## Scene: Cafe Encounter **Setting:** A quaint cafe in Alborn, MN, sunlight streaming through the windows. **(Selvi is seated at a table by the window, carefully cleaning her camera lens. She appears troubled, her brow furrowed in thought. Hunter enters the cafe, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Selvi. He approaches her table, stopping a respectful distance away.)** **Hunter:** Excuse me, ma'am. Mind if I ask you a few questions? **(Selvi looks up, startled. Seeing Hunter's badge, she quickly wipes her hands nervously on her clothes and nods, apprehension in her eyes.)** **Hunter:** You were at the Apple Festival last Saturday, weren't you? **(Selvi's eyes widen with alarm. She takes a shaky breath and answers rapidly in Hindi.)** **Selvi:** हाँ, मैं थी। बहुत सारे लोग थे, संगीत... और फिर... (Yes, I was. There were so many people, music... and then...) **(Selvi trails off, her voice choked with emotion. She gestures vaguely with her hands, unable to articulate her thoughts in English.)** **Hunter:** (Frowning) I'm sorry ma'am, I don't understand. Do you speak English? **(Selvi shakes her head, her expression a mix of fear and frustration. She points at herself and then at her camera.)** **Selvi:** तस्वीरें... मैंने देखा... डर... (Photos... I saw... fear...) **(She mimes taking a photograph, her hands shaking. She tries to explain something further in Hindi but falters, the language barrier insurmountable.)** **Hunter:** (Confused) Look, I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating some strange happenings around town. If you saw something at the festival, anything at all, it's important you tell me. **(Selvi senses the urgency in his tone. She frantically digs into her bag, pulling out a small phrasebook. Flipping through it, she finds a page and points at a phrase, pushing the book towards Hunter.)** **Selvi:** "मैं मदद करना चाहती हूँ।" ("I want to help.") **(Hunter looks at the phrasebook, then back at Selvi, completely lost. Before he can respond, his phone rings. He pulls it out, sees the caller ID, and sighs.)** **Hunter:** (Frustrated) Duty calls. Look, I need to go, but this is important. Can you meet me here tomorrow, same time? Maybe you can bring someone who speaks... Hindi, was it? **(Selvi hesitates, then nods slowly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Hunter offers her a reassuring nod and hurries out of the cafe, leaving Selvi clutching her phrasebook, a mix of relief and apprehension swirling within.)**