The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank - Recap

The townspeople have gathered at the church for the funeral of Jeff Myrtlebank. Rev. Siddons speaks on his behalf as everyone mourns and speaks on Jeff's behest. However, everyone stares as the casket opens and Jeff sits up, alive and well. Everyone runs outside in terror as Jeff looks around and then comes up and wonders who put him in a coffin. Siddons believes a mistake has been made but everyone insists that Jeff was sick of flue and then he died. Jeff is hungry and goes to his parents, but they're frightened of him as is everyone else, including his fiance Comfort. Only his little sister Liz finally runs to him and the others accept to him. Comfort apologizes for reacting badly and says she's glad to have him back.



Two weeks later, Jeff finishes off his meal and heads off to do his chores. Once he's gone, Ma Myrtlebank wonders at Jeff's new and odd behavior. He's only eating two eggs for breakfast and fiddles with things, working hard when before he was on the lazy side. Pa Myrtlebank finally admits that something might be wrong, then sends Liz to get the catalog. She runs into two boys, Tom and Jerry, who tease her with a frog. They ask about Jeff and she mentions how he's been acting different. They run off to spread the stories and soon everybody in town knows about Jeff's new behavior. Doc Bolton admits he was sure that Jeff was dead because he used the pin test. They wonder where Jeff was for those 48 hours he was dead and they figure someone else got out of the coffin, an evil spirit that took over his body.



Jeff goes to visit Comfort and she sees him over her parents' objections. However, when he gives her flowers she discovers that they've wilted in his hands. Comfort puts on some music but then backs away nervously from Jeff, telling him not to touch her. She claims he might have poison on his hands but he doesn't believe her and admits he's sick and tired of being treated like some kind of vampire. He asks her if she's his girl and she backs away. Jeff leaves, angry, and goes out to his car. Comfort's brother goes out to confront Jeff and warn him off. Jeff warns him that he's mad but Comfort's brother Orgram is unimpressed, noting he's beaten Jeff up before. Jeff notes Orgram hasn't beaten him up recently and takes him on. A few punches and Orgram goes down. Jeff drives away and Comfort and her mother come out and Comfort sympathizes with Jeff. Orgram gets his jaw taken to and tells everyone that Jeff is definitely different because it ain't Jeff he was fighting. Comfort overhears them and sneaks away as they come a plan to deal with Jeff.



Jeff is out at his farm when Comfort arrives to warn him that the townsfolk are going to ask him to move. She insists that in her heart she believes in him. Jeff says he loves her too and asks her to marry him. The townsfolk arrive and Jeff asks for her answer. Before she can respond, they tell Jeff that he must be an evil spirit and they want him to leave. Jeff turns to Comfort for her answer and after a few moments of consideration, she goes to Jeff and accepts his proposal. Jeff then confronts the men and tells her that he plans to stay with his new wife and either they're wrong and they've got nothing to worry about. Or they're right, and then he'll use his evil powers against them if they don't treat him right. They hastily back down and Jeff announces they'll be marrying as soon as possible. Once they're gone, Comfort wonders if Jeff was telling the truth and he admits he lied just to get them to back down. However, as he lights his pipe he causes the match to ignite on its own. When Comfort points it out, he dismisses it as her imagination and leads her away.



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