Run: 2026-07-07-01KWZ4TBB5G271W899QXF107C0

# The Voice Sheet --- ## Scene: Apple Creek Café, Alborn, MN — Afternoon *The small café smells of cinnamon and fresh coffee. Melanie sits alone at a corner table, her camera in her hands as she scrolls through photos on the display. Her face is pale, her fingers trembling slightly as she pauses on one particular image. The bell above the door chimes as Hunter enters, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her.* --- Hunter: *approaching the table, pulling out the opposite chair but not sitting yet* "Excuse me. You're Melanie, right? The exchange student from the university?" Melanie: *startles, looking up. She clutches the camera closer to her chest, eyes wide* "Ja... ja, ich bin Melanie." *She pauses, then shakes her head, struggling* "I... I am Melanie." Hunter: *nods, finally sitting down* "I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police Department. I'm investigating the disappearance that occurred two nights ago near the apple orchard. I heard you were in the area that evening. Taking photographs." Melanie: *her face drains of whatever color remained. She sets the camera down on the table, hands shaking* "Oh Gott... das... das war schrecklich. Ich habe etwas gesehen, aber ich weiß nicht, was es war. Es war so dunkel, und dann war da dieses Geräusch, wie... wie ein Schrei, aber nicht von einem Tier." *She looks up at him, eyes glistening* "I... I do not understand what happened." Hunter: *frowns, leaning forward with elbows on the table* "Ma'am, I didn't catch any of that. Do you speak English?" Melanie: *wipes at her eyes, frustrated* "A little. Only little. I am... sorry. I learn still." *She takes a deep breath, pointing to her camera* "I... photos. I make photos that night. Blumen... flowers. Sunset. But then..." *She mimes something with her hands, a grabbing motion* "Man... person. Gone." Hunter: *his expression sharpens* "You saw someone? A person who disappeared?" Melanie: *nods vigorously* "Ja, yes. Near the... the trees with apples. Ein Mann. A man. He walks, and then..." *She snaps her fingers* "Nicht da. Not there. Like... how you say... verschwunden?" Hunter: "Vanished?" Melanie: "Ja! Vanished. Like smoke. I... I am scared. I run to my car. I drive. I not sleep since." *She pushes the camera toward him hesitantly* "You... you want to see? The photos? Maybe... maybe something is there I do not see?" Hunter: *reaches for the camera carefully, his rough hands contrasting with the delicate equipment* "That could be very helpful. May I?" *He waits for her nod before picking it up, scrolling through the images* "These are good shots. You've got an eye for—" *His phone buzzes loudly on the table. He glances down at the screen, and his jaw tightens.* Hunter: *standing abruptly* "I have to take this. Don't leave town, Melanie. We need to talk more about what you saw. And I'll want copies of these photos." *He answers the phone, already moving toward the door* "Hunter here. ...When? ...Is the body—" *The door swings shut behind him, cutting off his voice. Melanie sits alone again, staring at the camera he's left on the table, the afternoon light catching the lens like a cold, unblinking eye.* --- **END OF SCENE** ---