Later that night, the Deetzes have dinner with a few guests. "What you did with the place is wonderful", said Grace. "Not me. Them," whispered Charles. "So?", said Deila. Bernard looks back at Delia's weird sculptures. He's unnerved. "You like them", said Delia. "I hope it wasn't yet another of your dreary suicide attempts", said Otho to Beryl. "You know what they say about people who commit suicide? In the afterlife, they become civil servants." "Otho, I didn't realize you were into the supernatural", said Bernard. "Of course! You remember", said Otho. "After my stint with the Living Theater, I was one of New York's leading paranormal researchers until the bottom dropped out in '72". "Paranormal?", said Beryl in cynically. "Is that what they're calling your kind these days?" "Don't mind her," said Otho. "She's still upset because somebody dropped a house on her sister". They all laughed at Otho's joke. "Well, this looks really good", said Charles. "I saw some ghosts", said Lydia. "It's a little private joke Lydia and I share", said Delia. "It's not a joke", said Lydia. "Yes, it is", said Deila. "Just today she tried to convince me this house is haunted. Kids! You know, I love them!" "Ghosts?", said Grace in confused. "In designer sheets, no less", said Delia as she glares at Charles.
"I'd like to propose a toast to our intrepid friends who braved the Cross Bronx Expressway and two dozen toll booths to be with us", said Charles as he raised his glass when he propose a toast for his guests. "May your buildings go condo." "Now, Lydia, favor us about your ghosts", said Otho. "No! I am sick of that subject", said Delia. "Oh, Delia, lighten up", said Otho. "I would rather talk about...", said Delia as she lip-sync Harry Belafonte's "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" plays while she gets up and dances. "That's cute, Delia", said Otho. "Otho, are you doing this?", asked Charles. A whole routine plays out where everyone except Lydia dances. the shrimp act like hands and pull everyone's faces into the bowls and they fall backwards in their chairs.
Adam and Barbara run up to the attic and scream with delight. "We did it! Let's watch them scatter", said Adam. "Any minute now they'll come running out of that door screaming. Any minute now." Suddenly there's a knock at the door. "It's me, Lydia", said a voice. Adam and Barbara open the door and reveal Lydia. "They want you to come downstairs", said Lydia. "Delia says you can wear any sheets you want".
YOU ARE READING
Beetlejuice: The Novelization
HorrorAdam and Barbara Maitland die in a car accident and become ghosts trapped in their home. When a new family moves in, the ghosts try to scare them away, but fail. The only one who can see the ghosts is Lydia Deitz , the teenage daughter of the new fa...
