In A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn, a possessed geranium is given to the Ghostbusters as a gift, who in turn present it to Janine. The plant soon grows and begins to overthrow New York, but how do you "bust" a plant?[2]
Cast[]
Equipment[]
Items[]
Locations[]
Lorne's Greenhouse and Garden Center
Plot[]
The Ghostbusters were out on a bust at Lorne's Greenhouse and Garden Center. The action started to get too intense and Mr. Lorne insisted he wait outside. A water hose floated up and shot Ray. The Greenhouse ghost exited the hose and ran off with a wheel barrow. He scooped up Winston then launched him into a pile of compost. Peter and Egon stopped at a row of geraniums and noticed one glowing. Peter opened fire and confined the ghost. Egon opened the trap but the ghost escaped into a nearby geranium. Egon was skeptical they trapped it but Peter insisted he check his glasses. Mr. Lorne was pleased and decided to give a special reward to the one who captured the ghost, one of his prized geraniums. Peter pointed to Egon.
As the guys drove back to headquarters, Peter downplayed the geranium's worth. Ray defended "Gerry" and cited in 1954, Boxwood and Hedges proved hibiscus responded positively to violin music, trying to use this as proof plants had feelings. Egon added they didn't like the tuba to which Peter wondered if anyone did. At the Firehouse, Janine admired Egon's geranium. Egon then mentioned he had pots at home because he used to employ plants for his experiments until they died. Janine guessed he over-watered them and recommended books by Professor Phil Dendron, the world's greatest plant psychologist. Janine listed some of the titles: "I'm Okay, Your Plant's Okay," "How to Be Your Begonia's Best Friend," and "Mulch to Success." Egon was impressed Janine knew so much and gave her the geranium. As Egon handed her the plant, their hands touched and Janine noted how romantic geraniums were. The moment ended when Peter appeared with a sandwich and asked if there were any messages.
At the end of the work day, Janine boarded the subway and returned home to her apartment. She showed off the geranium to a table full of other plants then placed it on her window sill. After Janine walked away, a pigeon landed by the plant. Suddenly, it glowed and increased rapidly in size. The next day, thunderstorms plagued the city. As Janine arrived at the Firehouse, she found Peter so bored out his mind he played Tic Tac Toe against himself on a window. Slimer was eager to play catch with Peter but was turned down. Peter then tricked Slimer by declaring they'll play "Hide and Don't Seek." Slimer was ecstatic, because he was fooled by Peter, and rushed off to hide as Peter counted.
Meanwhile, the geranium had gotten so large its vines crept down into the sewers and lifted up a car. A secretary noticed the car and vine but kept typing. Several vines entered Sol's Tanning Salon and settled on a tanning bed. Back at the Firehouse, Peter was still counting when Winston interrupted him. Peter didn't mind and started over again. Janine answered a call and announced something unusual was going on at Brooklyn Bridge. Ecto-1 pulled up and the guys sighted the geranium vines wrapped around the bridge. As they strapped on their Proton Packs, Professor Dendron ran up to them and declared the plant needed to be saved for scientific study. Ray did a sweep with his P.K.E. Meter and registered a P.K.E. reading but a vine grabbed him. Ray was hoisted up to a dangerous height and prompted the others to open fire. Ray almost fell to his death but he caught a giant leaf and used it to safely glide down onto the roof of Ecto-1.
Egon surmised they needed to find the center of the growth and pointed out to Brooklyn. The Ghostbusters rode a tugboat to the shore and marched in. They found out Dendron had beaten them there. He wasn't planning on missing the most exciting horticultural event in 100 years. Ray suggested they employ a 'slash and burn' strategy but Egon warned the resulting fire would destroy every inch of Brooklyn. Dendron suggested they communicate with love but he was soon grabbed. The guys held off from firing until Dendron agreed to it. Elsewhere, Janine arrived in Brooklyn Heights with some Dendron's Own Plant Food. However, her apartment was overgrown. The Ghostbusters chased after Dendron and found themselves in front of Janine's apartment.
They entered but were unable to stop the creature as all of Janine's possessions were destroyed. Peter and Ray were grabbed and Winston struggled with another vine. Egon suddenly got an idea and grabbed the emergency fire hose in the hallway. He returned and over watered the plant. It worked and the vines around Brooklyn died and crumbled. In the apartment, the ghost vacated the geranium and Winston trapped it. Instead of thanking Egon, Janine was irate at the destruction of her apartment. Dendron declared he would dedicate this to a chapter in his new book, "Geraniums I Have Known" and would send an autographed copy to everyone. Peter declined the offer and said he'd wait for the movie.
Quotes[]
| Peter: Widdle Petey Venkman gonna flhrow up. |
| Peter: "Safari, so good-ie. Had a ghost trap ready?"
Egon: "Yes bwana." |
| Egon: (sees Winston covered in compost) "Winston? You look like something that flew through a compost heap!! What happened to you?" Winston: "I flew through a compost heap." |
Trivia[]
- The episode was recorded on November 14, 1986.[3]
- In the The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection, there is an Introduction to the episode by writer Michael Edens. He reveals he came up with the premise for the episode on a flight from Tennessee to Los Angeles. He originally titled it "It's A Jungle Out There" but Mark Edens changed it to reflect a literary reference to "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."
- Oddly enough, Len Janson and Chuck Menville later wrote an episode titled "It's a Jungle Out There."
- The business' name "Lorne's Greenhouse" is a pun and nod to Lorne Greene, best known as one of the stars of the classic Western television series "Bonanza".[4]
- During the greenhouse bust, Egon refers to Peter as "Bwana." In this case, he appeared to use it as slang for "boss."
- Egon mentioned his home.[5]
- Sol's Tanning Salon sports a symbol sun reminiscent of its depiction in Japanese culture. This was most likely done because the episode was animated in Japan.
- Peter mentions his father.[6]
- In the August 27, 1986 script, Peter mentioned his uncle instead of his father.[7]
- Later on in the episode, Peter Venkman pays off the original title in dialogue by saying, "It's a jungle out there."[8]
- In the August 27, 1986 script, Dendron stated they need to use geometry to communicate with the plant, instead of love as stated in the episode.[9]
- It is revealed Janine lives in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.
- Three of Dendron's book titles were cut from the episode: The One-Minute Horticulturalist, When Bad Things Happen To Good Petunias, and Peonies Are People, Too.[10] [11] [12]
Animation Errors[]
References[]
- ↑ Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" (1986).
- ↑ Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 21. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Marsha Goodman (1986). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" (1986).
- ↑ Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 21. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Egon Spengler (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn " (1987) (DVD ts. 05:21-05:28). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "I have some pots at home. I used to use plants in my experiments until they all died."
- ↑ Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn " (1987) (DVD ts. 09:48-09:51). Time Life Entertainment. Peter says: "My dad used to sell that door to door."
- ↑ Edens, Michael and Edens, Mark (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Three Disc Five, "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" Script p. 15. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn " (1987) (DVD ts. 14:06). Time Life Entertainment.
- ↑ Edens, Michael and Edens, Mark (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Three Disc Five, "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" Script p. 24 CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Edens, Michael and Edens, Mark (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Three Disc Five, "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" Script p. 22. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Edens, Michael and Edens, Mark (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Three Disc Five, "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" Script p. 11. CPT Holdings, Inc.
- ↑ Edens, Michael and Edens, Mark (2009). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection Volume Three Disc Five, "A Ghost Grows in Brooklyn" Script p. 9. CPT Holdings, Inc.
Gallery[]
Episode Screen Caps[]
Collages and Edits[]
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