Jackie
Babe, are you there? Something bad just happened…
Jackie
I…I just found a dead body in the girls’ bathroom.
Jackie
There’s blood everywhere…
Rob
Oh god, I should’ve come to prom with you.
Jackie
Yeah, and what would you have done?
Rob
I don’t know, but I’d be able to help you.
Jackie
Well you’re NOT helping me now — what should I do?
Rob
Idk, are you in the bathroom by the gym?
Jackie
No. I’m in the one I always use in West hall — because it’s empty during dances.
Jackie
But I don’t like being alone now…
Jackie
I’m scared, Rob. The body…
Jackie
Are you kidding me?
Jackie
Jordan Bauer — my friend? He took me to prom.
Jackie
Remember? So you didn’t have to leave your college friends for the weekend?
Rob
Hey, I said I would’ve come to prom with you — you just didn’t want me there.
Jackie
Rob, you know it didn’t make sense for you to come all the way down.
Rob
Well, maybe it did to me. You’re my girlfriend and now you’re in this mess by yourself!
Jackie
Can we not fight about this right now?
Jackie
None of this matters. Not when Jordan is DEAD.
Jackie
It looks like he was stabbed…
Jackie
Like, more than once.
Rob
Okay, and you’re sure he survived the stabbing?
Jackie
I checked — there’s no pulse and he’s not breathing.
Rob
And he’s in the GIRLS’ bathroom? Not the boys’?
Rob
Okay, this whole thing is creepy. What was he doing in there?
Rob
Jackie, I think you should leave — NOW.
Rob
Lock the bathroom door behind you.
Rob
Because what if someone else were to see him?
Rob
You said there were a lot of people there—
Rob
Do you know what would happen if EVERYONE stampeded to the exits?
Jackie
Yeah, true. But then maybe I should call 911…
Rob
I already have. The police are on the way.
Jackie
Okay, thank god. I’m locking the bathroom now…
Rob
Are there chaperones at prom?
Jackie
Yeah, should I tell someone?
Rob
Idk, is there a cop you can tell?
Jackie
No. It’s just parents and teachers.
Rob
Oh. Then they probably won’t be able to do anything…
Rob
Maybe just don’t say anything for now? The police are on the way.
Rob
Come on, Jackie. Remember, you don’t want to alarm everyone before the cops get there.
Jackie
But I’m scared. I mean, the killer is probably here, right?
Rob
Yeah, but chances are it was some dumb high school student.
Rob
You can outsmart them—
Rob
Because Jackie, that’s one of the reasons I love you.
Rob
You’re smarter than anyone I know.
Rob
No, seriously. Remember how we met?
Rob
Yeah, but it was more special than that.
Rob
You were in my senior-level AP classes because you tested way above your grade level.
Rob
And even in my advanced classes, you still beat me out for top grades.
Jackie
Ha, you were always so angry about it!
Rob
Indeed. But the point is…
Rob
You can solve any problem, babe — so let’s solve this one.
Jackie
Okay. I guess I can make a list of suspects by looking at Jordan’s friends, right?
Rob
Exactly — who’d he hang out with?
Jackie
That’s the thing…they’re all really good people.
Jackie
Our groups of friends don’t overlap too much, but everyone seems so nice.
Rob
That’s it? There isn’t anyone who seems off?
Jackie
Well…I guess he’s been starting to hook-up with this girl, Alicia.
Jackie
She was a little upset that he was going to prom with me and not her.
Rob
Jackie, you’ve got it — that’s definitely a motive!
Rob
But wait…is Alicia there tonight? At prom?
Jackie
Yeah, she came with us in the limo. Should I go to the gym and look for her?
Rob
No, wait — the cops will do that.
Rob
Stay where you are…where it’s safe.
Rob
I mean, I don’t want to get you worried but…
Rob
If Alicia was angry enough to kill Jordan because Jordan went to prom with you…
Jackie
What are you saying?
Jackie
You think she’s gonna go after me next?
Jackie
So why wouldn’t I go back to the gym where people could protect me?
Jackie
I’m really scared.
Jackie
Oh god, there’s blood all over my dress — I didn’t even notice until now.
Jackie
I guess when I was leaning down to check Jordan’s pulse, his blood…
Jackie
It got ALL over me.
Rob
Jackie, I know it’s hard, but you really have to stay calm.
Rob
You know you can’t exactly walk into the packed gym with a bloody dress on, right?
Jackie sees two cop cars pull up to the building with their lights flashing.
A cop races toward Jackie with his finger pointed at her.
Three other cops run past the two of them — into the bathroom.
Jackie
Oh, thank god you came, I—
Cop
Are you Jacqueline Marks?
Jackie
Uh…yes. I am. Did Rob call you?
Jackie
My boyfriend. He’s up at college, but he’s been texting me.
Jackie
He said he was going to call you. Did he?
Cop
No. The only call we got was from an anonymous caller—
Cop
He said someone was stabbed in the bathroom of West Hall, and that the murderer was…
Jackie
Me?! You think I did it?
Cop
Yes. The caller said that Jaqueline Marks murdered Jordan Bauer.
Cop
That she stabbed him multiple times with a butcher knife.
Jackie
He said I did WHAT?
Jackie
This guy is lying to you — who does he think he is?
Cop
Actually, we traced the call and it came from a payphone at this school.
Cop
We think he is another student who saw you do it—
Cop
So we’re going to have to take you in for questioning.
Jackie
I can’t believe this…I didn’t do anything!
Cop
Miss Marks, you’re alone at the scene of the crime…
Cop
Covered in what appears to be the victim’s blood—
Cop
And a caller gave us your name.
Cop
It doesn’t look very good for you.
Jackie
Wait, there’s been a mistake—
Jackie
I only DISCOVERED his body. That’s why I’m bloody—
Jackie
I was checking his pulse.
Cop
Most people check with just their hands, Miss Marks — why would the blood get on your dress?
Jackie
I guess when I leaned over, the dress touched his body. I—
Just then, one of the other cops comes running out of the bathroom.
2nd Cop
We found the weapon — it was in the handicap stall.
2nd Cop
Butcher’s knife, ten inches.
Cop
Excellent work. Is forensics on the way?
The first cop turns back to Jackie.
Cop
I’m going to bet your prints are on that knife.
Jackie
They’re not — I didn’t do this!
Cop
Then why didn’t YOU call to report the crime?
Cop
Why didn’t you try to get help?
Jackie
I already told you — because Rob said he did.
The cop’s eyes soften, but it’s clear he doesn’t believe her.
Cop
Let’s get you back to the station for questioning—
Cop
We can try to leave before anyone sees me putting you in the car.
But when Jackie and the cop walk outside, the whole school is there, staring at her.
It’s not every day you see the valedictorian get taken away by the police.
Jackie can’t help it — she scans the crowd. She’s shocked to see a familiar face.
Has he been here the whole night?
He glares at her, tapping the side of his head slowly, as if he’s saying…
I outsmarted you this time…
And then he slips away from the crowd.
The cop looks at her questioningly.
Jackie
Rob, my boyfriend—
Jackie
He’s here! He’s running away!
The cop squeezes her arm.
Cop
Stop trying to change your story on us.
Jackie
But he was here! He was here all along—
Cop
Do you really want me to have to force you into the car in front of the whole school?
Jackie shakes her head. After she gets in the car, she opens her bag. It feels lighter—
Her cell phone is missing. She gets a sinking feeling in her stomach.
She just KNOWS her prints are on that knife—
That, given the angry look on his face, Rob found a way to put them there.
She’s been set up. She’ll go to jail for his crime.
Sure enough, that’s exactly where she finds herself six months later—
Locked behind bars for the murder of Jordan Bauer.
For the rest of time, Jackie’s brain fixates on something Rob said to her that fated night.
And as his words echo in her head, they take on a sardonic lilt.
I would’ve come to prom with you — you just didn’t want me there.
