Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7RWJ6R9VNC8MMQAMYTHP1

## Scene: The Daily Grind - Alborn, MN **Setting:** The Daily Grind, Alborn’s only cafe. It’s a cozy spot with mismatched chairs, the aroma of coffee and apple cider donuts hanging in the air. Mid-morning. **Characters:** Maria, Hunter. --- ## Voice Sheet: **Maria:** (Eyes wide, fiddling with her camera, voice trembling slightly) “¡Ay, Dios mío!… No… No puede ser… La señora Peterson… ¿desaparecida?… ¡Como la del mercado! ¿Dos en una semana?” *(Oh my God!... No… It can’t be… Mrs. Peterson… disappeared?… Like the one at the market! Two in one week?)* **Hunter:** (Approaching, a little gruffly) “Excuse me, miss? You okay? You seem…distressed. I’m Detective Hunter. I’m looking into Mrs. Peterson. Heard you were here yesterday, taking pictures near her stall at the farmer’s market.” **Maria:** (Looking up at him, startled. Her Spanish becomes faster, more frantic) “¿Perdón?… No entiendo… ¿Inglés?… No hablo inglés.” *(Pardon?… I don't understand… English?... I don't speak English.)* She gestures helplessly at her ears. **Hunter:** (Frowning, running a hand through his short hair) “Right. English. Okay. Well… (Points to himself) Detective. Police. Peterson. Missing.” He makes a questioning face, trying to convey meaning through mime. **Maria:** (Shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes) “¡Desaparecida! ¡La señora Peterson, desaparecida! Todos están asustados. Ella era tan amable…” *(Disappeared! Mrs. Peterson, disappeared! Everyone is scared. She was so kind…)* She clutches her camera tighter. **Hunter:** (Starts to look frustrated) “Look, I… I don’t understand a word you’re saying. Is… is there anyone here who speaks…?” He scans the cafe. **Maria:** (Notices his confusion and tries to slow down, speaking slowly and deliberately, but still in Spanish) “Dos… Dos mujeres… desaparecidas… Una semana. La primera en el mercado… La señora Peterson… ayer… Tomé fotos… Era… Era feliz.” *(Two… Two women… disappeared… One week. The first at the market… Mrs. Peterson… yesterday… I took photos… She was… She was happy.)* She points to her camera then mimicks taking a picture. **Hunter:** (Following her gestures, a flicker of comprehension) “…Photos? You took pictures of Mrs. Peterson yesterday? Okay…good. Can you… show me?” He pulls out a small notebook. **Maria:** (Reluctantly nods, scrolling through images on the back of her camera. She shows him a picture of Mrs. Peterson smiling behind her apple pie stall.)“Aquí… Aquí está. Ella estaba… vendiendo sus tartas. Era un día bonito.” *(Here... Here she is. She was… selling her pies. It was a beautiful day.)* **Hunter:** (Studies the photo. It's a clear shot, Mrs. Peterson looks perfectly normal.) “She looks…normal. Anything unusual? Anyone near her you noticed?” **Maria:** (Shakes her head fearfully) “No sé… No sé. Estaba ocupada con mi cámara... Sólo… sólo vi gente comprando… Mucha gente… pero nada raro…” *(I don't know... I don't know. I was busy with my camera… I just… I just saw people buying… A lot of people… but nothing strange…)* **(Hunter's phone rings, a jarring ringtone cutting through the cafe chatter)** **Hunter:** (Sighs, answering his phone) "Hunter… Yeah… What?" He listens intently for a moment, his expression hardening. “Alright. I’m on my way.” He hangs up. **Hunter:** (To Maria, a touch of apology in his voice, but still conveying urgency) “Look, I gotta go. This is… important. Maybe someone else here can help translate. Thanks for… the picture.” He nods curtly. **Maria:** (Looking bewildered and increasingly anxious) “¿Qué pasa?… ¿A dónde va?… Pero… ¡No entiendo nada!” *(What's happening?... Where are you going?... But... I don't understand anything!)* She's left clutching her camera, feeling utterly lost and alone. ---