Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYB1V2PPXNJ116SKQCY7C6P

Okay, here's a voice sheet for the scene, crafted with the cozy mystery genre and character/location details in mind. I've aimed for a balance of atmosphere, mystery, and genuine communication barriers, consistent with the characters established. After the voice sheet, I'll include some notes explaining the choices I made. --- **Scene: Alborn Cafe - Afternoon** **(Setting: A quaint, slightly worn cafe in Alborn, MN. The aroma of apple pie hangs in the air. Isabella, clutching her camera, sits at a small table near the window, reviewing photos on the LCD screen. Hunter enters, looking weary. He notices her, and something in her demeanor catches his attention - a visible distress.)** Isabella: (Eyes still glued to the camera, a slight tremor in her voice) "No… no, così non va. La luce era sbagliata, l'espressione... sembrava persa." (Shakes her head slightly, zooming in on a photo.) Hunter: "Excuse me? I didn’t mean to stare, but you look… upset. Is everything alright?" Isabella: (Looks up, startled. Her eyes are wide, filled with a quiet distress. She speaks rapidly, her voice catching on a sob.) "Non capisce? *Si sono presi*… Elara. L'hanno portata via. Tutti dicono che è andata via di sua volontà, ma… non è vero! Elara non farebbe mai una cosa del genere. Era felice qui. Amava i mele…" (She gestures vaguely around the cafe, a fresh wave of anxiety washing over her.) Hunter: (Frowning, completely lost.) "I… I’m sorry. I don't understand. You speak… a different language?" Isabella: (Nods frantically, tears welling up.) “Italiano. Parlo solo italiano. Non so… non so l’inglese ancora.” (She clutches her camera tighter, as if for comfort.) "Elara… lei era… *un'amica*." (A friend.) Hunter: "Elara? Is she... one of the people who's gone missing? You mean, in connection with… the disappearances?" (He tries to keep his tone gentle, despite the frustration of the language barrier. Exhales slowly) “Look, I’m Detective Hunter Reed. I’m investigating those… events. Someone named Elara disappeared recently, yes?” (He points to himself, then makes a questioning gesture toward her). Isabella: (Nods vigorously, tears spilling over) "Sì! Spero che lei… che lei possa trovarla. La polizia… dicono che forse è scappata. Ma ella non scappa mai. È una persona gentile. *Non è colpevole*." (She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.) “Voleva fare delle foto! Voleva prendere un’immagine del festival della mela! Era entusiasta!” Hunter: (Confused, but starting to grasp the core of her message. He pulls out a small notepad and pen.) “Okay, okay. You knew Elara, and you think she didn’t leave on her own. You think… someone *took* her? This is important." (He scribbles notes, struggling to remember the names of the missing people). “Did you… see anything? Anything unusual? Before she disappeared?” Isabella: (Shakes her head vehemently, struggling to articulate) "No… niente… ma… c'era un uomo. Un uomo con… un cappello. Alto. E... e un'ombra. Una brutta ombra." (She shivers, pulls her coat tighter around her shoulders.) "Non mi piaceva. Non mi pareva buono." Hunter: (Looking at her with a growing sense of urgency) "A man… with a hat. Tall… and saw a 'bad shadow,' you say? Can you describe him at all? Anything?" Isabella: (Hesitates, her voice dropping to a whisper.) "Non lo so. Non lo vedevo bene. Era lontano... ma... mi dava paura." **(Hunter’s phone rings. He glances at the screen, his expression hardening. He apologizes quickly.)** Hunter: “Excuse me, one second. This is… urgent. Look, I really appreciate you talking to me. This is vital. I'll need to find someone who can translate, but this is a good start. I'll need your name and where you’re staying, so I can follow up." Isabella: (Looking relieved and terrified simultaneously.) “Isabella. Mi chiamo Isabella. Sono al… (She glances at a nearby sign) …al ‘Pine Ridge Guesthouse.’” Hunter: “Okay, Isabella. I’ll be in touch. And thank you. Really, thank you." (He answers his phone, stepping slightly away.) "Reed… Yes, I'm on my way. I've got something... potentially significant." (He looks back briefly at Isabella, a troubled expression on his face, then turns and exits the cafe.) Isabella: (Watches him go, clutching her camera, whispering to herself) “Speriamo… speriamo che la trovi." (Let's hope… let's hope he finds her.") --- **Notes on Choices:** * **Authenticity of Italian:** I tried to use phrases that sounded natural and conveyed the appropriate emotion, even though I'm not a native speaker. The focus was on conveying *feeling* more than perfectly grammatically correct sentences, consistent with a student who's clearly distressed. The italicized words are provided translations between the lines of the voice sheet. * **Hunter's Frustration/Professionalism:** I made sure Hunter's confusion was evident, but he maintains a professional demeanor and tries to understand, recognizing the importance of what Isabella is saying. His notepad and questions reflect a methodical investigator. * **Isabella's Character:** Her camera is a constant presence--reflecting her artistry--and a source of comfort in a stressful situation. Her Italian is emotive and rapid, reflecting her fear. The detail about the apple festival emphasizes the setting and adds to her distress. * **Building Suspense:** The "man with the hat" and "bad shadow" are classic cozy mystery elements – subtle clues that hint at a darker force. The fact that she didn't see him well is a narrative device to prevent her from giving a full picture of the man, which will eventually be revealed as an important detail. * **Open Ending:** The scene ends with Hunter receiving an urgent call and leaving, creating a cliffhanger and hinting at more complications to come. Isabella is left in a state of fragile hope, emphasizing the vulnerability of the situation. * **Cozy Mystery Tone:** The scene avoids excessive darkness or graphic details. The focus is on puzzling information and creating a sense of unease rather than outright horror. I hope this voice sheet fulfills your request and fits the established characters and setting! Let me know if you'd like any adjustments or further development.