Run: 2026-10-09-01M4FXKJZ9GWAE4AC9KTFNJ8K7

**Scene: The Corner Cafe, Alborn, MN** *Marie sits alone at a small table by the window, turning her camera over in her hands. Hunter approaches, notebook in hand.* **Hunter:** "Excuse me, is this seat taken? I'm Detective Hunter with the Alborn Police. Mind if I ask you a few questions about Saturday night?" **Marie:** "Je suis désolée, je ne comprends pas. Pardon, je... Vous êtes la police? Je n'ai rien vu, je le jure. Je suis rentrée tôt, j'avais tellement peur." *(I'm sorry, I don't understand. Excuse me, I... You're the police? I didn't see anything, I swear. I went home early, I was so scared.)* **Hunter:** "Sorry, I didn't catch that. Ma'am, I just need to know if you saw anything unusual near the orchard road on Saturday." **Marie:** "Vous ne comprenez pas? Le champ... Les lumières étaient éteintes, et puis il y avait cette femme qui criait. Elle a disparu, comme les autres. Je ne sais pas où elle est allée." *(You don't understand? The field... The lights were off, and then there was that woman screaming. She disappeared, like the others. I don't know where she went.)* **Hunter:** *(frowning, glancing at his notebook)* "Okay, I'm getting nothing here. Is there someone who speaks English you can get? Or... *anyone*?" **Marie:** "Je suis là depuis trois semaines, et personne ne me parle. Je photographie les paysages, seulement les paysages. Ce soir-là, j'ai pris une photo, et j'ai vu quelque chose dans le reflet de l'eau. Je ne peux pas l'effacer de ma tête." *(I've been here three weeks, and no one talks to me. I photograph landscapes, only landscapes. That night, I took a picture, and I saw something in the reflection on the water. I can't get it out of my head.)* **Hunter:** *(slowly sitting down across from her, tapping his pen)* "Reflection. Water. Okay. You took a photo? Can I see it?" **Marie:** *(clutching the camera to her chest, then slowly turning the screen toward him)* "Regardez. Ici. Vous voyez la silhouette? Je pensais que c'était un arbre." *(Look. Here. Do you see the silhouette? I thought it was a tree.)* **Hunter:** *(leaning in, squinting at the screen)* "Huh. Yeah, that's... not a tree." *(pause, then quietly)* "Look, I'm going to need a copy of that file. Can you let me take the memory card?" **Marie:** "Non. C'est ma seule preuve, et mes photos ne sortent pas de mes mains. Je ne vous fais pas confiance, pas encore." *(No. It's my only proof, and my photos don't leave my hands. I don't trust you, not yet.)* **Hunter:** *(sighing, a flicker of respect crossing his face)* "Fair enough. Then we'll do it my way. Keep that camera safe and don't go near the orchard alone." *His phone buzzes sharply. He glances at the screen and stands up abruptly.* **Hunter:** "I have to take this. Stay here, ma'am. Please. I'll be back within the hour, and we're going to figure this out." **Marie:** "Attendez! Vous allez revenir, n'est-ce pas? Ne me laissez pas seule avec ça." *(Wait! You'll come back, won't you? Don't leave me alone with this.)* **Hunter:** *(already answering the call, heading for the door)* "Yeah, this is Hunter. What've you got?... Where?... Okay, I'm on my way." *The bell above the door jingles as he exits. Marie looks down at the camera, her hands trembling.*