David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is filled with some of the most hauntingly beautiful moments ever captured on film. Of the many scenes in the film, Laura Palmer’s brief encounter with Margaret Lanterman, The Log Lady, just outside the Roadhouse is incredibly powerful. This scene was shot in Fall City, Washington, outside the Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn.
WHERE IS THE LOCATION WHEN LAURA ENCOUNTERS THE LOG LADY?
The historic Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn is located at 4200 Preston Fall City Road SE in Fall City, Washington. It’s just down the street from the film location that served as Hap’s Diner in the 1992 film. The approximate coordinates where the majority of this scene took place are 47°34’02.8″N 121°53’15.7″W.
Thanks to Dan B. McMillen’s “Report on the Filming of Fire Walk With Me” in “Wrapped In Plastic” (Vol. 1, Issue #12, August 1994), we learn this scene was shot on Friday, September 20, 1991.
“Around eleven p.m. at the Roadhouse, Lynch filmed the scene with the Log Lady and Laura outside the front door. They had to do it four times because a dog owned by one of the biker extras kept barking and walking into the scene! If you watch the film, you’ll notice that the dog does indeed make it into the shot.”
Side note – is Dan still a Twin Peaks fan? If he’s reading this, I’d love to connect with you.
HISTORY OF THE ROADHOUSE IN FALL CITY, WA
While I plan on doing a deeper dive into the history of this location, SavorSnoqualmieValley.org give a perfect historic summary of this spot.
Paul Holden built the original single-story Riverside Tavern at this site in 1925, near Riverside Campgrounds and a dance pavilion. Owner Mae Brown added a second story with guest rooms and changed the name to Riverside Tavern and Lodge in 1933.
Thanks to a February 2020 article by Clay Eals on Seattle historian Paul Dorpat’s excellent website, we get a look at the original one-story building. If you love history about the region, Paul’s site is a treasure trove of information.
According to Mr. Eals’ article, the photo above was published published July 23, 1950, in The Seattle Times.
Savor Snoqualmie Valley’s history continues:
In 1966, Ed DeGrace acquired the building, did some remodeling, and changed the name to the Colonial Inn, a restaurant enjoyed by the community for over twenty years. Scott Krahling of Sammamish and Charlie Kellogg of Fall City purchased the building and business in 2005. After extensive refurbishing, they opened in 2008 as the Fall City Roadhouse. Long-time employees Cynthia Heyamoto and John Manning purchased the Roadhouse in 2018.
ANOTHER MISSING PIECE FROM TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
Before we jump in to the scene with the Log Lady, we need to rewind to the prior scene. Donna Hayward pays her best friend a visit at her home. Laura, clearly dressed for a night on the town and disinterested in Donna’s inquiries, cooly leaves her her home.
EXT. PALMER HOUSE – NIGHT
Laura gets into her Mom’s Roadmaster and takes off. Donna watches her go and gets in her car and follows.
The next scene is one that is missing but I’m guessing that it was actually shot. The script specifically called for a Buick Roadmaster and we see a two-door version from 1956.
INT. THE ROADMASTER – NIGHT
At the first stop sign Laura takes another hit of cocaine.
Earlier in the script dated August 8, 1991, Laura takes a hit of cocaine after visiting Harold Smith’s apartment (“Laura starts the car and takes a snort of cocaine”). We already see Laura using plenty of drugs in the theatrical release, so I’m wondering if these scenes were cut because it was overkill. Like we get it – she’s using drugs.
I call attention, however, to this missing scene as it could explain Laura’s display of emotions at the Roadhouse. She was incredibly high, an emotional wreck, and the combination of Margaret’s words and Julee Cruise’s beautiful music was too much to bear.
ARRIVAL AT THE ROADHOUSE
The camera cuts to the red neon Bang Bang Bar sign. I took a similar shot during a rainy night on January 23, 2020. As you can see, the exterior looks different today due to the previously mentioned remodeling.
And for the record, it’s The Roadhouse.
In a deleted scene from the Pilot Episode, Sheriff Truman explains the name to Agent Cooper during their stakeout – “Jake Morrissey owns the Bookhouse and Roadhouse. The Bang Bang Bar. Everybody calls it the Roadhouse.”
The script describes the scene:
EXT. ROADHOUSE – NIGHT
Laura parks her car and gets out. At the entrance to the Roadhouse she meets the LOG LADY, who seems to be waiting for her. She steps close to Laura.
There’s the dog that Dan McMillen mentioned in his filming report. The 1956 Buick Roadmaster is parked in the foreground.
A similar shot is found in the Pilot Episode when Bobby Briggs and Mike Nelson park and walk toward the entrance. Notice the door canopy over the front door and compare it to the film.
I’m wondering if it was constructed specifically for the pilot and later reconstructed in 1991. I haven’t found historical photos that show it was actually a thing.
During my first visit on August 10, 1996, the canopy wasn’t present. This was only five years after shooting was completed.
Here’s my nighttime shot of the Roadhouse during my visit in January 2020.
Like the obsessive person I am, I spent a good 30 minutes in the rain shooting all sorts of nighttime shots of The Roadhouse. The door where Laura, Bobby and Mike enter is no longer an entrance.
LAURA APPROACHES THE ROADHOUSE
As Laura approaches the front door, we see parked motorcycles. Seems like they were extras hired for the scene and one brought that barking dog. I wonder what the dog’s name was.
A similar shot from January 2020. It appears the crew covered the windows and illuminated them from the inside to create that reddish-pinkish glow.
THE LOG LADY APPROACHES LAURA PALMER
The framing for this shot is perfect. It gets even better toward the end of the scene.
The Log Lady steps closer to Laura and speaks.
LOG LADY
When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out.
Margaret appears to be wearing the same coat she wore in the final episode of Season 2.
It also appears to be the same coat she wears in a deleted scene from The Missing Pieces.
TOUCHING LAURA PALMER’S FOREHEAD
The Log Lady touches her. Her hand is cooling on Laura’s head. Laura moves in behind it. Pushing the cool hand into her face and forehead.
Laura closes her eyes as the Log Lady continues speaking.
LAURA PALMER’S CLOSE UP
The camera cuts to a close up of Laura Palmer’s face with Margaret’s hand on her forehead.
LAURA
(whispers)
Margaret?
The script calls for Laura to whisper “Margaret” but I don’t recall hearing that in the theatrical release.
LOG LADY
The tender bows of innocence burn first
and the wind rises – then all goodness is in jeopardy.
They look into each other’s eyes. The Log Lady turns and leaves.
THE LOG LADY DEPARTS
This next sequence of events is so incredibly moving. Clearly, Laura is moved by Margaret’s words. This is the only time we see the Log Lady and Laura interact in all of Twin Peaks.
That outstretched hand after hearing Margaret’s warning … incredible!
Laura then places her hand over her chest as if taking Margaret’s words to heart. The script doesn’t call for any of this action which means it was most likely directed on set.
REFLECTIONS OF LAURA PALMER AT THE ROADHOUSE
There’s the shot! Wow. Laura sees her reflection after hearing some profound words of wisdom. The crew covered the windows with black paper in order to achieve the shot. Lighting above shining down provided that haunting reflection.
The scene fades into Julee Cruise singing “Questions in a World of Blue” on stage.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT THE ROADHOUSE
The incredible Mauve Zone shared some production shots from these scene of Laura. You can see the top lighting casts shadows on her face.
IMAGES OF LAURA AND THE LOG LADY AT THE ROADHOUSE ON FLICKR
You can find high-resolution images of Mr. C’s drive to the Convenience Store on my Flickr account. The photos are licensed as Creative Commons, so only attribution to “Sam Howzit” is required for use elsewhere.
