Donna is first seen walking to her locker at school, amused at the sight of Audrey Horne changing into heels and smoking a cigarette a few lockers down. She then goes to class and sees a deputy enter the classroom as the teacher is taking attendance, asking if Bobby Briggs is present. After the town hears the news of Laura Palmer's murder, Donna looks at Laura's empty desk and begins to cry. She is brought in for questioning before Sheriff Harry S. Truman and FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who ask about a picnic with Laura that was filmed by James Hurley, but she insists that it was recorded by a female hiker. Donna sneaks out and goes to the Roadhouse, where a fight breaks out between James and Donna's boyfriend Mike. Donna and James escape to the woods, where she tells him that the police are looking for him. When they drive off, they are stopped by Truman and Cooper. The next morning, Donna tells her mother she has feelings for James. She goes to the Palmer home, and talks to Laura's mother Sarah, who calls Donna by Laura's name and becomes hysterical. The next day, Donna goes to the Double R Diner and talks to Audrey about Laura's death and their admiration for Cooper.