The Handmaid's Tale Page #2

Season #1 - Episode #1

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THE BLOOD-RED VAN drives away down the country road. As it

grows smaller in the distance, we hear JUNE’S VOICE.

JUNE (V.O.)

(calm)

A chair. A table. A lamp.

INT. WATERFORD HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

The bedroom is perfectly neat, decorated in beiges.

Polished wood floor, braided rug. A folksy touch.

It could be a room in a QUAINT NEW ENGLAND B&B.

JUNE (V.O.)

Above, on the ceiling in the middle

of the room, there’s a spot that’s

been plastered over.

(and then)

There must have been a chandelier

once. They’ve removed anything you

can tie a rope to.

JUNE sits, hands folded, looking out of the window. She wears

a full RED DRESS, almost a cloak.

A starched-white bonnet covers her head, obscures her face.

JUNE (V.O.)

There’s a window with white

curtains. The glass is

shatterproof. But it isn’t running

away they’re afraid of. A Handmaid

wouldn’t get far. It’s those other

escapes, the ones you can open in

yourself.

(and then)

Given a cutting edge.

(and then)

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

"Pilot" 11/29/15 6.

CONTINUED:

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

Or a twisted sheet and a

chandelier.

It is an otherworldly tableaux. A woman draped in red, in

this dollhouse-perfect bedroom.

JUNE (V.O.)

I try not to think about those

escapes. It’s harder on Ceremony

day.

(and then)

Thinking can hurt your chances. And

I intend to survive. I intend to

survive for her.

(and then)

My name is Offred. I had another

name, but it’s forbidden now. So

many things are forbidden now.

June is now OFFRED.

Welcome to our world. Welcome to Gilead.

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.

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