Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7K3TF58MJJ42ZVBZ6F2JZ

Okay, here's a voice sheet for the scene, keeping the cozy mystery feel and incorporating the character/location details. I've aimed for a believable interaction demonstrating the language barrier while hinting at Maria's distress and Hunter’s frustration. I've also included a few stage directions within the voice sheet to help visualize the scene. I've added a bit of context at the end to explain my choices. --- **Scene: The Cozy Corner Cafe, Alborn, MN - Afternoon** *(The Cozy Corner smells of cinnamon and freshly baked apple pie. Maria, early 30s, sits at a small table near the window, meticulously reviewing photos on the back of her camera. Her dark hair is pulled back, and she’s dressed in practical, comfortable clothing, clearly intended for exploration. Hunter, 35, stands awkwardly, a slight breeze ruffling his dark hair. He clearly doesn’t frequent cafes.)* Maria: (Without looking up, softly, adjusting a photo) *“Demasiado brillante… necesito bajar la exposición un poco.”* (Too bright… I need to lower the exposure a little.) Hunter: (Clears his throat, approaches the table hesitantly) “Excuse me? Hi. I… I was hoping you might have seen something. About Mr. Henderson. Last Tuesday?” Maria: (Looks up, startled. Her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of fear crossing her face. She lowers her camera slowly.) *“¿Henderson? No lo conozco, señor. No… no conozco a nadie aquí.”* (Henderson? I don’t know him, sir. No… I don’t know anyone here.) Hunter: (Frowning slightly) “Right. Okay. Just… Mr. Henderson disappeared. Last Tuesday. A lot of people are… concerned. Did you see anyone unusual around town that day? Any strange cars? Anything at all?” Maria: (Shakes her head quickly, her voice trembling slightly. She clutches her camera tighter.) *“No… no, señor. Pero… pero algo no está bien. El aire… es diferente. Hay… hay una sombra sobre este lugar.”* (No… no, sir. But… but something isn’t right. The air… it’s different. There’s… there’s a shadow over this place.) (She gestures vaguely around the cafe, her gaze darting nervously to the window.) Hunter: (Squints, trying to understand. He pulls out a small notepad and pen, but clearly doesn't know where to start.) “A shadow? Different air? I… I see. Look, I'm Detective Hunter. Maybe you could just… describe what you mean?” Maria: (Her lower lip trembles. She looks down at her hands, then back up at Hunter, her eyes filled with anxiety.) *“Es difícil de explicar. Hay una tristeza… una desesperación, como si… como si algo malo hubiera sucedido, y que va a suceder de nuevo. La gente… no se miran a los ojos. La sonrisa es forzada. Toda la ciudad…”* (It’s difficult to explain. There’s a sadness… a desperation, as if… as if something bad has happened, and that it’s going to happen again. The people… they don’t look each other in the eyes. The smile is forced. The whole town…) (She pauses, struggling for the right words.) Hunter: (Runs a hand through his hair, utterly lost. He attempts a reassuring smile, but it comes out stiff.) “Okay, alright. Look, I appreciate you… trying to help. But I’m not quite following. About Tuesday… did you see anything at all that day?” Maria: (Shakes her head emphatically, tears welling in her eyes.) *“El parque… vi a un hombre. Solo por un momento. Estaba… escondido entre los árboles. Pero en sus ojos... vi miedo. Mucho miedo.”* (The park… I saw a man. Just for a moment. He was… hidden among the trees. But in his eyes… I saw fear. A lot of fear.) Hunter: (Sighs, jotting down "Park - possible witness?" in his notebook.) "A man in the park… Okay. Can you describe him?" *(Hunter's phone rings. He glances at the screen, his expression hardening.)* Hunter: (Into the phone) “Miller? What is it?... I’m… yeah, I’m just down at the Cozy Corner. Got a lead… Right. On my way.” (He hangs up and turns back to Maria.) "Look, I just got a call. I have to go. Thanks for—for the information. Maybe… maybe we can talk later?" Maria: (Nods silently, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She avoids eye contact.) *“Por favor… tenga cuidado.”* (Please… be careful.) Hunter: (Hesitates, unsure what to say. He offers a curt nod and quickly exits the cafe.) --- **Context and Choices:** * **Focus on the Language Barrier:** The core of the interaction is the frustration and misunderstanding caused by the lack of a common language. Hunter's attempts to get concrete details are consistently thwarted. * **Maria's Intuition:** Maria's response leans into the "feeling" aspect of a cozy mystery. Her description of a "shadow" and "sadness" creates an atmosphere of unease without necessarily providing specific clues. This allows for intrigue. * **Hunter's Professionalism:** Hunter wants to be helpful and thorough, but he’s clearly out of his depth with this witness. His frustration is subtle, conveyed through his gestures (running a hand through his hair, squinting). * **"Show, Don't Tell":** Instead of Maria simply *saying* she's scared, her trembling, avoidance of eye contact, and the intensity of her expressions convey that fear. * **The Phone Call:** Introducing the phone call provides a convenient way to end the scene abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more. It also establishes that Hunter's investigation is bigger than just this one interaction. * **Spanish Translation:** I've included the Spanish translations to provide clarity. They can also be used for subtitles if this were to be adapted into a visual medium. I hope this voice sheet provides a solid foundation for your cozy mystery scene! Let me know if you would like any adjustments or elaborations.