Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8P5DYDRCDXNSYCT7ADQJV

## Voice Sheet: Scene - Alborn Cafe **Setting:** A small, cozy cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Mid-morning. The scent of apple pie hangs in the air, a lingering echo of the recent Apple Festival. Marie is at a small table near the window, meticulously cleaning her camera. Hunter enters, looking weary and scanning the room. **Characters:** Marie, Hunter. --- **Hunter:** (Approaching Marie’s table, a slight edge to his voice) Excuse me, ma’am. Do you mind if I ask you a quick question? I’m Detective Hunter. **Marie:** (Looks up, startled. Her brow furrows, and she clutches the camera a little tighter) …? **Hunter:** I’m investigating… well, things have been a little strange around here lately. Old Man Hemlock disappeared three days ago. Right after the festival. Did you happen to notice anything unusual? Anything at all? **Marie:** (Rapidly, her voice laced with distress and a rising pitch) *Non, non, je ne comprends pas! Disparu? Hemlock? C'était...c'était horrible! Je l’ai vu! Près de la rivière! Avec cet homme!* (No, no, I don't understand! Disappeared? Hemlock? It was...it was horrible! I saw him! Near the river! With that man!) **Hunter:** (Frowning, completely lost) I… I’m sorry? I don't speak… whatever that was. English? Do you understand English? **Marie:** (Shaking her head vigorously, tears welling up) *Anglais? Non! Je suis française. Je ne parle pas anglais! Il était effrayé… tellement effrayé!* (English? No! I am French. I don’t speak English! He was scared… so scared!) She gestures wildly toward the direction of the river with her hand. **Hunter:** (Rubbing his forehead. Frustration is building) Okay, okay. French. Right. Look, just… just slow down. (He tries a broader, slower approach, as if volume will help) Did you… see a man? Hemlock? By the river? A man… with him? **Marie:** (Wringing her hands, continuing in French, faster now) *Oui! Un homme grand… avec un chapeau noir! Il parlait fort! Hemlock essayait de s'enfuir, mais l'homme l’a attrapé! Je… je n'ai pas pu voir son visage clairement.* (Yes! A tall man… with a black hat! He was talking loudly! Hemlock was trying to run away, but the man caught him! I… I couldn’t see his face clearly.) **Hunter:** (Sighs, pulling out his notepad. This is going nowhere) A tall man… black hat… River. (He jots down notes, even though he barely understands) This isn’t getting me anywhere. (He tries a different tack, pointing to himself) Hunter. Detective Hunter. (Then, pointing to Marie) You…? **Marie:** (Looks down at her hands, sniffing. She attempts to convey her name, pointing to her chest) *Marie… Je suis… étudiante.* (Marie… I am… a student.) **Hunter:** (Nodding slowly) Marie. Student. Okay. (He runs a hand through his hair.) This is… difficult. I really need to understand what you saw. **(Hunter's radio crackles to life. He sighs, answering it.)** **Hunter:** Hunter here… Yeah, I’m at the cafe… What? Another one? … You’re kidding me… Okay, I’m on my way. (He clicks off the radio, his face grim.) **Hunter:** (To Marie, apologetically) Look, I’m… I’m really sorry. This just got complicated. I have to go. I need to get to Miller’s farm. (He pauses, realizing the futility) Don't go anywhere. Maybe… maybe we can get someone who speaks French to come talk to you. **Marie:** (Her voice barely a whisper, still shaken and speaking in French) *Une autre personne disparue? Oh, mon Dieu…* (Another person disappeared? Oh my God…) **Hunter:** (Giving a curt nod, already halfway out the door) Yeah. Another one. (He turns back for a split second, then shakes his head) This town… ---