As the episode opens, Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) sets out to invite the locals to a beach excursion. Her first stop is the Launderette where she hands out invitations to multiple women.

Lindy Webster (Lydia Fleming) informs Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) that she is not married. When she voices concern about how it looks for a single woman to have two children, Phyllis assures her that it is hardly shocking. Lindy claims the wedding was supposed to take place before Danielle was born but their disagreements were awful. Phyllis stresses the need for her children to have stability. Lindy says they were raised in foster homes.

Nurse Trixie Aylward (Helen George) and Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) briefly celebrate after she passes her driver’s test. He allows her to drive his car. Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) passes out refreshments at the play lesson for disadvantage families. Lindy scolds Danielle for throwing a ball against the wall. Reverence Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) assures her that it is okay. Trixie wants to rush out and buy a new car. Matthew suggests waiting until she builds up her confidence. Violet asks Matthew for a donation for the beach excursion. He starts to refuse but Trixie says he will be glad to help. Violet describes him as a “saint amongst men”. Veronica introduces Cyril as the new Child Welfare Officer. He invites them to all a beach excursion. The families cheer.

Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) informs Pupil Midwife Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) and Pupil Midwife Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) that they have chosen to attend the beach excursion. Teddy Turner (Edward Shaw), Angela Turner (Alice Brown), and May Tang (April Rae Hoang) are trying on their changing capes when Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan) arrives home for the summer.

Phyllis voices concern about Lindy not having a support system and her children ending up in foster care. Later, Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) and Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) decorate the vehicles heading to the seaside. The convoy sets in motion. A boy requires the vomit bucket. Matthew orders Trixie to pull over so he can call Mr. Richards. When Lindy gets hit with something, she tells Danielle to throw it back. Millicent Higgins (Georgie Glen) scolds her for being a bad example for Danielle. Lindy says they started it. Higgins reminds her that she is an adult. Matthew tells Trixie that he had an urgent conversation with a stockbroker. She says not more business talk. Jonty Aylward (Archie O’Callaghan) happily agrees.

The Poplar’s Inaugural Summer Mayor’s Excursion is underway. Lindy goes into labor. Higgins and Phyllis drive her back to the maternity home. Rosalind agrees to watch after the Cubs. Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) realizes Angela and May missing. May floats out too far on an inflatable float while Angela plays on the beach. The adults search for the girls. Angela tells Shelagh that May is in the sea. May gets her leg caught up in sea moss and goes under. Joyce races out to rescue her. Cyril goes in after them. Dr. Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) says May’s airway needs cleared when she coughs up seawater.

Lindy arrives at the hospital. Before long, she gives birth to a baby girl whom she calls Michelle and nicknames Shell because she went into labor at the seaside. Elsewhere, Shelagh stresses over what could have happened to May if Joyce and Cyril were not there. May complains of a sore chest. Auscultating her lung sounds, Patrick suggests it is a strain from coughing. Melvin Jones (Tom Anson) and his friends arrive at the maternity home. The sisters only permit Melvin to see Lindy.

May’s condition deteriorates. Auscultating her lung sounds, Timothy hears a rattle. He tells Shelagh about a fisherman who developed water aspiration after falling into the water. She asks if the fisherman recovered. He stresses the need for emergency treatment. At the maternity home, Patrick examines Michelle’s eyes to find something that concerns him when Higgins alerts him of an urgent call from Timothy. Later, the EMTs arrive at the hospital with Shelagh and Amy. Shelagh is praying in the lobby when Patrick arrives. He wants to check on Amy but she reminds him that they are only her parents.

Phyllis explains the purpose of sterilizing Michelle’s eyes. Lindy is hesitant to do it but Phyllis talks her through it. Veronica arrives with forms for financial support. Dr. Denzil Kerrigan (Matthew Carter) and Patrick confirms Teddy’s suspicion. Patrick blames himself for not expecting it. Shelagh blames herself for not being there to prevent Amy from going into the water. Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack) tells Colette Corrigan (Francesca Fullilove) that Amy is unwell. Patrick and Shelagh tell their children.

While looking through Phyllis’ photos for a Gazette article, Colette points out something odd with Danielle’s eyes. Melvin buys Danielle chocolate for breakfast. Phyllis shows Patrick the photo of Danielle’s eyes reflecting light. They stress to Lindy the importance of having Danielle and Michelle’s eyes examined by a specialist. Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) and Veronica are concerned about how Melvin and Lindy will care for their ailing daughters. Veronica says the welfare office needs to be notified. Amy’s condition improves enough for her to be discharged from the hospital.

Mr. Norton (Julian Lewis Jones) examines Michelle’s right eye to find a mild concomitant esotropia. He diagnoses Danielle with a potential choroidal detachment. Further tests are ordered.

Miss Williams (Charlotte Lucas) with the Hong Kong Adoption Project visits May after learning about her near-drowning incident. Upon leaving, she tells Shelagh that May is happy living there but a report must be filed. Shelagh asks her to document it as an accident.

Melvin complains about the long wait. Lindy suggests he prefers being at the pub with his friends. Veronica arrives to support them through the ordeal. Norton diagnoses Michelle and Danielle with retinoblastoma, a cancer, in their right eye. Lindy fears she will lose both of her daughters. Elsewhere, Trixie pushes Matthew to buy her a new car. Back at the clinic, Norton orders radiotherapy for Michelle and Danielle’s right eye surgically removed. Melvin storms out of the room. Lindy suggests removing the eye will also remove the cancer. Phyllis offers them to remain at the maternity home throughout their treatment but Lindy refuses. Cyril says the nurses fear they will struggle to cope. Phyllis suggests everyone is underestimating them.

Melvin blames himself and Lindy for their daughter’s condition. He breaks down sobbing. She warns that they will fall apart if they do not grow up. He storms out of the flat. Teddy entertains Timothy and Angela when Williams calls to set up a meeting. Trixie suggests enrolling Jonty in St. Nicholas’s preschool. Matthew says it is an additional expense and no reason to send his son off to school. He apologizes and agrees to take care of it.

Phyllis urges Melvin to pull himself together and take care of his daughters. He confesses to loving them. Elsewhere, Williams informs Shelagh and Patrick that May’s biological mother has concerns about May’s safety. Shelagh fears losing May. Williams says she may need to be moved to another foster home and a formal review has been requested. They will know the final decision in three months.

Melvin tells Lindy that he wants them to be the best parents. He vows things will change before proposing to her. She says yes. Danielle celebrates with them. Danielle is taken to surgery. Veronica and Phyllis pay them a visit. Lindy tells them that the cancer has not spread. She says Melvin is working extra and they are getting married.

Shelagh and Patrick discuss sending a photo of May in a dress from her mother. He reminds her that she altered it to fit May. She assures him that her mother will see she is doing her best. Lindy and Melvin are at Danielle’s bedside. The Turner family watches Animal Magic. Matthew is at his desk when Trixie arrives home with her arms full of shopping bags. The episode ends.

 

Call The Midwife Review

The best and only good episode of the season so far. The story was engaging and the flow was much improved. A young couple is forced to grow up to keep their sick daughters out of the foster care system. Nonnatus House is their only support system.

As the new Mayor of Poplar, Violet hosts a beach excursion. May and Angela wander away from their parents. May takes her float out to sea and nearly drowns after her foot gets caught up in sea moss. Cyril and Joyce rescue her but the damage is done. She develops water aspiration and is admitted to the hospital. May’s biological mother gets wind of the accident and requests a formal review with the Hong Kong Adoption Project. May recovers but the Turner family must wait three weeks to learn her future.

Matthew is keeping a financial issue from Trixie. She is desperate to acquire a car and send Jonty to a private preschool.

 

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Call The Midwife recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with Reel Mockery can build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new releases, scams, celebrity news, and sports.