The Handmaid's Tale
Wednesdays on HuluThe Handmaid's Tale Season 4 Episode 9: "Progress" Quotes
June: I’m sorry. Luke, I’m so sorry.
Luke: They put Hannah in that situation. Those fucking animals. Whatever happened there, that is on them. That is not on you.
June: She’s safe now. Nick told me. She’s back home.
Luke: She’s home? Home is here. Home is here with us.
June: I know.
Luke: We have to find her and bring her to Canada.
June: How? How do we do that from here?
Luke: We can do it. We can do it together. June, I promise you we can do it together.
Commander Lawrence: You must want something.
June: I need your help. It’s about getting Hannah.
Commander Lawrence: Again with this?
June: She’s my daughter.
Commander Lawrence: And you’re mother of the year. What a nightmare you’ve been for her. Just leave the poor kid alone.
June: She needs to be with me and her father.
Commander Lawrence: Does she? Honestly, does she, June? She has a lovely home.
June: That is not her home.
Commander Lawrence: It’s all she knows. You want to rip her out of there?
June: No one will love her like we do.
Commander Lawrence: Your love fucks people up. You’re a fountain of heartache and trouble.
Commander Lawrence: You’ll have to do better. Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll get you Hannah if you get me 10 of the kids you flew out of here. I hear a lot of them are struggling. They miss their parents in Gilead.
June: You know we’re never giving those children back.
Commander Lawrence: Come on. That’s how you negotiate? The June I know would bargain at least to save her daughter, say five of those kids for Hannah.
June: I can’t. No.
Commander Lawrence: Wow, you’ve gone soft in Toronto. It must be all that maple syrup.
June: We love her. We’re her family. Joseph, I know you are a good man.
Commander Lawrence: I’ve heard they’re hard to find. Now is not the time for me to stir up any trouble.
June: I promise you we will do everything we can to protect you.
Commander Lawrence: June, you’re free. You’re free. Try to be grateful for that and move on.
Fred: We’re beacons of hope. Read this.
Serena: Am I allowed now? Now that nobody’s watching?
Fred: I’ve made mistakes. If only we could start over.
Serena: Well, we can’t Fred. Here we are.
Fred: Yeah, well, god has a plan for us. We must carry on, raise our boy, spread the lord’s word, be ready to listen. You know the world should hear your voice again. Write a book. You’ve done it before.
Aunt #1: Except what commander would want a girl with her history?
Aunt Lydia: Any family would be blessed to have Janine. She has given two beautiful children to Gilead.
Aunt #2: Exactly why she should be sent to the breeding colonies as was the original plan.
Aunt Lydia: We must not forget how valuable she has been in this district. If it hadn’t been for Janine’s intervention, that poor Putnam child never would have survived.
Aunt #1: Perhaps, but any special treatment. Consider the precedent.
Aunt Lydia: Thank you for your suggestions. I will give them careful considerations and make my decision.
Aunt Lydia: You’ll be all right, dear. I’ll take care of you.
Janine: I actually wanted to say something about Mrs. Keyes, Esther. She’s not as tough you think. She’s just acting that way because she’s scared. She had a really hard life on the farm. She was abused, not just by her husband but by a lot of men. I just think you should know that.
Aunt Lydia: I see. Well, we have tried to be understanding with her. She is a difficult girl.
Janine: Maybe, she needs to feel safe here. Like if she’s refusing to eat, maybe if someone told her what would happen if you don’t obey. I just think she deserves a chance before you…
Aunt Lydia: I will put Esther’s correction on hold for now.
Luke: There’s someone else I think could help: Nick ‘cause he knew that Hannah had gone back to the McKenzies, so he might know where she lives or could find out.
June: Yeah, I mean maybe. I don’t know.
Luke: He’s a commander now, big man. He’s got access, so we should probably ask him before that changes.
June: Yeah, OK. Maybe Tuello could set up a call.
Luke: So you think Nick would help?
June: I think he would do anything for me and for Nichole.
Luke: I don’t think you should call with people listening and stuff. It would probably be better to meet him in person. Just make it safe. Some place protected.
June: You want me to meet with Nick?
Luke: No, no I don’t want you to meet with Nick, but you said he’d do anything for you. So this is our best chance to get Hannah, and so, I think you should take Nichole with you. How’s he going to say no to you if you bring him his daughter. So what do you think?
June: I think we have to try everything for Hannah.
Naomi: I want you to know if this ordeal isn't over by the time the baby comes, it would be an honor to raise him in our home.
Serena: That’s very kind of you.
Naomi: You don’t want strangers in Canada to do it. It would still be yours, of course, if you’re released.
Serena: Although Fred’s prospects are less optimistic, I expect to be free once proceedings are over with. It’ll be a fresh start with our son.
Naomi: Well, that’s wonderful. You can come home. That baby belongs in Gilead. You both do.
Serena: I don’t think the commanders feel the same way.
Naomi: Oh nonsense. You’ll return with your own child like a hero.
Warren: You stayed loyal to Gilead. True to god’s word.
Fred: From god I draw strength. I feel him with me every moment. I hope to say the same for my fellow commanders.
Warren: I apologize. We should have reached out sooner.
Fred: Out of sight, out of mind.
Warren: Not at all. It pains me Fred, knowing your situation but priorities. The damage done when all those children were stolen, it’s been difficult for us to repair.
Fred: I can imagine.
Warren: Well, I pressed to retaliate, but old warhorses like us, we’re being put out to pasture.
Fred: As you can see, my pasture is rather small and fenced in. Has there been any negotiation on my behalf?
Warren: Such as?
Fred: A prisoner exchange, a promise to advance more humanitarian efforts.
Warren: What if we negotiate?
Fred: Yes, what if?
Warren: We’d embolden more kidnappings, more commanders being held hostage. Think of the precedent.
Fred: I’m thinking of my years of service to the republic. I’m thinking of my wife and my son.
Warren: We will continue to send you our thoughts and prayers.
Janine: I was actually kind of relieved when they picked me up, even though they brought me back here.
Esther: Nothing is worse than here. So is June still in Chicago?
Janine: Forget June. She’s not here. We’re here, and you have to take care of yourself now. If you keep misbehaving, there will be consequences, OK. So you’re going to have to eat for them too and not just for me.
Esther: You didn’t sneak in. They sent you. Go on and call your aunt friends. I don’t care what they do to me.
Janine: Yes, you do. They’re not going to let you die. They will keep hurting you again and again until you do what they say. That is their job. It’s no big deal. You just have to eat. You need to stay alive so you can be here when things get better.
Nick: June, freedom agrees with you.
June: Thanks. So, how’s it all going down there in Gilead.
Nick: Hanging in there.
June: Poor choice of words. Thank you for meeting me.
Nick: Thanks for inviting me.
Nick: Getting her out’s impossible. There are guardians everywhere. At least you know where she is now, and I’m here to do what I can.
June: You did all this for me?
Nick: I should have run away with you when I had the chance.
June: Probably should have gone to that beach in Hawaii.
