Run: 2026-10-08-01M4D9XM9D4S3PK8W4V4S3K9K8

**Scene: The Corner Café, Alborn, MN. Late afternoon. Marie sits at a window table, turning her camera over in her hands. Hunter approaches with two coffees and sets one in front of her.** **Hunter:** "Mind if I sit? I'm Detective Hunter. You're the only person in town who hasn't looked at me like I'm about to arrest them. Did you hear about what happened at the orchard on Tuesday?" **Marie:** "Je... je suis désolée, je ne comprends pas. Vous parlez anglais?" *(I'm sorry, I don't understand. You speak English?)* **Hunter:** "English. Right. Okay. The orchard. Tuesday night. Mrs. Dellinger's grandson went out to check the pickers' cabins and never came back. You were out taking pictures that night, weren't you? The clerk at the inn said you asked about the orchard trail." **Marie:** "Il y avait une lumière, là-bas, entre les arbres. Et puis elle a disparu. Et il y avait quelqu'un qui criait, mais si doucement..." *(There was a light over there, between the trees. And then it disappeared. And someone was calling out, but so softly...)* **She presses her hand against her camera, her voice trembling.** "J'ai pris la photo. Je l'ai prise, mais je ne sais pas ce que j'ai vu." **Hunter:** *(leaning forward, speaking slowly)* "Okay. You saw something. A light. And you took a picture. Can I see it?" **Marie:** "Non, non. Je ne peux pas encore la regarder. Pas ici." *(No, no. I can't look at it yet. Not here.)* **She shakes her head and pulls the camera closer to her chest.** **Hunter:** *(sighing, rubbing his jaw)* "I'm going to take that as a no. Look, I don't speak a word of French. Not even 'bonjour.' So if you could just nod or point, that'd help a lot." **Marie:** *(a faint, shaky laugh)* "Bonjour." **She pauses, then points at the camera, then toward the window, where the orchard hills are visible in the fading light.** "Là-bas. Il faut y retourner. Avec vous. Demain matin, quand il fera jour." *(Over there. We have to go back. With you. Tomorrow morning, when it's light.)* **Hunter:** "Tomorrow morning. Got it. Orchard, daylight, you and me." *(He taps the table.)* "Can you at least tell me your name?" **Marie:** "Marie. Marie Laurent." *(She hesitates, then offers a small, uncertain smile.)* "Et vous, vous êtes le policier qui ne parle pas français, n'est-ce pas?" *(And you're the policeman who doesn't speak French, aren't you?)* **Hunter:** "I'm going to assume that was a joke. Hunter. Detective Hunter." **Marie:** "Hunter." *(She repeats it carefully, as if memorizing it.)* **Hunter:** *(his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, his expression tightening.)* "Hold on. Yeah, this is Hunter. ...Say that again. ...When? ...Okay, I'm on my way." **Hunter:** *(to Marie, already standing, pulling on his jacket)* "I've got to go. Another call. Don't go near that orchard tonight, you hear me? Stay put. Tomorrow morning, I'll come find you here. Eight o'clock." **Marie:** *(rising slightly, reaching out a hand, then stopping)* "Attendez! Faites attention, Hunter. Cette lumière... elle n'était pas une lampe." *(Wait! Be careful, Hunter. That light... it wasn't a lamp.)* **Hunter:** "I'll take that as a warning. Eight o'clock, Marie." **Marie:** *(softly, to his retreating back)* "Huit heures." *(Eight o'clock.)*