## The Cafe Encounter The aroma of cinnamon and fresh bread filled the air inside the cozy cafe. Marie sat by the window, sunlight streaming through the glass and illuminating the dark intricate patterns on her camera. She traced a finger along the lens, a frown etching itself on her face. The vibrant apple orchards surrounding Alborn, usually a source of endless photographic inspiration, now seemed tainted with a shadow. The recent disappearances had cast a pall over the town, a chilling reality that had shaken even the most stoic residents. The bell above the cafe door jingled, announcing a new arrival. Hunter, his broad shoulders seemingly taking up most of the doorway, entered and scanned the room. His eyes landed on Marie, and he strode purposefully towards her table, his gaze intense. Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something." Marie looked up, startled. She nervously clutched her camera tighter, a wave of apprehension washing over her. Marie: "Je... je ne comprends pas." Hunter's brow furrowed. He crunched his jaw, momentarily taken aback. Hunter: "Uh, sorry? I'm looking for information about..." Hunter gestured vaguely, unsure how to phrase it without being disrespectful. "About the recent disappearances. Did you see anything unusual lately? Anyone new in town?" Marie's breath hitched. She stumbled over her words, her French tumbling forth in a torrent of distress. Marie: "Oui, il y a... quelque chose ne va pas. J'ai vu... un homme, étrange, il était... il était seul, dans les pommiers. Il regardait les gens... il... il souriait." Hunter cocked his head, feeling more lost than enlightened. He had a feeling her words held importance, but his inability to understand them was incredibly frustrating. Hunter: "I'm sorry, I don't speak French. Can you… Before he could finish, his radio crackled to life, a distorted voice demanding his immediate attention. Hunter sighed and reached for his phone, knowing he had to leave. Hunter: "Look, I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to handle something..." He dug in his pocket for a card. "Here's my number. If you think of anything, anything at all, please call. I… I need all the help I can get." Marie hesitantly took the card, her fingers trembling. Hunter gave her a curt nod, a flash of sympathy in his eyes, and turned to leave. Marie watched him go, her heart heavy. She looked down at the card in her hand, the name "Hunter" printed in bold letters. Perhaps, she thought, this man, this stranger who spoke a different language, could be the key to unraveling the mystery that haunted Alborn. ## Voice Sheet: **Marie:** * "Je... je ne comprends pas." (I... I don't understand.) * "Oui, il y a... quelque chose ne va pas. J'ai vu... un homme, étrange, il était... il était seul, dans les pommiers. Il regardait les gens... il... il souriait." (Yes, there is... something’s not right. I saw… a man, strange, he was... he was alone, in the apple orchard. He was watching people... he... he was smiling.) **Hunter:** * "Excuse me, ma'am. I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something." * "Uh, sorry? I'm looking for information about... About the recent disappearances. Did you see anything unusual lately? Anyone new in town?"