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"Fire Walk With Me" Questions:
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WARNING: If you have not seen all of the "Twin Peaks"
television episodes and the movie "Fire Walk With Me", be
warned that there are MAJOR SPOILERS contained herein. If
you have not seen the series and do not want any plot
information revealed, do not read any further!
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F1. What is "Fire Walk With Me"?
F2. Where can I get a videotape/laserdisc of FWWM?
F3. Why did Lynch do a prequel?
F4. Why did critics almost universally pan the movie?
F5. What was left out?
F6. Is there a "director's cut"?
F7. What were Lynch's special instructions for the
soundtrack?
F8. Why was there so little of Agent Cooper in the movie?
F9. Why was there a different actress playing Donna?
F10. Why wasn't <character> in the movie?
F11. What about the discrepancies between the TV
series/movie/books/tapes/cards?
F12. What was Gordon Cole's code all about?
F13. What happened to Chet Desmond (Chris Isaac)?
F14. Who did Bobby kill during the drug deal?
F15. What was David Bowie's character all about?
F16. What is the significance of the mask?
F17. What is the significance of the humming electrical
sound?
F18. What is the significance of the Indian whooping sound?
F19. What is the significance of the ring?
F20. What is "garmonbozia"?
F21. What did the monkey say?
F22. What is the significance of the angels?
F23. Will there be another movie?
F24. What is the significance of the blue rose?
F25. Who plays the woman with the ice pack?
F26. What does Carl mean by "I've already gone places"?
Answers:
F1. What is "Fire Walk With Me"?
FWWM is the TP theatrical movie, released after the
broadcast of the TV episodes. The film covers the events of
the Teresa Banks murder, and the last week of Laura Palmer's
life before she was murdered. As such, it is a "prequel" to
the TV series.
Even though the movie covers events which happen prior to
the events in the TV series, one should watch the TV series
before watching the movie (if you want to experience TP as
originally presented and not have the series plot points
revealed prematurely). Watching the movie first can be
extremely confusing, and might even turn you off from
watching the TV series (although many "movie first" viewers
became big TP fans as well).
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F2. Where can I get a videotape/laserdisc of FWWM?
See question G4.
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F3. Why did Lynch do a prequel?
When the TV series was canceled and ended in the summer of
1991, Lynch went almost immediately to work on the film,
saying he was not yet ready to leave Twin Peaks and its
characters behind.
FWWM co-writer Robert Engels revealed that storylines for
several possible movies were developed to varying degrees.
As the first of what was hoped to be a series of TP movies,
it probably made the most sense to "fill in" the missing
details of Laura Palmer's life and death.
While fans were no doubt more eager to have the cliffhanger
plot elements of the last TV episode resolved, Lynch seems
to be in no hurry to give any pat answers.
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F4. Why did critics almost universally pan the movie?
As Douglas Pratt said in his (enthusiastic) review of FWWM
in the August '93 issue of the "Laserdisc Newsletter":
"Appealing only to a subset of a subset of 'Twin Peaks' and
David Lynch fans, the film is a narrative disaster,
constantly introducing and referring to characters who are
then never seen or heard from again."
In short:
- anyone expecting a "regular" movie was disappointed and/or
angry
- anyone expecting a horror or "slasher" film (as the
distributor publicized it for the teen market) was
disappointed
- anyone expecting a rehash or resolution of the TV series
was disappointed
- anyone looking for the humor of the TV series was
disappointed
- anyone not very familiar with the TV series was confused
Part of the reason for this, of course, is that it is
typical David Lynch material. Part of the reason is that
the film had to be severely cut, both from the published
shooting script (see question P2) and from what was actually
shot. Many of the scenes shot (some being the only
occurrence in the movie of certain series characters) were
removed.
Forced to cut the film to a "commercially viable" length,
many things relevant to understanding other scenes were left
out. Thus most critics, who had little or no understanding
of the TP story, utterly panned the movie (although one or
two did credit Sheryl Lee's performance as a plus).
The best way to approach the film is not as another episode
in the series, but more as a very stark examination of the
dark side of Twin Peaks.
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F5. What was left out?
A lot! After viewing the film, one should read the scenes
from the shooting script missing from the film.
Although the shooting script is not necessarily the "gospel"
of what Lynch intended and he is known for changing the
script on the fly when shooting, we can be reasonably sure
that most of what is in the script was actually shot, based
on accounts from TP fans who visited the Snoqualmie area
during the filming.
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F6. Is there a "director's cut"?
Not yet, but it's certainly been discussed (but not by
Lynch).
We have this information from Bob Engels, one of the FWWM
co-writers (note that Mark Frost had no involvement with
FWWM):
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: hagstrop@oberon.mathcs.carleton.edu (Paul Hagstrom)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
Subject: Robert Engels at the Mpls premiere of FWWM
Date: 1 Sep 92 00:32:39 GMT
Interesting -- apparently nobody on this group was one of
the people who was fortunate enough to attend the screening
in Mpls at which Robert Engels (co-author of FWWM, for those
who don't recognize the name, which I may have misspelled,
but I don't think so) spoke. He did clear up a few things
that people have wondered about since our Internet
connection went down, so I'll try to fill y'all in on what
he said:
First, the movie was, in uncut form, about 3:40, in contrast
to the measly 2:14 that it pulled in at in the theatres. He
said that they expect to distribute the uncut version
eventually on laserdisc, but the folks in charge wouldn't
let them get away with a movie that long, apparently. Who
the "folks in charge" are, exactly, I'm not sure, but it
wasn't Robert Engels, anyway.
...
Anyway, all in all, I'm very much looking forward to seeing
that 3:40 version.
...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[See the FWWM "missing scenes" files (see question F5) for
the complete account of Engels' comments.]
In Tim Lucas' excellent cover article on the film in the
March/April '93 issue of "Video Watchdog" (see question P2),
he reports that editor Mary Sweeney's (Lynch's current wife)
first cut was five hours long! He also suggests that a
cable TV miniseries or expanded home video release of the
original cut could someday be made.
And there is talk of releasing a special edition laserdisc:
----------
From: rud <prud@ziplink.net>
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
Subject: FWWM Special Edition
Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 14:57:46 -0500
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TWIN PEAKS FANS!:
Image Entertainment is currently considering production of a
special edition laserdisc restoring the film to its original
length, but is unsure if there is enough interest. If you're
a Twin Peaks fan, please let them know you're interested!
e-mail them at:
WebMaster@image-po.ccmail.compuserve.com
even if you don't own a laserdisc player please let them
know you're very interested in having this released!
If you know Twin Peaks fans who don't have e-mail access,
please give them the following address to write to Image
Entertainment about the FWWM Special Edition laserdisc:
Image Entertainment
9333 Oso Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
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F7. What were Lynch's special instructions for the
soundtrack?
Lynch has always had a keen interest in the sound effects
and soundtracks of his films. One need only read one of the
accounts of the lengths to which he and Alan Splet went to
devise and record the sound effects on "Eraserhead".
It thus comes as no surprise that Lynch is listed in the
FWWM credits as Sound Designer, or that he would include
special instructions with the prints of the film:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: chrisc@kether.webo.dg.com (Chris Campbell)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks
Subject: FWWM projectionist trivia
Date: 2 Sep 92 12:52:52 GMT
Organization: NSDD, Data General Corp.
The movie is playing at the theatre where I fill in
occasionally as projectionist. Enclosed with the film print
was this memo from New Line Distribution:
To: Theatre Projectionists
Re: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
David Lynch, the director of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
has asked me to contact you regarding the sound level of
his motion picture. Mr. Lynch has put a lot of effort
into the soundtrack of Twin Peaks, and feels that the best
reproduction of sound will be achieved by increasing the
volume 2 decibels above normal. Your efforts to
accommodate Mr. Lynch will surely result in greater
audience enjoyment of the film and, therefore, greater
box office sales.
Thank you.
Thought a couple of you might find this mildly interesting.
-----
Chris
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And of course those who pay close attention to the
soundtrack get to hear some of Lynch's specially-added
details (see question F21).
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F8. Why was there so little of Agent Cooper in the movie?
Partly because it didn't make sense to have him in the
story: since FWWM deals with the week preceding Laura's
death, and he is not yet in Twin Peaks. Nonetheless his
actions in the FBI office that week are shown, as is his
involvement in the Teresa Banks investigation.
Partly because of Kyle MacLachlan's reluctance to appear in
the film: fearing being typecast as Agent Cooper for the
rest of his career, he backed out of the film during
pre-production. Despite early rumors that his backing out
would kill the entire film, Lynch went ahead with his plans
and MacLachlan eventually agreed to participate. It's not
clear how much larger his role would have been had he stayed
in from the beginning.
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F9. Why was there a different actress playing Donna?
Both Lara Flynn Boyle (Donna) and Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey)
were committed to other projects at the time of FWWM
production. Lynch decided to go ahead without them, rather
than trying to negotiate for a later shooting date.
Although it was easy to exclude Audrey's character from the
script (since she had had little to do with Laura anyway),
Donna's character was vital to Laura's story and so was
recast with Moira Kelly.
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F10. Why wasn't <character> in the movie?
They were, originally. Nearly every main character from the
TV series has a scene in the FWWM shooting script, and all
the original cast members except Lara Flynn Boyle and
Sherilyn Fenn (see question F9 above) showed up and filmed
their scenes on location. Many of these scenes were cut,
however, to reduce the running time of the film (see
question F5). Hopefully, these scenes will someday be
restored in a "director's cut" (see question F6).
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F11. What about the discrepancies between the TV series/
movie/books/tapes/cards?
As in most TV series, there are a number of chronological
and continuity errors and disjoint plot points between the
movie and the series, or between the movie and other TP
products. An effort is being made to compile a list of
these errors (see question I3).
There is no question that some events in the movie
contradict what is said or done in the series episodes (and
books, tape, card set, etc.), and that some things shown in
the series (particularly the pilot and first episodes) do
not show up in the movie. Some examples: no blood-written
"Fire Walk With Me" note in the train car, last diary
entries, last visit to Harold Smith.
In producing the movie, Lynch did hire editors to
specifically look for these type of errors, and so made a
reasonable attempt to be faithful to the series. (We don't
doubt that some of the TP fans with photographic memories
could have done a better job :^)
Also note that some of the scenes in the shooting script
meant to show continuity (phone call from Dr. Jacoby to
Laura on her last night, Leland preparing for Norwegian
businessmen's visit, Sheriff Truman seeing Josie) were cut
from the film.
While finding these mismatches is an interesting exercise,
they don't detract from Lynch's intention or vision of the
film.
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F12. What was Gordon Cole's code all about?
While some thought this was Lynch's commentary on TP
fanatics trying to read meaning into every detail of the
series, and Tim Lucas' article in Video Watchdog (see
question P2) suggests that Lynch is telling us the whole
film can be similarly decoded, the shooting script reveals a
more mundane reason.
Part of the scene where Agent Desmond decodes Cole's message
that was cut out:
(Chet and Sam are driving down the road.)
DESMOND: Gordon said you were good. The tailored dress
is our code for drugs. Did you notice what
was pinned to it?
STANLEY: A blue rose.
DESMOND: Very good, but I can't tell you about that.
Stanley rides along quietly for a while.
MISSING DIALOGUE:
STANLEY: What did Gordon's tie mean?
DESMOND: What? That's just Gordon's bad taste.
STANLEY: Why couldn't he have just told you all these
things?
DESMOND: He talks loud. And he loves his code.
STANLEY: I see. He DOES talk loud.
DESMOND: Gordon would not have sent us to Deer Meadow
without thinking it was a high priority
situation.
STANLEY: It MUST be a high priority situation.
END OF MISSING DIALOGUE
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F13. What happened to Chet Desmond (Chris Isaak)?
The shooting script says:
Desmond walks to that trailer. He knocks on the door
but no one answers. He looks under the trailer and
sees a mound of dirt with a small indentation at the
top. In the indentation is Teresa Banks' ring. As he
reaches out and touches it, he disappears.
which doesn't help us much. When Cooper later finds the
words "Let's rock" on Desmond's car, this is clearly meant
to be an indication that the Lodge inhabitants are involved,
and in particular, the Little Man From Another Place who
says the same thing in Cooper's dream in episode 2.
Most likely the scene is meant to demonstrate two things:
- the ring has special power (see question F19) - Agent
Jeffries (David Bowie) is not only the FBI agent to
disappear (see question F15)
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F14. Who did Bobby kill during the drug deal?
Although some were confused about the identity of the man
delivering the drugs to Bobby and Laura, both the shooting
script and the film (if you watch carefully) identify him as
Cliff Howard, the deputy whose nose Agent Desmond tweaks in
the Deer Meadow sheriff's office.
Laura, in her drunken/high state, is not sure who Bobby has
shot, but sees Deputy Cliff's blond hair and guesses that
it's Bobby's friend, Mike Nelson, which is why she taunts
Bobby with "you killed Mike".
[Incidentally, Cliff Howard lives in the same trailer park
as Teresa Banks. This is revealed in a scene cut from the
film (see the "missing scenes" files for details). Without
this scene, the one where Agent Desmond returns to the
trailer park and the manager directs him to Deputy Cliff's
trailer doesn't make a lot of sense.]
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F15. What was David Bowie's character all about?
Bowie plays Agent Phillip Jeffries, whom Gordon Cole
introduces to Cooper as "long lost". The shooting script
reveals that Jeffries has been missing for two years, but
also that moments before stepping off the elevator in the
Philadelphia FBI offices, he was checking into a Buenos
Aires hotel. The Buenos Aires scene was cut from the film.
In the FBI office scene:
- Jeffries says: "I'm not going to talk about Judy. In
fact, we're not going to talk about Judy at all. We're
going to keep her out of this." (despite later mentioning
Judy)
- Jeffries points at Cooper and says: "Who do you think this
is there?"
- Jeffries says: "I sure as hell want to tell you
everything, but I don't have a lot to go on." (In the
script, but not audible in the movie: "But I'll tell you one
thing: Judy is positive about this.")
(From this point on, his comments are interspersed with the
"convenience store" scene.)
- He continues: "I've been to one of their meetings. It was
above a convenience store." and later "It was a dream ... We
live inside a dream."
- Then: "I found something ... " (In script only: "... in
Seattle at Judy's ...") " ... And then, there they were ..."
- He cries out: "The ring ... ring ..."
- A bit in the script but missing from the movie has Gordon
Cole trying to summon someone on his intercom, but all he
gets is static, so he yells "MAYDAY!" into it, which causes
Jeffries to look at the calendar on the wall and say: "May?
1989?" before he disappears.
Also missing from the movie is a scene back at the hotel in
Buenos Aires where Jeffries is "suddenly standing in the
second story hallway of the hotel" (while he was just in the
lobby) with the wall behind him "seared black and smoking"
and a terrified bellhop asking him where he went.
While any of these items can be and has been discussed
extensively on the net, the following are some popular net
theories:
- With his later description of seeing "one of their
meetings" involving BOB and the MFAP, "Who do you think that
is?" implies he knows something of Cooper's future (past?)
association with BOB and/or the Black Lodge.
- The convenience store comment and "It was in a dream"
could be meant to tie into Cooper's dream in episode 2.
("We live inside a dream" has been widely speculated on.)
- The "something" he found at Judy's in Seattle may have
been the ring-- see question F19.
- His surprise at the year on the calendar supports the
theory that time does not progress normally in the
lodge(s)--see also Annie's appearance in Laura's bed, and
Cooper's and the MFAP's dialogues in the Red Room.
And finally, from this cryptic scene comes one theory
proposed on the net: the references to Judy, the ring, and
"I found something" lead to the following possible scenario:
- Jeffries' association with Judy may have led him to the
ring, and the ring to the lodge(s). Jeffries has been
missing three years. No known association between Judy and
Leland/BOB. (See question F21 for more on Judy.)
- Desmond's investigation of Teresa Banks led him to the
ring, and the ring to his disappearance. Desmond has been
missing one year. Teresa killed by Leland/BOB.
- Cooper's investigation of Laura Palmer led him to the
lodge(s). No known association with the ring (except in
Laura's dream). Cooper is sort-of missing. Laura killed by
Leland/BOB.
- The MFAP's line from the "convenience store" scene in the
script, but not in the movie: "And everything will proceed
cyclically."
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F16. What is the significance of the mask?
Not many answers on this (no masks are mentioned anywhere in
the script), just some random comments from the net:
- "When Mrs. Tremond's grandson tells Laura: 'The man behind
the mask is looking for the book with the pages torn out.
He is approaching the hiding place. He is under the fan
now.' he's obviously talking about BOB."
- I'm still not sure if Mrs. Tremond's grandson was saying
that BOB is the man behind the mask, and Leland is the mask;
or that Leland is the man behind the mask, and BOB is the
mask.
- "One aspect of the white mask which I'm surprised to see
hasn't been discussed, to my knowledge, is that it doesn't
have any eyeholes; thus, one is unable to see when wearing
the mask. If the grandson is the Magician [listed in the
credits], is this what is meant by 'In the darkness of
future past/The Magician longs to see'?
"Come to think of it, could there be a connection between
this white mask and the white mask (which I presume was
Caroline's death mask) that Windom Earle sent to Cooper?"
- "You know something I just realized, Pierre Tremond and
David Bowie, and a couple of other people in the
above-the-convenience-store meeting were wearing OWL
masks... I thought they were cute little witch masks... but
I think they were stylized owls"
- "The grandson wears a mask with suggestive phallic
tendencies and says "Watch out for the man behind the mask".
I interpret his comments to be about Leland -
murderer/incest committer."
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F17. What is the significance of the humming electrical
sound?
Because the references to electricity abound in both the
"lodge world" and in the "physical" TP world, it's next to
impossible to list all the occurrences in the movie, or
their possible connection and significance.
Here are a few from the "lodge world":
- person (seen from inside the mouth) saying
"e-lec-tri-city" in the convenience room scene
- Laura hearing static and seeing flashed in her bedroom
- static during Jeffries' description of the convenience
room
- credit at the end of the movie for "The Electrician" (from
the convenience room scene?)
Here are a few from the "physical" TP world:
- static on the TV at the beginning of the movie (when
Leland kills Teresa)
- shots of power poles and lines in the trailer park
- Cooper's experience with the security camera and its
images
- Jeffries' appearance from the elevator and the scorched
wall when he returns to Buenos Aires (see question F15)
- Gordon Cole's nonfunctioning intercom
- the ceiling fan
- the traffic light(s)
Some have speculated that electricity is the medium that
lodge inhabitants use to enter the physical world, while
others only go as far as saying that electricity, like owls,
are an indication that lodge inhabitants are nearby.
Discussion continues on this one as well.
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F18. What is the significance of the Indian whooping sound?
Another aspect, like electricity (see question F17), for
which there are many theories, but not much conclusive
information.
The MFAP says "I am the arm, and I sound like this" before
making the sound. We also hear it faintly in the background
when Cooper is looking around at the trailer park, and when
the one-armed man is racing up behind Leland and Laura in
his truck.
Like the burning oil smell in the series (see question E34),
this is some kind of indication that Lodge inhabitants are
nearby.
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F19. What is the significance of the ring?
Much has been written and speculated about Teresa's ring.
While it seems to have a sort of teleportational power for
Agent Desmond and perhaps Laura (in the train car), we do
not know why it did not have similar power for Teresa Banks.
Because it appears in Laura's dream, held by the MFAP and
warned against by Cooper (and possibly for real in her hand)
and on the hand of the one-armed man, we know it is somehow
connected to the Lodges.
Interestingly, Teresa's ring in FWWM is not seen in the
series. While Cooper temporarily loses *a* ring to the
Giant, it is not the one we see in FWWM with the owl cave
symbol on it. We don't know if it was meant to be the same
ring, though.
A ring also figures into Cooper's autobiography (see
question P1).
This continues to be one of the most discussed topics in the
alt.tv.twin-peaks newsgroup.
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F20. What is "garmonbozia"?
This generates discussion on two fronts:
- How does garmonbozia fit into the workings of the lodges?
- What is the origin of the word "garmonbozia"?
Fortunately, Lynch provided a (presumed) definition for
garmonbozia in one of the subtitles of the final Red Room
scene in the movie. As "pain and suffering" that is
"consumed" (in the form of the MFAP eating creamed corn),
garmonbozia seems to be either a food or type of "drug" for
the lodge inhabitants. This fits in well with various other
comments in the TV series that:
- BOB "feeds on fear" (see questions E19 and E37)
- the entrance to the lodges is achieved through fear or
love
- that if one faces the Black Lodge with fear, one is
vulnerable (see E44)
This theory, though, brings up many other questions:
- whether Mike (the one-armed man) is good (dissociating
himself from the MFAP and trying to stop BOB, as it appears
in the TV series) or evil (assisting the MFAP and BOB to
gather garmonbozia, as it appears in the movie)?
- how Leland has been involved in providing BOB with
garmonbozia in the past?
- how BOB transforms the blood from Leland (Laura's or his
own?) to garmonbozia?
among others. Discussion continues in alt.tv.twin-peaks.
As to the origin of the word "garmonbozia" itself, neither
the word or any of its parts seem to be derived from any
known words in any language, although many have tried to
associate it with "maize" or other words for corn, since
creamed corn seems to be the physical manifestation of
garmonbozia.
One of the most plausible explanations is that it is derived
from "ambrosia", not the fruity dessert, but the "food of
the gods" in Greek and Roman mythology. This is merely
speculation, but fits well with what is seen in FWWM.
Several people have claimed that the word, when recorded and
played backwards, has various meanings. One very popular
net rumor for a while was that played backwards, the word
became "I am/was/saw Windom Earle", but this (and all other
reported backwards translations) are highly subjective and
unsubstantiated.
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F21. What did the monkey say?
A very subtle part of the soundtrack at the end of the film
takes on extra significance because of Agent Jeffries'
(David Bowie) scene in FBI headquarters (see question F15).
Towards the end of the film, after Laura dies and Leland
enters the Red Room, there are a number of brief, strange
shots, including a monkey face (similar to the monkey face
seen behind the mask in the convenience store scene). If
one turns up the sound during the shot of the monkey face,
one can hear (very faintly) the monkey say "Judy"!
Most people are skeptical when they hear this, but trust us
when we say that the word is definitely there on the
soundtrack, no doubt one of the sound effects placed by
David Lynch (see question F7). If you do not have a good
copy of the movie, or poor sound on your television, you may
have trouble hearing it, but it is definitely there. It is
also apparent when you see the film projected in a theater
with the sound turned up, as requested by Lynch.
The significance of the monkey saying it is unknown (is it
calling to Judy? is the monkey Judy?), but definitely links
Agent Jeffries (somehow) to the lodges.
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F22. What is the significance of the angels?
Strangely enough, there is NO mention of angels anywhere in
the FWWM shooting script (not in the conversation between
Laura and Donna, not the picture in Laura's room, not the
appearance of the angel Ronette sees in the train car, and
not the angel Laura sees at the end of the movie), so the
angel concepts were definitely a last-minute addition by
Lynch.
It seems safe to assume that the disappearance of the angel
from the picture in Laura's room signifies the hopelessness
of her situation, that Ronette was saved/watched over by her
angel in the train car, and Laura was "redeemed" or escaped
from her living hell at the end of the movie. Some on the
net have suggested that the appearance of the angel at the
end signifies Laura has made it to the White Lodge (see
questions E39 and E40).
See also the (forthcoming) consolidated comments on FWWM
from the time of its theatrical release, being compiled by
Jim Pellmann.
Further discussion on the angels is ongoing in
alt.tv.twin-peaks.
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F23. Will there be another movie?
See question E46.
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F24. What is the significance of the blue rose?
As the only part of Gordon Cole's code not explained by
Desmond (see question F12), we can only speculate that Cole
uses that code for cases involving supernatural events. It
is not made clear whether Cole has previously encountered
the Lodges or their inhabitants.
Since there is no such thing as a blue rose in nature, it
could represent cases which cannot be rationally or
scientifically explained, the "impossible" cases.
It could also be a reference to cases involving (or
seemingly involving) UFOs, as part of "Project Bluebook"
referred to by Major Briggs and Windom Earle.
According to Greg Olsen, the Film Curator at the Seattle Art
Museum, the street on which Lynch lives in Los Angeles,
happens to be named Blue Rose Street.
It has also been suggested that it is another movie
reference to one of the Steeve Reeves "Hercules" movies of
the '60s, in which Hercules' task was to obtain a blue
rose.
Yet another movie reference is "The Brotherhood of the
Rose", a movie starring Robert Mitchum who played a high
ranking military official who kept roses in his spare time.
During the course of the film, he breeds a blue rose.
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F25. Who plays the woman with the ice pack?
When Agents Desmond and Stanley are investigating Teresa
Banks' mobile home, an old woman holding an ice pack to her
head briefly appears in the doorway. Desmond asks her if
she knew Teresa, but the woman just walks away.
Several people have suggested this character is played by
David Lynch, even figuring that the actress' name given in
the credits, Ingrid Brucato, is an anagram for "c in our
drag bit"!
While highly unlikely, it is has not been conclusively
proven that there is an actress (or extra) named Ingrid
Brucato, so the rumors will probably continue to circulate.
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F26. What does Carl mean by "I've already gone places"?
When Agents Desmond and Stanley are checking out Teresa's
trailer, the trailer park manager, Carl, says "I've already
gone places. I just want to stay around."
Some say this indicates Carl believes the agents see him as
a suspect and he doesn't want to go to jail, he's already
been there.
Others suggest that perhaps Carl had had an experience like
Agent Philip Jeffries (which we learn about later) and what
may have happened to Agent Stanley (also later); namely, a
trip to what we assume is the Black Lodge.
This is yet another unanswered question. These lines are
not in the FWWM shooting script, and none of the other
dialogue in this scene talks about anyone going anywhere, so
we can only assume that they were a last-minute change by
Lynch, or an ad lib by actor Harry Dean Stanton.
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