Quentin Tarantinois often cited as one of the most prolific, violent, and thought-provoking directors of all time. With such works asReservoir Dogs(1992), theKill Billduology, andDjango Unchained(2012), he has created compelling story arcs with innovative narratives that produce shock and awe, as well asforce the viewer to ask questions.
For one of the questions that has long gone unanswered, we turn toPulp Fiction(1994).With this film’s narrative being told in abroken anthological fashion, some can find it disorienting to wrap their heads around the plot threads that are woven intricately throughout. One of those plot threads is the briefcase that Marsellus Wallace sends Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield to retrieve. While the contents of the briefcase are never shown,many have speculatedon what could be contained within. Here we will go over different ideas, from the basic to the outrageous, and try to make the best case for what was inside Marsellus' briefcase.
One of the more easily explained motives may be that the briefcase is full of cold hard cash. Money is a motivating factor throughout the entire film for various characters, so it would stand to reason that the formula would remain the same when it comes to the contents of the briefcase. Marsellus, as a criminal, would often hand money out as incentives to coerce people into working for him, as was the case when he attempted to bribe Butch Coolidge into taking a dive in his boxing match.
The briefcase is initially found to be in the hands of an associate of Marsellus', named Brett. Brett appears very nervous, as there is a suspicion that he intended to take the money, split it with his friends, and run, so Vincent and Jules would kill Brett and one of his friends before taking Marvin, the only survivor, away, potentially for confirmation. While this is an easy explanation, there are alternatives.
Related:Samuel L. Jackson Details Original, More Violent Diner Scene from Pulp Fiction
Gold/Jewels
A more enticing idea for what may be inside the briefcase would be golden bars or jewelry. The most glaring example of why this may be the contents is the fact that when the briefcase opens, there is a glow emanating from the inside. While this could be explained away by some lighting being activated upon the case’s opening, the awe that is inspired by the person that opens it must be inspired by something.
The odds that the contents are along the lines of jewelry are increased when considering that Brett must have had a strong belief that he could easily fence whatever was inside the briefcase. While gold would have been more challenging, assuming Brett intended to leave the state and cross-country, he could have found an easy way of fencing jewels and getting untraceable cash, given the era the movie is set in.
Another common theme featured throughout the film is the use of drugs. Many characters are seen abusing controlled substances, most notably Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace, as Vincent intended to use heroin, only for Mia to overdose after mistaking the heroin for cocaine. Marsellus, being a criminal who appears to have his hand in many different fields of organized crime, would be no stranger to drug trafficking.
While the glow inside of the briefcase would still be challenging to explain, it could be a reference to the dated phrase “sunshine in a bag,” with the drugs emitting a sunny glow from the case, enticing the person who looks upon to be amazed at the high one could get off of such an amount. And while Brett appears to have signs of simply being nervous at having guns pointed at him, his stuttering and cold sweats could also be a sign that he had already used some of the product he was charged with dealing.
Related:These Are Some of the Coolest Movies With Hitmen and Assassins
Marsellus Wallace’s Soul
This is a theory that, at face value, seems wholly unbelievable, but holds merit among many of the fans who have theorized over the last 25-plus years as to what could be inside the briefcase. There are theories that Marsellus had previously sold his soul to the devil, with key indicators pointing to the fact that the combination to the briefcase is ‘666’ and that Marsellus has an unexplained band-aid covering a scar on the back of his neck.
This would explain the shock and awe that people feel upon seeing inside the briefcase. There are religious anecdotes spread throughout the film, specifically concerning the character Jules Winnfield. Samuel L. Jackson isoften remembered for this role, where Jules wouldrecite biblical scriptureand cite the fact that he has survived near-impossible odds as divine intervention, telling him toleave this unethical work. Despite the film’s grounded nature, many point to this theory as the most likely. While it might be more of the audience wanting this theory to be true than the theory actually being true, it still provides a fun explanation for one of cinema’s longest-standing questions.
