Run: 2026-04-24-01KQ0G4A2D3VAMYGTH6KRKYVAQ

# Voice Sheet — "The Cafe Conversation" *Setting: The Sugar Maple Cafe, Alborn, MN. Late afternoon. Selvi sits at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera's display screen, her coffee long gone cold. Hunter enters, spots her, and approaches with a notepad in hand.* --- **Hunter:** "Excuse me, miss? I'm Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I sit?" **Selvi:** *(startled, looking up)* "हाँ... हाँ, बैठिए।" *(pulls camera closer to her chest)* **Hunter:** "Thanks." *(sits down, flips open notepad)* "I'll get right to it. I'm investigating the disappearance over at the orchard road two nights ago. I was told you were out taking pictures in that area around sundown. That right?" **Selvi:** *(eyes widening)* "ऑर्चर्ड रोड? हाँ, मैं वहाँ थी, लेकिन... साहब, मुझे कुछ समझ नहीं आया उस रात। मैंने कुछ देखा... कुछ अजीब।" **Hunter:** *(pauses, pen hovering over paper)* "I'm sorry — I didn't catch any of that. Do you... speak English?" **Selvi:** "अंग्रेज़ी? नहीं... नहीं, मुझे अंग्रेज़ी नहीं आती। मैं हिंदी बोलती हूँ।" *(gestures apologetically)* "हिंदी। इंडिया।" **Hunter:** "Hindi. Right. Okay." *(exhales, rubs the back of his neck)* "I should've figured. The university mentioned a foreign exchange student was in the area." **Selvi:** *(leaning forward urgently, hands trembling slightly)* "डिटेक्टिव साहब, मेरे कैमरे में कुछ है। एक तस्वीर। मैंने एक आदमी को देखा — पेड़ों के पीछे — उसके हाथ में कुछ था। मुझे बहुत डर लग रहा है।" **Hunter:** *(frowning, watching her face)* "Hey. Hey, slow down. You're shaking." *(softer now)* "Something scared you out there, didn't it?" **Selvi:** *(nods rapidly, eyes glistening)* "हाँ। हाँ, बहुत डर। मैंने किसी को नहीं बताया। मुझे लगा कोई विश्वास नहीं करेगा।" **Hunter:** "Okay. Okay, look at me." *(taps his own chest)* "Hunter. Safe. You're safe here, alright?" *(points at her camera, then mimes pressing a shutter)* "The camera. Can I see? Pictures?" **Selvi:** *(hesitates, then slowly turns the camera around, scrolling back through images)* "यह देखिए... यहाँ... यह आदमी। इसको देखिए। उस रात, वहीं, ऑर्चर्ड रोड पर।" **Hunter:** *(leans in, squinting at the screen)* "Well, I'll be damned..." *(mutters)* "That's the old Henson property. And that figure there — that's not a farmhand." *(looks up at her sharply)* "Miss, this is important. I need this photo. Can I — " **Selvi:** *(nodding before he finishes)* "हाँ, हाँ, ले लीजिए। जो चाहिए ले लीजिए। बस इसे सुलझाइए।" **Hunter:** "I'll take that as a yes." *(half-smile)* "You've got good instincts, kid. And one hell of an eye." **Selvi:** *(gives a small, tired smile)* "शुक्रिया... आप अच्छे आदमी लग रहे हैं।" *(Hunter's phone buzzes sharply on the table. He glances at it, and his expression hardens.)* **Hunter:** "Alborn PD, Hunter speaking." *(pause)* "Where?" *(pause)* "How long ago?" *(stands abruptly, grabbing his jacket)* "I'm six minutes out. Don't touch anything." **Selvi:** *(watching him, alarmed)* "क्या हुआ? कुछ बुरा हुआ क्या?" **Hunter:** *(pocketing his phone, looking down at her)* "I gotta run. Something's come up." *(pulls out a business card, slides it across the table, then taps it firmly)* "You. Me. We're not done talking. I'll find a translator. Stay in town. Understand? Stay. Here." *(points at the ground)* **Selvi:** *(takes the card, nods)* "हाँ, मैं यहीं हूँ। जाइए।" **Hunter:** "Good girl. Lock your door tonight." *(heads for the exit, then pauses at the door, glancing back)* "And keep that camera close." *(The bell above the cafe door jingles as he leaves. Selvi sits very still, staring down at the business card in her hand, then slowly turns the camera back around to look at the photograph once more.)* --- *END SCENE*