An Interpretation of Donna's Motivation for Accompanying Laura to the Power and the Glory

A conversation with another Twin Peaks fan inspired this post. Before the conversation, it had not occurred to me that others may consider my view as opposing their own. All shared within this post is from my perspective. Therefore, it will often be phrased as though some actions and/or thoughts made by characters are fact, though that does not mean I am stating such. My reading is based on Sheryl Lee and Moira Kelly's performances. My interpretation has remained the same since my initial viewing - the script was at that time unknown to me. 

By sharing my views I am not in any way meaning to declare others wrong. This is my personal view, that is all. 

In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and The Missing Pieces, Donna's "uptight" nature is mentioned or hinted at more than once. She conveys a wish to be different, which can be seen as her yearning for Laura's acceptance. 

                                                             

Laura's outlook on Donna in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me closely matches The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer in that she regards Donna as an innocent who is worlds away from her. She feels she cannot connect with Donna because of their differences.

Moments after admitting she's uptight, Donna casually mentions "doing it with Mike." Laura, seeing through her, says, "Donna, you are such a crack-up. You don't even like Mike. Is this what you are going to do to show me you are not uptight?" Donna replies, "It's not about like. It's about sex." I believe this is continuation of her façade as she wants to seem more mature than she is. She can barely look at Laura as she says the words. After Laura says, "Mike is the Man," Donna timidly asks Laura what she thinks. If Donna simply wanted sex, as she said, I don't think she would have asked for Laura's thoughts. I do not believe she would need someone to reaffirm her decision. She is seeking Laura's approval. 

At another point in the film, Donna visits the Palmer house during the evening. Leland and Sarah are not home, and Laura is dressed for a night out. Seeing that Laura has been drinking, Donna asks, "Laura, aren't you going to fix me a drink?" Laura seems slightly annoyed by Donna continuing to pretend to be something she's not. Abruptly, Laura gathers her things after Donna says, "If I had a Nickle for every cigarette your mother smokes, I'd be dead." Laura doesn't have time for her. She tells Donna that she'll call her tomorrow then starts out of the house. Puzzled, Donna follows her, calling out her name as though to stop her. Laura ignores Donna, walking down the steps of her house and to her car without acknowledging her presence. Laura's dismissal hurts and angers Donna, who, as a result, becomes determined to follow her friend. She's also not willing to back down because that would be admission that she's putting on an act.

At the Roadhouse, Donna observes Jacques Renault direct two men toward Laura. A tear falls down Donna's cheek after seeing one of the men offer Laura money. Moira Kelly's acting conveys that Donna is wholly aware of what has just transpired and is troubled by the knowledge. Donna does not seem to display fear or concern for Laura's physical well-being. Rather instead, sadness and distress to learn that Laura spends her nights in the company of such men. She steels herself and steps forward. In kissing one of the men, Buck, Laura presents Donna with a challenge. Laura looks directly at Donna before and after the kiss, wordlessly asking her to match it. Donna accepts and returns Laura's gaze with defiance once she's finished kissing Buck's friend, Tommy. Laura says, "All right, Donna. Let's go." Everything about Sheryl Lee's performance in this scene informs me that Laura wants to be cruel. She's tired of Donna's act and will enlighten her on her unworldliness. She knows her friend is not ready for what she will experience.

Donna looks at Laura after kissing Tommy.

I believe the dark side of Laura wills what happens to Donna to pass. It is at Partyland that Laura watches Buck pour tablets into a beer and pass the beer to Donna. Assuming that Donna will not back down, Laura encourages Donna to drink the drug-laced beer. 

I've read where some doubt that Laura witnessed Buck drugging the beer. However, the script explicitly states Laura's awareness. 

                      Laura winks at Buck as he SECRETLY drops a red depth charge into

              Donna's beer.

Laura is aware Donna has been drugged and leaves her friend to the mercy of strangers until the goodness in her surfaces. In the script, when Laura realizes what is happening to Donna, BOB speaks to Laura, saying, "You see what we can do to Donna?"  BOB's voice was meant to be heard as she seems break from the spell, a white light bathing her. Her reaction possibly indicates that BOB was clouding her mind - perhaps partially holding sway over Laura during most of the sequence in Partyland. She is slow to react when she sees Donna, as though she is non-accepting of what she sees or has just woken from a dream. 

Dialogue from the script that may have been removed from the film. 

The morning after their ordeal at Partyland, Donna tells Laura she loves her. Laura embraces her, and as Donna cries, says, "I love you, Donna. But I don't want you to be like me."