In Stephen King's "IT", the characters often say "Beep Beep Richie". At first I thought it was whenever Richie talked too much but there were other points in the book when it would be said to other characters and I never quite understood what it meant. Is there something I'm missing or is it just a silly thing they said to stop somebody from going on and on?
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3Speculation abounds. Not sure off-hand if King ever commented on it– Jason BakerCommented Apr 21, 2015 at 0:08
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4 Answers
From what I remember, it started out as a warning to Richie that he was going over the line (or too far) with something. After a while, it became an in-joke for all of them.
I know this is an old one but for posterity...
Like @Bob Stout says, it's a way of telling Richie to stop. Around the internet, there's some talk of it being a reference to the end of a comedians stage routine in the 50s where a horn was sounded but I think it's actually a reference to the Road Runners "Meep Meep" as, when they all meet again as adults, shortly before he tells his IUD story (last part of Chapter 5); this quote appears:-
"Beep-beep, Richie," Ben said solemnly, and then exploded laughter in a hearty baritone utterly unlike his wavering childhood voice. "You're the same old roadrunner"
Perhaps saying that his mouth is running again.
Could this be because Richie talks a lot and his friends want to remind him to stop talking? Or is this a play of his fears..It himself?
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1Hi, welcome SF&F. The question mentions this as a possibility, but notes that it doesn't work; do you have any evidence for this?– DavidWCommented Oct 7, 2022 at 1:53
It could also have something to do with the fact that Richie is scared of clowns, and most clowns have a squeaker nose. So it could be a play on his fear.
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2This seems like an interesting theory? Anything besides logic to back it up? Commented Sep 15, 2017 at 23:01