When an out-of-work comedian lands a job at a struggling funeral parlor, her lively practices make fast money, but could forever change the way our society deals with death.

SYNOPSIS:

RILEY O’REGAN (24), a quick-witted and vivacious woman who suffers from stage-fright, misses her opening night at a comedy club when the manager, MAC (30s) shuts it down due to a pandemic. She takes online classes as a funeral service manager where jobs are plentiful. She lands a job at the morbidly conservative and struggling Cox Funeral Parlor. MR. COX (75) runs the place with help from his grandson, PRESTON (26), a handsome medical student who faints at the sight of blood; LUCINDA BROWN (24), an African American who fears live people, but works well preparing corpses; and JUWAN MUHAMMED (30s), a recently hired homeless veteran.

Things don’t begin well for Riley. She finds herself saddled with a tipsy priest, FATHER O’BRIEN (60s), who officiates most of the services. Other mistakes are self-inflicted. She buries the Bishop’s wife in fishnet stockings and uses the corpse of a male porn star for a ring-toss game. To shake up traditions and attract new customers, Riley adds a food truck outside and a full-service bar inside. However, the business still struggles.

Her next funerals lead to mixed results. One service ends in a shootout. The funeral for two middle school teachers, one from a public school and one from a Catholic school, only ends in a brawl. Things are improving. Meanwhile, Preston bombs out of med school and returns to work at the funeral parlor unsure about Riley’s methods, especially while his Gramps is on sick leave. Two more services, one for an atheist professor and another for a witch, go very well. Her small funerals provide the opportunity to lose her fear of public speaking, and her reputation grows along with the business.

Mr. Cox discovers Riley’s practices and fires her right before her planned “Comedy Night at the Crypt,” a benefit for the poor. So, Riley, Preston, Lucinda, and Juwan break into the funeral parlor to hold the event anyway. Preston’s former girlfriend, DARLENE (30s), the former manager of the parlor, and Riley’s former boyfriend, Mac, are present when the police raid the unsanctioned event. Mr. Cox is so furious he fires Riley again and disowns Preston and throws him out.

Riley’s comedy show goes viral, and she gets an offer to do a sitcom in Los Angeles. In the middle of a showdown with Mr. Cox, Preston professes his love for Riley, and vice versa. Riley makes another life-changing decision to stay and help Preston and her friends alter how funerals will be conducted forever. Best of all, Riley gets permission to host her weekly comedy show for charity from the Chapel. Why die with dignity, when you can die with comedy?

COMEDY NIGHT AT THE CRYPT