It’s a hot summer in Poplar, and the townsfolk are roasting themselves in the sun. Sister Julienne helps Janice Prendergast give birth, while her husband Ray prays outside the door. She delivers a baby boy, who they name Raymond. The Prendergasts are Christian Scientists and they believe in the power of prayer over medicine. Best of luck, guys.
It’s another busy week at the clinic, and poor Dr. Turner is taking over patients for another doctor who is on vacation. Shelagh would like a vacation as well, but there’s too much work to be done.
Trixie gives Patsy back her engagement present, and sets about the rough task of returning all her engagement gifts. Patsy says she should talk to Tom and try to work it out, but Trixie would rather talk about her new lipstick color.
Barbara sees a pregnant Sylheti mother struggling to walk down the street. She tries to talk to her, but realizes the woman doesn’t speak English. Her son, Faruk, pops in to translate for her, but his school bell rings before Barbara can explain the midwifery services available.
Sister Evangelina is recovering from her surgery, and we get our fist glimpse of Cynthia this season. Since taking the habit, she is now Sister Mary Cynthia, and she prepares for her return to Nonnatus house. Sister MC is nervous about adjusting to her new role at Nonnatus house, but Evangelina assures her she’ll be great.
Trixie mails off the rest of the returned presents, when she sees Tom walking down the street. She scurries off before he can see her, but he does, and looks heartbroken as well.
Julienne calls on the Prendergasts, and finds that baby Raymond won’t stop crying. The parents are exhausted and frazzled. Julienne examines the baby, and sees that he has a broken collar bone. She assures Janice that it happens sometimes during birth, and they take the baby to get x-rays.
Sister MC arrives at Nonnatus house, and everyone is glad to see her. Sister MJ is out of town this episode, and Trixie welcomes back her friend. Sister Wini shows her to her new room, the quietest in the house so she can focus on her devotions. I think Sister Wini is psyched to have a nun her own age and to not be the greenest nun in the house.
The next day, we find out that there has been a small outbreak of diphtheria. Fred has fixed up Mary Cynthia’s bike, and now all she has to do is figure out how to ride it in a habit. Barbara goes to the school and gets the name and address of her Sylheti mum, Amira Khatoon. The headmistress remarks that she seems sad and isolated from the other mums, and Barbara imagines how difficult the language and culture shock must be.
Julienne checks on baby Raymond, and sees that while they’ve bought a fancy new pram, they aren’t giving the baby his medicine because of their religious beliefs. Sister Julienne is all for prayer, but even she realizes that modern medicine is necessary, especially when an infant is in pain. She gives the boy the medicine, and prays with Janice.
Barba calls on Amira, who welcomes her into her home. She explains midwifery to Amira, through Fark’s translation, and invites her to the clinic.
The girls are going out on the town, but Trixie stays in to finish dismantling her engagement. Patsy tries rally her, but instead Trixie spends the night looking at pictures of Tom and crying. She finds an old photo of her and Cynthia, and goes to see her friend, only to find her praying. Trixie leaves her changed friend alone.
Amira and her son go to the clinic, and Faruk stands outside the curtain translating for Amira. The nurses need to do an internal examination, but they don’t want to tell Faruk: They need a female translator to help with the lady business. Amira tells them that she is alone, as most women stay in the village, but she loved her husband too much to let him leave. She says that she goes where he goes, even to the moon. The nurses give her a back brace/girdle to help her with walking.
With Amira on her mind, Trixie goes to see Tom. He offers to try to get transferred sooner, but she tells him that he needs to be wherever he should be, and apologizes for not being willing to go to the moon with him. She kisses his cheek and leaves with a sense of closure.
The Prendergasts are back, and Raymond has another mysterious fracture. Dr. Turner gets concerned about what might be happening at home.
The midwives enjoy some popsicles and fans in the heat. They discuss the need for a female to be present for Amira’s labor, and Patsy suggests the husband be there. Everyone looks at her like she’s nuts. They decide to track down the daughter of the man who owned the button shop, Josie, who is half Sylheti. At the button shop, Fred flirts with the new owner, Violet. Barbara finds Josie, who is happy to help despite her rusty language skills.
Dr. Turner questions the Prendergasts about the baby’s fractures. Ray is angry that they’re being accused of child abuse, but neither parent has an explanation for the injuries. Turner calls child services, and the parents lose custody of the baby. When child services interrogates them, the Prendergasts are furious and ashamed, and Janice collapses in tears.
Barbara gives Amira a complete exam, with Josie present to translate. Later on, Amira shows up at Nonnatus house with samosas to thank her, not just for her help, but for the female companionship. The midwives pass around the samosas and marvel at the exotic treat.
The stress of work is taking its toll on Dr. Turner, who becomes exhausted and ill. He feels guilty for accusing the Prendergasts, but he must do what is best for the baby. Julienne visits the family and finds their home in shambles. Ray is fighting and not going to work, and Janice keeps praying but feels that God has abandoned them. The foster mother brings Raymond into the clinic, with another fracture. Turner realizes that it’s a rare case of osteogenisis imperfecta, aka brittle bone disease.
When he tells the Prendergasts, they are furious that he smeared their reputation and took away Raymond. He offers them a ride to the hospital and they turn him down. This misdiagnosis, coupled with his overworking, renders Dr. Turner ill. His hands start shaking and he nearly collapses in the office. Shelagh orders him to bed rest and takes over the practice. Julienne visits the Prendergasts, and tries to explain that Raymond will never fully recover, and will most likely need a wheelchair. Janice has faith, however, and they pray. Oof Magoof. Despite being cleared of child abuse, I shudder to think what the future holds for this poor kid’s medical condition.
Shelagh is seeing patients with an assist from Patsy, but no one is taking her seriously because she’s out of uniform. Also, 90% of the patients are there for sunburn, because I guess sunblock hasn’t been invented yet? As a fellow pale person, I feel their pain.
Shelagh is worried that Turner is spiraling back into shell shock. Julienne assures her that her husband will be fine, despite losing confidence. All he needs is to see that everyone believes in him. Shelagh borrows a nurses uniform and she’s back in the saddle. At home, Tim tends to his dad and the baby while Dr. Turner sleeps.
Faruk runs to Nonnatus house because Amira is sick. She is coughing up blood and struggling to breathe. Sister MC and Barbara rush to her aid, to discover that she has diphtheria. Dr. Turner wakes up and sees a room full of cards, flowers, and gifts from the people of Poplar. He is loved and valued! Tim tells him he admires him and hopes to be a doctor, too, one day. Amira is getting worse, so Sister MC goes to Turner and begs him to help. He grabs his bag and rushes to Amira’s bedside, where he performs an emergency tracheotomy and saves her life. His purpose and confidence is back, and he is cured. Shelagh brings vaccines for the whole family, and she Dr. Turner vaccinate the building.
Turner apologizes to Shelagh for falling apart, but she assures him that everyone gets sick and that they are no longer at war. Baby Raymond is back with his parents, and Amira has a healthy baby. Just another busy week in Poplar.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let me know @chelseaprocrast.
