season 5 script summaries
links to previous script summaries: season 4, season 3, season 2, season 1, seasons 1/2 contâd also, check my tht scripts tag for gifs, excerpts, and more details
i got the librarianâs email about season 5 scripts, and even though driving to and parking at WGAW has become a literal nightmare, i said fuck it and flew (crawled in traffic) down there the very next day. i wanted to see what the mood was like during the strike, anyway.
the staff had the library running business as usual, but the energy was high and there were pro-union shirts everywhere. there were a couple of guys on the first floor making literal piles of picket signs. i chatted with them for a minute and they said everyone was mostly out on the streets, picketing at every major studio in the city. rock on WGA â
i was on a time limit to beat rush hour, so when i read the season 5 scripts it was only Nick scenes. i searched for all instances of his name and wrote down everything i could. i may go back to read the rest of the season, but i canât make any promises on when that will be.
before i begin (same as last time):
⢠everything described here is from the official scripts that are archived at the Writers Guild in Los Angeles. ⢠the scripts i read are final drafts. there is no âwriting in the margins.â everything described is from dialogue and script direction that was used on set. (click for an example) ⢠the library has a strict no copies/photos rule in place which is why i summarize what i read. ⢠anything in italics is a direct quote for the sake of clarity. ⢠feel free to ask questions and iâll answer to the best of my ability. my private notes are pretty detailed, but if i need to do more research i may save the answer for a future library visit. ⢠please do not share this post without my permission. thank you in advance for respecting my wishes.
5x01 - Morning
Nick and Roseâs morning scene in this episode is more or less the same as this early script draft. The only difference is after Nick tells Rose her coffee is good, thereâs an additional line that says: âItâs a lie, and they both know it. Rose appreciates the polite kindness.â
5x02 - Ballet
There was a short scene of Nick and Joseph Lawrence having a private chat at the airport before meeting with Serena Joy. It was cut from the episode, but you can see it in the trailer.
In this scene, Lawrence confides in Nick that heâs nervous about the meeting with Serena because - in his words - âYou had to let your girlfriend go after Fred.â
Nick assures Lawrence that theyâre going to spin it as a savvy political move by blaming the Americans for killing Fred. Lawrence still chastises him for not doing his job. Then the conversation pivots (a little clunkily) to this line from the trailer:
NICK: Serena doesnât know what happened.
LAWRENCE: Doesnât matter what she knows. It matters what she believes.
When they meet Serena on the tarmac, she instantly has suspicions that they were responsible for Fredâs death. The conversation is tense until they all see Fredâs body getting rolled off the plane, then Serena needles Nickâs guilt and pokes at it with her âFred saw promise in youâ speech.
As they are leaving the tarmac, thereâs a line that says âNick acknowledges Mark with a nodâ and Lawrence notices it. In the episode you can see Nick and Mark exchange looks in the background as they leave, but otherwise Lawrence doesnât notice.
At the Putnamâs party later in the episode, you may have noticed that after the Handmaids arrive, Esther and Nick share a notable look. The script describes this as a fraught moment in which Nick is filled with remorse and wishing he could do more. It also says Esther remembers Nick from when he and the Eyes arrested her, and sheâs visibly pissed about it. As they walk away from each other, âNick canât help but be reminded of June.â
While Serena Joy is manipulating the Commanders into broadcasting Fredâs funeral, Nick steps in because heâs moved by her bravery and âattempting to atone for his hand in killing Fred.â
In the secret meeting between Nick and Mark there were a few cut lines of dialogue. Most notable is after Nick tells him he just tries to stay out of trouble, Mark replies, âCatches up to everyone, at some point.â
Opaque, Nick thinks about that. How long does he think he can keep going?
Ok, so the end of the episode when the funeral is on TV in Canada, Iâm happy to report that Nick IS mentioned in Juneâs inner dialogue. The scene describes her recognizing who is onscreen with Serena. First she sees Lawrence, and then... âAnd finally, most painfully -- NICK.â (Yes, in all caps like that, lol.)
5x03 - Border
Cute June inner-dialogue when Lily asks her if Nickâs a big Jezebels guy: âJune doesnât know how to explain what type of âguyâ Nick is.â
The awkward Lawrence residence dinner scene. Commander Mackenzie genuinely loves Rose (âold friend of the familyâ) and is instantly distrustful of Nick. Serena doesnât buy Nick and Roseâs relationship as genuine either, and tries to subtly acknowledge Roseâs close relationship with Juneâs daughterâs parents by telling him how lucky he is. Nick is tense, but then his banter with Rose relaxes him, making Serena surprised to observe real affection in their relationship.
During the dinner itself, Mackenzie is just making everyone extremely uncomfortable by bringing up June. Nothing too interesting in the script here, itâs mostly just dialogue.
There is a cut line after dinner when Nick and Rose are leaving, and she says to him, âWell I wouldnât say thatâs the most relaxing dinner party Iâve ever been to.â (He responds âYeah. No.â) Then he spots Mark all alone. Script says Rose understands what heâs about to do. âNick squeezes her hand, then heads over to Mark.â
The script emphasizes here that Nick is unsure talking to Mark is a good idea, but he really wants to be the one to tell June about Rose before Serena does.
Mackenzie scares the shit out of him in this scene, and the âfuckâ Nick mutters at the end was originally not spoken out loud (âOFF NICK, fuck.â) but Iâm so glad it was.
Alright, phone call scene. One of our few big Osblaine moments!
NICK: June. Hi.
June suddenly feels like everything is going to be okay.
This scene is mostly dialogue. The final product is all the acting that goes into it. It does say Nick is stressed to relay upsetting information about Hannah and Rose. When June hears about Rose, she knew this was coming eventually, but itâs still a blow. It also describes how painful and hard this is for both of them. But at the end of the call, right after June tells Nick to be happy, is my favorite line in the whole script:
Itâs an impossible ask, maybe, for these two to be truly happy without each other.
After the phone call, there is a cut scene between Nick and Rose where they simply look at each other.
Rose knows exactly who he was on the phone with, and what he said to her.
She looks worried for him, knowing it wasnât easy.
He nods to her -- itâs done.
5x06 - Together
According to the script, Lawrence only invited Warren Putnam over to his house to get Nick on board with killing him. Warren repulses Nick so heâs down.
The next scene theyâre in is when they execute Warren. (Such a good scene.) After Nick shoots him in the head, the script describes the camera hanging onto Nick and âhis soldierâs stoicism.â
Then it cuts straight to Rose in the Blaine home. âSheâs disappointed in him and he knows it.â
Now this scene threw me off. Itâs written much differently than how Max acted it. Nick is actually a lot more warm toward Rose in the script, much like how all their previous scenes were. Several lines of Nickâs dialogue were changed (âCan I help?â became âYou gonna tell me whatâs going on?â onscreen) and his body language comes across way more cold and defensive than whatâs described on paper.
As for Rose, she isnât soothed by Nickâs assurances here. And thatâs it for this episode.
5x08 - Motherland
New Bethlehem opens with another cut private moment between Lawrence and Nick.
Nick is brooding by the water, âstill grappling with the moral and emotional consequences of shooting Warren in the head.â Lawrence finds him and tries to prod, but Nick gives him nothing.
LAWRENCE: You look a little more moody and broody than usual. Really, you sleeping okay? Â
NICK: Iâm fine.
Lawrence moves on because they have work to do. He reminds Nick heâs counting on him.
Lawrence gives his New Bethlehem speech to the other Commanders. When one of them pushes back, âthatâs the cue for Nick, the muscle. Enough carrots, time for sticks.â
After Nick bullies the Commanders and Lawrence consolidates his power, the script describes these two as a âdynamic duoâ lol
Okay, brace yourselves, thereâs a cut Osblaine scene up next. I had no idea this existed, I donât think there are any shots of it in the trailer.
It takes place after June visits Serena in the detention center and realizes she canât help Hannah unless sheâs there. If you watch that part you will see her pull out Lawrenceâs burner phone as she leaves. But instead of going to Lawrenceâs office like she does in the filmed version, in the script she calls Lawrence and just says, âI want to talk to Nick.â
It cuts to the next night at the border wall between Gilead and Canada. June is waiting on the Canada side as flying drone searchlights swoop across the electrified fence. (All described in dramatic detail.) She sees Nick appear on the other side. They look at each other, waiting, and once the searchlights clear they move to meet each other at the fence.
JUNE: I need to know if this is for real. I need to know that Hannah and my family will be safe.
NICK: I know. You will be. I promise.
JUNE: How can you promise that?
NICK: Things are changing, people are scared of Lawrence. Iâm in a position now where i can make sure youâll be safe.
JUNE: I want to believe you.
NICK: June. You can finally be with Hannah, watch over her. Isnât that what you always wanted?
She nods.
NICK (CONTâD): Then please. Come back.
âTo me,â he means. Juneâs heart is torn.
At this point the searchlights return and they have to separate. This scene is written like a soap opera. âThey canât help but reach out to each other, almost brushing fingertips before they move apart and run back, escaping the lights.â
Photo of this scene from Maxâs IG:
Later in the episode, Lawrence is back in New Bethlehem with Nick. Nick asks which way June is leaning and Lawrence says itâs toward yes. The script says here that Nick understands that Lawrence is trying to manipulate him, but he canât help but be cautiously optimistic at the idea of having June and Nichole in New Bethlehem with him.
By the end of the conversation, Nick is âconsidering.â
5x09 - Allegiance
Weâll skip to 27 minutes into the episode, when June sits with Mark after the failed mission. Mark catches June off guard by bringing up Nick. Sheâs taken aback by the revelation that he turned down Markâs offer, but Mark says she can still persuade him. The script says âJune imagines the prospect of Nick in Torontoâ which I think you can see pretty clearly on Lizzieâs face lol.
Then we cut to the big Osblaine reunion.
Lots of dramatic buildup in the script leading up to their conversation. I donât know how to describe it other than to show you:
She looks toward the courtyard. And there he is --
NICK
Waiting for her. Strained.
JUNE
Takes a beat to soak him in. She gets out.
OUTSIDE
June approaches Nick, their eyes locked.
Like, damn. They love building tension with these two.
Anyway, dialogue proceeds as it does in the show. Nick tells June that his wifeâs pregnant and June has the wind knocked out of her. Sheâs described as âappalled by Nickâs commitment to Gilead, but understanding of his loyalty to Rose and their future child.â
And then--
JUNE: I want whatâs best for both our families.
They look at each other.
A giant chasm between them now. But theyâve shared so much. So much trauma. So much love. A daughter.
JUNE (CONTâD): Well. This is a fine mess, isnât it?
This scene is once again described as painful for both of them. âShe tries to keep it together. How can they part? How can they say goodbye?â
Before Nick says âI love youâ he was supposed to wrap his arms around her, but in the final cut they keep their distance.
5x10 - Safe
Just wanna note that when Nick shows up on the bridge to meet Mark, it was originally written so American soldiers yank Nick out of his car, handcuff him, and drag him across the bridge to Mark. We were deprived.
Also the first thing out of Nickâs mouth here was supposed to be, âHow is she?â
In the hospital, Mark is telling Nick whatâs going on but, âNick canât even speak. Looking at June, with her black and blue eyes.â
Mark gets the hint and leaves Nick alone. An interesting thing to note is that the line âitâs probably better if she doesnât know I was hereâ is NOT in the script. At all.
The rest of the scene is sweet and simple.
Nick crosses, sits beside June.
A beat. Nick takes her hand.
Says nothing as he watches her sleep.
And thatâs it.
Mark and Nickâs second scene on the bridge is just as short and to the point. In fact itâs almost entirely dialogue, so the emotions you see onscreen came from acting and directing. The only notable difference here is when Mark tells Nick he couldâve run away with June, he was scripted to give actual examples of where. âMaybe not to Canada, but there are -- places you couldâve gone. Idaho, the Westward Territories.â (Hopefully foreshadowing lol.)
At the party, it is scripted that Rose tries to greet Nick when he arrives and he doesnât even acknowledge her. Like she doesnât even exist.
There isnât much description to accompany the punch. There is a line that says if Nick wasnât pulled off of Lawrence than heâd be happy to keep on whaling on him. It also describes Lawrence as ârattledâ and Rose as âhumiliated.â
At the train station, during Juneâs goodbye to Mark, she asks him to tell Nick that she and Nichole are safe as a nod to their phone call in episode 3. The only descriptive line here is, âA beat, as Mark clocks the deep and selfless connection between Nick and June.â
The final scene I have notes for is Nick and Roseâs breakup in jail.
There are a couple parts of their scripted conversation that didnât make it onscreen. Starting with right after Rose tells him a good man wouldnât leave his wife every time his girlfriend calls, Nickâs response was supposed to be, âshe was almost killed.â Then Rose laments that she thought she was lucky that someone like [Nick] would deign to be with someone like [her.] Nick says, âI was the lucky oneâ and she tells him to shut up.
Then thereâs the âYou will never let go of her, will you?â line from the show. Nick explains that he tried, but Rose retorts with, âWho knows what that woman will bring to our door. I have to protect our son.â Nick is described as scared now, and pleads with her not to leave.
Now I have no idea if that âour sonâ drop was supposed to be a legitimate reveal or just hopeful Gilead thinking. The script says nothing else about it and it was cut from the show. But it will be fun to speculate as we wait for the final season.









