Tue, Jan 12, 1982
Dora Greenfield decides to go back to her husband Paul after leaving him for another man. Paul is an art historian staying at Imber Court, a small religious community connected to the Abbey nearby, studying their old manuscripts. Upon arrival she finds that her husband still cannot forgive her for her affair, but they are not the only ones in turmoil emotionally. As well as newly arrived Toby Gashe, a young student full of the conflicting feelings of his age, there is Catherine Fawley, a young woman who has applied to become a nun at the Abbey, her twin brother Nick, an alcoholic who is much troubled, and religious founder Michael Meade, who Nick knows from his past, and who has his own secret turmoils to contend with. Then Dora learns from her husband of the Abbey legend, of how it lost it's bell, when a nun broke her vows to invite a lover and the bell fell into the water, causing the nun to kill herself in remorse. It's said that when a bell is heard tolling, a death is soon to follow, but little do they realize the tragedy that is yet to unfold.
Tue, Jan 19, 1982
Dora finds her husband still cold towards her and struggles to deal with life at Imber Court, despite it's beautiful countryside. Meanwhile Michael Meade, already disturbed at hearing the bell one night in his dreams, discovers that Toby, the young student, has awakened long suppressed feelings within himself, and struggles to contain them when he takes Toby out to the pub for the day. Toby is already becoming aware of his burgeoning sexuality with his attraction to the Abbey and the nuns in the convent. But he is also fascinated by his surroundings, and when he takes one of his secret swims in the lake he comes across the old bell, little realizing it's significance to the Abbey and Imber Court.
Tue, Jan 26, 1982
Dora has left her husband to be with her lover in London, but feels compelled to return to Imber Court when Paul rings his flat looking for her. Toby is still reeling from Michael's advances towards him and his own attraction towards Dora, who he is delighted has returned. When he tells her about the old bell he has found in the lake, she realizes it is the Abbey bell and draws him into a scheme to pull the bell from the lake and substitute it for the new bell bought by Imber Court for the Abbey for the approaching ceremony. She wants to please her husband and give belief of miracles to the community, but as she and Toby work in raising the bell they discover it only brings them closer together. And things are further complicated for her when an unexpected arrival turns up at Imber Court for the unveiling ceremony.
Tue, Feb 2, 1982
The unveiling of the new bell looks set to descend into farce when Dora's lover Noel Spens turns up to report on the ceremony, much to Paul's anger. But things get much worse as she and Toby were spotted on the pier that night kissing by Nick Fawley, who confronts Toby over his dalliances with both Michael and Dora and demands he confess his sins. Dora later overhears Nick talking to her reporter lover Noel about her plan with the old bell with Toby, and decides to act to nullify Nick's revelations. But her actions only seem to ostracize her from the others, who little realize the chain of events that is yet to come that will lead to a tragedy that will affect them all.