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My mind went quickly to Mary Reber.
How was the internationalTwin Peakscommunity faring, and what had she heard from them?
How are you doing?Well, you know that I lost my son a couple of years ago.
My son James is the one who said, Mom, you gotta watchTwin Peaks!
He was really into it.
Monday would be his birthday.
But its also David Lynchs birthday on Monday.
Synchronicities like that really play a part in this show.
People who come to visit, people in my life, woven throughout the show.
And David talks about that a lot.
It doesnt surprise me that they have the same birthday.
Call the location guy.
He came out that night and said thered be a director from Hollywood coming out later.
So I kind of figured,My house, those tweets, its gotta beTwin Peaks.
He was in the house for about 40 minutes.
Hes seen the fan before!
He said hed be in touch.
He came out again in April, July, and then October he started filming.
They were here for about 12 days.
I was trying to listen, of course, but I couldnt hear.
He said, Have you ever acted?
Would you like to do a small part in the movie?
It was the first time I was ever quiet, I think.
He said, Its not for sure.
it’s possible for you to be in your own home, in your own clothes.
He was already trying to make me feel comfortable because he could tell it kind of threw me.
But I would love to find out, to be honest with you.
You never asked?No, because I dont think hed answer.
Its so interesting that were both talking about him in the present tense.
That it was going to be soon.
It was anticipatory grief.
You knew he was going to go, but you didnt know when.
That was the worst.
But I woke up yesterday and everything felt really empty.
There was a total silence.
Then all of a sudden, I saw Sabrinas message that he had passed.
From that point on, there were tons of condolences.
I know he meant a lot to you, Mary.
Im not really his personal family or anything.
But everybody knew he had filmed here and that it was his last project.
So they reach out for somebody or something tangible to hang onto.
I think people felt that they could do that with me.
That makes me feel like I was able to help out in a real way.
I got condolences when my son died, but this was even more so.
Ive been doing these tours for nine years, so Ive spoken intimately with a lot of people.
Most of the time, I hear their trauma stories.
Its been an extension of that, maybe.
David creates this atmosphere where his art unites.
And I think people need to feel united right now.
Thats one legacy that I think hes left.
Everybody goes, Oh, its almost like a cult,Twin Peakspeople.
Its because it touches the core of their being.
There is something so fascinating going on at your house.
I could feel it.
Laura Palmers house is this receptacle for her trauma.
All of these horrible things happen there on the show.
And youre this wonderful person who invites people to share themselves with you.
Its become this sort of lighthouse for Davids work and Laura and you.
He handed me a little ladybug.
He goes, I want you to keep this here.
A lot of people leave things in Lauras room, in this little alcove.
People bring their art.
This man said, I was bullied as a child.
AndTwin Peakssaved my life.
In Spain, a person who is queer is called a ladybug.
So he asked me to keep the ladybug on my mantle, and I did.
He wants to do a David Lynch memorial concert at the house.
People leave parts of themselves here.
Because Laura has given a face to trauma.
I wouldnt trade any of that for an award.
Nothing throws you like losing a child.
Its been three years since James passed.
You know youve healed when it’s possible for you to talk to other people about your pain.
I have an ashtray here, its supposed to depict Sarah Palmers ashtray with all of her cigarettes.
But theyre actually Jamess.
Its an homage to him.
I know a lot of people dont really like people.
[Laughs] But I really do.
Have there been a few tough ones here?
Theres always a fringe.
But for the most part Ive really enjoyed everybody whos come here.
Is it okay if I take some pictures?
I said, Yes, absolutely.
I didnt let him inside.
I do have some people reaching out for tours.
I just remember when my son passed, I wanted his clothes.
His last glass that he drank out of.
You want something tangible.
Something you’re free to glom onto.
You feel like youre out in the middle of nowhere: What do I do with this grief?
You have to find a place to plant it.
[Laughs] Sometimes its like, I cant have all of this stuff in my house.
But when it means something to somebody … Its so important for me to share it.
Within boundaries of course.
Well, thats a very important note!
This is your house.
People cant be bugging or harassing you.I can vet people and verify theyre realTwin Peaksfans.
If I have a funky feeling about somebody, I turn them away.
Ive had to learn boundaries through the years.
Im empathic and that hasnt always served me well.
But Ive done a lot of healing.
Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you think of David?He treated everybody the same.
We came back from makeup, Kyle MacLachlan, Sheryl, and myself.
Theyre very seasoned, and Im an ordinary person.
And he treated us all the exact same.
To me, that was a blessing, being directed by David Lynch.
I was ending my 34-year-old marriage to my ex.
And David was the last really super-nice man that was kind to me.
I think women really appreciate him for that.
Hes laying out what its really like.
Sometimes we need something raw:This is what it feels like.And he does this thing called a callback.
And he thanks you.
He said, Mary, thank you so much for letting us use your house.
You did a great job.
And then everybody claps for you.
One really cool story is that Id mentioned to him that my daughters wanted to meet him.
I thought it went in one ear and out the other.
I think the filming ended at 2 a.m. one day.
He was sitting on a chair in the living room.
He said, Mary, I know your daughters wanted to meet me.
Id love to meet them now.
But theyd just left!
Despite all thats going through his head, he remembered that.
Hes such a hard worker.
And not a small talker.
[Laughs]I never spoke to him again after that.
I have seen Kyle and talked to Sheryl.
But I havent seen David again.
When somebody passes you always think,I should have.
David calls them happy accidents.
You have to make room for them.
That you dont have such an intense plan that you dont see these things happening around you.
Im so glad youre the one taking care of the house.
What you do for people is really lovely.Dont you feel united through this show?
With the fires in California, with everything happening in peoples lives, his death is still uniting people.
We need each other, we need that interaction.
Were missing it greatly, I think.
People say, What are you doing?
Youre letting complete strangers into your home.
I could look at it that way.
When we overcome those fears, thats when we really hit the big stuff.
