Suspect surveillance

Sunday, October 31, 2021 – 1:00 p.m.

With everyone still blaming someone else, the detectives put Heath Rushing, Martin Vargas, and Janet Weber in a room together to find out what they'd say to each other when they were face-to-face.

Detectives Beckwith and Magee observed their interaction from another room.

Participants

• Heath Rushing
• Martin Vargas
• Janet Weber

Detective Beckwith: Just a reminder that all three of you are still being detained for questioning and that your Miranda rights still apply. We're holding y'all here in the same room temporarily while we work out some space issues or until you're released. Everyone understand their rights as previously read to them?

Martin Vargas: Yes.

Janet Weber: Yes, detective.

Heath Rushing: Yes.

Detective Beckwith: Perfect. Someone will be back to check in on you soon. Is everyone comfortable for now?

Martin Vargas: Yes.

Janet Weber: Yes.

Heath Rushing: Yes.

Detective Beckwith: Okay, then. I'm going to excuse myself.

Martin Vargas: Way to go, losers. If you'd be honest, I'd be released by now.

Janet Weber: Stuff it, Martin. You can tapdance around all you want, but it still won't make you a triple threat. You have motive and opportunity. You be honest.

Martin Vargas: What motive? Scott and I didn't have any problems.

Janet Weber: Really? I was at those rehearsals, Martin. You and Scott were always bickering about the fight scenes or where you'd be standing. It's not a one-person show, and we're not your props. We all had roles and responsibilities—

Martin Vargas: Exactly! And you, with all your mediocre talent and the attention span of a gnat, forgot that you'd locked Heath in a room, right?!

Janet Weber: I was doing my job, just like it said in the script.

Martin Vargas: I read that script, Janet. I don't recall it being your job to sabotage the play by leaving the magic mushroom man locked in a room!

Heath Rushing: Hey! I'm standing right here, ya know.

Janet Weber: Heath! This is a conversation between mature adults, so shut up! It was an accident, Martin. I— I just got caught up in the moment, that's all.

Martin Vargas: What a bunch of crap!

Janet Weber: It isn't crap. It's the truth!

Martin Vargas: If you had any craft at all—which you don't—you'd know how amateurish it is to get caught up in the moment. But you did, and Heath's a dumbass, so actually, it's your fault Scott's dead, not mine.

Heath Rushing: Leave her alone, Vargas!

Martin Vargas: Or what, magic mushroom man?

Heath Rushing: You think you can just badger people—

Martin Vargas: I'm being questioned as a suspect, bruh! I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this mess that started when Janet-the-Talentless trapped you in a room and left you to beat a wall down to get out.

Heath Rushing: Right, I get it. I'm being questioned, too, bruh. I'm just trying to keep you from losing your temper. They're listening, man. You shouldn't show them your dark side.

Martin Vargas: Don't try to paint me as some raging maniac. I am in total control of my emotions and would never, ever put someone in danger, especially during a performance.

Janet Weber: I didn't mean to endanger anyone—

Heath Rushing: Yeah, right! You didn't just forget to let me out. You left me in there on purpose.

Janet Weber: How would you know? You were so far gone you didn't know where you were or what you were doing. It was an act of mercy leaving you in there!

Martin Vargas: I bet Scott would disagree with you, Janet, if only he were alive to tell you how full of crap you are.

Janet Weber: I don't care what either of you think. I know the truth about what I did.

Heath Rushing: Well, so do I!

Martin Vargas: Seriously, are you two in this together? Because this sure sounds like badly scripted dialogue. Was killing Scott a team effort? You and the magic mushroom man plotted this thing, didn't you?

Janet Weber: Shut up, Martin, you overcompensating ass! You were the only one backstage. You're just grasping at straws.

Martin Vargas: Am I?

Heath Rushing: That's not true. I saw Neal backstage.

Martin Vargas: You did?

Janet Weber: No, you didn't, Heath.

Heath Rushing: What do you know, Janet? You don't know who I saw.

Janet Weber: First of all, you were seeing all kinds of things that weren't there, magic mushroom man! And second of all, if you did see someone backstage, it was probably Woody. Neal was busy doing his part in the play.

Heath Rushing: No, the guy I saw didn't have any of the zombie makeup on. I'm sure it was Neal.

Janet Weber: Or maybe it was Denis. Or Erv. But I don't think it was any of those people, Heath, because Martin was backstage, and Martin wasn't a zombie. God! Where are those detectives? I've got to get out of here!

Heath Rushing: How does it feel, Janet? Hmmm? Getting a little antsy? Make you want to pound on the door and hope someone will open it?

Janet Weber: Can we get off of that, please!

Heath Rushing: You left me on purpose!

Janet Weber: Fine! I left you on purpose. You were being a pain in the butt, so I took you out of the play. So what?

Martin Vargas: Well, a man's dead, and you're responsible, and you're blaming other people. Namely me!

Janet Weber: I'm not the only one who thinks you did it.

Martin Vargas: Really? Who else could possibly think—

Janet Weber: Neal. He knows there was bad blood between you and Scott, and we all know you were the only person backstage, Martin. Just admit it so the rest of us can get on with our lives.

Martin Vargas: That's ridiculous! There's no bad blood between Scott and me.

Janet Weber: Not anymore, no. You took care of that, didn't you, Martin?

Detective Magee: Knock, knock! Can I get anyone a glass of water?

Janet Weber: How much longer do I have to be stuck in here?

Heath Rushing: Ironic question coming from the person who locked me in a small room and left me there without a way to escape.

Martin Vargas: I would love a glass of water, detective, thank you. And Heath, you found a way to escape, buddy. That's why we're here.

Janet Weber: No, you found a way to fix your problems with Scott, and that's why we're here.

Martin Vargas: What, Janet? I can't hear you with your head shoved so far up—

Detective Magee: Okay, okay, that's enough. Martin, come with me. You two stay put, and someone will be right in to separate you again.

Janet Weber: Can you take me first, please?

Detective Magee: No. Have a seat. Someone will be in momentarily.

Interview ended – 1:22 p.m.