The Handmaid's Tale

Previously on The Handmaid's Tale...

My circumstances have been reduced.

I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones.

You! Move!

Move!

My posting's like a blessing from God.

The real blessing was that bomb.

Anyone helping Gilead deserves to be blown apart.

I was thinking maybe I could spruce up our house?

Whatever you want. Praise be.

Uh-huh.

You know, I think about us.

What we could be.

I think about it too.

Offred, I've given it some thought.

You'll be leaving the house as soon as the baby is born.

I think we've all had more than enough of one other. Don't you?

I know I should accept the reality of you being born here,

make my peace.

But fuck that.

You treat it like a job, an unpleasant job,

to be gotten through as fast as possible.

Kissing is forbidden.

This makes it bearable.

One detaches oneself.

One describes.

An act of copulation,

fertilization perhaps.

No more to you than a bee is to a flower.

You steel yourself.

You pretend not to be present, not in the flesh.

You leave your body.

Roy?

Roy!

Oh, no!

Get help!

Chances are better if I lay on my back afterwards.

What?

Doris! Call the ambulance!

Praise be.

Oh, my God! I know, right?

I heard his wife had to get him off of her.

I heard he was inside her.

Ew.

I know, that's what I heard, when they found her.

I was thinking of making a sweet custard pie for tonight.

Okay.

Sounds good to me.

I'm making a stew but I was wondering what you suggest.

A bisque or a stew would be nice, too.

Hey, are you okay?

She's going to a new posting soon.

Maybe it won't be as bad this time.

Hey! Listen.

I have news.

Moira made it to Canada.

She made it. She got out.

Oh, praise be.

Maybe we could all end up in Canada one day.

Do you hear that, Emily?

You cannot give up.

You're gonna see your son again.

Emily.

I'm not his mother anymore.

Of course, you are.

You are his mother, and you love him.

You think he feels that?

Yes!

What the fuck is wrong with you?

At least your son is in Canada. He's free!

With your wife!

You...

Contraction?

Okay.

Help! She's going into labor.

Praise be. It's time.

Praise be.

Stand back.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Let's go up.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.

And before thou camest out of the womb, I sanctified thee

and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

We did it, Offred.

And this is the will of God and we shall rejoice and be glad in it.

No one knows the things of God.

At least this is the last time

I'll have to get into that fucking bed.

Single line, please.

Rearrange the pillows properly. Towels here.

Hi!

Hi, little one.

It's time to come out now.

Be courageous and do not fear,

for God is with you.

He will strengthen you, and help you.

He will uphold you with His righteous hand.

O blessed and glorious day!

Sitting room. Thank you.

I will take these.

Dining room. Okay.

Time to celebrate. Thank you.

Nice to see you. Please.

Excuse me.

May we pray for success.

And how is your little one?

She has gained six and a half ounces, thank the Lord.

Praise be.

Congratulations are also in order for Commander Horace,

newly promoted upon his wife's pregnancy.

Congratulations.

No Handmaid for you, then?

No.

May the Lord bless all future Commanders as he has blessed us.

Excuse me.

Praise be, Waterford.

Welcome.

My Handmaid is about to reach her expiration date.

And she wasn't that much fun to begin with.

How's yours?

Well, she has proven fruitful.

Mmm.

And not bad looking, either?

You so deserve this. Thank you.

Can I help you with that?

Yes.

Here you are. It's time.

Thank you.

Perfect timing.

You look so beautiful.

God goes with you.

Good. Yes.

Deep breaths.

Good. Good.

Praise be.

Good.

Just breathe deep.

Praise be.

Good. Praise be.

God is here with you.

You're doing so well.

Mrs. Waterford.

False labor fools the best of us.

You might consider timing the contractions next time.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Waterford.

Well, cervix is closed and 0% effaced.

Your baby isn't coming anytime soon.

There were contractions.

Braxton-Hicks.

They were not productive.

She should be induced. Today.

Given the severe bleeding earlier in the pregnancy,

we're already looking at a high-risk birth.

We prefer not to introduce chemicals

into the process unnecessarily.

However, seeing as the baby's measuring over nine pounds

and the Handmaid is petite,

I might consider inducing in a week or two,

in order to avoid C-section.

Until then, we must encourage the baby

to come out the natural way.

Vigorous walks. Mango salad.

I know of a spicy tea that works wonders.

Tea.

How spicy is it?

'Cause heartburn could hurt the baby, you know.

We are all impatient.

I can promise you that this pregnancy will end soon,

and Offred will be off to her next posting.

In a new district.

A change of scene.

You're right, Mrs. Waterford.

It's been lovely,

but I think it's probably best

if we don't ever see each other again.

It's late.

I know.

They're going to make me leave this house very soon.

Yes.

Serena wants to send me to a new district.

Does she?

A change of scene, she said.

And...

That's not what you want?

You have been kind to me.

More than other Commanders would have been.

And you're going to be a father yourself soon.

I need your help.

What is it?

I've already lost a child,

and I'm about to lose another one.

It would help if I could be moved

to my daughter's district.

Please.

If it is at all, within your power to do that.

Who are you to tell me

what's within my power?

I understand that it's unusual.

I would never approach her.