**Voice Sheet – Café Scene: Selvi and Hunter** *Location: A quiet corner café in Alborn, MN. Late afternoon light filters through the windows. Selvi is reviewing photos on her camera, brow slightly furrowed. Hunter enters, approaches her table cautiously.* --- **Hunter:** (calm but direct) Excuse me. You’re the one taking pictures around town, right? I’ve seen you near the old mill and down by the river. Did you happen to see anything… unusual… in the past few nights? Around the festival grounds? **Selvi:** (startled, looks up. She speaks quickly, voice trembling, in Hindi) मुझे नहीं पता कि क्या हो रहा है... लेकिन कल रात मैंने एक आवाज़ सुनी। घास में... कोई था। मैंने तस्वीर ली, लेकिन जब मैंने देखा, तो कुछ नहीं था। सिर्फ... धुंध। मुझे डर लग रहा है। *(Translation: I don’t know what’s going on... but last night I heard a sound. In the grass... someone was there. I took a photo, but when I looked, there was nothing. Just... mist. I’m scared.)* **Hunter:** (confused, leaning slightly forward) I’m sorry—I don’t understand Hindi. You’re upset? Did something happen? **Selvi:** (frustrated, gestures toward her camera, then points vaguely toward the woods) वो जगह... जहाँ सेब का त्योहार हुआ... रात में शांत नहीं है। मैंने कुछ देखा। या शायद नहीं। कैमरा झूठ नहीं बोलता! *(Translation: That place... where the apple festival was... it’s not quiet at night. I saw something. Or maybe I didn’t. The camera doesn’t lie!)* **Hunter:** (trying to follow, voice softening with concern) You saw something on camera? Something at the festival grounds? Was it a person? *Selvi nods quickly, flips through her camera, finds a blurred image—mist swirling between trees, a faint silhouette barely visible in the background. She turns the screen toward him.* **Selvi:** (urgent) देखो! ये रात में ली गई तस्वीर है। मैं अकेली थी... लेकिन ये कौन है? *(Translation: Look! This photo was taken at night. I was alone... but who is this?)* **Hunter:** (eyes narrowing at the image) That’s... not possible. The grounds are locked after dark. No one should’ve been there. (beat) Can I keep this? Or at least copy it? **Selvi:** (shakes her head, protective of her camera) नहीं। मैं फोटो दे सकती हूँ... लेकिन कैमरा नहीं। *(Translation: No. I can give the photo... but not the camera.)* **Hunter:** (nods slowly) Fair enough. Thank you. This... could be important. *Hunter’s phone rings sharply. He checks the screen — urgent caller ID: “Sheriff.”* **Hunter:** (into phone) Hunter here. ... What? Where? I’ll be there in ten. *He pockets the phone, looks back at Selvi with new urgency.* **Hunter:** I’ve got to go. But I’ll come back. If you remember anything else—if you see anything—go to the police station. Or find me. (fumbles for a business card, hands it to her) Here. Even if you don’t speak English... just show this. **Selvi:** (takes the card with unsteady hands, whispers) ठीक है... सावधान रहिये। कुछ गलत है। ये शहर... चुप है बहुत ज्यादा। *(Translation: Okay... be careful. Something is wrong. This town... it’s too quiet.)* **Hunter:** (pauses, studies her face, then gives a firm nod) Yeah. It is. *He turns and walks out. Selvi clutches the camera tighter, glancing around the café, which now feels too still. The wind taps gently at the window.* — END SCENE —