Rest In Peace

An original short piece

by

Stewart Wadwell (MacDuff)
Fade in:
Int. Funeral home
A gathering of sombre looking mourners form a procession leading towards an open coffin.
Looking over the procession stands KYLE HUNTER. The fair haired, spec wearing thirtysomething puffs on a cigarette. He watches as the solemn looking figures move to the casket, stop, say their farewells, then move onto the grieving mother.
KYLE (V.O.)
Somebody once said there are two certainties in life...death and taxes...lets just say I'm an expert at one of them.
Organ music plays softly as the mother intermittently stops to dab her eyes before the next in procession arrives.
Kyle (V.O.)
Welcome to Woodlands Funeral Home. The joint where no one wants to go, but everyone's destined for.
The procession moves away from the mother and the gathering slowly take a seat, awaiting the eulogies.
KYLE (V.O.)
I usually get a kick outta these things, you know?...the good guys fill up the place...family, friends, co-workers, busy bees...the bad guys are lucky if anyone even notices they're gone. Such as life is these days...even in death, it's still a popularity race.
Kyle takes a look at the benches slowly filling up. There are only three of four full.
Kyle smiles.
Kyle (V.O.)
But today folks, this one's different...
Int. Preparation room - dAY
SUPER: YESTERDAY
A small stereo blasts an assortment of Queen classics as Kyle rolls back and forth in his chair between a table containing his INSTRUMENTS and the EMBALMMENT TABLE. He is digging his music and is chomping down on a GREASY BURGER.
He rolls over to a BODY laying on the table, burger in one hand, instrument in the other. He decides he needs both hands for this operation and nonchalantly places his burger down onto the naked torso.
KYLE (V.O.)
I started in this shithole as a grave-digger...can't remember how or when it happened, but there I was...digging holes for the dead.
He grabs his burger from the body, dropping ketchup onto it.
KYLE
Damnit!
He rolls over, drops the burger and instrument onto his side desk and picks up a rag. Rolls over again and cleans up the mess.
Kyle (V.O.)
Where was I?...oh yeah...the local trade embalmer left town...and left an opening. The owner, Crazy Gorgei Petrov basically thrust me into the position. Said I'd go to school in the day, work in the evenings.
Kyle finishes cleaning up the mess and carefully places a sheet over the corpse. He wheels back and cleans up his instruments.
Kyle (V.O.)
I was never one to cause an issue...so here I stayed. That was ten years ago. Ten fucking years. Your mind gets pretty screwed up after a while.
He turns down the music and calls through to his boss.
KYLE
Hey Petrov!
Petrov (O.S.)
Vhat!
KYLE
This ones' ready for reposing! 
PETROV (O.S.)
Vhat?
KYLE
This one is ready to go! You understand?
PETROV (O.S.)
Yes, yes...I'll be there.
KYLE
Crazy Russian.
Kyle turns up his music again and takes a gulp of his pop. 
He opens a folder and starts marking down some notes and comments. Inside the folder contains a photograph of the body...a good-looking, smiling male. Must be in his late forties.
Kyle (V.O.)
To me they're all faces. One rolls in, one rolls out. That's the way you gotta do it. Can't dwell on the past...well, their past anyways. It's a shitty job, but hey...it beats the hell outta being the stiff on the table, right?
He closes the folder and slaps it down onto his desk. Another one done.
Int. small room - evENING
Kyle is packing up for the day. He is grabbing his gear and jacket when he looks up at a figure standing in the doorway.
GORGEI PETROV, late fifties, short, grey hair stands holding another file folder. He has a small rat dog that stands at his feet, constantly growling at Kyle.
KYLE
Jesus, you almost gave me a heart attack.
PETROV
Who'd you expect? Your friend vom earlier?
He walks over and slaps the folder down onto the desk.
KYLE
What's this?
PETROV
I need you...work late, okay? Just come in. Very important...must be ready for tomorrow.
KYLE
Oh come on Gorgei. I just did a ten hour day. I got food on the plate.
PETROV
Oh come on Gorgei...No!...I need you now! I promise them...we promise them.
Kyle drops his jacket onto the chair.
KYLE
Aw man, are you kidding?
No answer.
KYLE
Fine...you owe me Petrov.
Petrov turns and walks. His pet dog stays behind, still growling.
PETROV
(muttering)
Yes, yes... I need this day off, I need that day off. I go to movie with hot wife. Bah! Who cares. I work with dead bodies, never see me complain.
Kyle picks up the phone at his desk and dials out.
PETROV (O.S.)
Come spot!
The dog turns and exits.
KYLE
Spot?...can't even buy a fuckin' clue.
Int. Kyle residence.
SHERRY HUNTER, mid-thirties, pretty blonde, stands in the kitchen making dinner. She picks up the ringing cordless phone.
Sherry
Hello?
KYLE (V.O.)
Hey honey.
SHERRY
Where are you?
KYLE (V.O.)
Still here.
SHERRY
What?
KYLE (V.O.)
Petrov wants me to do a double. Needs another stiff done pronto.
SHERRY
But we had plans!
Cut to:
Int. PREPARATION ROOM
KYLE
Yeah, I know...but we need the money. You wanted that trip right?
Sherry (V.O.)
Yeah, but not at the expense of this every week.
KYLE
Look, I'll tell him this is the last one he can pull on me.
SHERRY (V.O.)
You said that last time!
KYLE
This time I mean it...okay?
There's a SIGH over the line.
SHERRY (V.O.)
Fine...see you later.
KYLE
Don't wait up.
SHERRY (V.O.)
Don't worry, I wont.
CLICK
The line is dead.
KYLE
Jesus, there's no fucking sympathy around here.

Int. pREPARATION ROOM
Kyle saunters in and slouches to his chair. He toys with the folder in his hands and looks at the new body laying on top of the table, covered with a sheet.
KYLE
If this is a car mangle, he'll be the next one on the table.
He flops the folder down and wheels over to the corpse.
He SLOWLY lifts the sheet up from the face, but just as it's about to be revealed, he drops the sheet and rolls back to his stereo.
He flips the stereo on to his favorite work tunes, grabs his folder and wheels back over.
This time he uncovers the body completely. Flipping the sheet off and onto the floor.
He STOPS.
He LOOKS.
He RECOGNIZES.
The folder drops to the floor and the chair tips over. Kyle is standing over the body, jaw literally touching the floor.
KYLE
Sweet mother of God.
He bends down to pick up the file folder without taking his eyes of the body.
He SMACKS his chin on the table, sending him to the floor.
KYLE
Ah shit.
He picks up the folder, gathers his composure and stands up again.
KYLE
It can't be...
He opens the folder and quickly flicks through the pages. 
Yup, it's true. Typed out in capitals right in front of eyes is the name:
"TOBE COOPER"
Kyle looks at TOBE laying on the table. He's also in his mid-thirties, built like a football player but with an oversized gut, blonde crew cut, scarred face.
Kyle slowly touches the cold flesh of his face...quickly retracting.
He sits back onto his chair and wheels away from the table.
He swings around and quickly stops the stereo...
Int. High school hallway - flashback
A younger, geeky version of Kyle is SLAMMED into some lockers. Around his ears are a pair of headphones attached to...nothing.
Young KYLE
Give it back!
Holding a yellow Sony walkman and laughing to his friends is high school football star Tobe Hooper. Wearing is patent #1 jersey, he turns to his friends and mimics Kyle.
Young Tobe
Give it baaack.
He turns back.
Young TOBE
Whatcha listening too fuckface.
Young KYLE
Nothin'...
Young TOBE
Nothing? Sure you are dude. What is it? Abba? Bee-Gees?
Young KYLE
It's Queen...
They all burst out laughing.
Young TOBE
You are a fag! Shit, you had us worried there for a moment.
Young KYLE
Just give it back Tobe, okay?
Tobe's demeanor gets real serious, real quick.
Young TOBE
You tellin' me what to do?
Young KYLE
No.
Young TOBE
'Cause nobody tells me what to do. You got it? I tell people what to do. I ain't the quarterback for nothin'.
His friends give him a "Hell Yeah"...proceeded by HIGH FIVES all round.
Young KYLE
Come on man...I'm late for class.
Young TOBE
Tell ya what. I'll give it back for one thing.
Young KYLE
(sighing)
What?
YoungTOBE
You suck Jimmy's dick here.
A friend steps out of the crowd and unzips his shorts.
Young KYLE
You're such an asshole.
Young TOBE
Wrong answer dude.
He SLAMS Kyle's head back into the locker, dazing him. He then drops his walkman in front of him and smashes it to a thousand pieces.
Cut to:
Int. PREPARATION ROOM
KYLE
You're such an asshole.
He grabs his instruments and walks over to Tobe.
KYLE
I've waited a long time for this Tobe. I should just purge you and let you rot. You'd like that, huh?
He sits back down, clearly confused.
He finally gets up again and opens his toolbox. He picks out a scalpel and bends over the body.
KYLE
Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit.
The knife cuts into the body.
Int. treehouse - flashBACK
Young KYLE
Argh, it hurts.
BLOOD forms around a cut in young Kyle's arm. Holding him down are Tobe's friends, while Tobe stands over him with a knife.
Young ToBE
Why'd you do it?
Young KYLE
I didn't, I didn't....Owwwww!
Young TOBE
Then who did?
Young KYLE
I dunno...gettoff me!
Young TOBE
Alls I know is that I nearly got expelled because some shithead told the principal that I was carrying.
Young KYLE
I swear Tobe, I didn't tell anyone.
Young TOBE
Really? That's not what Tristan said.
Young KYLE
Fuck Tristan. He's a lying bastard.
Young TOBE
Yeah, well...he's not around to defend himself, ain't he. Someone's gotta pay...you understand?
He leans down into Kyle's face.
Young KYLE
(crying)
Let me go...please.
Young TOBE
Not yet...
He proceeds to cut something into Kyle's arm...
Young ToBE
Something to remember me by, the next time you decide to squeal.
...He cuts his initials into Kyle's arm...
"T.C."
Int. PREPARATION ROOM
Kyle has cut the letter "K" into the arm of Tobe before he shakes himself back into reality. He quickly drops the scalpel.
KYLE
What am I doing?
He starts pacing around the room, running his hands through his fair hair.
KyLE
I hated you man. I mean really, really hated you. I've had nightmares for years because of you.
He approaches the body.
KYLE
Now you lay there on a fucking table. I needed closure man, but not like this. Fuck you Tobe. Fuck you.
He sits back down into his chair, head in hands. He rolls over and picks up the folder. Kyle starts flicking through the information, clearly looking for something.
KYLE
No beneficiary...doesn't surprise.
He reads some more.
KYLE
No estate...figures. Survived by his mother...why she never killed herself by now is beyond me.
He flicks to another page and reads the cause of death.
KYLE
Drowned?
He reads it, looks at the body, then reads again.
KYLE
I can't believe it. Big bad Tobe Cooper drowned.
He closes the folder, shaking his head.
KYLE
Will wonders never cease.
Int. Country bar - flASHBACK
A mid-twenties Kyle sits having a beer in a bar, chatting up a young Sherry.
Tobe (O.S.)
Will wonders never cease.
Kyle turns around to see Tobe standing over him, clearly drunk.
KYLE
Tobe?
TOBE
Guess who's back in town fuckface.
He closes in on Kyle, causing him to flinch.
KYLE
What do you want Tobe?
TOBE
It's like the good ole days ain't it?
KYLE
Sure...
TOBE
Hey...don't worry man. It's not like I'm gonna hitcha' or somethin'.
KYLE
Sure man, sure.
Tobe turns to Sherry.
TOBE
I used to pound on this guy. He was like a punching bag, always bouncing back for more.
There is an awkward pause.
TOBE
(sarcastically)
Well, I guess I'd better be going...don't want to spoil your little date night.
He turns to the young Sherry again.
TOBE
You want a good piece of meat, come see me after, okay?
As he walks away, Kyle turns to Sherry.
KYLE
One year of college ball and he thinks he's a star. What a has-been.
Tobe stops mid-stride.
Kyle sighs as Tobe turns around.
He is about to walk back over, shakes his head and continues on his way.
ShERRY
He's harmless.
KYLE
Yeah...sure.
SHERRY
Come on...tell me more about your job. D'ya ever get scared.
Kyle laughs at the thought.
Int. PREPARATION ROOM
Kyle approaches Tobe again.
He begins to clean up the cut mark he made.
KYLE
When I used to come home all bloodied, mom would tell me it was because you had it rough...your dad died early on, your ma' was poor, you got picked on in school...can you believe that?
He starts to prepare the body.
KYLE
I didn't buy it man. You beat the shit outta me for no reason other than feeling good about yourself.
He gets some makeup ready to apply.
KYLE
She said that all you needed was love, friendship and guidance...
He continues his work.
KYLE
It's all bullshit. It's been a long time coming Tobe, you know that right? I'll never forgive you. Not ever.
He dabs some more stuff on the body.
KYLE
When tomorrow comes, I'll make you look good...but only because I'm the bigger man. You don't deserve it Tobe...but I'll do it right.
A clock above him strikes midnight. Kyle looks up.
KYLE
Happy funeral day Tobe. It's all downhill from here.
He cheekily slaps the side of the face, then continues on.
Int. FUNERAL HOME
The piano music continues.
Everyone is now seated on a bench as the mother prepares her speech.
Kyle (V.O.)
I told ya today was different. Even in death, Tobe beat me. Not a single face was ever etched into my mind. No matter how bad it was.
Kyle stands there, still watching over the procession...with a wry smile on his face.
KYLE (V.O.)
I may be smiling, but it's the only thing keeping me sane. I can't get his face outta my goddamn mind. We had history, unclosed history. Now he lays there, finally silent after all these years.
Kyle notices a woman waving at him from the back room. A look of warm recognition crosses Kyle's face, so he wanders over and sits down by her.
WANDA JEFFERSON, a pretty thirty-something with long brown hair and a perfect smile sits, holding a handkerchief. Beside her sit three young boys silently, patiently, obediently.
KYLE
Wanda?
Wanda
Kyle Hunter? I thought it was you. What are you doing here?
KYLE
I was gonna ask you the same thing?
WANDA
We've come to pay respect to Tobe.
KYLE
Really?
He looks over to the kids.
WANDA
No, no, they're not his...what about you, why are you here?
KYLE
I work here.
WANDA
Oh...I wondered. He used to hammer on you hard back in school.
Kyle's smile fades a little.
KYLE
Yeah...yeah he did.
WANDA
I guess some people finally change.
KYLE
Not him.
WANDA
What?
KYLE
Born a dick, died a dick.
She frowns, Kyle looks at the kids.
KYLE
Right...sorry.
WANDA
I know he was hard in school Kyle, but we can never forget what he did for us. I can't believe no one else is here.
KYLE
What he did?
WANDA
Of course. I don't care about his past. He did it because deep down, there was good in him. Unfortunately, he found it too late.
KYLE
Wait...I'm not following you here Wanda.
WANDA
You're kidding, right?
KYLE
No...seriously...I'm lost?
WANDA
Geez...do you not live here? My kids...the river....?
Kyle sits, eyes blinking.
WANDA
Kyle...he dove into The Bluff...after my kids.
KYLE
(stunned)
What?
WANDA
Didn't you know? My kids were playing down by the falls. They fell in.
KYLE
No shit!
He winces.
KYLE
Sorry.
WANDA
They were swept down stream, but luckily for us, Tobe was out walking. He didn't think twice Kyle...he dove right in, pulled them out one by one.
KYLE
Tobe?...that Tobe?
Pointing to the casket.
WANDA
He couldn't get out of the rapids after he pulled Tommy out. It took him downstream...there was nothing no one could do.
Kyle sits there in stunned silence.
The mother begins her heartfelt speech to the small group.
KYLE
I can't believe it.
WANDA
It was maybe the first selflessness thing he'd ever done...and he died for it.
KYLE
Yeah...'suppose.
WANDA
But he's a hero in my eyes...in all our eyes. He deserves our respect. He deserves to rest in peace.
They both look up as the mother prepares to speak.
KYLE (V.O.)
Rest in peace...Maybe she's right...maybe it is time...for both of us. I guess some of us are doomed from the beginning. Maybe, my mother was right. Love, Guidance, friendship. What's that song? "All We Need Is Love?". He was an asshole all right...but we all strive to be remembered, not judged. Maybe he did change his ways. Does he deserve to be remembered or just be another face in the obituaries? I dunno. I can't change people's past, but I guess I can do my part here. I'll prepare them, make sure they look good for the last part of their journey. Hell, it's the least I can do, you know?...
Kyle and Wanda sit intently, listening to the eulogy.
KYLE (V.O.)
Maybe...just maybe, I'll finally sleep well tonight.
Fade out:
The end