When Twin_Petes profiled me for his project, Une Me Solitaire: Fans in a Living Novel, I briefly mentioned my favorite scene in all of Twin Peaks takes place around dusk at the Fat Trout Trailer Park in Deer Meadow. Why is this my favorite scene? Let’s take a closer look at a memorable two minutes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
LOVE LETTER TO THE FAT TROUT TRAILER PARK AT DUSK
The scene begins when Special Agent Sam Stanley tells Agent Chet Desmond one thing that has been troubling him – the Blue Rose. He knows Agent Desmond is returning to the trailer park for the Blue Rose.
Like many, when I first saw Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, I was boggled by the first 30 minutes. What did any of it have to do with Twin Peaks the television show?
Over the years, I have fallen in love with calm and cool Chet Desmond (Chris Isaak) and brilliant but aloof Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland). Besides being a fan of Chris Isaak’s music (his catalog was the soundtrack to my college years), I adore the dreamlike, anti-“Twin Peaks” world that is Deer Meadow. In many ways, the first 30 minutes is my Blue Rose – a mystery I wanted to solve.
The scene cuts to a flashback of a faux Blue Rose pinned to Lil the Dancer’s red dress at the private Portland airport from earlier in the film.
Agent Stanley knows Desmond must return to the trailer park to find the Blue Rose alone (in this case, to find Teresa Banks’ missing ring). Perhaps I relate to Desmond’s relentless determination (and obsession) with solving this “Blue Rose” case (ladies and gentlemen of the jury, may I present this entire website as exhibit A).
The faux Blue Rose image fades to a close up shot of the Fat Trout Trailer Park sign. This image is a cropped shot from one seen earlier in the film when Desmond and Stanley first question Carl Rodd. The cropped shot appears to have the same shadows as the full image.
The location of the Fat Trout Trailer Park was once found at 39531 SE Park Street in Snoqualmie, Washington. It’s since been demolished (more on that at another time).
Looking carefully below the trailer park sign, one can see another sign with a telephone number written in red. The number might be 363-8212 (no area code). A quick search turned up a matching number in Shorline, Washington – (206) 363-8212 – which rings Alliance Care Family Home, Inc. The area code for Snoqualmie is now 425, which was split from the parent area code 206 on April 27, 1997.
The sign scene cuts from daytime to dusk at the Fat Trout Trailer Park. Agent Desmond and Carl Rodd are seen walking toward the camera.
The haunting music used in this scene is titled “Back to the Fat Trout – Unease Motif (The Woods).” It was released as part of the Twin Peaks Archive in December 2011. This foreboding tune was included in a bundle of tracks from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me as discussed on Ross Dudle’s outstanding website – Twin Peaks Soundtrack Design.
Desmond and Rodd stop just in front of a utility pole so he can point out Deputy Cliff’s trailer and red truck. Just look at that sky!!
Agent Desmond clarifies the location of Teresa Banks’ trailer before Fat Trout Trailer Park resident Margaret (played by Margaret Adams) interrupts the conversation. She asks where is her “goddamn hot water,” so Carl excuses himself to address the situation (perhaps with Valium?).
While Carl and Margaret leave the scene, Agent Chet Desmond is left alone. If you look behind him, it appears his car is parked in the background. The Chalfont’s trailer (which he has yet to visit) is also seen just over his shoulder.
Desmond’s car was later found by Special Agent Dale Cooper and Carl Rodd with “Let’s Rock” written in red on the windshield.
The colors are one of the major reasons why I love this scene. I love dusk. I love that moment just after the sun drops below the horizon yet night hasn’t completely descended. Just look at this image of Agent Desmond standing in the Fat Trout bathed in the light of dusk. Stunning!
Something catches Agent Desmond’s eye from above. He looks up.
He sees the top of a utility pole set against a purple-hued sky. Again, the colors in this scene are perfect!
This is the same utility pole shown earlier when Carl Rodd is speaking to the FBI Agents inside Teresa Banks’ trailer.
Desmond’s eyes travel down the utility pole and stop. If you look carefully in the window behind Chet, you’ll notice a slight breeze blowing the curtains in the open window.
This may be my favorite image from this entire sequence – the famous utility pole with the number “6” metal plaque shown.
Desmond turns from the utility pole and sees a mysteriously empty trailer. The trailer appears to be a 19-foot travel trailer by Boles Areo from the 1960s (see this video for a comparison). The name of the trailer has been partially obscured.
Agent Desmond heads toward the Boles Aero trailer. I love how the third shot is framed (especially with the license plate “V 220” shown to the right of the screen – Electricity!).
Night is descending fast now as the scene cuts again to the Boles Aero trailer. The ominous empty trailer with all its lights on is such a haunting image.
Chet Desmond enters the frame, staring down the trailer. Since the sun has fallen fast, it appears some muted external lighting was added to this scene to pick up the details.
Chet cautiously approaches the trailer. He knocks at the door. No answer. He peeks through a window but no one is home. Then something under the trailer catches his eye.
Chet bends down before the trailer, trying to get a better look at what is underneath.
The camera cuts to a pile of dirt with Teresa Banks’ missing ring. The gold signet ring contain a symbol similar to one seen at Owl Cave. As a side note, I’m thrilled with the replica version created by Rocklove Jewelry and available on the Showtime Store. It’s close to the screen version (the green stone’s edges are slightly more rounded on screen than the replica ring).
Special Agent Chet Desmond reaches for the ring and disappears. The scene ends.
While I was hopeful Chet’s fate would be addressed in Twin Peaks: The Return, no answer was given. I believe this makes me love this scene even more. Chester Desmond’s disappearance remains a mystery. It’s now a Blue Rose case, the very thing he returned to the Fat Trout Trailer Park to solve.
Fantastic investigation and summation and of a chilling dusk-like reminder that once you enter the world of Twin Peaks, you’re now playing by ITS rules. Great stuff, Steven! Can’t wait to explore your blog more.