Run: 2026-10-06-01M48W745270ZAQYZQ4QJ4TJR0

**VOICE SHEET: "The Language Barrier"** --- **SCENE:** A small café in Alborn, MN. Rain streaks the windows. ISABELLA (30) sits alone, camera in hand, reviewing photos on her digital display. She wears a worn leather jacket and a scarf in the colors of the Italian flag. HUNTER (35) enters, shaking rain from his coat, scanning the room. His eyes land on her. --- **HUNTER:** *(approaching her table, badge visible)* Excuse me, miss? Detective Hunter, Alborn Police. I need to ask you a few questions about last Tuesday. **ISABELLA:** *(looking up, startled, camera lowered)* Sì? Cosa? *(Yes? What?)* **HUNTER:** *(frowning slightly)* Sorry—didn't catch that. You were near the old Miller orchard last Tuesday evening, weren't you? Around seven? **ISABELLA:** *(setting camera down, troubled expression crossing her face)* Il frutteto Miller? Sì, ero lì. Per fotografare il tramonto. *(The Miller orchard? Yes, I was there. To photograph the sunset.)* **HUNTER:** *(leaning forward, concerned)* You saw something that night. Something that bothered you. I can tell. **ISABELLA:** *(voice trembling, clutching her camera)* Ho visto... ho visto qualcosa che non avrei dovuto vedere. *(I saw... I saw something I shouldn't have seen.)* **HUNTER:** *(intently)* What did you see? Was someone there? Did you get a photo? **ISABELLA:** *(shaking her head, eyes wide)* No. No, non ho fotografato. Ero troppo... spaventata. *(No. No, I didn't photograph. I was too... frightened.)* **HUNTER:** *(frustrated, running hand through hair)* Miss, I need you to speak English. Slowly. What happened? **ISABELLA:** *(desperate, gesturing helplessly)* Non parlo inglese! Non capisco! *(I don't speak English! I don't understand!)* **HUNTER:** *(stopping, studying her)* You're... you're not from around here. **ISABELLA:** *(nodding vigorously)* Italia! Roma! Studio all'estero. *(Italy! Rome! Study abroad.)* **HUNTER:** *(sighing, pulling out notepad)* Right. Okay. Let me try this. *(points to her camera)* Camera. You take pictures, yes? **ISABELLA:** *(brightening slightly)* Sì! Fotografia! Paesaggio! *(Yes! Photography! Landscape!)* **HUNTER:** *(pointing to orchard on his phone map)* Tuesday. Seven PM. You here. You see... *(struggles for words, draws stick figures)* ...person? Man? Woman? **ISABELLA:** *(expression darkening again)* Un uomo. Con... con un furgone bianco. *(A man. With... with a white van.)* **HUNTER:** *(alert, leaning in)* White van. You remember anything else? License plate? His face? **ISABELLA:** *(shaking head, voice dropping to whisper)* Il volto era... coperto. Maschera. Come... come Halloween. *(The face was... covered. Mask. Like... like Halloween.)* **HUNTER:** *(writing furiously)* Mask. White van. Anything else? Did he see you? **ISABELLA:** *(nodding, terrified)* Sì. Mi ha guardata. Poi... è sparito. Con una donna. *(Yes. He looked at me. Then... he disappeared. With a woman.)* **HUNTER:** *(standing abruptly)* A woman? Was she— **ISABELLA:** *(interrupting, urgent)* Non lo so! Non lo so! *(I don't know! I don't know!)* --- **HUNTER'S PHONE BUZZES.** He glances at the screen. His jaw tightens. --- **HUNTER:** *(to Isabella, apologetic but firm)* I need to go. This is important—what you just told me. *(pulls out card, slides it across table)* Call this number. Anytime. I'll find a translator. We need to talk more. Properly. **ISABELLA:** *(taking card, clutching it)* Detective... Hunter? **HUNTER:** *(already turning)* Yeah? **ISABELLA:** *(small, frightened)* Sono al sicuro? *(Am I safe?)* **HUNTER:** *(pauses, looks back at her—something almost like recognition in his hard eyes)* You will be. I promise you that. *(exits into rain)* --- **ISABELLA** sits alone, camera trembling in her hands, staring at the rain-streaked window. **FADE OUT.** ---