Run: 2026-02-08-01KGYZB3SS1CFKAJRH9MNRD66Y

**Setting:** A small, cozy cafe in Alborn. The air smells of coffee and cinnamon. Marie sits alone at a small wooden table, her camera on the table in front of her. She isn't looking out the window at the quaint street, but down at the device in her hands, her thumb hovering over the playback button as if afraid to press it. *** Marie: *(muttering to herself in French)* Mon Dieu... qu'est-ce que j'ai vu... **(Hunter approaches the table, his expression serious but not unkind. He clears his throat.)** Hunter: Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter. Alborn Police Department. **(Marie jumps, startled. She clutches her camera to her chest, her eyes wide with fear.)** Marie: Qui êtes-vous? Qu'est-ce que vous voulez? Laissez-moi tranquille! Hunter: Whoa, easy. I'm not here to hurt you. I just have a few questions. You were at the apple festival on Saturday, right? **(Hunter gestures vaguely, as if mimicking picking an apple. Marie just stares, confused and frightened.)** Hunter: The festival. Saturday. Big event. You were there. Marie: Le festival... oui, j'y étais. Mais je ne veux pas en parler. C'était... c'était terrible. Hunter: Ma'am, I don't understand what you're saying. Do you speak any English? **(Marie shakes her head, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. Her breathing becomes ragged.)** Marie: Je ne comprends pas! Pourquoi ne comprenez-vous pas? Il faut que vous écoutiez! J'ai vu quelque chose... quelqu'un... près du stand à cid... Hunter: Okay, just... calm down. Take a breath. I can see you're upset. **(Hunter pulls out a chair and sits, trying to look non-threatening. He points to himself.)** Hunter: Hunter. Police. **(He taps the badge on his belt. Then he points to her, a questioning look on his face.)** Marie: Marie. Je suis étudiante. Je ne suis impliquée dans rien, je vous jure. Je prenais juste des photos, comme toujours. Hunter: Marie. Okay. That's a start. Look, there were some... disturbances at the festival. People went missing. We think someone might have seen something. Did you see anything unusual? Anyone who didn't fit in? **(He mimes looking around with binoculars, then shrugs. Marie seems to understand the intent of his question, and her face crumples.)** Marie: Oui! Oh mon dieu, oui! C'est pour ça que je suis comme ça! L'homme dans le grand manteau... il a traîné cette femme... elle ne bougeait pas... **(She starts talking faster, her hands flying, her voice rising in panic. Hunter holds up his hands, trying to slow her down.)** Hunter: Whoa, slow down. I'm not getting any of that. Man? Woman? What are you saying? **(In her frustration, Marie's eyes fall to her camera. An idea sparks. She frantically turns it on and navigates to the photos, her fingers trembling. She shoves the camera across the table, pointing to the screen.)** Marie: Regardez! C'est là! La photo! Vous voyez? Dans l'ombre, derrière la roue de la fortune! **(Hunter leans in, squinting at the small screen. He can see a festive shot of the festival, a Ferris wheel in the background. He can't make out what she's pointing at in the shadows. Before he can ask her to zoom in, his phone rings. He fumbles for it, annoyed.)** Hunter: *(to Marie)* One second. **(He answers the call, his voice instantly shifting to professional mode.)** Hunter: Hunter. Yeah?... When?... Damn it. Okay, I'm on my way. Five minutes. **(He hangs up and looks at Marie, a deep frustration in his eyes. He points to the camera, then to himself, then back to her, trying to convey 'I'll be back for this'.)** Hunter: I have to go. Don't go anywhere. Please. This is important. We'll get a translator. Just... stay here. **(He stands and rushes out of the cafe, leaving Marie staring after him. She looks down at the camera, then back at the empty doorway, a fresh wave of despair washing over her.)** Marie: *(whispering)* Non... revenez...