When an 83-year-old man named Melvin wakes up one morning, he finds his 81-year-old wife Maude dead in bed with her arms crossed. They had been married for 52 years. Because their home is in an isolated area by Chad Creek (which happens to be the creek Melvin pushed Maude into when they were young children), Melvin thinks no one will come out to his house to get the body. He decides he will take the body to the undertaker in town himself, but first, he drinks some whiskey. Then, he wraps Maude's body up in a blanket and carries her across the bridge, stopping to rest along the way. When going over a hill, Melvin tumbles, drops the body, and hurts his shoulder. He finally makes it to his car, which is parked on the edge of the hill. He drives to town, where the undertaker calls a doctor. The doctor arrives and proclaims Maude dead. He also takes a look at Melvin's shoulder. For now, Melvin drives back home and lies down in the bed in which his wife died. He reflects on pushing her into the creek when they were little and tugging on her hair.