# What was in Marsellus Wallace's briefcase?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890 "2003-11-01T21:18:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![InLikeFlynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f19dbf/32.png) [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/1 "2003-11-01T21:18:42Z")
In Pulp Fiction, when Vincent Vega found and then opened Marsellus Wallace’s briefcase found in Brad’s apartment, what was inside of it that made him glow with happiness? If this was a spolier for you,… I don’t really care!! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/2 "2003-11-01T21:40:10Z")
That bit was an homage to the “Great Whatsit” in [_Kiss Me Deadly_](http://www.filmmonthly.com/Noir/Articles/KissMeDeadly/KissMeDeadly.html). ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/3 "2003-11-01T21:56:38Z")
“My God. It’s full of stars.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/4 "2003-11-01T22:02:53Z")
It doesn’t matter, does it? Could be cash, drugs, gold, diamonds, military computer chips – Tarantino left it unspecified on purpose, to add to the sense of mystery. The briefcase was just a McGuffin, a numinous object that drives the plot – like the briefcase in _Ronin._ ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/5 "2003-11-01T23:22:44Z")
A red herring. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/6 "2003-11-01T23:29:03Z")
It was the Oscar that Tarantino hoped to win 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/7 "2003-11-01T23:42:04Z")
It was the alien from _Repo Man._ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/8 "2003-11-01T23:49:05Z")
The fountain of yute. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/9 "2003-11-01T23:55:37Z")
Dont have the link, Think i read it on fark or IMDB, but was rumored to be Marseullus Wallace’s soul. Being that a soul was the most beautiful thing in the world. Tarantino later disputed this in an interview. Sorry no cite, cant remember. ---
**Author:** ![WonTon\_Sean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WonTon\_Sean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonTon_Sean)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/10 "2003-11-02T01:16:29Z")
It’s a golden ticket to get into Willy Wonka’s factory. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/11 "2003-11-02T01:23:26Z")
A brand new digital Macguffin. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/12 "2003-11-02T01:30:47Z")
I remember McGuffin… that was a great show… that guy could fix himself up a whadjamacallit in no time flat and escape from the bad guy every time! ---
**Author:** ![minega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@minega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minega)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/13 "2003-11-02T01:32:21Z")
Tarantino still refuses to answer this question as far as i know ( just like he refuses to say why he called his debut film ‘Resevoir dogs’.) and he’ll probably never tell. I have seen entire websites devoted to the question, but i dont think Quentin is ever going to tell and spoil the mystery… ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/14 "2003-11-02T01:46:17Z")
Because an actual answer, no matter what it is, would be far less interesting than a question without one. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/15 "2003-11-02T02:17:51Z")
Pop culture junkie that Tarantino is, it has to be the instruction manual for the “supersuit” from the TV series _The Greatest American Hero_. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/16 "2003-11-02T02:44:03Z")
**widdershins:** LOL. How ‘bout… Juju’s petals? Proof of the Loch Ness Monster? The formulae for squaring a circle? Austin Powers’ Penis Pump? Security camera footage of the grassy knoll in Dallas? Marilyn Monroe’s sixth toe? ---
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/17 "2003-11-02T02:47:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WonTon Sean \* > \*\*It’s a golden ticket to get into Willy Wonka’s factory. \*\* 😃 Good one! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/18 "2003-11-02T03:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minega \* > \*\*Tarantino still refuses to answer this question as far as i know ( just like he refuses to say why he called his debut film ‘Resevoir dogs’.) and he’ll probably never tell. \*\* Um, actually, Tarantino has answered BOTH those questions, has he not? It’s fairly well known that “Reservoir Dogs” is just a play on his misunderstanding of the title “Au Revior Les Enfants.” As to the briefcase, Tarantino himself has said, on more than on occasion, that he never actually came up with any particular contents for the briefcase. There is no backstory and no secret. It’s just something that glows, and that’s as far as he went with it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/19 "2003-11-02T03:14:46Z")
It’s the Medusa from _Is There In Truth No Beauty?_ ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890/20 "2003-11-02T03:33:14Z")
OK, lets take a different tack: what was it in the actual prop that glowed yellow? was it a light? What type of fixture was it? Hwo was it attached? Battery or AC? If AC, where did the cord go- through a hole in the suitcase? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-in-marsellus-wallaces-briefcase/210890.md?page=2)