Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7Y45BH6H50PMBE91NG78G

Okay, here’s a voice sheet capturing the scene with Maria and Hunter, aiming for the cozy mystery vibe - a little awkwardness, a touch of vulnerability on Maria’s part, and Hunter’s gruff but ultimately helpful approach. **Scene: Cafe Confusion in Alborn** **Setting:** "The Apple Barrel" cafe, Alborn, MN. Mid-afternoon. Rain streaks the windows. The cafe smells of cinnamon and slightly burnt apple pie. **Characters:** Maria (30, Spanish student) & Hunter (35, Detective) --- **(SOUND of gentle rain, quiet chatter, the clinking of mugs)** **Maria:** (Looking intensely at her camera, adjusting the lens) “El paisaje… es… horrible. Pero… tengo que… he visto algo. Algo… oscuro.” (She shivers slightly, clutching her camera tighter.) **Hunter:** (Approaches the table cautiously, notepad and pen in hand. He’s observant, noting her distress.) “Excuse me, miss? You seem a little… troubled. I’m Detective Hunter Caldwell. I’m investigating the recent disappearances.” **Maria:** (Startled, she jumps slightly. Her Spanish immediately takes over, clearly distressed.) “¡No entiendo! ¿Qué… qué pasa? La gente… se va. Como… peces. Y… la medianoche… en el bosque… silencio. Mucho silencio.” (She gestures vaguely, her voice trembling.) **Hunter:** (Frowning, completely lost. He tries a simple, slow approach.) “Pesc… pesci… You mean… people are vanishing? Like… fish?” He writes ‘vanishing’ in his notepad, underlining it several times. **Maria:** (Shakes her head vigorously, tears welling in her eyes. She speaks faster, more frantically.) “No, no. No peces. Personas. Antonia... Mr. Henderson... Tres. Y… anoche… veintidós horas... creí ver… una sombra… cerca del río. Una sombra… grande… y… fría.” (She points towards the window, a desperate plea in her expression.) **Hunter:** (Squints, trying to process. He’s thoroughly baffled. He repeats slowly, deliberately, "Shadow. River. You saw a shadow?") **Maria:** (Nods rapidly, tears streaming down her face.) “Sí. Una sombra. No… no es normal. Aquí… Alborn… es… tranquilo. Pero… ahora… es… peligroso.” (She pulls her scarf tighter around her neck.) **Hunter:** (After a moment of silence, glancing at his watch.) “Look, I appreciate you sharing this. It's… helpful. But I really don't understand a word you're saying. I’m sorry.” He sighs, clearly frustrated. "Let me just… make a note." **(SOUND of a phone ringing – Hunter answers it quickly)** **Hunter:** (Into the phone, gruffly) “Caldwell… Yeah… Yeah, I’m here… Alright, alright. Just a minute.” (He listens intently, his expression hardening. He glances back at Maria, who is watching him nervously.) **Hunter:** (To Maria, apologetically) “Sorry to cut this short. Got a call from headquarters. We’re getting a lead on the Henderson case. Look, your…observations… were… unusual. Thank you for speaking with me.” He extends his hand briefly. "I appreciate you trying to help." **Maria:** (Hesitantly takes his hand, her grip fleeting. She says quietly, in Spanish) "Gracias. Por escuchar." (Thank you. For listening.) **Hunter:** (Nods curtly, tucks his notepad away, and heads towards the door. As he exits, he glances back one last time – a flicker of something like curiosity in his eyes.) “May I ask… are you staying long?” **(SOUND of the cafe door closing, the rain intensifying)** --- **Notes for Adaptation:** * **Body Language:** I’ve included notes about Maria's gestures and expressions to really drive home her distress. Hunter's body language is initially cautious and then increasingly frustrated. * **Subtext:** There’s an unspoken element of vulnerability in Maria's reaction. She's clearly scared and feels lost in a new environment. * **Hunter's Slow Reveal:** His initial confusion and then the slow, deliberate questions highlight his background – a no-nonsense detective who relies on direct communication. Do you want me to revise this, or perhaps flesh out a particular exchange further? Would you like me to incorporate a specific detail from the character descriptions?