The Handmaid's Tale Page #3

Season #1 - Episode #1

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NICK:

(re:
the roadblock)

I’m sorry.

Offred gives a tiny nod, doesn’t look up. Nick starts to

clear the path.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 12.

CONTINUED:

Offred looks at his sweaty, muscled forearms as he lifts the

heavy tools. She forces herself to look away.

NICK (CONT’D)

Going shopping?

OFFRED (V.O.)

No, Nick, I’m gonna knock back a

few mojitos at the Oyster House

Bar. Wanna come along?

And then -

OFFRED:

Yes.

NICK:

If you’re going to All Flesh, avoid

the chicken. I read they’ve got

crazy levels of dioxin.

Offred hesitates, weighs her responses. Always so careful.

OFFRED:

I’m going to Loaves and Fishes.

NICK:

Then you should avoid the tuna.

A beat, and then --

OFFRED:

Mercury?

NICK:

No, I just don’t like tuna very

much.

Nick smiles. It is almost a normal moment. The garden path

is clear, but Offred lingers.

OFFRED (V.O.)

He lives here, over the garage.

Low status, he hasn’t even been

issued a woman. Maybe he’s lonely.

Maybe he watches me.

(and then, horribly)

Maybe he’s an Eye.

Oh F***. We can see the terror in her eyes, even if we don’t

know exactly why. Later, we’ll find out “The Eyes” are the

secret police of Gilead. The Gestapo. Offred goes pale,

looks away.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 13.

CONTINUED:

OFFRED:

(as saintly as possible)

Peace be with you.

She hurries away, through the gate. OFGLEN waits on the

sidewalk. In her red cloak and white bonnet, she is another

Handmaid. Offred’s twin, dressed exactly alike. Head bowed.

OFGLEN:

Blessed be the fruit.

Offred is still rattled -- did she make a mistake with Nick?

A fatal mistake? It’s possible.

OFFRED:

(shaky)

May the Lord open.

Ofglen notices that she is agitated.

OFGLEN:

Are you okay, Offred?

OFFRED:

Yes, very well, praised be. You

are so kind to ask.

(and then, V.O.)

Pious little sh*t.

Offred tries to calm herself as she walks off with Ofglen.

EXT. GILEAD - UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY

Idyllic. Stately homes, with beautiful gardens, hiding so

much darkness.

MARTHAS walk on the streets, some GUARDIANS. No wives, no

Commanders. A few Marthas push strollers or walk with boy

children. THERE ARE NO GIRL CHILDREN OUTSIDE.

The cars that pass are either commander-black or wife-blue,

luxury gas guzzlers. A few MILITARY HUMVEES pass -- black

with the winged symbol on the doors.

Offred walks with Ofglen.

OFFRED (V.O.)

We go everywhere in twos. This is

supposed to be for our protection,

but that’s bullshit. The truth is

we’re watching each other for any

whiff of heresy.

(and then)

She is my spy, as I am hers.

(and then)

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 14.

CONTINUED:

OFFRED (V.O.) (CONT'D)

She has never said anything that

was not strictly orthodox. But

then neither have I. She may be a

true believer, a Handmaid in more

than name. I can’t take that risk.

I can’t end up on the Wall and

leave my daughter here. Alone.

(and then, aloud)

We’ve been sent good weather.

OFGLEN:

Which I receive with joy.

(and then)

The war is going well, I hear.

Offred reacts, hungry to hear any news. But she quickly

buries her desire, answers as evenly as possible.

OFFRED:

(eager, playing cool)

By His hand.

OFGLEN:

They’ve defeated more of the

rebels.

OFFRED:

Praise be.

(and then, very carefully)

What were they? The rebels.

Ofglen hesitates, narrows her eyes.

OFFRED (V.O.)

(re:
Ofglen’s look)

When she gives me that look, I want

to punch her in the face.

(and then)

But she’s right. Any curiosity is

dangerous. But I’m ravenous for

news. Even if it’s false news it

must mean something.

Ofglen’s suspicion wanes. She smiles.

OFGLEN:

Baptists, I think. Suicide

bombers. They had a stronghold in

the Blue Hills.

Offred waits, eager for Ofglen will offer more. She doesn’t.

After a long beat, Offred abandons her hopes --

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 15.

CONTINUED:

OFFRED:

(unfulfilled)

Praise be.

Offred and Ofglen pass a SMALL WHITE CHURCH.

Behind a wrought iron gate, Commander’s Wives in blue dresses

stand chatting near a line of idling black SUV’s. The door

to the church opens.

A dozen pre-pubescent GIRLS emerge from the church, dressed

in long, pink and white smocks. Virginal. ARMED GUARDIANS

escort them.

Offred STOPS -- stares at the girls. ONE GIRL looks her way,

smiles. On OFFRED as we --

FLASHBACK TO:

EXT. BEACH - DAY -FLASHBACK

Three-year-old HANNAH runs into the breaking waves, laughing.

Pure joy.

END FLASHBACK:

EXT. GILEAD - UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD / CHURCH

Back on Offred, rocked by her memory.

OFGLEN:

Offred.

(and then)

We should go.

She turns, trembling slightly, fighting her emotions. They

walk on.

INT. LOAVES AND FISHES - DAY

Offred and Ofglen enter. A sign shows a LOAF OF BREAD and a

FISH. Pictures, no writing.

Only women are shopping -- Handmaids, some Marthas, and a few

ECONOWIVES -- working-class wives in multicolored dresses.

It is a grocery store. Some bare shelves, not too much

produce, but otherwise, pretty ordinary.

It’s like Ralphs. Except for the armed guards patrolling the

aisles, and the packages of food marked with pictures.

There is no writing anywhere.

(CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 16.

CONTINUED:

Offred is still shaken by her memory of Hannah. She follows

Ofglen by rote, not thinking. Two Handmaids, OFSAMUEL (19,

talker) and OFERIC (32, observant) step up. Excited

whispers.

OFSAMUEL:

Under his eye.

(chatty)

Did you see? They have oranges.

OFGLEN:

Praised be. The war in Florida

must be going well.

OFSAMUEL:

I know, right?

OFGLEN:

(to Offred)

Your Mistress likes oranges.

OFERIC:

(cynical)

Just make sure she knows you got

them. Don’t let a Martha take the

credit.

Offred fights to focus on the conversation. Finally says...

OFFRED:

I don’t have a token for oranges.

OFSAMUEL:

Tell them you’re Commander

Waterford’s. He’s very high up.

His name is in the news...

The Oferic looks to her, sharply. Ofsamuel realizes, goes

ashen.

OFSAMUEL (CONT’D)

I didn’t read it. I promise. I

just overheard my Mistress...

Ofsamuel is digging herself in deeper. Ofglen comes to the

rescue.

OFGLEN:

We should get some oranges before

they’re all gone.

They all walk off. Offred waits a moment, still shuddering

from her memory of her daughter. A beat, then she follows.

TIME CUT TO:

"Pilot" 11/29/15 17.

INT. LOAVES AND FISHES - MINUTES LATER

Crates of oranges are stacked into a makeshift display.

Women crowd around. Ofglen, Oferic, and the other Handmaids

take oranges.

Offred just stares at the crates. Mind elsewhere.

OFGLEN:

Praise be His bounty.

(to Offred)

Take some.

Offred takes a few oranges, puts them in her basket. As she

does --

OFFRED:

They took my daughter. I don’t

need oranges. I need her back. I

need to scream. I need to grab the

nearest machine gun.

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