Convert the legal standard into plain English.

To understand the prima facie script, we must first separate the two words.

When combined, a prima facie script refers to the checklist of elements a party must recite or present to shift the burden of proof to the other side. Think of it as the "opening argument skeleton."

Tessa Ensler is a ruthless, sharp-tongued criminal defense barrister at the top of her game. She lives by the legal principle of prima facie (“on its face”): the evidence, on its surface, determines guilt. She defends men accused of sexual assault, tearing apart victims’ testimonies with surgical precision. “The law is the law,” she insists. “Feelings don’t matter. Facts do.”

Then she is raped by a charming male colleague. Overnight, the hunter becomes the prey. The second half of the play forces Tessa—and the audience—to confront the brutal gap between legal truth and lived experience.

You must state the cause of action or crime explicitly. "This script establishes a prima facie case for Negligence." Or "This script establishes a prima facie case for First-Degree Burglary." Do not assume the judge knows your intent.

Even experienced lawyers botch the Prima Facie Script. Avoid these errors: