The Dark Tower

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, death, child death, and sexual content.

Jake, Roland, and Oy are thrown back into East Stoneham in 1999. As they enter the store, much of which is unchanged since Roland’s last visit, Jake takes stock of his weaponry: He has a gun and his throwing plates. The store is still run by Wendell “Chip” McAvoy. As Roland enters, McAvoy is slicing meat for a customer named Mrs. Tassenbaum. When McAvoy spots Roland walk in, he freezes, remembering the violence on “That Day,” which—for him—occurred two decades earlier. He tries to run, but Roland, firing a shot, commands him to stay. To McAvoy, only Roland’s whitened hair is different from their previous encounter. Jake translates Roland’s demands, asking for a car. McAvoy reaches for his keys.

Roland asks the way to Turtleback Lane but then realizes that neither he nor Jake can drive. Roland turns to Mrs. Tassenbaum. She agrees to drive them to Turtleback Lane, and Roland promises not to shoot her so long as she hurries. They take McAvoy’s truck to Turtleback Lane. Mrs. Tassenbaum struggles with the transmission, but as she comes to terms with the truck, she realizes that she is having fun.