Run: 2026-02-17-01KHNEY55665QC0FFYE6GNYS0Y

# Scene: Alborn Cafe - Afternoon Isabella sits at a small corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera. She pauses on one image— a misty morning shot of the apple orchard— and sighs, her expression uneasy. Hunter approaches the table, holding a notepad. He taps it gently against his palm. **Hunter:** "Excuse me. I'm Detective Hunter. I'm investigating the recent... incidents in town. Mind if I ask you a few questions?" Isabella looks up, startled. She shakes her head uncertainly. **Isabella:** "Mi dispiace, non capisco. Parla italiano?" *(I'm sorry, I don't understand. Do you speak Italian?)* Hunter frowns, completely lost. He flips through his notepad, then points to a photograph taped to the page— it shows a woman. **Hunter:** "You... see this woman? She's missing. Were you here at the festival? Last week?" Isabella's face pales. She clutches her camera tighter. **Isabella:** "Oh, mio Dio... la ragazza... l'ho vista vicino al fiume. Era agitata, aveva paura." *(Oh, my God... the girl... I saw her near the river. She was agitated, she was scared.)* Hunter blinks, rubbing his temple. **Hunter:** "I have absolutely no idea what you just said. Is that a yes? Did you see something?" Isabella gestures frantically, pointing toward the window, then mimics someone walking nervously. **Isabella:** "Il fiume! Il fiume, vicino agli alberi! Lei camminava veloce— qualcuno la seguiva!" *(The river! The river, near the trees! She was walking fast— someone was following her!)* Hunter pulls up a chair, sitting down heavily. He mimes writing, then points at Isabella. **Hunter:** "Okay. Okay. Let me try this. You... saw something. Important. Yes?" Isabella nods vigorously, relief crossing her features that he's understood something. **Isabella:** "Sì, sì! Ho visto tutto con la mia macchina fotografica. Le foto... le ho qui." *(Yes, yes! I saw everything with my camera. The photos... I have them here.)* She turns her camera toward Hunter, showing him the image on the screen. Hunter leans in, his eyes narrowing. **Hunter:** "That's... that's the orchard trail. Near the river. This is good. This is really good." Isabella smiles weakly, then her expression darkens again. **Isabella:** "Detective... ho paura. Qualcuno mi ha vista. Mi hanno seguita." *(Detective... I'm afraid. Someone saw me. They followed me.)* Hunter's radio crackles. He holds up a finger to Isabella. **Hunter:** "Hold on." He listens to the dispatch, his jaw tightening. **Hunter:** "We've got another one. I'm sorry— I have to go. But this—" he taps the camera gently. "—this stays with you. Don't show it to anyone else. Understand?" Isabella looks frightened but nods. **Isabella:** "Va bene. Stia attento." *(Okay. Be careful.)* Hunter stands, pulling out a business card and sliding it across the table. **Hunter:** "Call me if anyone approaches you. Anyone at all." He turns and exits quickly, leaving Isabella alone with her camera, the photograph of the missing woman glowing on the screen. --- **END SCENE**