Setting the movie narrative aside, from a linear standpoint: budding actress Betty Elms (played by Naomi Watts) from Deep River, Ontario, stumbles into an old Hollywood mystery. Diane Selwyn (also played by Watts) is an actress who vied for the same part as Camilla Rhodes (played mostly by Laura Elena Harding). The two were involved romantically, but as the film became a commercial success, it changed the dynamic of their relationship. While she helped Diane land roles in her movies, Camilla got involved with her director and became very cruel to Diane. Diane hired an assassin to kill her and ends up committing suicide. However, her hit on Camilla gets interrupted by two groups of teenagers playing chicken on Mulholland and crashes into the limo carrying Camilla. Everyone dies, but Camilla who is struck with amnesia from the impact. She stumbles upon the doorstep of Betty Elms, an actress new to the L.A. area who is staying at her Aunt Ruth’s apartment while she’s out of town. Camilla comes up with a name for herself, “Rita.” After a confusing introduction, Betty decides to help Rita figure things out and end up tracking down Diane’s apartment. During their investigation, they fall in love. But, it’s almost as if Betty never existed. Time and chronology become insignificant, as Lynch stews his characters in a tale of love, betrayal, and the sliding doors of Hollywood and expendability thanks to the random powers that be. Now, simultaneously, there's also a storyline playing out as if Camilla never became famous, which bleeds into the present-day anonymous "Rita." Of course, I doubt that I'm anywhere close with any of this. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Want to add something? Please, sound off in the comments. By all means.
Movie Spoiler Summary
The film starts with a jitterbug contest, which Betty Elma (Naomi Watts) from Deep River, Ontario, wins. She decides to move to Los Angeles to become an actress. Meanwhile, on Mulholland Drive, a man escorting Camilla Rhodes (Laura Elena Harding) up the Hollywood Hills pulls the vehicle over to assassinate her. The hit is interrupted by two cars holding teenagers careening down the road while playing chicken. Only Camilla survives the crash, and aimlessly tracks down the Hollywood Hills. Detectives Harry McKnight (Robert Forster) and Neal Domgaard (Brent Briscoe) arrive on the scene of the crash. Domgaard finds pearl earrings as well as an item they wrapped in a plastic evidence bag (like maybe the blue key). The next day, Camilla ends up finding refuge in the apartment of Ruth Elms (Maya Bonds), who is in the process of leaving town for a shoot up in Canada. She grabs her keys and leaves, unknowingly leaving Camilla behind.
The Dream at Winkie's
At Winkie’s on Sunset Blvd, Dan (Patrick Fischler) shares with Herb (Michael Cooke) about a dream he has had twice of a male bum (Bonnie Aarons) behind a dumpster. He tells him that Herb is in both dreams and he’s scared in those dreams. What frightens Dan most is the face of the bum and he came to Herb to help exorcise the awful feeling inside of him. The dream then begins to become a reality. Herb takes him behind the dumpster, where the bum reveals himself and Dan faints in a panic.
Betty Arrives in Los Angeles
Camilla slumbers. A small man in a wheelchair Mr. Roque (Michael J. Anderson) with a manservant (Joseph Kearney) right out of Twin Peakscalls a man in a cathedral-like setting and informs him that “the girl [presumably Camilla, perhaps Betty] is still missing.” That man calls another in perhaps a garage-like setting and relays the message. He then calls a phone next to a red lamp and ashtray, belonging to Diane. Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) arrives at LAX, accompanied by a lady Irene (Jeanne Bates) and her companion (Dan Birnbaum), whom she met on the plane. A cabbie takes her to 1612 Havenhurst (which isn’t really an address), which was filmed in Hancock Park. There’s a creepy shot of Irene in the back of a vehicle smiling with her companion. At the complex, Betty is greeted by Catherine “Coco” Lenoix (icon Ann Miller). On the way to the apartment, Coco is disturbed by Wilkins’ dog shitting in the commons area. “If that damn dog craps in the courtyard one more time, I’m just going to bake his little butt for breakfast.” She tells Betty that pets are allowed, “But I just don’t like them here for obvious reasons. You know there was a man who lived here once that had a prizefighting kangaroo. Well, you just wouldn’t believe what that kangaroo did to this courtyard.” Betty is enamored by the apartment. After Coco leaves, she peruses her new living quarters and discovers Camilla showering. She doesn’t question Camilla too severely; she's even apologetic, thinking she's a friend of Ruth's. She shares that she has been in an accident and decides to call herself Rita, after seeing a poster of Gilda. “Rita” falls asleep.
The Castigliane Brothers
In Los Angeles, Vincenzo Castigliane (Dan Hedaya) enters Ryan Entertainment with his brother Luigi (Lynch composer Angelo Badalamenti) to discuss a film production with director Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux) concerning recasting his leading actress. Three other men are also in attendance, one of whom is his manager Robert Smith (David Schroeder). A man in a red suit enter and gives Vincent Darby (Marcus Graham) possibly menu options. The Castigliane brothers enter. Ray Hott (Robert Katims) handles introductions. Not saying anything, the brothers slide over a picture of Camilla Rhodes. Luigi asks for an espresso, whom Vincent says comes from a highly recommended barista. Mr. Roque listens in on the conference room conversation. Adam doesn’t take well to the Castigliane demand that Camilla be cast. Luigi suffers an adverse reaction to the espresso. Mayhem ensues. Vincenzo informs Adam, “This is no longer your film.” Outside, Adam confirms the Castigliane vehicle with the valet (Daniel Rey) and takes a golf club to the front and runs off.
Betty checks in on the sleeping Rita. Ray visits Mr. Roque and informs him of Camilla’s name. He asks him if he wants the director replaced. They decide to shut the production down.
A Comedy of Errors
The world’s worst assassin Joe Messing (Mark Pellegrino) chatters up Ed (Vincent Castellanos) and makes note of his blackbook. “The history of the world … and phone numbers,” he says as Ed kills him. In what will be a display of remarkable ineptitude, Joe accidentally shoots a woman (Diane Nelson) on the other side of the wall while placing the gun in Ed’s hand. He walks over to her office, where the Health + Enzymes heavy-set woman cries in disbelief, “Something bit me bad,” while reaching for her backside. Ed attacks her, but she fights back. He manages to overpower her and drags her to Ed’s office as a janitor(Charles Croughwell, who is Michael J. Fox’s stunt double) stands at the end of the hallway. Joe shoots the woman dead and then the vacuum guy as he enters. The machine turns on. Joe drags the third body all the way in. As he prepares to “cover up” his series of fuckups, the vacuum shorts and sets off the alarm system in the building. Joe grabs the black book and leaves via the fire escape, before he can make himself any more obvious.
While on the phone with her Aunt Ruth, Betty discovers that Rita is actually an intruder. Betty confronts her and Rita cries out of confusion. She opens her purse to discovers stacks of cash and a blue key. Enjoying some Pink’s hot dogs, Messing along with another gentleman, inquires to prostitute drug addict Laney (Rena Riffel) whether or not she has spotted someone of Rita’s description. They load her up into a van as the scene ends. At the apartment, Betty tries to jog Rita’s memory. Adam's assistant Cynthia Jenzen (Katharine Towne) informs him over the car phone that production has been shut down on the film by Ray. Adam decides to go home. Back at the apartment, Rita remembers that she was going to Mulholland Dr. Betty gets bit by the Nancy Drew bug and decides that they’ll “pretend to be someone else” to investigate whether or not there was an accident on Mulholland Dr.
Change of Plans
Adam arrives home and sees that there is a truck labeled “Gene Clean” at his house. He grabs his golf club and places it in its caddy. He enters the house to discover that his wife Lorraine (Lori Heuring) is in bed with Gene (Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus). She acts like a real bitch and he grabs her jewelry box and covers it in pink paint. She attacks him and they get into a physical fight. Gene punches him and says, “That ain’t no way to treat your wife, buddy. I don’t care what she has done.” Gene throws him out of his house. With a bloody nose, his black outfit covered in pink, he drives off.
Betty and Rita hide her purse holding the contents in a hat box. They use the pay phone at Winkie’s to find out there was an accident on Mulholland Dr. They can’t find mention of it in that day’s newspaper. The name of their waitress Diane (Melissa Crider) jogs Rita’s memory. They pay their check and go back to the apartment where Rita shares that she thinks her name is: Diane Selwyn. They look up her name in the phone book and call from a cordless. They get an answering machine with the voice of what could easily be Watts’, not Harding's. Rita is sure it’s not hers, but is convinced that she knows her. Kenny (Tony Long) arrives at Adam’s Hollywood home in a limo and walks in when he discovers the door is unlocked. Lorraine, covered in pink, tries to kick him out. He overcomes her, as well as Gene.
Park Hotel manager Cookie (Geno Silva) knocks on Adam’s door to inform him that Adam’s bankers are looking for him. He calls Cynthia who confirms he’s broke. She tells him that Jason wants him to meet “The Cowboy” at a corral at the top of Beachwood Canyon. She hits on him and they hang up. At the apartment, Betty points to a map and identifies Diane’s apartment on Sierra Bonita (even though she’s pointing more to East Hollywood). Neighbor Louis Bonner (legendary Lee Grant) ominously warns Betty about something horrible that is about to happen. Coco shows up and gives Betty an audition side that came through via fax and carts Louise off. Rita is visibly shaken by Louise’s words. Adam drives to the coral where he’s met by the Cowboy (Monty Montgomery), who instructs him that he must cast “the girl that was shown to you earlier today” as the female lead. If Adam does what he’s supposed to do, the cowboy says he’ll see him one more time. If he doesn’t, he’ll see him twice.
The Audition(s)
Rita helps Betty rehearse the scene. Later, Coco tells Betty that her aunt called and asks Betty to take care of and resolve the matter with Rita. Betty takes a cab to Paramount Studios, as bright eyed as when she arrived at the airport. Wally Brown (James Karen) introduces Betty to everyone including Jack the assistant, Jimmy “Woody” Katz (Chad Everett) who is cast as Chuck, the director Bob Brooker (Wayne Grace), Julie Chadwick (Lisa K. Ferguson, who now works as a camera operator and never acted again), casting director Linney James (Rita Taggart) and her assistant Nicki Pelazza (Michele Hicks), and Martha Johnson (Kate Forster) from up front. Before the scene starts, Woody references Camilla having read earlier that day. After they finish, Betty impresses everyone. Wally tells Betty that her aunt would be very proud. Linney offers to walk Betty out and informs her that Brown’s film will never be produced and they take her to audition for Adam.
Rita helps Betty rehearse the scene. Later, Coco tells Betty that her aunt called and asks Betty to take care of and resolve the matter with Rita. Betty takes a cab to Paramount Studios, as bright eyed as when she arrived at the airport. Wally Brown (James Karen) introduces Betty to everyone including Jack the assistant, Jimmy “Woody” Katz (Chad Everett) who is cast as Chuck, the director Bob Brooker (Wayne Grace), Julie Chadwick (Lisa K. Ferguson, who now works as a camera operator and never acted again), casting director Linney James (Rita Taggart) and her assistant Nicki Pelazza (Michele Hicks), and Martha Johnson (Kate Forster) from up front. Before the scene starts, Woody references Camilla having read earlier that day. After they finish, Betty impresses everyone. Wally tells Betty that her aunt would be very proud. Linney offers to walk Betty out and informs her that Brown’s film will never be produced and they take her to audition for Adam.
A brunette "Carol" (Elizabeth Lackey) lip syncs to “16 Reasons Why I Love You” with backup singers for a screen test. Adam notices "Betty" and tells Carol that the part is hers, but he has to audition more women for the studio. Next up is a blonde named "Camilla Rhodes" (Melissa George), who lip syncs to “Why Haven’t I Told You.” Adam asks for Jason (Michael Fairman), who tells him that’s "the girl." A man emerges from behind who approves of the choice. Adam notices Betty again and she leaves abruptly, realizing that she had plans with "Rita."
Diane's Apartment
Betty retrieves her to find 2590 Sierra Bonita (which was actually filmed in the Silver Lake area). Rita notices some men waiting in a car on the side of the street and she conceals herself as they drive by. They enter from the back of the apartment complex and watch a woman in a yellow dress leave with a man. They locate apartment #12. Betty goes to knock, and an annoyed woman (Johanna Stein) opens the door to inform her that Diane is in apartment #17 (the spread eagle) and explains that they switched apartments. The woman accompanies them to Diane’s apartment, but leaves prematurely to take a call. They break into the apartment and discover a funky odor emitted from a decomposing body. Rita has a visceral reaction. The neighbor walks over and knocks on the door, suspecting something is up.
Club "Silencio"
At Betty’s, Rita starts chopping off her hair and Betty stops her, “I know what you’re doing … I know what you have to do. Let me do it.” Betty then puts Rita in a blonde wig. That night, Betty invites her into her bed. She takes the wig off, disrobes, and climbs in. Rita thanks her for everything and they make love. Later, in her sleep, Rita begins repeating “Silencio.” Betty wakes up and Rita asks her to go to the club. They take a cab to Club Silencio, where the emcee (Silva in another role) greets the audience. Betty begins convulsing, and Rita calms her in an embrace. The emcee disappears into the ether and singer Rebekah del Rio (as herself) performs Roy Orbison’s “Crying” in Spanish, bringing both women to tears. The singer faints and is carried away by two men, as her song continues on. Betty reaches into her purse and produces the blue cube. They return to the apartment. Betty disappears after placing the cube on the bed and Rita asks where she is in Spanish. Rita reaches into her purse and inserts the blue key into the cube, and opens it up. The camera dives into the cube and we’re taken into an alternate reality.
Betty Is Now Diane; Rita is Camilla
Aunt Ruth enters the apartment and observes the made-up bed, in reference to the beginning of the film. We then see a brunette laying on the bed and the Cowboy entering. Cut to a shot of a decomposed body. Cut to morning, knocking, and Betty (who is Diane now for these purposes) waking from the same position as the brunette. She is no longer the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed fresh faced ingenue. The neighbor from earlier played by Stein knocks asking Diane for her lamp and dishes, as they switched apartments. The neighbor grabs the piano ashtray, which was set next to the blue key. Before she leaves, the neighbor mentions the two detectives looking for Diane. Suddenly, Rita (who is Camilla now for these purposes) appears in full makeup. At first, Diane is elated, but then realizes it’s an illusion and makes coffee. Next thing you know, Camilla is there on the couch nude, the piano ashtray is back. Diane sets down her drink, which is presumably iced coffee. They start to make love, but Camilla breaks up with her.
On set, the director demonstrates with Camilla what he wants from his actor. Diane observes. The director clears the set, but Camilla asks if Diane can stay. Camilla and the director make out, which angers Diane. At the apartment, Camilla visits the uncontrollable Diane who is exceptionally upset, having just been jilted so ruthlessly. Diane masturbates in the apartment thinking of Camilla. Her phone rings next to the red lamp and ashtray. Camilla calls her and she picks up, wearing a different outfit. She informs her that there is a car waiting for her to take her to 1680 Mulholland Dr. Wearing the same top, she’s driven via limo up Mulholland. However, the driver makes a surprise stop. Camilla emerges from the bushes wearing an evening dress and takes her out of the limo on a shortcut through a trail. Diane is happy again, being with the love of her life. Camilla escorts her to a house that is actually located in Studio City, above the 101, where there are partygoers hanging out by the pool. The director brings them champagne. Coco, who is the director’s mother, is there too and she’s starving. Diane apologizes for being late.
The Dinner Party
At the dinner party, Diane explains that she’s from Deep River, Ontario. “So you rolled in here from Canada,” Coco asks bluntly. Diane mentions winning the jitterbug contest as Coco blankly eats pecans. Diane also says that her actress aunt died and left her money and met Camilla while working on The Sylvia North Story. Camilla ended up playing the role Diane wanted, because the director Paul Brooker, according to Diane, didn’t care for her. She relays how the two became friends and Camilla helped Diane get some roles, while Camilla canoodles with Adam. Time passes, dessert arrives, and Adam shares how his marriage to Lorraine ended and he made out better financially. The blonde actress from the auditions walks over to Camilla and whispers something to her about Diane, and then the two share an intimate kiss. Cowboy is one of the party guests. Diane is visibly shaken. Adam announces his engagement to Camilla, and a shot of the distraught Diane segues into the final scene at Winkie's.
The Climax
Diane, looking strung out, hires the assassin. He shows her a blue key and he tells her that she’ll find it in the designated area they agreed upon when the job is complete. Dan is there watching. She asks what it opens and the assassin laughs. Allusion to behind the dumpster at night where the bum places the blue cube in a paper bag. He drops it on the ground and miniature versions of the elderly couple at quickened speed climb out. At the apartment, Diane stares at the blue key lying on the edge of her coffee table. There’s a knock at the door. The miniatured version of the elderly couple creep through the bottom. In a disturbing scene, a full-sized version of the couple torment Diane and she screams bloody murder. She reaches for a gun in her nightstand and a shot goes off dismissing the previous scene, only leaving a thick plume of smoke. Angelo Badalementi's score plays over a montage of the bum, the curtain at Club Silencio, Los Angeles at night, and Betty/Diane and Rita/Camilla sharing a happier moment. The movie ends with the opera singer at the club whispering, “Silencio.” The End. Or, er, the beginning. Or the middle. You can never really know with David Lynch movies.
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