In the critically acclaimed neo-noir crime film, LA Confidential (1997), the script is intricately woven with the complex police jargon and language of the time and place it portrays, often leaving viewers intrigued and perplexed.
LA Confidential Plot Summary
Set against the backdrop of 1950s downtown Los Angeles, LA Confidential explores the intricate web of corruption surrounding an unresolved murder at a local coffee shop. At the heart of the narrative, we find three distinct policemen, each driven by their unique obsessions and motives.
Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce) is a son haunted by his father’s unsolved murder, consumed by a burning desire for revenge. His path crosses with Officer White (Russell Crowe), whose former partner has been implicated in a scandal that Exley himself unearthed; a scandal that ended tragically for White’s partner.
Further complicating the narrative, we have Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), a man who plays both sides of the law. Vincennes covertly feeds classified information to a notorious tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito), further fueling the intricate network of deceit and corruption.
What ‘Q’ Did Bud White Referred To?
In the critically acclaimed neo-noir crime film, LA Confidential (1997), the script is intricately woven with the complex language of the time and place it portrays, often leaving viewers intrigued and perplexed. One such instance is when Officer Bud White, played by Russell Crowe, utters the line, “Guy’s been out of Q two weeks” during a pivotal night scene. But what does ‘Q’ signify in this context?
The term ‘Q’ in LA Confidential is a shorthand reference for ‘Quarantine’. It’s a law enforcement jargon used to describe a period of time a convict spends in isolation or segregation before reintegration into society. This practice is often employed as a preventive measure to ensure that the individual does not pose a threat to themselves or others upon their release.
“Guy’s been out of Q two weeks”
By saying this, Officer Bud White indicates that the man they are watching, who is physically abusing his spouse, has been released from quarantine – presumably from prison – just two weeks prior. It provides context to the man’s violent behaviour, painting a disturbing picture of a convict returning to his old ways shortly after his release.
However, fans have speculated that ‘Q’ is used to refer to the San Quentin State Prison in California in LA Confidential. According to Police 1.com also, the law enforcement jargon states that ‘Q’ is used to refer to the San Quentin penitentiary. With its establishment dating back to 1852 and officially opening its doors in 1854, San Quentin holds the distinction of being the oldest prison in California. This seasoned institution is not only a testament to the state’s penal history but also serves as the exclusive death row facility for male inmates in California, making it the largest of its kind in the United States.
Officer Bud White also mentions the San Quentin prison in one of the scenes in LA Confidential when he’s talking to the wife-beater.
“You know what they do to kiddie rapers in Quentin, don’t ya?”
Over the years, San Quentin has not only been the backdrop for various films, radio dramas, videos, podcasts, and television shows, but it has been the subject of numerous books, hosted concerts, and housed many infamous inmates. It’s a place that has quite literally played a role in shaping California’s penal narrative.
