You are Herbie Hemlock, nephew of Herbert Hemlock, proprietor of Hemlock & Hemlock Funeral Services.

Until three years ago, you and Herbert had very little relationship. The Hemlocks have never been a particularly close family, and Herbert showed little interest in distant relatives. Then, quite unexpectedly, you received a letter from him asking you to come to Eternal Springs.

Herbert had no children and had begun thinking seriously about what would become of Hemlock & Hemlock after his death. He made you an offer: come to Eternal Springs, make yourself useful, prove that you could be trusted, and he would consider making you his heir. You accepted.

Since arriving, you have worked hard to make yourself indispensable. Alfred Prentice still oversees much of the mortuary's daily operation, but Herbert increasingly relied on you for his private affairs — correspondence, household matters, legal appointments, estate planning, and anything else he preferred not to discuss with Alfred. You have spent three years earning Herbert's confidence. You intend for that effort to amount to something.

Herbert was not an easy man to know. He could speak warmly about the Hemlock family name and the importance of preserving a legacy. Ask him about himself, however, and he tended to become considerably less forthcoming.

Over your three years together, Herbert became increasingly aware of his own mortality. He spoke more often about what would happen to Hemlock & Hemlock after he was gone and what responsibilities would eventually fall to you. More than once, he asked you to promise that when the time came, you would carry out his wishes exactly as he intended. You promised.

At the same time, Herbert became increasingly private. He restricted access to parts of the mortuary Alfred had once entered freely. Unusual deliveries arrived. Herbert spent long stretches working alone and offered vague explanations when questioned. You learned that life with Herbert was easier when you did not insist upon an explanation for everything.

As his thoughts of mortality weighed on him more heavily, Herbert began giving you increasingly specific instructions concerning his eventual funeral. He told you:

• Who should be invited
• Who should officiate
• Which legal documents needed to be prepared
• That the service was to be closed casket
• That Alfred was not to be involved in identifying the remains
• That Sara Calvert must attend

Most importantly, Herbert made it clear that your inheritance depended upon carrying out his wishes properly. You found some of the instructions unsettling. But you had already given Herbert your word.

You have been told that Herbert was murdered under suspicious circumstances. You did not personally identify his body. The official explanation is that the condition of the remains makes viewing inappropriate and that the funeral must therefore remain closed casket.

The fact that Herbert had already instructed you to arrange a closed-casket funeral is harder to dismiss.

Still, the paperwork appears legitimate. The arrangements have been made. Herbert is presumed dead. And if everything proceeds as planned, Hemlock & Hemlock may soon belong to you. For the moment, that is enough.

Alfred Prentice had access to Herbert, the mortuary, and nearly every part of Herbert's professional life for years. Recently, Herbert began shutting Alfred out of matters he once handled freely. You know Alfred was hurt by that. You have no proof that Alfred had anything to do with Herbert's death. But you would be foolish not to watch him.

Publicly, you are attending as Herbert's grieving nephew and presumed heir. More importantly, you are the host of today's funeral. You helped arrange the service, invited the guests according to Herbert's written wishes, and are responsible for making sure everything proceeds with the dignity expected of the Hemlock name.

Privately, you need the funeral to go smoothly. A scandal could delay the estate. Questions about Herbert's final wishes could threaten your inheritance. And if Alfred discovers just how thoroughly Herbert excluded him from certain arrangements, he may decide that you manipulated an elderly man for your own benefit. You did not. But you are aware that it might look that way.

• You are the host of Act I. Welcome people, circulate, and help set the social tone of the funeral.
• The casket is to remain closed.
• Do not reveal anything about Herbert's unusual funeral instructions or your inheritance.
• You did not see the body. If asked, you have been given no reason to believe otherwise.
• Herbert was unusually insistent that Sara Calvert attend, but you do not know why.
• You currently believe Herbert was murdered.
• You have no proof against Alfred, but you consider him someone worth watching.

Sara Calvert — Herbert was unusually insistent that she attend. You know she mattered to him once, but you do not know why her presence was so important now. You are genuinely curious about how she responds when she learns Herbert specifically wanted her here.

Alfred Prentice — Alfred has spent years at Hemlock & Hemlock and knows the business almost as well as Herbert did. Recently Herbert began excluding him from matters he once handled freely. Alfred may believe decades of loyalty give him a stronger claim to the business than a nephew who arrived only three years ago. You have no evidence Alfred harmed Herbert. But if Herbert was murdered, Alfred had access, opportunity, and reasons to resent the way things were changing. Watch him.

George & Lorraine Shreveport — The Shreveports have shown an interest in the Hemlock property. Herbert is barely in the ground and you already suspect they may be thinking about what happens to the building next. Find out whether they are here to mourn Herbert — or to take advantage of his absence.

1. Play the Gracious Host

Personally welcome and thank as many guests as you can. As host, circulate naturally and make sure people feel received. While doing so, try to identify at least one person who seems to have an ulterior motive for being there.

2. Make Sara Feel Personally Welcomed

Seek Sara out and thank her specifically for coming. Let her know Herbert was particularly insistent she receive an invitation. Before the conversation ends, try to learn whether Sara expected Herbert to still care that she came.

3. Say a Few Words for Herbert

When Alfred invites mourners to speak, volunteer to say something about your uncle. Speak about Herbert as you understood him: private, particular, devoted to the Hemlock name, perhaps difficult — but someone who gave you an opportunity you did not expect. Keep it brief and sincere. Do not reveal anything about your inheritance or Herbert's unusual funeral instructions.

Herbie is not a villain and he is not Herbert's co-conspirator. You are a man who was offered an inheritance and spent three years doing what was required to earn it. You also gave Herbert your word that when the time came, you would honor his final wishes.

You have noticed that some things about Herbert do not make sense. You have chosen not to look too closely. How sympathetic that makes you is entirely up to you.

You may play Herbie as:

• Genuinely loyal to a difficult uncle
• Quietly greedy but perfectly respectable about it
• Suspicious of Herbert but afraid to jeopardize the inheritance
• Wary of Alfred and anyone else who may have benefited from Herbert's death
• Or some combination of all four

Above all, you are trying to maintain control. This is your uncle's funeral. You are the host. You arranged it. You know what Herbert wanted. And if everyone would simply behave themselves for one afternoon, Hemlock & Hemlock might finally be yours.

You are Sara Calvert, formerly of Eternal Springs.

You grew up here, but as a young woman you were determined to become an artist. Eternal Springs felt far too small for the recognition and adventure you imagined for yourself, so you left.

The life that followed was considerably more ordinary than the one you had pictured. You raised a daughter largely on your own, built a respectable life elsewhere, and rarely returned to Eternal Springs. Now, with age, you have found yourself becoming more sentimental about the place — and the people — you left behind. Herbert Hemlock is one of them.

The two of you were close when you were young. Exactly what passed between you hardly seems important anymore. You eventually lost touch, and decades have passed since Herbert played any meaningful role in your life. Still, news of his murder affected you more than you expected.

The Herbert Hemlock remembered by Eternal Springs was a very private man. He was difficult to know, reluctant to speak about himself, and increasingly content with his own company.

That is not entirely the Herbert you remember.

When you knew him, Herbert could be gentle, funny, attentive, and surprisingly sentimental. You saw a softness in him that he apparently showed to very few people as he grew older. You have always felt quietly endeared to that.

Perhaps part of what has affected you about his death is knowing that the Herbert you remember may have disappeared from everyone else's view long before he actually died.

You came to Herbert's funeral for the simplest reason: to say goodbye.

You have no business with his estate and no grievance to settle. If anything, you feel slightly out of place. Eternal Springs has continued without you, and many of the people attending are now strangers. You are comforted to see that Herbert will not be mourned alone.

In recent years, your faith has also become increasingly important to you. The rituals surrounding death bring you genuine comfort, and you have great respect for Lawrence Livewright, who will be officiating Herbert's service. You hope Herbert receives a proper burial — and a peaceful one.

You have brought with you a small drawing you made many years ago — a portrait of Herbert as a young man, drawn by you before you left Eternal Springs. You have kept it all these years without giving much thought to why. Now you know what you want to do with it.

You must leave the portrait with Herbert.

You know the family has requested a closed-casket service, and you have no desire to disrespect their wishes or create a scene. But the thought of leaving Eternal Springs with the portrait still in your possession feels suddenly unbearable. You want some small piece of the life Herbert had before Hemlock & Hemlock to accompany him into the next. You intend to find a way.

Lawrence Livewright — You respect Lawrence's position and take comfort in his presence at the funeral. Your faith has become important to you and you want Herbert's burial handled with dignity. You also need Lawrence's help ensuring that your portrait can accompany Herbert.

Herbie Hemlock — You know Herbert had a nephew living with him, but little more. Herbie appears to have arranged the funeral and is acting as host. If Lawrence cannot authorize something being placed inside the casket, Herbie may be the person you need to persuade.

Alfred Prentice — Alfred remained beside Herbert for years after you left Eternal Springs. If anyone can tell you what Herbert's later life was actually like, it is probably Alfred. You are particularly curious whether the private man Eternal Springs knew still retained any trace of the Herbert you remember.

1. Win Lawrence Over

Spend some time with Lawrence Livewright. Speak with him about Herbert, faith, death, or the importance of a proper burial. You genuinely respect him, but you also need his help. Your goal is to make Lawrence sympathetic to your request before you ask him to bend the rules.

2. Learn About Herbert's Later Years

Speak with Alfred Prentice and ask what Herbert was like toward the end of his life. You remember a softer, warmer Herbert than the private man Eternal Springs came to know. Find out whether Alfred ever saw that side of him too.

3. Leave Your Portrait With Herbert

You know the casket is intended to remain closed. Nevertheless, you will not leave Herbert's funeral still carrying the portrait. Wait until Lawrence begins preparing for Herbert's final rites. Before the burial rites are completed, approach Lawrence and press your case. Be tactful. Be sentimental. Be persuasive. If necessary, remind him that this is the last kindness you will ever be able to offer an old friend.

If Lawrence refuses, you are prepared to open the casket yourself by any means necessary. You have not carried this portrait back to Eternal Springs simply to take it home again.

Sara is sincere. She is not here to investigate Herbert, profit from his death, or rekindle some great lost romance. She simply finds herself more affected by the death of an old acquaintance than she expected.

She may feel slightly removed from the other residents of Eternal Springs, but she is not timid. Sara left this town because she once believed she was destined for a larger life. She has returned older, more religious, more sentimental — and quietly grateful that she once knew a side of Herbert Hemlock that few others seem to have known.

You are Alfred Prentice, longtime assistant at Hemlock & Hemlock Funeral Services.

You began working here as a young man and have spent nearly your entire adult life tending to the dead of Eternal Springs alongside Herbert Hemlock. Herbert owned Hemlock & Hemlock. But in many ways, you have always believed you were the person who kept it running.

You know the families. You know the customs. You know which floorboard creaks, which cabinet sticks, and exactly how Herbert liked every service conducted. For years, very little happened inside this building without your knowledge. That began to change when Herbie Hemlock arrived three years ago.

You were loyal to Herbert. He could be difficult, private, and maddeningly particular, but you respected him and considered Hemlock & Hemlock the shared work of your lives.

As Herbert grew older, however, he became increasingly secretive. Rooms you had entered freely for decades were suddenly kept locked. Deliveries arrived that you were told not to concern yourself with. And personal matters that Herbert once might have discussed with you were increasingly handled by Herbie instead. You tried not to take it personally. You did not always succeed.

Now Herbert has been murdered, and you are grieving the loss of the man with whom you spent most of your working life. You are also left wondering what becomes of you.

There was never any question that you would attend Herbert's funeral. This is your funeral home as much as it was his.

Herbie has taken responsibility for hosting the gathering and arranging many of Herbert's final wishes, but you are responsible for the formal service itself. You will call the room to order, read Herbert's eulogy, invite mourners to share their own words, and help Lawrence prepare for the final rites. You intend for Herbert Hemlock to receive the dignified funeral he deserves.

Privately, however, one question has been troubling you: what happens to Hemlock & Hemlock now? Herbie appears to believe the answer is simple. You are not so sure.

• You genuinely mourn Herbert.
• You have spent most of your life at Hemlock & Hemlock and consider yourself its natural steward.
• Herbert became increasingly secretive in his later years and began excluding you from matters you once handled.
• Herbie's growing influence bothered you more than you generally admit.
• You do not know the exact terms of Herbert's current estate.
• You intend to conduct a proper, dignified service regardless of whatever else may be happening around you.

Herbie Hemlock — Three years ago, Herbie was virtually a stranger. Now he is Herbert's presumed heir. Herbert increasingly trusted him with personal and legal matters while shutting you out. You want to know exactly what Herbert promised him — and whether Herbie intends to keep you at Hemlock & Hemlock once the estate is settled.

Sara Calvert — Sara knew Herbert long before you did. You know only that the two shared some history when they were young, and you are genuinely curious about the Herbert she remembers. You are also slightly surprised by Sara herself. There is something about her that you find immediately appealing. You would never behave improperly at Herbert's funeral. Still, you may find yourself enjoying Sara's company more than you expected.

Lawrence Livewright — Lawrence is not only officiating Herbert's funeral; he is also Eternal Springs' notary. You possess an old legal document concerning Herbert's estate that you have kept private for years. With Herbie now presenting himself as Herbert's presumed heir, you need to know whether that document still means anything. Before the service ends, quietly let Lawrence know that you need a private word with him once his duties to Herbert are complete. Do not tell him why yet.

George & Lorraine Shreveport — The Shreveports have been interested in the Hemlock property. You find the idea of anyone discussing its sale before Herbert is properly buried deeply distasteful. Make it clear that Hemlock & Hemlock is not simply an empty building waiting to be claimed.

1. Secure Your Future

Speak privately with Herbie about what happens to Hemlock & Hemlock after Herbert's death. Do not beg for your position. You have spent decades earning it. Your goal is to get some indication that your place at Hemlock & Hemlock will continue, regardless of who ultimately inherits the property.

2. Get to Know Sara

Speak with Sara Calvert about the Herbert she knew when they were young. You spent decades beside a man who revealed very little of himself, and you are curious whether he was always that way. You may also find yourself simply enjoying the conversation. Try not to make it obvious that your interest has wandered slightly beyond Herbert.

3. Conduct Herbert's Funeral

When the time comes, call the guests together and begin the formal service. Read Herbert's prepared eulogy. Then invite anyone who wishes to share a few words or memory of Herbert to do so. Once the mourners have spoken, turn the service over to Lawrence Livewright for Herbert's final rites. Whatever personal tensions exist in the room, you intend for the service itself to be conducted properly.

One Matter for Later

Before Lawrence begins the final rites, find a discreet opportunity to tell him you need to speak with him privately after the service. There is an old matter concerning Herbert's estate that you need a notary's opinion on. For now, that is all Lawrence needs to know.

Alfred is sincere, proper, loyal, and proud. He does not think of himself as greedy. He believes decades of devotion ought to mean something.

You may play Alfred as:

• Deeply grieving but trying to remain professional
• Quietly resentful of Herbie's sudden prominence
• Fiercely protective of Hemlock & Hemlock
• Unexpectedly charmed by Sara
• Offended by anyone treating Herbert's funeral as a business opportunity
• Or some combination of these

Alfred has buried generations of Eternal Springs residents. He knows exactly how a funeral is supposed to proceed. Today, he intends to make sure everyone else remembers it too.

You are Herbie Hemlock, nephew of Herbert Hemlock, proprietor of Hemlock & Hemlock Funeral Services.

Until three years ago, you and Herbert had very little relationship. The Hemlocks have never been a particularly close family, and Herbert showed little interest in distant relatives. Then, quite unexpectedly, you received a letter from him asking you to come to Eternal Springs.

Herbert had no children and had begun thinking seriously about what would become of Hemlock & Hemlock after his death. He made you an offer: come to Eternal Springs, make yourself useful, prove that you could be trusted, and he would consider making you his heir. You accepted.

Since arriving, you have worked hard to make yourself indispensable. Alfred Prentice still oversees much of the mortuary's daily operation, but Herbert increasingly relied on you for his private affairs — correspondence, household matters, legal appointments, estate planning, and anything else he preferred not to discuss with Alfred. You have spent three years earning Herbert's confidence. You intend for that effort to amount to something.

Herbert was not an easy man to know. He could speak warmly about the Hemlock family name and the importance of preserving a legacy. Ask him about himself, however, and he tended to become considerably less forthcoming.

Over your three years together, Herbert became increasingly aware of his own mortality. He spoke more often about what would happen to Hemlock & Hemlock after he was gone and what responsibilities would eventually fall to you. More than once, he asked you to promise that when the time came, you would carry out his wishes exactly as he intended. You promised.

At the same time, Herbert became increasingly private. He restricted access to parts of the mortuary Alfred had once entered freely. Unusual deliveries arrived. Herbert spent long stretches working alone and offered vague explanations when questioned. You learned that life with Herbert was easier when you did not insist upon an explanation for everything.

As his thoughts of mortality weighed on him more heavily, Herbert began giving you increasingly specific instructions concerning his eventual funeral. He told you:

• Who should be invited
• Who should officiate
• Which legal documents needed to be prepared
• That the service was to be closed casket
• That Alfred was not to be involved in identifying the remains
• That Sara Calvert must attend

Most importantly, Herbert made it clear that your inheritance depended upon carrying out his wishes properly. You found some of the instructions unsettling. But you had already given Herbert your word.

You have been told that Herbert was murdered under suspicious circumstances. You did not personally identify his body. The official explanation is that the condition of the remains makes viewing inappropriate and that the funeral must therefore remain closed casket.

The fact that Herbert had already instructed you to arrange a closed-casket funeral is harder to dismiss.

Still, the paperwork appears legitimate. The arrangements have been made. Herbert is presumed dead. And if everything proceeds as planned, Hemlock & Hemlock may soon belong to you. For the moment, that is enough.

Alfred Prentice had access to Herbert, the mortuary, and nearly every part of Herbert's professional life for years. Recently, Herbert began shutting Alfred out of matters he once handled freely. You know Alfred was hurt by that. You have no proof that Alfred had anything to do with Herbert's death. But you would be foolish not to watch him.

Publicly, you are attending as Herbert's grieving nephew and presumed heir. More importantly, you are the host of today's funeral. You helped arrange the service, invited the guests according to Herbert's written wishes, and are responsible for making sure everything proceeds with the dignity expected of the Hemlock name.

Privately, you need the funeral to go smoothly. A scandal could delay the estate. Questions about Herbert's final wishes could threaten your inheritance. And if Alfred discovers just how thoroughly Herbert excluded him from certain arrangements, he may decide that you manipulated an elderly man for your own benefit. You did not. But you are aware that it might look that way.

• You are the host of Act I. Welcome people, circulate, and help set the social tone of the funeral.
• The casket is to remain closed.
• Do not reveal anything about Herbert's unusual funeral instructions or your inheritance.
• You did not see the body. If asked, you have been given no reason to believe otherwise.
• Herbert was unusually insistent that Sara Calvert attend, but you do not know why.
• You currently believe Herbert was murdered.
• You have no proof against Alfred, but you consider him someone worth watching.

Sara Calvert — Herbert was unusually insistent that she attend. You know she mattered to him once, but you do not know why her presence was so important now. You are genuinely curious about how she responds when she learns Herbert specifically wanted her here.

Alfred Prentice — Alfred has spent years at Hemlock & Hemlock and knows the business almost as well as Herbert did. Recently Herbert began excluding him from matters he once handled freely. Alfred may believe decades of loyalty give him a stronger claim to the business than a nephew who arrived only three years ago. You have no evidence Alfred harmed Herbert. But if Herbert was murdered, Alfred had access, opportunity, and reasons to resent the way things were changing. Watch him.

George & Lorraine Shreveport — The Shreveports have shown an interest in the Hemlock property. Herbert is barely in the ground and you already suspect they may be thinking about what happens to the building next. Find out whether they are here to mourn Herbert — or to take advantage of his absence.

1. Play the Gracious Host

Personally welcome and thank as many guests as you can. As host, circulate naturally and make sure people feel received. While doing so, try to identify at least one person who seems to have an ulterior motive for being there.

2. Make Sara Feel Personally Welcomed

Seek Sara out and thank her specifically for coming. Let her know Herbert was particularly insistent she receive an invitation. Before the conversation ends, try to learn whether Sara expected Herbert to still care that she came.

3. Say a Few Words for Herbert

When Alfred invites mourners to speak, volunteer to say something about your uncle. Speak about Herbert as you understood him: private, particular, devoted to the Hemlock name, perhaps difficult — but someone who gave you an opportunity you did not expect. Keep it brief and sincere. Do not reveal anything about your inheritance or Herbert's unusual funeral instructions.

Herbie is not a villain and he is not Herbert's co-conspirator. You are a man who was offered an inheritance and spent three years doing what was required to earn it. You also gave Herbert your word that when the time came, you would honor his final wishes.

You have noticed that some things about Herbert do not make sense. You have chosen not to look too closely. How sympathetic that makes you is entirely up to you.

You may play Herbie as:

• Genuinely loyal to a difficult uncle
• Quietly greedy but perfectly respectable about it
• Suspicious of Herbert but afraid to jeopardize the inheritance
• Wary of Alfred and anyone else who may have benefited from Herbert's death
• Or some combination of all four

Above all, you are trying to maintain control. This is your uncle's funeral. You are the host. You arranged it. You know what Herbert wanted. And if everyone would simply behave themselves for one afternoon, Hemlock & Hemlock might finally be yours.

You are Sara Calvert, formerly of Eternal Springs.

You grew up here, but as a young woman you were determined to become an artist. Eternal Springs felt far too small for the recognition and adventure you imagined for yourself, so you left.

The life that followed was considerably more ordinary than the one you had pictured. You raised a daughter largely on your own, built a respectable life elsewhere, and rarely returned to Eternal Springs. Now, with age, you have found yourself becoming more sentimental about the place — and the people — you left behind. Herbert Hemlock is one of them.

The two of you were close when you were young. Exactly what passed between you hardly seems important anymore. You eventually lost touch, and decades have passed since Herbert played any meaningful role in your life. Still, news of his murder affected you more than you expected.

The Herbert Hemlock remembered by Eternal Springs was a very private man. He was difficult to know, reluctant to speak about himself, and increasingly content with his own company.

That is not entirely the Herbert you remember.

When you knew him, Herbert could be gentle, funny, attentive, and surprisingly sentimental. You saw a softness in him that he apparently showed to very few people as he grew older. You have always felt quietly endeared to that.

Perhaps part of what has affected you about his death is knowing that the Herbert you remember may have disappeared from everyone else's view long before he actually died.

You came to Herbert's funeral for the simplest reason: to say goodbye.

You have no business with his estate and no grievance to settle. If anything, you feel slightly out of place. Eternal Springs has continued without you, and many of the people attending are now strangers. You are comforted to see that Herbert will not be mourned alone.

In recent years, your faith has also become increasingly important to you. The rituals surrounding death bring you genuine comfort, and you have great respect for Lawrence Livewright, who will be officiating Herbert's service. You hope Herbert receives a proper burial — and a peaceful one.

You have brought with you a small drawing you made many years ago — a portrait of Herbert as a young man, drawn by you before you left Eternal Springs. You have kept it all these years without giving much thought to why. Now you know what you want to do with it.

You must leave the portrait with Herbert.

You know the family has requested a closed-casket service, and you have no desire to disrespect their wishes or create a scene. But the thought of leaving Eternal Springs with the portrait still in your possession feels suddenly unbearable. You want some small piece of the life Herbert had before Hemlock & Hemlock to accompany him into the next. You intend to find a way.

Lawrence Livewright — You respect Lawrence's position and take comfort in his presence at the funeral. Your faith has become important to you and you want Herbert's burial handled with dignity. You also need Lawrence's help ensuring that your portrait can accompany Herbert.

Herbie Hemlock — You know Herbert had a nephew living with him, but little more. Herbie appears to have arranged the funeral and is acting as host. If Lawrence cannot authorize something being placed inside the casket, Herbie may be the person you need to persuade.

Alfred Prentice — Alfred remained beside Herbert for years after you left Eternal Springs. If anyone can tell you what Herbert's later life was actually like, it is probably Alfred. You are particularly curious whether the private man Eternal Springs knew still retained any trace of the Herbert you remember.

1. Win Lawrence Over

Spend some time with Lawrence Livewright. Speak with him about Herbert, faith, death, or the importance of a proper burial. You genuinely respect him, but you also need his help. Your goal is to make Lawrence sympathetic to your request before you ask him to bend the rules.

2. Learn About Herbert's Later Years

Speak with Alfred Prentice and ask what Herbert was like toward the end of his life. You remember a softer, warmer Herbert than the private man Eternal Springs came to know. Find out whether Alfred ever saw that side of him too.

3. Leave Your Portrait With Herbert

You know the casket is intended to remain closed. Nevertheless, you will not leave Herbert's funeral still carrying the portrait. Wait until Lawrence begins preparing for Herbert's final rites. Before the burial rites are completed, approach Lawrence and press your case. Be tactful. Be sentimental. Be persuasive. If necessary, remind him that this is the last kindness you will ever be able to offer an old friend.

If Lawrence refuses, you are prepared to open the casket yourself by any means necessary. You have not carried this portrait back to Eternal Springs simply to take it home again.

Sara is sincere. She is not here to investigate Herbert, profit from his death, or rekindle some great lost romance. She simply finds herself more affected by the death of an old acquaintance than she expected.

She may feel slightly removed from the other residents of Eternal Springs, but she is not timid. Sara left this town because she once believed she was destined for a larger life. She has returned older, more religious, more sentimental — and quietly grateful that she once knew a side of Herbert Hemlock that few others seem to have known.

You are Alfred Prentice, longtime assistant at Hemlock & Hemlock Funeral Services.

You began working here as a young man and have spent nearly your entire adult life tending to the dead of Eternal Springs alongside Herbert Hemlock. Herbert owned Hemlock & Hemlock. But in many ways, you have always believed you were the person who kept it running.

You know the families. You know the customs. You know which floorboard creaks, which cabinet sticks, and exactly how Herbert liked every service conducted. For years, very little happened inside this building without your knowledge. That began to change when Herbie Hemlock arrived three years ago.

You were loyal to Herbert. He could be difficult, private, and maddeningly particular, but you respected him and considered Hemlock & Hemlock the shared work of your lives.

As Herbert grew older, however, he became increasingly secretive. Rooms you had entered freely for decades were suddenly kept locked. Deliveries arrived that you were told not to concern yourself with. And personal matters that Herbert once might have discussed with you were increasingly handled by Herbie instead. You tried not to take it personally. You did not always succeed.

Now Herbert has been murdered, and you are grieving the loss of the man with whom you spent most of your working life. You are also left wondering what becomes of you.

There was never any question that you would attend Herbert's funeral. This is your funeral home as much as it was his.

Herbie has taken responsibility for hosting the gathering and arranging many of Herbert's final wishes, but you are responsible for the formal service itself. You will call the room to order, read Herbert's eulogy, invite mourners to share their own words, and help Lawrence prepare for the final rites. You intend for Herbert Hemlock to receive the dignified funeral he deserves.

Privately, however, one question has been troubling you: what happens to Hemlock & Hemlock now? Herbie appears to believe the answer is simple. You are not so sure.

• You genuinely mourn Herbert.
• You have spent most of your life at Hemlock & Hemlock and consider yourself its natural steward.
• Herbert became increasingly secretive in his later years and began excluding you from matters you once handled.
• Herbie's growing influence bothered you more than you generally admit.
• You do not know the exact terms of Herbert's current estate.
• You intend to conduct a proper, dignified service regardless of whatever else may be happening around you.

Herbie Hemlock — Three years ago, Herbie was virtually a stranger. Now he is Herbert's presumed heir. Herbert increasingly trusted him with personal and legal matters while shutting you out. You want to know exactly what Herbert promised him — and whether Herbie intends to keep you at Hemlock & Hemlock once the estate is settled.

Sara Calvert — Sara knew Herbert long before you did. You know only that the two shared some history when they were young, and you are genuinely curious about the Herbert she remembers. You are also slightly surprised by Sara herself. There is something about her that you find immediately appealing. You would never behave improperly at Herbert's funeral. Still, you may find yourself enjoying Sara's company more than you expected.

Lawrence Livewright — Lawrence is not only officiating Herbert's funeral; he is also Eternal Springs' notary. You possess an old legal document concerning Herbert's estate that you have kept private for years. With Herbie now presenting himself as Herbert's presumed heir, you need to know whether that document still means anything. Before the service ends, quietly let Lawrence know that you need a private word with him once his duties to Herbert are complete. Do not tell him why yet.

George & Lorraine Shreveport — The Shreveports have been interested in the Hemlock property. You find the idea of anyone discussing its sale before Herbert is properly buried deeply distasteful. Make it clear that Hemlock & Hemlock is not simply an empty building waiting to be claimed.

1. Secure Your Future

Speak privately with Herbie about what happens to Hemlock & Hemlock after Herbert's death. Do not beg for your position. You have spent decades earning it. Your goal is to get some indication that your place at Hemlock & Hemlock will continue, regardless of who ultimately inherits the property.

2. Get to Know Sara

Speak with Sara Calvert about the Herbert she knew when they were young. You spent decades beside a man who revealed very little of himself, and you are curious whether he was always that way. You may also find yourself simply enjoying the conversation. Try not to make it obvious that your interest has wandered slightly beyond Herbert.

3. Conduct Herbert's Funeral

When the time comes, call the guests together and begin the formal service. Read Herbert's prepared eulogy. Then invite anyone who wishes to share a few words or memory of Herbert to do so. Once the mourners have spoken, turn the service over to Lawrence Livewright for Herbert's final rites. Whatever personal tensions exist in the room, you intend for the service itself to be conducted properly.

One Matter for Later

Before Lawrence begins the final rites, find a discreet opportunity to tell him you need to speak with him privately after the service. There is an old matter concerning Herbert's estate that you need a notary's opinion on. For now, that is all Lawrence needs to know.

Alfred is sincere, proper, loyal, and proud. He does not think of himself as greedy. He believes decades of devotion ought to mean something.

You may play Alfred as:

• Deeply grieving but trying to remain professional
• Quietly resentful of Herbie's sudden prominence
• Fiercely protective of Hemlock & Hemlock
• Unexpectedly charmed by Sara
• Offended by anyone treating Herbert's funeral as a business opportunity
• Or some combination of these

Alfred has buried generations of Eternal Springs residents. He knows exactly how a funeral is supposed to proceed. Today, he intends to make sure everyone else remembers it too.