Mortuary Assistant, The (2026)

[bunniefuu]

The body of one Emily Sawyer,

the embalming of which

is being performed

by Intern Rebecca Owens,

for her final

supervised procedure.







Very good, Miss Owens.



Arterial injection.

Embalming is proceeding

adequately.

Adequately?

Satisfactorily.

You're doing great.

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, did I do something wrong?

No, everything's fine.

Please, continue.





Embalming completed

at 4:24 p.m.

Fantastic job, Miss Owens.



All right, Miss Sawyer.

Let's get you tucked in.

Night.

[SIGHS]

Instruments in autoclave, check.

Table cleaned, check.

Restock.



Oh, God...

Mr. Delver, you startled me.

What are you doing?

Uh, I was just restocking

the fluids.

I saw they were low,

so I was gonna stock 'em

before I went home.

There's never any reason

to be down here.

There are extra bottles

in the front supply closet.

That should be plenty

until we get the next delivery.

Though, I appreciate

your attention to detail.

Of course.



Hmm.

Well, unfortunately

there's no great fanfare

to mark your completion.

Not in this line of work.

That said,

shall we toast

to your achievement?

Uh, no.

No. Thank you.

Uh, I appreciate it though.

Of course.

My apologies.

No. It's fine.

I just, um...

I just don't really drink.

Nonetheless.

So, I'll be working

on my own now?

For the most part, yes.

I'll mainly be handling

the business end of things.

Taking care

of the families

or the loved ones

and stuff like that?

Not these days.

We don't invite the families

into the office.

It's one of the reasons

I removed the doors

to the embalming room.

I found that

when I'm working on my own,

it just makes things

a bit easier,

one large prep room.

Easier to keep

an eye on them, I guess.

[CHUCKLES]

Yes.

The hours will be

fairly consistent.

Uh, other than

the occasional weekend,

you'll mostly work

the day shift.

I'll handle any remains

that come in at night.

But I don't mind

working nights

-if you ever need to--

-No.

No.

I wouldn't want you

to get worn out.

Burning the candle

at both ends,

-it isn't good for anyone.

-Mm.

Besides, you're young.

You should be out

having fun.

Hmm.

I don't really do

much of that these days.

Well then I can expect you

to be well-rested

when you show up

for your day shift.

Hmm.

[GROANS]

Everything all right,

Ms. Owens?

Uh, um, yeah.

Uh, sorry.

I just got

a bit of a migraine.

I'll be all right.

Well, with any luck,

we won't get anyone in.

You'll be able to take

the whole weekend off and relax.

Welcome aboard, Ms. Owens.









Again, and again, and again.

[PUFFS]



What the...



Uh, hi.

Uh, my name is Rebecca,

and today is my one year.

Um, sorry.

I-- I don't really know, um,

what to say.

A-- a year ago,

I didn't really think

that I would even be here.

But, uh, I'm sure

you guys probably

hear that all the time.

Before I got sober, uh,

I think I was afraid of

feeling pretty much anything.

I would just shut off

from everyone,

and I don't even think

I went more than a day

without numbing myself.

I guess I was just

letting the fear

and shame kind of

take over, you know?

Uh, would end up hurting

anybody who would try to help.

And I think that's been

the hardest part for me

is accepting the pain

that I've caused

and people that I've lost.

Uh, but that's why I'm grateful

for this program,

because I know

that I'm not alone

in that feeling.

And I can choose to not hide

from myself anymore.

Um, so thank you

for letting me share.

Happy birthday.

You should be proud.

You should be proud of yourself.

It's a big deal.

And there's still work

to be done,

but you know that.

We just have to keep taking it

one day at a time,

and you

keep coming back.

This is why it's important

that we share our wins

and we celebrate each other,

so let's celebrate.

Rebecca.

GRANDMA:

Whoa!

Becca, I am so proud of you,

and your daddy.

Oh, God rest his soul.

He would be so proud

of you, too.

Thank you for coming.

Of course, sweetie.

I love you.

I love you too, Grandma.

I'll see you soon.

-Bye, honey.

-Bye.

Rebecca.

I'm not gonna lie.

I'm worried about you.

It is not uncommon

for the first-year chip

to be the last one collected.

Well, I made it this far,

haven't I?

Tell me you'll call

if you start to slip.

I will.

Okay.

Just remember,

you're only as sick

as your secrets.

And hey, congrats

on finishing your internship.

I know.

Hell yeah.

Although

I will never understand

how you can deal

with the...

Uh, okay.

I'm proud of you.

Thank you.

You're welcome.



[SIGHS]

f*ck it!



[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

Mr. Delver?

Sorry to disturb you,

Ms. Owens.

I know you aren't

feeling well.

No, it's okay.

Uh, what can I

do for you?

Unfortunately,

I need you to come in tonight.

I know it's not

what we talked about, but...

Okay.

We got a transfer

from the city morgue

this evening,

several in fact,

and I'm unable

to be there myself.

Sure.

I mean, that's what you've

been training me for, right?

Absolutely.

Good luck.

[SIGHS]

















REBECCA:

All right.

Wait.

Embalming and cremation?

Why do I need to do both?

Uh, whatever.

All right, Mr. Lebowitz,

let's get you embalmed

and, I guess, cremated.





All right,

what do we have here?

Oof, yeah, that'll do it.







Oh, those look fresh.

Wonder how you got those.

Well, if you're curious

why a bath,

that would make two of us.

I mean, why put in

all this effort

if you're just

gonna burn, right?

But the boss gets

what the boss wants.









Okay.

All right.

Jacob Lebowitz.

REBECCA:

Distinguishing works.

You gotta be

f*cking kidding me.





[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]



[CLEARS THROAT]

River Fields Mortuary.

Hello?

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

It's Raymond.

Just checking to see

how things are going.

Yeah, yeah.

Uh, it's been interesting.

Uh, I think the storm's causing

some trouble with the lights,

but they're holding up,

and I was just about to start

on the second body.

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

I was wondering

if you had any questions?

If you need anything,

call me right away.

Of course, Mr. Delver.

I'm sure I'll be fine.





Okay.

Well, you must have been

somebody's grandma, right?

My grandma,

she basically raised me

after my dad.

And she--

[EXHALES]

sh*t.

Um, uh, wait here.

All right, that works.

How did you do that?





That's weird.

Oh.

Oh, you poor thing.

I'll be right back.



Is somebody there?



Raymond?



What the f*ck?



Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Delver, uh--

Hello?

I-- I can't hear--

BEN: [ON PHONE]

You did this to me.

Who is this?

BEN: [ON PHONE]

It's all your fault.





[GASPING]





Hello?

BEN: [ON PHONE]

Uh, report a missing person,

a child, my daughter.

Her name

is Rebecca Owens.

She's 14.

You have to help me.

Dad?

BEN: [ON PHONE]

She has a drug problem.

Uh, she went out on the lake

with some friends,

she never came back.

No, I'm not gonna wait

24 hours!

My daughter is in trouble,

God damn it!

Fine!

No.

No, Dad.

BEN: [ON PHONE]

I'll look for her myself!

[YOUNG REBECCA SCREAMING]

[GROWLING]

[GASPING]

[PANTS]







Becca?

Becca?

Not now.

KELLY:

Becca, you gotta let me in.

Becca, I'm here to help you.

Becca, come to this door.

I'm not leaving.

Okay. Okay, um...

Looks like you found

some good stuff, huh?

No, um...

You're paying for it now.

I-- I don't remember

coming home.

And I'm guessing

you don't remember

calling me to come over?

Sounds about right.

Okay, so we start again.

Today is day one.

So we will make you

a big ole cup of coffee

and we will find ourselves

a meeting.

Um, no,

I-- I-- I didn't use, okay?

I-- I know that I--

I didn't.

Girl, now I know

what the day after looks like,

and it looks like you.

And you and I both know

that the first step

is to acknowledge.

So coffee, shower, meeting.

What we are not gonna do

is pretend that last night

didn't happen, okay?

That's what

we're not gonna do

because we all know

that it did.

So we're gonna get

this coffee in you.

We are gonna

find ourselves--

I-- I...

I didn't use, okay?

I know that I didn't.

I-- I just-- I need you

to believe me here

because I really--

-Well, okay, I need you--

-Know that I didn't do it.

-I need you--

-There's something...

I need you-- I need you

to calm down, okay?

I'm here now.

Come here.

Come here.

[CRYING]

It's okay.

Okay.

All right,

let's get that coffee.

Ow! Ow!

[INDISTINCT SPEECH]

What? Oh, hell no.

[SCREAMS]

Oh!

No!

No! No! Becca, no!

No! No! No!

[INDISTINCT SPEECH]

Becca, no!

No!

[SCREAMS]

No!

[CRYING]

[SCREAMS]

KELLY:

No!

Oh, no!

No, please, no!

No! No!

Oh, no!

[GRUNTING]

No! No!

[GRUNTS]

No!

[GRUNTING]

No! No! No!

Stop, stop it.

No! No.

No!

[SCREAMING]

No!

[SCREAMING]



[PANTING]

REBECCA:

No, um...

[GASPING]

[PANTING]







Rebecca,

are you all right?

Mr. Delver,

I didn't know who else to call.

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

Tell me exactly

what you've experienced.

I think I did something

really bad.

Where are you?

Home.

I came home and--

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

You left?

Rebecca, you need to go back

to the mortuary, right away.

-It's far too dangerous.

-No, I--

No, no, I--

I can't go back there.

I'm not going back.

I know what you experienced

was terrifying.

I can explain everything.

I'll meet you there.

You knew?

I had to be sure.

You knew

and you made me go in there?

Rebecca, listen,

I am trying to help you.

Who the f*ck you are?

The mortuary is actually

the safest place

for you to be right now.

You have to trust me.

Anywhere else, you are a danger

to those around you.

You gotta be

f*cking kidding me.

I don't--

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

I can help you

but you need to go back

to the mortuary now.

I will meet you there.

You...

You expect me

to trust you now?

If I could spare you this,

I would,

but I can only try

and help you.

It isn't bound to me.

What do you

f*cking mean bound?

I-- I...

Rebecca,

what I'm about to tell you

will be hard to believe,

but you need to listen to me

if you want to survive.

I don't understand

what you are talking about.

I don't...

What the f*ck?

[PANTING]

-Rebecca.

-[GASPS]

Rebecca?

What's wrong?

Are you okay?

Rebecca?

Rebecca, are you okay?

Rebecca?

KELLY:

Girl, what is wrong?

[PANTING]

[PANTING]





The entity will do anything

to weaken you.

It exploits the worst parts

of ourselves,

any doubts,

any memories, any sin,

anything to gain control,

to let it in.

Why is this happening?

Entities can inhabit

the dead fairly easily,

but it's a prison,

a foothold into our world

until it can find

a living body strong enough

to withstand possession.

And that's...

That's what I am?

It is a weakness

that we both seem to share.

It simply found you first.

For most,

the body shuts down

before the demon

can complete the evocation,

but not with you.

I'm sorry.

I had no way of knowing

that the possession had started,

let alone it had bound

itself to you.

I want this to stop!

Just listen.

It knows you, Rebecca.

The demon knows

everything about you,

all your darkest secrets,

and it will use all of it

against you,

torturing you,

weakening you

until you have no choice

but to submit.

Okay.

So what do we do?

Well, I fear we haven't got

much time.

The demon has bound

itself to you.

Once it finds you,

there's no going back.

And unfortunately,

I can't do this for you.

I've had years

to learn what I know.

You have hours.

Okay.

Show me.

To banish a demon to hell,

you need to learn its name.

The demon's true name

cannot be spoken.

These symbols

when combined

represent the demon's place

in one of

the three houses of hell,

Invidious, desolation,

or emulation.

Okay, but where did

all of this stuff come from?

RAYMOND:

It doesn't matter.

Trust me.

I've been at this

for a long time.

Let's try and take

advantage of that.

When the mark contains

the demon's name,

it should be placed on the body

and burned.

However--

But how am I supposed to know

which one to use?

Letting strips.

What are letting strips?

[SIGHS]

I'm sorry.

I've never had to explain this

to anyone before.

I forget how foreign it is.

Maybe the best thing to do

is to show you

from the beginning.

The mark is only half

of the equation.

In order to make sure

the mark binds, the--

Rebecca?

Rebecca?

Rebecca.

Rebecca?

Rebecca.

You pathetic old f*ck.

Do I have something

that you want?

I think you need

to reconsider.

This one's a little more useful

to you than the others.

Not chained

in a tiny little box

or being burned alive

in agony.

Another sacrifice

to save your f*cking skin.

It's your turn to burn.

[GROANS]

[RAYMOND COUGHS]

[GROANS]

[PANTING]

[PANTING]



REBECCA:

Raymond, I'm sorry.

Raymond, um...

Raymond?

I'm sorry.

REBECCA:

Wait, what?

Why is the door locked?

Why wouldn't you

open the door?

Raymond!

Raymond, come on,

just open the door!

Why are you

locking me in here?

Raymond?

[WHIMPERING]

REBECCA:

You're supposed

to help me, Raymond.

Please just

open the door.

I don't wanna be

stuck in here.

Please!

Raymond,

just open the door!

You said

you were gonna help me.

Raymond, please

just open the door.

I don't want to be

stuck in here.

Raymond, please!

Please!

[PANTS]





[SIGHS]

[PANTS]



GRANDMA:

Rebecca!

Rebecca!

-Grandma?

-GRANDMA: Rebecca?

What are you doing here?

It's so cold out here.

It's freezing.

Let me in.

You're always

such a disappointment.

Let me in!

Let me in!

Let me in!

Let me in!

Let me in!

[GROWLS]

[GASPS]



Hey!

Let me in!

Dad?

[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

I brought something

for ya.

I thought maybe

you could

slit your wrists, you know,

and we could be together.

Let me in,

you little b*tch!

Just-- just

one little cut.

[GASPS]

Oh, my God.

Oh.

Let me in.

you little b*tch!

[SCREAMING]

[GROANING]



[PANTING]

[SCREAMING]

BEN:

Rebecca.



[GRUNTS]

BEN:

You're going to die.

You're going to die.

You're going to die.

You're going to die.

You're going to die.

-[GRUNTS]

-BEN: You're going to die.

You're going to die, you sh*t.

You did this to me.

It's all your fault.

KELLY:

You're only as sick

as your secrets.

BEN:

I know you.

It's all your fault.

[INDISCERNIBLE WHISPERING]

BEN:

I have come.

You're going to die.

Come on, Rebecca.

[PANTS]













[WHIMPERS]











BEN:

Rebecca.

Just one little cut.

It will all be over.

[INDISCERNIBLE SPEECH]

BEN:

Cut.

One little cut

and it will all be over.

Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut,

cut, cut, cut, cut, cut.

It will all be over.

[INDISCERNIBLE SPEECH]

BEN:

Just one little cut.

[GRUNTING]

[SCREAMS]

[GRUNTING]

[LAUGHS]

[BEN LAUGHING]

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

Do exactly as I say.

Once you have

chosen a body,

you must

slice your wrist.

Why?

Why mine?

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

Do not argue with me,

Ms. Owens.

Suffering is the only way.

It craves suffering,

your suffering.

Offer your blood.

Burn the body,

and it will all be over.

[LAUGHS]









[PANTS]

[GASPING]



REBECCA:

None of this is real.

None of this is real.

None of this is real.

None of this is real.

None of this is real.

[TAKING DEEP BREATHS]

None of this is real.



[TAKING DEEP BREATHS]

Rebecca?

It didn't work.

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

What do you mean?

What didn't work?

I-- I burned the body.

I did it exactly

as you told me to, okay?

I burned the body and--

Rebecca, I've been trying

to call you for hours.

I could never get through.

We haven't spoken

since I left.

What?

N-- no.

No, Raymond,

I just talked to you, okay?

You-- you told me

that--

Rebecca, you need to get off

the phone now.

No, no, no,no, Raymond.

You have to help me.

I don't know

what I am doing here, okay?

The tapes.

REBECCA: [ON PHONE]

What tapes?

Find the tapes.

They'll tell you

what to do.

What-- what tapes?

Raymond?

Raymond? Hello?

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

There is a series

of recordings.

What recordings?

RAYMOND: [ON PHONE]

They're in the storage room

downstairs.

They'll explain everything.

Follow the steps exactly.

Most importantly,

you must inject yourself

with the embalming fluid.

Inject the body with reagent.

You must embalm first.

You must

burn yourself alive.

BEN: [ON PHONE]

He's here.

Screaming, suffering,

always pleading, begging,

pleading, begging,

please, please, please,

please, please.

You can save me, Rebecca.

Save me.

[Ben laughing on phone]

BEN: [ON PHONE]

Daddy's little girl.









No. No.







[GASPS]

[SCREAMS]

Burn the letting strip in order

to uncover the sigils.

Configure the demonic name

on the mark.

Place the mark

on the body

and burn

in the retort.

The blood of the possessed

must be injected

into the deceased body

housing the demon.

It must be administered

as a reagent

when embalming in order

to bind it to the mark.

Otherwise,

the entity will escape

before burning.

Reagent.

The other half,

the mark and the reagent.

This is the only way.

I've found a way

to prevent this

from ever happening again.

The blood of the possessed

can be extracted

and stored

for later use.

I'm sorry

for what I've done,

but it's the only way.

Please don't.

Raymond.

RAYMOND: [ON TV]

I'm sorry, Vallery.

VALLERY: [ON TV]

Don't do this.

Please don't do this.

[VALLERY CRYING]









All right.

Now let's find your name.











[GASPS]



Hey, little love.

Poor Rebecca.

Perhaps a familiar voice

would make you

more comfortable.

[GASPING]

[WHIMPERS]

Time is running out,

Rebecca.

Just let me in.

Let me in.

It'll all be over.

[CHOKING]

[LAUGHS]

[PANTING]





VALLERY:

Help me!

Help me!

You aren't Vallery.

Not anymore.

Help me!

Help me!

[VALLERY WHIMPERING]

VALLERY:

Help me.

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]













[PANTS]

VALLERY:

Help me. Help me.

[WHIMPERS]

[SHOUTS]

VALLERY:

Help. Help me.

[PANTS]



BEN:

Rebecca?

Rebecca, where are you?

Rebecca?

Rebecca, oh, my God!

Oh, God, no!

No, no, no.

Kid, please,

not again.

Oh, my God,

you gotta breathe.

You gotta breathe.

Come on, come on,

come on.

Come on,

come on, kid.

Yeah.

Please.

Hey!

Somebody!

Somebody help!

I gotta get help.

I'll be back quick.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

[GASPS]

[COUGHS]

[PANTING]





[VALLERY CRYING]

VALLERY:

Help me.

Help me.

[VALLERY CRYING]

Please, please,

please, please.

Hello? Hello?

Is someone out there?

Um, Val-- Vallery?

Please!

Help me!

Oh, God.

What has he

done to you?

Please. Please!

I-- I-- um.

I'm so sorry.

I-- I-- I will be right back.

I promise.

I-- I'm gonna come back

for you, okay?

Promise, I will.

I will be right back.

Don't go!

Don't go!

Please! Come back!

[SCREAMS]









[GROWLING]







So you think

this is the one?







[CHOKING]





[GROWLING]



[SIGHS]

VALLERY:

Help me.

Help me please.

[GASPS]

Oh, I thought

it was over.

It will never be over.

[GROWLS]





Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy!

Daddy!

Daddy!

[CRYING]

Daddy!

[GROANS]

[PANTS]



Dad?

Dad?

Hey, little love.

Dad, I'm so sorry.

I'm here

and it's all right.

You're safe.

But if I...

If I had...

If I had just stopped, I...

You were a kid.

You were just

a beautiful kid...

and...

well, I could've

protected you better.

You need to stop doing this

to yourself though,

and you need

to stop thinking

of me like this.

REBECCA:

I can't. I can't.

I don't wanna forget you.

You won't.

You won't.

But if you keep

reliving that night

over and over,

that one night,

over and over,

your only memory of me is--

is pain.

Rebecca, please...

it's time...

to let the dead rest.

[EXHALES]

Dad.



[SIGHS]

VALLERY:

Rebecca.

Rebecca, please.

VALLERY:

Please, Rebecca.

Rebecca, please help me.

Please.

[INDISTINCT SPEECH]

VALLERY:

Rebecca, please.

Please.

[VALLERY CRYING]

VALLERY:

Help me!

I'm here.

-Rebecca, is that you?

-Yeah.

Can you see

what he's doing?

REBECCA:

Yeah.

You have to get me

out of here.

[WHIMPERS]

Okay.

Okay. It's okay.

I'm getting you out,

all right?

Okay.

Okay?

I'm gonna get you out.

[GRUNTS]

REBECCA:

Okay.

Oh, God, you poor thing.

Oh, god. It's okay.

[CRYING]

I'm sorry.

Are you-- what?

You're stupid, Rebecca.

-[GROWLS]

-Um...

[LAUGHS]

[WHIMPERS]

RAYMOND:

Vallery!

By the houses of hell,

I command you back!

[GROWLING]

Back!

[VALLERY GROWLING]

[WHIMPERING]

Rebecca,

are you all right?

Stay away from me.

Easy.

I know you must have

a lot of questions.

What the f*ck

is happening?

Come upstairs.

I'll explain everything.

[GASPING]

I'm sorry, Rebecca.

I am.

You shouldn't have had

to face that alone.

But, unfortunately...

that is the life we lead.

How long have you

been keeping her

down there, Raymond?

That's not Vallery

down there.

Not anymore.

She died long ago.

Is that what

you were gonna do to me?

Probably not.

[SCOFFS]

So, you-- you what?

You just keep her

chained down there

so you can bleed her dry

and--

Without her,

there's no reagent.

Without the reagent...

You used her, too.

You knew

it was Vallery's blood

and you used it anyway.

In the end,

you chose survival,

just like I did.

We can't bring her back

and I can't k*ll her, Rebecca.

I won't.

Even though I know,

it would be

the merciful thing to do.

Because she's not

the only one.

What do you mean?

I watched others experience

what you did,

but none of them survived.

I watched them suffer

and degrade

until they were

no longer themselves.

No longer human.

I looked for years for a way

to reverse it,

but all I found

was a way to prevent it.

Using Vallery.

This one...

horrible thing prevented

any more death.

One horrible thing.

Isn't that better

than doing nothing?

I thought with all

I'd learned

that I could--

I could have people

around again,

that I could keep them safe.

But...

But you and me,

maybe we could

find a new way.

No.

No, Raymond.

No.

There is no we.

Rebecca,

this isn't some holy w*r.

It's survival.

I'm not doing this

for the greater good.

I just wanna live

one more day,

just like everyone else.

Just like you.

Out there,

you are on your own.

You're safe for now,

but once the houses of hell

have found you,

they'll do anything

to get you back.

This has been my whole life.

It never goes away.

You have to learn

how to live with it.

And how am I supposed

to do that?

RAYMOND:

Stay here.

Learn from me.

The more you face

the darkest parts of yourself,

the less control

they will have over you.

You can become unbreakable.

The more we know ourselves,

the stronger we are.

So, you're just saying

I'm never gonna be freed?

I'm afraid so.

But you can learn

how to live a life beyond fear.