Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPKHSQN0KZB0M7YD3AWW1M

Here’s the voice sheet for the scene, capturing the tension, confusion, and language barrier between Maria and Hunter while keeping the cozy mystery tone: --- ### **Voice Sheet: Café Encounter** #### **Setting:** *A quiet café in Alborn, MN. The hum of conversation and clinking cups fills the air. Maria sits alone at a corner table, her camera in hand, reviewing photos. Hunter approaches, his expression serious.* --- **Hunter:** *(firm, no-nonsense)* "Miss? Mind if I ask you a few questions?" **Maria:** *(startled, switching to rapid Spanish, hands trembling slightly as she clutches her camera)* "¿Yo? ¿Por qué? No he hecho nada… ¿Qué pasa aquí? La gente sigue desapareciendo, y ahora usted me pregunta a mí—" *(She glances around nervously, voice dropping to a whisper.)* "—¿Cree que *yo* tengo algo que ver con eso?" **Hunter:** *(frowning, arms crossed, confused by the language barrier)* "Look, I don’t know what you’re saying, but I need you to answer in English. You were near the old mill yesterday, right?" **Maria:** *(frustrated, gesturing wildly with her free hand while the other grips her camera tighter)* "¡No entiendo! ¿*Molino*? Sí, estuve allí—tomando *fotos*—! Pero no vi nada extraño, solo…" *(She hesitates, then lowers her voice, eyes darting.)* "...sombras. Como si alguien *me estuviera observando*." **Hunter:** *(leaning in slightly, picking up on her fear even if he doesn’t understand the words)* "You’re scared. Did you see something? *Anyone?*" *(He pulls out a small notepad, flipping to a sketch of a shadowy figure—one linked to the disappearances.)* **Hunter:** *(pointing at the sketch, voice gruff but urgent)* "Was it *this* guy?" **Maria:** *(gasps, recoiling slightly, then nods rapidly before catching herself)* "¡Dios mío—! Sí—! Pero no sé quién es, solo que…" *(She trails off, then suddenly grabs Hunter’s wrist, her voice a desperate whisper.)* "¡Él *huele* a manzanas podridas!" *(Hunter’s eyes narrow—*rotten apples*—a detail not in any report. Before he can press further, his phone rings. He glances at the screen, then back at Maria, conflicted.)* **Hunter:** *(gritting his teeth, already stepping back)* "Stay in town. Don’t go near that mill again." *(He answers the call, barking into the phone as he strides away.)* "Hunter. …Yeah, I’m on my way." **Maria:** *(muttering to herself in Spanish, gripping her camera like a lifeline as she watches him leave)* "¿Qué está pasando en este pueblo…?" --- ### **Notes for Delivery:** - **Maria:** Her lines should start **shaky and defensive**, growing more **urgent and fearful** as she realizes Hunter might be her only ally—if she could just make him *understand*. Her grip on her camera is a **physical tell** of her anxiety. - **Hunter:** His tone is **all business**, but there’s a **subtle shift** when he realizes she’s genuinely terrified. The moment she mentions the *rotten apples*, his voice should drop **half an octave**—that’s his detective instinct kicking in. - **Language Barrier:** The frustration should be **palpable**. Hunter’s **repetition of questions in English** (louder, slower) contrasts with Maria’s **rapid, emotional Spanish**. - **Café Ambience:** Soft clinks of dishes, murmured conversations, and the **abrupt ring of Hunter’s phone** should punctuate the tension. --- This scene sets up: 1. **Maria’s hidden knowledge** (the shadowy figure, the eerie detail of rotten apples). 2. **Hunter’s realization** that she might be a *witness*, not a suspect—if he can bridge the language gap. 3. **The town’s mystery deepening**—why does the kidnapper smell like *spoiled apples* in a town famous for its apple festival? Would you like any adjustments to heighten the cozy mystery tone (e.g., more quirky town details, a nosy café owner eavesdropping)?