The Handmaid's Tale Season 3 Episode 2 Recap
The Handmaid's Tale: The 6 Most Important Moments in Episode 2, "Mary and Martha"
6
June, Beth, and Cora are cleaning up dinner when a hurt Martha (Seema Doad) bangs on the door for help. They lead her to the Lawrence's basement to try to treat her, but their efforts are thwarted when a fleet of Guardians descend on the house and they have to hide and remain quiet to escape detection. Even though Mrs. Lawrence helps distract the Guardians for them, the injured woman dies, and a disgusted Joseph Lawrence tells June that she alone has to "clean it up." (He also says he wishes he'd never taken her in, if that wasn't already implied.)
June ends up burying the Martha's body herself in the cold, unyielding garden outside in a long, dirty scene that ends with her praying to god for help. When she returns inside to take a bath, Beth informs her that their actions had unforeseen consequences: Lawrence sent Cora away, telling Beth he'd no longer protect her. Will she end up in the Colonies? Hanged on the Wall? Like most things in Gilead, her fate is now a nerve-wracking mystery.