After responding to a post on the Facebook group Lynchland Gang about Special Agent Sam Stanley’s “Whiteman Machine,” I decided to take a closer look at Teresa Banks’ autopsy scene in tiny Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department morgue. This scene from David Lynch’s 1992 masterpiece Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me seems to have a few Missing Pieces when comparing what was shown theatrically versus what was presented in the script.
PRODUCTION DETAILS OF DEER MEADOW MORGUE
Charlotte Fraisse’s official shooting diary for Lynch’s feature film places the production of this scene around Friday, September 13, 1991. That day, the clash between Cliff Howard, the deputy and Agent Desmond was shot with three cameras including one mounted on a Steadicam.
This means they were at the Ranger’s house at Olallie State Park near North Bend which doubled as the Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department. The tiny morgue’s exterior was located adjacent to the ranger’s house. By 2001, the front part of the shed had been removed.
I’m assuming they used the shed’s interior for this scene. But there is a chance the interior was captured on a set in Van Nuys, California. Without interior images of the shed, set photos or a call sheet, it’s impossible to confirm.
For this article, I’m referencing the script penned by David Lynch and Bob Engles on August 8, 1991. There was a slightly earlier draft which had Cooper versus Desmond for the Deer Meadow scenes, but this August script was the one most likely used for shooting in September through November 1991. While Lynch is notoriously famous for on-set rewrites, the scripted version closely follows the theatrical cut with a few minor changes.
WE CLOSE AT 4:30
The scene opens with a close up of a General Electric wall clock displaying 4:30, a reference to Sheriff Cable telling Agent Desmond the Deer Meadow Sheriff’s Department closes at 4:30 p.m. Years later the numbers 430 reappear in Twin Peaks season three would become the number of miles Dale Cooper and Diane Evans drive to a desert spot surrounded by transmission towers.
The scene cuts to Agent Desmond pushing the cart that held the metal slab occupied by Teresa Banks’ body in the morgue. This action is not described in the script.
INT. TINY MORGUE – DAY
Teresa’s body is on the platform in the middle of the room. Stanley hangs his recorder on the hooks at the end of the autopsy table and puts on rubber gloves. Desmond opens Teresa Banks file.
According to Pamela Gidley, she was actually placed inside the box with the door. David Lynch told Chris Isaak and Kiefer Sutherland to be aware that she was placed in that box. When they didn’t need to have the door closed, they were asked to keep the door open to allow for air circulation.
Gidley said that during the times the cameras weren’t rolling, Chris would shut the door. This would prompt David to have a conversation about leaving the door open.
This could mean there is extra footage of her inside the box before being placed on the table in the center of the room.
Interestingly, this scene was also the first day of shooting for Pamela. She mentioned David was very hands on when applying makeup and an angel tattoo. Sadly, we never see her tattoo.
TERESA BANKS’ BODY IN THE DEER MEADOW MORGUE
The scene cuts to a shot of Teresa Banks’ body on a metal slab. The particular image will be used a few times throughout the scene. Pamela Gidley did an outstanding job remaining motionless.
Rotating the Medical Examiner tag pinned to Teresa, we can see that her case number is T.B. – 1548.
This behind-the-scenes image from The Mauve Zone shows David Lynch attaching a medical examiner tag while costume designer Patricia Norris looks on. Despite being in full makeup, Pamela Gidley smiles at the camera. She most likely had two small rubber mouth supports in her mouth at the time. David used the supports to help keep her jaw and mouth still for close up shots.
TERESA BANKS’ AUTOPSY BEGINS
We finally get to the show of the tiny morgue which was described in the script. Desmond begins reviewing contents of the evidence box from Sheriff Cable.
DESMOND
(reading)
Teresa Banks lived at the Canyon Trailer Park for a month. We’ll check that And worked as a waitress at Hap’s Truck Stop . Worked the Night Shift. Good place for dinner when we’re thru here, Sam.
Interestingly, the Fat Trout Trailer Park was originally named Canyon Trailer Park. It could have been a nod to Hells Canyon mentioned in the script. Wind River (originally named Joseph’s Creek) is where Teresa’s body was seen floating at the beginning of the film.
It’s also noted that Hap’s Diner was originally named “Hap’s Truck Stop.” The neon word “Diner” appears in the window so that change must have been made early as it would have taken time to create the neon signs used in the establishing shot.
Watch Agent Stanley in this scene as Desmond reads from Teresa’s file.
The scene cuts back and forth as he struggles to put on a rubber glove. At one point, he puts it on his left hand (Desmond: “We’ll check that”). When it cuts back to him, he is just starting to put it on.
As Desmond continues reading, we get extremely tight shots of Teresa’s face.
(flips to another page)
No one came to claim the body and no known next of kin.
SAM STANLEY’S SPECIAL MACHINE
While Desmond reads, we see Sam standing next to his “Special Machine” which appears to be turned off.
The front of his machine, as seen at the Private Portland Airport, is on the desk. Identifying this prop is one of my holy grails, but that’s for another time.
The most important thing is that the machine is turned off. This is the part where I believe dialogue was cut from the film.
As Desmond is doing this, Stanley takes out his SPECIAL MACHINE. Desmond looks up from his work and notices.
STANLEY
Solved the Whiteman Case with this.
DESMOND
That’s what I heard.
STANLEY
No one could find those splinters without a machine like this. And
no one has a machine like this.
DESMOND
That’s good.
STANLEY
Yes, itis good. (looks around) what do you think is in these other drawers?
DESMOND
I don’t know, Sam.
STANLEY
Maybe, later we could take a look.
DESMOND
Sure, but let’s finish up with this first.
Getting to work. Stanley’s face goes right over Teresa’s.
The drawers Agent Sam mentioned could have been the desk drawers, with one of them being locked. Notice when Sam grabs his tape recorder, red lights are blinking on the Special Machine. They were off when Sam was putting on his gloves.
SAM STANLEY’S EXAMINATION OF TERESA BANKS
The FBI Agent begins his examination but a few lines were omitted related to Teresa’s age. You can almost feel where the dialogue was cut in the scene.
STANLEY
(into his recorder)
Crushed skull. Probable cause repeated blows to the back of the head with an obtuse angled blunt object. Subject looks to be between 16 and 18 years of age.
DESMOND
Cole said she was 17.
The examination continues and closely follows the scripted action.
Stanley’s eyes drift to Teresa’s left hand.
STANLEY
I wonder where her ring is?
Desmond notices the mark on her hand as well.
DESMOND
Yeah.
(looking into the personal effects)
Personal effects include a watch, under garments, and a blue waitress
uniform… the ring is missing. It says the rest of her things haven’t been removed yet from the trailer. Let’s hope it’s there.
The evidence mentioned is mostly what was listed on the side of the box Sheriff Cable presented to Agent Desmond.
- EVIDENCE
- 1 Waitress Uniform
- 1 Apron
- 1 Bra
- 1 Undergarments
- 1 Watch
Of course, the blue waitress uniform was changed to pink as blue was color of the Double R Diner. Part of Desmond’s dialogue was cut which finally answered why the FBI Agents spent time combing Teresa Banks’ trailer.
LOOKING UNDER THERESA BANKS’ NAIL
Agent Sam follows Teresa’s arm down to her ring finger on her left hand. It’s still not clear what caught his eye. We don’t see, however, an inserted shot of him holding her left hand.
Stanley picks up her left hand.
INSERT: BANKS LEFT HAND In Stanley’s hand.
ON THE SCENE
STANLEY
There appears to be a contusion under the ring finger of her left hand.
DESMOND
Oh.
Stanley peers underneath the fingernail.
STANLEY
A laceration.
In the theatrical cut, Sam says “contusion” versus “laceration.”
The script mentions Stanley’s special machine is named the “Whiteman” instrument. It’s understood that Sam found splinters using the machine when solving the Whiteman case but no other details about that case are mentioned in the script.
Stanley brings over his “Whiteman” instrument. Works the left hand under it.
DESMOND
Accidental?
STANLEY
Agent Desmond, would you hold the finger for me. There’s something up there.
He gets whatever it is with a long set of tweezers.
DESMOND
What is it?’
STANLEY
It is a piece of paper with the letter “T” imprinted on it. Take a look.
Desmond comes around and takes a look.
The script doesn’t describe the close up action of the finger nail being removed. We know this insert scene was shot on November 1, 1991 at City Studios in Van Nuys, California.
INSERT: THE LETTER “T.”
On a piece of paper.
Chet will then check out what Sam has found.
CLOSEUP: DESMOND
Pondering what he has seen.
He looks at Sam Stanley first before they both look at Teresa Banks.
In the script, there is a clock transition but the theatrical cut just shows Teresa Banks’ head before the scene fades to black.
ON THE SCENE
We move across to a clock on the wall that reads: 5:04.
The script ends with Agent Stanley zipping up Teresa in a body bag. We don’t see that action but we do see her body bag being loaded into the back of a FBI mobile crime van later in the film.
THE SAME CLOCK
It now reads 3:33. Stanley zips up a regulation body bag around Teresa.
Perhaps one day the minor edits to this scene will find their way into the universe. It would be great to see the original scripted version of this film come to life.
I know this might be a long shot but did you ever identify the prop for the “Whiteman machine”? I have been looking for it for a bit now and stumbled across this blog.
Thank you for asking. It’s still a Blue Rose case. I know it’s out there somewhere but I haven’t found it yet. It could be a modified Oscilloscope created especially for the film. It will be found one day.