The Handmaid's Tale
Wednesdays on HuluThe Handmaid's Tale Quotes
We come together in peace to celebrate the babies born in our district. We dedicate ourselves and our children to God. It takes a village -- and machine guns. Who among them can be persuaded? Who can be turned, ignited to burn this shit place to the ground?
June [in her head]
Girls! Our most blessed handmaids have given us God's children. They have earned the best view.
Aunt Lydia
Serena: That's not the way the party should have ended. Poor Naomi.
June: Poor Naomi?
Serena: It is terrible, of course, for the both of them, and that is exactly why the system is designed to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
June: I'm sorry, Mrs. Waterford; they're probably waiting for me.
Serena: A young girl of Hannah's age, a daughter of a Commander, would most likely attend a school for domestic arts. The one in her district is in Brookline by the reservoir. The girls play outside after lunch. Perhaps you'll find a way to see her.
Janine: Commander and Mrs. Putnam, Angela is so lucky to have you as her parents.
Mr. Putnam: By God's grace.
Janine: Yes, by God's grace, she could have a little brother.
Mrs. Putnam: What?
Janine: I could be your handmaid again.
Janine: Can I hold her?
Commander Putnam: I think that's enough.
Mrs. Putnam: Wait. The Lord is gracious and righteous. Our God is full of compassion.
Serena: What is it?
June: The Commander wants to reconcile. He wants to make things right, but he doesn't know how to do it, so I made a suggestion. More freedom ... in your marriage.
Serena: To do what?
June: As Mrs. Waterford, you have influence, access, power.
Serena: Up to a point.
June: So move the point. Like we did before. He is lost without you, Serena. Wear the dress. Pull the strings.
Fred: I don't think she's satisfied planting flowers and knitting sweaters.
June: I'm not sure she ever was, sir. So, do you think you could be open to ... change? Could you maybe give her a real voice? Behind the scenes, of course.
Fred: Well, if that would ... fix things.
Aunt Lydia: I know what the girls think of me. And they [gestures to the other guests] blame me for Emily. I should have never saved her from the colonies.
Janine: I'm glad you saved me.
Aunt Lydia: Me too.
June: You know, after everything, I'm still alive. I will always be grateful for that. But I'm not in your house now. I need you to tell me anything about Lawrence that you think could help me.
Commander Waterford: He does not like to be bored. But I bet you know that already.
And here's what we do. We watch them, the men. We study them. We feed them. We please them. We can make them feel strong or weak. We know them that well. We know their worst nightmares, and with a bit of practice, that's what we'll become. Nightmares. One day, when we're ready, we're coming for you. Just wait.
June
June: We have five new Marthas for the resistance; an engineer, an IT tech, a journalist, a lawyer, and a thief.
Beth: How do you know?
June: Because I chose them.
There was a time when women were able to choose. We were a society dying, Aunt Lydia would say, with too much choice. We know the sacrifices you are expected to make, she'd say. It is hard when men revile you.
June
