In a small town during the 1930s, an enigmatic hermit named Felix Bush emerges from his secluded life in the woods to plan a living funeral for himself. Felix, known for his mysterious past and reclusive nature, stirs up quite the commotion as he seeks out Frank Quinn, a local funeral home director struggling to keep his business afloat. Intrigued by Felix's odd request and the potential profit it promises, Frank agrees to help organize the event, which Felix intends to be a grand affair where anyone with a story about him is welcome to share it.

As the preparations unfold, Felix's desire to confront his past and the townspeople's curiosity about his life become increasingly intertwined. Along the way, Felix reconnects with old acquaintances, including Mattie Darrow, a widow with a significant tie to Felix's past. The funeral's impending date brings both humorous and poignant moments, slowly peeling back the layers of Felix's life and the secrets he has long kept hidden. Just as the event is about to take place, simmering tensions and unresolved mysteries build, setting the stage for a revelatory conclusion.