"NORTHWEST PASSAGE"
Pilot
Episode 1000
by
Mark Frost and David Lynch
Revised First Draft
December 7, 1988
ACT ONE
In DARKNESS the sound of a meadowlark's song.
FADE IN:
THE MEADOWLARK
The bright eye and beak of the bird, backlit by the first
light of the rising sun.
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY "21" - DAWN
A long, straight, empty stretch of road leads up between two
mountains, Whitetail and Blue Pine, the Twin Peaks.
EXT. TWIN PEAKS TOWN SQUARE - DAWN
The picturesque center of the town of Twin Peaks; a small,
neatly manicured park with a pristine white gazebo its
centerpiece. Fronting the park is the '30's-style streamlined,
concrete and glass City Hall. An early rising MAN walks two
Irish setters through the square.
EXT. TWIN PEAKS DOWNTOWN - DAWN
In the shadow of a smaller mountain Sparkwood Hill, we see
the slightly run down business district, the core of Twin
Peaks' old downtown. A slow-moving freight train rumbles
through the train station.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAWN
A quiet, tree-lined street. White, clapboard houses with
open porches. A MILKMAN carries a crate of clinking milk
bottles up the steps to one of the houses. Behind him, a
yellow schoolbus cruises slowly by.
EXT. INTERSECTION - DAWN
Where Sparkwood Road meets Highway "21", a traffic light
cycles from green to yellow to red.
EXT. ED HURLEY'S GAS STATION - DAWN
On the highway. Not yet open for business. - No sign of life.
EXT. THE ROADHOUSE DANCE HALL - DAWN
A dog drifts through a parking lot, littered with last night's
trash and beer bottles. The club's neon patron-snatcher
flickers back and forth between two images of a couple doing
the jitterbug.
EXT. DOUBLE "R" DINER - DAWN
Open for business. Two Diesel rigs idle in the oil-stained
gravel lot outside. A couple of nighthawks sober up at the
counter. A pretty country-western ballad plays on the jukebox
inside.
EXT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL - DAWN
An imposing granite structure overlooks the city from high
on White Tail Mountain, one of the Twin Peaks. Automatic
sprinklers kick on across the vast green-black lawns.
EXT. PACKARD SAWMILL - DAWN
A massive industrial structure on the south shore of Black
Lake. Sawdust and steam shoot out of funnels and pipes. A
distant tug shepherds a logjam towards the sawmill gates. A
piercing steam whistle signals the end of the night shift.
EXT. THE PACKARD RESIDENCE - DAWN
Outside the huge log house, called Blue Pine Lodge, PETE
MARTELL, a late-middle-aged man, sets some fishing gear in
the back of a pick-up, then goes inside.
INT. BLUE PINE LODGE KITCHEN - DAWN
Pete grabs a thermos of coffee and an apple, kisses his wife,
KATHERINE PACKARD MARTELL, a sturdy, weathered woman, mid-
fifties, fully dressed, at the table, newspaper and coffee
in hand. She doesn't react to the kiss. Pete exits.
CUT TO:
INT. BLUE PINE LODGE MASTER BEDROOM - DAWN.
GIOVANNA PASQUALINI PACKARD, a beautiful woman in her
thirties, wearing a silk negligee, sits at a vanity table,
combing her hair, lost in a dreamy state of mind. From
outside, she hears Pete's pick-up drive off, turns to look
out the bedroom's large picture window.
CUT TO:
GIOVANNA'S POV
Looking down to the shores of Black Lake. A large logjam is
visible near the sawmill dock.
CUT TO:
EXT. SAWMILL DOCK - DAWN
Pete lifts his fishing gear from the pick-up end walks out
onto the dock to drop a line.
CUT TO:
PETE
He's about to cast out his line when his expression changes;
he sees something horrible. He sets his tackle and makes his
way down a wooden stairway to a landing at water level. He
jumps across a gap of dark, oil-slicked water onto the edge
of a cabled log-raft. He steps cautiously across the shiny,
barkless logs, slowing as he approaches what it was that
caught his eye...
CUT TO:
A WOMAN'S BODY
Face down, lying on the log raft, cut, bruised, broken and
lifeless.
PETE
Shaking, he turns to go for help.
CUT TO:
MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE - DAY
Highway "21", empty, running up between the twin peaks. A
flying wedge of motorcycle riders driving Harleys ride into
view; seven young men, all between seventeen and twenty-one,
clean-cut, wearing black leather jackets. With MAIN TITLES
and MUSIC over, we see the gang ride through various parts
of the city.
END TITLES
FADE IN:
EXT. SAWMILL DOCK - DAWN
Pete, the middle-aged man, hurriedly punches in a number on
a pay phone at the end of the dock.
PETE
Lucy, put Dan on the horn.
CUT TO:
INT. SHERIFFS OFFICE - DAWN
SHERIFF DAN STEADMAN, rugged, early forties, pours his first
cup of coffee, as the dispatcher, LUCY MORAN, turns to him
from the switchboard.
LUCY
Sheriff, sounds like Pete Martell up
at the Mill.
Steadman punches line one and picks up the call.
STEADMAN
Sheriff Steadman... now hold on a
second, Pete, where?... you stay
right there, I'm on my way.
He hangs up, grabs his hat and coat and heads for the door.
STEADMAN
(to Lucy)
You better get Dr. Hayward, tell him
to meet me up at the Packard Mill,
the dock right below the dam - and
roust that Andy out of bed, tell him
to get his butt up there now.
LUCY
What is it?
STEADMAN
We got a body up there. You don't
say a word to anybody till you hear
from me.
Steadman exits.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAWN
Steadman hops into his souped-up Diamond County Sheriff's
Department cruiser, fires up the big V-8 and rooster-tails
it towards the highway, as his red and blue toplights start
spinning.
CUT TO:
EXT. PACKARD MILL DOCK - MORNING
Steadman pulls up, lights still spinning, just as the Diamond
County Coroner's station wagon pulls up alongside. Steadman
gets out and joins DR. WILLIAM HAYWARD, the Medical Examiner,
a tall, distinguished gray-haired man of sixty, and they
move towards the dock.
HAYWARD
What've we got?
STEADMAN
Let's go find out.
They make their way down the wooden steps to the log raft.
Waiting there are Pete, his wife Katherine and Giovanna
Packard, wearing a coat over a brocade bathrobe, her beautiful
hair and make-up in stark contrast to the harsh surroundings.
PETE
We haven't touched anything.
STEADMAN
Thanks, Pete.
(tips his hat)
Mrs. Packard... Katherine...
KATHERINE
Our security guard didn't see
anything.
Steadman nods, he and Hayward move forward to the body, on
the edge of the logs. Without touching anything, Hayward
kneels beside the body and begins to examine details.
HAYWARD
You want forensics first?
STEADMAN
(shakes his head)
She's been in the water. Go ahead.
HAYWARD
Let's get some pictures.
Above them, on the dock, DEPUTY ANDY BRENNAN, young,
intelligent but awkward and shy, climbs down the stairs,
carrying a forensic examination kit and a camera.
ANDY
You need the kit, Sheriff? I've got
the kit.
STEADMAN
Good. Bring that camera down here,
Andy.
ANDY
Right.
(as he passes the
others)
Ladies... Pete.
STEADMAN
Doc wants some pictures before we
turn her over.
ANDY
(staring at the body)
Who is she?
STEADMAN
Andy, the camera. Then we'll turn
her over and find out.
ANDY
Sorry. Sure. Okay.
Andy puts down the kit and shoots various angles of her back,
as the others stand out of the way. Andy kneels down to get
a closer shot, pauses, slumps back down to a sitting position
and starts to weep.
HAYWARD
Oh, Andy.
STEADMAN
My God, Andy. Same thing as Last
year in Mr. Blodgett's barn.
ANDY
Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
STEADMAN
Is this gonna happen every damn time?
HAYWARD
Give me the camera, Andy.
Hayward takes the camera from him and takes some more
pictures. Steadman notices that a crowd of mill workers are
gathering above on the dock.
STEADMAN
(giving him an out)
Andy, get up on the dock and dear
that crowd back.
ANDY
Okay, Dan. Sorry.
Drying his eyes, Andy walks back and starts up the ladder.
Hayward takes a closeup of the girl's wrist, where he's found
some small, distinctive wounds. He puts the camera down on
the forensic kit.
HAYWARD
Let's turn her over. Give me a hand
here.
Steadman and Hayward grasp her by the shoulders and knees
end gently turn the body over.
CUT TO:
THE GIRL'S HEAD
As the body turns and the face comes into view.
CUT TO:
STEADMAN AND HAYWARD
Seeing the face, they're both hit with a shock of recognition.
HAYWARD
Oh Lord. Laura...
STEADMAN
Laura Palmer.
HAYWARD
Sweet Jesus...
GIOVANNA
(shocked)
Laura? Is it Laura?
Steadman looks back towards the others, where Giovanna has
stepped forward towards them. He catches her eye. Nods.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAURA PALMER'S HOUSE - MORNING
A quiet, upper middle-class neighborhood. Manicured lawns. A
PAPERBOY rides by on a bike, flings a paper onto the front
steps of the Palmer house.
CUT TO:
INT. PALMER HOUSE - MORNING
SARAH PALMER, a thin, nervous chain-smoker, mid-forties,
turns some bacon over on the griddle, lights a cigarette and
goes to the bottom of the stairs.
SARAH
Laura, sweetheart, I'm not gonna
tell you again!
(silence; she waits)
Laura!
(no response; to
herself)
Oh for goodness sakes...
She starts up the stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. PALMER HALLWAY
Sarah opens the door to Laura's bedroom.
SARAH
(annoyed)
Laura, now means now--
She stops short. Laura's bed has apparently been slept in
but there's no one in the room. Sarah walks down the hall to
the bathroom and knocks on the door.
SARAH
Laura?
No answer. She tries the door, opens it. No one inside. Sarah
goes back into the hall, starting to worry.
SARAH
(louder)
Laura! Honey, are you downstairs?
She goes into Laura's room. Notices for the first time that
the window is open and the lace curtains are blowing in the
breeze.
Sarah picks up the white princess phone beside Laura's bed,
dials and waits for someone to answer.
SARAH
(into the phone)
Bette, it's Sarah, listen, I just
came up to wake Laura and she's not
here, is she with Bobby?
INTERCUT:
INT. BRIGGS HOUSE KITCHEN - MORNING
BETTY BRIGGS, a healthy, solid woman, early forties, is on
the phone. Her husband, MAJOR GARLAND BRIGGS, a rock-hard
Air Force career man, sits at the table in background, ramrod-
stiff, drinking black coffee.
BETTY
(into the phone)
She might be, Sarah, but Bobby leaves
here about five to go running and
then goes on to football practice.
SARAH
Can you reach him? Can you find out?
I'll call the school--
BETTY
I've got the number of the fieldhouse
here, let me get that for you--it's
474--
SARAH
(writing it down)
Thanks, Bette--
(a new idea)
You know, I'm wondering if she might
have gone out with Leland, he had an
early meeting--
BETTY
I'm sure that's it, or she's with
Bobby--
SARAH
Sure, let me call up to the hotel,
thanks.
She hangs up, then starts to dial another number.
CUT TO:
EXT. TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE - MORNING
MAX HARTMAN, the genial, verbose football coach, picks up
the phone at the fieldhouse window. Football players are
practicing on the field in background.
HARTMAN
(into the phone)
Yeah, hello, this is the Coach...
yeah, Mrs. Palmer, no, Bobby didn't
show up for practice yet, matter of
fact, come to think of it, he's been
late every day this week, possibly
even last week and the week before,
although he might be here before you
know it--well, I could have him call
you Mrs. Palmer, is it urgent?...
okay, sure, fine.
CUT TO:
EXT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL - MORNING
Re-establish.
CUT TO:
INT. GREAT NORTHERN PRIVATE DINING ROOM - MORNING
A group of fifteen NORWEGIAN BUSINESSMEN sit around an
executive dining table, talking animatedly in Norwegian while
consuming an immense, hearty breakfast.
CUT TO:
INT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL OFFICE - MORNING
In an inner office, BENJAMIN HORNE, a roguish, charismatic
man, mid-forties looks in at the Norwegians, then consults
with his lawyer, LELAND PALMER, a handsome, refined man of
fifty, who takes a sheath of legal contracts from a briefcase
and shows them to Horne.
HORNE
(glancing at the
contracts)
Are they ready to sign?
LELAND
You don't want to mention to them
that we don't as yet have access to
the Packard land--
HORNE
By the time we're ready to start
building we'll have that land, what
they don't know won't hurt them--
(holds up a hand to
silence him)
--I have solid information that the
Packard Sawmill will go belly-up
within a year. We will buy it for a
song; one verse, no chorus.
(hands back the
contracts)
Let's go get these cheese-eaters
where they live.
As they move into the dining room, we MOVE to a LARGE MAP on
the wall, topographical of Twin Peaks and environs.
On the map, in a red-shaded area northeast of the Packard
Sawmill on Black Lake we see the words: "PROPOSED SITE FOR
GHOSTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB AND ESTATES"
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HOTEL DINING ROOM - MORNING
Benjamin Home stands at the head of a table, addressing the
fifteen Norwegian businessmen. Beside him, an INTERPRETER
translates each sentence into Norwegian. Leland Palmer sits
at Horne's right hand.
HORNE
(in the middle of his
spiel)
...and great opportunities for growth
and expansion with a minimal capital
outlay... a clean and wholesome
environment much like your own...
with a quality of life to rival the
best our country can offer... of
course when I first spoke to Sven he
was naturally concerned about the
air here... if you'll permit me to
repeat what you told me after your
run this morning, Sven...
(pounds his chest
enthusiastically)
"My air sacs never felt so good!"
After the translation, the group all nod good-naturedly and
SVEN turns red. During which a HOTEL EMPLOYEE enters and
discreetly whispers something to Leland Palmer. Palmer nods
and rises.
LELAND
Excuse me a moment, gentleman.
(he stars out)
HORNE
So you see, here in Twin Peaks,
industry and health go hand in hand...
a harmonious and beneficial
coexistence...
Palmer exits.
CUT TO:
INT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL OFFICE - MORNING
A waiting room with a large picture window looking out on
the front lawn. Leland Palmer enters and picks up the phone.
LELAND
Leland Palmer...
INTERCUT:
INT. PALMER HOUSE - MORNING
Sarah Palmer, on the phone in the kitchen, lighting another
cigarette with the butt of the one she's just finishing.
SARAH
Honey, it's Sarah, is Laura with
you?
LELAND
No, why?
SARAH
(slightly hysterical)
She didn't go with you this morning?
LELAND
No, what's wrong, what's this about?
SARAH
She's not here, she wasn't here this
morning--
Looking out the window, Leland sees Sheriff Steadman drive
up, park and walk towards the hotel.
LELAND
She's probably with Bobby--
SARAH
I can't find him--
LELAND
Well that's it then, let's not worry--
SARAH
She would've left a note, why didn't
she tell me? Why didn't she leave me
a note?
LELAND
Sarah, calm down, darling, please...
Looking out towards the lobby he sees Steadman, speaking to
the DESK CLERK, who points in to where Leland is on the phone.
The Sheriff sees Leland, locks eyes with him and starts
walking towards him.
LELAND
(the first hint of
alarm, to himself)
Sheriff Steadman...
SARAH
(panicking)
Who? What did you say?
LELAND
(trying to cover)
Please. Sarah. I'm going to have to
call you back.
SARAH
(seeing it all, coming
unglued)
Oh my God... oh my God, Laura, no,
Laura!
LELAND
Sarah...
The Sheriff reaches Leland, hat in hand. Leland covers the
mouthpiece of the phone.
STEADMAN
Mr. Palmer...
LELAND
Is this about Laura?
STEADMAN
I'm afraid it is, sir.
We hear Sarah screaming for Leland over the phone.
CUT TO:
SARAH
SARAH
Leland, what is it? My baby! Tell
me, oh God, Leland!
CUT TO:
LELAND
Having heard the news, he goes back to the phone.
LELAND
(trembling, trying to
stay calm)
Sarah, I'm on my way home... please,
Sarah.
He hangs up. Picks up and struggling to remember the number,
unsteadily punches it in.
LELAND
Janice, this is Leland, oh God...
(he's momentarily
overcome, then)
...I want you to go next door and
stay with Sarah until I get there--
please just do it.
He hangs up.
STEADMAN
Let me drive you, sir.
Palmer nods, points vaguely back towards the meeting room.
LELAND
I, uh, should tell Mr. Horne and
the...
STEADMAN
I'm sure they'll understand.
Benjamin Horne appears in the doorway.
HORNE
Leland, we're ready to go over the
contracts...
(sees him)
Leland?
LELAND
My daughter's dead.
CUT TO:
EXT. PALMER HOUSE - MORNING
JANICE HOGAN, the Palmer's next door neighbor, exits the
front door of her house and runs next door to the Palmers'
house. She knocks on the door. We hear a heart-rending wail
of grief from inside.
JANICE
Sarah?!
She opens she door and rushes inside. Pause. Another cry.
CUT TO:
EXT. DOUBLE "R" DINER - MORNING
Re-establish. A Volkswagen beetle pulls up and a UNIFORMED
WAITRESS gets out and goes inside.
CUT TO:
INT. DOUBLE "R" DINER - MORNING
SHELLY JOHNSON, a young, slim waitress, is putting on her
coat, as the other waitress, HEIDI, a hefty German girl,
enters. The owner of the diner, NORMA JENNINGS, a statuesque,
well-preserved forty year old former beauty queen, pours a
warm-up for BOBBY BRIGGS, handsome, muscular high school
senior, wearing a letter jacket.
SHELLY
(popping gum)
What kept ya, Heidi? Seconds on
knockwurst this morning?
Heidi, a bubbly, easily embarrassed girl, giggles and blushes.
HEIDI
I couldn't get my car started.
SHELLY
Too busy jumpstartin' the old man.
BOBBY
Thought you Germans were always on
time.
NORMA
Bobby, I thought the only time you
cared about was makin' time.
Bobby and Shelly exchange a slightly guilty look. Bobby rises,
puts some change on the counter.
BOBBY
Hey, Shelly, you headin' out?
SHELLY
Headin' home.
BOBBY
I gotta go to practice, I could drop
you at your place on the way.
SHELLY
That'd be great, thanks.
BOBBY
(as they go, holds up
a quarter)
Here's a tune for you gals. Norma,
I'll see you in my dreams.
NORMA
Not if I see you first.
BOBBY
Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
He drops the quarter in a jukebox, punches a song in. Bobby
and Shelly exit the diner as an aggressively cheerful German
Polka blares from the jukebox.
CUT TO:
EXT. DINER - MORNING
Bobby opens the door of his souped-up Buick Electra '88
convertible for Shelly.
BOBBY
(under his breath)
I think she knows about us.
SHELLY
Norma? Fat chance. She's probably
hot to trot for you herself.
She gets in.
CUT TO:
INT. BOBBY'S CAR - MORNING
Bobby climbs in behind the wheel and starts the car. They
look around for a moment, make sure no one is watching them,
then kiss hotly.
SHELLY
I was thinkin' about you.
BOBBY
Yeah?
SHELLY
All night.
(she caresses him
intimately)
BOBBY
All right.
He steps on it and peels out of the parking lot.
CUT TO:
EXT. LUCKY HIGHWAY "21" - MORNING
As they drive down the highway, a Sheriff's cruiser, lights
and siren blaring, approaches them, headed the other way.
CUT TO:
INT. BOBBY'S CAR - MORNING
Shelly and Bobby watch the cruiser as it zooms by them, then
look back. She takes a pull off a silver flask and knocks it
back. Bobby looks at her.
SHELLY
Hey, it's happy hour in France.
(offers it to Bobby)
Come on. Breakfast of champions.
BOBBY
Right. 'Little pick-me-up before
Home Room.
SHELLY
Thought I was your little pick-me-
up.
BOBBY
Baby, you're more like a three-stage
rocket. A pocket rocket.
SHELLY
What stage are we in now?
BOBBY
You sure your old man's still on the
road?
SHELLY
Called me last night from Tacoma.
Talked dirty to me for an hour. And
he ain't got a phone in his truck.
(a highly suggestive
look)
Quit worryin' and start scurryin',
Mr. Touchdown.
Bobby steps on it.
CUT TO:
EXT. WINDING ROAD - MORNING
At the base of Sparkwood Mountain. Bobby drives around a
corner and starts up a steep driveway leading to Shelly's
house. They drive around another corner and Bobby slams on
the brakes when they see the cab of a large semi rig parked
in the driveway in front of the house.
CUT TO:
INT. BOBBY'S CAR - MORNING
BOBBY
Jesus...
SHELLY
He's home. Damn. Damn it.
(bangs her head back
against the headrest)
Bobby throws it into reverse and backs up behind a stand of
trees.
SHELLY
Damn it. Call you later.
CUT TO:
EXT. BOBBY'S CAR - MORNING
Shelly jumps out of the car. Bobby backs down the driveway
at thirty miles an hour.
CUT TO:
INT. BOBBY'S CAR - MORNING
Bobby drives away from Shelly's. Breathes a sigh of relief.
CUT TO:
EXT. PALMER HOUSE - MORNING
Sheriff Steadman drives his cruiser into the driveway and
Leland Palmer steps out on the passenger's car. Mrs. Palmer
comes frantically out of the house and down the steps. He
stops. She moves close to him, sees the grief in his eyes,
then runs to him, screaming, hitting him, sobbing
hysterically. He struggles to hold onto her until she
collapses in his arms.
FADE TO BLACK:
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. CALHOUN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - MORNING
A '30's Federal-style structure on the edge of the old
downtown. The Coroner's station wagon is parked outside an
entrance to the basement.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGUE CORRIDOR - MORNING
Dr. Hayward is seated in the corridor. He rises as Leland
Palmer and Sheriff Steadman come around the corner.
HAYWARD
Leland, I'm so sorry.
LELAND
Seventeen years old.
Hayward puts his arms around his old friend. They embrace.
Palmer pulls away. Looks at the door marked "CORONER." Steels
himself for what's coming.
STEADMAN
Hate to put you through this.
LELAND
No. I have to see her. I want to see
what was done to my little girl.
Steadman leads him through the door.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGUE - MORNING
Leland watches as a MORGUE ATTENDANT slides open a
refrigerated vault holding the body of Laura Palmer. The
Attendant removes the sheet. Palmer inhales sharply. His
face crumbles. He reaches out blindly, puts a hand on
Steadman's shoulder. Steadman holds him up.
CUT TO:
EXT. TWIN PEAKS FIELDHOUSE - MORNING
Bobby slows down to cruising speed, pulls up alongside a
group of Twin Peaks High School football players, jogging on
the other side of a chainlink fence.
BOBBY
Hey, suckers.
MIKE NELSON, one of the players peels off from the group and
slows to speak to him.
MIKE
Hey, man, you better get your butt
over to school, something's up.
BOBBY
That's what she said.
MIKE
You think I'm kidding.
BOBBY
What, me worry?
Bobby smiles, taps the accelerator and drives off.
CUT TO:
EXT. TWIN PEAKS HIGH SCHOOL - MORNING
Bobby tools into the school parking lot. Gets out. Notices a
Sheriff's department cruiser parked outside, lights flashing.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL MAIN HALL - MORNING
Bobby enters the building, passes a cluster of kids standing
outside the office. Bobby notices the kids staring at him
and stares aggressively back.
GIRL WITH GLASSES
Bobby Briggs, they're looking for
you.
BOBBY
Who is?
ANOTHER KID
Sheriff is.
BOBBY
Well here I am in school.
MRS. JACKSON, the Principal's secretary, standing inside the
school office, sees Bobby in the hallway through the glass
partition. She steps outside to speak to him.
MRS. JACKSON
Bobby, you're wanted in the
principal's office.
BOBBY
Who wants me in the principal's
office?
MRS. JACKSON
Right now, young man.
Bobby throws a swaggering look back at the group of kids and
saunters into the office.
CUT TO:
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Senior Home Room class. MARGARET HONEYCUTT, the teacher, is
calling the roll.
HONEYCUTT
...Terry Franklin...
The kids raises their hands as she calls their names.
HONEYCUTT
...Martha Grimes... Donna Hayward...
A very smart and very pretty girl, DONNA HAYWARD, daughter
of Dr. Hayward, looks up and responds.
DONNA
Here.
Looking out the door window, Donna notices two State Troopers
walking up to the door.
HONEYCUTT
...Audrey Horne...
Benjamin Horne's daughter, AUDREY HORNE, a delicate,
Botticelli-like beauty, with a halo of wavy black hair and
dark, haunted eyes, raises her hand.
HONEYCUTT
...James Hurley...
JAMES HURLEY, a handsome, clean-cut young man with intelligent
eyes, in a black leather jacket, seated in the back corner,
his motorcycle boots up on the back of the chair in front of
him.
JAMES
Yo.
One of the State Troopers enters the classroom and signals
Honeycutt. The other Trooper remains standing outside the
door.
TROOPER #1
Excuse me, m'am, is Bobby Briggs in
this class?
HONEYCUTT
No, he's in 107.
TROOPER #1
Could I speak to you for a moment,
please?
HONEYCUTT
Certainly.
Honeycutt moves over to the Trooper. He speaks quietly to
her. The class watches closely.
A GIRL runs by outside the window, in the interior grass
courtyard, crying hysterically.
A buzz of curiosity builds through the classroom. Mrs.
Honeycutt turns and looks towards the seat next to Donna.
The one empty seat in the room.
Donna notices Honeycutt's look. Donna looks at her arms.
Covered with goosebumps. Without knowing why, her eyes tear
up. Donna turns to look at James. He's staring right at her,
sharing the same sudden fear.
The Second Trooper sticks his head back into the classroom.
TROOPER #2
We got him.
The First Trooper hurries out and they move off down the
hall towards the office. Honeycutt turns to the class, her
face a mask of unsettled emotions.
HONEYCUTT
(voice trembling)
There'll be an announcement from the
Principal's office...
She can't continue, her lip quivering violently. One more
word and she'll dissolve in tears. She goes to her desk and
sits and stares off into the comer.
DONNA
(silently, to herself)
Laura...
A pencil snaps in James' hand.
CUT TO:
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - MORNING
The told State Troopers enter the office. Bobby is seated in
the middle of the room. Surrounded by Deputy Andy Brennan, a
second deputy, a black man, BERNIE HILL, and the School
Principal, GEORGE WOLCHEZK, a stolid, pale, balding man, mid-
fifties.
BOBBY
(frightened)
--I told you, I got up early like I
always do, I went running like I
always do, I went to breakfast at
the Double "R" and I didn't go to
practice 'cause I didn't feel like
it.
BERNIE
Why didn't you feel like it, Bobby?
Were you upset about something?
ANDY
Something troubling you, Bobby? You
want to tell us about it?
BOBBY
Look, you guys, please, what'd I to?
What's goin' on?
The door opens. Sheriff Steadman enters. Red-eyed, Mrs.
Jackson, Wolchezk's secretary, leans in behind him to say...
MRS. JACKSON
Mr. Wolchezk, there's rumors all
over school. Maybe it'd be best if
they heard it from you.
Wolchezk nods. Steadman indicates to him "just a moment".
BOBBY
What is it? What's going on? Sheriff?
STEADMAN
Now, Bobby, look at me. Your
girlfriend, Laura Palmer's been
killed. She was found just after
dawn. She was with you last night
and you weren't where you were
supposed to be this morning. Have
these fellas advised you of your
rights?
BOBBY
Yes, but I didn't know why--Laura's
dead?
STEADMAN
Yes. Did you understand your rights
as they were explained to you?
BOBBY
Yeah, Jesus, you think I killed her?
STEADMAN
(firmly)
Bobby, we're gonna have you make a
phone call, you can call your folks
and they can arrange to get a lawyer
to be with you when we talk some
more--Andy, take Bobby out to make
his call--
BOBBY
I loved her! And she loves me!
Pause. Andy takes Bobby by the arm. Bobby shakes him off.
BOBBY
You think 'cause I wasn't at football
practice that I killed my girlfriend?
You guys are nuts!
STEADMAN
(no more arguments)
Bobby... we're gonna talk about this
later. Mr. Wolchezk, why don't you
go ahead and make that announcement?
Andy leads Bobby out of the room. Wolchezk nods. Goes to the
public address system microphone behind his desk. Picks up
the microphone. Flips on the system. Collects himself.
WOLCHEZK
May I have your attention please...
may I have your attention... this is
Principal Wolchezk...
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING
We slowly drift down the corridor away from the office. Bobby
is visible in the office, through the glass partitions, making
his phone call. The sound of the announcement fades in and
out, echoing through the empty halls as we pass different
class rooms.
WOLCHEZK'S VOICE
(over)
...I am deeply saddened to have to
tell you that early this morning
your classmate Laura Palmer was found
dead...
We hear shrieks and cries of grief from the various
classrooms.
WOLCHEZK'S VOICE
...this is a terrible moment for all
of us, for all of us who knew her,
her friends and family and it is
important that we all try to help
each other through this difficult
time... the police have asked me to
ask all of you, if you have any
information concerning Laura's
activities after school yesterday,
or yesterday evening to please come
forward... I am hereby suspending
all classes for the day but before
we leave I would like to ask all of
you to join me in observing a moment
of silence...
(his voice breaking)
...for Laura and her dear memory...
We come to rest on a trophy case in the hallway. Prominent
among the trophies is a large photo of Laura, wearing a crown
and gown, with Bobby in background, and bearing the caption:
HOMECOMING QUEEN, 1988, LAURA PALMER.
We stay on the photo throughout the moment of silence.
CUT TO:
DONNA HAYWARD
In her classroom, raising her head up after the moment of
silence, tears streaming down her face. Another GIRL puts
her arms around Donna's shoulders, comforting her. Tears and
cries of disbelief from throughout the classroom. Donna looks
back at...
CUT TO:
JAMES HURLEY
Wiping the tears from his eyes, covering up his total
emotional destruction.
CUT TO:
EXT. PALMER HOUSE - DAY
Two sheriff's department cruisers and a state trooper's car
are parked outside. One of the Troopers we saw at the high
school is talking on his radio. a small group of NEIGHBORS
have gathered at a discreet distance, watching the house,
talking with quiet concern among themselves.
CUT TO:
INT. PALMER HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY
Sarah Palmer reclines on a Barca-lounger, a cold compress on
her forehead. His bag open beside him, Dr. Hayward has just
administered an injection to Sarah, discarding the syringe
and rolling her sleeve back down her arm. Janice brings Sarah
a glass of water.
Andy Brennan stands at the foot of the stairs. Sheriff
Steadman is seated on an ottoman next to Sarah, quietly
questioning her.
STEADMAN
What time was it when you last saw
Laura, Mrs. Palmer?
SARAH
(the sedative taking
effect)
What time? Uh, I suppose, let me
see... it would have been about nine
I think, yes, nine o'clock. She came
back from Bobby's and was going up
those stairs, those stairs right
there.
STEADMAN
Did she say anything?
SARAH
(dreamy)
No. She said goodnight. And I said,
"Goodnight, sweetheart" Then I heard
her door close.
She's close to tears for a moment, then it passes. Hayward
takes her hand and holds it. Sarah hears footsteps upstairs.
SARAH
Who's upstairs now?
STEADMAN
Your husband and one of my men.
SARAH
I can tell from the sounds that it
isn't her...
Steadman and Hayward exchange a look.
CUT TO:
INT. LAURA'S BEDROOM - DAY
Leland Palmer sits on the unmade bed, his hand absent-mindedly
brushing the bedspread. Deputy Bernie Hill is unobtrusively
searching the room. He opens a dresser drawer beside the bed
and discovers a locked diary, embosses with Laura's initials.
BERNIE
Do you know where the key for this
is, sir?
LELAND
(shakes his head)
Do you have to take that?
BERNIE
We'll return it as soon as possible.
Palmer nods. Bernie places the diary in a cardboard box along
with other collected evidence; her schoolbooks, letters,
etc.
Bernie moves to and opens the closet door. Turns on an
overhead light. The first thing he sees is a video camera
sitting on a shelf.
CUT TO:
INT. PALMER LIVING ROOM - DAY
Steadman continues to gently question Sarah.
STEADMAN
Can you remember, Mrs. Palmer... did
she make or receive any phone calls?
SARAH
I heard her phone ring once.
STEADMAN
About what time was that?
SARAH
I don't know who it was...
The phone rings. Steadman looks at Andy, who goes into the
kitchen to answer it.
STEADMAN
Do you recall the time?
SARAH
I was combing my hair...
STEADMAN
You were getting ready for bed.
SARAH
Yes. Leland was just coming home...
She fades. Steadman realizes the interrogation is effectively
coming to an end. The doorbell rings. Janice moves to the
door, opens it and admits FATHER CLARENCE HUTCHINSON, a
rumpled, white-haired Episcopalian minister.
JANICE
Father...
FATHER CLARENCE
(nods, quietly)
How is she?
Janice takes his hat and coat.
JANICE
She's been asking for you.
Clarence moves into the living room Steadman rises.
FATHER CLARENCE
(nodding to the other
men)
Sarah?
Sarah looks up at him. Blinks. He takes her hand, sits beside
her.
SARAH
There's no more pain now, is there?
CLARENCE
(gently, soothing)
Our thoughts and prayers guide her
to her rest. And she is at peace,
Sarah. The peace of the just and the
good.
Sarah sits back, finding some comfort in his words. Returning
from the kitchen, Andy signals Steadman over to him.
ANDY
(quietly urgent)
That was Lucy. Got a call from a guy
works up at the mill, Janek Pulaski.
Says his daughter didn't come home
last night. And she didn't show up
at school today either.
Off Steadman's concern...
CUT TO:
INT. PACKARD SAWMILL - DAY
A State Trooper rapidly walks JANEK PULASKI, a barrel-shaped
mill worker, past the powerful, ripping saws towards the
exit. Pulaski's eyes are red from tears and stress.
CUT TO:
INT. SAWMILL CATWALK - DAY
On a catwalk outside the office, over the din of the mill,
Katherine Packard is confronting Giovanna Packard, as an
embarrassed Pete Martell stands by, near a large, control
console.
KATHERINE
You're not going anywhere and you're
not telling anybody anything!
GIOVANNA
(Italian accented,
slightly fractured
syntax)
Katherine, I am sorry if this offends
you, but I am the owner of this
sawmill--
KATHERINE
And you don't know the first thing
about this sawmill, that's why I'm
running it--
GIOVANNA
I haven't exercised this authority
before but maybe I should have--
KATHERINE
You're not shutting us down!
GIOVANNA
(with surprising
firmness)
No! I have the final say-so. Pete,
push the plug!
KATHERINE
Pete, don't you dare!
Pete considers for a moment, then pushes some large buttons
and throws some switches. Katherine storms off.
CUT TO:
A STEAM WHISTLE
As it screeches, signaling a work stoppage.
CUT TO:
THE SAWS
As the power is cut end they grind to a halt.
CUT TO:
EXT. SAWMILL - DAY
Janek enters the State Trooper's car, the Trooper closes the
passenger door, gets in on the driver's side and drives off,
siren wailing.
CUT TO:
INT. SAWMILL OFFICE - DAY
Giovanna flips a switch activating the mill's antiquated
public address system and speaks into a large, silver
microphone.
GIOVANNA
(Italian accented,
slightly fractured
English)
Thank you, may I have your
attention... this is "Jo" Packard...
INTERCUT:
THROUGHOUT THE MILL
The faces of the WORKERS are turned up towards the office
and the speakers.
GIOVANNA
This morning, as you know, the body
of Miss Laura Palmer was found near
our dock. Just now your friend and
co-worker Mr. Janek Pulaski has
learned that his daughter Sharon,
one of Laura's schoolmates, is missing
since last night... I suffered the
loss of someone dear to me not long
ago and when my husband, Andrew,
died the kind words and feelings
that you expressed to me helped me
so much. You are very kind people. I
have decided that today, in the lights
of what has happened, all work here
will stop, the Mill will shut down.
Perhaps you will spend the day with
your families and once again you can
all extend your good wishes to the
Pulaskis and to the Palmers.
(pause)
Thank you all for your attention.
Silence throughout the mill.
CUT TO:
KATHERINE
In a hallway, listening to Giovanna on one of the loud
speakers.
KATHERINE
(to the speaker)
Bitch!
She turns and sees startled MILL WORKER standing behind her,
hat in hand.
KATHERINE
What's you name?
WORKER
Fred Truax.
KATHERINE
You're fired!
She storms off.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY "21" - DAY
An empty road. Silence, suddenly broken by James Hurley, on
his motorcycle, cutting through the wind with reckless
abandon.
CUT TO:
EXT. ED HURLEY'S GAS STATION - DAY
James drives the bike off the highway, into the station and
pulls up next to the pumps. Without a glance at the office,
he screws off the cap and starts filling the bike's gas tank.
ED HURLEY, James' uncle, a thin, taciturn man of forty, steps
out of the office and walks out to James as he tops off his
tank and hangs up the nozzle. Mindful of his state, Ed waits
for James to speak.
JAMES
Laura's dead.
ED
I heard.
With restrained emotion, Ed puts a hand on James' shoulder.
James inhales deeply, choking back his feelings. Looks at
his Uncle. Looks away.
JAMES
She was the one.
ED
(nods, waits)
Buy you a cup a coffee?
Pause.
JAMES
'Can't do it.
Before he's overcome with pain, James takes out a folded
note, hands it to Ed.
JAMES
If Donna comes by, would you give
this to her?
ED
You bet.
James hops on the bike, kicks it to life and roars off. Ed
watches him go. The door to the office opens and Ed's wife,
NADINE, a small, angry woman, wearing a black patch over her
left eye, calls out at him.
NADINE
Ed? They said those drapes'd be ready
by ten; now I want those drapes up
by nightfall.
Ed exhales heavily, waves at her without looking at her and
heads for his pick-up, parked nearby.
CUT TO:
EXT. REMOTE MOUNTAINOUS TWO-LANE HIGHWAY - DAY
A eighteen-wheel logging truck with a full load barrels along,
downshifting to brake its speed on the steep decline.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS - DAY
A rustling in a dark thicket. Bloodied bare feet stumbling
aimlessly town a slope.
CUT TO:
INT. LOGGING TRUCK CAB - DAY
As the DRIVER muscles his cab around a horseshoe bend, he
sees someone step out onto the road a few hundred feet ahead.
The Driver steps on the brakes and downshifts frantically.
The engine whines in protest.
CUT TO:
THE WHEELS
Of the big rig screech along the blacktop, burning and
smoking.
CUT TO:
THE DRIVER'S POV
Through the windshield, as the truck closes rapidly on the
missing high school girl, SHARON PULASKI, standing in the
middle of the road, dazed, helpless, bruised and cut, wearing
only bra and panties.
CUT TO:
THE TRUCK
Finally lurches to a halt only a few inches from Sharon. Her
lost, brutalized face opens into a silent scream.
CUT TO BLACK:
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL INTENSIVE CARE - DAY
Sharon Pulaski lies in a hospital bed, attached by various
tubes to life-support machines and monitors. A Nurse fluffs
a pillow under her head, as another fits an oxygen tube to
her nostril.
CUT TO:
GROUP OF TRACKING DOGS
Barking, restless, anxious to follow a scent. They're on the
highway, where Sharon came out of the woods. The logging
truck is pulled off the road, the Driver is talking to Andy
Brennan, who's filling out a report.
Deputy Bernie Hill drives up in a cruiser, exits, carrying a
plastic evidence bag containing the clothes Sharon was
wearing. He takes them over to the dog's HANDLERS. The
Handlers open the bag and give the dog's the scent.
A number of Deputies and CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS follow the dogs,
as they pick up the trail and strain at their leashes,
bounding up the hill into the woods.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
A nondescript, government-issue, tan sedan drives up towards
Twin Peaks. Passes a sign that reads:
"WELCOME TO TWIN PEAKS. POPULATION 51,201"
CUT TO:
INT. SEDAN - DAY
Behind the wheel is FBI field agent DALE COOPER, mid-thirties,
handsome in an unremarkable way. He activates and speaks
into a microphone attached to his lapel, connected to a small,
Walkman-sized tape recorder clipped to his belt.
COOPER
Diane, 2:15 in the afternoon, November
14. Entering town of Twin Peaks.
Five miles south of the Canadian
border, twelve miles west of the
state line. Never seen so many trees
in my life. As W.C. Fields would
say, I'd rather be here than
Philadelphia. It's 54 degrees on a
beautiful sunny afternoon. Weatherman
said rain. If you could get paid
that kind of money for being wrong
60% of the time it'd beat working.
Mileage is 79,345, gauge is on
reserve, I'm riding on fumes, have
to tank up when I get into town,
remind me to tell you how much that
is. Lunch was $6.31 and I left her a
dollar tip, at the...
(digs out a restaurant
receipt)
...Lamplighter Inn, that's on Highway
2 near Lewis Fork. That was a tuna
fish sandwich on whole wheat and a
slice of cherry pie and coffee. Darn
good food. And if you ever get up
this way, Diane, that cherry pie is
worth a stop. Okay.
(looks for his notes)
I'll be looking for a...
(reads)
...Sheriff Daniel Steadman, he's
going to be at the Calhoun Memorial
Hospital with that girl they pulled
off the mountain. I'll be checking
into a motel after we're through
there. Sure the Sheriff'll be able
to recommend a clean place. Reasonably
priced.
Turns off the microphone. Turns it back on again.
COOPER
Forgot to mention. I stopped for
coffee and a pit stop about 10:30,
little diner near Bitteroot Lake.
Excellent coffee. Forgot to get the
receipt, can you believe it? That
was seventy five cents and I left a
quarter on the counter. Got to find
out what kind of trees these are.
They're really something.
Turns off the microphone. Whistles "Rhapsody in Blue."
CUT TO:
EXT. CALHOUN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - DAY
In long shot, we see Dale Cooper drive up, get out of the
car where he's greeted by Sheriff Steadman and together they
enter the hospital.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY
Steadman and Cooper walk down the corridor.
STEADMAN
Sure glad to have you here. Kind'a
lucky, in a way, Sharon stepped out
across the state line. Whole town's
really badly shaken up--
COOPER
Sure it is, nice, quiet place,
something like this. Let me stop you
right here in the hallway for second,
Sheriff.
(they stop; matter of
factly)
There a few things we ought to get
straight right off the bat. I've
learned this the hard way and it's
better to talk it out up front. When
the Bureau gets called in, the
Bureau's in charge. You're going to
be working for me and sometimes local
law enforcement has a problem with
that. Hope you understand.
STEADMAN
Like I said, we're glad to have you.
COOPER
And what kind of fantastic trees
have you got growing all around the
area? Big, majestic--
STEADMAN
Ponderosa pine.
COOPER
(savors the sound)
"Ponderosa Pine."
(stars walking again)
Can somebody get me your coroner's
report on the dead girl while we're
in with the witness?
STEADMAN
'Haven't done the autopsy yet. We
can go downstairs to the morgue when
we're done here.
COOPER
Fine. What've we got from Sharon so
far?
STEADMAN
She hasn't said word one since we
found her.
They enter an office, past a stationed POLICEMAN. Janek and
his wife, MARIA PULASKI, and two of their other CHILDREN sit
on a bench by the door.
CUT TO:
INT. INTENSIVE CARE - DAY
Sharon Pulaski lies in bed, an IV in her arm, hooked up to
monitors, attended by two NURSES. Steadman and Cooper enter.
Seeing them, the attending physician, an attractive woman,
DR. SHELVY, moves towards them from the bed.
STEADMAN
Dr. Shelvy, this is FBI Agent Dale
Cooper.
SHELVY
Glad to know you.
COOPER
Doctor. How's the girl?
SHELVY
She's in shock. Suffering from
exposure.
COOPER
Was she raped?
SHELVY
Yes. More than once.
COOPER
One perpetrator?
SHELVY
Waiting for the tests.
COOPER
(to Steadman)
Any connection to the murdered girl?
STEADMAN
Same high school. Far as we know
they hardly knew each other.
(shrugs)
No connection.
COOPER
Can I question her?
SHELVY
This girl doesn't even know where
she is. Or if she is.
COOPER
What are you saying?
SHELVY
We need a CAT scan and we aren't
equipped for that. My opinion is
there may be neurological damage.
She's just not responsive at all.
COOPER
I'd like to look at her fingers.
Shelvy and Steadman look at each other.
SHELVY
All right.
Cooper moves to Sharon. Her eyes are open, looking up at the
ceiling, moving restlessly. Cooper picks up left hand, looks
closely at the wrists, sees the distinctive wounds and a
look of intense interest comes over him. He immediately looks
very closely at her fingernails.
STEADMAN
We already scraped for particles.
COOPER
That's not what I'm looking for.
(looks closely, almost
to himself)
Nothing here... not a thing...
SHARON
(a sort of drugged,
horrified whine)
Don't go there...
SHELVY
(moving quickly to
her side)
Sharon?
COOPER
Sharon?
Sharon almost seems to focus on them for a moment. A single
tear runs from her eye.
CUT TO:
INT. ELEVATOR - DAY
We see the floor indicator numbers light up, going down as
the elevator descends. Steadman and Cooper ride down, along
with a ONE-ARMED MAN. The door opens on the first floor. We
notice a MAN talking to a NURSE, seated behind a desk, eating
her lunch off a cafeteria tray. She laughs uneasily at
something the Man says. The One-Armed Man exits. The elevator
doors close.
The elevator descends to the basement. The doors open.
Steadman and Cooper exit.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGUE EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY
Bright overhead lights pop on, momentarily blinding us. A
low, vibratory throb of humming machinery. Steadman and Cooper
and a MORGUE ATTENDANT walk to a stainless steel examination
table in the middle of the white-tiled room.
Laura Palmer's body lies on the table, covered by a shroud
of cloudy plastic. Cooper takes her left arm out from under
the cover and examines her fingers.
STEADMAN
We did scrape the nails when she
came in.
COOPER
(sees something under
the nail of her ring
finger; energized)
There it is. Here it is. Oh my God,
there it is.
STEADMAN
What?
COOPER
(to the Morgue
Attendant)
Leave us alone please.
The Attendant looks at Steadman. He nods. The Attendant exits.
COOPER
(pointing to her nail)
Sheriff, I need something to grab
onto this.
Steadman uncovers and rummages through an autopsy tool tray,
finds and hands Cooper a pair of fine tweezers. Cooper
separates the nail from the finger, works the tweezers in
and dislodges a small, white speck from under the nail onto
a stainless steel tray.
Cooper turns on his microphone, swings a mounted magnifying
glass over the tray, pulls it down over the speck and turns
on its attached light.
COOPER
3:27 PM. Diane, Twin Peaks County
Morgue. With the body of the victim...
what's her name?
STEADMAN
Laura Palmer.
COOPER
Laura Palmer. Got here before the
autopsy. It's the same thing, Diane,
told you I had a feeling we'd see
this again
STEADMAN
What've you got there?
COOPER
Ring finger. Under the nail. Let's
see what he left us.
CUT TO:
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Using the tweezers, Cooper turns over the speck and we see
printed on the tiny piece of white paper is the letter "R" .
COOPER
It's an "r". Diane, let's give this
to Albert and his team, don't go to
Sam, Albert seems to have a little
more on the ball.
RESUME SCENE
As Cooper turns off the mic and turns to Steadman.
COOPER
Need to bag and tag this.
STEADMAN
You gonna let me in on whatever the
hell's going on here?
COOPER
Sheriff, we've got a lot to talk
about.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK OF ROADHOUSE - DAY
Donna Hayward drives up in a Mercedes-Benz station wagon and
parks behind the Roadhouse Nightclub, near a couple of
motorcycles, in front of a large, wooden shed. On the roof
of the shed is an erector-set-like oil derrick-shaped
structure, supporting a small, blue neon sign that reads:
"HEMINGWAY'S"
Donna goes up the steps to the door, knocks and enters.
CUT TO:
INT. HEMINGWAY'S - DAY
A sparsely furnished coffee house. Two walls with shelves
packed with books. On the wall behind a small raised platform
is a large, black and white photograph of Ernest Hemingway.
Two BIKERS in black leather sit at one of the tables, reading
books. JAKE MORISSEY, the large, friendly owner of the
Roadhouse and "Hemingway's", wearing an apron, is cleaning
an unique brass Espresso machine.
DONNA
Is James around?
JAKE
He was. You just missed him.
DONNA
Thanks.
Donna exits.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. ED HURLEY'S GAS STATION - DAY
The Mercedes-Benz station wagon is parked across the highway
from the gas station.
CUT TO:
INT. MERCEDES-BENZ STATION WAGON - DAY
Donna Hayward sits in the driver's seat, the engine running,
listening to the radio, a Golden Oldies station, watching
the road.
CUT TO:
HER POV
As Ed Hurley drives up in his pick-up, turns into the station
parking lot and parks.
CUT TO:
DONNA
Puts the car in gear, drives across the highway into the
station and pulls up next to Ed's pick-up.
CUT TO:
THE BED OF THE PICK-UP
Inside is a large, wrapped package with a label that reads,
"GENTLE JIM'S DRAPES." Ed turns from the truck bed, as he
sees Donna get out of her car and approach him.
DONNA
Hi, Ed.
ED
Hey, Donna.
He sees she's about to burst into tears, opens his arms and
embraces her. She weeps.
ED
I'm so sorry...
She nods, starts to regain her composure.
DONNA
Have you seen James?
ED
He came by.
DONNA
Is he okay?
ED
No.
DONNA
You know where he went? He wasn't up
at "Hemingway's."
ED
I don't know. But he said to to give
this to you.
He hands her a folded note. Donna opens it. It reads:
"21 BILLIARDS. SEE JOEY AFTER NINE."
Out on the highway, a white 1959 Chevy Impala slams on its
brakes, hits the horn, the driver does a squealing U-turn to
pull into the gas station parking lot and stops near Donna
and Ed. Mike Nelson, Bobby's friend, is driving the car. He
leans out the window.
MIKE
(furious; to Donna)
Hey! What the hell are you doin'
here?
DONNA
I--
MIKE
We've been lookin' all over for you!
In case you didn't know it, Bobby's
in a lot of trouble! He's my best
friend, you're supposed to be with
me and we're goin' down to the police
station to be with him!
DONNA
Don't tell me where I ought'a be--
and by the way, Laura was my best
friend--
MIKE
Get in the car!
ED
(he's heard enough)
Muffle it there, Junior.
MIKE
Mind your own business!
ED
You're on my lot, friend.
MIKE
Not for long! Donna, you get to the
Sheriff's right now!
Mike guns it and digs out in the loose gravel, fishtailing
onto the highway. Donna's trembling with anger and
frustration.
DONNA
Boy, do I know how to pick 'em.
Nadine throws open a window in their apartment above the
garage and calls out.
NADINE
Ed! You waitin' for those drapes to
hang themselves?!
ED
(waves dismissively
at her; to Donna)
I know how to pick 'em too.
They both manage a small smile. Donna heads for her car.
DONNA
If you see James, tell him I'm looking
for him.
ED
You bet. Take it easy now, Donna.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY
Re-establish.
CUT TO:
INT. EVIDENCE ROOM - DAY
Steadman and Dale Cooper are seated at a table, examining
the box of evidence that was taken from Laura Palmer's
bedroom. Steadman takes a video cassette out of the box.
COOPER
That's the tape you found in the
video camera in Laura's room.
STEADMAN
Right.
COOPER
At a certain point I'm going to want
to show that to the boyfriend.
STEADMAN
You say when.
Cooper puts on a pair of thin, rubber gloves and looks into
the box of Laura's belongings.
COOPER
Did you complete all your forensics?
STEADMAN
Yes.
Cooper picks up Laura's locked diary.
COOPER
No key yet, huh?
STEADMAN
Still looking.
Cooper casually snaps open the lock, opens the diary and
uses an orange stick to turn to the last entries. He activates
his tape recorder.
COOPER
Diane, I've just opened Laura Palmer's
diary. This is the last entry, dated
yesterday, November 13...
(reads)
"Cloudy. Sort of giddy. Not even
cautiously optimistic. Day Eighteen.
Eight o'clock. Asparagus for dinner
again. I hate asparagus. Does this
mean I'll never grow up"... then
she's written...
(counts)
...nine questions marks... "Nervous
about meeting 'J' tonight." That's
the last entry.
(to Steadman)
That's something to get started on.
STEADMAN
(writing down the
letter "J")
One out of twenty-six.
Cooper turns back a few pages and reads again.
COOPER
Day fourteen. Indian summer. Picnic
at Le Sparkwood Cafe--al fresco. Am
I this happy?"
INTERCUT:
THE DIARY
As Cooper continues to thumb back through the pages, he finds
a small key inside a small, slit glassine envelope, taped to
a page.
COOPER
(instant recognition)
Diane. I just turned back eighteen
days; it says here, "Day One." What
we've got taped to the page here is
a glassine envelope containing a
white residue and what looks to be a
key to a...
(thinks, places it)
...safety deposit box.
(closely examines
envelope)
Sheriff, after you very carefully
remove this key, we're going to run
this envelope and my bet is it'll
test positive for cocaine.
STEADMAN
(indignantly)
That's impossible--
COOPER
You ever been surprised before?
STEADMAN
Mr. Cooper, you didn't know Laura
Palmer--
COOPER
Benefit of the doubt, innocent until
proven guilty, but that's still
cocaine in that envelope.
Holds out the envelope. Steadman takes it.
COOPER
Get started on a court order to open
her deposit box and maybe we'll both
find out a few things about Laura
Palmer.
Steadman exits. Cooper reaches into the box again.
COOPER
Diane, I'm holding in my hand a box
of small, chocolate bunnies...
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE STATION HOLDING CELL - DAY
A despondent Bobby Briggs sits at a table with his parents,
Bette and Major Briggs. Across from them is Bobby's lawyer,
a short, rotund, silver-throated man by the name of GILMAN
WHITE. A DEPUTY enters to announce...
DEPUTY
We're ready for you.
He waits to escort them out.
GILMAN
(instructing Bobby)
Now Bobby, remember what I told you;
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
does not appreciate smart talk. You
answer their questions, openly and
honesty. If you're having any trouble,
any strange feelings, any questions,
you consult with me, that's why I'm
here. If there are any questions I
would prefer that you not answer
directly, I will so signal you. Is
that understood?
Bobby nods sullenly.
MAJOR BRIGGS
What do you say to Mr. White, Robert?
BOBBY
Yes, sir.
The Deputy moves to Bobby. Bobby rises and walks out with
him. White picks up his briefcase and follows.
CUT TO:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Steadman and Cooper enter and take seats across the table
from Bobby and Gilman White. There is a TV and VCR on a stand
in the corner.
COOPER
(right to the point)
Bobby, did you kill Laura Palmer?
BOBBY
No!
COOPER
(writes something on
a piece of paper)
She was studying at your house until
about nine thirty last night, isn't
that right?
BOBBY
Yeah.
(looks at Gilman)
Yes, sir.
Cooper shows Steadman the piece of paper: on it he's written,
"He didn't do it." Steadman is nonplusses.
COOPER
She drive herself home?
BOBBY
Yes.
COOPER
You had a big fight with her last
week, didn't you?
BOBBY
So what?
Gilman puts a hand on Bobby's arm.
BOBBY
If I had a fight with her, if I sang
songs with her, if I went skipping
rope with her what difference does
it make? I didn't kill her.
COOPER
Bobby, here's how this works, we ask
questions and you answer only the
questions that we ask. Briefly and
to the point.
Cooper picks up a remote control and turns on the VCR in the
corner. A picture appears on the monitor.
INTERCUT:
THE MONITOR
A slightly fuzzy picture: Donna and Laura in a sunlit forest
glade, having a Indian summer picnic on a red and white
checked blanket, blanket and mugging for the handheld video
camera. We don't see or hear the camera operator.
COOPER
(watching Bobby
carefully)
Did you shoot this video, Bobby?
A cold, jealous rage rises in Bobby as he watches the girls
laughing, seeing only Laura and her happiness.
BOBBY
No.
COOPER
If you didn't take them, who did?
Did you know that Laura was seeing
someone else?
(no answer)
That's what you fought about last
week, isn't it, Bobby? Look at these
pictures, look how happy she is.
(no answer)
'You ever take cocaine with Laura?
BOBBY
(shocked)
I never did that!
GILMAN
Excuse me but what are you charging
my client with?
COOPER
(smiles, as he writes
again)
That's right, you're a football
player, aren't you, Bobby?
He shows Steadman the pad; on it he's written: "Kid's a lousy
liar."
COOPER
If you knew who she was seeing, trust
me on this, now's the time to tell
us.
BOBBY
Why don't you ask Donna? She was
there with 'em!
COOPER
I'm asking you, Bobby. Give me a
name. Here's a clue. First initial
"J."
Bobby can't, or won't, come up with a name.
BOBBY
(almost to himself)
"J"...
(self-pitying)
She wouldn't. She wouldn't'a done
that to me.
(almost mumbling)
I can't believe it. I can't believe
it...
COOPER
(as he rises)
You didn't love her anyway.
(to Steadman)
Let him go.
Cooper exits. Steadman tries to give the appearance of keeping
up.
CUT TO:
INT. SHERIFF'S STATION - DAY
Cooper exits the interrogation room. He looks towards the
desk and sees Donna speaking to Lucy, the dispatcher. Mike
is standing sullenly nearby. Cooper makes a bee-line for
Donna.
COOPER
Donna?
(she looks up at him)
You and I are going to have a little
talk about a picnic.
Donna looks at Cooper, then at Mike.
CUT TO:
EXT. MOUNTAIN SIDE FOREST - DAY
A TRACKER is holding back two of his dogs, who are barking
furiously at the mouth of a hillside cave. A Trooper stands
by with his gun drawn.
Deeply shaken, Deputy Andy Brennan exits the cave a moment
later, holding a flashlight and his gun. He absent-mindedly
walks past the others and they watch him drift into the woods.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE WOODS - DAY
Andy slumps down onto a rock. Sets down his pistol and takes
out his handi-talk radio and, with difficulty, activates it.
His gun slides off the rock into the dirt.
ANDY
(shaking)
Lucy... Lucy...
INTERCUT:
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE SWITCHBOARD - DAY
Lucy, at the switchboard, speaks over her headset.
LUCY
Andy, is that you?... I can hardly
hear you...
ANDY
Tell Dan, we found where... it
happened... Ghostwood Forest, about
three miles east of the highway...
tell Dan...
(he can't continue)
LUCY
(quietly, tenderly)
Andy, are you okay? Sweetie?
ANDY
I didn't cry... but Lucy... it's
horrible... oh, God...
He can't fight it. He starts to cry.
FADE TO BLACK:
END ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. SHERIFF'S STATION - DAY
Steadman backs his four-wheel vehicle up to the back door,
throws open the rear gate and goes into an open equipment
room.
CUT TO:
INT. SHERIFF'S STATION - DAY
Cooper guides Donna into the interrogation room and closes
the door. Cooper studies her.
COOPER
Have a seat, Donna.
CUT TO:
INT. SHERIFF'S STATION - DAY
Bobby's parents and Gilman White are talking near the exit,
as Bobby is released by a Deputy from the holding cell area.
Bobby looks at his parents, then sees Mike waiting by a water
cooler near the front desk, where Lucy is typing. Bobby walks
over to Mike.
MIKE
Hey, buddy.
BOBBY
Hey, Snake, we're outta here.
MIKE
Just a sec', Donna's in there.
BOBBY
(low and angry)
You straightened her out yet?
MIKE
I don't know what's up with her,
man.
BOBBY
Forget her. I got it figured. Laura
and her. We're lookin' at some
freakin' biker. And some freakin'
biker is gonna get his head busted
open.
MIKE
Who is it?
Lucy pauses in her typing and slightly turns her head towards
them. Bobby picks up on it.
BOBBY
Come out here.
They head for the exit, passing his parents and lawyer.
MAJOR BRIGGS
(formal but sympathetic)
Robert, I'll be at home this evening
if you need a sympathetic ear.
BOBBY
I don't need any damn sympathetic
anything.
Bobby and Mike leave the building.
CUT TO:
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Cooper and Donna, his questioning in progress.
COOPER
You mean to tell me you and Laura
went on this picnic alone, just the
two of you?
DONNA
What's wrong with that?
COOPER
Deep into the woods, not another
soul around--
DONNA
Is there some law against having a
picnic?
COOPER
Donna, this is interesting to me,
because with just the two of you out
there--
He turns on the VCR with the remote and we see the video of
the picnic.
COOPER
I can't for the life of me figure
out how these pictures got taken.
Donna, feeling trapped and frightened, thinks fast.
DONNA
Oh. Oh, that. That's easy. There was
a hiker, came along with a backpack
and we asked her to take the pictures.
COOPER
What was her name?
DONNA
I don't think we ever asked her. Or
I forget. Maybe we did, I don't
remember.
COOPER
(non-threatening)
Donna... who are you protecting?
DONNA
Nobody. That's what really happened.
COOPER
Does the person's name start with
the letter "J"?
DONNA
(blushing)
I told you, she didn't tell us her
name.
COOPER
Donna, this is serious business.
More serious than a girl falling in
love with someone other than her
boyfriend. Much more serious than
you know.
Donna remains silent. We hear a beep, an intercom on the
desk activating.
LUCY'S VOICE
Agent Cooper, the Sheriff's ready to
roll up to the site and I've got
something else for you here.
COOPER
(into the speaker)
You can come on in.
(to Donna)
I know Laura was your best friend.
You've been through a lot today.
We're finished here--for the time
being.
Donna rises. She exits. Steadman and Lucy enter.
STEADMAN
Tell Agent Cooper what you heard
Lucy.
LUCY
Okay. Now, after you were done with
Bobby? And he was taken back to his
cell? Well, then his parents were
standing by the door, with his lawyer,
and Bobby, he was released and he
came out and he saw his friend Mike,
who was down by the water cooler,
which is near my desk--
COOPER
Uh-huh, uh-huh--
LUCY
Okay, okay. Well, I pretended to be
typing but I was typing what Mike
and Bobby were saying, well they
didn't say exactly who it was that
they were talking about but anyway
here's what they were saying--
She offers him a typed page. He doesn't take it
COOPER
They said the guy we're looking for
is a biker.
LUCY
(crestfallen)
Yeah...
STEADMAN
(amazed again)
Yeah.
Cooper turns on the VCR with the remote, fast forwards the
picture, then lets it run at normal speed until Donna moves
up extremely close to the lens. He freezes the frame and
points to a partial reflection of a motorcycle in the pupil
of her eye.
CUT TO:
EXT. MOUNTAIN OVERLOOK - DAY
A motorcycle is parked on a high crest, overlooking a wooded
valley and the town in the deep background. We hear the sound
of SIRENS wailing in the distance.
James Hurley sits on a rock. His eyes red, his face torn
with grief. He holds a small envelope in one hand. His other
hand holds something protectively in a closed fist.
CUT TO:
HIS HAND
As it opens and we see he's holding a gold necklace in the
shape of half of a heart. He rubs it lovingly and closes his
hand again.
INT. MOUNTAINSIDE CAVE - DAY
In the darkness, we see a powerful beam of light sweep slowly
across the walls, revealing random patterns of spayed blood.
The light follows the trail of the blood across a dirt floor
and up a raised mound of blood-saturated dirt.
On top of the mound is the other half of the heart-shaped
gold necklace and just below it a folded piece of paper.
Something is written on the paper in what could be blood.
We see it is Dale Cooper holding the flashlight. Behind him
are Steadman and some other officers. Cooper reaches in with
a gloved hand, gently turns over the note and reads...
FIRE. WALK WITH ME.
CUT TO:
A TV SET
On the monitor is a news report showing location video footage
of Cooper, Steadman and the other officers emerging from the
mountainside cave.
LOCAL REPORTER
(voice-over)
...from what is believed to be where
the brutal slaying of Laura Palmer
occurred. And tonight, Sharon
Pulaski...
We see a high-school yearbook picture of Sharon.
LOCAL REPORTER
...the second intended victim, who
apparently escaped her captor and
fled to safety, remains hospitalized
in critical condition at Calhoun
Memorial...
During above we pull back to discover we're in a cheaply
panelled and furnished living room.
CUT TO:
SHELLY SIMPSON
The Double "R" Diner waitress, wearing a bathrobe and smoking
a cigarette, is watching the set in her living room. She
flicks her cigarette into the ashtray, unable to take her
eyes off the set.
Her husband, LEO JOHNSON, a lanky, sinewy, pallid man of
thirty, pomaded hair, wearing a torn t-shirt, dirty jeans
and white socks, his heavy boots nearby on the floor. He
holds an open bottle of creme de menthe.
SHELLY
Lord, I can't believe it. I can't
believe it.
Leo has not taken his eyes off the ashtray.
CUT TO:
LEO'S POV - THE ASHTRAY
Filled with butts. Two different brands.
CUT TO:
RESUME SCENE
Leo continued to look at the ashtray.
LEO
(politely)
Shelly... turn off the TV.
SHELLY
Why? Why? I went to see this--
She turns to him. Sees the look on his face. Gets up
immediately and turns off the television.
LEO
Shelly, sit down here a minute and
help me out.
She sits obediently. He still hasn't looked at her.
LEO
What kind of cigarettes do you smoke?
SHELLY
Whatever's around.
LEO
No you don't.
(he picks up a butt
from the ashtray)
You smoke these.
(he picks up a
different brand butt)
What are these doing here?
SHELLY
Come on, Leo, I get different packs
at the diner. Me and Norma.
Pause.
LEO
There's two things, Shelly. First,
this house should be cleaned up for
me when I come home... I mean clean.
SHELLY
Okay--
He holds up a hand and silences her instantly.
LEO
(evenly)
Number two. You smoke one brand of
cigarettes from now on. Because if I
ever see two different brands of
cigarettes in any ashtray in this
house again, I'm gonna snap your
neck like a twig.
Trembling, he takes a big swig of creme de menthe and locks
eyes with her.
SHELLY
You got nothing to worry about with
me, darlin'.
She forces a smile. He looks at her hard. Right through her.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL - DAY
Re-establish.
CUT TO:
INT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL LOBBY - DAY
On a small TV monitor at the front desk, continuing the report
on the news about Laura. Watching are the DESK CLERK and the
group of Norwegians we saw earlier in the day, who are in
the process of checking out of the hotel. Two BELLMEN are
loading their baggage on a trolley.
LOCAL REPORTER'S VOICE
(voice over, on the
TV)
...cheerleader, Homecoming Queen,
most popular girl in school, friend
to many in the community. Seventeen
years old. Laura Palmer, found dead
this morning, the victim of violent
crime...
During above, we see Benjamin Horne, the Translator, and
Sven Jorgenson, the group's leader, are standing beside a
nearby column, speaking in hushed, urgent tones.
HORNE
--Mr. Jorgenson, I urge you to
reconsider, I want to appeal to your
best nature--
The Translator tries to translate simultaneously and then
struggles to keep up with them both.
SVEN
(over the translator)
Best nature? We have best nature at
home; no violent crime, crime rate
nothing--
HORNE
It is a great injustice to judge our
community by this horrible exception
to the rule, I have a daughter myself,
she's the same age, she goes to the
same high school--
SVEN
Everyone here have gun! Not good!
HORNE
Sir, you are throwing away the
investment opportunity of a lifetime--
SVEN
Better that then to throw lifetime
away--
HORNE
(to the Translator)
You keep out of this!
CUT TO:
EXT. GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL - DAY
We drift from the hotel over to "The Grange"; a large,
adjacent manor house, the private home of Benjamin Home.
CUT TO:
EXT. GRANGE - CLOSER ANGLE - DAY
In an upstairs window, we see JOHNNY HORNE, Benjamin Horne's
twenty-seven year old son, standing alone, looking out over
the lawn. He turns away from the window.
CUT TO:
INT. JOHNNY HORNE'S BEDROOM - DAY
Johnny throws himself down to a sprawling position on the
floor and we see that the room is filled with large, expensive
toys. He begins to bang his head on a exquisite, doll house
replica of "The Grange" itself.
CUT TO:
INT. GRANGE DOLL HOUSE - DAY
With every impact, the furniture and small figurines inside
bounce violently up and down.
CUT TO:
INT. GRANGE DINING ROOM - DAY
SYLVIA HORNE, Johnny's mother, Benjamin's wife, and Audrey
Horne, her daughter, sit at the dining room table, having
tea from a sterling tea service. Strained silence. Audrey
stares at the heel of her black leather pump. Sylvia hears
approaching footsteps and presses a hand to her forehead in
exasperation. A NURSE enters the room.
NURSE
Mrs. Horne, I think it might help if
you'd talk to Johnny yourself--
SYLVIA
(pained sarcasm)
Oh, you think it might help? You
tell Johnny, one more time, that
Laura is not coming to work with him
this afternoon, tomorrow afternoon
or any afternoon. What is so difficult
to understand about that?
CUT TO:
INT. ED HURLEY'S GARAGE - LATE AFTERNOON
A small television on a work bench is on, continuing the
news report. Ed is doing a lube job on a late model Oldsmobile
up on the rack. His wall phone rings. He walks over and picks
it up.
ED
Ed's Garage, Ed speaking.
INTERCUT:
INT. DOUBLE "R" DINER KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON
Norma, the bombs