Sunday
Beetlejuice woke up from the dollhouse couch. "Oww shit…" looking back at it's hard plastic pillows "damn thing's hurting my back."
He turned over to the barbie-like doll. "Hello beautiful." then stood up, taking a long stretch "Oooo !" the bones cracked all over his body "That's better."
Beetlejuice looked up the dolls dress…it's still not atomically correct.
"How long are you goina hold out on me ?"
The doll just laid there.
"Oh…it's like that huh."
He looked over to Lydia, who sat studying at her desk.
Beetlejuice turned to the doll and kissed it's cheek. "I gotta go baby…" stroking it's hair "don't be mad when I get back…" and heavily sighed "I hate it when we fight."
Beetlejuice disappeared from the dollhouse and re-appeared on Lydia's desk. He looked at her facial expression…she seems stressed out.
"Hey Babes, what's the matter ?"
She slammed her pencil on the note book. "I hate math !"
He grinned, looking at the paper. "C'mon, it can't be that…" gazing at the problems more closely, it looked like rocket science to him. "shit." pointing to the paper. "What kind of math is this ?!"
"Algebra."
Beetlejuice showed a toothy grin. "I'm good with cotton bras, satin, and lace bras, but algebra…I never took off one of those."
Lydia frowned. "Bee-Jay !"
"What…whaat ?!" He held his hands defensively.
Lydia still frowned.
"Oh, get a since of humor."
Lydia sighed, and continued writing. She looked over to her ghostly friend. "I really want to pass this math test."
He walked over and stroked her finger. "You'll do fine Babes, just don't stress out…" shrugging his shoulders "Why don't you take a break for awhile."
Lydia nodded. "Good idea." and released a heavy breath as she left from the chair, then she scooped Beetlejuice in her hand and headed for the bathroom.
She plugged the drain and filled it with warm water, then she reached for the soap.
"What I'm I going to smell like today ?" Beetlejuice asked in a sarcastic tone.
Lydia smirked. "Will you re-lax, I have the men soap this time." she mixed the soap with the water, and flicked him in.
He emerged from the suds. "Hey damn it !" then floated on his back.
"How's the water ?"
He rolled his eyes. "It's great…" keeping his sarcastic tone "c'mon Babes, hop in."
Lydia rolled her eyes, then realized something about the bottle she held in her hand. "Oosp."
Beetlejuice rose up from the water. "Oosp…what do you mean oosp ?" He smelled his wet jacket. "What the hell…" sniffing again. "It smells like…it smells like…" he looked at her with a frown. "cotton candy."
Lydia showed him a dark green soap bottle with a picture of a pink cotton candy cone.
"Great." He growled.
Delia hollered from downstairs. "Lydia…I'm back."
Lydia cracked open the bathroom door. "I'm in the bathroom, I'll be down shortly."
"Don't rush, take your time." Delia replied.
Beetlejuice sneered a look at Lydia. "I thought you didn't like her."
"Delia's not that bad of a Step-mother…she keeps my Dad happy."
He raised a skeptical brow. "She can keep ole Chuck happy ?"
Lydia shook her head.
Beetlejuice shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever floats his boat."
She scooped her ghostly friend out of the water, and placed a face cloth around his body; then they went back to her room, and placed him inside the dollhouse.
"It's my turn to wash up." Lydia grabbed a dress out of the closet, then turned to him. "Please try…"
"Don't scare the Step-mom…I know."
Lydia left the room.
Beetlejuice walked toward the doll. "Are you still mad at me baby ?"
The doll just laid there.
"Yeah, I know…" He stroking the doll's hair "I'm just tryin' to get by too."
Later that afternoon.
Lydia went to study at Prudence's house, while Beetlejuice stayed at home with…
"Let's see what that red head is up to."
Delia.
Beetlejuice float downstairs in his invisible form, looking around the house, he noticed an interesting art affect displayed in the gallery.
"She still has those."
It's the two sculptures he used to hold Delia and Charles captive while trying to wed Lydia. Then he turned and noticed something else.
"Wow." He smiled in awe.
It's Delia's sculpture of him in his snake-like form…the image is so perfect, it almost looks real.
"Not bad…" pointing to it. "I like it…" then grinned in pride as he walked away. "woman know a good thing when she sees one."
Delia was sitting on the couch talking to Chuck on the phone. "How long is the delay ?"
She stood up from the couch, walking toward the rest base of the phone. "Ok…I love you too, bye." and sat the phone on the charger.
Lydia walked in the door, her hands had dirt all over them.
Delia was taken aback. "What happened to you ?"
"My bike's back tier has a flat, and I tried to fix it." She looked around the room "Where's Dad ?"
"I just got the phone with him, the train from New York will be delayed for an hour or so."
This was no big deal, the train always had some sort of delay on a Sunday. Lydia looked on her wrist watch…it's 6: 30pm. The last time her Dad came home from a delay it was 8:30, 9 o'clock, which was ok.
"Get washed up for dinner, I made meat loaf."
Lydia held a small smile, her Step-mother's cooking was not the best in the world but still… "I ate dinner over Prudence's house."
"What they have ?"
Prudence's family were strict vegetarians, but it was nice to try something different. "Fried veggie Stromboli's."
Delia smiled. "Hmm…sound good." then poured a glass of wine "Well will you at least join me for desert ?"
Lydia's Step-mother cooked, but never baked. "What's for desert ?"
"Strawberry-chocolate cheese cake."
She loves sweets. "Ok."
"Come down in about an hour."
Lydia went upstairs to her room, and there waiting for her is a ghostly friend.
"Hello Babes."
She smiled. "Hi BJ."
"I fixed that flat for you."
Lydia looked over to him with a surprised look. "You did ?"
He grinned. "Well the big test is tomorrow, and ole Chuck is goin' be too tired to fix it for ya."
"Thank you." Then she sneered a look at him. "You want a reward, don't you ?"
He grinned. "Oh, how nice of you."
Lydia kissed the back of her thumb and smeared it on his cheek.
"Lame."
She released a small giggle.
"Don't you wanna hear what I really want ?"
Lydia wasn't sure what to think, she held a skeptical look, but decided to hear him out. "Ok, I'll bite…what is it ?"
Beetlejuice grinned. "I overheard something about a cheese cake, do you think I could…"
She smiled. "I'll give you a big slice."
He was taken aback. "Not too big…" patting his stomach "I'm uh…trying to watch my figure."
Lydia giggled.
One O-clock Monday morning
"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice !"
Beetlejuice appeared at his full normal size, snapping out from snoring. "What the hell ?" He notice Lydia crying. "What's the matter Babes ?"
She continued crying.
"It's one in the morning girl…If you're worried about acing that math test, don't worry…you're golden."
She looked up at him with tearful eyes.
Beetlejuice knew it was more that a test, that made her this upset. "Tell me what's wrong."
Lydia blew her nose. "I'm worried about Dad; he didn't come home last night, the train is still delayed, and I'm worried."
"Oh…"
She looked to her ghostly friend. "Please BJ…please help me."
"How do you want me to do that ?"
She wiped a tear away from her face. "I would feel much better if you could find my Dad and keep him company."
"Why is the train delayed ?" Beetlejuice looked at all four of his wrist watches "It should've been this long."
Lydia blew her nose. "Delia told me the train became de-railed near the woods." she looked to him with teary eyes.
He could never stand a crying woman. "Ok, I'll do it." and disappeared from her side.
Winter Raven Train Station.
Beetlejuice re-appeared on the side of the train platform labeled 'Arrivals'. He bend down to examine something completely new to him.
"These tracks are made from magnets."
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a Netherworld nickel, then tossed it on the magnet tracks…it stayed firmly in place.
"If the train didn't work, then it wouldn't stick."
He grabbed the nickel and studied the train schedule.
"Oh yeah…train 14, Chuck should've been here hours ago."
Beetlejuice floated in his invisible form to check out the control tower.
"What the hell ?!"
In his past life, he use to work, actually work in a control tower of a train station. He was looking for something in the lines of a mores code machine, a cage for the carrier pigeon, and a log sheet; but instead he found…
"Flashy gizmos."
He carefully studied the complicated modern equipment.
"What are they trying to do, manage trains, or launch space rockets ?!"
Beetlejuice only modern in two thing in the world of technology…using the phone to call for pizza or some special lady entertainment, and watching television. He looked over the counter and noticed one piece of familiar equipment…a hand held two way radio. Beetlejuice has sat in the backseat of Netherworld police cars several times, and seen them use the device.
He picked up the radio. "Train 14, 14 come in…over."
Nobody responded.
Beetlejuice clicked on the computer to look for the train, but the system is too technical for him.
"Damn Gizmos."
He floated to the ticket window and grabbed a map with train 14's route, studied it, and pursued course.
Train 14
Beetlejuice stayed to remain in his invisible form upon entering the train. He started by checking on Lydia's Dad…he's slouched asleep in a window seat, and the businessman next to him is also asleep.
Next he floated down the aisle way toward the control room…most of the businessmen where sleeping, the other where staring and typing on thin device with a bright colored screen.
'That's a weird lookin' typewriter.' He thought, then shook his head as he studied the screen. "What will they think of next ?"
Beetlejuice fazed through the control room door, and saw…
"Where is the bastard ?"
The Conductor wasn't there.
Instead, he noticed something else…the controls, and they appeared to be ok.
"If there was something wrong, then these light would be flashin' red." He placed his hands on his hips. "There's nothing wrong, so why is it here ?!"
Beetlejuice looked out the window and noticed the Conductor approach the train with two other guys holding rifles. He stayed in invisible form to spy on the three.
"We're goina clean house." Said one guy.
The other guy smiled as he sang. "Money, money, money…mon-ney."
"Mon-ney." the one finished off.
Beetlejuice could smell their strong whiskey infested breath, and became envious in thought. 'Can I have some of what you been drinkin' pal.'
"Please don't hurt anyone, I just want to pay back the loan." pleaded the Conductor.
The guy smiled at him. "Don't worry buddy…If everyone co-op-per-rates, then it'll be nice and clean."
Beetlejuice played that con several times in his past life and after-life, he knew by the look in their eyes that they do this fun, and someone's going die. He wondered in thought…'So they wanna rob a train huh…'
He looked over to the conductor. 'I'll need him to drive the train.' then sneered a look to the robbers. 'Them, I don't.'
Beetlejuice used the dark shadows of the forest to grab the Conductor, and appeared morphed as the Conductor.
(Beetlejuice using the Conductor's voice.) "Before you guys rob the business guys, I think you should start with the safe."
The guy turned to him. "Safe…you didn't tell us about no safe !"
"During all the ruckus, I forgot."
"How much ?" The other guy asked.
"More than $ 75,000,000."
The guy cheered a smile. "Woohoo dog…Jackpot !"
Beetlejuice disguised as the Conductor escorted the robbers to the backdoor of the cargo hold and opened it. "Right here fellas."
"It might be a trap, you go in first !" The guy demanded, poking the rifle onto Beetlejuice's back.
He walked in and turned on the lights of the cargo hold. The robbers walked in to view upon a large walk-in black safe with a silver skull on it.
As Beetlejuice opened the safe door, the lights inside the safe automatically turn on. Green money, wall to wall stood on selves inside the safe, and…
"Gold !" Cheered the other robber.
The robber patted the Conductor on the back. "We'll this is great…" then looked him in the eye. "You know of course, we are a greedy bunch of bastards, and we're still going to rob the passengers."
Beetlejuice still in disguise "Go ahead be greedy…" grinning as he held out an arm for the robbers to walk inside. "be my guest."
The door to the safe remained open as the robbers took the money, feeding the hunger of greed, then one noticed something…
"Hey…" looking at the picture of where a dead United States president should be. "The money has some other guys face on it."
The other robber stuffing the bag. "The Boss said if it's money from another country, it's ok…businessmen tend to carry different currency."
"But…" showing his partner the money.
They both looked at a unfamiliar money, and stared into the picture of a unfamiliar face….a young depressed looking man, wearing a crown.
The robber read aloud words scripted on the bottom of a five hundred dollar bill.
"Governmental Treasury Union of The Netherworld."
The robbers looked up, and the Conductor was nowhere to be found, but instead they gazed upon a deathly looking person, wearing a police uniform.
"Freeze, N.W.P.D. !" shouted a man who had a bullet hole in his skull. "You're under arrest for grand theft !"
The robber were stunned as the exited the train, looking at their new surroundings.
"They dead !" The robber shouted to his partner, as they walked down the train station hall. "All 'em…DEAD !!"
Meanwhile back in the living realm…
Beetlejuice opened strong smelling salt in the Conductor's nose.
The conductor awoke and found himself sitting in the control room chair.
"Hey Buddy." Beetlejuice called, gaining his attention.
The conductor pointed. "You're not suppose to.."
Beetlejuice held a tight grip around his mouth, "There's a lot of things we're not suppose to do, but…we do them, don't we ?" holding a tighter grip "Like for instance…I'm not suppose to break your fuckin' neck, but I will, if you don't drive this train."
The Conductor muffled in Beetlejuice's hand.
"Don't scream…why scream, back there…" pointing to the door "is a lot of hard working businessmen who will charge down this door, looking for answers from you." then held a grin to him "I know what you're thinking ?"
Beetlejuice stared deep in the Conductors eyes. "Where did this bastard come from ?"
Then faded so slightly, just enough where the Conductor could still see…it terrified him.
Beetlejuice whispered in the Conductor's ear. "You're going to drive non-stop to Winter Raven, Connecticut or…we're going to have a problem."
The Conductor said nothing and operated the train.
Back at the Deetzes home.
It's the middle of Monday afternoon, and Charles walks in the door. "Honey....I'm home."
Delia and Lydia are not at home.
"Hel-lo." Charles called out, looking around the living and dining room. "Barbara…Adam ?…anyone ?"
Beetlejuice appeared, back to his miniature state, floating in the air. "Get a clue Chuck, they're not here." he mumbled, then disappeared from downstairs, and re-appeared in the dollhouse.
He walked toward the Barbie-like doll. "Hi baby."
The doll just laid there.
He looked up the doll's dress…it's still not atomically correct.
"Still holdin' out on me huh."
The doll just laid there.
He laid next to it. "Oh well, I'm too tired to get busy anyway." closed his eyes, and instantly fell asleep.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Beetlejuice and Lydia.