Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8D775D0PQ2WXMKKXE7E7G

Okay, here's a voice sheet for the scene, written in the cozy mystery style, keeping the character details and constraints in mind. I've aimed for a slightly melancholic tone appropriate to the setting and the unfolding mystery, and tried to craft a believable interaction given the language barrier. Following the voice sheet, I’ll add a few notes on the creative choices I made. --- **Voice Sheet: The Apple Blossom Cafe** Marie: (Focusing intently on her camera's LCD screen, adjusting settings with a nervous energy. She sighs, takes a picture of a pastry on the table, then deletes it with a frustrated shake of her head.) *“Ce n’est pas… Ça ne capture pas l’atmosphère. Rien ne capture vraiment ça ici, maintenant.”* (She looks up, startled, as a man approaches. Her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of apprehension crossing her face.) Hunter: “Excuse me, miss? Do you… speak English?” (He gestures awkwardly, hoping for *anything*.) Marie: (Shakes her head slowly, fear evident in her eyes.) *“Non. Je ne parle pas anglais. Seulement… français.”* (She shrinks back slightly, clutching her camera closer.) Hunter: "Right. French. Okay… Um… (He pulls out a small notepad and pen, writing the word "Apple" in large letters.) The Apple Festival... last night? Did you… did you see anything unusual?" (He holds up the notepad, indicating the word, hoping to bridge the communication gap.) Marie: (Looks at the word "Apple," then her expression clouds over with distress. She wraps her arms around herself.) *“Oui… oui, j'ai vu. Il y avait… une foule. Beaucoup de gens. Mais… mais il y avait quelque chose. Une ombre. Rapide. Presque… insaisissable.”* (She gestures vaguely, her hands trembling.) *“Et puis… le silence. Soudainement. Il n’y avait plus de rires. Plus de musique. Juste… un silence terrible. Et des regards… des regards perdus, effrayés.”* (She looks down at her hands, fighting back tears.) *“Je n’ai pas compris. Je ne comprends pas… C’était si… effrayant.”* Hunter: (Frowning, he tries a different tactic – pointing to himself then miming looking. He tries to convey "Did you see anyone leave? Quickly?") Marie: (Her eyes dart around nervously. She hesitates, then nods slowly, a fresh wave of distress washing over her face.) *“Oui. Un homme… Je ne peux pas décrire… Il était grand… sombre… et il marchait… très, très vite. Comme s'il… comme s'il était poussé. Et son visage… Son visage était vide. Sans expression. Comme… comme un masque.”* (She shivers, pulling her jacket tighter.) *“Je ne l'oublierai jamais. Il m’a suivie avec ses yeux.”* Hunter: (He scribbles furiously in his notebook, trying to piece together her descriptions, though understanding only fragments.) “Tall… dark… fast… blank face… followed… Okay. Did you… did you recognize him? Anyone in town?” Marie: (Shakes her head vehemently.) *“Non. Jamais. Je ne le connais pas. Je suis nouvelle ici. J’ai peur. J’ai très peur.”* (She clutches her camera even tighter, staring fixedly at her lap.) *“Je voudrais rentrer chez moi… en France.”* (Hunter’s phone rings – a jarring, electronic sound in the quiet cafe. He glances at the screen, a look of frustration crossing his face.) Hunter: “Excuse me, just one moment.” (He answers the phone, moving away slightly even though he's barely a few feet away) "Miller? What have you got?" (He listens intently, his expression hardening.) "Right. I'm on my way." (He hangs up, turning back to Marie apologetically.) "Look, I... I have to go. Something's come up. It was... interesting talking with you." (He gives a small, awkward nod.) “If you… if you think of anything else… anything at all… please…” (He trails off, not knowing how to express the request in French, and simply gestures vaguely in the direction of the police station.) --- **Notes on Creative Choices:** * **Focus on Emotion, Not Just Information:** Because of the language barrier, precise information will be difficult to extract. The scene prioritizes conveying Marie's fear and distress. Her body language (clutching her camera, shivers, looking down) is as important as her words. * **Hunter’s Frustration:** Hunter's frustration is key. He’s a man of action and direct communication; the inability to understand her is deeply unsettling for him. His attempts with the notepad highlight his resourcefulness, but also his limitations. * **Marie's Description:** The description of the man in question is intentionally vague ("a blank face", "like a mask") to create a sense of unease and mystery. It's a classic cozy mystery technique. * **Sudden Ending:** The phone call ending the scene abruptly reinforces the sense of urgency and leaves the reader wondering what's happening and how it connects to Marie's experience. It teases the larger plot and ensures a hook for the next scene. * **Dialogue Preservation:** I stuck firmly to the prompt's instructions to have Marie speak French and Hunter have no French. Let me know if you'd like any modifications or further elaboration on this scene!