Run: 2026-03-11-01KKFK0HC2XB0VDFF7ZF66FS7S

# Scene: The Corner Cafe *The late morning sun filters through the windows of Ellie's Diner on Main Street. MARIA sits alone in a corner booth, scrolling through the photos on her camera. A half-eaten slice of apple pie and a cup of coffee sit untouched before her. The bell above the door jingles as DETECTIVE HUNTER steps inside, scanning the room. His eyes land on Maria — the only patron he hasn't spoken to yet. He approaches with his notebook in hand.* --- Hunter: "Excuse me — ma'am? Sorry to bother you. Name's Hunter, I'm with the county detective's office. Mind if I sit down?" Maria: *looks up from her camera, startled, clutching it protectively* "¿Perdón? Yo... no entiendo." Hunter: *pulls out the chair across from her and sits, offering a polite but tired smile* "Right. Okay. Uh... you... English? Speak English?" Maria: *shakes her head slowly, then gestures to herself* "Español. Yo hablo español." Hunter: *sighs and rubs the back of his neck* "Spanish. Great. Okay. Um... *hablar*... you—" Maria: *tilts her head, waiting* Hunter: *points to his badge, then to his notebook, then makes a questioning gesture with his hands* "I... need... to ask you... questions. About the town. Something... happened. Something bad." Maria: *her expression shifts — she seems to understand the tone more than the words. Her eyes widen slightly* "¿Algo malo? ¿Qué... qué pasó?" Hunter: *leans forward, speaking slowly and deliberately* "There have been... people... disappearing. *Des-aparecer.*" *he mimes a person vanishing with his hands* Maria: *gasps softly, bringing a hand to her mouth. She speaks quickly, her voice trembling* "¡Dios mío! ¿Desaparecidos? ¿Aquí, en este pueblo? Yo... yo vi algo. La semana pasada, en el bosque, cerca del lago. Una luz extraña entre los árboles, muy tarde en la noche. Tomé una foto, pero... estaba asustada, así que me fui corriendo." Hunter: *stares at her blankly, then gestures helplessly* "I... didn't catch any of that. Not a word. But... you look scared. That's something." *he leans in and points to her camera* "Photos? You take photos?" Maria: *nods vigorously, relieved he caught that much. She turns the camera toward him and begins scrolling through her pictures. She stops on a dark, slightly blurry image — a pale, unusual glow between the trees near a body of water.* "Mira. Aquí. La luz. Yo la vi." Hunter: *takes the camera carefully, squinting at the image. His expression hardens — the glow doesn't look like any flashlight or fire he knows.* "Where... was this? *Donde?*" Maria: *points toward the window, then draws the shape of trees and water with her finger on the table* "Lago. Bosque. Cerca de aquí." Hunter: *nods slowly, writing in his notebook* "Lake. Woods. Got it." *He scribbles the word "PHOTO" and underlines it twice, then points back and forth between the camera and the notebook, raising his eyebrows in a silent question: can I have this?* Maria: *hesitates, clutching the camera strap, then nods reluctantly* "Sí. Pero... tenga cuidado, por favor. Esa luz... sentí que algo estaba mal. Algo muy mal." Hunter: *doesn't understand the words, but her tone is unmistakable. He offers a reassuring nod* "I'll be careful. Thank you. *Gracias.*" Maria: *manages a small, anxious smile* "De nada." *Hunter's phone buzzes loudly in his pocket. He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his demeanor shifts immediately — jaw tightening, eyes narrowing.* Hunter: *standing abruptly* "I've gotta go. Duty calls." *He pauses, looking back at Maria. He taps the camera gently, then his own chest* "I'll take care of this. I promise." Maria: *presses her hands together in front of her lips and gives a small, worried nod* "Buena suerte, detective." Hunter: *already halfway to the door, glancing back one last time* "Yeah. Something tells me I'm gonna need it." *The bell above the door jingles as he steps out into the crisp autumn air of Alborn. Maria watches him go, then looks down at her now-empty hands where the camera used to be. She pulls her coffee closer and stares out the window at the quiet, unsuspecting street.* --- *End scene.*