Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYB0ZQT19G9XCPKG7TNPP15

Okay, here's a voice sheet for the scene, aiming for that cozy mystery tone (a touch of suspense, a focus on character interaction, and a sense of a charming, if slightly unsettling, small town). I've layered in the language barrier and Marie's emotional state, as requested, and tried to show Hunter's personality without heavy exposition. I've also included some stage direction notes for a visual sense. The French is provided with English translations *after* the voice sheet for clarity. **VOICE SHEET: Alborn Cafe – Afternoon** **(Setting: A small, cozy cafe in Alborn, Minnesota. Sunlight streams through the large windows. Marie, late 20s, sits at a small table by the window, meticulously reviewing photos on her camera’s screen. She’s dressed in practical but stylish travel clothing. Hunter, 30s, stands hesitantly nearby, observing her before approaching. He looks tired, his face etched with worry but his posture still retains a military straightness. He holds a half-empty cup of coffee.)** Marie: (Without looking up from her camera, almost a whisper) …Non. Pas ça. Encore…c’est flou… (Shakes her head slightly, adjusts a setting) Hunter: (Clears his throat, approaching the table) Excuse me? Terrible weather we've been having, huh? Marie: (Looks up, startled. Her eyes are wide and a little frantic) Pardon? Je… je ne comprends pas. Hunter: (Frowns slightly) I… I’m sorry. Do you speak English? Marie: (Shakes her head, her grip tightening on the camera) Non. Pas du tout. Enfin…un peu. Hunter: (Points to the apple pie displayed in the window.) The Apple Festival… big deal around here. Heard you were involved in the photography for it. Marie: (A flicker of something – fear? – crosses her face. She looks away, back to her camera) …Ne parlez pas de ça. S’il vous plaît. Hunter: (Sits down opposite her without being invited, ignoring her obvious discomfort. He has a disarming, straightforward gaze.) Look, I’m Detective Hunter Reed. I’m investigating some… concerns in town. Concerning the disappearances. Did you, uh…did you happen to see anything unusual last Saturday night around the orchard? Marie: (Her hand trembles, causing her to zoom in on a photo unintentionally. She gasps softly and clutches her chest.) *Hors de question!* Jamais! Ils…ils étaient si calmes… trop calmes. Comme des ombres. Et les pommes… (Her voice cracks) Les pommes étaient noires. *Noires!* Hunter: (Raises an eyebrow, thoroughly baffled.) Saturday night? Oranges? Black apples? I... I don’t understand. Are you… are you alright? You look pale. Marie: (Tears welling in her eyes. She buries her face in her hands briefly.) Il faut partir. Il faut quitter Alborn. C’est…c’est maudit! Ils prennent les gens. Tous les gens. Et personne ne s'en rend compte! Hunter: (Leaning forward, a touch more concerned, but still no closer to understanding) Look, I appreciate you talking to me, but I really don’t know what you’re saying. It’s… distressing, but I can’t… **(Hunter's phone rings – a jarring, electronic sound in the quiet cafe. He glances at the screen, his expression hardening.)** Hunter: (Into phone, tersely) Reed… Yeah, I’m here… No, nothing concrete… What? …Right. I’m on my way. (He hangs up, sighs, and looks back at Marie, a polite, slightly apologetic expression on his face.) Look, I’m so sorry, but I need to go. I’ll… I’ll try to find someone who can translate. Take care of yourself. Marie: (Looks up at him, her eyes filled with pleading) Ne partez pas! Vous devez croire. Vous devez les aider. (She points vaguely towards the orchard.) *Là-bas!* Hunter: (Forces a small smile. He stands up.) I wish I could, Miss… I really do. (He starts to walk away, glancing back at her once more with a mixture of confusion and concern.) **(Hunter exits the cafe. Marie slowly lowers her head back to her camera, leaving the screen displaying the image of the unsettlingly black apple.)** --- **FRENCH TRANSLATIONS:** * **"Non. Pas ça. Encore…c’est flou…"** - "No. Not that. Still... it's blurry…" * **"Pardon? Je… je ne comprends pas."** - "Excuse me? I…I don't understand." * **"Non. Pas du tout. Enfin…un peu."** - "No. Not at all. Well…a little." * **"Hors de question! Jamais!"** - "Out of the question! Never!" * **"Ils…ils étaient si calmes… trop calmes. Comme des ombres. Et les pommes… " -** "They…they were so calm… too calm. Like shadows. And the apples…" * **"Noires!** - "Black!" * **"Il faut partir. Il faut quitter Alborn. C’est…c’est maudit!"** - "We must leave. We must leave Alborn. It’s… it’s cursed!" * **"Ils prennent les gens. Tous les gens. Et personne ne s'en rend compte!"** - "They are taking people. All the people. And no one realizes it!" * **"Ne partez pas! Vous devez croire. Vous devez les aider."** - "Don't leave! You have to believe me. You have to help them." * **"Là-bas!"** - "There!" I hope this captures the desired atmosphere and dynamic! Let me know if you’d like any adjustments or expansions.