Twin Peaks Film Location – Birds in Hell

On February 23, 1989, Laura Palmer left her home to attend school one last time. That night, she would be brutally murdered and a community would never be the same. I’ve raved plenty of times about my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. This short scene has always stuck in my mind, mostly because of the incredible sweet music combined with the absolute dread Laura expresses while walking to class. The scene was shot just outside the Palmer House which is located in Everett, Washington.

WHERE IS THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE THE PALMER HOUSE LOCATED?

The Palmer House is found at 708 33rd Street in Everett, Washington. The approximate coordinates are 47°58’25.6″N 122°13’14.3″W. The home is a private residence, so please be respectful of the wonderful owner, Mary Reber (Mrs. Tremond from Part 18 on Showtime), if you visit. She is now offering tours of her home which you can book at VisitPalmerHouse.com.

BIRDS IN HELL

The scene opens with Laura walking down stairs in front of her house. The script dated August 8, 1991 best describes the action.

EXT. SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE PALMER HOUSE. DAY
Laura walks to school. All the beautiful, natural sounds of morning sound like hell to her. Distorted chants from hell.

Laura continues her incredibly sad walk down the sidewalk. The music playing over this scene is appropriately titled “Birds in Hell.”

The camera cuts to a brief shot of her neighbor’s house. I didn’t have this reference photo on October 12, 2019 when I visited. Yet, you can see the house in this image to the left if facing the Palmer house.

Electricity! Wires in the sky fill the frame as the camera continues from the neighbor’s house. Most likely the crew used the wires found above 33rd Street as they were everywhere.

More wires as the camera quickly moves along them. It’s difficult to say which specific wires were used but here are some more options.

Cutting back to Laura walking along the sidewalk, we can see her anguish in pain from the previous night’s revelation. She knows what is coming next.

It appears that a stone wall was constructed in the time since the film was shot.

You can see those plants that Laura passes in this shot from earlier in the film.

This part of the scene ends with one more shot of wires before cutting to a clock at her school with hands passing quickly along the face.

Poor Laura. I wish I could do something to help her.