Run: 2026-09-03-01M1KXK8HYBV3NKR4YNQ6VCKRT

**(Scene: A small café in Alborn, MN. Melanie sits at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera. Hunter approaches, flips open his badge.)** **Hunter:** "Excuse me. Detective Hunter, Alborn P.D. I need to ask you about the apple festival last night. Were you there?" **Melanie:** *(startled, shaken)* "Entschuldigung… ich verstehe nicht. Ich spreche kein Englisch. Bitte, was wollen Sie?" *(Sorry… I don’t understand. I don’t speak English. Please, what do you want?)* **Hunter:** *(confused)* "No English? None? Okay—hold on." *(He pulls out his phone and opens a translator app, then speaks into it.)* "Ask her if she was at the apple festival last night." **Melanie:** *(listening to the app, then speaking into it, her voice troubled)* "Ja… ich war dort. Ich habe die Landschaft fotografiert, die Apfelbäume im Sonnenuntergang. Und dann… habe ich etwas Schreckliches gesehen." *(Yes… I was there. I was photographing the landscape, the apple trees at sunset. And then… I saw something terrible.)* **Hunter:** *(listening to the English translation on his phone)* "She says she was there. Taking pictures of the orchard. She saw something terrible." *(Into the phone)* "What did you see?" **Melanie:** *(voice trembling, in German)* "Ein Mann ging zwischen die Bäume. Er war allein. Plötzlich war da ein seltsames Licht, und dann… war er einfach verschwunden. Ich habe es auf der Kamera." *(A man walked between the trees. He was alone. Suddenly there was a strange light, and then… he was just gone. I have it on my camera.)* **Hunter:** *(eyes narrowing)* "A light? And he vanished? Ask her if he was alone." *(Into the phone)* "Was the man alone? Did you see anyone else?" **Melanie:** *(shaking her head, in German)* "Nein, er war allein. Niemand sonst. Ich schwöre es. Ich habe Angst. Die Polizei muss sich die Fotos ansehen—bitte!" *(No, he was alone. No one else. I swear it. I’m afraid. The police need to look at the photos—please!)* **Hunter:** *(holds out his hand, palm up)* "Camera. May I see the camera?" *(When she hesitates, he points to the camera, then to his own eyes, then holds out his hand again.)* "Please. Police." **Melanie:** *(slowly handing over the camera, still in German)* "Hier. Sehen Sie selbst. Ich habe es auf dem Display. Der Obstgarten…" *(Here. See for yourself. I have it on the screen. The orchard…)* **Hunter:** *(takes the camera, scrolls, then stops on a photo)* "This is the north orchard? Time-stamped ten-fifteen?" *(He looks at her, then uses the phone again.)* "What time did you take this? Last night?" **Melanie:** *(in German)* "Ja, gestern Abend, kurz nach zehn. Alle waren beim Fest, aber dort war es still… zu still." *(Yes, yesterday evening, shortly after ten. Everyone was at the festival, but there it was quiet… too quiet.)* **Hunter:** *(nods, then his phone rings. He checks the screen and holds up a finger to Melanie.)* "Hang on. Detective Hunter." *(beat)* "What? Another one? Near the old mill road?" *(beat)* "I’m on my way. Don’t let anyone near the scene." *(He hangs up and looks at Melanie.)* **Hunter:** "I’m sorry, I have to go. There’s been another incident. You need to stay right here. Do not leave. I’m sending someone—a translator, too. Understand? Stay." *(He points firmly at the chair.)* **Melanie:** *(rising, panicked, in German)* "Was ist passiert? Bitte, nehmen Sie die Kamera mit! Die Fotos—sie sind der Beweis!" *(What happened? Please, take the camera with you! The photos—they are the proof!)* **Hunter:** *(takes the camera, torn for a second, then decisive)* "I’ll take it. I’ll get it back to you, I promise. But you stay put. Right here." *(He backs toward the door, already turning.)* **Melanie:** *(calling after him, in German)* "Passen Sie auf sich auf! Es ist noch da draußen—ich weiß es!" *(Be careful! It’s still out there—I know it!)* **Hunter:** *(already outside, into his phone)* "On my way. And send a unit to the café—I’ve got a witness who doesn’t speak a word of English."