Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY85CFNZMTPSE0PDTMT41FA

## Voice Sheet: Alborn Cafe - Scene 1 **Setting:** A cozy, slightly worn cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Late afternoon. The aroma of apple pie and coffee hangs in the air. **Characters:** Melanie (30, German student, speaks *only* German), Hunter (35, Detective, speaks *only* English). --- **Melanie:** *(Eyes wide, staring at a photo on her camera screen, she’s clearly distressed. Mutters under her breath, then looks up as Hunter approaches)* "Oh mein Gott… einfach furchtbar. Ich kann es nicht glauben." (Oh my God… simply terrible. I can't believe it.) **Hunter:** *(Approaching Melanie’s table, badge briefly visible)* "Excuse me, miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I was hoping you might have seen something yesterday afternoon down by the old mill? Anything unusual?" **Melanie:** *(Jumps, startled. Looks at Hunter with fear in her eyes and begins speaking rapidly)* “Nein, nein, ich verstehe nicht! Was ist passiert? Die alte Mühle… gestern… es war schrecklich! Die Leute… wo sind sie?” (No, no, I don’t understand! What happened? The old mill… yesterday… it was terrible! The people… where are they?) **Hunter:** *(Frowns, leaning closer, trying to decipher her words)* "Slow down, ma’am. I… I don’t understand a word you're saying. English? Do you speak English?” **Melanie:** *(Shakes her head vigorously, clutching her camera tighter)* “Nein! Ich spreche nur Deutsch. Ich bin eine Austauschstudentin. Haben Sie die Frau gesehen? Sie war mit einem roten Schal…” (No! I only speak German. I’m an exchange student. Did you see the woman? She was with a red scarf…) **Hunter:** *(Rubbing his chin, increasingly frustrated)* "A woman with a red… scarf? Look, I’m trying to find out about what happened at the mill. Several people haven't been seen since yesterday. Is that what you're talking about?" **Melanie:** *(Nods emphatically, tears welling up in her eyes)* "Genau! Gestern! Ich war da und habe Fotos gemacht. Dann… dann waren sie einfach weg! Es war so plötzlich! Ich habe Angst!" (Exactly! Yesterday! I was there taking photos. Then… then they were just gone! It was so sudden! I'm scared!) **Hunter:** *(Sighs, pulls out a small notepad and pen, then gestures for her to point to something on the photo)* "Okay, look. Can you… can you show me on your camera what you saw? Maybe a picture. Just point. I’ll try to follow." **Melanie:** *(Hesitantly shows him the camera screen, pointing to a group of blurry figures in the background of a landscape shot)* "Hier… hier waren sie. Sie haben gelacht und geredet. Und dann… leer. Nichts mehr." (Here… here they were. They were laughing and talking. And then… empty. Nothing more.) **Hunter:** *(Squints at the photo, sees only a vaguely indistinct group).* “I… I can barely see anything. It’s just… a lot of trees. Look, this is getting me nowhere.” *(Hunter’s cell phone rings. He glances at the caller ID)* **Hunter:** "Excuse me a second." *(Answers the phone)* “Hunter… Yes, sir… Got it. On my way.” *(Hangs up, looking grim)* "Look, miss… I apologize. I really need to go. We’ve got another lead. I wish I could understand what you’re trying to tell me." **Melanie:** *(Looking desperate)* “Bitte! Hören Sie mir zu! Es ist wichtig! Etwas Schlimmes ist passiert!” (Please! Listen to me! It's important! Something bad has happened!) **Hunter:** *(Offers a helpless shrug)* "I... I don't understand. I'm sorry. I’ll see if I can find someone who can translate. Stay safe.” *(Turns and quickly exits the cafe, leaving Melanie shaken and alone with her camera.)* ---