Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNEXBPHWBM4ZRJTW96E5WA1

**Scene: The Apple Core Cafe, Alborn, MN - Late Afternoon** *Marie sits alone at a corner table, her vintage camera resting beside her untouched coffee. She scrolls through photos on the camera's display screen, her expression growing increasingly troubled.* *Hunter approaches, his badge briefly visible. He pulls out the chair across from her.* **Hunter:** "Excuse me. I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police. I need to ask you a few questions about what happened near the orchard last night." *Marie looks up, startled. She responds rapidly in French, her voice shaky.* **Marie:** "Je n'ai rien vu, je vous le jure. C'était horrible. J'étais juste là pour prendre des photos du coucher du soleil, et puis... mon Dieu, ces cris—" **Hunter:** *(blinking, completely lost)* "I'm sorry... what?" *Marie continues, mistaking his confusion for disbelief.* **Marie:** "Je sais que personne ne me croira, mais c'était réel. Quelque chose dans les bois. Quelque chose d'affreux." **Hunter:** *(holding up his hands)* "Ma'am, I'm sorry. I don't... I don't understand what you're saying. Do you speak English?" *Marie shakes her head vigorously, frustration and fear evident in her voice.* **Marie:** "Non, non, je ne parle pas anglais! Pourquoi personne ne m'écoute pas?!" *Hunter sighs and pulls out a small notebook, flipping through pages desperately.* **Hunter:** "Right. Okay. The study abroad program at the university. They said there'd be French students here. Look—" *he points to a sketch in his notebook* "—did you see anyone near the old cider mill last night? Anyone acting strange?" *Marie leans forward, finally understanding the question. She speaks more slowly, but the fear remains in her voice.* **Marie:** "Oui, j'ai vu... un homme. Il marchait vers les arbres. Il avait l'air... perdu. Je l'ai фотографиié. Pour souvenirs." *Hunter looks at her camera, then back at her face.* **Hunter:** "You took a picture? Can I see?" *Marie hesitates, then turns the camera toward him, pointing to a photo of a man in a flannel shirt walking toward the treeline. Hunter's eyes narrow.* **Hunter:** "That's... that's Daniel Reeves. He's been missing for three days." **Marie:** *(gasping)* "Il était vivant? Oh mon Dieu, j'ai vu quelqu'un d'autre aussi—dans les bois—" *Hunter's phone buzzes aggressively. He glances at the screen.* **Hunter:** "I have to take this. Don't—don't leave town." *He steps away, answering the phone.* **Hunter:** "Hunter here." *Marie sits alone, hands trembling around her camera, murmuring in French.* **Marie:** "Il faut que je quitte cet endroit. Quelque chose ne va pas ici. Quelque chose de mal." *The scene ends as Hunter listens intently to the voice on the phone, his expression growing grim.* --- **END SCENE**