Run: 2026-03-11-01KKFFEPEPDT9V13XNDXMP9HHH

**Scene: A quiet corner booth at Maple & Mug Café, Alborn, MN. Rain taps lightly against the window. Selvi sits alone, hunched over her camera, scrolling through photos with careful fingers. A half-eaten slice of apple pie sits forgotten beside her. DETECTIVE HUNTER approaches, raincoat still dripping, and slides into the seat across from her.** --- **Selvi:** "...(quietly, to herself, in Hindi) यह फोटो... यह रात... कुछ तो गड़बड़ है। उस रात मैंने कुछ देखा था... पर क्या? (translation: *This photo... that night... something is wrong. I saw something that night... but what?*)" **Hunter:** "Excuse me — sorry to bother you. I'm Detective Hunter. I've seen you around town with that camera. I'm looking into some... incidents lately. People going missing. You weren't by any chance out near Route 7 last Tuesday night, were you? Some folks said they saw a woman with a camera near the tree line." **Selvi:** *(startled, looks up quickly — her eyes are wide, almost frightened)* "...(in Hindi, voice shaking) रूट 7? हाँ... हाँ, मैं वहाँ थी। मैं... मैंने कुछ देखा। एक आदमी... नहीं, एक छाया... जंगल के पास। मुझे बहुत डर लगा। मैं भाग गई। (translation: *Route 7? Yes... yes, I was there. I... I saw something. A man... no, a shadow... near the woods. I was very scared. I ran away.*)" **Hunter:** *(leans forward, furrowing his brow)* "I'm sorry — I didn't catch a word of that. Do you speak any English?" **Selvi:** *(pauses, searching for words she doesn't yet have. She points at her camera and then toward the window, miming the shape of trees with her hands.)* "...(in Hindi, slowly, as if willing him to understand) मैं... फोटो... ले रही थी। जंगल। और फिर... कोई था वहाँ। (translation: *I... was taking photos. The woods. And then... someone was there.*)" **Hunter:** *(squints, trying to read her gestures)* "Photos? You took photos out there?" *(He points at her camera questioningly.)* **Selvi:** *(nods vigorously, relief washing over her face that he understood even a fraction. She scrolls frantically on her camera and turns it toward him, pointing at a dark, grainy image — the silhouette of a figure between pine trees.)* "...(in Hindi, urgently) यह! यह वह रात है! यह आदमी... या जो भी था... मैं नहीं जानती कौन था। बहुत अंधेरा था। (translation: *This! This is that night! This man... or whoever it was... I don't know who it was. It was too dark.*)" **Hunter:** *(takes the camera carefully, studying the image. His expression hardens.)* "Well, I'll be damned. That's something, alright." *(He looks back up at her.)* "You're telling me you were out there and you saw this? I wish like hell I could understand you." **Selvi:** *(places a hand over her heart, then points to the photo, then makes a walking motion with two fingers and points off into the distance — trying to convey movement, direction, urgency.)* "...(in Hindi, emotional) वह जा रहा था... उधर। उस रास्ते पर। मुझे लगता है... मुझे लगता है वह किसी को ले जा रहा था। (translation: *He was going... that way. Down that path. I think... I think he was taking someone with him.*)" **Hunter:** *(stares at her, frustrated by the wall between them, but clearly recognizing the weight of what she's trying to communicate)* "I need to get an interpreter in here. You clearly know something important." *(He pulls out a notepad and scribbles his number, sliding it across the table.)* "Here. If you can find someone who speaks English — anyone — call this number. Please." **Selvi:** *(takes the paper, looks at it, then back at Hunter. She nods solemnly.)* "...(in Hindi, softly) मैं मदद करना चाहती हूँ। कृपया... सावधान रहिए। (translation: *I want to help. Please... be careful.*)" **Hunter:** *(His phone buzzes. He glances at the screen and his jaw tightens.)* "Hold on—" *(He answers.)* "Hunter here. ...What? When? ...I'm on my way." *(He hangs up and stands abruptly, grabbing his coat.)* "I have to go. Another one's been reported missing — just now. Stay here, stay safe. And *please* — find someone who can help me understand what you saw." **Selvi:** *(clutches the notepad to her chest and watches him rush out into the rain. She looks down at the grainy photo on her camera once more.)* "...(in Hindi, whispering) सावधान रहिए, जासूस साहब। (translation: *Be careful, Detective.*)"