EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY -- DAY.
Venkman, Stantz and Spengler head for their lab in Weaver Hall. Spengler
makes rapid calculations as Venkman and Stantz argue.
VENKMAN
(steamed)
"Get her?" That was your whole plan? You
call that science?
STANTZ
(exultant)
I guess I got a little overexcited. Wasn't
it incredible! I'm telling you, this is a
first. You know what this could mean to the
University?
VENKMAN
(sarcastic)
Oh, yeah. This could be bigger than the
microchip. They'll probably throw out the
entire engineering department and turn their
building over to us. We're probably the
first serious scientists to ever molest a
dead old lady.
SPENGLER
(consulting his
mini-computer)
I wouldn't say the experience was completely
wasted. Based on these new readings, I
think we have an excellent chance of
actually catching a ghost and holding it
indefinitely.
Venkman stops dead in his tracks, stunned by the news. Stantz and
Spengler continue walking.
STANTZ
(to Spengler; excited)
Then we were right! This is great. And if
the ionization rate is constant for all
ectoplasmic entities, I think we could
really kick ass -- in the spiritual sense.
Venkman catches up with them again.
VENKMAN
Spengler, are you serious about actually
catching a ghost?
SPENGLER
I'm always serious.
VENKMAN
(his mind reeling at the
possibilities)
Wow!
EXT. WEAVER HALL -- A LITTLE LATER
They approach the entrance to the psychology department talking excitedly.
Venkman stops at the door and turns to Spengler.
VENKMAN
Egon, I take back everything I ever said
about you. Take this.
(he hands him a candy bar)
You earned it.
They enter the building with Spengler greedily devouring the candy bar.
INT. WEAVER HALL -- DAY
They walk through the hall, then down the stairs to the basement.
VENKMAN
(his mind racing)
If you guys are right, if we can actually
trap a ghost and hold it somehow, I think I
could win the Nobel Prize.
STANTZ
(protests)
If anyone deserves it, it's Spengler and me.
We're doing all the hard research and
designing the equipment.
VENKMAN
Yeah, but I introduced you guys. You never
would've met if not for me. That's got to
be worth something.
INT. THE BASEMENT -- DAY
A Workman in painter pants is at the door as Venkman, Stantz and Spengler
approach and enter the lab. As soon as the door closes behind them, the
Workman starts scraping their names off the door with a razor blade.
INT. THE LAB -- DAY
As they enter, janitorial and maintenance personnel are busy dismantling
their apparatus and equipment. DEAN YAEGER is supervising. Venkman
confronts him.
VENKMAN
(shocked)
I trust you're moving us to a better space
somewhere on campus.
DEAN YAEGER
No, we're moving you OFF CAMPUS. The Board
of Regents has decided to terminate your
grant. You are to vacate these premises
immediately.
VENKMAN
This is preposterous! I demand an
explanation.
DEAN YAEGER
Fine. This University will no longer
continue any funding of any kind for your
group's activities.
VENKMAN
But why? The students love us!
DEAN YAEGER
Dr. Venkman, we believe that the purpose of
science is to serve mankind. You, however,
seem to regard science as some kind of
"dodge" or "hustle." Your theories are the
worst kind of popular tripe, your methods
are sloppy and your conclusions are highly
questionable. You're a poor scientist, Dr.
Venkman, and you have no place in this
department or in this University.
VENKMAN
I see.
STANTZ
(to Venkman)
You said you floored 'em at the Regents'
meeting.
VENKMAN
(righteous)
Ray, I apologize.
(looking at Dean Yaeger)
I guess my confidence in the Regents was
misplaced. They did this to Galileo, too.
DEAN YAEGER
It could be worse, Dr. Venkman. They took
the astronomer Phileas and staked his head
to the town gate.
EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY -- DAY -- A LITTLE LATER
Stantz and Venkman are sitting on a bench both looking desolate.
STANTZ
(shaking his head)
This is like a major disgrace. Forget
M.I.T. or Stanford now ... they wouldn't
touch us with a three-meter cattle prod.
VENKMAN
You're always so worried about your
reputation. We don't need the University.
Einstein did his best stuff while he was
working as a patent clerk.'They can't stop
progress.
STANTZ
(not cheered)
Do you know what a patent clerk makes? I
liked the University. They gave us money,
they gave us the facilities and we didn't
have to produce anything! I've worked in
the private sector. They expect results.
You've never been out of college. You don't
know what it's like out there.
VENKMAN
(with visionary zeal)
Let me tell you, Ray, everything in life
happens for a reason. Call it fate, call
it luck, Karma, whatever. I think we were
destined to get kicked out of there.
STANTZ
For what purpose?
VENKMAN
(with real conviction)
To go into business for ourselves.
Stantz is immediately intrigued by the idea but voices his reservations.
STANTZ
I don't know. That costs money. And the
ecto-containment system we have in mind will
require a load of bread to capitalize.
Where would we get the money?
EXT. WIDE ANGLE VIEW OF MANHATTAN -- DAY
EXT. AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS -- DAY
Venkman, Stantz and Spengler emerge from the Irving Trust headquarters,
all neatly dressed in suits.
VENKMAN
You'll never regret this, Ray.
STANTZ
(perturbed)
My parents left me that house, I was born
there.
VENKMAN
You're not going to lose the house.
Everybody has three mortgages these days.
STANTZ
But at nineteen percent interest! You didn't
even bargain with the guy.
SPENGLER
(calculating)
Just for your information, Ray, the interest
payments alone for the first five years come
to over $75,000.
VENKMAN
Will you guys relax? We are on the
threshold of establishing the indispensable
defense science of the next decade -
Professional Paranormal Investigations and
Eliminations. The franchise rights alone
will make us wealthy beyond your wildest
dreams.
STANTZ
But most people are afraid to even report
these things.
VENKMAN
Maybe. But no one ever advertised before.
Stantz and Spengler exchange doubtful looks.
EXT. FIREHALL -- DAY
An abandoned brick, four-story fire station built by the city around the
turn of the century. It bears a coat of faded red paint and legend above
the garage door in chipped gilt letters: Engine Company #93. The garage
doors open revealing Venkman standing in the white-tiled garage bay with a
middle aged REAL ESTATE WOMAN wearing a blazer.
INT. GARAGE BAY -- DAY
Venkman is looking around.
R/E WOMAN
Besides this, you've got another substantial
work area on the ground floor, office space,
sleeping quarters and showers on the next
floor, and you have your full kitchen on the
top level. It's 10,000 square feet total.
SPENGLER
He comes out of the office area with a pocket calculator.
SPENGLER
It's 9,642.55 square feet.
The Realtor frowns at Spengler.
R/E WOMAN
What is he -- your accountant?
STANTZ
He is looking at the shiny brass fire pole.
STANTZ
(shouts, loving it)
Wow! Does this pole still work?
VENKMAN
(considering but not
wanting to appear too
eager)
This might do ... I don't know ... it just
seems kind of "pricey" for a fixer-upper,
don't you think? We're trying to keep our
costs down. You know how it is when you're
starting a new company.
R/E WOMAN
Yes, I know. What are you calling your
business?
STANTZ
Ghostbusters.
R/E WOMAN
Oh, well, this place is perfect for it.
EXT. UPPER WEST SIDE -- DAY
A high panoramic view of the city shows heavy traffic moving up and down
Central Park West on a beautiful sunny day.
EXT. 78th AND CENTRAL PARK WEST -- DAY
An unusual pre-war Gothic high-rise towers over the neighborhood
buildings. The top of the building includes an elaborate decorative
temple, complete with altar, stairs and Babylonian columns. The late
afternoon sun gives the structure an oddly menacing quality. The camera
PANS slowly down to the street as DANA BARRETT, an attractive woman in her
late twenties, comes walking up to the building carrying a cello case and
a shopping bag full of groceries. Guys on the street check her out as she
enters, but she coolly ignores them.
INT. HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING -- LOBBY -- DAY
Dana crosses the lobby and gets into the elevator.
INT. THIRTY FIFTH FLOOR -- DAY
Dana gets off the elevator and goes to the door of her apartment. As she
unlocks it, the door to the next apartment opens and Dana's neighbor,
LOUIS TULLY, peeks his head out the door. Louis is a shy nerd, hopelessly
in love with Dana.
LOUIS
Oh, Dana, it's you ...
DANA
(she's seen this before)
Hi, Louis.
LOUIS
... I thought it was the drug store.
DANA
Are you sick, Louis?
Louis has broken the ice. He confidently exits his apartment and
approaches Dana. His door slams behind him as he leaves.
LOUIS
Oh, no, I feel great. I just ordered some
more vitamins. I see you were exercising.
So was I. I taped "20 Minute Workout" and
played it back at high speed so it only took
ten minutes and I got a really good workout.
You wanna have a mineral water with me?
DANA
No thanks, Louis. I'm really tired. I've
been rehearsing all morning.
LOUIS
Okay. I'll take a raincheck. I always have
plenty of mineral water and other nutritious
health foods, but you know that. Listen,
that reminds me, I'm having a party for all
my clients. It's gonna be my fourth
anniversary as an accountant. I know you
fill out your own tax return, but I'd like
you to come being that you're my next door
neighbor and all ...
DANA
Oh, that's nice, Louis. I'll stop by if
I'm around.
LOUIS
You know you shouldn't leave your TV on so
loud when you go out. That creep down the
hall phoned the manager.
DANA
I thought I turned it off.
(she listens and hears
loud sound coming from
inside)
I guess I forgot.
Dana begins unlocking her door.
LOUIS
I climbed on the window ledge to see if I
could disconnect the cable but I couldn't
reach so I turned up the sound on my TV real
loud so they'd think there was something
wrong with everybody's TV. You know, you
and I should really have keys to each
other's apartment ...
Her door closes leaving Louis stranded. He walks back to his apartment
muttering to himself.
LOUIS (CONT'D)
... in case of emergencies ...
(he discovers he has
locked himself out of his
apartment)
... like this one.
DANA' S APARTMENT -- DAY
A roomy, two-bedroom flat with a great view of the park.
She leaves the cello in the entrance hall, grabs the bag of groceries and
goes through the living room toward the kitchen.
Remembering Louis, she stops at the TV set to turn it off, but a strange
image on the screen catches her attention.
TV SCREEN
INT. CHILDREN'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT
Two children, a BOY and a GIRL, are asleep in bed when suddenly they are
awakened by supernatural moaning and groaning.
THE CHILDREN
They scream and jump out of bed.
THE DOOR
Their MOTHER and FATHER, rush in to find the children cowering against the
wall.
FATHER
What is it? What's wrong?
THE KIDS
Look!
They point at the closet.
MOTHER
(to Father)
Oh, dear. It's that darn ghost again.
Can't you do something about it.
FATHER
(helpless)
I've tried everything, honey! I guess we'll
just have to move.
The mother and the kids look at him with disappointment.
MOTHER
Gee, there must be a better way.
Stantz steps into the foreground.
STANTZ
Are you troubled by strange noises in the
night? Do you experience feelings of dread
in your basement or attic? Have you or your
family actually seen a spook, specter or
ghost? If the answer is yes, then don't
wait another minute. Just pick up the phone
and call the professionals -- Ghostbusters.
EXT. FIREHALL
Venkman, Stantz and Spengler are standing in front of the Ghostbusters'
sign. Spengler steps forward.
SPENGLER
(to camera)
Our courteous and efficient staff is on call
24 hours a day to serve all your supernatural
elimination needs.
INT. RECEPTION AREA
Janine is seen answering the telephone with a big fake smile on her face.
JANINE
(cheery)
Ghostbusters. We'll be right there.
INT. CHILDREN'S BEDROOM
Spengler is taking PKE readings along the baseboards. Stantz pops up from
under the bed.
STANTZ
(smiling proudly)
Got him! I don't think you'll have any more
trouble with that ghost.
FATHER, MOTHER AND VENKMAN
They all look as pleased as punch as Venkman hands the Father a bill.
FATHER
(looks at the total)
And it's economical, too!
MOTHER
How can we ever thank you?
VENKMAN
(big, cheesy smile)
All in a day's work, ma'am. After all ...
(to camera)
... We're Ghostbusters.
(he winks)
EXT. FRONT DOOR
Mother, Father and Kids wave goodbye to the Ghostbusters.
THE FAMILY
(sings)
If you have a ghost,
But you don't want to play host,
You can't sleep at all,
So who do you call ...
Ghostbusters - Ghostbusters.
VENKMAN, STANTZ AND SPENGLER
They smile at the camera as a phone number is supered on the screen.
GHOSTBUSTERS
(in unison)
We're ready to believe you,
Dana turns off the TV set and goes into the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN
Dana switches on the radio and starts unpacking groceries. She sets a
loaf of bread and a carton of eggs on the counter and begins putting other
items away in the pantry.
THE EGGS
The top of the carton pops open. Then, one by one, the eggs erupt and
spill over onto the counter. As the liquid contents hit the countertop
they sizzle. The eggs begin to fry on the formica surface.
DANA
She hears the sizzle, turns and sees the eggs frying. She gasps, then
recovers and inspects the mess. She touches the counter gingerly, but
it's not at all hot. Deeply perplexed, she stands there trying to think of
an explanation. Then a strange new sound attracts her attention and she
turns around to see where it's coming from.
Dana hears the sound of muffled chanting coming from the fridge. She
pulls the door open and gets the shock of her life. The inside of the
fridge has been transformed into the Gateway to another Realm -- a fiery
path leading to a temple door. On each side of the door is a strange,
snarling creature that could best be described as a TERROR DOG. Their
front claws are raised toward each other in a symbolic pose. The
incredible vision is accompanied by the unearthly chanting.
DANA
She stands there transfixed by horror, the flames reflecting in her eyes.
THE FRIDGE
The chanting gets more frenetic and ominous as the temple doors slowly
begin to open.
DANA
She is paralyzed.
THE TEMPLE DOORS
They continue to open. We feel a terrible presence within.
THE PRESENCE
(whispers loudly and
hoarsely)
ZUUL!!!
DANA
She screams and slams the refrigerator door. Instantly, everything is
normal again. She looks around the room.
THE EGGS
They are back in the carton, unbroken.
DANA
Fighting her fear, she turns back to the fridge and very slowly reaches
for the handle. Then summoning all her courage, she yanks open the door.
Ketchup, mustard, bottles of vitamins and other food items fall out of the
rack on the inside of the refrigerator door. Dana sighs with relief as
she sees nothing but the cool white porcelain interior of the fridge. She
closes the door and stands there for a moment still shaken by the vision.
Then she shakes her head and leaves the kitchen.
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