Run: 2026-10-09-01M4FY0AC6FMXP0NRHTM7Y7TG9

**Scene: The Corner Café, Alborn, MN. Late afternoon. Rain on the windows. Marie sits alone at a table by the window, her camera in her lap. Hunter walks in, shakes off his coat, and crosses to her.** **Marie:** "Excusez-moi, je ne... ce n'est pas le moment. Je veux juste être tranquille." *(Excuse me, I don't... it's not a good time. I just want to be left alone.)* **Hunter:** "Ma'am, I'm Detective Hunter with the county. I'm looking into what happened at the orchard on Route 9 Tuesday night. You were up there with your camera, weren't you? The desk clerk at the motel said you'd been shooting out there all week." **Marie:** "Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites. Pardon. Je ne parle pas anglais." *(I don't understand what you're saying. Sorry. I don't speak English.)* **Hunter:** "Okay. Um. Orchard. Route 9. Tuesday." *(He points at the window, then toward the hills.)* "Did you see anything?" **Marie:** "Il y avait des lumières dans les arbres, et puis... les gens ont disparu. Trois personnes. J'ai vu leurs ombres, et ensuite plus rien. J'ai tout photographié, mais je ne sais pas si ça peut aider. Mon Dieu, mes mains tremblent encore." *(There were lights in the trees, and then... people disappeared. Three people. I saw their shadows, and then nothing. I photographed all of it, but I don't know if it can help. My God, my hands are still shaking.)* **Hunter:** *(frowning, leaning forward)* "Hey, slow down. I've got nothing. You're upset, I get that. Can you show me? Pictures?" **Marie:** "Vous voulez voir mes photos? Oui, d'accord. Attendez." *(You want to see my photos? Yes, all right. Wait.)* **Hunter:** "Yeah. Photos. That's what I need." *(He pulls out a chair and sits down across from her.)* **Marie:** *(turning the camera over, thumbing through the screen, speaking softly to herself)* "Non, non... celle-ci est floue. Regardez... là, les arbres. Il y a quelque chose dans la lumière. Je ne sais pas ce que c'est." *(No, no... this one is blurry. Look... there, the trees. There's something in the light. I don't know what it is.)* **Hunter:** *(squinting at the tiny screen, then sliding it closer)* "That's... a light. Could be a flashlight. Could be anything." *(He taps the screen.)* "Can you send these to me? Or give me the card?" **Marie:** "Quoi? Je ne... ah, la carte mémoire? Non. C'est ma seule preuve. Vous la prendrez quand je serai sûre que vous ne la perdrez pas." *(What? I don't... ah, the memory card? No. It's my only evidence. You'll get it when I'm sure you won't lose it.)* **Hunter:** *(exhaling, rubbing the back of his neck)* "Look, I'm not going to take your camera. I just need copies. Copies. Like this." *(He mimes pressing a button, then gestures at her phone on the table.)* **Marie:** *(after a long pause, a faint, tired smile)* "Vous êtes très têtu, vous savez. Bon. Peut-être que vous avez raison. Je peux vous les envoyer demain. Si vous me promettez de les regarder vous-même." *(You're very stubborn, you know. Fine. Maybe you're right. I can send them to you tomorrow. If you promise to look at them yourself.)* **Hunter:** "Tomorrow. Yes. Fine. Deal." *(He nods firmly, then pulls out a notepad and writes something down.)* "I'll come back tomorrow. Same time. Can you write your name? For the file?" **Marie:** *(taking the pen, writing slowly)* "Marie. Marie Duval. Vous voyez? Je suis étudiante. Ici pour la photographie." *(Marie. Marie Duval. You see? I'm a student. Here for photography.)* **Hunter:** *(glancing at the name, then at her)* "Marie. Okay. Got it." *(His phone buzzes loudly on the table. He checks the screen, his jaw tightens.)* "Dammit. I have to go. Stay here, all right? Don't wander up to that orchard alone." **Marie:** "Attendez! Vous partez? Mais... vous ne comprenez même pas ce que je vous ai dit." *(Wait! You're leaving? But... you don't even understand what I told you.)* **Hunter:** *(already standing, pulling on his coat, pointing at her firmly)* "Tomorrow. Photos. Stay put. I'll figure out the rest." **Marie:** *(softly, to his retreating back)* "Vous ne comprenez rien du tout... mais au moins, vous revenez." *(You don't understand anything at all... but at least you're coming back.)* *The bell above the door jingles as Hunter steps out into the rain. Marie stares at the photo still glowing on her camera screen.*