TWIN PEAKS - #14 HE IS BOB, EAGER FOR FUN (1990)

The Score: 10 out of 10

Twin Peaks' success was a two-edged sword. Ratings were through the roof and David Lynch received unprecedented levels of critical acclaim at this stage of his career. But the magnitude of Peaks' success also drew the network's attention. Witnessing the clamor of millions of viewers wanting the answer to who killed Laura Palmer, the network sought to appease them and pressured Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost into revealing the killer's identity. In the network's attempt to keep frustrated viewers from dropping the show, it ironically turned them away in droves at the zenith of Peaks' popularity.

Log Lady Introduction

Strangely, if Twin Peaks had been less popular, then the network may have allowed Lynch and Frost greater freedom to maintain the open-ended nature of the Laura Palmer murder mystery, at least until the creators were comfortable ending their show, if even then. But in spite of their objections, Lynch and Frost acquiesced to the network's request and laid out a story arc over the beginning of Season 2 that culminates in this week's episode. But Lynch ends this mystery in his own inimitable style, in what is arguably the most powerful, disturbing, beautiful, and sad hour of television ever made. Since the Season 2 Premiere, the series methodically built toward this episode, and it is executed with a flawless display of David Lynch's full directorial talent.

THE GIFTED AND THE DAMNED

David Lynch (Second from Left) as FBI Regional Chief Gordon Cole

David Lynch loves the world of Twin Peaks so much that he actually made himself a recurring guest character, Agent Cooper's supervisor at the FBI: Gordon Cole. The character was originally written as a voice on a phone in the fifth episode of the first season. Intending to later dub himself over with another actor in post production, Lynch simply read Cole's lines on set so Kyle MacLachlan would have someone to react to in the scene. But Lynch decided to keep his line readings in the finished cut, giving birth to an entertaining cameo role that he would later reprise in person in the second season.

Cooper and Truman Bring Mike to the Great Northern Hotel to Help Identify
the Human Working Close to Bob

Without Chemicals He Points

Cooper has Prevented Phillip Gerard from Taking His Medication Last
Episode, Allowing Mike to Emerge to Help Find Bob

Ben Horne is Angry at the Bizarre Law Enforcement Disruption at His Hotel

Mike Collapses in an Apoplectic Fit When Ben Horne Enters the Lobby

What Does this Mean?

We are forced to ask ourselves if this is the fulfillment of the giant's prophecy "without chemicals, he points," which he delivered to Agent Cooper in the Season 2 Premiere. If so, is Mike pointing to Ben Horne as Bob's human vessel because of his reaction to Ben's entrance? Or is there something else going on here that we do not fully understand? Is Mike pointing Cooper in the right direction of where to take his investigation? Is Ben Horne involved closely with Bob?

J'AI UNE AME SOLITAIRE

Laura's Desperate Visit to Harold in Fire Walk with Me (1992)

Minor SPOILERS from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992): Harold Smith may have exhibited some eccentricities when he last spoke to Laura Palmer, but he also seemed to genuinely care for her. Therefore, some of Harold's behavior chronologically later in the series seems a little inconsistent, forcing us to speculate what may have happened to him between Laura's last visit and his first visit with Donna Hayward in the second season.

Harold is Laura's Most Trusted Confidant, Privy to Information She Shares
with No One Else in the Series, and is Entrusted with Her Diary

First, what exactly is Harold Smith's mental state before getting involved with Laura or Donna? He seems to have been suffering some form of obsessive compulsive disorder—as evidenced by his compulsive washing and cleanliness—and he also manifested an extreme case of agoraphobia—a paralyzing fear of open spaces. These mental conditions effectively turned Harold into a prisoner in his own home, making him a "shut in."

Harold Smith's Fixation with Flowers is Never Fully Explained, But it Could
Serve as a Surrogate Relationship for His Lack of Human Interactions

But Harold also seems to be a relatively high functioning writer and botanist, who possesses at least some friends and lovers who contribute to his ongoing "living novel." And he even became the closest friend and confidant of the town's homecoming queen, Laura, whom he met because of her involvement with the Meals on Wheels program. Harold is no slouch, and apparently demonstrated more genuine empathy and concern for Laura than anyone else in her life.

Deputy Hawk Checks Harold's Apartment Based on Donna Hayward's Tip
Last Episode, Leading Him to Discover Harold's Body

And in the prequel film, Laura seems to have developed a much deeper level of intimacy and trust with Harold than with anyone else. Harold is the only person Laura ever talked to openly about Bob, making him privy to things Laura has not even discussed with her therapist, Dr. Jacoby. And when Laura suspected she would be killed soon, of all the people in town to whom she could have turned for help to keep her diary safe, she chose Harold.

Laura Left Her Secret Diary with Harold Smith for Safekeeping, But Harold
Apparently Ripped Much of it to Pieces During His Nervous Breakdown

But when we set the "wayback mutilate his face in front of the terrified Donna and Maddy? Or drive him to hang himself in his atrium? Or is there something missing from this picture?

Harold Seems to Have Destroyed Everything He Cared About Most Before
Taking His Own Life. The Orchids Required a Special Atmosphere

Given the sensitive nature of the evidence and information Laura gave Harold, he seemed to be in a unique position to help save Laura's life but he did not. After all, Harold suspected Bob was just an imaginary figure developed in the mind of Laura as a child, but he seemed to understand he could be mistaken when she last visited him before her death. So Harold could be feeling a lot of guilt over Laura's death, wishing he had done more to protect her. But there seems to be even more to his suicide than guilt.

Harold had exclusive access to Laura's secret diary for just over two weeks by the time he commits suicide. And as we recall from Cooper's dreams, Mike and Bob seem to invoke a strange poem in connection to their possession rituals. When Mike later decided to change his ways and stop killing, he even removed his entire arm to remove a tattoo with that poem's final phrase: "fire walk with me." One wonders whether the unfortunate Harold Smith might have inadvertently unlocked supernatural doorways that "inhabiting spirits" may have entered, eventually tormenting him to death. How else would the Magician Grandson living next door know the exact wording of Harold's suicide note: j'ai une ame solitaire?

Some of the Crafts and Shrubs Adorning Harold's Atrium are Reminiscent
to Items Decorating Jeffrey Beaumont's Room in Blue Velvet (1986)

And perhaps the traumatic secrets Harold gleamed from Laura's diary were enough to deteriorate Harold's already fragile psyche. Whatever the case, Harold seemed to lose all hope and died from fear, foreshadowing a certain main character death caused by Bob again later this season, too. Without revealing the details for first time viewers, we will only mention that the character whose death we speak of seemed to resulted in his or her spirit being trapped in a dresser drawer pull knob.

GOING BACK TO MISSOULA

The Painting Hanging in the Palmer's Living Room has the Words "MISSOULA,
 MONTANA" Painted in the Bottom-Left Corner

Reminders of Laura's Life Ending Tragically Early

Maddy Ferguson has a Pleasant Conversation with Her Aunt and Uncle

She Explains to the Palmers that She Wanted to Support Her Aunt and Uncle
Through Laura's Funeral But it is Time for Her to Go Home

Sarah and Leland are Very Understanding and Thank Maddy for All Her Help

Note that this Record Player Connects to Later Scenes in the Episode

Sarah and Leland are Grateful for Maddy's Hep and Support Over the Past
Two Weeks and Wish Her Well

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Leland Both Give Maddy a Kiss Goodbye

The Sheriff's Department Investigates Harold Smith's Apparent Suicide

Agent Cooper Discovers a Brief Suicide Note on Harold's Person

J'ai Une Ame Solitaire

As established in episodes 10-13, Laura kept two diaries. One was filled with more innocuous details safe public consumption, the other was hidden from prying eyes and was designed to hold her more intimate secrets. For some reason unknown to Donna Hayward, Laura feared for her life shortly before being killed. So Laura left her secret diary in the possession of Harold Smith for safekeeping. Unfortunately, Harold was a bit eccentric and did not share this diary with the police after Laura was murdered as she originally intended. Instead, Harold leveraged the diary as a means of getting closer to Donna Hayward, who he became attracted to from reading the diary and later during his discussions with her.

$42 A MONTH?

Shelly Made a Big Mistake Listening to Bobby's Advice

Although we are heading quickly to the big reveal of Laura's killer later in the episode, David Lynch remains true to form and takes the time to give us a complete pictures of the "goings on" in the town. Although Leo, Shelley, Bobby, Norma, Hank, and Nadine can get short shrift in the episode not directed by Lynch, here these characters feel less cartoony and more real. Their misadventures have a tendency to feel like distracting subplots in many of the other episodes, but here the characters feel more alive and grounded in a stylistic reality this show excels at best.

Shelly is Quitting Her Job to Take Care of Nearly Vegetative Leo Full Time

Rather than getting $5,000 income a month from Leo's disability insurance, as Bobby originally planned, after essential bills Shelley is left with only $42 each month. Shelley is desperate and asks Bobby how they will survive on that. For the first time in weeks, a teenager mentions school. Bobby suddenly feels the need to go back to class at high school. Bobby must be feeling like he is in a serious pinch with Shelley and Leo if he seeks to take refuge at his economics class, of all places.

But Bobby Did Not Calculate Correctly the Expenses Versus the Insurance
Pay Out, Leaving Shelly without Enough Money to Live on without Her Job

But to Bobby's credit, he does not run away from this situation and attempts to comfort Shelley that he will figure out a way to support her. This particular subplot resonates strongly with David Lynch's other films, which frequently focus on the difficulties a young man faces when he transitions into adulthood and confronts grown-up responsibilities like supporting a girlfriend/wife. It is at the heart of Eraserhead (1976), Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), and Wild at Heart (1990).

As Bobby is Discussing the Possibility of Finding Leo's Money, Leo Screams

A young man maturing into a grown man seems to be a theme Lynch responds to deeply. And this episode does remind us that nearly all the episodes of the series he directed did seem to place more emphasis on Bobby's character than do the other writers and directors of the show. Frequently Bobby is sidelined in other episodes as a minor character, but Lynch does seem to have a special place in his heart for Bobby's story and he does paint the character in more complex shades of light and dark.

Bobby and Shelly Fear that Leo has Returned to his Senses and Will Attack
Both of them Again

After a Moment to Recuperate from Leo's Prolonged Yell, they Check Him
for Signs of Conscious Life

Actor Eric Da Re is a Great Sport, is He Not? And He Manages to Play His
Part Seriously in a League with the Best Comedy Straight Men

Mädchen Amick Also Comes Across Funnier Whenever Lynch Directs Her

Leo Repeatedly Spits and Whispers: "New Shoes..."

Bobby Suspects Leo Hid Something Valuable in One of His Shoes

Twin Peaks possesses a very unique style of comedy that frequently comes across as over the top, but is really more nuanced than we give it credit for at first glance. And although the other directors in the series frequently do remarkable work with the actors and humorous tone, there is something magical that happens when David Lynch directs an episode. And the best directors of the series tend to be those who best emulate Lynch's off-kilter but controlled comedic sensibilities.

REMEMBER PRUDENCE?

Ben Horne's Office is Often Established with a Close Up on his Fireplace

In Episodes 10-13, Audrey was Rescued and Brought Back Home to Ben

Audrey Tells Her Father She Knows All About One-Eyed Jacks

Not Knowing How Much Audrey Might Really Know, Ben Plays it Cool...

... At Least Until Audrey Explains that She was Prudence in the White Mask

As the Disturbing Realization Sinks in About Him Inadvertently Trying to
Seduce His Own Daughter, Ben Becomes More Ashamed and Cooperative

After All, the Full Depth and Breadth of His Duplicitous Nature is Exposed

Ben Knows He Cannot Simply Manipulate His Way Out of this One with Audrey,
Since She is Easily as Intelligent and Cunning as He, in Her Own Restrained Way

Audrey Asks Her Father About Laura Palmer's Work at One-Eyed Jacks

Ben Explains that Emory Battis Recruited Laura without His Knowledge at First

Audrey Asks Her Father if He Slept with Laura

Ben Reluctantly Answers that He did Sleep with Laura

Ben Stares at a Photo He Keeps of Laura on His Desk

Audrey: "Did You Kill Her?"

Ben: "I Loved Her."

Many plot threads come to a head this episode, including the storyline centering on Ben and Audrey's strained relationship. Ben has been backed into a corner by Audrey and he finally openly admits to her some of his nefarious and unethical dealings he has been hiding from his family for years. And in a strangely touching way, Ben is actually communicating and connecting honestly with someone for once. This is his first scene talking with Audrey honestly, without his normal artifice and secret agendas. In a strange way, this is Ben Horne at his most vulnerable.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE HERE

Norma and Shelly Bond Together as Shelley Says Goodbye for Now

Again, David Lynch's direction just seems to make the emotions ring true even in what could have been a overly saccharine display of sentiment as Shelley Johnson is forced to quit her job if she is to maintain her backfired insurance scam ruse. And while this scene certainly does have a sappy element to it, Lynch here directs surprisingly powerful performances from Peggy Lipton and Mädchen Amick that makes you feel the genuine heartache they both feel at losing each other's company and friendship at the diner.

Shelly Reluctantly Quits Her Job at the Diner Temporarily While She Takes
Care of Leo Full Time at Home

Norma Assures Shelly Will Always be Welcome to Her Old Job When She
Available Once Again and the Two Women Briefly Embrace

Nadine Stops By for an Awkward Chocolate Milkshake

In Episodes 10-13 Nadine Regressed Back to her Memories as a High Schooler
and Asks How Long Norma has been Working at the Diner

Norma Explains that it has been About 20 Years

Shelly and Norma are Not Familiar with Nadine's Condition Yet

Ed Urges Norma to Laugh it Off and Pretend She has Only Worked there Six Weeks

Nadine Asks Shelly if She is in their Class in High School

Shelly Responds Before Escaping: "I don't think so." And Nadine Tells Norma
that Ed Explained Earlier that he and Norma were Broken Up

Although Ed Obviously Said it Just to Placate Nadine's Condition, Norma
Takes the News Badly and Gives Ed the Evil Eye

One Imagine that Subconsciously Nadine Understands Why there is So Much
Tension in the Room

As She Exerts Seemingly Inhuman Levels of Strength and Shatters Her Glass

Norma Apologizes and Rationalizes the Incident with an Invisible Crack in the Glass

Having Become Intimately Familiar with Nadine's New Levels of Extraordinary
Strength, Ed Tells Norma Her Theory of the Crack Might be Wrong

David Lynch makes this comedic scene a bit more disturbing than usual. As funny as Nadine's mental breakdown is, Lynch does hint at its sad and dangerous implications, too. To Lynch, humor is more often mixed with and even accentuated by a little sadness and horror. The strangely real absurdity of the situation is what draws out our laughter in his movies, not just the typical buffoonery that fills most modern comedies.

NEW SHOES

Meanwhile the Tables have Turned for Leo Johnson

Bobby's long lost friend Mike Nelson finally returns to the show, ready and back for some more underhanded shenanigans. Bobby's character has seemed diminished lately without his right-hand man and croney. So Mike's return hints at a new renaissance of Bobby's character in the series as a real player in town again.

The High School Punks he Used to Terrorize Last Season are Now Far More
Powerful than Him as He Sits Helpless on his Wheelchair

Bobby and Mike Look at Leo with Curiosity More than Anything Else

"New Shoes..."

Bobby Shows Leo a Pair of Boots and Leo Drools in Response

At Mike's Suggestion, Bobby Takes a Hammer to the Boots' Heels

Where the Two Teenage Hooligans Discover a Micro-Cassette Recording

No Doubt Containing Valuable Information

Both Nadine Hurley and Leo Johnson awoke from their comas recently. Now Nadine is a partial amnesiac superwoman who accidentally crushes milkshake glasses with her bare hands. And Leo is incapacitated, a shell of who he was before being shot by Hank Jennings. Both Nadine and Leo were mentally unstable in the first season, but have gone to sad extremes in mental deficiency this season. And both Nadine and Leo were notorious spousal abusers, keeping Ed and Shelly in line under constant threat of physical violence. Now Nadine and Leo have lost their minds and are strange, sad doppelgängers of their former selves. Although we could make a case they and their loved ones are better off after their transformations.

THE SECRET DIARY

Harold Smith Tore Apart Many Pages from Laura's Secret Diary, Opening the
Possibility that More Information Might Be Discovered from Her Diary Once
the Pages are Reconstructed

Agent Cooper notes that Laura's secret diary contains information about Bob, describing him as a friend of her father's who has been molesting her since she was 12 years old. And about two weeks before Laura's murder, she wrote: "Someday I'll tell the world about Ben Horne... Who he really is."

Audrey Informs Agent Cooper About Everything She Learned About Her Father

About Laura Palmer Working at One-Eyed Jacks and Ben's Affair with Laura

Audrey Explains that She Gathered Some of this Information at One-Eyed Jacks
and Other Things were Confessed to Her Directly by Ben

In Light of the Passages Cooper Just Read, Ben Horne is Now Suspect #1

After Some Consideration, Cooper Requests Audrey Keeps this Information
to Herself for the Time Being

In Episodes 10-13, a New Japanese Businessman Came to Town Named
Mr. Tojamura

Mr. Tojamura Invested $5,000,000 into Ben Horne's Ghostwood Estates
Development Project

Ben is About to Sign Some Papers Formalizing the Investment

When Cooper and Truman March in and at First Attempt to Extricate Ben Horne
Delicately from the Business Meeting

But Ben Insists on Knowing Why He is Being Asked to Leave Right Now

Sheriff Truman's Attempt at Discretion is No Longer Possible and He States
that Ben Horne is Being Placed Under Arrest for Laura's Murder

Ben Seems Genuinely Shocked by this Development

Ben Tries to Assuage Tojamura's Possible Suspicions

"This is all just a mistake."

Ben Demands to Know if this is an Elaborate Hoax

Cooper Confirms that this is Not a Joke and to Comply with the Sheriff's Orders

Ben Attempts to Walk Away from the Situation, But the Deputies Take Him
in Custody by Force

The Palmer Residence is Quiet Except for the Turntable Spinning Around
and Around at the End of the Record, Causing a Series of Clicks

Sarah Palmer's Hand Reaches Slowly Down into Frame as She Crawls Down
the Staircase, the Same Staircase We Continually See Flashbacks of Her
Running Down in Cooper's Psychic Visions

The Fan is Whirring Away, Adding the Only Other Noise Found in the House

Sarah Passes Out for a Brief Moment Once She Reaches Downstairs

Ben Horne is Placed in a Holding Cell

The Log Lady is Waiting Unexpectedly for Cooper at the Station

She Explains that She Does Not Know Why, But that Owls are at the Roadhouse

Agent Cooper: "Something. Is. Happening. Isn't it?"

The Log Lady's Eyes Say Everything

The Moon is Full Tonight

Pete Martell Prepares Himself a Midnight Snack Before Going to Bed, But is
Momentarily Startled by a Sound. After a Second He Ignores it Goes to Bed

But on His Way to Bed, Pete is Accosted by Mr. Tojamura Who Apparently
Broke into the Packard Household

Pete Drops His Milk and Food, Which Shatters on the Ground

Mr. Tojamura Groped Pete and Stated that He Feels a Strange Attraction to
Pete, Prompting Pete to Warn Tojamura Away

In a Perfect Soap Opera Moment, Catherine Martell is Reveals She Survived
the Burning of the Packard Sawmill and that She has been Masquerading in
Town as the Mysterious Mr. Tojamura. It was Her All Along.

>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER WARNING<<<<<<<<<<

(Do Not Read Further Until You Have Watched the Series Up to and Including this Episode. The Identity of Laura's Killer Will be Revealed in the Following Section Below. This Information May Seriously Alter Your Initial Experience Viewing the Series Twin Peaks. Also, Be Forewarned that Very Disturbing Images of Violence Will Soon Follow. Thank you for your attention.)

Wind Blowing Through Trees...

David Lynch coined the descriptive phrase: "wind blowing through trees" when he was describing the tone and mood of the proposed Twin Peaks TV Series to ABC network executives. It proved to be a strong mental image that stuck out in their minds. Mark Frost once commented that the executives seemed completely hooked at this point in their pitch. So as we approach the scene revealing the identity of Laura's killer, the very heart of the whole series, Lynch takes us back to some early imagery that we have not seen much of since the pilot and his second season premiere episode.

Inland Empire (2006) Would Also Focus on the Image of a Record Spinning
on a Turntable, Perhaps Symbolically Linking Back to this Pivotal Scene

David Lynch takes us from the "wind blowing through trees" back to the Palmer residence, where the record at the end of its run from earlier in the day now turns endlessly on its axis. An incessant clicking sound is the only thing heard in the house, as the record spins round and round.

This Seems be the Area of the Carpet from Maddy's Dream and Waking
Nightmare Experience from the Second Season Premiere Episode

Sarah Continues to Crawl, Ending Her Journey Here

Sarah Looks Up and Witnesses at a Pale Horse Appear in the Middle of Her Living Room

Sarah Recognizes this Pale Horse from at Least One Past Experience in
the Prequel Film: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

This is the Horse Mentioned in the Log Lady's Prologue for this Episode

The Record that Finished Playing Earlier in the Day Continues Clicking Away

Leland Nearby Seems Oblivious to Sarah's Struggle into the Room

Sarah Passes Out Again, Now Out Cold for the Rest of the Night

Something bad is happening at the Palmer residence, but right now it all seems a bit confusing. Is Sarah suffering from a debilitating psychic attack, or is there something else at play here? Why is Leland getting dressed up? Is he about to go somewhere? Where is Maddy? She is not leaving until tomorrow and she is not at the Roadhouse with James and Donna.

ROCKIN' BACK INSIDE MY HEART

The Popular Roadhouse Takes on an Ominous Mood Tonight

Although we technically visited the Roadhouse recently for Leland's arraignment and bail hearing, as well as for Leo Johnson's competency hearing, the truth is we have not really had a proper night life scene inside here since the Pilot Episode. David Lynch is taking us back to Twin Peaks basics tonight. He is going to remind us what this series is all about.

The Muddy Reflection of the Roadhouse's Neon Sign

Julee Cruise Wears a Red Dress Tonight, Looking Right Now More Like Marilyn
Monroe than She has in the Series Before

All the Songs Julee Cruise Sings in the Series and Preuel Film are Composed
by Angelo Badalamenti and Lyrics Written by David Lynch

Donna and James have had a lot of strains on their relationship, including Laura's identical cousin becoming involved with their lives. Although they had been focused on finding Laura's killer, they became distracted as James re-experienced some old feelings he had for Laura that he transferred on to Maddy. Although this makes sense on a purely emotional level, Lynch seems to point to many cosmic similarities connecting Laura and Maddy.

Donna and James Meet to Discuss their Strained Relationship Now that
Maddy is Leaving Town, Relieving Some of the Tension

Maddy says that Laura and she used to experience a psychic bond when they visited each other as children, able to read each others' minds. Maddy also experienced at least two psychic assaults by Bob since arriving in town, one involving a fulfillment of a dream as she saw a bloodstain spread on the carpet and another involving Bob's invasion of the Hayward household after Maddy began showing affection for James.

James is Upset by Donna's Recent Jealous Behavior, Including Her Recent
Insults of His Charm and Intelligence When She Pursued Harold

Also a strange and suspicious masked figure was stalking her the night she dressed as Laura at the gazebo. When Maddy waited for James and Donna to return from investigating Dr. Jacoby's office, Dr. Jacoby had tracked down Maddy while holding a revolver. The masked figure attacked Dr. Jacoby and provoked a heart attack.

Donna is Troubled by Harold's Suicide and Maddy's Planned Departure

The Log Lady's Cryptic Message Leads Truman and Cooper to Join Her
Tonight at the Roadhouse

Many of the most important people from Laura's life are drawn to the Roadhouse tonight, including Donna, James, Bobby, and the Log Lady. Although the Log Lady's involvement in Laura's life was apparently sporadic, the series finale and prequel film hint at the large impact Margaret had on Laura at key moments in her life.

Donna Notices the Strange Trio Enter the Roadhouse

As Does James

They Enjoy Themselves and Soak in the Ambience

Julee Cruise Sings Rockin' Back Inside My Heart and Later The World Spins
Two Songs from Lynch's Industrial Symphony No. 1 Live Concert Show

Donna Begins to Playfully Lip Synching Julee Cruise's Voice

James Finally Loosens Up and Smiles as Donna Attempts to Connect to Him

The Message of Julee's Song Mimics the Feelings Donna has for James,
Creating a Humorous Double Meaning as Donna Mouths the Lyrics

Agent Cooper Notices Two Important Figures from His Investigation at the Bar

Agent Cooper is Intrigued by the Decrepit Room Service Waiter Sitting at a
Bar Stool Next to Laura's Former Boyfriend Bobby Briggs

For Cooper, the Band and Music Fade Away from the Stage

And Cooper is Confronted with the Obscure Giant from Earlier this Season

Everyone Else in the Roadhouse Seems Oblivious to this Psychic Communication

Everyone Except the Log Lady, that is. For Some Reason She Seems to be
Aware of What is Happening Between the Giant and Cooper

Giant: "It is happening again."

Cooper is Filled with a Growing Sense of Dread

In a surprisingly sophisticated display of editing, the Roadhouse and the Palmer Residence scenes are then spliced together in a complementary fashion as two events take place simultaneously. Something strange just happened to incapacitate Sarah Palmer at Laura's house, while many of Laura's closest living friends are now gathered at the Roadhouse.

>>>>>>>>>>FINAL SPOILER WARNING<<<<<<<<<<

(This is Your Last Warning to Not Read Further if You Have Not Watched Twin Peaks Up to and Including this Episode Before. You Will Never be Able to Watch the First Half of the Series in Quite the Same Way Again After You Read the Following Section. It Would be Comparable to Spoiling the Ending of the The Sixth Sense (1999) Before a First Viewing, But Worse.)

Earlier this Episode, David Lynch Emphasized a Certain Painting of Missoula,
Montana, But the Painting was Originally Featured Earlier in the Series

And the Spinning Record Clicking Away is Not Just a Stylistic Flourish, But
a Potent Reminder of a Relevant Scene from Episode 2 - Red Room

Leland's Dance (Episode 2 - Red Room)

Just Before Agent Cooper Dreams of Laura in the Red Room, a Strange Scene
First Played Out at the Palmer Residence with Leland Playing a Record

At First, of the Two Palmers, Leland Seemed to be Handling Laura's Murder Better than Sarah,
Who We Recall was So Devastated by the News She Needed Sedation from Dr. Hayward

Leland Grows Increasingly Disturbed Emotionally by His Daughter's Murder

Leland Begins Dancing Around Compulsively with Laura's Prom Photo

Although Cooper's Dream Sequence Takes Place After Leland's Dance Scene
Chronologically in the Narrative, Perhaps the Dream is Concurrent in Story

Eventually the Little Man Leaves Cooper and Laura to Dance Over in
Another Place in the Red Room

With the Little Man Out of Earshot, Laura Approaches Agent Cooper and
Whispers the Identity of Her Killer in Cooper's Ear 

Do You Notice the Pattern on Leland's Jacket While He Dances?

Do You Notice the Pattern on the Floor When the Little Man in the Red
Jacket Dances While Laura is Telling Cooper Who Killed Her?

Sarah Walks in on Leland Acting Crazy and Tries to Grab Their Daughter's
Photo from His Hands, Accidentally Smashing the Glass of its Frame

Leland's Red Blood Pours Out Over Laura's Image

While Laura Communicates to Cooper in a Red Room

And on Some Level, Laura's Mother Sarah (Also Wearing Red) Seems
to Realize What is Wrong with this Picture and Screams

Now the Red Room Dream Takes on an Entirely New Significance

As We Enter the Palmer Residence While Agent Cooper Experiences
Concurrent Psychic Phenomena Once Again

The Motif of Someone Staring at their Mirror Reflection Appears Again,
But Here Leland's Reflection is Not His Own

Laura Wrote in Her Diary She was Molested by BOB, a Friend of Her Father

Only Now Does the Awful Truth Sink in. BOB's Human Vessel is Leland Palmer.
It was Leland Who Molested Laura All Those Years Before Murdering Her

What Follows Might be the Most Disturbing Scene Ever Aired on Network Television
The Squeamish Should Exercise Caution Before Continuing

Mike's Warning from Last Episode Now Makes Sense:
"He is Bob..."

"... Eager for Fun..."

"... He Wears a Smile..."

"...Everybody Run."

Leland/BOB Begin Playacting as if Maddy were Laura. He Dances Around Here in the
Living Room Incapacitated in His Arms as He Once Did with Laura's Prom Photo

The Little Man from Cooper's Dream Danced Compulsively, Snapping his Fingers

Something Leland has been Doing, Since the Scene Before Cooper's Dream in Episode 2.
As with Cooper, on Some Level We Knew Who Killed Laura All Along

"Leland says you're going back to Missoula, Montana!"

Leland/Bob Slide a Letter "O" from Flesh World Magazine Under the Wedding
Ring Finger of His Victim Maddy

Leland/Bob placed the Letter "T" under the fingernail of Teresa Banks's wedding ring finger over a year ago at Deer Meadow. Then two weeks ago he placed the letter "R" under his own daughter Laura's wedding ring fingernail. And just a few days ago, he attempted to kill Ronette Pulaski with poison at the local hospital, leaving the letter "B" under the nail of the same finger. Thankfully, Leland's attempt to kill Ronette failed, but now after viciously murdering Maddy, he places a fourth letter, "O," under the same fingernail as the other young women.

After the Murder Takes Place, the Giant Fades Away and the Band Reappears

The Elderly Room Service Waiter: "I'm so sorry."

Next week we will analyze Twin Peaks DVD Episode 29 (30 on iTunes and Netflix), the last episode directed by David Lynch and the finale for the series. All episodes can be found in an excellent box set: Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition, Netflix Streaming Video, and in 720p HD at the iTunes Store. Many of the episodes can be viewed in lower definition at IMDB, CBS, and Fancast.

Roadhouse Clips Edited to Exclude Murder

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