Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY84VRX95WH0AMRX05MXT1M

**Title: *The Missing Lens*** --- **Scene: *Le Café des Étoiles*, Alborn, MN** *(The sun hangs low over the rolling hills of Alborn, casting golden light through the café’s stained-glass windows. Marie sits at a small wooden table, her camera resting on the tabletop, the lens cap off. She’s adjusting the settings with practiced ease, her fingers moving swiftly. Across the room, Hunter leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching the crowd. He spots her and strides over.)* --- **Hunter:** *(approaching, voice low and measured)* Bonjour. You’re the photographer from the festival, right? **Marie:** *(startled, then nods slowly, her eyes flicking to the camera before returning to his face)* Oui. Je m’appelle Marie. *(She hesitates, then adds, voice tight.)* Vous parlez français? **Hunter:** *(smirks, though his expression doesn’t quite reach his eyes)* I speak English. But you speak better than I do. **Marie:** *(laughs nervously, then sighs, lowering her voice)* C’est… étrange. *(She gestures vaguely toward the café.)* Hier, j’ai vu quelque chose. Des gens. *(She hesitates, then presses her lips together.)* Des disparitions. **Hunter:** *(stops short, his expression hardening)* Disparitions? What do you mean? **Marie:** *(voice breaking slightly, she leans in slightly, her French sharp with urgency)* Ils ont disparu hier soir. Dans la forêt. *(She points toward the edge of town, where the trees loom dark.)* Trois personnes. Un homme, une femme, un enfant. *(She swallows hard.)* J’ai pris des photos. *(She reaches for her camera, but Hunter’s hand stops her.)* **Hunter:** *(firm, but his grip is gentle)* Marie, you’re safe here. You’re not in danger. **Marie:** *(whispers, eyes darting)* Non. Mais… *(She shakes her head.)* J’ai vu un homme. Un homme avec un sac. Il a marché vers la rivière. *(She points.)* Comme ça. *(She mimics walking, then freezes.)* Et puis… *(Her voice cracks.)* Il a disparu. **Hunter:** *(quietly, assessing)* You saw him walk toward the river? And then he was gone? **Marie:** *(nods, voice barely above a whisper)* Oui. Et… *(She hesitates, then lowers her voice further.)* Il avait un sac. Plein de choses. *(She gestures vaguely.)* Je ne sais pas ce que c’est. Mais… *(She looks up, her eyes wide.)* J’ai cru que c’était… un sac de corps. *(A beat. Hunter’s jaw tightens. He studies her—her wide eyes, the way her fingers tremble around the camera. Then, abruptly, he turns and walks toward the door.)* **Hunter:** *(over his shoulder, voice clipped)* I’ve got to take this call. But Marie—*(he pauses, then adds, softer)*—you’re not alone. You’re with me now. *(He steps outside, leaving Marie staring after him. The café door slams shut behind him. She exhales shakily, then reaches for her camera again, her fingers hovering over the lens. The weight of what she’s seen settles over her like a shadow.)* --- **End Scene.**