Six Feet Under

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.

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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:

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