The prequel series to King's beloved novel, IT: Welcome to Derry, begins with a whirlwind of characters sitting in a theater, entranced by the film The Music Man. In the midst of the chaos, a little kid, Matty, is seen sucking on his candy dummy, oblivious to the world around him. When his cover is blown by the usher, Matty Clements rushes out of the screen, hiding behind a cardboard cut-out in the foyer. As we catch our first glimpse of Ronnie and Hank Grogan, we are introduced to two hardworking and kind-hearted individuals who cover for Matty while he hides.
Matty's journey to leave Derry by hitchhiking takes a turn for the worse when he is picked up by a seemingly ordinary and happy family. However, beneath the surface of their cheerfulness lies a much uglier core. As they drive away from Derry, they find themselves back on the road, heading straight into the heart of this cursed town. The family begins chanting "O-U-T," and the mother gives birth to a grotesque, mutant baby that begins flying around the car like a maniac. The baby's gaze falls upon Matty, and his candy dummy flies through the air, down into the sewers below.
Fast forward four months, and the consensus about Derry is that it is a quiet, quaint little town in Maine with "a few" weird occurrences every now and then. Two soldiers, Pauly and Major Leroy Hanlon, touch down at the airbase after being in Korea. There is much chatter about Russia and the potential implications of nuclear war, but the base in Derry is colloquially referred to as the "tip of the spear" against Russia. While being briefed, the guys catch a glimpse of an interesting warehouse that is off limits - apparently restricted for "Special Projects."
Hailon, born and raised on a farm, discovered his natural talent for flight in the dusty fields of his youth. His bravery is further underscored by the commendations read out in the Major's presence, a testament to his courage. That very night, his bravery shone as he and Pauly foiled the plans of masked intruders who sought specs for a plane, their quiet presence defusing the tension.
But while this storyline unfolded, the town was still reeling from the loss of Matty, whose absence lingered in the darkest corners. One such child, Teddy Uris, was lost in thought, pondering the mysteries of his friend's passing. Teddy was a quiet, shy soul, and he shared that Matty had not been surrounded by a throng of friends. In fact, he was bribed with candy to attend his birthday party alongside his loud and alien-obsessed friend Phil, who was too consumed by thoughts of the end times and nuclear winters to focus on his homework.
Yet, Matty was not entirely alone. We soon learn that he had taken a liking to a girl in school named Lilly, whose quiet demeanor was labeled "loony" by the popular kids and subjected to relentless bullying. When Patty and her clique placed pickle jars inside her locker, it seemed like an innocent prank; however, beneath its surface lay a deeper truth. Lilly's father had worked at a jarring plant where an accident claimed his life, and Lilly blamed herself for his demise, refusing to even visit his grave due to her overwhelming guilt.
Whispers abound of her father's body parts being discovered in pickled jars scattered across Maine, though the veracity of these tales remains cloudy. Lilly's moniker "Loony" stems from her sojourn at Juniper Hills, a town institution where her eccentricity flourished. As the night before unfolded, Lilly's claim of hearing Matty's voice echoing through the pipes was met with skepticism, dismissed as a wild tale.
That very night, Teddy's tranquility was shattered when the lampshade began to flicker and the fixture transformed into a gruesome human skin mask. His screams roused his brother, who, with a dismissive wave of his hand, chalked it up to a mere bad dream. This act served as a chilling reminder to Teddy that something sinister lurked within their midst.
With Teddy now convinced (and Phil by association), they set out with Lilly to the library in search of answers. The newspaper clippings about Matty's demise led them to Ronnie, who was shocked to learn that Lilly and the other children were experiencing strange visions and ghostly music, just as she had. This eerie music, it turns out, was from a musical called "The Music Man," the same film Matty had been watching at the beginning of their ordeal.
The gang sneaked into the library and Ronnie loaded the film onto the projector. Inside the movie, Matty appeared, cradling a baby that suddenly released the mutant infant into the theater. Ronnie watched in shock as it brutally massacred everyone except Lilly and herself. The pair rushed out of the theater, fleeing from the baby's malevolent presence, but the enormity of what had transpired finally hit Lilly, causing her to let out a terrifying scream that chilled the very air.
