Run: 2026-07-01-01KWE93CGQSRSW896NSXH1W5E2

**Scene: Maple Leaf Café, Alborn, MN — Late Afternoon** *Marie sits at a small corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera screen. Her hands tremble slightly as she pauses on one image. The bell above the café door jingles as Hunter steps in, scanning the room before his eyes land on her.* Hunter: "Afternoon. Mind if I ask you a few questions? I'm Detective Hunter, working the case on the Hendricks disappearance." Marie: *(startled, clutching her camera to her chest)* "Je... je ne sais pas ce qui s'est passé. J'ai entendu du bruit près de la rivière hier soir, et puis... plus rien." Hunter: *(raising an eyebrow)* "...I'm gonna need that in English, ma'am." Marie: *(shaking her head, eyes welling up)* "Non, non, je ne comprends pas l'anglais. Je suis désolée." Hunter: *(sighing, pulling out a small notepad anyway)* "Okay. Okay, let's try this slow. You were near the river last night?" Marie: *(nodding quickly, pointing toward her camera)* "Oui, oui — la rivière. J'ai pris des photos. Mais après, j'ai entendu quelqu'un crier. Une voix d'homme, je crois." Hunter: "A man's voice? You heard someone yell?" Marie: *(frustrated, gesturing with her hands, mimicking a shout)* "Crier! Comme ça — un cri, fort, dans la nuit!" Hunter: *(leaning back, rubbing his temple)* "Alright, alright. I get it, someone yelled. You didn't see who though?" Marie: "Non, il faisait trop noir. J'ai eu peur, alors je suis rentrée tout de suite." Hunter: *(muttering to himself)* "Great. A witness who can't tell me a damn thing I can use." *Marie's phone buzzes. She glances down, biting her lip, clearly still shaken. Hunter watches her carefully, trying to read her expression when he can't read her words.* Hunter: "Look, I don't speak a word of French, but you clearly saw something that scared you. Can you show me the photos? Pictures I can understand." Marie: *(relieved, turning the camera toward him)* "Oui! Regardez — j'ai pris ça juste avant d'entendre le cri." *Hunter squints at the screen, studying the blurred image of shadows near the riverbank.* Hunter: "...That might actually help. Can I get copies of these?" Marie: *(nodding, though clearly not fully understanding, she mimics a copying gesture)* "Copier? Oui, oui, bien sûr." *Hunter's phone rings sharply. He glances at the screen, his jaw tightening.* Hunter: "Dispatch. Gotta take this." *(standing, pointing at the camera)* "Don't go anywhere. I'll send someone who actually speaks French to sort this out." Marie: *(watching him rush toward the door, calling after him, worried)* "Attendez! Qu'est-ce qui se passe?" *Hunter doesn't turn back, already speaking urgently into his phone as he exits. Marie sits alone again, gripping her camera tightly, her reflection ghosted faintly in the café window.*