DEAR CADAVER

Written by
A. C. McKenzie

xophib@gmail.com

ii.

LOGLINE: A man has to perform an autopsy on his father, whilst

dealing with everything the night has to throw at him.
PLAYERS:
SINATRA
JAZMYNN
ALEC

-Baki is in mind when I wrote this role

-Receptionist, young and attractive.
-who ever played the Mr Bloomhouse in 'Salems Land'
would nice.
UNDERTAKER
-Ben was in mind when I wrote this role too, he's
BRITISH.
POLICE OFFICERTHERAPIST
-Voice only. Reassuring and calm voice.
NOTE:
There is a variety of different routes and drafts this story has
gone through. Welcome to any of them just contact me via email^^.

INT. MORGUE - DAY

A gurney is being pushed through the entrance of the morgue
and into the AUTOPSY room. GURNEY POV.
A pathologist - SINATRA (48) - is performing an autopsy on a
dead body.
We see SINATRA using cutlery on the cadaver.
SINATRA is absurdly happy today. SINATRA makes a beat on the
dead bodys skin.
SINATRA enjoys himself a cup of coffee.
INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY
SINATRA is putting on his regular clothes. Getting rid of all
the blood and death.
He stares at himself in the MIRROR, with a cigarette hanging
out of his mouth. He keeps staring for an extreme amount of
time then heads out.
INT. MORGUE RECEPTION - DAY
The receptionist JAZMYNN (19) hands SINATRA a cup of coffee.
Jazmynn is annoyingly chewing gum with her mouth open. Shes
young and attractive.
SINATRA has been finding it decently difficult to sleep, ever
since he found out about his dead father. His eyes are
evolving into black-eyes.
JAZMYNN
As much as I had seen in the papers
he seemed like a good man. How are
you dealing with it?
SINATRA
Bit of a hiccup Id say. You know I
havent slept since.
JAZMYNN
I mean like how are you going
dealing with the autopsy on your
father?
SINATRA shakes his head.

2.

SINATRA
I had problems with him... like
every normal human being has with
their parents but...
(Gulps)
There has to be some moral code or
law of sort in place to prevent
this joke of a job.
JAZMYNN
Look I know this sounds and looks
tough but youre gonna have to get
over this hump.
SINATRA looks out the nearest window, contemplating what she
just said.
SINATRA
The last thing my father ever said
to me, was answering a question I
asked him years ago. The question
was why was I born? He said to save
a failed marriage.
JAZMYNN does not know to reply to this revelation.
SINATRA (CONTD)
(Sigh)
Is Alec in at all? Get me an
appointment with him.
JAZMYNN
You caught him at the right
moment...
Hinting at the boss ALEC (25) walking in.
ALEC enters, from his lunch break.
SINATRA stops him in time.
SINATRA
You cant expect me to perform on
my own father do you?
ALEC
(Sighs)
This is a small town, SINATRA...
SINATRA
4,000 people. Im one of them.

3.

ALEC
Arent you just the least bit
curious if your fathers death
wasnt natural?
SINATRA nods in cooperation with Alec.
SINATRA
This job can be the slightest bit
demanding at times, right?
ALEC
You cant expect me to order some
butcher from up state to do your
job for you.
They both laugh at this. A hint of false warmth from Alec.
INT. HALLWAY - SUNDOWN
SINATRA stands by himself in the hallway for a few moments
trying to regain himself, with what he is about to do.
INT. MORGUE HALLWAY
A TRAY with cutlery is descending down the Morgues hallway,
passing dead bodies and cutlery of all types. TRAY POV.
INT. MORGUE - NIGHT
SINATRA now with his dead father on the gurney. SINATRA
sighs, then gets ready for the autopsy.
SINATRAS FATHER (V.O.)
I can talk!
SINATRA is speechless. SINATRAS FATHER who is supposed to be
deceased is talking to him.
SINATRA
Im definitely seeing things...
He closes his eyes and throws away the covers that were
concealing his fathers naked lifeless body.
SINATRAS FATHER
Dont look down there, please...
(Laugh)

4.

SINATRA
You know my therapist told me to
reconnect with you... guess what?
He opens him up from the rib cage, interrupting his father
about to say what?.
SINATRA (CONTD)
Oh boy, am I ever!
His deceased father is screaming in pain.
After SINATRA is done with his job, he wraps up the body and
pops in on a gurney to be transported to the Funeral Home.
INT. MORUGES RECEPTION - MORNING - LATER
Jazmynn comes in for her morning shifts. She sees SINATRA and
smiles.
JAZMYNN appears to be pregnant, when she stands.
JAZMYNN
Im proud of you. You know that?
SINATRA is just silent as she passes by.
JAZMYNN (CONTD)
Hows your night, darl?
SINATRA
A peculiar one for sure. I think I
made a friend. I dont know.
JAZMYNN
So, very uneventful I assume.
SINATRA
Well, I mean I really connected
with him.
JAZMYNN
Hey, at least you got to say your
farewells!
SINATRA
Dont ever shake an undertakers
hand, Jaz.
JAZMYNN
Thats funny. Why would you say
that?

5.

SINATRA
TheyJAZMYNN
They? Being who?
SINATRA
My therapist told me I needed to
reconnect with my father
(laughs)
Oh boy, did I!
So, I thought financially, but Dad
died so that plan didnt work out.
So it looks like Im going away.
SINATRA picks himself up to exit the morgue.
JAZMYNN
Keep in touch...
SINATRA
Can I ask one thing... why do you
want to bring a living thing into
this world?
JAZMYNN
The last thing my mother ever said
to me, was answering a question I
asked her years ago. The question
was why was I born? She said to
save a failed marriage.
SINATRA takes this in and exits the morgue.
EXT. MORGUE - MORNING
Outside SINATRA lights a cigarette and heads home.
The END.