Posted by Joey cheri popper at 207-215-153-178.portofsandiego.org on November 30, 2000 at 11:55:03:
In Reply to: So posted by BMFLobo on November 30, 2000 at 11:13:21:
What's in the briefcase?
If there's one question that's asked more than any other, it's this one. QT said himself in an interview that he had no intention of making actual contents for the case, leaving it up to the viewer instead. So, here are some possible answers as to what Marsellus Wallace's "dirty laundry" is:
The satchel of diamonds from Reservoir Dogs. (You never did see the stones, did you?)
The evil of all men. Consider that the combination was "666."
A giant Royale with Cheese. Could be an imported delectable made specially for Marsellus.
Bouillon soup mix. Pure broth, with extra MSG to provide the glow.
Dayglow lemon pops. Hey, if Telly Savalas looked good eating a sucker, why not Marsellus?
Some of the stash from Repo Man. Yeah it was green originally, but after 12 years, you'd expect it to turn a different color, wouldn't you?
A cache of gold bricks. No matter what your belief is in money, an authentic gold brick is beautiful to look at. It's no wonder why Pumpkin was in awe. Then again, if it were gold bricks, it would be kinda hard to carry.
A birthday cake. Think about it -- when Vincent opens the case, he's spellbound, and when Jules asks "Are we happy," all Vincent can do is smile and chuckle like a kid. (Perhaps it was part of a surprise party for Marsellus.) Then, when Pumpkin looks at it, he says, "It's beautiful," and all I could do was picture him staring at an intricate, painstakingly detailed inscription on the frosting. And there could have been lit candles on the top, which explains the glow!
Marsellus' soul. This theory is used more than any other, considering the visuals and plot line. Marsellus wears a bandage in the back of his head, perhaps to cover an incision which The Devil made to take the soul. Jules and Vincent experience "Divine Intervention" in getting the briefcase, and Jules' Ezekiel 25:17 speech talks about evil and all that other biblical stuff.
But I personally think it's an Oscar statue. It only weighs about eight pounds, making it easy to carry in a briefcase. Bret and his roommates could have worked at a movie studio as errand boys, and they snatched a loose Oscar, but didn't want to give it to Marsellus. Also, Mia admitted she never went far in acting, so Marsellus, being the protective husband he is, decided to get her an Oscar to show how much he cares. And wouldn't the Oscar look great next to the Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest trophy? As well, keep in mind that the film was based in and around Hollywood, and what does everyone in Hollywood want? Yep, an Oscar. But what about the glow, you ask? Well, artistic license, I guess. Still, it makes sense when Pumpkin asks "Is that what I think it is," since that would be the question anyone would ask if he/she saw an Oscar statue.