# Scene: The Café on Main Street *The morning light filters through the front windows of Birch & Brew, Alborn's only café. Maria sits alone at a corner table near the window, scrolling through photographs on her camera's display screen — images of the lake at dawn, the tree line painted in autumn gold. A half-finished cup of coffee sits beside her. The bell above the door chimes as Hunter walks in, his boots heavy on the worn hardwood floor. He scans the room with practiced eyes, and they settle on the young woman with the camera. He approaches.* --- Hunter: "Morning. Mind if I sit down for a minute?" Maria: *looks up, startled, clutching the camera closer* "¿Perdona? No... no entiendo." Hunter: "I'm Detective Hunter Brandt. I'm investigating some things happening around town." *pulls out his badge and sets it on the table* "You've been out taking pictures around here, yeah? Around the lake, the old orchard?" Maria: *stares at the badge, then back at him, her brow furrowed* "¿Policía? ¿Es usted policía?" Hunter: "I... I'm sorry, I don't—do you speak English?" Maria: *shakes her head slowly* "No hablo inglés. Lo siento, lo siento mucho." Hunter: *exhales, rubs the back of his neck* "Okay. Alright. That's... that's going to make this harder." *gestures toward her camera* "Your camera. Pictures. Did you see anything strange last night? Anything... unusual?" *mimes looking around, points out the window toward the lake* Maria: *her eyes widen, and something shifts in her expression — a flash of fear* "¿Anoche? Yo... yo estaba en el lago anoche. Vi algo. Vi algo que no debería haber visto." *her voice drops, trembling* "Había alguien allí. Alguien arrastrando algo hacia el bosque. No sé qué era. Dios mío, no sé qué era." Hunter: *leans forward, reading the fear on her face even without understanding the words* "Hey. Hey, take it easy. You saw something, didn't you? Something at the lake?" Maria: *nods urgently, her hands shaking as she turns the camera around and begins scrolling through images — dark, blurry shapes between trees, the ghostly outline of a figure near the water's edge* "Mire. Mire esto. Yo estaba sacando fotos de las estrellas y entonces escuché un ruido. Un ruido horrible. Como si alguien estuviera gritando, pero luego se paró de golpe." Hunter: *squints at the camera screen, his jaw tightening* "Jesus. That's... that's down by the north shore. Can you—" *points at the camera, then makes a giving gesture* "Can I see more?" Maria: *pulls the camera back protectively, her eyes glistening* "Tengo miedo. Esa persona... creo que me vio. Creo que sabe que estaba allí. Esta mañana había marcas de barro en la puerta de mi alojamiento. Alguien estuvo allí." Hunter: *watches her, helpless, frustration creasing his forehead* "I wish I could understand you. I really do. You're scared — I can see that. Whatever you saw out there..." *taps the badge on the table* "I'm going to help. Okay? Help." *points to himself, then to her* Maria: *wipes her eyes quickly, nods* "¿Ayudarme? ¿Usted va a ayudarme?" Hunter: "Yeah. Yeah, that's right." *tries a small, reassuring nod* "I need to find someone who can translate. Traducir? Is that—no, I don't even know if that's a word." Maria: *a faint, fragile smile crosses her lips* "Traducir. Sí. Necesitamos a alguien que traduzca." Hunter: "Okay. Okay, good, I think we're getting somewhere—" *His phone buzzes sharply in his jacket pocket. He holds up a finger and answers.* Hunter: "Brandt... Yeah. Where?... You're kidding me. Another one?... The orchard on County Road 7?... I'm on my way. Ten minutes." *He hangs up, his face grim. He stands, then pauses, looking down at Maria with something close to guilt.* Hunter: "I have to go. There's been... I have to go." *pulls a card from his jacket and sets it on the table beside the badge he retrieves* "That's my number. If you can find someone to help you call me — please." *points to the card, then to the phone, then to himself* Maria: *takes the card, turning it over in her trembling fingers* "¿Se va? Pero... yo tengo las fotos. Tengo pruebas. No me deje sola con esto, por favor." Hunter: *holds up both hands gently* "I'll be back. I promise. Back." *points down at the table, then holds up a finger* "Soon." Maria: *clutches the card against her chest, watching him move toward the door* "...Tenga cuidado." *Hunter pauses at the door, glances back. He doesn't understand the words, but something in her voice makes him nod — slowly, solemnly — before pushing out into the cold Minnesota morning. The bell chimes behind him. Maria sits alone again, staring at the blurry figure on her camera screen, the coffee beside her gone cold.*