# Pulp Fiction - plot nit I noticed (spoilers, I guess) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809 "2012-08-27T12:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/41 "2012-08-27T21:32:11Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Do we see how J & V get to the bar? They catch a cab from Monster Joe’s Truck and Tow and go to the diner for breakfast. Do they take another cab to the bar? Later, Vincent complains about someone keying his car, and I’ve heard at least one person say it was Butch after Vincent called him “Punchy”. But Vincent’s ride would have probably been in a garage in Redondo Beach at the time.[/size] IIRC, there’s a deleted scene where Vincent and Jules drive up to the bar to deliver the briefcase. (I think it’s on the DVD, but maybe they just talk about it.) There’s only one other car in the parking lot, which Vincent parks next to. (Butch’s obviously.) Presumably they took a cab from the diner to wherever Vincent parked his car, or maybe the diner was nearby. The fact that they stopped for breakfast at all suggests that time wasn’t of the essence once they had the briefcase in their possession. Anyway, as to the original topic of the thread, I agree that in a movie that has all sorts of ellipses and condusions, the failure of the police to find Butch and Marcellus in the basement of a shop in which they were being held prisoner isn’t much of a stretch at all. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/42 "2012-08-27T22:44:51Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I loved the nonlinear storyline but to put all the scenes in chronological order: > [ol] > [li]Vincent & Jules recover the briefcase[/li][li]The Bonnie Situation[/li][li]The Diner Part 1 [/li][li]The Diner Part 2 [/li][li]Vincent Vega & Marcellus Wallace’s Wife[/li][li]Butch’s pre-fight dream: Captain Koons’ gold watch speech[/li][li]The Gold Watch[/li][/ol] It would be great to see the movie in correct chronological order, wonder if it would diminish it? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/43 "2012-08-27T22:51:41Z")
I’ve seen it - it does. The non-linear structure is part of what makes the movie so good. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/44 "2012-08-27T23:04:28Z")
OK, I just watched the patched together opening and ending. 11:04 seconds from draw down to Vincent and Jules departing. But I did notice that there wasn’t a lot of outside foot traffic and the blinds were down. Not closed, but down. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/45 "2012-08-27T23:34:55Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Yeah, that line is really dated. The rest of the movie holds up well, though. The hell? Five bucks is cheap for a milkshake? WTF? I would never pay that much for a milkshake, and I believe we live in the same city. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/46 "2012-08-28T00:08:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The hell? Five bucks is cheap for a milkshake? WTF? I would never pay that much for a milkshake, and I believe we live in the same city. That’s five dollars? You don’t put bourbon in it or nothin’? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/47 "2012-08-28T00:32:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The hell? Five bucks is cheap for a milkshake? WTF? I would never pay that much for a milkshake Maybe not now, but later when Sheridans Frozen Custard cracks Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/48 "2012-08-28T00:41:25Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Maybe not now, but later when Sheridans Frozen Custard cracks Chicago. Well, add to that the fact that Pulp Fiction came out in 1994. Five bucks in those times is equal to about $7.50 today. That’s just _crazy_ for a milkshake, in my experience. One of my favorite milkshakes in the Chicago area, at Edzo’s, is four bucks. And that, to me, is even pushing it. A large milk shake at The Brown Sack, is $5. Small one is $4. (Brown Sack comes up on various lists as being among the best shakes in Chicago.) The place by my high school that was well regarded in the community, Wojo’s, is $3.89 for a large. I just can’t imagine what kind of shake you’d get for $7.50 today. It had better be spiked. Seriously, who the hell pays more than five bucks for a shake today, much less in 1994? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/49 "2012-08-28T00:41:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The hell? Five bucks is cheap for a milkshake? WTF? I would never pay that much for a milkshake, and I believe we live in the same city. Popular Los Angeles diners that do NOT have costumed waitstaff and fancy floor shows: [Canter’s](http://www.cantersdeli.com/menu.html) (link to menu with prices) Malts/Shakes $5.50 [The 101](http://www.the101coffeeshop.com/Menu3.php) (link to menu with prices) Shakes and Malts $5.50 [Swingers](http://swingersdiner.com/menu.php) (link to menu with prices) Ice Cream Shakes 4.95 add malt .50 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/50 "2012-08-28T00:42:59Z")
That’s a little pricey by my standards, but not much. Remember, Pulp Fiction was 1994. That’s the equivalent of a $7.50 shake today. I mean, [here’s a list of local best milkshakes](http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2012/Best-Milkshakes-in-Chicago-Favorites-from-Allium-Choppers-Edzos-and-More/). You can get a friggin “miso butterscotch” milkshake in the Four Seasons Hotel, no less, for five bucks. A 14-oz shake that the chef says is “meant to be shared.” ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/51 "2012-08-28T01:25:16Z")
A large milkshake at Baskin-Robbins (which could hardly be considered upscale) costs over $6.50. On the other hand, I recently had a vanilla milkshake at Bob’s Big Boy for only $3.89, and it was pretty fuckin’ good. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/52 "2012-08-28T01:57:52Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > A large milkshake at Baskin-Robbins (which could hardly be considered upscale) costs over $6.50. Holy shit. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/53 "2012-08-28T02:40:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Holy shit. Only if you are lactose intolerant. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/54 "2012-08-28T13:48:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > - Do we see how J & V get to the bar? They catch a cab from Monster Joe’s Truck and Tow and go to the diner for breakfast. Do they take another cab to the bar? Later, Vincent complains about someone keying his car, and I’ve heard at least one person say it was Butch after Vincent called him “Punchy”. But Vincent’s ride would have probably been in a garage in Redondo Beach at the time. This is true…Butch was the one that keyed Vincent’s car. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/55 "2012-08-28T14:10:06Z")
I love the fact that my OP nit was addressed upthread a while ago but the thread is still going. I guess folks enjoy discussing this movie - which is cool; it has a lot of intricacies and also gets strong reactions from folks. Hard to believe it came out 18 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/56 "2012-08-28T14:28:46Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I love the fact that my OP nit was addressed upthread a while ago but the thread is still going. I guess folks enjoy discussing this movie - which is cool; it has a lot of intricacies and also gets strong reactions from folks. > > Hard to believe it came out 18 years ago. **Pulp Fiction** is always fun to talk about. It’s one of the few movies I’ve seen multiple times in the theater. I think I saw it 4 or 5 times when it came out. ---
**Author:** ![el\_nombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9dc877/32.png) [@el\_nombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_nombre)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/57 "2012-08-28T15:48:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Actually, the connection is Inglourious Basterds -\> True Romance -\> Reservoir Dogs -\> Pulp Fiction. > > Donnie Donowitz (the Bear Jew) from IG is the father of Lee Donowitz from TR. Alabama from TR is the former partner of Mr. White from RD. And Vic Vega from RD is the brother of Vincent Vega from PF. And…in the upcoming Django Unchained, the character played by Kerry Washington is supposed to be the great grandmother of Shaft, a non-Tarantino character, which _could_ mean that all Tarantino movies live within the universe started in 1971’s Shaft. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/58 "2012-08-28T16:10:38Z")
I don’t see where the problem is. Real life cops are not super-efficient there-in-20-seconds machines either. My only nitpick: _**Esmeralda: What is your name? Butch: Butch. Esmeralda: What does it mean? Butch: I’m American, honey. Our names don’t mean shit.**_ But your name is BUTCH!!! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/59 "2012-08-28T17:06:44Z")
The Tarantino Universe also overlaps the Robert Rodriguez Universe thanks to _Grindhouse_. A couple of Tarantino characters, e.g, Sheriff Earl Warren (Michael Parks) from _Kill Bill Vol. 1_, appear in both segments. And in the _Planet Terror_ segment, some of Robert Rodriguez’s characters from other films appear, most notably Danny Trejo as Machete from _Machete_ and other quality films. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809/60 "2012-08-28T17:22:39Z")
I think you meant Earl McGraw, not Earl Warren. Though that would be hilarious. He played the same character in From Dusk Till Dawn as well, though IIRC, he doesn’t survive his scene. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pulp-fiction-plot-nit-i-noticed-spoilers-i-guess/632809.md?page=4)