The handmaids tale-thread 6

[SisterNotCisTerf]

Let’s get June out of there!

Now we know about the bible it makes me realise that Eden could have read the letters that Nick had hidden, but she never mentioned it or dobbed him in. Why, if she is so.pious, she never seemed to have much sympathy for june or handmaids.

Perhaps Eden was also unsure of who could be trusted?

Her piety was expected of her so she could well just been playing that role, for fear of being found wanting.

Much as I wanted June together in the car, how could she? She was sat close to Eden's mother as they watched Eden thrown to her death...to know this is a very real possibility for her daughter,how could she leave her behind,?

He clearly loved his daughter, but he turned her in without question.

I was wondering if he did or if he has pulled the old Waterford trick of changing the story to save his own skin. The same way Waterford spun the runaway handmaid into being “taken against her will”, I wondered if Edens parents maybe tried to help Eden and Isaac escape or at least shelter them until they knew they were caught and then called it in themselves as if Eden and Isaac hadn’t just arrived.

I’m sure there were two people in the front of the C Lawrence’s vehicle.
I was thinking it might be Aunt Lydia bound and gagged, for fun.

I was just reading that CL character was inspired by Oppenheimer - father of the atomic bomb. I'd not read much about him before so very interesting about his later life after he saw what it did.

I think the comments about Nichole needing a feed and nappy change are a tiny bit silly. No offence meant here but, lack of food for some hours and a sore and possibly smelly bum, or growing up in gilead and possibly being hurt much more and for a lot longer? I know which I would rather, and seeing what happened to Eden and seeing a trusted face in Emily, I don’t think I could have left either. Not while knowing I had another daughter and knowing I might never get back in who could be given to someone very nasty in years to come and possibly dead. Nichole doesn’t know her really and won’t remember her, as long as she is cared for outside of gilead, she will be fine. That’s how I see it anyway.

I think the other person with C Lawrence was his driver.

I agree quack. A lot of babies will have lived long happy lives after being shoved quickly into coats or bags or suitcases carried by strangers and travelling without nappy changes or milk for a day.

Ah ok

I agree Quack too. Child / baby refugees arrive in a far worse state than a smelly bum and a bit hungry. She'll be alright assuming they escape safely.

We were discussing books on the last thread and I had another one that has sprung to mind after talk of escaping. Yeong mi Park - in order to live. It's her autobiography about escaping from North Korea. A lot of related issues to those on THT.

When Waterford said he wanted an obedient woman, I thought no you dont. He liked it when June hit him back. He asked her to stay after that, was practically begging her. Serena can't win though. She was obedient to him and he got bored of her. Now she's feisty he just wishes she'd shut up because he's had enough of her and has moved on to June.

I think next season will see the end of Fred and possibly Serena. He has lost his handmaid three times in a row now, and that's not including his previous handmaid. He's allowed his daughter to be taken to Canada. His drivers wife was found to be 'unfaithful '. His wife has just publicly challenged one of the basic laws of Gilead and has led the other wives into a rebellion. He's also been very snidey to at least one of the other commanders about their personal situations. He hasn't exactly won friends.

Although I'd love for them to survive till the end of Gilead and watch them stand trial for their crimes. And I include Serena in that. She held June down while her husband raped her. She only worried about the state sponsored violence when it dawned on her that it could happen to her or her daughter.

For those concerned about spoilers, there are some, like me, who can't bear the angst and read threads titled so clearly that I know damn well I will learn what happend, and can thereby watch the beauty of the show in peace. I chose this thread for that v reason! !! (I honestly don't think I have a 3rd series in me - I can't bear the sadness. )

I wonder who CLs driver is. If they can drive unhindered to Canada is it someone who won't be stopped/questioned?

2 quick questions, as was slightly distracted by the ironing yesterday?

1. What did June scrawl on her bedroom wall before leaving? I am assuming something non-complimentary but...?

1. Why all of a sudden all the sirens and police? If C.L didn't report Emily for killing A.L then I assume it's nothing to do with that. Or did Marthas commit arson to create a distraction? I feel I missed something here.

All the sirens and police were for the fire over the road from the Waterford's

It was a diversion.

She wrote Nolite Bastardes Carborundum

(Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down)

I think the comments about Nichole needing a feed and nappy change are a tiny bit silly. No offence meant here but, lack of food for some hours and a sore and possibly smelly bum, or growing up in gilead and possibly being hurt much more and for a lot longer?

I've thought about this some more but I still disagree. All this is based on "a few hours", but June doesn't have Google. She might have a loose idea of how far the border is from pre-Gilead days, but she has no concept of whether those roads even still existnket alone whether they can use them. And the first she's heard of the plan was about half an hour ago, so she doesn't know actually what is going to happen next. What if the van is just to get them out of Boston and they are supposed to make the rest of the journey on foot? What if they're supposed to hide out in a cabin in the woods for a week until things calm down / the bribed official comes on duty / whatever. June's last escape attempt involved her hiding for weeks in that abandoned warehouse for example.

I realise she's in a Sophie's choice situation and having two daughters myself I can't even begin to imagine what I would do. But I don't think it's as easy as "just 3-4 hours by car" then she's home and dry.

Also, yes there are extraordinary stories of children being saved from life or death situations. The reason they are so extraordinary is that sadly the others all died.

I do realise I'm massively overthinking a plot device which is clearly necessary so June can do whatever resistance work she needs to. She can't be a badass while carting round a newborn!

I think the comments about Nichole needing a feed and nappy change are a tiny bit silly.

I don’t think so. It was an instinctive thought on my part as the baby I have at home is and always has been a hungry little bugger and whenever she’s away from me for more than an hour my first thought is ‘what am I going to do about feeding her’

I agree that it probably isn't just a 3-4 hour drive even if it is geographically. If it was that easy June would've got out before. But I also agree that babies can be temporarily kept going in less than perfect surroundings/circumstances.

Tangelas that book sounds very interesting. I don’t know much about the regime in North Korea. One for my amazon wish list.

Yes it's probably longer and it's certainly not ideal but some babies sleep through the night early on (not any of mine!) so that might be 8 hours without a feed. They could use snow to stop her getting dehydration if it's a couple of days. She would probably be very cross or poorly though.
I agree it feels quite clunky plot wise though. When June was escaping she was in the newspaper office for a long time so she knows it's not simple.

I don’t think it was just one fire as a distraction, when the camera zoomed out there were lots of fires.

I think Fred won’t be there for the next series. Wonder what happens to wives when their husband’s die? Would Serena become a Martha? Remarry?

As the underground Marthas seemed v well organised, could June also have thought they will organised some provisions including formula? The driver of the getaway van that Emily got into could have formula already packed?

It’s not the few hours without a bit of milk or a clean nappy that was my concern (obviously babies survive much worse). It’s the prospect of a screaming hungry newborn attracting unwanted attention! We don’t know that they are taking a direct route to Canada (unlikely!) or what the rest of the journey will involve, on foot etc.