The Outside

"**The Outside**" is the fourth episode of Netflix's *Cabinet of Curiosities*, having premiered on October 26, 2022. It is written by Haley Z. Boston, based on a short story by Emily Carroll, and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour.

## Synopsis

Longing to fit in at work, awkward Stacey begins to use a popular lotion that causes an alarming reaction, while an unnerving transformation takes shape.

## Plot

### Stacey

Awkward and socially reclusive, Stacey Elizabeth Chapman does not fit in with her co-workers at the bank where she works. She finds herself ill-at-ease with their vain gossip and beauty-obsessed culture, spending her time outside of work with her husband Keith, working on taxidermy, or watching late night television programs and infomercials.

During the holidays, Stacey receives an unexpected invitation to the Secret Santa party being held at the home of her co-worker Gina Kapov. Returning home, she excitedly reports to the news to her husband, who is confused because it has always seemed to him as though she hates her co-workers. He says it's rude of them to have only just now invited her to a party after her having worked there for so long, but she tells him that's just the way women are. She gets to work on her Secret Santa gift: a life-like taxidermy duck.

At the party, Stacey is confused when the Secret Santa aspect of the party turns out to be not-so-secret. Rather than handing out a customized gift for her intended recipient, Gina instead presents all of the other women there with a bottle of Alo Glo, an expensive and popular beauty lotion that is heavily promoted on television commercials and retails for a hugely expensive price. Stacey is then embarrassed when Gina seems more creeped out than anything by her taxidermy duck gift and her story of how she personally hunted and then stuffed the duck.

The other women all go back to discussing the lotion, seemingly putting the duck out of their minds. They begin applying it, rubbing it deep into their faces. Wanting to fit in, Stacey does so as well, but her face quickly breaks out into a terrible red rash. Stacey is sent home with an ice-pack for her face. She apologizes to Gina for ruining everything, but Gina tells her that she didn't, that it's fine. She says that it's cold outside and she should go home.

### The pitchman

Back at home, Stacey laments to Keith that it figures she has to be allergic to the best lotion in the world. Keith counters that if it were really the best, it wouldn't do that to her face. He tells her that she just has sensitive skin. She replies that she has a bad face, but he tells her that it's enough of that. Late that night, she sits watching television and ends up seeing an ad for Alo Glo. The attractive pitchman states that you can transform yourself from ugly duckling to a stunning swan for just $199.99. As the ad continues, it seems as if he is speaking directly to Stacey, stating that she can make sure that "those ladies at the bank never laugh at you again." She wonders what is happening and then he outright speaks to her, asking "Come on Stacey, isn't this what you've always wanted?" The woman with him then describes side effects such as "internal emptiness" and "lack of individualization," then tells Stacey "but it's all worth it."

"I'm not talking to the TV," comments Stacey, but the man tells her that she's talking to him. He tells her that he can give her a brand-new her. She objects that the lotion stings and is making her itchy. He, however, tells her that skin itches when it is healing, so the more her skin itches, the more healing that it is doing. He tells her that she will soon have everything she has always dreamed of and to step to the other side. She picks up the phone and places an order for an entire case of the lotion.

### The Lotion Woman

That morning, Stacey calls in sick to work. The red rash on her face is getting worse, but she nevertheless continues to use the lotion. Kevin tells her that it looks really bad, but she says that it mostly just itches. He tells her that she should stop using it, but parroting something that the man on the TV said, she tells him that it's a process and that it heals when it itches. He says that the lotion companies just make money from telling that something is wrong with you, but she says that something is wrong with her. He says that if something is wrong with her, something must be wrong with him too. She tells him that he's a man and that men can be fat and ugly and more and nobody cares. She tells him that she's changing and to be supportive of her. Meanwhile, elsewhere, the lotion squelches from the bottle, seemingly of its own accord.

Stacey starts scratching her skin in her sleep. Kevin insists that she start wearing oven mitts. Later, she ends up speaking to the Alo Glo Man on the television again. He tells her to go all the way and to trust him. She asks him if it will hurt and he asks if it hurts when people exclude her. He tells her that the new life she wants is already growing under her skin and to use more Alo Glo.

Stacey gives in and continues using the lotion. Her skin starts to flake and peel. She goes to Kevin, telling him that she knows what he's going to say. Sure enough, he tells her that it's going worse and that they need to go see the doctor. She tells him that it's in her skin and it's growing, that this is how it works. She says it will fix her, but he tells her that she doesn't need to be fixed, that she is lovely inside and out. She moves to leave and he asks she is going, telling her she'd better not be using more of the lotion. She goes down to the basement and encounters a strange woman made entirely of the lotion who seems to mirror her movements. The two of them caress, kiss and make out.

### The transformation

Stacey returns upstairs, where Keith, seeing her covered in the lotion, asks just what has gotten into her. She tells him that he shouldn't judge people, that it's negative and mean. He tells her that she's kind, funny and beautiful and that she's perfect as she is. She shouts at him that he doesn't understand what's happening to her and that "she" is already there. She says he's not going to change and doesn't want her to change. She stabs him in the face, then beans in the back of the head with an ax. She returns downstairs and makes out with the Lotion Woman again. The woman then goes to the bathtub and oozes inside it. Stacey undresses, then submerges herself completely in the lotion. She emerges from the tub and the lotion itself as if leaving a cocoon. Her skins is completely clear and she is gorgeous. She goes back upstairs to Keith, telling him to look, but he is dead. She taxidermies his body, then poses him as if he is watching television.

Stacey cuts her hair short, dyes it, and puts makeup on her face. She dons a glamorous dress and sunglasses, then heads into work. Everyone there is stunned by her transformation, the security guard barely recognizing her at first. The other women agree that it's like a mirage in a desert. They tell her she looks gorgeous. When they ask her what's different, she says only that she cut her hair. Seemingly fully transformed, she joins them in their vapid gossip, even sharing an anecdote of her own. She laughs and laughs, but as the conversation continues, the laughter seems more forced and she looks troubled and confused.

## Cast

### Starring

* Guillermo del Toro as Himself
* Kate Micucci as Stacey Chapman
* Martin Starr as Keith Chapman

and

* Dan Stevens as Alo Glo Man

### Co-starring

* Kylee Evans as Gina Kapov
* Sabryn Rock as Cassidy
* Diana Bentley as Jill
* Shauna McDonald as Kathy
* Julia Juhas as Lisa
* Lize Johnston as Lotion Woman
* Tal Zimerman as Bank Manager
* Elena Juatco as Samantha
* Ian Matheson as Deposit Man
* Phatt Al as Security Guard (Bank)
* Chloe Madison as Alo Glo Beautiful Assistant

## Music

The musical tracks featured in this episode include "Nine To Five," "First Scratch," "The Lotion Lady" "In The Bathtub." The music was composed by Daniele Luppi. The episode also includes two different versions of the song "You Sexy Thing."

## Trailer

The Outside Official Trailer - GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES - Netflix