- [first lines]
- June Osborne: I heard a story on NPR once about pig balls. For pigs who were being fattened in pens. The pigs rolled the balls with their snouts, and the pig marketers said it improved their muscle tone. The pigs were curious. They liked having something to think about. Caged rats will give themselves electric shocks for something to do. There are 71 flowers on the comforter. Seventy-one. I wish I had a pig ball.
- June Osborne: [voiceover] I have done something wrong. Something so huge I can't even see it. Something that's drowning me. I am inadequate and stupid. Without worth. I might as well be dead. Please, God, let Hannah forget me. Let me forget me.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: [indicates body hanging at the wall] I believe you know him. He drove a bread delivery truck.
- June Osborne: [realizes who Aunt Lydia is referring to, looks up at the body, then collapses to her knees]
- Aunt Lydia Clements: The wife will redeem herself by serving as a handmaid. The boy will never see his mother again. He has been placed with new parents. Parents who are fit. Gilead has shown them mercy. They will have a chance at a better life. Of course, if you had asked them, this would not have been the path they would have chosen. But you didn't ask them, did you? You chose for them. Such... a selfish... girl.
- Serena Joy Waterford: I want her out of my house.
- Fred Waterford: Why don't you sit down...
- Serena Joy Waterford: No, you said it would be my decision.
- Fred Waterford: Yes.
- Serena Joy Waterford: Good! Good, then she'll go back to the Red Center and she'll have the baby, and then I don't care where she goes after that!
- Fred Waterford: Are you certain that's what you want?
- Serena Joy Waterford: I can't have her in the house, Fred.
- Fred Waterford: You're strong. You don't want to miss this pregnancy. We've missed so much already. You deserve this... and you're not gonna let her take any part of it away from you. You're gonna be a wonderful mother. Just think about the baby. Not her. She's nothing.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Whose fault was it? Huh?
- June Osborne: [whispers] My fault.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Who induced him to commit such a crime?
- June Osborne: I did.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Offred?
- June Osborne: I did.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: And why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen? Answer me. Offred.
- June Osborne: To teach me a lesson.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: To teach JUNE a lesson. Shh, shh. June did this. June ran away. June consorted with terrorists. Not Offred. Offred was kidnapped. Offred... is free from blame. Offred does not have to bear June's guilt.
- Serena Joy Waterford: [embracing June's four-month-pregnant belly while June pretends to be asleep] All will be well... and all will be well. All manner of things will be well. Mama loves you.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Blessed be the fruit. I see you've eaten well, Offred. Third day in a row.
- June Osborne: It's June. You know my fucking name.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: [pause] The Waterfords have agreed to a trial run, as it were, and if you're a very very good girl, you might be invited to stay. You see... June will be chained in this room until she gives birth. And then June will be... executed. Offred has an opportunity; it would be better for the baby.
- June Osborne: [voiceover] I would like to be without shame. I would like to be shameless. I would like to be ignorant. Then I would not know how ignorant I was.
- Serena Joy Waterford: [Grabs June by the throat] Ninety-two days!
- [They glare into each other's eyes for nearly 20 seconds before Serena releases her]
- June Osborne: [after coughing and gasping] Serena... remember... long as my baby is safe... so is yours.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Mrs. Waterford, I've worked with many wives and handmaids. This part is always hard.
- Serena Joy Waterford: Mothers. Mothers and handmaids.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: [nods] Ah. It's only natural to resent her. God will forgive you for that.
- Serena Joy Waterford: Well, she makes it difficult.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: Mm. She's strong. But that means your child will be strong.
- Aunt Lydia Clements: You understand that everything that happens now must be for the good of the child?
- Serena Joy Waterford: Are you sure that she understands that?
- Aunt Lydia Clements: I will make sure of it.