The Twelfth Lantern – Episode 4: The Bell That Wouldn’t Ring

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Episode summary

An old bell-ringer has kept one answer for too long. Wearing her grandmother's jacket, Haneul sits beside him and listens.

Transcript

The Twelfth Lantern - Episode 4: The Bell That Wouldn't Ring

Panel 1. In the tea-house room, Haneul lifts a grey jacket from a wooden chest. Her teal coat hangs on a peg. She wears a cream top and red scarf.

Panel 2. Haneul wears her grandmother's grey jacket. Bit sits on the veranda beside her boots. She smiles quietly.
Haneul: It still smells of tea.
Bit: It suits you.

Panel 3. Haneul and Bit climb an autumn mountain path towards the bell pavilion. Deok-pil waits beside the bronze bell.

Panel 4. Deok-pil draws the suspended wooden striker back after striking the silent bell. Haneul watches from the entrance, with Bit at the threshold.
Deok-pil: Not even an echo.

Panel 5. Deok-pil turns towards an empty bench and gestures to a place beside him. Haneul stands nearby.
Deok-pil: Your grandmother used to sit there.
Haneul: May I?

Panel 6. Haneul sits on the left of the bench and Deok-pil on the right, with a space between them. He looks down.
Deok-pil: My wife asked if I'd forgiven her.

Panel 7. Deok-pil looks ashamed. Haneul's shoulder is visible at the edge of the view.
Deok-pil: I had.
Deok-pil: I wanted her to ask again.

Panel 8. His hand rests on his knee beside the empty place on the bench. Haneul's folded hands rest separately in her lap. Neither speaks.

Panel 9. Deok-pil lowers his gaze. Haneul turns towards him and waits. Bit sits quietly on the ground.
Deok-pil: Then she died. And I was still waiting.
Haneul: I'm listening.

Panel 10. Deok-pil lifts his head towards the empty air beside the bell. Haneul remains nearby.
Deok-pil: I forgave you.
Deok-pil: I should have told you.

Panel 11. At the tea-house eaves, the first lantern steadies in warm gold. The second is already lit; part of the third is visible.

Panel 12. Back at the pavilion, Deok-pil stands beside the bell and guides the suspended striker. Haneul lifts her head and Bit turns his ears towards one brief, audible tone.
Sound: DONG
Narration: For one second, the world answered.

End of Episode 4.