Run: 2026-09-23-01M36TQRY5DYABHT950ZYNCX02

# Voice Sheet — *A Cafe in Alborn* **Marie:** *(seated at an outdoor table, turning her camera over in her hands, murmuring to herself)* Bien… c'était presque parfait. Juste un tout petit peu flou au premier plan… **Hunter:** *(approaching with a notepad, badge visible on his belt)* Excuse me — sorry to bother you. I'm Detective Hunter. Mind if I ask you a couple of questions? **Marie:** *(looking up, startled, then giving a cautious but polite smile)* Bonjour…? **Hunter:** I'm investigating a missing persons case. A few folks have gone dark around town in the last couple weeks. You been to any of the apple festival events recently? **Marie:** *(her expression shifts — troubled, shaken. Her fingers tighten around her camera.)* Oh mon Dieu… c'est exactement ce que j'ai vu. La nuit dernière, près du verger… il y avait quelqu'un qui traînait un… non. Non, je ne veux pas y penser. **Hunter:** *(leaning in slightly, notepad ready but paused)* Ma'am? I'm not sure I caught that. English okay? Do you speak English? **Marie:** *(shaking her head rapidly, eyes wide)* Non, non — je suis désolée, je… je ne comprends pas. *(she grips her camera like a lifeline)* Je ne voulais rien filmer de pareil. Je pensais que c'était juste… *(she trails off, staring past him)* **Hunter:** *(frustrated, glancing around the cafe for someone to translate)* Okay. Okay, hold on. *(he tries slowing down, gesturing vaguely)* You — *(points to her)* — you saw something? Last night? **Marie:** *(misreading his gestures, nodding uncertainly)* Oui… oui, j'ai vu quelque chose. *(she flips her camera to show him a photo on the screen — a dark figure near a treeline at dusk, slightly out of focus)* Regardez. C'est ça. C'est pour ça que je tremble encore. **Hunter:** *(staring at the photo, jaw tightening — he recognizes the location)* That's the old Hargrove orchard. *(he looks at her)* You took this? When? **Marie:** *(searching his face for any sign of understanding, then shaking her head with a weary, helpless laugh)* On ne se comprend pas du tout, n'est-ce pas? *(she sets the camera down and pinches the bridge of her nose)* J'étais terrifiée. Je suis encore terrifiée. **Hunter:** *(sighing, rubbing the back of his neck)* I can tell you're upset. I really can. But I can't understand a word you're saying. *(he tries again, speaking slowly and clearly)* Did someone — threaten you? Hurt you? **Marie:** *(catching the word "hurt" from tone alone, flinching)* Non! Non, il ne m'a pas touchée. Mais il… *(she mimics a dragging motion with her hands, then makes a gesture toward the treeline)* Il tirait quelque chose. Quelque chose de lourd. *(she wraps her arms around herself)* Je n'osais pas bouger. **Hunter:** *(watching the gesture, writing quickly in his notepad)* He was dragging something. Heavy. **Marie:** *(blinking — surprised he understood)* …Oui. Oui, c'est ça. Vous avez compris? **Hunter:** *(holding up a finger — a partial recognition, then gesturing toward his ears and shrugging)* Body language. It's about all I've got right now. *(he taps his notepad)* I'm going to need to come back with someone who can translate. Do you know if anyone around here speaks French? The cafe owner, maybe? **Marie:** *(muttering, shaking her head)* Personne parle français dans ce trou perdu du Minnesota… **Hunter:** *(his phone rings. He holds up a hand apologetically and answers.)* Yeah? … When? … I'm five minutes out. *(he hangs up, jaw set.)* I'm sorry — I've got to go. *(he slides a business card across the table toward her)* When someone who speaks your language shows up, you call me. Anytime. Even in the middle of the night. **Marie:** *(picking up the card, reading his name slowly)* …Hunter. **Hunter:** *(already turning to leave, then pausing and looking back over his shoulder)* Stay in a public place if you can. Don't walk home alone tonight. *(he points to her camera)* And don't delete that photo. **Marie:** *(clutching the camera to her chest, nodding)* …Je ne le ferai pas. **Hunter:** *(nodding once, then walking briskly down the sidewalk and disappearing around the corner.)* **Marie:** *(alone again, staring at the card in her hand, then out toward the darkening treeline beyond the rooftops)* …Mon Dieu. Que se passe-t-il dans cette ville? **[END SCENE]**