Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY83F1JRKMPDNYX5KSN6119

**Scene: *The Café by the Clock Tower*** *(A quiet corner of *La Cazuela*, a small café in Alborn, MN. Maria sits at a wooden table, her camera resting on the tabletop, the lens cap off. She’s studying the composition of a nearby apple orchard, her fingers tracing the grain of the wood. Across from her, Hunter leans against the counter, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the room. The hum of conversation fades as he approaches.)* --- **Maria:** *(without looking up, voice low and urgent)* *"¿Qué pasó ayer por la noche?"* **Hunter:** *(startled, stepping closer—then immediately aware of the language barrier)* *"What?"* **Maria:** *(pointing at the camera, voice trembling)* *"La chica… la que tomó fotos en el puente. No está aquí."* **Hunter:** *(raising an eyebrow, voice clipped)* *"Who took photos at the bridge?"* **Maria:** *(leaning forward, voice dropping to a whisper)* *"La que desapareció. La de los ojos verdes. La que siempre lleva ese abrigo rojo."* *(Hunter’s jaw tightens. He’s heard the reports—three women vanished over the past month, all near the old bridge over the river. But Maria’s Spanish is precise, almost clinical. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down.)* **Hunter:** *(crossing his arms, voice low)* *"You’re sure it was her?"* **Maria:** *(nodding sharply)* *"Sí. Ella me dijo que quería hacer un reportaje. Pero no volvió."* *(A beat. Hunter studies her—her dark eyes, the way her fingers twitch near the camera. She’s not lying. But why would she be so sure? He’s got a feeling she’s hiding something.)* **Hunter:** *(suddenly, his phone buzzes. He pulls it out, frowns.)* *"Tengo que irme. Hay algo urgente."* **Maria:** *(without looking up)* *"Entiendo."* *(Hunter nods, then turns to leave. He pauses at the door, glancing back at her. She doesn’t move. Just keeps staring at the camera—like she’s waiting for something. Then he’s gone, the café door slamming behind him.)* --- **End Scene.**