Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAF830MSJ3PKC20SY1X6H0

**Scene: *The Cozy Corner Café, Alborn, MN – Late Afternoon*** *The bell above the café door jingles as Hunter steps inside, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on Melanie. She sits in a corner booth, her fingers tracing the edge of her camera case, her expression distant. The autumn light filters through the windows, casting long shadows over her face.* --- ### **VOICE SHEET – DIALOGUE** **HUNTER** *(approaching, voice low and measured)* "Excuse me, miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about what happened last night at the apple orchard." *(Melanie startles slightly, her grip tightening on her camera. She looks up, her dark eyes wide with unease. She doesn’t speak—just stares at him, her face pale.)* **MELANIE** *(German, trembling, barely above a whisper)* "...Es war so laut. Ich habe alles gesehen. Aber dann—*nichts*. Nur... Schatten. Und dann war sie weg." *(Hunter blinks, frowning. He doesn’t understand a word.)* **HUNTER** *(frowning, trying to keep his tone steady)* "Ma’am, I don’t speak German. Could you—?" *(Melanie shakes her head, her voice breaking.)* **MELANIE** *(German, urgent, gesturing wildly)* "Die Frau! Die geschrien hat! Sie ist einfach—*verschwunden*! Und jetzt... jetzt fürchte ich, dass ich auch—" *(She cuts herself off, pressing her lips together, her hands shaking.)* **HUNTER** *(realizing she’s terrified, switching to a firmer tone)* "Okay, okay. Let’s start over. You were at the orchard last night. What happened?" *(Melanie exhales shakily, her German rapid now, her words spilling out.)* **MELANIE** *(German, frantic)* "Die Musik war so laut, und dann—*ein Schrei*. Eine Frau. Sie rief um Hilfe. Ich dachte, es war ein Spiel, aber dann... dann sah ich *ihn*. Einen Mann. Groß. Im Schatten. Und dann—*poof*—die Frau war weg. Als hätte der Wind sie genommen!" *(Hunter’s jaw tightens. He pulls out his notepad, scribbling quickly.)* **HUNTER** *(trying to piece it together)* "You saw a woman scream. A big man. And then she disappeared?" *(Melanie nods frantically, her voice dropping to a whisper.)* **MELANIE** *(German, terrified)* "Und jetzt... jetzt frage ich mich, ob ich als Nächste dran bin." *(Hunter’s expression darkens. He pulls out his phone, checking for messages.)* **HUNTER** *(grim, to himself)* "Damn it." *(His phone rings—his captain’s number. He holds up a finger to Melanie, then steps away, answering.)* **HUNTER** *(into phone, sharp)* "Hunter. Yeah, I’m still at the café. Got a witness. German-speaking. Says she saw something at the orchard last night. A woman vanished. Possible connection to the others." *(Melanie watches him, her breath quick and uneven. He ends the call, turning back to her.)* **HUNTER** *(softer now, but still serious)* "I need you to come down to the station. We’ll get someone to translate. But you can’t leave town, understand?" *(Melanie nods, her fear still palpable. Hunter hesitates, then adds, gruff but not unkind.)* **HUNTER** "Stay here. I’ll be right back." *(He strides toward the door, then pauses, glancing back at her one last time before disappearing outside.)* --- **END SCENE.** *(Note: The German phrases Melanie uses roughly translate to:* - *"It was so loud. I saw everything. But then—nothing. Just... shadows. And then she was gone."* - *"The woman! The one who screamed! She just—disappeared! And now... now I’m afraid that I’ll be next."* - *"And now... I’m asking myself if I’m next."*)* Would you like any adjustments to tone or pacing?