THE STRANGER — Prop & Setup Guide

LIGHTING
One warm, low light source only — a bedside lamp, string lights, or a real candle/kerosene-style lamp if safe to use. Kill overhead lights. Aim for the "single circle of gold" the letter describes.

MUSIC / SOUND
A rain/thunderstorm ambient track or white-noise app, low volume, running throughout. Optional: a few seconds of radio static (easy to find/loop) as a pre-scene sound cue to mark "the scene has begun."

SCENT
Something earthy and warm — sandalwood, cedar, or a "petrichor"/rain-scented candle or room spray if you have one. Avoid anything sharp or citrus; you want warm and grounding, not bright.

WARDROBE
Her: whatever she'd wear working alone at home on a hot night — a loose tank/oversized shirt, hair a little undone, no "dressed up" polish. The point is she's caught off guard, not styled.
Partner: a shirt that can get "damp" (splash a little water on it before the scene, or just treat it as understood) — plain, unfussy, nothing costume-y. Rancher-ordinary, not sci-fi.

PROP CHECKLIST
- One small table or surface for two drinks (water, beer, or a favorite drink standing in for the bourbon)
- Two glasses/jars
- A notebook or a pair of headphones nearby, as her "work" prop for Beat 1
- A door or wall clear of clutter, for the caging beat
- A towel within reach (nod to "drying his hands, not his hair" — a small, strange, specific gesture that's fun to include)
- Ambient storm sound cued up and ready
- Low lighting set before you start — don't fumble with lamps mid-scene