Every episode of “Fargo” starts with the text, “This is a true story.” The use of that card dates back to the original 1996 film, but it’s never been truly true. In Episode 5, though, “Fargo” includes a little piece of reality in the form of the story of Laura Buxton and her balloon.
Sheriff Dammick (Shea Whigham) tells the short story as a way to illustrate why he doesn’t buy her version of the events surrounding the death of Ennis Stussy (Scott Hylands). In the story, a girl in England releases a balloon with a note attached. The note gives her name, Laura Buxton, and asks whoever finds the balloon to return it to her address.