Norris intercepts Ace and Buster, and a shootout erupts

Norris intercepts Ace Merrill and Danforth Keeton near the Castle County Courthouse during Castle Rock’s final night of violence, turning an attempted arrest into a shootout. As explosions spread through town, Norris’s intervention briefly checks the two armed men; the confrontation then leaves Trooper Joe Price dead, Buster gravely wounded and killed by Ace, Norris injured, and Ace fleeing toward Needful Things.

Interception at the Courthouse

Norris spots two men moving around the courthouse toward a yellow news van. He recognizes the portly, slightly bow-legged figure as Danforth Keeton; the other is Ace Merrill. Norris takes cover at the mouth of an alley, draws his service revolver, and orders them to halt. He understands the encounter as an opportunity to take Keeton into custody, while the other man’s intentions remain uncertain.

When Norris confronts the pair again, they begin moving their hands toward the guns tucked into their waistbands. Following police procedure, Norris first points his revolver skyward, then levels it while holding his right wrist with his left hand. He aims between them, using the maneuver so that each man might think the weapon is trained on him. His command works for the moment: Ace and Buster lower their hands.

The Shootout

The pause ends when explosions strike nearby buildings. Ace has been waiting for a distraction. He draws his automatic and shoots Norris, wounding him; a second shot hits the brick close to Norris’s head, and another injures him as he falls to his knees. Trooper Price, who had been struggling to free his revolver’s safety strap, finally gets his gun loose, but Buster shoots him before he can use it.

Despite his wounds, Norris raises his revolver and fires at Buster. Ace shoots at the same moment, but Norris’s shot hits Buster, who falls with a serious wound. Ace turns to his father and, describing the act as giving him a painkiller, shoots him three times, killing him. The gunfight thus breaks the partnership’s immediate threat to Norris, but it does so at the cost of Price’s life and Buster’s death, while Norris remains wounded.

Ace’s Escape and the Event’s Stakes

An older deputy arrives outside the Sheriff’s Office and fires at Ace, but misses. With explosives planted in the courthouse and a timer running, Ace chooses to escape rather than remain at the scene. He runs up Main Street toward Needful Things, intending to collect what he believes Leland Gaunt owes him and to find Alan Pangborn for revenge. The interception ends not with an arrest but with Ace still at large, carrying the violence onward toward Gaunt’s shop.

Immediate Aftermath

The confrontation leaves Norris wounded but alive, while Trooper Joe Price is dead and Buster Keeton has been killed by Ace. Ace does not linger: an older deputy fires at him from outside the Sheriff’s Office, but misses. The planted explosives in the courthouse impose another immediate danger, and Ace runs up Main Street toward Needful Things rather than remain near the building. He expects Leland Gaunt to pay him and also intends to find Alan Pangborn, carrying the danger of the shootout into the next phase of the night.

The Shootout

The pause ends when nearby explosions draw the attention of Norris Ridgewick, Danforth Keeton, and Trooper Joe Price. Ace Merrill uses the distraction to draw his automatic and shoot Norris, wounding him. Ace fires again, striking the brick close to Norris; another shot injures Norris as he falls to his knees. Price finally frees his revolver from its safety strap, but Danforth shoots him before he can use it.

Despite his wounds, Norris raises his revolver and fires at Danforth as Ace tries to shoot him again. Norris’s shot hits Danforth, who falls wounded. Ace then puts his gun to his father’s temple and shoots him three times, killing him. The interception has become a deadly exchange: Price is dead, Norris is injured, and Ace has killed Danforth rather than let his father remain wounded.

The Shootout and Its Consequences

The pause ends when explosions nearby draw attention away from the standoff. Ace Merrill uses the distraction to draw his automatic and shoot Norris Ridgewick. Norris is wounded, and Ace’s further shots force him down. Trooper Joe Price manages to free his revolver from its safety strap, but Danforth Keeton shoots him before he can use it.

Although injured, Norris raises his revolver and fires at Danforth as Ace attempts another shot. Norris hits Danforth, who falls wounded. Ace then kills his father with three shots. The confrontation leaves Price dead, Norris injured, and Danforth dead by Ace’s hand; the attempted interception has become a lethal exchange rather than an arrest.

Confrontation and Consequences

Norris Ridgewick sees two figures moving around the courthouse toward a yellow news van and recognizes Danforth Keeton among them. He steps into the alley, draws his service revolver, and orders the men to stop. When they reach toward their weapons, Norris follows procedure: he raises the revolver, then levels it with both hands, positioning the muzzle between them. The tactic briefly succeeds, and both men lower their hands.

Nearby explosions break the standoff. Ace Merrill draws his automatic and wounds Norris; Trooper Joe Price manages to free his revolver’s safety strap, but Danforth shoots and kills him. Norris fires back and hits Danforth. Ace then shoots his wounded father three times, killing him. The exchange leaves Norris injured, Price dead, and Danforth dead at Ace’s hands.

An older deputy fires at Ace from outside the Sheriff’s Office but misses. Ace runs up Main Street toward Needful Things, intending to collect payment from Leland Gaunt and find Alan Pangborn. The interception ends without an arrest: Ace escapes as the courthouse explosives remain an immediate danger.

The Shootout and Its Consequences

The pause ends when explosions nearby draw attention from the standoff. Ace Merrill uses the distraction to shoot Norris Ridgewick, who is wounded but manages to raise his revolver and fire back. Trooper Joe Price frees his revolver from its safety strap, but Danforth Keeton shoots him before he can use it. Norris’s shot hits Danforth, leaving him gravely wounded. Ace then kills his father with three shots. The attempted arrest has become a lethal exchange: Price and Danforth are dead, while Norris survives injured.

Escape and the Unfinished Threat

An older deputy outside the Castle Rock Sheriff's Office fires at Ace Merrill, but misses. Ace abandons the immediate confrontation and runs up Main Street toward Needful Things. He expects Leland Gaunt to pay him and still means to find Alan Pangborn for revenge. With explosives planted in the courthouse and set to detonate, the escape leaves the building—and the town—under threat. Norris’s interception has not secured an arrest: Ace remains at large, carrying the violence toward Gaunt’s shop.

Escape and the Unfinished Threat

An older deputy outside the Castle Rock Sheriff's Office fires at Ace Merrill but misses. Ace runs up Main Street toward Needful Things, intent on collecting what he believes Leland Gaunt owes him and finding Alan Pangborn for revenge. He leaves the courthouse explosives as an immediate danger and escapes without being arrested, carrying the threat onward into the next phase of the night.