Fargo recap:
Clue #1: They argue over the car.
Weasley funny looking guy Carl Showalter splits the supposed $80k in ransom money with his partner in crime Gaear Grimsrud, but announces that he will take the "tan Ciera" as well. Gaear has a problem with that, and says the car was given to both of them. Carl loses his temper and stalks off saying the car is his. Gaear stalks after him and kills Carl with an axe.
Clue #2: As is often the case, the problem begins with money. Or, rather, the lack thereof.
Loser GM/Oldsmobile car salesman Jerry Lundegard has taken out a huge $320k GMAC loan and collateralized it with non-existent vehicles. He is under pressure to show evidence the cars exist or to pay back the loan. He cooks up a scheme where he'll hire some crooks to kidnap his wife, and convince his wealthy father-in-law, who owns the dealership, to pay a $1 million ransom. At that point things start to get interesting.
Clue #3: A remote cabin in the woods.
The kidnapped wife is taken by the two crooks to a remote cabin the woods by a frozen lake.
Clue #4: The dead don't lie.
Carl lies to Gaear about the $1 million ransom, telling him it was only $80k. Additionally, Jerry's father in law lies to him about a number of things, and decides to take the money personally to the kidnappers, leaving Jerry with only a finder's fee. When the father in law takes the money to the drop-off point, he is killed by Carl. In turn, Carl is killed by Gaear after a disagreement over who gets the tan Ciera.
Clue #5: Normally used with wood.
After Gaear kills Carl, he dismembers the body and feeds it into a wood chipper, leaving a huge red stain in the snow.
Clue #6: An odd looking small man.
Carl Showalter is described by more than one witness as a "funny looking little guy".
Clue #7: The Native American is not pleased.
Shep Proudfoot, a mechanic at the Oldsmobile dealership with a prison record, hooked Jerry up with Carl and Gaear. Carl places a call to Shep's home from the motel, which clues the police into his potential involvement with the spate of murders that have occurred. Shep is interrogated by the police. Shep is not happy about this, and almost strangles Carl to death in the motel room.
Clue #8: $4 even if you decide not to park.
Carl gets cold feet when it comes to meeting with someone in an airport long term parking lot. He decides not to park and then gets into a heated and abusive argument with the parking lot gate attendant.
Clue #9: $80k becomes $1 million.
After Carl kills Jerry's father in law, he takes the briefcase and discovers that instead of containing only the $80k Jerry promised him, it contains $1 million. He takes out the $80k and stashes the rest of the $1 million ransom money in the snow by a fence along the road.
Clue #10: Nightcrawlers at the lunch table.
Brainerd police chief Marge Gunderson's husband Norm brings some nightcrawlers he intends to catch fish with, to their morning breakfast meeting in a cafe/diner.
Clue #11: A hostage is taken.
That would be Jerry's wife.
Clue #12: The hostage starts shrieking, so he kills her.
Gaear kills the wife, who is hooded and strapped to a chair in the kitchen, because she won't shut up.
Clue #13: Lousy TV reception at the lake.
Both the petty criminals pound the TV at the lake cabin and all they get is a very snowy picture.
Clue #14: A relentless detective with a placid demeanor
This would be pregnant Brainerd Police Chief Marge Gunderson, played by Frances McDormond, who has a number of scenes where she is shown placidly eating vast amounts of food. She also relentlessly follows the leads and figures out the whole crime sequence.
