Following an intimate night with Diane Evans in a desert motel, Special Agent Dale Cooper wakes up to find his world has changed in Twin Peaks Part 18 on Showtime. I recently discussed where part of this scene was shot at a motel in Pearblossom, California. But according to a waitress at Eat at Rudy’s, the film location for Eat at Judy’s, part of this scene was shot inside the restaurant. Here’s how the story goes.
Our story begins with a Twitter exchange between my fellow Bookhouse Boys Ivan Bukta and Travis Blue on July 28, 2018. They met Okie-Dokie, the older gentleman from the couple at Eat at Judy’s in Part 18.
After retelling the story how Okie-Dokie was saved by the EMTs on set, Ivan mentioned a waitress told them about another scene shot inside the restaurant: “The waitress also told us they shot another scene there with Kyle waking up in a bed alone which they brought in and made it look like a motel room. ?!?”
Supposedly, they cleared the area where Richard/Cooper walks into Eat at Judy’s and built a set. It could explain why this area had no tables and chairs (unlike how I found it on May 25, 2019).
The Twitter conversation with Ivan and Travis continued, where Ivan explained that he was told the crew was there for three days and was shown where the set was built.
Travis then shared this photo of the spot where the set was constructed. Sadly, I’ve been unable to find any behind-the-scenes photos of the constructed set.
Travis shared additional details about the furniture used in this scene as relayed by the Eat at Judy’s waitress. How I would have loved to see one those bar codes. Since all the pieces appear to be mid-century inspired, I can imagine Lynch and crew had a clear vision for the art direction. I still wonder where all those props are now.
Travis also concluded that most likely these scenes could have been reshoots or perhaps last minute additions (something Lynch is famous for doing). Rather than return to the desert motel which was about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Eat at Rudy’s, it could have been more effective to build half a set for the reshoots.
I examined the scene to see if there are any details that would show how they achieved this.
This part of the scene opens with Cooper sleeping. Notice how both angles are close-ups.
After waking, Cooper sits up in bed and notices Diane is gone.
The bed appears to match the one used from the night before, which means the crew probably had the headboard, comforter and other bedroom props available.
The camera pans the room from Cooper’s point-of-view. This could have actually been shot at the Pearblossom Motel, except take a look at the floor lamp.
The image on the left above is from the previous scene with Diane. The image on the right is from the morning after. Granted, I could be seeing things but the lamp looks slightly turned. It’s possible the crew could have accidentally moved it while at the Pearblossom Motel, or it wasn’t placed exactly as it appeared at the Eat at Rudy’s set.
The angle of the lamp in Jason S.’s short film ““The Man With the Gray Elevated Hair†appears to match how it appears in the scene with Diane.
The scanning of the room continues. Again, this could have been footage from Pearblossom Motel that was edited with the potential reshoots.
All of the motel room decor in Jason S.’s behind the scenes footage appears to match what is on screen. Again, the crew either took detailed notes about prop placement or the scanning-the-room footage was from the actual desert motel location.
Cooper sits up in bed. Notice it’s another close up shot. Also take note of the window and the light coming through it.
Based on the location where the set was built inside the restaurant, they could have used the natural light from the exterior windows to provide that soft glow.
Cooper looks at the nightstand and sees a handwritten note. Again, another close up shot.
The nightstand appears to match what was seen the night before, except there are a few more props added such as Cooper’s wristwatch.
The angle of the phone is slightly different in the behind-the-scenes footage from Jason S. Yet it could have been moved before shooting began.
Cooper reads the note:
“Dear Richard …. Richard?
When you read this, I’ll be gone. Please don’t try to find me. I don’t recognize you any more. Whatever it was we had together is over.
Linda.”
I attempted to take a closer look at the note by reversing the image while Cooper, er, Richard reads it. The number of words appear to match what he reads.
The “Richard and Linda” in her note is a direct nod to what The Fireman tells Agent Cooper early in Part 1 of Season 3.
So was this scene with the note a reshoot or an addition? Without seeing the original script, it’s difficult to confirm.
I’m left just as perplexed as Special Agent whatever his name is today.
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