**Voice Sheet – Café Encounter in Alborn, MN** *Setting: A quiet corner of the Alborn Diner, early afternoon. Marie is reviewing photos on her camera, brow furrowed. Hunter enters, badge subtly visible, and approaches her table.* --- **Hunter:** Ma’am, mind if I ask you a few questions? I’m with the county sheriff’s office. You’ve been staying in town a few days, according to the innkeeper. **Marie:** *(startled, looks up)* Quoi ? Je… je ne comprends pas. Vous parlez français ? **Hunter:** *(squinting slightly)* I’m sorry—do you speak English? **Marie:** *(shaking her head, voice trembling)* Non… non, je ne parle pas anglais. Je suis désolée. Je suis perdue… ce que j’ai vu… dans la forêt… hier soir… **Hunter:** *(leaning in, trying to read her expression)* You saw something? In the woods? When? **Marie:** *(gesturing with her camera, frustrated)* J’ai pris des photos… la lumière… elle n’était pas normale. Et puis… quelqu’un criait. Mais personne… personne n’était là. **Hunter:** Photos? You took pictures out in the woods last night? Around what time? **Marie:** *(still in French, agitated)* Il était presque minuit. Je voulais photographier les étoiles… mais l’appareil… regardez ! *(She turns the camera screen toward him, showing a blurred image of the treeline with a strange glow.)* **Hunter:** *(leaning closer, suddenly serious)* That wasn’t a campfire… That’s not a normal light signature. Where exactly was this? **Marie:** Près du vieux verger. Derrière l’école abandonnée… **Hunter:** The old orchard? That’s private land now. You shouldn’t be back there after dark. **Marie:** *(shaking her head)* Je ne savais pas ! Et maintenant… je sens qu’on me suit. Depuis hier. **Hunter:** You feel like you’re being followed? *(pauses, realizing she won’t understand)* Look… I don’t know what you’re saying, but your face says it all. You’re scared. And this photo… it’s important. *(His radio crackles. Then his phone rings. He hesitates, looks at the caller ID — “Sheriff Reed.”)* **Hunter:** I gotta take this. Stay here. Don’t go back to the woods. *(He points firmly at her, then walks away a few steps, answering the call.)* Hunter. *(Over the phone: urgent voice — “Hunter, we found another one. Footprints near the orchard gate. And a jacket — not military, but the stitching… same as the others.”)* **Hunter:** *(low, tense)* On my way. Keep the perimeter sealed. No one in or out. *(Hangs up, turns back to Marie.)* **Hunter:** I have to go. But I’ll be back. And… thank you. For the photo. Take care. *(He gives her a firm nod, then strides out of the café, casting one last glance toward her camera. Marie watches him leave, clutching her camera tightly, whispering to herself.)* **Marie:** *(softly, in French)* S’il te plaît… qu’est-ce qui se passe ici ?