excuse me. Its first door. [labored breathing] man so long, then. See you on payday. Yeah. Woman better check shes all right. Greetings, doctor. I just called in to collect those instruments. Of course. Nearly done. No sign of that new autoclave . No. The Department Said it would come this week, but theres been no joy so far. Are you staying for tea, dr. Turner . Mrs. B. s made an absolute piece de resistance of yule log. Thanks, but ive got timothy outside in the car. Oh, dear. Housekeepers day off . Well, im sure we can pop you something into a paper bag. [telephone ringing] how is timothy getting on . [sighs] its been almost a year. Hes doing well enough, but itll be our first christmas since his mother died, and im worried it might. Undo things. I lost my mother when i was very young. Children are more resilient than you think. Well. Hes made his opinion of my cooking rather clear. Fish and chips for us tonight, i reckon. Sorry, doctor. Theres been a message from the surgery. Urgent home visit requested. Lady called mrs. Jenkins. Im meant to be at a rehearsal now. Stay there and dont talk to anyone. Youll make me late. Like youre always late. [4 knocks] hello . [door creaks] mrs. Jenkins . Im a doctor, here to help. Dont you come near me aaah i wont be a moment. What . Thats my dinner who are you giving my dinner to . [sighs] its a classic case of angina pectoris. Ive prescribed amyl nitrate for use in the event of any new collapse, and penicillin because there was evidence of urinary incontinence all over the place gangway mrs. Jenkins might very well have an infection, which would contribute to her confusion. It might be worth trying to collect a urine sample. That shouldnt prove too challenging. Just stick a galley pot in a convenient gutter. Dr. Turner she is also hard of hearing, jumping with fleas, and her Living Conditions are calamitous. If you could speak to the social services, ill put her on the list for daily visits in the meanwhile. [knock knock] [door creaks] hello . Jenny mrs. Jenkins . Im nurse lee. The doctor sent me to come and have a look at you. I dont need no bleeding looking at theres nothing to be afraid of. We just want to see if we can make you a bit more comfortable. Oh. [cat meows] thought you was rosie for a minute. Shes got a face like yours, like carnation milk when you open up a tin. Whos rosie, mrs. Jenkins . She a relation . Shes sweet. Sweet as a little flower, she is. The doctor wanted me to do a few routine checks each time i visit. Well start by taking your pulse, and then well move on to your temperature. Dont you touch me please, mrs. No oh, and when do you see your patient again, nurse cant take a pulse . Look, it wasnt that i couldnt, sister, it was that she wouldnt let me. Oh, no. It was because she didnt trust you. And if you cant make your patients trust you, you are no good as a nurse. Now answer my question. Shes on the list for this evenings rounds, sister. Oh, and shall i tell you what else is on this evenings rounds . 21 injections 16 insulin, 4 penicillin, an eartosyringe, a cannula to drain, and 3 sets of hemorrhoids to compress im sorry, sister, but the problem no, no, ill tell you what the problem is. You young girls do too much booklearning. You sit for months in classrooms, filling your heads with loads of codswallop when simple, practical tasks are beyond you [glass shatters] now look what youve made me do [exhales sharply] oh cynthia . Im modeling for chummy. She ended up with more children taking part than parts, so she decided to personify the wise mens gifts. And whats that supposed to be . Myrrh. Its quite straightforward compared to frankincense. [snoring] [3 knocks on door] sister evangelina nurses ah. Well, now, madam, whats all this fuss about . Doctor says you got a problem with your ticker, but i would lay bets that its as hale as mine. Hmm. Right. Lets have a check of this pulse. Oh oh mmm. Pulse attempted. [sighs] patient. [exhales] demonstrated strong right hook. Right. You awkward old biddy. See what you make of this. [breaks wind] and if that doesnt impress you, i can do it again, in a different key. [breaks wind] catch it, nurse lee. Its heading for the door. Cats got it now. Its underneath the chair. Where ere you be, let your wind go free. In church and chapel, let it rattle. Good thing theres no naked flames about. [chuckling] right. [distant dog barking] off on the insulin round, and im under no illusions that it will be straightforward. Theyll all have been at the quality street, every man jack of them. If i was the prime minister, i would shut that factory down. [prolonged scream within] [scream fades off] [prolonged scream within] [scream fades off] is that mrs. Jenkins . Yes. Ive never heard anything like it. I have. [prolonged scream within] [exhales] [scream fades off] we used to call it the workhouse howl. What . Its the sound of someone whos been at the bottom of the heap. I would call it a cry of protest except theres no fight left in it, no hope, either. Mrs. Jenkins roooosie should we go back . Not now. We couldnt reach her if we did. Mrs. Jenkins roooosie silent night holy night all is calm and dont forget to smile. The mayor doesnt want to see a lot of gloomy faces. Round yon virgin mother and child holy infant, so tender and mild sleep in heavenly peace. [singing fades out] [distant clock chiming] sister monica joan, why dont you rest until its time for compline . [sighs] no. I thought. Bright raiment was stored within this room. But its gone. And we do not know what forces are at work. Chummy takes the costumes up to her old bedroom for safekeeping. She doesnt want them getting in everybodys way. I was accused of taking macaroons up to my room by sister evangelina, but it was not so. Almonds are mercurial, and likely to be consumed into the ether. Would you hold the glue pot for me, sister . Sister monica joan, have you heard of the workhouse howl . I have heard the workhouse howl. Itself. One hears it less, now the infirmaries are closed and the inmates are slowly. Tidied into graves. It speaks of an agony beyond all words. This wasnt beyond all words. Mrs. Jenkins was calling someones name. [whimpering] [footsteps ascending stairs] lynette, have you seen my kitchen scissors . No, mum. I was putting the string on the christmas pudding and i couldnt lay hands on them. What are you doing with your light still on . I was just thinking. You can think just as well in the dark. Oh, come on, you. Another busy day tomorrow. Church in the morning. And you got rings round your eyes as black as the ace of spades. Reckon my monthlys coming on. [sighs] no medals for that, im afraid. You know where the aspirin is and the youknowwhats are. Good night and god bless you. [door closes] [church bell tolling] yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold sisters and see the reward of the ungodly sister bernadette for thou, lord, art my hope sisters thou hast set thine house of defense very high there shall no evil happen unto thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling for he shall give his angels charge over thee sisters to keep thee in all thy ways sister bernadette they shall bear thee in their hands sisters that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone [lynette groaning] sister bernadette because he hath set his love upon me therefore will i deliver him i will set him up because he hath known my name [thunder] sister bernadette with long life will i satisfy him sisters and show him my salvation glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World Without end amen [thunder] [sighs] [crying] oh, help me. Baby, help me. [screams] [grunts] [screams] [grunts loudly] [baby crying] sorry. Im sorry. Im so sorry. [baby stops crying] [shivering] fetch the milk, darling. Thats if it hasnt frozen solid like the bathroom tap. Oh, no. Oh, no, no. Trixie . Trixie what evers the matter . Oh, my goodness. Get sister julienne [baby coughs] oh, its all right. [baby groans] his breathings shallow and his pulse is slow. He was already turning blue. Ill fetch the blanket and the paraffin heater. When youve done that, call for the police. [knock on door] mrs. Duncan lynette, time to get up. I am up. [footsteps descend] fred there he goes. Thats it. [groaning] pillowcase, candystriped, winceyette material. Youll find the same in every one of a hundred homes in poplar. We were able to snip about an inch of the thread that was used to tie the cord. Sister, it looks like ordinary kitchen string, but the cord was cut quite neatly with sharp scissors or a knife. Sister julienne make sure to clean the cord properly. Whatever implement was used, it was unlikely to be sterile. Yes, sister. Our order has been here for over 60 years. Weve never had a single case of abandonment until now. Hmm, theres a paper bag here from listons, that dry cleaners that shut down. Sister, why do you think somebody would do a thing like this . [sighs] ive come to the conclusion there are only two reasons for ever doing anything one is love and the other is fear. It would appear that both were at work in this case. Sister bernadette ive put almost a whole layette together from the things in the charity box. Pink booties for a boy . There werent any blue ones. Wool of the proper hue can be acquired. Sister evangelina wool of the proper hue can be purchased. Nurse lee, take two shillings out of the petty cash and see that sister monica joans properly equipped. Fred what we gonna call him, then . I worry we should leave that to his mother. I mean, she may come back, especially if its reported in the papers. It is, in fact, customary to name an abandoned infant after somebody closely connected with its rescue. We can hardly call it cynthia. Trixie it would be worse than pink booties. Fred somebody closely connected and of the same gender. Nobody calls baby boys fred anymore. You might as well give him a flat cap and a woodbine. There is surely only one appellation we can choose the child must be baptized in honor of our patron, Saint Raymond nonnatus. Sounds like a spiv. [breaks wind] sister evangelina ooh. Sounds like a digestive system in full working order. Now then, little raymond, lets see if weve warmed you up. Oh. Sorry. Its not what i asked for, but its a start. I cant believe the council wont rehouse her. The buildings been condemned. Elderly single people are supposed to go into nursing homes. We can do better than that for mrs. Jenkins, cant we . I dont doubt it. [clattering] sister evangelina call off the search ive found the bath. Whats more, its full of coal. [grunts] right. Off and im up. Oh, come on. Move any slower, youll grow moss. Dont you take against my rosie. You come over here, dear. I dont know who rosie is, mrs. Jenkins, but she isnt me. No. She had a little girls hands. Yours are only small. Oh. Oh. Ooh. Mrs. Jenkins im not taking them off ive told you, im not you thieving besoms jenny please, mrs. Jenkins. We need you to take them off so we can get you into the bath. You can have them back afterwards. Shell burn them i am burning your clothes because theyre riddled with little visitors. We dont want them infesting your clean new bed. I never take them off [whispers] they wont come off. Mmm. Theyre stuck to her skin, sister. Youll have to try vaseline. Sister evangelina here. Aah mmm. Mrs. Jenkins mmm youre hurting me. [grunts] aah [pants] no wonder you were lashing out. You must have been in constant pain. Sister evangelina oh. Well get you into the chiropodists, but nurse lee and i will give you the onceover for today. They shame me. Sister evangelina no. Not anymore. Sister bernadette, voiceover o come, o come, emmanuel and ransom captive israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of god appear rejoice rejoice emmanuel shall come to thee o israel sister bernadette this placentas less than 24 hours old. And theres a piece missing. What does that mean . If the mother doesnt get medical help, she will develop a uterine infection leading to high fever and possible septicemia. If untreated, it may be fatal. I see. We need to find her. We may not have much time. I reckon thats squirrel, and its not long dead. Ill keep it for best. No, youre to put it on now. You have a busy day ahead. Dentist first, then were going to the doctors. Did you hear me, mrs. Jenkins . I heard the word dentist. Ill go in the spring, when its warmer. If you can eat without discomfort, your General Health will benefit. My purse wont benefit. Therell be no charge, mrs. Jenkins. Youre also entitled to free glasses, and a walking stick, should either take your fancy. But you havent eaten your meals on wheels. I was saving it for rosie. Shell be hungry when she come. Whats that . Its a lamb chop. Andy williams walk hand in hand with me through all eternity have faith, believe in me mrs. Duncan be good now. Give me your hand love is a symphony of perfect harmony when lovers such as we walk hand in hand be not afraid for i am with you all the while so lift your head up high oh youre very kind. Thank you. And look toward the sky hello. Walk hand in hand with me goodness. Thank you. This is our destiny no greater love could be [whispers] merry christmas. Walk hand in hand walk with me [music continues] [no audio] [raymond coos] be not afraid for i am with you all the while so lift your head up high. [footsteps descending] what you doing with my paper, madam . Reading about this. Hmm. Someones been doing something they didnt ought to. Police have issued an appeal quite right, too. Whoever she was, she wants a horsewhipping. Oh, i nearly forgot. Friday night is sweetie money night. Always has been, always will be. Used to be a shilling, dad. This is half a crown. Thats cause the things you do dont go unnoticed. Youre a good girl, lyn. You dont have to look after me, mrs. Jenkins. I should be looking after you. Besides, if i sit too close to the fire, ill get chilblains. Oh, not the chilblains. My rosie got chilblains. She cried. One night, the wardress, she let her come to me, on account of the others being kept awake. I wrapped her in my petticoat. Her bones was like birds bones. Was rosie your daughter, mrs. Jenkins . All night, she stayed. And when morning come, she was took back with my others. There were others . How many . Too many. Did they go into the workhouse with you . Yes. They didnt thrive. What happened to rosie after the night with the chilblains . I never saw her again. Never saw none of them. Never saw em fly. I just knew they wasnt singing anymore. How could mrs. Jenkins not have been told . I believe, once you walked into one of those appalling places, you gave up everything you were and every right you ever had. Even your children . Especially the children. The kiddies were kept in separate quarters. [raymond fussing] oh. Shh, shh, shh. [raymond crying] its all right. Come on. Oh. Oh, sweet pea. The social workers going to come for him on friday. I heard sister julienne on the telephone. First hell be fostered, and then adopted, lost to his mother forever. Oh, dont say that. All the facts will be filed away in some sort of beastly cabinet. We just have to hope that one day, they go looking for each other. [raymond burps] ah. Sorry to trouble you, madam. , [continues indistinctly] a baby . Around here . [knocks on door] [groaning] [knock on door] [knock on door] [distant telephone ringing] Public Records Office . Just upstairs. Thank you. All saints parish, baptismal roll. Thank you. All saints parish, deaths. Poplar workhouse, 1888 to 1934. Mature jenny, voiceover and there it was, in neat, indifferent copperplate april 3, 1906, jenkins, mary ann. Widow, admitted destitute. And underneath, the desolate roll call of her only possessions alice, george, may, percy; aged 5, age 3, age 2, age 7 months. And rose. There was a rose, age 8 upon admittance to the childrens ward. The cause of death was given as failure to thrive. [sighs] she was in there from 1906 to 1935, put to work in the sewing shed. Mmm. Enough to drive anyone doolally. When the workhouse closed, she was discharged with the gift of a sewing machine so that she could earn her own living. Sister monica joan and what do you propose to do, nurse lee, now you have garnered these unedifying facts . I dont know, sister. Then, if i may crave my sisters indulgence for a quote from the apocrypha, you have been curious in unnecessary matters. The past remains the past, the present unamended. Sister evangelina sister monica joan is right. Its what happens in the here and now that counts. Will it matter one day where baby raymond was found, blue with cold and wrapped in a pillowcase . No, because that will be his past, and his present will be safe and filled with love. Mrs. Jenkins present isnt safe or filled with love. Nurse lee. Forgive me, sister, but her life is completely wretched. Jenny she waits every day for her child, for children that are never coming home. Then you should turn your mind to that. [sighs] pass me a mince pie. [door closes] public burial ground, poplar, 1900 to 1910. Chummy now, i want gold, frankincense, and myrrh and the 3 kings to stand at the back of the line for the parade of the shepherds and the sheep. Come on. Sit. Here we go. [door opens] oh. Sorry. Well be starting that as soon as nurse lee takes her gloves off. And dont forget to line up nicely down the central aisle. Youll be walking past the mayor and i will not have him knocked by any elbows. Timothy turner, wheres your tea towel . My dad couldnt find one. Very well. Now, are you ready, sheep . Boys baa yes. Now, angels . I dont want any angels trying to flap their wings. Arms outstretched, but perfectly still. Thats it. Lynette, youre drooping a little. Sorry. Bravo. Nurse lee . [boys giggling] [playing piano] [baaing] no. No baaing. Absolutely no baaing until you get to the manger and see the newborn king Gary Schofield any more poking with that crook and ill demote you to a bullock right. [gasps] lynette lynette. [children murmur] is she all right . Lynette. Shall i call a doctor . Ambulance. [door opens] sorry. Im really sorry. What for . I havent told no one. Do you think you can tell me . [footsteps approaching] [sighs] she wants a clip round the ear hole, not chrysanthemums. Mrs. Duncan margate. Easter week. Some lad she met queuing up for the waltzers. Mrs. Duncan he was staying in the boarding house across the way from us. Should have kept me eye on her