8/21/2017 Twin Peaks: Checkmate

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Episode Studies by Clayton Barr

enik1138-at-popapostle-dot-com

Twin Peaks
Episode 20: "Checkmate"
TV episode
Written by Harley Peyton
Directed by Todd Holland
Original air date: January 19, 1991

Major Briggs is questioned about his disappearance; Dick and Andy investigate little Nicky’s past; Nadine puts the moves on Mike; Ben plays
war games; Cooper is deputized.

Read the episode transcript at Glastonberry.net

Didja Know?

For the titles of the Twin Peaks TV episodes, I have taken the unique approach of using both the episode numbers, which were the only titles
given the scripts by series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, and the translated German titles of the episodes that were assigned when the
series aired in that country. Frequent readers of PopApostle know I like the aesthetic of actual episode titles, but I also wanted to honor the
simple numbering used by Lynch and Frost, hence the expanded titles presented in these studies.

Characters appearing or mentioned in this episode

Dale Cooper
Major Briggs
Dr. Hayward
Sheriff Truman
Colonel Riley (mentioned only)
Ernie Niles
Agent Bryson
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Jean Renault
Lucy Moran
Deputy Andy
Dick Tremayne
Windom Earle (mentioned only)
Norma Jennings
Ed Hurley
Shelly Johnson
Leo Johnson
Bobby Briggs
Chet (on Invitation to Love, heard only)
Jade (on Invitation to Love, heard only)
James Hurley
Evelyn Marsh
Jeffrey Marsh (heard only)
Malcolm Sloan
Nadine Hurley (née Butler)
Mike Nelson
Hank Jennings
Josie Packard
Catherine Martell
Samantha
Audrey Horne
Ben Horne
Jerry Horne (mentioned only)
Deputy Hawk
Nails, Nestor, and Netherbey (mentioned only, orphans at Dorritt Home for Boys)
The Brunstons
Donnie (mentioned only, orphan at Dorritt Home for Boys)
Woody (an alias applied to Andy by Dick)
Donna Hayward
Preston King

Notes from the Log Lady intros

When cable channel Bravo obtained the rights to air reruns of Twin Peaks in 1993, David Lynch directed all-new introductions to each episode
featuring the Log Lady, portrayed by original actress Catherine E. Coulson. These intros also appear as options on the DVD and Blu-ray
collections of the series.

"My husband died in a fire. No one can know my sorrow. My love is

gone. Yet, I feel him near me. Sometimes I can almost see him. At
night when the wind blows, I think of what he might have been. Again
I wonder: why?

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"When I see a fire, I feel my anger rising. This was not a friendly
fire. This was not a forest fire. It was a fire in the woods.
This is all I am permitted to say."

Didja Notice?

This episode opens on Friday, March 17, 1989. March 17 is St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and most of Great Britain's territories and former
colonies. According to Twin Peaks: An Access Guide to the Town, the Caribou Festival is held instead in Twin Peaks:
A robust and spirited event to which people from miles around flock, all dressed from head to toe in the
fur of dead animals. Roaming the town shortly after the bars open, bands of roisterers compete for the
most accurate imitation of the caribou mating call. The contest is unofficial; the winner is usually
determined by a fist fight. Beer and ale flow, jokes are ribald and Sheriff Truman cancels all leave for his
deputies.
However, there is no indication in this episode that such a celebration is occurring.

Dr. Hayward uses a Polaroid camera to take photograph of the tattoo found behind Major Briggs' ear. Polaroid is the company that introduced
instant film to the camera community in 1948 and the photos taken on this film were often referred to as Polaroid prints or just Polaroids. The
Polaroid company has not manufactured instant film since 2008 due to falling sales as a result of the popularity of digital cameras.

As he tries to recall information regarding what happened to him after his abduction in the woods (in Episode 17: "Dispute Between
Brothers"), Major Briggs tells Dr. Hayward that his memories are immune to regression techniques.

Major Briggs remarks that Project Blue Book, the Air Force's investigation into unidentified flying objects (UFOs) was officially disbanded in
1969. Project Blue Book was an actual U.S. Air Force investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena from 1952-1970, ending with the claim
that most UFOs were misidentifications of conventional craft or natural phenomena and that the few remaining unexplained sightings did not
constitute a threat to national security.
Briggs goes on to say that some personnel have continued the study in an unofficial (read "covert") capacity. We see this born out in The
Secret History of Twin Peaks.

Two Air Force MPs arrive at the sheriff's station to take Major Briggs for debriefing at the command of Colonel Riley. Riley was seen
investigating Briggs' disappearance in Episode 19: "The Black Widow".

After Briggs is taken away from the sheriff's station by the MPs, Cooper picks up the Polaroid photo of the triangular marks found behind the
major's ear and drops of water begin to fall on the photo from the fire sprinkler in the ceiling. Is this an indication of "fire" present, as in a
spiritual force connected to the White or Black Lodge?

At 5:39 on the Blu-ray, notice that the donut on top of the stack next to the telephone in Truman's office has a bite taken out of it. Shortly
after this, Cooper walks in and picks up the donut and discards it with a look at Ernie, implying Ernie took a bite and set it back down on the
stack!

The sweater Ernie wears has a zig-zag pattern in the gray areas, looking like a representation of jagged peaks.

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Truman's office has undergone a temporary redecoration for some reason in this episode. The couch under the window is gone, the picture of
President Truman is missing, and the deer's head labeled "The Buck Stopped Here" that is normally hanging from the wall is now sitting on its
side on top of the file cabinets! The deer head is later seen set next to the corpse left by Windom Earle in Truman's office...I guess Earle
figured he should make use of it in his new display.

An ad for Metro Ford is seen in the newspaper being read by Lucy at 7:30 on the Blu-ray.

Lucy's sweater has small triangular designs that could be seen as peaks. Also present are a couple of star-like designs.

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The school bus that drives past the RR Diner at 8:14 on the Blu-Ray is for Snoqualmie Valley School District. The town of North Bend, WA,
where the exteriors of the RR were shot (the Mar T Cafe at the time), is within the boundaries of the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
(Notice that the "RR" sign is also missing from above the "Cafe" sign in this shot!)

At 9:14 on the Blu-ray, a sign in the RR advertises one of its specials, called, appropriately enough, the "Double R",
featuring two eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausage links, and two slices of toast for just two dollars.

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It is often said that no episodes of Invitation to Love appeared in the second season of Twin Peaks, but that's not strictly true. As Shelly tries
to feed Leo and Bobby makes a jerk of himself, the opening theme of Invitation to Love can be heard playing on Shelly's TV and even some
lines of dialog between two of the characters (may be Chet and Jade).

At 9:29 on the Blu-ray, notice that numerous jars of what appears to be Gerber baby food are seen sitting on the kitchen table in Shelly's
house. It seems likely that these are what Shelly and Bobby are feeding to the incapacitated Leo.

During his phone call with Ed, James tells him that the bar called Wallie's is on 96. There is a short State Route 96 in Washington, but it is
located in the western part of the state near the Seattle area, not "a couple hours" out from the Twin Peaks region in the east.

James tells Evelyn that after two girls he knew got murdered, he just wanted to get on his bike and ride away. He told Maddy he sometimes
feels like he should just take off on his bike and ride away in Episode 10: "The Man Behind Glass".

At 15:12 on the Blu-ray, the day's Stockpot Soup at the RR is spring wheat and barley.

The woman Audrey calls Sam, who Ben chases out of his office, is his secretary Samantha, last seen in Episode 17: "Dispute Between
Brothers". Notice that she is carrying a ketchup bottle along with her drum and papers, probably used as fake blood on the bandanna around
her head.

This episode begins a brief subplot is which Ben Horne thinks he's General Robert E. Lee fighting the U.S. Civil War alongside such Confederate
stalwarts as General Jeb Stuart. Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general and commander of the Confederate Army, who unconditionally
surrendered to U.S. forces at Appomattox Courthouse, VA in 1865, ending the U.S. Civil War. J. E. B. Stuart was one of Lee's generals. In the
following episodes, Ben thinks Jerry is General Stuart.

As Audrey enters her father's office, he's playing with miniature Civil War figures on a miniature battlefield landscape he's built there, and he's
commanding someone to lead the charge up Little Round Top. Little Round Top is a small, rocky hill that was a pivotal battle of the larger
Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.

Ernie explains to Hawk that he suffers from hyperhydrosis, causing his nervous perspiration. Hyperhydrosis is an actual medical condition.

With Cooper temporarily suspended from the FBI, Truman makes Cooper a deputy of the Twin Peaks sheriff's department in this episode. His
badge number is 13.

Trying to back out of the drug deal setup he's in on with Cooper and Truman, Ernie pleads that he's just a CPA. CPA stands for Certified Public
Accountant.

This episode reveals that little Nicky lives at the Dorritt Home for Boys. Most likely, the "Dorritt" name comes from the 1857 Charles Dickens
novel Little Doritt and the title character, a girl who grows up as the daughter of a man in London's debtors' prison.

In the child placement office of the Dorritt Home for Boys, notice there is a bumper sticker or something on one of the file cabinets that says
"CHILDPOWER!" There is also a copy of Mad magazine sitting on the coffee table; it appears to be issue #299, December 1990, with Bart
Simpson on the cover.

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This episode reveals that little Nicky's last name is Needleman. As Dick fingers through the office's alphabetized file folders to find Nicky's, he
rattles off the other names he passes, Nails, Nestor, and Netherbey.

At 25:02 on the Blu-ray, notice that Big Ed's belt has "Big Ed" etched into the leather!

During the fight in the Hurley home, notice that there are figurines and small statues sitting on various shelves and tables besides just the
ones frequently seen on the five shelves near the foyer. Nadine must be an obsessive collector of them.

As Nadine shoves Hank up against the wall and then throws him through the figurine shelves into the foyer, notice that a cat painting falls off
the wall as Nadine shoves him against it, but it's hanging there again a split second later as she throws him.

At 28:50 on the Blu-ray, Ben remarks on the defeat of Colonel Lawrence at Little Round Top and accepts the surrender of General Meade
(Bobby Briggs). Both Lawrence and Meade were involved on the Union side during the battle at Little Round Top. But, Ben has altered history
in depicting them as the losers in that battle. Bobby tells him he has to go talk to President Lincoln before getting back to him on this whole
surrender thing. Lincoln, of course, was the U.S. President during the Civil War.

At 29:07 on the Blu-ray, notice that Ben's photo of Laura Palmer is resting in the antlers of his golden elk statue.

At 32:41 on the Blu-ray, Evelyn refers to James as "Jim" and he says, "Don't call me Jim." Does he have a problem with being called "Jim"? I
once that that maybe "Jim" was the name of his father and he doesn't like it because his father has not been around. But The Secret History
of Twin Peaks reveals that James' father was named Billy Hurley.

As James unveils the repaired Jaguar to Evelyn at 32:57 on the Blu-ray, notice that his motorcycle is parked in front of the garage in the
background.

At 34:07 on the Blu-ray, the champagne bottle James had set down on the car seat is suddenly gone!
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At 35:41 on the Blu-ray, notice that some windows at the Dead Dog Farm house appear to be painted over with a peace symbol and some
other colorful, strange images. There is also a peace symbol and what may be "No War" graffiti-painted on the wall inside the house at 39:04.

Jean Renault tells Cooper that when he (Cooper) arrived, the simple life of Twin Peaks ended, the dream ended, bringing a nightmare that
resulted in the deaths of his brothers, drug dealers Bernard and Jacques Renault. But that is really only a nightmare from Jean's point of view.
It could be that Cooper's arrival is signaling the end of a nightmare, with the deaths of several bad guys.

Agent Bryson wears what appears to be a RR Diner waitress uniform to bring food to Jean Renault and Preston King. Was Norma brought into
the know on the siege at Dead Dog Farm and she agreed to lend a uniform and food to the law enforcement effort?

It seems highly unlikely that any law enforcement group would allow an actual waitress to bring food to holed up suspects under any
circumstances and Mountie King and Jean Renault should know that; King and Renault should not have fallen for the ruse.

The food platters Agent Bryson brings in appear to have the Meals on Wheels stickers on the heat covers!

The gun Cooper pulls from Agent Bryson's garter is a Walther PPK.

Why is Shelly sleeping on the couch instead of her bed? Is it because she has to keep an eye on Leo in his convalescent bed in the living
room?

At 44:00 on the Blu-ray, there is a Chinese take-out container on Shelly's kitchen table.

When Shelly discovers Leo conscious and on his feet in the kitchen, why is his face smeared with food and why is he wearing a party hat? Was
she toying with him while she fed him that evening? Or did he do it to himself to let her know he remembered how she and Bobby treated him
while he was "brain dead" and convalescing? When the scene picks up again in the next episode, the smeared food is gone! It seems the shot
must have been borrowed from Episode 13: "Demons", when Shelly and Bobby had Leo's welcome home party.
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Notice that the corpse left by Windom Earle in Truman's office appears to have one clouded-over eye and one green eye. Why? In Fire Walk
With Me, a photo of Teresa Banks looks as if it depicts her with one green eye (the right) and one blue (the left).

The man portraying the corpse at the end of this episode is Craig MacLachlan, brother of Kyle MacLachlan (Cooper), and a production assistant
on Twin Peaks.

Earle's chess move at the end of the episode is PxP (Pawn takes Pawn). This would be considered the
appropriate move to make as the board currently sits. The chess board set up in Truman's office in
front of the corpse does not actually match the game in progress at all! Why would Earle have left it
set up that way? It's never explained (or even remarked upon!). Presumably, Cooper simply
surmises Earle's move from the fact that the dead man has a Pawn in his mouth and he knows Earle
had a white Pawn in a position to take his black Pawn. (See "Patterns and Conflicts: An Analysis of
the Windom Earle/Dale Cooper Chess Game", Wrapped in Plastic #4, April 1993, which includes
input from chess expert John Jacobs, former chess columnist of the Dallas Times Herald. Diagram is
from that article.)

Unanswered Questions

Whose voice is it that is heard whispering "Cooper" at the beginning of the episode? Presumably, it is a being associated with the White Lodge.

The mark of three triangles that are found behind Major Briggs' right ear is similar to the emblem for signs indicating a fallout shelter in
the United States. Is there any intentional relation?
When I worked at a comic book store called Four Color Fantasies during the initial run of Twin Peaks, I made the acquaintenance of artist
and graphic desinger Larry Hunt when he came in looking for Peaks-related material and I turned him on to the TP fanzine Wrapped in Plastic,
to which he subsequently contributed some art, including the third image below, "Briggs's Tattoo Interpretation"...a symbolic representation
of a flying owl.

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Fallout shelter sign (by Ericmetro, from "Briggs's Tattoo Interpretation" by Larry Hunt (from Wrapped in Plastic
Triangular marks behind Major Briggs' ear
Wikipedia) #9)

This episode is the last we see of Dead Dog Farm (though it is mentioned in passing in a couple of later episodes). Is Cooper still interested in
the place? Will we find him living there in the new Showtime series when it debuts? Of note is the fact that the actual house used as Dead Dog
Farm (in Sylmar, CA) was torn down around 2002 (see Brad Dukes' account of his visit to the site at braddstudios.com).

Memorable Dialog

Cooper.wav
a giant owl.wav
are you familiar with Project Blue Book?.wav
unidentified flying objects.wav
the Earth below.wav
we are searching for a place called the White Lodge.wav
little Donnie is dead.wav
kiss me, General Lee.wav
the nightmare.wav

Back to Twin Peaks Episode Studies

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