Run: 2026-03-11-01KKFE7W57RKK4EMBEW116VCFA

**[INT. A SMALL CAFÉ IN ALBORN, MN — MORNING]** *The café is warm and quaint, with checkered tablecloths and the smell of fresh apple pie lingering in the air. MELANIE sits alone by the window, scrolling through photos on her camera — shots of the rolling countryside, a weathered barn, golden light catching the edge of a cornfield. She is absorbed in her work. HUNTER enters, scanning the room. He spots her and approaches, pulling out the chair across from her without ceremony.* Hunter: "Mind if I sit here? Name's Hunter. I'm with the sheriff's office." *Melanie looks up, startled. She clutches her camera to her chest and blinks at him.* Melanie: "Oh — entschuldigung, ich… ich spreche kein Englisch. Können Sie langsamer sprechen?" Hunter: "…Right. Okay." *He clears his throat and speaks slowly, almost exaggeratedly.* "I'm… a detective. I'm looking into some things that have been happening around town. People going missing. You probably heard about it." *Melanie frowns, trying desperately to catch a word she recognizes. She shakes her head slowly.* Melanie: "Ich verstehe nicht… Entschuldigung. Was haben Sie gesagt? Verschwunden? Leute… verschwunden?" *She gestures vaguely — pointing to people walking past the window, then making a sweeping motion as if they've vanished into thin air. Her eyes widen with concern.* Hunter: "Wait — you… do you understand me at all?" *Melanie shakes her head apologetically. She pulls out her phone and opens a translation app, typing quickly. She turns the screen toward him: "I am sorry. I speak German only. Can I help you?"* Hunter: *reading the screen, nodding slowly* "German. Okay." *He types into his own phone and shows her: "Have you seen anything unusual? Strange people? Anywhere in town?"* *Melanie reads it. Her expression shifts — the playfulness drains from her face. She sets her camera down carefully and types a longer response. Her hands are slightly unsteady.* Melanie: *shows her phone* "Two nights ago. I was taking photos near the old bridge outside town. A car stopped. A woman got out. She looked scared. Then the car drove away — fast. She walked into the trees. I did not see her again." *Hunter reads it carefully. His jaw tightens. He types back.* Hunter: *shows phone* "Can you describe the car? The woman?" *Melanie nods eagerly. She scrolls through her camera and finds a photo — slightly blurry, taken in low light, but the outline of a dark sedan is visible at the edge of the frame near the bridge. She points to it, then to herself, then makes the universal "I was hiding" gesture — crouching down.* Hunter: "You took a photo? Of the car?" *He leans in, studying the camera screen.* "That's… that could be really helpful." *He types quickly and shows her: "Can I have this photo? It is important for my investigation."* *Melanie hesitates for only a moment, then nods. She removes the SD card and places it on the table between them.* Melanie: "Bitte. Nehmen Sie es." *She pauses, then types on her phone and shows it:* "Please find her. She looked very afraid." Hunter: *reading it, then looking at her directly — a rare softness crossing his stern features* "I will." *They sit in silence for a moment. Melanie wraps her hands around her coffee cup, staring out the window. Hunter pockets the SD card and takes a sip of the black coffee a waitress has silently placed in front of him.* Hunter: *typing and showing his phone* "What brings you to Alborn? You're not from around here." *Melanie smiles faintly. She types:* "I am a student. Photography. I came here to take pictures of small-town America. I thought it would be peaceful." Hunter: *a dry, grim smile* "Yeah. It used to be." *His phone buzzes. He glances at the screen and his expression hardens.* Hunter: *standing abruptly, typing and showing her* "I have to go. Something came up. Stay safe — don't go to that bridge alone at night." *He pauses, then adds one more line:* "Thank you. Seriously." *Melanie nods. She types one last thing and shows him as he turns to leave:* Melanie: *phone screen* "Guten Morgen — I mean — good luck, Detective." *Hunter gives a curt nod over his shoulder and pushes through the café door into the gray morning light. Melanie watches him go, then slowly lifts her camera and looks at the empty space in her gallery where the bridge photo used to be.* **[END SCENE]**