1) A history class is learning about Mary Ann Cotton, Britain's first female serial killer from the Victorian era. She poisoned her victims, including husbands, mother, and children, with arsenic to collect life insurance money. 2) Three teenagers perform a ritual to summon Mary Ann Cotton's spirit. During the ritual, they hear screams and see a crying woman. One teen approaches the figure and is warned "I am not guilty!" before the figure disappears. 3) After the ritual, a cold presence is felt. One teen's head is pulled back and they are forced to ingest arsenic by the spirit of Mary Ann Cotton before collapsing. The other two teens flee in terror.

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INT. HISTORY LESSON. DAY.
Half-way through a history session, the LECTURER is talking
to the students about the Victorian era with a slideshow
behind her. Clicking onto the next slide, the students are
questioned.
LECTURER
Now, who can tell me who Mary Ann
Cotton was?
Two hands rise to the question with one shouting out their
guess.
STUDENT
A Victorian?
LECTURER
Well... yes. But who was this
Victorian?
TEEN 3
Wasn't she a serial killer?
LECTURER
Not just A serial killer, but Mary Ann
Cotton had impacted history, becoming
Britain's first female serial killer
which had also led to men learning not
to underestimate what was once seen as
the pure and innocent woman.
Clicks through the slideshow.
Known for murdering up to twenty-one
victims with a desire to get rich,
Mary Ann would go after her supposed
loved ones: husbands, mother and
children. Using arsenic powder to
poison them, the victims would fall
ill and pass away. Blaming their
tragic deaths on gastric fever, the
killer would go after their life
insurance. Infact-
STUDENT 2
-What would be the point in that? She
only would have gotten like two quid
per body.

2. 2.
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LECTURER
To correct that, Mary Ann managed to
receive up to thirty-five pounds for
every death. Some more some less. And
as little of an amount that sounds to
us today, that is actually equivalent
to a payment of just over three and a
half grand in today's perspective-
Bell chimes interrupting the discussion. Students begin
packing up ready to leave.
LECTURER
Before youse go, make sure you are all
revising tonight preparing for your
exam tomorrow! Enjoy your night!
The lecturer heads to their seat shutting the PowerPoint down
as the student's head to leave the classroom.
EXT. HOMETIME. DAY.
ESTABLISHING SHOT.
Students are seen exiting the campus with the main three seen
to be walking out.
With a few minutes passed, three teenagers are walking
together as they head home. Side by side, two are arguing
over a disagreement as the third walks with their eyes glued
to their phone.
TEEN 1
But if you look at this photo here,
you can see the flag is moving. How is
that possible when there is no air in
space?!
TEEN 2
The moon landing was not staged!
TEEN 1
Evidence would suggest otherwise.
TEEN 2
Ugh! I wish you would shut up with
your stupid conspiracies.
TEEN 3
Hm. According to this, she was only
trialled for one of the deaths. Not

3. 3.
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admitting to being guilty, she then
claimed it was an accidental murder
the morning of her sentence.
TEEN 1
Who did?
TEEN 3
Mary Ann Cotton.
TEEN 1
You're not still on that are you?
TEEN 2
Leave her alone man.
TEEN 3
It's quite interesting actually...
Teen three shows their phone to teen one who takes the device
and starts to read.
TEEN 1
Hung at Durham Goal- hey look at this.
There's a ritual that lets you summon
her dead spirit.
TEEN 2
You don't actually believe that do
you.
TEEN 1
What? You scared you're going to get
hunted down by a ghost?
TEEN 2
Well, obviously not!
TEEN 1
That settles it then, at seven
tonight, we'll meet back up at
[location] and do the ritual.
TEEN 2
Ah come on!
TEEN 3
But we're supposed to be studying for
the history test tomorrow?

4. 4.
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TEEN 1
Don't worry about that, we'll ace it!
All we need apparently is a candle
each, match sticks, a shilling per
player as well a needle.
TEEN 3
Where are we going to get one
"shilling" let alone three?
TEEN 1
Relax, my dad has a huge coin
collection. I'll just borrow a few and
put them back when we're done.
TEEN 2
Urgh fine. I'll get the candles and
match sticks, are you okay bringing
the needle?
TEEN 3
Yeah-
TEEN 1
-Great! Well, here's my stop, see you
both tonight!
Teen one splits off from the group as the last two carry on
walking out of the frame.
EXT. THE RITUAL. NIGHT.
Teen one is sat one their own at the set location waiting for
their friends to show up. Torch lights are seen coming
closer.
TEEN 1
Took your time!
TEEN 2
Chill out! It's not like we have to do
this at a certain time do we?
TEEN 1
Whatever. Okay, so did youse bring the
items?
Setting up, the three sit in a circle with a candle placed in
front of each of them. As they are handed a shilling each,
teen one explains what they have to do.

5. 5.
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TEEN 1
Right, so, once we have lit our
candles, we must use the needle to
prick ourselves, smear a drop of blood
on a shilling each-
TEEN 3
You didn't tell us blood had to be
involved?!
TEEN 1
It's only a drop that's not a big
deal, right? Carrying on, we each wipe
our blood on a coin and hold that coin
in the flame. Synchronized, we must
chant the name 'Mary Ann Cotton' three
times then blow the candle out as fast
as we can. Wait ten or so seconds and
it should re-light itself.
TEEN 2
As if.
TEEN 1
Only one way to find out.
Teen two and three look at each other then back at one.
TEEN 2
...Fine.
Lighting each of their candles together, teen one pricks
their finger first and hands the needle to three.
TEEN 3
Shouldn't we sterilise these?
Teen one shrugs "I don't know", and teen three pricks their
finger as does teen two. Smearing the blood on a coin each
one by one, they all look at each other before holding the
coin in the flame synced.
Beginning the chant, continuing to synchronize they all say
'Mary Ann Cotton' three times. Once they are done, the
candles are blown out right away and the three sit in silence
for five to ten seconds.
TEEN 1
See, told you there was nothing to
worry about.

6. 6.
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TEEN 2
Yeah, well, this was just a waste of
time!
TEEN 1
Don't look at it like that man-
Candles re-light spooking the group. Teen one let's out a
laugh before they are stricken with pain, covering their ears
as a high-pitched scream comes out of nowhere.
TEEN 1
Aargh! What the hell was that?!
TEEN 2
You're not funny [name].
TEEN 1
How did you not hear that?!
TEEN 3
Guys shush!
The group goes quiet as they look around.
TEEN 2
What? Not you two!
TEEN 3
There's someone crying...
Spotting a figure, teen three points.
TEEN 2
What are you-?
TEEN 3
...Over there.
Teen two looks over in disbelief as teen one grows cautious.
Teen three stands up with their candle and heads over as the
first two tries telling them not to.
As teen three slowly walks over, the crying and whimpering
grows louder. The figure is hunched over, sat on a small
stool, facing away from the teen as it cries into its hands.
TEEN 3
Are you okay?

7. 7.
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With no response, the teen walks closer until she is behind
the figure. Turning its head, the figure grabs for the teen
as it continues to cry and starts to plead "I AM NOT GUILTY!"
Panicking, the teen pushes the strange woman off. Falling
over backwards, the figure disappears.
Back at the ritual spot, teen two remains seated as one is
stood trying to see their third friend.
TEEN 1
[NAME]!
TEEN 2
What an idiot! Ugh did you feel that?
Teen two shivers finding themself to grow cold.
TEEN 1
What now?!
TEEN 2
That cold wind. It wasn't this cold
just before.
TEEN 1
I swear, all you do is complain!
As teen one speaks, a hand creeps onto the shoulder of teen
two.
TEEN 2
[Name], that better be you.
Teen two looks back and jumps and nothing is there, the hand
disappears and so does the coldness.
Looking back at teen one, a figure is found stood behind them
as teen two looks in shock.
Looking back at their friend confused, their head is then
pulled back as they begin to scream.
SPIRIT
Oh, my poor baby, this will make you
better...
The spirit pours powder into the mouth of the teen causing
them to choke and collapse.
Teen two runs passed the body as they grab their friend who

8. 8.
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was stood in shock watching this happen. Grabbing their hand,
they run back and escape.
In frame, the two friends are seen running as the third is
dragged along the ground, out of frame.