History Main / DisconnectedByDEath

** In "Death by Persuasion", one VictimOfTheWeek has [[HisNameIs just worked out who the murderer is]] and is on the phone to his girlfriend when he is killed by a knife dropped from a drone.

** In "The Village That Rose From the Dead", the third VictimOfTheWeek is on the phone to his wife when the killer [[TapOnTheHead whacks him on the head with a length of wood]].

** In "Breaking the Chain", Barnaby is talking to a suspect who is on his mobile phone to one of the other suspects. The suspect turns to Barnaby and remarks that he heard sounds of a struggle and then the phone went dead. Barnaby hurriedly races to the scene [[spoiler:and arrives in time to save the next victim who has been left in a room that is filling with gas]].

* An ''Series/UnsolvedMysteries'' story featured the murder of a long distance truck driver who stopped at a pay phone to call his wife, only to be shot in the back by a still unknown assailant before he could even ''make'' the call (there was change scattered around him, indicating that he never got the chance to put it in the slot).

* The ultimate parody of this trope comes in the form of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'''s ''suicide booths'', where people pay to have themselves killed either by being vaporised or by being gutted by five different objects.
* Played for rather dark laughs in the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "The Unmentionables". A civilian tries to call the police from a phone booth during a brutal Prohibition-era gang shoot-out. As soon as he steps inside, the booth is cut cleanly in half by [[CoolGuns Tommy-Gun]] fire, prompting the operator to tell the deceased, "Sorry, you've been disconnected."

* A variant (pictured above) happens in the first arc of the ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' anime to [[spoiler:Keiichi Maebara, who claws out his own throat in a phone booth while under the effects of Oyashiro-sama's curse, trying to contact the police about the TownWithADarkSecret. Thanks to his paranoia, his last words to the police -- and the audience -- ''indicate'' that someone is coming to kill him, but all the evidence suggests suicide... leaving the existence of the killer in doubt until better answers about Oyashiro-sama come along in later chapters.]].

* At the start of ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' this has happened right before the audience is introduced to Triela, who is shown stalking through the corpses of the men she's just killed in a Padania safehouse, while a voice on a phone handset dangling from its cord demands to know what's happening. We then cut to the other end of the line, to the terrorist leader and his cell who are about to experience a similar demise.

[[quoteright:350: [[VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phonebooth_3774.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:350: [[Anime/HigurashiWhenTheyCry https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phonebooth_3774.jpg]]]]

* A variant (pictured above) happens in the first arc of ''Anime/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' to [[spoiler:Keiichi Maebara, who claws out his own throat in a phone booth while under the effects of Oyashiro-sama's curse, trying to contact the police about the TownWithADarkSecret. Thanks to his paranoia, his last words to the police - and the audience - ''indicate'' someone is coming to kill him, but all the evidence suggests suicide... leaving the existence of the killer in doubt until better answers about Oyashiro-sama come along in later chapters.]].
** Happens twice in ep 4 of ''Anime/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', both times with Battler. The first time it's [[spoiler: Jessica who was killed during her fight with Ronove but resurrected for a short while and died again talking to Battler over the phone.]] The second time was with [[spoiler: Kyrie who called Battler after escaping from the goats but was shot to death shortly thereafter.]] From an anti-fantasy perspective [[spoiler: both cases were probably arranged by Yasu/Beatrice in an attempt to make Battler mad and force him towards the truth]].

* Incredible city-wide example in ''Film/FailSafe''. When the hotline to Russia goes dead (or, rather, emits a high shrieking sound-- the sound of the phone *melting*), it shows that the bomber wasn't recalled in time, and the US government has to carry out its insane plan to delay full nuclear exchange.

* {{Subverted|Trope}} In ''Film/TheGuilty''. When Asger [[TalkingDownTheSuicidal tries to convince Iben not to jump off a bridge]], she says goodbye and the line goes dead. After trying to call her back several times, he calls the dispatcher who informs him that she stepped off the ledge and is alive and well.
* ''Film/HeWhoDares'' (2014). Terrorists kidnap the daughter of the British prime minister for ransom. They tell a wounded bodyguard to send the radio call to let his superiors know what happened, then shoot him.

* ''Film/JamesBond''. In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', Jaws lures Kalba away from his meeting with Bond and Anya by disguising himself as a telephone linesman and placing a call to Kalba from an adjourning telephone booth. Once he takes the call, Jaws barges into Kalba's booth, intimidates Kalba into handing over the microfilm and murders him. Bond of course provides the obligatory BondOneLiner.
-->'''Anya:''' What happened to Kalba?
-->'''Bond:''' He was cut off. Permanently.

* A variant in ''Film/{{Midway|1976}}'': When the last bomber in Torpedo Squadron Eight's suicidal and unsupported attack on the Japanese fleet is shot down, the film cuts to the radio room aboard ''Yorktown'', where the crew listens to the static in horrified silence.

* The man who tries to sell the plans to 007 and XXX in ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe''.

* Similar example in ''[[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back]]'' during Darth Vader's teleconference with the captains of the Star Destroyers: one man's hologram image flickers and fades from view after his spacecraft is struck by an asteroid. The anthology book ''Literature/FromACertainPointOfViewTheEmpireStrikesBack'' reveals that the ship was lost with all hands. This happened to a hapless Rebel soldier in Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth. He only manages to get out "Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have entered [''static'']" before he's killed. In the Legends continuity, he's none other than the son of Mon Mothma.
* ''Film/{{Telefon}}'' (1977). A RenegadeRussian called Nikolai Dalchimsky steals a list of ManchurianAgent saboteurs in the United States and tries to start WorldWarThree. Creator/CharlesBronson plays Grigori Bortsov, the KGB agent sent to stop him. [[spoiler:He finally corners Dalchimsky in a Texan bar, but can't kill him because there are two policemen there. Dalchimsky ducks into a phone booth, intending to [[TriggerPhrase activate the agents via phone]]. Bortsov has his colleague create a distraction by knocking over a glass case containing a rattlesnake, and amidst all the chaos bursts into the booth just as Dalchimsky is making the connection and throttles him to death with the receiver.]]

* Downplayed in ''Series/TheATeam'' episode "[[Recap/TheATeamS2E21DeadlyManuevers Deadly Manuevers]]." Hannibal, knowing he's in bad shape after having drunk some milk the villains tampered with, calls Tawnia and orders her to get Dr. Sullivan from Bad Rock. Midway through the call, he collapses, and Tawnia is left trying to raise him over the phone.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. In "[[{{Recap/AngelS04E08HabeasCorpses}} Habeas Corpses]]", the Beast turns up at OccultLawFirm Wolfram & Hart with the [[MakeWayForTheNewVillains intention of wiping out the competition.]] AmoralAttorney Gavin calls the front desk on a security mook's radio. They tell him they're a bit busy right now, then start screaming as the Beast kills them. It then goes on to kill everyone else in the building.

* The BigNo version happened in the TV version of ''Radio/DickBartonSpecialAgent''. The body was found by Dick just before some other cops came in and [[TheCorpseStopsHere arrested Dick for the murder]].

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E1DayOfTheDaleks "Day of the Daleks"]], the manager of the factory is on the radio to a guerilla cell when he is killed by an Ogron.

* ''Series/GetSmart''. A woman who tries phoning Maxwell Smart for help is drowned in a KAOS DeathTrap which floods the phone booth with water. Smart is informed by a calm recorded voice, "I'm sorry, but your party has drowned." Later, Smart and 99 are trapped in the same booth but naturally escape.

-->"I'd like to report a murder..."
-->"Whose?"
-->"''My own...''"
* In the ''[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 MST3K]]'' episode "Earth vs. the Spider", some poor schmoe gets killed by the titular spider while trying to phone the police.
-->'''Crow''': "Hello? Mr. "Oh My God Crunch Crunch"? Look, spit out whatever you're eating and start again!"

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest''. At the end of "Prisoner's Dilemma", Finch is rushing to save Reese and Carter who have just been arrested by Agent Donnelly, only to have the Machine call with another potential murder victim. It turns out to be Agent Donnelly. Finch rings Donnelly to warn him, [[CarFu only for a garbage truck to ram them off the road]]. The driver gets out and puts a bullet in Donnelly's head, before '[[VillainousRescue rescuing]]' Reese.
* On ''Series/{{Revenge}}'', after Frank discovers that Emily swapped identities with the woman now going by Amanda Clarke, he calls Victoria and manages to tell her, "Emily Thorne is not who she claims to–" before taking a tire iron to the head.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': The starship ''Antares'' meets its end this way in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E2CharlieX Charlie X]]"

--> '''Martin:''' [[TearJerker The camper and the car that's just south of me is covered]]. [[FaceDeathWithDignity It's going to get me too]].

'''''[[DeathTropes Death Trope]], so watch out for spoilers!'''''

* ''Film/JamesBond''. In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', Jaws lures Max Kalba away from his meeting with Bond and Anya so he can be killed, by disguising himself as a telephone linesman and using this to place a call to Kalba from the adjourning telephone booth. Bond of course provides the obligatory BondOneLiner.

* ''Film/JamesBond''. In ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'', Jaws lures Max Kalba away from his meeting with Bond and Anya by disguising himself as a telephone linesman and using this to place a call to Kalba from the adjourning telephone booth. Bond of course provides the obligatory BondOneLiner.

* A very ''explosive'' example happens in the Egghead Arc of ''Manga/OnePiece''. While on Lulusia, [[spoiler:Sabo]] contacts the Revolutionaries to tell them [[spoiler:he wasn't the one who assassinated Nefertari Cobra and that he had seen Imu sitting on the supposed Empty Throne]]. Unfortunately, before he could mention the second part, said figure obliterates Lulusia with an unknown force. It is then left ambiguous if he survives or not.

[[quoteright:350: [[VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phonebooth_3774.jpg]]]]

* [[spoiler:Maes Hughes]] infamously meets his end in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' while trying to reach [[spoiler:Roy Mustang]] from a pay phone, [[spoiler: since he got caught [[HeKnowsTooMuch unlocking the]] AncientConspiracy.]]
* A variant (pictured above) happens in the first arc of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' to [[spoiler:Keiichi Maebara, who claws out his own throat in a phone booth while under the effects of Oyashiro-sama's curse, trying to contact the police about the TownWithADarkSecret. Thanks to his paranoia, his last words to the police - and the audience - ''indicate'' someone is coming to kill him, but all the evidence suggests suicide... leaving the existence of the killer in doubt until better answers about Oyashiro-sama come along in later chapters.]].
** Happens twice in ep 4 of ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', both times with Battler. The first time it's [[spoiler: Jessica who was killed during her fight with Ronove but resurrected for a short while and died again talking to Battler over the phone.]] The second time was with [[spoiler: Kyrie who called Battler after escaping from the goats but was shot to death shortly thereafter.]] From an anti-fantasy perspective [[spoiler: both cases were probably arranged by Yasu/Beatrice in an attempt to make Battler mad and force him towards the truth]].

* Similar example in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' during Darth Vader's teleconference with the captains of the Star Destroyers: one man's hologram image flickers and fades from view after his spacecraft is struck by an asteroid. The anthology book ''Literature/FromACertainPointOfViewTheEmpireStrikesBack'' reveals that the ship was lost with all hands.
** Happens to a hapless Rebel soldier in Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth. He only manages to get out "Imperial troops have entered the base. Imperial troops have entered [''static'']" before he's killed. In the Legends continuity, he's none other than the son of Mon Mothma.

* In ''Film/FXMurderByIllusion'', while the communication had long ended by then, Rollie Tyler is almost gunned down by the guy he used the booth to contact. Fortunately, since he was no longer on the phone, he had relinquished the booth to some random guy, and ''now'' knows his employer wants him dead...

* Subverted in ''Film/{{Tremors}}'', albeit over a radio set instead of a phone. Burt Grummer, after being told that the graboids are coming straight for his house, is last heard saying, "Jesus Chr--!" before the line goes dead as a graboid bursts through his wall. [[spoiler:As it turned out, that graboid did indeed break into the [[WallofWeapons wrong]] [[GunPorn goddamned]] [[CrazyPrepared rec room.]]]]

* At the start of the Literature/DocSavage novel ''Cold Death'', Doc makes a phone call that is disconnected when the house at the other end blows up as soon as the phone is answered.

* One ending of ''[[VideoGame/HenryStickminSeries Completing the Mission]]'' has [[spoiler:[[AcePilot Charles]] trapped on a space station about to self-destruct while [[TheHero Henry]] is secured into an escape pod. Charles tries to reassure Henry via radio that they managed to complete their mission and that he's sure that he'll find another escape pod... only for the station to explode with Charles still inside.]]
* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'': On the fourth night, the Phone Guy gets killed by what sounds like all of the animatronics (Foxy's knocking, Freddy's tune, Bonnie and Chica's groaning, and Golden Freddy's[[spoiler:/Fredbear's]] screech) attacking him. You can hear the phone on the other end hanging loosely from the receiver as well as static.
** [[spoiler: And on the fifth night, [[OhCrap the phone rings again.]] This time, it's not him, though. It's apparently someone reading "Audiobiography of a Yogi".]]

* In ''VideoGame/Persona4'''s final NonStandardGameOver, Naoto gets killed by Shadows (or possibly [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie turns into one herself]]) in the middle of calling you.

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Downplayed in ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG''. [[spoiler:Natsumi]] realises a vital clue that can help her and Akira save the kidnapped Ami, but they're knocked comatose by Kakuya's curse before they can relay the information to Akira over the phone. They don't recover until the end of the game, after Akira has figured out the clue for himself.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': When Elka uses the chirography[[note]]Magic Fax Machine[[/note]] in Ethelmik to call for backup and inform the capitol of the disaster involving a superweapon, the operator on the other end gets [[InTheBack stabbed from behind]] by General Bell, who is plotting an usurpation with the superweapon. He then tries to cover up the splatter that was transmitted as an ink spill ("sorry") when he finishes off the message. Elka knows what blood-spatters look like and realizes her contact was murdered.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In [[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS1E9CloakOfDarkness "Cloak of Darkness"]], two of the clone troopers fighting in the hangar die while on the comms, one killed by a super battle droid and the other by Ventress.