The Handmaid's Tale Season 1 quotes

June Osborne: I see them every day now. They've heard the Waterfords' plea. They're praying for Nichole. "Blessed and eternal God, please return this child of Gilead to her loving home." And this is all I know about my baby. If they're praying, then she's still safe. If they're praying, she is still beyond their reach. Even if just. I have my own prayers. I pray that their prayers go unanswered. And I pray for Serena. May she find her way back, may she see past her broken heart and remember that Nichole is better off where she is. May she convince Fred to let things lie. Or may they both get hit by a fucking truck. I'm honestly down for either.

Aunt Lydia: When I get tired, I still try to think of the good I can do in God's world. If I can help just one person, one soul, that's enough.

Serena Joy Waterford: I should have put a ring in your mouth the day that we met.

June Osborne: I should have let you burn when I had the chance.

June Osborne: Who can remember pain, once it's over? All that remains of it is a shadow. Not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind.

Aunt Elizabeth: There is the question of Ofandy. Once she's ready to return to service, of course.

Aunt Lydia: The Allstons won't have her back. They already told me.

Aunt Elizabeth: And word will have gotten around about her failure today. Poor thing.

Aunt Lydia: I know. Such a good girl. Unlike some. Why our Lord above would withhold His blessings from a girl like that and give two healthy babies to someone like Ofjoseph. I have tried with that one, so help me.

June Osborne: I hurt her. And I enjoyed it. The Wives and Aunts, too, grieving over Ofandy's dead child. And Lawrence. They all deserve to suffer. It's an acquired taste, seeing others in pain. Like that smoky scotch Luke got as a gift once. I grew to like that.

June Osborne: They don't give Ofmatthew anything that might hurt the baby. There's no future for her in any case. "There's too much bleeding," they say. "Her brain is gone," they say. Ofmatthew is just a vessel now, and the baby is all that matters. I suppose it's all that ever mattered. The doctors and nurses and orderlies and technicians come and go. I stay. Thirty-two days so far. I will be here until there's a baby. "This is your walking partner," Aunt Lydia said. "Where else would you be?"

June Osborne: Another walking partner dead. They must think I'm cursed. Or a terrorist. I'm not, though. Not yet.

June Osborne: It's been five years since we had our children torn away from us. An eternity. They were one. Now they're six. They were seven. Now they're twelve. We've missed everything. The steps. The smiles. The tragedies. Children still die. Even in Gilead. Janine's son, Caleb, four years ago. Prayers can't stop car accidents.

Serena Joy Waterford: What if it had never happened? Do you ever imagine what our lives would have been like?

Fred Waterford: I suppose I'd still be in marketing, you'd be a television pundit. I'd quit my job to manage your career, I'd be the man behind the woman.

Serena Joy Waterford: You would get resentful, and then we would get a divorce. And then you'd find a fertile woman and marry her.

Fred Waterford: I don't think so.

Serena Joy Waterford: Really?

Fred Waterford: More likely you'd leave me for a man more capable of giving you a child.

Serena Joy Waterford: You're just saying that in this place. But this isn't where we live.

Fred Waterford: It could be. Why couldn't we retire to a town like this? Or this very one, I don't know. We could give up our place in line.

Serena Joy Waterford: You would do that?

Fred Waterford: I don't need all the pomp and circumstance.

Serena Joy Waterford: You love D.C. We worked so hard with the Winslows.

Fred Waterford: I don't give a damn about the Winslows. I don't want to miss watching our daughter grow up. Her first steps. She is gonna grow up to be just like you.

Fred Waterford: Where are we? This is not just "up ahead." You call this just "up ahead"? Where the hell are we?

Mark Tuello: Commander Waterford, you have now crossed into Canada.

[A line of trucks suddenly appear from up the road and stop near them as soldiers emerge from the trees]

Fred Waterford: What the hell's going on? [to Serena] Get in the car. Get in the car, we're leaving.

Mark Tuello: You are now in Canada. We are arresting you for war crimes and crimes of aggression in violation of international human rights treaties and international law.

Fred Waterford: [as soldiers grab him and Serena] You can't hold us. Get your hands off her!

Serena Joy Waterford: Fred, just do what they say.

Luke Bankole: We grew up the same. You know, good family. First-class education. A man of faith. Yet you destroy lives.

Fred Waterford: I've saved lives, Mr. Bankole. What did you do when our values eroded? When the birth rate was plummeting? Stood by and let it happen.

Luke Bankole: Maybe. But you're gonna rot in this jail, knowing that your wife betrayed you.

Fred Waterford: What about your wife? All those years, wasted. Praying she'll come back to you.

Luke Bankole: She will come back to me.

Fred Waterford: Maybe. But the June Osborne you knew doesn't exist anymore. Gilead's changed her. I've changed her.

June Osborne: Ruthless, I remember thinking. They are fucking ruthless. Where does it come from, this talent for ruthlessness? It seems so easy for them. For these men. For men like these. That's how they won, I suppose. It isn't about being right or having the people or God on your side. It isn't anything that grandiose. In the end, victory goes to the hardest heart. To the ruthless go the spoils. Fifty-two kids will be brought to the Lawrence House after sunset. We will move in darkness. We can hide in the dark, at least. We have a chance, at least. If there is actually a Martha network. If this all isn't a trap, set by the Eyes. I will get the children to the airport. The plane leaves at midnight. Because I am ruthless.

Fred Waterford: I have some uncomfortable information to report. Serious crimes committed by my wife.

Mark Tuello: Commander, Mrs. Waterford has a plea agreement that gives her immunity.

Fred Waterford: Yes, I've been reading about that. Your law library is excellent.

Mark Tuello: Anything Serena did in Gilead was under duress. She had no power, she was subject to the state.

Fred Waterford: I can assure you, what Mrs. Waterford did was far beyond the laws of Gilead and the laws of God.

Mark Tuello: Mrs. Waterford, under warrant from the ICC and the government of the United States of America, I am placing you under arrest.

Serena Joy Waterford: On what grounds?

Mark Tuello: Crimes against humanity, sexual slavery, the rape of June Osborne.

Serena Joy Waterford: A religious ... Wait, wait a second ... religious ritual ordered by the state under penalty of execution. I do have immunity, Mr. Tuello. [to the social workers taking Nichole] Please stop one second!

Mark Tuello: This charge doesn't involve what you did with your husband. Take the child.

Serena Joy Waterford: No, please. I'm sorry. Please. Can you please wait? Wait, wait. Please, stop! I don't understand. What's going on?

Mark Tuello: You forced your driver to impregnate Miss Osborne so you could claim their resulting child.

Serena Joy Waterford: Nick and Offred had a relationship.

Mark Tuello: It's still rape, Mrs. Waterford.