Here’s the voice sheet for the scene, capturing the tension, confusion, and emotional undercurrent between Selvi and Hunter. The dialogue is written to reflect Selvi’s distress in Hindi (with English translations for clarity) and Hunter’s growing frustration at the language barrier, culminating in his abrupt departure due to the call. --- ### **Voice Sheet: Café Scene – Selvi & Hunter** **Setting:** *A cozy but slightly run-down café in Alborn, MN, called *The Steaming Mug*. The air smells of cinnamon and coffee. Selvi sits at a corner table, her camera in her hands, flipping through photos on the small screen. Her fingers tremble slightly. Hunter enters, scanning the room before his gaze lands on her. He approaches, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable.* --- #### **Scene Dialogue** **HUNTER** *(approaching, voice low but firm)* Excuse me, ma’am. You’re the foreign student staying at the B&B on Maple Street, right? *(Selvi looks up, startled. She clutches her camera tighter, her dark eyes wide. She doesn’t respond immediately, just stares at him with a mix of fear and confusion.)* **SELVI (Hindi)** *(shaken, voice barely above a whisper)* **क्या… क्या हुआ है? (Kya… kya hooa hai?)** *(What… what happened?)* *(Hunter frowns, tilting his head slightly. He didn’t expect her not to speak English.)* **HUNTER** *(slowly, enunciating)* Do you… speak English? *(Selvi shakes her head rapidly, her grip on the camera tightening. She glances around the café as if looking for an escape or someone to help her.)* **SELVI (Hindi)** *(panicked, rapid)* **मैं… मैं अंग्रेज़ी नहीं बोलती। (Main… main angrezi nahin bolti.)** *(I… I don’t speak English.)* *(Hunter exhales sharply through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. He pulls out the chair across from her and sits down, leaning forward slightly.)* **HUNTER** *(frustrated but trying to stay calm)* Alright. Look, I’m Detective Hunter. I need to ask you about something that happened two nights ago near the old mill. You were there, right? *(Selvi’s breath hitches. She shakes her head again, more vehemently this time, her eyes welling up.)* **SELVI (Hindi)** *(voice breaking)* **नहीं… नहीं, मैं कुछ नहीं देखा। (Nahin… nahin, mein kuchh nahin dekha.)** *(No… no, I didn’t see anything.)* *(Hunter narrows his eyes, studying her. He doesn’t buy it.)* **HUNTER** *(leaning in, voice firm)* Ma’am, I have witnesses who say you were there with your camera. You took photos. I need to see them. *(Selvi shrinks back in her seat, her knuckles white around the camera. She shakes her head, tears spilling over.)* **SELVI (Hindi)** *(whispering, desperate)* **कृपया… कृपया मुझे छोड़ दें। (Kripaya… kripaya mujhe chhod den.)** *(Please… please leave me alone.)* *(Hunter’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t understand the words, but her body language is clear—she’s terrified. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small notepad and pen, sliding them across the table toward her.)* **HUNTER** *(pointing at the notepad)* Write it down. What did you see? *(Selvi stares at the notepad like it’s a live wire. She doesn’t move to take it. Instead, she wipes her tears with the back of her hand and takes a shaky breath.)* **SELVI (Hindi)** *(softly, resigned)* **मैं कुछ नहीं लिख सकती। (Main kuchh nahin likh sakti.)** *(I can’t write anything.)* *(Hunter pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. He’s running out of patience.)* **HUNTER** *(gritting his teeth)* Damn it. Alright, listen— *(His phone rings abruptly. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his expression darkens. He stands up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor.)* **HUNTER (into phone)** Hunter. Yeah, I’m on my way. *(He pockets the phone and looks back at Selvi, his voice clipped.)* **HUNTER** This isn’t over. Don’t leave town. *(Selvi doesn’t respond. She just watches him with wide, frightened eyes as he turns and strides out of the café, the bell above the door jingling in his wake. The moment he’s gone, she buries her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.)* --- **End Scene.** --- ### **Notes for Performance:** - **Selvi’s Voice:** Soft, trembling, and rapid in Hindi. Her English (if any) is broken and hesitant, but in this scene, she doesn’t attempt it. Her tone conveys fear, confusion, and a deep reluctance to engage. - **Hunter’s Voice:** Gruff, no-nonsense, and increasingly frustrated. His marine background is evident in his direct, almost blunt delivery. He doesn’t raise his voice, but his impatience is palpable. - **Body Language:** - **Selvi:** Clutching her camera like a lifeline, shrinking back, avoiding eye contact, tears welling up. Her movements are jerky and uncertain. - **Hunter:** Leaning in aggressively at first, then sitting back in frustration. His posture is rigid, his gestures sharp (e.g., sliding the notepad across the table, pointing). - **Key Emotions:** Fear (Selvi), frustration/urgency (Hunter), the unspoken tension of the language barrier, and the looming threat of whatever Selvi witnessed.