Run: 2026-02-24-01KJ8V69JR2TJ2CJDWY6V0QFRK

# Scene: The Language Barrier ### Location: *Birch & Brew Café, Main Street, Alborn, MN* --- *Maria sits alone at a corner table near the window, scrolling through photos on her camera. A half-finished café con leche grows cold beside her. Hunter pushes through the door, scanning the room. He spots her — the only unfamiliar face in town — and approaches.* --- Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter Brandt. Mind if I sit down for a second?" Maria: *looks up, startled* "¿Perdón? No... no entiendo." Hunter: "I'm a detective. I'm investigating some disappearances around town." *taps his badge* "You been here long? Were you anywhere near the fairgrounds last Tuesday night?" Maria: *eyes widening, voice shaking* "¿Las desapariciones? Sí... sí, yo vi algo. Había alguien en el campo, cerca del granero viejo. Era de noche y escuché gritos. Dios mío, fue horrible. Tomé fotos pero estaba tan oscuro..." Hunter: *blinks, leans back in his chair* "I'm sorry — I don't... Do you speak English?" Maria: "¿English? No, no... Lo siento. Solo español." *gestures apologetically* Hunter: "Spanish. Okay." *rubs the back of his neck* "Right. Uh... the fairgrounds?" *mimes a large open space with his hands* "Tuesday?" *holds up two fingers, then points to his watch* Maria: *nodding urgently* "¡Sí! ¡Sí! ¡El martes!" *holds up her camera, flipping to a dark, blurry photo of a silhouette near a barn* "Mire, mire esto. Había una persona ahí. Se movía rápido, arrastrando algo. Algo grande." Hunter: *squints at the photo, jaw tightening* "Jesus. That's the old Petersen barn." *points at the screen* "This — who is this? Can you...?" *mimes a face, points at the silhouette* Maria: *shakes her head, frustrated* "No pude ver la cara. Estaba demasiado lejos. Pero escuché un grito — un grito de mujer." *cups her hands around her mouth to mime screaming, then shivers* "Tenía mucho miedo. Corrí de vuelta al pueblo." Hunter: *stares at her, trying to piece it together* "A scream. You heard a scream?" *mimics her gesture* Maria: *nods vigorously* "¡Sí! ¡Un grito! Fue... fue terrible." *wraps her arms around herself, eyes glistening* Hunter: "Okay. Okay, I believe you. I don't understand a word you're saying, but I believe you." *pulls out a small notepad, slides it across the table with a pen* "Can you draw? Show me?" Maria: *takes the pen, sketches a rough map — the barn, a figure, an arrow showing movement toward the tree line* "La persona fue por aquí, hacia el bosque. Desapareció entre los árboles." Hunter: *studies the sketch carefully, nodding slowly* "The tree line behind Petersen's property. That backs up to the river..." *mutters to himself* Maria: "¿Entiende? ¿Me entiende?" *searches his face desperately* Hunter: "I wish I understood you, I really do. I'm going to need to find a translator. Can you stay in town for a while? Stay?" *places both palms flat on the table, pressing down* Maria: *hesitates* "¿Quedarme? Yo... sí, estoy viviendo aquí por el programa de estudios. Pero tengo miedo. Lo que vi esa noche..." *Hunter's phone buzzes loudly. He glances down, his expression hardening.* Hunter: "Brandt." *listens for a moment, then stands abruptly* "When? ... I'm on my way." Maria: *looks up, alarmed* "¿Qué pasa?" Hunter: *holds up one finger* "I have to go. But I'm coming back — okay? I'm coming back." *points at her, then at the table, then at himself* "Stay. Please." Maria: *clutches her camera to her chest* "Tenga cuidado, detective. Lo que sea que esté pasando en este pueblo... no es normal." Hunter: *pauses at the door, looks back at her — something in her tone needs no translation* "Yeah... I'm starting to figure that out." *He pushes out into the grey Minnesota afternoon. Maria watches him go, then looks back down at the dark photograph on her camera — the silhouette near the barn — and whispers.* Maria: "Ten cuidado..." --- *END SCENE*