I agree with the theory that has Cookie as the Lamp Lady's dream doppelganger (she warns Diane in reality about the detectives looking for her, he warns Adam/Diane in the dream about the bankers looking for Adam; both Hispanic; both associated with a change in living situations), but I was wondering where Diane's subconscious might have gotten Cookie's physical image and name to work into the dream.

One possibility is that he is the Park Hotel manager in reality (or some similar place), where call girls might rent space. If indeed Diane was into that business (and I think it's likely she was), she could know him from there. "I pay you in cash, Cookie."

But another that I haven't seen discussed is whether he might be in reality exactly what his name implies: the Cook at Winkie's. Granted, this is pure speculation, since we never see the cook. But if Diane also waitressed there (as it seems implied she may have... name tags, coffee cup in her apartment, etc.), then obviously she would have known the cook. Even the "I pay you in cash" line might apply if the diner waitresses shared tips with the cook...

Cookie is also the emcee at club silencio. also Adam is in a room marked 16, Diane is in apt no 17.

not contradicting. this comment is intended to be additive.

I dunno... the original thread was over what Cookie's "real world" identity in Diane's life might be.

The "Cook"ie at Winkie's?

The manager of a real-world equivalent of the Park Hotel (perhaps a place Diane stayed or did call-girl work from)?

I've also read suggestions elsewhere that he was Diane's cocaine dealer...

In the dream, he seems reminiscent of both Woman in 12 (he warns Adam of bankers looking for him, just as Woman in 12 warns Diane of detectives looking for her) and of Coco (similarity of names, and he manages the hotel in the dream, as Coco manages Havenhurst in the dream).