Ghostbusters Characters

One afternoon in 1984, after ten people reported witnessing a free-floating, full-torso, vaporous apparition at 1:40 p.m. at the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, Ray and Egon went to investigate. Egon took P.K.E. valances and it went right off the top of the scale. It buried the needle and Ray felt they were close to finally finding proof of the afterlife. Egon stayed at the library to take readings while Ray returned to Columbia to get equipment and Peter. They found Egon in the Main Reading Room examining a table with his Stethoscope. Peter sneaked over then, in a faux zombie voice, uttered, "Egon..." Egon perked up. Peter rapped the table with his knuckles then slammed a hardcover book down. Egon was startled and jumped. He finally noticed Peter and Ray. Peter asked Egon what he had. Egon stated it was very big and there was definitely something present. Peter smiled remembered the time Egon tried to drill a hole through his head. Egon quickly countered it would have worked if he hadn't stopped him. Roger Delacorte walked up behind them and introduced himself. Peter took the lead and introduced himself as "Dr. Venkman," Ray as "Dr. Stantz," and Egon as "Egon." Roger shook Peter's hand then Ray's, and Egon nodded once. Roger thanked them for coming and expressed his hope that they could clear it up quickly and quietly. Peter warned against rushing into things before they knew what was going on.

Egon searched around while Peter and Egon interviewed Alice, the librarian who encountered the ghost. He found them and reported the ghost was on the move. Egon went down the stairs to the basement stacks first with his P.K.E. Meter out. They found an incredibly tall stack of books in an aisle. Egon swept his P.K.E. Meter around the stack and stated it was hot. Ray recalled the term, Symmetrical book-stacking, and noted that it was just like the Philadelphia Mass Turbulence of 1947. Peter dryly and sarcastically agreed, noting no human being would stack books like this. They came across the card catalog that Alice ran away from. Cards were still all over. Clear hued Ectoplasm was strewn all about. Ray was amazed with the telekinetic activity. Egon zeroed in on the Ectoplasm and clued Ray in. Egon held out a plastic petri dish and asked Peter to get a sample. Ray slowly backed away and followed Egon. Peter grumbled. Egon stated he would like to analyze it. He confirmed stronger readings further on. Peter caught up and handed Egon the petri dish. A green wood bookcase creaked and suddenly fell down face first behind them onto the floor. Peter hopped back a little. They all stared at the bookcase. As the dust kicked up in the air, Peter calmly turned to Ray and asked if that happened to him before. Ray slowly shook his head 'no' and Peter asked if that was his first time. Ray slowly nodded 'yes' and they continued on. They emerged from aisle. The P.K.E. Meter lit up. They went down the next aisle. The arms on the P.K.E. Meter rose up and Egon held out his hand to the others to stop. He stepped out of the aisle, swept around to his left then turned right, and paused in surprise at what he saw. It was the library ghost. Peter asked what to do. Egon and Ray were silent and looked at each other. Peter rolled his eyes and asked them to come over for a talk. He pulled Ray by the ear into an aisle. Ray wasn't sure what to do and turned to Egon. Egon took out a calculator and started typing but Peter yelled at him to stop that and knocked it out of his hands. Ray proposed they make contact. Egon agreed. They both looked at Peter. Peter huffed over the silent vote. He walked out of the aisle. Egon took over the Camcorder. Ray followed and quickly snapped photographs with the Nikon SLR FE2 Camera.

Peter talked to the ghost but she only shushed him. Peter returned to the aisle, corralling Ray and Egon back into the aisle. Ray had a new plan. He instructed them to stay close and do exactly as he said. They inched back out and slowly moved closer. Ray suddenly exclaimed, "Get her!" The ghost transmogrified into a monstrous form and screamed, "Rah!" at them. They cried out and Ray and Egon backed away almost in unison. Ray, Egon, and Peter hurried outside and down the stairs outside. Roger came out the door after them and asked them if they saw it and what it was. Peter yelled they would get back to him. Peter, Ray, and Egon returned to Columbia University and walked through campus alongside the Low Library. Egon was a few steps behind them performing calculations on his PC-4 Calculator as they talked. Egon revealed the experience wasn't completely wasted. According to the new P.K.E. readings he took, Egon believed they had an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely. The gears turned in Peter's head and he hurried up to them. Ray thought it was great and speculated if the ionization rate was constant for all ectoplasmic entities, they could really bust some heads in a spiritual sense. Peter asked Egon if he was really serious about catching a ghost. Egon stated he was always serious. Peter got in front and stopped. He got out a Crunch bar and told Egon he was going take back some of the things he said about him. Peter was about to hand it to Egon but hesitated then gave it and told him he earned it. Ray grinned and chuckled as Egon looked at the bar. They returned to their lab only to discover they had been terminated by Columbia. Egon was mortified by the news. Peter convinced them to start their own business specializing in paranormal investigations and eliminations.

Some time later, Peter, Ray, and Egon emerged from the Manhattan City Bank at 489 Fifth Avenue with initial funding to start the business. Egon ran some calculations on his Casio Micro-Mini Calculator. Peter promised Ray he was never going to regret it. Ray stated his parents left him that house and he was born there. Peter reassured him he was not going to lose the house and everybody had three mortgages nowadays. Ray questioned settling at 19 percent and not bargaining. Egon finished a calculation and flashed it to Ray. Egon stated the interest rate alone for the first five years came to $95,000. Their search for a base of operations led them to the Hook & Ladder No. 8 firehouse. A Real Estate Woman Egon and Peter there was office space, sleeping quarters and showers on the next floor and there was a full kitchen on the top left. Egon and Peter looked around the garage bay. Peter commented that it seemed a little pricey for a unique fixer-upper opportunity. He asked Egon what he thought. Egon grazed Peter's right arm and stated he thought the building should be condemned because there was serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring was substandard, it was completely inadequate for their power needs, and the neighborhood was "like a demilitarized zone". Egon stepped by a locker covered in cobwebs. Ray slid down the fire pole very excited and thought the place was great. He asked when they could move in and invited them to try this pole. Egon looked up. Ray ran up the stairs to get his stuff and paused. The real estate woman turned to Egon and Peter with a smile. Ray suggested they sleep over that night to try it out. Ray continued upstairs. Peter looked at Egon. Egon slowly shook his head 'no' as the real estate woman took some steps closer to them. Peter turned to her and informed her they were taking it. Peter, Ray, and Egon filmed a commercial outside the Firehouse. Egon had one line, "Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic?" then said "We're ready to believe you" with Ray and Peter. Egon kept looking down at his mark.

Egon developed the technology behind the Proton Pack, the Trap, and the Containment Unit. He was also aware of the risk of crossing the streams. He spent a lot of time focusing on the stability of the storage facility, and was concerned about the possibilities of a P.K.E. surge of dangerous proportions. He also helped set up the computer at the front desk and eventually emerged. Janine Melnitz, their secretary, smiled and remarked he was very handy. She bet he liked to read a lot, too. Egon remarked, "Print is dead." Egon went around and squatted behind Janine's computer and checked the connections. Janine continued on about how she liked to read a lot herself and some people thought she was too intellectual. Egon looked at her. She thought reading was a fabulous way to spend one's spare time. She also revealed she liked to play racquetball then asked him if he had any hobbies. She took off her glasses. Egon replied he collected spores, molds and fungus.

Peter, Egon, and Ray interviewed their first client Dana Barrett on the second floor. Dana concluded her story and told them there was a voice that said, "Zuul" and then she slammed the refrigerator door and left. She recounted that was two days ago, and she had not been back to her apartment since. Egon was seated next to Dana looking at her with a head light. He removed the diodes from her head. Dana got annoyed and told Peter if she knew what it was, she would not have come. Peter asked Egon what he thought. Egon turned to Peter with his head lamp still on. Peter was blinded. He swatted at the air until Egon clicked the light off. Peter opened his eyes in a daze. Egon noted Dana was telling the truth or at least, she thought she was. Dana stammered she was telling the truth and asked who would make up a story like that. Peter informed her they ran into some people who just wanted attention and a lot of "nutballs" who "came in off the street". Ray speculated it could be a case of past life experience intruding on present time. Egon walked over to couch and grabbed a Cheez-Its box. Egon thought it could be erased memories stored in the collective unconscious, clairvoyance, or telepathic contact. Dana was skeptical and scoffed. She apologized and admitted she did not believe in any of those things. Peter went next to her and told her he did not either. Egon and Ray exchanged looks. Peter walked behind Dana and gestured to Ray and Egon to make something up as he told her there were standard procedures they did in cases hers that gave them results. Ray figured he could go down to hall of records and check out the structural details in the building. He guessed the building itself could have a history of psychic turbulence. Peter nodded and agreed. Egon suggested he could look for the name Zuul in the usual literature. Ray thought of Spates Catalog. Egon mentioned Tobin's Spirit Guide. Ray agreed. Peter suggested he would take Dana back to her apartment and check it out.

They got a call from the Sedgewick Hotel. The Hotel manager explained the guests were starting to ask questions and he was running out of excuses. Ray asked him if it happened before. The manager replied most of the original staff knew about the twelfth floor then clarified he meant "the disturbances." He recalled it had been quiet for years up until two weeks ago and it was never, ever this bad. Peter patted him on the left shoulder. Egon asked if he ever reported it to anyone. The manager was mortified at the prospect. Peter played along. Egon rolled his eyes. The manager added the owners did not even like the staff talking about it. The manager hoped they could take care of it quietly. Peter promised it was done. The manager emphasized it was to be done that night. Egon, Peter, and Ray headed to the elevators. As the elevator went up, Ray sighed and realized they really hadn't had a completely successful test of their equipment. Egon blamed himself. Peter echoed him. Ray remarked there was no sense worrying about it now and asked anyone to switch him on. Egon turned on a switch behind Ray. As it activated, Egon backed up, making Peter move aside from his spot.

They exited onto the twelfth floor. A Chambermaid entered the hall humming to herself. Ray and Egon turned, shouted, and blasted her cart with the proton streams. Peter yelled at them to hold their fire. She peered out from behind the cart and asked them "what the hell" they were doing. Egon, Peter, then Ray all apologized to her as she gathered up her supplies off the floor. Peter turned around to them and remarked that was a successful test. Ray agreed and suggested they split up. Egon concurred. Peter also agreed and joked that they could do more damage that way. They separated and headed down different corridors. Egon scanned around with his P.K.E. Meter. A man walked to his room. Egon scanned his shoes and stood up. He poked the man in the arm but was disappointed he wasn't a ghost. Egon later came over the walkie-talkie and hailed Ray. Ray replied to Egon he was with Peter who got slimed (i.e. covered in ectoplasm). Egon asked Ray to save some for him then told them to get down stairs right away. He revealed Slimer just went into a ballroom. Their initial assault yielded no results. Egon remembered something very important he forgot to tell them. Peter asked him what that was. Egon told them never to cross the streams. Peter looked side to side then asked why. Egon stated it would be bad. Peter countered he was fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing and asked him what he meant by "bad." Egon clarified with an example. He told them to try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Ray realized he was talking about total protonic reversal. Peter understood that was supposed to be bad and thanked Egon for the "important safety tip". He told Ray to take the left and Egon to take the right. Peter headed straight down. Slimer chugged a bottle. Peter gave Ray the order first. Slimer stopped drinking and panicked. Ray opened fire. Slimer yelped and flew away. Peter cued Egon. Egon fired. He totally destroyed crystal ware, a three layer cake, and numerous dishes. Slimer flew behind the bar. Egon opened fire. Slimer flew away. Egon kept firing into the bar. Peter and Ray looked up at Slimer. Peter yelled at Egon to hold it and in a faux Texan voice told him, "Nice shooting, Tex!" Slimer panted near the ceiling.

Peter and Egon cleared tables and chairs aside to make room for the Trap. Ray guided Egon to fire a confinement stream on his go-signal. He gave Egon the go to fire. Egon fired and wrangled Slimer in his Proton Stream. Slimer whimpered. Ray instructed him to hold Slimer. He gave Peter the go. Peter fired and wrangled Slimer, too. Egon confirmed it was working. Ray instructed them to start bringing Slimer down. He reminded them not to cross the stream. Egon told Peter to shorten his stream so his face would not get burned off. Peter looked down at his thrower in confusion. Ray opened the Trap. Egon's eyes widened with worry and stated he looked at the Trap. Ray told them to turn their streams off as soon as he closed the Trap. He gave the signal and stomped the pedal. The Trap began to close as Peter and Egon ceased fire and turned away. Ray shielded his vision. Slimer moaned and was trapped. The Trap beeped and a red light blinked constantly. Egon got down on one knee and touched the Trap. Peter slightly nudged it with a foot. Blue electricity arced briefly. Egon looked up at them and confirmed it was in there. Ray was relieved and thought that wasn't such a chore. Egon was speechless.

Peter eyed Egon as he spoke to the manager. Peter cleared his throat twice then signaled it was time to talk seriously. As Peter talked about the cost of entrapment, Egon flashed four fingers against his left cheek to Peter. Peter stated it would cost $4000. He then informed the manager they were having a special that week on proton charging and storage of the beast. Egon nodded and touched the tip of his nose with his right index finger. Peter revealed that was only going to come to $1000. The Manager stiffened up and refused to pay them $5000. Peter told him that was all right and they could just put it right back in there. Ray confirmed that was true. They turned back towards the ballroom. The manager ran to them and caved. He ran up to Ray and grabbed his arm then stated he would pay anything. The manager patted Ray's left arm. Peter ripped an invoice out of his notepad and handed him the bill. Business took off and the Ghostbusters took on case after case, even one at Rockefeller Plaza. On another case, Egon came out of 126 Mulberry Street with a smoking Trap and wearing the Ecto Goggles on the top of his head. Egon announced he trapped the ghost. He called out for Peter and Ray. A civilian walking up the sidewalk turned his head and looked at Egon. On another, the Ghostbusters, with their particle throwers drawn, jogged down Mott Street in Chinatown, going from 56 to 64 Mott Street. Another case took place at the fashionable dance club, The Rose, where they slugged it out with a "pretty pesky poltergeist," then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.

Right after he hired Winston Zeddemore, Ray demonstrated how to empty a full Trap into the Containment Unit in the basement while Egon was at a wall running some calculations. He revealed his alarming findings and admitted he was worried. He stated it was getting crowded in the the Containment Unit and all his recent data pointed to something big on the horizon. Winston asked Egon what he meant by "big." Egon explained with a Twinkie and used it to represent the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Egon estimated that morning's sample indicated the Twinkie was 35 feet long weighing approximately 600 pounds. Ray coughed hard. Winston remarked, "That's a big Twinkie." Egon nodded and took a bite of the Twinkie. Ray believed they could be on the verge of a four-fold crossrip, a P.K.E. surge of incredible and even dangerous proportions. Peter walked over to the Containment Unit. He mentioned they had a visit from the Environmental Protection Agency then asked how the was grid holding up. Ray remarked not good. Winston gestured Egon to tell him about the Twinkie. Peter was concerned.

On a Thursday night, a police sergeant knocked on the front door of the Firehouse. Janine answered then went to get Egon after the sergeant answered he was "dropping off." The sergeant asked Egon if he was a Ghostbuster. Egon confirmed he was. The sergeant explained they picked up a perp but they had no idea what to do with him because Bellevue Hospital refused him and he was concerned about placing him in the lock-up. He knew about the Ghostbusters and figured they should confer with them. Egon agreed to weigh in. They walked over to the rear of the paddy wagon. Louis/Vinz was in the van in a straight jacket. He wearily asked Egon if he was the Gatekeeper. Egon scanned Louis/Vinz with the P.K.E. Meter and watched as the readings quickly surged. Egon turned it off and turned to the sergeant and suggested they better bring him into the Firehouse. The sergeant nodded. Janine wrapped around one of his arms as they walked back to the Firehouse. The officer inside and the sergeant lifted Louis/Vinz, as he stood in place, out of the van. Janine told Egon he was so kind to take care of that man and called him a real humanitarian. Egon remarked that he did not think Louis/Vinz was human. Janine turned her head to look at Louis/Vinz as they entered the Firehouse.

Egon interviewed Louis/Vinz on the second floor. Louis/Vinz was hooked up to Aura Video-Analyzer. The screen displayed the image of a Terror Dog. Egon stared at the screen and turned it off. He asked Louis/Vinz what he said his name was. Louis/Vinz replied he was Vinz Clortho, Keymaster of Gozer. Janine looked at Louis's wallet and told Egon his name was Louis Tully and he lived on Central Park West. Janine held the wallet out to Egon. He took it and looked at it. Louis/Vinz mimicked Egon and also extended his arm to take it. Janine offered Louis/Vinz some coffee. Louis/Vinz asked Egon if he did. Egon told him, "Yes, have some." Louis/Vinz repeated what Egon said. Janine made a face and walked over to the kitchen area. Egon placed the wallet in a coat pocket and sat down. Egon recalled Louis/Vinz talked about waiting for a sign and asked him what the sign was. Louis/Vinz answered it was the coming of Gozer in one of the pre-chosen forms. He reminisced about some of Gozer's past conquests. There was the Rectification of the Vuldronaii, when the Traveler came as a large and moving Torb. Egon looked towards Janine. He also recalled during the Third Reconciliation of the Last of the Meketrex Supplicants, they chose a new form for him, that of a giant Sloar. Janine looked back at Egon. Louis/Vinz chuckled at the thought of how many Shubs and Zulls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of a Sloar that day. Janine called Egon and gestured him to come over. She admitted she was usually very psychic, and she had a terrible feeling that something awful was going to happen to Egon. Janine revealed she believed he was going to die. She went into Egon's arms. He looked up and placed his right arm around her. The phone rang. Louis/Vinz jumped and looked around. Egon quickly picked up the phone. Louis/Vinz picked up the base of the phone. Egon took it from him. The call was from Peter. Egon thanked Louis/Vinz for his help. Peter briefed him on Dana being possessed by the Gatekeeper and asked Egon if that made any sense to him. Egon revealed he just met the Keymaster. Peter thought that was wonderful and they should get them together. Egon thought that would be extraordinarily dangerous. Peter relented and advised Egon to hold onto the Keymaster and he would head back to the Firehouse. Egon liked the idea and placed the phone back on the receiver. Louis walked over and gave Egon a frying pan. Egon thanked him then turned to Janine and stressed they needed to find Ray and get him back immediately.

On Friday morning, Egon looked through parts on a shelf in the basement and told Louis/Vinz there was one more test he wanted to perform. Walter Peck, the Police Captain, and a Con Edison Man came down the stairs. Janine ran down the steps after them and beat the Con Edison man. Janine told Egon she tried to stop them but Peck said he had a warrant. Egon held out his right arm. Louis/Vinz mimicked him. Egon stated they were on private property. Peck ignored him and pointed at the Containment Unit and the panels then ordered everything to be shut off. Egon pointed at them and warned turning off the machines would be extremely hazardous. Louis/Vinz mimicked Egon and pointed, too. Peck was not swayed and told him the Ghostbusters were facing federal prosecution for at least half a dozen environmental violations. He again ordered Egon to shut everything off and threatened they would shut them off for him if he did not. Egon, Janine, and Louis/Vinz planted themselves in front of the control panels. Egon tried to explain it was a high voltage laser containment system and simply turning it off would be like dropping a bomb on the city. Peck thought was being patronizing and stated he was not grotesquely stupid like the people they bilked. Peter arrived and tried to defuse the situation but Peck was not buying it and pointed out he had his chance to cooperate but chose to have fun and be insulting. Peck declared it was his turn. Egon informed Peter that Peck wanted to shut down the protection grid. Louis/Vinz looked at Egon with a slight grin. Peter quickly stated they were not going to be held responsible. After some back and forth, the Con Edison worker weighed in that he never saw anything like the Containment Unit before and he was unsure. Peck was not interested in his opinion and told him to just shut it off. Peter looked over to Egon. The Con Edison Man went to the control panels. Egon stepped away and mimed an explosion with his fingers and mouthed "Boom." Peter, Egon, and Janine made their way to the stairs. The Con Edison worker pulled a gray lever down. The lights dimmed and several alarms went off. The red light above the Containment Unit flashed. The Con Edison worker realized he made a terrible mistake and swore. The walls of the basement rumbled. Peck backed away. Steam erupted from between the bricks. As everyone ran outside, Egon yelled out to anyone else to clear the building.

Ray hopped over to Peter and Egon by the Con Edison van and red car. He asked Egon what happened. Egon informed him the storage facility blew, pointed at Peck, and revealed Peck had the protection grid shut off. Ray was beside himself. Winston guessed that was bad. Ray confirmed and nodded. Peter asked where the Keymaster went. Egon swore and could not believe they lost him. The Ghostbusters were about to take off in search of Louis/Vinz but Peck, the Police Captain and some police officers barred their way. Peck ran to the Ghostbusters and told them to hold it. Peck wanted the Ghostbusters arrested. He told the captain they were in criminal violation of the Environmental Protection Act, and the explosion was a direct result of it. Egon exclaimed, "Your mother!" in response then lunged forward and grabbed Peck's collar. Police tried to keep order. The civilians behind the barricade cheered on the scuffle. The Ghostbusters were arrested and taken to the NYPD Lock-Up. Ray and Egon looked over their research at a table in the middle of the holding cell. Egon pointed out the structure of the Shandor Building's roof cap was exactly like the kind of telemetry tracker that NASA used to identify dead pulsars in deep space. Ray pulled out the blueprints out of his flight suit and laid it over the one Egon was examining. Ray stated the building had cold riveted girders with cores of pure selenium. Peter had no clue what the big deal was. Ray explained the whole building was a huge super conductive antenna that was designed and built expressly for the purpose of pulling in and concentrating spiritual turbulence. Ray lifted his blueprints off the table and pointed at the one under. Peter was kneeling down looking at them. Ray told him "his girlfriend" lived in the corner penthouse of "Spook Central." Peter denied she was his girlfriend. Egon stated it was the building, not Dana. Ray laid his blueprint back down. Egon predicted something terrible was about the enter their world and the Shandor Building was obviously the door.

Egon revealed the architect's name was Ivo Shandor. He found the name in Tobin's Spirit Guide. Shandor was also a doctor who performed a lot of unnecessary surgery and then in 1920, he founded a secret society. Peter guessed they were Gozer worshipers. Egon confirmed and continued, after the First World War, Shandor decided that society was too sick to survive. The inmates started getting closer to the table again and really took an interest in the discussion. Egon took stock of that and revealed Shandor had close to a thousand followers when he died. They conducted rituals up on the roof, bizarre rituals intended to bring about the end of the world. Egon concluded the end of the world may actually happen. Peter suddenly broke out into song, "So be good, for goodness sake! Whoa! Somebody's coming!" Ray stated the obvious, they had to get out of jail and find a judge or something. Winston stepped and told them to hold it. He wanted to clarify their plan was to go before a federal judge and say that some "moldy Babylonian god" was going to drop in on Central Park West and start tearing up the city. Egon corrected him about Gozer: it was a Sumerian god, not Babylonian. Peter joked that was a big difference. Winston told them no offense, but he was going get his own lawyer. A Jail Guard called the Ghostbusters and revealed Mayor Lenny wanted to see them because the city was going crazy. The Ghostbusters convinced Mayor Lenny to let them attempt to stop Gozer. Before the Ghostbusters departed from New York City Hall, Janine spoke to Egon. She wanted him to have something. Egon took it and asked what it was. Janine revealed it was a souvenir from the 1964 World's Fair at Flushing Meadow. It was her lucky coin. Egon stated he should not take it because they might not be coming back. Janine insisted he keep it then revealed she had another one at home. They hugged.

The Ghostbusters walked all the way up to the twenty-second floor. Egon noticed the Art Deco influence and complimented it. They headed into Dana's apartment and found a passage up to the roof where they witnessed the posessed Dana and Louis transform into Terror Dogs and an entity in a female form arrive in front of the Temple of Gozer. Egon identified it as Gozer. Winston thought Gozer was a man. Egon stated it was whatever it wanted to be. Ray established a dialogue with Gozer but it shot them towards the edge of the roof. The Ghostbusters opened fire but Gozer disappeared. The others thought it meant they won but Egon looked at a Gamma Rate Meter and told Ray things looked extraordinarily bad. An earthquake rocked the temple. Egon told them to look out. Boulders and debris fell. They took cover by the altar. The disembodied voice of Gozer ordered them to choose the form of the Destructor. Peter understood Gozer needed them and told everyone to empty their heads and not think of anything. Gozer declared the choice was made. Peter protested. He asked Egon. Egon thought of nothing. He asked Winston. Winston asserted his mind was totally blank. Peter stated he chose nothing. Peter, Egon, and Winston turned and looked at Ray. Ray insisted he couldn't help it and it "just popped in there". Stomping and screaming from the streets interrupted Ray. Egon spotted something and yelled. They watched as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man marched towards the Shandor Building. As Ray lost it, Peter told Egon that Ray had gone "bye-bye" and asked him what he had left. Egon apologized and admitted he was terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. They blasted down at Stay Puft. They only succeeded in lighting him on fire. Stay Puft clung to the side of the Shandor Building and looked up. The fire soared up to them.

They ran and crouched down. Ray tried to make light of their impending death by a hundred-foot marshmallow man. Peter riffed and pointed out Stay Puft was a sailor in New York, they just had to get him laid and there would not be any trouble. Stay Puft climbed up the side of the building. Egon had a radical idea. He noted "the door swings both ways" and as a result they could reverse the particle flow through the gate. Ray asked how. Egon proposed they cross the streams. Peter recalled Egon's warning about doing that. Peter pointed out they would be in grave danger along with their client Dana, the "nice lady who paid them in advance before she became a dog". Egon assured them there was definitely a very slim chance they would survive. They exchanged looks. Peter stared at Egon. Egon raised an eyebrow. Peter gave Ray a friendly slap to the face. Peter declared he loved the plan and was excited to be a part of it. Winston grumbled the job was definitely not worth another eleven-five a year. They ran to the Temple of Gozer. Egon told everyone to hurry. The four proton streams combined into one big one, blasting right into the temple. An explosion was triggered. The Ghostbusters ceased fire and ran off screaming. Stay Puft was caught in the blast wave and blew up along with the top floors of the building. Ray came to and found Winston then called out to Peter and Egon. Egon groaned. He, too, was covered in marshmallow residue and stood up from the other side from Ray and Winston. Ray asked Egon if he was okay. Egon remarked he felt like the floor of a taxi cab. Peter went over to them. He had very little marshmallow residue on him.

They managed to free Dana from the inside of Zuul's remains. Louis, with a Terror Dog statue head on his head, walked around helplessly asking if somebody turned out the lights. Ray, Egon, and Winston ran over to help them. Egon and Ray helped Louis out. Louis looked around and guessed the superintendent was going to be "pissed". They helped him down. Egon added they would like to get a sample of his brain tissue. Louis unwittingly agreed to provide it. The crowd cheered for the Ghostbusters as they exited the building. Janine ran into Egon's arms. They hugged. She patted his cheeks. They walked to Ecto-1 and departed with the rest of the Ghostbusters and Dana.

Dr. Ray Stantz returned to the Paranormal Studies Laboratory excited about the library, nearly killing the mood Peter Venkman had created with his latest volunteer, Jennifer. Ray exclaimed, "This is it! This is definitely it!" Ray grabbed a Camcorder off a table near Peter then asked him if those UV lenses came in for the video camera and for the blank tape that he erased the day before. Ray gathered equipment from a shelf. Peter turned to Jennifer and asked if she would excuse him. Peter crept over to Ray, hopped off the floor, and cartoonishly slapped him on the head as he told him he was right in the middle of something. He pretended to be talking to Ray in normal fashion by the time Jennifer peaked over. Peter insisted he needed a little more time with Jennifer and asked him if he could come back in an hour or an hour and a half. Ray told Peter about the sighting at the library. Peter, uninterested, tried to handle him and told him get right down there, check it out and get back to him. Ray shook his head and told Peter he was coming, too. He told Peter about Egon, took P.K.E. readings, and shared he believed they were close and he could feel it.

Peter and Ray briskly walked up the stairs to the New York Public Library. It appeared Peter was talking Ray's ear off the whole time from Columbia to the library. Peter tried to break it to Ray that he finally had gone around the bend on the "ghost business." He brought up how he and Egon met every "schizo" in the five boroughs who claimed to have had a paranormal experience. He asked Ray what he had actually seen so far. As they entered the South Wing of the Main Reading Room from the Southern side doorway to the Art and Architecture Reading Room, Ray reminded Peter he was present at an undersea, unexplained mass sponge migration. Peter reacted as if he'd probably heard that story for the umpteenth time and countered the sponges migrated about a foot and a half. They found Egon. Roger Delacorte, a library administrator, walked up behind them and introduced himself. Peter took the lead and introduced himself as "Dr. Venkman," Ray as "Dr. Stantz," and Egon as "Egon." Roger shook Peter's hand then Ray's, and Egon nodded once. Roger thanked them for coming and expressed his hope that they could clear it up quickly and quietly. Roger, Peter, and Ray went into the office dividing the north and south wings of the Reading Room. Alice was lying on a table in shock. A man comforted her. She recalled not seeing any legs, but it definitely had arms because it reached out for her. Ray, held the camcorder on her and Peter. Ray got more excited and remained oblivious of Alice being traumatized by the incident. Peter asked her several questions. Egon entered the office and reported the ghost was on the move.

Egon came down the stairs to the basement stacks with Ray close behind him with the camcorder. Peter came down last, lacking any interest and rolling his eyes. He started to make scary hand gestures at Ray. They found an incredibly tall stack of books in an aisle. Egon swept his P.K.E. Meter around the stack and stated it was hot. Ray recalled the term, Symmetrical book-stacking, and it was just like the Philadelphia Mass Turbulence of 1947. Peter dryly and sarcastically agreed, noting no human being would stack books like this. Ray suddenly turned and instructed everyone to listen then asked them if they smelled something. Peter sniffed the air. They came across the card catalog that Alice ran away from. Cards were still all over. Clear hued Ectoplasm was strewn all about. Ray was amazed with the telekinetic activity. Egon zeroed in on the Ectoplasm and clued Ray in. Egon held out a plastic petri dish and asked Peter to get a sample. Ray slowly backed away and followed Egon. Ray couldn't believe it was the real thing. Around the corner, Ray noticed more. Egon confirmed stronger readings further on. A green wood bookcase creaked and suddenly fell down face first behind them onto the floor. They all stared at the bookcase. As the dust kicked up in the air, Peter calmly turned to Ray and asked if that happened to him before. Ray slowly shook his head 'no' and Peter asked if that his first time. Ray slowly nodded 'yes' and they continued on. They emerged from the aisle, as the P.K.E. Meter lit up. The ghost was looking at a spinner rack. Ray was excited and as softly as he could, stated it was a full torso apparition. The ghost began reading a book. Peter asked what to do. Egon and Ray were silent and looked at each other. Peter rolled his eyes and asked them to come over for a talk. He pulled Ray by the ear into an aisle. The ghost looked over at them. Ray wasn't sure what to do and turned to Egon. Egon took out a calculator and started typing but Peter yelled at him to stop that and knocked it out of his hands. It tattered on the floor. Ray proposed they make contact. Egon agreed. They both looked at Peter. Peter huffed over the silent vote. He walked out of the aisle. Egon took over the camcorder. Ray followed and quickly snapped photographs with the Nikon SLR FE2 Camera.

Peter greeted the ghost, introduced himself, and asked her where it was from. He kicked himself and clarified, "Originally." The ghost only shushed him. Peter returned to the aisle, corralling Ray and Egon back into the aisle. Ray had a new plan. He instructed them to stay close and do exactly as he said. They inched back out and slowly moved closer. Ray suddenly exclaimed, "Get her!" The ghost transmogrified into a monstrous form and screamed "Rah!" at them. They cried out and Ray and Egon backed away almost in unison then left the library. Roger came out the door after them and asked them if they saw it and what it was. Peter yelled they would get back to him. Peter, Ray, and Egon had returned to Columbia University and walked through campus alongside the Low Library. Peter laughed and teased Ray about his plan. He found it scientific. Ray admitted he just got overexcited. He was still beaming about actually touching the etheric plane. He then asked Peter what this could mean to the university. Peter proclaimed it was going to be bigger than the microchip. Egon revealed the experience wasn't completely wasted. According to the new P.K.E. readings he took, Egon believed they had an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely. The gears turned in Peter's head and he hurried up to them. Ray thought it was great and speculated if the ionization rate was constant for all ectoplasmic entities, they could really bust some heads in a spiritual sense. Peter asked Egon if he was really serious about catching a ghost. Egon stated he was always serious. Peter got out a Crunch bar and told Egon he was going to take back some of the things he said about him. Peter was about to hand it to Egon but hesitated then gave it and told him he earned it. Ray grinned and chuckled as Egon looked at the bar.

Peter, Ray, and Egon entered Room 205 A mid-conversation. Ray exclaimed the possibilities were limitless. He noticed Dean Yeager was present. Several movers were also in the Paranormal Studies Laboratory. Dean Yeager stood in the middle of the room and turned to Peter, Ray, and Egon. Yeager revealed the Board of Regents decided to terminate their grant and thus, fired. One of the moving people started taking the camcorder and module equipment Ray had on his person. Ray took the Nikon camera off himself and handed it over. Ray paced outside while Peter lied on a stone left of the exterior of the Low Library and drank a swig from his liquor. Ray thought it was a major disgrace and uttered they should forget employment at MIT or Stanford, who wouldn't touch them with a ten-meter cattle-prod. Peter remarked he was always so concerned about his reputation and pointed out Einstein did his best stuff when he was working as a patent clerk. Ray asked Peter if he knew how much a patent clerk earned. Peter was not aware. Ray explained he liked the university because they gave them money and facilities and they didn't have to produce anything. He pointed out Peter was never out of college and didn't know what it was like out there. Ray reminded Peter he worked in the private sector and they expected results. Peter got on his feet, placed his arm on Ray, and walked him to the top of the stairs. He told Ray for whatever reasons, call it fate, call it luck, call it karma, he believed that everything happened for a reason. He believed that they were destined to get thrown out of this dump. He walked Ray over to the top of the stairs looking out at the courtyard. Ray asked for what purpose. Peter answered it was for them to go into business for themselves. He offered Ray a drink. Ray drank and calmed down. He stated the ecto-containment system that he and Egon had in mind was going to require a load of bread to capitalize. He asked Peter where they were going to get the money from. Peter drank then replied twice that he didn't know.

Some time later, Peter, Ray, and Egon emerged from the Manhattan City Bank at 489 Fifth Avenue in suits. Peter opened the doors. Ray stared at a manila envelope in his hands. Peter promised Ray he was never going to regret it. Ray stated his parents left him that house and he was born there. Peter reassured him he was not going to lose the house and everybody had three mortgages nowadays. Ray questioned settling at 19 percent and not bargaining. Egon finished a calculation and flashed his Casio Micro-Mini Calculator to Ray. Egon stated the interest rate alone for the first five years came to $95,000. Peter told them to relax and reminded them they were are on the threshold of establishing the indispensable defense science of the next decade, professional paranormal investigations and eliminations. He pined the franchise rights alone would make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. He gestured 'rich' with his hands. Ray shook his head. They now possessed the starting capital to get the company started and buy a building to serve as their headquarters.

They visited Hook & Ladder No. 8 with a Real Estate Woman. Despite the unique fixer-upper opportunity, Ray was very enthusiastic about it. He went upstairs before the others. He wondered if the pole still worked. They looked up at Ray. Ray slid down the fire pole. He was excited and thought the place was great. He asked when they could move in and invited them to try this pole. Egon looked up. Ray ran up the stairs to get his stuff and paused. The real estate woman turned to Egon and Peter with a smile. Ray suggested they sleep over that night to try it out. He continued upstairs. Peter looked at Egon. Egon slowly shook his head, 'no', but they ended up purchasing it. Peter, Ray, and Egon filmed a commercial outside the Firehouse. Ray had two solo lines, "Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?" and "If the answer is yes, then don't wait another minute. Pick up your phone and call the professionals" then said "Ghostbusters" with Egon and Peter. Ray then closed with "Our courteous and efficient staff is on call twenty-four hours a day to serve all your supernatural elimination need" and together, they said "We're ready to believe you." Ray eventually found the company car. He returned to the Firehouse in a black Cadillac hearse. Peter tried to peer inside and yelled at the driver not to park there. Ray got out of the car. He announced he found the car and revealed it needed some suspension work, shocks, brakes, brake pads, linings, steering box, transmission, and a rear end. Peter asked how much it cost. Ray replied it only cost $4800. Peter was shocked speechless, not in a good way. Ray droned on it might need new rings, also mufflers, and a little wiring.

One day, Dana Barrett entered the Firehouse and called out "Hello?" but she got no answer. She walked past the Cadillac while Ray was headfirst under the hood ratcheting something. Ray paused and looked up. Dana spoke to Janine Melnitz and then Peter. Peter, Ray, and Egon interviewed her on the second floor. Dana concluded her story and told them there was a voice that said "Zuul" and then she slammed the refrigerator door and left. She recounted that was two days ago, and she had not been back to her apartment since. Ray switched off the Aura Video-Analyzer's monitor. Ray, holding a Budweiser can, speculated it could be a case of past life experience intruding on present time. He sat down on a couch with Egon who thought it could be erased memories stored in the collective unconscious, clairvoyance, or telepathic contact. Dana was skeptical and scoffed. She apologized and admitted she did not believe in any of those things. Peter went next to her and told her he did not either. Egon and Ray exchanged looks. Peter walked behind Dana and gestured to Ray and Egon to make something up as he told her there were standard procedures they did in cases like hers that gave them results. Ray figured he could go down to the hall of records and check out the structural details in the building. He guessed the building itself could have a history of psychic turbulence. Peter nodded and agreed. Egon suggested he could look for the name Zuul in the usual literature. Ray thought of Spates Catalog. Egon mentioned Tobin's Spirit Guide. Ray agreed. Peter suggested he would take Dana back to her apartment and check it out.

In the evening, Peter, Ray, and Egon sat at a small round table on the second floor and ate takeout Chinese. Peter raised his Budweiser and made a toast to their first customer. Ray raised his Budweiser and glumly toasted to their first and only customer. Egon stopped working on a Particle Thrower and raised his Tab. They drank. Peter suggested using some petty cash and taking her out to dinner so they don't lose her. Ray waved his chopsticks in a loose circle and revealed their "magnificent feast" represented the last of the petty cash. Peter stared then before Ray could take a bite, told him to slow down and chew his food. Janine activated the alarm bell. Everyone looked up. Ray realized it was a call. Ray ran to the pole in the foreground and went down first. He called out to Peter and Egon to come on. Ray kicked off his shoes and readied his flightsuit as Peter landed with a carton. The Ghostbusters entered the lobby of the Sedgewick Hotel. The Hotel manager explained the guests were starting to ask questions and he was running out of excuses. Ray asked him if it had happened before. The manager replied most of the original staff knew about the twelfth floor then clarified he meant "the disturbances." He recalled it had been quiet for years up until two weeks ago and it was never, ever this bad. Peter patted him on the left shoulder. Egon asked if he ever reported it to anyone. The manager was mortified at the prospect. Peter played along. The manager added the owners did not even like the staff talking about it. The manager hoped they could take care of it quietly. Peter promised it was done. The manager emphasized it was to be done that night. Ray readied his Ecto Goggles off his belt and told him not to worry because they handled this kind of thing all the time. He placed the Ecto Goggles on his head. Egon, Peter, and Ray headed to the elevators. A man already waiting looked at them and asked what they were supposed to be. He ventured a guess that they were some kind of a cosmonaut. Peter chuckled and explained they were exterminators who got brought in because somebody saw a cockroach up on the twelfth floor. The elevator doors on the left opened. The man remarked that had to be some cockroach. Peter warned him it could bite his head off. Ray was about follow Egon and Peter into the elevator then spun around and asked the man if he was going up. The man decided to take the next one. Ray backed into the elevator.

As the elevator went up, Ray sighed and realized they really haven't had a completely successful test of their equipment. Egon blamed himself. Peter echoed him. Ray remarked there was no sense worrying about it now. Peter dryly joked they were each wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back. Ray, not realizing he was sarcastic, asked anyone to switch him on. Egon turned on a switch on the back of the Proton Pack. As it activated, Egon backed up, making Peter move aside from his spot. On the 12th floor, Ray readied his particle thrower, looked around like a soldier, and motioned to them with his head. Peter walked out like normal. Egon switched on his particle thrower. They were startled by a Chambermaid and blasted her cart. Peter yelled at them to hold their fire. She peered out from behind the cart and asked them what the hell they were you doing? Egon, Peter, then Ray all apologized to her as she gathered up her supplies off the floor. Peter turned around to them and remarked that was a successful test. Ray agreed and suggested they split up. Egon concurred. Peter also agreed and mused they could do more damage that way. Ray walked around as he smoked. He came around a corner and earned the distinction of being the first Ghostbuster to meet Slimer. Ray was shocked. His cigarette hung from his open mouth. Ray called out to Peter but he got no response and turned back to Slimer. He remarked Slimer looked like a disgusting blob and realized he was going to have to hold it himself. He charged on the thrower, aimed, and fired at Slimer. He missed and struck the wall. Slimer roared in shock. He flew away and passed through a wall. The cart trailed after Slimer and collided with a table.

Peter sighted Slimer and hailed Ray on the Radio. Ray repeatedly exclaimed he saw it. Peter told Ray it was in his hall and it was looking at him. Ray remarked he was an ugly little spud. Peter warned Ray it could hear him. Ray instructed Peter not to move and it won't hurt him. Slimer took off from his side of the hall and roared. Peter screamed and shielded his face. Ray ran to Peter and yelled to him. By the time Ray arrived, Slimer was long gone. Peter was lying on the floor drenched in Ectoplasm. Ray asked Peter what happened and if he was okay. Peter spat out some Ectoplasm and stated it slimed him. Ray was amazed they made actual physical contact. He asked Peter if he could you move. Egon came over the walkie-talkie and hailed Ray. Peter remarked he felt so funky. Ray replied to Egon he was with Peter who got slimed. Egon asked Ray to save some for him then told them to get down stairs right away. He revealed Slimer just went into a ballroom. They reunited at the ballroom. Ray grinned and asked the Hotel Manager if he and his staff could please wait outside and they would take care of everything. Egon and Ray closed the doors and locked them.

Ray peaked out from brown curtains and scanned the ballroom with his Ecto Goggles. He looked at some tables then he sighted Slimer flying around a chandelier. Ray told the others it was on the ceiling. Peter confirmed that was the one that got him. They slowly stepped out from the curtain. Ray gave the signal to open fire. All three fired at Slimer. They missed and nailed the chandelier. Slimer flew away. The chandelier fell on a table and smashed it. Ray admitted it was his fault. Peter pointed out it was okay because the table broke the fall. Egon remembered something very important he forgot to tell them. Peter asked him what that was. Egon told them don't Cross the Streams. Peter looked side to side then asked why. Egon stated it would be bad. Peter countered he was fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing and asked him what he meant by "bad." Egon clarified with an example. He told them to try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Ray realized he was talking about total protonic reversal. Peter understood that was bad or supposed to be bad. He thanked Egon for the important safety tip. He then told Ray to take the left and Egon to take the right. Peter headed straight down. Slimer chugged a bottle. Peter gave Ray the order first. Slimer stopped drinking and panicked. Ray opened fire. Slimer yelped and flew away. Egon missed as well. Slimer panted near the ceiling.

Ray noted the last throw took something out of Slimer, but it was going to move. He needed some room to put the Trap down. He asked Peter and Egon to give him some room. Peter and Egon threw tables aside. Ray pushed a Trap across the floor. He guided Egon to fire a confinement stream on his go-signal. He gave Egon the go to fire. Egon fired and wrangled Slimer in his Proton Stream. Slimer whimpered. Ray instructed him to hold Slimer. He gave Peter the go. Peter fired and wrangled Slimer, too. Egon confirmed it was working. Ray instructed them to start bringing Slimer down. He reminded them not to cross the stream. Ray, while wearing his Ecto Goggles, announced he was opening the trap now and reminded them not to look directly into the Trap. Ray stomped the trap pedal. The Trap opened, a bright vortex shot out and started to pull in Slimer. Egon's eyes widened with worry. Egon stated he looked at the Trap. Ray told them to turn their streams off as soon as he closed the Trap. He gave the signal and stomped the pedal. Ray shielded his vision. Slimer moaned and was trapped. The Trap beeped and a red light blinked constantly. Egon looked up at them and confirmed it was in there. Ray was relieved and thought that wasn't such a chore. Egon was speechless.

Ray stepped out of the ballroom holding the smoking Trap and confirmed they got it. The Hotel Manager took out his handkerchief and covered his nose and mouth. Ray coughed then classified Slimer as a focused, non-terminal repeating phantasm, or a Class 5 full roaming vapor. He remarked it was a real nasty one, too. Peter got to the bill. The Manager stiffened up and refused to pay them $5000. The Manager stuffed his handkerchief back in his suit pocket. Peter told him that was all right and they could just put it right back in there. Ray confirmed that was true. They turned back towards the ballroom. The manager ran to them and caved. He ran up to Ray and grabbed his arm then stated he would pay anything. The manager patted Ray's left arm. Peter thanked the manager and handed him the bill, patted his arm, and walked down the hall with Ray close behind. Ray shouted thank you and hoped they could help the hotel again. He yelled he was coming through and to watch out. The Ghostbusters exited the Sedgewick Hotel. A path was cleared as they walked to Ecto-1. Reporters asked them a flurry of questions. Ray stopped at the rear and held up the Trap to the press. The Ghostbusters got very busy with more cases after.

Peter and Ray headed to Ecto-1 outside the Tai Hong Lau Restaurant at 70 Mott Street. Ray had a momento and wore a blue Chinese cap. A man ran after them and handed out two roast ducks. Ray and Peter turned around and Ray bowed in thanks, then Peter, as they accepted the ducks. During another case, Ray walked up back to street level from 16 East 63rd Street. He had a smoking Trap. Ray asked people politely to stand aside. At the end of another case, Peter, Ray, and Egon jogged out of Rockefeller Center with a smoking Trap. A security guard pursued them. During another, the Ghostbusters, with their particle throwers drawn, jogged down Mott Street in Chinatown, going from 56 to 64 Mott Street. They took on a case at the fashionable dance club, The Rose, and slugged it out with a "pretty pesky poltergeist," then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance. Ray was a guest on Joe Franklin's program. Joe got to the big question on everybody's mind and imagined Ray was the man to answer it. He asked how Elvis was doing, and if he saw him lately. Ray paused before he answered.

During rare downtime, Ray slept and had a vivid dream. He was laying in an ornate bed with period clothes on. The ghost of a beautiful young woman hovered above him then vanished. Ray looked around. Suddenly, an invisible force unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. Ray's eyes crossed and his head knocked back in pleasure. The dream ended as Ray fell out of his real bed. The others were thrashing in their sleep. One day, a weary Peter and Ray returned to the Firehouse from a case in Brooklyn. Both were smoking. Their flightsuits had some ectoplasmic residue splattered about. Ray stated he needed some sleep badly. Peter agreed he didn't look good. Ray was surprised by Peter's observation. Peter thought he looked better and didn't used to look like this. Ray looked down at the Trap he was holding with his right hand. Peter tossed an invoice on Janine's desk. She scoffed at the smoke from the Traps. Janine handed out a piece of paper and told them that was the evening worksheet. Ray scanned it and moaned. He saw there were two more free repeaters. Ray walked to the basement steps. Janine brought Winston Zeddemore to their attention. She introduced him and stated he was interested in the job opening. Ray stopped and turned around. Ray took one look at him and hired him. He introduced himself and Peter. Peter congratulated Winston and shook his hand. Ray called him over for help then handed him the two Traps and welcomed him aboard. Winston took them both but was uneasy about it. Ray nodded with a grin.

Ray demonstrated how to empty a full Trap into the Containment Unit in the basement. Winston stood to Ray's left and watched. Ray called it a very simple process. He loaded the Trap here, opened, unlocked the system, inserted the trap, a red light came on, he released, he closed, he locked the system, he set the entry grid, he neutronized the field. The light switched to the green one. Ray declared the trap was clean and the ghost was incarcerated in their custom-made storage facility. Ray pushed the lever back up and tossed the handle of the Trap. Egon revealed his alarming findings and admitted he was worried. He revealed it was getting crowded in the the Containment Unit and all his recent data pointed to something big on the horizon. Ray lit his cigarette then held a light for Winston. Winston asked Egon what he meant by "big." Egon explained with a Twinkie and used it to represent the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Egon estimated that morning's sample indicated the Twinkie was 35 feet long weighing approximately 600 pounds. Ray coughed hard. Winston remarked, "That's a big Twinkie." Ray believed they could be on the verge of a four-fold crossrip, a P.K.E. surge of incredible and even dangerous proportions. Peter mentioned they had a visit from the Environmental Protection Agency then asked how the grid was holding up. Ray remarked, not good. Winston told Egon to tell them about the Twinkie.

A couple weeks later, Winston and Ray went out on a case on a Thursday night. Ray studied blueprints to 550 Central Park West as they drove through the FDR Drive Service Road East/Marginal Road, between Avenue C Loop/E. 18th Street & East 20th Street. Winston asked Ray if he believed in God. Ray replied he never met Him. Winston revealed he believed and he loved Jesus' style. Ray noted a roof cap was made of a magnesium-tungsten alloy. Winston asked him what he was so involved in. Ray reached for the Michelob can on the dash. Ray clarified he was looking at the blueprints for the structural ironwork in Dana Barrett's apartment building, and they were very, very strange. As Ray took a drink, Winston asked him if he remembered something in the Bible about the last days, when the dead would rise from the grave. Ray incorrectly recalled Revelation 6:12 and recited a verse, "And I looked, as he opened the sixth seal. And behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became as black as sackcloth. And the moon became as blood." Winston finished with, "And the seas boiled. And the skies fell." Both called it Judgment Day. Ray noted every ancient religion had its own myth about the end of the world. Ray placed his cigarette back in his mouth. Winston bristled at "myth" and asked him if it ever occurred to him that maybe the reason they were so busy lately was because the dead have been rising from the grave. Ray paused and looked at him. He suggested a little music and turned on the radio. They drove across the Manhattan Bridge.

On Friday morning, Ray and Winston were forced to park at N. Moore and Varick. Ray hopped over to Peter and Egon by the Con Edison van and red car. Ray asked Egon what happened. Egon informed him the storage facility blew, pointed at Walter Peck, and revealed Peck had the protection grid shut off. Ray was beside himself. Winston guessed that was bad. Ray confirmed and nodded. The Ghostbusters were about to take off in search of Vinz Clortho but Peck, the Police Captain and some police officers barred their way. They were arrested and incarcerated at the NYPD Lock-Up. Ray and Egon looked over the blueprints at a table in the middle of the holding cell. Egon pointed out the structure of the Shandor Building's roof cap was exactly like the kind of telemetry tracker that NASA used to identify dead pulsars in deep space. Ray pulled out the blueprints out of his flight suit and laid it over the one Egon was examining. Ray stated the building had cold riveted girders with cores of pure selenium. Peter Venkman surprised the other inmates curious about Ray and Egon's conversation. Peter asked if everybody was getting it so far. Peter had no clue what the big deal was. He surmised they just did not make them like they used to. Ray slapped the side of Peter's head and exclaimed nobody ever made buildings like it. He assumed the architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko, then shook his head. Peter implored Ray to pretend for a moment that he knew nothing about metallurgy, engineering or physics and to just tell him what the hell was going on. Peter looked Ray right in the eyes. Ray teased he never studied. Peter grinned. Ray explained the whole building was a huge super conductive antenna that was designed and built expressly for the purpose of pulling in and concentrating spiritual turbulence. Ray lifted his blueprints off the table and pointed at the one under. Peter was kneeling down looking at them. Ray told him "his girlfriend" lived in the corner penthouse of "Spook Central." Peter stood back up. Peter stated she was not his girlfriend and claimed to find her interesting because she was a client and because she slept above her covers. Ray laid his blueprint back down. Egon predicted something terrible was about the enter their world and the building was obviously the door.

Egon revealed the architect's name was Ivo Shandor. He found the name in Tobin's Spirit Guide. Shandor was also a doctor who performed a lot of unnecessary surgery and then in 1920, he founded a secret society. Peter guessed they were Gozer worshipers. Egon confirmed. Peter teased Ray with "No studying." Ray made a face. Egon continued and revealed after the First World War, Shandor decided that society was too sick to survive. The inmates started getting closer to the table again and really took an interest in the discussion. Egon took stock of that and revealed Shandor had close to a thousand followers when he died. They conducted rituals up on the roof, bizarre rituals intended to bring about the end of the world. Egon concluded the end of the world may actually happen. Peter suddenly broke out into song, "So be good, for goodness sake! Whoa! Somebody's coming!" Ray stated the obvious, they had to get out of jail and find a judge or something. Winston told them no offense, but he was going get his own lawyer. A Jail Guard called the Ghostbusters and revealed Mayor Lenny wanted to see them because the city was going crazy. The police escorted Ghostbusters to New York City Hall.

Mayor Lenny shifted his meeting to the Ghostbusters and asked where "Peck" was. Walter Peck forcibly walked between Peter and Ray to the Mayor and introduced himself then declared he was prepared to make a full report: the Ghostbusters were consummate snowball artists, used sensitive nerve gases to induce hallucinations to make people think they were seeing ghosts so they called them, who conveniently showed up to deal with the problem with a fake electronic light show. Ray stated everything was fine with their system until the power grid was shut off by "Dickless." Peck quickly blurted out they caused the explosion. The Mayor asked them if that was true. Peter admitted it was true, and instead insulted Peck that he had no dick. Peck lunged at Peter. The police officers and the others stepped in and quickly held Peck back to keep them apart until they told everyone to break it up. After the Archbishop and Winston said their peace, Peter invited the Mayor to believe "Mr. Pecker" or accept the fact that the city was headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. The Mayor asked what he meant by "biblical." Ray clarified he was taking about "Old Testament biblical" and "real wrath-of-God-type" stuff. Peter agreed. Ray threw out some examples: fire and brimstone falling from the skies and rivers and seas boiling. Egon added 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Winston added the dead rising from the grave. Peter stressed there would be human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, then mass hysteria. Peter managed to convince the Mayor to let them try and prevent the end of the world themselves. They were granted a military escort to 550 Central Park West.

Peter addressed the crowd behind the police barricades with a hearty hello. Peter rose Ray's hand high up and asked everyone to acknowledge him. He called Ray "the heart of the Ghostbusters." Ray waved at the crowd. Peter thanked them and told Ray they loved him. Ray touched Peter's shoulder and took the next Proton Pack out for Peter. Ray nodded to a National Guardsmen as he passed. The Ghostbusters assembled in front of the building. They looked up as lightning struck the building. The wind picked up. The darkness blotted out the sun. Ray surmised they had to put a little overtime in on. The street ripped apart and the Ghostbusters fell into a pit that opened up below them. The crowd slowly came to its feet and looked around. Ray was visible and came out of the pit first. The crowed wondered if they were all right then cheered them on. The other Ghostbusters climbed out of the pit. Ray stated he was in no way prepared for that. Peter assured the crowd they were fine and they could handle it. The crowd chanted, "Ghostbusters!" over and over. Peter asked the others if they wanted to play rough. They huddled up, performed a hand-stack, and ran into the Shandor Building. Some time later, they groaned and panted as they climbed the stairs. There were still many more flights to go. Ray was in the lead then Egon, Winston, and Peter. Peter asked where they were. Ray estimated they were in the tens somewhere. Peter requested to be told when they got to the twentieth floor so he could throw up.

The Ghostbusters reached the twenty-second floor. Ray read the floor sign. Peter confirmed they were on the right floor. They stepped into the hall. Ray was relieved then asked Peter where Dana's apartment was. Peter led them to the end of the hall. The Ghostbusters walked through what little of the apartment remained. Ray noticed the new set of stairs and pointed at it. He asked where they went. Peter stated the obvious, they went up. Peter was about to walk through the passage that was concealed by the wall and refrigerator but lightning went off. Peter motioned everyone to go ahead. They watched as Dana and Louis transmogrified into Terror Dogs. The Ghostbusters lined up at the foot of the stairs to the Temple of Gozer. Gozer suddenly appeared between Zuul and Vinz Clortho in a pre-chosen form. Ray realized Gozer took a female form. Egon identified it as Gozer. Winston thought Gozer was a man. Egon stated it was whatever it wanted to be. Peter remarked whatever it was, it had to get by them. Ray agreed. Peter told Ray to go get her. Ray silently realized he fell for it. Peter gave him a nod. Ray took several steps up then addressed Gozer by name. Gozer turned to Ray. Ray stated that as a duly designated representative of the city, county and state of New York, he ordered it to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to its place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension. Peter was satisfied and thanked Ray. Gozer asked Ray if he was a god. Peter nodded "yes" to Ray. Ray replied, "No." Gozer turned its upper torso and arms back toward the temple then told them to die. Gozer fired lightning from its fingertips at the Ghostbusters. They yelled out. Zuul and Vinz watched. They were shot across the roof and barely clung to the edge of the building. As they gathered themselves, Winston looked down at Ray and told him when someone asked him if he was a god, he should say, "Yes!" Ray nodded.

They marched up to the temple side by side. Ray placed his Trap down. They fired at Gozer. It growled then double flipped across the air. It landed on the altar outside the structure. Peter remarked she was a nimble little minx. Egon suggested they better go full stream. Ray shouted to aim for the flat top. They blasted her again. Gozer simply vanished. Peter quipped that was not so hard. Ray concluded they neutronized it and caused a complete particle reversal. Winston proclaimed, "And we have the tools. We have the talent!" Peter declared it was "Milla time!" Ray and Winston were gleeful and did the hand-stack. Egon looked at a Gamma Rate Meter and told Ray things looked extraordinarily bad. Ray was alarmed. Winston wondered what was happening. An earthquake rocked the temple. The disembodied voice of Gozer made its presence known and listed its titles then ordered them to choose and perish. The Ghostbusters stood up. Ray asked Gozer to clarify. Gozer explained they had to choose the form of the Destructor. Peter understood and found it cute. He explained to the others whatever they thought of like J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover would appear and destroy them. He told everyone to empty their heads and not think of anything. They had one shot. Ray accidentally chose the Destructor Form from a memory of his childhood times at Camp Waconda. Gozer declared the choice was made. Peter protested. He asked Egon. Egon thought of nothing. He asked Winston. Winston asserted his mind was totally blank. Peter stated he chose nothing. Peter, Egon, and Winston turned and looked at Ray. Ray took a few steps back. Ray insisted he couldn't help it and it just popped in there. Peter inquired what he thought of. Ray tried to explain himself.

The Ghostbusters ran over to get a better vantage point. Ray was in denial. Peter pressed him about what he chose. The Destructor marched past some buildings. Ray announced he chose the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Peter remarked that was not something you see every day. Ray insisted he tried to think of the most harmless thing. He picked something he loved from his childhood, something that could never, ever possibly destroy the world. Peter sarcastically complimented Ray's line of thinking. Ray remembered he used to roast Stay Puft Marshmallows by the fire at Camp Waconda. Peter told Egon that Ray had gone "bye-bye" and asked him what he had left. Egon apologized and admitted he was terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. After Stay Puft stepped on the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church next door, they took aim at him. Ray hesitantly cued everyone to fire on three. They blasted down at Stay Puft. They only succeeded in lighting him on fire. Stay Puft clung to the side of the Shandor Building and looked up. The fire soared up to them. They ran and crouched down. Ray tried to make light of their impending death by a hundred-foot marshmallow man. Peter riffed and pointed out Stay Puft was a sailor in New York, they just had to get him laid and there would not be any trouble. Egon had a radical idea. He noted the door swings both ways and as a result they could reverse the particle flow through the gate. Ray asked how. Egon proposed they cross the Streams. Peter recalled Egon's warning about doing that. Peter pointed out they would be in grave danger along with their client, the nice lady who paid them in advance before she became a dog. Egon revealed there was definitely a very slim chance they would survive. They exchanged looks. Peter stared at Egon. Egon raised an eyebrow. Peter gave Ray a friendly slap to the face. They ran to the Temple of Gozer just as Stay Puft reached for the roof top. Ray narrowly dodged his flaming hand and yelped.

Peter told Ray he would see him on the other side. Peter opened fire on the Temple of Gozer, past its open doors. Ray told Peter it was nice working with him. Ray fired, too, and they crossed their streams just as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's head appeared behind them. Ray cued Egon. Egon and Winston fired then Ray implored Egon to cross the streams. The four proton streams crossed, combined into one big one, and went into the temple. An explosion was triggered. The Ghostbusters ceased fire and ran off screaming. Ray came to a corner. He was covered in marshmallow residue. He saw Winston next to him and asked him if he was all right. Winston chuckled and confirmed he was. Winston was also covered in residue. Ray called out to Peter and Egon. Ray asked Egon if he was okay. Egon remarked he felt like the floor of a taxi cab. Peter went over to them. He had very little marshmallow residue on him. Winston chuckled. Ray double checked that everyone was all right. They surveyed the damage and saw a charred Terror Dog husk. Ray blurted out that it smelled like barbecued dog hair. He realized his grievous error and apologized to Peter. Peter was melancholy. He turned and looked at Ray then walked away. Part of the statue's arm chipped off and fingers reached out. The claw fell off. Peter turned around. Dana groaned. Ray got everyone's attention. The Ghostbusters broke open the statue with their hands. Ray pulled at the body. Peter lifted Dana out.

Louis, with a Terror Dog statue head on his head, walked around helplessly asking if somebody turned out the lights. Peter told the others to check on him. Ray, Egon, and Winston ran over to help them. Ray removed the Terror Dog head. Louis asked what happened. Egon and Ray helped Louis out. Louis looked around and guessed the superintendent was going to be pissed. They helped him down. Ray asked him if he was okay. Louis looked at them and asked who they were. Ray answered they were the Ghostbusters. Louis looked at them again then asked who did their taxes. Ray, Egon, and Louis started to walk off. Ray told Louis was a most fortunate individual. Louis agreed. Ray explained he was a participant in the biggest interdimensional crossrip since the Tunguska blast of 1909 (which was really 1908). Louis commented it "felt great." Egon added they would like to get a sample of his brain tissue. Louis unwittingly agreed to it. The crowds cheered for the Ghostbusters as they stepped out of the building. Ray smoked a cigarette and he waved at the crowd. The Ghostbusters and Dana made their way to Ecto-1. Ray shook the doorman's hand. The doorman got the driver door for Ray and saluted him. Ray reversed Ecto-1. The reporter tried to get a comment. The crowd parted to let them through. Ray checked the back then turned the wheel as he went forward slowly. The siren wailed as they left.

In 1984, Peter conducted an ESP experiment with volunteers in Room 205 A in Weaver Hall. Peter instructed the male volunteer he was going to turn over the next card, wanted him to concentrate, and tell him what he thought it was. The male volunteer and female volunteer, Jennifer, were wired to electrodes of an Electro-Shock Generator. He held up the back of the card to them. The card was a star. The male student guessed it was a square. Peter revealed the card to them and shocked him. Peter turned to Jennifer and smiled. Peter told her to clear her head. She smiled. He held up the next card. It was a circle. Peter asked her what she thought it was. The male student watched her. Jennifer asked if it was a star. Peter lied and pretended to be amazed she was correct. She was ecstatic. He held up a card for the male student. He instructed him to think hard. The male student guessed it was a circle. Peter revealed a square then shocked him. Pink gum shot out of his mouth. He grabbed it off the table, put it back in his mouth, and continued chewing. Peter jotted down a note, asked Jennifer is she was ready, and held up the next card for Jennifer. It was a plus sign. He pressed the eraser end of a pencil on the side of his head, smiled, and asked what it was. Jennifer stared at the back of the card. She guessed figure eight. Peter pretended to be surprised again. He remarked she was five for five. He asked if she could see the card. Peter moved the card around and squinted. The male student tried looking from her vantage point. Jennifer smiled and swore she wasn't cheating, the answers were coming to her.

Peter turned to the male student. The male student grabbed at his collar. Peter asked if he was nervous. The male student admitted he was. Peter reminded them they only had 75 more to go. He held up the next card. It had three wavy lines. The male student guessed it was a couple of wavy lines but Peter lied and told him it was wrong. Peter reached for the lever. The male student stuttered. Jennifer looked amused by the tension. Peter winked at her. Peter electrocuted him. The male student got agitated. Peter countered he volunteered and would be paid. The male student pointed out he didn't know Peter was giving the volunteers electric shocks. He asked Peter what he was trying to prove. Peter pressed his hands together and revealed he was studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability. The male student became irate and screamed the effect was the shocks were pissing him off. Peter stood and countered maybe his theory was correct. The male student ripped the electrodes off his hands, told Peter to keep the five bucks, then he stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Peter yelled he would. He changed his demeanor as he sat down next to Jennifer. He warned Jennifer to get used to that kind of resentment because her ability was going to provoke some people. Jennifer asked Peter if he really thought she had a gift. Peter promised her she was no fluke.

Ray returned to the Paranormal Studies Laboratory excited about a ghost sighting at the New York City Public Library, nearly killing the mood Peter Venkman had created with Jennifer. Ray exclaimed, "This is it! This is definitely it!" Ray grabbed a Camcorder off a table near Peter then asked him if those UV lenses came in for the video camera and for the blank tape that he erased the day before. Ray gathered equipment from a shelf. Peter turned to Jennifer and asked if she would excuse him. Peter crept over to Ray, hopped off the floor, and cartoonishly slapped him on the head as he told him he was right in the middle of something. He pretended to be talking to Ray in normal fashion by the time Jennifer peaked over. Peter insisted he needed a little more time with Jennifer and asked him he could come back in an hour or hour and a half. Ray stated at 1:40 p.m. at the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, ten people witnessed a free-floating, full-torso, vaporous apparition, it blew books off shelves from 20 away, and scared some poor librarian. Peter, uninterested, tried to handle him and told him get right down there, check it out and get back to him. Ray shook his head and told Peter he was coming, too. He revealed Egon took P.K.E. valances and it went right off the top of the scale. Ray emphasized it buried the needle and they were close. He could feel it. He walked past Peter. Peter repeated to himself that he could feel it and they were very, very close. He sat back down next to Jennifer and told her he had to go but he would like to work with her some more. He asked her if she could come back in the evening. Jennifer suggested 8:00. Peter, still pretending astonishment, lied he was just going to say 8:00. He called her a legitimate phenomenon. She giggled.

Peter and Ray briskly walked up the stairs to the New York Public Library. It appeared Peter was talking Ray's ear off the whole time from Columbia to the library. Peter tried to break it to Ray that he finally had gone around the bend on the "ghost business." He brought up how he and Egon met every "schizo" in the five boroughs who claimed to have had a paranormal experience. He asked Ray what he had actually seen so far. As they entered the South Wing of the Main Reading Room from the Southern side doorway to the Art and Architecture Reading Room, Ray reminded Peter he was present at an undersea, unexplained Mass Sponge Migration. Peter reacted as if he probably heard that story for the umpteenth time and countered the sponges migrated about a foot and a half. They found Egon. Peter sneaked over then, in a faux zombie voice, uttered, "Egon..." Egon perked up. Peter rapped the table with his knuckles then slammed a hardcover book down. Egon was startled and jumped. He finally noticed Peter and Ray. Peter asked Egon what he had. Egon stated it was very big and there was definitely something present. Peter smiled remembered the time Egon tried to drill a hole through his head. Egon quickly countered it would have worked if he hadn't stopped him.

Roger Delacorte, a library administrator, walked up behind them and introduced himself. Peter took the lead and introduced himself as "Dr. Venkman," Ray as "Dr. Stantz," and Egon as "Egon." Roger shook Peter's hand then Ray's, and Egon nodded once. Roger thanked them for coming and expressed his hope that they could clear it up quickly and quietly. Peter warned against rushing into things before they knew what was going on. Roger, Peter, and Ray went into the office dividing the north and south wings of the Reading Room. Alice recalled not seeing any legs, but it definitely had arms because it reached out for her. Peter sat near Alice and told her he was going to ask her a couple of standard questions. He started off by asking if she or anyone in her family were ever been diagnosed schizophrenic or mentally incompetent. She remembered her uncle thought he was St. Jerome. Peter made a face and countered that as a big yes. He asked her if she was habitually using drugs, stimulants, alcohol. She wasn't. Peter asked her if she was currently menstruating. Roger nervously asked what that had to do with it. Peter stated, "Back off, man. I'm a scientist." Egon entered the office and reported the ghost was on the move.

Peter came down the stairs to the basement stacks last, lacking any interest and rolling his eyes. He started to make scary hand gestures at Ray. They found an incredibly tall stack of books in an aisle. Egon swept his P.K.E. Meter around the stack and stated it was hot. Ray recalled the term, Symmetrical book-stacking, and it was just like the Philadelphia Mass Turbulence of 1947. Peter dryly and sarcastically agreed, noting no human being would stack books like this. Ray suddenly turned and instructed everyone to listen then asked them if they smelled something. Peter sniffed the air. They came across the card catalog that Alice ran away from. Cards were all over the place covered in clear hued Ectoplasm. Ray was amazed with the telekinetic activity. Egon held out a Plastic Petri Dish and asked Peter to get a sample. Peter grumbled. Egon stated he would like to analyze it. Peter scraped Ectoplasm from a drawer into the petri dish. It was not working and some of the residue got on Peter's hands. Peter groaned and grunted. He tried to flick it away. Some got on his face. Ray told Peter to come on. Peter grunted. He started slapping books and wiping random book spines. He stepped on some slimed cards and yelled "Dah!" He lifted his foot and tried to shake the cards off. A green wood bookcase creaked and suddenly fell down face first behind them onto the floor. They all stared at the bookcase. As the dust kicked up in the air, Peter calmly turned to Ray and asked if that happened to him before. Ray slowly shook his head 'no' and Peter asked if that his first time. Ray slowly nodded 'yes' and they continued on.

They found the ghost in the middle of looking at a spinner rack. Peter asked what they were going to do next. Egon and Ray were silent and looked at each other. Peter rolled his eyes and asked them to come over for a talk. He pulled Ray by the ear into an aisle. The ghost looked over at them. Ray was not sure what to do and turned to Egon. Egon took out a calculator and started typing but Peter yelled at him to stop that and knocked it out of his hands. It tattered on the floor. Ray proposed they make contact. Egon agreed. They both looked at Peter. Peter huffed over the silent vote. He walked out of the aisle and greeted the ghost, introduced himself, and asked her where it was from. He kicked himself and clarified, "Originally." The ghost only shushed him. Peter returned to the aisle, corralling Ray and Egon back into the aisle. Ray had a new plan. He instructed them to stay close and do exactly as he said. They inched back out and slowly moved closer. Ray suddenly exclaimed, "Get her!" The ghost transmogrified into a monstrous form and screamed "Rah!" at them. They backed away almost in unison then left the library. Roger came out the door after them and asked them if they saw it and what it was. Peter yelled they would get back to him. Peter, Ray, and Egon had returned to Columbia University and walked through campus alongside the Low Library. Peter laughed and teased Ray about his plan. He found it scientific. Ray admitted he just got overexcited. He was still beaming about actually touched the etheric plane. He then asked Peter what this could mean to the university. Peter proclaimed it was going to be bigger than the microchip. Egon revealed the experience wasn't completely wasted. According to the new P.K.E. readings he took, Egon believed they had an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely. The gears turned in Peter's head and he hurried up to them. Ray thought it was great and speculated if the ionization rate was constant for all ectoplasmic entities, they could really bust some heads in a spiritual sense. Peter asked Egon if he was really serious about catching a ghost. Egon stated he was always serious. Peter got out a Crunch bar and told Egon he was going take back some of the things he said about him. Peter was about to hand it to Egon but hesitated then gave it and told him he earned it. Ray grinned and chuckled as Egon looked at the bar.

Subsequently, they found out from Dean Yeager that their funding was cut and they were fired from their university positions. At first, Peter presumed they were being moved to better quarters on campus. Dean Yeager replied they were being moved off campus because the Board of Regents decided to terminate their grant. He instructed them to vacate the premises immediately. Peter closed his eyes then stated the situation was preposterous and demanded an explanation. Yeager obliged Peter and stated Columbia was no longer continuing any funding of any kind for their group's activities. Peter countered the kids loved them. Yeager stated Columbia believed the purpose of science was to serve mankind and pointed out Peter seemed to regard science as some kind of dodge or hustle. He critiqued Peter's theories as the worst kind of popular tripe, told him his methods were sloppy, and thought his conclusions were highly questionable. He called Peter a poor scientist. Peter only replied, "I see." Yeager concluded he had no place in the department or in the university.

Ray paced outside while Peter lied on stone left of the exterior of the Low Library and drank a swig from his liquor. Ray thought it was a major disgrace and uttered they should forget employment at MIT or Stanford, who wouldn't touch them with a ten-meter cattle-prod. Peter remarked he was always so concerned about his reputation and pointed out Einstein did his best stuff when he was working as a patent clerk. Ray asked Peter if he knew how much a patent clerk earned. Peter was not aware. Ray explained he liked the university because they gave them money and facilities and they didn't have to produce anything. He pointed out Peter was never out of college and didn't know what it was like out there. Ray reminded Peter he worked in the private sector and they expected results. Peter got on his feet, placed his arm on Ray, and walked him to the top of the stairs. He told Ray for whatever reasons, call it fate, call it luck, call it karma, he believed that everything happened for a reason. He believed that they were destined to get thrown out of this dump. He walked Ray over to the top of the stairs looking out at the courtyard. Ray asked for what purpose. Peter answered it was for them to go into business for themselves. He offered Ray a drink. Ray drank and calmed down. He stated the ecto-containment system that he and Egon had in mind was going to require a load of bread to capitalize. He asked Peter where they were going to get the money from. Peter drank then replied twice that he didn't know. Peter encouraged and prodded Ray to mortgage his house in order to find the capital for their freelance ghost catching idea.

Some time later, Peter, Ray, and Egon emerged from the Manhattan City Bank at 489 Fifth Avenue in suits. Peter opened the doors. Ray stared at a manila envelope in his hands. Peter promised Ray he was never going to regret it. Ray stated his parents left him that house and he was born there. Peter reassured him he was not going to lose the house and everybody had three mortgages nowadays. Ray questioned settling at 19 percent and not bargaining. Egon finished a calculation and flashed his Casio Micro-Mini Calculator to Ray. Egon stated the interest rate alone for the first five years came to $95,000. Peter told them to relax and reminded them they were are on the threshold of establishing the indispensable defense science of the next decade, professional paranormal investigations and eliminations. He pined the franchise rights alone would make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. He gestured 'rich' with his hands. Ray shook his head.

They checked out Hook & Ladder No. 8 in Lower Manhattan. The Real Estate Woman told Egon and Peter there was office space, sleeping quarters and showers on the next floor and there was a full kitchen on the top left. Egon and Peter looked around the garage bay. Peter commented that it seemed a little pricey for a unique fixer-upper opportunity. He asked Egon what he thought. Egon grazed Peter's right arm and stated he thought the building should be condemned because there was serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring was substandard, it was completely inadequate for their power needs, and the neighborhood was like a demilitarized zone. Ray called out to them from upstairs. He wondered if the pole still worked. They looked up at Ray. Ray slid down the fire pole. Ray was excited and thought the place was great. He asked when they could move in and invited them to try this pole. Ray ran up the stairs to get his stuff and paused. The real estate woman turned to Egon and Peter with a smile. Ray suggested they sleep over that night to try it out. Peter looked at Egon. Egon slowed shook his head 'no' as the real estate woman took some steps closer to them. Peter turned to her and informed her they were taking it.

Peter, Ray, and Egon filmed a commercial outside Hook & Ladder No. 8. Peter's line after Ray's was, "Have you or any of your family ever seen a spook, specter or ghost?" Ray continued then inn unison, they said, "Ghostbusters." The commercial ended with them saying, "We're ready to believe you!" Peter supervised Marty and watched him put up a sign that read "GHOSTBUSTERS" in small type face. Peter asked Marty if he thought the sign was too subtle and people wouldn't see the sign. Marty turned his head to Peter and shook his head. A dark black hearse drove up to the firehouse. Peter tried to peer inside and yelled at the driver not to park there. Ray got out of the car. He announced he found the car and revealed it needed some suspension work, shocks, brakes, brake pads, linings, steering box, transmission, and a rear end. Peter asked how much it cost. Ray replied it only cost $4800. Peter was shocked speechless, not in a good way. Ray droned on it might need new rings, also mufflers, and a little wiring.

Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters' secretary, sat at her desk on the first floor of the Firehouse reading a People Weekly magazine. Peter walked to her desk with a file under his right arm. Peter asked her if there were any calls. Janine replied, "No." Peter asked if there were any messages. Janine replied, "No." Peter asked if there were any customers Janine looked up at him and replied, "No, Dr. Venkman." Peter jokingly asked her if it was a good job. He asked her to type something since they were paying her. Peter continued on into his office area behind hers. He told her not to stare at him because she had the "bug eyes." He apologized to Janine then told her he would be in his office. Peter soon became the first to meet the company's first client, Dana Barrett and formed a romantic interest. Dana entered the Firehouse and asked Janine if she was in the Ghostbusters' office. Janine confirmed that and asked how she could help her. Peter peaked up from his office like a gopher out of its hole. Dana admitted she didn't have an appointment but wanted to talk to someone. Peter bolted to them. He narrowly jumped over the office gate. Peter introduced himself. Dana cautioned what she had to say may sound a little unusual. Peter joked that's all they got day in, day out. He invited her into his office. Janine looked up at him in disbelief. Dana introduced herself.

Dana was hooked up to the Aura Video-Analyzer upstairs on the second floor and was interviewed by Peter, Ray, and Egon. Dana concluded her story and told them there was a voice that said "Zuul" and then she slammed the refrigerator door and left. She recounted that was two days ago, and she had not been back to her apartment since. Peter remarked you generally did not see that kind of behavior in a major appliance. He asked her what she thought it was. Dana got annoyed and told him if she knew what it was, she would not have come. Peter asked Egon what he thought. Egon turned to Peter with his head lamp still on. Peter was blinded. He swatted at the air until Egon clicked the light off. Peter opened his eyes in a daze. Egon noted Dana was telling the truth or at least, she thought she was. Dana stammered she was telling the truth and asked who would make up a story like that. Peter informed her they ran into some people who just wanted attention and a lot of nutballs who came in off the street. Ray and Egon speculated but Dana admitted she did not believe in any of the supernatural. Peter went next to her and told her he did not either. Egon and Ray exchanged looks. Peter walked behind Dana and gestured to Ray and Egon to make something up as he told her there were standard procedures they did in cases hers that gave them results. Ray figured he could go down to hall of records and check out the structural details in the building. He guessed the building itself could have a history of psychic turbulence. Peter nodded and agreed. Egon suggested he could look for the name Zuul in the usual literature. Ray thought of Spates Catalog. Egon mentioned Tobin's Spirit Guide. Ray agreed. Peter suggested he would take Dana back to her apartment and check her out. She looked up at him. Peter corrected himself and stated he would go check out her apartment. He turned to her. She nodded. He quietly grumbled about his flub. Dana thanked him. She got up and walked away. Peter smacked his head and made a face as he followed her.

Dana slowly opened her front door and inched in. Peter swung the door open and asked her to let him go first in case something happened. He bolted over to her and opened the door behind her. He pointed the Ghost Sniffer around. Dana noted that was just the closet. Peter went to the piano. He lifted the cover and played the two highest notes over and over. He remarked the ghosts hated the sound. Peter warned the non-existent ghosts he was present. He stayed in the middle of the room and used the Sniffer. Dana looked around and started to take her coat off. Peter remarked the apartment had a lot of space. He asked her if she lived alone. She confirmed it. He noted, "Good." She pondered what he meant. He looked at some books stacked on a table. She asked what he was doing with his device. Peter told her it was technical and it was one of their "little toys." He quickly went to another door. Dana told him that was the bedroom, but nothing ever happened in there. Peter looked inside then closed the door and remarked what a crime that was. Dana paused then noted he did not act like a scientist. Peter surmised she meant they were usually pretty stiff. She believed he was more like a game show host. Peter was at a loss. He turned his head and asked her if that was the kitchen. She nodded.

Peter pushed the door open. Dana turned the light on. Everything was still there from when Dana left. Peter tossed the paper bag aside. Peter saw the eggs on the counter and asked her if those were the ones. She confirmed and recounted where she was standing when they just jumped right out of their shells and started to cook on the counter. Peter agreed that was weird. Dana continued and told him that was when she heard that awful noise coming from the refrigerator. Peter lifted up the lettuce and the cooked eggs. Dana asked him if he wanted to check the refrigerator. Peter thought that was a good call. She sighed. Peter slowly opened the refrigerator a crack and remarked, "Oh, my God." Dana became worried. Peter opened it wider and addressed all the junk food. Dana got frustrated. Peter took out an Oscar Mayer pack and asked her if she actually ate it. Dana took it away and exclaimed she saw a big space. Peter lifted the lid off a ceramic dish, it didn't smell good to him. She pointed out there was a building or something with flames coming out of it, there were creatures writhing around growling and snarling, and she heard a voice say "Zuul." Peter apologized and told her he was not getting any reading. Dana questioned if he was using the Sniffer correctly. Peter thought he was and confirmed there were no animals in there. Dana resigned herself to the face there was a monster in her kitchen or she was completely crazy. Peter told her he did not think she was crazy. Dana sarcastically replied she felt so much better. She walked away.

Peter followed her back into the living room and told her he came home from work to his place, and all he had was his work. He sat down. Before Dana could speak, Peter continued and claimed she had the same problem he had. She curtly identified that problem as him. Peter went for broke and admitted he was madly in love with her. She scoffed and looked away from him then asked him to leave. Peter self-narrated about being thrown out of her life, guessed she thought he was a creep and a geek, and she probably was not the first. Dana remarked he was so odd. Peter stopped at the front door and turned to her. She said, "No." Peter declared he got it. She repeated, "No" many times. Peter stated he would prove himself to her. She countered that was not necessary. She started to guide him to the door. Peter believed solving her problem would get her thinking about what made him tick and she was going to be thinking about him after he left. Dana smiled and bet she would. Before she could completely close the door, Peter stuck his face back in and asked for a kiss. She pushed his face out the door and slammed it shut. Louis Tully came out of his apartment, thinking it was Dana, and tried to go in but he was locked out. He stood with his back to his door. Peter went down the hall lost in thought.

After that incident, Peter, Egon, and Ray ate Chinese takeout for dinner at the Firehouse. Peter raised his Budweiser and made a toast to their first customer. Ray raised his Budweiser and glumly toasted to their first and only customer. Egon stopped working on a particle thrower and raised his TaB. They drank. Peter wanted to use petty cash to take Dana on a date under the pretense of making overtures to keep her as a client. Ray informed him their dinner was the last of the petty cash. Peter was silent then told him to chew slower. Downstairs, Janine got a call and hit the alarm. They suited up and went to the Sedgewick Hotel. Peter asked out loud if anybody saw a ghost. A beautiful woman passed by them. They all stared and smiled. The Hotel manager walked up from behind them and thanked them for coming so quickly. Peter yelped in surprise. They walked together down the main hall. The hotel manager explained the guests were starting to ask questions and he was running out of excuses. Ray asked him if it happened before. The manager replied most of the original staff knew about the twelfth floor then clarified he meant "the disturbances." He recalled it had been quiet for years up until two weeks ago and it was never, ever this bad. Peter patted him on the left shoulder. Egon asked if he ever reported it to anyone. The manager was mortified at the prospect. Peter played along. Egon rolled his eyes. The manager added the owners did not even like the staff talking about it. The manager hoped they could take care of it quietly. Peter promised it was done. The manager emphasized it was to be done that night. Egon, Peter, and Ray headed to the elevators. A man already waiting looked at them and asked what they were supposed to be. He ventured a guess they were some kind of a cosmonaut. Peter chuckled and explained they were exterminators who got brought in because somebody saw a cockroach up on the twelfth floor. The man remarked that had to be some cockroach. Peter warned him it could bite his head off. As the elevator went up, Ray sighed and realized they really haven't had a completely successful test of their equipment. Egon blamed himself. Peter echoed him. Ray remarked there was no sense worrying about it now. Peter dryly joked they were each wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back. Ray, not realizing he was sarcastic, asked anyone to switch him on. Egon turned on a switch behind Ray. As it activated, Egon backed up, making Peter move aside from his spot.

On the 12th floor, Ray and Egon were startled by a Chambermaid and blasted her cart with the proton streams. Peter yelled at them to hold their fire. She peered out from behind the cart and asked them what the hell they were you doing? Egon, Peter, then Ray all apologized to her as she gathered up her supplies off the floor. Peter turned around to them and remarked that was a successful test. Ray agreed and suggested they split up. Egon concurred. Peter also agreed and mused they could do more damage that way. They separated and headed down different corridors. Peter came face to face with Slimer as it hovered on the other side of the hall. He grabbed his Radio off his belt without taking his eyes of Slimer and hailed Ray. Ray repeatedly exclaimed he saw it. Peter told Ray it was in his hall and it was looking at him. Ray remarked he was an ugly little spud. Peter warned Ray it could could hear him. Ray instructed Peter not to move and it won't hurt him. Slimer took off from his side of the hall and roared. Peter screamed and shielded his face. Ray ran to Peter and yelled to him. By the time Ray arrived, Slimer was long gone. Peter was lying on the floor drenched in Ectoplasm. Ray asked Peter what happened and if he was you okay. Peter spat out some Ectoplasm and stated it slimed him. Ray was amazed they made "actual physical contact." He asked Peter if he could you move. Egon came over the radio band and hailed Ray. Peter remarked he felt so funky. Ray replied to Egon he was with Peter who got slimed. Egon asked Ray to save some for him then told them to get down stairs right away. He revealed Slimer just went into a ballroom.

Ray sighted Slimer flying around a chandelier. TPeter confirmed that was the one that got him. They slowly stepped out from the curtain. Ray gave the signal to open fire. All three fired at Slimer. They missed and nailed the chandelier. Slimer flew away. The chandelier fell on a table and smashed it. Ray admitted it was his fault. Peter pointed out it was okay because the table broke the fall. Egon remembered something very important he forgot to tell them. Peter asked him what that was. Egon told them don't Cross the Streams. Peter looked side to side then asked why. Egon stated it would be bad. Peter countered he was fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing and asked him what he meant by "bad." Egon clarified with an example. He told them to try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Ray realized he was talking about total protonic reversal. Peter understood that was bad or supposed to be bad. He thanked Egon for important safety tip. He told Ray to take the left and Egon to take the right. Peter headed straight down. Slimer chugged a bottle. Peter gave Ray the order first. Slimer stopped drinking and panicked. Ray opened fire. Slimer yelped and flew away. Peter cued Egon. Egon fired. He totally destroyed crystal ware, a three layer cake, and many, many dishes. Slimer flew behind the bar. Egon opened fire. Slimer flew away. Egon kept firing into the bar. Peter and Ray looked up at Slimer. Peter yelled at Egon to hold it and in a faux Texan voice told him, "Nice shooting, Tex!"

Ray wanted some room to put the Trap down. He asked Peter and Egon to give him some room. Peter and Egon threw a table aside then another. Ray emphasized they had to have the Trap in the clear. Peter held out his hands to them to stop. Peter admitted he always wanted to do something. He pulled the white tablecloth out from a table. All the dishes and utensils were upended. But... the flowers were still standing. Ray guided Egon to fire a confinement stream then gave Peter the go. Peter fired and wrangled Slimer, too. Ray instructed them to start bringing Slimer down. He reminded them not to cross the stream. Peter remarked maybe now it would never slime a guy with a positron collider. Egon told Peter to shorten his stream so his face would not get burned off. Peter looked down at his thrower in confusion. Ray announced he was opening the trap now and reminded them not to look directly into the Trap. Slimer was successfully trapped. Peter peeked around with one eye open. Egon got down on one knee and touched the Trap. Peter slightly nudged it with a foot. Blue electricity arced briefly. Egon looked up at them and confirmed it was in there. Peter aimed at the Trap. Ray was relieved and thought that wasn't such a chore.

Just as Mr. Smith was about the open the door, the Ghostbusters came out. Peter declared, "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!" The manager asked them if they saw it and what it was. Ray confirmed they got it. Peter turned away from Mrs. Van Hoffman and got out a blue notepad and pen from the pocket under his name tag. Peter eyed Egon as he spoke. Peter cleared his throat twice then signaled it was time to talk seriously. As Peter talked about the cost of entrapment, Egon flashed four fingers against his left cheek to Peter. Peter stated it would cost $4000. He then informed the manager they were having a special that week on proton charging and storage of the beast. Egon nodded and touched the tip of his nose with his right index finger. Peter revealed that was only going to come to $1000. The Manager stiffened up and refused to pay them $5000. The Manager stuffed his handkerchief back in his suit pocket. Peter told him that was all right and they could just put it right back in there. Ray confirmed that was true. They turned back towards the ballroom. The manager ran to them and caved. He ran up to Ray and grabbed his arm then stated he would pay anything. Peter ripped an invoice out, thanked the manager, handed him the bill, patted his arm, and walked down the hall with Ray close behind. Peter held an impromptu press conference outside the Sedgewick Hotel. Reporters jotted down as Peter spoke. Peter pitched the Ghostbusters worked twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, no job was too big, and no fee was too big.

The Ghostbusters became popular and got busy around town with catching other ghosts. Peter and Ray headed to Ecto-1 outside the Tai Hong Lau Restaurant at 70 Mott Street. A man ran after them and handed out two roast duck. Ray and Peter turned around and Ray bowed in thanks then Peter as they accepted the ducks. Peter, Ray, and Egon jogged out of Rockefeller Center. Peter had on Ecto Goggles and was holding a smoking Trap. The Ghostbusters, with their particle throwers drawn, jogged down Mott Street in Chinatown, going from 56 to 64 Mott Street. The Ghostbusters were called to the fashionable dance club, The Rose, where they slugged it out with a "pretty pesky poltergeist," then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance. One day when Ecto-1 pulled up to the Firehouse, two fans asked a ragged looking Peter for his autograph as he got out. A man in a brown coat was on the left side snapping Polaroid photographs. All the articles about the Ghostbusters were affixed to the back wall of Peter's office.

A weary Peter and Ray returned from a case in Brooklyn and both were smoking. Their flightsuits had some ectoplasmic residue splattered about. Ray stated he needed some sleep badly. Peter agreed he didn't look good. Ray was surprised by Peter's observation. Peter thought he looked better and didn't used to look like this. Peter tossed an invoice on Janine's desk. She scoffed at the smoke from the Traps. Peter told her that was the paper on the Brooklyn job and the female client paid with Visa. Janine handed out a piece of paper and told them that was the evening worksheet then brought Winston Zeddemore to their attention. Ray stopped and turned around. Ray took one look at him and hired him for the open position. He introduced himself and Peter. Peter congratulated Winston and shook his hand. She told Peter there was a man waiting in his office from the EPA and she had been working two weeks without a break and that he promised he would hire more help. Peter remarked someone with her qualifications would have no trouble finding a topflight job in either the food service or housekeeping industries. As the phone rang once more, Peter replied to her, "Are you going to answer that?"

Peter soon met the representative, Walter Peck in his office. Peter entered and asked how he could help him. Peck introduced himself then stood. He continued that he represented the Environmental Protection Agency, the third district. Peter shook his hand and asked how it was going down there. Peck looked at the ectoplasmic residue on his hand and got out his handkerchief. Peter patted his shoulder and left more ectoplasm. Peck noticed it. Peck asked him if he was Peter Venkman. Peter sat at his desk and clarified he was "Dr. Venkman." Peck asked exactly what kind of doctor he was. Peter stated he had Ph.D.'s in parapsychology and psychology. He slightly gestured to his framed degrees on the wall. Peck noted he now caught ghosts. Peter found that an acceptable summary. Peck asked how many ghosts had been caught. Peter replied he was not at liberty to say. Peck asked where the ghosts went after they were captured. Peter told him they went into a storage facility. Janine peeked at them. Peck asked if the storage facility was located on the premises. Peter confirmed that. Peck asked to see it. Peter said no. Peck asked why not and turned to Peter. Peter revealed he had not used the magic word. Peck pulled up one of the chairs and sat. He asked what was the magic word. Peter was shocked and answered, "Please." Peck sneered and asked if he could please see the storage facility. Peter asked why he wanted to see the storage facility Peck's demeanor changed. Peck admitted he was curious and wanted to know more about the Ghostbusters' operations in order assess for any possible environmental impact like the presence of noxious, possibly hazardous waste chemicals in their basement. Peck demanded to see the storage facility or he would come back with a court order. Peter told him to go get a court order. He stood and told Peck he would sue him for wrongful prosecution. Peck stood up and was face-to-face with Peter. Peck warned Peter he could have it his way and left. Peter went to the basement and walked over to the Containment Unit. He told Egon, Ray, and Winston they had a visit from the Environmental Protection Agency then asked how the was grid holding up. Ray remarked not good. Winston implored Egon to tell him about "the The Twinkie Twinkie." Peter turned to them and was concerned. He inquired what about it.

Peter had stopped by at one of Dana's orchestra rehearsals at Lincoln Center. After the rehearsal, she noticed Peter near the fountain hopping in a line on one leg. She walked over to him. Peter told her she was the best one in her row. She thanked him and noted most people could not hear her with the whole orchestra playing. Peter retorted he did not have to take that abuse from her because he had hundreds of people dying to abuse him. The Violinist circled them and sat down at the fountain. Dana noted he was a celebrity then asked about her case. Peter noticed the Violinist. The Violinist inserted some nasal spray in each nostril. He asked her, "Who's the stiff?" She answered "The stiff happens to be one of the finest musicians in the world." She pressed him for information on her case. Peter confirmed he did but wanted to tell her in private. She suggested telling her now. Peter complied and revealed they found the name Zuul. It was a demigod worshiped around 6000 B.C. but Peter paused and asked how to say a word. Dana leaned in and looked at his paper. She pronounced Hittites for him. He continued and said Zuul was worshiped by the Hittites, the Mesopotamians and the Sumerians. Dana took the paper and read the notes. She read out loud that Zuul was the minion of Gozer. She asked what Gozer was. Peter hinted Gozer was very big in Sumeria. She wanted to know what Gozer was doing in her refrigerator. Peter assured her they were working on it and suggested getting together Thursday night, around nine-ish, to exchange information. Dana smiled and told him she was busy. Peter observed she seemed to think there was something wrong up with her thinking he enjoyed taking his evenings off and spending it with his clients. The Violinist clutched his case. Peter claimed he was making a special exception in your case because he respected her as an artist and as a dresser. He admired the "magnificent coordination" she was wearing. Trying to keep down commotion, Dana reluctantly said, "I'll see you Thursday." He promised to bring The Roylance Guide to Secret Societies and Sects and they would eat and read. She tried to leave with the Violinist. The Violinist looked at Peter. Peter acknowledged him. The Violinist asked who the hell Peter was. Dana replied he was just a friend. The Violinist wasn't buying it. Dana clarified he was an old friend. Peter shouted he would see her Thursday and apologized to the Violinist about not getting to meet him. Peter added he was glad the Violinist was feeling much better but thought he still looked very pale and suggested a little sun. The Violinist asked what Peter did. Dana told him Peter was a scientist. Peter copied a roller skater and spun around.

On Thursday night, Peter bought flowers and took a cab to 550 Central Park West. As Peter went on his way to see Dana and take her out on a date, he noticed a commotion at the entrance to the building and at the apartment of Dana's neighbor Louis. Peter asked a police officer what happened. A police officer stopped taking statements from the Doorman and a neighbor and remarked some moron brought a cougar to a party, and it went berserk. Peter knocked on Dana's door. Dana answered but she was possessed by Zuul. He noticed that that she had undergone a radical change and was now acting very strangely. She had wild hair and wore a bright red dress. He commented that was a different look for her. She asked Peter if he was the Keymaster. Peter replied he was not, not that he knew of. She slammed the door in his face. He tried to look through peephole then he knocked again. She opened the door again and asked if he was the Keymaster. Peter lied he was and made his way inside Dana's apartment. He lied he was a friend of his and he told him to meet him at her apartment. He inquired about her name. She stated she was Zuul, the Gatekeeper, and they must prepare for the coming of Gozer, "The Destructor". Peter replied, "Oh..." and noticed slime seeping through the kitchen door and furniture. He asked if they were still going out. He suggested she pick up the place if she was expecting someone. The possessed Dana quickly led Peter to the bedroom where she tried to seduce him asking him "Do you want this body?" which he rebuked asking if it was a trick question. The possessed Dana was unrelenting in her seduction, telling Peter "Take me now subcreature." Peter quipped they never talked anymore. Dana grabbed him and pulled him down on the bed. He told her to take it easy and he made it a rule never to get involved with possessed people. She passionately kissed him. Peter clarified it was more of a guideline than a rule. She rolled him over on top of her telling him "I want you inside me". Peter told her she already had two people inside her already. Peter broke off and went off the bed. She sat up. He urged her to just quit trying to upset and disturb him and to relax. He fixed her skirt and covered her legs then pushed her back down on her back and instructed her to put her hands on her chest. He asked to talk to Dana. She stated there was no Dana, only Zuul. Peter refused to believe that and kept asking for Dana. Peter proceeded to try to talk to the real Dana Barrett, ignoring her seductive advances in the process. While asking for Dana, an inhuman growling voice replied that "There is no Dana, only Zuul". Peter gave Zuul to the count of three to leave Dana's body to which she responded by turning her eyes white, thrashing her head back and forth on her bed then growling furiously like a beast at him and levitating above her bed. Peter, realizing the seriousness of Dana's condition, pleaded with her to come down. Zuul suddenly roared. He recoiled. He sedated her and called Egon to explain what was going on.

Peter announced he had some news from the world of Gozer. Dana was asleep on her bed but panting hard. Egon asked Peter what it was. Peter informed Egon he was with Dana and Gozer made some moves on his would-be girlfriend. Egon asked how she was doing. Peter quipped he thought they could get her a guest shot on Wild Kingdom then revealed he just whacked her up with about 300 cc's of Thorazine. Peter was sitting on the floor of Dana's bedroom. His coat jacket was off and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. Peter noted she was saying she was the Gatekeeper and asked Egon if that made any sense to him. Egon revealed he just met the Keymaster. Peter thought that was wonderful and they should get them together. Egon thought that would be extraordinarily dangerous. Peter relented and advised Egon to hold onto the Keymaster and he would head back to the Firehouse. Egon liked the idea and hung up. Peter held Dana's left wrist and checked her pulse. Peter spoke to Dana like she was listening and declared he had to go to work. He asked her to stay in bed until he came back then kissed her left shoulder.

On Friday morning, Peter returned to the Firehouse in a cab. Peter noticed various official vehicles parked by the entrance. Peter went to the basement. He softly patted the Police Captain on the back, introduced himself and tried to defuse the situation by stressing it was a slight misunderstanding and he would cooperate in any way that he could. Walter Peck was not buying it and pointed out he had his chance to cooperate but chose to have fun and be insulting. Peck declared it was his turn. Egon informed Peter that Peck wanted to shut down the protection grid. Peter quickly stated they were not going to be held responsible. Peter and Peck began talking at the same time. Peck told him they were going to be held responsible. Peter disagreed. Peck ordered the Con Edison Man to shut it off. Peck walked to the Con Edison man. Peter told him not to and warned him. The Con Edison worker pointed out he never saw anything like the Containment Unit before and he was unsure. Peck was not interested in his opinion and told him to just shut it off. With unease on his face, he turned to walk to the control panels. Peter got in the Con Edison Man's face and told him not to be a jerk. The police captain leaned in and made space between the two. The captain ordered Peter to step aside. Peck told the captain if he did that again, he could shoot him. The captain took offense to being told how to do his job. Peter thanked the captain. Peck yelled at the Con Edison worker to shut the grid off. Peter looked over to Egon. Egon stepped away and mimed an explosion with his fingers and mouthed "Boom." Peter, Egon, and Janine made their way to the stairs. The Con Edison Man pulled a gray lever down. The lights dimmed and several alarms went off. The red light above the Containment Unit flashed. The walls of the basement rumbled. Peck backed away. Steam erupted from between the bricks. Everyone ran outside. The roof exploded and a pink beam of psychokinetic energy streamed out of the hole in the Firehouse's roof. Peter shielded his face and exclaimed.

Ray and Winston arrived and were given the short version of what happened. Peter asked where the Keymaster went. Egon swore and could not believe they lost him. The Ghostbusters were about to take off in search of Louis but Peck, the Police Captain and some police officers barred their way. Peck wanted the Ghostbusters arrested. He told the captain they were in criminal violation of the Environmental Protection Act, and the explosion was a direct result of it. Egon exclaimed, "Your mother!" in response then lunged forward and grabbed Peck's collar. Peter chimed in and asked if the police heard what Peck called him. The Ghostbusters were arrested and put in the NYPD Lock-Up. Ray and Egon looked over their research about 550 Central Park West. Peter surprised the other inmates curious about Ray and Egon's conversation. Peter asked if everybody was getting it so far but he had no clue what the big deal was. He surmised they just did not make them like they used to. Ray slapped the side of Peter's head and exclaimed nobody ever made buildings like it. He assumed the architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko, then shook his head. Peter implored Ray to pretend for a moment that he knew nothing about metallurgy, engineering or physics and to just tell him what the hell was going on. Peter looked Ray right in the eyes. Ray teased he never studied. Peter grinned. Ray explained the whole building was a huge super conductive antenna that was designed and built expressly for the purpose of pulling in and concentrating spiritual turbulence. Ray lifted his blueprints off the table and pointed at the one under. Peter was kneeling down looking at them. Ray told him "his girlfriend" lived in the corner penthouse of "Spook Central." Peter stood back up. Peter stated she was not his girlfriend and claimed to find her interesting because she was a client and because she slept above her covers. He clarified four feet above her covers and she barked, drooled, and clawed. The inmates exchanged looks.

Egon predicted something terrible was about the enter their world and the Shandor Building was obviously the door. Egon revealed the architect's name was Ivo Shandor. He found the name in Tobin's Spirit Guide. Shandor was also a doctor who performed a lot of unnecessary surgery and then in 1920, he founded a secret society. Peter guessed they were Gozer worshipers. Egon confirmed. Peter teased Ray with "No studying." Ray made a face. Egon continued and revealed after the First World War, Shandor decided that society was too sick to survive the cult conducted rituals up on the roof intended to bring about the end of the world. Egon concluded the end of the world may actually happen. Peter suddenly broke out into song, "So be good, for goodness sake! Whoa! Somebody's coming!" Ray stated the obvious, they had to get out of jail and find a judge or something. Winston stepped and told them to hold it. He wanted to clarify their plan was to go before a federal judge and say that some moldy Babylonian god was going to drop in on Central Park West and start tearing up the city. Egon corrected him about Gozer: it was a Sumerian god, not Babylonian. Peter joked that was a big difference. Winston told them no offense, but he was going get his own lawyer. A Jail Guard called the Ghostbusters and revealed Mayor Lenny wanted to see them because the city was going crazy. Peter told the inmates he had to split because the Mayor wanted to rap with him about some things.

Walter Peck forcibly walked between Peter and Ray to the Mayor and introduced himself then declared he was prepared to make a full report: the Ghostbusters were consummate snowball artists, used sensitive nerve gases to induce hallucinations to make people think they were seeing ghosts so they called them, who conveniently showed up to deal with the problem with a fake electronic light show. Ray stated everything was fine with their system until the power grid was shut off by dickless. Peck quickly blurted out they caused the explosion. The Mayor asked them if that was true. Peter admitted it was true, and instead insulted Peck that he had no dick. Peck lunged at Peter. The police officers and the others stepped in and quickly held Peck back to kept them apart until they told everyone to break it up. Peck relented. Peter retorted that was what he heard. The Archbishop stated that officially, the Church was not taking any position on the religious implications of the phenomena occurring then revealed his personal opinion, it was a sign from God. He teased not to quote him on that. Peter quipped that was a smart move. Peter invited the Mayor to believe "Mr. Pecker." Peck clarified his last name was "Pack." Peter continued and stated his other choice was to accept the fact that the city was headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. The Mayor asked what he meant by "biblical." Ray clarified he was taking about "Old Testament biblical" and "real wrath-of-God-type" stuff. Peter agreed. Ray threw out some examples: fire and brimstone coming from the skies and rivers and seas boiling. Egon added 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Winston added the dead rising from the grave. The Mayor stood. Peter stressed there would be human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, then mass hysteria. The Mayor exclaimed that was enough and he got the point. He asked what if they were wrong. Peter promised if nothing happened, they would back go to jail peacefully and quietly and they would enjoy it. Peter started his pitch and pointed out if he was right, and they could stop the end of the world, the Mayor will be credited with saving the lives of millions of registered voters. The Mayor understood the implications and smiled at his advice. The Archbishop also smiled and nodded in approval as well. Peck expressed his concern over seriously considering listening to them. The Mayor thought. Peter smiled smugly and signaled with his eyes. The Mayor finally pointed at Peck and ordered him out of the office. Peter waved goodbye to Peck. A humiliated Peck childishly swore revenge at Peter and the Ghostbusters for his dismissal. The Mayor's aide and an officer walked Peck to the door as Peter quipped he was going to get Peck a nice fruit basket and joked that he was going to miss him. Peck relented and left. The Mayor turned around from the map and looked at the Ghostbusters. He asked them what they needed from him.

The Ghostbusters were released and escorted to Dana's building by a police and army motorcade as a dark cloud started to cover the entire city. Peter addressed the crowd behind the police barricades with a hearty hello. Peter shook some hands, leaned in for kisses, and gave high fives. Peter rose Ray's hand high up and asked everyone to acknowledge him. He called Ray "the heart of the Ghostbusters." Ray waved at the crowd. Peter thanked them and told Ray they loved him. Peter walked down the sidewalk. He shook more hands. He told someone he liked their shirt. A redheaded man cheered them on. Peter told the crowd he had to run and had a date with a ghost. He instructed the others to be professionals whatever happens. An earthquake struck and the street nearly trapping the Ghostbusters in a hole amid rubble. They climbed out relatively unscathed. Peter assured the crowd they were fine and they could handle it. The crowd chanted, "Ghostbusters!" over and over. Peter asked the others if they wanted to play rough. They huddled up, performed a hand-stack, and ran into the Shandor Building. Some time later, they groaned and panted as they climbed the stairs. There were still many more flights to go. Peter asked where they were. Ray estimated they were in the teens somewhere. Peter requested to be told when they got to the twentieth floor so he could throw up. They made it to what was left of Dana's apartment. Ray noticed the new set of stairs and pointed at it. He asked where they went. Peter stated the obvious, they went up. Peter was about to walk through the passage that was concealed by the wall and refrigerator but lightning went off. Peter motioned everyone to go ahead.

The Ghostbusters made it to the top of the building. However, they were too late to stop Dana and Louis from summoning Gozer and transforming into their possessors' Terror Dog forms. Peter remarked, "Okay, so she's a dog." Gozer arrived. Peter remarked whatever it was, it had to get by them. Ray agreed. Peter told Ray to go get her. Ray silently realized he fell for it. Peter gave him a nod. Ray took several steps up then addressed Gozer by name and stated that as a duly designated representative of the city, county and state of New York, he ordered it to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to its place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension. Peter was satisfied and thanked Ray. Gozer asked Ray if he was a god. Peter nodded "yes" to Ray. Ray replied, "No." Gozer blasted them across the roof. Peter declared this chick was toast. They marched up to the Temple of Gozer side by side. Peter asked them if they got their stick. They took out their particle throwers and yelled, "Holding!" Gozer crouched down and snarled. Peter shouted, "Heat 'em up!" They switched on the throwers then shouted "Smoking!" Peter yelled, "Make 'em hard!" They shouted, "Ready!" Peter declared they were going to show "prehistoric bitch" how they did things downtown. He gave the word. They fired at Gozer. It growled then double flipped across the air. It landed on the altar outside the structure. Peter remarked she was a nimble little minx. Egon suggested they better go full stream. They blasted her again. Gozer simply vanished. Peter quipped that was not so hard. Ray concluded they neutronized it and caused a complete particle reversal. Winston proclaimed, "And we have the tools. We have the talent!" Peter declared it was "Milla time!" An earthquake rocked the temple.

The disembodied voice of Gozer made its presence known and listed its titles then ordered them to choose and perish. The Ghostbusters stood up. Ray asked Gozer to clarify. Gozer explained they had to choose the form of the Destructor. Peter understood and found it cute. He explained to the others whatever they thought of like J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar Hoover would appear and destroy them. He told everyone to empty their heads and not think of anything. They had one shot. Gozer declared the choice was made. Peter protested. He asked Egon. Egon thought of nothing. He asked Winston. Winston asserted his mind was totally blank. Peter stated he chose nothing. Peter, Egon, and Winston turned and looked at Ray. Ray took a few steps back. Ray insisted he couldn't help it and it just popped in there. Peter inquired what he thought of. Ray tried to explain himself. Peter pressed him about what he chose. Soon, Gozer's Destructor Form, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, made its presence known. Peter remarked that was not something you see every day. Ray insisted he tried to think of the most harmless thing. He picked something he loved from his childhood, something that could never, ever possibly destroy the world. Peter sarcastically complimented Ray's line of thinking. Ray remembered he used to roast Stay Puft Marshmallows by the fire at Camp Waconda. Peter told Egon that Ray had gone "bye-bye" and asked him what he had left. Egon apologized and admitted he was terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. Stay Puft approached 550 Central Park West and stepped on the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church next door. Peter exclaimed nobody stepped on a church in his town. Ray hesitantly cued everyone to fire on three. They blasted down at Stay Puft. They only succeeded in lighting him on fire. Stay Puft clung to the side of the Shandor Building and climbed up.

Ray tried to make light of their impending death by a hundred-foot marshmallow man. Peter riffed and pointed out Stay Puft was a sailor in New York, they just had to get him laid and there would not be any trouble. Egon had a radical idea. He noted the door swings both ways and as a result they could reverse the particle flow through the gate. Ray asked how. Egon proposed they cross the streams. Peter recalled Egon's warning about doing that. Peter pointed out they would be in grave danger along with their client, the nice lady who paid them in advance before she became a dog. Egon revealed there was definitely a very slim chance they would survive. They exchanged looks. Peter stared at Egon. Egon raised an eyebrow. Peter gave Ray a friendly slap to the face. Peter declared he loved the plan and was excited to be a part of it. Winston grumbled the job was definitely not worth another eleven-five a year. They ran to the Temple of Gozer.

Peter told Ray he would see him on the other side. Peter opened fire into the Temple of Gozer, past its open doors. Ray told Peter it was nice working with him. Ray fired, too, and they crossed their streams. Egon and Winston joined in and crossed their streams into Peter and Ray's. The plan worked and the particle flow was reversed and forced the door to Gozer's dimension to close but an explosion was triggered. The Ghostbusters ceased fire and ran off screaming. The roof and top floors of the building blew up and destroyed the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Ray, Winston, and Egon came to covered in marshmallow residue. Peter came over to them but had very little marshmallow residue on him. They surveyed the damage and saw a charred Terror Dog husk. Ray blurted out that it smelled like barbecued dog hair. He realized his grievous error and apologized to Peter. Peter was melancholy. He turned and looked at Ray then walked away. Part of the statue's arm chipped off and fingers reached out. The claw fell off. Peter turned around. Dana groaned. Ray got everyone's attention. The Ghostbusters broke open the statue with their hands and Peter lifted Dana out. Louis, with a Terror Dog statue head on his head, walked around helplessly asking if somebody turned out the lights. Peter told the others to check on him. Dana was in a daze and asked where she was. Dana noticed Peter. The crowds cheered for the Ghostbusters. Peter and Dana kissed. Peter mimicked being overwhelmed. Dana shook the hand of a civilian then walked back to Peter amazed. He gestured her to Ecto-1. Peter escorted Dana into the car. A priest blessed Peter. Ray drove Ecto-1 carefully into position then took off. Peter high-fived a few from the front passenger seat.

Leonard "Lenny" Clotch is the mayor of New York City. He was played by David Margulies in the films Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, and by Frank Welker in the animated series The Real Ghostbusters. Though skeptical of the Ghostbusters due to his Catholic background (in reality, Margulies was Jewish), Clotch is apparently open-minded on the paranormal and thus quietly and reluctantly supports them when facing supernatural crisis. By 1989, Clotch is running for governor, and is assisted by Jack Hardemeyer until Clotch fires him for misconduct; he later rehires him. During the supernatural chaos "Vigo Incident of '89", Clotch meets the ghost of deceased mayor Fiorello La Guardia, which was an unpleasant experience for him. By 1991, in Ghostbusters: The Video Game, he is succeeded by Jock Mulligan as mayor.

Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters's secretary, is played by Annie Potts in both movies, and is voiced by Laura Summer and Kath Soucie in The Real Ghostbusters and Pat Musick in Extreme Ghostbusters. Janine has occasionally worn the Ghostbusters uniform and used ghost-catching equipment in the animated series. During the first film, and in both animated series, Janine often flirted with Egon but he remained oblivious. She dated Louis Tully in the sequel.

In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Janine contacted Callie Spengler to inform her of Egon's death and to arrange for Callie to collect Egon's belongings. She informed Callie that Egon had accrued a large amount of debt. In the post-credits scene, she and Winston discuss the latter's success.

Winston Zeddemore is played by Ernie Hudson in all three movies and the 2009 video game, and was voiced by Arsenio Hall in the first three seasons of The Real Ghostbusters. Buster Jones provided Winston's voice in the remaining seasons, and he reprised the role in a cameo on Extreme Ghostbusters. Hudson reportedly auditioned to reprise the role of Winston for the animated series, but he was rejected in favor of Hall. Unlike the other members of the team, Winston is not a scientist with a background in the paranormal; the novelization says that he was in the Marines. He is hired when the Ghostbusters' business begins to pick up. Despite not sharing the educational credentials of his coworkers, Winston often serves as the everyman of the team, acting as a voice of reason and displaying more common sense than the others. In the 2009 video game, Winston claims to have spent time in the Egyptian exhibit of the museum while in graduate school working on his doctorate, suggesting experience in anthropology or a related science, and addressing himself as a doctor, indicates that he has his own PhD.

The post-credits scene in Ghostbusters: Afterlife reveals that Winston's post-Ghostbusters career was highly lucrative as he built several businesses from the ground up. In his discussion with Janine Melnitz, though, he reveals that nothing fulfilled him like being with the original Ghostbusters, which is why he has secretly been financing Ray Stantz's occult business. He vows to expand the support to the new crew as they continue Egon's work.

The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man – mascot for the fictional Stay-Puft Marshmallows company – became the chosen Destructor form of Gozer (towering roughly 112.5" feet tall) after Dr. Ray Stantz "tried to think of the most harmless thing, something he loved from childhood and that could never, ever possibly destroy them." Stay-Puft also makes appearances in the animated series The Real Ghostbusters (most times friendly due to not being possessed by Gozer any longer, other times a bit cranky), and returns as a boss – the resurrected Destructor avatar sans Gozer – in Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Stay-Puft was inspired by Peter O'Boyle, a security guard at Columbia Pictures whom director Reitman met filming his previous movie, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone. According to Sam Delaney of The Guardian, "Stay-Puft's familiar mascot combined elements of real life brand ambassadors Bibendum (aka the Michelin tire man) and the Pillsbury Dough Boy." The costume was created by Bill Bryan using miniatures, optical compositing and Bryan himself in a latex suit. In the 2021 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Gozer creates Mini-Pufts as minions out of Stay-Puft Marshmallows as distractions.