Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ0Z7NXWFCBDZGFZ23AJ53

Here’s the dialogue formatted as a **voice sheet** for your cozy mystery scene, capturing the tension, language barrier, and underlying unease between Marie and Hunter. --- ### **Scene: The Café in Alborn, MN** *Setting: A quiet, rustic café with the hum of distant conversation. Marie sits alone at a corner table, her camera in hand, scrolling through photos with a furrowed brow. Hunter approaches, his expression serious. He pulls out the chair across from her without asking.* --- **HUNTER** *(gruff, no-nonsense)* "Miss. You were at the old mill yesterday afternoon, weren’t you?" **MARIE** *(startled, gripping her camera tighter, responds in rapid French)* "Quoi? Le moulin? Oui, j’y étais… mais pourquoi? Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé?" *(What? The mill? Yes, I was there… but why? What happened?)* **HUNTER** *(frowning, leaning in slightly)* "Look, I don’t know what you just said, but I need you to answer in English. Did you see anything unusual? Anyone hanging around who shouldn’t have been?" **MARIE** *(shaking her head, voice rising with frustration and fear)* "Je ne comprends pas! Vous parlez français? S’il vous plaît, c’est important!" *(I don’t understand! Do you speak French? Please, it’s important!)* **HUNTER** *(exhales sharply, rubbing his temple)* "Damn it. *(pulls out his phone, taps it a few times, then holds up a translation app)* Alright, let’s try this. *(speaks slowly, enunciating)* Did. You. See. Any. One. At. The. Mill?" **MARIE** *(eyes widening as she reads the translated text on his screen, then whispers in French)* "Un homme… il m’a regardée bizarrement. Et après, j’ai entendu un cri. Mais quand je suis retournée, il n’y avait personne." *(A man… he was staring at me strangely. And then, I heard a scream. But when I went back, no one was there.)* **HUNTER** *(types furiously into the app, then reads the translation. His jaw tightens.)* "(Reading aloud) *‘A man stared at you. Then a scream. But no one was there.’*" *(leans forward, voice low)* You’re telling me you heard a scream at the mill and *didn’t* report it? **MARIE** *(defensive, gesturing wildly)* "J’ai essayé! Personne ne m’a crue! Ils ont dit que je devais me tromper, que c’était le vent!" *(I tried! No one believed me! They said I must’ve been mistaken, that it was the wind!)* **HUNTER** *(grunts, typing again. The app spits out the translation. He pinches the bridge of his nose.)* "(Muttering) Great. Just great." *(looks up at her, tone softer but still firm)* Stay in town. Don’t go back to that mill. *(points at her camera)* And if you’ve got photos from yesterday, I’ll need to see ’em. **MARIE** *(nodding rapidly, relief flooding her voice)* "Oui, oui, bien sûr! Je peux vous les montrer maintenant!" *(Yes, yes, of course! I can show them to you now!)* **HUNTER** *(holds up a hand, then his phone rings. He glances at the screen, curses under his breath.)* "Gotta take this. *(stands abruptly, already answering)* Yeah? … I’m on my way." *(pauses, looks back at Marie)* Don’t. Move. *(He strides out of the café, leaving Marie clutching her camera, her expression a mix of fear and determination.)* --- ### **Notes for Tone & Delivery:** - **Marie:** Starts **nervous and flustered**, voice shaking. Grows more **urgent and emotional** as she realizes Hunter might be the first person to take her seriously. French lines should be **rapid and breathless**, with a thick accent if voiced. - **Hunter:** **Gruff and impatient**, but with an undercurrent of **controlled intensity**. His frustration with the language barrier should be palpable, but he’s not unkind—just **laser-focused** on the case. His voice drops to a **low, serious register** when he realizes the gravity of her statement. Would you like any adjustments to the pacing or emotional beats? Or additional context for their body language?