As the episode opens, Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack) asks Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) to try to convince Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) to let her leave early for next week’s Raise the Roof meeting. Julienne refuses to get involved. Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) informs them that she is leading the summer singing school at St. Oswald’s. Pupil Midwife Rosalie Clifford (Natalie Quarry) frets over the impending exam.

After pronouncing Mr. Bell deceased, Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) complements Gladys Bell (Anna Francolini) on how well she took care of him. She says there is no way he was going into a home. Jason Bell (Mitchell Creak) complains about not being notified. She stresses the importance of him impressing West Ham scouts at today’s training.

Nurse Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) tells May Tang (April Rae Hoang) that she isn’t well enough to partake in a singing performance. Veronica arrives with sustenance. She informs them of her plan to have the children sing three hymns, one of which will be sung in a round. Shelagh voices concern about it being too complicated for the children. Veronica assures her that challenge is good. Reverend Nicholas Connell (Joseph Chance) arrives at the church to find two abandoned children unattended and a note. Reading the note, Veronica says the mother needs something to take care of Tommy and his brother. She suggests relocating the rehearsal because the police will need to be notified.

Agnes packs up her deceased father’s medical supplies to make room for the arrival of her daughter’s fifth child. Phyllis collects the boxes and takes them away. Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) learns Agnes received a scholarship. Agnes claims she had to quit to become a debt collector after her father lost his job. Monica urges her to take the time to grieve but she refuses.

WDC Grayson (Jo Bowis) oversees Tommy and his brother’s care. Patrick informs them that the boys have lice and scabies but they are not undernourished. Grayson warns that the mother committed a crime when she abandoned her children. In the parlor, Shelagh leads the singing rehearsal. Veronica briefly listens to the disheveled rehearsal. Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) delivers Tommy and his brother to Mrs. Simms’ (Rachel Donovon) foster care. She warns that the boys may be split up if the mother doesn’t surface.

Agnes forces a client to clear his debt. Receiving the three pounds, she experiences abdominal pain. Elsewhere, Nurse Trixie Aylward (Helen George) shows Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) the new outfit she purchased to pick up her new car. He informs her of an important board meeting for Aylward Estates. She reminds him of their 4:30pm meeting at the dealership. At the Laundromat, Mrs. Wallace (Linda Hargreaves) hangs up a poster asking for information on the “Red Ribbon Boys,” Tommy and his brother. At the hospital, Agnes picks up paperwork for his father’s death certificate. Cyril explains the work he has put in to try to locate Tommy’s mother. Terence Reid (David Keeling) reminds him of his other cases. After assessing Gladys’ abdomen, Patrick sends her to St. Cuthbert’s for a gynecology exam. She refuses to have her family meet her there.

At the Aylward Estates board meeting, a board member (Tim Bartholomew) accuses Matthew of putting the company in dire financial strait. He says Dowager Lady Aylward’s (Terry Bamberger) donation keeps it in operation. Matthew claims the company was in decline when he inherited it. Lady Aylward tells him that he has been removed from the board along with his salary. Later, he apologizes to his mother. She says his kindheartedness has cost them all. Trixie waits for Matthew at the dealership.

The specialist (Philip Buck) orders an abdominal aspiration for Agnes. She stresses the need to return to work. He warns that her condition is very serious. Nancy, Rosalind, and Pupil Midwife Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) discuss the Raise the Roof campaign when they are drawn to the TV. Grayson holds a press conference to urge Tommy’s mother to come forward. A reporter asks what type of mother could abandon her children. Nancy says an exhausted mother. Someone suggests she was ill.

Matthew tells Trixie that his risky investments nearly ruined Aylward Estates. He says they removed him from the board and payroll. He claims to be jobless and broke. She reminds him that they married for richer or poorer. Phyllis finds Rosalind studying in the bathroom. Rosalind voices concern about answering the panel’s questions. Phyllis demonstrates how to train her brain for the exam. Matthew worries about Jonty Aylward’s (Archie O’Callaghan) future. Trixie warns against looking miserable in front of Jonty. He tells her that the lease on their flat expires in five years.

Patrick informs Millicent Higgins (Georgie Glen) that Gladys has incurable cancer. A pregnant Deidre Torpy (Grace Boyle) walks to the edge of the pier before collapsing on burlap sacks. Patrick encounters Jason outside playing ball. He says Gladys is doing better since the doctors cured her. Gladys boasts of the West Ham scouts being impressed with Jason. She assures Patrick that the specialist is wrong about her condition. He says her form of abdominal cancer is generally caused by asbestos exposure. She refuses to accept her diagnosis. He informs her of an asbestos-related cancer study. She agrees to participate but only if her kids don’t know.

Trixie and Rosalind are en route to the hospital when they are called to the dock where they find Deidre. Monica gets frustrated while helping Veronica prepare for St. Oswald’s singing performance. She calls it a “hair-brained scheme” before walking away.

After assessing Deidre, Patrick says the baby’s heartbeat is strong. She says her due date was August 22^nd, making the baby already four days late. He auscultates her heart sounds and suggests she is anemic. Rosalind finds a red ribbon in Deidre’s pocket. Deidre admits Tommy and his brother are her sons before praying they are all right. While discussing treatment options, Patrick orders Trixie to not notify the police until further notice. While helping Deidre prepare for a bath, Rosalind sees her back is covered in lacerations. Deidre claims her husband hit her with a belt buckle.

Gladys arrives at the industrial asbestos workplace study. Patrick explains how asbestos exposure generally happens in the workplace. She denies working around asbestos. Veronica’s singing scheme is not going well. A doctor works with Agnes to determine how she came into contact with asbestos. She tells him about her father working as a drill operator at the Verger Street roofing factory. He says the drill operators were exposed to asbestos. Patrick adds that the asbestos was carried home on the workers’ clothes. The doctor claims colloidal gold injections could prolong her life by several months. She refuses treatment.

Deidre explains the events that led up to her abandoning her sons at the church. She confesses to loving them very much. Cyril promises to help find the best solution for them. In the lobby, he tells Rosalind that Tommy and his brother will soon be moved to more permanent fostering. He voices concern about Deidre’s mental state.

Phyllis assures Julienne that Rosalind will make a fine midwife but her confidence is lacking. Rosalind tells Deirdre she is feeling some strong kicks. Deirdre admits those kicks woke her up and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. She wants to keep the baby so very much. Deirdre wants to be a proper family with the baby and her boys. Rosalind says they’ll have to do everything they can to show everyone how capable she is. When Matthew gets home, Trixie tells him she may have something for him to smile about. She remembered Sir Randolph is a QC and he said there may be an opening at his chambers. He isn’t happy that she did that behind his back. Trixie reminds him that she is his wife and they should share everything. Matthew claims money for Trixie is just something to pave the way for happiness.

Everything he did taught him how terrifying it is when the life you had evaporates. Trixie insists she hasn’t evaporated. Matthew says there is still time. Rosalind and Deirdre wait for her kids. Jason asks Gladys about there being no cure. He has a letter from her doctor claiming she has refused injections. Gladys says they’d only make her live a bit longer so it isn’t worth it, but Jason isn’t so sure about that. Rosalind hears Deirdre moaning so she asks Cyril to fetch the children. Julienne and Rosalind try to assist the delivery. Rosalind suggests rupturing the membranes and Julienne agrees. Once Rosalind does, Deirdre is ready to push. Nancy speaks to Phyllis about the campaign which is about showing they’re a team no matter what.

Deirdre gives birth to her baby. She promises the baby she’ll love and protect it. Dr. Turner tells Jason he has a sprain after getting into a fight at football practice. Jason storms out. Dr. Turner tells Gladys that he just wants more time with her. Monica finds Jason crying although he denies it. He tells Monica that his mom is a coward because she doesn’t want to live a bit longer even for him. Phyllis tells the pupils she’s taken them off the roster for the evening because exams are tomorrow. She gives them cards wishing them good luck. Shelagh runs into Cyril at the church and asks if he has been thinking about the abandoned children. Cyril has concluded there is no perfect solution. Shelagh says there is never is and she’s seen it time and time again.

Cyril worries he is breaking apart a family, but she insists he is finding the best way to fix it. Cyril visits Deidre to tell her the baby can stay with her. He needs to talk to her about the benefits he has arranged. He also found a place in supervised accommodation. The welfare office needs to make sure she can cope before she can have the boys. Monica checks on Gladys who tells her that people feel sorry for her now. She hates it. Monica believes she is who she’s always been. Gladys says the cancer has taken all the power from her now. Monica urges her to take it back and fight for one extra day, hour, and second with the ones she loves. Rosalind speaks to Deirdre about the boys being forced to stay in foster care.

Deirdre knows she can’t give them what they need yet, but she is worried they’ll forget her. Rosalind suggests writing them a letter and letting Cyril read it to them. Trixie checks on Matthew and asks to see the financial details. Rosalind and the others take the exam. Trixie realizes they have nothing other than her wages. Nonnatus House is safe because he signed the deeds over to the order’s name. She asks if he did that. Matthew shakes his head no. Rosalind is asked how she’d cope on her own. Rosalind says she’ll look at the greater teaching in the room which is the mother. Deirdre is discharged. She believes she finally has a fresh start. Trixie makes it in time for the pupils to get their results. Joyce and Rosalind pass. Monica offers them permanent positions at the Nonnatus House.

They accept the offer. Phyllis tells them that patients await. Jennifer talks about striving for more and never stop questing. Gladys ends up going for treatment.

 

Call The Midwife Review

Veronica picks a difficult routine for St. Oswald’s singing performance. Monica calls it a hair-brained scheme while Shelagh fears it is too complex for the children.

Deidre flees from her abusive husband. She is soon to face eviction with two young sons and a baby on the way. She drops her sons off at a church. The children are taken to a temporary foster home. She contemplates suicide but cannot go through with it. After collapsing from exhaustion, she ends up in the hospital. She is four days past due. Cyril believes she is on the verge of a mental breakdown while the children are closer to entering a permanent fostering situation.

After the death of her father, Gladys learns she has an asbestos-related abdominal cancer. She refuses treatment because there is no known cure. Monica convinces her to get treated to prolong her life.

Matthew’s bad investments force the Aylward Estate board members to terminate his pay and kick him off the board. Trixie promises they will work through it.

 

The episode deserves a 5.5. out of 10. Get more Call The Midwife recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV shows, scams, true crime, and more.