To her absolute shock and horror, Christine goes into labour a month early. The caesarean delivery she has booked is rendered useless; the labour ward is full so Christine is designated to the birth centre and into the capable hands of the experienced midwife Jan. Not wanting to be left alone, Christine begs Frances to stay with her. Frances is reminded of her own dreadful experiences of childbirth and partly out of sympathy, partly because there's no-one to go home to, she agrees to stay. Christine struggles through the labour with Frances cajoling, rubbing and encouraging. Christine gets a bit of help from the gas - and so does Frances.