Run: 2026-04-24-01KPZV1Z7C489JHKGY37CED3AK

**Voice Sheet: Café Scene — Maria & Hunter** --- Maria: *(murmuring to herself, scrolling through camera images)* "No puede ser... ¿qué es esto? Dios mío..." Hunter: "Excuse me, ma'am. Mind if I sit down?" Maria: *(looks up, startled)* "¿Perdón? Eh... hola." Hunter: "Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. I'm talking to folks around town about what happened near the old mill last night. You were out taking pictures in that area, weren't you? The waitress mentioned it." Maria: "Lo siento, no... no hablo inglés. Solo un poquito. ¿Español?" Hunter: "Spanish? No, I— I don't speak any Spanish. Not a word." *(sighs)* "Okay. Let's try this. Last night. Mill. You. Camera. Yes?" Maria: *(nodding slowly, shaking)* "Sí, sí, el molino. Estuve allí. Estaba sacando fotos del atardecer y... y vi algo. Vi a alguien, un hombre, y había otra persona en el suelo. No se movía. Tengo miedo, ¿entiende? Mucho miedo." Hunter: "Whoa, hey, slow down. I'm not catching any of that. You saw something? *Saw*?" *(points to his own eyes, then to her camera)* "Photo? You have a photo?" Maria: *(eyes welling up, clutching the camera)* "Sí. Tengo una foto. Pero no sé qué hacer. No conozco a nadie aquí, no puedo explicar lo que vi. Mire, mire esto..." *(turns the camera screen toward him with trembling hands)* Hunter: *(leaning in, his expression shifting)* "Jesus. Is that— is that who I think it is?" *(quietly, more to himself)* "That's our missing guy. That's Danny Coulter." *(looks up at her)* "Ma'am. Maria. This is important. Who. Took. This?" *(points at her, then the camera)* "You? Last night?" Maria: "Sí, yo, anoche. Las siete, siete y media, más o menos. Había un hombre con una chaqueta oscura. No le vi la cara bien, pero... pero creo que me vio a mí. Por eso me fui corriendo. He tenido miedo toda la noche." Hunter: "Okay, okay. I'm not following the words but I'm reading the panic loud and clear. You're safe right now, alright? Safe." *(holds up a hand, calm)* "We're gonna get a translator. I'll call the university, they've got people on the study abroad program—" *(Hunter's phone buzzes loudly. He glances at it, jaw tightening.)* Hunter: "Damn it. I gotta take this." *(answers)* "Hunter. Yeah. Where? ...How long ago? ...On my way." *(hangs up, stands)* "Maria, listen. I have to go. But you—" *(points at her firmly, then at the table)* "—stay. Here. Café. I come back. One hour. Okay? *Stay*." Maria: "¿Se va? No, por favor, no me deje sola, tengo miedo de que me esté buscando—" Hunter: "I know, I know you're scared, I can see it. Hey." *(pulls out a business card, sets it down, taps it)* "My number. You call. Anyone comes near you, you call. I'm sending an officer to sit with you. *Officer*. Five minutes." *(holds up five fingers)* "Don't move. Don't leave. Don't delete those photos. Understand? Photos— *importante*." *(snaps fingers)* "That's a word, right? Importante?" Maria: *(small, watery laugh)* "Sí. Importante. Lo entiendo." Hunter: "Good. Atta girl. I'll be back." *(already walking, calling over his shoulder)* "And Maria— *gracias*. That one I know." Maria: *(softly, to his retreating back)* "Vuelva pronto, por favor... vuelva pronto." --- *[END SCENE]*