he is Joe Morgan at driller his wife is about to give birth after 20 years of their marriage anxious he waits for the doctor outside the Doctor's house and Clinic yeah doctor I'm glad to see you I've been back and forth here this last hour my wife needs you Andrew Mansion has just begun his medical practice he is returning from a disappointing evening with Christine the girl he loves wait here I'll give my bag I'll not come in but man I know you'll do well for us Susan Morgan's mother nearly 70 years old stood quietly beside her the Midwife Cal and ready to help and Susan Morgan about to give birth after 20 years of her marriage with Joe let me make you a cup of tea doctor dear she realized that there had to be a waiting period before the patient needed my help she is asking me for tea so that I remain here don't worry mother I'll not run away even if I go home I can't snatch even an hour's sleep the case here demands all my attention an hour later he went upstairs again noted the progress made came down once more and sat by the kitchen fire Andrew's thoughts were heavy and confused he couldn't stop thinking about what he had seen at cardi station that it troubled him deeply he thought about Bramwell who was foolishly dedicated to a woman who had betrayed him about Edward pige who was trapped in a miserable marriage with an irritable woman and about Denny who lived unhappily apart from his wife his logical mind told him that all these marriages were failures and this thought made him uncomfortable in his current emotional state he wanted to believe that marriage was something beautiful and perfect especially when he thought of his love Christine her shining eyes made him feel that no other view of marriage was possible he was torn between his doubting mind and his overflowing heart he sat with his chin on his chest stretched his legs out and stared Into the Fire Susan said not to give her the chloroform if it would harm the baby she's desperate to have this child doctor we all are I think the anesthetic won't do any harm they will be all right doctor doctor I might now begin my work [Music] an hour elapsed it was a long harsh struggle as the first light of morning passed through the blinds the child was born [Music] lifeless he hesitated torn between wanting to try to save the baby and needing to help the mother who herself was in serious trouble the situation was so urgent that he couldn't think clearly instinctively he handed the baby the nurse and focused on Susan Morgan who was lying still under the effects of the anesthesia he rushed to help her working quickly as her strength faded he quickly injected the medicine into her then he worked tirelessly to revive her after a few minutes of hard work her heart began to beat stronger and he felt he could leave her safely where's the child she had placed the child under the bed amongst soaked newspapers he stared at the child the limp white body was white and soft the head lolled on the thin neck the limb seemed boneless the whiteness meant only one thing asfixia pal it is a condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the body he remembered a case he had seen before in the Samaritan and he recalled the treatment that had been used give me hot water and cold water and basins too quick quick but doctor quick he began the special method of respiration the basins arrived he quickly moved the child between the cold water and the hot water trying to bring the baby back to life 15 minutes passed sweat was now running into Andrew's eyes his breath became paining Le but no breath came from the lifeless body of the child A desperate sense of defeat pressed on him he felt the Midwife watching him in Terror while there was the old woman staring him he remembered her longing for a grandchild as great as had been her daughter's longing for this child all shattered now hopeless Beyond saving the floor was now a draggled mess for God's sake doctor it's born dead Andrew ignored her exhausted and hopeless after working in vain for half an hour he still held on to one last attempt rubbing the child with a rough towel pressing and releasing the tiny chest trying to breathe life into that lifeless body then as if by a miracle the small chest gave a sudden breath then another and another Andrew felt like returning beneath his fingers he pressed on working crazily the child began to breathe deeper each breath stronger than the last the limbs grew firm the head no longer limp slowly the pale skin warmed to a pink glow then at last the child let out its first [Music] cry dear father and Kevin it's come it's come alive Andrew handed her the child he felt weak and dazed about him the room lay in a chaotic mess blankets towels basins dirty instruments the hypodermic syringe the Ure knocked over the kettle on its side in a puddle of water on the bed the mother still lost in sleep from the anesthetic the old woman still stood there praying I'll fetch my bag later nurse he went downstairs in the kitchen he took a long drink of water he reached for his hat and coat all right Joe both all [Music] right a few miners were already in the streets heading home from the night shift as Andrew walked with him he kept thinking I've done something oh god I've done something real at last [Music]