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A young woman caught between life and death... and a funeral director who appears to have the gift of transitioning the dead, but might just be intent on burying her alive.
Anna Taylor: Can I ask you a question? Eliot Deacon: Yes, of course. Anna Taylor: Why do we die? Eliot Deacon: To make life important.
Anna Taylor: I thought when you died you wouldn't feel any more pain. You wouldn't have struggles any more. But it just never stops, does it?
Eliot Deacon: It's for... Jack: Ms. Taylor? Eliot Deacon: Exactly. For Anna. She belongs here. Jack: Because she's dead? Eliot Deacon: No, because there's no life left in her. Jack: What do you mean? Eliot Deacon: Don't you see? I'm the only one that can see all these corpses wandering around aimlessly. All they do is piss and shit, suffocating us with their stench, doing nothing with their lives, taking the air away from those that actually want to live. I have to bury them all. I have no choice.
Paul: [to Deacon] She's not dead is she?
Eliot Deacon: Oh I nearly forgot. How tall are you? Anna Taylor: Why? Eliot Deacon: I need to know your height. For your coffin.
Eliot Deacon: [ending contentious conversation with the deceased] You all say the same things.
[first lines] Eliot Deacon: It's time now. You're absolutely beautiful for your funeral. [crossing his hands] Eliot Deacon: It's as if you were still alive. Just sleeping. This is how they're all going to remember you.
Eliot Deacon: I thought you were different. You all say you're scared of death, but the truth is you're more scared of life.
Eliot Deacon: The others? They just see you as a dead body on a slab. Only I can see you as you really are.
Eliot Deacon: You're a corpse. Your opinion doesn't count anymore.
[repeated line] Anna Taylor: I'm not dead!
Eliot Deacon: I thought you were different. You all say you're scared of death, but the truth is you're more scared of life. Anna Taylor: I'm glad I'm dead. I'm glad it's over.
Anna Taylor: I tried. It's not so simple to change. I woke up another day, took a shower, drove in the same traffic to work, went home, went to sleep, woke again. Nothing was ever different. Eliot Deacon: What did you really want from life? Anna Taylor: I wanted to be happy.
[last lines] Paul: I'm not dead!
Eliot Deacon: You have to let go of the living, just as they have to let go of you.
Eliot Deacon: I'm the only one who can hear you now.
Anna Taylor: No, please, I don't want... Eliot Deacon: You're a corpse, Anna. Your opinion doesn't count anymore. Anna Taylor: But I'm breathing. I must still be alive. Eliot Deacon: Oh, you people! You think because you breathe, piss, shit you're alive? You clutch onto life as if your life was worth clutching onto. Was your life worth clutching onto, Anna? Was it? Maybe you died a long time ago.
Eliot Deacon: It's only a hole in the ground. It's for... Jack: ...miss Taylor. Eliot Deacon: Exactly. For Anna. She belongs here. Eliot Deacon: Because she's dead? Jack: No, because there's no life left in her.
Eliot Deacon: It's not a gift, it's a curse!
Anna Taylor: This is the end? Eliot Deacon: The last part's the most difficult. You're going to have to face it alone, but - you'll be at peace soon.
Anna Taylor: I'm glad I'm dead. I'm glad it's over.
Anna Taylor: Why do we die? Eliot Deacon: To make life important.
Beatrice Taylor: What's the point of preserving the body if the soul has already left? Eliot Deacon: No, the soul is still here. It's we who suffer. We who are left behind.
Eliot Deacon: [talking to her picture] Imagine Anna, the whole world, your mother, her fiancé, your friends, everyone has buried you. They placed a stone above your body. They've said their goodbyes, and gone back to their TV dinners, and shopping malls, thinking that this is never going to happen to them. Eliot Deacon: Think about it Anna, think about while you still can.
Eliot Deacon: You have to look beautiful for your funeral. This is how they are all going to remember you.
Jack: Mr. Coleman. Paul: Yeah. Jack: Don't forget to fastened your seat belt.