 The character of Betelgeuse — envisioned by McDowell as a winged demon who takes on the form of a short Middle Eastern man — is also intent on killing the Deetzes rather than scaring them , and wants to rape Lydia instead of marry her . In this version of the script , Betelgeuse only needs to be exhumed from his grave to be summoned , after which he is free to wreak havoc ; he cannot be summoned or controlled by saying his name three times , and wanders the world freely , appearing to torment different characters in different manifestations . McDowell 's script also featured a second Deetz child , nine @-@ year @-@ old Cathy , the only person able to see the Maitlands and the subject of Betelgeuse 's homicidal wrath in the film 's climax , during which he mutilates her while in the form of a rabid squirrel before revealing his true form . 
