Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8JQ7X6G4MX25QF3WCHR22

**VOICE SHEET: SCENE – THE CAFÉ CONFRONTATION** **Setting:** A quiet, sunlit café in Alborn, MN. The hum of conversation and clinking dishes fills the air. Maria sits at a small table near the window, her camera open beside her, its lens covered in dust. She stares at it absently, her fingers tracing the edges. Hunter approaches from the opposite side of the room, his sharp gaze scanning the patrons before landing on her. --- ### **DIALOGUE** **Hunter:** *(clears throat, stepping up to the table)* "Señora… ¿Puedo ayudarla?" *(Maria flinches slightly, her hand tightening around her camera. She looks up, startled, her dark eyes wide with alarm. She doesn’t speak English, and Hunter’s broken Spanish only confuses her further.)* **Maria:** *(in rapid, frantic Spanish, voice trembling)* "¡No! No sé inglés… ¿Qué pasa? ¿Qué quiere?" *(Hunter blinks, his jaw tightening. He doesn’t understand a word she’s saying, but her panic is unmistakable. He leans in slightly, lowering his voice.)* **Hunter:** *(in slow, deliberate English, with a hint of frustration)* "I’m Detective Hunter. I’m looking into some recent disappearances in town. You don’t seem like you’re from here—" **Maria:** *(cutting him off, voice rising)* "¡No! No soy de aquí… Soy estudiante… ¡Estoy aquí para estudiar!" *(she gestures wildly toward her camera)* "¡Fotos! ¡Solo fotos!" *(her hands shake as she clutches the camera to her chest)* *(Hunter’s expression darkens. He notices the way her eyes dart around the café, her body tensed, as if expecting someone to jump out at any moment.)* **Hunter:** *(softer, but firm)* "Maria. That’s your name, right?" *(Maria freezes. She looks at him like he’s speaking another language entirely.)* **Maria:** *(whispering, terrified)* "¿Cómo sabe mi nombre?" *(Hunter exhales sharply, rubbing his temples. He pulls out his phone, flips to a photo, and slides it across the table. It’s a blurry image of Maria standing near the town’s apple festival grounds, her camera in hand.)* **Hunter:** "I saw this photo online. You were here last week. You took pictures of the festival. Then you disappeared for a few days." *(Maria’s breath catches. She stares at the photo, her face draining of color. She doesn’t speak for a long moment, her fingers digging into the table.)* **Maria:** *(hoarse, barely audible)* "No… no fue así. Alguien me siguió… *(she swallows hard)* Me asusté. Corrí. No quise que me vieran." *(Hunter’s eyes narrow. He notices the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder, her body coiled like she’s ready to bolt.)* **Hunter:** "Who followed you?" *(Maria hesitates, then whispers, her voice barely a breath.)* **Maria:** "No sé. Un hombre. Alto. Cabello oscuro. Llevaba una chaqueta negra." *(Hunter’s stomach tightens. He pulls out his notebook and scribes quickly.)* **Hunter:** "Did he say anything to you?" **Maria:** *(shaking her head)* "No. Solo me miraba. Como si supiera… *(she trails off, her voice breaking)* Como si supiera que estaba tomando fotos." *(Hunter’s mind races. This isn’t just a missing person case—it’s personal. Someone doesn’t want Maria here. And if she’s in danger, he needs to move fast.)* **Hunter:** *(leaning in closer, voice low)* "Maria, you need to tell me everything. Right now." *(Maria’s eyes fill with tears. She looks like she’s about to cry.)* **Maria:** *(whispering)* "No quiero problemas. Solo quiero mis fotos. Solo quiero irme." *(Hunter’s phone buzzes in his pocket. He glances at it, then back at her, his expression grim.)* **Hunter:** *(sighing, standing up)* "I have to take this. Stay here. Don’t leave." *(Maria nods frantically, her grip on her camera tightening.)* **Hunter:** *(muttering under his breath, already walking away)* "Damn it." *(He steps outside, answering the call. Maria stays seated, her body shaking slightly, her camera still clutched to her chest like it’s her only shield.)* --- **END SCENE.** --- **Notes for Tone & Delivery:** - **Hunter’s voice:** Gruff, no-nonsense, but with an undercurrent of frustration when he realizes Maria doesn’t speak English. His tone softens slightly when he realizes she’s genuinely scared. - **Maria’s voice:** Rapid, panicked, and trembling at first. She speaks in short, broken phrases, her Spanish accelerating as her fear grows. Her voice cracks when she mentions the man following her. - **Silence:** There are moments of uncomfortable silence where Maria doesn’t speak, just stares at Hunter with wide, terrified eyes. Hunter’s impatience clashes with her fear, creating tension. Would you like any adjustments to the tone or pacing?