GHOSTBUSTERS - WHAT'S THE PLOT?

GHOSTBUSTERS:  What’s the Plot?

Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler are scientists at Columbia University investigating the paranormal. While investigating an alleged paranormal activity at the New York Public Library, they come face to face with a ghost. Even though they end up running scared after their encounter, they think about the possibility of investigating ghost sightings more seriously.

The Dean of the University, already tired of their controversial research, fires them and kicks them out of the university campus. In response, they create "Ghostbusters", a paranormal investigation and elimination service. 

After borrowing money from a bank, they convert an abandoned firehouse, develop high-tech equipment to capture and contain ghosts, and convert an old ambulance into the "Ecto-mobile" to support their business. 

Seeing the “Ghostbusters” television ad, a skeptical cellist, Dana Barrett, is initially dismissive but reluctantly calls them after a paranormal encounter in her kitchen. 

Venkman investigates the incident and is immediately smitten by Dana. He tries his best to appear professional and confident at his job. Recounting the event, she describes opening her refrigerator and seeing a creature that utters a single word: "Zuul."
Venkman reassures her and becomes romantically interested, while Ray and Egon research her claims. 

Business is slow and to the point of bankruptcy until they are hired to remove a ghost from the Sedgewick Hotel. There, Egon warns the group never to cross the energy streams of their proton pack weapons, as this could cause a catastrophic explosion. 

After a few mishaps at the Hotel trying to catch a feisty ghost nicknamed “Slimer”, they manage capture it and deposit it in a special containment unit in the firehouse. 

To their surprise, their business booms as paranormal activity increases across New York City and become media celebrities. 

To cope with demand, they hire a fourth member, Winston Zeddemore.

Suspicious of their operation, Walter Peck, an Environmental Protection Agency inspector, asks to evaluate their equipment but storms out after Venkman insults him. 

Privately, Egon warns the team the increase in supernatural activity is becoming dangerous and their equipment is at risk of failing under the stress. 

Venkman meets with Dana. He shares that Zuul was a demigod worshiped as a servant to "Gozer the Gozerian," a shape-shifting god of destruction. He convinces Dana to discuss her case further over dinner. Venkman is clearly more interested in getting a romantic date with her than solving the case. However, when Dana returns home, she is possessed by Zuul.

In a nearby apartment, a nearly identical entity manifests, then chases and possesses her nerdy neighbor, Louis Tully. 

When Venkman arrives he finds the possessed Dana claiming to be "the Gatekeeper."
Louis, also possessed, is found by police officers and claims he is "Vinz Clortho, the Keymaster of Gozer." The Ghostbusters agree they need to regroup but keep the pair separated. 

Peck returns with law-enforcement and city workers to have the Ghostbusters arrested and orders the deactivation of their ghost containment system.  

Stressed beyond capacity, the shutdown causes an explosion that releases the captured ghosts, and the Ghostbusters are detained. 

Louis, still possessed, manages to escape in the confusion and makes his way to the apartment building where he meets Dana. 

In jail, Ray and Egon reveal that Dana's building is the true source of the supernatural increase. 

The freed ghosts wreck havoc on the city, creating mass hysteria. Faced with chaos in the city, the Ghostbusters convince the mayor to release them over Peck's protests. 

On the apartment building roof, Dana and Louis open the gate between dimensions and transform into supernatural creatures just as the Ghostbusters arrive. 

Gozer, in the form of a beautiful woman, arrives, and Ray attempts to reason with her first. When this fails, Gozer attacks, forcing the Ghostbusters to attempt to trap her, but she disappears. 

Her disembodied voice demands the Ghostbusters "choose the form of the destructor."
Raymond inadvertently recalls a beloved corporate mascot from his childhood, and Gozer reappears in the form of a giant, "Stay Puft" marshmallow man that proceeds to attack the city. 

The Ghostbusters try their best to stop the Marshmallow Man without much success. Egon tells the team to ignore his earlier advice and cross their proton energy streams at Gozer's portal. 

The resulting explosion destroys Gozer's marshmallow man form, banishes it from this dimension, and closes the portal. The remains of the Marshmallow man pour down the building, not only covering the Ghostbusters, but also a surprised Walter Peck on the street below.

The Ghostbusters rescue Dana and Louis from the wreckage of the explosion and are welcomed on the street as heroes.

The End