Run: 2026-03-18-01KM1FTMNQNB68D9G0SAZWRTJK

# VOICE SHEET: "The Language Barrier" **Scene: A small café in Alborn, MN. Afternoon. Maria sits alone at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera with a worried expression. Detective Hunter approaches, badge visible on his belt.** --- **Hunter:** Excuse me. Mind if I sit? **Maria:** *(looks up, startled, nods slowly)* **Hunter:** I'm Detective Hunter. I'm looking into the recent... well, you probably know what I'm asking about. *(pauses, sensing confusion)* The disappearances. People going missing. You've heard about it, right? **Maria:** *(speaks rapidly in Spanish, voice trembling)* "No sé qué está pasando. Llevo días sin poder dormir. Vi algo la noche en que ella desapareció y no sé qué hacer. Tengo tanto miedo..." **Hunter:** *(brow furrows, leans back)* I'm sorry—I don't... I don't understand. Do you speak English? **Maria:** *(shakes head, gestures helplessly)* "No, no... lo siento, yo no... English... no." **Hunter:** *(rubs his jaw, frustrated)* Right. Okay. *(pulls out a small notebook, tries again slowly)* Disappearances... last week... you... see something? **Maria:** *(eyes widen, speaks quickly in Spanish)* "Vi una luz en el granero. Una luz que no debería estar ahí. Y después... después escuché un grito." **Hunter:** *(scribbles in notebook, looks up)* Was... there a building? *(mimes a roof with his hands)* Building... barn? **Maria:** *(nods emphatically)* "¡Sí! Granero. Sí." **Hunter:** *(writes "BARN" in capital letters)* And you heard something? *(mimes someone yelling)* **Maria:** "Grito. Grito muy fuerte. *(clutches her camera)* Y después... silencio." **Hunter:** *(notices the camera, points at it)* Photos. You took photos? **Maria:** *(hesitates, then slowly turns the camera toward him)* **Hunter:** *(leans in, studying the screen)* *(quietly)* What the hell... **Maria:** *(shaky voice)* "¿Es... es importante?" **Hunter:** *(looks at her seriously)* This is... this is very important. Thank you. *(starts to stand)* **Maria:** *(grabs his sleeve gently, speaks softly)* "¿Qué... qué está pasando en este pueblo?" **Hunter:** *(places a hand over hers briefly, speaks slowly)* I... don't know. But I'm going to find out. **Hunter's phone buzzes. He pulls it out, frowns at the screen.** **Hunter:** *(to Maria)* I have to take this. *(holds up a finger)* One moment. **Maria:** *(nods, watches him walk toward the door)* **Hunter:** *(answering phone)* Hunter here. What is it? **Maria:** *(whispers to herself in Spanish)* "Por favor, que alguien me ayude a entender lo que está pasando..." *(Hunter exits, still on the phone, leaving Maria alone with her camera and her fear.)* --- **END SCENE**