Marilyn Monroe Decides What To Do With Her Body – Part Three

Continued From Yesterday.

Marilyn Monroe’s question about who takes her body after she dies struck the lawyer as bizarre. It was not an ownership issue, or he didn’t think so.

“Why do you ask?” asked the lawyer.

“You said Lee gets everything left over, the residual clause; he gets everything that is not mentioned in the will. Who gets my body? Who gets my body after I die?” asked Marilyn.

“Who do you want to get it, your body, Miss Monroe?” asked the lawyer, thinking he would play along with the line of thought. The lawyer felt a bit mischievous.

“Do I give it to someone? Do I give my body to someone?” asked Marilyn.

“The typical provision is that you direct your executor to bury you, possibly in a particular burial plot, or you can direct your executor to cremate you,” said the lawyer.

“So no one gets my body? My body becomes free from people wanting it, grabbing it, taking it, stealing it, groping it? My body and me, me, finally becomes free from all these people who will take it anytime they want?” said Marilyn.

The question was awkward. The lawyer now regretted encouraging this. In addition, Marilyn seemed like she was losing touch with the reality of the moment, and she did not grasp the unseemliness of her inquiries. The lawyer suppressed thoughts of Marilyn’s body and tried to stick with the law.

“As a technical matter, no one takes ownership of your body. But possession is nine tenths of ownership. So if you die from suspicious circumstances, or circumstances that require the medical examiner to get involved, he would take possession of your body to make a medical determination of death,” said the lawyer.

“How do I stop that?” asked Marilyn.

“You can’t. But there is no reason to believe that your death will be anything but normal. Miss Monroe, in the legal sense, there is no title to your body, like you would have title to an animal. Title in humans ended with slavery,” said the lawyer.

“You mean I do not own my body? I do not own me?” asked Marilyn.

“In the sense that you and I think about owning our bodies, yes, you do. But that way of looking at it evaporates when you die. The disposal of human remains is governed by law,” said the lawyer.

“But it is not just my body. It is me. Who will own me?” asked Marilyn.

The lawyer did not know what she was specifically referring to. And he was beginning to conclude that she was a little loopy from drugs or lack of sleep. Marilyn did not look well, and he thought it best to end this discussion.

“No one will own you. You will die with your death, and your body will be dealt with in accordance with statutory law,” said the lawyer.

“But the will does not say that,” said Marilyn.

“Wills do not dispose of bodies, Miss Monroe. If you would like, I can express your wishes for a burial or cremation?’ said the lawyer.

“I don’t want to think about that. I just…I just do not want anyone to use me. I don’t want anyone to use me or my body. I don’t want anyone to use me or my body, you promise me that,” said Marilyn.

The two witnesses at the conference table looked at each other and at the lawyer. This was weird. Marilyn was on the verge of tears, and they did not wish to have a scene.

“I can promise you Marilyn that you and your body will not be anyone’s property after your death,” said the lawyer.

Marilyn thought of Joe DiMaggio again. If anyone could have her, it would be him. He was really the only one she trusted. The thought was brief, though. She was too scared to even think of the matter. Afterall, what would Joe do with her after she died.

“Where do I sign?” asked Marilyn.

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