History Main / PleaseIWillDoAnything

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': When the villain [[KillerRobot Nimrod]] was badly damaged and needed to be repaired in one alternate future, it attacked the home of ComicBook/{{Storm}} and [[GadgeteerGenius Forge]] (who are married with two kids in this timeline). After killing Storm, it threatened to kill her and Forge's daughter. Forge tearfully begged Nimrod to spare her, promising that he would do anything. "Anything" in this case being full repairs. Present-day Forge, watching these events, is horrified that his future self aided Nimrod but acknowledges that if his daughter were threatened like that he would have done the same thing.

* In the first ''ComicBook/{{Cerebus}}'' comic to feature Red Sophia, in which she offers it to him after he beats her it a sword fight (she attacked)... and instead of having her do something... erotic, he uses her as a pack mule.
* In an issue of ''Tales Of Suspense'', ComicBook/CaptainAmerica tells the ComicBook/RedSkull that he will do ''anything'' Red Skull wants if he refrains from destroying all of the U.S.'s major cities with a gigantic energy weapon. Red Skull makes Cap promise to serve him for 24 hours, [[WillNotTellALie which Cap does]] (It was UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}). Cue Red Skull gloating about it on TV and the Marvel Earth citizens, fickle morons that they are, screaming for Cap's blood.
* In the opening of ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'', the heroine is arrested for prostitution, the punishment for which is [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner left to the arresting officer's discretion]]. She makes this offer. The policemen explain that yes, she ''will'' do anything--then they'll kill her. She is only saved by the arrival of V.
* Franchise/XMen villain [[KillerRobot Nimrod]] was badly damaged and needed to be repaired. In one alternate future, it attacked the home of ComicBook/{{Storm}} and [[GadgeteerGenius Forge]] (who are married with two kids in this timeline). After killing Storm, it threatened to kill her and Forge's daughter. Forge tearfully begged Nimrod to spare her, promising that he would do anything. "Anything" in this case being full repairs. Present-day Forge, watching these events, is horrified that his future self aided Nimrod but acknowledges that if his daughter were threatened like that he would have done the same thing.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' has this exchange:

* This is the biggest part of the plot of the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE22JokersFavor The Joker's Favor]]". To summarize: A [[{{Everyman}} blue-collar worker named Charlie Collins]] was having a very bad day, and when he was coming home from work, a rude motorist cutting him off the last straw; he cussed the man out in a fit of road rage, only to find out, to his horror, it was the Joker. The villain chased the poor man down, and when Charlie begged for his life, making this exact plea, the Joker took him up on it, promising to let him go if he agreed to do him a favor, saying he'd think of one later. For two years, the Joker [[ItAmusedMe kept track of Charlie like a sadistic "hobby"]] (Charlie moving to Ohio with his family and changing his name didn't help much), then called him to tell him he wanted him to make good on that promise. The "favor" was part of the Joker's plan to infiltrate a testimonial dinner for Commissioner Gordon and plant a bomb; Charlie simply had to hold the door open. However, Charlie then found his hand glued to the doorknob, the Joker telling him [[ExactWords he never said he'd let him live this time]]. [[spoiler:Charlie got even in spades however, after Batman foiled the plan; after confronting the Joker in an alley and belting him across the face, he responded to his threat by producing a bomb of his own and threatening to kill both of them. Horrified at the thought of being killed in such a humiliating way (and realizing this wasn't fun anymore) the Joker surrendered all the information he had on Charlie and his family before Batman hauled him away.]]

* Played for laughs in ''LightNovel/{{Bakemonogatari}}'': the recipient takes their sweet time loudly and enthusiastically highlighting how great an opportunity it is, to the giver's disgust, until he comes up with something completely unexpected and rather heart-warming.

* Cecily in ''LightNovel/TheSacredBlacksmith'' offers to give Luke anything if he'll help her save Aria. "If it's money, I will work for you until the day I die. [[ScarpiaUltimatum If it's my body, you can do anything you want with me]]." Luke, being a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, helps out and doesn't ask for any reward.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', "Encounter at Farpoint", when Picard believes his away team to be in danger, he makes said bargain in exchange for Q bringing them back. When they're teleported to the bridge, he echoes the bargain to Picard. [[spoiler:But it wasn't Q who brought them back, but the creature.]]
* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', "The Maquis Pt. 2", Quark discusses this trope with a Vulcan Maquis member Sakonna. Citing the Third Ferengi Rule of Acquisition, "Never spend more than an acquisition is worth," Quark argues that Sakonna's declaration that the Maquis will "pay any price" to insure peace is illogical; since the Cardassian government's plan to provide Cardassian settlers with illegal weapons has been foiled, "The price of peace is at an all-time low."

* In the pilot episode of ''Series/{{Westworld}}'', Dolores Abernathy is being dragged off by the Man in Black to be raped. Her LoveInterest tries to intervene only to get shot. To prevent him being killed, Dolores begs this trope, but the Man in Black rejects the idea, saying it's more fun when she resists.

* This was the biggest part of the plot of "The Joker's Favor", a famous episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. To summarize: A [[{{Everyman}} blue-collar worker named Charlie Collins]] was having a very bad day, and when he was coming home from work, a rude motorist cutting him off the last straw; he cussed the man out in a fit of road rage, only to find out, to his horror, it was the Joker. The villain chased the poor man down, and when Charlie begged for his life, making this exact plea, the Joker took him up on it, promising to let him go if he agreed to do him a favor, saying he'd think of one later. For two years, the Joker [[ItAmusedMe kept track of Charlie like a sadistic "hobby"]] (Charlie moving to Ohio with his family and changing his name didn't help much), then called him to tell him he wanted him to make good on that promise. The "favor" was part of the Joker's plan to infiltrate a testimonial dinner for Commissioner Gordon and plant a bomb; Charlie simply had to hold the door open. However, Charlie then found his hand glued to the doorknob, the Joker telling him [[ExactWords he never said he'd let him live this time]]. [[spoiler:Charlie got even in spades however, after Batman foiled the plan; after confronting the Joker in an alley and belting him across the face, he responded to his threat by producing a bomb of his own and threatening to kill both of them. Horrified at the thought of being killed in such a humiliating way (and realizing this wasn't fun anymore) the Joker surrendered all the information he had on Charlie and his family before Batman hauled him away.]]

Compare DealWithTheDevil, in which this is often Satan's cue. AnythingButThat often follows this trope when the demand made of the character is the one thing they never want to do. May be followed by ImThinkingItOver. Compare VillainsWantMercy. If "anything" turns out to be something simple like food, new clothing, and so on, it becomes a MundaneWish.

Compare DealWithTheDevil, in which this is often Satan's cue. AnythingButThat often follows this trope when the demand made of the character is the one thing they never want to do. May be followed by ImThinkingItOver. Compare VillainsWantMercy.

* In ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'', Shendu agrees to tell Valerie Hsi Wu's hiding place so that she can save Jade in exchange for something. Out of desperation Valerie says "anything". The favor comes in two little things: she has to avoid mortal danger and give him a kiss.

** After openly defying him, Oberon punishes Puck by strapping him of his powers and banishing him from Avalon. Puck is horrified and begs with his lord to reconsider, promising he will do anything. Oberon just scoffs at this.

[[folder:Jokes]]
* An old joke involves a man in the desert who is [[ImAManICantHelpIt so desperate for sexual release]] that he wants to screw his camel. But the camel escapes every time. Then, the man finds a crashed plane, and rescues a beautiful girl from it. She proposes to do anything as reward. So the man asks her to hold the camel.
* There is a joke about a BrainlessBeauty university student who needs to pass an upcoming exam. She comes to her professor's office, poses seductively, and [[SextraCredit offers to do "anything" for a good grade]].
-->'''Professor:''' "'Anything,' you say?"
-->'''Student:''' "Anything, Prof. You name it and I'll do it!"
-->'''Professor:''' "Then, will you... ''[[spoiler:[[BoringButPractical study for it]]]]''?"
[[/folder]]

* Liliah in ''Film/TheTenCommandments'', to save Joshua, the result of which is her marrying Dathan.