Run: 2026-10-06-01M48VXCQ107AEH2Q8JBK8P2AB

**VOICE SHEET: "The Café Encounter"** --- **Melanie:** *(softly, to herself, reviewing photos on her camera screen)* "Nein... das kann nicht sein..." **Hunter:** *(approaching her table, badge visible)* "Excuse me, miss? I'm Detective Hunter. I was wondering if you might have seen anything unusual near the old Miller orchard last Tuesday evening?" **Melanie:** *(startled, camera clutched to her chest)* "Oh! Entschuldigung—äh, I mean—sorry, I didn't—" **Hunter:** *(frowning slightly)* "Sorry? You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." **Melanie:** *(voice trembling, switching to rapid German)* "Ein Geist? Nein, nein, das ist nicht... I mean, es ist nicht so einfach. Ich habe etwas gesehen, Detective. Etwas, das ich nicht erklären kann. Lichter, dort drüben am Waldrand. Und dann—und dann war sie weg. Einfach weg." **Hunter:** *(leaning forward, concerned)* "Who was gone? A woman? What did she look like?" **Melanie:** *(shaking her head, eyes wet)* "Ich weiß es nicht. Ich weiß es wirklich nicht. Nur... nur ihr roter Schal. Am Zaun. Und dann nichts mehr. Nichts." *(whispers)* "Sie sind alle weg, nicht wahr? Alle." **Hunter:** *(exchanging a glance with himself, clearly lost)* "Ma'am, I'm not following you. English, please? Slowly?" **Melanie:** *(frustrated, gesturing helplessly)* "I cannot! I do not—I don't speak it! Not yet! Bitte, verstehen Sie? Bitte!" **Hunter:** *(sighs, pulling out a notepad)* "Alright. Alright. Deep breath. You saw lights. A red scarf. Someone disappeared. That's what I'm getting." **Melanie:** *(nodding desperately)* "Ja! Genau! And the apples—" *(stops, confused)* "Die Äpfel. They were everywhere. On the ground. But no one was picking them. No one." **Hunter:** *(phone buzzing in his pocket—he glances at it, expression darkening)* "The apple festival grounds. That's three now." **Melanie:** *(not understanding, but sensing urgency)* "Drei? Three what? Three people?" **Hunter:** *(standing abruptly)* "Three disappearances. All near orchards. All during apple season." *(beat)* "I need to go. But ma'am—if you remember anything else, anything at all, you call me. This number." *(slides card across table)* "And try to stay away from those woods, you understand?" **Melanie:** *(taking the card, voice small)* "Ich werde... I will try. But Detective—" *(he's already walking away)* "—the photographs! I have photographs! Of the lights! Of—" *(trails off, alone)* **Hunter:** *(over his shoulder, not turning)* "German, right? You said German?" **Melanie:** *(to herself, staring at her camera)* "Ja. Deutsch. Immer Deutsch." --- **[END SCENE]**