The Black Lodge Encyclopedia is branching out! From here on, I will no longer only focus on characters, but also other topics of interest, such as objects, locations, and sign language.

Sign Language

Laura Palmer

1) Nose gesture: Seen during Cooper’s dream in episode 1.02, and later mirrored by Irene at Hap’s diner in FWWM. The gesture alludes to drug abuse, specifically cocaine addiction.

2) Extended fingers: Seen in the final episode of Twin Peaks. The MFAP introduces some of Cooper's "friends" in the waiting room, the first of which is Laura, who sits down, winks at Agent Cooper, and then stretches her index and middle finger with a snapping sound. A similar sign appears in Fire Walk with Me, when Laura gestures one of her two "lovers" in the Pink Room to go down on her. Therefore, the sign may have sexual connotations. But note how the fingers are slightly crossed in the Red Room. Therefore it may also signify a generic expression of "good luck" to Agent Cooper, a note of encouragement for his Black Lodge test.

3) Meanwhile: Also seen during the waiting room sequence, and accompanied by the words "meanwhile". The gesture is later mirrored by the "doppelganger Laura" during Cooper’s Black Lodge test, before she starts to scream hysterically. The exact meaning of the sign is controversial, but allegedly refers to a vedic mudra meaning "do not fear". Other theories suggest that she is holding an imaginary object, like a picture, a vase, or (my interpretation) perhaps a pillow. The pose looks similar to that of a person asleep holding their pillow, but upright. It is interesting that Laura makes the sign after saying "I'll see you in 25 years". It has been suggested that the sign foreshadows what Cooper will experience in between, that is, being trapped inside the Red Room, or as Jeffries puts it: "living inside a dream".

4) Numb arm: In FWWM, Laura’s left arm briefly goes numb during her dream sequence inside the Red Room. Earlier, Irene told Agent Desmond that Teresa’s left arm went numb several days prior to her death. In the season 2 finale, Annie’s arm apparently goes numb inside the Red Room. The numbness of the arm is connected to wearing the green ring (see the entry on the MFAP for more).



5) White Face: After Laura discovers that Bob has been tearing pages out of her diary, she rushes over to Harold Smith and entrusts the diary to him. At one point, as if possessed, she chants out the Fire Walk With Me poem. At the invocation of the final line her face briefly turns ghostly white, with black lipstick and orange teeth. At the end of FWWM, the same happens to Leland Palmer when he enters the Red Room at Glastonbury Grove. At the beginning of episode 28 of Twin Peaks finally, Windom Earle's also appears with a ghostly white face for unexplained reasons. In the next scene, his colour is back to normal. Question remains what the connection (if any) between Windom and the Palmers regarding this make-up is.

The make-up seems connected to the Black Lodge. It is significant that Laura's face changes upon chanting the line "Fire Walk with Me". It is presumed the MFAP and Bob use this line to enter the Red Room/Black Lodge themselves: during the Lodge meeting in FWWM, the line was scripted prior to Bob and Mike entering the Red Room.

The make-up may be tied to the recurring imagery of masks in FWWM, and foreshadow possession or the loss of the soul. The make-up may be a literal way of showing that Leland is a mask or puppet of Bob, while the brief changes in Laura and Windom's face seem to signify the impeding possession/loss of the soul by Bob.


The Man from Another Place

1) Hand rubbing: The hand rubbing sign is first seen in Cooper’s dream in episode 1.02. It appears a second time in the waiting room segment of the final episode. My personal theory is that the gesture implies some manipulation of time. In the European version of the pilot, Cooper’s dream was originally subtitled "25 years later". In the final episode, the gesture is concurrent with the changes in viscosity of Cooper’s coffee, indicating perhaps a slowing/freezing of time. Repeated references and actions throughout FWWM indicate that time flows differently (or not at all) inside the Red Room. If the MFAP is indeed the lord of the Red Room (as I believe he is), it would make sense that he possesses some direct control over the flow of time himself. Note that I have also linked the MFAP to Saturn in the past, who is regarded as the god of time (a saturn lamp rests on the table beside Cooper).

A different theory, courtesy of user JFK, holds that the hand rubbing is a means to generate heat/fire by friction, or perhaps a way to gather information on the entrants of the Red Room. Note that the MFAP shouts the line "Wow, Bob, wow" when Cooper's coffee turns into an oily substance.

2) Feet sign: The feet- or perhaps knee-sign is one of the first actions of the MFAP inside the waiting room. After the MFAP informs Cooper that when he sees him again "it won’t be me", he briefly stands up and clacks his feet together. Its significance is entirely unknown to me.

3) Indian whooping gesture: During Laura’s dream in FWWM, the MFAP reveals his nature to Agent Cooper with the following line: "I am the arm. And I sound like this: [indian whooping sound]". The same sound is heard in the vicinity of a power line of Fat Trout trailer park, again when Jeffries vanishes from the Philadelphia office, and a final time when Philip Gerard approaches Leland’s car prior to the traffic stop scene. But the sound first appears during the waiting room segment of the final Twin Peaks episode, where it is made by the Elderly Waiter. The sound is reminiscent of a radio signal, or morse code, and connected with the idea that the Lodge inhabitants move through electricity (or electrical signals) in the real world.

4) Dancing: Cooper's dream in episode 1.02 ends with the iconic image of the MFAP dancing to the tune of Badalamenti's "Dance of the Dream Man". When Cooper enters the Red Room in the final episode, the MFAP appears from the curtains and dances toward his chair while Jimmy Scott sings "Sycamore Trees". First and foremost, the dancing serves as a clue toward the identity of Bob in the real world: after Laura died, Leland Palmer began to dance compulsively. But the dancing is also in the nature of the MFAP, and tied to the idea that inside the Red Room, "there is always music in the air".

The Tremonds / Chalfonts

1) Pointing: In FWWM, it appears that Agent Desmond investigates the Chalfont trailer on a hunch. In the original script however, a hand waved at him from inside the trailer. Later in FWWM, the Tremonds appear on the parking lot outside the Double R Diner, and draw Laura near with a similar "beckoning" gesture. In Laura’s dream, Mrs. Tremond points Laura toward a room where Pierre transports her to the Red Room. On the show, the Tremonds can be said to "point" Donna towards Harold Smith. The multitude of pointing, beckoning and waving gestures reinforce the Tremonds' role as guiding spirits. Pointing is also a motif which is heavily used in Inland Empire.

2) Jumping: This "gesture" is seen in FWWM as Leland leaves the Blue Diamond Motel. A masked Pierre Tremond suddenly appears from the bushes, running and jumping up and down in a peculiar, almost bird-like fashion. On the soundtrack, we hear "The Black Dog Runs at Night", also briefly heard during the appearance of the Tremonds on the Double R Diner parking lot. The exact significance of Pierre’s gestures are a mystery to me, but his appearance may be a warning to Bob. A warning that he is being watched by the MFAP.

3) Finger snap: Seen during the Tremond scene in episode 2.02, as well as Laura’s dream in FWWM. In the movie, the finger snap opens a portal from the convenience store (?) to the Red Room. On the show, the gesture is preceded by Pierre’s words that "sometimes, things happen just like that", and followed by the disappearance of the creamed corn. The snapping seems related to Pierre's "magic tricks", a power to teleport objects (creamed corn) and people (Laura).

Gordon Cole & Lil

1) Sour face: Trouble with the local authorities. They will not be receptive to the FBI. The Deer Meadow police department indeed turns out rather unhelpful.

2) Blinking eyes: Trouble with the sheriff and the deputy. Sheriff Cable and Deputy Cliff oppose/obstruct Agent Desmond's investigation.

3) Hand in pocket: The sheriff and deputy are hiding something. The gesture may allude to Teresa's missing ring (the green ring), or to Deputy Cliff’s cocaine business. It's never quite clear whether the police did steal Teresa's ring however.

4) Clenched fist: The sheriff and deputy are belligerent. Agent Desmond has a minor run-in with Deputy Cliff. In the script, there was also a fight between Sheriff Cable and Agent Desmond over the removal of Teresa's body. The scene was allegedly filmed, but did not appear in the final movie.

5) Walking in place: There will be a lot of fieldwork.

6) Red wig: The red wig signifies danger, although it is not clear which one. It may refer to the Deer Meadow police department, or the danger in Fat Trout trailer park. The warning was not idle however, as Desmond later disappears.

7) Tailored dress: Code for narcotics. We learn that Teresa was addicted to cocaine, and later that Deputy Cliff may have been trafficking drugs from Deer Meadow.

8) Blue rose: A supernatural or unknown element in the case, perhaps like an X-File (see the entry on Agent Desmond). The Blue Rose may allude specifically to the green ring, the one element which continues to vex Agent Desmond.

9) Hand sign: Gordon uses this sign (five fingers across his face) to denote that Sheriff Cable has a relative (uncle) in Federal prison.

10) Gordon's tie: Just Gordon's bad taste.

Will be expanded shortly! I'm particularly interested in hearing theories about Pierre's jumping movements (a scene which has long intrigued me), the extended finger sign of Laura, and the white face.

Very cool stuff here... I don't want to be critical, but I have two clarification questions.  First, could you say somethign about where you get the possible readings of Laura's "come get some" gesture being one of "good luck"?  Or about why you might argue for or against any particular item(s) in her hand like a vase, pillow, etc.?

Also, could you please say more about where you get that Annie's arm goes numb in the red room?  Thanks.

Well, about the first sign: her fingers are slightly crossed, so I thought it could be a way of saying "I'll keep my fingers crossed"; perhaps a note of encouragement for Cooper's Black Lodge test.

Regarding the "meanwhile", I'm just not sure how a vase or a picture would connect to anything else in Twin Peaks. A pillow seems more logical because it references "sleeping" and "dreaming". Laura speaks the line after saying "I'll see you in 25 years". It has been suggested the "meanwhile" gesture comments in some way on Cooper's situation during those 25 years: being trapped inside the Red Room -> living inside a dream...? I will say that I tend to favour the "mudra" interpretation, which is solid in a very simple way.

About the numbness of Annie's arm, I recently added an expanded theory regarding the green ring to the entry on the MFAP where I elaborate more on this issue. In short: the script of FWWM adds a scene to the ending where we see Annie being wheeled into a hospital, with the green ring on her finger. Now if you notice, during Cooper's Black Lodge test, Annie appears beside the same table from which the MFAP offers Laura the green ring in FWWM. But the ring isn't there in Ep. 29, and in one shot we see Annie supporting her right arm with her left hand.

Interesting!

I've updated the page with a section on the MFAP. I'm particularly interested in theories regarding the weird feet/knee sign.
 

I've read this three times now and I am still unsure if you mean that earle WOULD or WOULD NOT have to be inhabiting her in every red room scene (the word JUST at the beginning is throwing me off).  If you believe this is true (i.e., that he would have to inhabit her in all scenes if he did it in ep 29), then I would like to respectfully disagree.  This argument would seem to be adhering to a sort of relativity of space time that is a logical infinity.  The thing about infinity, though, is that it goes both ways... positive and negative.  So Laura would be inhabited in ALL scenes simultaneously as she is inhabited in NONE of them.  Ultimately, this is why relative infinity is unhelpful.

And in any case, I dont think inhabitation is going on in ep 29 anyway... as you mention, this is the dop, and not regular RR laura.  Earle is controlling the dop, perhaps, but I dont think this involves possession.

 that should read "lauras form in ep.29 doesnt mean..."
apologies for that. i type quick and sometimes if im making an edit, i can forget to put a world back in. usually the most important word in the sentence. then dont spell check. in that case i think we agree. and youre right, earle is not inhabiting laura(and annie and caroline for that matter in a later scene) but he is inhabiting the same space as she is. the other situation of infinite relativity doesnt make much sense in this context, as i was trying to point out by pointing out that there is a relationship with TP time and black lodge time. and then i go and screw it up with a grammatical error.

Jumping

 I think Pierre is mocking Leland for being a coward, a "chicken"

Or if not mocking, he's for some reason showing us that feeling in a physical form.

Feet sign

 To me, that weird step seems to be some sort of a "I'm in charge" gesture. As if he's showing that he's on top of the pecking order.

Probably looking too much into things, but I just realized that MFAP has an open collared shirt in Coop's dream/Ep. 29, but wears a tie in FWWM.

Any idea what motivated Lynch's decision to suddenly outfit his diminuitive friend with the snazzy neckwear? (Likewise, I was always curious as to why Bob seemed to arbitrarily switch between a denim jacket and dress shirt and just a leather vest).

Interesting question, though I doubt it means much.

I'm starting to get more and more intrigued by the twig sticking out of Pierre Tremond's mask.

Sourdust, I love reading your posts and appreciate all the time and effort you put into them; however, I have a different take on the "1) Nose gesture: Seen during Cooper’s dream in episode 1.02, and mirrored by Irene at Hap’s diner in FWWM. The gesture alludes to drug abuse, specifically cocaine." 

I feel as though it's Laura's way of telling Cooper that she already "knows him".  It's the first thing she does in that scene, before she says anything.  Coop looks at her, she smiles, points to the side of her nose, then lowers her hand, almost pointing to Coop.  So how would pointing to Cooper indicate drug use? 

This has probably been noted elsewhere but the black & white make-up the appears on Laura, Leland and Earle bears more than a passing to the look of the 'spirits' (not sure what to call them, if you've seen the film you'll know what I mean) in the 1962 film 'Carnival of Souls'. It's quite hard to tell from the picture but basically it's pasty white face make up with black lips and shaded eyes:

 It's uncertain exactly what the things are in the film but (& this is a spoiler if you haven't seen it - in which case you should go buy it, it's fantastic) they seem to be connected watching/capturing the souls of the dead. It seems  to tie in quite nicely with the times it appears in Twin Peaks.

That was brilliant, I love your Encyclopedia entries.

Guessing by your name that you like a bit of Gormenghast then. :D

The little bitch
Is awfully sorry
The little bitch
Drinks you up

hello all, first post here. a couple ideas/observations:

Laura's extended fingers: i'm pretty sure this is just from her snapping her fingers in reverse. usually you'd snap your fingers from the side, but for some reason she's done it sort of pointing down. try it yourself - when you snap your fingers, this is exactly the way your fingers would be positioned at the start of the gesture. pretty simple really, i don't think it has anything to do with her crossing her fingers as some sort of sign, or offering a 'good luck' to Cooper. not sure exactly why she snaps her fingers, but i can't see her motioning for Cooper to go down on her. :)