Run: 2026-07-01-01KWE9XBMZ4SHHJ4QK8PCZCHHB

**Scene: The Copper Kettle Café, Alborn, MN. Late morning. Isabella sits at a small table near the window, scrolling through photos on her camera, her expression tightening as she pauses on one image. Hunter enters, spots her, and approaches with his notebook already out.** Hunter: "Excuse me, miss. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I ask you a few questions? I understand you were near the orchard yesterday evening, around the time the Petersons' barn lights went out." Isabella: *(startled, gripping her camera tighter)* "Mi scusi... non ho capito bene. Cosa è successo? Ho visto qualcosa, ma non so cosa fosse. Era buio, e c'era una figura vicino agli alberi—si muoveva in modo strano." Hunter: "...Right. I'm gonna need you to slow down. English?" Isabella: *(shaking her head, eyes wide)* "No, no inglese. Solo italiano. Mi dispiace, sono spaventata. Ho sentito un rumore, un grido, forse, e poi niente. Silenzio. Non capisco cosa stia succedendo in questa città." Hunter: *(rubbing his forehead)* "Okay. Okay, I get that you're upset. That much I can follow. But I need to know what you saw. Did you see a person? A car? Anything unusual out by the orchard?" Isabella: *(pulling up the camera screen, turning it toward him)* "Guardi. Ho scattato questa foto. Non sono sicura se sia importante, ma qualcosa non è giusto. C'era una luce, poi è scomparsa. E quella sagoma—non era una persona normale, camminava in modo strano, quasi zoppicando." Hunter: *(leaning in, squinting at the blurred photo)* "This is... I can't tell what this is. Is that a person? A shadow?" *(pointing)* "This shape here—can you point to what direction it was moving?" Isabella: *(pointing emphatically toward the window, then miming a stumbling walk with her fingers)* "Da lì, verso il bosco. Si muoveva così—instabile, come se fosse ferito. Ho avuto paura, così sono scappata. Non ho guardato più." Hunter: "Injured. Moving toward the woods. Okay, that's... that's something, I think." *(scribbling notes)* "Look, I wish I could understand you better. Is there anyone in town who speaks both English and Italian? A translator?" Isabella: *(shrugging helplessly, voice trembling)* "Non lo so. Sono qui da poco, per lo studio. Non conosco quasi nessuno. Ho solo la mia macchina fotografica e le mie foto. Mi dispiace di non poterla aiutare di più." Hunter: *(sighing, pocketing his notebook)* "It's not your fault. We'll figure something out." *(his phone buzzes; he checks it, jaw tightening)* "Dispatch. I gotta take this." **Hunter answers the phone, his expression shifting from mild irritation to sharp focus.** Hunter: "Hunter... Where? ...When did they find it? Alright, I'm on my way, ten minutes." *(hangs up, looks at Isabella)* "I have to go. Stay in town — don't leave, alright? I'll find someone who can translate, and we'll talk again. Understand?" Isabella: *(nodding slowly, though clearly uncertain of his words, clutching her camera to her chest)* "Va bene... capisco che deve andare. Io... aspetterò qui. Ma per favore, trovi quella persona. Ho paura che sia successo qualcosa di brutto." Hunter: *(pausing at the door, studying her worried face)* "Yeah. Something bad happened, alright." *(mutters to himself as he exits)* "Just wish I knew what she was trying to tell me." **Hunter strides out of the café, leaving Isabella alone with her camera and her fear, the photograph still glowing faintly on the screen before her.**