Jason Dean

**Jason Dean**, more commonly referred to as J.D., was a senior at Westerburg High School and Veronica Sawyer's ex-boyfriend. He is the overarching antagonist of *Heathers.* His plans was to cleanse the world through lethal means, including killing the students of Westerburg High School.

## History

J.D.'s past is riddled with devastation. He lost his mother, Ms. Dean, at a young age after she decided to step into a building that she knew her husband was about to blow up. Following the death of his mother, J.D. and his father frequently moved from city to city following his fathers career. He had primarily lived his life without making connections to fellow students because he knew it was only a matter of time until he would move away again. This happened up until he transferred to Westerburg High School, where he ultimately fell in love with Veronica Sawyer.

## Personality

J.D. is a loner who immediately attracts the eyes of his soon-to-be girlfriend, Veronica Sawyer. His first interaction at school is a fight between him, Ram Sweeney, and Kurt Kelly, where he forms this bad boy persona. Veronica later finds out that he is a rather sweet and loving individual, but this is merely a mask for a much more sinister personality. In truth, J.D. has a twisted and manipulative mind that feels the need to purge the world of its evil, starting with the student body of Westerburg High School.

## Plot

### Act One

J.D is introduced when he gets in a fight with Ram Sweeney and Kurt Kelly, which causes people to start thinking of him as a bad boy and Veronica becomes attracted to him (Fight for Me). Later J.D walks into a 7-11 and meets Veronica. J.D then starts singing about why he likes 7-11 and why he loves slushies.
Later, a drunk Veronica sneaks into his room through his window, singing the song "Dead Girl Walking" which is a song about Veronica wanting to have sex. J.D asks how she knew his address, which Veronica never would answer. J.D seems happy and then the musical shows them making out together and that is all the audience sees.
Some time later, he goes along with Veronica to Heather Chandler's house to apologize. There, he poisons Chandler with a cleaner and then convinces Veronica to forge a suicide letter so they don't get charged with murder.
### Act Two

Throughout the rest of the musical, J.D. gradually puts on display his crazed and desperate personality, as well as his motive to kill the student body. He goes on to shoot Kurt and Ram, having lied to Veronica that the bullets were non-lethal and sedative.

## Relationships

### *Family*

#### Bud Dean (Father)

J.D. has a strained relationship with his father. They treat each other more as roommates than they do father and son. Bud is not often able to be there for his son, which gives J.D. the freedom to do what he wants, but also deprives him of the connection he should have with his dad.

### *Love Interests*

#### Veronica Sawyer

J.D. is madly in love with Veronica and considers her the perfect partner to help purge the world of its evil. He manipulates her into helping him kill Kurt and Ram, and lets her believe that it's her fault that Heather Chandler died. However, after he starts to lose his perceived control of her, J.D. decides it best to kill Veronica. Despite all this, J.D. knows Veronica is a good person, and in the end, tells her that it isn't too late for her redemption.

## Musical Numbers

### Original Off-Broadway Musical Numbers

* "Dead Girl Walking" – *Veronica & J.D.*
* "The Me Inside of Me" – *H. Chandler, Veronica, J.D., Cops, Ms. Fleming & Company*
* "Our Love Is God" – *J.D., Veronica, Ram, Kurt, & Company*
* "Meant to Be Yours" – *J.D. & Students*
* "Dead Girl Walking (reprise)" – *Veronica, J.D., Ms. Fleming, & Students*
* "I Am Damaged" – *J.D. & Veronica*

### Original West End Musical Numbers

* "Dead Girl Walking" – *Veronica & J.D.*
* "Our Love Is God" – *J.D., Veronica & Kurt*
* "Meant to Be Yours" – *J.D. & Company*
* "Dead Girl Walking (reprise)" – *Veronica, J.D., Ms. Fleming, & Company*
* "I Am Damaged" – *J.D. & Veronica*

## Trivia

* When J.D. was telling Veronica about his plan for Kurt and Ram, he claims the bullets are non-lethal and were used to sedate enemy soldiers, and calls them "Ich Lüge" bullets. "Ich Lüge" is "I lie" in German.
* In the off-Broadway version of Heathers, when Heather Chandler tells Veronica to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness J.D. looks away out of respect for Veronica but turns around when Veronica is handing Heather C. the cup of 'No Rust Build Up' to watch Heather C. die.