- 4 weeks ago
The mortuary makes funeral arrangements for a Cold War naval legend.
(Season 1, Episode 13)
(Season 1, Episode 13)
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TVTranscript
00:00Commender. Commender Butcher.
00:13You got a VIP in the house, you know that?
00:15VIP? Who?
00:16Lloyd Booker.
00:17This is a genuine American hero.
00:19It's a pretty awesome responsibility.
00:21Am I nervous? Nah.
00:22This could be her.
00:24It's high pressure on everyone.
00:26All right, lots and lots and lots and lots of people coming to see your work.
00:29Now, did that just put the pressure on or what?
00:59We got four new cases.
01:07We have a mass at 10 o'clock.
01:09And I got a 2.30.
01:10We have a drop off at San Diego Airport for 5.30 tonight.
01:14Okay, we need new case numbers and call people.
01:17Hey, how are you?
01:18John, I may have you see some families today because we have four new ones.
01:22I'm going to call each family up.
01:24Chuck and Jonah just schedule two for me.
01:26Four brand new ones after the mass.
01:28Okay, yeah.
01:29I didn't really get a chance to really look everything over because I was yelled at.
01:35I get a little irritated when David tries to tell me what I need to do.
01:39Don't feel left out.
01:40Hurry up.
01:41Hurry up.
01:42Are you guys going to be back by 2?
01:43Because I need to leave at 2 to go pick up Ramsey and bring him back here.
01:46I have a 2 o'clock family.
01:47And I have a 2.30 funeral.
01:48We're busy, but I have to go.
01:50Hey.
01:51Let's go, for real.
01:52You're getting on my last nerves.
01:54You're getting on my nerves.
01:59We got slammed.
02:00Yeah, I see that.
02:01We're too busy.
02:02There's no way I'm going to be able to leave.
02:03This is my first family to get ready for.
02:07Commander.
02:08Commander Butcher.
02:09They want to have a full burial at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, but
02:15full barrels are not possible at Fort Rosecrans supposedly because they ran out of graves.
02:20The lady refers to her husband as the commander.
02:23The commander.
02:24I think for now I want people to call me Mr. Moravy, okay?
02:27Or for Star Trek, Captain.
02:29Captain Moravy.
02:31My name is David Moravy.
02:33How can I help you?
02:34Saturday service, Sunday burial.
02:36Oh, okay.
02:37Ah, yeah.
02:38That is weird.
02:40Apparently this commander Butcher.
02:42Yeah.
02:43Is a historical figure.
02:46Oh.
02:47Because that was the associate press calling to get information about him.
02:50Apparently he was captain of the USS Pueblo.
02:54And I don't know my history, but apparently that ship was taken hostage by North Korea in 1968.
02:59Oh, interesting.
03:00Am I nervous?
03:01Nah.
03:02I'm not nervous about dealing with someone of some sort of stature.
03:07No.
03:12Every person who is treated with the same consideration and respect as any other.
03:19This could be her.
03:21I got a VIP in the house.
03:22You know that?
03:23What?
03:24VIP?
03:25Who?
03:26Lloyd Booker.
03:27Commander of a submarine.
03:28When I hear of a VIP coming in here, I tend to look at it as a challenge.
03:31The pressure's on.
03:32You got to embalm another one, Shawna.
03:34Add it to the list.
03:35I really don't know what to do until I see her.
03:37David's a good guy.
03:39I don't like to call him Rain Man.
03:41Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go, gotta go.
03:43But he is kind of that way.
03:44You know, when, how, how.
03:45When and how.
03:46When and how.
03:47Sometimes I think he does it on purpose, actually, to, you know, throw everybody off.
03:51Just to throw you off.
03:52He's just different.
03:54Hi.
03:55Good morning.
03:56Are you Mrs. Booker?
03:57Mrs. Booker?
03:58Rose Booker, right.
03:59Booker.
04:00Come, please, this way.
04:01On the phone, you did tell me we want to have a burial at Fort Rosecrans.
04:04I understand there's been no burials at Fort Rosecrans for a number.
04:08We'll have to call them because that's not common now.
04:111619.
04:12All right, how are you doing today, sir?
04:14I am with Mrs. Booker.
04:16Commander wants to be buried there.
04:18All right, and this can be a graveside service.
04:20Yes, sir?
04:21I don't know.
04:22How many cars do we expect to come, Rose?
04:25I have no idea.
04:26We have no idea.
04:27Probably, probably the whole, probably almost the whole city, but there'll be a lot of vehicles,
04:31I'm sure.
04:32Of course.
04:33Appreciate it.
04:34We'll see you soon.
04:35Bye-bye.
04:36All set.
04:37I want to make some quick notes.
04:38I'll be right back.
04:39This is a very unusual situation here.
04:41I've been doing it for 10 years.
04:42I've never had someone find a grave at Fort Rosecrans for a person.
04:49So he's of high stature.
04:50That's why he's getting this.
04:52Never had it.
04:53I just heard in passing that this guy that they're making arrangements for right now,
04:59he was the captain of the USS Pueblo.
05:02He was the one that made the decision to surrender the ship after they came under fire
05:06from North Korea as opposed to going down with it.
05:10We've got metal caskets.
05:12We've got wooden caskets.
05:14I don't want anything overly fancy because my husband wasn't that kind of a man.
05:17Whatever he wants, fine.
05:18Whatever he wants, fine.
05:19Just something kind of simple but dignified.
05:22They later brought a court martial against him, but the Secretary of the Navy interceded
05:27on his behalf.
05:28Why is he so celebrated then?
05:30Probably many reasons, and we'll never even know why he surrendered as opposed to fighting.
05:34Uh-huh.
05:35My husband thought life was more valuable than a ship which can be replaced but not a human
05:41life.
05:42I think he did a noble thing.
05:43I think he did the right thing.
05:44Did the right thing, I think.
05:45And I think the crew really, you know, look, people wouldn't be here if...
05:52I'm sure they agree.
05:53This is called a Neapolitan.
05:54Yeah, this is a steel, platinum finish.
05:55I really like that one.
05:56I guess it's because of the flag, really, that I like.
06:00When I saw that, that just really...
06:02All right, folks.
06:03Now, when you get my husband all ready, I want you to make him look as nice as possible.
06:08As possible, absolutely.
06:09Now, his face was quite sunken, you know.
06:10We'll do all we can.
06:11And I think there was a rosary that was around his neck, the black rosary.
06:16This is Smith Intercom, please.
06:18Yes.
06:19I'm with the Bucher family.
06:20Can you do me a quick favor, really?
06:22And see if he has a rosary around his neck.
06:25Okay, he's got it.
06:28I have to take it back to the embalmer.
06:30I apologize.
06:31You better be taking that with great honor when you take that to him.
06:34Oh, absolutely.
06:35Yes, sir.
06:36The clothes are representative of the commander.
06:39To give those clothes up is like almost giving up the commander.
06:44This is his clothing.
06:45They said, be very careful.
06:46It's really an honor to hold it.
06:47Okay.
06:48You better.
06:51Difficult.
06:52Difficult.
06:53Hang in there, love.
06:55I hope I didn't know.
06:58You did.
06:59You did.
07:00Everything cut down right.
07:02It is done right.
07:04Yeah.
07:05Don't worry about it.
07:07I guess the shock really hasn't hit me yet because I'm so busy doing things, but it'll
07:12be lonely, but with the help of God, I'll make it.
07:16Good job and it's very appreciated.
07:18Oh, thank you.
07:19You're welcome.
07:20After the media circus of her husband's funeral is over, she is going to be very lonely.
07:26Okay.
07:27Booker.
07:28Booker.
07:29Service first Tuesday.
07:30Gotta have a permit.
07:31It's a big deal.
07:32I got a lot to do.
07:33Of course, I'll have a full honor guard and gun salute and all that.
07:37There's always a certain amount of concern when it's such a high profile funeral.
07:41That was his US Navy official photo.
07:44This is not Mickey Mouse.
07:46It's high pressure on everyone.
07:48This is going to be a media event.
07:49You ready?
07:50No.
07:51Wait, I gotta see what he looks like.
07:52Front page article.
07:53When I prepare a very important person, it can be a little bit stressful.
07:58Maybe he will be more scrutinized.
08:00There are lots and lots and lots and lots of people coming to see your work.
08:04We're talking about 100,000 people.
08:06Now, did that just put the pressure on or what?
08:12That door for me, man.
08:13Why don't you stay there and I'll do this.
08:15Okay.
08:16Can I do it, please?
08:17All right.
08:18Can you help her?
08:19Try to help her.
08:20She gets all bent out of shape.
08:21This is going to be a huge service and this family deserves our undivided attention.
08:26And I want these bathrooms to look nice and clean.
08:29We've had many phone calls from all over the United States, including the Pentagon.
08:33Not too often we get phone calls from the Pentagon.
08:36But I'm more concerned if there's close to 200 floral pieces to be delivered here today.
08:41Bucher?
08:42Yes.
08:43If you can have the flowers here by no later than one.
08:45That'll be a challenge for sure.
08:47There really is no room for all those pieces in the chapel.
08:52I can't believe it's one o'clock.
08:54I just really can't.
08:55The family has already called to request if they can come in early to view the commander.
09:00I need to spend my day getting him prepared and ready.
09:04She gets wound up, but once she gets started, everything will go the way it normally does.
09:09What has struck me the most about all of this is that I understand he was a prisoner of war.
09:16They had caught him out in the waters and made him surrender.
09:20I'm sure whatever this man endured was beyond human imagination.
09:25That's Purple Heart with a little gold star.
09:28That's combat action Reuben.
09:30And this is his Submariner badge.
09:34Can you imagine the mental anguish this guy went through during that time when he was trying to decide what to do?
09:40Actually, I think it was the right thing to do.
09:42I was going to say, according to the military, it may have been a wrong decision.
09:45Well, that's what I'm saying.
09:46Wait, what?
09:49Every time I think of anybody who serves our country, I get the chills.
09:53You know, I feel blessed that I live here and that we have people like that.
09:57You know, there's people dying right now for us.
10:00And I just think that it's the ultimate sacrifice.
10:07I'm going to take a peek at the flowers.
10:09I know they're still coming, I know.
10:10But I'm going to take a peek to see how it's going.
10:12Hmm.
10:13Maybe we should forget the casket and just have flowers.
10:15Nobody's going to be crying at my funeral.
10:19Celebrate big time.
10:20Better not be.
10:21That's right.
10:23It's time for celebration.
10:24I'll be lucky maybe if a couple people show up.
10:28Death is so personal, the way everybody views it.
10:32Of course, I keep my opinions to myself.
10:34But I really pray that at some point I'll be reunited with people that I loved and knew.
10:41And I'm banking on that.
10:43I hope to see my grandmothers, Frank Sinatra.
10:51Frank and I would have rolled, let me tell you what.
10:55Shawna?
10:56Yeah.
10:57How are you doing?
10:58What are they coming to?
10:59Three o'clock.
11:00Okay.
11:01Yes.
11:02I'm in the middle of a career ending or career promoting move here.
11:07I think Shawna puts a lot of expression on herself because she's, when it comes to preparing people, she's a perfectionist.
11:13I never tell myself they look good until they're in the casket and ready to roll out.
11:19Because I'm like superstitious.
11:20I don't want to jinx it.
11:21There's a lot of times man should do to make someone look as natural as possible.
11:25And they never look natural, but as natural as possible.
11:27People coming in for visitation already.
11:28What?
11:29It's not till four.
11:30I know.
11:31There really isn't any way to know how the family will react when they see their loved one for the first time because you don't know what's going through their mind.
11:42You don't know what stage of grief they're in.
11:44The last kind of high profile military family we had, I'm sitting there pretty smug thinking everything's great.
11:51And they said, well, it doesn't look like him.
11:53It looks like a mannequin.
11:57How are you now?
11:58He served on the ship with Commander.
12:00Oh, really?
12:01I'll be darned.
12:02Let me shake your hand there, sir.
12:04How you doing?
12:05Very good.
12:06I'm Chuck.
12:07Pleased to meet.
12:08The guy was served on board ship with him.
12:10I appreciate what he's done for me.
12:12He's done it for me personally, as far as I'm concerned.
12:15There's a certain symbology here.
12:17I mean, this is a genuine American hero.
12:21It's a pretty awesome responsibility.
12:25Okay, perfect.
12:30I just wrote Davidia and Emily threatening little notes.
12:33No entry till we say.
12:35The last minute madness before family comes in.
12:40It's got to be as perfect as it can be in order for me to feel comfortable and satisfied with it.
12:45Is that as big as that one?
12:46Ashana's protected by everything.
12:48It's either her way or the highway, you know what I mean?
12:51Need some help with Ashana?
12:52I got it, but thank you.
12:54I think for me to help her is mainly to stay up her way.
12:57What about those red roses right there?
12:59What do you think about that?
13:00Okay, that looks good.
13:01We got to get moving.
13:02We can't wait anymore because they're coming in.
13:04Welcome to our world.
13:05This is the chapter where you use it.
13:07You ready yet?
13:08Okay.
13:09I'm going to keep this locked.
13:10We are in a rush now because the family's going to be here in a few minutes.
13:15I got to sit down and regroup.
13:18Okay, that's fine.
13:26Okay.
13:27Yeah.
13:28Good job.
13:29Thanks.
13:30Same to you.
13:33We can open the door now.
13:34Okay.
13:35Just whoever wants to come on.
13:36You're welcome.
13:38I'm starting to get myself nervous.
13:41I just get a little concerned when a family member is extremely emotional.
13:46I'm fearful of that.
13:56Are you Mrs. Booker?
13:57Yes, I am.
13:58I'm Shawna.
13:59I'm the undertaker here.
14:00I took care of your husband.
14:01Hi, Shawna.
14:02And I treated him with the utmost respect that he deserves.
14:05Okay?
14:06You need anything, you let us know.
14:08Okay?
14:09Anything at all.
14:10Okay.
14:11You're a beautiful, brave lady.
14:12Okay.
14:13The commander's wife was extremely pleased with his appearance.
14:17It made all my hard work worth it today.
14:20Being a mom, I try my best.
14:22Being a wife, maybe not so good.
14:25Being a daughter, sister, I try, but I can confidently say that what I do here is great.
14:32Everything seems to be under control.
14:37I've done what I can do for the day.
14:40And now I've got other people here who are capable.
14:43And they'll handle the rest.
14:45I'll be busy all day tomorrow with the funeral for Commander Booker.
14:48It's going to be a big service.
14:49I don't want to be late.
14:50So yeah, about 11 o'clock we want to leave tomorrow.
14:53And me and Chuck.
15:00The service taking place this morning is going to be pretty large.
15:04I mean, this guy is a living legend.
15:06Monsignor Finnerty's doing the service.
15:08So make sure I don't screw up, Chuck.
15:10Yeah.
15:11It's going to be David Moravey and Chuck working it.
15:14All you got to do is follow my lead and I'll explain everything as we go.
15:17I don't believe David's ever worked the funeral with Chuck.
15:19You know how to fold it, Paul, right?
15:20Yeah.
15:21It's so easy.
15:22David wants to go because it was his family.
15:24He wants to make sure that everything goes right.
15:26I just got to find a good way to control weather.
15:27I haven't just figured that out yet.
15:29When I find that out, I'll be really master and commander.
15:33All right?
15:34Can you drop these off at Pablo Naval Hospital on your way back?
15:37Chuck's been doing services with me where everything is pretty much choreographed.
15:40If David misses one thing, it's going to throw Chuck off completely in the funeral
15:44and he's not going to remember how to do anything.
15:46They should be here unless some nitwit threw him out named John.
15:50It's a challenge.
15:51David will see.
15:52It's a challenge.
15:53Between the Eucharist and communion, David's going to have to wake Chuck up.
15:58We'll see.
15:59Chuck's going to fall asleep.
16:01I'll keep him in line.
16:02Keep him in line.
16:03Probably been on a more tray.
16:07I'm going to help you.
16:08We got to go.
16:09Sean or John?
16:10Sean, a line one, please.
16:13We need a road, Chuck.
16:15We'll get there.
16:16Don't worry.
16:17Three, eight.
16:18Whoops.
16:22Come on, David.
16:23Just myself.
16:28He's only done a couple of services, so I'm going to have to kind of coach him and,
16:32you know, give him head singles or hand singles.
16:35You know, he'll be all right.
16:36Funerals are never fun, people.
16:38But, but it's, for me, it's nice to get involved in something large like this.
16:43Yeah.
16:44David said the family wanted him to drive.
16:46I'm sure he can handle it, but, you know, he's got to remember he's got a, got a decedent
16:50in the back seat.
16:51For those who have faith, the commander is in God's hands.
16:57But his human remains, his earthly remains, yeah, they're with me right now in my care.
17:02The last to ride for his earthly remains.
17:08All right.
17:09There's no good way of doing this.
17:11I don't anticipate any problems.
17:13This is heavy.
17:14David knows that Chuck is more experienced than he is.
17:17Folding the pall is my biggest thing.
17:19Folding the pall is my biggest thing.
17:20The main thing, of course, is to make sure that we've got all the flowers, a register book,
17:24and all the things that we give to a family.
17:26At that point, they just wait out the mass.
17:32Yeah.
17:33Hey, David.
17:34Clear a path for me to the right, will you?
17:35Hi.
17:36To the right.
17:37Oh, good.
17:38Sorry.
17:39There you go.
17:40Big hurry is that I have to get to the cemetery and put the, set the flowers up.
17:56Ladies and gentlemen, please.
17:57Folks.
17:58Excuse us, please.
17:59You know, unless you're in this business, you don't understand what goes into the process
18:03of a funeral.
18:04Ladies and gentlemen, go to your vehicles, please.
18:06It's a wonder sometimes some of this stuff even goes right.
18:10We're at Forks there.
18:12We stayed at Nimitz.
18:13Take your time.
18:14All right.
18:15See you guys later.
18:16You make a right.
18:17It's Mark, Chad's work.
18:18Okay.
18:19We're going to haul ass.
18:20Got Wike to do.
18:21Got to go to Wike.
18:22What's going on?
18:23We're getting ready to roll.
18:24It's been a while since I've been involved in motorcade.
18:25Actually, this is the first time I've been involved in motorcade.
18:26Oh, man.
18:27I am on fumes.
18:28I don't know if I want to make it.
18:29Chuck is hightailing it down to Rosecrowns.
18:43What if we run out of gas?
18:45We are screwed.
18:46And here we go.
18:48This part here is the most nerve-wracking.
18:51Having escorts.
18:52Having all these people behind you.
18:54This is the part right here.
18:56In order for bad luck, I'd have none.
19:00Frickin' Rick will have a heart of stroke.
19:02We're only about a mile.
19:04And if I can make it, then cool.
19:06If I can't, we're screwed.
19:08Hi, this is David with the Bucher Service.
19:10We're probably going to be there within two or three minutes at most.
19:14Oh, no.
19:15Son of a bitch.
19:18Hey, how you doing?
19:19We're burying the commander?
19:20That's fine.
19:21Can you help me get through first?
19:22Go ahead.
19:23Thanks a lot, buddy.
19:26We're arriving to you right now.
19:27We're there in like two minutes.
19:29No, about two seconds.
19:31I made it.
19:32But I don't know if we're going to be able to get out of here, so...
19:36Commander Bucher is finally arriving to his final place of rest.
19:39And may he rest in peace.
19:43It hits me when they play taps, because it means something to me.
19:48I always think that, hey, buddy, you took my place.
19:51You did your duty for me and my family.
19:54So I owe them respect and honor.
19:58That's all.
19:59Very simple.
20:00Thank you, David.
20:01Thank you so much.
20:02You did a wonderful job.
20:03Oh, no.
20:04David did good.
20:05I always do good.
20:06No.
20:07Chuck always does good.
20:08Yeah.
20:09Until I screw up.
20:10Back to the funeral home.
20:11Okay, we're doing service.
20:12But since my dumb ass ran out of gas, I gotta get to a gas station.
20:13A-O.
20:14Somewhere over that rainbow is Commander Bucher.
20:17How was it working with David?
20:18David did well.
20:19He was fine.
20:20Everything went smooth.
20:21David is not good at this backing up.
20:22This is how the insurance treatment goes up.
20:23This is how they lose his job.
20:24Do you realize you were a piece of history in the making when you did the service?
20:49Yeah.
20:50even famous people die people die happens no matter who you are i will die you will die
20:59i'm sorry you will die you're gonna give me a panic attack please i've already bought my grave
21:05actually i got my headstone too i'm a star trek fan so i got on my headstone boldly going where
21:10i've never done before that's on my headstone female drivers don't live in coffins this is my
21:14home so come on in this is a hologram of star trek aliens the freaky the klingons the borg
21:22this is my star trek shine see live long and prosper live long and prosper the plot
21:44so
21:52so
21:54so
21:56so
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