Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ3BPZXFYXD6FG7TH9D9GC

**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. *(gestures to her camera, then to the street, voice trembling)* Ich war hier… fotografieren. Aber dann… *(trails off, hugs herself, eyes darting around nervously)* **Hunter:** *(frowns, rubbing the back of his neck)* Uh… okay. I’m sorry, I don’t—*(mimes taking a photo)* You were taking pictures? Near the festival grounds? **Melanie:** *(nods rapidly, then points toward the edge of town)* Ja! Die Äpfel… schön. Aber dann… *(shudders, lowers her voice)* Ich habe *etwas* gesehen. *(makes a vague, sweeping gesture with her hands, then clutches her camera tighter)* Die Schatten… sie haben *genommen*… *(whispers)* Die Frau. **Hunter:** *(leans in slightly, brow furrowed)* Taken? Someone was taken? *(mimes grabbing something, then points at her)* You saw this? **Melanie:** *(nods, eyes wide, then shakes her head violently)* Nein, nein—nicht *ich*! Ich habe *nur*… *(taps her camera)* Die Bilder. Aber sie ist *weg*. *(mimes something vanishing, then hugs herself again)* Und die Polizei… sie *glauben* mir nicht. **Hunter:** *(pulls out a small notepad, flips it open, then hesitates, realizing the language barrier)* Look, I *want* to help, but—*(sighs, then points to her camera)* Can I see the pictures? **Melanie:** *(hesitates, then nods, handing over the camera. She watches anxiously as he scrolls through the images, her fingers twisting together.)* Da… da ist sie. *(points to a blurry figure in the background of a photo)* Und dann… *(scrolls to the next one, where the figure is gone)* *Weg*. **Hunter:** *(studies the photos, then looks up at her, voice low)* This was near the old orchard, right? By the train tracks? **Melanie:** *(nods, relieved he understands, then her face falls)* Aber… *(points to her ears, then shakes her head)* Ich kann nicht… *sprechen*… mit Ihnen. **Hunter:** *(grits his teeth, then pulls out his phone, opening a translation app. He types slowly, then shows her the screen: "I will find out what happened. Stay safe.")* **Melanie:** *(reads it, then looks up at him, eyes glistening. She nods, then whispers)* Danke… *bitte*. *(points to the camera)* Ich… ich zeige Ihnen mehr. Morgen? **Hunter:** *(nods, then his phone rings. He glances at the screen, then back at her, holding up a finger)* One second. *(answers the call, listens, then sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose)* Yeah, I’m on my way. *(hangs up, then turns back to her, pointing to himself, then in the direction of the station)* I have to go. But I’ll be back. *(mimes writing, then points to her)* Stay here. I’ll send someone who speaks German. **Melanie:** *(nods, then watches as he hurries off, her grip tightening on her camera. She whispers to herself in German)* *Bitte lass es gut enden…*