Essay Questions

Why does the young boy rap to Kurring?

Kurring is leaving the scene of Marcie's apartment where he found a dead man in the closet. On his way out a young kid from the building walks with him and eventually raps for the officer. Kurring doesn't get it, and tells the kid to stay in school. But the reason the kid rapped for Kurring was to tell him the details of the murder, he even told him who the killer was but Kurring wasn't listening nor did he believe the kid.

What is Officer Kurring losing his gun significant?

Officer Kurring is a cop in Los Angeles' North Hollywood precinct. He does not have a partner, and we see that even at the crime scene he arrives first on, he isn't interviewed for a statement. He's a man who has a need to be a great cop. Thus, when he loses his pistol while being shot at it signifies his inability to be this version of himself where he is great as a policeman and gains respect from his peers, and finds a woman to love him. He even tells Claudia on their date that he is a terrible cop because he lost his gun, and he is afraid she won't want to be with him because of this.

Why does Phil attempt to get Frank to see Earl?

Phil is Earl's hospice nurse who is with him as he is dying. At the beginning of his day with Earl, we watch as Earl becomes very loopy, he's become lost in a daze and he asks Phil to find Frank. Phil sees it as the dying wish of an old man who wants to reconcile with his son so, he tracks down Frank and tells him what is happening to give him the chance to see his dad one last time before he dies.