Analysis: Pulp Fiction (cont’d)
Jeff Messerman asked a question about Quentin Tarantino and narrative structure which I responded to here, specifically breaking down the plot structure of Pulp Fiction in which I concluded:
But after reading the script several times, I have come to the conclusion that Tarantino, whether he intended it or not, hit upon non-linearity as the only way he could tell one particular storyline in the script, the tale which comprises the ‘moral’ center of the movie, the story around which the screenplay’s Themeline revolves. That story involves the fates of Jules and Vincent.
Following up on that, here’s something you might find interesting: Going through the script and tagging each scene sequence as part of a timeline.
PULP FICTION
TIMELINE
PUMPKIN AND HONEY BUNNY (P. 1–7) PRESENT DAY
The Coffee Shop heist
JULES AND VINCENT (P. 7–26) MONDAY
’74 Chevy (“Le Quarter Pounder”)
Apartment building shoot-out with four guys
Kill Roger and Brett (but not Marvin), then Jules and Vincent shot at by Fourth Man, but they survive and blast Fourth Man away
Jules and Vincent get black briefcase from Brett et al
BUTCH COOLIDGE AND MARSELLUS WALLACE (P. 26–27) MONDAY?
Butch takes a bribe from Marsellus to lose prize fight in the 5th round
VINCENT, BUTCH AND MARSELLUS (P. 27–30) MONDAY? (LATER)
Carrying the black briefcase, Vincent enters Sally LeRoy’s topless bar
Butch finishes with Marsellus and meets Vincent at the bar (immediate bad vibes)
Marsellus greets Vincent
Fact introduced: Vincent to go out Marsellus’ wife, Mia, “tomorrow”
VINCENT, LANCE, AND JODY (P. 30–34) TUESDAY (NIGHT)
Jody talks about tattoos and body piercing
Vincent scores heroin
Vincent reveals his Malibu was recently keyed
VINCENT AND MIA (P. 34–38) TUESDAY (LATER)
Marsellus’ house
Vincent meets Mia
VINCENT AND MIA II (P. 38–50) TUESDAY (LATER)
Jackrabbit Slim’s
Lots of dialogue, flirting, and cocaine
VINCENT AND MIA III (P. 50–53) TUESDAY (LATER)
More flirting
Mia snorts Vincent’s heroin and overdoses
VINCENT AND MIA IV — WITH LANCE, JODY (P. 53–64) TUESDAY (LATER)
Vincent crashes car into Lance’s house to get Lance to help
Shot of adrenalin and Mia comes back from the dead
VINCENT AND MIA V (P. 64–66) TUESDAY (LATER)
Back at Marcellus’ house — drop off
BUTCH AS A YOUNG BOY (P. 66–68) 1972
Butch hears story about how his POW father died in Vietnam
The importance of the watch
BUTCH AND TAXI RIDE — AFTER THE FIGHT (P. 69–77) WEDNESDAY?
Hear over radio about the fight
Butch ‘escapes’ and taxi ride
BUTCH AND FABIAN — PART I (P. 77–82) WEDNESDAY (LATER)
Butch hooks up with Fabian in motel room
Sex
BUTCH AND FABIAN — PART II (P. 83–84) WEDNESDAY (LATER)
More Butch and Fabian
BUTCH AND FABIAN — PART III (P. 84–92) THURSDAY AM
More Butch and Fabian
She forgot his watch
BUTCH GOES AFTER WATCH — PART I (P. 92–94) THURSDAY (LATER)
Convinces himself he needs to go back to apartment to get watch
BUTCH GOES AFTER WATCH — PART II (P. 94–97) THURSDAY (LATER)
In his apartment, Butch finds watch
Kills Vincent (Vincent is dead)
BUTCH GOES AFTER WATCH — PART III (P. 97–101) THURSDAY (LATER)
Butch has run-in with Marsellus
They both end up in the pawn shop in the clutches of Zed and Maynard
BUTCH AND MASELLUS (P. 101–109) THURSDAY (LATER)
Zed, Maynard and the Gimp
Butch escapes and saves Marsellus
Marsellus allows Butch to go free
BUTCH AND FABIAN (P. 109–111) THURSDAY (LATER)
They leave town
JULES AND VINCENT (P. 112–115) MONDAY (SEE PREVIOUS)
The same scene as earlier, only now from perspective of Fourth Man (in bathroom)
Continue scene which ended with shooting
Jules convinced they survived due to miracle
JULES AND VINCENT — PART II (P. 115–120) MONDAY (LATER)
With Marvin in the back seat, Jules and Vincent drive
Jules announces he is going to tell Marsellus he wants to quit
Vincent accidentally shoots Marvin
The guys determine they have to go somewhere to clean up the mess
JULES AND VINCENT — PART III (P. 120–126) MONDAY (LATER)
At Jules’ friend Jimmie’s house
Jules calls Marsellus who calls “The Wolf”
JULES AND VINCENT — PART IV (P. 127–139) MONDAY (LATER)
The Wolf oversees the clean-up operation, prepping Marvin’s body for disposal
Jules and Vincent dress in UC Santa Cruz and “I’m With Stupid” T-shirts
JULES AND VINCENT — PART V (P. 139–143) MONDAY (LATER)
At Monster Joe’s Truck and Tow where Marvin disposed of
Decide to get breakfast
COFFEE SHOP –(P. 143–159) PRESENT DAY/MONDAY (SEE PREVIOUS SCENE)
Jules and Vincent eat breakfast
Jules firm in his decision to quit the business
Interrupted by Bunny and Honey Bunny robbery (intro scene)
Two futures:
1. We see Jules blowing Pumpkin and Honey Bunny away
2. We see Jules work out of the situation without killing them
Non-linear stories are tricky, but when they work, they can make the narrative that much more interesting.