The Handmaid's Tale
Wednesdays on HuluThe Handmaid's Tale Season 2 Episode 8: "Women's Work" Quotes
We do our work in the evening. She writes; I read. This is the new normal, and an offense to God. In another life, maybe we could have been colleagues, but in this one, we're heretics. I was already on the naughty list -- an adulteress, a fallen woman as Aunt Lydia used to say. But this is new territory for Serena, I think. How does she feel about falling? She seems pretty fucking happy.
June
June: Do you miss working?
Serena: It's a small sacrifice to be welcomed back into God's grace. [pause] I do truly detest knitting. To be frank.
June: You're truly a good writer.
Serena: Thank you. I won't forget your help.
[in her head to Serena Joy] It was nice working with you, too.
June
Janine: Hi!
June: Blessed be the fruit.
Janine: [giggles] May the force be with you.
June: There's nothing they can do?
Serena: Well, there might be something that could help. It would mean bending the law. I'm not sure Gilead is exploring every doctor available to them.
June: I see.
Serena: What do you think?
June: Well, I think if it were my baby, I would do whatever I could. Law or no law.
Serena Joy: I wish I could say the same for baby Angela. But, there is hope. God has blessed Gilead with one of the top neonatologists in the world.
Fred: Ohhh. That's excellent. How soon can he get here?
Serena Joy: He is a she, now serving as a Martha. If you gave her a temporary transfer for a day, she could examine Angela, give her opinion. No one has to know.
Fred: I'm sure our physicians are capable.
Serena Joy: [touches his leg] Fred...?
Fred: We cannot question the will of God.
June: He said no. Why?
Serena: Because that is his decision. The best we can do now is pray for baby Angela and for the parents.
June: [Sighs] God. I can't imagine how they feel. To face the loss of a child. Their former handmaid knows the baby is sick. She's freaking out.
Serena: You mean the handmaid that nearly killed her?
June: She was desperate. [tears in her eyes] She loves her. So much.
Serena: Then let her pray.
June: She already is. Do you think, Mrs. Waterford, that she could see the baby? I would be there. I would make sure that nothing happened.
Serena: Don't be stupid.
June: What if it's Janine's last chance?
Naomi: That horrible girl? You want her to be able to see my child?
Serena: A child is a gift by God's grace that she gave you.
Serena: How dare you give up!
Dr. Hudson aka Martha: Mam, we have done a very extensive evaluation. There are no anatomic, infectious, or metabolic conditions that explain this baby's condition.
Serena: You are supposed to be the best in your field.
Dr. Hudson aka Martha: I am the best or was. All we can do for Angela is unhook her from all those machines. Help her feel safe and warm. And pray.
Serena Joy: I did it for the sake of the child. What greater responsibility is there in Gilead?
Fred: Obeying your husband.
Fred: It was unfair of me to burden you with so much responsibility. Now, we must make amends.
Serena Joy: Amends?
Fred: [flipping through the Bible, maybe] Wives. Submit yourselves to your own husbands as unto the Lord. Ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge [drags chair] given honor onto the life as onto the weaker vessel. But if we confess our sins...
Serena Joy: Fred, please...
Fred: ...[unbuckles his belt] he is faithful and just to forgive us.
