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Theories as to what was inside the briefcase in Pulp Fiction

created by Seumas

(idea) by Tujague (7.1 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Sun Mar 26 2000 at 7:21:20

Here's the best chip-truth I have heard so far: There is a secret story in Pulp Fiction about Marcellus Wallace selling his soul to the devil, who extracted it through a small exit wound on the back of his neck. Hence the band-aid. This is also why Vincent Vega and Jules are sent to retrieve it, why the combination reads 666 and also why everyone who looks in the briefcase is dazzled. And that's why God saved Vince and Jules' asses. Insert Judaeo-Hebrew ethic regarding sin and getting anally raped here.

(idea) by Segnbora-t (14.2 hr) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Sun Mar 26 2000 at 20:17:37

I always liked the idea I heard once on alt.fan.quentin-tarantino that it was the diamonds from the robbery in Reservoir Dogs.

(idea) by Sylvar (1.2 wk) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Sun Mar 26 2000 at 21:03:04

It's a MacGuffin, of course.

(idea) by Orange Julius (7 d) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri May 12 2000 at 23:21:02

Quentin Tarantino has said that Ving Rhames wore the band-aid because he's got a scar on the back of his neck and they thought it would stand out. Why they chose to cover it with something that makes it stand out more is beyond me...

He's also said, "It's whatever you want it to be," indicating that it's not what's in the case that's important, but rather the fact that everyone wants it.

On a side note, I think Vincent was killed because he didn't receive the same "sign" that Jules did. Jules wanted to repent, while Vincent did not.


(idea) by Ninja-Lad (1.7 mon) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Sat Jun 03 2000 at 1:09:55

It was, in fact, a 40-watt lightbulb.

Interesting that we don't really have a way of expressing the distinction between inanimate objects' role as props in movies and their "real" nature or contents. Unlike with humans (where we have the actor/character dichotomy), this seems to be a big hole in our philosophical discussion verbal toolkit.


(thing) by Heterotopian (10 mon) (print)   ?   (I like it!) 1 C! Fri May 10 2002 at 5:22:11

I don't want to stir up an argument over what actually "was" in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction mainly for the following reasons:

  • The case is, as Sylvar and others have pointed out, a MacGuffin (see http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpulpfiction.html), and has no bearing on the plot,
  • There is no way to deduce its contents with any degree of certainty from what is presented to the viewer, and
  • Tarantino has already revealed that, during production, a standard alkaline battery and a lightbulb were used, as Ninja-Lad reveals.

    I would, however, have no hesitation in throwing out another theory just for the diehard Pulp Fiction fans like myself who always love a new spin on the plot. Mine is slightly less melodramatic than the "Marcellus' Soul" or "Resevoir Dogs' Diamonds" theories which are so popular, and has slightly more evidence than the equally cool "Repo Man Alien's Body" theory, which is unsubstantiable.

    So here is my theory of what is inside the case: an Academy Award

    What leads me to think so? Anyone who has seen "Swimming With Sharks" will know that Frank Whaley, who plays the unfortunate chap eating a Big Kahuna Burger in Pulp Fiction, played the part of an assitant to a big-time Hollywood executive in that movie. Marcellus Wallace's wife was a failed actress, so is it inconcievable that he found and hired someone in a position to steal the most coveted acting trophy in the world, to give to his wife as the biggest pick-me-up present ever? While this would take some creative cross-film referrencing by Tarantino, this is a very satisfying possibility to me. I would chalk up the "666" combination to that number being one of the easiest for drug-dealing assasins to remember, rather than some mystical sign of a covenant with the devil. And to those who would question the golden luminence of a trophy, Oscars are coated in gold leaf.

    Just some food for thought.


  • printable version
    chaos

    MacGuffin The interrupted-at-breakfast theme in Pulp Fiction Effects on an unprotected human body in the vacuum of space Marsellus Wallace
    Reservoir Dogs Pulp Fiction The briefcase Vincent Vega
    10 commandments of bad writers Someday you will drive your CowboyNeal to the CowboyNeal to pick up some more CowboyNeal I'm angry, and tired, and sad, and I just don't want to deal with it right now, so fuck off 666
    McGuffin The rape of Narnia Fight Club Jules Winnfield
    Queer as Folk Kiss Me Deadly Repo Man Ving Rhames
    Satori Mulholland Drive Princess Mononoke The Big Kahuna
    No more writeups are being accepted for this node. It's a light bulb, dudes. Get over it. If you feel you have something to add to this node, post it on your Scratch Pad and contact an editor.
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