Here’s the voice sheet for the scene, capturing the tension, confusion, and emotional beats between Melanie and Hunter. The dialogue is written to reflect Melanie’s distress in German (with English translations for context) and Hunter’s growing frustration at the language barrier. --- ### **Voice Sheet: Café Scene – Melanie & Hunter** **Setting:** *A cozy, slightly outdated café in Alborn, MN. The scent of cinnamon and coffee lingers in the air. Melanie sits at a corner table, her camera in hand, scrolling through photos on the small screen. Her expression is distant, troubled. 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. Do you have a minute? *(Melanie looks up, startled. She blinks at him, then glances at her camera as if it might offer an escape. She doesn’t respond immediately, her fingers tightening around the device.)* **MELANIE (German)** *(softly, shaken)* Entschuldigung… ich verstehe nicht. *(I’m sorry… I don’t understand.)* *(Hunter frowns, clearly not expecting this. He exhales through his nose, shifting his weight.)* **HUNTER** You don’t speak English? **MELANIE (German)** *(shaking her head, voice trembling slightly)* Nein. *(No.)* Ich… ich bin aus Deutschland. *(I… I’m from Germany.)* *(Hunter rubs his temple, muttering under his breath. He pulls out a small notepad and flips it open, as if that might help.)* **HUNTER** Right. Germany. *(pauses, then points at her camera)* You take pictures? **MELANIE (German)** *(nodding, clutching the camera closer to her chest)* Ja. Ich mache Fotos. *(Yes. I take photos.)* **HUNTER** *(leaning in slightly, voice lowering)* You were at the apple festival last weekend, right? Near the old mill? *(Melanie’s breath hitches. Her knuckles whiten around the camera. She swallows hard, her eyes darting to the side as if searching for an exit.)* **MELANIE (German)** *(whispering, distressed)* Ja… aber ich habe nichts gesehen. *(Yes… but I didn’t see anything.)* **HUNTER** *(noticing her reaction, pressing gently but firmly)* You *saw* something. Or *heard* something. That night, around 9 PM. A woman in a red coat. Ring any bells? *(Melanie’s face pales. She shakes her head rapidly, her voice cracking.)* **MELANIE (German)** *(pleading)* Bitte… ich will nicht darüber reden. *(Please… I don’t want to talk about it.)* **HUNTER** *(firm, but not unkind)* Ma’am, this isn’t optional. A woman is missing. If you know something— **MELANIE (German, interrupting, voice rising slightly)** *(panicked)* Ich *weiß nichts*! Ich war nur da, um Fotos zu machen! *(I *don’t know* anything! I was only there to take photos!)* *(Hunter exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. He glances around the café, then lowers his voice.)* **HUNTER** *(gritted, frustrated)* Look, I don’t have time for this. If you won’t talk to me, I’ll have to bring you down to the station. You *will* talk to someone. *(Melanie’s eyes widen in horror. She shakes her head violently, her breath coming in short gasps.)* **MELANIE (German, desperate)** *(whispering, near tears)* Nein, bitte nicht. Ich kann nicht… ich habe Angst. *(No, please not. I can’t… I’m scared.)* *(Hunter stares at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there’s silence. Then his phone rings—a sharp, insistent tone. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and curses under his breath.)* **HUNTER** *(to Melanie, pointing a finger)* Don’t move. *(He steps away, answering the call.)* Yeah. What? *(pause)* Damn it. I’ll be there in five. *(He hangs up, shoving the phone back into his pocket. He turns back to Melanie, his jaw set.)* **HUNTER** *(gruff, pointing at her)* You. Stay here. I’ll be back. *(Melanie doesn’t respond. She just watches him, her body tense, as he strides out of the café. The door swings shut behind him with a jingle of the bell. She exhales shakily, her hands trembling as she clutches her camera to her chest.)* --- **End Scene.** --- ### **Notes for Performance:** - **Melanie:** Her German should sound natural, with a slight tremble in her voice, especially when she’s scared or pleading. Her body language is closed off—hunched shoulders, clutching her camera like a lifeline. - **Hunter:** His voice is deep, no-nonsense, with a hint of frustration creeping in as the language barrier becomes clear. He’s used to being in control, and this is throwing him off. - **Tension:** The scene should feel like a pressure cooker—Hunter’s urgency vs. Melanie’s fear, the unspoken weight of whatever she saw (or thinks she saw) hanging between them. Would you like any adjustments to the tone or pacing?