The Handmaid's Tale

Fertility is a gift directly from God.

You girls will serve the Leaders of the Faithful

and their barren wives.

You will bear children for them.

Welcome to the friggin' loony bin.

Blessed are the meek, dear.

What'd they do to her?

"If my right eye offends thee, pluck it out."

He's the Commander's driver.

Maybe he watches me.

There's an Eye in your house.

Be careful.

My name is June.

I intend to survive.

Blue.

I let it take me.

Blue Moon.

Rhapsody in Blue.

Tangled Up in Blue.

Blue Oyster Cult.

Blue Monday.

Our car was that color.

We bought it off Craigslist.

It smelled like maple syrup.

Luke said it was a leak in the radiator,

it was probably bad for kids.

After we got it fixed, I missed that smell.

And so did Hannah.

She said it smelled like Saturdays.

I wish he'd hurry the fuck up.

Hi.

Blessed be the fruit.

May the Lord open.

We should go. It's gonna pour.

Would you like to take the long way?

You're going to get caught in the rain.

I like the rain.

Okay, whatever.

We're going home.

- Under His eye. - Under His eye.

Do you think it's safe to talk here?

If we're careful.

Are you from here?

Brookline. You?

Missoula, Montana, if you can believe that.

I moved here for school.

Do you work in the city? Or did you?

I was an assistant book editor.

After my daughter Hannah was born,

it was part-time but sometimes it was just paperwork.

But we did novels and academic titles.

Once we did nine volumes on the history of falconry.

Oh, man.

Actually, that sounds like it'd be fun to me right now.

Yeah, it kind of sounds amazing.

I worked at the university.

Lecturer in cellular biology.

Wow.

I thought all the college professors

were sent to The Colonies or...

I have two good ovaries.

So they were kind enough to overlook my sinful past.

Lucky me.

St. Paul's.

That was my dad's parish.

My daughter was baptized there.

They took down St. Patrick's in New York City.

Blew it up and dumped every stone

in the Hudson River.

They fucking erased it.

And how do you know that?

How do you know there's an Eye in my house?

It's okay.

To be relieved it wasn't you.

It was someone.

I know.

There's a way to help them.

You can join us.

What do you mean "us"?

There's a network.

I don't know. I'm not that kind of person.

No one is until they have to be.

Waterford is important. He's very high up.

You should find out and tell us.

Find out what? Find out anything.

Don't say a word. Of course I won't.

There is an "us"?

It seems imagined, like secrets in the fifth grade.

People with mysterious histories and dark linkages.

It doesn't seem as if it should be

the true shape of the world.

That's a hangover from an extinct reality.

Now, the Guardians of the Faithful

and American soldiers still fight with tanks

in the remains of Chicago.

Now, Anchorage is the capital

of what's left of the United States,

and the flag that flies over that city

has only two stars.

Now, darkness and secrets are everywhere.

Now, there has to be an "us."

Because, now, there is a "them."

Get caught in the rain?

Yes.

You were gone a while.

Sometimes we walk home along by the river.

You need to be careful.

By the river?

With her. Ofglen.

She's my partner. We shop together.

Don't get too close to her. It's dangerous.

He wants to see you.

Who?

The Commander.

Tonight, in his office.

Why?

9:00. Don't be late.

It's forbidden for us to be alone

with the Commanders.

We aren't concubines. We're two-legged wombs.

Maybe he knows about Ofglen.

Have I been invited to my own ending?

No.

'Cause it isn't an invitation.

I can't send my regrets.

Offred!

It's the birthmobile.

Hurry. They won't wait all day.

I've got it.

Thank you.

I'll pray for good news.

Everything will be fine.

It will. It's going to be good.

It's wonderful, isn't it? Wonderful?

Who is it?

Ofwarren. Praised be.

One-eyed bat-shit-crazy Janine.

What will she give birth to?

An Unbaby, with a pinhead

or a snout like a dog's

or no heart?

The chances for a healthy birth

are one in five,

if you can get pregnant at all.

You all right?

Fuck! It's all right.

We're almost there.

Okay, here we are.

It's all right.

Hi. Yeah. Can we get some help?

There's real coffee, can you smell it?

We do the work and then they pig out.

It's okay.

Breathe, breathe.

There you go.

Breathe.

You're doing so great.

Really wonderful. Thank you.

It hurts.

- Such a special day. - Such a blessed day.

Breathe.

Breathe.

We are right here with you.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

She's been doing so well. So well.

Let's close our eyes.

Mmm, this coffee. It's delicious.

Yes. Yes, it's okay.

Breathe.

Hold. Hold. Hold.

And again, girls.

There's a smell coming from that room.

Something primal.

It's the smell of dens.

Hold. Hold. Hold.

Of inhabited caves.

It's the smell of the plaid blanket on the bed.

Where the cat gave birth, once, before she was spayed.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

It's the smell of genesis.

Hold. Hold. Hold.

Exhale, exhale, exhale.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

And hold, hold, hold.

Exhale,

exhale, exhale.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Hey.

And hold, hold, hold.

You're doing great.

Exhale, exhale, exhale.

Mmm.

You smell so good.

You do.

Hi, Hannah.

Hi.

Hello there. You looking around?

Is Daddy keeping you awake?