in the last episode, ben horne gets into a fight with dr.hayward about who's being the father of donna. then dr.hayward gets furious and hits him with something sharp and edgy, then horne falls down, and is bleeding heavily from his head. is he still alive?

YES.

If he wasn't, Doc Hayward would have been in jail, not in the room with Truman in the final scene when Coop goes into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

NO.

I like to think the Doc got away with it. 

dr.hayward gets furious and hits him with something sharp and edgy

The comedy stylings of Andrew Dice Clay?

Personally, I think that Ben just bumped his head, and he was all right afterwards. It was not fatal. Ben was trying really hard to be a nice, good, virtuous person, so he probably decided to forgive Dr Hayward and not press charges. (That's one way of looking at it.)

I have a feeling Ben Horne probably _was_ Donna's real father. That's what he trying to say to her, behind the scenes at Miss Twin Peaks, but before he can finish, she goes off in a huff. (If that's too soon, she can go off in a minute and a huff.)

so he probably decided to forgive Dr Hayward and not press charges. (That's one way of looking at it.)

Plus, the good doctor was probably the one that helped him afterwards, pumping him full of drugs and lies about what happened.

"C'mon Ben, think about it... I'm the good ol' doctor everyone loves, that goes to church, has 3 lovely daughters and cooks diet lasagna. How could I hurt you, even if you nudgenudgeknowwhatimean with my wife some time ago? On the other hand, look at your wife here, she looks pissed in every scene she's in, you've cheated her with everything that moves in town and she's not seen for ages and now shows up?? I mean, c'mon, talk about a strong alibi dude... Gotta go to church now... And buy lasagna"

well, the last episode was supposed to be like the last episode in the first season -cliffhanger after cliffhanger.  Doubtful they wouldn't want the terrific Richard Beymer in the third season.

 I imagine the third season premiere would be another wink to the second season premiere -with several main characters back in the hospital.  And in keeping with the Soap Opera theme, it probably was a device to revert Ben back to his original wicked ways.

I also imagine they would have Pete back in the same hospital room, and sniffing the same hospital food like he did before.

I don't think Ben died...The hit was not so hard enough to cause death(at least in my opinion)..If there was a 3d season,Ben's punishment would've been his daughter's death(cause I believe Audrey died in the explosion)..Ben would've probably had to face the grief and pain that Leland had to go through,dealing with Laura's death...There always comes a time when everybody has to pay for their sins or mistakes,and wrong actions..And Ben did a lot of wrong actions,and although he tried to change himself,doing only good things,it was already too late..

no way -it's a television show, and it would need both Ben and Audrey on it.

It was written as a cliffhanger with the intent to put them all in jeopardy in hopes of ABC bringing it back.

no way -it's a television show, and it would need both Ben and Audrey on it.

It was written as a cliffhanger with the intent to put them all in jeopardy in hopes of ABC bringing it back.

no way -it's a television show, and it would need both Ben and Audrey on it.

It was written as a cliffhanger with the intent to put them all in jeopardy in hopes of ABC bringing it back.

wow -tripple duplicate post -that shouldn't have happened. i guess I really believe what I typed. huh. weird.

Well...In my opinion,I don't believe Audrey survived...I've always thought her death would've been Ben's punishment for his mistakes...I remember Audrey saying (dont remember what episode was that) she wanted to change,to help her father,cause after Laura's brutal death she realized how short life could be...Audrey was a great girl,and showed a lot in the show!I love this character so much,but I don't believe she survived,assuming that was a violent explosion...

P.S. Maybe you just pressed the "post message" button 3 times,Miss Horne :);)

According to the shooting script for the final episode:-

"BEN
Can you forgive me, Will? After all I've done to you?
Forgive me. Please forgive me.

Ben steps to him, as if to embrace. Hayward grabs Ben by the lapels, forces him from the room. Chaos follows.

EILEEN
Will!

HAYWARD
Leave my family alone!!

DONNA
DADDY!

Hayward shoves Ben toward the door. Ben reaches a hand toward Donna, desperate, as if her shout was meant for him. Ben falls, STRIKES his head on a coffee table. Donna SCREAMS. Hayward kneels beside him.

HAYWARD
Oh, Lord...
(beat)
Donna, get my bag.
(she stands still, in shock)
DONNA!!

Donna takes one last look at Ben, the pool of blood forming beneath his head. And races from the room. Eileen wheels closer, pales. Hayward kneels an prays.

HAYWARD
I'm sorry, Ben. My God I'm sorry. Ben, Ben can you hear
me...?

HOLD ON Ben's face for a beat. Silent."

Sorry, i'm not sure how to do the quoting thing. Curse my lack of technological prowess. Anywhoo, it seems that Dr. Hayward instantly regrets his actions. Personally, i agree with the prediction that Ben would've survived but reverted back to his previous way of life vis-a-vis Nadine.

Greetings to all as i am new here...

I do not believe that Ben is dead. But damn, it really helped build towards the end of the episode.

Am i right? 

I don't think so either... The twitch is neither here nor there, as far as I'm concerned, but I can't see them writing out Richard Beymer. I know it's no fun to go outside of story material for these things, but I can't help it in this case.