Faithful

Faithful
Season 1
Episode 5
Air date	May 10, 2017
Directed by	Mike Barker
Teleplay by	Dorothy Fortenberry
Episodes
Previous	Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum
Next	A Woman's Place

Faithful is the fifth episode of the first season of The Handmaid's Tale.

Synopsis

Serena grows more desperate for a child, and comes up with a solution. Meanwhile, Offred meets an old friend.

Plot

Offred and Commander Fred continue their nightly game of Scrabble. On one of these nights, the Commander gives Offred a present; a fashion magazine from before the fall of the United States. Offred has a flashback of her husband, Luke, and how he was married to another woman when they first met.

Serena Joy calls Offred outside to tell her she's asked Nick to try and impregnate Offred. She suspects the Commander is infertile, so before the Ceremony, Serena Joy plans to take Offred to Nick's apartment.

While grocery shopping, Offred and a few other Handmaids run into Ofsteven (formerly Ofglen) where Offred learns about Mayday. The new Ofglen grabs Offred before she can learn anything else. She tells Offred that she used to be a junkie, and that she likes being a Handmaid because she has a safe place to sleep and her people are nice.

Before she goes to Nick's apartment, Offred has another flashback of Luke. They've been meeting up for innocent lunches, and she learns that Luke hasn't told his wife about them. They have an affair, and we learn that Luke leaves his first wife for June.

In present time, Serena Joy secretly brings Offred to Nick's apartment, where she waits as they have quick, Ceremony-esque sex. They finish, and Serena Joy tells Offred to lie down in her room after saying a prayer to encourage her to become pregnant.

Emily and her new Mistress

Emily (as Ofsteven) is seen playing with the dog outside her Commander's house. Grace comes out and suggests to skip the Ceremony tonight because she "might be getting the flu". Emily reminds her she can't be sick every month.

"Better never means better for everyone"
 (Recurring Phrases/Better for everyone)

Later that night, during the Ceremony, the Commander touches Offred's thigh and looks at her, which is forbidden. Later, she tries to tell him so, but is scolded, called an adulteress, and told to leave. In their ensuing conversation, the Commander admits that while they thought they were building a better world, they knew that "better never means better for everyone; it always means worse for some." Offred gets sick and goes to throw up in the kitchen sink, where she runs into Nick. She asks him if he's an Eye, and he tells her yes. He apologizes for their earlier encounter and explains that he couldn't say no to Serena Joy.

The next day, at the market, Offred runs into Ofsteven, who encourages her to find Mayday. She also tells Offred her real name, Emily, before stealing a car and running over one of the guards. She's taken away as the Handmaids look in horror.

"Ofglen" revealing her real name  (Relationships/Offred and Ofglen)

Upon arriving home, Offred sneaks into Nick's apartment, where they have enthusiastic sex.

Trivia

• Emily steals a black 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse (W221).  (Vehicles)

Cast

Starring

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Waterford
• Alexis Bledel as Emily Malek
• Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
• Max Minghella as Nick Blaine
• Samira Wiley as Moira Strand

Guest Starring

• Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
• Tattiawna Jones as Lillie Fuller

Additional Cast

• Nina Kiri as Alma
• Paula Boudreau as Grace Williams
• Bahia Watson as Brianna
• Jenessa Grant as Dolores
• David Chinchilla as Guardian

Music

• "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" — Kylie Minogue, hot-dog stand flashback.
• "I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl" — Nina Simone, closing credits.

Notes

• This is the final appearance of Emily in season 1.