Suspects

An original radio drama by Erin Sullivan

 Suspects
CAST

MICHELLE VICTIM
POLICE OFFICER 1 INTERVIEWER
POLICE OFFICER 2 DETECTIVE
EMILY STUDENT AT SAME SCHOOL AS VICTIM
JAY VICTIMS EX-BOYFRIEND
MADISON VICTIMS BESTFRIEND
JUDGE THE JUDGE
SCENE 1: EXT. PARTY- MIDNIGHT

SOUND: SIRENS SOUNDING AND MUFFLED A COMMOTION OF PEOPLE

SHOUTING AND SCREAMING IN SHOCK AND FEAR
POLICE OFFICER 1: You do not have to say anything. But it may harm
your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which
you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in
evidence
SOUND: DOOR SLAMMING AND THE SOUND OF A CAR BEGINNING TO MOVE
AWAY AS THE SOUND SLOWLY FADES OUT

SCENE 2: INT. POLICE STATION- DAWN

POLICE OFFICER 1: Can I offer you a glass of water before we begin
the interview?
MADISON: (NERVOUSLY STAMMERING) um.. y.. yes please
SOUND: MADISON SLURPING THE WATER AND PLACING IT BACK ON THE
TABLE
SOUND: POLICE OFFICER TURNS ON THE TAPE, WE HEAR A STATIC,
CRACKLING SOUND
POLICE OFFICER 1: So, Madison what was your relationship with the
victim Michelle?
MADISON: I, um, I didn’t really know her. I just went to school with
her, we weren’t in the same group.
POLICE OFFICER 1: Where were you between 12.30 and 12.42 when the
incident occurred?
MADISON: um.. outside I think, in the smoking area?
SOUND: PEN SCRIBBLES ON PAPER
POLICE OFFICER: Right, and so if you say you didn’t really know her,
how come you were seen speaking to her upstairs for around 20
minutes before she had the fall leading to her death?
MADISON: (BECOMING DEFENSIVE) I, I was just thanking her for
inviting me, I never really got invited to parties, so I was shocked
she invited me. I.. I just always wanted to be friends with her or
go to one of her parties at least
POLICE OFFICER 1: So would you say you looked up to Michelle, wanted
to be like her maybe?
MADISON: um.. maybe yes
POLICE OFFICER 1: And what measures would you say you would go to to
be like her?
MADISON: (BECOMING WORKED UP AND WORRIED) um.. I..I don’t know. You
don’t think I.. I did this to try.. try replace her? I would never
do something like this! I thought this was a witness statement..
I’m.. I’m not a suspect am I ? what.. what’s going on?
(MADISON BEGINS CRYING)
POLICE OFFICER 1: Right, I can see you are getting upset I think
that’s enough questions for the minute
SOUND: CHAIR PUSHED INTO A TABLE AND FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY
BEFORE A DOOR SHUTS

SCENE 3- INT. POLICE STATION- AFTERNOON

SOUND: DOOR OPENING AND STATIC OF POLICE TAPE PLAYING
POLICE OFFICER 1: Good Afternoon Emily, can I offer you a drink
before we begin the interview?
EMILY: (SNIFFLING, SEEMINGLY TRYING NOT TO CRY) I’m.. I’m okay thank
you
POLICE OFFICER 1: I can see your clearly upset and distressed by
this situation, so I will try make this as simple as possible, I
just need to ask a few questions regarding the night of the
incident, is that okay?
EMILY:(SNIFFLING HOLDING BACK TEARS STILL) Yes… that’s okay
POLICE OFFICER 1: What was your relationship with the victim?
EMILY: she was my best friend, we always had disagreements and
bickered sometimes but we’d always make up, we were always together
POLICE OFFICER 1: and… your arguments, what were these about? Did
you have an argument the night of the incident?
EMILY: (DEFENSIVE) no no our arguments were mostly about stupid
things...like me and her boyfriend being friends… or who had the
most followers at that time. We didn’t argue the night… the night
she passed but I did see hear a heated conversation with Maggie.. um
Maddy maybe her name is. She told me after she didn’t remember
inviting her because she’d always seemed a bit obsessed with
Michelle.
POLICE OFFICER 1: Do you mean Madison? Were you friends with this
girl?
EMILY: I didn’t know her, always thought she was a bit weird. She
didn’t smoke or drink so she never socialised with us really
POLICE OFFICER 1: Right and did you hear what Madison and Michelle’s
conversation was about?
EMILY: I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t put it past that she had
something to do with it. Jake was with me when we saw their
conversation, maybe he heard something?
POLICE OFFICER 1: Okay and where were you between 12.30 and 12.42
last night
EMILY: Um.. I think getting a drink with Jake in the kitchen
POLICE OFFICER 1: Thank you for your co-operation, Emily, we may
have to pull you in for further questioning
EMILY: Please tell me if you find anything, I’d do anything to know
what happened to Michelle.
SOUND: DOOR SHUTTING AND FOOTSTEPS WALKING OUTSIDE

SCENE 4: EXT-SMOKING AREA POLICE STATION- LATE AFTERNOON

SOUND: RAIN IN BACKGROUND AS THE SOUND OF A LIGHTER
FLICKERS
POLICE OFFICER 1: pass me a light mate
SOUND: LIGHTER FLICKERING AND DEEP INHALE
POLICE OFFICER 2: there you go son, what case are you working on at
the moment?
POLICE OFFICER 1: Homicide, Michelle James, you know the teenager
that died at her party, someone pushed her out the window it seems,
only 18, far too young
POLICE OFFICER 2: Ah heard about that one, any suspects?
POLICE OFFICER 1: Were pretty sure it’s this random, Madison, that
seems to have showed up uninvited. Her alibi is that she was in the
smoking area, but Michelle’s best friend said she never smoked. We
have one more interview with the boy-friend left but were all
certain the Madison girl is our main suspect.
POLICE OFFICER 2: Seems like you’ve nearly got the case solved, well
good luck mate
POLICER OFFICER 1: Yeah, seems so, thanks see you later
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY AND DOOR SHUTTING

SCENE 5: INT. POLICE STATION- EVENING

POLICE OFFICER 1: Hi Jake, can I offer you a glass of water before
we begin the interview?
JAKE:(VERY NERVOUS AND SHAKING) No.. no thank you
POLICE OFFICER 1: Okay then let’s begin..
SOUND: POLICE TAPE CLICKS, STATIC SOUNDS
POLICE OFFICER 1: So, what was your relationship with Michelle Jake?
JAKE: She.. she was my girlfriend
POLICE OFFICER 1: And did you have a good relationship?
JAKE: I mean sometimes we’d have arguments because I was friends
with her best friend Emily.. but we were only friends and once she
realised that we all became a sort of trio and since then are
relationship was healthy
POLICE OFFICER 1: I see, and where exactly were you between 12.30
and 12.42 last night?
JAKE: um.. I .. I think I was in the kitchen with Emily getting a
drink
SOUND: SCRIBBLING OF PEN ON NOTEPAD
POLICE OFFICER 1: Okay, We’ve had a statement saying Madison and
Michelle were having some sort of conversation not long before the
murder, would you happen to have overheard anything that was said?
JAKE: I can’t remember hearing anything that was said, but it did
seem like a very heated conversation
POLICE OFFICER 1: And do you happen to know if Madison and Michelle
were friends?
JAKE: No they weren’t, I remember Michelle mentioning to me she was
weird around her so she didn’t remember inviting her to the party
POLICE OFFICER 1: Okay Jake thank you for your help, we will contact
you if we need have any further questions
SOUND: DOOR SHUTS

SCENE 6: INT. COURT ROOM- MORNING

SOUND: HAMMER BANGING ON DESK
JUDGE: Order in the court
SOUND: SOUNDS OF PEOPLE TALKING STOP
JUDGE: We have come to the verdict that the defendant, Madison
Jonson is guilty for the murder of Michelle James and will be
sentenced to serve 18 years in State Prison
SOUND: HAMMER BANGING ON DESK

JUDGE: COURT DISMISSED

SCENE 7: EXT. OUTSIDE COURT ROOM- MORNING

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS AND DOOR OPENING OUTSIDE
JAKE: (FLUSTERED AND AUDIBLY STRESSED)Emily I can’t believe she’s
gone to jail, we’ve put an innocent girl in jail
EMILY: (STERN) Jake stop. It was her or us and I’m glad we chose her
JAKE: But.. but
EMILY: (INTERUPTING) Look, she knew we were together, we saw her
about to tell Michelle. And now she’s in prison we’ve got Michelle
and her out of the way
JAKE: But.. her alibi, she was in the smoking area when you Pushed
Michelle
EMILY: I told the policeman she didn’t smoke, no one else was there,
Jake it’s fine. We’ve got away with it and now we can be together
JAKE: (CRYING) Emily I can’t do this we need to go to the police
EMILY: (STERNLY) Jake, listen. If you even think about saying
anything. . . You’re next