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Witness

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Witness is the 10th episode of the third season of The Handmaid's Tale.

Synopsis[]

June must deal with a devious ploy on the part of Commander Waterford.

Plot[]

June returns from the hospital to the Lawrence home still hobbling and Aunt Lydia advises her to take a nap, adding they’re home just in time for this month’s Ceremony. The books and art at the Lawrence home are gone from most of the rooms, as a response to some new regulations Commander Waterford has put forth since returning from Washington, D.C.

In the kitchen, Beth is surrounded by baskets of scones. “Scones mean no”, which June learns means the Marthas' network won’t be able to get any more black market mood-stabilizing medicine for Mrs. Lawrence, who is getting worse. Later, though she is impressed with June's plan to move children out of "this deadly hellscape", Beth dismisses June's plan as a suicide mission.

Upstairs, Eleanor and Joseph argue loudly. She kicks him out of her room and he retreats to his study; June follows him and notices that most of the missing books have been stuffed here. She urges him to "get a truck, get [Eleanor] out, and get her the help that she needs." In a voice-over, June realizes he’s scared and sees his fear as a "great motivator".

At Loaves and Fishes, Alma denies June’s request for help. Chimes then sound for "another" inspection, as Alma confirms. Aunt Lydia gathers all the handmaids to welcome “our very special visitors”, High Commander Winslow (accompanied by the Waterfords). Fred shares some strange small talk with June raising the idea of arranging her transfer to D.C. to which June reminds him that his "wife is here." Meanwhile, Winslow is irked that Janine is wearing a non-regulation eyepatch and that none of the women are wearing the mouth rings and veils that the D.C. handmaids do. Fred notes that they’re rolling it out slowly.

At home, Commander Lawrence is out to a meeting. June sneaks into his office and starts poking around in his files. As she is caught by Eleanor, she confesses to be looking for her "friends' children." Eleanor leads her to the basement where Joseph keeps the Red Center dossiers. Downstairs, June sits on the ground and starts poring through several boxes of the handmaids' files. She eventually finds her own. When she suggests Eleanor leave Gilead along with her husband, Eleanor declines. She points out that Joseph has the record of a war criminal and would be jailed - or killed - as soon as he crosses the border, admitting "he would deserve it". She leaves June alone with the files. June learns that Janine’s son, Caleb, died four years earlier in a car accident, remarking that it’s been five years since she and the other handmaids were detained.

Meanwhile, Fred convinces Winslow that Gilead needs to “set an example” with June’s Commander, who’s had four handmaids and no children. He claims this might indicate a lack of discipline and being "unfit to lead his household" would prove him "unfit to lead Gilead." They decide to attend the Ceremony at the Lawrence house that evening.

Beth beckons a surprised June to the sitting room where Winslow and the Waterfords have gathered. June recalls they used to send "bearing witnesses" in the first months of Gilead when some households resisted the Ceremony. After some Bible verses, Joseph, Eleanor and June go upstairs to the bedroom.

Joseph suggests waiting for a while and then simply going back downstairs, but June reminds him that a doctor would check her afterwards, which enrages Eleanor. June points out they have to do something. An upset and emotional Eleanor is sent to an adjacent room. June coaches her commander to "treat it like a job and see it from the outside, as a transaction." Afterward, Joseph goes down to his study without a word to their guests. The doctor, Dr. Michaels, checks June out, and Aunt Lydia announces that it’s been “a successful ceremony.”

Serena later accuses her husband of getting "distracted" while they haven't made any progress on bringing Nichole home for months. She pulls out the satellite phone Mark Tuello slipped her in Toronto, making clear they could get their daughter back in exchange for some "cooperation".


 (Relationships/Joseph and June)

After everyone leaves, Lawrence passes June a packet of birth-control pills, with June stating that the punishment for contraception is being torn apart by dogs. He then promises to get her a truck to get his wife out of Gilead. June suggests that he come along, bringing some stolen children of Gilead with them, which makes Mr. Lawrence consider becoming a hero.

The next day at Loaves and Fishes, June brings Alma news of her son, who is five and lives in Amherst with a Commander and his family. She adds that her truck will fit ten people, but she’s not going to be one of them since she won’t leave without Hannah. Janine also offers to help and asks about Caleb. To spare Janine's feelings, June lies that his family was transferred to California. Janine is comforted by the idea of her son playing on the beach.


Muffins mean yes  (The Marthas' Network)

When she returns home, June finds the kitchen covered with muffin baskets. Since muffins mean yes, the Martha network will help June get kids out of Gilead. June realizes she’s going to need a "bigger boat".

Trivia[]

  • The episode documents the first time Commander Lawrence leaves home for a meeting. Commanders normally visit him. See also: Useful
  • Alma's son were taken at the same time as Hannah and their mothers were detained together in the Red Center. Alma's son was then only a few months old. (Children in Gilead)

Quotes[]

Notes[]

  • "We're going to need a bigger boat" is a quote from the movie Jaws. (Cultural References/Movies and TV)
  • It's confirmed that Mark was the one who put the phone in Serena's purse. See also: Unknown Caller
  • Under the laws of Gilead, anyone possessing contraceptives would be punished by being ripped apart by dogs as mentioned by June. (Laws in Gilead)
  • Baskets of baked goods are how the Martha network answers questions about resistance plans (The Marthas' Network).
  • While the idea of handmaids wearing mouth rings and veils are brought up in this episode, {spoiler} they’re never mentioned again. This could be due to the (unexpected) death of Winslow, forestalling DC’s influence on Boston. {/spoiler}

Cast[]

Starring

Guest Starring

Additional Cast

  • Yahsmin Daviault as June's Aunt
  • Stephanie Ng Wan as Fearful Handmaid
  • Eric Craig as Dr. Michaels

Gallery[]

Music[]

References[]

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