- This article is about the American agent. For the son of Commander Kyle, see Mark.
“I thought you already did.”— Mark (to Serena Joy) when she refuses to betray her country.
Mark Tuello is a main character in seasons 4 and 5, but served as a recurring one for seasons 2 and 3 of The Handmaid's Tale. He is a representative of the U.S. Government-in-Exile.
In the TV Series[]
Season Two[]
Smart Power[]
Mark meets Serena Joy Waterford in the Canadian hotel that the Waterfords are staying at during their visit. Initially, Serena assumes that he works with the press. He reveals to her that he is a representative of the U.S. Government-In-Exile. He tries to persuade Serena to start a new life away from Gilead, offering safe passage to Honolulu and encouraging her to write a book about the Republic that they will publish.
Realizing that he seeks to use her as a propaganda tool, Mark appeals to her desire to have a baby, arguing that American scientists have been working on the fertility crisis for years and have the ability to make her fertile again. She would also be guaranteed 'freedom' (presumably not facing legal action for her involvement in the coup d'etat).
Serena states that she will never betray her country, to which Mark says that she already did.
Season Three[]
Unknown Caller[]
Mark meets Serena at the Toronto airport for her meeting with Luke Bankole and Nichole Osborne. He takes her to the terminal, telling her there is a change of clothes waiting in order for her to "blend in" as the meeting is going to take place in a public area. He then introduces Serena to Luke, and is present for the whole meeting from the sidelines.
After the meeting is over, he takes Serena back to the changing room and brings up the "treason and coconuts" offer he made to her the last time they met, Serena still refuses. He leaves her alone to change back into her standard Wife outfit. It has been suggested that the phone Serena finds in her purse with a note reading "If you need me" was put there by Mark.
Witness[]
When Serena returns to Gilead after having seen Nichole once more, she becomes increasingly desperate to see her again. After several months of failed negotiations, in an effort to facilitate another reunion with Nichole, Serena convinces Fred to meet with Mark near the Canadian border under the pretense that he would be able to help return their daughter to Gilead.
Liars[]
Mark meets Serena and Fred on the Gileadean side of the border and asks them to follow his car into a safe place where they will be able to talk just "up ahead." After reaffirming that Mark is trustworthy, Serena ultimately convinces Fred to follow his vehicle, though he becomes increasingly suspicious when he realizes that the journey is much longer than expected.
However, unbeknownst to the Waterfords, Mark had lured them across the border into Canada. Citing war crimes and documented international human rights violations, Mark carries out an arrest with the help of the Canadian military. Fred and Serena are both detained as Mark watches.
Sacrifice[]
Mark comes to Serena's prison cell to prepare for her visitation with Nichole, only saying that she has been detained. When Moira arrives with the baby, he introduces Serena to her as well as a social worker, and lays down the ground rules for the visit - Moira is to stay in the waiting room while the visitation is taking place. He hears Moira's entire diatribe against what Serena and Fred have done to her and June and takes her out of the room. Later, in Fred's cell, Fred blames him for Serena's exploitation of Nichole for her own gains. Mark replies that Serena's too smart to be manipulated and tells Fred that it should be considered an opportunity to understand Gilead a little better, He also says Luke has requested a meeting, to which Fred gives his consent. Mark introduces Luke to Fred, and leaves to let the two men talk.
The next day, Mark visits Serena with a box of pizza. When Serena implies that things like that are contraband, he simply tells her to "eat up the evidence." He also gives her a magazine and some newspapers to read, highlighting an article about media bias in relation to religion.
Mayday[]
Mark brings Serena some coffee. Serena has been allowed to spend time outside of her cell. Mark explains that the prosecutors want to go over her written testimony and that the American intelligence debriefing starts next week. Serena asks if she can decline any interviews but Mark responds that she has surrendered that right. Mark offers to push some of the sessions but she is accepts them. Serena agrees to cooperate and says that she did not surrender her rights – she traded her rights for her daughter.
Mark tells Serena that she will have permission to leave the facility next week as part of her reward for cooperating with the International Criminal Court. He leads her back inside and gives her pass allowing her to travel through Toronto. Serena looks forward to doing so without an escort.
In private, Fred asks Mark if he has worked with Liz and Murray before. When he asks if he has any preferences, Fred denies this is the case. Mark thanks Fred for his patience. Fred then tells Mark that he has some information about serious crimes committed by his wife. When Mark points out that he has made an immunity agreement with Serena that she committed her crimes under duress, Fred tells Mark that what Mrs. Waterford did was beyond the laws of Gilead and the laws of God.
Serena is cuddling Nichole when she is confronted by Mark and a female officer. While the female officer takes the child away, Mark tells Serena that he has a warrant from the ICC and the United States of America for her arrest. Mark informs her that she is charged with sexual slavery and rape. Serena protests that it was a state-sanctioned ritual that was covered by the immunity agreement. Mark counters that this charge was not under duress. While a second officer cuffs Serena, Mark tells Serena that she is charged with getting her driver Nick Blaine to rape June Osborne. Serena protests that Nick's relationship with June was consensual, but Mark tells her it was still rape. He tells the female officer to take her downstairs. Serena pleads with Mark, but he ignores her anyway.
Season 4[]
"Pigs"[]
Serena and Fred's legal meetings are unexpectedly rescheduled. Confronting Tuello, they discover that nine Marthas and eighty-six children escaped Gilead and landed in Toronto. Fred and Serena are sure that the children will be returned home to Gilead, but Tuello says that their true home has already been taken from them, and that they will be rehoused in Canada.[1]
"Nightshade"[]
Serena has a medical exam, and is questioned about abuse with Tuello nearby. Mark is present when Serena's laywer, Ms. Matthews, wishes to proceed with the strategy claiming that she was an abuse victim. She also tells Mark that it was a mistake to charge her for impregnating June, as now she is an accused sex offender and is useless as a witness against Fred.
When Serena asks Tuello for her interests to be separated from Fred's, she is stunned when he tells her that her blood test has revealed that she is pregnant.[2]
"Milk"[]
After Rita visits Serena in prison, Tuello pays her a visit at home, delivering her some interview prep material from Serena's defense attorney, who wishes Rita to corroborate that anything that happened under June's pregnancy was due to extreme duress by Fred Waterford, although he finds that Rita had no prior knowledge of Serena's request for her to confirm these allegations. Rita then tells Tuello that she was considered property in Gilead, and clearly feels betrayed by Serena taking Rita's kindness as a promise to defend her in court.[3]
"Progress"[]
Mark Tuello appears to try to help June to get out Hannah from Republic of Gilead (Series) via Commander Lawrence but failed to get him to help possibly due to the fact he has an agenda to fix or destroy Gilead from the inside or his phone is wire tapped. Then an idea by Luke Bankole to get Nick Blaine to give information about Hannah is later accepted by Mark. As June was later told that Hannah was taken to Colorado Springs and seemingly the location was so far inland to mount a snatching rescue. It is implied that the role of Mark Tuello is being part of the CIA or FBI involving overseeing operations involving Republic of Gilead (Series) that includes Mayday (TV Episode) and the The Marthas' Network. Later on June was told that charges against Fred Waterford have been dropped after agreeing to expose the leadership of Gilead and all their plans after saying letting go a little fish to go after a big fish (Fred wasn't as influential as previously believed) That led to Luke, Moira being mad stating is that how you get assets (CIA). But it led to June to almost killing Mark and threatening to kill him. So in Gilead the big fish is referring too the Committee and the actual head of Gilead who is a mystery.
"The Wilderness"[]
Tuello reminds June at her court hearing that Waterford probably will be granted immunity for his cooperation. Later on, June finds Mark Tuello and arranges an in-person meeting, with Commander Lawrence in an abandoned diner in Gilead. Lawrence eventually offers up 22 captured women who worked for the resistance in exchange for Fred Waterford. Tuello thought most of the women on the list were dead. Tuello says he’ll take the offer to his boss.
Tuello's boss accepts the deal. Tuello and some men handcuff Fred and put him in the back of an armored truck. “You’re not going to Geneva,” Mark says. Fred is furious and screams that he has rights. They drive to the border where Fred is handed off to Gilead in exchange for the women.
Season 5[]
Throughout season 5, Mark Tuello is a contact for June and Luke. Mark also tries to help Serena, who decides to deflect back to Gilead. He advises her to seek asylum in Canada but she doesn't take his advice. He tells her goodbye and releases her from custody of the U.S. government.
Tuello updates June and Luke about Hannah when he can. He is trying to help them find her but is largely unsuccessful until they bring him some intel on Hannah's location. He sends in military troops to rescue the girls but the mission is a failure and Tuello is upset at having lost some good men. He attends 19 funerals in 5 days.
Tuello successfully convinces Nick to be a Gilead mole and to send him information. In exchange, he promises to protect June. At the end of season 5, a warrant is out for Luke's arrest and he and June decide to run. Tuello intervenes, warning them that he will be caught at the airport. He gives them train tickets and advises them to go West.
Trivia[]
Mark is seen in Progress with Personal Security meaning whatever he works for in the United States of America government it must be high ranking with a Diplomat rank.