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EXT. HOTEL SEDGEWICK -- NIGHT
The Ghostbusters come through the revolving doors and see a real mob scene
on the street. A large crowd has gathered around the Ectomobile and the
police have put up a barricade to hold them back. Photographers are taking
pictures of it and several reporters are there waiting for them. As the
Ghostbusters cross to the vehicle, people in the crowd cheer and the reporters
start firing questions at them.
REPORTER #1
Nate Cohen. I'm with the Post. What happened in there?
REPORTER #2
Did you really see a ghost?
REPORTER #3
Is this some kind of a stunt?
STANTZ (holding up the trap; loudly to
the crowd)
We got one!
REPORTER #1
Can we see it?
STANTZ
Uh...I'm afraid not.
VENKMAN
This is not a sideshow! We're serious scientists.
REPORTER #4
What proof do you have that what you saw was real?
STANTZ
Proof? Well, the manager of the Sedgewick just paid us five big ones to
get
something out of there. Is that real enough for you?
REPORTER #2
Are you saying that ghosts really exist?
VENKMAN (pitching)
Not only do they exist, they're all over the place! And that's why we're
offering this vitally important service to people in the whole tri-state
area.
We're available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We have the
tools and we have the talent. No job too small, no fee too big. We're ready
for anything.
SPENGLER
He's confused by all the commotion and the barrage of questions from the
press. A STREET PUNK in the crowd behind the police barricades keeps
hissing at him.
STREET PUNK
Mister! Hey, Mister! Come here! Mister. He finally gets Spengler's attention
and waves him over.
STREET PUNK (CONT'D)
Hey, Mister! Can I see those guns?
SPENGLER
They're not guns. They're particle throwers.
STREET PUNK
Yeah, yeah. I just want to see 'em.
SPENGLER
I couldn't do that. You might hurt someone.
He turns away.
STREET PUNK
Wait! Wait! Let me ask you something. If you like shot Superman with those
guns, would he feel it or what?
SPENGLER (with authority)
On Earth -- no. But on Krypton we could slice him up like Oscar Mayer
Bologna.
STREET PUNK
Wow!
VENKMAN AND STANTZ
They are in high spirits as they continue to field questions. A minicam
is
videotaping them.
MINICAM REPORTER
Sing the song from your commercial.
STANTZ (reluctant)
No, we have to get back and ...
MINICAM REPORTER (wheedling)
Come on. It's free advertising.
VENKMAN
There's a thought. Hit it, Ray.
Stantz shrugs and starts singing the Ghostbusters song with embarrassed
restraint.
STANTZ (singing)
Ghostbusters ... If you have a ghost But you don't want to play host ...
Venkman joins in with a harmony and they continue with more confidence.
STANTZ & VENKMAN (singing)
They can be bad houseguests And all-night pests ... You can't sleep at
all So
who do you call?
Spengler joins them for the big finish with no perceivable sense of melody
or
rhythm.
ALL TOGETHER (singing)
Ghostbusters ... Ghostbusters.
At the moment a flashbulb goes off freezing the Ghostbusters in a still-frame
that becomes a front-page news photo.
FRONT PAGE
The New York Post carries the picture with a big headline reading:
GHOSTBUSTERS?
The Ghostbusters' song really starts to cook with full production now as
a
MONTAGE begins.
TELETYPE MACHINES
A bank of whirring, clicking teleprinters spits reams of hard copy and
wire
service photos depicting the team at work.
ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Hello, America. This is Ronald Gwynne reporting from United Press
International in New York. Throughout my entire career as a journalist
I have
never reported anything as exciting and incredible as the trapping of an
actual
supernatural entity by a team of men based in this city who call themselves
Ghostbusters.
INT. FIREHALL
The team hears the alarm buzzer. They leap from their beds and slide down
the pole.
ANNOUNCER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Now, most of us have never even heard of a floating, slime-like substance
called ectoplasm, but these gentlemen claim we will be seeing a lot more
of it
than ever before.
EXT. YANKEE STADIUM -- DAY
The Ectomobile is parked at home plate. The Ghostbusters enter the Yankee
dugout as a concerned Groundskeeper looks on.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE -- NIGHT
The electronic Seiko sign flashes the news: Ghostbusters Nab Phantom Bat
Boy at Yankee Stadium.
FULL SCREEN VIDEO OF ROGER GRIMSBY
ROGER GRIMSBY
Good morning. Today the entire Eastern Seaboard is alive with talk of
hundreds of reported incidents involving multiple sightings in what can
only be
described as extreme events of paranormal extraphenomenical proportions.
It
seems everybody is willing to bring their old ghosts and skeletons out
of the
closet. Roy Brady reports from New York.
EXT. IN FRONT OF FIREHALL
Minicam set up in street.
ROY BRADY
Thank you, Roger. Everybody's heard ghost stories around the campfire.
Heck, my grandma used to spin yarns about a spectral locomotive that used
to
rocket past the farm where she grew up. Now, as if some unseen authority
had suddenly given permission, thousands of people here are talking about
encounters they claim to have had with ghosts.
Music and Teleclicker up.
EXT. TUDOR CITY -- DAY
The Ectomobile pulls up to a Gothic apartment building in the complex.
The
Ghostbusters jump out, end hurry into the lobby.
A POLICEMAN
He notices that the Ectomobile is illegally parked and walks over to gawk
at
the odd vehicle.
THE ECTOMOBILE
As the Policeman approaches, a set of double
antennae on the roof are automatically
activated. They rotate and tilt to point at the
Policeman. The Policeman is a little unnerved
by the antennae and starts to walk around the
car, but the antennae follow him with unerring
accuracy.
THE POLICEMAN
Eager to get away from the vehicle, he quickly
writes a parking ticket and sticks it under the
windshield wiper.
THE WINDSHIELD
As the Policeman withdraws his hand, the
ticket heats up, bursts into flame and burns up.
THE POLICEMAN
He stares at the ashes for a moment then slowly backs away from the car.
INT. ECTOMOBILE -- NIGHT
Stantz is driving. Spengler and Venkman are asleep. They all look completely
exhausted.
THE JOE FRANKLIN SHOW -- ON CAMERA
JOE FRANKLIN
Ray, every time I hear about your company, I can't help thinking about
the old
Bob Hope movie.
STANTZ
Actually, Joe, the title of that film was "Ghostbreakers," and Olsen and
Johnson did one called "Ghost Catchers" and the Bowery Boys did "Ghost
Chasers," "Hold That Ghost," "Spooks Run Wild," "Spook Busters," and
"Spook Chasers."
JOE FRANKLIN
Well, in any case, I guess there's one big question on everybody's mind
and
you're certainly in a position to answer it for us: Have you seen Elvis
and how
is he?
INT. RADIO STUDIO
LARRY KING is doing his phone-in talk show.
LARRY KING
Our phone-in topic today: Ghosts and Ghostbusting. The controversy builds
as more sightings are reported and some maintain that these professional
paranormal eliminators in New York are the cause of it all. Why did
everything start just when these guys went into business?
EXT. LINCOLN CENTER -- DAY
Larry King continues voice-over as members of the New York Philharmonic
come out the stage door of Avery Fisher Hall.
LARRY KING (V.O.)
Should they be allowed to carry around unlicensed proton mass drivers?
And
what's wrong with ghosts anyway? Call us ... All our lines are open. Hello,
Larry King.
Dana is walking with another man, a VIOLINIST, when she sees Venkman
sitting on the edge of the fountain in the center of the plaza. She asks
the
Violinist to wait and crosses to Venkman.
FEMALE CALLER (V.O.)
Hello, Larry? I think what Dr. Spengler said in his interview with you
last night
was true. The world is in for a "psychic shock" 'cause like my aunt reads
coffee grounds and she ... (fade out)
VENKMAN AND DANA
She is surprised and a little bit pleased to see him.
VENKMAN
Great rehearsal.
DANA
You heard it?
VENKMAN
You're the best one in your row.
DANA (skeptical)
Most people can't hear me with the whole orchestra playing. You're good.
VENKMAN
I don't have to take abuse from you. I have other people dying to give
it to
me.
DANA
I know. You're quite a celebrity these days. Are you here because you have
info ... about my case?
VENKMAN (looks at the Violinist who appears to be getting
impatient)
Who's the stiff?
DANA
The "stiff?" He happens to be one of the finest musicians in the world
and a
wonderful man.
VENKMAN
Is he dying or something?
They glance at the Violinist.
THE VIOLINIST
He takes a hit of nasal spray in each nostril.
DANA AND VENKMAN
She looks at him trying to decide whether she likes him or not.
DANA
He is a very close friend. Do you have some explanation of what happened
in
my apartment?
VENKMAN
Yes, but I have to tell you in private at a fine restaurant.
DANA
Can't you tell me now?
VENKMAN
I'll cancel the reservation, I found the name "Zuul" in ... (reading) The
Roylance Guide to Secret Societies and Sects. I don't suppose you've read
it.
DANA
You must have gotten the last copy.
VENKMAN
Well, the name Zuul refers to a demi-god worshipped around 6000 B.C. by
the ... What's that say?
DANA
Hittites, the Mesopotamians and the
Sumerians. "Zuul was the Minion of Gozer."
VENKMAN
"Gozer" -- he was very big in the Sumerian
religion. One of their gods.
DANA
What's he doing in my refrigerator.
VENKMAN
I'm checking on that. I think we should meet
Thursday night at nine to talk about it.
DANA
I don't think so. I'm busy Thursday night.
VENKMAN (persists)
You think I enjoy giving up my evenings to spend time with clients? I'm
making
an exception because I respect you as an artist and as a dresser.
DANA (laughs)
All right. Since you put it that way.
VENKMAN
I'll pick you up at your place. I'll bring along the Roylance Guide --
we can
read after we eat.
DANA
I've got to go now.
She walks toward the Violinist. Venkman shouts after her.
VENKMAN
Remember. I'm the only one standing between you and a heavy Hittite.
She starts walking away.
VENKMAN (CONT'D) (calls after her)
I'll pick you up at your place.
DANA
She waves goodbye and rejoins the Violinist,
VIOLINIST AND DANA
VIOLINIST (jealous)
Who was that?
DANA
Oh, he's an old professor of mine.
VIOLINIST (doubtful)
Really?
DANA
Yes. He's smarter than he looks.
They walk off.
INT. RECEPTION AREA -- DAY
Janine is handling a steady barrage of phone calls, switching from one
line to
the other. WINSTON ZEDDEMORE, a large, impressive-looking black man
sits across from her filling out a job application.
JANINE (answering a call)
GHOSTBUSTERS -- please hold. (switches) Good afternoon,
GHOSTBUSTERS -- please hold. (switches back) Yes, can I help you?
(pause) Yes ... yes, Is it just a mist or does it have arms and legs ...?
Uh-huh
... Well, the soonest we could possibly get to you would be a week from
Friday ... I'm sorry, but we're completely booked until then ... Uh-huh
... Well,
all I can suggest is that you stay out of your house until we can get to
you.
Thank you.
She hangs up.
WINSTON
Let me ask you something. The ad in the paper just said "Help Wanted."
What's the job?
JANINE
I really don't know, Mr. Zeddemore. They just told me to take applications
and ask you these questions. (she reads from a questionnaire as if for
the
hundredth time) Do you believe in U.F.O.'s, astral projection, mental
telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, full-trance mediums,
telekinetic movement, black and/or white magic, pyramidology, the theory
of
Atlantis, the Loch Ness Monster, or in general in spooks, spectres, wraiths,
geists and ghosts?
WINSTON
Not really. However, if there's a semi-regular paycheck in it I'll believe
anything you say.
EXT. FIREHALL -- SAME TIME
A gaggle of autograph hounds is waiting on the street as Ecto One pulls
in.
The front of the building now bears a big neon sign with the Ghostbusters
logo
on it.
INT. GARAGE BAY -- DAY
Venkman and Stantz disembark. They carry a couple of traps apiece. Their
jumpsuits are covered with smoldering ecto-slime. The Ectomobile looks
like
it's been through a war.
STANTZ (exhausted)
Boy, that was a rough one.
VENKMAN
I can't take much more of this. The pace is killing me.
RECEPTION AREA - DAY
Venkman enters with Stantz, crosses to Janine and drops a paid invoice
on
her desk.
VENKMAN
Here's the paper on the Brooklyn job. She paid with a Visa card.
JANINE (hands a sheaf of work orders to Stantz)
Here are tonight's calls.
STANTZ (shuffles through them)
Oh, no. Two more free-roaming repeaters.
JANINE
And this is Winston Zeddemore. He came about the job.
STANTZ
Hi. Ray Stantz. Pete Venkman.
They shake hands.
JANINE (to Venkman)
And someone from the EPA is here to see you.
VENKMAN
The EPA? What's he want?
JANINE
I didn't ask him. All I know is that I haven't had a break in two weeks
and you
promised you'd hire more help.
VENKMAN (surly)
Janine, I'm sure a woman with your qualifications would have no trouble
finding a top flight job in the housekeeping or food service industry.
JANINE
Oh, really? Well, I've quit better jobs than this one, believe me.
He exits.
STANTZ
He scans Winston's resume, ignoring the flare-up between Janine and
Venkman. They start downstairs to the storage facility.
STANTZ
Very impressive resume. Electronic countermeasures, Strategic Air Command
... Black belt in Karate ... Small arms expert ... Mr. Zeddemore, as you
may
have heard, we locate ghosts and spirits, trap them with streams of
concentrated quantum energy and remove them from people's homes, offices
and places of worship.
WINSTON
Yeah, I heard that. Now tell me what you really do.
INT. THE OFFICE -- SAME TIME
The walls are plastered with newspaper and magazine stories on
Ghostbusters. WALTER PECK, junior E.P.A. administrator, is reading one
of
the articles when Venkman walks in.
VENKMAN
Can I help you?
PECK (turns all business)
I'm Walter Peck. I represent the Environmental Protection Agency, Third
District.
VENKMAN (not impressed)
Great! How's it going?
PECK
Are you Peter Venkman?
VENKMAN
Yes, I'm Doctor Venkman.
Peck looks at Venkman's soiled jumpsuit.
PECK
Exactly what are you a doctor of, Mr. Venkman?
VENKMAN
I have Ph.D's in psychology and parapsychology.
PECK
I see. And now you catch ghosts?
VENKMAN
You could say that.
PECK
And how many ghosts have you caught, Mr. Venkman?
VENKMAN
I'm not at liberty to say.
PECK
And where do you put these ghosts once you catch them?
VENKMAN
In a storage facility.
PECK
And would this storage facility be located on these premises?
VENKMAN
Yes, it would.
PECK
And may I see this storage facility?
VENKMAN
No, you may not.
PECK
And why not, Mr. Venkman?
VENKMAN
Because you didn't say the magic word.
PECK (sighs)
And what is the magic word, Mr. Venkman?
VENKMAN
The magic word is "please."
Peck laughs nervously.
PECK
May I please see the storage facility?
VENKMAN
Why do you want to see it?
PECK
Well, because I'm curious. I want to know more about what you do here.
Frankly, there have been a lot of wild stories in the media and we want
to
assess any possible environmental impact from your operation. For instance,
the storage of noxious, possibly hazardous waste materials in your basement.
Now either you show me what's down there or I come back with a court
order.
VENKMAN (he's had it)
Go ahead! Get a court order. Then I'm gonna sue your ass off for wrongful
prosecution.
PECK (exiting)
Have it your way, Mr. Venkman.
VENKMAN (shouts after him)
Hey! Make yourself useful! Go save a tree!
INT. FIREHALL BASEMENT -- SAME TIME
Spengler is at the work bench repairing a damaged proton pack. The place
is
a mess with equipment, work orders, parts, catalogs and old lunches piled
everywhere. Half the room has been sealed off from floor to ceiling with
concrete blocks to form a storage facility for captured spirits. Winston
is
standing at a viewing slit staring into the storage facility.
STANTZ
He inserts a trap into a metal-lined slot in the wall of the storage facility.
Spengler crosses to a control console to assist him.
STANTZ (pushing buttons)
Set entry grid.
SPENGLER
Neutronize. System shut.
He pushes more buttons and the slot lights up. Several grating electronic
snaps
are heard, like the sound of bugs being fried on an outdoor insect light.
Then
Stantz withdraws the trap and tosses it into a bin marked: FOR RECHARGE.
SPENGLER (CONT'D)
I've got to sleep.
STANTZ
I need two new purge valves. How's the grid around the storage facility
holding up?
SPENGLER
I'm worried, Ray. It's getting crowded in there. And all my recent data
points
to something big on the bottom.
WINSTON (concerned)
What do you mean "big?"
Spengler picks up a Hostess Twinkie from the workbench.
SPENGLER
Well, let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic
energy in the New York area. According to this morning's PKE sample, the
current level in the city would be a Twinkie 35 feet long weighing
approximately six hundred pounds.
WINSTON
That's a big Twinkie.
STANTZ
We could be on the verge of a fourfold crossover ... or worse. If what
we're
seeing indicates a massive PKE surge, we could experience an actual rip.
Spengler nods gravely. Venkman enters looking very concerned.
VENKMAN
Egon, how's the grid around the storage facility holding up?
STANTZ
It's not good, Pete.
WINSTON
Tell him about the Twinkie.
Venkman lets that remark go and crosses to a TV monitor linked to a camera
inside the storage facility.
VENKMAN (peering)
I can't look anymore. It's too depressing.
THE MONITOR.
We zoom in on the monitor and get our first real look inside the storage
facility. It is a bleak repository for souls of many species. Strange lights,
mists
and spectral shapes waft about aimlessly. Human-like figures lean against
the
walls in despairing convict poses. Others flit and hang on the ceiling.
It is a sad
and frightening limbo and a most unholy makeshift asylum.
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