Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAG8SZ9KEW7N3AQWXG8GCP

**Scene: *The Alborn Coffee Shop – Late Afternoon*** *The bell above the door jingles as Hunter steps inside, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on Maria. She sits alone in a corner booth, her camera resting on the table, fingers tracing the lens as she stares at a photo on the screen—her expression distant, troubled. The café hums with quiet chatter, the scent of cinnamon and coffee thick in the air.* --- ### **VOICE SHEET** #### **HUNTER** *(approaching, voice low but firm)* "Excuse me, miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I was hoping to ask you a few questions about what happened last night at the old mill." *(He slides into the booth across from her, pulling out a small notebook. Maria flinches slightly at the sound of his voice, her grip tightening on the camera. She doesn’t look up.)* #### **MARIA** *(in rapid, accented Spanish, voice trembling)* "¿Qué? ¿El molino? No… no quiero hablar de eso." *(What? The mill? No… I don’t want to talk about it.)* *(She quickly swipes her phone screen, hiding the photo—her eyes darting to the door as if expecting someone.)* #### **HUNTER** *(frowning, leaning in slightly)* "Ma’am, I need your help. Someone went missing near there last night. Did you see anything?" *(Maria’s breath hitches. She presses her lips together, her fingers trembling against the camera.)* #### **MARIA** *(whispering, voice breaking)* "Vi… vi algo. Pero no sé qué hacer." *(I saw something. But I don’t know what to do.)* *(She finally meets his gaze, her dark eyes wide with fear. Hunter notices her accent but doesn’t let it slow him down.)* #### **HUNTER** *(softer, but still direct)* "Tell me what you saw. Even if it doesn’t seem important." *(Maria hesitates, glancing around the café before lowering her voice further.)* #### **MARIA** "Estaba tomando fotos cerca del río. Oí… gritos. Como si alguien estuviera en peligro." *(I was taking pictures by the river. I heard… screams. Like someone was in danger.)* *(Hunter’s posture stiffens. He flips to a fresh page in his notebook.)* #### **HUNTER** "Did you see who it was?" #### **MARIA** *(shaking her head, voice barely above a whisper)* "No. Solo… una figura. Corriendo hacia el bosque. Y luego…" *(No. Just… a figure. Running into the woods. And then…)* *(She trails off, her hands shaking. Hunter notices the camera again—the screen still faintly glowing with the last photo she took.)* #### **HUNTER** *(gentler now, sensing her distress)* "You took a picture?" #### **MARIA** *(nodding, then shaking her head)* "Sí, pero no sé si ayuda. La cámara… no capturó bien." *(Yes, but I don’t know if it helps. The camera… didn’t capture it well.)* *(She hesitates, then slides the camera toward him. Hunter glances at the screen—a blurry figure in the trees, half-hidden by shadows. His jaw tightens.)* #### **HUNTER** "This could be important. Can I take it?" *(Maria hesitates, then nods weakly. Hunter pockets his notebook and pulls out his phone, snapping a quick photo of the screen before handing it back.)* #### **HUNTER** "I’ll need your name and contact info. And I’ll need you to come to the station tomorrow to make an official statement." *(Maria’s eyes widen in panic.)* #### **MARIA** *(in Spanish, urgent)* "¿La policía? No quiero problemas." *(The police? I don’t want trouble.)* #### **HUNTER** *(firm but not unkind)* "You’re not in trouble. You might be the only one who saw something. This could help find whoever’s missing." *(Maria bites her lip, then nods slowly. Hunter pulls out a business card and slides it across the table.)* #### **HUNTER** "My number’s on there. Call me if you remember anything else. Or if you need anything." *(Just as he stands, his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, his expression darkening.)* #### **HUNTER** *(to Maria)* "I’ve got to go. But I’ll be in touch." *(He turns to leave, then pauses at the door.)* #### **HUNTER** *(over his shoulder)* "Stay safe, okay?" *(Maria watches him go, her fingers tightening around the camera. The café’s chatter fades into silence as she exhales shakily, her mind racing.)* --- **END SCENE** *(Hunter steps outside, answering his phone as he walks toward his car. Maria remains seated, her reflection in the café window haunted.)*