*** **VOICE SHEET** **SCENE:** Alborn Cafe - Afternoon **CHARACTERS:** * **MELANIE** (30s, German, speaks only German, frightened) * **HUNTER** (30s, Detective, no-nonsense, speaks only English) **(Melanie is sitting alone at a small table, staring down at the digital screen on her camera, her expression troubled. Hunter approaches her table.)** Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police Department. Mind if I have a word?" **(Melanie looks up, startled. She clutches her camera to her chest.)** Melanie: "(in German, shaky) Was... was wollen Sie? Bitte, lassen Sie mich in Ruhe." Hunter: "Whoa, easy. I'm not here to cause any trouble. I'm investigating a situation. I was hoping you could help. You were at the Apple Festival on Saturday, right?" **(Hunter gestures towards the town square, mimicking the crowds. Melanie's eyes widen in fear. She shakes her head.)** Melanie: "(in German, a rush of words) Ich verstehe nicht! Ich war nur da, um Fotos zu machen... Landschaften... Ich habe nichts mit dem zu tun haben!" Hunter: "Look, I don't know what language that is, but I can see you're upset. A man went missing during the festival. His name is Arthur Finch. We think someone might have seen something. Did you see anything? Anyone acting strange?" **(Hunter points to his own eyes, then scans the room, trying to act out 'seeing something'. Melanie starts to tremble. She looks down at her camera.)** Melanie: "(in German, a whisper) Ich habe etwas gesehen... aber nicht mit meinen Augen. Es ist auf hier... auf der Kamera. Es war schrecklich." Hunter: "Okay... okay. Calm down. Just breathe." (He holds up his hands in a placating gesture). "Is it... is it on the camera? Did you take a picture of something?" **(Hunter mimes taking a photo with his hands. Melanie nods frantically, tears welling in her eyes. She makes a move as if to turn the camera on, but then stops, shaking her head.)** Melanie: "(in German, terrified) Ich kann nicht! Wenn sie es sehen... sie werden auch mich finden!" Hunter: "Hey, whatever it is, you're safe now. I'm a police officer. You can show me. Whatever you saw, we can handle it." **(He reaches a hand out slowly towards the camera. Melanie flinches away violently, letting out a small cry. Just then, Hunter's phone buzzes loudly. He curses under his breath and pulls it out.)** Hunter: (Into phone) "Hunter. ... Yeah? ... Are you sure? ... Damn. Alright, I'm on my way." **(He hangs up, his face grim. He looks from his phone back to Melanie. He can see the raw terror in her eyes. He pulls a napkin from the dispenser and scribbles on it with a pen.)** Hunter: "I have to go. But this is important. Don't leave town." **(He slides the napkin across the table to her. On it, he's written 'DETECTIVE HUNTER' and a phone number.)** Hunter: "I'm going to find someone who can... translate. You and I, we're going to talk. Don't delete anything from that camera. You understand?" **(He points to the camera, then makes a finger-wagging 'no' gesture. He points to the napkin, then to her, then to himself. Melanie just stares at the napkin, then back at him, her face a mask of fear and confusion. Hunter gives her one last, firm nod, then turns and walks quickly out of the cafe.)** Melanie: "(in German, to herself) Oh mein Gott... was soll ich nur tun?"