INT. DERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY - READING ROOM - DAY
Ben looks up at a PAINTING of the First Derry Settlement. At first it appears like the Fur Trappers are on the hunt, lying in the prone position. But closer inspection reveals
Theyre dead. Because Whatever they were hunting found them instead. And as we PUSH IN on that WELLHOUSE we CUT TO:
TITLE CARD over the PENOBSCOT RIVER:
AUGUST
Tilt down to the OVERHEAD shot of what we expect to be Derry 1989, but instead we see NOTHING, just the intersection of a stream and river and the surrounding wilderness, towering black pines as far as the eye can see.
This is Derry in
1637
INT. WELLHOUSE - NIGHT
ABIGAIL, 19. Rushes in and SLAMS the door. As if trying to keep Satan himself out. She clutches her BABY to her breast.
Kneels by DYING EMBERS in the hearth. She blows on em but a flame never catches. Her Baby starts to fuss
ABIGAIL
Hush now, shhhh
itll be
She stops.
Realizes that the SMALL CANDLE CHANDELIER slowly spins above her. As if some unnatural force has caused its light to rotate around the room, like tiny primitive searchlights.
She hears something slithering in the gray shadows by the Well. Occasionally we catch glimpses of a BLACK SILHOUETTE.
Shifting its shape. As if trying to decide on a form.
ABIGAIL
Please, Devil
leave us be
Shape shifts again.
A beam of light passes, revealing PENNYWISE, naked, lithe, flesh pale and translucent, a half-formed imitation of a human, opens his maw full of large razor sharp teeth, dripping saliva.
As the Tin Can spins clockwise, Pennywise moves counter around the room. Each time the light hits his face
Its different.
A Man. A Woman. A Beast. A Monster. Tim Curry.
PENNYWISE
You mistake me woman. No mere
devil, I am the Easter of Worlds.
His voice is guttural, unnatural.
ABIGAIL
But my child, not my chid
He is
innocent.
PENNYWISE
So you say.
The Baby SCREAMS. Pennywise smiles.
ABIGAIL
I pray Thee, take me.
Abigail shuffles back.
PENNYWISE
I will. And then, him. And thy
husband and the rest of thy
children, and all the savages who
brought you here. And when you all
rot in the earth, I will pick thy
bones dry until no meat is left to
pick. And then I will seek out thy
bones and consume thy souls until
nothing is left but the weeds!
(beat)
Or you will occupy yourself
otherwise and not interfere. I will
take her and you will live, and
those of thy other children in
whom I take no interest. And you
will thank ME fever and frost did
not damn you to the soil.
Abigail looks down at her baby again. Shes shaking, doesnt want to let go. Behind her, the door OPENS.
A Little Boy, 6, asks
BOY
Mama?
ABIGAIL
NO! OUT! NOW!
Frightened by his mother, the Boy runs.
Abigail turns back to Pennywise. Wherever he may be now in the room. The light somehow seems to spin faster now.
She kisses her baby and sets it down. It BAWLS.
ABIGAIL
Im sorry, Im so sorry
She turns away from the baby. Faces those dying embers. We keep on her face as they seem to begin GLOWING BRIGHTER AS
OVER HER SHOULDER OUT OF FOCUS
Pennywise crawls over to the Baby and starts to feast. SHARP CRY FROM THE BABY CUT OFF as we hear a CRUNCH.
Abigail continuing to look into the BRIGHT ORANGE GLOW of not the flickering fire
but the DEADLIGHTS.
Her expression changes. Fear. Denial. Grief. Acceptance. And then nothing. Just a glazed look.
AS IF NOTHING HORRIFIC IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING BEHIND HER.
There was also a prank they were playing on people where a kid dressed in a yellow slicker was asking random adults if they'd grab his paper boat from the sewer, and of course someone dressed as Pennywise jumped out and chased them. I tell you, that's a good way to get your ass kicked.
