Run: 2026-09-23-01M37QA718YS1V0NH4M9NYH613

**Scene: Café in Alborn, MN — Afternoon** *Marie sits alone at a corner table, scrolling through photos on her camera, hands trembling slightly. Hunter approaches, badge in hand.* Hunter: "Ma'am. Detective Hunter, Alborn PD. Mind if I sit? I'm asking folks about Tuesday night out by the orchard. Word is you were out there with that camera of yours." Marie: *(startled, looking up)* "Je... je ne comprends pas. Vous êtes... la police? Mon Dieu... ce que j'ai vu cette nuit-là... je n'arrive toujours pas à y croire." *(I... I don't understand. You're... the police? My God... what I saw that night... I still can't believe it.)* Hunter: "I'm sorry, I—do you speak any English at all? Ma'am?" Marie: "Anglais? Non, non, je suis française. Étudiante. Échange universitaire. Je ne parle pas encore anglais... Pardonnez-moi, je suis bouleversée." *(English? No, no, I'm French. A student. University exchange. I don't speak English yet... Forgive me, I'm shaken up.)* Hunter: "French. Great. Of course you're French. *(sits down anyway)* Look, I'm going to be straight with you — we've had three people vanish in this town in a month, and the last one disappeared Tuesday. Near the apple orchard. Somebody at the festival said you were out there taking pictures." Marie: *(pointing toward the window, toward the orchard)* "Le verger... oui. J'étais là. Pour photographier le coucher de soleil sur les pommiers. Et puis... *(her voice drops, shaking)* ...et puis j'ai vu un homme. Il marchait entre les arbres. Et quelque chose... quelque chose l'a suivi. Une silhouette. Haute. Trop haute. Je n'ai pas dormi depuis." *(The orchard... yes. I was there. To photograph the sunset over the apple trees. And then... and then I saw a man. He was walking between the trees. And something... something followed him. A silhouette. Tall. Too tall. I haven't slept since.)* Hunter: "You were there. Okay. Orchard — that's what you're pointing at, right? *(gestures the shape of a tree)* Trees? Apples?" Marie: "Oui! Les pommiers! Les pommes! *(frustrated, then flipping through her camera)* Regardez — j'ai pris des photos. Regardez! Mais... mais il n'y a rien dessus. Rien! Comment est-ce possible? J'ai vu, de mes propres yeux j'ai vu—" *(Yes! The apple trees! The apples! Look — I took photos. Look! But... but there's nothing on them. Nothing! How is that possible? I saw, with my own eyes I saw—)* Hunter: "Photos? Your camera? You took pictures that night? *(taps the camera gently)* That might be evidence, ma'am. I may need to hold onto that." Marie: *(clutching the camera to her chest)* "Non! Non, ne me le prenez pas! C'est tout ce que j'ai! Les photos sont vides, je vous jure — mais l'objectif a capté... quelque chose. Des yeux. Des yeux qui brillaient dans le flash. Ce n'était pas un homme. Ce n'était pas un animal non plus. Je ne sais pas ce que c'était!" *(No! No, don't take it from me! It's all I have! The photos are empty, I swear — but the lens caught... something. Eyes. Eyes shining in the flash. It wasn't a man. It wasn't an animal either. I don't know what it was!)* Hunter: "Whoa, hey — easy. I'm not confiscating anything today. *(pulls out a card, slides it across the table)* Look. I don't understand a word you're saying, but you're clearly scared, and you were clearly there. That's more than most people in this town will admit. Stay in Alborn. I'll find a translator." *Hunter's phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, jaw tightening.* Hunter: "Reyes. Tell me you found something... *(pause)* No — no, do NOT let anyone near the north tree line until I get there. I'm on my way. *(hangs up, stands)* Ma'am — Marie, right? *(taps the card)* Stay put. Don't leave town. I'll be back, and I'll bring someone who speaks French." Marie: *(rising halfway out of her chair, alarmed)* "Quoi? Vous partez? Attendez! Il va revenir! Vous ne comprenez pas — je l'ai senti. Il va revenir ce soir. Les pommes... elles tombent toutes avant l'heure. Quelque chose ne va pas ici. Quelque chose ne va pas du tout!" *(What? You're leaving? Wait! It will come back! You don't understand — I felt it. It will come back tonight. The apples... they're all falling early. Something is wrong here. Something is very wrong!)* Hunter: *(backing toward the door, pointing at the card, then at her)* "Stay. Here. Alborn. I'll be back. *(beat)* Yeah, I got nothing. Somebody in this town better speak French." *Hunter exits at a brisk pace. Marie sinks back into her chair, staring at the blank photos on her camera screen, whispering to herself.* Marie: *(softly, to herself)* "Personne ne me croira... Personne." *(No one will believe me... No one.)* *End of scene.*