Run: 2026-04-25-01KQ2EPRMA5P94R77DHYPF6Z4Z

[SCENE START] **INT. BLUEBIRD CAFE - DAY** Maria sits alone at a small table by the window, her untouched latte growing cold. She scrolls through photos on her camera screen, her brow furrowed. The cafe door jingles. HUNTER approaches, his presence casting a shadow over the table. **HUNTER** Maria? Maria... Fernandez? Maria looks up quickly, startled. She instinctively lowers her camera. **MARIA** (Shaken) Sí. Sí, soy yo. ¿Ha pasado algo? ¿Tiene noticias? Hunter pulls out a small notepad, but doesn't open it. He gestures to the chair opposite her. **HUNTER** Mind if I sit? I have a few questions. About the night of the festival. **MARIA** (Nodding quickly) El festival. Sí. Lo vi. Lo vi todo con esto. (She taps her camera nervously) Fue terrible. La gente gritando... y luego él simplemente... desapareció. Como humo. Hunter sits down, his expression a study in concentration. He doesn't understand a word. **HUNTER** I, uh... I don't speak... that. Do you know English? ¿Inglés? **MARIA** (Shaking her head, increasingly distressed) No inglés. No. Por favor, tiene que creerme. Yo sólo tomo fotos. Estaba trabajando en mi proyecto de paisajes. El atardecer sobre las manzanas. Y entonces vi a ese hombre, el del sombrero rojo. Estaba discutiendo con el señor Henderson. Gritos muy fuertes. Le tomé una foto sin pensar. Es un hábito. She thrusts the camera toward Hunter, pointing at the screen, her hands trembling. **MARIA** ¡Aquí! Mire. ¿Ve? Justo antes de que todo se volviera loco. ¿Está el señor Henderson bien? Nadie me dice nada. Hunter looks at the screen. It's a beautiful, atmospheric shot of the crowded festival at dusk, but he has no context. He just sees a blurry figure in a red cap. **HUNTER** Alright. Alright, slow down. You were there. You saw... something. The man with the... sombrero rojo? He points vaguely at his own head. **MARIA** (A flicker of hope) ¡Sí! ¡Sombrero rojo! ¿Lo encontraron? ¿Es él quien se lo llevó? **HUNTER** (Leaning back, frustrated) This isn't working. Look, I'm trying to find out what happened to Mayor Henderson. He's been missing for two days. You were one of the last people... wait. His phone buzzes loudly on the table. He glances at the screen, his jaw tightening. **HUNTER** (into the phone) Hunter. ...Yeah. ...Where? ...Don't let anyone near it. I'm on my way. He stands up abruptly, a flicker of grim urgency in his eyes. He looks down at Maria, who is watching him with wide, desperate eyes. **HUNTER** (Slower, as if volume will help) I have to go. Thank you for your... I have to go. We'll talk again. With someone who can translate. He gives her a brief, serious nod and strides out of the cafe, the door jingling in his wake. Maria slumps back in her chair, clutching her camera to her chest. [SCENE END]