Original Premise: Pulp Fiction (1994) – The “Ezekiel 25:17” Scene
Samuel L. Jackson’s Jules recites his famous (and slightly altered) biblical monologue before executing Brett. The tension, the performance, the cinematography—it’s a masterclass in Tarantino storytelling.
Opening Scene
A cheap, rundown apartment, dimly lit by a single flickering lightbulb that seems to be in a personal battle with gravity. The walls are covered with questionable stains, an untrustworthy clock on the wall reads 7:42 a.m., and a fish tank in the corner holds no fish, just a confused goldfish-shaped air freshener. On the table, an untouched bowl of cereal—milk already evaporated.
Brett sits at a small kitchen table, sweating like a politician in a fact-checking convention. His two associates sit nearby, both holding sandwiches without bread. Across from them, Jules and Vincent stand in matching black suits, except Vincent’s tie is actually a measuring tape.
A framed sign on the wall reads: Customer Service: We Aim to Please. We Also Carry a Gun. A ceiling fan spins, blades missing at irregular intervals, making a sound reminiscent of an indecisive helicopter going down.
Jules: Brett, my man. You know why we’re here?
Brett: Because I borrowed money?
Jules: No.
Brett: Because I didn’t return the WallyBags Deluxe Travel Bag?
Jules: No.
Brett: Because I—
Jules: Brett, if I wanted a multiple-choice test, I’d be teaching third grade.
Vincent: I did that once. Turns out, “Show and Tell” does not include firearms.
Jules: We are here, Brett, because you made an egregious mistake. A mistake so offensive, so disturbing, that even in a world where pineapple has somehow found its way on pizza, you have managed to cross a line.
Brett: What do you mean?
Jules: You know. Pineapple on pizza: a controversial yet oddly satisfying clash of sweet, tangy pineapple and savory, salty pizza that sparks endless culinary debates and family feuds. But we don’t have time for that right now.
Jules: I’ll give you a hint. It rhymes with “stealing my boss’s very important briefcase and then lying about it like a guy who says he just needs ‘one more game’ before logging off.”
Jules: You see, Brett, my boss, Mr. Marcellus Wallace—big guy, bald head, terrifying demeanor, known for eliminating people who inconvenience him in ways so creative they’d make an insurance adjuster weep—he is not pleased with you.
Brett: Look, I can explain—
Jules: Oh, you will. But first, let me ask you something…
Jules straightens his tie, producing an ominous click as though it has been loaded like a firearm.
Jules: There’s a passage from the Bible I’ve memorized. It’s from Ezekiel 25:17. You ever read the Bible, Brett?
Brett: Uh, yeah, once or twice.
Jules: Oh yeah? You ever read the extended director’s cut?
Brett: The what now?
Jules: And lo, the Lord said unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt not take what ain’t thine, lest ye desire to meet the business end of a righteous smiting.’
Brett: That… that doesn’t sound like the Bible.
Jules: You calling the Lord a liar?
Brett: I’m just saying, maybe he didn’t phrase it exactly like—
Jules: Brett, do I look like a theologian?
Brett: Definitely not. The last time you were here you tried quoting scripture to me. You called Noah’s Ark a “two-for-one animal cruise.”
Jules: And yet, here we are.
Jules slowly pulls out his gun, cocks it with a dramatic click, but instead of firing, a tiny flag pops out with the words “BANG!”
Brett: Look, fellas, let’s not be hasty!
Jules: Hasty? Brett, my patience is like an airline seat—very limited, uncomfortable, and easily snaps under pressure.
Vincent: (Looking at his watch) You might wanna wrap this up. We’re parked illegally at McDonald’s.
Jules: Right. Brett, any last words before I send you to the customer service department of the afterlife?
Brett: Uh… how about a refund?
Jules and Vincent exchange a look. They both shrug.
Jules: Yeah. That’s fair.
Vincent: (Pulls out a receipt book) Cash or store credit?
Denouement and Closing Scene
The final scene has Jules and Vincent proceeding to “refund” Brett. In the background, the broken ceiling fan detaches and flies through the air, dramatically severing Jules in half. Vincent leaves alone to get a Royal with Cheese.
Next up: The Shawshank Rejection
