Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY90AKCFDCRY9T4PR74W2VC

## Voice Sheet: Scene - Alborn Cafe **Setting:** A small, brightly lit cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Mid-morning. The scent of coffee and apple pie hangs in the air. **Characters:** Marie (30, French student, speaks *only* French), Hunter (35, Detective, speaks *only* English). --- **Marie:** (Eyes glued to the back of her camera, meticulously reviewing photos. She’s picking at a pastry, mostly untouched. A visible tremor in her hands. She looks genuinely distressed.) “…Oh là là… Non, non, non… C’est impossible.” ( *Oh dear God… No, no, no… This is impossible.*) **Hunter:** (Approaches her table, pulling out a chair. He’s dressed in plain clothes, but his posture is all business.) “Excuse me, miss? I’m Detective Hunter. Mind if I ask you a quick question?” **Marie:** (Looks up, startled, eyes wide with fear. She automatically clutches her camera tighter.) “Pardon? Je… je ne comprends pas.” ( *Excuse me? I… I don’t understand.*) **Hunter:** (Frowning slightly.) “Uh… right. Look, I’m investigating what happened down at Old Man Hemlock’s orchard last night. You were… around the general area, I understand?” **Marie:** (Her voice breaks, trembling. She gestures vaguely with her hand, her brow furrowed.) “La ferme… La ferme Hemlock… C’était terrible… une ombre… et puis… plus rien.” (*The farm… Hemlock farm… It was terrible… a shadow… and then… nothing.*) **Hunter:** (Blank stare. He runs a hand through his hair.) “Shadow? ‘Terrible’? Look, I need specifics. Did you *see* anything? Anyone?” **Marie:** (Shakes her head vehemently, tears welling in her eyes. She struggles to find the right words, speaking faster and faster in French.) “Non, non! Juste… une forme sombre… il a disparu! Comme… avalé par la nuit! C'était effrayant!” (*No, no! Just… a dark shape… He disappeared! Like… swallowed by the night! It was frightening!*) **Hunter:** (Leans forward, trying a different tack, speaking slowly and loudly as if that will somehow translate.) “Disappeared? A… person? You saw a person disappear?” **Marie:** (Nods vigorously, still distraught.) “Oui! Un vieil homme! Il parlait… il parlait de… de légendes… des bois… et d’une ancienne malédiction!” (*Yes! An old man! He was talking… he was talking about… about legends… the woods… and an ancient curse!*) **Hunter:** (Massaging his temples. This is going nowhere fast.) “Legends? Curse? Okay, this is getting us nowhere. Look, do you speak English?” **Marie:** (Looks down at her hands, shaking her head sadly.) “Non. Je suis française. Je ne parle pas anglais.” (*No. I am French. I do not speak English.*) **Hunter:** (Sighs, frustrated. He's about to ask if she knows anyone who *can* translate when his phone buzzes.) “Hold on a second.” (Answers the phone) "Hunter… Yeah… What?! Another one?… Where?... Okay, I'm on my way." (To Marie, abruptly) “Sorry, gotta run. This is… important.” **Marie:** (Looks up, still deeply upset, reaching out a hand as if to stop him.) “Attendez! S'il vous plaît! Je peux… je peux peut-être aider!” (*Wait! Please! I can… I can maybe help!*) **Hunter:** (Already halfway out of his chair.) “Look, I appreciate the… offer. But right now, I need to go. Maybe we can talk later.” (Turns and hurries out of the cafe, leaving Marie staring after him, clutching her camera, her face etched with worry.) ---