"This is a true story." The words appear on screen at the beginning of every episode of FX's Fargo, white text against darkness. It's a lie, of course — the show is fiction inspired by the Coen Brothers' 1996 film. But the attention to period detail? That part is absolutely true.
Season 4 of Fargo is set in 1950 Kansas City, and the production design is meticulous. Every prop, every product, every piece of packaging had to exist in that era. Which is how a box of Gauztex — the original name for Guard-Tex — ended up on a kitchen counter in one of the season's most memorable scenes.
The episode is "Lay Away" (Season 4, Episode 7). The character is Oraetta Mayflower, a nurse with a talent for murder played by Jessie Buckley. The scene takes place in her kitchen as she prepares poisoned macaroons for Dr. Harvard, an elderly physician she's decided must die.
"The props department doesn't just find old stuff. They find the right old stuff. Every item tells you something about the character."
The Kitchen Counter
Watch the scene carefully and you'll spot it: a distinctive teal-and-cream box sitting on the counter. Gauztex. Self Adhering Gauze. Regular 3. The same packaging that sat in American kitchens, medicine cabinets, and first aid kits throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
For the props department, the choice was practical. Oraetta is a nurse. She would have medical supplies at home. Gauztex was ubiquitous in mid-century healthcare settings — exactly the kind of product a 1950s nurse might keep on hand.
But for eagle-eyed viewers, the box raised questions. Why show it so prominently? In a show famous for visual storytelling and meaningful details, nothing appears on screen by accident.
The Fan Theory
On Reddit, fans began speculating about the Gauztex box. Some theorized that Oraetta used the tape as part of her murder method — perhaps to handle poison without leaving fingerprints, or to prepare the macaroons without contaminating herself. The show never confirms or denies it. The box just sits there, period-accurate and slightly ominous.
A Nurse's Tool
Whether or not Oraetta used the Gauztex in her crimes, its presence makes perfect sense for her character. She's a nurse who takes pride in her profession, even as she perverts it. Her tools are medical tools. Her methods are clinical.
Guard-Tex — Gauztex in 1950 — was standard equipment for nurses of that era. The self-adhering tape was used for finger protection, bandaging, and countless small medical tasks. A nurse like Oraetta would have used it daily at work. Keeping a box at home would be natural.
The tape also fits her personality. Guard-Tex is practical, efficient, no-nonsense. It does its job without fuss. For a character who approaches murder with the same professional detachment she brings to patient care, it's the perfect accessory.
- Period-accurate — Gauztex packaging from the late 1940s
- Character-appropriate — a nurse would own medical supplies
- Visually distinctive — the teal box stands out in the scene
- Functionally plausible — could be used in poison preparation
