Run: 2026-03-25-01KMJ8TFZVRKXTNVQF1JMHDN7M

**Voice Sheet: Café Conversation** *[Scene: A small, autumn-busy café in Alborn. Golden sunlight filters through dusty windows. Melanie sits at a corner table, polishing her camera lens. Hunter, steaming a cardboard coffee, approaches, jacket still on.]* **Hunter:** *(Gruff, but not unkind.)* "You’re new in town. Student?" *[He nods at her camera, pauses. Subtle, confused tilt of the head when she doesn’t respond.]* **Melanie:** *(Soft, anxious.)* "Ich... versteh kein Englisch. *[I don’t speak English.]*" *[She traces her finger over a photo on her camera’s screen—a foggy forest path. Her voice cracks.]* "Wer war der Junge? *[Who was the boy?]*" *[She points at the photo—a trail marked with red ribbons, a blurred figure in the periphery.]* **Hunter:** *(Frowns. Pulls a folded paper from his coat—a missing persons sketch. Slides it onto the table.)* "You recognize this guy? *[No. Gestures to the sketch.]*" *[Shakes head. Points at the café door, fakes a laugh. "Trent’s Diner. You’d know it?"*] **Melanie:** *(Leans in, fingers trembling.)* "Die Schuhe... die Rote Schlinge! *[The shoes... the red ribbon!]*" *[She mimics tying a knot in the air, mirror-image of the photo’s red ribbons. Her eyes well up.]* "Er war... hier. Nicht wahr? *[He was here. Wasn’t he?]*" *[Points at her chest, then at the door, as if the town guards a secret.]* **Hunter:** *(Stiffens. Paces, trying to process her gestures. Grabs his radio.)* "Sheriff’s office, check the Alborn Diner’s surveillance—see if anyone reported missing was near Treants..." *[He stops, realizes she’s still talking. Pats the table, palms up. "Hey. I’ll book a translator. Wait."*] **Melanie:** *(Voice breaks.)* "Sein Gesicht... *[His face]..."* *[She clutches her camera, snaps a photo of the missing person’s sketch before Hunter can react. Then freezes.]* **Hunter:** *(Sees the photo flash. Rigid.)* "You’re not supposed to be taking that." *[Grabs his coffee, moves to leave. Pauses at the door, glances back. Her trembling hand on her camera. He adds, quieter:]* "I’ll be back." *[Exit, boots crunching fallen leaves outside.]* *[Melanie slumps, her photo still glowing on the camera screen.]* --- **Context Clues Dropped:** - Red ribbons (tied to the disappearances). - Reference to "Trent’s Diner" (a location for further plot). - Melanie’s secret photo (she’ll preserve the sketch as evidence). - Hunter’s military background (stiff posture, direct commands).