Household is the 6th episode of the third season of The Handmaid's Tale.
Synopsis[]
June accompanies the Waterfords to Washington D.C., where a powerful family offers a glimpse of the future of Gilead. June makes an important connection as she attempts to protect Nichole.
Plot[]
The episode opens with several Marthas and Econowives praying for the return of Nichole to Gilead. June prays for their prayers to go unanswered and for Serena to realize that Nichole is safer in Canada and for her to tell Fred to stop and for them to be hit by a truck.
At Commander Lawrence's household, Lawrence tells June that Fred wants to enlist her help in forcing the Canadians to repatriate his daughter. June tells Lawrence not to call Nichole Fred's daughter. Lawrence tells her that the Waterfords are participating in a public prayer in Washington to implore the Canadians to return Nichole.
June and Aunt Lydia travel on a train to Washington, D.C. On the way, June notices from the window that the Washington Monument has been converted from an obelisk to a massive cross. At the new train station, she and Aunt Lydia take an escalator, and June mentions that she misses the old Union Station. Aunt Lydia retorts that it was designed by a heretic, and was "destroyed for the glory of Gilead". She tells a frowning June that nobody likes a "sourpuss". Before leaving, Aunt Lydia tells June to go to her "spot" (which is a literal giant red spot on the floor) and warns her to be a "good girl." June notices that the Washington D.C. handmaids all wear veils on their necks that cover their mouths.
June walks to her spot over a large Gileadean emblem and greets the other Handmaids and a local Aunt, who welcome her to Washington. June is joined by Fred and Serena, who tell her that they are guests of High Commander George Winslow. June walks with Rita, who tells her that the baby is the only thing that Serena ever wanted.
June and the Waterfords travel to Commander Winslow's house. Serena thinks they should have stayed in a hotel but Fred reassures them that Commander Winslow is humble and "down to earth." June and the Waterfords wait in the living room with two birds in a cage. Winslow greets the Waterfords, and then he and Fred talk about the preparations for their prayer ceremony.
George's surrogate daughter, Polly, greets her father and the guests. She is joined by Winslow’s other children (of several different races and/or ethnicities) who hug their father. Commander Winslow's wife Olivia greets the guests and introduces her children to the Waterfords. Serena holds the Winslow's infant child in her arms.
June leaves the living room with two Marthas, one of whom is Rita, who take her up a flight of stairs to her quarters. They tell her to stay with Ofgeorge before leaving. June passes by a photo of the Winslow family, who have three sons and three daughters.
Serena and Fred settle into their room. Fred regards the Winslow family’s numerous children as a miracle. When Serena asks about the Canadians, Fred tells her that the Canadians are seeking a neutral intermediary before talking about their media campaign. Before leaving the room to do some work, he leaves their wedding ring behind for Serena. In private, Serena studies the slip of paper which Mark Tuello gave her in Toronto.
In her room, June tries to make conversation with Ofgeorge only to discover, when her roommate removes the veil that covers her mouth, that her lips have rings in them to prevent her from speaking. June is horrified by the treatment forced onto Ofgeorge and the other DC handmaids.
Scenes with Nick in DC
The following day, June and the other handmaids form a semicircle around a statute of angel wings. Aunt Lydia, curious about the mouth veils, pulls Ofgeorge's down slightly and sadly notices her bound lips. Fred asks June and Serena to stand in front of the statue. When June asks how many videos he is going to do, Serena replies, "As many as it takes". Nick, newly appointed as a Commander, enters the chamber and speaks with Fred. He has been sent by Commander Lawrence to keep watch.
While posing for a photo, Commander Nick stands beside June and the two briefly hold hands. Fred then stands beside June and Serena for the video shoot. June and the other handmaids kneel while Fred recites the prayers.
At the Winslow household, June enters the living room where the Marthas are attending to the children. June greets Serena. She tells Serena that she knows Serena doesn't want this. Serena, still bitter about Nichole, is initially reluctant to talk to June. June says that Nichole didn't change this place and that she deserves better than Gilead.
Fred asks Rita to steam his jacket. He tells Serena and June that the Canadians have asked the Swiss to act as their diplomatic intermediary with Canada and conduct interviews. Fred reassures Serena and tells June to put on a clean dress because they want to make a good impression.
June and the Waterfords travel to a large building. Having interviewed the Waterfords, the Swiss diplomat, Mattias, insists on speaking to June alone, now known as Ofjoseph. Fred says that it is not appropriate in their culture; however, the Swiss official insists on speaking to June alone if she has no objection, which she does not. Before the interview, Serena warns her not to be stupid.
When the Swiss team asks June how she wants to be addressed, June chooses her birth name. She agrees to speak if the guards leave the room. June tells the Swiss diplomats that she is the child's mother and, as such, she insists that Nichole stays in Canada. Sofia says she understands her feelings but that the situation is complicated.
June tells the diplomats that Fred is not the child's father, which the Swiss already learned from their associates in Canada who told them about the audio cassette June sent Luke. June asks if Nichole can stay there if that is what both of their parents want. Mattias explains that Gilead is a powerful country that Canada wants to avoid antagonizing. June asks what she can do to guarantee that Nichole remains in Canada,
Lena asks for intelligence about Gilead. June offers to put them in contact with a Commander, hinting that it would be Nick. Mattias is doubtful this will succeed but June says that she will persuade Nick. Sofia asks if she is still in a relationship with Nick. June says it is complicated. Mattias says that if "Commander Blaine" talks with them it will help them to protect Nichole. He tells June to bring them Commander Blaine and they will have a deal. June shakes Mattias’ hand before leaving.
Commander Winslow chats with Commander Waterford while playing snooker. Regarding the Swiss mediation as a triumph, Winslow and Waterford drink a toast to the latter. Winslow also hints that he can arrange a promotion for Waterford which would move him to DC. In an awkward moment, while he leans over the table to take a shot, Winslow places his hand on Fred's shoulder. Polly suddenly bursts into the room and invites her father and Fred for a tea party. Her father enthusiastically accepts as does Fred.
Serena socializes with Mrs. Winslow, who says she is prepared to tolerate his vices. She tells Serena that she and her husband used to work as corporate lawyers and had no time for a family before the establishment of Gilead. Olivia also reassures Serena that she will have a family one day. Fred plays with a toy lion, and is about to offer Serena a toy kettle, but Polly grabs it.
Later that night, June secretly meets with Nick outside the Winslow household and embraces him. She tells Nick that she made a secret deal with the Swiss to pass them information. Nick is reluctant and says the Swiss are politicians with their own agenda. June replies she also has her own agenda. June tells Nick that this is his one chance to be a father to their daughter.
The following day, June is surprised to see Lena, one of the Swiss diplomats, at the Winslow household. The diplomat tells her that they are recommending that discussions continue. June is opposed to the idea of bringing Nichole back to Gilead. June is upset that Nick Blaine won’t be part of the discussions. Lena replies that she does not know who Nick is and who he was. She says that their research indicates that he is not to be trusted. June offers to talk to Nick but she tells him that he has left for Chicago.
Fred and Serena soon arrive. Fred asks Lena if she wants to watch the taping, but she replies that she will wait for the finished product. June asks Serena what Nick did before he worked as their driver. Serena replies that Nick served Gilead. When June asks for details, Serena tells her that Nick served as a soldier in the Crusades and that they wouldn’t be here without him. Serena senses that June is shocked that Nick didn't disclose his past.
Meanwhile, Nick travels along the compartments of a train where he is saluted by Gilead soldiers.
Later, Aunt Lydia inspects June in her room, where June tells her she is tired. Aunt Lydia hands her a veil to put over her mouth. June asks Aunt Lydia if she wants them all to be silent, and she reassures June that she does not want that. Aunt Lydia admits that the trip is tiring but that she still tries to think of the good that she can do in God’s world. She says that if she can just help one soul that is enough for her. Lydia tells June that she cares about her, before hugging and comforting her. A tearful June asks Aunt Lydia to help her put the mask on her face and Lydia does, securing it with the clasps at the back.
June arrives at the Lincoln Memorial where she sees the statue of Abraham Lincoln has been beheaded and his speeches, engraved in the walls, have been destroyed. Serena approaches her from behind; seeing the mask on June's face, she says that the silence is a welcome change. June tells her to return the favor and walks away but Serena tells her to stop. Serena says that after they go home they will be free of each other. June replies that Serena will never be free of her until both of June's children are safe. Serena says that is her constant prayer for Nichole. June angrily tells Serena that she trusted her to give Nichole a better life, and Serena counters that she trusted June to stay with Nichole. June says she named the child Nichole to honor her but she still will not let her go. Serena says that she loves Nichole but June says that Serena doesn’t know how to love. She tells Serena that she built this whole world of Gilead just to have someone but that it did not work. June tells Serena that she is small, cold, and empty, and that she will always be empty. Serena angrily says that she should have put a ring in her mouth the day they met; June replies that she should have let her burn in the fire. Serena walks away while June touches her head against the desecrated statue of Abraham Lincoln. She stares at the statue before donning her cap and pulling the veil back over her mouth.
Between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, lining the Reflecting Pool, huge contingents of handmaids are gathered. Fred and Serena stand before them and June joins them. Fred leads the assembled masses in prayer. June kneels after a deliberate delay and the other handmaids follow.
Fred tells them that children are a heritage from the Lord, likening them to arrows in the hands of a warrior. He quotes Psalm 127:3-5 before asking God to hear their state-wide televised prayer.
Trivia[]
- Nick is promoted to a Field Commander.
- Serena knows details of Nick's life prior to his first encounter with her husband, which happened only after the rise of Gilead.[1]
Cast[]
Starring
- Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
- Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford
- Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Waterford
- Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
- Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
- Max Minghella as Nick Blaine
- Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence
Guest Starring
- Christopher Meloni as George Winslow
- Elizabeth Reaser as Olivia Winslow
- Ashleigh LaThrop as Ofmatthew
- Kirrilee Berger as Ofgeorge
- Sarah McVie as Lena
- Gord Rand as Mattias
- Tara Rosling as Sofia
Additional Cast
- Melody Shang as Praying Martha #1
- Sarah Mitchell as Praying Martha #2
- Krystle Ferdinand as Praying Econowife #1
- Emma Gibbs as Praying Econowife #2
- Rebecca Singh as D.C. Station Aunt Guard
- Imali Perera as Martha Tamara
- Maria Nash as Polly Winslow
- Ronin Harris as Micah
- Thandie Quiambao as Sadie
- Chris D'Silva as Tom
- Charlie Luborsky as Jonas
Quotes[]
Gallery[]
Music[]
- "Everyday" — Buddy Holly, closing Ofjoseph's meeting with the delegation.
Notes[]
References[]
| Season 1 | Offred | Birth Day | Late | Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum | Faithful | A Woman's Place The Other Side | Jezebels | The Bridge | Night | |
| June | Unwomen | Baggage | Other Women | Seeds | First Blood | After | Women's Work Smart Power | The Last Ceremony | Holly | Postpartum | The Word | ||
| Night | Mary and Martha | Useful | God Bless the Child | Unknown Caller Household | Under His Eye | Unfit | Heroic | Witness | Liars | Sacrifice | Mayday | ||
| Pigs | Nightshade | The Crossing | Milk | Chicago | Vows | Home | Testimony Progress | The Wilderness | ||
| Morning | Ballet | Border | Dear Offred | Fairytale | Together | No Man's Land | Motherland | Allegiance | Safe | ||
| Train | Exile | Devotion | Promotion | Janine | Surprise | Shattered | Exodus | [[]] | [[]] | ||