Run: 2026-05-01-01KQHQRV0QQJXCC5GMAPHQPGM9

**Scene:** The afternoon sun filtered through the lace curtains of the little corner café in Alborn, MN. Marie sat at a small table by the window, her dark hair falling across her face as she scrolled through the photos on her camera. The annual Apple Festival had just ended, but the images on her memory card still showed smiling faces, cider stands, and the old wooden bandstand. She was so absorbed that she didn’t notice the tall, broad-shouldered man until his shadow fell across her table. **Voice Sheet:** Marie: “…?” Hunter: “Excuse me, miss. I’m Detective Hunter. I was told you might have been near the old orchard last night. Did you see anything unusual? Anyone acting strange around the time of the disappearance?” Marie: “Je… je ne comprends pas. Il s’est passé quelque chose de terrible hier soir… J’ai vu une silhouette près des pommiers, mais quand j’ai voulu prendre une photo, elle avait disparu. Et maintenant je n’arrive plus à dormir. J’ai peur… très peur.” Hunter: “…” Hunter’s face tightened in confusion. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly lost. Hunter: “Ma’am, I don’t speak French. English? Do you speak any English at all?” Marie: “Anglais ? Non, désolée… Je suis seulement ici pour mes études. Tout est si confus. La personne que j’ai vue… elle semblait… inquiète. Effrayée. Et puis plus rien. Comme si le sol l’avait avalée.” Hunter: “Look, I can see you’re shaken up. Whatever you saw clearly bothered you. If you could just slow down and maybe write it down or… find someone who speaks both languages—” Marie: “J’ai photographié les arbres, les lumières… mais il y avait quelqu’un d’autre. Une ombre qui ne devrait pas être là. J’ai peur que ce soit lié à ces disparitions dont tout le monde parle.” Hunter: “I’m sorry. I’m picking up ‘disparitions’ and ‘peur,’ but that’s about it. You’re scared, that much is obvious. Just… stay safe, alright? Don’t go near the orchard alone.” Marie nodded, though it was clear neither of them fully understood the other. She clutched her camera tighter, the screen still glowing with the last photo she’d taken the night before. Hunter’s phone suddenly buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening. Hunter: “This is Hunter… Yeah. On my way.” He looked back at Marie, offering what he hoped was a reassuring nod. Hunter: “I have to go. We’ll find someone who can translate. Stay where there are people, okay?” Marie: “Au revoir, monsieur… Faites attention.” Hunter gave her one last puzzled look, then turned and strode quickly out of the café, the bell above the door jingling behind him. Marie watched him disappear down the street, then returned her gaze to her camera, her fingers trembling slightly as she zoomed in on the dark shape standing among the apple trees.