Six Feet Under

Synopsis: A drama series that takes a darkly comical look at members of a dysfunctional family that runs an independent funeral home. With the prodigal elder son (Nate) returning home for the holidays to shattering news, the family must learn to deal with a death of their own, while figuring out how to go ahead with the business of the living. A funny and emotional look at a grieving American family...that just happens to be in the grief management business.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
  Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 54 wins & 162 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.7
TV-MA
Year:
2001
55 min
2,596 Views


1 INT. COMMERCIAL SET/WHITE VOID - DAY 1

We HEAR an OPERATIC ARIA.

CLOSE ON A WOMAN'S WHITE-GLOVED HAND, gracefully trailing

along a reflective black surface. PULLING BACK to reveal a

beautiful MODEL in a sleek black gown, as she moves slowly

past a shiny black luxury car, trailing her fingers along its

contours. It seems as if we're in a television commercial for

some expensive, luxury automobile. Then we WIDEN TO REVEAL

the car is actually a contemporary-model HEARSE.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

(soft-spoken, soothing)

The new Millennium Edition Crown Superior

Funeral Coach. Sized to accommodate even

the largest caskets, the XL-500 offers

your loved one the very latest in style

and comfort--

The commercial ends abruptly, as if someone switched the TV

off. MUSIC ENDS and the SCREEN GOES BLACK.

We HEAR Bing Crosby singing "I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS."

2 EXT. STREET - AFTERNOON (DAY ONE) 2

SLOWLY TILTING DOWN past plastic CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS hanging

from streetlamps... to an URBAN STREET lined with small

businesses. A SALVATION ARMY SANTA stands on the sidewalk,

RINGING his BELL. This being Los Angeles, it's sunny and there

are palm trees.

A shiny black HEARSE, just like the one in the commercial,

glides beneath us.

3 INT. HEARSE - CONTINUOUS (DAY ONE) 3

NATHANIEL FISHER (56) drives, smoking a CIGARETTE. A somewhat

severe face, but too weary to be menacing. Bing Crosby sings

"I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" on the RADIO.

NATHANIEL:

(sings along)

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRIST--MAS... YOU CAN

PLAN ON ME...

A CELL PHONE RINGS. Nathaniel answers it.

NATHANIEL (CONT'D)

Nathaniel Fisher.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.

4 EXT. FUNERAL HOME - AFTERNOON, CONTINUOUS (DAY ONE) 4

We're MOVING slowly past a three-story HOME that's been around

for a while. REVEAL a SIGN that reads:

FISHER AND SONS:

FUNERAL HOME:

Dignified service since 1944

RUTH (O.S.)

Nathaniel, it's Ruth. Did you take your

blood pressure medication today?

NATHANIEL (0.C.)

(over phone line)

Yes.

RUTH (O.S.)

Don't lie to me.

NATHANIEL (O.S.)

I took it. What do you want me to do,

O.D. on it?

INTERCUT WITH:

5 INT. KITCHEN - AFTERNOON, CONTINUOUS (DAY ONE) 5

CLOSE on a WOMAN'S HANDS: slicing vegetables, grating

cheese,pounding meat, with alarming ferocity and speed.

RUTH:

Oh, and I just realized we don't have

any of that soy stuff Nate drinks. You

know, since he gave up milk? I don't

know what it's called.

NATHANIEL (O.S.)

(over phone line)

Why not just cut some milk with tap water?

He'll never know the difference.

We PAN up to RUTH FISHER (55), hunched over the kitchen

counter, holding the phone up to her ear with her shoulder.

Dressed conservatively, but there's a certain earthiness buried

underneath.

RUTH:

(not funny)

Look, if you don't want to go, I'll go.

It's not as if I don't have enough to do

already.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.

RUTH:

6 INT. HEARSE - AFTERNOON CONTINUOUS (DAY ONE) 6

NATHANIEL:

(sighs)

I'm kidding. I'll get some. But it'll

have to be after I pick Nate up at the

airport, I'm running late already...

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes

Alan Ball

Alan Erwin Ball (born May 13, 1957)[1] is an American writer, director, and producer for television, film, and theatre. more…

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Submitted by acronimous on April 12, 2016

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