if you read or seen silence of the lambs

[Theo Rob]

can somebody explain the whole "lotion in the basket" thing?

EDIT : THX for the info

 

[supergood15]

watch the movie...

 

[Furious Styles]

I think he wants them to have soft skin for his suit

 

[Sun Flash]

the lotion keeps her skin in good condition and stops it from going leathery or un pretty, seeing as he's going to be using it as fabric for his suit.

Pretty self explanatory I thought.

 

[Keava]

He first gives the girl the lotion dropped in a basket so she puts it over her skin, he refers to her as 'it' to make it obvious that psychopathic killer doesn't care for humanity of his victims. When she's done he tells her to put the bottle with lotion back in the basket so he can take it back. Easy?

Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does this whenever it is told.
Catherine Martin: Mister... my family will pay cash. Whatever ransom you're askin' for, they pay it.
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.
[to his dog, Precious]
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: Yes, it will, Precious, won't it? It will get the hose!
Catherine Martin: Okay... okay... okay. Mister, if you let me go, I won't - I won't press charges I promise. See, my mom is a real important woman... I guess you already know that.
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: Now it places the lotion in the basket.
Catherine Martin: Please! Please I wanna go home! I wanna go home please!
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: It places the lotion in the basket.
Catherine Martin: I wanna see my mommy! Please I wanna see my...
Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb: Put the fucking lotion in the basket!

 

[superbatranger]

Pretty much what everyone said. He was a psychopath who wanted to transform into a woman. The "lotion in the basket" scene cemented that.

 

[FalloutJack]

It takes the lotion and it spreads it on the skin. It makes the skin smooth so our antagonist to make use of for the woman-suit he's making.