What was in the Briefcase?

Question

Can anyone tell me what was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction? And what is the Band-Aid on the back of Marsellus's neck about? Is there a connection? You never see or hear anyone say what's in the case. Thanks, - Hedy

Potential Answer (also see comments)

Note: If you don't remember the briefcase, check out the Hamburger scene video.

Metadata

Category:   Questions
Posted Date:  
Movie/Topic:   Pulp Fiction
Posted by:   Pulp Sloth
Article Tags:  Questions   MarsellusWallace   VingRhames 

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USER COMMENTS

McHombre

Guys, the band-aid on the back of his head is from when butch hit him with the glass bottle in the sore before they are tied up.

Eggburt

I like to think that Marsellus Wallace was the guy that robbed the bank with the telephone, and that there's quite simply just gold in the briefcase

Pinupvixen

If it was gold the stupid guy holding up the diner wouldn't ask the stupid question, "what is it".

dadog

always comes back to the same question...be it Marcellus Wallace's soul or gold, why do those guys have it and what are they talking about when they want to apologize for the "misunderstanding?"

dadog

actually what brett said was he wanted to apologize that things got so fucked up and that they had gotten into this thing "with the best of intentions" i dont know how the theory of Marsellus Wallace's soul or the stolen gold fits into the scenario

Yoton

It's heroin you muppets

Yoton

It's heroin you muppets in the brief case. Simple

Mr. Green

whats in the case is whatever you want it to be, as sead by Tarantino. (i think it's the dimands from reservoir dogs). the band-aid? it was a cut Ving Rhames (Marcellus Wallace) accidently gave himself while shaveing his head. Tarantino thought it looked cool, so he kept it.

Lauren Stephen

The theory that it's Wallace's soul in the briefcase is a very interesting one. Ultimately, though, there is no real proof in the film that it is any one thing. It's whatever you think it is or want it to be. As someone has said, it is what Hitchcock called a MacGuffin: an object or device that is a trigger for the plot. Often the specific nature of the MacGuffin is unimportant to the overall plot, and I think Tarantino was quite brilliant in understanding this and so made a MacGuffin that could be anything.

One word of caution about the bandaid. I strongly feel that films should be analyzed by what's on screen. Some of what makes it on screen is deliberate and some of it is accident,bit all of it is part of the film. It's terrible film analysis to say that, 'oh well Ving Rhames just had a scar on his neck and that's why the band aid is there so it doesn't have any significance or meaning or symbolism'. It's what makes it on screen that counts. For this same reason, it wouldn't really matter if Tarantino didn't intend for it to be his soul. If what's on screen allows for that interpretation, then it's a valid interpretation. Directors don't have absolute control over the meaning if their movies.

bayivan

Didn't he have a tattoo?

konsol

Ok, so in cultural studies you learn that there are hidden chapters in pulp fiction two being the extraction of marcellous's soul and adam and eve. so 1, marcellous has no soul, 2, that is the forbidden fruit which the two coffe shop lovers (who would represent adam and eve) took a bite of / or would of.... but instead the took a bite out of jules wallet.

Vettedude85

I caught a blooper that I've never heard discussed. When Vincent meets Butch
in the bar, he's already wearing the shorts
and T-shirt. But, later in the movie,
when Butch shoots Vincent in the kitchen,
He's still wearing the suit, as if it happened
Before the shooting of the kid. Did anyone else
catch that ?

Vettedude85

I caught a blooper that I've never heard discussed. When Vincent meets Butch
in the bar, he's already wearing the shorts
and T-shirt. But, later in the movie,
when Butch shoots Vincent in the kitchen,
He's still wearing the suit, as if it happened
Before the shooting of the kid. Did anyone else
catch that ?

mickeee

The simple answer is "it." Flock of Seagulls had "it." Vincent was sent to get "it" back. Each character's "it" was represented by something they would do to get "it" back. Be it the boxers watch or even his pride. The watch he'd do anything risk everything to get "it" back again or his pride that stopped him from throwing the boxing match he'd didn't want to loose "it" in this case for anything. Wallace wanted "it" back & was prepared to kill to get "it" back. And so on. We all have an it. Pulp Fiction was an entertaining film reflecting everyone's "it" in life.

Barba Aurea

I like and respect Tarantino's work.(But I don't know enough on his work)

Anyway,
My take on the briefcase (treating Pulp Fiction independently from other films) is that it contained the match outcome with HUGE ODDS against Butch. Obviously being told to take the fall. ("They're going to keep underestimating you Butch")
Then, I think its safe to assume that we all know how that turned out following the events in that movie.
And maybe, the bandage on Wallace's neck was a representation of Butch stabbing him in the back. And Butch clearly had the chance to do it again (for real this time: i.e. the scene in the pawn shop basement).

In the underworld of Odds manipulation, Greed plays a huge part of that... I'll just skip the theological mumbo jumbo and go ahead and say that in way, the briefcase does contain Wallace's soul. But how much is it worth, exactly, and who decides?

Smoking Trees

Glowing embers of trees!

Maynard

In the briefcase was a Royale with Cheese!
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