Run: 2026-04-24-01KQ0G08YSB83A6MJ9TJG1BHHF

**VOICE SHEET — "Lost in Translation"** *Scene: The Whistling Kettle Café, Alborn, MN. Mid-afternoon.* --- Selvi: *(murmuring to herself, scrolling through photos on her camera)* "यह क्या था... मैंने क्या देखा?" Hunter: "Afternoon, ma'am. Mind if I sit?" Selvi: *(startled, looking up)* "हाँ... हाँ, बैठिए।" Hunter: "Name's Hunter. I'm a detective with the department. You're the exchange student staying over on Miller Street, right? Selvi?" Selvi: "मैं... मैं अंग्रेज़ी नहीं जानती। माफ़ कीजिए।" Hunter: *(pausing, brow furrowing)* "I... okay. You don't speak English. Got it." *(slower, gentler)* "Sel-vi. You. Last night. By the orchard. Did you see anything?" Selvi: *(eyes widening, gripping the camera tighter)* "हाँ! हाँ, मैंने देखा! एक आदमी था — सेब के बाग़ में — और उसके साथ कोई और भी था, लेकिन वो... वो ज़मीन पर था। मुझे बहुत डर लग रहा है।" Hunter: "Whoa, whoa. Slow down. I didn't catch any of that." Selvi: *(voice trembling)* "मैंने तस्वीरें लीं। देखिए, देखिए —" *(turning the camera toward him with shaking hands)* "यह आदमी... मैंने उसे पहले भी शहर में देखा था।" Hunter: *(leaning in, studying the screen)* "Hell. That's... that's the Peterson orchard. And that's —" *(his jaw tightens)* "Ma'am. Selvi. I need these photos. This is important. Do you understand? Important." Selvi: "आप समझ रहे हैं? यह वही जगह है? कुछ बुरा हुआ है, है ना? मैंने अख़बार में पढ़ा नहीं, पर मुझे लग रहा है — कोई गुम हो गया है।" Hunter: *(rubbing the back of his neck)* "I'm gonna need a translator. Stay right here. Don't go anywhere, alright?" *(miming "stay" with his palm flat)* "Stay. Here. Coffee. On me." Selvi: *(nodding slowly, understanding the gesture)* "ठीक है। मैं यहीं रहूँगी। लेकिन... मुझे बहुत डर लग रहा है, डिटेक्टिव साहब।" Hunter: *(softer)* "I don't know what you just said, but I can see it on your face. You're scared. I get it. You're safe here, okay? Safe." Selvi: "सेफ़..." *(a small, tired smile)* "हाँ।" Hunter: "There we go. Common ground." *(His phone buzzes loudly on the table. He glances down, and his expression hardens.)* Hunter: "Dispatch. Damn it." *(answering)* "Hunter. — Yeah. — When? — No, I'm ten minutes out. Keep everyone back from the tree line until I get there." *(he hangs up, already standing)* Selvi: *(anxious)* "क्या हुआ? क्या आपको जाना है?" Hunter: "I have to go. Something's happened out at the orchard — again." *(he pulls a card from his wallet, sets it on the table, and taps it firmly)* "My number. If you see him — the man in your pictures — you call. You find someone to call for you. Understand?" Selvi: *(picking up the card, nodding)* "हाँ, मैं समझ गई। मैं ध्यान रखूँगी।" Hunter: "Good girl. — Uh, good. Good." *(awkwardly)* "I'll be back. With someone who speaks Hindi. Don't delete those photos. *Please.*" Selvi: "फ़ोटो सुरक्षित हैं। मैं यहीं मिलूँगी।" Hunter: *(pausing at the door, looking back)* "...Yeah. Something tells me you and I are gonna crack this thing wide open, Selvi. Language or no language." *(The bell above the door jingles as he leaves. Selvi looks down at the card, then at her camera, and slowly — carefully — sets the lens cap back into place.)* Selvi: *(quietly, to herself)* "भगवान, इनकी रक्षा करना।" --- **END SCENE**