The Next Batch of Episodes Is Here!

Season Three resumes tonight @ 9:30 PM at The PIT.  Further episodes the next two Sundays (11/20 and 11/27).

Come check them out, if you want to be able to keep up with the water cooler chats the next morning.

Episode 33 - Text Recap

AIR DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
TIMELINE: Friday, March 31

Cooper dictates to Diane from his room at the Great Northern.  He tells her that he has no memory of what happened the previous night in Annie’s hospital room.  Sheriff Truman, Andy and Hawk arrive to arrest him, and Andy leads him out.  Harry and Hawk stay behind to inspect the room, and Harry expresses his concerns about Cooper’s mental and spiritual state.  Hawk answers that, “He went into those woods, and something may have come back with him.”

At the RR Diner, Shelly and Bobby argue about his constant scheming.  Shelly says she will handle Leo herself, and ends the relationship.  Bobby storms out.  Shelly and Norma have a heart-to-heart about their romantic problems.  Norma tells her that she is still young, and has a chance to live her own life.  She gives Shelly the rest of the day off.

Leo sits in his jail cell, where Windom Earle’s voice is heard telling him to wait for the right moment to use his gun on Cooper.  Catherine strikes up a conversation with him from the cell next to his.  She tells him that Harry failed to search her during her arrest, and picks the locks on both their cells.  They escape easily and walk out.

At the Sheriff’s Department, Cooper is being questioned, but is unable to contribute much information, having blacked out several times throughout the day.  Gordon Cole enters, wearing a beret.  He says he came from Montreal to investigate Cooper, then advises Truman to “fight weird with weird” by placing Cooper in a strange situation to see what happens.  Lucy calls on the intercom and tells Harry about Leo and Catherine’s escape.

Andy enters, and Cooper asks if they found any information regarding the meaning of garmonbozia.  He and Lucy say they looked it up in an encyclopedia, and found references to an orchid hybrid and a Buddhist spirit.  After Harry and Cooper are left alone, Cooper confesses his doubts about being able to defeat BOB, believing him to be too powerful to stop.

At the Great Northern, Donna tells Audrey about their being half sisters.  At first Audrey doesn’t believe her, but Ben Horne enters and confirms it.  Audrey asks Donna to leave, and Ben tries to explain his good intentions.  Audrey tells him that from now on, they are business partners only.  She tells him to get back to acting crazy in the woods and to stay out of her way.  He agrees and leaves her alone.

James sits at the Roadhouse, drinking shots.  Shelly enters and sits with him, telling him she’s through with men.  Suddenly, Dr. Jacoby runs by, shouting that there’s a fire at the Great Northern, only to run back and say that it was put out.  James starts to give Shelly romantic advice, but passes out on the floor.

At the Hurleys’, Nadine says she feels responsible for the fire at the Gas Farm, which Ed assures her is impossible.  Ed breaks down and tells Nadine that he’s in love with Norma and that he is going to leave town with her.  Nadine starts to lose her temper.  At that moment, an extremely friendly insurance agent named “Raymond P., Esq.” enters, explaining that he was assigned to investigate the fire.  He interviews Ed about the incident, but says it’s a mystery how the fire started.  Nadine shatters a glass in her hand, which freaks Raymond out, prompting him to leave.  He hands Ed a copy of his report, which Ed notes is marked “Suspicious.”  Alone again, Ed tends to Nadine’s hand.  She begins to settle down, and tearfully tells him to go.

Back at Sheriff’s Department, Harry tells Cooper they must put him back into a haliperidol-induced trance.  Cooper expresses his fears about Annie.  He tells Harry that following a series of sleep experiments he underwent in college, he has always been able to remember his dreams, but has not been able to remember any details from his recent blackouts.  He tells him that he suspects BOB has been hunting him his entire life, hurting the people he loves to taunt him.  Harry wonders aloud if BOB may have drawn Cooper to Twin Peaks to begin with.  Cooper agrees it’s a possibility, but says he prefers to hope it was the town itself that drew him, in order to team up with the police and Major Briggs to drive out the evil inside it.  Hawk enters and tells them that he found Leo and Catherine in the woods, wearing each other’s clothes and claiming to be one another.

Out in the woods, James wanders around in a drunken stupor, calling out to Laura Palmer and Donna alternately.  Laura’s voice is heard calling back to him, saying that he was always so boring and that she needs someone exciting.  He shouts back that he’s not a nice guy, and asks her what she wants.  She tells him to use his imagination.  Two red curtains slide in from the sides of the frame and envelope him.

In jail, Catherine and Leo have indeed switched clothes and personalities.  Windom’s voice tells Leo that this is a gift.  Catherine, in Leo’s body, begins to seduce him, then calls out that he is trying to rape her.  When Harry enters, Leo/Catherine pulls out his gun and fires.

VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE WILL BE UPLOADED SOON.

New Episode Tonight

TONIGHT (Tuesday, October 18th) at 9:30 PM at The Peoples Improv Theater.
123 E. 24th Street, between Park & Lexington.  Five bucks.

Get tickets in advance here, and catch up on the season so far over here.

Episode 32 - Text Recap

AIR DATE: August 23, 2011
TIMELINE: Late Wednesday night, March 29, through Thursday, March 30

The episode begins in the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department, with Cooper coming out of his trance.  Dr. Hayward and Harry tell him he had been babbling and was difficult to understand.  Cooper plays back a tape recording of the incident and notes his use of the word “garmonbozia.”  Dr. Hayward suggests that it could be the name of a town; Cooper tells Truman to do whatever it takes to find out what the word means.

Cooper also tells them both about seeing the elderly room service waiter in the hospital the previous day, and says he believes the waiter is trying to tell him something.  Truman mentions that he trusts Cooper’s instincts implicitly; Cooper warns him that given the uncertainty of his current mental and spiritual state, that may not be wise.

At the Johnsons’, Bobby is practicing his attack on Leo with his gun.  Shelley tells him she thinks his plan is stupid and that she should handle her situation with Leo herself.  As they begin to make up and get romantic, furniture in the room starts to fall through the air by itself.  Leo’s disembodied voice is heard calling out to Shelley.  Bobby can’t find Leo anywhere, and Shelley demands to call the Sheriff.

Back at the police station, Harry puts Andy and Lucy in charge of gathering maps and reference books to find out the meaning of “garmonbozia.”  Dick Tremaine enters and comments sarcastically on Lucy and Andy’s romantic problems, and suggests that Lucy change her mind and choose him instead.  After he leaves, Lucy admits that she is worried about her baby’s life, and Andy insists he will be there for her.  He suggests they see a marriage counselor, which Lucy interprets as a proposal.  Andy goes for it, and Dick walks in to find him on one knee, the engagement on.

At the “Double-R” Diner, Cooper is having breakfast.  He is surprised to see James there, and asks why he came back.  He answers that he is back for Donna, and they discuss being in love.  Cooper leaves to “go check on Annie,” a phrase he repeats strangely several times, suggesting that BOB is in control.

Hank enters and tells Norma about the spontaneous fire at the Gas Farm, and that it happened right after he told Nadine about their relationship.  Norma is worried that it’s an omen, telling them that they should stop seeing each other.  Hank suggests it could mean freedom.  James, overhearing, gives them the keys to his motorcycle so they can leave town together, while he stays to be with Donna.

James exits, and Norma tends to a mysterious customer with long black hair and sunglasses, who grills her about “what’s so special” about her egg special.  The encounter leaves Norma disoriented.

Cooper visits Annie in her hospital room.  Upon waking, she tells him that since he last visited her, she has been seeing things and having dreams that she is Laura Palmer.  She says she has changed her mind, and thinks that he shouldn’t come to see her anymore.  He gets her a glass of water, and we see that BOB is indeed in control.  He leaves, and Annie falls back into a troubled sleep.

At the cemetery, Donna finds James visiting Laura’s grave.  He says he came to say goodbye, that he is never going to visit her again.  He screams at Laura for being a whore and ruining everyone’s lives, and begins kicking over gravestones.  Donna manages to calm him down, and he tells her that he is staying in town for good.  Donna starts to cry, and James reveals that he knows Ben Horne is her father.  He kisses her, but she pulls away.  He lashes out again and storms away.  Donna screams at Laura as well.

At the Great Northern, Cooper and Truman meet with Audrey, who tells them that she was at the bank explosion.  She also reveals that she suspects Catherine Martell of being responsible for the blast, in an effort to take control of the hotel.  Audrey has no memory of what she was doing at the bank to begin with.  Catherine enters, and Truman asks her to come to the Sheriff’s office for questioning.  Catherine is livid about being accused of her brother’s murder, but goes willingly.

Bobby arrives at Leo’s jail cell and taunts him.  Leo reaches through the bars for him, but is powerless.  Bobby tells him about his plan to kill Leo, but admits that it’s not in him.  Instead, he tosses his gun into the cell and tells Leo there’s one bullet inside.

After Bobby exits, Windom Earle’s voice is heard, urging Leo to save the bullet for Cooper.  Leo growls for Earle to get him out of jail.  Earle says he’s been given special powers, but will only help Leo if he cooperates.

Cooper visits Annie again, depite her request that he stop.  BOB appears in Cooper’s reflection.  Cooper, as BOB, taunts Annie, tossing lit matches at her and repeating, “Do you want to play with fire, little girl?”  As Annie calls for help, Cooper laughs at her and chases her around the room.

VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE WILL BE UPLOADED SOON.

Episode 31 - Text Recap

AIR DATE: August 9, 2011
TIMELINE: Wednesday, March 29

Cooper and Sheriff Truman arrive together at the Sheriff’s Department, where Lucy appears disoriented.  She complains of stress and names a litany of foods she has ordered for the staff, until Cooper cuts her off and asks her to bring Shelley Johnson in.  Harry tells Cooper that Leo is being held and is awaiting questioning.

In the course of their conversation, Cooper calls Harry “Sherry” and “Riley” — Harry asks him about what’s going on and Cooper tells him about the dream he had in the hospital the night before.  He also tells him that he believes BOB is present with him, and of his belief that BOB is a force of evil that can be contracted like a germ.  He warns Harry that while his closeness to BOB may help them finally destroy him, there is also no telling what danger it may bring them.  He offers his help and support for the investigation, but tells Harry to take the lead.

At the Johnsons’ house, Shelley is reluctant to go to the Sheriff’s Department because she is worried about what Leo might do if she makes statements against him.  Bobby assures her that he will take care of her, and begins to reiterate his plan to kill Ben Horne.  Shelley, however, is much more worried about Leo and says the only way they will be safe is with him out of the picture.

Nadine and Ed look at dogs.  Nadine is excited to buy one, but Ed is torn.  He breaks down and confesses to Nadine about his relationship with Norma.  Nadine doesn’t take the news well, growling and fighting him off.  At that moment, Lucy enters and tells them that Big Ed’s Gas Farm has gone up in flames.

Harry and Cooper attempt to question Leo, who is still close to catatonic.  Despite his condition, he has a visceral reaction when Cooper mentions Windom Earle and the Black Lodge.  Choosing to follow intuition once again, Cooper has Harry let him into Leo’s cell, where he places his hands on Leo’s head and attempts to read his energy while listing different words and phrases.  When he says, “Black Lodge,” Leo’s reaction causes Cooper to collapse and be taken over by BOB.  As BOB, he taunts Harry and tells him he will not leave Cooper until he gets his garmonbozia.  He also laughs and tells him that Josie is in the lodge as well, and that the only way to be with her is to let him in.

Donna arrives at the Great Northern and meets with Audrey Horne.  She tries to bring up the fact that they are half-sisters and struggles to get Ben Horne to admit it himself, but Ben is still in his carrot-obsessed state from the previous day.  Audrey leads him out before Donna can come out with the truth.

At the Double ‘R’, Norma Jennings confronts James Hurley, telling him he is acting selfishly by abandoning the town, and Donna specifically, whenever he feels upset.  James is about to storm out when a stranger at a table, having overheard and recognizing James’s last name, introduces himself as Darren Friedman from Roseland Industries.  He says that Ed had told him about Nadine’s noiseless drape runners and that his company is interested, and asks James to pass along his card and have her get in touch with him.  He also asks for James’s opinion on the mustache he is attempting to grow.

Harry and Andy visit Pete Martell in the hospital and ask him about what happened at the Savings and Loan.  Pete is disoriented but mentions the smell of perfume just before the explosion.  Catherine enters, and Pete shouts for them to keep her away from him and calls her a “sea cow,” which she takes particular offense to.  As she leaves, Pete tells her to “go buy herself more perfume.”  Harry and Andy attempt to continue the questioning, but Pete falls asleep.

Meanwhile, in Annie’s room at the hospital, Cooper sits by her side and tells her about his fears regarding BOB.  He says he thinks it’s best to keep his distance from her until he can be sure of her safety, not wishing to put her in harm’s way.  Annie assures him that she will be alright, having come face to face with the evils of the Lodge herself.  She tells him she wants to be there for him, despite the risk, and that they will confront whatever danger awaits them together.  As they talk, the elderly room service waiter arrives, gives Cooper the “thumbs up,” and exits.

At the Roadhouse, Ed and Nadine discuss their new financial troubles now that the Gas Farm has burned to the ground.  Nadine is on edge but tells Ed she will be there for him.  James is there as well.  He tells them he is leaving town again, but gives Nadine Darren Friedman’s business card.  She is ecstatic, and says, “You can always trust a man with a mustache.”  She reassures Ed that this will save them from financial ruin.

Cooper meets with Harry and Doc Hayward, and asks Hayward to inject him with haliperidol, the drug that Philip Gerard and Windom Earle used.  Believing that it can be used either to restrain or release inhabiting spirits, he plans to use it to coax BOB out and learn more about him.  Despite his objections, Hayward agrees, and injects Cooper with the drug.

What follows is Cooper’s hallucination:  Traveling to the Red Room, Cooper is visited again by Laura/Nicole, as well as Josie.  He tries to get Josie to leave with him, but she disappears.  A voice calls, “Riley.”  Several voices call Cooper’s name.  BOB appears, laughs, and tells Cooper he can’t go back.  Cooper joins the other inhabitants of the lodge in calling for garmonbozia.

VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE WILL BE UPLOADED SOON.

Episode 30 - Text Recap

AIR DATE: August 2, 2011
TIMELINE: Tuesday, March 28

The morning after the events of Episode 29, Cooper dictates to Diane from his hospital bed, where he is recuperating after being found unconscious on the bathroom floor.  He attempts to piece together the events of the previous night in the Black Lodge, and says he will allow the doctors to keep him overnight for observation.

Harry enters and tells Cooper that Annie is in another room of the hospital, and that she will be fine.  He also tells Cooper about his strange repetition of “I have to brush my teeth” the night before.  Cooper asks him to pick up some pie and coffee from the Double R because he can’t stand the hospital food.  After Harry leaves, a mysterious voice calls to Cooper in “Red Room” backwards-speak, saying, “They’ll know who you are.”

At the Great Northern, Audrey appears — at least to the naked eye — to be completely unaffected by the explosion at the Savings & Loan.  She tries to get Ben to focus on plans to save the business, but Ben just babbles about how delicious and perfect his carrot is.  Audrey says he has been acting strange since being attacked by Dr. Hayward.  Bobby enters, apparently having been sent out by Ben to look for pine weasels (which he couldn’t find).  As he leads Ben out to find a place to relax, Ben shouts about something “in the wood.” Audrey calls Catherine to arrange a meeting.

Audrey meets with Catherine at the Packard Saw Mill to ask for a truce in light of her father’s condition.  Catherine refuses and Audrey threatens her, saying she suspects that Catherine is the one responsible for the bomb at the Savings & Loan and set Josie up to die.  She tells her she plans to reclaim the mill and stop the Ghostwood project.  Catherine invites her to try.

At Shelly and Leo’s house, Bobby tells Shelly that Leo was found.   He assures her that Leo is not a threat anymore, but Shelly is worried that he may have recovered from his injury or been faking it all along.  Bobby tells Shelly about Ben’s deteriorating mental state, and that he plans to arrange Ben’s death and to make it look like a suicide, in order to advance in the business. 

Ed Hurley comes home to find Nadine back to her usual self.  She tells him she wants to buy a dog, which Ed is not so sure about.  He also tells her that a man from a home furnishing company came to the Gas Farm.  Ed told him about Nadine’s silent drape runners, and the man seemed very interested.  Nadine is overjoyed.

Back at the hospital, Cooper drifts off to sleep.  In his dream, a woman who looks just like Laura Palmer comes to his side and tells him her name is Nicole.  She asks him if he likes his coffee hot or cold.

Cooper notices that there is creamed corn on his food tray.  The Man From Another Place enters, dancing, and the hospital room transforms into the Red Room.  The MFAP tells him, “You can look but you cannot touch.”

Annie appears and tells Cooper she is alright.  Cooper rushes to her, and she shrieks and disappears.  Cooper says again, “I have to brush my teeth,” and goes to the sink.  He starts to brush his teeth, then transforms into Killer BOB.  He laughs maniacally, and recites the “Fire Walk With Me” poem.

** UNFORTUNATELY, NO VIDEO EXISTS OF THIS EPISODE. **

NY Improvisers to Bring “Twin Peaks” Fans Closure With Live, Improvised Season 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 18, 2011

NEW YORK, NY - Twenty years after its abrupt cancellation, fans of the classic paranormal mystery series Twin Peaks will finally receive the resolution they have been longing for, in the new serialized longform improv show, In These Woods.

Cast entirely with regulars from the Peoples Improv Theater in New York, and directed by PIT mainstay J Hobart B, the fully-improvised live show will present a new episode of an imagined third season with each performance, picking up where the TV series left off and building toward a climactic finale that will wrap up all the loose ends that have tormented fans for two decades.

“The final episode ended on such a huge cliffhanger,” said Hobart of the inception of the idea.  “Every fan of the show wants to know what will happen to Cooper and Audrey all the other characters.  Since we can safely assume the series is never going to come back at this point, we thought we’d take matters into our own hands.”

Unlike the style of comedy seen in shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, longform improv typically focuses on longer, character-based scenes, rather than games and fast-paced jokes.  Still, even in a longform context, it is rare for performers to explore the kinds of extended plot lines and narrative arcs that In These Woods will demand.

Furthermore, while the cast is trained mainly in comedic improv, Hobart is quick to point out that this is no spoof.

“It will have humor for sure, just like the show did,” he explained, “but we’re really trying to honor the tone and characters of the series by reproducing them as closely as possible.  We’re all huge fans and we want to get it right, out of respect for everyone who loves the series as much as we do.”

The first three “episodes” of the show will be performed on Tuesdays August 2, 9 and 23 at 9:30 PM, at the Peoples Improv Theater (123 E. 24th Street, between Park and Lexington).  Tickets are $5.

Video and text recaps of each show will be uploaded to a blog, inthesewoodsimprov.tumblr.com, to allow fans to catch up should they miss a performance.