Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQK52YJ2NMN9CXP31TXJBM

Here’s the dialogue formatted as a **voice sheet** for your cozy mystery scene, capturing the tension, language barrier, and underlying unease between Maria and Hunter. --- ### **VOICE SHEET – CAFÉ SCENE** **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, scrolling through photos with a furrowed brow. Hunter approaches, his expression serious. --- **HUNTER** *(firm, no-nonsense)* "Miss? Mind if I sit?" *(Maria looks up, startled. She clutches her camera tighter, eyes darting to the door before settling back on Hunter. She doesn’t understand him but senses his authority.)* **MARIA** *(rapid Spanish, shaken)* "¿Qué… qué quiere? No hablo inglés. ¿Es de la policía?" *(Hunter frowns, realizing the language barrier. He pulls out his badge, holding it up for her to see.)* **HUNTER** *(slower, enunciating as if volume will help)* "I’m Detective Hunter. I need to ask you about yesterday—at the orchard. You were there, right?" *(Maria’s breath hitches. She glances at her camera, then back at him, her voice dropping to a frantic whisper.)* **MARIA** *(urgent, hands trembling)* "Ay, Dios mío… ¿Sabe lo que pasó? Vi algo… algo *malo*. Pero no puedo—no debo—" *(Hunter leans in, catching the desperation in her tone but understanding none of the words. He tries a different approach, pointing at her camera.)* **HUNTER** *(gesturing)* "Your photos. Did you take any *yesterday*? At the festival?" *(Maria hesitates, then shakes her head violently—too quickly. She’s lying. Her fingers whiten around her camera strap.)* **MARIA** *(muttering, half to herself)* "No… no, no fue nada. Solo… solo árboles. Manzanas." *(She swallows hard.)* "Pero él estaba allí. El hombre de la *sombra*." *(Hunter’s phone rings—a sharp, insistent tone. He glances at the screen, then back at Maria, frustrated.)* **HUNTER** *(gritting his teeth)* "Stay in town. Don’t leave." *(He points at her, then at the café.)* "Got it?" *(Maria doesn’t understand, but his tone is unmistakable. She nods, wide-eyed, as Hunter stands abruptly and answers the call.)* **HUNTER** *(into phone, already walking away)* "Hunter. Yeah, I’m on it. Where?" *(Maria watches him go, then exhales shakily. She hugs her camera to her chest, whispering under her breath.)* **MARIA** *(barely audible, terrified)* "Madre de Dios… ¿Qué he hecho?" *(The camera lens catches the light—just for a second—as if something dark is reflected in it.)* --- **END SCENE** --- ### **NOTES FOR TONE/DELIVERY:** - **Maria:** Starts **nervous**, grows **increasingly panicked** as the conversation progresses. Her Spanish should sound **natural, rapid, and laced with fear**—especially when she mentions *"el hombre de la sombra"* ("the man in the shadow"). - **Hunter:** **Gruff but not unkind**, growing **more frustrated** as the language barrier blocks him. His body language should be **controlled but intense** (leaning in, pointing, badge flash). - **Subtext:** Maria *did* see something incriminating in her photos—but she’s too afraid to admit it. Hunter doesn’t realize she’s a witness yet, only a person of interest. Would you like any adjustments to heighten the mystery or foreshadowing?