- 12 hours ago
The Testaments Season 1 Episode 1
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TVTranscript
00:00Hello, this is the 4-minute service line, 999.
00:04Turn your dial to 101.6.
00:07999.6.
00:0910.0.
00:1110.0.
00:1210.0.
00:1310.0.
00:1410.0.
00:2610.0.
00:58You want to know what it was like
00:59for me growing up in Gilead.
01:03I'm ashamed to say that I believed in Gilead once.
01:07I guess it's easier to accept a story, even a childish one,
01:12rather than believe that the people around you are monsters.
01:20Blessed morning, I guess.
01:22In this story I'm telling, I'm not really sure what year it was.
01:27Sorry, it's hard to remember actual dates because girls were forbidden to have calendars.
01:33Just reading one could cost you a finger.
01:44You learn to mark time in other ways.
01:47I know I still had my dollhouse.
01:50It looked just like our real house.
01:54It had my bedroom and the dining room, a wife's parlor, even an attic where the Martha slept.
02:13I was a plum.
02:16I didn't have my period yet.
02:19In my world then, I made all the difference.
02:23It was all we wanted, and it also terrified us.
02:33I know what to do now that I've got a man like you.
02:40Sometimes, it can be so cool, baby, don't look cool.
02:45I know what to do now that I've got a man like you.
02:53Sometimes, it can be so cool, baby, don't look cool.
03:03The Commander doll was always doing very important work.
03:06Just like my father, keeping us safe from heretics and mayday terrorists.
03:26The Martha dolls were always busy.
03:29But at night, they would let the little girls all sit in the kitchen with them.
03:33They would make her cinnamon toast, and they would all talk.
03:43There is a wife doll. In blue, of course.
03:47That would be Paula, who was my new stepmother then.
03:52Blessed morning, Agnes, dear.
03:53Rosa, how's your leg? Please tell me it's better.
03:56Yes, ma'am.
03:58It's kind of you to ask.
03:59Praise be his mercy.
04:02The high dusting is catching up with us, I'm afraid.
04:05Yes, ma'am. I'll do that after the Commander's meeting.
04:12Thank you, Zilla.
04:14Zilla was new.
04:16Her tongue was removed as punishment before she was posted with us.
04:20Probably for blasphemy.
04:22That was a big one for some wives.
04:24Well, she's certainly an improvement.
04:27That last one we had was a chatty Cathy.
04:29Sometimes, when I was playing with the dollhouse, I would lock the Paula doll in the attic.
04:35Which was not nice.
04:37The Paula doll would pound on the door and scream, but the little girl doll would pay no attention.
04:42And sometimes she would laugh.
04:44Is that the new skirt?
04:47Up then.
04:52Well, don't you look pretty as a picture.
04:58Mother.
05:00Hmm.
05:01I was worried to make you look gawky.
05:03But no.
05:10Praise be his mercy.
05:12For not making me look too gawky.
05:15I'm an irritant to Paula.
05:19She wants me married and gone.
05:22I was born in this sinful before world.
05:26Please keep the count of your fingers.
05:28We don't want to get cancer.
05:29Yes, then.
05:33But don't slouch, dear.
05:35Southing girls get fat husbands.
05:48Good luck there, Father.
05:52It was a morning, Miss Harris.
05:58under his eyes.
05:58Bye.
05:59Bye. Bye, Rosa.
06:16Once, when we were pinks, I smiled at a boy on the playground.
06:20Leons taped my mouth shut and made me stand in the dining hall for two days,
06:23holding the sign for a slut.
06:25That was for smiling.
06:26I wonder what would happen if I kissed one.
07:04When we became plums, we started going on the field trips.
07:09We were fun.
07:10Some parts more than others.
07:22I got you!
07:30I met you in a restaurant.
07:46Come along, girls.
07:48Come on, girls.
07:49Quick, quick.
07:50And tell you about my dreamin', dreamin' is free, dreamin', dreamin' is free, I don't want to live on charity,
08:10measure's real or is it fantasy?
08:20Gross. Hold it enough. God's justice is beautiful. I'm sorry, Aunt Vidala. Friends, these men, do you know what crime
08:32they committed?
08:35Yes, Shunammai. Rape. Aunt Vidala, that's what the red X is for, it's for rape. Praise be. Friends, these men,
08:44these horrible men, these...
08:47Rapists? You say rapists? Rapists, yes. Thank you, Shunammai. Not raper. I didn't know that.
08:57Friends, it's a ghastly story. These men stole a young girl, much like yourselves.
09:03This young girl was a kind who liked being the center of attention. A spirited girl. That kind of girl
09:09often earns a violent end for herself. Praise be his judgment. Praise be his judgment.
09:15These men saw this girl. They were overcome by their urges. They came in the night and took her from
09:24her own bed. What about her guardians? Some of them were her guardians.
09:29The urges. The urges of men are terrible things. And those urges must be curbed. That is the burden that
09:36God has personally laid upon each of you.
09:38Just by existing, we were mortally dangerous to otherwise perfectly good men. They were helpless to resist us. Even us.
09:48The daughters of commanders. The most godly of girls.
10:11I was a precious flower. Then why did I sometimes feel like a prized pig?
10:17Then why did I because of her?
10:19I was a very tragic. There they go. Take your drink.
10:20I was abuilder.
10:36The urges.
10:49At the Aunt Lydia's school, pink dresses were for little girls.
10:52Plum dresses were for older girls like us.
10:56Predestined to marry high Gilead commanders once we became eligible,
10:59which only happened if God blessed us with a period.
11:02Then we became greens and got pins.
11:08Blessed be the fruit.
11:10You're insane. The skirt looks fine.
11:13Made a little open.
11:13Don't bother. Even God knows Paul hasn't been tasted.
11:17Come on, friends!
11:20Becca was the first person I met when we moved here from Colorado.
11:23She was my best friend, except we weren't allowed to have best friends.
11:27Leont said that best friends led to keeping secrets, and secrets led to disobedience.
11:32And disobedient girls became women who were immoral, obviously.
11:35We've been sent good weather.
11:37Miss Blessing, you have your dress for me?
11:42After lunch.
11:43Becca was already green. She was getting ready to be matched.
11:46She was moving on without me, but we didn't talk about that.
11:50This will be our third seamstress.
11:53My mother thinks if she gets the bodice just right, everyone will forget my dad's a dentist.
11:57Maybe she dresses you too.
11:59Blessed day.
12:00Blessed day. We've been sent good weather.
12:02But I received a gift.
12:04Very, very cute hair.
12:05Yeah, I definitely agree.
12:07Thanks.
12:08New Martha. Blessed be yours too.
12:09Seriously.
12:10My Martha sucks. I look like I have a bedhead.
12:12Pheonamite.
12:13Chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter.
12:15Flap your tongue around and you're likely to lose it.
12:17Yes, Aunt Pitala.
12:18Other graceful day, girls.
12:25Aunt Lydia was a legend.
12:27Blessed day, Aunt Lydia.
12:28She had been worshipped, then vilified, then worshipped again.
12:32Blessed day, Aunt Lydia.
12:34In the four years since the War of Massachusetts, the purges had happened.
12:38As always, those remaining were able to shape history as they liked.
12:42Some people were hung, and some had schools named after them.
12:49At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions.
12:57We lived in malice and envy, being hated, and hating one another.
13:01But when the kindness and love of God, our Savior, appeared, who saved us.
13:07Not because of the righteousness of death, but because of mercy.
13:12White was for the pearl girls.
13:14They were new arrivals from outside of Gilead, converts to our godly struggle.
13:21Aunt Lydia and her missionaries gathered them from all over the world.
13:25They were mostly runaways.
13:27Of course they had to be young, and possibly fertile.
13:31Weirdos.
13:39The aunts of the pearl girls came eager for a new start.
13:41They were even more eager to prove their godliness by telling on you to the aunts.
13:46We all knew someone who had been ratted out by a pearl girl.
13:50The passion of the converted.
13:53What a pain in the ass.
14:16Nice work, Constance.
14:32Pretty daisies, Hilda.
14:34Really?
14:35Thank you, Aunt Esther.
14:36They're actually black-eyed Susan.
14:38Should you be thanking me?
14:40No.
14:41No, thank him, Aunt Esther.
14:44For making me able, and for the flowers he made, and the thread.
14:49Pray forgive me.
14:51You are forgiving.
14:52Just be mindful around Al-Fidala.
14:57Aunt Gabbana!
14:59Blessed morning!
15:06Agnes, Aunt Lydia would like to speak with you.
15:13Come along.
15:15Agnes, get up, please.
15:17I'm sure that's good news.
15:19Back to work.
15:23Back to work.
15:52By tradition, only dead people are allowed to have statues.
15:57I have been given one while still alive.
16:01Praise be your works, Aunt Lydia.
16:04I have been prematurely petrified.
16:11Agnes Mackenzie, how the time goes by.
16:16I have been watching you for quite a while now.
16:20Why, Aunt Lydia?
16:22Soon to be eligible.
16:24May God make me truly worthy.
16:27Ah, you will be rewarded.
16:28If you are free of sin, of course.
16:31Do you know why this statue was erected?
16:36So you can always be watching over us.
16:39Yes.
16:40We inspire the world with our good works, Agnes.
16:43Do you agree?
16:43Yes, Aunt Lydia.
16:46Yes, Aunt Lydia.
16:46Excellent.
16:47I have good work that needs doing.
16:49Helping a new friend feel welcome.
16:57Agnes, this is Daisy.
17:00One of my precious, precious pearls recently arrived.
17:04Daisy may be joining your class.
17:07She's going to be a plum?
17:09Perhaps.
17:10I'd like you to show her around.
17:12Make her feel comfortable.
17:14Be her shepherding.
17:16It's an honor for you, Agnes.
17:19Thank you, Aunt Lydia.
17:21Daisy, be a good girl and stay with Agnes.
17:23Lambs, don't stray.
17:25Yes, Aunt Lydia.
17:27Thank you, Aunt Lydia.
17:30Wonderful.
17:31Go in grace.
17:43Blessed fruit.
17:44Main alert, open.
17:54Painting and sketching.
18:02Music classroom.
18:09Importments this way.
18:11Domestic management is upstairs with Aunt L'Oreal.
18:13Hospitality, decorating, culinary arts.
18:17Fiber arts, like embroidery, lace making.
18:21You can make a tablecloth, if you dare.
18:24And scripture class.
18:26Praise be his word.
18:29Weirdo.
18:31Aunt Lydia didn't tell me much about you.
18:35Did she tell you anything about me?
18:39Nothing.
18:40Miss Agnes.
18:50Did she ask you to watch me?
18:54Of course.
18:56Miss Agnes.
18:58She's learning how to behave properly.
19:03Discipline and corrections are in the answering.
19:05You only go there when you earn it.
19:11And lunch.
19:12Blessed be his bounty.
19:23You cannot be mistress of a house unless you are the mistress of yourself.
19:32Do you understand me, girls?
19:34Yes, Aunt Padala.
19:37Yes, Aunt Padala.
19:38It is an offense to God to waste food with poor preparation.
19:41If your meal is unacceptable, speak firmly to your Martha.
19:46Do you understand me, girls?
19:49Yes, Aunt Padala.
19:50Friends, let us give thanks to him.
19:57And?
19:58God is great.
20:00God is good.
20:01Thank you, God, for our food.
20:03By his blessings, we are fed.
20:05Give us Lord our daily bread.
20:06Amen.
20:10Girls?
20:12You may socialize.
20:28What is all this, then?
20:31This is Daisy.
20:32Aunt Lydia asked me to make her feel welcome.
20:34Hey.
20:37It's a blessing to meet you all.
20:40Tera.
20:50We're enjoying very fine weather.
20:52By God's blessing.
20:57It's a high-pressure system, I think.
21:00Daisy.
21:02Craig.
21:02Where do you hail from?
21:04Toronto.
21:05Canada.
21:06Miss.
21:07Shuname.
21:10That's a beautiful name.
21:12It is.
21:14I imagine Canada is very different from Gilead.
21:18Toronto has been forsaken by God and defiled by Satan.
21:24It is suffocating in sin.
21:28So do you miss it?
21:32I pray it will be swallowed whole by the earth.
21:40May he hear your prayer.
21:48Daisy.
21:50Do you like soft serve ice cream?
21:54Food is one of his miracles.
21:56Well, they have it here.
21:57Strawberry and vanilla.
21:59Hold on, we'll take you.
22:01Yeah, I can make you a swirl cone.
22:03I'm sort of an expert.
22:05Aunt Lydia urged me to stay with Miss Agnes.
22:07Ice cream is definitely one of his miracles.
22:10And you wouldn't want to insult God.
22:13You spilled on my chest.
22:15It's blessing he's free.
22:16You should get some.
22:17Come on.
22:20Come on.
22:34They stuck you with the pearl girl?
22:35What did you do wrong?
22:36She didn't do anything.
22:38This is unprecedented.
22:40So what did Aunt Lydia say?
22:42She said she's new here.
22:45I'm just supposed to be a shepherd.
22:46I don't like her.
22:47She didn't seem very nice.
22:48Well, you can't trust her.
22:49She'll tell Aunt Lydia everything.
22:51She's a pearl girl.
22:53Becca?
22:54Your Martha is here to collect you.
22:57Yes, on this day.
23:01My fitting.
23:03Pray for me.
23:04I wish I was green this season.
23:06I wish we all were together.
23:10It's starting to move very, very fast.
23:13It's a dress.
23:15Not a husband.
23:17Not yet.
23:18Well, I can't wait to have a husband.
23:20Becca.
23:20Hurry.
23:21Come along.
23:21Shake a leg.
23:23Go with Grace.
23:26In Grace, I go.
23:44You should tell Aunt her.
23:45You're a pearl girl.
23:47For what?
23:48Just say that she gossips or has a foul tongue.
23:51Sure.
23:52Or that she ran off to go get ice cream.
23:54That could be possible.
23:55She'd be punished.
23:56You're an awful person.
23:57Stop.
23:58I didn't say to make her a gender traitor or anything.
24:01Just something small.
24:06Agnes, I know that you are very, very nice.
24:08But it's time to plumb up and get her before she can see you.
24:19I haven't seen.
24:31cinnamon toast
24:32praise be his bounty
24:39is it awful
24:41God never sends us more than we can bear
24:43sometimes he does get close though
24:48Becca had her final fitting
24:51she must be happy to be getting a new dress
24:54I'm sure she looks perfect
24:57she's a beautiful girl
24:59she could get an offer
25:00from a commander at the dance
25:03her dad could
25:06she could marry one who lives in Wyoming
25:09or anywhere
25:11not Maryland
25:13she won't move far if she marries a high commander
25:16they need to look near the capital
25:19she could marry one who
25:21doesn't let his wife have any friends
25:24try not to think about it
25:28so how did you meet your husband?
25:31before, I mean
25:36we met in a bookstore
25:40almost everyone we knew then
25:41was meeting online on Tinder
25:44Bumble
25:46we met in the cookbook section
25:48what's Tinder?
25:52it's not something you're ever going to need to know, Pumpkin
25:56bless anything, ma'am
26:01Commander will be home Thursday
26:02has some things for the Marthas to do
26:05you said your leg was better
26:08it is, ma'am
26:11good
26:12head up to the third floor
26:13we'll start there
26:17yes, ma'am
26:27I grew up riding
26:29when a horse would come up late
26:30my father would shoot it
26:34it was hard
26:37but it was the merciful thing to do
26:40haven't I told you that story?
26:43no, mother
26:49we learned that
26:51sometimes you have to be hard
26:53sometimes you have to cut off
26:55weak branches
26:56and bothersome ones
26:59you'll understand
27:00when you're running your own household
27:03blessed evening
27:29you
27:31the
27:31I
27:34the
27:34let's try
27:34to
27:36see
27:38ah
27:38oh
27:38I
27:38see
27:39see
27:40in
27:41Ann
27:42I
27:42oh
27:43Iotti
27:44I
27:50I
27:51I
28:00Assembly time, my plums. Two lines. Two lines.
28:04Posture. All right. I'm sorry. I put down.
28:13Plums, please assemble in the dining hall.
28:15Hurry along.
28:29I'm ready.
28:44What's the date is that is?
29:07was it day
29:09how was it
29:10may the Lord open
29:11fine
29:14shut up
29:14it was fine
29:16if you like
29:17Puffy's please
29:25blessed day
29:26graceful friends
29:27we need your
29:28energy
29:29because we have
29:30some difficult work
29:31to do today
29:33for him
29:39are you ready
29:40yes
29:41yes
29:56this man is a sinner
29:58didn't amongst us
30:00he was found
30:01touching himself
30:02abusing himself
30:04on school grounds
30:07Gilead trusted him
30:08to protect you
30:09God's most precious
30:10girls
30:12instead
30:13he chose wickedness
30:16we do not play
30:17with the power
30:18of creation
30:19what are they
30:20going to do to him
30:21quiet
30:22he deserves our judgment
30:24but do not
30:24relish in it
30:25you are not
30:27blameless girls
30:28shame
30:29upon any of you
30:30that tempt a man
30:32now
30:34this is your decision
30:35you will have to
30:36make many difficult
30:37decisions when you
30:38are wives
30:41so what do you say
30:41girls
30:43should this man
30:44go unpunished
30:48or should we pay
30:51quiet
31:15I am so proud
31:17of the women
31:18you are becoming
31:34oh my god
31:39oh my god
31:40oh my god
31:42oh my god
31:42oh my god
31:51Greg are you okay
31:53I'm fine
31:55please be your
31:55concerned
31:56oh my god
32:04oh my god
32:06oh my god
32:07oh my god
32:07oh my god
32:08oh my god
32:08oh my god
32:08oh my god
32:09oh my god
32:14oh my god
32:14oh my god
32:14oh my god
32:17Daisy
32:18Daisy
32:19Daisy
32:23fuck
32:23what the fuck
32:24was that
32:25you broke the rules
32:26they cut it off
32:27I saw his arm
32:29Jesus Christ
32:30he was fucking wide awake
32:31for fucks
32:32Jesus what the fuck
32:38I'm sorry
32:39I'm sorry
32:40Agnes
32:41Agnes
32:42Agnes
32:43don't
32:44don't tell
32:46oh sweetie
32:48Agnes
32:49help Daisy
32:49get cleaned up
33:07how do you feel
33:08how do you feel
33:13they told us about it some of these
33:17they told us about it some of these
33:20you're not
33:21like what
33:21like what
33:31thank you for taking care of me
33:33thank you for taking care of me
33:36when Aunt Livia gives you an assignment you do it
33:41Miss Agnes
33:42I am so sorry
33:43I committed blasphemy
33:47you were unwell
33:48I took his name in vain
33:50Agnes
33:51there is no excuse
33:54I know I must confess
33:58okay
34:00Aunt Livia is in charge of punishing pro girls
34:05okay
34:09praise be her discipline
34:12I need to learn
34:19do you think she'll cut out my tongue
34:23there were stories
34:25right now
34:26not for this
34:28probably not
34:31okay
34:34if it's God's will
34:36if it's God's will
34:38if it's God's will
34:40if it's God's will
34:41I can't
34:41Agnes
34:42I can't
34:42okay
34:44you don't have to
34:46you don't have to
34:49it was just us
35:06God sees our sins
35:13we'll pray together
35:15we'll show contrition
35:19God is merciful
35:22the answer
35:23not so much
35:24sometimes
35:27are you sure
35:32our secret
35:41Shunemite said Daisy
35:42was dangerous
35:43she was right
35:44of course
35:46she said you should
35:47never ever trust a pro girl
35:50but that was exactly
35:51what I did
36:02blessed night
36:03may God protect you
36:11have a lot of
36:11go
36:12go
36:12go
36:12go
36:12go
36:13go
36:13go
36:14go
36:14go
36:14go
36:14go
36:17go
37:17Tonight's messages are on channel 99.2.
37:21And remember, folks, don't let the bastards cry.
37:25Red Dog, Green House, White Bar, you have packages waiting.
37:30If you're in the paperclip club, sit tight.
37:33That's it for tonight.
38:04Oh, my life is changing every day.
38:11Every burst of the wave.
38:19Oh, my dreams never quite as a team.
38:26Never quite as a team.
38:32Oh, my life is changing.
38:36Oh, my life is changing.
38:39Oh, my life is changing.
39:20It was still cold.
39:21But I remember the nights were getting shorter.
39:25The shorebirds were back.
39:26You could hear them really high up.
39:28A sure sign of spring.
39:32I didn't know who my mom was yet.
39:35My real mom.
39:37That would come soon.
39:40I had no idea how much that would change things.
39:44Without calendars, you learn to mark time another way now.
39:47It was when I became eligible.
39:50And when I met Daisy,
39:54it was when it all started.
40:19In every possible way.
40:27I don't want a dream.
40:31It's never quite as it seems.
40:33Cause you're a dream to me.
40:37Dream to me.
40:39I can't believe in you...
40:47You're a dream.
40:49You're a dream.
40:59I'm a dream.
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