Run: 2026-06-01-01KT1GZH8NSK67J9Z02B5Y5ADC

**Scene: Outside "The Rusty Apple" Café, Alborn, MN — Late Afternoon** *Autumn light slants golden through the café window. Isabella sits alone at a corner table outside, a half-finished cappuccino going cold beside her. Her camera sits in her lap, but she's not looking at the photos. She's staring at nothing, her hands trembling slightly. A few tables over, the local Apple Festival bunting flutters in the breeze — cheerful, out of place against her expression.* *Hunter approaches from the sidewalk, badge clipped to his belt beneath his jacket. He's holding a small notebook. He pulls out the chair across from her and sits without asking.* --- **Dialogue Sheet:** **Hunter:** "Ma'am? I'm Detective Hunter, with the Alborn PD. I'd like to ask you a few questions about last night. Did you happen to be near the old mill on the edge of town around eleven p.m.?" **Isabella:** *(looking up, eyes wide, clutching her camera tight against her chest)* "Io... io non capisco. Parla più lentamente, per favore? Non parlo inglese. Per favore, mi aiuti — qualcuno mi ha seguita ieri notte. Ho visto qualcosa. Ho visto *qualcuno* vicino al fiume." **Hunter:** *(leaning forward, frowning)* "Hey, take it easy. I need you to slow down. Are you saying you saw something? Last night? Near the water?" **Isabella:** *(nodding rapidly, voice cracking)* "Sì, sì, il fiume. Una figura — non so chi fosse. Mi ha guardata e poi è scomparsa nel buio. Ho scattato una foto, ma... non so se si vede qualcosa. È buia. Per favore, deve aiutarmi. La mia amica... la mia amica è scomparsa ieri. *Due giorni fa* e nessuno mi crede." **Hunter:** *(rubbing the back of his neck, clearly frustrated)* "Okay, I really wish I knew what you were saying right now. You okay? You been hurt? *Pointing* — last night? River?" **Isabella:** *(tears welling, holding up her camera with shaking hands)* "La foto. Guardi. *Guardi*." **Hunter:** *(taking the camera carefully, squinting at the small screen)* "It's dark... I think I see something here. Looks like a figure by the tree line. Is this the river? Near the old mill?" **Isabella:** *(grabbing his sleeve, urgent)* "Sì! Il mulino! La mia amica è andata lì a scattare foto e non è più tornata. Per favore, la trovi. La prego." **Hunter:** *(his phone buzzes sharply in his pocket — he pulls it out, glances at the screen, and his jaw tightens)* "I gotta take this. Stay right here, ma'am. Don't move. I'll get someone who speaks—" *(He hesitates, frustrated.)* "—I'll get someone." *He stands, answers the call, and walks a few paces away, his voice dropping low and sharp: "Hunter. Yeah. What do you got?"* *Isabella watches him go, her hand still outstretched where her camera had been, her lips moving in a silent prayer.* --- **End Scene.**