In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, Jacques Renault arranges a big drug deal at midnight, near the sound of sawing wood. In a previous article, I discussed the film location for the first part of this scene. Today, I continue with a look at where their deal-gone-south took place. I couldn’t wait to write this article as it took me three trips and over a span of a month to identify the spot in Washington state.
WHERE IS THE LOCATION OF LAURA PALMER AND BOBBY BRIGGS’ DRUG DEAL AT MIDNIGHT?
The scene, like so many woodsy scenes in the film, was shot in Olallie State Park along Weeks Falls trail. The exact coordinates are 47° 26′ 9.708″ N 121° 39′ 10.632″ W. It’s super close to the location where Jack Rabbit’s Palace from Season 3 was shot. In fact, you walk over the location when either entering or leaving Weeks Falls trail.
By the way, you’ll need to pick up a Discover Pass if you plan on visiting the park. It’s totally worth it. I would pretty much live in the park every day if I lived closer.
ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE THE SPOT
During visits in mid-September and mid-October 2019, I was on a quest to find this particular location. When Bookhouse Gal Jill Watson gave me a tour of the park on September 16, she mentioned she heard it was in an area that was particularly overgrown.
I returned to the park on September 17 and the morning of September 18 trying to find every film location I could. This one was high on my list, and I spent hours (I mean hours!) walking the trail looking for it.
The only reference image I had of the actual location came from the former InTwinPeaks.com as seen above. I figured it was along the trail, but I wasn’t able to match the landscape exactly until I returned in October 2019. So let’s examine this scene and I’ll explain how I found it.
ARRIVAL AT MIDNIGHT
As previously discussed, Bobby and Laura arrive around midnight near the Packard Sawmill (perhaps you should play sounds of the sawmill while reading this article). The location is before you get to the drug deal spot.
THE PACKARD MILL BACKWARD
The scene cuts to a shot of the Packard Sawmill (aka Snoqualmie Mill) at night. They had to include it since Jacques reference the mill in his description to Bobby. In reality, the mill is very far away from Olallie State Park.
Have you noticed that smoke from the sawmill travels backward in this shot? Weird!
DRUG DEAL WOODS
The script from August 8, 1991 describes this scene:
EXT. THE WOODS – NIGHT
Laura and Bobby continue thru the woods. It gets spookier and spookier.
They reach the meeting place. Awesomely quiet until a twig snaps, then a distant howling of a wolf.
There is no wolf howl but what appears on screen is pretty similar. It opens with a flashlight pan of trees.
I combined the individual tree images create the photo above. This is the first of five camera pans that we’ll see. The composite images were incredibly helpful in confirming the location of this scene. For this pan, the camera starts on the far right and continues left.
I didn’t have the composite image available when I visited Olallie State Park with my wife Katie on October 14, 2019. I did, however take this image which shows some trees you see in the shot.
The leaning tree appears to be similar to this one shown above. These trees are on the south side of the trail, across from where Bobby and Laura’s scenes were shot. To the right of the image is the area where Jack Rabbit’s Palace was shot.
ENTER BOBBY AND LAURA
We then see Bobby and Laura in an embrace. They are standing on Weeks Falls Trail with the Snoqualmie River behind them.
The action continues as described in the scene. One of the major challenges I had finding this spot was locating the giant tree stump next to Bobby. It has since been removed or is completely unrecognizable.
Another tree pan from right to left. I thankfully had this reference image when I was in the park.
It’s basically the same spot where Bobby and Laura are camped. The tree stump on the far left was the key to identifying the location. Without the composite image, it just looks like they are lost somewhere in the woods.
The script describes this scene exactly as it appears:
Bobby and Laura sit on the floor of the woods and do some more toot. Laura picks up a leaf and shows it to Bobby.
I guess Bobby was lying in the Pilot episode when he said he never did drugs with Laura Palmer (shocker!).
ANOTHER CAMERA PAN
The third composite image of the tree pans shot contains fir trees that are located above where Bobby and Laura were sitting. Pay attention to the long branch in the middle of the image. You’ll see it again.
I didn’t have the composite image when I visited but the trees are basically the ones pictured in the image above. Laura and Bobby sat on the trail on the left side of the photo.
LAURA FINDS THINGS
A closer shot of Bobby and Laura is next where she laughs uncontrollably while tormenting Bobby. The August 1991 script contains similar action.
LAURA
(whispers)
Bobby, I found a leaf.
After a moment of staring at it, they both begin to giggle. She picks up a twig.
LAURA (continued)
Bobby, I found a twig.
They giggle twice as hard. Laura picks up a pinecone and starts knocking him on the head with it.
LAURA (continued)
Bobby, I found a pinecone.
They giggle three times as hard and start crawling around giggling. Suddenly, they hear footsteps. They freeze and try to stifle their giggles.
The fourth composite image contains entangled tree roots. I luckily had this photo when I was visiting as I these roots are still there!
The roots are on the south side of the trail. To the right, you would head toward Jack Rabbit’s Palace. I couldn’t believe these roots were still there after 28 years.
LAURA LAUGHS
Laura laughs on the ground as described in the script.
We get the final panning shot of trees that starts in the upper right corner and continues down to the tan brush.
From what I can gather, the trees seem to be these firs on the north side of the trail.
We get one last look at Laura on the ground which sheds some light on the landscape behind her. It appears to be this small hill along the trail, perhaps below the tree stump.
DEPUTY CLIFF’S ARRIVAL
The scene cuts to a flashlight in the distance – the drug dealer is approaching.
The script continues.
BOBBY
Here he comes.
LAURA
Here he comes.
They both start laughing again. They see a guy coming through the woods. We recognize him as the sullen deputy from Deer Meadow, Cliff Howard.
THE FLASHLIGHT
Do you recognize Bobby’s flashlight?
It’s the same one that Leland Palmer uses later in the film – it’s similar to the Maxa Beam Searchlights by Peak Beam Systems.
At this point, I want to thank my long-haired Chihuahua Yodie for being incredibly patient while his crazy Dad took a bunch of photos in the woods.
DEPUTY CLIFF APPEARS
Deputy Cliff enters the scene. From what I can gather, he passed between that tall tree on the left. This would most likely be the overgrown area that Jill mentioned. I’m also guessing the tree stump seen in the scene would have been found on the left side of this image.
BOBBY
(suddenly serious)
Who sent you?
CLIFF
Jacques.
LAURA
That’s right.
The deputy takes out a very big bag of coke, showing it to them.
LAURA (continued)
Wow.
SHOOTOUT IN THE WOODS
The scripted scenes are what plays out in the theatrical release.
Laura just grabs it out of his hand. The deputy takes out his gun.
Bobby panics and pulls out his gun. BANG!!
Bobby shoots the deputy in the shoulder, but the deputy still prepares to shoot at Bobby so Bobby shoots him again. This time in the chest.
The deputy spins and tries to run, but Bobby shoots him in the back. He topples over dead.
Clearly Deputy Cliff did not run in this scene.
SHOOTING CLIFF
I lightened the image of Bobby shooting Deputy Cliff in an attempt to identify the spot. Most likely it was in this overgrown area off the trail.
A rare shot of Deputy Cliff’s head before Bobby shoots him. I’ll save the graphic explosion for the film. I love Sheryl Lee’s reaction to Bobby’s action in the bottom image. Oh, look carefully at the fir tree branch above their heads. It’s the same one that is seen in an earlier panning shot.
BOBBY AND LAURA
They stand there frozen. Absolutely no more giggles.
LAURA (continued)
God, Bobby. What did you do?
They just stand there looking at the dead body.
BOBBY
I shot him. Oh, my god, I shot him.
Bobby makes a feeble attempt to bury Deputy Cliff.
Bobby starts for the dead body.
  BOBBY (continued)
Come on, you gotta help me.
The fir tree branch from the earlier panning shot is seen again above Laura’s head. The two of them attempt to cover Cliff with dirt.
YOU KILLED MIKE
With Laura’s help they get the body back to the clearing. They fall down to their knees, out of breath, staring at what they have done. Their faces register the shock of having just killed someone. Laura looks at Bobby’s stunned expression.
LAURA
Look at your face.
A laugh squirts out of Laura. Bobby turns to her in disbelief.
LAURA (continued)
Bobby, you killed Mike.
Bobby stares at her for a second like Laura has gone insane.
BOBBY
This isn’t Mike.
(suddenly unsure – surreal)
Is this Mike?
LAURA
Bobby… ssshhhh… you killed Mike.
Bobby breaks. They begin to laugh uncontrollably.
Of course, Bobby doesn’t laugh in this scene. He is rather upset and in disbelief that he shot someone.
The scene of Laura placing the stick on Deputy Cliff’s body isn’t described in the scene.
The scene comes to an end with an empty shot of the woods and trail. We get a great look at that missing tree stump.
Bobby is then seen dragging Laura away from the murder spot and down the trail into the woods. The script has a different ending complete with a hooting owl.
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Wide shot. The distant sounds of Bobby and Laura laughing. Up closer the wind takes over and even closer the hooting of an owl.
I will conclude this article with a photo of my wife Katie, Chihuahua Yodie and me taken just after I finished photographing this location. I am incredibly thankful for my extremely patient wife who watched her husband obsess once again over the littlest details. I left Olallie State Park that day feeling a sense of completion at identifying this mystery spot that had bothered me for about a month.
Great work,avesome