Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYA4XSJ7M3C8T85G64TW9R7

**Voice Sheet: Café Scene – Alborn, MN** *(The café is quiet, with the hum of conversation and the clink of cups. Melanie sits at a small wooden table, her camera open in front of her, her fingers tracing the screen. She looks tense, her expression distant. Hunter, in a dark jacket and worn-out boots, leans against the table across from her, arms crossed.)* --- **Hunter:** *(in English, with a sharp tone)* "You’re the German girl, right? The one taking pictures everywhere." *(Melanie flinches slightly, her eyes darting up. She exhales sharply, switching to German.)* **Melanie:** *(soft but urgent, hands trembling slightly)* "Ja… ja, ich bin Melanie. Aber ich verstehe nicht, was Sie meinen. *I’m Melanie… but I don’t understand what you mean.*" **Hunter:** *(frowning, switching to German—slow, halting, with heavy accent)* "Ich suche jemanden. *I’m looking for someone.* Ein Mann. *A man.* Er ist verschwunden. *He disappeared.*" *(Melanie’s breath catches. She looks around nervously, then back at Hunter.)* **Melanie:** *(whispering, voice breaking)* "Wann? *When?* Wo? *Where?*" **Hunter:** *(leaning in slightly, voice low)* "Vor drei Tagen. *Three days ago.* In den Wäldern hinter dem alten Apfelbaum-Festplatz. *In the woods behind the old apple festival site.*" *(Melanie’s face pales. She clutches her camera, her knuckles white.)* **Melanie:** *(shaking her head, eyes wide)* "Nein… nein, das kann nicht sein. *No… no, that can’t be.* Ich war dort gestern. *I was there yesterday.*" **Hunter:** *(raising an eyebrow, skeptical)* "Und? *And?*" **Melanie:** *(voice trembling, gesturing frantically)* "Ich habe… ich habe etwas gesehen. *I saw… I saw something.* Etwas… falsch. *Something… wrong.*" *(She hesitates, then lowers her voice further.)* **Melanie:** *(whispering)* "Es war… wie ein Schatten. *It was… like a shadow.* Als ob jemand… *As if someone…*" **Hunter:** *(cutting in, impatient)* "Jemand was? *Someone what?*" *(Melanie swallows hard, her eyes darting to the door.)* **Melanie:** *(urgent, urgent)* "Er… er trug ein dunkles Hemd. *He… he wore a dark shirt.* Und er… er ging schnell. *And he… he walked fast.* Wie ein Soldat. *Like a soldier.*" *(Hunter’s expression darkens. He pulls out his phone, checking something quickly.)* **Hunter:** *(muttering to himself, in English)* "Marine. *Marine.*" *(Melanie’s eyes widen in understanding, but she doesn’t speak.)* **Hunter:** *(back to German, voice harder)* "Wo genau? *Where exactly?*" **Melanie:** *(pointing vaguely toward the window, voice breaking)* "Dort. *There.* Hinter den alten Scheunen. *Behind the old barns.*" *(Hunter nods, scribbling something in a notebook. His phone rings—he answers abruptly, stepping away.)* **Hunter:** *(into phone, English, gruff)* "Yeah?… No, I’m still here. *Yeah?… No, I’m still here.*" *(He turns back to Melanie, holding up a finger to silence her.)* **Hunter:** *(to Melanie, in German, low)* "Entschuldigen Sie. *Excuse me.*" *(He walks a few steps away, talking in English. Melanie exhales shakily, rubbing her temples. She glances at her camera, then back at the door, her expression haunted.)* **Hunter:** *(back to Melanie, voice tense)* "Ich muss gehen. Aber Sie… *I have to go. But you…*" *(He hesitates, then reaches into his pocket, pulling out a business card. He scribbles something on it in English, then holds it out.)* **Hunter:** *(in German, firm)* "Wenn Sie etwas anderes sehen… *If you see anything else…* Rufen Sie mich an. *Call me.*" *(Melanie takes the card, her hands still shaking. Hunter nods once, then strides toward the door.)* **Hunter:** *(over his shoulder, English)* "And try to speak English next time. *And try to speak English next time.*" *(Melanie watches him go, her face a mix of fear and determination. She clutches the card, then looks back at her camera—her lens fogged with unshed tears.)* --- **End Scene.**