Run: 2026-04-27-01KQ723HQB7XV4ZPA8J0DVJYBR

**Voice Sheet: Selvi & Hunter** **Scene:** Alborn Cafe / Interior / Day **Context:** Cozy Mystery. Selvi (30, Indian, Study Abroad, Zero English, Photographer) is shaken by a sighting. Hunter (35, Detective, Marine, No-nonsense) is investigating disappearances linked to the upcoming Apple Festival grounds. They have a severe language barrier. Hunter utilizes a smartphone translator app to bridge the gap. Selvi's dialogue is transliterated Hindi; Hunter's is English. Parentheticals indicate necessary gesture/action for the actors due to the language barrier. **Selvi:** (Clutching camera strap with trembling hands, eyes darting toward the cafe door; voice whispers with residual shock) "Sahab... yeh sheher... yahan koi hai? Main bas subah ki dhoop aur un seb ke darakhton ki tasveer kheench rahi thi. Sab shant tha. Lekin kal raat... kal raat wahan kaisi khamoshi thi. Aisi khamoshi jo... jo cheekh rahi ho." **Hunter:** (Steps in close, posture rigid and alert; holds up badge with one hand while scanning Selvi's face) "Ma'am, Detective Hunter. I need to ask you about the Miller Orchard. The disappearances. You were in that area this morning? Do you speak English?" **Selvi:** (Shakes head violently, takes a half-step back; gestures to her throat, then points frantically to Hunter's badge) "Nahi! Nahi, mujhe aapki bhasha samajh nahi aati. Main sirf Hindi bolti hoon. Kya aap... kya aap inki madad kar sakte hain?" (Holds up smartphone, tapping screen hopefully) "Phone? Translator?" **Hunter:** (Exhales sharply through nose, pulls out his own smartphone; taps screen with practiced efficiency; extends mic toward her) "Alright. You're shaking. Are you safe? Speak clearly. The app will translate. What did you see?" **Selvi:** (Nods gratefully, grips phone with both hands; speaks clearly but voice quivers as she looks into the lens) "Main surakshit hoon... abhi. Lekin kal raat... maine ek cheez dekhi. Maine apne camera ke zariye dekha. Tasveer mein... background mein, purani haweli ke paas... ek aadmi tha." **Hunter:** (Reads translation, eyes narrowing; looks at camera in Selvi's hands) "A man near the old house? In the background of a photo? Can I see?" **Selvi:** (Holds camera up, turning screen toward Hunter; finger shakes as she points to a pixelated shadow in the corner of the image) "Dekho. Yeh dekho. Is tasveer mein woh hai. Woh seedha camera ki taraf dekh raha tha. Uska chehra andhre mein tha, lekin... uske haath. Uske haath mein koi tha. Woh kisi ko kheench raha tha." **Hunter:** (Leans in, squinting at the screen; jaw tightens) "Pulling someone? Did the translation say he was pulling someone?" **Selvi:** (Nods vigorously; mimics a dragging motion with her free hand; eyes widen in fear) "Haan! Bilkul! Woh kisi ko zor se kheench raha tha. Jaise kisi ko le ja raha ho. Main darr gayi. Maine camera girne se bachaya, aur jab main ne mudkar dekha... kahin koi nahi tha. Bas... hawa. Woh gayab ho gaya!" **Hunter:** (Stares at the camera screen, processing; taps phone to speak back) "You say he disappeared? Just like that? Did you see a coat? A weapon?" **Selvi:** (Shakes head; taps her own chest to indicate clothing, then points to Hunter's dark jacket, shakes head, then points to the sky/window and mimes a long, heavy garment) "Coat... nahi samjhi. Lekin haan, lamba vastra. Andhra rang. Woh bhaaga. Aur ek cheez aur... uske munh se ek dhuan nikal raha tha. Jaise... jaise cigarette, par alag. Meethi khushboo wali dhuaan." **Hunter:** (Eyes flash with recognition; mutters to himself) "Sweet smoke? Incense or pipe smoke? That matches the profile. Ma'am, this is vital. You're sure about the location? The old house by the Orchard?" **Selvi:** (Points out the window toward a 'Apple Festival 2024' banner hanging on a lamppost, then mimics holding an apple, then points back to the camera screen) "Haan! Wahi jagah. Wahan 'Mela' ka board hai. Apple... Seb! Main wahi khaadi thi. Detective Sahab... yeh aadmi waapas aayega. Mujhe lagta hai woh aaj raat... ya kal... kisi aur ko layega." **Hunter:** (Typing rapidly on phone, reading output) "You think he'll return? Tonight? Selvi, we need to secure that area. You're coming to the station to verify this image. Now." **Selvi:** (Eyes fill with panic; clutches camera to chest like a shield; steps back against the table) "Nahi! Nahi, main kahin nahi ja rahi. Yeh mera camera hai. Isi se sach nikalega. Main yahan rahungi. Aap... aap wahan jaiye. Usse rokiye. Kripya... is cheez ko rokiye. Agar woh mujhe dekhta hai..." (Voice drops to a terrified whisper) "...woh pehchan jayega." **Hunter:** (Phone buzzes violently in his other hand; he glances at the screen, expression hardening) "Hunter speaking. ...What? You found a boot near the creek? Size twelve? ...I'm on my way. Stay put." (Lowers phone, looks at Selvi with intense focus) "Creek. Boot. That connects. I have to move. But listen to me. You do not leave this cafe. You stay where I can see you. Keep this camera on." **Selvi:** (Nods slowly, exhaling a shaky breath; offers a small, trembling gesture of gratitude with palm up) "Main wahi rahungi. Dhanyavaad, Sahab. Main camera taiyaar rakhoongi. Agar woh aaye... toh..." (Points to camera lens, then to Hunter) "...main aapke liye proof banakarr rakhungi. Please... jaldi aaiye." **Hunter:** (Turns to leave, pauses at the door; hand on grip, voice low and commanding yet softened slightly) "Stay alert, Selvi. I'll be back. Lock your door when I'm gone." **Selvi:** (Watches him go, hands tightening around the camera; murmurs to herself, more Hindi than performance, shaking head) "Haan... main sambhal kar rahoon gi. Khuda ka shukr... kisi ne suna."