The Handmaid's Tale Page #2

Season #1 - Episode #1

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Somewhere in the house, a CLOCK CHIMES loudly.

INT. WATERFORD HOUSE - HALLWAY/STAIRS - DAY

Offred walks down the stairs. She moves so quietly, it’s

like she doesn’t even push any air in front of her.

She stops outside the kitchen door.

IN THE KITCHEN, RITA (50, gruff) kneads bread. She wears a

DULL GREEN DRESS -- the uniform of a “Martha” -- the caste of

domestic workers in this society.

Offred watches her kneading the heavy bread dough.

OFFRED (V.O.)

Rita makes the bread from scratch.

It’s the kind of thing they like

the Marthas to do.

(and then)

A return to traditional values,

that’s what they fought for.

Rita sees Offred.

RITA:

(annoyed)

Always showing up when I’m in the

midst. Hold your horses.

She wipes her floury hands on her apron and pulls a set of

KEYS from her pocket. She crosses to a cabinet, unlocks it.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 7.

CONTINUED:

Offred waits in the hallway. A SOFT CLICKING CATCHES HER

ATTENTION. Offred looks across the hall. A door, slightly

open, reveals a perfectly-decorated SITTING ROOM.

In the sitting room, Offred can just see the shoulder of a

WOMAN IN BLUE. She sits in a chair, knitting. Her needles

click against each other.

LOOKING AT THE WOMAN, OFFRED FLASHES BACK TO:

INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY -FLASHBACK

Outside the sitting room window, a hard rain falls.

OFFRED stands in her RED CLOAK, a red suitcase beside her.

They are still damp from the rain.

She is alone in the room. Eyes cast down. An unmoving

figure in red.

There are no books in the room. No visible writing of any

kind. And no technology.

The only sound is the rain hitting the window. A spring

rain, with plump, cold drops.

SERENA JOY opens the door, strides in. She’s a brittle 40,

in the signature pale blue of a Commander’s wife.

Offred starts to look towards Serena -- it’s a reflex. But

she stops herself, keeps her head down.

Eyes to the floor.

Serena sees Offred twitch and catch herself. Serena takes a

beat to enjoy her power at work. And then --

SERENA JOY:

So. Here you are.

Offred keeps her eyes lowered.

OFFRED (V.O.)

Here I am.

(and then)

Aunt Lydia said it was best not to

speak to the wives unless they

asked you a direct question. Think

of it from their point of view,

Aunt Lydia said. It isn’t easy for

them.

(and then)

Boo f***ing hoo.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 8.

CONTINUED:

Serena Joy sits, takes out a cigarette. Lights it. She

looks Offred up and down. After a long beat --

SERENA JOY:

You can sit down. I don’t make a

practice of it, but just this time.

Offred considers -- she is carefully choosing every word,

every movement. This is a dance. If Offred missteps, there

will be consequences.

Offred sits, folds her hands in her lap.

SERENA JOY (CONT’D)

So, old what’s-his-name didn’t work

out?

OFFRED:

No, Ma’am.

SERENA JOY:

Tough luck. This is your second

posting, then?

OFFRED:

Yes, Ma’am.

SERENA JOY:

Good. Our last one was brand new.

It was like training a dog. And

not a very smart one.

(and then)

I expect you know the rules?

OFFRED:

Yes, Ma’am.

SERENA JOY:

Don’t call me ma’am. You’re not a

Martha.

From the doorway, someone CLEARS THEIR THROAT. Offred

glances over and sees COMMANDER WATERFORD (50’). Tall, a

little thick in places, not necessarily handsome, but...

commanding.

Offred IMMEDIATELY stands up, bows her head obediently.

SERENA JOY (CONT’D)

Well. Look what the cat dragged

in.

(re:
Offred)

This is the new one.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 9.

CONTINUED:

COMMANDER:

(to Offred, too casual)

Hello.

(then, catching himself)

Blessed be the fruit.

OFFRED:

May the Lord open.

A beat. And then -

COMMANDER:

I’m Commander Waterford. Fred

Waterford.

OFFRED:

I am Of-fred.

COMMANDER:

Right.

(and then)

Well. Good.

The whole process is proscribed, unnatural. The Commander

turns to leave, pauses --

COMMANDER (CONT’D)

(brightly)

Nice to meet you.

Serena Joy REACTS with a glare -- this isn’t part of the

ritual greeting. It is far too intimate.

Offred turns the words, and the rules, over in her head. She

doesn’t know how to play it, what to say. She chooses --

OFFRED:

Thank you.

The Commander leaves.

Offred shifts in the uncomfortable silence. The rain hits

the window. An uneven rhythm of taps.

Offred sits down again.

SERENA JOY:

(sharply)

Get up.

Offred gets up.

SERENA JOY (CONT’D)

I want to see as little of you as

possible. Understand?

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 10.

CONTINUED:

OFFRED:

Yes, Ma’am...

(and then)

Yes.

SERENA JOY:

Mrs. Waterford.

(and then)

You’ll find that in this house, we

believe in mercy. But if I get

trouble, believe me, I’ll give

trouble back.

Offred stares down at the floor, as we --

END FLASHBACK:

INT. WATERFORD HOUSE - HALLWAY/STAIRS - DAY

Rita steps up, bringing Offred out of her memory.

RITA:

Tell them fresh for the eggs, not

like last time. Tell them who it’s

for and they won’t mess around.

Rita hands her a wicker shopping basket, then tears some

paper tokens from a ration book.

They have pictures on them, but no words. Twelve eggs, a

piece of cheese, a fish.

OFFRED:

Okay.

Rita offers a frown and heads back to the work.

OFFRED (V.O.)

The frown isn’t personal. It’s

really the red dress she

disapproves of.

(and then)

I’ve heard Rita talking to Marthas

from other houses. “I wouldn’t

debase myself like that,” they say.

Or “It’s not what you call hard

work. Do the shopping and spread

your legs.”

Rita goes back to kneading the bread, sinking her hands into

the soft dough. Offred watches, hungrily.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 11.

CONTINUED:

RITA:

You gonna stand there all day? Be

rude, leaving your friend out there

waiting.

OFFRED (V.O.)

I want to tell her that Ofglen is

not my friend, that I’ve exchanged

barely fifty words with her in the

two months since I got here. I

want to tell her that I sincerely

believe that Ofglen is kind of a

pious little sh*t with a broomstick

up her ass.

And then...

OFFRED:

Under his eye.

Offred leaves. Off Rita -- back to work.

EXT. WATERFORD HOUSE - DAY

Offred comes out, walks down a path bordered with flowers.

The garden is beautiful, perfectly kept.

A FEW GUARDIANS patrol, guns slung over their shoulders.

NICK BLAINE (26) digs in the flowerbed. He’s attractive in a

boyish sort of way. He wears a Guardian’s uniform, with the

jacket off and the shirt open at the throat.

OFFRED (V.O.)

(re:
Nick)

He’s one of the Guardians assigned

to the house. He drives for the

Commander, but sometimes Serena Joy

has him help her in the garden. Do

some of the heavy lifting.

(and then)

I know his name. Nick. I heard

the Commander speaking to him once.

“Nick, I won’t be needing the car.”

Offred stops. Nick’s wheelbarrow and garden tools block the

path. She doesn’t say anything, waits for him to notice.

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