# Voice Sheet: The Language Barrier --- **Marie:** *murmuring to herself in French, staring at her camera display* "Quelque chose n'allait pas... ces ombres... je ne comprends pas." **Hunter:** *approaching the table, pulling out a chair* "Mind if I sit? Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Got a few questions for you." **Marie:** *looking up startled* "Pardon? Je... je ne comprends pas." **Hunter:** *flashing his badge* "I said I'm with the police. We're investigating the disappearances. I heard you were at the orchard yesterday. The Jensen property." **Marie:** *face draining of color, hands trembling on her camera* "Disparitions? Oh mon Dieu... j'ai vu... hier..." *she gestures frantically* "Là-bas, dans les pommes... quelque chose de mal." **Hunter:** *furrowing his brow* "Look, lady, I don't know what you're saying. You speak English? English?" *speaking slower and louder* **Marie:** *shaking her head, eyes welling with tears* "Non, non... je suis désolée. Français. Je suis française." *she points to her camera desperately* "Photos. J'ai des photos. Regardez!" **Hunter:** *sighing heavily* "Photos? You have photos? Of the orchard?" **Marie:** *nodding vigorously, turning the camera toward him* "Oui! Oui! Regardez... hier soir..." *she scrolls through images, stopping at one, her hand shaking* "Voilà. Vous voyez? Il y a quelqu'un... dans l'ombre." **Hunter:** *leaning in to study the screen* "Wait... is that... that's one of the missing persons. When was this taken? When?" *making a gesture to indicate time* **Marie:** *understanding his intent, holding up five fingers, then pointing to the setting sun outside* "Cinq heures. Hier. Before... before the sun gone." *struggling with broken English* **Hunter:** *grimly* "5 PM yesterday. And you saw this person? Were they alive? Moving?" *mimics walking with his fingers* **Marie:** *swallowing hard, her voice barely above a whisper* "Oui... vivant. But..." *she wraps her arms around herself* "Someone else. Someone watching. J'ai senti... j'ai senti qu'on m'observait." **Hunter:** *frustrated but recognizing her fear* "Someone else was there? Who? Did you see them?" *squeezing his eyes shut in frustration* "Damn it. I wish you spoke English." **Marie:** *quietly, guiltily* "Je suis désolée. Désolée..." **Hunter:** *his phone buzzing in his pocket, holding up a finger* "Hold on." *answering the call* "Hunter here. ... What? ... Another one? Where? ... The cider mill. I'm on my way." *hanging up and standing abruptly* **Marie:** *looking up at him with wide, frightened eyes* "Qu'est-ce qui se passe? Another... another disappearance?" **Hunter:** *grabbing his jacket, jaw tight* "Yeah. Another one. Stay in town. Don't leave Alborn, you understand? Stay." *he points firmly at her, then at the ground* **Marie:** *nodding slowly* "Je reste. I stay." **Hunter:** *already walking away* "And keep those photos safe. I'll be back. I'll find someone who speaks French." **Marie:** *watching him go, hugging her camera to her chest* "Mon Dieu... faites que ça s'arrête." --- *End of Voice Sheet*