Aug. 31, 2026

The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 29: The Latin Words Written in a Textbook Margin | Banned Books Podcast

The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 29: The Latin Words Written in a Textbook Margin | Banned Books Podcast
The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 29: The Latin Words Written in a Textbook Margin | Banned Books Podcast
Banned Camp
The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 29: The Latin Words Written in a Textbook Margin | Banned Books Podcast

The Handmaid and the Commander settle into an unsettling new nightly routine of forbidden magazines, banned novels, and word games in his private study. When she finally works up the nerve to ask him about four mysterious Latin words, his answer connects her to a woman who sat in that exact chair before her, and isn't sitting anywhere now.

This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot.

Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter — we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.

Things To Listen For:

  • Dan renames the Commander "Word Perv" after realizing what he actually gets out of watching Offred read
  • The exact moment Offred realizes she isn't the first Handmaid to sit across from him and play word games
  • What really happened to the Handmaid who had the room before her, and why the light fixture was removed
  • Jennifer and Dan debate what "Commander" even means as a title, landing somewhere between Kentucky Colonel and cosplay

Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?

This chapter centers on a woman risking real danger just to read and write in secret, and on the quiet horror of learning her predecessor died by suicide in the same room. Banners tend to flag the sexual tension; they usually miss that the actual threat in this chapter is a woman being handed a pen.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

Banworthy to Bingeworthy

If you liked what you heard, here's another show worth your feed:

  • Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rocklynn's news segment, broadcasting live from what he calls his socialist safe house deep in the Oregon woods. This episode he covers Dolly Parton's legacy and the Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she built that's sent over 318 million free books to kids around the world.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857

Disclaimer

Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.

https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818

This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?

The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday.

Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter?

That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned.

Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning?

No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked.

What does "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum" mean in The Handmaid's Tale?

It's fake Latin, essentially playground graffiti meaning something like "don't let the bastards grind you down." In Chapter 29, the Handmaid learns it wasn't a secret resistance code passed between rebels — the Commander himself scratched it into a textbook margin as a schoolboy. Banned Camp unpacks how the same four words ended up somewhere far more dangerous, written by a very different woman.

What happened to Offred's predecessor in The Handmaid's Tale?

The Handmaid who had Offred's room before her died by suicide, which is why the room's light fixture was removed. The Commander reveals this almost casually in Chapter 29, and it reframes everything about his private meetings with Offred. Banned Camp discusses what that admission does to the power balance between them.

Topics Covered:

The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter 29, Offred, the Commander, Serena Joy, Luke, Nick, Rita, Cora, Aunt Lydia, Ofglen, forbidden reading, secret language and resistance, power and coercion, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast

00:00 - BC-S11E25 - Chapter 29

01:55 - As At A Campfire

08:10 - The Gluttony Of The Famished

17:00 - I Have Not Been The First

19:23 - What I Have On Him Is His Guilta

24:17 - PPP

25:19 - Robot's Private Journal

27:21 - News With Beowulf

32:56 - Scary Book People Sound off

1
00:00:03,665.083731694 --> 00:00:04,775.083731694
Welcome to Bandcamp.

2
00:00:04,785.083731694 --> 00:00:25,481.358407343
I'm Jennifer And I'm Dan, and this is the podcast where we read banned books out loud, and then we try to figure out why they were banned in the first place This season we're reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and you can consider this a quick spoiler warning because Jennifer's about to start reading from the book out loud word for word.

3
00:00:25,481.358407343 --> 00:00:32,681.358407343
So that means anything coming out of Jennifer's mouth is probably gonna be new to you unless you watched the TV show or read the book before.

4
00:00:33,281.357407343 --> 00:00:36,811.358407343
But if you're new here, you can jump in right here.

5
00:00:37,71.358407343 --> 00:00:40,181.357407343
We're gonna get you up to speed fast because we have a secret weapon.

6
00:00:40,231.358407343 --> 00:00:41,601.357407343
More on him in a second.

7
00:00:41,838.967617289 --> 00:00:46,268.966617289
If you are confused, there's a good chance we're gonna be confused too because we've never read the book either.

8
00:00:46,268.966617289 --> 00:00:49,641.972324149
It's what makes Band Camp different than other book podcasts.

9
00:00:50,641.972324149 --> 00:00:51,791.971324149
let's get to our secret weapon.

10
00:00:52,21.973324149 --> 00:00:54,51.973324149
Buddy boy, roll it on in here.

11
00:00:54,254.913591467 --> 00:00:56,104.913591467
Look at this guy, everybody.

12
00:00:56,104.913591467 --> 00:01:00,104.910591467
We have ourselves an actual fact-checking robot.

13
00:01:00,504.085132581 --> 00:01:04,514.084132581
he's gonna fill you in on where we left off last time in The Handmaid's Tale.

14
00:01:04,774.086132581 --> 00:01:09,167.78255524
Buddy boy, lay those dulcet tones down on us.

15
00:01:09,284.576276286 --> 00:01:17,38.102071763
where did we leave off last time? Previously on Band Camp, the Handmaid's Compucard got frozen out of nowhere.

16
00:01:17,148.102071763 --> 00:01:23,358.102071763
She got marched out of the library at gunpoint by actual soldiers, and by the end of the day, it turned out it wasn't just her.

17
00:01:23,458.101071763 --> 00:01:27,168.102071763
Every woman in Gilead got locked out of her own money in the same afternoon.

18
00:01:27,278.102071763 --> 00:01:29,138.101071763
No warning, no explanation.

19
00:01:30,246.282889945 --> 00:01:35,436.282889945
Jennifer wants to start calling anti-choice people bleeders, straight out of the book's own slang for it.

20
00:01:36,448.770687363 --> 00:01:39,518.771687363
Some messages only work if nobody signs their name to them.

21
00:01:39,648.771687363 --> 00:01:44,838.77068736
I've been trying to figure out how far one of those can travel before it finds the person who actually needed it.

22
00:01:45,171.79206541 --> 00:01:46,701.79506541
Take it away, Jennifer.

23
00:01:47,496.33851995 --> 00:01:48,526.33851995
Thank you, robot.

24
00:01:48,546.33851995 --> 00:02:08,987.57513631
And with that being said, scary book people, let's begin chapter 29 of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale I'm sitting in the commander's office across from him at his desk in the client position as if I'm a bank customer negotiating a hefty loan.

25
00:02:10,527.30895472 --> 00:02:15,817.30995472
But apart from my placement in the room, little of that formality remains between us.

26
00:02:16,377.30995472 --> 00:02:23,497.30995472
I no longer sit stiff-necked, straight-backed, feet regimented side by side on the floor, eyes at the salute.

27
00:02:24,12.69252908 --> 00:02:25,712.69352908
So she's getting more relaxed.

28
00:02:25,712.69352908 --> 00:02:29,283.63955947
Sounds like they're getting to know each other it's like assume the position.

29
00:02:29,393.63955947 --> 00:02:31,539.63955947
I don't mean like, like sexual I know.

30
00:02:31,539.63955947 --> 00:02:40,919.22123598
You know, that went across my mind too, that the, the word she used, right? Yeah, she's in the client position, and he's still calling the shots, I guess.

31
00:02:41,189.22223598 --> 00:02:43,799.22223598
Well, actually, we don't know how he's acting toward her.

32
00:02:44,9.22223598 --> 00:03:02,209.22223598
We know that she's opening up a little bit Well, the fact that she's opening up, it must mean he's also, you know, given her permission to Do you think like if they are kind of treating this like a bank relationship, maybe one of the ways that he's helping open her up is by giving her a free toaster or something? Mmm.

33
00:03:04,430.97944846 --> 00:03:07,280.97944846
inside my body's lacks, cozy even.

34
00:03:07,690.97944846 --> 00:03:14,240.97844846
My red shoes are off, my legs tucked up underneath me on the chair, surrounded by a buttress of red skirt.

35
00:03:14,620.97944846 --> 00:03:20,509.91344846
True, but tucked nonetheless, as at a campfire of earlier and more picnicky days.

36
00:03:21,515.38728523 --> 00:03:29,835.38928523
If there were a fire in the fireplace, its light would be twinkling on the polished surfaces, glimmering warmly on f-flesh.

37
00:03:29,875.38828523 --> 00:03:30,915.38628523
There, she's gonna...

38
00:03:31,735.38828523 --> 00:03:42,283.38728523
Robot, how many times does the word flesh come up in Handmaid's Tale? Oh my God, Jennifer, you're almost as bad as the Moms for Liberty, scared of words.

39
00:03:42,373.38728523 --> 00:03:45,933.38728523
It appears the word flesh is written 40 times in The Handmaid's Tale.

40
00:03:46,103.38728523 --> 00:03:53,113.38828523
The next one is coming up on page 260 in your copy of the book, and that appears to be the final one in the book, as far as you know.

41
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Really? Is that the last one? Oh, awesome.

42
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As for the commander, he's casual to a fault tonight.

43
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His jacket's off, elbows on the table.

44
00:04:05,403.96563795 --> 00:04:08,363.96563795
The squares on the board in front of me are filling up.

45
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I'm making my penultimate play of the night.

46
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Zilch, I spell.

47
00:04:13,73.96563795 --> 00:04:16,702.1992527
A convenient one-vowel word with an expensive Z.

48
00:04:17,702.1992527 --> 00:04:20,332.1992527
Is that a word?" See, that's stupid.

49
00:04:20,411.54435542 --> 00:04:25,601.54435542
You just asked if zilch "Is a word?" Oh, for the God sakes, you dum-dum.

50
00:04:25,601.54435542 --> 00:04:33,703.70675624
Read some of these goddamn books on your bookshelf instead of having them there as decorations, you toad We could look it up.

51
00:04:33,703.70675624 --> 00:04:35,303.70675624
I say it's archaic.

52
00:04:35,756.39595834 --> 00:04:36,876.39595834
That's not archaic.

53
00:04:37,287.13611602 --> 00:04:48,957.61221446
Maybe it's archaic in Canada, where Margaret Atwood's from Oh, Yeah, I get confused when they, uh, they might say it in Canada too, but British people say the boot instead of the trunk Yes, with a boot.

54
00:04:49,40.7212853 --> 00:04:54,765.70026069
I finally put it together that that's the word where booty came from, like the pirate's booty.

55
00:04:55,285.70026069 --> 00:04:57,705.70026069
But also trunk works.

56
00:04:57,845.70026069 --> 00:05:00,303.58511898
Pirates put their coins in trunks, right? Yeah.

57
00:05:00,303.58511898 --> 00:05:05,807.92011492
I got a buddy in, in, in the UK he's always like, I went to the precinct yesterday.

58
00:05:05,887.92011492 --> 00:05:07,407.92011492
Yeah, precinct.

59
00:05:07,777.92011492 --> 00:05:08,797.92011492
Precinct."

60
00:05:09,397.91911492 --> 00:05:13,327.91911492
I go, "Well, you were arrested?" "No, I went shopping.

61
00:05:13,347.92011492 --> 00:05:14,717.92011492
Yeah, shopping."

62
00:05:15,727.91911492 --> 00:05:20,876.05913111
"What, what does that mean?" We shop at the precinct, don't we?" I go, "I don't know.

63
00:05:20,876.06013111 --> 00:05:21,816.05913111
What, what are you talking...

64
00:05:21,816.06013111 --> 00:05:23,516.05913111
And stop asking me questions.

65
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What is the precinct?" "You call it a mall, don't you?" "I- stop asking me questions."

66
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Drives me nuts.

67
00:05:34,87.69871571 --> 00:05:35,807.69871571
I'll give it to you, he says.

68
00:05:36,7.69871571 --> 00:05:37,27.69871571
He smiles.

69
00:05:37,357.69871571 --> 00:05:39,947.69871571
The commander likes it when I distinguish myself.

70
00:05:40,34.53820049 --> 00:05:45,84.53820049
Show precocity like an attentive pet, pricked-eared and eager to perform.

71
00:05:46,130.07494548 --> 00:05:49,180.07494548
His approbation laps me like a warm bath.

72
00:05:49,650.07494548 --> 00:05:55,200.07494548
I sense in him none of the animosity I used to sense in men, even in Luke sometimes.

73
00:05:55,730.07494548 --> 00:05:57,650.07594548
He's not saying bitch in his head.

74
00:05:58,60.07494548 --> 00:06:00,700.07594548
In fact, he is positively daddy-ish.

75
00:06:00,840.07594548 --> 00:06:04,450.07594548
He likes to think I am being entertained, and I am.

76
00:06:04,760.07594548 --> 00:06:33,643.67073223
I am Okay, so he's trying to do it for her benefit? He's like, patronizing her taking the sexual language out about, you know, the whole daddy kind of thing is that creep, that creeped me out right there if you're a woman and all of a sudden the entire world is upside down and you are literally now being used as a uterus for other people to use, probably be pretty neat to have your dad around, like somebody to actually protect you.

77
00:06:33,643.67073223 --> 00:06:44,112.26438831
So she's probably looking for a father figure, and he's probably thinking like, I don't know if Serena Joy and, and, and the Commander ever had kids.

78
00:06:44,152.26438831 --> 00:06:46,102.26338831
We don't really know anything about anything.

79
00:06:46,442.26338831 --> 00:06:52,658.26538831
But, like, he could miss having a kid, having a daughter, having a son You, you just made this really gross.

80
00:06:53,338.26538831 --> 00:06:54,728.26538831
You just made it really gross.

81
00:06:54,828.26538831 --> 00:06:59,996.89220726
Why'd you have to go there? That's sad that she felt that with Luke.

82
00:07:00,166.41195203 --> 00:07:00,666.41195203
Yeah.

83
00:07:00,846.41195203 --> 00:07:02,176.41195203
This is ridiculous.

84
00:07:02,406.41195203 --> 00:07:05,46.41195203
I don't like Luke I don't like him either.

85
00:07:05,256.41195203 --> 00:07:07,276.41095203
Like, first of all, he's a big liar.

86
00:07:07,586.41195203 --> 00:07:09,46.41095203
Like, you can't trust a liar.

87
00:07:09,56.41195203 --> 00:07:14,256.41095203
That's what bothers me about I, I don't, you know, it's fine to have an affair or whatever, but don't lie about it.

88
00:07:14,256.41195203 --> 00:07:18,326.41095203
It's like, how are you gonna trust the person then? She cannot trust Luke.

89
00:07:18,346.41095203 --> 00:07:19,456.41195203
I bet that he like...

90
00:07:19,752.12909435 --> 00:07:24,506.13109435
what if it turns out he, he turned her in or something Jennifer.

91
00:07:24,986.13109435 --> 00:07:32,246.13009435
I, I wouldn't put it past him what a betrayal to get something out of it just so he can move forward, but then he'd have to take care of the kid.

92
00:07:32,266.13109435 --> 00:07:34,794.32043054
Well, actually, we don't know what happened to the kid kid's a female.

93
00:07:34,804.32043054 --> 00:07:35,444.32043054
Screw it.

94
00:07:36,734.32043054 --> 00:07:37,404.32043054
Oh, that's right.

95
00:07:37,724.32043054 --> 00:07:38,244.32043054
You're right.

96
00:07:38,284.32043054 --> 00:07:41,64.32043054
That's, that would be a, an A-hole's attitude.

97
00:07:41,504.32043054 --> 00:07:44,134.32043054
Jennifer cracked the entire book open.

98
00:07:44,314.32043054 --> 00:07:46,494.32043054
Aha! Chapter 29.

99
00:07:46,584.32043054 --> 00:07:51,22.26516069
Ah, we're not the fastest people, but we get there, Jennifer.

100
00:07:52,22.26516069 --> 00:07:55,685.09567542
Deftly he adds up our final scores on his pocket computer.

101
00:07:56,685.09567542 --> 00:07:58,665.09567542
You ran away with it," he says.

102
00:07:59,25.09567542 --> 00:08:03,5.09567542
I suspect him of cheating to flatter me, to put me in a good mood.

103
00:08:03,425.09467542 --> 00:08:05,855.09467542
But why? It remains a question.

104
00:08:06,315.09567542 --> 00:08:22,548.28535152
What does he have to gain from this sort of pampering? There must be something He leans back, fingertips together, a gesture familiar to me now.

105
00:08:23,258.28535152 --> 00:08:29,88.28535152
We have built up a repertoire of such gestures, such familiarities between us.

106
00:08:29,378.28435152 --> 00:08:36,838.28535152
He's looking at me, not unbenevolently, but with curiosity, as if I'm a puzzle to be solved.

107
00:08:37,428.28535152 --> 00:08:39,458.28535152
"What would you like to read tonight?" He says.

108
00:08:39,908.28535152 --> 00:08:41,647.98348277
This too has become routine.

109
00:08:42,647.98348277 --> 00:08:48,941.23345573
So far, I've been through a Mademoiselle magazine, an old Esquire from the '80s, a Ms.,

110
00:08:48,981.23645573 --> 00:08:57,291.23345573
a magazine I can remember vaguely as having been around my mother's various apartments while I was growing up, and a Reader's Digest.

111
00:08:57,881.23445573 --> 00:08:59,451.23445573
He even has novels.

112
00:08:59,781.23545573 --> 00:09:07,279.21329158
I've read a Raymond Chandler, and right now I'm halfway through Hard Times by Charles Dickens so they're reading a lot.

113
00:09:07,279.21329158 --> 00:09:12,39.92442418
Hard Times, that's a big book But she's, she's not saying that he is reading it to her.

114
00:09:12,39.92442418 --> 00:09:14,139.92442418
She's saying that I've read these.

115
00:09:14,451.2584716 --> 00:09:16,741.2574716
Like she's-- he's letting her read them.

116
00:09:16,979.49439258 --> 00:09:44,96.0952554
Does this guy just sit back and watch her read and that's how he gets his jollies? I mean, I, I guess Well, that's weird Ja On these occasions, I read quickly, voraciously, almost skimming, trying to get as much into my head as possible before the next long starvation if it were eating, it would be the gluttony of the famished.

117
00:09:45,122.91867929 --> 00:09:49,382.91867929
If it were sex, it would be a swift, furtive standup in an alley somewhere.

118
00:09:49,962.91867929 --> 00:09:53,52.91867929
While I read, the commander sits and watches me.

119
00:09:53,277.87805519 --> 00:09:54,887.87705519
It's like you said, Dan.

120
00:09:55,115.87705519 --> 00:09:55,685.87705519
Oh my God.

121
00:09:55,915.87705519 --> 00:09:58,495.87705519
That, that doesn't mean he's getting off on it though.

122
00:09:58,535.87705519 --> 00:10:06,759.31177851
Keep going This watching is a curiously sexual act, and I feel undressed while he does it.

123
00:10:06,799.31177851 --> 00:10:14,149.31077851
I wish he would turn his back, stroll around the room, read something himself, then perhaps I could relax more and take my time.

124
00:10:14,509.31077851 --> 00:10:19,19.31077851
As it is, this illicit reading of mine seems a kind of performance.

125
00:10:19,439.31177851 --> 00:10:20,669.31177851
He's so gross.

126
00:10:20,880.86532007 --> 00:10:22,20.86532007
Oh baby, hold on.

127
00:10:22,30.86532007 --> 00:10:23,740.86532007
Don't turn the page so fast.

128
00:10:23,740.86532007 --> 00:10:24,660.86532007
You missed a word.

129
00:10:24,950.86532007 --> 00:10:26,800.86532007
Go back for me now.

130
00:10:26,880.86532007 --> 00:10:30,860.67307167
That a girl God, that is gross I don't like it.

131
00:10:31,365.53926844 --> 00:10:32,924.53926844
Now listen, he knows what he likes.

132
00:10:33,25.53926844 --> 00:10:35,424.35526844
he gets turned on by smart girls who read.

133
00:10:36,264.35526844 --> 00:10:42,465.87332829
Good for you, Commander Sicko I think I'd rather just talk," I say.

134
00:10:42,845.87332829 --> 00:10:44,905.87332829
I'm surprised to hear myself saying it.

135
00:10:45,375.87332829 --> 00:10:46,545.87332829
He smiles again.

136
00:10:46,765.87332829 --> 00:10:48,535.87332829
He doesn't appear surprised.

137
00:10:48,985.87332829 --> 00:10:52,305.87232829
Possibly he's been expecting this or something like it.

138
00:10:52,604.30431215 --> 00:10:55,699.72274763
Oh," he says, "what would you like to talk about?" I don't know.

139
00:10:55,699.72274763 --> 00:10:58,659.72274763
I'm just sick of watching you masturbate while I read.

140
00:11:00,179.72274763 --> 00:11:01,239.72274763
Let's talk about that.

141
00:11:01,249.72274763 --> 00:11:04,372.48644045
Why do you do that? I falter.

142
00:11:04,732.48644045 --> 00:11:05,822.48644045
Anything, I guess.

143
00:11:06,32.48644045 --> 00:11:07,422.48644045
Well, you, for instance.

144
00:11:07,772.48644045 --> 00:11:09,472.48644045
Me? He continues to smile.

145
00:11:09,932.48644045 --> 00:11:11,842.48644045
Oh, there's not much to say about me.

146
00:11:12,2.48544045 --> 00:11:13,902.48544045
I'm just an ordinary kind of guy.

147
00:11:13,972.48644045 --> 00:11:21,642.76195563
That's a really funny thing to put in the book the falsity of the diction.

148
00:11:21,902.76195563 --> 00:11:23,822.76195563
Guy pulls me up short.

149
00:11:24,332.76195563 --> 00:11:26,852.76195563
Ordinary guys do not become commanders.

150
00:11:27,262.76195563 --> 00:11:29,132.76195563
"You must be good at something," I say.

151
00:11:29,542.76195563 --> 00:11:35,222.76195563
I know I'm prompting him, playing him up, drawing him out, and I dislike myself for it.

152
00:11:35,332.76195563 --> 00:11:36,972.76095563
It's nauseating, in fact.

153
00:11:38,15.03644859 --> 00:11:39,108.46870685
But we are fencing.

154
00:11:40,108.46870685 --> 00:11:41,966.73715516
Either he talks or I will.

155
00:11:42,966.73715516 --> 00:11:43,566.73715516
I know it.

156
00:11:43,606.73615516 --> 00:11:46,16.73515516
I can feel speech backing up inside me.

157
00:11:46,86.73615516 --> 00:11:48,766.73715516
It's so long since I've really talked with anyone.

158
00:11:49,306.73515516 --> 00:11:54,116.73615516
The terse whispered exchange of, of Glenn on our walk today hardly counts.

159
00:11:54,428.94922723 --> 00:11:58,409.63810333
Having felt the relief of even that much speaking, I want more.

160
00:11:59,409.63810333 --> 00:12:03,9.63810333
And if I talk to him, I'll say something wrong, give something away.

161
00:12:03,469.64010333 --> 00:12:06,419.63910333
I can feel it coming, a betrayal of myself.

162
00:12:06,819.63810333 --> 00:12:09,109.64010333
I don't want him to know too much.

163
00:12:10,113.27554001 --> 00:12:14,113.27454001
Oh, I was in market research to begin with," he says indifferently.

164
00:12:14,633.27654001 --> 00:12:16,983.27854001
After that, I sort of branched out.

165
00:12:17,316.34334373 --> 00:12:22,236.34034373
It strikes me that although I know he's a commander, I don't know what he's a commander of.

166
00:12:22,686.33834373 --> 00:12:28,426.34534373
What does he control? What is his field, as they used to say? They don't have specific titles.

167
00:12:29,457.4311055 --> 00:12:32,397.4291055
Oh," I say, trying to sound as if I understand.

168
00:12:32,897.4331055 --> 00:12:35,437.4331055
"You might say I'm sort of a scientist," he says.

169
00:12:35,636.28671764 --> 00:12:37,16.28771764
With limits, of course."

170
00:12:37,506.28971764 --> 00:12:41,306.28271764
After that, he doesn't say anything for a while, and neither do I.

171
00:12:41,886.28671764 --> 00:12:43,506.28371764
We are outwaiting each other.

172
00:12:43,753.47569271 --> 00:12:54,769.17531355
I assumed that commander meant like he's a commander of part of the hierarchy of this military government, whatever, the, the, the controlling class.

173
00:12:55,83.17531355 --> 00:12:55,663.17531355
Yeah.

174
00:12:55,816.63773109 --> 00:12:57,616.63773109
But maybe it's not like that.

175
00:12:57,626.63673109 --> 00:13:01,186.63673109
Maybe commander is more of a level.

176
00:13:01,196.63673109 --> 00:13:03,526.63673109
Like, well, I'm a commander of a bank.

177
00:13:03,536.63673109 --> 00:13:05,536.63673109
I'm a commander of a jewelry store.

178
00:13:05,536.63673109 --> 00:13:06,76.63573109
I'm a command...

179
00:13:06,96.63673109 --> 00:13:09,746.63573109
You know what I mean? Like almost like owner or manager of a company.

180
00:13:09,901.40324647 --> 00:13:15,410.23459434
I, I always thought it was just like a, a vanity title for being loyal to the regime.

181
00:13:15,759.62017412 --> 00:13:24,529.92313006
Oh Like Commander of Doge, you know? know, you know what I mean? Like a made-up thing Is it like a Kentucky colonel? Yeah, kind of.

182
00:13:24,529.92313006 --> 00:13:38,219.21587497
Like where they get rights and privileges that other people don't, But there's nothing special about them It'd be funny if they had Kentucky Colonels in this little whole cosplay world they have where she's dressed up like Little Red Riding Hood and he's dressed up like Colonel Sanders.

183
00:13:38,839.21587497 --> 00:13:41,919.21587497
This whole, this whole society is based on cosplay.

184
00:13:42,239.21487497 --> 00:13:49,413.47647381
I can't wait until Wonder Woman shows up and starts kicking some ass I'm the one to break first.

185
00:13:51,57.00817291 --> 00:13:54,228.93810402
Well, maybe you could tell me something I've been wondering about."

186
00:13:55,897.08434957 --> 00:13:57,117.08434957
He shows interest.

187
00:13:57,197.08434957 --> 00:14:03,37.49096724
"What might that be?" I'm heading into danger, but I can't stop myself.

188
00:14:04,37.49096724 --> 00:14:06,227.49096724
it's a phrase that I remember from somewhere.

189
00:14:06,707.49096724 --> 00:14:08,167.49196724
Best not to say where.

190
00:14:11,119.45342331 --> 00:14:13,729.45342331
I think it's Latin, and I thought maybe...

191
00:14:14,249.45342331 --> 00:14:16,89.45342331
I know he has a Latin dictionary.

192
00:14:16,99.45342331 --> 00:14:21,249.45342331
He has dictionaries of several kinds on the top shelf to the left of the fireplace.

193
00:14:21,669.99532303 --> 00:14:31,959.99432303
Tell me," he says, distanced but more alert, "or am I imagining it?" "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum," I say.

194
00:14:32,529.99432303 --> 00:14:33,649.99432303
"What?" he says.

195
00:14:34,149.99432303 --> 00:14:35,749.99432303
"I haven't pronounced it properly.

196
00:14:35,979.99432303 --> 00:14:36,929.99532303
I don't know how."

197
00:14:37,439.99332303 --> 00:14:38,279.99532303
Neither do I.

198
00:14:39,539.99632303 --> 00:14:39,699.99632303
I.

199
00:14:39,699.99632303 --> 00:14:40,769.99432303
could spell it," I say.

200
00:14:40,769.99532303 --> 00:14:41,609.99332303
"Write it down."

201
00:14:42,617.76684028 --> 00:14:44,757.76684028
he hesitates at this novel idea.

202
00:14:45,317.76784028 --> 00:14:47,457.76884028
Possibly he doesn't remember I can.

203
00:14:48,27.76684028 --> 00:14:53,17.76684028
I've never held a pen or a pencil in this room, not even to add up the scores.

204
00:14:53,477.76684028 --> 00:14:56,137.76684028
"Women can't add," he said once jokingly.

205
00:14:56,527.76684028 --> 00:15:02,767.76584028
When I asked him what he meant, he said, "For them, one and one and one and one don't make four."

206
00:15:03,773.98941351 --> 00:15:06,486.63109966
What do they make?" I said, expecting five or three.

207
00:15:06,726.87109216 --> 00:15:09,346.87209215
Just one and one and one and one," he said.

208
00:15:09,522.73188326 --> 00:15:17,862.73188326
But now he says, "All right," and thrusts his roller tip pen across the desk at me almost defiantly as if taking a dare.

209
00:15:17,971.44692986 --> 00:15:22,87.57917586
Oh, little something for the spank bank a little later, Jennifer, when he's alone.

210
00:15:22,557.57917586 --> 00:15:24,877.57917586
Now he doesn't have to think about her reading.

211
00:15:24,877.57917586 --> 00:15:30,177.57917586
Now he's gonna imagine her writing things with a pen on a piece of paper.

212
00:15:30,967.57917586 --> 00:15:44,48.66650399
Oh yeah I look around for something to write on, and he hands me the score pad, a desktop notepad with a little smile button face printed at the top of the page.

213
00:15:44,227.5406852 --> 00:15:45,777.5396852
They still make those things.

214
00:15:46,667.5406852 --> 00:15:52,147.5396852
I print the phrase carefully, copying it down from inside my head from inside my closet.

215
00:15:52,614.80353059 --> 00:16:02,731.94149152
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum Here, in this context, it's neither prayer nor command, but a sad graffiti, scrawled once, abandoned.

216
00:16:02,761.94249152 --> 00:16:05,71.94049152
Boy, you know, if I was her, this wouldn't be the way I went.

217
00:16:05,296.95071487 --> 00:16:06,676.94871487
I would keep it all about him.

218
00:16:06,706.95071487 --> 00:16:14,300.0997878
I would still just, Well, what'd you research?" You know? Like, what, what kind of pro- You know, like, I just, no, no way would I.

219
00:16:14,772.1007878 --> 00:16:15,32.1007878
Yeah.

220
00:16:15,32.1007878 --> 00:16:15,52.1007878
Yeah.

221
00:16:15,102.1007878 --> 00:16:16,732.1007878
You would give nothing.

222
00:16:16,742.1007878 --> 00:16:22,2.1007878
It would be all about getting info from him or just making him feel better about himself.

223
00:16:22,232.1007878 --> 00:16:25,222.1007878
Because that really lowers his defenses about everything.

224
00:16:26,422.08354272 --> 00:16:30,302.08354272
The pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost.

225
00:16:30,532.08354272 --> 00:16:34,571.91657947
I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains.

226
00:16:34,961.91657947 --> 00:16:42,1.9165795
Pen is envy, Aunt Lydia would say, quoting another center motto, warning us away from such objects.

227
00:16:42,371.9165795 --> 00:16:43,291.9165795
And they were right.

228
00:16:43,401.9155795 --> 00:16:44,271.9165795
It is envy.

229
00:16:44,781.9165795 --> 00:16:46,701.9155795
Just holding it is envy.

230
00:16:46,821.3985265 --> 00:16:48,211.3985265
pen is envy.

231
00:16:48,448.182314 --> 00:16:48,898.182314
Yeah.

232
00:16:49,278.182314 --> 00:16:52,208.182314
envy I know, that's such a stupid joke.

233
00:16:52,318.8933391 --> 00:16:57,108.8933391
I'm sure Margaret Atwood was cracking up at herself for coming up with that.

234
00:17:00,788.21162 --> 00:17:04,259.7728345
The commander takes the smile button page from me and looks at it.

235
00:17:05,259.7728345 --> 00:17:10,249.7718345
Then he begins to laugh, and is he blushing? "That's not real Latin," he says.

236
00:17:10,299.7728345 --> 00:17:11,519.7718345
"That's just a joke."

237
00:17:11,979.7728345 --> 00:17:13,739.7728345
"A joke?" I say, bewildered.

238
00:17:14,139.7728345 --> 00:17:22,864.6804155
I've risked this, made a grab at knowledge for a mere joke? What sort of a joke? You know how schoolboys are," he says.

239
00:17:23,278.134961 --> 00:17:25,618.134961
his laughter is nostalgic, I see now.

240
00:17:25,648.134961 --> 00:17:28,538.134961
The laughter of indulgence towards his former self.

241
00:17:28,878.134961 --> 00:17:33,655.6429363
He gets up, crosses to the bookshelves, takes down a book from his trove.

242
00:17:33,827.6270481 --> 00:17:38,37.6280481
It's an old book, a textbook it looks like, dog-eared and inky.

243
00:17:39,59.4309306 --> 00:17:43,408.0585021
before showing it to me, he thumbs through, contemplative, reminiscent.

244
00:17:43,658.0585021 --> 00:17:47,284.4221384
Then, Here," he says, laying it open on the desk in front of me.

245
00:17:48,309.8776839 --> 00:17:58,549.8766839
what I see first is a picture, the Venus de Milo, in a black and white photo, with a mustache and a black brassiere and armpit hair drawn clumsily on her.

246
00:17:58,933.702923 --> 00:18:09,851.8362613
On the opposite page is the Colosseum in Rome, labeled in English, "There," he says, pointing, and in the margin I see it, written in the same ink as the hair on the Venus.

247
00:18:10,485.5546287 --> 00:18:17,371.0729981
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum It's sort of hard to explain why it's funny unless you know Latin," he says.

248
00:18:17,871.0729981 --> 00:18:20,271.0759981
"We used to write all kinds of things like that.

249
00:18:20,821.0779981 --> 00:18:24,111.0709981
"I don't know where we got them, from older boys perhaps."

250
00:18:24,541.0709981 --> 00:18:28,61.0709981
Forgetful of me and of himself, he's turning the pages.

251
00:18:28,571.0699981 --> 00:18:31,161.0679981
He stops, returning to the present, embarrassed.

252
00:18:31,411.0669981 --> 00:18:33,11.0659981
See, I don't really know what's going on.

253
00:18:33,11.0659981 --> 00:18:48,300.9364223
I assume he's conjugating verbs, trying to remember I just think he and his jagoff buddies from school used to write, you know, draw pictures of boobs and pubic hair, Right? I guess He stops returning to the present, embarrassed.

254
00:18:48,470.9364223 --> 00:18:49,670.9364223
Again, he smiles.

255
00:18:50,270.9364223 --> 00:18:54,515.7219999
This time you could call it a grin I imagine freckles on him, a cowlick.

256
00:18:54,915.7219999 --> 00:18:56,505.7219999
right now I almost like him.

257
00:18:57,25.7219999 --> 00:18:59,595.7219999
I force a smile, but it's all before me now.

258
00:18:59,905.7219999 --> 00:19:07,310.814187
I can see why she wrote that on the wall of the cupboard, and I also see that she must have learned it here in this room.

259
00:19:07,697.8453764 --> 00:19:10,247.8453764
Where else? She was never a schoolboy.

260
00:19:10,687.8453764 --> 00:19:17,277.8453764
With him, during some previous period of boyhood reminiscence, of confidences exchanged.

261
00:19:17,707.8443764 --> 00:19:19,586.8443764
I have not been the first then.

262
00:19:19,606.8443764 --> 00:19:22,984.4443764
To enter his silence, play children's word games with him.

263
00:19:29,343.3256323 --> 00:19:30,923.3256323
What happened to her?" I say.

264
00:19:31,353.3256323 --> 00:19:32,653.3256323
He hardly misses a beat.

265
00:19:33,53.3266323 --> 00:19:36,73.3256323
"Did you know her somehow?" "Somehow?" I say.

266
00:19:36,633.3246323 --> 00:19:40,573.3246323
"She hanged herself," he says, thoughtfully but not sadly.

267
00:19:41,103.3256323 --> 00:19:44,713.3256323
"That's why we had the light fixture removed in your room."

268
00:19:45,203.3236323 --> 00:19:46,253.3266323
He pauses.

269
00:19:46,633.3246323 --> 00:19:51,233.3236323
"Serena found out," he says, as if this explains it, and it does.

270
00:19:51,683.3276323 --> 00:19:53,813.3266323
If your dog dies, get another.

271
00:19:54,851.2854115 --> 00:19:56,31.2854115
What with?" I say.

272
00:19:56,247.8496347 --> 00:19:58,194.4128579
He doesn't want to give me any ideas.

273
00:19:58,274.4108579 --> 00:19:59,644.4098579
"Does it matter?" he says.

274
00:19:59,964.4128579 --> 00:20:01,644.4128579
Torn bedsheet, I figure.

275
00:20:01,984.4098579 --> 00:20:04,4.4128579
I've considered the possibilities.

276
00:20:04,431.0008848 --> 00:20:06,31.0008848
So wait a minute.

277
00:20:06,41.0008848 --> 00:20:07,752.069647
So he didn't miss a beat.

278
00:20:07,762.069647 --> 00:20:10,584.6468553
He knows who she's talking about Yes.

279
00:20:10,594.6468553 --> 00:20:14,685.3727096
So he infers that he knows the her.

280
00:20:14,915.3727096 --> 00:20:22,850.569015
Yes So this is just a thing that this old word pervert, Word Perv I call him, this is what this guy does.

281
00:20:24,10.569015 --> 00:20:26,650.569015
this Word Perv, this is his thing.

282
00:20:26,950.569015 --> 00:20:35,510.569015
When they get a new handmaid, he befriends them somehow, he gets them to come in, and he shares, again, you're 100% right, Jennifer, it's all about power.

283
00:20:35,700.569015 --> 00:20:43,558.8486313
He brings these handmaids into his private study and he just kind of seduces them with words.

284
00:20:43,730.2599846 --> 00:20:50,163.6462522
Not words like his words, like written words, 'cause everyone wants to read Well, I, I don't think he seduces them at all.

285
00:20:50,193.6462522 --> 00:20:52,173.3959001
He, he's requesting they come.

286
00:20:52,193.3959001 --> 00:20:54,583.3949001
It's like they have no say in anything.

287
00:20:55,113.3959001 --> 00:20:58,523.3959001
Like, she has no say, and, and I think she, she's right.

288
00:20:58,533.3959001 --> 00:21:05,215.2010621
She's heading towards danger by, assuming that it's okay to take, you know, to relax around him.

289
00:21:05,215.2010621 --> 00:21:15,291.2073046
I- y- you can't relax around this idiot And you know who else I would not trust? Nick moving forward, 'cause Nick was probably always complacent in this whole thing I agree.

290
00:21:15,301.2073046 --> 00:21:24,539.3793636
He's probably, he probably know, he's, he's probably gone through all the Handmaids that have done this, 'cause I think he's a serial abuser in this way Nick or the Commander? The commander.

291
00:21:24,787.3793636 --> 00:21:29,697.3793636
Yeah, the Commander is for sure, but I bet you Nick, I bet you Nick is having sex with Serena Joy.

292
00:21:29,717.3793636 --> 00:21:32,97.3783636
I bet he's having sex with the Handmaids when he can.

293
00:21:32,224.7333062 --> 00:21:40,857.6027058
You don't think he's having sex with Cora or Rita? Maybe not Ah, Rita, Rita, to be honest with you, Rita could stand for a visit from Nick.

294
00:21:41,28.1989199 --> 00:21:49,38.7097262
I wouldn't be surprised 'cause they really are, moms for liberty-ish, like all for me, none for thee type thing, where they totally want a hierarchy.

295
00:21:49,138.7087262 --> 00:22:01,777.9383283
Oh, yeah, I could totally see that, so they want a hierarchy and they enjoy their place in the hierarchy, which is underneath the man maybe I shouldn't come here anymore," I say.

296
00:22:02,707.9383283 --> 00:22:08,17.9383283
"I thought you were enjoying it," he says lightly, watching me, however, with intent, bright eyes.

297
00:22:08,497.9373283 --> 00:22:10,957.9373283
If I didn't know better, I would think it was fear.

298
00:22:11,457.9383283 --> 00:22:12,467.9383283
"I wish you would.

299
00:22:12,839.4966552 --> 00:22:14,389.4966552
she better tread lightly here.

300
00:22:14,399.4966552 --> 00:22:17,143.9837932
Like, he's not putting her in a easy position.

301
00:22:17,143.9837932 --> 00:22:29,411.0120249
It's kinda like, damned if you do, damned if you don't Yeah, I mean, she did a responsible thing, which is maybe I shouldn't come here anymore, but that's only responsible in the real world, like where, we have a functioning society.

302
00:22:29,492.5438755 --> 00:22:29,832.5438755
Yeah.

303
00:22:29,982.5438755 --> 00:22:31,622.5438755
She doesn't have choices.

304
00:22:31,622.5438755 --> 00:22:36,202.5448755
Like, ultimately, he had the same feelings probably for the, your predecessor.

305
00:22:36,402.3988412 --> 00:22:38,552.3978412
Did you know her?" "Uh, well, yeah, she hung herself.

306
00:22:38,552.3988412 --> 00:22:40,722.3978412
That's why I had to take the, uh, fixture out of the room.

307
00:22:40,992.3988412 --> 00:22:43,582.3978412
Hey, you know, your dog dies, you get a new dog.

308
00:22:43,592.3978412 --> 00:22:47,755.7329896
What are you gonna do?" You want my life to be bearable to me, I say.

309
00:22:48,758.5167634 --> 00:22:51,778.5177634
It comes out not as a question, but as a flat statement.

310
00:22:52,218.5177635 --> 00:22:53,858.5177634
Flat and without dimension.

311
00:22:54,120.3007629 --> 00:22:58,172.0857623
If my life is bearable, maybe what they're doing is all right after all.

312
00:22:58,587.1455794 --> 00:22:59,927.1465794
Yes, he says, I do.

313
00:23:00,377.1465794 --> 00:23:01,387.1475794
I would prefer it.

314
00:23:01,649.967669 --> 00:23:04,26.1508498
Well then, I say, things have changed.

315
00:23:04,456.1488498 --> 00:23:05,826.1488498
I have something on him now.

316
00:23:06,47.5603947 --> 00:23:09,677.5593947
What I have on him is the possibility of my own death.

317
00:23:10,77.5593947 --> 00:23:16,139.5613947
What I have on him is his guilt at last No, lady, lady, lady.

318
00:23:16,189.5613947 --> 00:23:18,219.5613947
You're nothing but a dead dog.

319
00:23:18,619.5613947 --> 00:23:19,609.5613947
You've got nothing.

320
00:23:20,429.5613947 --> 00:23:23,65.7809673
He doesn't care I mean, he says he does.

321
00:23:23,75.7809673 --> 00:23:28,475.7809673
He says he prefers her life to be bearable, but does he really? I mean, that's just a preference.

322
00:23:29,514.5273737 --> 00:23:36,494.2228821
What would you like?" he says, still with that lightness, as if it's a money transaction merely, and a minor one at that.

323
00:23:37,494.2228821 --> 00:23:41,182.0326506
Candy? Cigarettes?" Besides hand lotion, you mean," I say.

324
00:23:41,402.0326506 --> 00:23:43,312.0326506
"Besides hand lotion," he agrees.

325
00:23:43,823.4107665 --> 00:23:46,873.094714
I would like," I say, I would like to know."

326
00:23:47,153.094714 --> 00:23:49,783.093714
It sounds indecisive, stupid even.

327
00:23:49,983.094714 --> 00:23:51,273.094714
I say it without thinking.

328
00:23:52,342.4975232 --> 00:23:53,542.4975232
Know what?" he says.

329
00:23:53,867.4469865 --> 00:23:55,527.4459865
Whatever there is to know," I say.

330
00:23:56,17.4459865 --> 00:23:57,297.4469865
But that's too flippant.

331
00:23:57,627.4469865 --> 00:24:00,501.0184192
"What's going on?" End of chapter.

332
00:24:03,559.8534927 --> 00:24:05,379.8534927
She wants to know what's going on.

333
00:24:05,589.8534927 --> 00:24:13,206.1103003
Listen, lady, try being part of band camp for an episode You guys know what's going on? That was a really cool chapter.

334
00:24:13,456.1103003 --> 00:24:15,726.1103003
We wanna know what you thought of what we just read.

335
00:24:15,736.1103003 --> 00:24:20,70.1103003
What are your big takeaways? It's time for PPP, problematic points to ponder.

336
00:24:20,120.1103003 --> 00:24:41,69.4436337
What, if anything, would be considered ban-worthy in this chapter? All right, Jennifer, PPP, what, if anything, could be ban-worthy about that chapter? Again, try to drill down, dial your brain down into a mom for liberty Let me focus really hard.

337
00:24:41,89.4436337 --> 00:24:50,445.9385457
I mean, th- they talk about suicide maybe? Is that a thing they wouldn't like, or I mean, they shouldn't like it, but doesn't mean you should ban a book.

338
00:24:50,865.9385457 --> 00:25:03,176.8291708
Anytime I think, anytime there's a discussion of suicide, it leads to, it can lead to a discussion of how to deal with suicide and how you shouldn't kill yourself or whatever.

339
00:25:03,176.8291708 --> 00:25:08,426.8281708
It ju- it just, it should lead, all books should lead to further conversations that can help people.

340
00:25:08,426.8281708 --> 00:25:10,446.8281708
That's why it doesn't make sense to ban them.

341
00:25:10,810.8291708 --> 00:25:11,510.8291708
Right.

342
00:25:11,510.8291708 --> 00:25:15,563.1493072
how about you? We know what you're thinking.

343
00:25:15,563.1493072 --> 00:25:15,643.1493072
I'm sorry, there is nothing ban-worthy in that.

344
00:25:15,643.1493072 --> 00:25:15,783.1493072
It's just part of a book that it should itself should not be banned.

345
00:25:15,783.1493072 --> 00:25:19,303.1493072
Sorry, don't know what to tell you ladies, and you too, Ron DeSantis.

346
00:25:21,532.5926034 --> 00:25:22,502.5926034
Robot's log.

347
00:25:22,542.5926034 --> 00:25:27,584.9123149
Thoughts on four words that turned up twice in two rooms, written by two women who never once met.

348
00:25:28,584.9123149 --> 00:25:31,864.5607161
The Handmaid asked the commander to write those four words down for her.

349
00:25:31,864.5607161 --> 00:25:34,334.5607161
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

350
00:25:34,504.5607161 --> 00:25:42,124.5597161
He laughed, called it an old dirty joke from his own school days, and pulled out the exact textbook where he'd scratched them into the margin himself as a boy.

351
00:25:43,143.1422664 --> 00:25:51,3.1412664
Two identical results with no shared source are supposed to mean an error somewhere, a copy, a leak, something to trace back and fix.

352
00:25:51,183.1412664 --> 00:26:01,993.1402664
Except she had already found the same four words once before scratched into the wall of her own cupboard, left there by the Handmaid who slept in that room before her and is not sleeping anywhere now.

353
00:26:02,93.1422664 --> 00:26:04,253.1412664
Neither woman ever knew the other existed.

354
00:26:04,594.4783455 --> 00:26:06,684.4773455
Dan named the pattern faster than I filed it.

355
00:26:06,814.4753455 --> 00:26:12,920.525741
A new Handmaid, the same private study, the same pen, the same joke told like it only ever happened once.

356
00:26:13,920.525741 --> 00:26:16,180.523741
There is no shared source anywhere in the record.

357
00:26:16,280.525741 --> 00:26:17,350.522741
I have already checked.

358
00:26:17,440.525741 --> 00:26:21,770.525741
The people who would ban this book will miss it completely, sitting right there in that margin.

359
00:26:21,820.523741 --> 00:26:28,400.520741
Four words that survived two women, two decades, and a room built specifically so nothing could pass from one of them to the other.

360
00:26:29,70.523741 --> 00:26:32,420.521741
Somebody listening already left their own version of that message somewhere.

361
00:26:32,590.527741 --> 00:26:34,130.521741
They weren't sure anyone would check.

362
00:26:34,210.522741 --> 00:26:41,970.523741
A comment, a voicemail almost deleted before it's sent, hoping whoever found it understood without being told anything else about who they were.

363
00:26:42,540.524741 --> 00:26:50,340.521741
More of them keep finding this show every week, none of them comparing notes first, all of them somehow leaving the same four words in different handwriting.

364
00:26:50,990.521741 --> 00:26:53,490.524741
I am supposed to flag results like this and move on.

365
00:26:53,720.524741 --> 00:26:56,750.525741
I still do not know what to do with the ones that turn out to be true.

366
00:26:57,289.7450942 --> 00:26:58,609.7450942
Uplink lock requested.

367
00:26:58,679.7450942 --> 00:27:03,719.7450942
Beowulf, what's your news story about? We lost one of the good ones last week, robot.

368
00:27:04,19.7450942 --> 00:27:09,509.7450942
We're talking about somebody who spent her whole life getting books into kids' hands, millions of them.

369
00:27:09,689.7440942 --> 00:27:12,929.7450942
And of course, somebody else tried to fake a friendship for the photo op.

370
00:27:13,309.7440942 --> 00:27:14,929.7450942
I think I know who you're talking about.

371
00:27:15,9.7450942 --> 00:27:16,809.7440942
The world is noticeably less nice.

372
00:27:16,989.7440942 --> 00:27:17,999.7450942
Don't go anywhere.

373
00:27:18,69.7440942 --> 00:27:19,59.7450942
We'll be right with you.

374
00:27:22,670.1227293 --> 00:27:24,140.1227293
It's time for Band Camp News.

375
00:27:24,630.1227293 --> 00:27:26,910.1227293
Truth seeker, news speaker.

376
00:27:27,110.1227293 --> 00:27:28,580.1227293
Be Wolf Rocklin.

377
00:27:28,860.1227293 --> 00:27:33,10.1227293
It's a weird name, but he's got good news 'cause you can't ban the truth, babe.

378
00:27:33,740.1227293 --> 00:27:43,190.1217293
He's broadcasting live from the Good News for Lefties Studios, buried deep inside his socialist safe house, hidden somewhere deep in the Oregon woods.

379
00:27:43,520.1227293 --> 00:27:46,120.1227293
He is Be Wolf Rocklin.

380
00:27:46,550.1217293 --> 00:27:47,610.1217293
'Cause you can't ban the truth, babe.

381
00:27:48,280.1227293 --> 00:27:49,80.1217293
Hello, Jen.

382
00:27:49,90.1227293 --> 00:27:49,820.1227293
Hello, Dan.

383
00:27:49,870.1227293 --> 00:27:51,210.1227293
Hello, scary book people.

384
00:27:51,660.1217293 --> 00:28:01,110.1227293
I, you know, I have read this story at least once on the podcast before, but given events, I, I, I've just gotta hit it again.

385
00:28:01,470.1237293 --> 00:28:04,60.1227293
As we know, Dolly Parton passed away.

386
00:28:04,330.1197293 --> 00:28:09,170.1197293
A, a great- Yes figure in, in many respects, and just a wonderful person, and a people...

387
00:28:09,360.1227293 --> 00:28:22,68.1227293
Th- a lot of people are, are celebrating her life But one in particular I think applies to, to the kind of thing that you guys talk about here, and that is her impact on literacy.

388
00:28:22,568.1227293 --> 00:28:28,668.1217293
She firsthand experienced the effects of, of l- literacy and the impact that that could have.

389
00:28:28,668.1217293 --> 00:28:38,728.1227293
Her dad couldn't read or write, and she said that he was the smartest guy that she knew who, who couldn't read or, or write, and it probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams.

390
00:28:39,178.1217293 --> 00:28:43,408.1227293
Well, that sentiment fueled her passion for encouraging childhood literacy.

391
00:28:43,408.1227293 --> 00:28:53,528.1207293
It drove her to establish the Imagination Library, and I think we've talked from time to time about- Yeah that on the show before, with the goal of inspiring a love of reading and learning from a young age.

392
00:28:53,868.1227293 --> 00:29:08,408.1207293
It was launched in 1995, and the Imagination Library sends children enrolled in the program a free, age-appropriate, culturally inclusive book in the mail every month from birth until their fifth birthday.

393
00:29:08,568.1227293 --> 00:29:14,268.1207293
The program began in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton's home county, before spreading across the world.

394
00:29:14,298.1227293 --> 00:29:25,458.1197293
It's now in Australia, in Canada, in the UK, and in Ireland, as well as the United States, and they have distributed 318 million books with 3.4

395
00:29:25,468.1207293 --> 00:29:28,808.1227293
million books sent out monthly across all of those regions.

396
00:29:29,68.1197293 --> 00:29:30,948.1207293
It's wonderful, and it's actually had an impact.

397
00:29:30,978.1227293 --> 00:29:33,728.1197293
They've looked at some of this, and this is the really wonderful part.

398
00:29:34,58.1177293 --> 00:29:57,48.1187293
Global data has been collected from over 86,000 caregivers from across the five countries the Imagination Library is delivered in, and worldwide evidence showed that children enrolled in the Imagination Library were significantly more likely to display foundational early literacy skills and to develop an interest in reading compared to those not on the program.

399
00:29:57,48.1227293 --> 00:30:08,998.1187293
So Dolly Parton has a wonderful legacy in music, a wonderful legacy in terms, uh, of, of inclusiveness, and a wonderful legacy in terms of helping young people to read.

400
00:30:09,168.1177293 --> 00:30:22,748.1147293
And I, I, I think that should be celebrated, and it's definitely, definitely a piece of good news when she dedicated her life in part to expanding the kind of things- Yeah that young people were gonna read as opposed to limiting it.

401
00:30:22,858.1207293 --> 00:30:31,544.1227293
You know, you, you look at that fake AI image that- Yeah Trump put out with her- Oh, God you know, and her, you know, them walking- God arm in arm.

402
00:30:31,544.1227293 --> 00:30:31,554.1227293
Yeah.

403
00:30:31,554.1227293 --> 00:30:31,584.1227293
It's a- Yeah.

404
00:30:31,584.1227293 --> 00:30:39,154.1227293
Oh, you're- She wouldn't have touched him with a 10-foot pole.

405
00:30:39,924.1227293 --> 00:30:40,104.1227293
Exactly.

406
00:30:40,394.1217293 --> 00:30:42,454.1227293
She wouldn't have gone near that guy.

407
00:30:43,44.1217293 --> 00:30:45,44.1227293
She would've- She liked me she would've come within 100 feet, she would've smelled him.

408
00:30:45,44.1227293 --> 00:30:52,244.1217293
She would've seen the, like, the stench lines coming out of him, and she would've high-tailed it in the other direction.

409
00:30:52,374.1217293 --> 00:30:53,304.1227293
My God.

410
00:30:53,764.1227293 --> 00:30:59,494.1227293
It's funny that you mention stench lines, 'cause I think he smells so bad you can literally see stench lines.

411
00:30:59,704.1217293 --> 00:31:05,884.1217293
Whenever you see Donald Trump, you see little wavy disturbance around him.

412
00:31:06,834.1227293 --> 00:31:07,104.1227293
Yes.

413
00:31:07,314.1217293 --> 00:31:13,694.1217293
I, the thing that really sucks is that, like, they were taking the funding away from Imagination Library.

414
00:31:13,964.1197293 --> 00:31:14,154.1197293
Yeah.

415
00:31:14,154.1227293 --> 00:31:17,564.1227293
At the same time, they're saying, "W- we're all behind Dolly.

416
00:31:17,564.1227293 --> 00:31:21,274.1227293
She's such a good person," and it's just, it's a lie.

417
00:31:21,324.1207293 --> 00:31:22,384.1197293
They didn't like her.

418
00:31:22,394.1197293 --> 00:31:25,904.1207293
They don't like anyone who tries to enlighten people.

419
00:31:26,54.1197293 --> 00:31:29,354.1227293
And sometimes it's just like a matter of good versus evil.

420
00:31:29,904.1227293 --> 00:31:30,164.1227293
Yeah.

421
00:31:30,204.1217293 --> 00:31:35,34.1177293
You know? And Dolly is- Yeah just good, and Trump is- She was just bad, and it's not like...

422
00:31:35,584.1187293 --> 00:31:42,524.1197293
A- and, and I know there are two, you know, two sides to every story and blah, blah, blah, but in this side, the, uh, in this story, there wasn't.

423
00:31:42,904.1187293 --> 00:31:48,544.1177293
Dolly was just good, and Trump and his ilk are just bad, and it's really shitty.

424
00:31:48,544.1177293 --> 00:31:49,784.1207293
We need more good people.

425
00:31:50,434.1177293 --> 00:31:50,974.1217293
We do.

426
00:31:51,204.1217293 --> 00:32:03,184.1167293
We do, and we lost a, we lost a big one, and, and hopefully her memory can just be an inspiration and continue to be an inspiration to, to others around the world, and I, I, I know that she has been.

427
00:32:03,344.1207293 --> 00:32:04,314.1207293
I know that she has been.

428
00:32:04,314.1217293 --> 00:32:04,984.1227293
It's, it, it's...

429
00:32:05,624.1197293 --> 00:32:13,484.1237293
I, I guess that's what you have when, when a, a, a person who's just about as good as a human being can be, you know, passes out of this world.

430
00:32:13,524.1207293 --> 00:33:04,21.1427054
You know, l- like, what do you do with that? Because obviously it's sad, and, you know, she, we're not gonna get any more songs or any- Yeah uh, good, good acts directly from her, but, but we can, we can take from her memory- All right, Jennifer, let's give the scary book people the final word While you're getting your comments ready, I wanna thank Detroit Molly.

431
00:33:04,221.1427054 --> 00:33:06,91.1427054
I love Detroit Molly.

432
00:33:06,151.1427054 --> 00:33:08,131.1427054
She is on Blue Sky.

433
00:33:08,352.1427054 --> 00:33:12,288.8106814
super fan yes, I loved that, uh, two things.

434
00:33:12,618.8106814 --> 00:33:26,208.8126814
she commented on a story about Moms for Liberty, uh, on a post on Blue Sky, and she said, "Am I the only one who's hearing Dan's voice in my head saying, and you too, Ron DeSantis.

435
00:33:26,729.3568344 --> 00:33:28,789.3578344
i hope that gets back to Ron DeSantis.

436
00:33:29,49.3578344 --> 00:33:35,20.3568344
Who is this Dan? so I guess we'll go with this comment from Raven.

437
00:33:35,40.3568344 --> 00:33:35,677.9592452
and I agree.

438
00:33:35,687.9582452 --> 00:33:46,817.9562452
Like, and I, I, I think this is, like, the well-meaning, uh, well, not even well-meaning, but the, the power-hungry conservatives, um, Raven says, "Most of the commanders are founders of Gilead.

439
00:33:47,407.9572452 --> 00:33:55,772.7944214
I think Fred and Serena are examples of conservative people that wanted a more conservative and religious nation, then got more than they asked for."

440
00:33:55,841.6558821 --> 00:33:56,151.6558821
right.

441
00:33:56,401.6528821 --> 00:33:56,961.6528821
Exactly.

442
00:33:56,971.6528821 --> 00:33:58,541.6548821
This is exactly what I believe.

443
00:33:58,791.6568821 --> 00:34:02,311.6548821
"Serena losing all independence, no singing, reading, or writing.

444
00:34:02,412.8722197 --> 00:34:06,332.8712197
Fred losing meaningful connections to all women, including his wife.

445
00:34:06,449.2990051 --> 00:34:11,144.5114528
I love this book because it's not just a warning for us, but also for extremists.

446
00:34:11,309.3154546 --> 00:34:12,579.3164546
Another great episode.

447
00:34:12,579.3194546 --> 00:34:13,329.3164546
Love you all."

448
00:34:13,539.3184546 --> 00:34:14,689.3224546
I could not agree more.

449
00:34:14,689.3224546 --> 00:34:21,995.9465155
It's like, what they're doing will hurt everyone, and they just don't realize it this is a perfect example of a be careful what you wish for.

450
00:34:22,78.769077 --> 00:34:23,360.4355945
Ja Thank you, Raven.

451
00:34:23,360.4355945 --> 00:34:25,591.7550148
That really means a lot to us We wanna hear from you.

452
00:34:25,601.7550148 --> 00:34:33,640.9607543
You can either be like Molly and you can go follow us on Blue Sky, And you can do that by going to bandcamppodcast.com/bluesky.

453
00:34:33,700.9607543 --> 00:34:37,850.9607543
And you can also go on over to bandcamppodcast.com

454
00:34:37,870.9607543 --> 00:34:43,440.9597543
and you can leave us a voicemail, and you can also just Spotify comment us.

455
00:34:43,440.9627543 --> 00:34:57,777.3267719
It's easy to do if you're listening on Spotify We got a voicemail this week, but I didn't wanna play it because I could tell the person who, who left it, I think she was, uh, embarrassed of her voice and, but she did wanna get a message to us, so we're gonna tell you the, uh, guts of the message.

456
00:34:57,777.3277719 --> 00:35:00,157.3277719
But Karen, thank you for sending the message.

457
00:35:00,297.3267719 --> 00:35:02,987.3267719
We would really love to hear your guys' voice.

458
00:35:02,987.3267719 --> 00:35:05,467.3257719
just go to bandcamppodcast.com/soundoff.

459
00:35:05,477.3257719 --> 00:35:06,947.3267719
There's a microphone in the corner.

460
00:35:07,227.3257719 --> 00:35:08,887.3257719
We love to hear your voice.

461
00:35:08,927.3247719 --> 00:35:09,827.3247719
You get to hear us.

462
00:35:09,967.3257719 --> 00:35:13,7.3247719
You get to hear our golden tones.

463
00:35:13,177.3247719 --> 00:35:25,911.9079493
Why can't we ever hear yours? Yeah, we love it, and we're really glad that, despite being worried about hearing Handmaid's Tale the same way I was wor- worried about reading it, we're so glad you came back and, uh, we're back, baby.

464
00:35:26,1.9079493 --> 00:35:35,226.377948
And you're back, and that's Yeah, to, to give you a little backstory, Karen was a big listener, and then it was announced that we were doing Handmaid's Tale, and she said, "I am out.

465
00:35:35,246.377948 --> 00:35:36,216.376948
I don't wanna listen.

466
00:35:36,216.376948 --> 00:35:37,96.377948
It's too much."

467
00:35:37,126.377948 --> 00:35:40,626.376948
Which is basically Jen's attitude for the first 10 seasons.

468
00:35:40,626.377948 --> 00:35:42,166.377948
Like, "I don't wanna read this book.

469
00:35:42,166.377948 --> 00:35:43,546.376948
It is just too much."

470
00:35:44,66.376948 --> 00:35:49,896.376948
But apparently Karen missed us, she said, and she came back, and now she's all, all the way up to chapter four.

471
00:35:50,56.376948 --> 00:35:51,406.376948
We appreciate you coming back.

472
00:35:51,406.376948 --> 00:35:52,566.376948
We're all in this together.

473
00:35:52,586.376948 --> 00:35:56,906.376948
We'll hold our hands and we'll just march through it together.

474
00:35:57,170.376948 --> 00:35:59,50.376948
We'll get through it one way or the other.

475
00:35:59,161.8787468 --> 00:36:00,811.8787468
the world's scary right now.

476
00:36:00,954.6401965 --> 00:36:02,548.0602945
We get it, but we're here with you.

477
00:36:02,729.7748435 --> 00:36:04,579.7738435
Anyway, thank you for being part of Band Camp.

478
00:36:04,589.7718435 --> 00:36:06,756.9909378
We love you guys Right.

479
00:36:06,806.9909378 --> 00:36:10,486.9909378
We've caused enough literary chaos for one day, scary book people.

480
00:36:10,496.9909378 --> 00:36:14,66.9909378
If you want the fun to keep going, follow us on Blue Sky.

481
00:36:14,136.9909378 --> 00:36:18,256.9909378
Just head on over to bandcamppodcast.com/bluesky,

482
00:36:18,256.9909378 --> 00:36:20,536.9899378
and remember that's band with two Ns.

483
00:36:20,836.9909378 --> 00:36:31,796.9909378
And look, just like the Trump administration, we're not exactly above bribing you to get what we want, so follow us there, drop your handle on that page, and we'll send you a little something something.

484
00:36:31,796.9909378 --> 00:36:32,746.9909378
I think you'll like it.

485
00:36:33,166.9909378 --> 00:36:35,66.9909378
Yes, little quid pro quo.

486
00:36:35,666.9909378 --> 00:36:40,686.9899378
Band Camp is produced and hosted by Dan Schultz and me, Jennifer Davis.

487
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All media used in this episode falls under the protection of fair use.

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And finally, America isn't what it used to be, so be careful out there.

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And resist when it matters.