Joy

Nurse Jean Purdy is hired at the University of Cambridge to run the lab, marking the formal start of Edwards and Purdy's collaboration. Dr. Robert Edwards brings her on board to push forward their infertility research, and they begin recruiting Patrick Steptoe to join the team. The trio begins laying out the plan for advancing IVF from the lab toward potential clinical work.

Famed obstetrician and surgeon Patrick Steptoe agrees to join Edwards and Purdy, forming the core team for the IVF effort. He contributes surgical expertise and a clinical eye to translate lab work into possible treatments for infertility. The partnership solidifies the collaboration that will drive the early IVF research.

With limited funding, the team must commute four hours daily to Oldham to run experiments and collect data. The long distances reflect the scarcity of resources and the difficulty of sustaining a groundbreaking project. Despite the strain, they persevere, pushing ahead with animal work while planning for human trials.

The team achieves fertilisation of their first human ovum, marking a milestone in their research. They begin to test their approach and refine techniques before attempting clinical trials. Tension and ambition grow as they move closer to real-world applications.

News coverage spreads as The Daily Mirror dubs Edwards 'Dr Frankenstein,' reflecting both intrigue and fear surrounding their experiments. The notoriety brings pressure from the media and the public, challenging the researchers' focus. The team tries to balance scientific ambition with public perception.

Jean's regular churchgoing background creates moral tension when her mother and Reverend Paulson object to 'playing God.' The conflict strains Jean's personal life and her relationship with the community. This external pressure weighs on the team as they press forward.

Opponents warn about abnormalities and future creation of humans by scientists. The team experiences strain in personal relationships as colleagues and participants voice concerns. As Jean begins to relate more personally to the participants, the dynamic of the study shifts.

In early 1971, Edwards and Purdy present their case to the Medical Research Council, but are denied funding. The setback documents the uphill battle for legitimacy and financial support. The team resolves to continue despite the rejection, determined to prove the project's value.

Jean reveals she suffers from endometriosis, linking her personal stake to the research. Patrick offers to examine her, demonstrating the closeness of the team. Jean declines the second opinion, underscoring the dedication she brings to the work.

In early 1973, after another decidedly negative television appearance, the researchers begin implanting embryos in a subset of participants. The initial attempts show varying levels of success and failure as they push toward clinical viability. The team wrestles with the emotional and scientific risks of each trial.

By September 1973, all pregnancies have failed. The team tests their materials and discovers contaminated paraffin, which undermines their results and creates internal turmoil. Jean quits the project to care for her dying mother, marking a significant personal turning point.

A year after the setbacks, Robert shuts down the research lab and Jean contends with the consequences. Arun, a lab assistant who later becomes a new father, reconnects with Jean as she returns to the issue. The period marks a pause but not the end of the dream.

Jean's mother dies, and Patrick Steptoe and Matron Muriel attend the funeral. This personal loss fuels Jean's renewed determination to resume the research. The team sees a path forward as Jean re-engages with the project.

Following Jean's idea to monitor each woman's natural cycle, the team resumes work and, in the summer of 1978, produces the first 'test tube baby' named Joy. The achievement cements their place in medical history and confirms the viability of IVF.

The epilogue reveals that Jean Purdy dies of cancer at age 39. It also notes that Robert Edwards is awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 for their shared IVF work, commemorating Purdy's essential role. The legacy of the trio endures in medical history.