- 18 hours ago
Beyond Death, Bound By The Red Veil
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Grandpa was used to being spoiled. One day, he visited Dad in a dream, and urged him to kill Grandma.
00:07Dad ignored Grandpa, but all our livestock died that night.
00:11The next day, Dad kneels in front of Grandma.
00:14Dad wants you in the underworld.
00:16I quickly stop him. Grandma is alive and well. We can't do this. Dad slaps me hard.
00:22This is what Dad wants!
00:24I freeze as I stare at Grandma.
00:28Grandpa was always mean to her. He'd never done chores in 70 years, and he regularly hit Grandma.
00:34He even made her cook when she was sick, while nitpicking her dishes.
00:38Grandma only enjoyed.
00:40Eight days of peace. Dad is still nagging.
00:43Dad needs you with him. You've been with him for over 50 years. You can't leave him alone.
00:49After our chickens died, Dad wants to cook them, but they don't have blood in them.
00:55Dad thinks Grandpa's punishing us.
00:58Our livestock are dead. It's a warning from Dad.
01:02At this rate, who knows what'll happen.
01:05I can't listen to this anymore.
01:07We need a priest to deal with Grandpa.
01:10Mom covers my mouth, but Dad immediately kicks me.
01:14Mom married Dad.
01:16She should serve him forever.
01:19I'm doing the right thing by reuniting them.
01:23Dad has me thrown into the shed.
01:25Then, he tosses a rope at Grandma's feet.
01:28Mom, it's time to make a choice.
01:31I starve for a night.
01:32The next morning, someone opens the door.
01:35Then, Grandma hands me a bowl of rice.
01:38Eat it now.
01:39I made it for you in secret.
01:41I'm so moved that I tear up, as I eat a mouthful of rice.
01:45But something feels very wrong.
01:47The rice feels mushy and falls apart at the lightest bite.
01:51I spit it out, take a closer look, and almost throw up.
01:55I am munching on a bowl of worms.
01:57Grandma inspects the bowl and panics.
02:00It's mostly worms.
02:02It's newly harvested rice.
02:04Why are there worms?
02:06That's when Dad storms in.
02:09He ignores me, drags Grandma to the kitchen,
02:12and opens the rice container's lid.
02:14When he sees her freezing,
02:18he says in frustration,
02:20Mom, there's no time.
02:21We'll starve to death if you don't do it.
02:23The army's requisitioning grain now.
02:26We can't support dead weights.
02:29Grandma sheds tears.
02:30She looks up, her gaze pleading.
02:33I don't want to die.
02:36Dad stomps his foot helplessly.
02:38Although war is raging outside,
02:40he's just a farmer who doesn't dare to kill.
02:42Mom suggests gingerly.
02:45Let's consult Winnie on this.
02:47There might be another way.
02:49Hope stirs in my heart.
02:51Winnie is the best fortune teller around.
02:53She and Grandma go way back.
02:55Surely she'll help her.
02:57She shows up in black.
02:59What she said shatters my last hope.
03:02Your mom has to die.
03:04People will die if you drag this out.
03:07Dad immediately goes pale.
03:09Am I still safe then?
03:10Winnie pauses and says icily.
03:13You're his son.
03:14Even if Todd doesn't kill you.
03:17He'll blame you for this.
03:19He could easily make you fall sick or break your leg.
03:22Dad looks at Grandma and says bitterly.
03:25Mom, did you hear Winnie?
03:27You've lived long enough.
03:29Why drag me down with you?
03:30Grandma immediately looks guilty.
03:32I'm furious.
03:33I thought Winnie would help Grandma.
03:36But she wants Grandma dead.
03:38Dad must have bribed her and made her say this.
03:41I gave Winnie a hard shove.
03:43You're a lunatic.
03:45Get out of here now.
03:46Dad immediately slaps me again.
03:49Mom stands in front of me.
03:50She looks at Winnie, worried.
03:53Can't we make some offering to Dad and appease him?
03:56Winnie sighs and shakes her head.
03:59Petra's cared for him a long time.
04:01He won't accept anything but her.
04:03Then, Dad and Winnie look at Grandma with pleading eyes.
04:08Grandma lowers her head and cries harder.
04:10I break free from Mom, push Winnie aside, and say to Grandma,
04:15Don't fall for their tricks.
04:17It's utter nonsense.
04:19Then, Dad locks me in the shed again.
04:22I hear Winnie saying,
04:24Husbands and wives are bound forever.
04:27I'll talk to her and make her see reason.
04:29Then, she leads Grandma to the bedroom.
04:33Time drags on in the shed,
04:34and I never stop crying.
04:36After a long time,
04:37I hear Dad's voice.
04:39This is Mom's funeral clothes.
04:41Put it on for her.
04:42Mom nods in response.
04:44Is Grandma dead?
04:45I bang on the door,
04:46begging to be freed.
04:48Eventually, the doors opened.
04:50Mom tells me to say farewell to Grandma.
04:53Grandma is dressed in red.
04:54The red mark on her neck is unnerving.
04:57I break down crying over her.
04:58Mom quickly pulls me aside.
05:01If your tears drop on her dead body,
05:04she can't move on.
05:05Let her rest in peace.
05:08Winnie grabs me,
05:10wipes my tears, and says,
05:12Petra's best days are still ahead of her.
05:15It's sickening.
05:16Then, why doesn't Winnie kill herself?
05:19I break free from her grip.
05:21Winnie pretends to stop me,
05:23but she wipes the tears on Grandma's clothes.
05:25I'm alarmed,
05:27but before I could scream,
05:30Dad walks in.
05:31He glances at Grandma and freezes.
05:34Where are the burial clothes?
05:36Why is she in a red outfit?
05:38Mom looks at Winnie frantically.
05:40Winnie says calmly,
05:42It's necessary.
05:43Todd asked for Petra.
05:46They have to get married again.
05:48Dad is frustrated.
05:49Put her in a casket so Dad can have a-
05:52Let's end this.
05:54Then, everyone looks at Grandma.
05:57Mom yelps and collapses to the floor.
05:59I'm overjoyed when I see what happened.
06:02I dive at her.
06:04She's alive.
06:05She has somehow sat up.
06:06And her eyes are fixed at the doorway.
06:09Dad freezes in fear.
06:11I tug at Grandma's sleeves.
06:14But she merely stares ahead, motionlessly.
06:18Winnie eases Grandma back down.
06:20She leans close to Grandma and mumbles,
06:23before closing Grandma's eyes.
06:25Grandma remains still.
06:27Winnie combs Grandma's hair and says,
06:29After death, muscle spasms can occur.
06:32It's normal for a body to sit up.
06:35Dad is relieved.
06:36He says,
06:38Alright, put her in the casket then.
06:40Winnie says Grandma is already dead,
06:43and that she'll reunite with Grandpa soon.
06:46She wonders if he senses her arrival.
06:48On this night,
06:49the animals are quiet,
06:52and the grains are clean.
06:53We watch over Grandma's casket until dawn.
06:56The villagers lay her casket into a hole,
06:59next to Grandpa's grave.
07:01Even in death,
07:02Grandma has to wait on the man,
07:04who tortured her.
07:05How depressing!
07:06I burst into tears,
07:08before going off into the mountain alone.
07:11The sky darkens,
07:12and I realize,
07:13I'm lost.
07:14I'm hungry and cold.
07:16Grandma passed away and left me too.
07:18I fall apart and break down in tears.
07:21Someone stops in front of me.
07:23I looked up and saw Winnie,
07:25who's in a red outfit.
07:26She reaches out.
07:27Someone's getting married nearby.
07:29I'm the matchmaker.
07:31There's good food there.
07:32I want to shout at her,
07:34but I find myself following her.
07:37Guests stand scattered around in the avenue.
07:39The bride wears a veil,
07:41fidgeting with a red cloth.
07:43Winnie steps forward,
07:44holds the bride's hand,
07:46and asks,
07:47Where's the groom?
07:48Get him out here,
07:50so the wedding can proceed.
07:52Then an old man is shoved out.
07:54He's trembling like a leaf,
07:57cowering and hiding.
07:58I'm not the groom.
08:00Everyone ignore him
08:01and bring him to the bride.
08:04I'm shocked
08:04when I see the old man's face.
08:07Turns out,
08:08that old man is my grandpa.
08:10A white lantern suddenly lit.
08:11I quickly covered my eyes.
08:13Then,
08:14Winnie pushes grandpa to the ground.
08:16I need someone younger for Petra.
08:21She grabs someone from the crowd.
08:23It's dad.
08:24He flails his arms,
08:26shouting,
08:27No!
08:28Suddenly,
08:29he turns around and points at me.
08:31She's what you want.
08:32I jolt awake.
08:34Mom's anxiously by my bedside.
08:35Our relatives are huddled.
08:37Around another bed,
08:38in the room,
08:39I give mom a confused look.
08:41She says,
08:42You passed out at the grave.
08:43I carried you home.
08:45Trent tripped on grass
08:46and broke his legs.
08:48Grandma passed away shortly after grandpa.
08:51Dad's legs are broken.
08:53Mom makes nourishing soup for dad every day.
08:57After he finishes it,
08:58he hits her with anything he can find.
09:01It's your fault.
09:02My legs are broken.
09:03Dad never stops cursing.
09:05Mom has had enough
09:07and moves him onto grandma's room.
09:09That evening,
09:10dad turns in early due to a headache.
09:13At night,
09:13I go to the restroom.
09:15When I pass by dad's room,
09:17I hear plastic bags rustling inside.
09:19Thinking it's a burglar,
09:20I sneak into the room,
09:22but what I see
09:23send chills down my spine.
09:25I see two legs dangling midair,
09:27swaying back and forth.
09:29Someone's hanging from above,
09:31her red shoes hitting dad's head.
09:33That is grandma's.
09:34Even if she's a ghost now,
09:35I still want to see her.
09:37I burst through the door.
09:39Grandma.
09:40At that moment,
09:41the figure disappears without a trace.
09:43Meanwhile,
09:44dad lets out a horrified scream.
09:46Get lost.
09:47I ignore dad
09:48and search for grandma everywhere.
09:50I tell myself that she might be alive.
09:53Maybe she'd climbed out of her casket
09:55and hid herself so we won't notice her.
09:59Dad looks like he's been possessed.
10:01His eyes are closed
10:03and he looks ashen.
10:04He keeps hitting his head,
10:06saying,
10:06Get lost.
10:08Mom rushes over
10:09and tries to wake dad up,
10:10but nothing works.
10:12In the end,
10:13she wakes him up with cold water.
10:16Dad holds his head.
10:17The pain in his head is unbearable.
10:19I don't tell anyone about what I saw.
10:22I merely listen to dad.
10:24He says he had a weird dream.
10:26In it,
10:27grandpa is chained up,
10:28looking angry.
10:29He lies next to dad,
10:31tears flowing down his cheeks.
10:33He mumbles,
10:34Get your mom away from me.
10:35Dad is irritated.
10:37Pack mom and dad's stuff tomorrow
10:38and burn all of them
10:40so they can rest in peace.
10:42Mom's busy,
10:43so it's up to me to do it.
10:45That's when I uncover grandpa's secret.
10:49I finally understand
10:50why Winnie worked with grandpa
10:52to kill grandma.
10:53It's a ruined wedding picture,
10:55as seen from the background.
10:57Grandma stood next to grandpa
10:59in a red coat.
11:00It should have been just them,
11:02but Winnie's in it.
11:04Worse still,
11:05grandma's head was cut out
11:07and replaced with Winnie's.
11:09This picture
11:10clues me in on their love triangle.
11:12Grandpa and Winnie
11:14must have loved each other.
11:15However,
11:16he married grandma,
11:17and that's why
11:18he kept torturing her.
11:20Even after he died,
11:21Winnie stayed single
11:22for grandpa,
11:23so she worked with him
11:24to kill grandma.
11:26I quiver with rage
11:27and tear the picture apart.
11:29At night,
11:30I see grandma again.
11:31Every night,
11:33she appears at 2 a.m.
11:35and vanishes
11:36at 4 a.m.
11:37I barge in several times,
11:39but she always disappears.
11:41After that,
11:42I stop disturbing her.
11:44As I watch her sway,
11:45I say to her quietly,
11:47Grandma,
11:48if you bear a grudge,
11:49kill everyone
11:50who's ever hurt you.
11:51They deserve death.
11:53Dad wakes up
11:54with a terrible headache.
11:55He thinks he has a tumor
11:56and asks to go to the clinic.
11:59Mom flings the cloth
12:00and retorts to him,
12:01I suffered for days
12:02when I was in labor,
12:03but you told me
12:04to just bear with it,
12:05so just bear with it.
12:07Then,
12:08she walks away,
12:09leaving Dad shaking
12:10with rage.
12:11At night,
12:11Dad suddenly screams
12:12in his room.
12:13Mom and I rush over.
12:15The cast on his leg
12:16is shattered.
12:17Dad roars furiously.
12:19If you won't take me there,
12:21I'll get there myself.
12:23Turns out the headache
12:24got so bad,
12:25he tried to go himself,
12:26so he fell off the bed
12:27and broke the cast.
12:29Now,
12:29he needs a clinic.
12:31Mom hired a mule cart
12:32to take us to town.
12:33The clinic is over
12:34an hour away.
12:35It's too dark.
12:36The mule suddenly kicks
12:38and dashes toward the cliff.
12:40Dad rolls off the cart
12:41and hits his head
12:43on a boulder.
12:44The driver asks,
12:45Did you guys see
12:47an old couple?
12:48Mom and I shake our heads.
12:50The truth is,
12:51I lied.
12:52I saw them.
12:53They were my grandparents,
12:54but I don't get why.
12:56Grandpa's kneeling
12:57with a chain on his neck.
12:59My grandparents
13:00suddenly appear,
13:01walk through the car,
13:03and vanish.
13:04Mom finally think
13:05of checking on Dad.
13:07But the mule crashes
13:09into a tree
13:09by the road.
13:11Luckily,
13:11it's held back
13:12by the reins.
13:13Only the cart tips over.
13:15The driver and mom
13:16hold onto the cart
13:17for dear life.
13:19I would have been thrown off.
13:20If a mysterious force
13:21hadn't held me down,
13:23Dad had it worst.
13:24He was screaming
13:25a minute ago,
13:26but now,
13:27he's quiet.
13:28As expected,
13:29he breaks his legs again,
13:30and his head's injured.
13:32The clinic is a chaos.
13:33The doctor do what he can.
13:35After three whole days,
13:37Dad finally wakes up.
13:38His gaze is vacant,
13:40words slurring from his mouth.
13:41Get Winnie here now.
13:43Winnie shows up uninvited.
13:45Dad acts like she's his lifeline.
13:47Winnie,
13:48you must get my mom
13:50away from my dad.
13:51I think of the picture,
13:52and look at her,
13:53warily.
13:54She's gotten grandma killed.
13:56I won't let her hurt
13:57grandma's spirit.
13:58Winnie glances at me,
14:00and ignores my hostile gaze.
14:02She says,
14:04This is tricky.
14:05Todd wanted Petra
14:06to die before her time.
14:07Now,
14:08he doesn't want her.
14:09She'll be lost.
14:10Dad pleads.
14:12Winnie,
14:13I know it's not easy.
14:14If you save me,
14:16I'll give you everything.
14:18Winnie sighs.
14:20There's a heinous method.
14:21Your family has to
14:22utterly destroy her soul.
14:24Dad says,
14:26We'll do it.
14:27Winnie stands up and says,
14:29Will it be Petra
14:30or Todd?
14:31He was the one
14:32who messed things up.
14:33It should be...
14:34Dad interrupts her.
14:36My mom.
14:37My dad doesn't deserve this.
14:39This again.
14:40Grandpa is wrong,
14:41but grandma's punished.
14:43I'm furious,
14:44but I can't retort.
14:45As Winnie said,
14:46It's a heinous act.
14:48She won't do it,
14:49which means I can turn things around.
14:51And I know just how to do it.
14:54As expected,
14:55Winnie says,
14:56This involves digging out caskets.
14:59There'll be trouble if I do it.
15:01I'll just provide the tools.
15:03You will have to do it on your own.
15:05Dad agrees to it.
15:06He looks at mom,
15:08but she quickly turns around.
15:09I volunteer myself.
15:11Leave it to me.
15:12Dad doesn't trust me,
15:13but he has no other options.
15:16He begs Winnie.
15:18Please make sure nothing goes wrong.
15:21I go to Winnie's place
15:22to get the tools from her.
15:24Then,
15:24I grab some gasoline and shovel.
15:26I'm supposed to do it at 2 a.m.,
15:28but I sneak to the mountain at nightfall.
15:31I have to do the switch
15:33before Winnie is here.
15:35I dig grandpa's grave,
15:37open,
15:37chant a prayer,
15:39and burn the seal.
15:40Then,
15:40I douse the casket with the gas,
15:43toss the tools in there,
15:44and set everything ablaze,
15:46watching the flames rise.
15:48I scream into the quiet night,
15:50Grandma,
15:52you're free now.
15:53Rest in peace.
15:54I hope I'll see you again.
15:56After that,
15:57Dad gets better.
15:59He gives Winnie a gift in gratitude.
16:02She's so happy that
16:04she found mom a job in town.
16:06There's an old professor in town
16:08who needs a maid.
16:10Let Tess work there.
16:12Hannah can look after you.
16:14Mom wants to leave dad,
16:16but she's worried about me.
16:18I don't want her to suffer.
16:20Plus,
16:21Winnie might hurt grandma again.
16:23So,
16:23I choose to stay.
16:25Mom,
16:25just go.
16:26I can handle it.
16:27Two months later,
16:28dad recovers.
16:29That night,
16:30I see grandma hitting his head again.
16:33I thought she's still mad at him,
16:35and ignores it.
16:36But the next day,
16:38dad's eyes are blank,
16:39and he can't talk.
16:40I get some villagers to help me out,
16:42but they merely shake their heads,
16:45saying he's in a coma now.
16:47I try every way to get mom's contact.
16:50A few days pass,
16:51and dad gets worse.
16:53One night,
16:54I wake up to weird noises.
16:56I follow it to dad's room.
16:59I peek through a hole in the wall,
17:01and see dad with his mouth open,
17:03while grandma is hovering close to him.
17:06My jaw drops in shock.
17:09Grandma seemingly notices me.
17:11She turns around and flashes me a smile.
17:14I somehow got back to my room.
17:16When I wake up,
17:17the sun is up.
17:18I'm drenched in sweat,
17:19and I doubt what I saw.
17:21Maybe it's all just a bad dream.
17:23But then,
17:24I hear footsteps at the door,
17:26and my heart skips a beat.
17:28Dad can't walk.
17:29So,
17:29who's out there?
17:30I stay quiet.
17:32The door swings open.
17:33Dad's holding a bowl of porridge.
17:35He walks over and gives it to me.
17:37You're hungry.
17:38I made this for you.
17:40Eat it now.
17:41I missed grandma dearly,
17:43but it's still frightening.
17:45When she shows up in dad's body.
17:47That's when the door opens again.
17:50When Winnie walks in with a smile,
17:52I was completely dumbstruck.
17:55A scary thought takes shape in my mind.
17:58Grandma died,
17:59but she possessed dad's body.
18:01What about Winnie?
18:02She's also in her 70s.
18:04Can she possess bodies?
18:06I'm the only young person left in this house.
18:08I look up in fear.
18:10And catch the knowing look in her face.
18:14Even though she's grinning,
18:16it looks like a sly smile to me.
18:19Winnie approaches slowly,
18:21her shoes scraping against the ground.
18:24I shut my eyes and feel around for something.
18:28I grab a broom and say,
18:30I'm not scared of you.
18:32Winnie stops and bursts out laughing.
18:35She turns and looks at dad,
18:37her tone dripping with mockery.
18:39Look how terrified Hannah is.
18:43Dad shakes his head,
18:44his expression unusually warm.
18:47He puts the bowl on the table,
18:49clumsily wipes his hands,
18:51and walks over.
18:52It's me, Petra.
18:54It is still dad's hoarse voice,
18:55but his tone and demeanor
18:57are unmistakably grandma's.
19:00I look at him,
19:01confused and unwilling to put the broom down.
19:03You're lying.
19:05Grandma's dead.
19:06You're an evil spirit.
19:07Dad sighs.
19:09He doesn't get mad.
19:10Instead,
19:11he points at the bowl of porridge.
19:12There's baking soda in the porridge.
19:15The way you like it.
19:16When you were sick.
19:18I made it for you.
19:19Remember?
19:20I stare at the bowl of porridge on the table.
19:23The baking soda and the yellowish soup.
19:26Tells me grandma made this.
19:28Only grandma knows I like my porridge this way.
19:32Not even mom knows.
19:33I drop the broom to the floor.
19:36Tears blur my vision at once.
19:37I ask in a trembling voice.
19:40Grandma?
19:40Dad's eyes redden.
19:43He steps forward
19:43and clumsily pulls me into his arms.
19:46I'm right here.
19:47I'm sorry I frightened you.
19:50Winnie takes a seat.
19:51Pulls out her cigarette pipe.
19:53And taps the table.
19:55Enough.
19:55This reunion is very touching.
19:57But we still have work.
19:59You should calm down.
20:01I'm not interested in possessing you.
20:03I wipe my tears.
20:05And pull away from dad.
20:07I know it's grandma.
20:08But seeing dad with tears
20:10still makes me feel uneasy.
20:13Winnie seemingly reads my mind.
20:15She exhales.
20:17Don't worry.
20:18Trent owes Petra this much.
20:20He got her killed.
20:21So this is the price.
20:23I glance at dad.
20:24He's walking over to pick up the broom.
20:26His demeanor is exactly like grandma's.
20:29I can't help but ask.
20:31Where's dad?
20:32Winnie grunted coldly.
20:34Her eyes darkening.
20:36He's with Todd now.
20:38Winnie points at grandpa's grave.
20:40Todd is mad no one's waiting on him.
20:43Down there.
20:44Trent loves him, right?
20:45So I give him.
20:47A chance to be with his dad.
20:49I'm startled.
20:50Dad is dead?
20:51Winnie walks over.
20:53Sits next to me.
20:53And explains gently.
20:55Not entirely.
20:56He can't return.
20:57His soul is driven out.
20:59And locked next to Todd's grave.
21:01He can stay with Todd as he wished.
21:03I'm stunned.
21:04Dad and grandpa have gotten their comeuppance.
21:08Grandpa tortured grandma.
21:10Both in life and death.
21:11Dad enabled grandpa's wrongdoings.
21:14And now, he'll know how grandma feels.
21:16What comes around, goes around.
21:18Winnie taps off the ash, stands up, and says solemnly,
21:22Hannah, only you and I know the truth.
21:25To others, Todd merely recovered and became a different person.
21:30Okay?
21:30I nod somnily.
21:32I'll keep it a secret.
21:34As long as I can stay with grandma.
21:37Dad ruffles my hair tenderly.
21:39Sweetheart, I'll get cooking.
21:41Let's enjoy a meal together.
21:43I watch as dad walks into the kitchen.
21:46The abusive, short-fused man is all but gone.
21:49Now, it's grandma, who is gentle and hardworking.
21:53Despite his looks, he's soft and loving now.
21:56However, a subtle worry creeps into my mind.
21:59This is just not natural.
22:01Can the peace really last?
22:03Suddenly, someone knocks on the door.
22:06Trent, are you home?
22:07Some higher-ups want to see you.
22:09I'm stunned.
22:11It's Liam, the village elder.
22:13Dad is friends with Liam.
22:15They often hang out together.
22:17There'll be trouble if Liam sees through him.
22:20I look at the kitchen.
22:22Dad clearly heard Liam.
22:23He's standing in the kitchen, feeling helpless.
22:27Winnie is completely composed.
22:29She gives me a look and says,
22:32Tell them Trent has just recovered and he's still weak.
22:36I take a deep breath and try to calm myself.
22:39Then, I open the door.
22:41Liam stands at the door, trying to look inside.
22:44How's Trent?
22:45I heard he's no longer bedridden.
22:47I stand in the doorway and grin.
22:50Mr. Lane, Dad can walk now, but the doctor said he needs more rest.
22:55He's on the bed.
22:57Then, Dad calls out weakly and irritably, from inside.
23:02Who is it?
23:03What a ruckus.
23:05I need my sleep.
23:06I turn around in shock.
23:08Dad stands at the door in a coat.
23:10Although he's pale, he looks every bit like a grumpy old man.
23:14Seeing Dad, Liam grins.
23:17It's the election.
23:17Are you coming?
23:19Dad waves and frowns.
23:21I can't.
23:22I'm in a lot of pain.
23:23Can't really walk.
23:25Go without me.
23:26Then, he even coughs a few times.
23:28His body swaying as if he would fall.
23:31I hurry over and steady him.
23:33Dad, go back to bed.
23:35Liam doesn't push Dad and leaves soon after.
23:38When the door closes, I let out a long sigh, feeling relieved.
23:43Dad immediately relaxed, looking absolutely nervous.
23:46It's exhausting to speak like a man.
23:49My throat hurts.
23:50Winnie looks at him sarcastically.
23:52Well done.
23:53Your decades of suffering paid off.
23:55You looked just like Trent.
23:57Grandma grins but stays quiet.
23:59She heads over to the kitchen.
24:01At mealtime, there are several plain dishes and the delicious porridge.
24:07Our home has never felt this peaceful.
24:10Winnie gets some food and suddenly says,
24:13This place isn't safe long term.
24:16Trent might have recovered.
24:17But there'll be trouble.
24:19If people notice him behaving differently.
24:22My heart clenches.
24:23I ask.
24:24What do we do?
24:26A cunning glint flashes in her eyes.
24:29Move to the old place in the mountain.
24:31It's quiet and secluded.
24:33I'm all for moving.
24:35The old place is left by our ancestors.
24:38It might be shoddy but it's remote.
24:40No one lives there.
24:42That said, we need a solid reason to move.
24:45Dad thinks it over and says,
24:47Tell them I'm done with it all.
24:49And wants a quieter place to rest.
24:51And recover.
24:52The excuse is a bit thin.
24:54But nobody asks on account of Dad's eccentric nature.
24:58It's settled.
24:59The next few days, we begin packing up stuff.
25:02But it feels more like we're escaping.
25:04I want to leave this house and the bad memories behind.
25:08When I'm packing, I found Grandpa's cigarette pipe.
25:12The copperhead's worn to a gleam.
25:14It symbolizes his power and Grandma's nightmares.
25:18Dad walks in and his eyes turn dark.
25:21He reaches out, takes the pipe and touches it.
25:24Suddenly, he snaps it with a crisp crack.
25:27It feels like the shackle-restraining Grandma has finally been broken.
25:32We don't need this filthy pipe.
25:34Dad tosses the broken pipe into a trash can.
25:37As if he's discarding something unimportant.
25:40The day we move is overcast.
25:43The villagers muttered, wondering if Dad's gone crazy.
25:46Because he chooses to live in a run-down shack.
25:50Only Winnie walks behind us, carrying some light stuff.
25:53At the old place, I stare at the grass and the broken windows.
25:58Yet, I feel relieved.
25:59No Grandpa's portrait.
26:01No, Dad's furious roars.
26:03Just peace and freedom.
26:05We spent the whole day cleaning.
26:08Dad wipes the windows quickly.
26:10Much unlike an injured man.
26:12I feel a little bitter as I watch him.
26:15Dad used to make Grandma suffer so much.
26:18And yet this is where her soul is now.
26:20By evening, the place looks better.
26:23Winnie scatters seeds in the yard.
26:26And dusts her hands.
26:27Alright, that'll do it.
26:29We can live our own life.
26:31Without any worries.
26:33At night, the winds howl.
26:35I lie on the strange bed.
26:36Unable to fall asleep.
26:38Then, I thought I heard scratching at the door.
26:41And low, beast-like whimpers.
26:44I'm so frightened I felt absolutely silent.
26:47Is it a wild dog?
26:49Or something from our past that won't let go?
26:52The next morning, I woke up feeling tired.
26:56Winnie is standing at the entrance, with a stick in her hand.
27:00Staring at the ground.
27:02I look at the mighty ground outside.
27:05And the strange claw prints.
27:07They were huge, unlike any dogs.
27:09They seem like handprints made by humans.
27:12I feel a chill down my spine.
27:15Winnie, this is...
27:17Winnie kicks the mud and sneers.
27:20They were lousy as both humans.
27:23And spirits.
27:24They followed our scent.
27:26Then, Dad exits his room.
27:28He sees the handprints.
27:30And his face goes pale.
27:32He instinctively hides behind Winnie.
27:34The fear is so deeply rooted.
27:36That Grandma still can't shake it off.
27:39Winnie looks at Dad.
27:41Relax, you're a man now.
27:43Solid and strong-willed.
27:45Also, I won't let him get past this door.
27:48Then, Winnie pulls out some cinnabar powder.
27:51And spreads it along the wall.
27:53Chanting something as she goes.
27:55After that, she puts up a warding mirror.
27:59Alright.
28:00He can't hurt you if you stay inside.
28:03Winnie sounds confident.
28:04But I still feel uneasy.
28:06To break the tension.
28:08I suggest we get a dog.
28:11Winnie's mood lifts.
28:12Good idea.
28:13Get a black dog.
28:14It'll ward off evil and protect us.
28:17So, I leave the mountain alone.
28:19And go to the market.
28:21I pick the smartest-looking dog.
28:23On my way home, I run into Ruby, our old neighbor.
28:27She pulls me aside mysteriously.
28:29And says softly,
28:30Your old house hasn't been right.
28:32I freeze and ask,
28:34What happened?
28:35Ruby looks around and speaks softer.
28:38We heard chains and a man crying.
28:41During midnight.
28:42It was terrifying.
28:43People say it's your grandpa's spirit.
28:46I chuckle quietly.
28:48It's clearly dad,
28:49chained up along with grandpa.
28:51They were both overbearing in life.
28:54Now they found a place to be.
28:55I bid Ruby farewell.
28:57And hurry home with the dog.
28:59At home, I tell grandma and Winnie about everything.
29:02Grandma falls silent.
29:04Then, she sighs and says,
29:06Leave them be.
29:07I'm finally freed from them.
29:09The dog seems to like this place.
29:11Running across the yard.
29:12Seeing how joyful it is.
29:14I instantly feel much better.
29:17When night came,
29:18I hear the same noise.
29:20This time,
29:20it's more desperate and aggressive.
29:23Aside from the scratching,
29:24a hoarse voice drifts in with the wind.
29:27Open up.
29:28It's me, dad.
29:29He sounds hoarse and broken.
29:31But I know for a fact that it's dad.
29:34More accurately,
29:35it's dad's tortured soul.
29:37I curl up under the cover and tremble.
29:39The dog keeps barking in the yard.
29:42It's voice sharp.
29:43Suddenly,
29:44a shout came from next door.
29:45Get lost.
29:46That is dad's voice,
29:48full of energy
29:48and a newfound determination.
29:51Then,
29:52something crashes against the door,
29:53followed by silence.
29:55The next morning,
29:56I open the door warily.
29:58Outside the walls,
30:00there's blood on a boulder.
30:02It's unnerving.
30:03Winnie is inspecting it.
30:05When she sees me,
30:06she says calmly,
30:07the mirror worked.
30:08They'll stop coming.
30:10Dad sits on the doorstep,
30:12stitching a shoe sole.
30:13He looks calm,
30:15as if he didn't get mad last night.
30:17He waves at me.
30:18Try on this shoe.
30:20I made it for you.
30:22I walk over,
30:23seeing the rough hands move so deftly.
30:25I feel conflicted.
30:27Days pass quietly.
30:29Life in the mountain isn't easy,
30:31but it's peaceful.
30:33Dad and Winnie plant vegetables in the backyard,
30:36including eggplants and chili.
30:39Seeing them together under the evening light,
30:41it feels like this is what life should be.
30:45A month later,
30:47William tells me,
30:48Mom sent a telegram,
30:49the message Carrie.
30:51A rare sense of relief from her.
30:53Hannah,
30:54life is good here.
30:55The professor is kind and considerate.
30:59I can almost see Mom leaving the old memories behind,
31:03and living a new life of happiness and dignity.
31:07My chest tightens.
31:08Mom,
31:09take care of yourself.
31:10In her reply telegram,
31:12she hesitates.
31:13Her words still carry the same self-doubt.
31:16How's Trent doing?
31:18I saw Dad walking the dog this morning.
31:20But I lie.
31:21Dad's changed.
31:22He doesn't drink anymore.
31:24He tends to the vegetables.
31:26He's healthier too.
31:27Mom fell silent,
31:28finding it hard to believe.
31:30The last telegram seemed to carry a relieved sigh.
31:34That's great.
31:35I can't go home for now.
31:37Tell Trent that I want a divorce.
31:38If that's okay.
31:40I feel relieved.
31:41Grandma wants this.
31:43I tell Grandma about Mom's intention.
31:45Dad puts the shovel down,
31:47and grins in relief.
31:49Let's get divorced.
31:51I've been a burden to her.
31:53Let her find happiness.
31:54That night,
31:55Dad writes the divorce agreement.
31:57His writing is uneven,
31:59but he means every word.
32:01After he posted it,
32:02I feel the weight over our family lift.
32:05However,
32:06just as I thought life is finally better,
32:09a sudden visitor breaks the calm.
32:12A cultivator holding a divine compass
32:15is standing at the door,
32:17frowning.
32:18The evil energy is strong.
32:19The cultivator has a goatee,
32:22his gaze sharp as an eagle.
32:23He's staring straight at Dad.
32:25My heart skips a beat.
32:27I stand in front of Dad.
32:29What's up?
32:30He ignores me.
32:31The compass needle whirls,
32:33before fixing on Dad.
32:35He sneers,
32:36bringing back the dead.
32:38You'll pay for this.
32:40Dad's hands tremble,
32:42spilling the grain.
32:43Winnie hears the commotion,
32:45and runs outside,
32:46with a stick in her hands.
32:48She frees when she sees the cultivator,
32:50but she quickly calms down,
32:52and shouts at him,
32:53You foolish cultivator.
32:55Do not spout nonsense here.
32:57Leave,
32:57or I'll break your leg.
32:59The cultivator eyes Winnie.
33:01You're also a cultivator,
33:03and yet you help the spirits.
33:05You'll pay for twisting the natural order,
33:08Winnie laughed.
33:10Helping the innocent is what matters.
33:13The wicked goes unpunished,
33:15while the virtuous suffers.
33:17Since no one cared,
33:18I handled it myself.
33:19He bellows.
33:21How stubborn.
33:22I'll do the world a favor,
33:23and get rid of it.
33:25Then,
33:25he takes out a talisman,
33:27and rushes at Dad.
33:28I scream in fear,
33:30and try to stop him,
33:31but I'm held back.
33:33The cultivator is about to slap the talisman on Dad's head.
33:38But Winnie bites her tongue,
33:39and spits blood on her staff.
33:42Then,
33:42she strikes his wrist with it,
33:44fast,
33:44and precise.
33:46At the next moment,
33:47the cultivator drops the talisman,
33:49and his wrist swells at once.
33:51He cries out in pain,
33:52and looks at Winnie in shock.
33:55Are you serious?
33:56You used your life force for a spirit.
33:58Winnie's face goes pale,
34:00sways slightly,
34:01but she stands firmly in front of Dad.
34:04She's my family,
34:05not a spirit.
34:06I won't let you hurt her.
34:08Dad regains his senses,
34:10and quickly steadies Winnie.
34:12He shouts at the cultivator in tears.
34:15I'm not afraid of you.
34:17I'll die again if I have to.
34:19Don't hurt Winnie.
34:21The cultivator looks at both of them.
34:23Grandma's crying in a grown man's body,
34:26while Winnie's risking her life for him.
34:28The hostility in his eyes fades,
34:31his expression softening.
34:33The cultivator picks up his talisman,
34:35and fixes his gaze on Winnie.
34:38Forget it.
34:39Karma will take care of this.
34:41Since you two are this stubborn,
34:43I'll stop here.
34:44He turns around and leaves.
34:46Then, he looks over his shoulder.
34:48But this violates the natural order.
34:51This body won't last long.
34:52You've been warned.
34:53As the cultivator walks away,
34:56Winnie can't hold on anymore.
34:57She throws up blood and collapses.
35:00Winnie falls ill.
35:02That fight took a toll on her,
35:03and she's already old.
35:05We watch as she grows weaker.
35:08Dad is frantic and looks after her all the time,
35:11feeding her water and medicine.
35:13Watching a big, rough man being this considerate
35:16doesn't feel odd at all,
35:19only heartbreaking.
35:20Winnie lies on the bed,
35:22her face sallow,
35:23but her eyes still bright.
35:25She holds Dad's hand and says weakly,
35:27Petra, just stop.
35:29My time's up.
35:30Dad's already in tears,
35:32holding onto Winnie's hand tightly.
35:34Winnie, stop it.
35:35You'll get better.
35:37We said we'd spend our lives together.
35:39Winnie grins,
35:40a trace of contentment in her smile.
35:43I'm glad I got to protect you.
35:45Let's be family again in the next life.
35:48I'll find you.
35:50Tears run down my cheeks.
35:52Their lifelong friendship
35:53feels especially precious.
35:56During the final moments of life,
35:58Winnie looks at me
35:59and pulls out a book from under her pillow.
36:03Hannah, this is something I picked up.
36:05Learn it and protect yourselves.
36:07I accept the book.
36:08It feels heavy.
36:10It's more than a book.
36:11It's Winnie's last blessing for me.
36:13In the next few days,
36:15Winnie seems to be doing better.
36:17She can even take a stroll in the yard.
36:19Yet we all know her time has come.
36:22One afternoon,
36:23the sun was warm.
36:25Winnie's sitting on a recliner.
36:27As she looks at the mountains,
36:29Dad's sitting next to her,
36:30feeding her orange slices.
36:32It tastes sweet.
36:35Winnie mumbles indistinctly.
36:37Her head tilts and rests on his shoulder,
36:40the orange slipping from her hand.
36:42The wind stops.
36:43The leaves stop rustling.
36:45Dad's hands pause mid-peel.
36:47He doesn't cry.
36:48He remains still
36:49and lets Winnie lean on him
36:51as if she's just sleeping.
36:53After a long time,
36:54he rubs his cheek against Winnie's hair,
36:57saying softly,
36:58Sleep, Winnie.
36:59Sleep well.
37:00I saw tears running down.
37:03Dad's weathered face quietly.
37:05Winnie still has that
37:07contented smile on her face,
37:09as if she slipped into a dream.
37:11Maybe she's dreaming about
37:13two young ladies in dresses,
37:15holding hands,
37:16running across a field.
37:18No arranged marriage,
37:19no abuse,
37:21no agony,
37:22only freedom
37:22and a lasting youth.
37:24Winnie passed away peacefully.
37:26We respect her wish
37:27and bury her next to an old ash tree.
37:31There's a wide view
37:32of our courtyard
37:33and the distant village.
37:35Dad has sat at her grave
37:37for a whole day,
37:38staring at the tombstone.
37:40I'm worried about him
37:41and tell him to go,
37:43but he refuses to leave.
37:45Hannah,
37:45let me stay with Winnie.
37:47From now on,
37:48it's just the two of us.
37:49What she said broke my heart,
37:51and I stay there with her.
37:53Dad loses much of his spirit
37:55after Winnie's passing.
37:57He still cooks,
37:58gardens,
37:58and feeds the dog.
38:00But the life in his eyes faded.
38:02Sometimes,
38:03I see him talking to himself,
38:05as if chatting with Winnie.
38:07I know this is his way
38:09of keeping her memories alive.
38:11But time never stops for anyone.
38:14Three years have passed.
38:16In these years,
38:17I left and studied
38:18at the school in town.
38:20Every time I went home,
38:21I could feel Dad getting weaker.
38:23The cultivator was right.
38:25We have to pay the price.
38:27Dad's body is showing
38:28signs of rejection,
38:30stiff joints,
38:31skin damage,
38:32and frequent faintings.
38:33Yet,
38:34Grandma never complains.
38:36She always keeps herself
38:37neat and tidy,
38:38welcoming me home,
38:39and making me
38:40my favorite food.
38:42The year I graduate,
38:43I come home to a yard
38:45full of Winnie's favorite flower,
38:47blooming brightly.
38:49Dad's lying on a recliner,
38:50a blanket over him,
38:52holding tightly
38:53onto a repaired wedding picture.
38:55It's Winnie's old picture.
38:58The groom's head is cut out,
39:00replaced by Grandma's picture.
39:02When he sees me,
39:03his eyes light up,
39:05and he sits upright.
39:06Hi, Hannah!
39:07I quickly run over,
39:09but Dad's body
39:10is as light as a feather.
39:12I say sobbing,
39:13Grandma!
39:14He raises his hand
39:15and touches my cheek,
39:16smiling weakly.
39:18This is it for me.
39:19I shake my head,
39:21tears spilling out.
39:22No, Grandma!
39:23You'll live a long life.
39:25He shakes his head
39:26and looks at the ash tree.
39:28I've lived long enough.
39:30I'm able to live longer
39:32because of Winnie.
39:33It's time to find her.
39:34She's waiting for me.
39:36A breeze sweeps by.
39:38The tree's leaves rustles,
39:39as if responding to her.
39:41I hold his rough hand,
39:43feeling the warmth in it
39:44slowly slip away.
39:45My sorrow grows beyond words.
39:47Suddenly,
39:48as if seeing something,
39:49his eyes light up,
39:51and he stares blankly.
39:53Hi, Winnie!
39:54And Grandma passes away.
39:55There's no pain
39:56when Grandma passes away.
39:58Only the joy of reunion.
40:00She sees Winnie
40:01in the red floral dress
40:03from her youth,
40:04waving at her.
40:05This time,
40:06no one can separate us.
40:08I follow her wish
40:09and bury her next to Winnie.
40:11Their graves sit tightly together,
40:13like two sisters whispering in the wind.
40:16As for Dad's body,
40:18once Grandma's soul left,
40:19it quickly withered and rotted,
40:22as if it had aged decades at once.
40:25This is how it ends
40:27when you defy the natural order.
40:29Afterward,
40:30I sit in front of their graves,
40:32mourning them.
40:33In the firelight,
40:35I thought I saw Grandma
40:36and Winnie's retreating figures,
40:38looking free and content.
40:40No more illnesses or restraints.
40:43As I leave,
40:44I give the old place one last look.
40:47Sunset bathes the yard in gold.
40:50It holds three generations of conflict,
40:53and a redemption beyond death.
40:55Years later,
40:57I returned with my new family.
40:59The old place has collapsed,
41:01but the graves are still intact.
41:04Winnie's favorite flower
41:05spread across the mountain.
41:07I point at the graves and say,
41:10they're the people I love the most in my life.
41:12My daughter asks,
41:14are they friends?
41:15I nod with a smile.
41:17Yeah, they are.
41:19They promise they'd be together forever.
41:21Petals drift across the sky.
41:24For a moment,
41:25I thought I'd smell Grandma's porridge,
41:28and hear Winnie's playful voice again.
41:30That silly girl looks so adorable.
41:33I smile in relief.
41:35Then,
41:35I leave with my daughter.
41:37As for Grandpa and Dad,
41:38they say they can still hear mournful wailing
41:41when they walk past that old house.
41:43But that's not my business.
41:46Bad people get what's coming for them.
41:48They have to redeem themselves,
41:50no matter how long it takes.
41:52But I do wonder if they regret what they did as they suffer.
41:56My husband holds our daughter close as we leave.
41:59I can't help but look back.
42:01Amid the blooming flowers,
42:03I thought I saw two figures sit together.
42:06They're no longer hunched,
42:07or look sorrowful.
42:09They have thick braids,
42:11wear washed out floral dresses,
42:13whispering secrets and gossips.
42:15I've never seen them like this.
42:18So vivid.
42:19So free.
42:20When we walk by the entrance,
42:23several old men crouching by the wall
42:25stop smoking and stare at us.
42:28One of the old men says to me,
42:31Don't go back to your old house.
42:33One of the lanes drove past it on a mule cart,
42:36and he saw two hairy figures in the mud,
42:40slapping and cursing each other.
42:42I smile faintly and say nothing.
42:45I pick up my pace,
42:47leaving the chill and chaos behind us.
42:50Back at our home.
42:52I make myself and my daughter some porridge.
42:55She says as she downs it.
42:57Mom, this porridge smells like the wind on the mountain.
43:00It feels warm.
43:02I ruffle her hair.
43:04The burden in my heart
43:05is finally lifted after all this time.
43:09Before sleeping,
43:10I leaf through the book Winnie gave me.
43:13On the back cover,
43:14there's a delicate yet deeply pressed writing.
43:17Grandma wrote it after she took over Dad's body.
43:20Fate may be cruel,
43:22but we're strong.
43:23We don't owe anything to anyone.
43:25We live for ourselves.
43:27Turns out they didn't just swap lives.
43:29They also achieved an awakening.
43:32The moon glows softly outside.
43:34In my dream,
43:35I'm not the trembling lady in the shed anymore.
43:38Instead,
43:39I'm a bird,
43:40soaring across the mountains.
43:42I see two red figures under the old ash tree
43:45entering the next life.
43:47They don't turn back.
43:48The road ahead's full of flowers.
43:50No more suffering.
43:52No more hunger.
43:53No more grain with worms.
43:54I close my eyes and murmur in my heart.
43:57Grandma,
43:58Winnie,
43:58leave the suffering to the wicked.
44:00And be happy in your next life.
44:03After settling things,
44:05I go on a trip with my daughter.
44:07It's a place Grandma always wanted to see.
44:10She's playing at the beach
44:12when she suddenly stops
44:14and points at two young women.
44:16Mom, look at them.
44:18They're beautiful.
44:19I look over
44:21and my heart skips a beat.
44:24Two women in their 20s
44:26are wearing trendy floral dresses,
44:28holding hands,
44:29and playing in shallow seawater.
44:31One of them has a beautiful smile
44:33and wears a high ponytail.
44:36She looks just like Winnie
44:38from the picture of her younger days in the book.
44:41The woman beside her
44:42looks gentle and quiet,
44:44dodging the waves.
44:46Then the more spirited woman
44:48picks up a shell from the beach
44:50and gave it to her friend.
44:53Her bright laughter drifted over.
44:55Winnie,
44:56look at this!
44:57Does it remind you of the stone
44:59we found by the river?
45:00Winnie freezes.
45:02Then her frown eases.
45:04Her voice is crisp.
45:05This shell is much prettier.
45:08I freeze and tear up at once.
45:10In this life,
45:12they'd become sisters.
45:13I stay where I am,
45:15reluctant to disturb them.
45:16I hold my daughter's hand
45:18and quietly bid them farewell.
45:20The wicked should redeem themselves
45:22while kind souls reunite
45:24and find happiness.
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