In this post we continue with Lynch's 6th clue to interpreting the movie: Notice the robe, the ashtray, the coffee cup.
We went over the significance of the 'piano' ashtray in part 15 of the analysis. Shown in the above left screencap is a different ashtray, the one near Diane's phone. Earlier in the analysis, we discussed the fact that the cigarettes in this ashtray appear to be the same kind the hit man smokes. Their presence indicates that he and Diane had already discussed the hit to be done on Camilla prior to their meeting in Winkie's. It has also been discussed how the man with the yellow phone (the hairy-armed man, above right screencap) appeared to be calling the phone near the ashtray, from inside the same building as that in which this phone (the one near the ashtray) is located. What must be the case is that the phone and ashtray shown here are in a room in a 'sleazy' hotel or rooming house, out of which Diane plies her trade as a call-girl. Normally, when the hairy-armed man calls it is to let her know to meet with a given client who is requesting her services; but in this instance, he's calling to let her know to go to the audition Adam is staging. When Diane later dreams of Adam being in a sleazy hotel room, the room he's in is Diane's dream-representation of her own room as shown here. As mentioned earlier, Diane's dream of bad things happening to Adam is a form of dream-revenge for his not giving her the role she desired, and for what appears to Diane to be his romantic involvement with Camilla, which causes Diane to be jealous, since she's in love with Adam.
We went over the significance of Diane's pink and white robes in part 15. In the screencap at left, Rita is shown wearing a robe that is somewhat more 'regal'-looking than Betty's simple pink robe. The idea here is that the part of Diane that Betty represents (her persona), sees Rita as a 'movie queen' of sorts. Since this is what Diane herself desires to be, and since Rita represents Diane's subconscious (in addition to representing Camilla), the fact that Rita's wearing this robe here not only signifies Diane's desire to be a famous actress, but it also tells us something about the esteem in which Diane holds Camilla, insofar as status as an actress - she sees Camilla as being 'above' herself in this regard. In short, Diane sees Camilla as the actress she herself desires to be.
Above left: This man, a client of Diane (as a call girl), happens to see and recognize her at the Mulholland Drive party. This gives Diane a sickening feeling, especially since he's staring at her. Above right: Notice the foam floating on top of Diane's coffee.
Having seen the client at the party, along with the sickening feeling and the sight of the foam, combine in Diane's dream to yield the 'espresso man', Luigi Castigliane, who becomes nauseous and spits out his drink at the business meeting with Adam and the others.
