Have you ever looked at something and felt it wasn’t quite right? I had that feeling when I was looking for the film location of James Hurley and Laura Palmer’s meeting in the woods from Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me. While visiting Olallie State Park on September 17, 2019, I thought I found the spot. It wasn’t until I was editing trip photos at home that I realized I had completely missed it. Funny thing, the spot is somewhere we have been before.
I begin this story with two reference images from InTwinPeaks.com. This former film location site has been a tremendous resource for finding many of the spots in Washington and California. Luckily, I saved these two images that were described as the spot where James and Laura met in the woods.
I found the same spot shown on InTwinPeaks.com when I visited Olallie State Park in September. The coordinates for this location are 47° 26′ 6.648″ N 121° 39′ 7.152″ W. At this point, I thought I was done. Another film site checked off the list.
But like many things in Twin Peaks, a mystery emerged when I was editing photos. The spot didn’t look like what I was noticing in the film. In fact, the scene looked like the same spot where Bobby and Laura’s drug-deal-gone-bad took place.
Once I saw a recognizable tree stump from that scene, I knew they must have recycled the location by turning the camera in the other direction.
The coordinates for Bobby and Laura’s drug deal spot are 47° 26′ 9.708″ N 121° 39′ 10.632″ W. Here’s how I figured it out.
JAMES AND LAURA ARRIVE
This entire scene appears mostly the same as the script from August 8, 1991.
EXT. CLEARING IN THE WOODS – NIGHT
James brings the bike thru the woods and stops in the little clearing.
James tries to kiss Laura, she pushes him away.
Here is the same spot on September 16, 2019. It’s Weeks Falls Trail and it may look vaguely familiar.
In Twin Peaks Part 14 on Showtime, the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department is shown walking ON THE SAME TRAIL!
This is the view James and Laura would have had while approaching the spot.
The motorcycle comes into view.
Using Photoshop, I lightened the background to reveal details of the trees along the path.
Notice that giant tree stump on the left side of the image above.
It’s the same one from Bobby and Laura’s scene.
The tree behind the stump has unique features (the twists and bumps) which is similar to the tree in the foreground of the image above.
PARKING THE BIKE
James parks the bike and Laura stumbles off the back.
Since I didn’t know this was the actual location, I didn’t take photos that matched during my visit in October 2019. This image, however, shows the stump with the set of trees to the left which appear similar to the screen grab.
Scripted dialogue is mostly the same as the theatrical release
JAMES
What the hell is wrong with you?
 LAURA
That’s right. There’s no place left to go is there, James?
 JAMES
What do you mean?
 LAURA
You know it and I know it.
JAMES
What is wrong with us?… We have everything.
 LAURA
Everything, but everything.
 JAMES
Oh, Laura.
 LAURA
(mimicking him)
“Oh, Laura…”
Notice the trees behind James and Laura.
The action would have taken place on the far left side of the image above.
I circled the trees that appear to match the trees behind James.
Back to the action.
She gives him a terrible slap.
 JAMES
(ironic)
You always hurt the ones you love.
 LAURA
You mean the ones you pity.
I always loved James’ reaction to Laura’s slap.
Another shot from the area. The action took place on the far left side of the screen.
 JAMES
Say anything you want… I know you love me and I love you.
 LAURA
I do love you.
(whispers)
Let’s get lost together.
They kiss again. Hot. Hands everywhere.
 LAURA (continued)
(breaking away)
Shit, maybe he’ll kill you.
 JAMES
What?
 LAURA
When he finds out.
 JAMES
What?
LAURA
Bobby killed a guy.
 JAMES
What are you talking about? Bobby didn’t kill anybody.
 LAURA
You want to see…
 JAMES
See what?
Granted, we learn in Twin Peaks Season 3 that it may have been Special Agent Dale Cooper that makes Laura scream. On a side note, the location where Cooper watches James and Laura is not here. I’ll discuss it in a separate article.
Additionally, she asks James if he wants to see Deputy Cliff’s dead body. It could imply that they returned to the same spot where Bobby shot him. In reality, they did that exact thing!
 LAURA
(disgusted)
Right. Open your eyes, James. You don’t know me. Even _Donna_ doesn’t know me. Your Laura disappeared… It’s just me now.
James grabs her trying to control her. She twists out of his arms.
Sheryl Lee kills it in this scene!
 LAURA (continued)
How ’bout this, James?
She lifts her hand and gives him the finger. James ignores the finger and kisses her, but she’s gone ice cold.
In the film she says, “What about this James?”
  LAURA (continued)
I think you want to take me home now, James.
The scene concludes in the film yet there is one last part in the script that could have been shot. Another Missing Piece, if you will.
She leads him back to the bike. He won’t start it.
  LAURA (continued)
Oh, quit crying. I’ve had enough of your fucking caring.
He kicks the bike to a start. Behind him, Laura watches and silently starts to cry.
WHY DID THEY REVISIT THIS LOCATION?
Revisiting this location makes a lot of practical sense. The crew was already established in this area with lighting, rigging, etc., so moving another 400 feet meant resetting everything. Staying in the same location may have made most sense, especially from a time and cost prospective.
It’s difficult to know without a call sheet when these two scenes were shot yet I’m guessing they were captured around the same time.
