Run: 2026-09-23-01M36WVSA5Q6T8GH0X56DAF8S3

# VOICE SHEET — "The Café in Alborn" **Setting:** *A small café on Main Street in Alborn, MN. Autumn leaves drift past the window. Isabella sits alone at a corner table, cradling her camera, scrolling through photos on its display. Hunter approaches, badge clipped to his belt.* --- **Isabella:** "…" *(looks up from her camera with a tentative, polite smile)* **Hunter:** "Morning. Detective Hunter. Sorry to bother you — you mind if I sit?" **Isabella:** "…" *(nods, gesturing to the chair across from her; her smile wavers with confusion)* **Hunter:** "You were at the apple festival last Saturday, weren't you? I'm trying to put together a timeline of who was near the orchard trail around 9 PM." **Isabella:** "…" *(her expression shifts — her eyes widen, hands tightening around the camera strap; she speaks rapidly, voice trembling)* **Isabella:** "S-sì… ero lì. Oddio… quelle cose che ho visto… non riesco a smettere di pensarci. Ho le foto — le foto! — non so cosa fare, non so a chi…" *(Her voice breaks. She presses a hand to her mouth, breathing shakily.)* **Hunter:** "…" *(stares at her, completely lost — brow furrowed, mouth slightly open)* **Hunter:** "Ma'am — I'm sorry, I… I don't —" *(He stops, glances down at his phone, taps the screen.)* **Hunter:** "…I don't know what you're saying. I don't speak — do you speak English? Even a little?" **Isabella:** "…" *(looks at him with glistening eyes, shaking her head slowly; she whispers)* **Isabella:** "No… no, capisco. Mi dispiace… non parlo inglese. Ho appena… ho appena parlato." *(She wipes her eyes quickly, embarrassed.)* **Hunter:** "…" *(exhales through his nose, runs a hand over his jaw, then holds up one finger — "wait")* **Isabella:** "…" *(watches him cautiously, clutching her camera to her chest like a shield)* **Hunter:** "…" *(types into his phone's translate app and holds it out)* **Hunter:** "Try this? It'll — it'll do both directions. English and Italian." **Isabella:** "…" *(takes the phone carefully, reads the screen; her shoulders drop with visible relief)* **Isabella:** "Sì… sì, grazie. Okay… okay." *(She types on the phone, then hands it back. Hunter reads aloud from the screen.)* **Hunter:** "'You said you saw something at the festival.' …Did I get that right?" **Isabella:** "…" *(takes the phone, types again, hands it back; she watches him read with wide, anxious eyes)* **Hunter:** "'Something wrong. Something I photographed by accident.' …What did you see? What's in the photos?" **Isabella:** "…" *(opens her camera's display and slides it across the table to him; she points at a specific frame, her finger trembling)* **Isabella:** "…Qui. Vedi?" **Hunter:** "…" *(leans in, studies the photo — his expression hardens; he sits back slowly)* **Hunter:** "…You captured this? Saturday night?" **Isabella:** "…" *(takes the phone back, types quickly)* **Isabella:** "Sì. Non so cosa sia… ma non è normale. Ho paura." *(Hunter reads aloud.)* **Hunter:** "'I don't know what it is. But it isn't normal. I'm afraid.'" *(A beat of silence. Hunter's jaw tightens.)* **Hunter:** "…" *(speaking slowly and deliberately, as if that will help)* **Hunter:** "Isabella — I know you can't understand me right now, but I need you to understand something. You're safe. I'm going to need you to keep that camera and those photos. Don't delete anything. Can you — " *(He pauses, realizing she can't follow. He takes the phone back.)* **Hunter:** "…Okay. New plan. I'm going to write this down and — " **Isabella:** "…" *(holds up a hand, already typing on the phone)* **Isabella:** "Va bene. Resto qui. Non cancello niente. Resto qui." *(Hunter reads, nods firmly.)* **Hunter:** "'Stay here. Don't delete anything.' …Yeah. That's exactly — that's what I need." **Isabella:** "…" *(hesitates, then types again; hands the phone back with shaking hands)* **Isabella:** "Una domanda… non so niente di questa città. Non so parlare con nessuno. Questo… questo detective che è venuto? È serio?" *(Hunter reads.)* **Hunter:** "'One question. I don't know anyone in this town. I can't talk to anyone. This detective who came — is he serious?'" *(He meets her eyes. A long pause.)* **Hunter:** "…As serious as it gets." *(He takes the phone, types, and turns it to show her. She reads. Her eyes search his face. She nods slowly.)* *(Hunter's phone rings. He glances at the screen — the caller ID. His whole demeanor shifts, steel snapping into place.)* **Hunter:** "…I've got to take this." **Isabella:** "…" *(reads nothing — she can't understand. She sees his face change and her expression crumples with worry; she reaches for the phone)* **Isabella:** "Aspetta — no, aspetta! Non abbiamo finito! Cosa succede?" *(Hunter holds up a hand — "one second" — and answers the call.)* **Hunter:** "Hunter. …Yeah. …What do you mean she didn't show? …When?" *(He's already standing, coat being pulled on, eyes fixed on Isabella. He taps the phone's screen, finds his translate app one-handed, and holds it out to her.)* **Isabella:** "…" *(takes it, reads aloud from the screen — Hunter must have typed while answering)* **Isabella:** "…'Another one missing. I have to go. Stay here. I will come back.'" *(She looks up at him, clutching the phone, fear and hope warring on her face.)* **Isabella:** "…Torna. Per favore… torna." **Hunter:** "…" *(already at the door, pausing with one hand on it; he can't understand the words, but he understands the look — he gives her a short, sharp nod)* **Hunter:** "I'll come back. That's a promise." *(He pushes through the door and is gone. The café falls quiet. Isabella sets the phone down, pulls her camera into her lap, and stares at the photo on its display — whatever is in it, her hands are still shaking.)* --- **[END OF VOICE SHEET]**