# Voice Sheet — Cafe Encounter **Setting:** *The Apple Seed Cafe, Alborn, MN. Late afternoon light streams through the window. Melanie sits alone at a corner table, her camera cradled in her hands, scrolling through photos. Her coffee has gone cold.* --- Hunter: "Excuse me, miss? I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police Department. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" Melanie: *She looks up, eyes widening slightly.* "Entschuldigung... ich verstehe nicht." *She shakes her head, gesturing helplessly.* Hunter: *He frowns, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her.* "I'm investigating the disappearances. Three people have gone missing in the past month. I heard you were at the orchard yesterday, near the old mill." Melanie: *Her face drains of color. She grips the camera tighter.* "Ich... ich habe etwas gesehen. Da im Wald. Ein Schatten. Ich weiß nicht—" *Her voice trembles.* "Es war falsch. Alles war so still." Hunter: *He exhales sharply, frustrated.* "I don't— look, I don't speak German. Do you understand anything I'm saying?" *He speaks slower, enunciating.* "Missing. People. Gone." Melanie: *She nods quickly, recognizing his intent if not his words. She points to her camera, then to the window, mimicking taking a photo.* "Fotos. Ich habe Fotos gemacht." *She turns the camera toward him, scrolling frantically until she finds a blurry image of treeline near dusk— and a dark figure barely visible at the edge of the frame.* "Da. Sehen Sie?" Hunter: *He leans forward, squinting at the screen.* "What the hell is that?" *He looks up at her sharply.* "Where did you take this? The orchard? The mill?" *He points to the photo, then to the window, trying to communicate.* Melanie: *She nods vigorously, pointing toward the north side of town. "Ja, ja! Norden. Bei der alten Mühle. Ich war so Angst—" *She presses a hand to her chest, her breathing shallow.* "Ich habe gerannt. Nur gerannt." Hunter: "Okay, okay— you were scared. I can see that." *He pulls out a small notepad, scribbling something down.* "I need to see these photos. All of them. Can you— can you come to the station? Tomorrow morning?" Melanie: *She hesitates, biting her lip.* "Ich... ich weiß nicht. Polizeistation?" *She makes a uncertain face, clearly catching only bits of meaning.* Hunter: *He sighs heavily.* "This would be a lot easier if—" *His phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He holds up a finger, answering.* "Hunter. ...What? When?" *He stands abruptly, his expression darkening.* "I'm on my way." Melanie: *She watches him rise, clutching her camera to her chest.* "Was ist passiert?" Hunter: *He looks down at her, his jaw tight.* "I have to go. Stay in town. Don't leave Alborn." *He holds her gaze for a moment, then turns and strides toward the door, already speaking rapidly into his phone.* *The cafe door swings shut behind him. Melanie sits alone, staring at the photograph on her camera screen— the dark figure among the trees— her hands trembling slightly as the afternoon light fades.* --- **[END SCENE]**