BETELGEUSE Script Treatment By

Rob Garlen

Based on the Film "Beetlejuice" Directed by Tim Burton, Written by Larry Wilson, Michael McDowell, and Warren Skarren

This is a work of Fan Fiction not to be confused with any official Product of the Warner Bros. Office concerning Betelgeuse, or Beeteljuice. I DO NOT OWN nor do I CLAIM TO OWN any characters appearing in this work of Fan Fiction. MAJOR DIFFERENCES: {NOTE: If you don’t want to read the treatment you can just read a list of noticable differences from this and the original film}

- More of a Horror tone, like the original script, much like a mixture of Fright Night {Remake} and Stanly Kubrick’s The Shining.

- The Original Theme would mostly stay intact but overall it would be tweaked as to create a darker, scarier tone to fit the tone of the new film. - The Maitland’s had a daughter, adopted: Cathy Maitland, that committed suicide over them taking a vacation because she wanted to spend it with her boyfriend, when she gets her way she discovers that cheated on her and suffered deeply from depression she jumped off The Bridge an hour after finding her boyfriend sleeping with her supposed best friend Jane Butterfield (Young Jane) {at the end of the film they would discover she was Reincarnated into Lydia, the Caseworker Juno saw her as being too young to stay dead and felt sorry for her, so she allowed Lydia to be reincarnated (much like all young kids are) but Lydia isn’t allowed to remember her past life as penance for suicide}

- Their Daughters death is the reason they never vacation out of home. - Jane returns 15 years later, aged 30, trying to convince The Maitlands to sell their home, even going as low as saying “it’s what Cathy would want.” - Little Janet is Jane’s daughter who’s likeness is identical. - Before the Maitland’s death they talk about whether or not they would sell the house if the other had passed away, Barbara says she would while Adam wouldn’t. - Lydia’s birth mother died giving Birth, Delia use to be Charles Secretary until they started sleeping together after Lydia’s mom died.

- Lydia is initially Emo, having cut her wrists attempting to cut suicide from severe depression but stopped herself {not realizing that it was actually her forcefully repressed Memories as Cathy that stopped her} and is part of the reason why Charles brought his family out there.

- Through the film Lydia is a emo and suicidal but her interactions with the Maitlands begin showing her the brighter side of life.

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 2.

- Charles is a struggling writer instead of having a career in Condo Real Estate. - Delia turned to art and clothes designing after failing as an actress.

- Delia is the one who sets up the Deal for “Big Max” to come down and look at the ghosts, this time in hope of turning the House into a “Haunted House” Museum. - Maxie Dean “Big Max” is a publisher and Art Dealer, his business partner Bernard attempts to dissuade Max from agreeing to deal with The Deetz. - Otho is Delia’s personal assistant and fashion coordinator.

- Otho is homosexual, and he does have a sister. - Otho lives with the Deetz on contract. - Instead of using the song “Day-O”, The Maitlands use “Thriller” possessing the party guests and even appearing themselves as “Zombies” - Beetlejuice (or as it’s occasionally spelled Betelgeuse) would drop hints as to other lives he’s lived but never directly stating, the other Identities he would refer to would be: Judas, Vlad the Impaler, King Louis the XVI, George Washington, John Wilks Booth, Adolf Hitler, Zodiac. - Otho invites his sister to a dinner party at the end of the film. - Beetlejuice will marry Lydia at the end, but dies because he is made mortal. SIMILARITIES:

- Beetlejuice’s signature striped suit.

- You have to say his name 3 times. - Beetlejuice is a vulgar fuck. He loves to cuss. - Beetlejuice keeps his perverted tendencies.

- Film retains the elements of a Black Comedy. - Most of the Story is intact. The big differences are in the additional details. 3.

BETELGEUSE Based on the film “Beetlejuice” Directed by Tim Burton Based on the script "Beetlejuice" Written by Larry Wilson, Michael McDowell, and Warren Skarren Screen Story and Script Treatment by Robert Garlen.

OPEN with a Preamble, taking place before the opening credits:

Arguing off screen in a house. A girl and the parents, all of screen the argument goes over the vacation the girl wants to stay, the parents want to go to Hawaii. The argument ends with the girl getting her way...

Hard on Winter River, Connecticut. Rain is pouring like a motherfucker. We see a young, beautiful girl (15) CATHY running down a neighborhood, happy, smiling. She runs up to a door, she knocks on the door, another girl (15) “Little” Jane Butterfield with just a T-Shirt on, and behind her comes up a boy (16) Timothy Michael. The three of them stare at each other like a deer at headlights. Cathy takes off. Wide on her running away... Slide/transition to: INT. Maitland’s Home. Cathy is in her room crying, writing a suicide note speaking it out loud, the camera pushes in on the note as it’s read: “I am so utterly alone. By the time you have read this you will have this I will be gone having plummeted into the Winter River Bridge, having no reason to live, as the one boy I love betrayed me. I am so sorry Mom and Dad. Goodbye forever... Cathy Maitland.”

We fade onto the Winter River Bridge. Cathy is crying sitting on the window opening.

ADAM MAITLAND (25) handsome, glasses, Fatherly, is working on a half built model of the city. BARBARA MAITLAND (25) Beautiful, sweet, Motherly bursts in the room, CATHY is gone. Adam searches her room finds the note, tells Barb he knows where she is and runs for it.

Adam bursts out of the house and runs with the note dropping out of his hand. ADAM finds Cathy at the Winter River Bridge. He runs down the Bridge hollering for Cathy, she sees Adam and leaps off. Adam sees her go and drops to his knees. Barbara finds him

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 4. with the note in hand at the bridge the two sit there and cry as... FADE IN: OPENING CREDITS: “BETLEGEUSE” No score. Instead it’s a funeral for Cathy. We go through the session and we see Tim apologize before Adam takes him by the neck and throws him out. Barbara stops Adam from throwing Jane out as she begins crying and begging for forgiveness. CUT TO: 15 YEARS LATER... WINTER RIVERS, CT...

The Maitland’s are enjoying their vacation, now respectively in their early 40’s. They’re vacationing at home, just like Cathy wanted. They get each other presents celebrating their 15th marriage anniversary. They almost ignore the subject of Cathy.

They talk and force the subject on each other. They decide they’ll try again for a baby. Jane visits to offer her condolences and to persuade them to sell the house, they give her a harsh no and threaten to have her disbarred from the Realtor Association.

She leaves, a bit pissy. Scene moves... Adam and Barbara sitting outside; enjoying a nice tan and sunlight. Adam is working on his model. He needs a part, He and Barb head out in their Blue/Grey station wagon.

They talk on the way there about whether or not to sell the house if the other passes, Barbara right off admits she would, Adam says he couldn’t live with himself if he ever sold the house.

They talk about Cathy, they finally agree they’ve come to terms, and can no longer blame themselves and agree to try raising another baby {but since they physically can’t have children they decide to adopt again}.

Adam goes through his routine at the hardware store, grabbing this and that for a model and exits. He and Barbara begin heading back home hitting the bridge, Where a stray dog forces Barbara off the road.

They sit in the car unconscious for a few seconds and sees the stray stands on a beam and jumps off as they plunge into the river - ADAM & BARB’S P.O.V.: CATHY - They wake up. Their bedroom; they look at each other, they know something isn’t right. They investigate and discover they’re dead. Adam leaves the house - the venture sends him

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 5. to OCEAN - He crosses the field to get back to the house. Barb tells him that he’s been gone for hours. They discuss the best course of action. They find "The Handbook for the Recently Deceased" on their coffee table. They flip through it look for what to do.

They walk through the house while Jane and her daughter JANET (15) {Spitting Image of young Jane} do a walkthrough with the DEETZ. Charles Deetz (40’s) handsome but hardworking. Delia (40’s) Lydia’s step mother, beautiful but she radiates pure bitch in her movements and the last member of the gang: Lydia (15), the spitting image of Cathy; but Emo, scars on her wrists, she accompanies Jane. Lydia talks to Jane, asking her what happened Jane explains the Maitland’s death, says they had a daughter that when the same way 15 years ago, Janet accuses them of suicide.

Adam and Barb watches them, they’re dumb struck at Lydia. They discuss with each other over her. They don’t know what to do, Adam checks the book, finds nothing. They overhear JANE and JANET talk about going up to the Attic. ADAM and BARB book it, running right through Jane and Charles, They slam the door. Jane pushes against the door, ADAM and BARB put pressure against it, fighting Jane.

JANE fights the door, now with Charles help! Barbara checks the book while Adam holds the door. He jams the key out. She looks around grabs a can of paint and a brush, she "paints" a door. Adam suggests knocking three times. She does.

Barb and Adam run into the "Dimensional Doorway" Jane opens the door nearly falling as she opens it. She proceeds to show them the attic...

FADE TO: "PURGATORY OFFICE" The Maitlands enter and go through the process. INTERCUT: Charles handing Jane the money, Lydia and Janet in the Background talking, Delia pantomiming disgust. PURGATORY OFFICE: The Maitlands are taken through the hallways by a decapitated female secretory. They enter a door, they are at the BRIDGE where they took their fateful plunge.

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 6.

JUNO, old, kindly, chain smoker. The Maitland’s case worker. They talk. Juno mentions to having met a Maitland before but dismisses it when The situation: Maitlands are dead, They want their House left alone. Juno tells them the jist, they want someone out of their house, they have to do it. Juno leaves them where they are. They notice that they were never at the bridge but in the MODEL!

They look around, hear some rustling. They leave the model, look around to find the house is being moved into. Adam looks at his feat to find a flier for "BETELGEUSE, BIO-EXCORCIST" Lydia looks at the looming house outside. Jane arrives to hand her a Skeleton key. They talk about the house Lydia asks her what happened and only get a "They passed away" The Maitlands set up an elaborate ruse, as the Deetz explore the house, and the movers move in, OTHO, large dark haired, but handsome in a very "in your face way" enters with Deelia, the two explore and see {following OTHO and DEELIA}: - The shower, ADAM in Drag, holding a bloody knife with Barb nude in the SHOWER cowering bleeding. - Barb stabbing Adam in the stomach as he hangs in the DINING ROOM. - Adam holding a chainsaw to Barb as she is on a meat hook in the KITCHEN.

- Barb stabbing Adam with a Machete LIVING ROOM. - Barb with a gun in her mouth, the back of her head exploding, in the STUDY. Nothing works. Lydia returns looking throughout the house. She snaps pictures of the rooms. She snaps a picture of Charles in the Study, in the B.G. are ADAM and BARBARA! Lydia pulls a double take on the Picture and the room. DINNER. The Deetz are speaking to each other about the new House. Lydia pulls her digital camera and asks about the people in the background, Neither Charles, Delia or Otho know them. The Maitlands are frantic about the move, they move amongst each other in the attic then...

On the attic t.v. as if it’s an omen... A series of images: - NUCLEAR BLAST.

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 7.

- FLASH of the name BETELGEUSE. - The man himself, Decayed and burnt pale white skin, green rooted hair, black lifeless eye, moss on his neck (Think original, mixed with the Heath Ledger Joker, Mixed with the Jackie Earle Haley Freddy Kreuger) Presenting himself very Hitchcock-ish. His signature suit. - He advertises his services, projecting images from other horror movies: EXORCIST, SHINING, SLEEPY HALLOW, and a Scene from the ORIGINAL DARK SHADOWS t.v. series.

- Flashing: SAY IT ONCE, SAY TWICE, SAY THRICE and you hire BETELGEUSE! The T.V. Shuts off.

Adam and Barb look to each other, they’re considering it. NIGHT. Lydia and Delia are asleep. Charles is awake on the phone with his publisher: MAX DEAN. They Hum and moan causing Charles to hang up. He opens the door to see ADAM in a sheet. He lectures Adam mistaking him for Lydia. BARB is haunting DELIA. Screaming and moaning but get’s no response.

Adam and Barbara enter Lydia’s room(Cathy’s old room) Adam slowly slides the sheet off, and tucks Lydia in ending with a "Good Night Cathy" and Leaves. Barbara watches her sleep. DAY. Winter River. Lydia is searching the town. She enters the BUTTERFIELD REALTY OFFICE. She asks for Jane. She is given Jane’s address. THE HOUSE. Adam and Barb look through the book and make an appointment for JUNO.

DAY. Lydia is at the Butterfield house. She knocks three times, Jane opens the door, Invites Lydia in. Lydia begins questioning her about the story of the Maitlands. PURGATORY OFFICE. Adam and Barb are pissed demanding help. Adam tosses down the flier. He tells her straight "help us get rid of them or we hire Betelborg here!" JUNO threatens "If you hire him. It’s your job to put him back. He won’t stop. He’s a killer. He’s slaughtered thousands, if you call him you have no idea what your asking for. And the only way to put him back for good is to trick him into saying his name 3 times, you say his name 3 times it’s only temporary"

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 8.

DAY. Lydia is getting the full story on what Jane did to Cathy, telling her that Tim was Janet’s father and Cathy’s boyfriend. Cathy was the Maitlands adopted daughter, and she committed Suicide because of what Jane did, and that Jane believes that all the years of pressure must have finally got to them. She tells Lydia that Lydia looks exactly like Cathy. Lydia asks for a picture of the Maitlands, Jane shows them an older picture, Lydia compares with the picture she took. It’s the Maitlands! PURGATORY OFFICE. They’re arguing JUNO urges them to get the Deetz out their selves, and comments that she never had trouble with their daughter, this infuriates the Maitlands and The Maitlands leave Juno’s office. Set in they’re mind. The walk to the Model. Adam calls for Betelgeuse! They’re zipped into the model They walk through the Model, the closer they get to the Ghost with the Most, the more noticeable it is, the Model becomes increasingly warped and insane the closer you get to the Graveyard. They reach the Gothic headstone with "BETELGEUSE" Written on it. Two stacked by it. The Maitland dig.

INTERCUT: Delia is fixing Diner with Charles assisting her. Lydia brings them the picture and tries to argue that they’re ghost, she shows them the picture of the Maitlands from Jane. They tell her she’s being delusional.

They hit a BOX. Adam opens it to find a Bottomless pit! TWO HANDS reach out grabbing at BARB, ADAM and BARB fight their way out of the pit. SHOOTING out of the PIT is BETELGEUSE!!! Crazier in person, his signature Suit adorned, Insanity in his eyes! They have their meeting: Betelgeuse begins molesting BARBARA. {Something he continues to do through the scene.} They try to make sense, they ask him questions and he answers like a smart mouth. He get’s them steaming. They get pissed. He threatens them if they leave telling them if they want to fuck off and leave he’ll hunt them down and make Death seem like a vacation! They escape. Betelgeuse is stuck in the Model.

DINER. The Party is: The Deetz, Bernard and his wife Grace, Otho and his sister Beryl. As the Dinner progresses the subject of Ghosts becomes overbearing. They start to hear creaks and moans, a wolf howl... They’re hearing the opening to... THRILLER!

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 9.

Delia is forcefully flung on the table as she begins doing Thriller, Lydia gets the fuck out of dodge, watching... The rest of the party are forced on the table! The small group performs Thriller!

As they climax kicks up, the Maitlands appear as Zombies and run at the Guests... Just as they’re about to grab them... They burst, blood and guts all over them. The guests open their eyes to see everything clean. Lydia laughing like a mad man in the corner.

The Maitlands watch as they guests begin laughing and complementing each other. They march to the attic and begin screaming and hollering. Betelgeuse laughs and makes fun of them and tells them "Time to shake the Juice, and see What shakes loose!" The Deetz wave goodbye to their guests. The night has wound down, Delia demands Lydia takes them to the Ghosts. As Lydia begins leading them The Floor begins Rising forming... BETELGEUSE, In a Giant Spider-Form. He spits webs at OTHO, His massive Spider-Leg kicks Delia against the wall, He hits Charles with a web and draws him in saying "I came for your family Chucky!" Just as SpiderGeuse starts crawling towards Lydia, Barb shows up saying "BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE!" Betelgeuse evaporates! Lydia runs and cries.

BARBARA and ADAM return to Betelgeuse’s hide out at the MODEL. They threaten to Kill Betelgeuse he argues their common sense of threatening a Dead guy. Betelgeuse threatens to force himself on Lydia to teach them a lesson, they question why it would intimidate them, Betelgeuse tells them that who she is is so damn obvious he’s surprised they can be that ignorant! Betelgeuse sees the WHORE HOUSE! ADAM and BARB are sucked into a vortex and let out at...

PURGATORY OFFICE, JUNO’S OFFICE. Juno is furiously pissed, then questions them about letting Betelgeuse loose, and why they’d want to have the Deetz out. Adam demands to know what she knows, Juno drops the bomb on them... Lydia is Cathy’s Reincarnation!

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 10.

DAY. Lydia at the public library researching the newspaper, she looks up the Maitlands’ date of death and reads the obituary, It wasn’t a suicide. She researched Cathy’s death she discovers that Cathy Died a month before she was born, by jumping off the Winter River Bridge.

THE MAITLANDS leave Purgatory office. They’re set. They want the Deetz to stay. They enter the House/Attic. They stand in the attic and turn to see {Jump Scare} Lydia!

Lydia begins talking to them. She shows them the pictures. The Maitlands start talking about how she looks like their daughter Cathy. Adam tells Lydia they want her and her family to stay. She asks about the Giant Spider. They point the blame on Betelgeuse.

She tells them about researching their death’s and Cathy’s. They decide not to tell her who she really is. DOWNSTAIRS - A Vampire-Bat-Betelgeuse stalks through the house chasing Charles, Otho and Delia! They fight the bat off Lydia calls him back saying his name 3 times. The Deetz demand Lydia takes them to the attica. the Deetz and Otho look around he grabs the Handbook and tucks it into his jacket. They search around Charles gets the idea to pitch to Maxie a Haunted House Art Museam from the old town. Charles calls Maxie Dean tells him to come with his best investors. Maxie agrees... NIGHT. Maxie, his wife Sarah, Bernard, Grace, and a group of 4 investors arrive to the Deetz home. The Deetz try to force Lydia’s cooperation. She refuses. Otho has a plan B. He gathers everyone around for a séance. He begins reading a passage that brings the Maitlands into our plain... but painfully causing them to hyperdecay. Lydia goes to Betelgeuse. Situation, she wants help, He wants out so that nothing can put him back. He needs to get married. She wants him to save the Maitlands. He agrees if she Marries him...

She agrees. "Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse." He appears stealing the show and breaking up the séance! He smiles, his eyes flicker with Demonic inspiration. He begins slaughtering the guests, leaving the Deetz Alone.

(CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 11.

He stops the decay, they begin to revert to youth! He won’t help the Maitlands till Lydia marries him, They speed through the Ceremony. He helps the Maitlands, a ghoul at his word. It’s at the apex. Barbara shouts his name 3 times. It doesn’t do shit. He says his name three times. He’s alive that trick won’t work. He chases them through the house. Attacking them using his magic to injure them. The Maitlands take a stand against him! Adam has an idea, He tells Barb to distract him and keep him at the fireplace, he walks out the door. Barb flashes Betelgeuse, he give the comment "Nice knockers for a dead woman!" He stomps after her She fades out. He uses magic to hurt her, Lydia makes a run for the Fireplace, Betelgeuse uses his magic to hold her against the wall.

Betelgeuse chases after her, as he gets to the fireplace... A SHARK BURSTS THROUGH THE FLOOR, ENGULFING HALF OF BETELGEUSE! "Where’s a utility belt when you need one!" The shark proceeds to eat him...

CUT TO BLACK: TIME CUT: SIX MONTHS LATER... Adam and Barb discuss their surprise with Juno’s help placing the bodies and a broken helicopter into the middle of the woods. Lydia comes home with her school supplies and pictures. She banters with Adam, talking about a boy she thinks is cute... Adam tells her it’s way to early for her to like boys.

Barb asks her about the math tests. She passed. She asks if she can do "IT" Barb and Adam look at each other questioning... They agree.

The lights hit. The music swells, Lydia begins doing THRILLER. The Maitlands dancing with her... Innercut: Charles reading the Handbook, Delia in her sculpting room. The Maitlands, Lydia, and Michael Jackson’s Ghost dance to Thriller as we... CUT TO: CREDITS!