Run: 2026-02-16-01KHM63E4B5N2D06WEJE3Q2DF0

**Voice Sheet - The Rustic Bean Cafe** **Setting:** The interior of The Rustic Bean, a cozy cafe in Alborn, MN. The scent of apple-cinnamon muffins is in the air. SELVI (30) sits alone at a small table by the window, her hands cupped around a cooling mug of chai. Her digital camera is on the table, its screen displaying a beautiful, serene photograph of the town's covered bridge from earlier that day. **[SCENE START]** **Hunter:** (Approaching the table, his footsteps firm. He flips open a small notebook, his tone polite but direct) Excuse me, miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I’m hoping you can spare a moment. **Selvi:** (Looks up, startled from her thoughts. She offers a small, hesitant smile, but her eyes are wary) Namaste. **Hunter:** I’m investigating the… incident last night. The disturbance out by the old mill. You were listed as being in the area, taking photographs around sunset. Did you see anything unusual? Anyone acting strangely? **Selvi:** (Her smile vanishes. She looks down at her camera, her fingers tightening on the mug. She speaks softly, rapidly, in Hindi) Haan… waha tha. Main photos le rahi thi. Lekin… ek ajeeb aawaz aayi. Bilkul shor nahi, balki… ek tarah ka gungunahat. Jaise koi roh raha ho. Mujhe bahut darr laga, main waha se chali aayi. (Yes… I was there. I was taking photos. But… there was a strange sound. Not loud, but… a kind of humming. As if someone was weeping. I got very scared, I left from there.) **Hunter:** (Leans in slightly, his brow furrowed in complete confusion. The rapid, unfamiliar language throws him. His no-nonsense demeanor falters for a second) I’m… sorry. English? Do you speak English? **Selvi:** (Shakes her head, her expression growing more distressed. She taps the photo on her camera screen—it shows the mill in the golden-hour light—then points in its direction, mimicking the act of listening with a cupped hand to her ear. She speaks again, more urgently) Darr! Bahut galat mehsoos hua. Koi… koi tha waha. (Fear! It felt very wrong. Someone… someone was there.) **Hunter:** (Sighs, running a hand over his close-cropped hair. He tries miming back, pointing to the camera, then making a ‘question’ gesture with his hands. His voice is patient but strained) A person? Did you see a person? Man? Woman? **Selvi:** (Frustrated, she shakes her head again. She mimes hearing something, then hugging herself in fear, pointing once more toward the mill. She speaks quietly, almost to herself) Aap samjhte nahi hain. Main akele thi. (You don’t understand. I was alone.) **Hunter:** (Nods slowly, though he understands nothing of the words, only her clear fear. He makes a calming, ‘slow down’ gesture with his hands) Okay. Okay. It’s alright. You’re safe now. *(Hunter’s phone rings abruptly on his belt—a sharp, official trill. He holds up a ‘one moment’ finger to Selvi and answers.)* **Hunter:** (Into phone) Hunter. …Where? …Understood. Five minutes. I’m on my way. (He hangs up, his face all business again. He pulls a card from his jacket pocket and places it on the table beside her camera.) **Hunter:** (His tone is final, apologetic) I have to go. That’s my card. If you… remember anything. Or if you find someone who can translate. Please call. **Selvi:** (Looks from the card to his retreating back, her troubled expression deepening. She picks up the card, staring at the embossed badge. She murmurs to the empty space where he stood) Woh aawaz… insaan ki nahi thi. (That sound… it wasn’t human.) **[SCENE END]**