How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Pulp Fiction.
Quote #1
RINGO: I heard about this guy, walked into a federal bank with a portable phone, handed the phone to the teller, the guy on the other end of the phone said: "We got this guy's little girl, and if you don't give him all your money, we're gonna kill 'er."
YOLANDA: Did it work?
RINGO: F***in'- A it worked, that's what I'm talkin' about! Knucklehead walks in a bank with a telephone, not a pistol, not a shotgun, but a f***in' phone, cleans the place out, and they don't lift a f***in' finger.
YOLANDA: Did they hurt the little girl?
RINGO: I don't know. There probably never was a little girl— the point of the story isn't the little girl. The point of the story is they robbed the bank with a telephone.
Yolanda and Ringo's extended conversation about different kinds of robberies takes up the first five minutes of the film. We're wondering, what's going on here? Then they stop on a dime, pull out their guns, and start threatening the restaurant patrons. They're hoping that if they sound threatening enough, like the guys on the phone, everyone will go along.
Quote #2
JULES: What country you from?
BRETT: What?
JULES: "What" ain't no country I know! Do they speak English in "What?"
BRETT: What?
JULES: English-m***********-can-you-speak-it?
BRETT: Yes.
JULES: Then you understand what I'm sayin'?
BRETT: Yes.
JULES: Now describe what Marsellus Wallace looks like!
BRETT: What?
JULES: (points his gun at Brett's head) Say "What" again! C'mon, say "What" again! I dare ya, I double dare ya m***********, say "What" one more goddamn time! [pause] Now describe to me what Marsellus Wallace looks like!
It's very important to Jules to be very clear when he talks. He's got a deliberate and intense way of speaking. Brett's gonna get killed anyway, but the fact that he's stammering and inarticulate just makes it worse.
Quote #3
MIA: (over the intercom) Vincent, I'm on the intercom. It's on the wall by the two African fellas…to your right…Warm…warmer…Disco.
VINCENT: Hello.
MIA: Push the button if you want to talk.
VINCENT: (into intercom) Hello.
MIA: Go make yourself a drink and I'll be down in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
Mia's disembodied voice on the intercom creates some distance between her and Vincent. Vincent's already nervous about this encounter, and this just adds to the tension and mystery. It puts Mia in control and creates a seductive atmosphere. Tarantino also does this when Marsellus is asking Butch to throw the fight. We hear his voice, but he's off-screen. It adds to the shadowy mystery surrounding Marsellus and puts him in control.