Beetlejuice Page #5

ADAM:

This book reads like the Tax

Code. I don't see anything

about "Rewards and Punish-

ments" or "Heaven and Hell".

Wait, maybe this is something,

under "Geographical and Temporal

Perimeters." (Reading)

"Functional perimeters vary

from manifestation to mani-

festation." It really does

sound like the IRS had a

hand in this.

He looks up but BARBARA is nowhere to be seen in the room.

ADAM:

Barbara! Where --

The closet door swings slowly open, so that the full-length

mirror inside the door is directly facing ADAM in bed.

But it's not ADAM who's reflected, holding the Handbook on top of

the covers, it's BARBARA.

ADAM:

How did you get in there?

BARBARA:

I walked through. It's

easy.

ADAM:

What's it like?

INT:
BEDROOM IN MIRROR -- NIGHT

The bedroom is reversed, but there are other things different

too. The room just fades out on the edges, and beyond is the

great void that ADAM was in earlier.

BARBARA begins to feel frightened. She peers at her side of the

mirror and sees ADAM in bed on the other side. The image is dark

and fading -- as if the door between the two worlds were closing

off.

BARBARA:

It's --

The mirror grows darker.

On all sides of her, the walls of the room fade away entirely.

The room tilts, and the furniture slides away into the void.

At the last possible moment, BARBARA bolts through the mirror

back into the real world.

INT:
THE REAL BEDROOM -- NIGHT

ADAM looks at his wife. BARBARA is shaken.

ADAM:

The handbook discourages

that sort of experimentation.

Trans-dimensional insta-

bilities, whatever that

means.

BARBARA:

I've got a pretty good

idea.

EXT:
WINTER RIVER DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET -- DAY

Showing the appliance store, with a black wreath on top of the

GONE ON VACATION sign.

Across the street is JANE BUTTERFIELD'S REAL ESTATE AGENCY.

IN THE WINDOW OF THE REAL ESTATE AGENCY --

JANE is squeezed between the glass and a large cork board,

bearing the legend AVAILABLE PROPERTIES OF DISTINCTION. She is

putting up a new photograph of ADAM and BARBARA's house.

At the same time, she's talking into a telephone with a long

cord.

JANE:

It came out of probate only

two days ago. This entire

house is replete with extras

and amenities sure to please

the discriminating buyer, such

as yourself. (Beat) I know

you'll love the place, Mrs.

Deetz. And so will your il-

lustrious husband and your

marvellous three -- two

children. (Beat) There is

a master bedroom suite con-

sisting of a bedroom of di-

mensions approximately fif-

teen by twenty-two feet, two

large walk-in closets with

full-length bevelled mirrors,

a third --

The fit in the window is so tight that JANE gets stuck. In

trying to get out, she slips and falls sideways, and is caught

even more securely in the twisted telephone cord. Two children

stand in front of the window passively watching her distress.

JANE:

Help! Help!

INT:
ATTIC AND MODEL TOWN -- DAY

The model town looks to be thriving. ADAM's obviously had plenty

of time for his hobby lately.

Right now, ADAM is setting up a small monument in the town

cemetery. It reads ADAM AND BARBARA MAITLAND / UNITED IN LIFE/

UNDIVIDED IN DEATH.

ADAM:

Do you think this is

heaven?

BARBARA:

In heaven there wouldn't

be stains on the wall-

paper.

ADAM:

This is how I always

imagined heaven. Being in

this house. With you.

With time to do all the things

I never had time to do before.

INT:
GUEST BEDROOM -- DAY

This is the bedroom with ADAM and BARBARA's wedding photograph in

it.

BARBARA stands leaning against the sill of the window, looking

out over distant Winter River.

ADAM comes in behind her.

ADAM:

Cabin fever?

BARBARA:

What?

ADAM:

Do you feel trapped? We're

not allowed to leave the house.

BARBARA:

No. I don't feel trapped.

I never imagined death would

be like this. I'm so happy.

Sometimes I just wonder how

long it's going to last. How

long we're going to be allowed

to stay here.

INT:
LIVING ROOM -- DAY

BARBARA and ADAM are dancing to Artie Shaw. The Manual lies open

on the coffee table.

ADAM continues the conversation from upstairs.

ADAM:

It'll take us at least a

hundred years to get through

that manual.

BARBARA:

I don't know why you keep

trying. It hasn't told us

one useful thing yet.

ADAM:

At least we know we're supposed

to stay away from shellfish.

They dance on for a minute, and then, while dancing, a thoughtful

expression creeps over ADAM's features.

BARBARA:

What are you thinking about?

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