Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPC6JK8JF5V91G06JHYFKQ

**Voice Sheet: Café Conversation** *(Melanie sits at a small outdoor table, her camera resting in her lap. She flips through the photos on the display, her brow furrowed. Hunter approaches, his expression serious but not unkind.)* **Hunter:** *(clears throat, standing a respectful distance away)* Excuse me, miss? Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? **Melanie:** *(startled, looks up, then relaxes slightly when she sees his badge)* Oh—ja? Äh… *you*… sprechen…? *(shakes head, frustrated)* Nein, nein, ich verstehe nicht. *(points to her camera, then gestures vaguely toward the town)* Ich war nur… fotografieren. **Hunter:** *(frowns, rubbing the back of his neck)* Uh… right. Okay. *(tries again, slower)* I’m Detective Hunter. There was an… incident near the orchard last night. Did you see anything unusual? **Melanie:** *(eyes widen, voice trembling)* Der Obstgarten? *(shakes head vehemently)* Nein, nein, ich war nicht dort! Ich war am See—der See! *(mimes waves with her hands, then points to her camera)* Nur Fotos. Aber… *(voice drops, uneasy)* Ich habe etwas gehört. Ein Schrei. *(shudders)* So… so weit weg. Und dann… *(trails off, hugs herself)* **Hunter:** *(leans in slightly, tone gentle despite the language barrier)* A scream? You heard a scream? **Melanie:** *(nods rapidly)* Ja! Ein Schrei. Und dann… *(mimes something vanishing with her hands)* Weg. Alles still. **Hunter:** *(pulls out a small notepad, flips to a blank page, and sketches a rough map of the town, pointing to the lake and the orchard)* Here? And here? **Melanie:** *(studies the map, then points to the lake)* Hier. Ich war hier. Aber der Schrei… *(points toward the orchard, then makes a questioning gesture)* Vielleicht… dort? **Hunter:** *(nods, jotting notes)* Okay. That helps. *(pauses, then tries a different approach)* Do you… have photos? From the lake? **Melanie:** *(brightens slightly, flips through her camera, then turns the display toward him)* Ja! Hier. *(points to a photo of the lake at dusk, then scrolls to another)* Und hier… *(zooms in on a dark shape near the tree line, barely visible)* **Hunter:** *(squints at the photo, then looks up sharply)* That wasn’t there before. *(points to the shape)* What is that? **Melanie:** *(shakes her head, confused)* Ich weiß nicht. Vielleicht ein Tier? Oder… *(trails off, uneasy again)* Oder nein. *(Hunter’s phone rings abruptly. He answers, listening intently, his expression darkening.)* **Hunter:** *(into phone)* Yeah, I’m on my way. *(hangs up, then turns back to Melanie, switching to a more urgent tone)* Miss, I have to go. But… *(hesitates, then pulls out a business card and hands it to her)* If you remember anything else—anything at all—call me. *(points to the card, then to his ear, miming a phone call)* **Melanie:** *(takes the card, nods)* Ja. Ich… ich rufe an. **Hunter:** *(gives her a tight nod, then turns to leave, but pauses)* And… *(points to her camera)* Be careful, okay? **Melanie:** *(clutches her camera, whispering)* Danke. *(Hunter strides away, leaving Melanie staring after him, her fingers tightening around her camera.)*