Ep 11. Masked Ball

In the eleventh episode of the second season of Twin Peaks, titled "Masked Ball," the town is abuzz with preparations for the upcoming Miss Twin Peaks pageant. The episode opens with the pages rehearsing their opening number, a jitterbug dance routine. Meanwhile, Cooper and Truman are still investigating the disappearance of Windom Earle, with Cooper feeling guilt over his former partner's descent into madness.

At the Great Northern, Ben Horne is dressing up in a Civil War uniform, reliving his fantasies of being General Lee. Audrey comes in and is shocked by his behavior, but Ben insists that he is working on a new business venture and needs to get back in touch with his roots. Later, Audrey and Donna attend the Miss Twin Peaks fashion show, where they are surprised to find that Josie Packard has returned to town.

Meanwhile, Windom Earle is seen lurking in the woods, spying on his next victim. He follows Leo Johnson, who is still in a catatonic state after being shot by Hank, to a cabin in the woods. Leo's wife, Shelly, is living there with Bobby, who is trying to protect her from the dangerous situation they find themselves in.

At the Roadhouse, Donna meets up with James, who has returned to town after a mysterious absence. James reveals that he was working on a fishing boat and had to leave town for a while, but Donna senses that he is hiding something. They dance to the music of Julee Cruise and the Chromatics, who are playing a haunting rendition of "The World Spins."

Back at the Great Northern, the Miss Twin Peaks contest is in full swing. The contestants are dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, reminiscent of a Venetian masquerade ball. Cooper is watching the proceedings, still feeling guilty over Windom Earle's descent into madness. As the contest continues, the lights suddenly go out and chaos ensues. The contestants are attacked, and Cooper realizes that Windom Earle is behind the mayhem.

The episode ends with Cooper and Truman finding a message from Earle, directing them to a location in the woods. As they head out to investigate, they find a strange cave with a mysterious symbol carved into the rock. This symbol has appeared before in Cooper's dreams and seems to hold a great deal of significance.

Overall, "Masked Ball" is a tense and thrilling episode that advances the main plot of the series significantly. It features several key character moments, including Audrey's confrontation with her father and the return of James to the town. With the Miss Twin Peaks contest and Windom Earle's continued machinations, the episode is filled with suspense, building towards the finale of the season.