Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYA9JBWYFXQ0GTEZQ0Y5RHA

Okay, here’s a voice sheet capturing a scene between Melanie and Hunter, aiming for that cozy mystery feel - a little awkward, a lot of misunderstanding, and a subtle undercurrent of intrigue. **SCENE:** The “Apple Slice” Cafe – Alborn, MN. Late afternoon. Rain is spitting lightly against the windows. **VOICE SHEET** **1. HUNTER (35, Gravelly voice, pragmatic, slightly impatient)** (Approaches Melanie’s table, pulls up a chair without asking) Hunter: “Excuse me, you’re Melanie, right? I’m Detective Hunter. We need to talk about last night.” **2. MELANIE (30, Slightly hesitant, clearly stressed, speaking rapidly in German)** Melanie: “Ach, Gott in Himmel! Es war so schrecklich! Ich habe gesehen… ich habe wirklich gesehen, wie er… er war weg! Einfach weg! Und dann die Laterne… kaputt! Alles war dunkel!” (She gestures wildly with her camera, nearly knocking it over.) **3. HUNTER (Confused, furrowing his brow)** Hunter: “Uh… ‘Kaputt’? Look, I don’t speak German. You said something about a lantern and… disappearing? Can you… can you point to what happened?” (He gestures vaguely around the cafe.) **4. MELANIE (Voice rising slightly in agitation, still in German, increasingly frustrated)** Melanie: “Ja, ja! Beim Marktplatz! Der Mann mit dem roten Hut! Er hat sie genommen! Die Mädchen! Die kleinen Mädchen! Und dann… dann ist die Lampe runtergefallen! Es war so laut! Ich habe geschrien!” (She clutches her camera tightly.) **5. HUNTER (Sighs, leans forward, trying a different approach)** Hunter: "Okay, okay, slow down. I’m going to try this a different way. Did you see someone take a group of children after a streetlight broke in the town square?" **6. MELANIE (Pauses, looks at him with wide, frightened eyes, still struggling for words – mostly German with a few hesitant English words)** Melanie: "Ja… das… das stimmt. The… the man with the red hat. He… snatched them. And the light... it fell. It was loud. Very loud.” (She shivers, pulls her scarf tighter.) **7. HUNTER (Takes out his phone, scrolls) ** Hunter: “Right. And did you report this to anyone? The sheriff?” **8. MELANIE (Shakes her head vigorously, speaking in German, a single word interrupting)** Melanie: “Nein! Niemand! Sie… sie glauben mir nicht! Ich bin… Ich bin nur eine Studentin. Ich spreche kein Englisch!” (She emphasizes the last words with a small, pleading look.) **9. HUNTER (Ignoring the English, looking at her with a measured expression)** Hunter: “Look, I appreciate you coming forward. It’s… concerning. I just need to get a clearer picture of what happened. Could you… describe the man with the red hat? Anything else you remember?” **10. MELANIE (Hesitates, then points at her camera, a flicker of determination in her eyes)** Melanie: "Ich habe... ich habe ein Foto! Ich kann es zeigen! Das Foto kann helfen!" (She nervously reaches for her camera.) (Suddenly, Hunter’s phone rings. He answers it quickly.) **11. HUNTER (Into phone, clipped tone)** Hunter: “Yeah? … What? … Okay, I’m on my way.” (He hangs up, looking grim.) **12. HUNTER (To Melanie, standing up)** Hunter: “Duty calls. Thanks for your time, Melanie. We'll be in touch." **13. MELANIE (Watching him leave, a single tear rolling down her cheek - she murmurs to herself in German)** Melanie: “Ich hoffe, er findet sie… Ich hoffe, sie sind in Sicherheit…” --- **Notes & Considerations for the Author:** * **Subtext:** The scene is designed to build tension without explicitly revealing the crime. Melanie’s distress and inability to communicate effectively create a mystery. * **Hunter's Stance:** His initial impatience is key to his character. He's a practical man, not a linguist. * **Visuals:** Expand on descriptions - the rain, the cafe interior, Melanie’s camera, the red hat. * **German Language Use:** I’ve kept the German prominent, reflecting Melanie’s challenges. Using a glossary or translator for key phrases would add depth. * **Cozy Mystery Element:** The awkward communication and the focus on a seemingly ordinary student create a sense of vulnerability and intrigue. Would you like me to develop this scene further, perhaps adding a specific detail about the "man with the red hat" or expanding on Hunter's investigation?