Mayday

“

There has to be an "us". Because there is a "them" now.

”

— Offred about the existence of a resistance group

Mayday
Organization type	Clandestine cell system
Status	Active
Description	A loosely organized resistance movement within the Republic of Gilead.

For more resistance groups, see Resistance (disambiguation)

Mayday is a secret resistance group that operates a clandestine cell system that works to oppose and bring down Gilead from the inside. It is unknown how many members there are, though anyone can be allowed to join. Ofglen mentions that it is better if the rebels do not know too much about the numbers or identities of their comrades, in case one of them is captured and interrogated. Members of Mayday can identify each other by speaking the code words 'May day' in conversation. Mayday's members act as spies, gaining information from important members of Gileadean society, and help political targets escape to safety. People from all walks of Gileadean society are members, including Handmaids and Guardians. It is even possible that members of the Eyes serve as double agents for Mayday. It is revealed that some people outside of Mayday are aware of the organisation, but are not necessarily members or openly support the rebels. It's hinted that Gilead tries to keep knowledge of Mayday quiet, executing captured members of Mayday on trumped up charges, presumably to prevent people from being encouraged to join.

 See also: Mayday (Category)

Known Members

• Neil
• Melanie
• Ada
• George
• Garth
• Elijah
• Esther Keyes
• Daisy
• Aunt Adrianna
• Emily Malek
• Alma
• Nick Blaine
• Beth
• Rachel
• Unnamed man (executed for allegedly raping a Handmaid)
• Aunt Lydia (mole, The Testament Novel)

Couriers

see also: Underground Femaleroad

• June Osborne
• Unnamed butcher
• Omar
• Boston Globe janitor
• Captain Mishimengo

Known Communication Chains Within Mayday

Ofglen - ? - Flores/Tapping

Offred only reveals to Ofglen her former profession, her daughter's age, and that the place of the separation from her husband was in Maine - an information sufficient for people tasked with inquiries (like Tapping and Flores) to assume Luke as Offred's husband (Tapping: "That's what we thought"). Furthermore, this suggests the U.S. government-in-exile generally uses Mayday as resource to gather information from within Gilead.

Alma - ? - Rachel (Jezebel's)

Offred reaches out to Alma, who is involved with the resistance. She says she wants to be a part of "May Day" and contribute to the resistance movement. Alma resists at first but ultimately accepts Offred's offer and gives her her first assignment - get a mystery package from "Rachel at the bar" in the Jezebel's club and hold on to it until further notice .

Rachel - Moira (one-time) (- ?) - butcher - Offred

Moira is furious to see Offred is back at the Jezebel's club and a part of the rebellion movement. She refuses to get Rachel's Package for Offred who isn't able to retrieve it, claiming she doesn't know Rachel. Moira is then seen killing one of her customers in the club, putting on a uniform, and driving off in one of the black cars owned by the government. The next day, Offred is in a butcher's shop and orders some meat. The butcher slyly gives her the secret package that she was supposed to retrieve at Jezebel's, with a note from Moira attached.

Nick - Beth - Rachel

Nick and Beth are talking in the Jezebel's kitchen. Nick wants to know if Beth "asked around at the bar" that "nobody's planning anything stupid", and Beth replies that the girls in here are not "in the shape for a rebellion" .

(Nick -) Beth - Rachel (- ?) - Ofglen

At the gate of the Waterfords' house, Ofglen warns Offred that an Eye is a member of her household, referring to Nick. Since Nick trades drugs in Jezebel's on behalf of the Eyes, the resistance cell in the brothel could be Ofglen's source.

Nick - ? - butcher (to devise June's escape)

In the hospital, Offred is left alone and begins to put her shoes on when a key falls out from her boot. The key gets her into the stairwell and she follows red marks that lead her down into a long tunnel beneath the facility. At the end, the butcher is waiting for her with a refrigerated truck loaded with hogs to take her away. When the truck stops, he leads her into an empty corporate building (possibly a garage) in Back Bay where Nick welcomes her . June is later harbored in the abandoned Boston Globe building by its caretaker.