Run: 2026-06-01-01KT1J5G0CE2BAKFJA9K1SCM65

**VOICE SHEET — "THE LANGUAGE OF CAMERAS"** --- **[SETTING: A small café in Alborn, MN. Afternoon light slants through dusty windows. Melanie sits alone at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera with trembling hands. The bell above the door chimes as Hunter enters, scanning the room. He approaches her table.]** **Hunter:** "Excuse me. Sorry to bother you — I'm Detective Hunter, Alborn P.D. Mind if I sit for a second?" **Melanie:** *(looks up, startled, instinctively gripping her camera closer to her chest)* "...Kann ich Ihnen helfen? Ich kenne hier niemanden." **Hunter:** "I — uh. Do you speak English? I'm looking for anyone who might've been near the old Henderson orchard yesterday evening. Around sundown." **Melanie:** *(eyes widening, shaking her head slowly)* "Nein... nein, ich spreche kein Englisch. Ich verstehe nichts. Bitte — bitte, ich möchte nur meine Ruhe haben." **Hunter:** "Okay, okay, I hear you. Look, I'm not trying to scare you. You were on the photography trail, right? My deputy saw you with a camera. I just need to know if you saw anything... unusual. Anyone? Anything at all?" **Melanie:** *(breath quickening, voice cracking as she glances down at her camera screen)* "Gestern... im Wald, bei dem alten Apfelgarten... da war ein Mann. Er hat sich so merkwürdig verhalten. Er hat — ich glaube, er hat jemanden gesucht. Oder... oder er hat jemanden verfolgt. Ich weiß es nicht. Ich bin dann weggerannt." **Hunter:** "A man? What man? I need you to slow down — I can't — look, can you show me? On your camera? Can you show me the pictures?" **Melanie:** *(tears welling, fingers fumbling with the camera)* "Ja... ja, ich zeige es Ihnen. Hier — schauen Sie. Hier, sehen Sie? Dieser Schatten hinter dem Baum... und hier, das blaue Auto. Ich habe es nicht erkannt. Ich war so dumm. Ich hätte — ich hätte bleiben und helfen sollen." **Hunter:** *(leaning in, studying the screen, brow furrowing)* "I see it. This blue car — you don't know the make? The plates? ...Okay, okay. I see the figure. This is good. This is really good. Listen, I need to get this to my office. Can I write down where you're staying? I'll need to have someone translate this properly." **Melanie:** *(nodding rapidly, pulling a crumpled paper from her jacket pocket — her hostel address)* "Ja, ja. Hier. Die Herberge an der Main Street. Ich gehe heute Abend nicht wieder in den Wald. Nicht nach dem, was ich gesehen habe." **Hunter:** "Main Street, got it. The inn. Thank you. I know this is confusing — just... stay where there are people, alright? Stay in town. I'll send someone by tomorrow who speaks German, and we'll sort this out." **[His phone buzzes sharply. He glances at the screen, jaw tightening.]** **Hunter:** "I have to take this. Stay safe, alright? Don't go anywhere alone." **Melanie:** *(watching him stand, clutching her camera like a lifeline, whispering in German as he turns away)* "...Ich habe Angst. Ich habe solche Angst, dass er mich auch gesehen hat." **Hunter:** *(pausing at the door, looking back at her — not understanding her words, but understanding the look in her eyes — gives a single, firm nod, then steps outside to take the call)* --- **[END SCENE]**