Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAYRPA9BK83XFSYFJRG9CE

## Voice Sheet: Scene - Alborn Cafe **Setting:** A cozy, slightly worn cafe in Alborn, MN. Mid-morning. The aroma of coffee and apple pie hangs in the air. Maria is seated at a small table near the window, fiddling with her camera, reviewing photos on the display. Hunter enters, looking purposeful and slightly rumpled. **Characters:** Maria, Hunter --- **Hunter:** (Approaching Maria’s table, a touch of polite but blunt directness) Excuse me. Do you mind if I ask you a quick question? I'm Detective Harding. **Maria:** (Looks up, startled. Her expression is already troubled. She clutches her camera tighter.) … **Hunter:** I’m looking into the disappearance of Old Man Hemlock. He was last seen near the orchard, a few days ago. Did you happen to be in that area recently? Perhaps taking photos? **Maria:** (Eyes widening slightly, she quickly replies, a frantic energy in her voice) ¡¿Qué?! ¡¿Desaparecido?! ¡No puede ser! Estaba en el huerto, sí, pero hace días. Estaba tomando fotos de los manzanos… Todo estaba normal. ¿Qué ha pasado? (What?! Missing?! It can't be! I was at the orchard, yes, but days ago. I was taking photos of the apple trees… Everything was normal. What has happened?) **Hunter:** (Frowning, completely lost) Uh… I… I don’t understand. You’re… not speaking English? **Maria:** (Frustration rising, she repeats, slower, emphasizing her words) ¡Desaparecido! ¡Un hombre! ¿Qué pasó? (Missing! A man! What happened?) **Hunter:** (Running a hand through his hair) Okay, okay. Look, I'm getting nothing here. You were at the orchard. Days ago. That's... helpful, I guess. (He tries a more deliberate, slower pace) Man… gone. Orchard… you? **Maria:** (Shakes her head rapidly, gesturing with her hands) No… no entiendo. Yo…solo tomaba fotos. Era un lugar bonito. Los colores… (No… I don't understand. I… I was just taking photos. It was a beautiful place. The colors…) She trails off, looking genuinely distressed. **Hunter:** (Sighs, realizing he’s hitting a wall.) Right. Beautiful colors. (He pauses, thinking for a moment, then tries a completely different tack.) You saw… anything *strange*? Anything out of the ordinary? A truck? A person? Anything. Show me. **Maria:** (Hesitates, then points to her camera) Aquí… aquí tengo las fotos. (Here… here I have the photos.) She fumbles with the camera and turns the display towards him. **Hunter:** (Squints at the photos, scrolling through images of blooming apple trees and the general orchard landscape. Nothing overtly suspicious jumps out) Nice shots. Really. But… no people? No vehicles? **Maria:** (Shakes her head sadly.) No. Sólo árboles y…el sol. Pero después… después de que me fui, escuché algo. (No. Just trees and… the sun. But after… after I left, I heard something.) **Hunter:** (Leaning forward slightly, a flicker of interest in his eyes) You heard something? What did you hear? **Maria:** (Her voice dropping to a whisper) Un grito. Un grito… y luego silencio. Me asusté mucho. (A scream. A scream… and then silence. I got very scared.) **Hunter:** (His expression hardens. A scream… that’s new.) A scream? You're sure? **(Hunter's phone rings. He glances at the caller ID and sighs.)** **Hunter:** That’s my captain. Duty calls. (To Maria, apologetically) Look, I really appreciate you trying to help. This is… complicated. I’m going to have to go. **(He stands up abruptly, then pauses, realizing the communication barrier.)** **Hunter:** Thank you. (Gestures vaguely) Thank you for your time. **(He turns and walks quickly toward the door, leaving Maria staring after him, still shaken and clutching her camera.)** ---