Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ6B585TBG2K3YJJRZ84ZY

**Voice Sheet: Café Encounter in Alborn, MN** *(Marie sits at a small wrought-iron table outside the café, her fingers tracing the edges of her camera. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the cobblestone street. She glances up as Hunter approaches, his expression serious, his posture rigid with purpose.)* **Hunter:** *(clears throat, adjusting his jacket)* "Excuse me, miss. Mind if I sit for a moment?" **Marie:** *(startled, clutching her camera tighter)* "Oh—oui, bien sûr. *(nods, gesturing to the empty chair across from her)* Euh… vous parlez français?" **Hunter:** *(blinks, then shakes his head slowly)* "No, ma’am. English only, I’m afraid." **Marie:** *(frowns, then sighs, switching to heavily accented English)* "Ah. Okay. You… sit?" *(points to the chair again, her voice hesitant)* **Hunter:** *(pulls out the chair, sitting down)* "Thank you. I’m Detective Hunter. I’m looking into some… unusual activity around town. You’re new here, right?" **Marie:** *(nods quickly, then shakes her head, her words tumbling out in French)* "Oui, je suis ici pour étudier, mais—*(shakes her head, eyes wide)*—c’est terrible, ce qui se passe! J’ai vu quelque chose près de la vieille grange, près des bois. *(leans forward, gripping the table)* Il y avait des lumières, et puis—*(mimes something vanishing with her hands)*—plus rien! Comme si… comme si la terre l’avait avalé!" **Hunter:** *(leans in slightly, brow furrowed)* "Ma’am, I’m not following. You saw *lights*? Near the old barn by the woods?" **Marie:** *(nods frantically, then switches back to broken English)* "Yes! Lights. Blue. Like… *(mimes flickering with her fingers)* electricity. And then—*(makes a swallowing motion)*—gone. No sound. No people. Just… gone." **Hunter:** *(pulls out a small notepad, scribbling)* "When was this?" **Marie:** *(counts on her fingers, then holds up three)* "Trois nuits. Three nights ago. I take photos—*(taps her camera)*—of the trees, the sky. But then… *(shudders)* I see this. And now, I hear the town talk. People missing. *(whispers)* C’est vrai?" **Hunter:** *(nods grimly)* "Yeah. It’s true. That’s why I’m asking around." *(pauses, studying her)* "You said you’re here to study? What’s your name?" **Marie:** *(hesitates, then offers a small smile)* "Marie. Marie Laurent. From Lyon." **Hunter:** *(extends a hand, which she shakes cautiously)* "Nice to meet you, Marie. You’ve got a good eye—*(gestures to her camera)*—if you saw something, even if it doesn’t make sense to you, it might help. You remember *exactly* where this was?" **Marie:** *(nods, then points vaguely toward the edge of town)* "Oui. Near the big red barn. The one with… *(mimes a broken fence)* the broken fence. There is a path into the trees." **Hunter:** *(jots it down, then stands abruptly as his phone buzzes)* "That’s my partner. I gotta run, but—*(pulls out a business card, sets it on the table)*—if you remember anything else, call me. Even if it’s just… blue lights in the woods." **Marie:** *(takes the card, turning it over in her hands)* "Merci, Detective. *(looks up, voice quiet)* Soyez prudent. *(then, realizing he doesn’t understand, switches to English)* Be… careful." **Hunter:** *(gives her a tight nod, already turning away)* "Always am. Stay safe, Marie." *(He strides off, phone to his ear, leaving Marie staring after him, her camera forgotten in her lap. She exhales shakily, then glances at the card before tucking it into her pocket.)*