Run: 2026-06-01-01KT1J59D4BC126MRXY3XXBZ1N

# Scene: The Alborn Cafe — Mid-Morning *The cafe is warm, smelling of fresh coffee and the cinnamon apples that seem to find their way into everything this time of year. Afternoon light slants through the window onto a small table where MELANIE (30) sits, her camera open in her lap, scrolling through images with a furrowed brow. The bell above the door jingles as HUNTER (35) steps in, scanning the room with the practiced eye of someone who misses nothing. He spots her, approaches, and takes the seat across from her without asking.* --- **Melanie:** *(startled, looking up from the camera)* Entschuldigung? Kann ich Ihnen helfen? **Hunter:** Sorry to bother you, ma'am. I'm Detective Hunter, with the Alborn P.D. We're following up on a few things around town. Mind if I ask you a couple of questions? **Melanie:** *(confused, shaking her head slowly)* Ich... ich verstehe nicht. Ich spreche kein Englisch. **Hunter:** *(leaning back, eyebrows knitting together)* Uh. Okay. English? You speak any? **Melanie:** Nein. Tut mir leid. *(she gestures apologetically at her own mouth, then at his, hoping the universal language of mime will help)* Kein Englisch. **Hunter:** *(scratching the back of his neck, glancing around the cafe as if it might offer translation services)* All right. That's... that's all right. *(pulls out his badge, holding it up so she can see it, then points gently at her camera)* Fotografie. Photos. You take photos around town, yeah? **Melanie:** *(nodding, relaxing a little)* Ja, ja! Fotos. Ich mache Fotos. Landschaft, hauptsächlich. *(she turns the camera around to show him the screen, then hesitates when she reaches a particular image — her expression shifting, the warmth draining from her face)* **Hunter:** You've been out and about. That's good. You ever notice anything... strange? Anyone acting out of the ordinary? Maybe near the orchard, or the lake, or— **Melanie:** *(cutting him off, voice dropping, hands tightening around the camera)* Ich habe etwas gesehen. Am Rand des Waldes, gestern Abend. Etwas, das... *(she shakes her head, struggling, her eyes wet)* Es war nicht richtig. Es war — ich kann es nicht erklären. Auf Englisch nicht. Auf Deutsch nicht. Ich kann es nicht erklären. **Hunter:** *(watching her carefully now, the no-nonsense exterior cracking just slightly with concern)* Hey. Hey now. It's okay. Whatever you saw, you're safe now, all right? You got a picture of it? You take a photo? **Melanie:** *(nodding slowly, turning the camera back toward herself, thumb hovering over the shutter button, unable to press it)* Ja. Ich habe ein Foto gemacht. Ich weiß nicht, ob ich es zeigen soll. Ich weiß nicht, ob es... *(trails off, whispering)* ...ob es sicher ist. **Hunter:** Ma'am, I need you to — I really need to know what you saw. It might be important. People's lives could depend on it. **Melanie:** *(looking him dead in the eye, voice trembling but steady)* Dann finden Sie jemanden, der Deutsch spricht, Detective. Denn das, was ich auf diesem Foto habe, werde ich nicht jemandem erklären, der mich nicht einmal versteht. **Hunter:** *(exhales, running a hand down his face)* That's... yeah. Fair enough. *(pulls a card from his pocket, slides it across the table toward her)* That's my cell. You stay at the inn on Maple, right? I know Marta there. I'll get someone to come by. Don't you go anywhere, you hear me? **Melanie:** *(taking the card, looking down at the unfamiliar letters)* Ich höre Sie. *(beat)* Ich warte. **Hunter:** *(about to say more when his phone buzzes in his jacket; he pulls it out, his face hardening as he reads the screen)* I've gotta take this. *(stands, answers)* Hunter. *(listens, jaw tight)* Yeah. I'm on my way. Five minutes. *(pockets the phone, looks back at Melanie)* I'm sorry, I have to go. Something's come up. But I'll be back, and I'll bring someone who speaks your language. Don't you worry. **Melanie:** *(small, frightened nod)* Beeilen Sie sich. **Hunter:** *(already halfway to the door, calls over his shoulder)* I will, ma'am. I promise. --- *Hunter exits. The bell jingles again. Melanie sits alone at the table, her thumb finally pressing the button on the back of her camera, scrolling past the image she was afraid of — a shadow among the apple trees that doesn't quite look like a shadow at all.*