# Voice Sheet: Café Encounter **Setting: A small café on Main Street in Alborn, MN. Melanie sits alone at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera with trembling hands.** --- Hunter: "Excuse me, miss? Mind if I sit down for a moment?" Melanie: *looks up, startled* "Oh... ja? Hallo?" Hunter: "I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating some incidents around town. I noticed you've been taking photographs around the area. Were you by any chance near the old mill yesterday evening?" Melanie: *eyes widening* "Die alte Mühle? Ja, ich war dort. Es war... es war schrecklich. Ich habe etwas gesehen—jemanden—ich weiß nicht. Es ging alles so schnell." Hunter: *frowning, leaning forward* "I'm sorry, I don't... Are you saying you saw something?" Melanie: *nodding vigorously, gesturing with her hands* "Ja! Ja, ich habe etwas gesehen! Eine Person, sie ist einfach... verschwunden. In den Wald. Ich habe Fotos gemacht, aber es war so dunkel, ich weiß nicht ob—" *trails off, clutching her camera* Hunter: "Photos? You took photos?" *points at the camera* "Can I see?" Melanie: *understanding his gesture, holds up camera* "Die Fotos? Ja, aber... sie sind nicht gut. Zu dunkel. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, was ich gesehen habe. Es hat mir Angst gemacht." Hunter: *rubbing his temple* "I really wish I understood what you were saying. You seem pretty shaken up." Melanie: *frustrated sigh* "Ich spreche kein Englisch. Warum spricht hier niemand Deutsch? Das ist so schwierig." Hunter: "German, right? That's German? Look, is there someone I can call? Someone who can translate?" Melanie: *shaking her head helplessly* "Ich verstehe Sie nicht. Tut mir leid." Hunter: *pulling out a notepad, sketching a rough figure and pointing questioningly* Melanie: *leaning in, pointing at his sketch* "Ja! Eine Person! Groß, dunkle Kleidung. Sie haben jemanden getragen—ich glaube, sie haben jemanden getragen!" Hunter: "Carrying... you're making a carrying motion. Someone was carrying something? Someone?" *Hunter's phone rings* Hunter: *answering* "Hunter here. ...What? Another one? I'm on my way." *hangs up, looks at Melanie apologetically* "I have to go. But I need to talk to you again." *takes out a business card, writes the café's address and "10 AM tomorrow" with a question mark, slides it across the table* Melanie: *takes the card, nods slowly* "Morgen? Zehn Uhr? Ja... ja, ich werde hier sein. Bitte, Sie müssen herausfinden, was passiert ist. Ich habe solche Angst." Hunter: *standing, tipping an imaginary hat* "Tomorrow. I'll find a translator. Stay safe, miss." Melanie: *quietly, watching him leave* "Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Detektiv. Ich hoffe, Sie finden die Wahrheit." --- *End of scene*