Twin Peaks: Slaves And Masters

September 11th, 2008

Season 2, Episode 15

Synopsis

Malcolm, Evelyn’s lover / brother is happy that her husband is now dead, and kisses her. At Wallie’s bar, Donna urges James to leave, but he feels guilty for abandoning Evelyn. Donna phones Ed for help.

Cooper, still wondering if Bobby shot Leo, asks Bobby where he was when the mill burned. Albert tells everyone that Windham Earle has been sending packages to various locations containing pieces of Caroline’s bridal gown. When placed on a map, the locations form the letter “C.”

In his secret cabin, Windham Earle toots on a bamboo pipe while Leo sleeps on a cot. Windham learned of Leo’s past troubles with the law from a police wire. He beats Leo with the pipe and forces him to wear an electric shock collar.

Ed and Norma lie in bed together, planning to break the bad news to Nadine. Nadine breaks through the door and joins Ed and Norma in bed. She apologizes for beating up Hank, and then says she doesn’t care if they’re together because she’s in love with Mike. Ed and Norma a bewildered by Nadine’s lackadaisical attitude.

At Catherine’s house, Josie runs her hands on some wood. Cooper and Harry inquire about her “cousin” Jonathan’s death, saying he was shot in the back three times. Pete arrives with a big pile of Josie’s dry cleaning. Cooper secretly takes some fibers from one of the coats. Thomas Eckhart, recently arrived in Twin Peaks, phones Josie, asking if they could meet. He mentions Jonathan’s death. Catherine listens via another phone.

Dr. Jacoby, Audrey, Bobby, Johnny, and Jerry struggle to return Ben back to reality. Jerry suggests to Audrey they may be able to implement some business ideas of their own, so long as Ben remains in the throes of his civil war reenactment.

At Wallie’s bar, Donna asks Evelyn why she’s using James. Evelyn has no remorse, and Malcolm threatens to kill Donna. She cries.

Cooper’s coat fibers matches those at Jonathan’s murder scene. Albert is convinced Josie is the culprit. Cooper wonders how Harry will react upon learning Josie is a murderer.

Harry says the murder victim left by Windham Earle was named Powell — Caroline’s maiden name — another reminder that Windham Earle hasn’t forgotten Cooper’s affair. Knowing that every lost piece means another murder, Cooper asks Pete (a good chess player) to stalemate Cooper’s game with Windham Earle and lose as few pieces as possible.

Shelly asks Norma if she can work at the diner again. Harry informs Norma that Hank was arrested for violating parole.

Catherine invites Thomas Eckhart over for dinner him. Josie, still acting as Catherine’s maid, nervously struggles with a wine bottle. Catherine wonders why her brother was killed, and playfully bargains with Josie’s life.

James busts in on Evelyn and Malcom, demanding to know why she framed him. Evelyn admits she just wanted her husband’s money. As she and James kiss, Malcom whacks him on the head.

With Audrey dressed as a southern belle, the gang pretends Ben is General Grant, singing a treaty surrendering the North to the South. Once done, Ben hits his head, and awakens from his fantasy, remembering the whole ordeal as a bad dream.

Windham Earle puts on a disguise, and electrocutes Leo, who is practicing his handwriting. Windham Earle has cut out pictures of Shelly, Donna, and Audrey, and making Leo write a note asking which will be his queen.

With Malcom and Evelyn about to shoot James, Donna runs in, begging them to stop. Malcom grabs Donna by the hair, and at the last moment, Evelyn shoots Malcom.

Cooper goes to his room to find a white mask on his bed, lit from beneath. It is Caroline’s death mask. A tape recorded message from Windham says it’s Cooper’s move.

Thoughts

• Interesting camera angles, sometimes spoiled by artsy cuts before scenes.
• Leo learns that Windham Earle is a total psychopath, and an abusive captor. There’s also a parallel between Windham Earle’s bamboo pipe and Cooper’s occasional tooting on a duck call whistle.
• The whole James, Evelyn subplot just gets sillier. Donna runs in at the last moment for no reason whatsoever. Don’t they lock their doors?
• The “C” spelled out by Windham Earle’s mailing locations could represent “Caroline” or “Cooper.”
• David Warner makes a great bad guy.
• Josie’s “wood rubbing” foreshadows her eventual fate.

Next Episode: The Condemned Woman
Previous Episode: Double Play