## Scene: Quiet Corner Cafe, Alborn, MN The late afternoon sun slanted through the window of the cafe, casting long shadows across the worn wooden tables. Maria sat hunched over a table in the corner, her camera resting on the polished surface. Her normally bright eyes were clouded with worry, her fingers tracing absentmindedly over the lens. A shadow fell across her table, momentarily pulling her from her introspection. She looked up into the stern face of a man, tall and solidly built, wearing a rumpled detective's coat. This was Detective Hunter, his gaze sharp and appraising. **Hunter:** "Excuse me, Ma'am. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Maria startled slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. She clearly didn't understand him. **Maria:** "¿Disculpa? No entiendo." Hunter blinked. **Hunter:** "Uh... do you speak English?" Maria shook her head, her expression apologetic. **Maria:** "Lo siento, no hablo inglés." Hunter hesitated, frustrated. He wasn't used to encountering people who didn't speak English, especially in a town like Alborn. **Hunter:** "I... I need to ask you about the festival. The apple festival. Did you see anything unusual?" He gestured vaguely with his hands, hoping the context might help. Maria's eyes widened with a flash of fear. **Maria:** "El festival… sí, lo vi. Pero fue terrible…. Alguien desapareció." She spoke quickly, her voice trembling, her Spanish tumbling over itself in a rush of worry. Hunter frowned, his brows furrowing further. **Hunter:** "Disappear? Who disappeared?" Maria's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes pleading. **Maria:** "Una mujer… joven. Muy bonita. Se la llevó…" she trailed off, unable to voice the horrifying fear she felt. Hunter struggled, trying to decipher her words. He knew some Spanish from his time in the Marines, but it was fragmented and rusty. **Hunter:** "Took her? Who took her? Where?" He pulled out his notepad, desperate to understand. Maria shook her head, tears prickling in her eyes. **Maria:** "No sé! No lo sé. Fue muy rápido..." The cafe door opened with a sharp clang, interrupting the tense exchange. **Hunter:** (Pulling out his phone) "Yeah, Johnson… yeah, I'm at the cafe, over by the window… What? Right now?... I'm on my way." Hunter snapped his phone shut, looking apologetically at Maria. **Hunter:** "Duty calls. I need to go, but…" **Maria:** (Reaching out a hand) "Espere…" Hunter glanced at her pleading face, then back at the phone clutched in his hand. **Hunter:** "Look, I need to find out what happened. Can you stay here? I'll be back." He dashed out of the cafe, leaving Maria sitting alone, her camera still clutched in her hand, a wave of fear washing over her. **Voice Sheet:** **Maria:** * "¿Disculpa? No entiendo." * "Lo siento, no hablo inglés." * "El festival… sí, lo vi. Pero fue terrible…. Alguien desapareció." * "Una mujer… joven. Muy bonita. Se la llevó…" * "No sé! No lo sé. Fue muy rápido..." * "Espere…" **Hunter:** * "Excuse me, Ma'am. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" * "Uh... do you speak English?" * "I... I need to ask you about the festival. The apple festival. Did you see anything unusual?" * "Disappear? Who disappeared?" * "Took her? Who took her? Where?" * "Duty calls. I need to go, but…" * "Look, I need to find out what happened. Can you stay here? I'll be back."