The Unfinished Story of Ace’s Treasure

Needful Things

This flow follows Ace Merrill’s search for Pop Merrill’s buried wealth and exposes the difference between a treasure map’s promise and its actual contents.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Legend About Pop A Legend About Pop from "Needful Things". A Legend About Pop A miser’s reputation Pop Merrill is remembered as a shrewd lender who hoarded money and kept the town guessing about his wealth.

A Legend About Pop from "Needful Things". A Legend About Pop A miser’s reputation Pop Merrill is remembered as a shrewd lender who hoarded money and kept the town guessing about his wealth.

A Legend About Pop A miser’s reputation Pop Merrill is remembered as a shrewd lender who hoarded money and kept the town guessing about his wealth. Ace believes his uncle must have hidden a fortune. Family expectation Ace expects an inheritance but finds little money in the bank after Pop dies. The contradiction makes buried treasure a powerful possibility.

A Map in a Book A Map in a Book from "Needful Things". A Map in a Book Gaunt’s offer Gaunt presents a book titled Lost and Buried Treasures of New England, with a map that appears to mark places tied to Pop…

A Map in a Book from "Needful Things". A Map in a Book Gaunt’s offer Gaunt presents a book titled Lost and Buried Treasures of New England, with a map that appears to mark places tied to Pop…

A Map in a Book Gaunt’s offer Gaunt presents a book titled Lost and Buried Treasures of New England, with a map that appears to mark places tied to Pop Merrill. Hope purchased Ace sees the map as a way out of his debts to the Flying Corson Brothers. Gaunt’s offer makes the treasure seem both plausible and urgent.

The First Caches The First Caches from "Needful Things". The First Caches Finds yield junk Ace digs at locations marked on the map and finds trading stamps, steel pennies, and other low-value objects.

The First Caches from "Needful Things". The First Caches Finds yield junk Ace digs at locations marked on the map and finds trading stamps, steel pennies, and other low-value objects.

The First Caches Finds yield junk Ace digs at locations marked on the map and finds trading stamps, steel pennies, and other low-value objects. The caches appear to confirm that Pop buried things, but not the wealth Ace needs. Hope defended Rather than accept the pattern, Ace decides that the unpromising finds are decoys. He narrows his attention to the two marks near the Camber place.

The Camber Message The Camber Message from "Needful Things". The Camber Message The second cache is empty At the Camber place, Ace finds a can with a message from Alan Pangborn and a single dollar.

The Camber Message from "Needful Things". The Camber Message The second cache is empty At the Camber place, Ace finds a can with a message from Alan Pangborn and a single dollar.

The Camber Message The second cache is empty At the Camber place, Ace finds a can with a message from Alan Pangborn and a single dollar. Alan explains that he recovered Pop’s money years ago and leaves Ace a mocking share. Anger takes over The note turns Ace’s disappointment into a determination to kill Alan. The treasure hunt has ended, but the promised money has already achieved its purpose as bait.

A Fortune That Never Comes A Fortune That Never Comes from "Needful Things". A Fortune That Never Comes Later digs fail Ace checks additional locations and finds stamps, a pen, and other worthless items.

A Fortune That Never Comes from "Needful Things". A Fortune That Never Comes Later digs fail Ace checks additional locations and finds stamps, a pen, and other worthless items.

A Fortune That Never Comes Later digs fail Ace checks additional locations and finds stamps, a pen, and other worthless items. The map contains no fortune that can save him from his debts. The treasure’s real function The clues have kept Ace moving in Gaunt’s service and focused his rage on Alan. His search brings him back to Castle Rock armed and ready for the final confrontation.

Before October 15, 1991

October 14, 1991

October 15, late afternoon

October 15, near sunset

Night of October 15