Run: 2026-09-23-01M36WXDAG7QWT3X6R7E3GSEXW

# VOICE SHEET — "The Café on Main" **Setting:** *A small café in Alborn, MN. Late afternoon. MELANIE sits alone at a corner table, her camera cradled in her hands, scrolling through images with a pale, unsettled face. DETECTIVE HUNTER approaches, notepad in hand.* --- **Hunter:** "Afternoon, miss. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I sit down?" **Melanie:** *(looks up, blinks, offers a tight, uncertain smile)* "…Entschuldigung? Ich — ich verstehe Sie nicht." **Hunter:** "Sorry — I said I'm Detective Hunter. I'm asking around about the Renslow girl. You were at the apple festival Saturday?" **Melanie:** *(her smile falters; she sets the camera down slowly)* "…Der Festival? Ja. Ich war dort. Aber ich… ich kann kein Englisch. Tut mir leid." **Hunter:** "Right. Okay." *(He tilts his head, studying her.)* "English? Do you speak any English at all?" **Melanie:** *(shakes her head, hand drifting back to her camera)* "Nein. Nein, ich spreche kein Englisch. Auf Deutsch, bitte? …Bitte?" **Hunter:** *(sighs, rubs the back of his neck)* "Ma'am, I don't know a word of German. Not one. You got anyone with you who can translate?" **Melanie:** *(glances around the empty café, then back at him; her voice drops, troubled and shaking)* "…Nein. Meine Mitbewohnerin ist noch nicht zurück. Sie ist… sie ist seit dem Festival weg. Seit Samstag. Und niemand… niemand glaubt mir." **Hunter:** *(stares at her)* "I caught about none of that. You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." **Melanie:** *(swallows hard, eyes glistening)* "Ich habe etwas gesehen. In den Bäumen, hinter demstand. Etwas, das nicht… das nicht dazugehört. Und danach war Sarah fort. Nur so. Weg." **Hunter:** "Did you just say a name? Sarah?" **Melanie:** *(nods quickly, seizing on it)* "Ja! Sarah. Sarah ist weg." *(She pushes the camera across the table toward him, opening the screen.)* "Hier. Schauen Sie. Fotos. Ich habe… ich habe Fotos gemacht. Am Samstag." **Hunter:** *(picks up the camera carefully, squinting at the screen)* "These are… yeah, these are from the festival alright. Trees, hay bales, kids with apples—" *(He stops. Zooms in. His expression hardens.)* "What the hell is that in the background?" **Melanie:** *(leaning forward, voice trembling)* "Das. Ja. Das. Ich habe es erst heute gesehen. Als ich die Bilder durchgeschaut habe. Es steht hinter der Bühne — und Sarah… Sarah blickte genau dorthin, bevor sie verschwand." **Hunter:** "Miss — hold on." *(He looks from the camera to her face, frustrated but gentle.)* "I need you to understand something. I can't understand a word you're saying. All I've got is this camera and a bad feeling." **Melanie:** *(frustrated, pressing her hand to her chest)* "Ich versuche es Ihnen zu erklären! Ich *versuche* es! Aber Sie verstehen mich nicht, und ich verstehe Sie nicht, und Sarah ist *fort*—" *(Her voice breaks; she looks down at the table.)* "…Es tut mir so leid. Ich will nur… ich will nur, dass jemand mir *glaubt*." **Hunter:** *(quiet for a moment, then sets the camera down gently)* "Hey. Listen — I don't know what you just said. But you're shaking, and you handed me a photograph with something in it that doesn't belong. That's enough for me to start." **Melanie:** *(looks up, searching his face)* "…Verstehen Sie mich?" **Hunter:** "No. Not a word." *(He pulls out a card and slides it across.)* "But I've got a feeling you've got plenty more to tell me." **Melanie:** *(picks up the card, turning it over in her fingers; softly)* "…Danke." **Hunter:** *(standing, glancing at the photo once more)* "Yeah, well — don't go anywhere. I'm going to find someone who speaks—" *(His phone rings. He answers, face closing up.)* "Hunter." *(Pause.)* "When? — I'm on my way." *(He pockets the phone, jaw tight.)* "I gotta go. Another one. Right now." **Melanie:** *(standing abruptly, clutching the camera)* "Was ist passiert? Was ist—?Bitte, was ist geschehen?" **Hunter:** *(already moving toward the door, calling back over his shoulder)* "Stay by that camera, miss. I'm coming back — and next time, I'm bringing a translator." *(The bell over the café door jingles shut. MELANIE stands alone, both hands wrapped around her camera, staring at the door.)* **Melanie:** *(whispered)* "…Bitte beeil dich." --- **[END OF SCENE]**