Episode 6

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Agent Sam Stanley
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Re: Episode 6

Post by Agent Sam Stanley »

I've never read the original draft of this episode's script, with the opening scene of Cooper and Audrey having the ambiguous breakfast, but maybe the rewrite was the best way to go.
I just think the rewrite threw away any chance of something happening between the two characters, romantically speaking. How could Cooper sleep with her after that moral speech? It would feel like he was using the speech only to gain her confidence instead of being truthful and trying to soften what could be a really humiliating situation for her.
I like the rewrite, I love the way they handled the situation, but those two as a couple were a "not happening" thing for me after that (and I'm actually surprised so many people were expecting something to happen past that point).

I agree with Audrey Horne, this must be one of my favorite episodes from S1 and probably the one I've seen the most (not counting the pilot). Maybe my 3rd favorite, as the pilot is my #1 and ep 2 my #2.
Last edited by Agent Sam Stanley on Fri Apr 08, 2016 11:47 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Audrey Horne
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Re: Episode 6

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really? prior to that, i just thought their stuff was fun, and slick, witty moments for another soap suspect. After this scene, it did the same as the Bobby in Jacoby office, or Audrey crying at Leland- it subverted our (my) expectations and made the characters richer. It put this relationship in the sphere of the one he had with Truman. I took the whole point of her sigh after he leaves to meaning she loves him all the more, and for the right reasons.

Why were you surprised though? it only continued from there as the two most active protagonists (Truman and Donna also), and from factual evidence we know from the writers and one of the creators that the laid groundwork was then yanked at the eleventh hour in the second season- so the stuff was still filmed in the manner they wanted. Wouldn't that be like if Norma was the killer and then we found out years later it was supposed to be Leland but at the last moment before episode 14 was filmed Wise balked? Meaning the groundwork episodes still exist.
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Agent Sam Stanley
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Re: Episode 6

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and from factual evidence we know from the writers and one of the creators that the laid groundwork was then yanked at the eleventh hour in the second season- so the stuff was still filmed in the manner they wanted.
I didn't know that, and I must say I'm quite surprised. I always saw Cooper's moral speech as a way of placing their relationship in the "strictly friends" area. If that wasn't the intention, it does look odd. I can see Audrey still in love with him after that, maybe even more like you said, but not Cooper ignoring his values and her age and bedding her a few episodes later. That would kill the character for me. Even if it was LFB who really had a problem with the romance and pulled the strings to end it, I can see how Kyle would agree that the character wouldn't look good.

But I think Audrey and Cooper could've remained friends. Cooper as some sort of tutor and father figure to her. The way the writers completely split them apart after the eleventh hour was forced and unnatural.
In my mind the romance was already out of the question but there was more backstage pressure to separate the characters completely and that's what eventually happened. Never thought they were still considering a romance by that point :?
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Audrey Horne
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Re: Episode 6

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No, the romance thing wasn't even a major thing until the second season when they knew they had two popular characters. The first season they didn't even know if anyone would watch the show.
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Agent Sam Stanley
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Re: Episode 6

Post by Agent Sam Stanley »

Interesting how a creative process works, sometimes completely different from how we see things as a viewer.
I think the moral speech estabilished something pretty solid for the character. To step over that and create a romance, especially right after solving Laura's murder, would look kind of desperate. "Oh God, now what? Now we make the two most popular characters start bedding. Problem solved! S1 was ages ago, no one remembers that speech". Kind of a cheap exit, but that's most of what we got post ep 16 anyway, so...
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Jonah
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Re: Episode 6

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A few thoughts having rewatched this:

As with the preceding Episode 5, this one begins with another shot of another moon - this time a half moon, not as fake-looking. Are these moon shots significant? I'm guessing probably not and are just for atmosphere, but curious all the same.

I like the opening scene with Cooper and Audrey in his bedroom. It's sweet and touching. I wonder how this would have played had it been the scripted breakfast scene instead, leaving it ambiguous as to whether or not they had slept together.

I love Audrey smoking while hiding in the closet.

Is the glass unicorn meant to be a nod to the 1974 movie "Black Christmas"?

The dates in the notebook seem to be updated to 1990 (when this aired), but this is set in 1989, isn't it?

The "give yourself a present" with Cooper and Harry scene is great.

I really like Ed telling Nadine not to give up.

The scene with Catherine and the guy who delivers the contract is great.

All the stuff in the casino is great, as is the preceding scene with Cooper, Harry, and Big Ed.

It's very creepy when we see Leland watching Maddy sneak out. Are we seeing Bob here?

The Andy/Lucy stuff is pretty fun at this point.

The Donna, James, and Maddy stuff continues to be great, and it's brilliant seeing Maddy in that wig. Great ending to this episode too!

Not much more to add except this is a fun, story-packed episode that's setting up the finale to this season.
I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.
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Audrey Horne
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Re: Episode 6

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The insurance salesman is Mr. Neft.... A nod to Double Indemnity. Like Gordon Cole is a name from Sunset Boulevard. Just a terrific scene. "One never knows." I wish he had returned in the second season.

I love this episode so, so much.

I think the dates in the notebook being 1990 means it is today when it occurs. Just like 1989 in the pilot, same principle. All that matters is when it is airing, it is in the present (just the town is quant like yesteryear.). And all the matters with The Return is its twenty five years later. The year means nothing.
God, I love this music. Isn't it too dreamy?
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Mr. Reindeer
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Re: Episode 6

Post by Mr. Reindeer »

As I, and I’m sure others, have noted before, Cooper’s line “What I want and what I need are two different things” pays off in P2 when Mr. C says, “I don’t need anything. I want.” I’m really paying attention to the Cooper/Audrey dynamic in light of the horrific impact he ends up having on her life. It takes on a really tragic element.

Only hours after telling Audrey he has to honor his Bureau oaths, Dale makes arguably his biggest moral (or, at least, legal) transgression of the original show, flouting jurisdiction and taking the law into his own hands. He suffers some repercussions in mid-season 2 when the Bureau suspends him, and in a weird causal way, this is the act that causes him to stay in Twin Peaks after solving Laura’s murder, and therefore meet Annie, and become trapped in the Black Lodge, unleashing Mr. C on the world.

Shelly is weirdly forthcoming with Hank when he’s fishing for info. It seems like she and Norma have enough of a short-hand that Shelly clearly knows Norma and Ed are a thing, and that Hank is dangerous. It’s super odd that she willingly volunteers Big Ed’s name with almost no prompting at all.

There’s a subtle moment that I don’t feel plays particularly well, because it’s shot too wide. Per the script, Nadine looks at suicide scars on her wrists, contemplating trying again. Robie does it in the episode, but it’s very easy to miss the context.

I love the James Bond aspect of all the casino stuff (Mark talks in the Bushman book several times about being a fan of the films, as am I). Cooper strolling into the casino looking incredible in a tuxedo, flirting with Blackie about the transparency of their fake identities, and of course Cooper being inhumanly amazing at cards. Coop and Ed are such a great duo: the charmed optimist and the luckless habitual loser. It’s also great watching Ed flirt a bit and getting a sense of who he was in his prime. It’s all terrific stuff.

Where did Cooper get those agency funds he’s gambling with? He certainly didn’t tell them what he was actually doing (crossing the Canadian border to set up an illegal sting operation). It’s all shockingly sketchy.

It’s also impossible to not find Dale’s zest for gambling incredibly infectious. Most of the things he’s passionate about are so wholesome, it’s a little shocking to see him being so joyous about an activity that generally is regarded as rather illicit.

This episode also has the perplexing moment where Audrey sees Tojamura’s assistant checking into a room at the Great Northern, seemingly only minutes after Catherine learns Ben and Josie are plotting against her and tries to think of a plan. Presumably, the writers originally intended for this to be either Jonathan or someone associated with him, because the way it shakes out in the finished show makes no sense.

This episode’s edition of Dale’s Diet:
— Cooper goes downstairs in the Great Northern to get “two malts and some fries” for him and Audrey to consume in his room while she tells him about all her troubles
— Cooper gives himself and Harry a present: “two cups of good hot black coffee” (one for each of them) at the Double R (“Man, that hits the spot! Nothing like a great cup of black coffee”)

There is also another beautiful donut spread in the conference room, but Cooper is never seen partaking before Waldo bleeds all over it.
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Jonah
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Re: Episode 6

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Mr. Reindeer wrote: This episode also has the perplexing moment where Audrey sees Tojamura’s assistant checking into a room at the Great Northern, seemingly only minutes after Catherine learns Ben and Josie are plotting against her and tries to think of a plan. Presumably, the writers originally intended for this to be either Jonathan or someone associated with him, because the way it shakes out in the finished show makes no sense.
Hmm, never noticed this. Interesting.
I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.
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Henrys Hair
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Re: Episode 6

Post by Henrys Hair »

Another immensely enjoyable episode! A few thoughts:

Nice touch having the Invitation To Love display at Horne's - I never spotted this on broadcast or the VHS cassettes.

I love the little rewind on the Dictaphone where we hear Lucy feeding Waldo.

Harry: "I know all I need to know, I love her and she's in trouble"
Cooper: "That's good enough for me."
Bad call there guys!

Non speaking part for Leland - not as much of Leland as I thought there was this season. I suppose it's the next stretch where his character really comes to prominence.

Jerry tripping on his way out of Ben's office - I wonder if this was an accident or scripted. Either way, David Patrick Kelly really manages to do it 'in character', and it's a very different sort of tripping he'd be doing 25 years later.

Um, kinda handy that Dr Jacoby doesn't lock his door!
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