Building the Kingdom

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

Jeeze, it’s been years but yeah I guess the last time I can remember seeing him was when I left Glee Club that day. Truthfully I can barely remember what we were talking about or what that week’s assignment was. But it was probably some kind of preparation for the next competition and Rachel was more than likely asking for a solo. As I left that day, I can remember waving goodbye to everyone and that was it… I had no idea that would be my last time seeing him. Kinda weird to think about.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

I didn’t really know the guy that well. I knew he was married to some crazy lady who worked at Sheetz N Things and I knew he wore a lot of vests. But there were others in Glee that seemed to be more buddy-buddy with him. Most of the time I just sat there and sang background and tried to remember the dance steps. Though I gotta give it to the guy, he was really supportive of me when I first figured out my dyslexia. I spent a lot of extra time learning the music that year.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

Yep, I was in Glee Club though I’d say we sang close. Some of us were closer than others. But as far as things in his personal life? Nah man, I can’t really remember anything that would stand out. I mean everything I knew about him came in the form of a song…he really likes Journey. But if you really wanna know something that I’ve always been confused about it’s this: how does a guy with a degree in accounting become a high school Spanish teacher, then History teacher and Glee Club coach? Seriously, it makes no sense to me at all!

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

After Cheerios practice, in passing. We were finishing our last cooldown lap on the track, and I caught him hauling ass to his car. I didn’t bother saying bye. I figured I’d see him bright and early, cornered by Berry talking showtunes and setlists Monday morning, as per usual.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

I aced his Intro to Spanish class - which, to be real, was about as helpful as a highly offensive Dora the Explorer. And when Coach Sylvester assigned me to the original task force for quote – Glee Club’s Complete and Total Elimination – end quote, I joined the New Directions, no questions asked. …I never turned to Schue with my daddy issues like some people we know, but he turned out okay. I have a lot to thank him for.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

I doubt you’d be interested in his hair care routine. I only heard Gelmet talk curl maintenance and mousse strength with him about a hundred times over. But I know he had a thing for Pillsbury’s pamphlets, if you catch my drift. And I know Terri was the Jolly Green jealous type. I wouldn’t put a Hulk smash past her, if she found out Carrot Top was any kind of threat to her status quo.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

I can’t say that I remember exactly, it was 13 years ago after all. It was probably at school.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

He was a teacher and a coach and a mentor of sorts.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

Obviously we both know I was a member, but if you insist … Yes, I was a member of William Schuester’s Glee Club, at the high school we both attended. Oh, that you admit to knowing? That’s nice. Yes, we were. Is that your understanding? Well, if you mean did he divulge an inappropriate amount of information about his relationships that’s true, as far as the details, again, 13 years ago, my memory just isn’t what it used to be. Schuester was generally liked by most people as far as I know, his personal relationships were a bit messy, but that’s how those things go.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

Not a clue, man. I mean, if I had to guess, I’d say Glee club and before you say anything, Detective, it was badass to be in a winning club back then. Knowing him, he was marking up the whiteboard with songs from the eighties and thinking we’d kick everyone’s ass with them. That’s all I got.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

Mr. Schue helped me figure my shit out. He was the only teacher to ever really believe that I was worth something. Instead of kicking me out of the club whenever I got in trouble, he usually just made me get more involved. Sure, back then I didn’t really appreciate the push, but it helped change me. If it wasn’t for him, I might not have even tried the whole college thing out. I would’ve stayed here forever like a big ole Lima Loser.  No offense, Detective, but I never wanted that. Guess you could say he was like a mentor or something.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

His wife was a total psycho. Hot, but insane and not in the sack. I walked in on them fighting in the choir room after school once. I left something in there and when I went back to grab it, she was yelling at him about how he cared more about Glee club than fixing his family. Pretty sure she went full Hudson and kicked a chair. She’s small, but that woman is crazy. Crazy can be hot, but her crazy was a whole different brand. I don’t know what their issues were, but everyone knew about her and how totally whacko she was.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

At the last glee club meeting, I’m pretty sure! We were getting ready for Sectionals and he really got stressed about any competitions we had even though we totes had it in the bag. Some people were having to stay late, but I couldn’t because I had Cheerios practice. Sue would’ve had my behind if I wasn’t there on time. So I left as soon as the rehearsal wrapped up.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

He was my teacher and a mentor to a degree. I mostly relied on Sue for that, but I still went to Mr. Schue here and there if I needed something. He was more so in the music slash creative background that I was wanting to go into. He had more insight than Sue did despite Sue being the one to really push me so I relied on him for that advice and insight I needed to excel.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

Sometimes he mentioned his wife, Terri? He would say—well, complain really—that things had been difficult between them lately. The whole faking being pregnant thing was insane, right? Like absolutely nuts. I assume that plus somethings he never elaborated too much on was causing all the issues between him and her. I saw her totes chewing him out one day during lunch break when I was leaving with Mason to go off campus for lunch. I couldn’t make out what they were talking about, but it sounded intense with how much she was yelling at him.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

Interesting you ask, it must have been in the choir room during glee club. As co-captain, I was very invested in us singing something from Evita for Sectionals but for some reason Mr. Schuester wanted a song that would give people the opportunity to ‘pop and lock’. Unimaginable, I know ! Anyway, we ended up disagreeing but he gave me this very spirited pep talk about my singing abilities so I forgave him and that was the last time I ever laid eyes on William Schuester. 

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

Well if you had read any of the numerous interviews that I have done with Stage Light, The New York Times, Variety, Rolling Stone and Vogue. You would know that Mr. Schuester was a huge mentor to me and losing him was devastating, although it really enhanced my ability to embrace my vulnerability as an artist. For instance, my performance of “Who Are You Now?” has been lauded in the Broadway World. Also, when you transcribe this please remember to capitalize the “W” in world, it’s a thing in New York City.  He was my favourite teacher. Someone who always championed me and gave me the best solos.  He gave me Glee Club and thus gave me friends and a real home. All my life, I always wanted to be special and be part of something special and Mr. Schuester, well ….he gave me both.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

I was co-captain not just a member and one of the first people who signed up. Well, trust me when I say we all could have been closer. There are many people who made separate decisions and little groups who did their own thing all the time and when they did I noticed and brought it up and how it could distract us as a glee club and I just got made fun of for it. Coupled with all the bullying you gave us David, sometimes life could be very hard for me and my ambitions back then. But yes, Mr.Schuester’s wife? Terri? She had a very…creative way of showcasing sanity. Like lying about a baby. Also, Coach Sue would do all these strange and weird things to him and Glee Club was always his outlet.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Well to be incredibly accurate I would have to find my diary. I have kept all my diaries since I was twelve so that there is plenty of available and authentic content for my future autobiographies but I can confidently state that I since it was a Friday, I would have been practicing for community theatre in my room then I believe I invited Ryder over. We regularly linked calendars because he was always such an available and friendly person to me. R-Y-D-E-R, not R-I-D-E-R, for your transcribing purposes.  

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

Ummm…. I don’t remember the exact date or anything…. It was a long time ago. I just remember staying after Glee Club practice to work on one of the dance routines with another member, Mike. He was on the Football team with you. Except he wasn’t throwing slushies at us or anything. We were cramming for sectionals and there was one part that was really tripping me up. He waved at us on his way out, told us to keep up the good work. That was it.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

He was my mentor. I never felt confident in my singing until he started to coach me….. He always pushed me to work hard and eventually I would get my spot in the limelight too. Him going missing was really hard on all of us… If we had actually known what happened. It’s just terrible.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

Well, we all knew about his wife. She was awful. He was going through a lot. I remember seeing them outside in the parking lot at school one time and she was really just laying into him, yelling and pointing her finger. I walked to my car pretty fast after that so they wouldn’t see me. And there was all that crazy stuff with Coach Sylvester. But everyone else loved Will.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

Ugh, God, um… probably that one afternoon in the Lima Bean… It was around time for Sectionals and I was grabbing coffee with Hunter. The only reason I remember is because his wife went full Karen on me after I told her she looked like a scarecrow. Hunter has always been the classy one out of our little Dalton alum duo, I suppose.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

Nonexistent.

You were a member of a glee club that rivaled McKinley’s, correct? Can you explain your connection to the New Directions outside of show choir? Did they ever mention anything about their teacher that seemed out of the ordinary? Well, I met Blaine Anderson first. You know him, don’t you? Blaine Anderson? Jot that down. That’s B-L-A- yes? Okay. We had something of a romantic entanglement… we’d get coffee, flirt, piss off his boyfriend Kurt… Blaine was a Dalton boy before he defected to public school of all places, so his standards were a little higher than the other members of the New Directions. They used to be anyway. He’d complain about Schuester’s lack of taste and his inability to motivate the lazier members of the Glee club. None of that seemed odd to me, though. It’s William McKinley High School, not exactly a prestigious institution. They posses more failure per capita than any other school in the state.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

I don’t remember the exact date, no. We were getting ready for Sectionals and we all had to stay late for rehearsals. There were a few times that I stayed later than the rest of the Glee Club because I needed extra help with my routines. There were a couple of songs that I couldn’t get a grasp on that he was helping me perfect before the big competition. Those were the last days that I remember seeing him.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

Nature of our relationship? Well, you could say that he was a mentor and a friend but he was also like a father figure. You see my dad left when I was super young so I never had that kind of relationship in my life. When my mom and I moved to Lima, Mr. Schuester took me under his wing to make sure that I had a good experience at McKinley. He made sure that I didn’t take what the bullies said to heart and that I knew I had a gift in singing and songwriting.

You were a member of his glee club, correct? I know you all were close. It’s my understanding that he divulged many details about his personal life with you all. Was there anything in particular he mentioned that we should know?

I wouldn’t say that he divulged many details about his personal life but you’re right, we were a family and we all shared stuff with each other that we probably wouldn’t have shared with anybody else. Well, he would always talk about his crazy wife, Terri and honestly she freaked me out every time that I met her. There was just something wrong about her and she had that look that could kill especially when it came to Will. He would always talk about the things that she did and how he wanted to leave her so maybe she found out about his plan and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?

Do you remember the last time you saw William Schuester alive?

I don’t recall the specifics of the last time I saw him. All I know is I was in Lima visiting some acquaintances over the weekend and treated myself to Lima Bean, he happened to be there with his wife and I wished him luck at Sectionals. His Glee Club was going against The Warblers, he needed all the luck he could get at that point. He and his wife went on their merry way after that.

What was the nature of your relationship with the deceased?

There was no relationship between Mr. Schuester and I, he was the director of the rival glee club that my team and I would compete against, a few of his students happened to be apart of my personal life, they spoke of him quite often when we were together, he seemed to be a decent teacher at McKinley, very highly spoken of and well known around Lima.

You were a member of a glee club that rivaled McKinley’s, correct? Can you explain your connection to the New Directions outside of show choir? Did they ever mention anything about their teacher that seemed out of the ordinary?

I don’t think they ever mentioned anything out of the ordinary so to speak. They would occasionally speak of his way of teaching and it wasn’t always the most popular ways to teach. Perhaps he should have stuck to just teaching Glee Club. I had a handful of acquaintances in The New Directions, a quote-on-quote frenemies kind of thing as the kids would call it. The Warblers and The New Directions had a very well known rival between them but it was all fun and games at the end of the day. How they spoke of Mr. Schuester is how anyone would speak of their high school teachers. Happy with them one day, annoyed with them the next.

Schuester was last seen nearly thirteen years ago leaving his apartment on the evening of Friday, October 19th, 2006. Do you recall where you were on the night of his disappearance? Is there anyone who can corroborate your alibi?