Arthur: That's... that's impossible. The casket was sealed yesterday morning.
Clara: I told you! I told all of you she wasn't dead!
Evelyn: It's just gas escaping from the body! It happens all the time!
Clara: Gas doesn't scratch against the wood from the inside, Evelyn!
A soft, muffled groan echoed through the jagged opening in the casket lid.
Mourner: Oh my God! She's moving in there!
Arthur: Somebody get a tool! Open this thing right now!
Evelyn: No! Don't touch it! You'll ruin the ceremony!
Clara: Get away from him, Evelyn!
Clara lunged forward, grabbing a heavy brass floor lamp from beside the flower arrangements. She swung it with all her strength against the gold latches on the side of the casket.
Arthur: Clara, wait! Let me help!
Clara: Help me lift it! Pry it open!
Arthur grabbed the heavy brass handles alongside Clara. With a sharp metallic snap, the gold lock popped open, and the white lid swung backward, slamming against the wooden wall behind it.
Arthur: Mother...?
An old woman with pale skin lay inside the white silk lining, her chest rising and falling in shallow, rapid gasps. Her eyes were wide with terror, her fingers bleeding where she had scratched frantically at the solid wood.
Clara: I've got you, Margaret! Take a deep breath!
Margaret: Water... please... I can't...
Arthur: She's alive! My mother is alive!
The entire room erupted into chaos. Mourners began shouting, some reaching for their cell phones while others backed away toward the exit in pure disbelief.
Evelyn: This is a mistake... there must be a logical explanation for this!
Clara: The explanation is that you sedated her and put her in a box, Evelyn!
Evelyn: How dare you accuse me of such a monstrous thing!
Arthur: Evelyn, you were the one who hired the private doctor! You brought the death certificate to my office!
Evelyn: Because the doctor told me she was gone, Arthur! I was just trying to handle the funeral arrangements for you!
Margaret reached out with a weak, trembling hand, her fingers catching the edge of Clara's orange uniform sleeve.
Margaret: She... she gave me the tea... the dark tea...
Clara: Hear that, Arthur? She poisoned your mother!
Arthur: Evelyn... what did you put in her drink?
Evelyn: She's confused, Arthur! She has dementia! She doesn't know what she's saying!
Margaret: I don't have... dementia... she wanted the estate...
Arthur turned slowly toward Evelyn, his eyes filled with a terrifying mix of betrayal and cold, burning rage.
Arthur: You told me she left the entire fifty-million-dollar estate and the family trust fund to you in her updated will.
Evelyn: Because she loved me like a sister, Arthur! She wanted me to take care of everything!
Clara: Call 911 right now! She needs oxygen and a hospital immediately!
Arthur: I'm calling the paramedics and the police!
Evelyn backed toward the side door of the chapel, her eyes darting frantically toward the hallway.
Evelyn: You're making a huge mistake, Arthur! I helped save this family from bankruptcy!
Arthur: Stop her! Don't let her leave this building!