Run: 2026-03-18-01KM1GQR7VY1WMG390XWZA340X

**Voice Sheet – Scene: "The Café Conversation"** --- **Location:** *Rosie's Café, Alborn, MN — Late Afternoon* --- **Maria:** *(staring down at her camera, fingers trembling slightly over the LCD screen)* "...No puede ser. No puede ser lo que creo que es..." **Hunter:** *(approaching the table, hands in jacket pockets)* Ma'am? Excuse me. Mind if I sit? **Maria:** *(startled, looks up — her eyes are red-rimmed)* ...¿Eh? ¿Qué...? *(She gestures to the empty seat across from her, confused but not unwelcoming.)* **Hunter:** *(sitting down)* I'm Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. I understand you were at Miller's Orchard yesterday evening. The night the Gaines girl went missing. **Maria:** *(eyes widening, shaking her head slowly)* ¡No sé de qué me habla! Yo solo... yo estaba tomando fotos. Solo fotos. *(She presses a hand to her chest.)* Vi algo cerca del granero. Una luz. Luego... nada. **Hunter:** *(frowning, leaning back)* Whoa, okay. I'm gonna be honest with you — I have no idea what you just said. **Maria:** *(exhales sharply, frustrated — she holds up her camera)* ...¿Foto? Fotos. *(She turns the screen toward him, pointing.)* ¡Mire! ¡Luz! ¡Aquí! **Hunter:** *(peers at the screen, squinting)* That your photo? **Maria:** *(nods emphatically)* ¡Sí, sí! ¡El granero! ¡Vi algo! **Hunter:** *(pulling out a small notepad, sighing)* Right. Okay. So... a light. Near the barn. *(He glances up at her.)* Was anyone else out there with you? **Maria:** *(tilting her head, trying to understand — she slowly shakes her head)* No... solo yo. Solo mi cámara. *(Her voice drops quieter.)* ...Fue espantoso. **Hunter:** *(sets the notepad down, studying her)* You seem pretty shaken up. You okay? **Maria:** *(wraps both hands around her coffee cup, looking back at the camera screen)* ...No estoy bien. Algo está mal en este pueblo. Lo siento en los huesos. **Hunter:** *(rubs the back of his neck)* Yeah... I'm getting that feeling too. *(A long pause. He looks out the window, then back.)* Look, I know we're not communicating great here. But if you remember anything else — anything at all — you come find me at the station, okay? **Maria:** *(nods slowly, a faint, uneasy smile forming)* ...Sí. Sí, detective. **Hunter:** *(stands, dropping a few dollars on the table)* Stay safe out there. And maybe... stay inside tonight. **Maria:** *(watches him head for the door, then turns back to her camera, whispering)* Cuidado, detective. Algo lo está mirando también. *(Hunter's phone buzzes violently in his pocket. He pulls it out, answers immediately, and his expression hardens.)* **Hunter:** *(into phone)* This is Hunter. What is it? ...Another one? *(He pinches the bridge of his nose.)* I'm on my way. *(He hangs up and strides out without another word, leaving Maria alone with the hum of the café and the weight of the photograph on her screen.)* **Maria:** *(whispers to herself, tracing the blurred shape of light in the photo)* ...¿Qué eres tú...? --- **[END OF SCENE]**