Deadma Walking

The film opens with John Samson learning he has terminal cancer, with only one to two years to live. He records a video message for his theater friend Mark Caramat, proposing they stage a fake death, wake, and funeral. Mark initially refuses but ultimately agrees to help him.

John details the resort vacation scheme: he would die in his sleep and a dead body would be used to resemble him. He wants cremation and ash scattering at sea, not burial. They agree to run a wake with different decorations each day to keep the illusion alive.

John tells Mark that, upon his death, Mark will inherit his laundromat business and a water-refilling station. This ties Mark more deeply to the plan and increases his involvement in the ruse.

On the first day of the mock wake, John disguises himself as Yolly Redgrave, a transgender woman. Attendees deliver eulogies praising the supposed John, while the wake decorations begin to change daily. This marks the start of the ongoing deception.

Mary arrives unexpectedly at the wake and tries to open the casket. Mark intervenes and faints, leading them to lock the casket to preserve the deception. The tension around the deception grows as the family confronts the ruse.

Luke, John's best friend, delivers a heartfelt eulogy recalling their friendship. As a reward for keeping the secret, John (still in disguise) arranges a trip for two to the Maldives for Mark. Luke's praise reinforces the emotional weight of the deception.

Mark offers his own eulogy and closure for John's life at the wake. Joseph visits the wake and later meets Mark at a bathhouse; the place is raided, prompting Joseph to seek John's help. John then meets Joseph, deepening the web of secrets surrounding the ruse.

Six months pass and Joseph and Mark's relationship dissolves after Joseph reveals an affair with John. John admits that he ended the affair to protect Mark, but the revelation shatters their friendship. The fake and real lives have left lasting wounds.

The remains of the fake John are cremated, bringing the deception to an end. Friends and family process the loss while reconciling the lies that sustained it. The physical symbol of the impersonation is removed.

Yolly visits Mary and confesses that she is actually John in disguise. The revelation reframes past events and strains family loyalties. Mary must come to terms with the truth.

John secretly attends Mark's stage play, observing his friend's work. Mark's reaction to the Maldives trip gift shifts when John insists on joining only if Mark comes along. This moment underscores their complicated bond.

After a party with fellow actors, Mark dies in a vehicular accident. John is devastated and mourns the loss of his friend. The tragedy deepens the emotional toll of the entire deception.

Mary and Yolly visit Mark's wake, and Mary records a farewell video message for Mark. The moment serves as a final closure for their tangled lives. John's presence lingers in the memories shared at the wake.

Mary and Mark's mother attend the blessing of Mark's fashion boutique, the business that inherits from John. The ceremony seals the transfer of assets and Mark's new responsibilities. A quiet sense of closure settles over the surviving relationships.

A closing voiceover from John congratulates Mark on fulfilling his dream, noting that even in the afterlife they remain divas. Mary and Mark's mother look at photos of John and Mark, confirming that John has also passed away. The film ends with the line 'Once a diva, always a diva'.