Possible Examples of Editing: Season One, Episode One
This post is made with the intent to highlight when I believe edits were made to certain scenes in season one, episode one.
Excerpts from the August 18th draft of the script for episode one are included. Altered or additional dialogue is noted by brackets. Dialogue found in the script but omitted from the televised episode is tinted red.
Every episode contains many indications of editing. Note that in the season one commentary, more than one crew member stated at least 20 minutes were trimmed from each episode of the first season. The following examples are among the most notable in this episode or of interest.
Audrey Meets Cooper
The scene begins with Cooper trying coffee at the Great Northern for the first time. Impressed, he proceeds to order his breakfast from a waitress named Trudy, portrayed by Jill Engles, wife of Twin Peaks' writer and producer Robert Engels.
"Now, I'd like two eggs, over hard."
Audrey enters the dining room.
We hear Cooper continue with his order. "Don't tell me, I know it's hard on the arteries, but old habits die hard, just about as hard as I want those eggs."
"Bacon, super crispy, almost burned: cremate it --"
All the time Cooper is making his order, Trudy is not copying it on her notepad. She is instead preoccupied with her non-functioning pen.
Cooper: "That's great, and I'll have the grapefruit juice --"
One can tell Audrey is instantly attracted to Cooper. She is genuine as she approaches; she sees no reason to hide.
"Just as long as those grapefruits --"
"-- are freshly squeezed."
Note that his eyes are not focused on Audrey's face.
"My name's Audrey Horne."
Cooper's eyes briefly translate overt sexuality that diminishes as he introduces himself. In my opinion, this illustrates the truth in Kyle MacLachlan's performance. It seems to be what he wished to project. His execution is so convincing it can be disconcerting.
Director Duwayne Dunham said in his commentary for this episode on the Artisan DVD release, "It was important for me to establish some kind of connection between the character of Audrey and Cooper. Audrey's a very attractive woman and I made the choice to make it somewhat sexual." And, "Obviously, the two are attracted to one another. For what reason, we don't know yet. But I think the way we played it, it's obvious that Cooper is at the very least enchanted by Audrey."
"Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent Dale Cooper."
"Can I sit here?"
"Miss Home, unless I miss my guess, your father is Benjamin Home, the owner of this fine establishment,"
Cooper continued: "So I imagine you can sit anywhere you like."
Cooper: "I'd also like to add it would be my pleasure."
Audrey: "Thank you."
Audrey: "You're here investigating the murder of Laura Palmer?"
Cooper: "Were you friends with Laura Palmer?"
Cooper: "Were you friends with Laura Palmer?"
Audrey's line sounds as though it was added at a later point in production. This may have been done to compensate for the removal of a scripted line.
We do not hear Audrey speak in the footage above, though Ms. Fenn's movement suggests speech. Study the shake of her head. All the movement we see in the GIF is before we hear Audrey say, "You're here investigating the murder of Laura Palmer?" She asks Cooper if he is investigating Laura's murder a few seconds after she is seated.
Audrey was scripted as speaking at this moment which leads me to believe she may be speaking in the footage above. The finished product we see seems to be the result of laborious editing. You will notice the dialogue as it was written has Audrey say a line we hear later in the scene.
COOPER
(pleasantly)
Miss Home, unless I miss my guess, your father is
Benjamin Home, the owner of this fine
establishment, so I guess you can sit anywhere
you like. And I'd also like to add it would be my
pleasure.
Audrey sits, a little confused, runs a hand over her forehead.
AUDREY
You know, sometimes I get so flushed ... it's
interesting.
COOPER
Were you a friend of Laura Palmer's?
"Not exactly."
Audrey: "See, Laura tutored my older brother Johnny three times a week."
We move from a close-up of Audrey to Cooper's reaction. Cooper nods his head as if responding to Audrey's words, though the words he is responding to may have once been different than those we hear. The script contains additional dialogue that may have been filmed and trimmed.
AUDREY
Not exactly.
COOPER
Her father works for your father. Did you know
each other growing up?
AUDREY
Oh we knew each other ...
COOPER
But there was something about her you didn't
like.
AUDREY
Everybody liked Laura. She was just Little Miss
Perfect. Laura tutored my older brother Johnny
three times a week. Johnny's twenty-seven and
he's in the third grade. He's got emotional
problems; it runs in the family. Do you like my
ring?
"Johnny's twenty-seven and he's in the third grade. He's got emotional problems."
Audrey: "Runs in the family."
"Do you like my ring?"
Cooper takes hold of Audrey's hand. He did not need to do so. He was capable of observing her ring without the need for contact.
"Very nice."
Audrey: "You know, sometimes I get so flushed. It's interesting."
We see Audrey's head move while she's speaking, but I believe the line we hear may have been moved from its original placement. The audio sounds different from the prior and subsequent lines, as though it was recorded at a different moment.
At this moment in the script, Audrey says the following instead:
AUDREY
My father bought it for me. My father was crazy
about Laura. He bought her a pony when she
was nine, but he let her father say it was from
him. Its name was Troy.
The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer has Laura receive a pony named Troy. Laura believed the pony was a gift from her father, but later learned he was given to her by Ben Horne. Laura wrote that she made the discovery by overhearing Audrey and Ben argue about the pony.
"Do your palms ever itch?"
Cooper is visibly taken aback. She seems to have rendered him speechless. The undertone of this interaction is purely sexual, in my opinion. I have no bias concerning the characters. Audrey is not forceful with Cooper. She doesn't have to be. He is clearly already won at this point in the series.
Cooper Questions James
The scene follows the script fairly closely. It is for that reason the script is included with my amendments based on the changed dialogue in the televised episode.
16. INT. INTERROGATION ROOM A - DAY
JAMES HURLEY is seated, next to his LAWYER, across from Truman, as Cooper enters and sits beside the Sheriff.
TRUMAN
James has been advised of his rights.
COOPER
James, you were placed under arrest for suspicion
of murder, the murder of Laura Palmer. [Now,] You
have no previous criminal record, is that correct?
JAMES
None. No, sir.
Cooper turns on the VCR and we see the same videotape of Laura and Donna at the picnic that we saw earlier. James watches the video.
(Revised pink 8-18-89)
COOPER
James, did you shoot this video tape?
Cooper fast forwards to the freeze frame of the motorcycle reflected in Laura's eye.
COOPER (CONTINUED)
Isn't that your cycle, [isn't it?] James?
JAMES
Yes, sir, it is. The three of us went up there two
Sundays ago.
COOPER
(gently)
James, you were in love with Laura.
(James is silent)
The two of you were seeing each other secretly.
No one else at the school, or any of her friends
knew about it; she was the homecoming queen,
[she was dating] her boyfriend was the captain of the football
team. How much longer did you think you could
keep this relationship secret?
"Well, it was secret because that's the way she wanted it."
After James says this in the script, Cooper and James say the following:
COOPER
Why do you suppose that was, James? Do you
think it had something to do with Bobby?
JAMES
It had everything to do with Bobby.
Bobby is heavily suggested as a suspect in the script. After sharing the results of Laura's post-mortem, Doc Hayward says, "Who would do a thing like that?" Almost as is in answer, the scene shifts to Bobby and Mike in their jail cell. In the televised episode, the suspicion moves from Bobby to Leo Johnson who is seen cleaning his truck. Another scene is mentioned later in this post.
Crew members have spoken of how the entire first season was finished well before it aired. Perhaps some elements were filmed, such as Bobby originally being a threat, and were later disregarded as time passed and the characters were better fleshed out.
"Why? Was she afraid of Bobby?"
"I think so."
"Did you know she was using cocaine?"
"Yes."
"Did you ever use cocaine with her?"
"No. I tried to get her to stop."
James: "And she did. For a while."
Cooper: "Why did she start using again?"
James won't look at Cooper most of the time he's being questioned. He acts as if he has something to hide. He's uncomfortable. He doesn't seem to mean it when he says he thinks she was afraid of Bobby. However, when Cooper asks if he knew she was using cocaine, James looks up and directly at Cooper.
James' line of "And she did. For a while" sounds unlike his other vocal clips in this scene, as though it was added at a later date. It is also not in the script. I believe the reason additional dialogue may have been necessary is due to the removal of lines.
Usually, when a scene is filmed, the focus moves from one character to another as they speak. We won't necessarily know when something has been removed. Editors can place or remove dialogue as they wish. All of the conversation below may have been recorded.
JAMES
No, I tried to get her to stop.
COOPER
When was the last time you saw her?
JAMES
Two nights ago. The night she died. For about
three hours. She snuck out of her house about
9:30. About 12:30 I stopped the bike at the light
at Sparkwood and 21. She jumped off and ran
away. I didn't see her again.
COOPER
You're sure it was 12:30?
JAMES
Yes, sir, Steve's Liquor Locker was closing up as
we drove by and he closes right at 12:30.
COOPER
'You and Laura have a fight?
JAMES
Not exactly. But she said she couldn't see me
anymore.
COOPER
Why?
JAMES
She didn't say.
COOPER
Was she high that night?
JAMES
Yes.
COOPER
Where did she get her drugs?
JAMES
I don't know. Most of the time we were together
she was clean.
COOPER
Did she get her drugs from Bobby?
(Revised pink 8-18-89).
JAMES
I really don't know where she got 'em she never
talked about it. She didn't like that part of herself.
COOPER
Why did she start using again?
In the episode, the dialogue plays as:
James: "No. I tried to get her to stop." (Dub: And she did, for a while.)
Cooper: "Why did she start using again?"
"Something happened, a couple of days ago -"
"What? What happened?"
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"The night she died. She snuck out of her house about 9:30. About 12:30 I stopped the bike at the light
at Sparkwood and 21. [And] She jumped off and ran away. I didn't see her again."
James is saying the dialogue that was previously removed. Note that he is seen in a closer shot than we last saw him. He also appears more emotional than he did in the previous scene, almost as if his emotions have been building, meaning that we are more than likely seeing the previously mentioned deleted footage.
"Did you and Laura have a fight?"
"Not exactly. But she said she couldn't see me anymore."
"Why?"
"She didn't say."
The script has additional dialogue we don't hear in the broadcast episode:
COOPER
Until the last night.
JAMES
Yes.
COOPER
Did she call you that night?
JAMES
Yes.
Cooper looks at Laura's diary, open in front of him, at the page for February 5th;
the page marked "DAY ONE." He takes the half-heart necklace from his pocket. [He holds it up]
"'You recognize this necklace, James?"
"Yes, sir."
"James, what happened on February fifth, and who has the other half of this heart?"
Cooper's line, 'And who has the other half of this heart?" sounds as though it may have been added later.
Laura: "James, guess why I'm so happy today?"
James: "Because your skin is so soft and you smell so good?"
Laura: "No."
James: "Why?"
Laura: "Because I really believe that you love me."
The script features a longer scene between Laura and James. The televised version begins with a blurred introduction, meaning Laura and James could have been saying something other than what we hear. The flashback starts mid-scene.
Images on a menu for the Entire Mystery Blu-Ray provide proof that more of the scene was filmed.
In the script, Laura and James speak while having a picnic. In the scene, as it was filmed, they speak by a wishing well.
The scene as it appears in the third draft of the script:
The scene as it appears in the third draft of the script:
Laura Palmer, lying on a picnic blanket, playfully turns to face James.
LAURA
What day is it today?
JAMES
Sunday.
LAURA
No, I mean the date.
JAMES
The fifth of February.
LAURA
Okay. It's an important day for me, James.
You've got three guesses why I'm so happy today.
JAMES
Because you're the most beautiful girl in the world?
LAURA
No.
JAMES
Because you have the cutest nose in the world?
LAURA
No.
JAMES
Because your skin is so soft and you smell so
good?
LAURA
No.
JAMES
Why?
LAURA
Because I really believe that you love me.
She takes the necklace from her pocket, "breaks" the heart in two, gives half to James and puts the other half around her neck.
"Now my heart belongs to you."
Note that in the series, Laura gave James half of her heart necklace, not the other way around as in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Even in the broadcast episode, we can tell the hands belong to Laura.
"I don't know."
James Marshall and Director Dwayne Dunham do an affective job of creating an air of mystery. Even beyond his memories of Laura, James appears to know more than he's saying. At the same time, he seems very young and vulnerable.
Interestingly, denoting its early placement, Cooper retains some of the same personality he displayed while questioning Bobby in the pilot in this scene.
Donna Talks to Eileen
In the script, Donna is said to wake hearing an operatic aria drifting from downstairs. When Donna enters the living room, she finds her mother listening to the opera. The following then occurs in the script,
EILEEN
Oh, good morning, dear, I didn't hear you come
down.
She uses a remote control to turn down the volume of the hi-fi and takes her daughter's hand.
We do not hear music in the televised episode, instead we hear what I assume to be the news-
as the words, "abandoned train car" can be heard. I can't help but wonder if she was originally
listening to music. Perhaps the song that plays in the background during the Briggs' family
dinner was meant to play in this scene.
As for deleted dialogue, the most significant appears shortly after Eileen asks
her daughter about a boy named James Hurley.
"Can this be between you and me?"
"Of course it can."
"I was the only one who knew about it."
Donna: "Mom, James was so good for her. You don't know how troubled
Laura was."
We were the two closest people in the world to her."
Donna is slightly leaning forward in the last image. She appears to be
more emotionally distraught than in the other stills. The script states that after
saying dialogue that we later see removed, she was "close to tears" which would
explain why she appears as she does. The previous shot of Eileen sees Donna's
profile match the stance of the more upright seated Donna as seen in the first still.
The movement of Donna's head as we see Eileen's reaction does not necessarily match
with what we hear Donna say. Her jaw doesn't appear to move near the end of the clip.
All of this, in my opinion, suggests dialogue was removed.
"Mom, James was so good for her. You don't know how troubled
Laura was."
Donna's lines at the moment sound slightly different in the scene, as
though dubbed. The script contains dialogue between the televised lines which may suggest it was filmed and deleted.
From the script,
EILEEN
Your father [said] told me you went out last night to
meet a boy named James Hurley. Does this have
anything to do with him?
DONNA
(nods, decides to confide)
Can this be between you and me?
EILEEN
(takes her hand)
Of course it can.
DONNA
James and Laura were seeing each other the last
two months. They fell in love. I was the only
one who knew about it. James was so good for
her, you don't know how troubled Laura was, the
kind of trouble she was in and how much she
wanted to get away from Bobby --
EILEEN
I've been waiting for something like this about
Bobby. And what about Mike?
DONNA
Mom, Laura and I made a pact. We wanted to get
away from them, from both of them --
EILEEN
Are you saying you think Bobby had something
to do with Laura's death?
DONNA
I don't know. I think Bobby's dangerous, I think
he's capable of almost anything.
EILEEN
What did you tell the police?
DONNA
Nothing, I don't have any proof of anything and
what's terrible is James was with Laura the night
she died, but Mom I know he didn't do it.
(close to tears)
Last night, I had to see him, we were the two
people closest to her in the world. But I feel so
bad ...
EILEEN
Why angel?
DONNA
Because we realized that all this time ... we were
the ones who were failing in love. I feel like I've
betrayed my best friend ...
(tears)
.. but if that's true, then why do I feel so happy?
Donna falls into her mother's arms.
Big Ed at The Sheriff's Department
This scene contains one exchange that was possibly deleted. It is of interest because it contains Bobby Briggs' age.
Harry: "Hey, Ed."
Harry: "How's that coconut?"
Ed: "Well, it's kind of tender."
"But my pride hurts worse."
The script has Harry reply,
TRUMAN
Yeah, since when can some 18 year old punk take
Big Ed Hurley out, even if he was wearing knuckle
dusters. Ed, this is Agent Dale Cooper.
Harry: "Ed -"
Ed's eyes are focused on Harry. However, when we move to the far shot of the three men (seen in the next still), Ed's head is slightly tilted down and his eyes are cast downward as well before they move to Cooper.
Harry: "This is Special Agent Cooper."
Ed: " 'Pleasure."
Cooper: "Any relation to James?"
Ed: "I'm his uncle. And he works in my garage. His mother's out of town, and I look after him while she's away."
I believe the deleted dialogue may have been filmed because neither Harry or Ed share Ed's last name in Cooper's presence, something Sheriff Truman does in the deleted dialogue. How could Cooper have surmised he was James' uncle by his first name alone?
Cooper Meets Shelly and Norma
"Can I get you anything to go with that, Sheriff?"
Harry: "Agent Cooper here might want to try a slice of that pie."
Cooper: "Cherry pie?"
"Best in the tri-counties."
Harry: "And could you ask Norma to stop by for a second, Shelly?"
Shelly: "Sure thing."
Cooper: "Nothing's a sure thing, Shelly."
Duwayne Dunham, said in his commentary for this scene: "And of course we like Shelly. Everybody likes Shelly. She likes Cooper a little bit, I think. [...] In the beginning, I think there was much more flirtation between Cooper and all of the women. I mean, the relationship between Norma and Cooper. I mean, she's beautiful, and he looks at her a certain way. And Shelly and Donna - I think not so much Donna, but Donna always seemed, oddly enough, a little bit removed from Agent Cooper's radar. But certainly Norma, Shelly, Audrey, they all seemed to be, you know, Cooper looked on them in kind of a special way, having an interest in them."
Ideas were still being formed at this stage in the series. As Sherilyn Fenn has said, Cooper was originally meant to be romantically paired with Josie - or Giovanna - had she been played by Isabella Rossellini as originally intended. Ms. Fenn has also said Cooper and Audrey's chemistry wasn't planned. It just happened. Perhaps Mr. Dunham was trying to lay the foundation for multiple paths Cooper might follow should the writers or fate choose for him to do so.
Shelly does look at Cooper in a way that may be considered mildly flirtatious. Cooper's gaze, in turn, appreciatively follows Shelly as she departs.
Cooper: "Man, I still can't get the taste of that fish-filtered coffee out of my mouth."
Truman: "Me neither."
Cooper: "Shelly Johnson with a "j?"
Truman: "Mmm-hmm. Husband's a trucker, Leo. Minor rap sheet."
Cooper: "Mmm."
It almost looks like Toad sitting beside Margaret. We see him exit behind Cooper (below.) If so, this marks his first appearance in the series.
"Log Lady?"
Harry: "Right."
"Hi!"
Cooper: "Can I ask her about her log?"
Harry: "Many have."
Norma: "Evenin', Harry."
Harry: "Norma, like to have you meet Special Agent Dale Cooper."
Cooper: "Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"Norma Jennings."
The script contains additional dialogue after Norma introduces herself:
COOPER
I understand your husband, O. Henry Jennings, is
serving twenty-seven months in state prison for
manslaughter.
NORMA
(good-natured)
Yes he is. I also have a cousin named Sue who
runs a beauty shop in downtown Butte, Montana.
Cooper takes a bite of pie, closes his eyes and slips into an ecstatic state.
NORMA (CONTINUED)
Maybe I should come back with the dinner menu.
TRUMAN
No need for me, I'll have the special.
COOPER
(comes out of it with a smile)
Where's my paper and pen, I've got to write a
poem about this pie.
(Revised pink 8-18-89)
59. CONTINUED:(2)
TRUMAN
Better get your notebook; wait'll you taste the
special.
Note that Cooper says an earlier variation of a line later said by Gordon Cole in episode 25 (2.018, On the Wings of Love). "And a piece of paper and a pencil. I plan on writing an epic poem about this gorgeous pie."
We don't hear Cooper's thoughts on Norma's pies until episode three (1.003, Rest in Pain), where he says, "This must be where pies go when they die." He'd previously only spoken about the cherry pies from the Lamplighter Inn. It seems odd that his initial reaction to Norma's pies should be removed.
Cooper: "Ms. Jennings, is it true that Laura Palmer used to help you with the Meals on Wheels program, delivering hot dinners to elderly shut-ins?"
In the image above, Agent Cooper has a napkin in his left hand. His right hand rests above the left. He's just lowered his right hand after shaking hands with Norma. However, when the camera is still focused on Norma, we hear Cooper, mouth full, start by saying, "Ms. Jennings-" I believe Cooper's audio was inserted at this moment to cover deleted dialogue. He is eating the pie Norma set before him, but it would be impossible for him to have cut off a small piece and proceeded to eat it in the time that passes between the shot of Norma and the transition to Cooper and Truman. This causes me to believe the line later said by Gordon was filmed.
"Yeah. Laura helped organize the program."
The script also has Cooper and Norma say:
COOPER
When was the last time you saw her?
NORMA
She came in around dinner time the night before
she died to pick up her meals for delivery.
"Do you have the names of the people on her route?"
"I can get them for you."
"Would you please? And two more pieces of this incredible pie?"
It is a shame nothing ever came from Cooper requesting the names on Laura's Meals on Wheels route. For the police and FBI to completely forego an investigation until Donna Hayward's intervention seems almost impossible to comprehend.
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