## Scene: "The Apple Basket Cafe" **Setting:** A small, cozy cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Sunlight streams through the windows, illuminating the quirky décor and the aroma of apple pie hangs in the air. **Characters:** * **Selvi:** Dressed in light, flowing fabrics, Selvi sits at a table by the window, gently cradling her camera in her hands. A look of quiet unease crosses her face as she stares at a photo on the LCD screen. * **Hunter:** Walks in, tall and imposing in his plain clothes, his gaze scanning the room. He slows down upon spotting Selvi and her camera. **(Hunter approaches Selvi's table, his boots making a soft thud on the wooden floor.)** **Hunter:** Excuse me, Ma'am. Mind if I ask you a few questions? **(Selvi looks up sharply, startled. Her beautiful brown eyes widen as she takes in Hunter's firm features and the badge clipped to his belt. Her hand instinctively tightens around the camera, fear flickering across her face.)** **Selvi:** (Frowning, speaking rapidly in Hindi) "Mere liye koi dikkat nahin hai, lekin main angrezi nahin samajhti. Kya aap Hindi boltey hain?" _(Translation: "It's not a problem for me, but I don't understand English. Do you speak Hindi?")_ **(Hunter's brow furrows in confusion. He shakes his head slowly.)** **Hunter:** Uh, no. I don't. Sorry. **(Selvi's shoulders slump, her fear tinged with disappointment. She tries to explain, gesturing helplessly.)** **Selvi:** (Hindi) "Main Selvi hun. Main yaha par padhne aayi hun. Kya aap mujhe likh kar samjha saktey hain?" _(Translation: "My name is Selvi. I am here to study. Can you write it down for me?")_ **(Hunter glances around, searching for a notepad and pen. He spots a waitress approaching and asks for one, explaining he needs it "for a witness".) **(After receiving the pen and notepad, Hunter looks back at Selvi. He takes a deep breath and tries again.)** **Hunter:** Look, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating something that happened in town recently... **(He trails off, unsure how to proceed. Frustration lines his face. Selvi watches him intently, her expression a mixture of fear and determination.)** **Selvi:** (Hindi) "Kuchh galat hua hai? Kya aap bata sakte hain?" _(Translation: "Something wrong happened? Can you tell me?")_ **(Hunter shakes his head, his eyes softening with sympathy. He starts to write something down, struggling to find the right words.) **(Selvi leans closer, peering at the notepad. She runs a hand through her hair, clearly anxious. ) ** **(Just then, Hunter's phone rings, a harsh interruption. He picks up quickly, his expression turning serious.)** **Hunter:** (On the phone) Yeah, this is Hunter...What? Okay, I'll be right there... _(He hangs up, looking back at Selvi with regret.)_ **Hunter:** Look, I'm really sorry, ma'am. Something came up. **(He stumbles over his words, unsure how to leave without understanding what Selvi knows about the case. He scribbles something down on the notepad again, then hands it to Selvi.) **(Hunter): "This is my number." (He gestures to the note.) "Please, if you can, call me. " (He pauses, then adds, slightly butchering the pronunciation) _(Translation: "Please remember to call") **Selvi:** (Hindi) "Thik hai, main aapse baat karungi." _(Translation: "Okay, I will talk to you.")_ **(Hunter nods, his guilt evident. He turns and strides out of the cafe, leaving Selvi staring after him, a dangerous secret hinted at in her eyes.) **Voice Sheet:** **Selvi:** * “Mere liye koi dikkat nahin hai, lekin main angrezi nahin samajhti. Kya aap Hindi boltey hain?” * “Main Selvi hun. Main yaha par padhne aayi hun. Kya aap mujhe likh kar samjha saktey hain?” * “Kuchh galat hua hai? Kya aap bata sakte hain?” * “Thik hai, main aapse baat karungi.” **Hunter:** * (Frustrated, speaks slowly) "Excuse me, Ma'am. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" * (Shaking his head) "Uh, no. I don't. Sorry." * (Writing on notepad) "Look, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating something that happened in town recently..." * (On phone) "Yeah, this is Hunter...What? Okay, I'll be right there..." * (Looking at Selvi) "Look, I’m really sorry, ma'am. Something came up." * (Pointing to notepad) "This is my number. Please, if you can, call me." * (Awkward pronunciation) "Please remember to call"