## Scene: Cafe Encounter **Setting:** A cozy cafe in Alborn, MN, filled with the aroma of freshly baked apple pies. Sunlight streams through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. **(Melanie is seated at a table near the window, her brow furrowed as she reviews photos on her digital camera. She's dressed simply in jeans and a dark green sweater, her camera bag slung across her chair. Hunter approaches, his stride purposeful, and stops before her table. He runs a hand through his short, dark hair.)** **Hunter:** (Flashing his badge) Excuse me, ma'am. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I ask you a few questions? **(Melanie looks up, startled. She sees the badge and nods, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes.)** **Melanie:** (In German, her voice hesitant) Guten Tag... Kann ich Ihnen helfen? (Good Day... Can I help you?) **(Hunter frowns, taken aback by the unfamiliar language.)** **Hunter:** Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to speak English. I need to ask about the events at the apple orchard last night. You see anything unusual? **(Melanie's eyes widen, and she shakes her head vigorously, her grip tightening on her camera.)** **Melanie:** (German, urgent and rushed) Nein, nein, ich habe nichts gesehen! Ich war nicht da! (No, no, I didn't see anything! I wasn't there!) **Hunter:** (Frustration creeping into his voice) Look, I can't understand you. Did you see anything or not? This is about the missing persons case, and I need your cooperation. **(Melanie bites her lip, fear flashing across her face. She points to herself and shakes her head again, then gestures frantically at her camera.)** **Melanie:** (German, pleading) Bitte... Fotos... nur Fotos... (Please... Photos... only photos...) **(Hunter throws his hands up in exasperation. He's getting nowhere with this language barrier.)** **Hunter:** Look, this is important. I need to... **(His phone rings, cutting him off. He sighs, glancing down at the caller ID.)** **Hunter:** (Muttering) It's the station... Look, I gotta take this. We're not done here. **(He answers the call, turning away from Melanie, who sits frozen, clutching her camera like a lifeline.)** **Hunter:** (Into phone) Hunter, speaking... Yeah, I'm at the cafe on Main... What? Another one? Alright, I'm on my way. **(He hangs up with a sigh, shooting a frustrated glance back at Melanie before striding out of the cafe. Melanie watches him go, her breath catching in her throat. She's left alone, shaken and unsure of what to do next. )** --- **Dialogue as a Voice Sheet:** **Melanie:** " Guten Tag... Kann ich Ihnen helfen?" (Good Day... Can I help you?) (Said hesitantly) **Hunter:** "Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to speak English. I need to ask about the events at the apple orchard last night. You see anything unusual?" **Melanie:** "Nein, nein, ich habe nichts gesehen! Ich war nicht da!" (No, no, I didn't see anything! I wasn't there!) (Urgent and rushed) **Hunter:** (Frustrated) "Look, I can't understand you. Did you see anything or not? This is about the missing persons case, and I need your cooperation." **Melanie**: "Bitte... Fotos... nur Fotos..." (Please... Photos... only photos...) (Pleading) **Hunter:** (Exasperated) "Look, this is important. I need to..." (interrupted by phone ringing) **Hunter:** (Muttering) "It's the station... Look, I gotta take this. We're not done here." **Hunter**: (Into phone) "Hunter, speaking... Yeah, I'm at the cafe on Main... What? Another one? Alright, I'm on my way."