Ghostbusters (Chapter 15): E.P.A. Man

E.P.A. Man is the fifteenth chapter on the DVDs of Ghostbusters. This chapter introduces Walter Peck.

Cast[]

Equipment[]

Items[]

Location[]

Firehouse

Plot[]

Walter Peck waited in Peter's office. He was seated on the couch. 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 acceptable. Peck walked to the office gate and turned around. He 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. Peck walked a few more steps to the gate. 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.

Meanwhile, down in the basement, 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. Winston took a cigarette. 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." Egon nodded and took a bite of the Twinkie. Peter came down the stairs. 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 from Peter to Egon and implored him to talk about the Twinkie. Peter turned to them and was concerned. He inquired about the Twinkie.

Trivia[]

Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia[]

The scenes were filmed in Fire Station #23 in Los Angeles.
At around the 46:19 mark, to the right of the vintage Hook and Ladder No. 8 portrait, one of the newspaper clippings reads, "Ghost Busters Pinch Punk Poltergeist." In the September 30, 1983 draft, on page 61, the Ghostbusters emerge from a New Wave club named The Mud Club. Ray is holding a trap. As they stow their gear back into Ecto-1, they encounter three punks dressed in futuristic jumpsuits and Devo helmets and they stare at each other. The scene ends with the headline GHOSTBUSTERS PINCH PUNK POLTERGEIST.
- Two more clippings of the headline appears later in the movie when Egon and Janine interview the possessed Louis Tully in Chapter 20: Keymaster. One headline uses "Ghost Stoppers" instead.
It is revealed Peter was two Ph.D.'s, parapsychology and psychology.
In reality, the EPA has no third district. Region 2 covers New York, along with New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In the August 5, 1983 draft:
- On page 68, Egon says he is concerned about an overload in the Containment Unit and thinks they need a spill/release system. Winston and Ray look at the video monitor to see inside the unit. It looks like a sad and frightening limbo and a most unholy makeshift asylum. Winston thinks it looks too depressing. Egon thinks they're on the verge of something of the order of the Tunguska blast.
- On page 69, Walter Peck is described as a junior E.P.A. Administrator.^[1]
In the September 30, 1983 draft:
- On pages 69-71, Peter and Walter Peck's scene is now much like in the movie. It ends with Peter telling him to go save a tree.
- On pages 71-72, Egon and Ray show Winston how to deposit a ghost into the storage facility. Egon states he needs sleep. The Twinkie sequence seen in the movie appears for the first time in the drafts. Peter comments that's a big Twinkie. Peter can't bring himself to use the video monitor to look in the unit.
The P.K.E. levels analogy started out as "the universe as an expanding four dimensional balloon" but it was later changed to the Twinkie, according to Harold Ramis.^[2] It was also done with the notion that Egon snacks constantly.^[3]
Winston has the "That's a big Twinkie" line starting in the October 7, 1983 draft on page 52.
In Chapter 21: Out of Biz, after Peter arrives in the basement, Peck alludes to their initial meeting.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia[]

After being pulled over by the Sheriff Domingo, a Twinkie is seen in the Ecto-1's glove box.

The Real Ghostbusters Trivia[]

In The Real Ghostbusters episode "The Revenge of Murray the Mantis", Winston mentions the giant Twinkie analogy from the movie.^[4]

IDW Comics Trivia[]

In Ghostbusters: Infestation Issue #2, on page 1, the Twinkie metaphor from the first movie is used by Winston.
On page 5 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #4, Winston mentions Twinkies.
On page 13 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #5, a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips is in Peter's office.
On page 3 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #10, next to the helicopter is a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips, a product seen in Peter's office.
On page 4 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #15, a plaque references the 3rd District, Peck's station in the first movie when he worked for the E.P.A.
In Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #1:
- On the Subscription Variant Cover, behind Janine is a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips
- On page 19, behind Janine is the bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips.
On page 20 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #13, there is a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips.
On page 12 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #15, a bag of Wise Natural Potato Chips is in its usual place behind Peter in his office.
On page 9 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #18, Egon's footlocker has a Twinkie in it.
On page 3 of the Ghostbusters: Mass Hysteria hardcover collection, in the upper left corner is a bag of Wise Potato Chips.
On page 21 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #2, Egon eats a Twinkie.
In Ghostbusters Annual 2015:
- On Page 19, in panel 2, right of Winston is a nod to his "That's a big Twinkie" line in the first movie and Egon's estimate it would be 35 feet tall and weigh 600 pounds.
- On Page 19, in panel 2, left of Egon's boots is "Balloon will pop," a nod to the four dimensional balloon that was originally part of the Twinkie metaphor seen in drafts of the first movie and explained in annotation on Making Ghostbusters page 104.
On page 16 of Ghostbusters International Issue #1, in panel 3, in the bottom right corner is a Twinkie.
On page 20 of Ghostbusters International Issue #3, in panel 4, on the right is a Twinkie.
On page 2 of Ghostbusters International Issue #7, Peter asks Peck to say "please", likely a nod to the first time they met in the when Peter teased him with having to say the 'magic word' to see the Containment Unit.
On page 6 of Ghostbusters International Issue #3, in panel 4, as always, is a bag of Wise Potato Chips in Peter's office
On page 1 of Ghostbusters International Issue #4, in panel 2, behind Janine is a Wise Potato Chips bag, a staple of Peter's office since the first movie.
On page 19 of Ghostbusters International Issue #8, in panel 3, Kylie eats some Wise Potato Chips, seen in the first movie in Peter's office.
On page 4 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2, Egon eats a Twinkie.
On page 19 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #3, in panel 1, the Slimer 68-E is eating from a bag of Wise Potato Chips.
Peter and Peck's first meeting is mentioned in Walter Pecks' bio on the 35th Crossing Over Virtual Trading Card, posted on June 19, 2018.^[5]
On page 9 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #1, in panel 3, Ray and Winston allude to Egon's Twinkie metaphor in Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man.
On Cover B of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2, there is Wise bag under the desk, seen in Chapter 15 E.P.A. Man behind Peter.
On page 6 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, Peter mentions he has both a doctorate in Psychology and Parapsychology. He told Peck that in Chapter 15: E.P.A.
On cover A of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, there is a recreation of Egon doing his Twinkie metaphor in Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man.
On cover B of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, a Twinkie, first seen in Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man.
On page 4 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, Egon is in his gray sweater outfit like in Chapter 15 E.P.A. Man.
On page 6 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4:
- In panel 2, Winston mentions Egon's Twinkie analogy from Chapter 15.
- Egon mentions the Containment Unit was pushing capacity. He mentioned that in Chapter 15.
- Egon alludes to Walter Peck and his shut off order in Chapter 15.
On page 13 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4, there is a Wise Potato Chips bag on the table. In the first movie, one was in Peter's office in Chapter 15.

Ghostbusters: Answer The Call Trivia[]

In Ghostbusters (2016_Movie), one of the ads in Times Square quotes Winston's "That's a big Twinkie" line.

Tertiary Canon Trivia[]

On page 7 of Egon's Journal, a supplement of the Hasbro Haslab Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack, there is a reference to Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man:
- Peck speculating there were noxious, possibly hazardous waste chemicals present in the Firehouse.
On page 17 of Egon's Journal, there is a reference to Chapter 15: E.P.A. Man:
- The photo was taken between filming scenes in the Firehouse basement scene.

Quotes[]

Walter Peck: Now you either show me what is down there or I come back with a court order. Peter: You go get a court order, and I'll sue your ass for wrongful prosecution. Walter Peck: You can have it your way, Mr. Venkman.

References[]

↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 69). Bryant Gumble says: "WALTER PECK, a junior E.P.A. administrator, is reading one of the articles when Venkman walks in.""
↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 104 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Harold Ramis says: "We were delighted with the notion that this script could be so 'out there,' and yet still have a scientific and parapsychological plausibility. From a physics point of view, Dan was always talking about things like 'holes in the reality envelope.' Well, I didn't know what that would mean to an audience, so I came up with this 'Mr. Wizard' kind of analogy -- describing the universe as an expanding, four-dimensional balloon. And as I was talking, I'd be blowing up this balloon. Then I'd explain, 'If something were to penetrate the envelope of our reality...' -- and the balloon would pop. That then led to the 'Twinkie' analogy. The whole thing made sense in terms of the plot but it was just much too long, so only the Twinkie survived."
↑ Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 48:27-48:30). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "We also had this notion that Spengler snacks constantly."
↑ Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "The Revenge of Murray the Mantis" (1987) (DVD ts. 10:09-10:10). Time Life Entertainment. Winston says: "Great. Another big Twinkie."
↑ TomWaltz Tweet 6/19/18

Gallery[]

Selected Stills[]

Secondary Canon[]

Behind the Scenes[]


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[1] Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 69). Bryant Gumble says: "WALTER PECK, a junior E.P.A. administrator, is reading one of the articles when Venkman walks in.""

[2] Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 104 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Harold Ramis says: "We were delighted with the notion that this script could be so 'out there,' and yet still have a scientific and parapsychological plausibility. From a physics point of view, Dan was always talking about things like 'holes in the reality envelope.' Well, I didn't know what that would mean to an audience, so I came up with this 'Mr. Wizard' kind of analogy -- describing the universe as an expanding, four-dimensional balloon. And as I was talking, I'd be blowing up this balloon. Then I'd explain, 'If something were to penetrate the envelope of our reality...' -- and the balloon would pop. That then led to the 'Twinkie' analogy. The whole thing made sense in terms of the plot but it was just much too long, so only the Twinkie survived."

[3] Harold Ramis (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 48:27-48:30). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Harold Ramis says: "We also had this notion that Spengler snacks constantly."

[4] Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "The Revenge of Murray the Mantis" (1987) (DVD ts. 10:09-10:10). Time Life Entertainment. Winston says: "Great. Another big Twinkie."

[5] TomWaltz Tweet 6/19/18

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