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In Apocalypse - - What, Now?, the Codex of St. Theophilus, a book missing from an abbey in Greece since 1600s, turned up at a New York auction and is accidentally purchased by Peter. Unbeknownst to the Ghostbusters, the sealed volume contains within it the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.[2]

Cast[]

Peter Venkman

Ray Stantz

Egon Spengler

Winston Zeddemore

Janine Melnitz

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Father Yanos

Equipment[]

Codex of Saint Theophilus

Ectoplasmic Disintegrator

Ecto-1

Proton Pack

Particle Thrower

Trap

P.K.E. Meter

Electrical Gloves

Seal of Saint Theophilus

Items[]

Stay Puft Marshmallows

Locations[]

Monastery of Saint Theophilus

Norteby's

Firehouse

Athens International Airport

Athens Railway Station

Plot[]

On May 10, 1684, bandits stormed into the Monastery of Saint Theophilus. The abbot is worried about the raid and entrusted a young monk with the monastery's greatest treasure, the Codex of Saint Theophilus. He told the monk it mustn't fall into the hands of unbelievers and the seal must never be broken. The monk ran out of rope and fell as he descended.

In the present, around 2 o'clock, Ray and Peter were at Norteby's for a rare book auction. Ray wanted to purchase a copy of Benz and Franck's "The Ectoplasmic Gourmet." The auctioneer started a bid for the Codex of Saint Theophilus at $100. The dust brushed off the Codex caused Peter's nose to itch insistently. To make matters worse, the auctioneer thought Peter bid for the Codex. Much to Ray's dismay, Peter won it for $1000. Back at the Firehouse, Winston watched Egon work on a new device he called the Ectoplasmic Disintegrator. However, it blew up. Ray and Peter returned. Ray was annoyed he ran out of money to buy "The Ectoplasmic Gourmet" and walked off into the back room. Janine answered a call about a ghost in the chimney. Ecto-1 promptly departed.

Janine decided to go out for lunch. She couldn't find her book and took the Codex instead. Janine settled down in a park and broke the seal. Suddenly, the weather changed for the worst and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse emerged from a quartet of statues. Meanwhile, the Ghostbusters were on the way home after saving a cat instead of catching a ghost. Suddenly, frogs rained down on the city. The Four Horsemen passed over Ecto-1. The Ghostbusters shuffled out of Ecto and chased the Four Horsemen into a department store. The guys tracked them into the Women's Department and trapped them. As the guys departed, the Four Horsemen escaped from the Ghost Trap and caused Ecto to crash into a fire hydrant.

Back at the Firehouse, Janine fielded a rash of calls from all over the world, including the President of the United States. A special news report presented the devastation caused by the Four Horsemen. Janine and the Ghostbusters are visited by a priest named Father Yanos. He was from the Monastery of Saint Theophilus and lamented about being too late to stop the seal from being broken. He looked through the Codex and declared they could be sealed again by the Seal of Saint Theophilus. However, the seal was in Greece. The Ghostbusters and Yanos boarded a Balkan Airlines flight. Winston was uneasy as Ray requested a copy of "Malevolent Spirits Monthly" in vain. The flight landed at Athens International Airport with the Four Horsemen close behind. Yanos kissed the ground of his homeland. Winston followed suit but was simply happy to be on ground. Suddenly, one of the wings of the plane fell off. Peter then kissed the ground, too.

The Ghostbusters and Yanos took a train to the village nearest the Monastery of Saint Theophilus then rode on donkeys up the path. Then, when the trail ended, they walked to a lift. Since the 1684 raid, the lift was the only way to go to the Monastery. As the Ghostbusters ascended, the Four Horsemen appeared and sabotaged the lift. They landed on Yanos. With no other choice, the Ghostbusters climbed the mountain. Peter fell and was stranded on a small cliff while the others made it to the top. They quickly asked the monks for the seal and some wax. Utilizing the temporary strategic advantage, they trapped the Four Horsemen at the edge of the mountain. The monk with the seal tripped and the ring fell over the cliff. Luckily, it landed near Peter. With time running out, the Ghostbusters threw the Ghost Trap and wax to Peter. However, the wax landed on Peter's face. He tripped onto the trap and sealed it just in time. The weather returned to normal, flowers instantly grew from the ground, and doves returned.

Quotes[]

Janine: Ghostbusters. What do you want?
Peter: Now that's what I call an exit.

Father Yanos: They are the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Dark Riders. The Scourges of Mankind!


Peter: The Fab Four.

Trivia[]

  • The episode was recorded on August 22, 1986.[3]
  • "Apocalypse -- What, Now?" is the first script written by Michael Edens. He wrote it in two days.[4]
  • The title is a reference to the 1979 film "Apocalypse Now."
  • The Monastery of Saint Theophilus was raided in 1684. According to the script found in the The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection, it is on May 10, 1684.[5]
  • Norteby's was originally spelled Northeby's, likely a reference to the famous auction house Southeby's.[6]
  • Amongst the other bidders at the auction of the Codex of Theophilus at Northeby's, there can be seen stylized caricatures of Paul Shaffer and of Indiana Jones.
  • Peter Venkman and Ray Stantz were aiming to purchase a copy of Benz and Franck's "The Ectoplasmic Gourmet" at the rare book auction.
  • Janine mentions she read about wax seals in high school.[7]
    • In the June 9, 1986 script, Janine talked about a romance novel called "Passion's Pen-Pal" instead of wax seals.[8] The novel was about a poor but beautiful shepherdess who was in love with a duke who wanted to be a poet.
  • In the June 9, 1986 script, Ray mentioned the Haunted Franklin Stove Incident of 1847 at the prospect of catching a ghost in a chimney. This line was omitted in the episode.[9]
  • The four statues the Four Horseman manifested from were written to be of Civil War generals.[10]
  • In the June 9, 1986 script, the Four Horsemen were scripted to enter a boutique named "Revelations" after the last book in the New Testament which features the Apocalypse.[11]
  • After the Four Horsemen enter the clothing store, they pass by a female mannequin in a blue dress that briefly imitates a pose of Marilyn Monroe's from "The Seven Year Itch."
  • Egon mentions Tobin's Spirit Guide after the Ghostbusters first caught the Four Horsemen.[12]
  • The Ghostbusters don't have a toll free number.
  • The Washington Monument and White House are seen during the news special report.
  • A TV advertisement for Stay Puft Marshmallows is shown during the Special Report in the episode.[13]
  • In the June 9, 1986 script it was scripted that when Father Yanos arrives at the Firehouse, there would be a snatch of "Tubular Bells" -- with a theme from "The Exorcist" [14]
  • In the June 9, 1986 script, Yanos had one more nickname for the Four Horsemen, the "Horsemen of Doom"[15]
  • At the airport, in the June 9, 1986 script, there was a chubby tourist in a florid shirt with cameras around his neck shouting goodbye to his family, including an Aunt Sophie and Aunt Edna.[16] Later in the script, he cuts off the Ghostbusters and Yanos and takes the cab they hailed. The cab, with the tourist and driver inside, is carried off by the Four Horsemen.[17]
  • Balkan Airlines is an actual airline carrier in business between the 1970s and early 2000s.
  • When Father Yanos kisses the ground in Greece, Peter mentions Newark.
  • In the script only, the village nearest the Monastery of Saint Theophilus was called Megalagoumenitsadepsovderokastrozathyphoropolis.[18]
    • The name appears to be written in Greek on the sign at the village's train station.
  • On the way to the monastery, in the June 9, 1986 script, there was a section where a small stone bridge had collapsed. Death's horse kicked a boulder loose, causing an avalanche and creating a natural bridge for Yanos and the Ghostbusters to cross.[19] Pleased by the miracle, Yanos said, "Providence." This prompted Peter to reply, "That's in Rhode Island."[20]
  • The June 9, 1986 script misspells Winston's last name as "Zeddmore"
  • Slimer does not appear in this episode.
  • On page 12 of Ghostbusters Issue #5, the title of this episode is referenced on a flier outside Ray's Occult Books.

Animation/Continuity Errors[]

  • The design of Peter's office behind Janine's desk is way off for the pan shot.[21]
  • Winston's leg is briefly shown in uniform.[22]
  • Peter asks Janine to answer the phone; she replies that it isn't ringing. She then wonders, "How did he do that?" But the phone, meant to ring before she asks that question, rings afterward instead.[23]
  • When Peter drives Ecto-1, one shot shows him in his civilian clothes instead of his uniform.[24]
  • Before going and while through the mall to bust the Four Horsemen, Ray is shown alternatively with skin colored gloves on.[25]
  • The guys are shown in civilian clothes in the Ecto-1 while in front of the Firehouse. [26]
  • When the ghosts attack and cut the rope, Egon and Peter's uniform colors are switched.[27]
  • When Winston helps up Father Yanos, his collar is the same color green as Peter's.[28]
  • When Peter is standing next to Father Yanos, he is shown wearing civilian clothes.[29]
  • As the guys (except Peter) reach the top of the cliff to the monastery, one shot shows 2 Rays and no Winston.[30]
  • Peter is shown standing next to Ray (instead of Winston) and the Ghost Trap is missing its black stripes on the doors.[31]
  • During one moment of the episode, the plate on the Ecto-1 reads "Ectd-1".

References[]

  1. Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986).
  2. Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 16. CPT Holdings, Inc.
  3. Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986).
  4. Michael Edens (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Episode Introduction (1987) Time Life Entertainment.
  5. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 1. Time Life.
  6. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 3. Time Life.
  7. Janine Melnitz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1987) (DVD ts. 05:09-05:12). Time Life Entertainment. Janine says: "I read all about this in high school, I --"
  8. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 8. Time Life.
  9. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 9. Time Life.
  10. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 10. Time Life.
  11. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 14. Time Life.
  12. Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1987) (DVD ts. 9:53-9:55). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "We better look them up in Tobin's Spirit Guide."
  13. Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 16. CPT Holdings, Inc.
  14. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 20. Time Life.
  15. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 21. Time Life.
  16. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 24. Time Life.
  17. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 27. Time Life.
  18. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 29. Time Life.
  19. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 31. Time Life.
  20. Edens, Mark & Edens, Michael (June 9, 1986). "The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Collection" (2008), Volume Two, Disc Five, "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" Script, p. 32. Time Life.
  21. Janine Melnitz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 05:00). Time Life Entertainment.
  22. Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 05:04). Time Life Entertainment.
  23. Janine Melnitz (2012).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 05:19-05:29). Time Life Entertainment.
  24. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 07:35). Time Life Entertainment.
  25. Ray Stantz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 09:08-1029). Time Life Entertainment.
  26. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 11:52). Time Life Entertainment.
  27. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 17:21). Time Life Entertainment.
  28. Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 17:41-17:45). Time Life Entertainment.
  29. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 17:48-17:51). Time Life Entertainment.
  30. Ray Stantz (2012). The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 18:02). Time Life Entertainment.
  31. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Apocalypse - - What, Now?" (1986) (DVD ts. 19:45-19:49). Time Life Entertainment.

Gallery[]

Episode Screen Caps[]


Collages and Edits[]


RGB DVD Boxset Features[]


 
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