Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYA74M8WCCH07S33XVTDN80

Okay, here’s a voice sheet for the scene, aiming for that cozy mystery, slightly tense atmosphere, with a good dose of fish-out-of-water. I’ve focused on the communication barrier and the growing suspicion between the characters. **SCENE: The Cozy Kettle Cafe - Alborn, MN** **SOUND:** Gentle chatter, the clinking of mugs, the low hum of a coffee grinder. Rain patters softly against the windows. **(Maria is seated at a small table near the window, meticulously reviewing photos on her camera screen. She's bundled in a bright scarf, a stark contrast to the grey afternoon. She looks distinctly out of place.)** **Hunter:** (Approaches the table, a weary look on his face. He's dressed in a slightly rumpled raincoat.) “Excuse me, miss? I don't mean to interrupt, but I’m Detective Hunter Riley. I’m just… trying to piece things together. You look like you’ve seen something you’d rather not have.” **Maria:** (Startled, she clutches her camera tighter, her eyes wide. She speaks rapidly in Spanish, her brow furrowed.) “¡Ay, Dios mío! Lo vi. En el bosque. El hombre… desaparecido. Estaba solo. Nunca… nunca más." (Translation: “Oh my God! I saw it. In the forest. The man… disappeared. He was alone. Never… never again.”) **Hunter:** (Frowning, he leans closer, shielding his face slightly.) “Sorry? I don’t— I don't understand a word of Spanish. You saw something in the forest? About the disappearances?” **Maria:** (Her voice rises slightly, laced with panic. She gestures wildly with her camera.) "Sí! El árbol… la luz. Mala. Demonio. After… after the apple festival. The man, he looked… scared.” (Translation: “Yes! The tree… the light. Bad. Demon. After… after the apple festival. The man, he looked… scared.”) **Hunter:** (He repeats the words aloud, slowly, trying to grasp the meaning. He looks genuinely perplexed. He pulls out a small notepad and pen.) “Tree…light…bad? Are you saying you saw something happen *after* the Apple Festival? The guy vanished after the Apple Festival?” He scribbles furiously. “Can you… can you draw me a picture? Or point to something specific?" **Maria:** (Shakes her head vehemently, tears welling in her eyes. She taps rapidly on her camera’s screen, showing him a photo – a blurred image of a large, gnarled oak tree silhouetted against a dramatic, almost iridescent, sunset.) “Este. Aquí. El árbol. Misterioso. El color… extraño. No como… normal." (Translation: "This. Here. The tree. Mysterious. The color… strange. Not like… normal.”) **Hunter:** (Studies the photo intently. It’s undeniably unsettling. He purses his lips.) "Strange color... okay. Look, Miss…?" **Maria:** “Maria. Maria Rodriguez.” **Hunter:** “Miss Rodriguez, I appreciate you talking to me. Seriously. But I really need to get back to the station. I’m expecting a call about another one." He glances at his watch, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. "This is... confusing.” **(Suddenly, Hunter’s phone rings, a jarring electronic beep. He answers it quickly, speaking in clipped, professional tones.)** **Hunter:** (Into phone) “Riley... Yeah, I’m on my way... Okay, okay. Just a moment.” (He listens intently, his expression hardening. He glances back at Maria, then back at the phone.) **Hunter:** (Into phone) "I’m already looking into it. I’ll need a full statement... Fine. I’ll be there in thirty.” (He hangs up, a grim set to his jaw.) “I have to go. Something just came in. Another sighting. Thanks for your time, Miss Rodriguez." **(He offers a curt nod and turns to leave.)** **Maria:** (Whispering, clutching her camera, her voice choked with emotion.) “Por favor… ayudenme. (Please… help me.)” **Hunter:** (Without turning back, he exits the cafe, disappearing into the rain.) **(Fade to black.)** --- **Notes on tone and intended feel:** * I’ve highlighted the frustration of the communication barrier, and Hunter’s increasing suspicion as he begins to realize something unusual is happening. * Maria’s panic and fractured Spanish are meant to be emotionally expressive, conveying her fear without a clear translation. * The "strange color" of the tree photo is deliberately ambiguous – a visual clue for the reader, but also a source of tension between the characters. * I tried to inject a small amount of classic detective setup – a lead, a hesitant witness, a growing problem - suitable for a cozy mystery. Would you like me to tweak any part of this, or perhaps build on a particular element (like the nature of the sighting, orHunter's reaction to the call)?