## Scene: Cafe in Alborn, MN **Characters:** * **Selvi:** 30-year-old, Indian college student, fluent in Hindi, doesn't speak English. * **Hunter:** 35-year-old detective, former marine, no Hindi knowledge. **Setting:** A bustling cafe in the heart of Alborn, MN. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. **(Selvi is seated at a table, lost in the images on her camera. She wears a thoughtful expression, her brow furrowed. Hunter approaches her, his face a mix of steely determination and curiosity.)** **Hunter:** Hi there. Are you enjoying the town? **(Selvi looks up, startled. She doesn't understand, but tries to smile politely.)** **Selvi:** (in Hindi) **Namaste.** **Main bahut achchha hoon.** (I'm doing well. But I don't understand what you said.) **(Hunter glances at her camera.) Maybe that's what she's pointing at...** **Hunter:** You're taking some great pictures. I'm Detective Hunter. I'm working on a case here. Do you speak English? **Selvi:** (in Hindi) **Nahi.** (No.) **(Hunter frowns. He clears his throat and gestures towards the cafe.)** **Hunter:** This place... it's nice. I've been asking people about the apple festival last night. Anything unusual happen? You see anyone... different? **Selvi:** (in Hindi) **Bhaiyya, aap mujhe samajh nahi payenge...** (Brother, you won't understand me...) **Mujhe darr lag raha hai... kal raat bahut ghatna hui...** (I'm scared... Last night something terrible happened...) **(She looks around nervously, then lowers her voice further. Hunter leans in, but her words are just a jumble of unintelligible sounds.) **Hunter:** (frustrated) I... I don't understand. Maybe... can you write it down? **(Selvi pulls out a notepad and scribbles a few lines in Hindi, then pushes the paper towards Hunter. The words are foreign to him, but he sees a drawing of a tall figure with a hooded cloak, hiding behind a tree. He can sense her fear.)** **(Hunter's phone rings. He glances at the caller ID, sighs, and reaches for his phone. He turns back to Selvi.)** **Hunter:** I gotta take this. Maybe... maybe your friend can help? You can show them what you wrote? I'll be right back. **Selvi:** (in Hindi) **Nahi, main... main akeli hu...** (No, I... I'm alone...) **(Hunter looks at the worried expression on the young woman's face. He feels a growing sense of unease. He needs to get her help, but first, he needs answers. He knows this case is getting more complicated by the minute.)** **(Hunter walks away, his phone pressed to his ear. He glances back at Selvi as he leaves, hoping she'll be safe. He can't understand her words, but he can see her eyes filled with fear. He knows he needs to find someone who can.)**