History Main / CollapsedMidSpeech

* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/TheMoonIsAHarshMistress''. While Professor Bernardo de la Paz was on Earth he suffered greatly from the Earth's greater gravity, as it was six times what he was used to. After he returned to the Moon he seemed to get better. Near the end of the novel, after the Moon had won the war with the Federated Nations of Earth, he gave a speech to a crowd of Loonies.

** A variation in ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' has Rico protesting against his commander's decision to activate a post-hypnotic suggestion for him to sleep[[note]] They are on a Bug-occupied planet, Rico feels he should be awake and alert to lead his men, his commander feels he should take the chance to rest while it's quiet and be rested and alert for trouble later[[/note]]. The twist being that ''Rico'' doesn't immediately realize anything has happened, except for his commander's confused reaction to Rico picking up on their discussion mid-sentence, several hours later.

Compare to {{Killed Mid Sentence}}, {{Almost Dead Guy}}.

{{Rule Of Drama}} - collapsing in public is a pretty spectacular way to go.

* An entire mob of grown-ups pass out during a speech in the ''{{Spy Kids}}'' movie.

* In {{Ngaio Marsh}}'s ''The Nursing Home Murder'', an ailing and unpopular Prime Minister collapses while speaking in the House of Commons. He's sent to a private hospital for an emergency appendectomy, but doesn't survive the procedure.

** A variation in ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' has Rico protesting against his commander's decision to activate a post-hypnotic suggestion for him to sleep[[hottip:*: They are on a Bug-occupied planet, Rico feels he should be awake and alert to lead his men, his commander feels he should take the chance to rest while it's quiet and be rested and alert for trouble later]]. The twist being that ''Rico'' doesn't immediately realize anything has happened, except for his commander's confused reaction to Rico picking up on their discussion mid-sentence, several hours later.

* In ''{{Inherit The Wind}}'', Matthew Harrison Brady is giving his closing speech, which his old and weary voice tries and fails to make sound passionate. After the microphone is taken away from him, he desperately tries to continue, but suddenly falls silent and collapses. As he is carried out of the courtroom in a semi-conscious state, he strangely starts speaking on being inaugurated as President. He dies offstage soon after.

* Played with in ''{{Buffy The Vampire Slayer}}'': The Mayor starts his Ascension in the middle of his speech to the graduating students, which causes him strong pains. However, he knew that it would happen and his collapse last few moments before he turns into a demonic snake. He only complains that he doesn't have time left to talk about civic pride.

A common variant has the victim simply having a heart attack, fainting, or falling ill without poison.

* ''{{Babylon 5}}'' discusses and subverts this. Londo and Vir plan to assassinate the mad emperor. Londo worries that the Emperor will give a deathbed speech. The "almost" instantaneous poison is supposed to stop this. Vir jokes that maybe the Emperor will shout "Kill Londo!", Londo is not amused. [[spoiler:Vir ends up stabbing the Emperor with the poison needle. His last words are simply "I was to be a god."]]

* Robert Heinlein's ''{{The Moon is a Harsh Mistress}}''. While Professor Bernardo de la Paz was on Earth he suffered greatly from the Earth's greater gravity, as it was six times what he was used to. After he returned to the Moon he seemed to get better. Near the end of the novel, after the Moon had won the war with the Federated Nations of Earth, he gave a speech to a crowd of Loonies.

* On the very first page of ''KeychainOfCreation'', Secret collapses out of breath in the process of saying her OverlyLongName.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* My mom (I hate to use "this troper") told me about a very infamous incident that happened in my hometown. It happened in the early 1990s I think. The Leader of the town was running for re-election and was at a debate when he had a massive heart attack and died. This could also count as KilledMidSentence as he died before he arrived at the hospital I believe. Oh ya, it was also on live T.V.

* In ''{{Inherit The Wind}}'', Matthew Harrison Brady is giving his closing speech, which his old and weary voice tries and fails to make sound passionate. After the microphone is taken away from him, he desperately tries to continue, but suddenly falls silent and collapses. As he is carried out of the courtroom in a semi-conscious state, he strangely starts speaking on being inaugurated as President. He dies offstage soon after.

* My mom (I hate to use "this troper") told me about a very infamous incident that happened in my hometown. It happened in the early 1990s I think. The Leader of the town was running for re-election and was at a debate when he had a massive heart attack and died. This could also count as KilledMidSentence as he died before he arrived at the hospital I believe.

* My mom (I hate to use "this troper") told me about a very infamous incident that happened in my hometown. It happened in the early 1990s I think. The Leader of the town was running for re-election and was at a debate when he had a massive heart attack and died. This could also count as KilledMid-Sentence as he died before he arrived at the hospital I believe.

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* ''TheBible'': King Herod (the one who beheaded James the apostle) is said to have been struck down by God during a public appearance.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* President George Bush Sr. collapsed once from the flu during an official dinner in Japan.

* President George Bush Sr. collapsed once from the flu during an official dinner in Japan. HeGotBetter.
** Not only that, but he ''threw up'' on the lap of a Japanese minister. [[TheChewToy Talk about bad luck.]]

* In the {{Hetalia Bloodbath 2011}}, it happens to two characters. First, Seychelles experiences this as she's a nation-tan with a tropical climate and yet she's trouncing around in ''snow'' to join the others. Later, we find out that [[spoiler: a pre-teen!Holy Roman Empire experienced this ''and'' BloodFromTheMouth when he had a seizure durng a Germanic states reunion, and Hungary has to carry him in her arms.]]

* President Bush collapsed once from the flu during an official dinner in Japan. HeGotBetter.

* A victim in ''{{Alex Rider}}'' goes out this way.
* Vizzini from ''{{Princess Bride}}'' collapses after a short speech, in the middle of his EvilLaugh.

* ''{{Babylon 5}}'' invokes and subverts this. Londo and Vir plan to assassinate the mad emperor. Londo worries that the Emperor will give a deathbed speech. The "almost" instantaneous poison is supposed to stop this. Vir jokes that maybe the Emperor will shout "Kill Londo!", Londo is not amused. [[spoiler:Vir ends up stabbing the Emperor with the poison needle. His last words are simply "I was to be a god."]]

* Alex in ''{{A Clockwork Orange}}'' falls face-first into his pasta after being slipped a mickey by the writer whose wife he and the Droogs gang-raped in the beginning of the film.

* An entire mob of grown-ups pass out during a speech in the {{Spy Kids}} movie.
* Deliberately invoked in {{Dave}} where Dave (impersonating the president who has been incapacitated by a stroke) gives a big speech to congress and the senate, then stutters, stumbles and collapses just after the important confession part, supposedly with a stroke so they can switch the real president back in.
* Alex in {{A Clockwork Orange}} falls face-first into his pasta after being slipped a mickey by the writer whose wife he and the Droogs gang-raped in the beginning of the film.

* Robert Heinlein's {{The Moon is a Harsh Mistress}}. While Professor Bernardo de la Paz was on Earth he suffered greatly from the Earth's greater gravity, as it was six times what he was used to. After he returned to the Moon he seemed to get better. Near the end of the novel, after the Moon had won the war with the Federated Nations of Earth, he gave a speech to a crowd of Loonies.

* A victim in {{Alex Rider}} goes out this way.
* Vizzini from {{Princess Bride}} collapses after a short speech.

* {{Babylon5}} invokes and subverts this. Londo and Vir plan to assassinate the mad emperor. Londo worries that the Emperor will give a deathbed speech. The "almost" instantaneous poison is supposed to stop this. Vir jokes that maybe the Emperor will shout "Kill Londo!", Londo is not amused. [[spoiler:Vir ends up stabbing the Emperor with the poison needle. His last words are simply "I was to be a god."]]

* Played with in {{Buffy The Vampire Slayer}}: The Mayor starts his Ascension in the middle of his speech to the graduating students, which causes him strong pains. However, he knew that it would happen and his collapse last few moments before he turns into a demonic snake. He only complains that he doesn't have time left to talk about civic pride.

* In {{Inherit The Wind}}, Matthew Brady is giving his closing speech, which his old and weary voice tries and fails to make sound passionate. After the microphone is taken away from him, he desperately tries to continue, but suddenly falls silent and collapses. As he is carried out of the courtroom in a semi-conscious state, he strangely starts speaking on being inaugurated as President. He dies offstage soon after.

* Deliberately invoked in {{Dave}} where Dave (impersonating the president who has been incapcitated by a stroke) gives a big speech to congress and the senate, then stutters, stumbles and collapses just after the important confession part, supposedly with a stroke so they can switch the real president back in.

* ''The Bible'': King Herod (the one who beheaded James the apostle) is said to have been struck down by God during a public appearance. Arguably, Truth In Television.

* ''The Mentalist'': A chef collapses in the middle of his speech.

* ''Gilmore Girls'': Rory's grandfather has a heart attack and goes down in the middle of a lecture, but he makes it.

{{Rule Of Drama}} - dying horrifically in public is a pretty spectacular way to go.

Prof stopped--looked surprised. Not afraid, but puzzled. Swayed slightly.
Then he did die.
We got him into a shop behind platform. But even with help of a dozen doctors was no use; old heart was gone, strained too many times.

* President Bush collapsed once from the flu during an official dinner in Japan. HeGotBetter.

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