Super close up shots of chess pieces in the credits, someone’s getting arty. Evelyn and Malcolm (Annette McCarthy & Nicholas Love) are reporting James’ fixing the car and disappearing to the police, they can’t spell Jaguar “J_A_G_W… car”. Evelyn is having second thoughts.

Row of right-facing cigar-smoking police at Wallie’s Hideout bar, James and Donna (James Marshall & Lara Flynn Boyle) go there, James is a wally trying to hideout, so I approve of the name. James thinks he can talk Evelyn into admitting the ruse. Really enjoy the wood panelling behind Donna, on the phone to Ed (Everett McGill).

Bobby and Shelley (Dana Ashbrook & Madchen Amick) talking to the police about Leo, Shelley’s arm in a sling. Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) questions Bobby about his involvement in the mill burning or shooting Leo. Bobby really is a piece of trash arsehole. Albert (Miguel Ferrer) is back! He and Harry (Michael Ontkean) have a great big hug, yay! Photo of Windom Earle, map of places that have received packages from Earle, spell out a “C”, each contain articles of a bride’s wedding outfit, Caroline’s. I’ve missed Albert’s constant negging, Cooper’s replacement of a dark suit with muted earth tones normally fashion suicide but on him it works.

Windom (Kenneth Welsh) is playing the flute perched atop a rock above a sleeping Leo (Eric DaRe), points to him being worthy of the asylum. Researched Leo’s rap sheet, easily tackles him and pins him by the throat with the instrument. Bamboo flute can also be used as an excellent cudgel. Leo also been fitted with an electric shock collar, force fed some gruel. Heck of a few weeks for this scumbag.

Big Ed and Norma (Peggy Lipton) in bed together, reminiscing about the Christmases they spent apart, looking ahead to their future together. “It’s all ahead of us, plenty of time.” famous last words? Nadine (Wendy Robie) arrives back, breaks the door off its hinges accidentally. Unperturbed by finding them in bed together, gets in bed with them and presents her second place wrestling trophy, disqualified for using an illegal move (but still got 2nd place? and a trophy?) “I know about you guys, it’s really OK, so I don’t have to feel guilty about me and Mike. I am completely cool about all of it.” Hmmmm. Doesn’t seem like the kind of reaction I’d expect from a teenager.

Harry and Cooper tell Josie (Joan Chen) about Jonathan’s death, shot three times in the back of the head. Pete (Jack Nance) returning from the dry cleaners, Hungarian (paprikan goulash) worker who doesn’t speak English. Pete called away, Cooper uses the opportunity to collect a hair sample from one of Josie’s outfits. Josie receives phone call from Thomas (David Warner), Catherine (Piper Laurie) listening in, welcomes him to Twin Peaks. What – or who? – is in that big black rectangular trunk of Thomas’? Giving me Audition vibes.

Ben (Richard Beymer) now sat atop a horse, a laughing guy is dressed in native American garb, five drummers standing by not drumming. Audrey (Sherilyn Fenn) wants to become executive of his estate, leave Ben in his current incapacitated state, getting Jerry (David Patrick Kelly) on board or he’ll be fired. Audrey asks Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) to bring Ben back to the sane world. Bobby his bugleboy. Who is the guy in the costume?

Evelyn is drowning her sorrows at the bar, approached by Donna. “He’s a good person.” “He was good at two things, cars, and me.” Malcolm has made a real Hank turn (looks a little like him too). Manhandling Evelyn’s face and Donna too! Great, another scumbag, no thank you.

WHAT, The fibre Cooper took from Josie’s coat matches the ones found outside Cooper’s hotel room from when he got shot! Ah, but is it Josie’s coat? Could be Jonathan’s? Interpol looking for a beautiful Asian woman involved in shooting the Asian guy, Albert thinks the slugs from the shooting will match the ones in Cooper’s vest. They agree to not tell Harry yet. Is there a chance Catherine dressed up in a different Asian costume to shoot Jonathan, thereby framing Josie in a different way?

The body left by Windom is of a guy named Powell, same maiden name as Caroline, killed for his name. “Every move he makes sends a message.” Whenever he takes a piece from the board, someone dies, and Cooper has never beaten him. Fortunately, Pete is a chess master. Checkmates Cooper, Doc (Warren Frost) and Toad (Kevin Young) simultaneously, so Cooper recruits Pete to help him stalemate the game, losing as few pieces as possible.

Norma gives Shelley her job back, good people. Harry tells Norma that Hank is in the hospital and then going to jail, being charged with attempted murder of Leo, Norma says she doesn’t want him back this time.

Mr. Eckhardt has a heck of a turn and flourish as the door is opened on him. Josie embarrassed, dressed and working as a maid in front of him, Catherine ordering her around, Eckhardt not even acknowledging her. Thomas kissing her on the hand, they talk about bartering/trading for Josie, in front of her. Serving a hog’s head! Certainly a choice.

James returns to the Marsh household, confronts Evelyn, he questions her, throws her on the sofa/chaise, doesn’t let her just blame Malcolm, did it for the money “You’re good, and you’re honest, and I’m not.” “The good and honest way that you taste.” “I like how you taste too.” Mid-kiss Malcolm bludgeons James on the head, knocks him out, telling her how to play it, she shot James for breaking in.

Audrey and Jerry, Bobby and Jacoby make believe confederacy to Ben, Jacoby pretending to be Grant, surrendering to Ben’s victorious General Lee. Jerry playing the harmonica as the papers are signed, then Ben collapses on the straw-covered floor, comes to from the strangest dream. Quoting Wizard of Oz, “You were there, and you, and you” “I feel terrific!”

Windom adjusting his eyebrows in a cracked mirror, applying a disguise whilst Leo working at a desk, writing badly so shocked, poor hand writing. “Pretty words for pretty girls, which one shall be my queen?” Photos of Donna, Shelley and Audrey. No other girls in the town? Just the three we’ve met it seems.

Donna runs in on Malcolm and Evelyn preparing James’ murder scene. Evelyn has the gun, Malcolm has Donna, Evelyn backs out, Malcolm approaches her, she shoots him. Well that was resolved pretty quickly! What was all this for? Needed something for James to do? Could’ve just ridden off for a while, I’d’ve been fine with that.

Cooper whistling along the hotel corridor, looks at a photo of Caroline in his wallet. Disguised Windom walks right past him! Photos of owls in a stand, but what are they really?

Cooper finds a glowing mask on his pillow. Creepy. Motion-activated dictaphone, Windom left him a recording about how beautiful Caroline was, he still loves her. “Now Dale, listen carefully, it’s your move.” Calling him Dale is odd.

New mysteries:
What is Windom up to? – Presumably going to either kidnap or kill either Donna, Audrey or Shelley. I think Donna might have run her course a little on this show, so I would be least upset if she were the next victim.
What’s in Eckhardt’s trunk? – A stairway to Hell.

Old Mysteries:
Who is the father of Lucy’s child?
Who attacked Jacoby?
Who shot Cooper?
Is the Waiter real?
What’s with the magic Tremond kid?
Who was trying to call Harry at the police station?
If the owls are not what they seem, what are they?
Why does Nadine think she’s 18? Why is she super-strong now?
Who is Cousin Jonathan / Mr. Lee, really? – Well, he’s dead now, so this doesn’t seem to matter all that much anymore.
Where did Bob go? Is he an owl now?
Why were Bobby, Leo and Big Ed brought to the Poirot reveal scene?
What happened to Maj. Briggs? – Got taken to the White Lodge. Beyond that, no idea.
What’s the deal with Andrew being alive?
Did Nicky kill his parents? Is he devilish in some way?
Is Lana actually a witch?
Who is the dead guy? – Powell, no connection to any of our characters, just shared a surname with Caroline.
Is Windom’s chess game to punish Cooper for something?
How will Bobby screw up Audrey’s plan to get rich?
Will James be arrested for the Jeffrey death set-up?
Is Thomas Eckhardt the devil?
What’s Windom gonna do with Leo?