05x04 - Dear Offred

[bunniefuu]

[JUNE] Previously
on The Handmaid's Tale...

- [JUNE] What was that color?
- [LUKE] Yeah.

- What does purple mean?
- [MOIRA] I don't know.

It's not pink, though.

She's not a little girl anymore.

[JUNE] The purple color

Hannah was wearing. What does it mean?

[NICK] It means she's ready.

New school.

Training for future wives.

[EXHALES SHARPLY] Wives?

How am I supposed to keep
my baby girl safe from here?

[SERENA] I want to stay here.

[MARK] You must realize it's
not safe for women in this place.

Especially unmarried women.

I don't believe that will be
my situation for much longer.

[MIMICS ENGINE]

[JANINE] She's not as tough as we think.

She's scared.

[JANINE] Somebody... help!

No! Oh, God! Janine!

Dear God.

Please do not punish her
to teach me a lesson.

I can turn things around! I will.

I promise you.

[COMMANDER MACKENZIE]
We want you in Toronto.

To best represent our sacred republic.

[GASPS]

Never touch my daughter again.

- [TRAFFIC PASSING]
- [SWING CREAKING]

[NICHOLE COOING]

[NICHOLE BABBLES]

[WOMAN] How old is she?

- [NICHOLE COOS]
- Excuse me?

Around months?

- She's breathtaking.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Thank you.

It's Nichole, right?

[NICHOLE BABBLES]

I know who you are.

Wanna go home, sweetie?

- June Osborn?
- Come on.

- So that's Baby Nichole.
- [NICHOLE COOS]

- [SIREN WAILING]
- Whee!

Get your boots on there. Go home?

I always wanted a girl.

[NICHOLE BABBLES]

Both of my pregnancies were boys.

We're gonna go home.

Ready to go home?

You're so lucky you were in Gilead.

[NICHOLE COOS]

Now you have this beautiful, precious...

healthy little angel.

Hey, hey. Do not touch my daughter.

- But she's God's child!
- Back up!

You get the f*ck away from her!

You don't deserve her, slut!

Whore!

What did you say to me?

Huh?

f*ck you!

[LISA] Infertility takes
a tremendous physical

and psychological toll,
especially in these times.

Extreme responses like this
woman's aren't uncommon.

You were right to be on guard.

Thank you.

You were just protecting Nichole.

And so...

I went a little past protecting.

[LUKE] How past?

Just past.

It got...

physical.

[EXHALES]

Was she all... all right?

- [JUNE CHUCKLES]
- [CHUCKLES]

I didn't stop to find out.

[LISA] We knew

that Serena's return
would be incredibly challenging

- for June's whole...
- Her return

to people praying for her.

Right? Like she's a f*cking saint.

Sorry, I'm sorry. Just, sorry.

Just, uh,

how do we know that, um,

that you... that she, uh,

won't...

get physical again?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's a good question.

[LISA SIGHS] That...

sounds like it will be really difficult.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[DOOR OPENS, BEEPS]

Will the Canadian government
be watching me,

like the ICC has?

They don't anticipate

any need for
round-the-clock surveillance.

So, some measure of privacy.

That's a relief.

Yes.

I imagine it is.

Serena.

One last time...

[HONKING]

I strongly urge you to accept
Canada's offer of asylum.

To keep you safe.

As an American citizen.

I'm not an American citizen.

My allegiance is to God.

[SIGHS]

Then, Mrs. Waterford,
you are officially released

from the custody
of the American government.

You'll be restricted
to Gilead-affiliated properties

in accordance with
your lack of diplomatic status.

Blessed day, Mrs. Waterford.

I'm Ezra Shaw.

Blessed day, Mr. Shaw.

It's nice to meet you face-to-face.

Mr. Shaw will be
my escort from here on in.

Gilead has made all the arrangements.

Well, then.

Excuse me.

Good luck.

With your...

future endeavors.

I don't need luck.

I have God on my side.

Hmm. Then,

may He guide your steps.

Please, though,

step carefully.

You aren't in Gilead.

This is a free country, Mrs. Waterford.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[ENGINE STARTS]

[EZRA] Mrs. Waterford is now secure

and en route to the Center.

[MAN OVER COMMS] Confirmed,
Mr. Shaw. Blessed be.

Your home away from home.

Looks promising.

Shall we?

Yes.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Living quarters are upstairs.

Oh!

Look who finally f*cking shows up.

[SIGHS] My apologies. I was, uh,

tied up with internal debriefings.

Internal debriefings about my kid?

Hi.

How is she?

I, I saw her. I didn't speak to her.

She looked good.

Very healthy.

[LUKE] Healthy?

You were this close to her,
and you didn't do anything.

What are you doing?

We are combing through
the intel we have gathered.

That's all I'm able to disclose.

Well, that's just a bullshit answer.

I came to give you the official notice

from the State Department.

Mrs. Waterford is no longer
under our supervision.

As of today, she has been
released from ICC custody.

[LUKE] You let that happen.

Where is she?

Here.

Gilead owns pre-w*r property in Toronto.

Canada has decided
to unfreeze this asset

in an effort to improve relations.

It will technically be
considered Gilead territory.

So they're opening a damn embassy?

A Cultural Center.

Serena will be in residence
to represent Gilead's lifeways,

advocate for their values.

The images of Serena at the funeral

were very successful for Gilead.

They want her to remain
visible to the world.

[MOIRA] Pregnant miracle.

[MARK] Yes.

[LUKE] Get the f*ck out of my house.

Get the f*ck out of my house.

She has no standing here.

She has no status.

She doesn't have a passport.

There's no money in her name.

She can't even drive a car.

She's limited.

I warned you about her.

You won't listen.

God, you're such
a f*cking disappointment.

Well, perhaps your expectations
are unrealistic.

Have a good evening.

[MOIRA] I'll see you out.

I'm, I'm, I'm calling the city.

We're gonna find out
where that place is.

I... I know a guy who works
at the House of Commons.

He's gonna help us.

She always gets what she wants.

No, no, no. Not this time.

She's not gonna pull
a f*cking Gilead bullshit here!

No. By, by tomorrow morning,

by... I'll... we're gonna have
the whole f*cking city on this.

Look, June.

Hmm?

June, don't worry.

All right? We're gonna stop this.

I'm not worried.

[CAR DOOR SLAMS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

f*ck.

[GRUNTS]

f*ck!

f*ck.

[SIGHS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

- [KEYS CLINKING]
- [ENGINE STARTS]

[CAR PULLING AWAY]

[EXHALES]

Are you all right, ma'am?

Isn't there something that you can do?

I can't stop her from driving.

But if she sets foot on the property...

Right.

I understand.

The alarms are set. The cameras are on.

Guard's at his post.

Thank you, Ezra.

I'll keep you both safe, ma'am.

By His hand.

Praise be.

- [DOG BARKS DISTANTLY]
- [BREATHING HEAVILY, SNIFFLES]

- Hey.
- Hey.

Um...

I just drove to her building.

[SIGHS]

Yeah.

I drove to her building
like a f*cking crazy person.

Okay.

- [GRUNTS]
- Is that it?

[CHUCKLES]

All I can think about...

is sh**ting her in the f*cking head.

And I don't know how to stop
myself from actually doing it.

[EXHALES]

I get it.

Look.

She's in a building, right?

Yup.

And I know they're trying to
make it the new f*cking Gilead.

- But...
- [EXHALES]

there's no army.

I know that.

What there is, is building codes

and neighbors and a f*cking
City Council, all right?

And we can use those things
to shut her down.

It's not gonna...

It's not... [SIGHS]

f*ck.

All right, all right. Let's say
you sh**t her in the head.

All right? You sh**t her,
and what happens then?

They take Nichole from you.

You get that?

Like, we, we lose our
best chance of getting Hannah.

That's what happens.

So...

can you let me try?

[SNIFFLES]

Yeah.

Yeah, of course.

- It's gonna work, okay?
- Mmm.

[GROANING]

Ow! f*ck.

[WHIMPERS] Sorry.

- Just... just a few more, dear.
- [GROANS]

- A few more.
- No.

These exercises are so important.

Enough.

[EXHALES]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Ugh.

Remember what the Lord said.

- [GROANS]
- "Fear not".

"Believe only,

and she shall be made...

- whole".
- [GROANS]

Will you stop talking about the Bible?

My legs don't work!

All right. All right.

Just, just rest.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

Has Esther woken up yet?

No.

Serves her right.

What?

How could you say that?

A girl so wicked

that she would k*ll her own sister

deserves his retribution.

She's a child.

Who was hurt and abused.

I told you that! I warned you about her!

I gave her an opportunity

to live a life of service and grace!

Or else!

Right?

Live a life of service and grace,

or else,

you would let her rot in The Colonies!

[LAUGHING BITTERLY]

I know you'd just...

pluck her eye out.

[WHIMPERS]

I gave you...

the education you needed

to live a safe and meaningful life.

And here you are.

Still with us!

Just stop it.

I know what you do,
what you do to those girls.

Your precious girls.

I see you!

I see who you really are!

I've still got one good eye, remember?

You gonna take that one too?

[TELEPHONE RINGING DISTANTLY]

They ran out of the ecru?

That was the closest shade,
Mrs. Waterford.

I have Commander Lawrence
on the secure line.

Oh, excellent. Thank you.

[TELEPHONE BEEPS]

Hello, Commander Lawrence.

So, Mrs. Waterford.

What can I do for you?

Well, great news.

Some of the other consulates
have extended invitations.

It seems that you
or someone in your office

has declined them.

On my behalf.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

Everyone is thrilled
by your work so far. Why...

why overexert yourself?

It seems that recognition efforts

in South America have stalled.

And that political wives have only heard

of the worst rumors of life back home.

Gilead is the only country on the planet

that has had an increase in live births,

and I believe that I am
uniquely positioned

to remind the local
ambassadors of that fact.

Perhaps with an afternoon tea.

Venezuela has expressed interest

in some of our more successful
female education programs.

An informal conversation
might be useful.

Over tea.

Yes. A lovely idea.

So, uh,

anything else you wanna chat about?

Poutine?

Paint colors for the nursery?

Nocturnal visits from
a certain local stalker?

You heard about my visitor.

Yeah. Ezra said you were jumpy.

I'm not that easily
intimidated, Commander.

She's just...

stomping her feet like a child.

Posturing.

That child has been known to misbehave.

Badly.

I'd stay focused on work, and avoid her.

I'll take that under advisement.

Blessed day, Mrs. Waterford.

Blessed day, Commander.

[TELEPHONE BEEPS]

[DOOR OPENS]

What happened?

This came for you.

[PAPER SHUFFLING, TEARING]

[MOIRA] Jesus Christ.

June.

- June.
- Don't.

[LUKE] We can still stop this.

How? With f*cking building codes?

And lawsuits?

Serena has the whole
g*dd*mn world behind her.

No, she doesn't.

- We...
- [JUNE] It's gonna happen here.

- No, it is not.
- She is gonna bring it here.

I swear to f*cking God,

she is gonna bring it here.

The only way to stop her,

and to stop them is to put
them all in the f*cking ground!

[NICHOLE CRYING]

f*ck!

[CRYING CONTINUES]

I got it.

Okay.

[WHISPERS] I'm sorry, baby girl.
I'm here now.

I'm here, sweetie.

Okay.

Hey.

Hey.

I've got her.

Yeah.

[JUNE] Who's a good girl?

Here we go.

Shh.

- [NICHOLE CRIES]
- It's okay.

Hey, baby girl.

- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
- You're fine, baby.

sh*t.

[SNIFFLES]

What am I doing?

What the f*ck was that?

Being really angry?

[SCOFFS]

Please don't tell me to calm down, okay?

Wasn't gonna.

He has no idea what he's doing,

and he seems to have
completely forgotten

that none of this sh*t
worked the first time.

June, he's right.

This is a refugee town.

An overcrowded one.

And any of us make trouble,

people start getting thrown in jail,

shipped off for resettlement
someplace else.

We have to play by the rules.

Okay?

We can't do that other stuff without

bad sh*t happening to a lot of people.

Look, I will dance
on her grave with you,

soon as the dirt's in.

But she's not worth
losing your family over.

What if this is who I am now?

I don't worry about you being with her.

Not anymore.

And that's not nothing.

Yeah.

[MOIRA] Okay.

I'm just gonna hang
out in here for a while.

Sounds good, Momma.

And we can send a lovely
gift basket to Germany.

Yes, ma'am.

Excuse me, Mrs. Waterford.

Luke Bankole is outside.

He's asked to see you.

Do we have time?

[EZRA] Not much.

If I may, Mrs. Waterford,

I, I think I should handle this.

Uh...

No.

No, that won't be necessary.

Just a friendly chat
between old acquaintances.

[DOOR BEEPS, OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Have you checked him
for any security concerns?

Yes, ma'am, of course.

Let's check him again, please.

Thank you. Give us a moment.

Praise be, ma'am.

So, why are you here, Mr. Bankole?

Why are you here?

I'm here to spread His word
and to show the people

that there is a better way to live.

There's a crowd of
people outside right now

that would love to see you
sh*t down in the street.

From what I can see, it's, um,

quite the opposite.

Building codes.

I've found violations

that could get this place condemned.

I make a couple of calls

and this place is shut down
in a matter of days.

Is that what you came here to tell me?

That we have issues
with the plumbing here?

Well, I...

I also came here to tell you
that my wife...

is gonna k*ll you.

Right? And I'm gonna let her.

Is that so?

[LUKE] Mmm-hmm.

[CLICKS TONGUE] So...

You can get kicked out,

you could be k*lled,

or just help us get Hannah back.

Agnes is happy.

She has fit and loving parents.

Just as the good Lord intended.

Who am I to question God's will?

You know, come to think of it,

I do wonder why you
never returned to Gilead

to save your daughter.

I mean, there were risks of course.

Which your wife took,

and she suffered for them.

Many times.

Then again, she did have Nick's support.

I'm sure that gave you some...

small comfort knowing that.

You stay away from my family.

Or the next time I see you,

I'm gonna f*cking k*ll you myself.

So,

another Handmaid-on-Handmaid att*ck.

No fatalities this time.

Fortunately, Esther
is the last of the girls

to be under...

her influence.

Can't even say her name?

June.

There are smoother waters ahead.

There better be.

Gilead is opening its doors,
just... a cr*ck.

And when the world peeks inside
at our Handmaid system,

let's just say it needs
to be running smoothly.

No, uh,

breakdowns.

No assaults.

No chocolates dipped in poison.

Commander Lawrence,
I have come to believe

that the Handmaid system
must be reformed.

A new protocol.

To prevent such harmful incidents

from happening in the future.

I'm all ears.

[CLICKS TONGUE] Handmaids...

would remain under my care.

Commanders and Wives
would visit each month,

when it's time to perform the Ceremony.

You mean go to the Red Center?

Kind of...

Handmaids hotel,

where you're the concierge?

I believe God will be better served

if Handmaids are not
posted in households.

What are you smoking?

No Commander's gonna buy into that.

They're not interested in some quick...

in and out to make a baby.

- Commander...
- They want those girls

in their homes.

Accessible.

Any time. So they can...

sniff the air after they walk by,

or do whatever the hell they want.

Get their rocks off.
These are pious men.

They need a little kink.

You know that.

Do I?

Don't you?

The Handmaid system

is not changing. Not now.

So, get a grip on your girls.

Not too tight though.

We can't afford to show
any scars right now.

- [INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
- [HORNS HONKING]

[ENGINE STOPS]

Was there no option for natural light?

[MAN] You must stay clear of the window

for your own safety, Mrs. Waterford.

Well, I think we do three setups here,

and then we move to a window.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[MAN ] You will fall to your knees

and you will beg.

You will beg for His grace
to redeem you when Gilead...

[MAN ] You know nothing!

You know...

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING OUTSIDE]

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[WOMAN ] ... we went through?

[MAN ] You idiots! You need to obey!

[WOMAN ] f*ck off!

What is happening?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER EARPIECE]

Get the f*ck outta my face, fucker!

You need a man to put you in your place.

- The f*ck...
- I don't see any men

- around here, so...
- Get the f*ck back

- where you came from!
- Hey!

Hey, man, she came from
America. What the f*ck?

There is no America.

Then take it easy, okay?

[BOTH GRUNT]

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [g*nsh*t]
- [PEOPLE SCREAM]

Ma'am, we need to vacate the premises.

Where are we supposed to go?

We're working on that,
but it's not safe here.

June. Put the g*n down.

June, put the f*cking g*n down.

Go.

Move!

What the f*ck are you doing here?

- Come on.
- What are you doing here?

- Come on. We gotta go.
- [SIRENS APPROACHING]

Go. Go, get her out of here! Go.

- Come on.
- Go!

[MAN] Come on!

Stay back.

[SIREN WAILING]

Ma'am, we found a secure location.

Where is it?

For those who are truly righteous,

He sometimes sends a refuge.

[BELL TOLLING DISTANTLY]

sh*t.

[GRUNTS] I've got it.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

God saved you for a reason, dear.

[CHUCKLES]

I don't think God is doing this to me.

After all you have been through,

you don't think there's
a reason behind it all?

[GRUNTS]

I don't care anymore.

Come on, now. Slow down, slow down.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[GUARDIAN] Blessed day, sir.

I should've listened to you.

About Esther.

Janine,

I need your help.

With the other girls.

What kind of help?

You know them,

and understand them
in ways that I do not.

Will you watch over them?

And tell me when any
of them are struggling?

Aunt Lydia, if I do, you'll just
do something horrible.

No.

I want to do things differently.

I want to address any problem...

early.

With more...

compassion.

We can shepherd these girls together.

And keep them on God's path.

[LOCK CLICKING]

[DOOR SLAMS]

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

[GUARDIAN] Copy.

God may test us, body and soul.

But He always...

rewards the most righteous.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[GIRL WHISPERS] Hi, how are you?

Are you okay?

I almost d*ed.

[GIGGLING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER]

[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

Hey.

Great.

Nice.

Thank you. No, no, no. Thank you.

[SIGHS]

The chief inspector
in the fire department

lost his sister in Gilead.

And he's shutting down the building

for construction violations.

Building codes.

So, Serena's homeless.

[LUKE INHALES]

Let me see that g*n.

[RAIN PATTERING]

[SIGHS]

[g*n COCKING]

Did you clean this?

- Mmm-hmm.
- [g*n COCKING]

I watched a YouTube video.

[LAUGHS]

Looks good.

I didn't do it this time.

But I am not going to promise
that I won't do it next time.

I can't promise I won't either.

I guess we'll just have
to trust each other.

Do you wanna go inside?

Not really.

[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]

["THE CHAIN" PLAYING]

♪ Listen to the wind blow ♪

♪ Watch the sun rise ♪

♪ Run in the shadows ♪

♪ Damn your love damn your lies ♪

♪ Listen to the wind blow ♪

♪ Watch the sun rise ♪

♪ Run in the shadows ♪

♪ Damn your love damn your lies ♪

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Listen to the wind blow ♪

♪ Down comes the night ♪

♪ Break the silence ♪

♪ Damn the dark damn the light ♪

♪ Run in the shadows ♪

♪ Damn your love damn your lies ♪

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

Please wait here.

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

Mrs. Waterford.

Praise be.

Welcome to our home. I'm Alanis.

Mrs. Ryan Wheeler.

[GASPS, CHUCKLES]

Every good and perfect gift
is from above,

coming down from the heavenly lights.

He chose to give us birth

through the word of truth

that we may be a kind of first fruits

of all that He created.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ And if you don't love me now ♪

♪ You will never love me again ♪

♪ I can still hear you saying ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪

♪ Never break the chain ♪

♪ You will never break the chain ♪