Run: 2026-02-08-01KGYXPBNX27ZHEZKS9Y3YKE0H

# Voice Sheet: The Café Encounter --- Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am? Mind if I sit down for a moment?" Selvi: *(looks up from her camera, startled)* "...हाँ? क्या हुआ?" *(Yes? What happened?)* Hunter: "I'm Detective Hunter Graves. I'm investigating some disappearances here in town. Were you anywhere near the old mill on Route 7 last Tuesday evening?" Selvi: *(her eyes widen, her grip tightening on the camera)* "वो जगह... हाँ, मैं वहाँ थी। मैं तस्वीरें ले रही थी — सूरज डूब रहा था और रोशनी बहुत सुंदर थी। लेकिन फिर... फिर मैंने कुछ देखा। कुछ अजीब। मुझे बहुत डर लगा।" *(That place... yes, I was there. I was taking photographs — the sun was setting and the light was so beautiful. But then... then I saw something. Something strange. I was very scared.)* Hunter: *(blinks, leans back slightly)* "I'm sorry — I don't... Do you speak English?" Selvi: *(shakes her head slowly, gesturing apologetically)* "मुझे अंग्रेज़ी नहीं आती। मैं समझ नहीं पा रही हूँ आप क्या कह रहे हैं। काश मैं आपको बता पाती कि मैंने क्या देखा।" *(I don't know English. I can't understand what you're saying. I wish I could tell you what I saw.)* Hunter: "Okay... okay. Uh..." *(points to her camera, then to his own eyes, then gestures toward the direction of the old mill)* "Did you *see* anything? Out there?" Selvi: *(understanding his gestures, she nods vigorously, her face becoming pale)* "हाँ! हाँ, मैंने देखा! एक आदमी... एक आदमी किसी को खींचकर ले जा रहा था जंगल में। अँधेरा था लेकिन मैंने देखा। मैंने तस्वीर भी खींची।" *(Yes! Yes, I saw! A man... a man was dragging someone into the woods. It was dark but I saw. I even took a photograph.)* Hunter: *(frustrated, runs a hand through his hair)* "I wish I could understand you. You seem like you know something. You keep looking at that camera..." Selvi: *(flips through her camera, turns the screen toward him, hands trembling)* "देखिए... ये देखिए। ये तस्वीर। इसमें वो आदमी है। चेहरा साफ़ नहीं दिख रहा लेकिन ये सबूत है। आप समझ रहे हैं न? प्लीज़... प्लीज़ समझिए।" *(Look... look at this. This photograph. That man is in it. The face isn't clear but this is evidence. You understand, right? Please... please understand.)* Hunter: *(leans in, squinting at the camera screen)* "Is that — is that out by the mill? That's a person. That's definitely a person. Who is—" Selvi: *(points at the dark figure on the screen, then at the woods visible through the café window)* "वो आदमी... वहाँ... जंगल में ले गया किसी को। मुझे बहुत डर लग रहा है। मुझे लगता है वो जानता है कि मैंने उसे देखा।" *(That man... there... took someone into the woods. I'm very scared. I think he knows that I saw him.)* Hunter: "You're scared. I can see that." *(speaks slowly, points to himself)* "I'm going to help. *Help.*" *(gives a reassuring nod)* Selvi: *(clutches the camera to her chest, nods hesitantly)* "मुझे उम्मीद है कि आप समझ रहे हैं। मैं यहाँ अकेली हूँ। मुझे नहीं पता किससे बात करूँ।" *(I hope you understand. I'm alone here. I don't know who to talk to.)* Hunter: *(pulls out a card, writes his phone number in large digits, slides it across the table)* "Take this. If anything happens, you call this number. *Call.*" *(mimes holding a phone to his ear)* Selvi: *(takes the card, studies it, then tucks it carefully into her jacket pocket)* "शुक्रिया। मैं... शुक्रिया।" *(Thank you. I... thank you.)* Hunter: "I'm going to find someone who can translate and I'll come back to—" *(His phone buzzes sharply. He glances at the screen, jaw tightening.)* Hunter: "Damn it. I have to take this." *(answers the phone)* "Graves here... What? Another one? Where — the quarry road? I'm on my way." Selvi: *(watching him anxiously)* "क्या हुआ? आप जा रहे हैं? लेकिन मैंने अभी आपको सब कुछ नहीं बताया—" *(What happened? You're leaving? But I haven't told you everything yet—)* Hunter: *(stands, holds up a hand gently)* "I'll be back. I *will* be back." *(points to her, then to the café, then to himself, and holds up one finger — hoping she understands)* "Stay safe." Selvi: *(watches him push through the café door into the grey Alborn afternoon, then looks down at her camera, at the dark blurred figure frozen on the screen, and whispers to herself)* "कोई मेरी बात नहीं समझ सकता यहाँ... और वो आदमी अभी भी बाहर है।" *(No one can understand me here... and that man is still out there.)* --- *End of scene.*