Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYBB2GDWPHHK9E8W16YHZV6

Okay, here's the scene as a voice sheet, aiming for that cozy mystery feel - a bit of atmosphere, a building sense of unease, and a clear communication barrier that adds to the tension. I've tried to capture Maria's emotional state and Hunter's no-nonsense demeanor through their dialogue and actions. I've also included a few stage directions in italics within the voice sheet to guide performance and visual aspects. --- **Scene: The Cozy Kettle Cafe, Alborn, MN - Mid-Afternoon** *The Cozy Kettle Cafe is a small, bright space with checkered tablecloths and the smell of cinnamon and apples hanging in the air. Maria, with a DSLR camera resting on the table and perched on her lap, is intently reviewing photos on the screen. She’s dressed in practical clothing – jeans, a warm sweater – appropriate for the Minnesota chill. Hunter, in a slightly rumpled suit, approaches cautiously.* Maria: *She doesn't notice him at first, completely absorbed in her camera. He clears his throat gently.* Hunter: "Excuse me... miss? Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Maria: *Looks up, startled. Her dark eyes widen slightly, and a flicker of fear crosses her face. She quickly returns to looking at the camera, protectively.* Maria: "Perdóneme… ¿habla español?" *[Excuse me… do you speak Spanish?]* Hunter: *Frowning slightly, incomprehensibly.* "I… no. I’m sorry, I don’t. Just English, I’m afraid." Maria: *Shakes her head slowly, a wave of something she can't describe running through her.* "No… no entiendo." *[I don’t understand.]* *She clutches the camera tighter.* Hunter: "Look, I'm Detective Hunter Harding. I'm investigating… well, some things that have been happening around town. Last week's apple pie contest… did you happen to see anything unusual or anyone acting strangely?" Maria: *Her voice trembles slightly as she begins to speak, her eyes welling up. She speaks rapidly, gesturing with her hands as is common in Spanish conversation.* “¡Un desastre! ¡Completamente un desastre! Estaba… estaba tomando fotos del paisaje, de las manzanas… y vi… vi a los niños. Estaban jugando cerca del río. Y… y después, las luces… las luces se apagaron. Muy rápido.” *[A disaster! Completely a disaster! I was… I was taking photos of the landscape, of the apples… and I saw… I saw the children. They were playing near the river. And… and then, the lights…the lights went out. Very quickly.]* Hunter: *Straining to understand, but getting nothing but rapid-fire Spanish.* “Uh… lights? What lights? Are you talking about the festival decorations? They sometimes flicker.” Maria: *Shakes her head vehemently, tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.* “No… no eran las luces de la fiesta. Eran… eran extrañas. Brillantes, intensas… y luego, nada. Y los niños… los niños desaparecieron.” *[No… they weren’t the festival lights. They were…they were strange. Bright, intense… and then, nothing. And the children… the children disappeared.]* *She sobs quietly, burying her face in her hands.* Hunter: *Concerned but still confused. He puts a hand gently on her arm.* “Hey, hey, easy. You’re upset. I understand you might be confused, but this isn’t helping. Were you near the river, and you saw children… playing? And then something happened? Can you describe what happened to the children? Tell me slowly, okay?" *He tries to speak slowly and deliberately.* Maria: *Looks up at him, her eyes red and swollen, utterly lost. She tries to compose herself, but she’s clearly shaken.* “No… no sé… no sé qué pasó. Solo… solo sé que ya no estaban. Y me… me asusta mucho.” *[No… I don’t know… I don’t know what happened. I only… I only know that they weren’t there anymore. And I… I’m very scared.]* Hunter: *Sighs, unconsciously rubbing his forehead. This is going nowhere fast.* “Okay… Okay. Look, I’m going to take a shot in the dark. Do you know anyone who speaks Spanish around here?” Maria: “Quizás… quizás la señora Peterson en la biblioteca.” *[Perhaps… perhaps Mrs. Peterson at the library.]* Hunter: "The library? Alright, that's something. I'll... I'll check." *He pulls out his phone.* “Look, I'm getting a call. I really need to go. But... please, if you remember *anything* else, anything at all, come to the police station. Ask for me.” *His phone rings, a jarring sound in the quiet cafe. He answers quickly, moving away slightly.* Hunter: "Harding. Yes, I'm on my way…" *He listens intently, his expression hardening.* “I understand. Right now. Copy that.” *He glances back at Maria apologetically, then turns and exits the cafe quickly.* Maria: *Watches him go, utterly bewildered and frightened. She clutches her camera, her only solace in a town where she increasingly feels lost and alone.* “Ay, Dios mío…” *[Oh, my God…]* --- I hope this captures the scene effectively! Let me know if you'd like any adjustments or further development.