Run: 2026-06-01-01KT1G5JAASWFSCSQE0H0299HT

**SCENE: Alborn Cafe — Late Afternoon** *Maria sits alone at a corner table, her camera cradled in both hands. She scrolls through photos with a troubled expression, occasionally glancing out the window. The door chimes as Hunter enters, scanning the room. He spots her, approaches, and pulls out the chair across from her.* --- **Hunter:** "Ma'am? I'm Detective Collins, Alborn P.D. Mind if I sit for a minute? I have a few questions about the other night." **Maria:** *(looks up, startled, clutching the camera tighter)* "¿Eh? Disculpe... no hablo inglés. I'm sorry. I don't... I don't understand." **Hunter:** "English. Do you speak any English? I really need to ask you about—" **Maria:** "No, no English. Lo siento." *(shakes her head firmly, then notices his badge, her face falling)* "Detective? ¿Policía? Is something... algo malo? Something bad?" **Hunter:** *(sighs, rubs the back of his neck)* "Yeah. Yeah, something bad. The festival. Were you at the festival? Aquí, in the town square. Saturday night." **Maria:** *(freezes, then nods slowly)* "El festival... sí. I was there. I took photos. For my class. But then..." *(her voice drops, hands trembling on the camera)* "...then la gente, the people... they were..." **Hunter:** "They were what? Ma'am, I need you to—" **Maria:** "Gone. They were gone. Like..." *(she snaps her fingers, eyes wide)* "...nothing. Like smoke. I saw it. Yo lo vi. With my camera. I have the photos, but I don't understand what I saw. Por favor, please, you have to help me. Estoy muy asustada." **Hunter:** *(leans forward, brow furrowed, catching only fragments)* "Photos? You have photos of this? Can I... can I see the camera?" **Maria:** *(pushes the camera toward him across the table, then pulls it back, protective)* "Wait. Wait, please. You promise you find them? Las personas desaparecidas. The missing people. You promise?" **Hunter:** "That's what I'm trying to do, ma'am. I just need—" *His phone rings, sharp and loud. He glances at the screen — his jaw tightens.* **Hunter:** "I have to take this. Don't go anywhere, ¿entiende? Stay right here." **Maria:** "Entiendo. I understand. But detective... el hombre con el sombrero. The man with the hat. He saw me too." **Hunter:** *(freezes, one hand on the phone, the other braced on the table)* "...what man? What hat?" *Maria opens her mouth to answer, but Hunter's phone is still ringing. He looks at the screen, then at her, visibly torn.* **Hunter:** "Stay here. Don't move. I'll be right back." *He steps outside, the bell jingling behind him. Maria is left alone at the table, the camera still in her hands, the cafe suddenly very quiet.* **Maria:** *(whispers to herself, in Spanish)* "Dios mío. What is happening in this town?" --- *End of scene.*