Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8Q15T3Y5HKVBMJE1GDWEC

## Scene: Alborn Cafe - Voice Sheet **Setting:** A small, brightly lit cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Mid-morning. The smell of coffee and apple pie hangs in the air. **Characters:** Selvi, Hunter. --- **Selvi:** (Muttering to herself, examining photos on her camera screen, then sighing deeply) *“Yeh kya ho raha hai? Kitna daravni hai….”* (What is happening? It's so frightening…) **Hunter:** (Approaching Selvi’s table, badge subtly visible. He has a tired look.) “Excuse me. Mind if I ask you a quick question? Detective Hunter. I’m looking into the disappearance of Old Man Hemlock. He was last seen near here, a few days ago.” **Selvi:** (Looks up, startled. Her eyes are wide with worry. She responds quickly, a tremor in her voice) *“Hemlock? Woh… woh adami? Maine usko dekha… jungle mein. Bohat acha nhi laga."* (Hemlock? That… that man? I saw him… in the woods. I didn't feel good about it.) **Hunter:** (Frowning, completely lost) “I… I’m sorry? I didn’t understand a word of that. Do you… speak English?” **Selvi:** (Shakes her head vehemently, clutching her camera tighter) *“Nahi. Sirf Hindi. English nahi."* (No. Only Hindi. Not English.) She points at her ears, then shakes her head again. **Hunter:** (Sighs, running a hand through his close-cropped hair. He tries a slower, louder tone, as if that will help.) “Hemlock. The old man. Did you *see* him? Near here?” He makes a gesture of looking. **Selvi:** (Her expression is increasingly distressed. She gestures wildly towards the north, then mimes someone being pulled into the trees, her face contorted with fear) *“Wahan! Pedon ke beech! Kuch… kuch logon ne usko dukh pahunchaya. Mujhe dar lag raha hai.”* (There! Between the trees! Some… some people hurt him. I am feeling scared.) **Hunter:** (Frustrated, but keeping his voice level. He's noting her gestures, committing them to memory.) “Okay, okay. People… trees. Hurt. Look, I’m… having a little trouble understanding. Is there anyone here who speaks… another language? Or maybe you can write something down?” He scans the cafe. **Selvi:** (Shakes her head again, her shoulders slumped. She pulls out a small notepad and pen, but hesitates, looking unsure.) *“Mujhe likhna bhi… aasaan nahi hai. English mein to bilkul nahi.”* (It’s also not easy for me to write… not at all in English.) She looks terrified, glancing around as if expecting someone to be listening. **Hunter:** (Recognizing her distress, he softens slightly.) “Alright. Alright. Don't worry. I won't push you. Just… did you see anything unusual? Anything at all?” He tries to keep his tone soothing, despite the mounting frustration. **Selvi:** (Takes a deep breath, then points to her camera) *“Maine woh dekha… maine tasveer li thi.”* (I saw it… I took a picture of it.) She starts rapidly scrolling through the photos on her camera, her fingers trembling. **(Hunter’s radio crackles to life. He pulls it out, listening intently.)** **Hunter:** (Into the radio) “Hunter here… Yeah, got it. New development… a witness. I’ll be right there.” (He turns back to Selvi, regret in his eyes) “Look, I’m sorry. I have to go. This is… important. But I need to see those photos. Is there any way we can connect later? Maybe a local who can translate…?” **Selvi:** (Looks up at him, fear still evident in her eyes. She nods slowly, handing him a slip of paper with the cafe's address scribbled on it) *“Haan… kal. Yahan par.”* (Yes… tomorrow. Here.) **Hunter:** (Takes the paper, pocketing it. He gives her a brief, almost apologetic nod.) "Alright. Tomorrow. I'll find someone. Thank you." (He turns and quickly exits the cafe, talking into his radio as he goes.) ---