Run: 2026-10-06-01M48VYTRDGQQV41A102AWCAFQ

**VOICE SHEET: "The Language Barrier"** --- **MARIE:** *(softly, to herself, reviewing photos on her camera screen)* Non... ce n'est pas possible... *(shakes her head, eyes wide)* --- **HUNTER:** *(approaching her table, badge visible, voice gravelly but not unkind)* Excuse me, miss? Mind if I sit? I'm Detective Hunter. I'm looking into some... recent events in town. You wouldn't happen to have seen anything unusual near the old Miller orchard last Tuesday evening? --- **MARIE:** *(startled, camera clutched to chest, looking up with alarm)* Oh! *(stammering)* Je... je ne comprends pas. Je suis désolée, monsieur. Je ne parle pas anglais. Pas du tout. *(gestures helplessly at herself, then at the door as if to say she's a foreigner)* --- **HUNTER:** *(frowns, slows his speech)* I'm sorry? You don't speak English? *(glances around the café, then back at her)* Lady, this is Minnesota. You live here? --- **MARIE:** *(nods vigorously, relieved he's trying)* Oui! Enfin... j'habite ici. Temporairement. Je suis étudiante. Programme d'échange. De France. *(points to herself, then makes a small globe gesture with her hands)* La France. Vous connaissez? --- **HUNTER:** *(rubs his jaw, clearly frustrated but trying)* France. Right. *(taps his notepad)* Look, I really need to ask you some questions. There's been... disappearances. Three people in two weeks. You were near the orchard, weren't you? I saw your photo timestamp. --- **MARIE:** *(her face falls, genuine fear replacing confusion)* Les disparitions? *(shakes her head, voice trembling)* Non, non... je ne sais rien. Rien du tout. *(clutches her camera tighter)* Je... je prenais des photos. Du paysage. Pour mon cours. De photographie. *(tears forming)* C'est tout. Je le jure. --- **HUNTER:** *(leans forward, intense but not threatening)* You were there at 6:47 PM. The last person seen near that orchard was 6:30. You saw something. I know you did. --- **MARIE:** *(voice rising, panicked, switching to rapid French)* Non! Je vous dis que non! J'étais seule! Il faisait beau! J'ai photographié les pommiers en fleurs! C'est tout! *(stands abruptly, backing away)* Je ne veux pas de problèmes! Je veux rentrer chez moi! En France! *(grabs her bag)* --- **HUNTER:** *(stands, hands up slightly)* Hey, hey. Calm down. *(reaches for his phone, checks it)* Look, I don't want trouble either. But I need your help. *(sighs, rubs his temples)* You understand "police"? "Help"? "Danger"? --- **MARIE:** *(stops, suspicious, studying his face)* La police... *(nods slowly)* Oui. Je comprends. *(sits back down heavily, deflated)* Mais... mais je ne sais rien. Rien! *(whispers)* Sauf... *(trails off, glancing toward the window)* --- **HUNTER:** *(sharp, leaning in)* Except? --- **MARIE:** *(hesitates, then speaks in a rush)* Une camionnette. Blanche. Garée près de la grange abandonnée. Je l'ai vue quand je partais. Il y avait... un homme. Grand. Il me regardait. *(shudders)* Il avait l'air... en colère. Ou effrayé. Je ne sais pas. Je suis partie. J'avais peur. --- **HUNTER:** *(scribbling furiously)* White van. Abandoned barn. Man watching you. *(looks up)* What time? --- **MARIE:** *(checking her camera, voice steadier now)* 6:52. *(points to timestamp)* Regardez. La photo. Le soleil. *(shows him the screen—a beautiful shot of apple blossoms, but in the corner, barely visible, a white shape)* Là. Vous voyez? --- **HUNTER:** *(takes the camera, zooms in, jaw tightening)* I see it. *(looks at her with new respect)* You got a good eye, lady. French or not. --- **MARIE:** *(small, embarrassed smile)* Merci. *(touches her camera protectively)* --- **HUNTER:** *(phone buzzes, he glances at it, expression darkening)* That's my partner. *(stands, extends his hand)* Detective Hunter. And... merci. For the help. --- **MARIE:** *(shakes his hand, then hesitates)* Vous... vous reviendrez? Pour... d'autres questions? --- **HUNTER:** *(already turning toward the door)* I'll find a translator. *(pauses, looks back)* You stay put, yeah? Don't go near that orchard. Or anywhere alone. *(taps his badge)* I'm good at finding people. I don't want to have to find you. --- **MARIE:** *(calls after him, voice small)* Monsieur Hunter? *(he turns)* En français... "bonne chance." Ça veut dire... good luck. --- **HUNTER:** *(almost smiles, nods once)* Bonne chance to you too, Marie. *(exits)* --- **MARIE:** *(alone at the table, looks at her camera, then out the window toward the orchard, whispering)* Bonne chance à nous tous... --- **[END SCENE]**