"TRACES TO NOWHERE"

FIRST DRAFT: July 2, 1989

(The following is an excerpt from the first act of this episode. The numbers represent scene changes.)

13. EXT. SHERIFF'S STATION ENTRANCE - MORNING

Re-establish.

CUT TO:

14. INT. SHERIFF'S STATION RECEPTION AREA - MORNING

(Deputy Andy takes a big bite of his plum frappe turnover, just as Dale Cooper breezes through the front door and waves brightly as he passes.)

Morning, deputy.

(his mouth completely full) Good morning, Agent Cooper.

(Lucy, at the coffee station holding a pot and a cup, turns to face Cooper, with a doughnut stuck in her mouth.)

Hey there, Lucy.

(barely intelligible) Agent Cooper, I got jelly for you special, the Sheriff's down the hall in Interrogation.

I'll just look for him down in Interrogation.

(He moves down the hall.)

CUT TO:

15. INT. INTERROGATION ROOM A - MORNING

(Cooper whisks in just as Truman, coffee mug in hand, takes an enormous bite of a humongous bearclaw.)

Hey, Sheriff: three for three.

(Truman tries to chew, but holds up his hand to be patient. Cooper sits.)

Number one, James Hurley: as soon as his lawyer gets here, we bring him up from Cell Four and talk to him straight. He was in love with Laura Palmer, my bet is she told him whatever dirt she knew about Bobby and Mike and who knows what else ... if James plays ball, we send him off with our blessings and a firm reminder to watch his back when Mike and Bobby hit the streets... (Truman nods, trying to chew fast.) Then we'll have a chat with those two perpetrators, let's run a top to bottom on Bobby's vehicle and in the meantime, let's find out what the autopsy report on Laura Palmer gives us. (he rises) I've got the rest of the day mapped out. I'll meet you back here in Interrogation ... I really have to urinate. By the way, the coffee at the Great Northern... Incredible.

(He exits, just as Truman finally swallows his mouthful of bearclaw.)

CUT TO:

16. INT. INTERROGATION ROOM A - DAY

(JAMES HURLEY is seated, next to his LAWYER, across from Truman, as Cooper enters and sits down beside the Sheriff.)

James has been advised of his rights.

James, you were placed under arrest for suspicion of murder, the murder of Laura Palmer. You have no previous criminal record, is that correct?

None. No, sir.

(Cooper turns on the VCR and we see the same videotape of Laura and Donna at the picnic that we saw earlier. James watches the video.)

James, did you shoot this videotape?

(Cooper fast forwards to the freeze frame of the motorcycle reflected in Laura's eye.)

Isn't that your cycle, James?

Yes, sir, it is. The three of us went up there three Sundays ago.

(gently) James, you were in love with Laura. (James is silent) The two of you were seeing each other secretly. No one else at the school, or any of her friends knew about it; she was the homecoming queen, her boyfriend was the captain of the football team. How much longer did you think you could keep this relationship secret?

It was secret because that's the way she wanted it.

Why do you suppose that was, James? Do think it had something to do with Bobby?

It had everything to do with Bobby.

Why? Was she afraid of Bobby?

I think so.

Did you know that Laura was using cocaine?

(pause) Yes.

Did you ever take cocaine with her?

No, I tried to get her to stop.

When was the last time you saw her?

Two nights ago. The night she died. For about three hours. She snuck out of the house about 9:30. About 12:30 I stopped the bike at the light at Sparkwood and 21. She jumped off and ran away. I didn't see her again.

You're sure it was 12:30?

Yes, sir, Steve's Liqour Locker was closing up as we drove by and he closes right at 12:30.

You and Laura have a fight?

Not exactly. But she said she couldn't see me anymore.

Why?

She didn't say.

Was she high that night?

Yes.

Where did she get her drugs?

I don't know. Most of the time we were together she was clean.

Did she get her drugs from Bobby?

I really don't know where she got 'em, she never talked about it. She didn't like that part of herself.

Why did she start using again?

(getting emotional) I don't know. Something happened, a couple of days ago --

What happened?

I don't know exactly. I think something scared her. She wouldn't talk to me, she wouldn't see me for a couple days --

Until the last night.

Yes.

Did she call you that night?

Yes.

(Cooper looks at Laura's diary, opened in front of him, at the page for February 5th; the page marked "DAY ONE." He takes the half-hearted necklace from his pocket.)

Did you recognize this necklace, James?

Yes, sir.

James, what happened on February 5th?

(Tears form in his eyes. He fights them back.)

WHITE OUT TO:

17. EXT. PARK - DAY

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