In 2001, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office investigates deaths, including those of people lacking next of kin.

Tanner's apartment is decorated with several artworks, including a large, framed California State Flag.

Albertson's tools and Tanner's artworks—including the large California flag—are collected from their apartments and sold at an estate sale; the Coroner's office uses the proceeds of decedents' personal effects to defray the costs of its own work and also to pay for funeral arrangements.

After a few months of investigation, the Coroner's office determines that no further progress can be made with the cases of Wright and Albertson, and both bodies are sent with a group of others to a morgue, and eventually to a crematorium.

Workers break the bodies down to bone fragments, including their skulls, which are aglow in the flames of the cremator.