THE WINSTON'S MANSION
(Scene opens in a humble kitchen. Gwen, Jackson, and Annabelle-triplet siblings aged 17-sit around the small dining table as their parents prepare for work.)
Gwen, a 17-year-old girl, lived with her parents-Mr. and Mrs. Anderson-and her siblings, Jackson and Annabelle. They were all born the same year. Triplets. Though their family wasn't wealthy, both parents had jobs. Mr. Anderson was a chef, and Mrs. Anderson worked for the richest couple in town-Mr. and Mrs. Winston.
What no one knew was that the Winston's weren't just rich... they were dangerous.
They had three children: Aurora, Asher, and Marcus. But only two lived with them. The reason? A deadly secret.
Not only were the Winston's involved in illegal businesses across the city-hidden behind layers of respectability-they were demons. Real demons. And anyone who tried to expose them ended up dead.
The reason their children didn't live together? To avoid drawing attention from the Hunters.
But everything began to change... the day Marcus and Asher turned eighteen.
That morning, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson left for work. Wanting to help their parents, the children decided to assist in their jobs. Jackson headed to their father's restaurant. Gwen and Annabelle, on the other hand, had a different idea.
(Cut to: Outside the massive Winston Mansion. A party is underway. Gwen and Anna sneak through the side path.)
Gwen
(whispering)
This doesn't feel right.
Annabelle
(excited)
Oh my gosh, this is amazing.
Gwen
(slightly firm)
Yeah... but remember, we didn't come here to look around. We came to help Mom.
Annabelle
(grinning)
Yeah, but there's no harm in looking around, right?
(As they walk, two stylish girls approach them-clearly part of the wealthy party crowd.)
Emily
(excitedly)
Oh my gosh, are you guys like twins?
Gwen
(nods)
Yeah, we are.
Julie
That's awesome!
Annabelle
(smiling)
Thank you! I'm Anna. This is my sister, Gwen.
Emily
(flipping her hair)
Well, what can I say? You must be lucky to meet us today.
Gwen
(confused)
Wait... I don't get you.
Annabelle
(casually)
Oh! Okay... your names?
Emily
I'm Emily Johnson. And this is my friend Julie Hallie.
Gwen
(polite but uneasy)
Nice to meet you two. But we have to go.
Julie
(surprised)
Why are you in a rush? Aren't you here for the party?
Annabelle
(grinning nervously)
Actually, we are.
Gwen
(raises brow)
We are?
Emily
(excited)
Okay! I can't wait to introduce you to everyone.
Annabelle
(grabbing Gwen's arm, whispering)
You two go ahead. We'll catch up with you later.
Julie
Okay! (They walk off.)
(Silence. Gwen stares at her sister, clearly irritated.)
Gwen
(annoyed)
What the hell, Anna?! Why did you lie?
Annabelle
(defensive)
I'm sorry, Gwen. I freaked out.
Gwen
(folding her arms)
You freaked out? Really?
Annabelle
(sighs)
Okay, maybe I didn't. But what was I supposed to say?
Gwen
(stern)
You could've said no. That we're not here for the party-that we came to help Mom.
Annabelle
(irritated)
Ugh, shut up, Gwen. It's embarrassing.
Gwen
(confused)
What's embarrassing? Helping Mom?
Annabelle
(quietly, voice cracking)
No... it's the fact that we're poor.
(she looks away)
Gwen, I hate my life so much sometimes I wish I was never born.
Gwen
(softly)
Anna, it's not their fault...
Annabelle
(snaps)
Please don't lecture me. I'm not in the mood. I'm going to the party-whether you like it or not.
Gwen
(straight-faced)
That's your problem, not mine.
Annabelle
(sighing)
Are you coming?
Gwen
(shaking her head)
Nah. Live your life. Let me live mine.
(Gwen turns and walks away, leaving Annabelle standing alone in the glitter of the mansion lights.)
(Scene picks up right after Gwen and Annabelle argue. Annabelle walks toward the party. Gwen, annoyed and alone, decides to find their mother.)
(INT. WINSTON'SMANSION - HALLWAY - DAY)
Frustrated with her sister, Gwen turned to find her mom. But as she spun around a corner, she bumped hard into someone. The person stumbled and fell to the floor in surprise.
AURORA
(snapping)
Are you blind or something?
Gwen
(gasping)
I-I'm sorry! It was a mistake.
AURORA
(scoffing)
Ugh, don't touch me with those filthy hands. Off me!
Gwen
(defensive)
You must be crazy.
AURORA
(outraged)
Did you just call me crazy?
Gwen
(coolly)
Did you see anyone else around?
(Aurora narrows her eyes, rising to her feet. Her voice drops, deadly calm.)
AURORA
Do you even know what I am?
Gwen
(sarcastic, without thinking)
Does it look like I can-
(pause... then realization hits)
Wait... what are you?
AURORA
(blinking, correcting herself quickly)
I meant to say-do you know who I am?
Gwen
(smirking slightly)
Hmm... really?
AURORA
(straightening proudly)
I'm Aurora Winston. This is my house. And who are you?
(Gwen's eyes widen as the name clicks. Aurora... Winston. One of those Winston's. The ones who paid her mom. The ones who could fire her at a snap.)
In that moment, Gwen regretted every word she'd said. Even if she wasn't the one at fault, she knew better than to mess with the daughter of the people her mom worked for.
Gwen
(swallowing pride)
Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't know. It won't happen again.
(Before Aurora could respond, Gwen turned and walked off with her head high, leaving Aurora standing in silence, fuming.)
She didn't wait for permission. Didn't grovel. Just walked away like a queen. And Aurora? She was left looking like a complete idiot.
(Cut to: INT. WINSTON'S MANSION - BACK SERVICE AREA - CONTINUOUS)
Gwen
(relieved)
Thank goodness I found you, Mom.
MRS ANDERSON
(startled, turning around)
Gwen? What are you doing here?
Gwen
(grinning)
Surprise!
MRS ANDERSON
(disapprovingly)
Guinevere...
Gwen
(disgusted)
Gross, Mom! Don't call me by my full name-it's so annoying.
MRS ANDERSON
(surprised, soft smile)
What are you doing here, Gwen?
Gwen
(grinning)
We came to help you, Mom.
MRS ANDERSON
(raising a brow)
We?
Gwen
(fake innocent)
Whaaaaaaaat? Did I say we? That must've been a mistake.
(grins wider)
Because what I meant to say was: I, Guinevere, came to help my mom today. Did I do something wrong?
MRS ANDERSON
(smiling warmly)
No... you didn't do anything wrong. I just want you all to be happy, Gwen.
Gwen
(pauses)
Mom... what makes you think we're not happy?
MRS ANDERSON
(sighs)
Because... I overheard the conversation between you and Anna earlier.
Gwen
(defensive)
Mom, you know she didn't mean that.
MRS ANDERSON
(gently)
Yes, but... she's right in a way. You kids don't have to let people know we're poor. It could be embarrassing for you all.
Gwen
(firmly, eyes shining)
I don't care. You're my mom. And we're in this together, okay?
MRS ANDERSON
(touched, voice cracking slightly)
I'm so proud of you... of all of you.
Gwen
(playfully dramatic)
Oh no. I feel like crying now...
MRS ANDERSON
(worried)
Really? Why?
Gwen
(grinning)
I'm just kidding!
MRS ANDERSON
(pretending to be shocked)
So you wanna prank me now?
Gwen
(laughing)
Got ya!
(Mrs. Anderson chases Gwen playfully. Gwen runs around a kitchen table, giggling-until she accidentally bumps into something hard and stumbles. She's about to fall when someone grabs her arm, steadying her.)
(She looks up. It's Marcus Winston.)
The moment Gwen looked into his face, something inside her tensed. His touch was cold. His eyes... unreadable. There was something off about him.
Gwen
(stepping back quickly)
I-I'm sorry.
Marcus
(sneering)
Watch yourself.
MRS ANDERSON
(alarmed, bowing slightly)
Sir, are you okay? It was my fault. I'm so sorry.
Marcus
(coldly)
Don't you know this isn't a playground?
(scoffs at Gwen)
Where you can run around playing games with the maid?
MRS ANDERSON
(ashamed)
I'm sorry... it won't happen again.
Marcus
(harsh)
Better not.
(Gwen clenches her fists. Her face flushes with rage. How could he speak to her mother like that?)
She felt the heat rising in her chest, her jaw tightening. She wanted to throw a punch right at his smug face-but her mother noticed. A soft shake of the head. A warning glance.
MRS ANDERSON
(clears her throat)
Master Marcus, do you need anything?
Marcus
(slowly)
Yeah. I need drinks. For me and my friends.
MRS.ANDERSON
(nodding quickly)
Okay. I'll get it right away.
Marcus
(gesturing toward Gwen)
And what are you still doing here, girl? Go and help her.
(Mrs. Anderson looks at Gwen silently, eyes pleading. Don't argue. Not here.)
Gwen didn't want to get her mom in trouble, so she swallowed her pride. She said nothing. Just nodded, grabbed a tray of glasses, and disappeared quietly into the kitchen.
NARRATOR
As Marcus walked away, something lingered in his mind-something strange. That moment when Gwen had fallen into his hands... something about her felt different.
(INT. WINSTON'SMANSION - MAIN HALLWAY)
Meanwhile, Annabelle was wandering through the mansion, letting her eyes roam. That's when she saw it-an old painting tucked behind a column. Something about it felt... off.
(She reached out slowly, fingers inches from the frame... when suddenly-)
IVY
(sharply)
Anna! Don't touch that.
Anna
(startled)
God! You scared me.
IVY
(relieved, laughing softly)
Sorry! What are you even doing here?
Anna
(grinning)
I came for the party. What about you?
IVY
I came for the party too.
(pause)
Is Jackson here?
Anna
Nope.
IVY
What about Gwen?
Anna
Yeah... she's helping Mom in the kitchen.
IVY
(surprised)
Really? And what are you doing?
Anna
(sighing, shrugging)
You know... just living my life. Like she told me to.
IVY
(concerned)
Why do you sound like that?
ANNA
Like what?
IVY
Angry.
(pause)
Wait... did you and Gwen fight again?
ANNA
(sighs, soft)
Maybe.
IVY
Annabelle...
ANNA
(snapping a little)
Look, I don't wanna talk about it, okay?
(Suddenly, music dims and the mic squeals. Marcus takes the stage near the front of the hall.)
MARCUS
(over mic)
Attention, everyone. I just wanna thank you all for coming to celebrate me and my brother's birthday.
Please enjoy yourselves. The real party begins once my brother arrives.
Thanks.
(Applause echoes through the room.)
ANNA
(whispering to Ivy)
Ivy... who's that?
IVY
That's Marcus Winston. He and his twin brother are the first children of Mr. and Mrs. Winston.
ANNA
First children? As in... twins?
IVY
Yep.
ANNA
(smirking)
I'd love to see what his brother looks like.
IVY
(giggling)
Hmm. He's handsome.
ANNA
(smiling)
Yeah... you're right.
(As they talk, Marcus glances in their direction. The girls notice and quickly look away.)
IVY
What was that?
ANNA
Did he just... look at us?
IVY
Maybe.
ANNA
Come on. Let's go say hi.
IVY
(alarmed)
No! That's not a good idea. You might end up getting insulted.
ANNA
(shrugs)
Yeah... I don't want that. Let's go.
(They walk away and sit. Moments later, Julie and Emily arrive.)
JULIE
(sweet smile)
Anna, right?
ANNA
(nods)
Yes, that's me.
EMILY
(looking around)
What about your sister?
IVY
(speaking calmly)
She went on an errand.
EMILY
(rudely)
Did I talk to you?
IVY
(quickly)
I'm sorry...
ANNA
(firm)
Don't talk to Ivy like that. She's my friend.
EMILY
(mocking)
What?
JULIE
(trying to smooth it over)
Forget Emily.
EMILY
(rolling her eyes)
Whatever.
JULIE
Anyway, let me introduce you to the princess of this party.
ANNA
Okay?
EMILY
(grinning)
Princess Aurora.
(Aurora steps into the space. Elegant, icy, and cold. She walks like she owns every inch of the room.)
AURORA
(fake modest)
Oh stop... don't call me princess.
(joking)
Just kidding.
(The moment Aurora approaches, Anna feels... strange. A weird chill. She can't place it, but something about Aurora isn't right.)
ANNA
(quietly)
Hi... I'm Anna.
(Aurora pauses, caught off guard. She stares at Anna-hard. She looks like Gwen. Different clothes, different hair... but the face?)
AURORA
(surprised)
You look exactly like her.
ANNA
(confused)
What? Who do I look like?
AURORA
(quickly masking it)
No-uh, I was mistaken.
I'm Aurora.
ANNA
(smiles)
Nice to meet you, Aurora.
AURORA
(coldly)
Whatever. Just... drop the topic.
ANNA
(awkward)
We'll be right back.
(Anna takes Ivy's hand and pulls her away.)
JULIE
(to Aurora)
Was she the one who insulted you?
AURORA
(thinking)
Nah... I'm thinking it was her sister.
EMILY
(disgusted)
I can't believe I just talked to a maid's daughter. So gross.
AURORA
(hard stare)
How did you even find out she's the maid's daughter?
JULIE
We overheard the fight between her and her sister.
EMILY
Then I saw Gwen going into the maid's kitchen.
AURORA
(cold, smiling slowly)
Then it's time... to teach Gwen a lesson.
