EXT. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

PUSH IN on the imposing edifice, flanked by the two massive stone lions,
as we hear:

KLEIN (V.O.)
     I tell you, Ashton, no good can come
            ;      of this.

A clock on the wall indicates that it's nearly six o'clock. IN CENTER
SHOT, flanked by walls of bookcases and reading tables, is a glass
exhibit case containing a book. Two men stand beside the case. CLARK
ASHTON is an official of the library, a large an imposing man. By
contrast, TED KLEIN is shorter and stockier and wears glasses. He
looks very professorial, which makes sense as he's a university
professor. He's also somewhat upset. He gestures to the exhibit case.

            ;              ;        KLEIN (CONT)
          &nbs p;     Putting the Necronomicon on display like
            ;      this is dangerous.

CLOSER - FAVORING NECRONOMICON

A massive tome, bound in leather with iron hasps, its name in red
calligraphy. It looks quite sinister.

            ;              ;        ASHTON
          & nbsp;  Nonsense, Klein. Maybe up in Arkham they
            ;      still believe in spooks, but here in the
            ;      big city we're a bit more sophisticated.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Ashton puts a hand on Klein's shoulder and guides the upset professor
toward the door in b.g.

         & nbsp;            ASHTON (CONT)
          Your precious book of spells will be quite
            ;      safe here, I assure you.

PUSH IN on the book, which seems almost to glow with barely restrained
eldritch power. Ashton and Klein EXIT, Ashton turning out the light
(SFX: CLICK). The room is left in darkness save for a beam of silvery
moonlight from a nearby window that illuminates the book. PAN TO the
clock on the wall, and --

  MATCH-DISSOLVE TO:

CLOSE ON CLOCK

The time is now nearly midnight. PAN SLOWLY to the window as we hear
WET, SLOSHING FOOTSTEPS. We are TIGHT ON the window when something
O.S. SHATTERS it, spraying glass into the room.

INT. LIBRARY CORRIDOR

A NIGHT WATCHMAN is sauntering down the corridor; the O.S. SOUND OF
BREAKING GLASS freezes him in midstride. He turns and hurries O.S.

INT. EXHIBIT HALL - ON DOOR

It swings open, revealing the watchman silhouetted by the hall light,
his shadow stretching out before him. Another CRASH OF BREAKING
GLASS is heard O.S.

            ;              ;        WATCHMAN
       Who's there?

He brings up his flashlight and SNAPS it on, aiming a beam of light O.S.

HIS POV - DARK ROOM

The flashlight beam searches this way and that, then illuminates the
broken -- and empty -- display case. The Necronomicon is gone! There
are wet, glistening footprints around it, and strands of what look
like kelp hanging from one of the jagged walls of glass. SFX:
SHUFFLING, WET FOOTSTEPS. A beat; then the beam moves up to the window,
and we catch just a glimpse of the THING -- a huge creature, its skin
a mottled green like verdigris. It DRIPS water, or slime, or something.
We don't see its face, which is probably just as well. Just the merest
glimpse, and then:

         &n bsp;            &n bsp; WATCHMAN (O.S.)
             (cry of horror)

ON WATCHMAN

He drops the flashlight and slumps to the floor in a dead faint. The
flashlight HITS the floor also, where it lies rocking back and forth,
bathing the watchman's recumbent form in a shifting and uneasy light.
HOLD SHOT A BEAT; then --

PETER, RAY, EGON and WINSTON, all in civvies, are sitting around the
table having coffee and danish while reading various parts of the
Sunday Times. Ray's reading the news, Egon the business section,
Winston the sports section, and Peter, of course, the funnies.

            ;              ;         PETER
(appreciative chuckles)

CLOSER - FAVORING EGON

He glances disapprovingly at his colleague.

EGON
You really should read more of the paper
            ;     than just the comics, Peter.

PETER
Hey, I love the funny pages. They're the
            ;     only things that make my life seem normal.

ON PETER

He dips his roll in coffee and lifts it to his mouth, preparing to take
a big bite. Suddenly SLIMER shoots THROUGH SHOT, BITING off the entire
roll a whisker from Peter's knuckles like an ectoplasmic shark. The little ghost zooms O.S.

SLIMER
(cackles)

Peter reacts in weary resignation. He drops the crumb Slimer left him
back on the plate.
PETER
(to Egon)
See what I mean?

ON RAY

Perusing an inside page while he sips his coffee. Suddenly he sits up
in surprise and excitement.

            ;              ;           RAY
Hey! Listen to this!

WIDE ANGLE - ALL

The others look up in mild interest as Ray reads the article he's
found.
                   RAY (CONT)
(reading)
   "From Monday to Friday, by special permission
            ;       of Miskatonic University, the New York Public
            ;       Library presents --
(dramatic pause)
-- the Necronomicon!"

Egon reacts in wide-eyed surprise. Peter and Winston look at each
other in bafflement.

            ;              ;            WINSTON
I didn't know the library did rock concerts.

ANGLE FAVORS EGON

He takes the paper from Ray and reads it.
EGON
It's not a rock group, Winston. It's the
            ;       single most powerful book of magic spells
            ;       ever written.

ON RAY

Very jazzed about this.

            ;              ;             RAY
H.P. Lovecraft and others wrote a whole
            ;       series of horror stories based on it.
            ;       Come on -- we've gotta see it! I'll bet
            ;       the copyright page alone has a PKE valence
            ;       of nine-point-nine!

He leaps to his feet.

ANGLE INCLUDES OTHERS

Peter rises as well, more languidly.

            ;              ;            PETER
  You go ahead, Ray. I've got a date today --
            ;       and she'll be here any minute, in fact.

ANGLE WIDENS as the DOORBELL RINGS; Peter comes dashing out from O.S.,
vaulting over the railing.

      PETER
That's for me!

Janine holds out the phone, bringing him to a halt.

JANINE
So's this.

ON PETER

Momentarily unable to decide what to do. Egon ENTERS SHOT and takes
the phone from Janine.

            ;              ;            EGON
I've got it, Peter.

Peter looks at him gratefully.

PETER
You're a prince, Egon.

He runs O.S.

WIDE ANGLE

Ray and Winston ENTER SHOT as Egon converses on the phone.

EGON
Yes ... I see ... no problem, we can
            ;        handle it.

He HANGS UP as Peter ENTERS SHOT, proudly escorting a very attractive
and very impressed YOUNG WOMAN.

            ;              ;            PETER
(briskly)
Okay, introductions. Candy, the Ghostbusters;
the Ghostbusters, Candy.

CANDY
(awed)
Wow! I've heard so much about you guys!

PETER
(to others)
We've got a full day planned, so --

ANGLE FAVORS EGON

            ;              ;            EGON
Sorry, Peter. We've got what sounds like a
            ;     Class Seven Corporeal Entity at the library.

Ray reacts to this.

            ;              ;            RAY
Uh-oh! I'll go warm up Ecto-1!

He dashes O.S. Egon follows. PUSH IN on Peter, Winston and Candy.
Peter is, to put it mildly, upset.

PETER
It's not fair! It's just not fair!

Winston grins at him.
WINSTON
Hey -- you knew the job was dangerous when
            ;      you took it.

He takes Peter's arm and leads him O.S. Candy watches all this in bewilderment. INCLUDE Janine, who watches with somewhat jaded sympathy.

CANDY
But -- but --

JANINE
Ghostbusters are heartbreakers, kid. Don't
            ;      get too close to 'em.

The garage door opens and ECTO-1 ROARS out of the firehouse and O.S.,
lights and SIRENS blazing.

            ;              ;            PETER (V.O.)
I just hope Ray doesn't find another phantom
            ;       librarian.

RAY (V.O.)
You're never gonna let me live that down,
            ;       are you?

PETER (V.O.)
Never, Ray. Never.

INT. LIBRARY EXHIBIT HALL - WIDE ANGLE

The Ghostbusters, loaded for boo, stand beside the broken display case
with Ashton and Klein.

            ;              ;             KLEIN
            ;            (fervently)
            ;     Thank heaven you've come! I'm Professor Ted
            ;     Klein from Miskatonic University in Arkham,
            ;     and this is Clark Ashton, in charge of the
            ;     exhibit.

            ;              ;             ASHTON
            ;     I'm sure there's no reason to be alarmed --
            ;     no doubt someone just stole the book for
            ;     ransom.

CLOSE ON EGON

He whips out his PKE meter and runs it over the pools of water and the kelp-like strands hanging from the display case. The meter goes wild. APPROPRIATE SFX.

            ;              ;             EGON
            ;     High paranormal readings -- whoever stole the
            ;     Necronomicon was more than just a common thief.

Klein steps INTO SHOT, wringing his hands.

            ;              ;             KLEIN
            ;     We must get it back! Otherwise the city --
            ;     perhaps even the world -- is in grave peril!

ANGLE FAVORS PETER

Somewhat baffled by all this hoopla.

            ;              ;             PETER
            ;     I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's
            ;     just a book.

Ray looks at him gravely.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     And an atomic bomb is just a couple of rocks
            ;     slammed together.

WIDE ANGLE - ALL

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;             (to Peter)
            ;     This is the only English translation of the
            ;     Necronomicon. If someone were to read the
            ;     spells in it aloud, the results would be
            ;     catastrophic.
            ;             (beat; to Klein)
            ;     Were there any witnesses?

            ;              ;              ; KLEIN
            ;     Just the watchman. He's still in shock --
            ;     keeps mumbling about a green monster.

Ray reacts to this.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     Wow -- just like in the stories!

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Let's hope this story has a happy ending.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Egon uses his PKE meter to follow the trail to the broken window. The
meter reacts like a Geiger counter, picking up the residual eldritch
force. APPROPRIATE SFX.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     Should be easy enough to follow the trail.

The others start after him. Klein watches them go anxiously.

            ;              ;              ; KLEIN
            ;     Please -- hurry!

EXT. LIBRARY - STREET

The ghostbusters climb out the window one by one and follow Egon down the
street. PAN WITH them. (PROD. NOTE: PKE CONTINUE METER SF UNTIL NOTED.)

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Sheesh, you'd think that guy Klein owns the
            ;     paperback rights, the way he's carrying on.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     He's right to worry, Peter. The Necronomicon's
            ;     spells are like sonic "keys" that can open
            ;     portals to other dimensions -- where the Great
            ;     Old Ones wait to take over the Earth.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Yeah? Gimme an example.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     Cthulhu.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Gesundheit.

ANGLE ON MANHOLE

The Ghostbusters ENTER SHOT and congregate around a manhole cover in the street.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Cthulhu -- I've heard of him. He's bad,
            ;     right?

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     He makes Gozer look like Little Mary
            ;     Sunshine.

Egon bends down and begins tugging on the manhole cover. Pete watches in
dismay.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     You're kidding. We're following them into
            ;     the sewer?

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     There's no other choice.

ANOTHER ANGLE

He lifts up the cover and descends into the depths. Ray an Winston
follow. Peter reluctantly brings up the rear.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     I should've listened to my Uncle Alf and gone
            ;     into the hardware business.

INT. SEWER - ESTABLISHING

PAN WITH the Ghostbusters as they SLOSH along through several inches of
fetid water. Rats CHITTER and flee from the light Egon leads the way, PKE meter in one hand and a flashlight in the other. The rest have their
particle guns at the ready.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Peter, when we get back, I'm putting in for a
            ;     raise.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Would you settle for a tetanus shot?

ON INTERSECTION

A junction of several tunnels. Egon suddenly stops.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;    Do you hear something?

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     I hope not.

They're silent. DIAL UP SFX: SLOSHING FOOTSTEPS. Eerie green light, like
foxfire, begins to bleed in from the side tunnels.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     Hey -- I think we've found them!

WIDE ANGLE

From out of the tunnels on all sides come green, phosphorescent creatures,
easily seven feet tall, each one's face a mass of writhing tentacles below
huge eyes. These are the SPAWN OF CTHULHU. I quote from Lovecraft's description of their boss, whom they resemble in every way except size: "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose
face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body wiyh prodigious
claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind." They DRIP
slime, and are generally pretty unspeakable. They shamble toward our guys.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Wrong, Ray -- I think they found us!

ANGLE ON GHOSTBUSTERS

The Ghostbusters stand with their backs to each other. They CLICK on
their proton packs. SFX: RISING GENERATOR HUM.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Okay, let's him 'em high and low!

As one, they BLAST CHARGED-PARTICLE STREAMS O.S. in all directions.

ON SPAWN

All of them are BLOWN APART into chunks of green Jell-O. Nascent green fog
rises from the remains. Not a pretty sight.

ON GHOSTBUSTERS

They look at each other in satisfaction.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Teach 'em to mess with today's technology.

Egon suddenly reacts, pointing O.S.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     Look!

ON SPAWN

The creatures reintegrate, the protoplasmic slime that forms them flowing
back together. They start toward us again.

ON GHOSTBUSTERS

As they realize that they're in the toilet figuratively as well as literally.
They look at each other in concern.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Think we can get our money back on these
            ;     proton packs?

WIDE ANGLE - INCLUDING SPAWN

Quite close to our guys now.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Somebody think of something -- I just started
            ;     a personal retirement plan yesterday!

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     The water! If we can boil it --

As one, the Ghostbusters aim their particle guns at the scummy water they're
standing in and ZAP BEAMS into it. Clouds of steam immediately arise, OBSCURING SHOT.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The Spawn blunder around in the fog, COLLIDING with each other.

INT. TUNNEL

Looking into the fogbound intersection. The Ghostbusters hustle out of the
fog and into the tunnel.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     Hurry!

They run O.S. After a beat, the Spawn emerge into view, pursuing them.

ON LADDER

A series of rungs leading up to another manhole. Winston scrambles up it,
puts his shoulder to the cover. A shaft of light lances down. SFX: O.S.
AUTO HORNS. The others crowd up the ladder behind him. Peter is the last;
he faces the O.S Spawn, particle gun in hand.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Hurry! I'll hold 'em off!

He BLASTS a PARTICLE STREAM O.S.

ON SPAWN

Stalking toward us like extras in a George Romero film. Peter's BLAST DECIMATES several of them; the globs immediately begin reforming.

RESUME GHOSTBUSTERS

Winston and Egon are out; Ray hustles up the ladder and Peter starts after
him as the Spawn ENTER SHOT, reaching for him.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     These guys sure can't take a hint!

CLOSER ON PETER

He's halfway up the ladder, reaching for the top rung, when one of the Spawn
seizes his boot and starts pulling him back.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Haalllp!!

EXT. STREET - ON GHOSTBUSTERS

Crowded around the manhole cover in the middle of the street. Several cars
are stopped around them -- the makings of a major traffic jam. Winston
reaches down and grabs Peter's hand just before the latter is pulled back.
He tugs with all of his might.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;             (straining)
            ;     Hang -- on --!

CLOSE ON PETER'S BOOT

It abruptly comes off of his foot, causing the Spawn to tumble backwards,
KNOCKING those crowded behind him over. Peter is yanked up O.S.

EXT. STREET - AS BEFORE

Winston tumbles backwards as Peter sails up out of the hole and lands on top
of him. Ray quickly SLAMS the manhole cover int place just as another Spawn pokes its head out. SFX: MUFFLED O.S. SPLASH.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The Ghostbusters, muddy and disheveled, stand shakily. Peter is minus one boot.

            ;              ;             PETER
            ;     Thanks, Winston. That was one party I
            ;     didn't mind leaving.

A taxi ENTERS SHOT and SCREECHES to a halt, HORN BLARING. Ego turns to it
and raises his hand.

            ;              ;             EGON
            ;     Taxi!

INT. GHOSTBUSTERS' HQ - LAB - WIDE ANGLE

Egon is viewing something under a very complex electron microscope apparatus.
Ray is leafing through Tobin's Spirit Guide. Winston and Peter are relaxing
on the couch.

            ;              ;             EGON
            ;     Fascinating ...

            ;              ;             PETER
            ;     Tell us all about it, Egon.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Egon stands.

            ;              ;             EGON
            ;     The residuum of the creatures on our clothing
            ;     is totally alien in composition.

Ray raises a finger -- "Eureka!"

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     Those green meanies match the description here
            ;     of the Spawn of Cthulhu -- acolyte creatures
            ;     that serve the Big Guy!

Egon nods.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     I suspected as much. We have to find the
            ;     Necronomicon at once!

ANGLE FAVORS PETER

Relaxing with his feet up.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     What's the rush? We'll track it down sooner
            ;     or later.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     You don't understand. The Spawn are probably
            ;     part of a Cult of Cthulhu -- and they might be
            ;     planning to awaken him from his slumber on the
            ;     ocean's floor.

Peter and Winston look at each other.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     That's bad.

ANGLE FAVORS RAY

Still checking the Guide.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     And according to this, the stars are in the right
            ;     position to try such a resurrection only once
            ;     every sixty years -- and the next favorable time
            ;     is --

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;             (interrupting)
            ;     Let me guess -- tonight.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;             (surprised)
            ;     How'd you know?

ON EGON

Looking very grim about all this.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     We need as much information on the Cult of Cthulhu
            ;     as we can get.
            ;             (beat)
            ;     There's a woman named Alice Derelith up in Arkham,
            ;     Massachusetts who might be able to help us.

ANGLE INCLUDES ALL

The others stand up.

            ;              ;              ; EGON (CONT)
            ;     Ray, you and Winston continue your research here.
            ;     Check the Book of Dyzan and the Pnakotic Manuscripts.
            ;     Peter, you and I will go up to Arkham.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;             (dryly)
            ;     Sure. I've been wanting to go to Massachusetts all
            ;     my life.

He and Egon head O.S. as we:

PAN WITH the big jet liner as it moves through the sky. SFX: JET.

            ;              ;              ; PETER (V.O.)
            ;     So, what's this Alice Derelith like?

            ;              ;              ; EGON (V.O.)
            ;     A renowned academician and scholar, with a PhD in
            ;     Occult Sciences.

INT. CABIN - ON EGON AND PETER

Both wearing suits.

            ;              ;              ; EGON (CONT)
            ;     She translated the Mystery of the Worm from Latin.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Swell. I'll bet she looks like a tank and has a
            ;     personality to match.

A very Gothic-style campus; lots of gargoyles and flying buttresses --
sort of a Gormenghast with dormitories. Egon and Peter (wearing overcoats; it's a cloudy, chill New England day) head toward the Admin. Building.
Peter looks around.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     This looks like Frankenstein's alma mater.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE (O.S.)
            ;     Dr. Spengler?

They both turn around; REFIELD to include ALICE DERELITH, a stunningly
attractive young woman, professionally dressed but obviously not at all
what Peter expected. She holds out her hand. Egon shakes it.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE (CONT)
            ;     I'm Alice Derelith.

Peter is, of course, very favorably surprised. He shakes her hand.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Wow! You sure don't look smart!

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ;             (puzzled)
            ; I beg your pardon?

            ;              ;             PETER
            ;             (hastily)
            ; I mean -- uh, that is -- can we talk?

Egon, Peter and Alice sit at a table, nursing cups of coffee. Alice looks
very upset.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ; -- and that's the situation. What do you think?

ON ALICE

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ;             (quotes)
            ; "That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with
            ; strange aeons even death may die."

INCLUDE PETER

He doesn't know what to make of this.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;             (straining to be complimentary)
            ; Gee, that's ... catchy.

WIDE - ALL

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ; It's a quote from the Necronomicon about Great
            ; Cthulhu. If we don't do something quickly, this
            ; cult may succeed in awakening him from his age-
            ; long sleep.

She stands determinedly.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE (CONT)
            ; I'll go with you back to New York. Come on!
            ; There's not a moment to lose!

ANOTHER ANGLE

She hurries O.S. PUSH IN on Peter and Egon as they stand up.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ; She's a take-charge kinda lady. I like that.

They follow Alice O.S.

Prominent IN SHOT is an occult shop in a large brownstone. Amon the
talismans, books on magic, etc., that fill the window is a large sign
reading "CLOSED". Nevertheless, several people ENTER THE SHOT as we
watch.

            ;              ;              ; RAY (O.S.)
            ;             (sotto)
            ;     There it is.

PULL BACK to include the four Ghostbusters, in uniforms and packs, and Alice,
now dressed more for this kind of work in jean and a sweater.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Wagner's Occult Shop. We think this is where
            ;     the cult is meeting.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ;     Let's check it out.

INT. SHOP - WIDE ANGLE

It is dark, lined with shelves on which are a bewildering assortment of
books, crystal balls, various salts and elixirs in containers, jars labeled "Bats' wings", "Toad livers", and the like. A human skeleton hangs in one corner. The place is deserted. The door BANGS open and the Ghostbusters leap in, particle guns at the ready. Alice is right behind them.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Looks like no one's home.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Listen!

CLOSER ON THEM

Faintly we can hear O.S. CHANTING.

            ;              ;              ; CULT (O.S.)
            ;             (faintly)
            ; Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fatagn! Cthulhu fatagn!

ANGLE INCLUDES BASEMENT DOOR

Egon points to it.

            ;              ;              ; EGON
            ; It's coming from the basement!

INT. BASEMENT - WIDE ANGLE

The Cult's ceremony in full swing -- a congregation of ROBED AND HOODED MEN
AND WOMEN, gathered around a black altar carved with odd angles and unearthly
designs on which the Necronomicon rests. The CULT LEADER, a big man wearing
a robe with the green visage of Cthulhu emblazoned on it, stands behind the
altar. A single hanging electric bulb dimly lights the scene.

            ;              ;              ; CULT
            ;             (chants)
            ; Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fatagn! Ia! Ia! Cthulhu
            ; fatagn!

Suddenly the Ghostbusters charge down the stairs in b.g.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ; This is a raid!

ON CULT LEADER

Reacting to this.

            ;              ;              ; CULT LEADER
            ;             (shouts)
            ; Duppira Askupati kutulu, Alakti bi'sha!

ON GHOSTBUSTERS AND ALICE

Standing beside a brick wall. It suddenly BURSTS outward, sending bricks
flying everywhere, as a huge amorphous blob-like CREATURE CRASHES into the
basement. The Ghostbusters and Alice react in shock.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ; A shoggoth!

ANOTHER ANGLE

The Cult Leader and his flock flee up the stairs in b.g. with the Necronomicon. The shoggoth extrudes tentacles which seize Alice and the Ghostbusters before the latter can use their particle guns. SFX: GURGLING, BUBBLING NOISES.

CLOSER

It raises them up over its quaking bulk. An orifice forms below them, like
a pit lined with teeth. Let's draw the curtain on this upsetting scene ...
 

FADE IN:

INT. SHOP BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

The Ghostbusters and Alice as we left them, dangling over the gaping maw
of the shoggoth. Our guys' arms are pinned to their sides, so they can't
use their particle guns. The single electric bulb swings wildly on the
end of its cord, sending shadows writhing over the tableau and driving the animators crazy.

ANGLE FAVORS ALICE

Being lowered slowly toward the glistening teeth.

            ;              ;             ALICE
            ;             (chants)
            ;     Duppira al-kushni, askupati ani kalatum!

WIDE ANGLE - ALL

Mystic spell EFX suddenly SHIMMER around the shoggoth, PETRIFYING it. The
tentacles holding our guys CRACK like icicles, and they all drop to the
floor.

FAVORING PETER AND ALICE

Peter looks at Alice in respectful surprise.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Did you do that?

Alice nods weakly, then staggers. Peter takes her arm, supporting her.

            ;              ;              ; PETER (CONT)
            ;     Hey, hey ... easy ...

Alice puts a hand to her forehead, then stands again, recovering her
strength.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ;             (weakly)
            ;     I'm ... all right. Spellcasting takes a lot
            ;     out of one.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Ray and Egon are looking at the frozen mass of the shoggoth with interest.
Winston dusts himself off.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON
            ;     Looks like we're back to square one. The
            ;     cult's beat it.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Right. We'd better think of something fast,
            ;     before --

FAVORING EGON AND PETER

Peter notices that Egon is breaking off a small piece of the shoggoth's
petrified tissue and putting it in a baggie for later study. Peter,
abruptly fed up, snatches the baggie away from Egon, who reacts in
surprise.

            ;              ;              ; PETER (CONT)
            ;             (exasperated)
            ;     Will you stop that? Now listen -- whatta we
            ;     do to stop them from whistling up the Big Guy?

ON RAY

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     Good question.
            ;             (to Alice)
            ;     Can't you perform some kind of counterspell to
            ;     stop the cult?

ON ALICE

She shakes her head emphatically.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ;     I'd be a fool to try. The ancient knowledge is
            ;     a two-edged sword -- there are other Great Old
            ;     Ones lurking outside time and space.

ANGLE INCLUDES OTHERS

Listening.

            ;              ;              ; ALICE (CONT)
            ;     Any time a spell is cast, we run the risk of
            ;     Opening the Door.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Right, we don't want to do that.
            ;             (beat)
            ;     So what are we gonna do?

FAVORING RAY

He SNAPS his fingers.

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     I've got an idea! Listen ...

The ghostmobile moves through traffic. SFX: ENGINE.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON (V.O.)
            ;     Ray, that is the craziest idea I ever heard.

INT. ECTO-1 - WIDE ANGLE - MOVING

Ray driving, Winston in the front passenger seat, with Peter, Egon and
Alice in the back.

            ;              ;              ; WINSTON (CONT)
            ;     You really think some old science fiction stories
            ;     can save the world?

            ;              ;              ; RAY
            ;     Listen -- H.P. Lovecraft and other writers back
            ;     in the Twenties and Thirties created a whole
            ;     mythos around Cthulhu.

ANGLE FAVORS PETER

He looks skeptical.

            ;              ;              ; RAY (CONT)
            ;     And I remember one story in an old issue of
            ;     "Weird Tales" that told how to defeat him.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;     Ray, you nut you, I think your brain's turned
            ;     to --

            ;              ;              ; ALICE
            ;             (interrupting)
            ;     It just might work. Those writers used the
            ;     Necronomicon as research for their fiction.

            ;              ;              ; PETER
            ;             (smoothly)
            ;     As I was saying, Ray, I think it's a great
            ;     idea. I'm excited to be a part of it.

EXT. CITY STREET - TRACKING ECTO-1 - DAY

            ;              ;              ; EGON (V.O.)
            ;     But where can we find a collection of old pulp
            ;     magazines?

            ;              ;              ; RAY (V.O.)
            ;     Leave it to me.

The car SCREECHES around a corner and down a side street.

Ecto-1 pulls up before a broken-down old Victorian house, incongruous
amidst all the tenements. It looks like the Addams Family summer home.

CLOSER ON ECTO-1

The Ghostbusters and Alice get out. Ray runs up the steps O.S. The
others follow somewhat less happily. Peter looks askance at the ominous mansion.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ; This joint would scare Stephen King.

ON FRONT PORCH

Ray lifts the demon's head knocker and lets it fall with a portentous
CLANG.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The door CREAKS open, revealing MR. HOWARD, a wizened, gnomish little
man -- a cross between Peter Lorre and Gollum.

            ;              ;          MR. HOWARD
            ;         (asthmatic voice)
            ; Yess?

            ;              ;          RAY
            ; Mr. Howard! Remember me -- Ray Stantz? I
            ; used to borrow your books when I was a kid.

            ;              ;          MR. HOWARD
            ; Of course. Come in -- and bring your friends.

They enter -- Ray enthusiastically, the rest with considerable
trepidation.

INT. MR. HOWARD'S HOUSE - ESTABLISHING PAN

Even better (or worse) than we would have expected. The gloomy living
room is packed to the rafters with piles of books, both paperback and
hardcover; pulp and slick magazines and newspapers as well as strange,
fantastic paintings by everyone from Bosch and Albright to Frazetta and Findlay. It is, in short, every serious fantasy and horror collector's
wet dream -- a cornucopia of pulpdom. PAN ends at the Ghostbusters and
Alice, looking about in varying degrees of delight and horror.

            ;              ;          RAY
            ;         (tickled pink)
            ; Didn't I tell you? And this is only one
            ; room!

FAVORING PETER

He pulls a yellowing pulp magazine with a lurid cover from shelf,
narrowly avoiding bringing an entire stack crashing down.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;          (to Mr. Howard)
            ; I don't suppose you have these in any sort
            ; of order?

            ;              ;          MR. HOWARD
            ;          (regretfully)
            ; Well -- I always intended to organize my
            ; collection, but ...

            ;              ;          PETER
            ; Swell.

ANOTHER ANGLE

He BLOWS a thick patina of dust off of another stack.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;             (herculean sneeze)

INT. LIVING ROOM - WIDE ANGLE - GHOSTBUSTERS AND ALICE

All sitting in chairs or on the floor, surrounded by piles of pulp
magazines. They look pretty overwhelmed.

            ;              ;          WINSTON
            ;     This is ridiculous. We've been at this
            ;     for hours.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;     There must be a whole forest's worth of
            ;     paper here.
FAVORING ALICE
She finishes glancing through another pulp magazine and drops it on a
large pile to one side of her.

            ;              ;          ALICE
            ;     We can't give up. If Ray's right, it's
            ;     our only chance to stop the Summoning.

She wearily picks up another magazine and begins to leaf through it.

ON RAY

Absorbed in another old magazine. He turns a page, then stops.

            ;              ;          RAY
            ;             (air of discovery)
            ;     Hey ...

ANGLE WIDENS to include the others, who look at him expectantly.

            ;              ;          RAY (CONT)
            ;     This one's really good! It's about the
            ;     Fungi from Yuggoth ...

ANOTHER ANGLE

The others in despair; Peter snatches the magazine away from Ray.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;     Will you try to concentrate?!

            ;              ;          RAY
            ;             (chastened)
            ;     Sorry.

FAVORING WINSTON

He stands up in disgust, brushing the dust of ages from him.

            ;              ;          WINSTON
            ;     We're getting nowhere. I vote we just
            ;     wait for Cthulhu to show up and then
            ;     blast 'im.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;     Winston's got a point. Something that
            ;     looks like a cross between Godzilla and
            ;     a giant octopus won't be hard to miss.

ON ALICE

Reading a yellowing issue of "Weird Tales". Suddenly she stands.

            ;              ;          ALICE
            ;     This is it! It's called "The Horror from
            ;     the Depths."

WIDE ANGLE - ALL

The others turn to her. Ray leaps to his feet and grabs the magazine
from her, thumbing through it.

            ;              ;          RAY
            ;     That's the one, all right. Let's go!

They all hurry O.S.

Tooling down through Queens, heading south.

            ;              ;          EGON (V.O.)
            ;     According to my calculations ...

INT. ECTO-1 - FAVORING EGON - MOVING

Checking his PKE meter against his pocket computer. APPROPRIATE SFX.

            ;              ;          EGON (CONT)
            ;     The most opportune place for the cult to
            ;     perform the summoning ceremony is the
            ;     southern tip of Brooklyn.
            ;             (beat)
            ;     Coney Island, to be exact.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;     That seems oddly appropriate.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Everyone anxiously watching the city lights go by.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;     Can't you make this heap go any faster,
            ;     Ray?

            ;              ;          RAY
            ;     Got my foot through the floorboard now.

            ;              ;          WINSTON
            ;     How'll we know if we don't get there on
            ;     time?

            ;              ;          ALICE
            ;             (grimly)
            ;     You'll know it. The whole world will know
            ;     it.

There's an uneasy silence as everyone contemplates this. Then abruptly:
BANG! ECTO-1 swerves as Ray fights the wheel.

            ;              ;          GROUP
            ;             (ad lib shouts of concern)

EXT. STREET - WIDE

ECTO-1, with one very flat front tire, limps to the curb. The Ghostbusters
and Alice climb out. Winston looks at the tire in disgust, then at Peter.

            ;              ;          WINSTON
            ;     I thought you were supposed to have the
            ;     tires rotated.

            ;              ;          PETER
            ;             (sheepishly)
            ;     I figured -- why bother? They rotate enough
       &nb