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* Pretty much every bomb squad member, military or civilian, has a gag T-shirt that says "I'm a bomb tech: if you see me running, try and keep up."
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* Pontius Pilate famously tried to do this [[OlderThanFeudalism a couple of millennia ago]], but history has not let him off the hook.
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** After a rearmed Michael takes him to school (and likely Snags his Zangoose in the process), Zook decides to eff everything and leave Cipher - the reason being that he's "had enough of you to last a lifetime".
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* After the acquisition of Sun Microsystems by Oracle Corporation in 2010, a large number of top-level executives resigned, and entire design divisions transferred to other companies as whole groups. Most notably, James Gosling, creator of the Java programming language, moved over to Google where he has been free to openly criticize Oracle. To say that [[KickTheDog Oracle Corporation]] is not well-regarded by the rest of the tech community would be the height of understatement (their first act after acquiring Sun was to ''stomp'' on Google for infringement of their newly-purchased patents).
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*** No, that was a dog
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*** No, that was a dogdog.
*** Smart dog then.
*** Smart dog then.
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*** The Entire World circa ''B.C. Egypt''.
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* In the "banned" [[TheRenandStimpyShow Ren and Stimpy]] episode "Man's Best Freind" George liquor brings ren and Stimpy home as pets, although George soon realizes he does not have enough room for two pets. So he takes his current pet fish out of his fishbowl, and flings him out the window. The fish lands in the car, puts a fedora on, turns on the usual [[SorryILefttheBGMOn BGM music]] says "I'm outta here, man" and drives away.
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* In ''FireEmblemTellius'', Prince Reyson can be used to convince [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Naesala]] to abandon his support for Daein, thus avoiding an impossibly strenuous boss battle. In the sequel, the first boss in Part IV becomes overwhelmed by fear of the Laguz and flees his post.
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* In ''FireEmblemTellius'', ''[[FireEmblemTellius Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance]]'', Prince Reyson can be used to convince [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Naesala]] to abandon his support for Daein, thus avoiding an impossibly strenuous boss battle. In the sequel, the first boss in Part IV becomes overwhelmed by fear of the Laguz and flees his post.
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* In {{Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance}}, Prince Reyson can be used to convince [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Naesala]] to abandon his support for Daein, thus avoiding an impossibly strenuous boss battle. In the sequel, the first boss in Part IV becomes overwhelmed by fear of the Laguz and flees his post.
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* In {{Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance}}, ''FireEmblemTellius'', Prince Reyson can be used to convince [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Naesala]] to abandon his support for Daein, thus avoiding an impossibly strenuous boss battle. In the sequel, the first boss in Part IV becomes overwhelmed by fear of the Laguz and flees his post.
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* [[{{Expy}} Sarge]] and the two other remaining green army men pull one of these in ''ToyStory3'' since they think they'll be the first of Andy's toys to be thrown away. Granted, Sarge justifies it by reminding the other toys that Andy has already outgrown them, but still...
** It also doubles as a BrickJoke, since [[spoiler:they end up at Sunnyside Daycare]]
** It also doubles as a BrickJoke, since [[spoiler:they end up at Sunnyside Daycare]]
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* This was the mentality of virtually everyone who left AdolfHitler's bunker and inner circle in the days before he committed suicide, including (but not limited to): Goering, Himmler, Himmler's adjuntant Fegelein, Keitel, and Jodl.
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** And in the main comic, when the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Destructix]] starts falling apart, Sleuth Dawg hands control over to Fiona and retires.
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* In ''{{Transmetropolitan}}'''s climax, [[spoiler:Callahan's last secret service bodyguards walk out on him when he orders them to kill Spider, noting that if he wanted Spider killed, he could go ahead and do it himself.]] The prospect of [[spoiler:having to kill someone with his own hands causes Callahan to have a minor breakdown.]]
-->'''Spider:''' Well, that was interesting.
-->'''Spider:''' Well, that was interesting.
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** In ''DevilSurvivor'', at two points, the player can decide to simply break the Tokyo blockade and run away rather than fight the Bels. [[spoiler: It leads to one of two [[DownerEnding Downer Endings]]; either the PC is killed by angels who proceed to remove humanity's free will, or the PC defeats the angels who are policing the Yamanote Loop, and demons escape to overrun the world. NiceJobBreakingItHero.]]
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* ''The Outlaw Josey Wales''. Clint Eastwood's character gives a bounty hunter a chance to take this option, but the man's pride forces him to return. His partner however is seen running off (though he returns with the BigBad who's been pursuing Wales).
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* ''The Outlaw Josey Wales''. Clint Eastwood's character gives ''TheOutlawJoseyWales'' contains a classic subversion, when a bounty hunter a chance to take this option, but comes looking for the title character (played by ClintEastwood).
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "You're wanted, Wales."
-->'''Wales:''' "Reckon I'm right popular. You a bounty hunter?"
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "A man'spride forces him got to return. His partner however is seen running off (though he returns with do something for a living these days."
-->'''Wales:''' "Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy." *pause* "You know, this isn't necessary. You can just ride on."
-->*The bounty hunter turns and walks out of theBigBad who's been pursuing Wales).bar. Everyone in the place relaxes, except Wales himself. After a moment, the bounty hunter comes back in.*
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "I had to come back."
-->'''Wales:''' "I know."
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "You're wanted, Wales."
-->'''Wales:''' "Reckon I'm right popular. You a bounty hunter?"
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "A man's
-->'''Wales:''' "Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy." *pause* "You know, this isn't necessary. You can just ride on."
-->*The bounty hunter turns and walks out of the
-->'''Bounty Hunter:''' "I had to come back."
-->'''Wales:''' "I know."
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* In ''{{Film/Avatar}}'', Trudy turned around and headed off after seeing the massacre of the Na'vi village at Hometree, including the children. [[spoiler: She later made a HeelFaceTurn and rescued Jake.]]
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* In ''TeenTitans'' Terra tries pulling this on Slade after he demonstrates that, when you work for him, failing at a task [[BadBoss earns you a savage beating]]. Unfortunately, Slade anticipated this and turns her into a PeoplePuppet instead.
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** An attacking force of kobolds advanced on the settlement of {{Boatmurdered}}, took a good look at it, and promptly left. "Come on guys, we have a nice settlement, why didn't you stick around? Was it the ashen wasteland? The bloodstained gates? Was it the screams of madmen or the stench of death? We've got awful nice engravings of some fucking cheese here, come the fuck on in!"
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* ''AtlasShrugged'': The job deserters after Directive 10-289.
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* Wiesler in ''TheLivesOfOthers'' is [[ReassignedToAntarctica opening letters in a basement]] of [[EastGermany Stasi]] headquarters when the radio news announces the BerlinWall has opened. Everyone in the room grops tools, gets up and files out.
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** In the same film, Bison and Dee Jay are watching the former's plans collapse on a screen. When Bison makes a remark about accepting defeat, Dee Jay takes the opportunity to quietly sneak away.
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** In the same film, Bison and Dee Jay are watching the former's plans collapse on a screen. When Bison makes a remark speech about accepting defeat, facing the possibility of defeat together "with the stoicism of the true warrior," Dee Jay takes the opportunity to quietly sneak away.gets the hell out of dodge in the background.
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** The AudioCommentary for "This Little Piggy" mentions a [[MissedMomentOfAwesome Missed Moment of]] [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Funny]] that combines this trope with SeenItAllSuicide (minus the suicide, of course). There was a deleted scene where TheJoker and his minions are plotting something when [[TheComecallySerious Batman]] walks by cradling a pig[[hottip:*:WonderWoman, transformed by Circe]] in his arms and talking to it. Seeing this, Joker throws up his arms in defeat and walks off.
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Removing Wall Banger wick
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** Which is a bit of a DarthWiki/WallBanger, since this is supposedly an army that can take over the entire world.
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** Same with Jeong Jeong, after he saw how hateful and rash the Fire Nation had become.
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* In an early Fleischer ''Superman'' cartoon, "Jungle Drums", a primitive African tribe has been turned into a CargoCult by Nazis. Everything is going smoothly to the rhythm of a faux-tribal drum beat, when Superman suddenly shows up to foil their plans and save Lois. Exit entire tribe, stage right!
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* In an early Fleischer ''Superman'' cartoon, "Jungle Drums", a primitive African tribe has been turned [[GodGuise fooled into a CargoCult by Nazis.worshiping Nazis]]. Everything is going smoothly to the rhythm of a faux-tribal drum beat, when Superman suddenly shows up to foil their plans and save Lois. Exit entire tribe, stage right!
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Yes, but she never leaves with the intention of not coming back
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* Marta from ''{{Tales of Symphonia}}: Dawn of the New World'' leaves the party a nearly uncountable amount of times. Several times, once she returns to the party, she'll leave... AGAIN.
** Said word for word in {{TalesOfVesperia}} by a commentator in the colliseum.
** Said word for word in {{TalesOfVesperia}} by a commentator in the colliseum.
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* Marta from ''{{Tales of Symphonia}}: Dawn of the New World'' leaves the party a nearly uncountable amount of times. Several times, once she returns to the party, she'll leave... AGAIN.
**Said word for word in {{TalesOfVesperia}} TalesOfVesperia by a commentator in the colliseum.
**
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* Russia as a whole did this during WorldWarOne when the Bolsheviks took power and opened peace talks with ImperialGermany. The Western Allies were extremely unhappy to hear about the resulting Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, since it freed up all of Germany's resources to be focused on them.
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* Russia as a whole did this during WorldWarOne when the Bolsheviks took power and opened peace talks with ImperialGermany. The Western Allies were extremely unhappy to hear about the resulting Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, since it freed up all of Germany's resources to be focused on them. Luckily for them, the United States had joined the war on their side shortly afterward.
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*** Some of the Cairo police ''did'' invoke it. Others did a HeelFaceTurn, ripping off their insignia and joining the protesters.
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* In the orgin story for a Fanfic writers OC he is simply a mook working for a massive company and is basically a meat sheild for the elite soldiers .After one of the elites attempts to use him as a barrier against a sniper bullet he declares loudly "SCREW THIS SHIT" and ducks letting the elite take the bullet
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* In the orgin story for a Fanfic writers OC he is simply a mook working for a massive company and is basically a meat sheild for the elite soldiers .After one of the elites attempts to use him as a barrier against a sniper bullet he declares loudly "SCREW THIS SHIT" and ducks letting the elite take the bulletbullet.
* When Equius is first introduced in ''{{Homestuck}}'', ''the narrator'' doesn't want to spend to long on him.
* When Equius is first introduced in ''{{Homestuck}}'', ''the narrator'' doesn't want to spend to long on him.
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* Diplomats, politicians, officers, and soldiers in Colonel Gaddafi's Libyan government are bailing out ''en masse'' in one of the best recent examples of this trope.
** One of the reasons the Egyptian military didn't try to crack down on protests was they were afraid young officers and soldiers would invoke this trope.
** One of the reasons the Egyptian military didn't try to crack down on protests was they were afraid young officers and soldiers would invoke this trope.
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[[redirect:{{ptitleskikbgy4psco}}]]
<<|Synonyms|>>
<<|Synonyms|>>
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<<|Synonyms|>>
-->-- '''Eric Cartman''''s CatchPhrase, ''SouthPark''
[[{{Mooks}} Henchman Bob]] is beginning to have second thoughts about his career with the EvilOverlord. Maybe he's dissatisfied with the lack of advancement opportunities, what with the BigBad's tendency to [[BadBoss kill subordinates for no reason]]. Maybe he's [[GenreSavvy smart enough to realize]] that [[StormingTheCastle the next visit from the good guys]] won't end well for Team Evil. Or maybe Bob's just sick and tired of [[KickTheDog kicking puppies]] for a living.
Whatever the reason, Henchman Bob's [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating had it up to here]] with Team Evil, so he [[TrueNeutral washes his hands of the conflict]] and walks away.
[[AchillesInHisTent Allies of the Good Guys can pull this as well]], but they're much more likely to [[ChangedMyMindKid return and save the day]] [[BigDamnHeroes in the nick of time]]. If not, then they'll be branded cowards and deserters ([[strike:which rarely happens to deserters from Team Evil for some reason]] granted, this happens to deserters from Team Evil in a lot of cases, but since the audience will probably side with the good guys anyways...).
Not to be confused with LineInTheSand, where a general gives his troops the opportunity to leave before a suicidal battle. This trope is only for characters who cut and run without their superiors' knowledge, permission, or both. Also not to be confused with HeelFaceTurn or MookFaceTurn, where someone on the bad guys' side decides not just to walk away, but to actively join the forces of good. If they resort to a violent solo career (or in company with other deserters), they're a DangerousDeserter.
Inverse of AttackAttackAttack. Contrast with VillainExitStageLeft, which is when the BigBad or other high-profile villain pulls this stunt, rather than a simple insignificant Mook. Compare with OptOut, when the character isn't given a Line In The Sand but still makes the willing choice to leave of their own volition. If a character (especially a [[RedShirt minor one]]) is going to drop a PrecisionFStrike, this is one of the most likely places. Related to KnowWhenToFoldEm, though this trope might be seen as less honorable.
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Advertising]]
* A famous UK advert for Weetabix breakfast cereal had the Lone Ranger and Tonto finding themselves surrounded by Indians. The Lone Ranger is unconcerned until they find evidence that the Indians have eaten Weetabix for breakfast, at which point the following exchange occurs:
-->'''Lone Ranger:''' ''(gulps)'' ''Now'' we're in trouble...\\
'''Tonto:''' What's all this "we", paleface? ''(and gallops away)''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''YuYuHakusho'', during the [[TournamentArc Dark Tournament Arc]], tournament commentator Juri barely manages to escape the section of the ring where Shishiwakamaru strikes with his cursed sword and puts a huge crater into the ground. In addition to that, the same attack sends spirits out from the sword, which attack and kill numerous spectators. When Shishi goes to use the same attack again, spectators start trying to flee the arena is terror. A different commentator mentions that as commentators, she and Juri have to stay out of professionalism. When she turns to get Juri to confirm this, we see that Juri is already standing by the exit saying "Screw this, they don't pay me enough!"
* In the ''[[RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2]]'' manga, Principal Kuno hires three champions to subdue a rebellious Miss Hinako (and Ranma, natch): Happosai, Tatewaki Kuno... and Nabiki. While the two others actually try to engage in battle and are easily routed, Nabiki just takes the money and runs.
* In {{Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds}}, Jack, Crow, and Yusei said this when Kiryu tried to get Team Satisfaction to make a last stand against Sector Security.
* In AfroSamurai [[TheMovie Ressurection]], Ninja-Ninja pulls this on Afro as he heads off to the final fight.
* [[spoiler:Gecko Moria]] in OnePiece at the end of the Marineford arc was supposed to be killed as his performance simply wasn't impressive enough. However, [[spoiler:Doflamingo]] reports that he used his abilities in a way he hadn't been seen to before in order to escape.
* The titular character of [=~Kino's Journey~=] [[TrueNeutral practically embodies]] this trope, especially when a country she's visiting becomes too dangerous, too unpredictable, or too downright weird.
* In ''PokemonSpecial'', Karen and Will bail out on the [[BigBad Masked Man]] once a huge army of Pokemon come charging in. They do not appear remotely being sorry for trying to kill Blue and Silver, and the two later show up as part of the Indigo Plateau Elite Four with [[KarmaHoudini nothing to show that they got punished for willingly being part of a criminal group.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comics]]
* During the 1999 BatFamilyCrossover ''No Man's Land'', the Riddler was the only one of Batman's various rogues to flee the city ([[BatMan everyone]] [[TheJoker else]] stayed. 'Course, then poor Eddie got his ass [[CurbStompBattle handed to him]] when he decided to fight Green Arrow.
* In ''{{Hellboy}}: Wake the Devil'', Hellboy runs into [[ThoseWackyNazis Ilsa Haupstein and two of her mooks]]. Ilsa orders them to attack; one of them instead shouts "No no no no!" as he runs away and [[SuperWindowJump jumps out a window]]. We never see him again.
** Helps Hellboy just crashed through the roof because his jetpack was out of gas.
* In the ''StarWars'' ExpandedUniverse, Count Dooku's pupil Asajj Ventress was severely injured, then disavowed the Dark Side just before her apparent death. She was placed aboard a medical freighter, where she regained consciousness and ordered the pilot to fly as far away from the Clone Wars as possible. She was never seen again.
* The Earth-2 Catwoman recovered from [[EasyAmnesia Amnesia]], was [[AmnesiacDissonance horrified]] by her own crimes, and [[HeelFaceTurn gave herself up]]. However, this was later [[RetCon explained]] as a story she made up to make her reformation plausible; in reality, she had just wanted to give up a life of crime.
* The Midnighter convinces a guy to do this in ''TheAuthority'' #14.
-->'''The Midnighter:''' I've been there, man. I know what's it's like in one of those black ops units where you can't even remember your name. I didn't have a conversation in years. Nobody cares if you live or die. If anything happens to you, they'll just make another one. Nobody's interested in what you've got to say. You're just a weapon with a larynx. God, you're probably between thirty-five and forty years old and you've never even been held, have you?
* This is the backstory of Manhunter from ''Power Company''; he's one of the army of brainwashed clones from the '70s Goodwin/Simonson ''Manhunter'' storyline. Apparently he decided that he didn't care which side won (and that taking on the hero would not be good for his personal life expectancy) and lit out on his own.
* In the Marvel UK ''TransformersGeneration1'' comic, one massive time travel epic involved groups of both Autobots and Decepticons from both Earth and Cybertron teaming up to destroy Galvatron, whose presence on Earth in 1989 was screwing up the timeline and threatening to destroy the entire universe. Adding to the temporal mayhem was that Galvatron had recruited his former self, Megatron, to help him out. However, after several issues of non-stop utter carnage and having despatched half a dozen or so named characters (including a fusion cannon blast to Topspin's face), Megatron just got bored with the fight and wandered off with only an interior monologue to explain why he was leaving when they were winning. This seemed to be down to the writer trying to find a way of killing off Galvatron for good without having to kill off Megatron, whom he needed for future storylines.
* In ''[[OneHundredBullets 100 Bullets]]'', [[spoiler: Loop, Victor Ray, and Mr. Slaughter pull this and walk away from the climactic battle in the finale. They live. [[KillEmAll Nobody else does]]]].
* ''{{Nextwave}}'':
-->'''[[{{Mooks}} Broccoli Man]]:''' ''No no no not doing this this is my special run away song so I do not get killed by scary girl.''
* In a recent issue of ''WonderWoman'', Diana finally [[RoaringRampageofRevenge tracks down The Society's base and starts destroying their various giant security robots.]] As the [[NebulousEvilOrganization Society]] members watch her tear apart their various "ultimate weapons", [[ButtMonkey Felix]] [[EvilSorcerer Faust]] turns to them and says: "I'm out... I'm not fighting that." And magic-teleports away. Some of his aversion to fighting Wonder Woman may be due to the fact that the last mythically powered woman he fought [[GroinAttack ripped his nuts off.]]
* In ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic Universe's]]'' "30 Years Later" storyline, the Dark Presence decides to abandon their plans after [[KnightTemplar King Shadow]] [[spoiler:unleashes Tikhaos]].
* In the "Sky-Raker" story arc that Disney did in their ''TaleSpin'' comic some years back, Baloo and his allies are trying to keep a futuristic airplane prototype (one that can fly on automatic pilot in response to someone's voice) out of the hands of both Don Karnage's pirate gang and the evil industrialist Shere Khan. (Karnage wants the Sky-Raker as his own personal pleasure craft; Khan, apparently, simply wants it for its monetary value.) While trying to escape from the Iron Vulture (Karnage's flying prison fortress), Baloo and his people find themselves caught between Karnage's crew and a squadron of gangland fighter pilots led by Khan's hired goon, Captain Quarry. Cleverly exploiting the Sky-Raker's vocal mimicry program, Baloo first tricks Quarry into thinking he is hearing Khan ordering him to call off the attack. Then, to get Karnage off their backs, Baloo impersonates Karnage over the radio traffic (into which every pilot in the vicinity is tuned) and goads an angry Quarry into a dogfight to the death. ("Let's have it out, man to man!") The other pirates, seeing that their leader has effectively committed suicide, immediately flee, with Karnage fruitlessly trying to persuade them that he hadn't actually said that and screaming "DON'T LEAVE ME!" Humorously, the pirates don't seem to care much anymore, and act as if their boss is already dead. ("I get his bedroom!") Fortunately for Karnage, he managed to escape the scene, DirtyCoward that he is, before Quarry could take his revenge.
* [[DirtyCoward Captain Boomerang]] would frequently respond to SuicideSquad missions like this. Subverted, in that the team rarely let him get away with it (they'd usually get him blackout drunk and he'd wake up on the plane.)
* {{Daredevil}} #86: This was Hammerhead's response to encountering Bullseye during a prison riot.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:FanFic]]
* In ''FanFic/AnEntryWithABang[=!=]'', after learning that C-Earth has nukes and is willing to use them, one pirate crew tries to bug out, but runs into another nuke launcher in the process...
* In [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2375953/8/King_Koopa_Katastrophe_Spoof_2 this spoof]] of the ''[[WesternAnimation/SuperMarioBros Super Mario]]'' cartoon episode "The Ugly Mermaid", Mario decides on this when he sees that the anthropomorphic fish-people of Mertropolis are somehow afraid of the water Bowser is flooding their city with.
* In episode 45 of ''FanFic/PrettyCurePerfumePreppy'', a boy named Tsumuji, who is performing a magician act, becomes annoyed when he realizes that the audience isn't even paying attention to him.
-->'''Audience:''' Ooooh~
-->'''Tsumuji:''' (puts hands on hips) Seriously, I haven't done anything yet, and you're already 'oooh'ing? (rips off bowtie and storms off the stage) [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Screw this, I'm outta here.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''TheIronGiant'', Agent Mansley tries to do this, but was stopped by the eponymous Giant. Is a borderline example of this, as, though this particular attempt to leave was against his superiors' orders and fit the trope, most of the villainous actions in the movie ([[spoiler: including the Nuke he just fired at the Giant]]) were caused by him without his superiors' knowledge. Gave us this hilariously great exchange:
-->'''Mansley:''' You mean we're all going...?\\
'''General:''' To ''die'', Mansley. For our country.\\
'''Mansley:''' Screw our country! I wanna ''live!''
* Bartok the Bat in ''{{Anastasia}}'', Rasputin's MinionWithAnFInEvil, decides to get the Hell out of Dodge before the FinalBattle. Prior to this, he vainly tried to convince Rasputin to forget revenge and Anastasia and ''get a life''. (Of course, being undead, that might not have been feasible for Rasputin.) In the end Bartok just leaves because he's savvy enough to realize that this can't end well for Rasputin. This proves to be a wise decision that allows Bartok to star in his own spinoff movie as the ''hero''.
** WordOfGod says ''Bartok the Magnificent'' takes place BEFORE ''Anastasia''! Huh?
** He also gets a chick-bat that comes right outta nowhere. [[NostalgiaChick Because karma will get you laid.]]
* ''CorpseBride'' (also an IronicEcho):
-->'''Lord Everglot:''' Fetch my musket!\\
'''The Butler:''' Fetch your own musket. I'm off!
* In ''[[{{Disney/ptitle3if599v0}} The Emperor's New Groove]]'', Yzma's potions turn the soldiers chasing Kuzco and Pacha into various animals. As Yzma yells at them to chase the duo, one soldier states "Uh, I've been turned into a cow. Can I go home?" Uncharacteristically, Yzma politely allows him to, asking if anyone else wants to opt out as well. They choose not to.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]
* Hero example: Han Solo famously does this after delivering Luke and Leia to the Rebel base in ''StarWars''. [[spoiler: Naturally, [[ItWasHisSled he returns to save the day]].]]
** [[ItWasHisSled Is that spoiler really necessary?]]
* In ''The Story of Ricky'', the villain deploys a bunch of mooks in riot gear to stop the title character. He casually punches through the shield, through the armor, and out the back of the leader mook. The others quickly reconsider their line of work and retreat.
* ''TankGirl''. While the Rippers are taking apart the guards inside Water and Power, [[TheDragon Sergeant Small]] says, "Screw this, man," and takes off. He's later killed by Jet Girl in revenge for the sexual harassment he put her through when she was a prisoner.
* In ''AustinPowers in Goldmember'', Nigel Powers intimidates a nameless Mook by pointing out what happens to nameless Mooks in [[GenreSavvy this kind of story]]. The Mook decides to lie down and play dead as the final confrontation looms.
* In ''{{Tombstone}}'' when the stage coach rolls up [[spoiler:with the recently-killed actor]] the actress in the coach [[ShamingTheMob Shames the Mob]] by pointing out that [[spoiler:he only wanted to make their lives better by performing on stage]]. One of the {{Mook}}s, Jason Priestley as Deputy Billy Breckinridge, decides that this has gone too far, saying "We have to have some law and order" and quit the Cowboys. This echos earlier in the film, when another mook, and [=McMasters=] osdisgusted by how the Cowboys had targeted the Earp brothers' wives, even going so far as to inform Wyatt Earp that he'll join him for whatever he needs. He joins Creek Johnson and Texas Jack Vermillion to form the posse lead by Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday that kills many of his former comrades.
* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'': [[TheStarscream Starscream]], toward the end of the second movie, [[spoiler:reminds Megatron that "sometimes, cowards ''do'' survive,"]] just before they Exit Stage Left.
* This happens in ''TheRunningMan''. Evil TV show host Damien's huge bodyguard, Sven, is ''supposed'' to fight a final battle against Arnold Schwarzenegger. But Damien's been verbally abusing Sven the entire movie, so Sven decides to just walk away, leaving Arnold to crush the helpless Damien.
* Zangief in ''Film/StreetFighter''. He doesn't quite walk away but decides to help the good guys, largely because he realized that everyone else on Bison's team (specifically Dee Jay) was getting paid besides him.
** Not to mention that [[spoiler: he had just then realized that everybody else on Bison's team was a [[WhatAnIdiot bad guy]].]]
** In the same film, Bison and Dee Jay are watching the former's plans collapse on a screen. When Bison makes a remark about accepting defeat, Dee Jay takes the opportunity to quietly sneak away.
* ''The Outlaw Josey Wales''. Clint Eastwood's character gives a bounty hunter a chance to take this option, but the man's pride forces him to return. His partner however is seen running off (though he returns with the BigBad who's been pursuing Wales).
* In ''{{Hook}}'':
-->'''Pirate:''' Ain't you...\\
'''PeterPan:''' Peter Pan?\\
'''Pirate:''' ''(immediately drops his sword and jumps out the window)''
** Also, "What about Smee? Smee's me... WHAT ABOUT ME?!"
*** Well, Smee was ordered to "do something intelligent..."
* In ''TheMummy'' at the battle over Hamunaptra, Rick O'Connell's superior officer drops his sword and rides away when an angry horde of Tuareg horsemen are charging his company. [[TheRenfield Beni]] turns to Rick and says, "You just got promoted."
** About a minute later, Beni follows suite, screaming "WAIT FOR ME!"
** Towards the end, Rick faces off against a mummy and gives a loud scream. The mummy screams even louder. Rick prompty goes "Uh uh!" and runs away.
* Agents Brown and Jones after Neo takes out Smith in ''TheMatrix''.
* ''Film/ThreeAmigos''. During the battle at the climax of the movie, most of El Guapo's men take off and desert him, leaving him to be killed by the villagers.
* This is the reaction of the [[EldritchAbomination Bird-warriors from the Underworld]] in ''NightAtTheMuseum: Battle for the Smithsonian'', when the see how easily the statue of Abraham Lincoln [[OhCrap wipes the floor with them]].
** Which is a bit of a DarthWiki/WallBanger, since this is supposedly an army that can take over the entire world.
*** The Entire World circa ''B.C. Egypt''.
* Towards the end of ''BatmanReturns'', as plan after plan is foiled by Batman and everything is collapsing around him, the Penguin looks around to realize that he doesn't have many mooks left, and the ones that are still there all seem to be quietly sneaking towards the exits.
* Non-battle version in BarefootInThePark. After Paul and Corie find Corie's mother in bed with their neighbor Victor, Corie reacts with [[BrainBleach horror]]. Instead of trying to comfort his wife, Paul decides that he has had enough craziness and leaves.
* KickAss subverts this. A Mook facing the four foot tall whirlwind of destruction named Hit-Girl shouts a stronger version of the first two words. *beat* "I'm getting the bazooka!"
* {{Zatoichi}} (in at least one of his many adventures) is attacked by three mooks and kills two of them. The one in the rear plays dead and Ichi is briefly puzzled; he knows how many feet he heard, and how many bodies he sliced. Ichi then gestures impatiently for the surviving mook to get up, and he duly runs away.
* Near the end of the ''Masters Of The Universe'' film, when He-Man's allies have broken into Skeletor's fortress and He-Man and Skeletor are having their FinalBattle, [[TheDragon Evil-Lynn]] and what's left of the QuirkyMinibossSquad sneak out the back. May also count as Evil-Lynn being TheStarscream.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* The white-faced women do this in ''{{A Series of Unfortunate Events}}''.
* In ''HarryPotter and the Deathly Hallows'', [[spoiler:best mate Ron]] walks out on Harry [[spoiler:and Hermione after an argument about the safety of his family (with a little help of the [[SoulJar locket-Horcrux]]). He comes back, though, and just in time to save Harry's life]].
* In the ''{{Halo}}'' {{Novelization}}, a grunt named Yayap goes AWOL just before the final battle. He knows that someone's going to destroy the Halo and kill everyone on it, so continuing the fight would be pointless. He is, of course, right. Halo blows up, and kills everyone on it, including him.
* Both [[DeadpanSnarker Marco]] and [[TeamMom Cassie]] do this in ''{{Animorphs}}''. [[spoiler: Of course, both return, either because ItsPersonal now or because their conscience won't let them go off the hook so easily.]]
** Elfangor does it too, in ''The Andalite Chronicles''. [[spoiler: He doesn't go back until the Ellimist makes him, several years later.]]
* In ''{{Discworld}}'', part of being [[TheIgor an Igor]] is "getting out before the angry mob arrived." Igors often have long resumes, with all previous employers deceased.
** "''We'' belong dead? Where doeth it thay ''we''?"
** Also in ''Discworld'', in ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', Cosmo's secretary Heretofore gets the hell out once [[spoiler:Cosmo's madness reaches its peak]].
* This is your best chance if you're vermin in a ''{{Redwall}}'' book. Many books see [[ThoseTwoGuys two rank-and-file vermin]] [[MauveShirt given names and personalities]] decide their boss is screwed and take off. It doesn't necessarily work, though; sometimes the boss finds and kills them for being cowards. As for the two in ''Salamandastron'' who ran away at the beginning of the book instead of the end, [[ItGotWorse they would probably have had a higher chance of survival if they'd stayed]].
* Kelven Solanki is a major POV character in Peter F. Hamilton's ''The Reality Dysfunction'', but vanishes without a trace after leading the evacuation of the planet Lalonde and fails to reappear in the two sequels, whilst a friend of his who had a smaller role in the first book, Ralph Hiltch, goes on to have a major role in the later books. According to Hamilton he had far too many characters running and literally just forgot about him.
* After Nellie Dean finishes telling Mr. Lockwood the horrifying story of ''WutheringHeights'', the tenant loses no time finding accomodations elsewhere and getting as far away from Heathcliff as he can.
* A mercenary captain's reaction upon learning that a {{Bolo}} is active. Though he can't leave as he's already taken delivery of his payment, and his employers would be... [[YouHaveFailedMe unhappy]].
* In JohnCWright's ''War of the Dreaming'', a minor character realizes that a) there are weird things happening, and b) where [[InvisibleToNormals weird things]] are concerned, she is completely [[{{Muggles}} helpless]]. As soon as she's rescued, she gets in her car and ''floors it''.
* The French soldier, Nicholas in SevenMenOfGascony does this, on the reasonable ground that it is more important to support his wife and child, then to prolong the glory of a [[NapoleonBonaparte Corsican mobster]] for another year. He ends up caught and executed.
* Opera co-managers Poligny and Debienne at the very start of ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' — once a [[ScoobyDooHoax Phantom]] starts skulking their Opera and delivering {{Blackmail}} demands, they waste no time passing the buck and getting out of the Opera business as fast as they can.
* In [[WorldWarZ World War Z]], the mercenary protecting the celebrities in their fortress decides to sneak out the back door when desperate survivors storm the place, on the grounds that he was hired to kill zombies, not people.
** And while he's leaving, he runs into one of the celebrities' bodyguards, who apparently shared his opinion.
*** No, that was a dog
* PunchClockVillain Washington Reed do this at the end of [[ErastFandorin Boris Akunin's ''Dream Valley'']].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* "[[FamilyMatters I don't have to take this. I'm going home.]]"
* In the Season 2 finale of ''{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}'' Spike decides to bug out of Angelus' plan to destroy the world because he likes the world (because it has things like dog racing, Manchester United and millions of people running around like Happy Meals for him). He quickly teams up with Buffy so he can grab his lover, Drusilla, and ditches out the second he has her. He comes back later.
** There's a hilarious instance of this trope in "Crush" (S5x14), when Spike and Buffy bust into a vampire lair. The vamps get up, get ready to fight, and say "Slayer!" Then they run away.
** Spike does it again in the fourth season, volunteering to help Xander get Buffy and Riley out of a haunted house, but realizes he doesn't like any of them and walks off.
** Lampshaded again by him at the end of "Once More, With Feeling", when all of the Scoobies are sequence-dancing their "victory cheer" after Sweet's departure, Spike breaks off exclaiming "Bugger this!" and leaves.
** Anya also decides that leaving town is her best option before the big fight with the Mayor at the end of season 3.
** In the episode "Bad Girls", Faith does this after meeting Wesley
--->'''Faith:''' New Watcher?\\
'''Buffy and Giles:''' New Watcher.\\
'''Faith:''' Screw that! ''(walks out)''\\
'''Buffy:''' Now why didn't I just say that?
* In ''{{Farscape}}'' John Crichton tends to do this on occasions when he's agreed to help [[MagnificentBastard Scorpius.]] It never works:
** Crichton surrenders to Scorpius in "Liars Guns And Money" and tolerates the situation up until one of his {{Happy Place}}s is invaded, whereupon he mutters "screw this," and walks away... only to get a knife to the back of his neck.
** "Into The Lion's Den" has him working for Scorpius to ensure the success of his wormhole project: a few hours later, Crichton attempts to back out, whereupon Scorpius hammers his head against a desk and [[ShameIfSomethingHappened threatens to destroy Earth.]]
** Finally, Crichton teams up with Scorpius to rescue Aeryn, only to abandon him on Katratzi in the getaway. Unfortunately, Scorpius was [[CrazyPrepared expecting something like this to happen sooner or later, and installed a failsafe to ensure that Crichton would return to rescue him.]]
** A minor and non-Scorpius-related variation occurs in "Jeremiah Crichton" when John decides he's had enough of life on Moya and runs off in his module. He is promptly left (though accidentally) and is understandably upset when they finally return for him, since he never intended to leave for real.
* Played with in ''{{Stargate SG-1}}''. Jack and Teal'c are attempting to disable an Asgard ship infested with Replicators, and naturally gravitate to the main deck. Said deck is crawling with Replicators. Jack takes just one look and says, "Well, screw that!"
* Rachel from ''{{Glee}}'' is constantly storming out of glee club. Almost OnceAnEpisode, really.
* A raptor pilot in ''BattlestarGalactica'' episode "The Hub" does this during battle. As he tries to jump out, a Raider shoots him. He does manage to perform a jump but by the time his Raptor reaches the Fleet, he is already dead.
** This is what Adama, Roslin and the whole Fleet did when they made the decision to run. The Colonies were being nuked to hell and what was left of the Fleet was fighting a losing battle by the time ''Galactica'' could even ''arm itself''. As all communication from the Colonies quieted, the surviving Colonials realised they were better off fleeing.
* In ''{{Solitary}}'', this is the only way to lose. When you've had enough of a treatment, you push the red buzzer. If you're first, you go home. If you're not, then you stay. But of course, you have no idea if anyone else has quit, so you can be stuck doing a painful treatment for a long time until VAL says otherwise.
* Master Vile does this near the end of MightyMorphinPowerRangers, being GenreSavvy enough to realize that his plans weren't going to go anywhere, and he'd be better off sticking to the galaxy where he always wins, instead of that one weird planet where good somehow triumphs. Notably, ''he was the BigBad at the time''.
** In ''PowerRangersWildForce,'' [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Toxica and Jindrax]], caught between two leaders who couldn't care less about sacrificing them as pawns and sought only personal gain instead of the good of the Org race, walk off into the sunset together just before the series' final battle. One of the series' arcs was about the Orgs' blind loyalty to any higher-ranked Org, and in the end, these two finally realized it wasn't worth it. (It may also be a case of ShooOutTheClowns, as the next episode was part one of the dead-serious season finale.)
** In ''PowerRangersMysticForce,'' an underling, after getting utterly pummeled by the Rangers' MidSeasonUpgrade, ''tries'' to do this, but his boss [[YouHaveFailedMe is displeased]], and winds up absorbing him into his new mech to power it up.
* In TheOuterLimits episode ''Mind Over Matter'', a doctor hooks a comatose woman to a VR machine so they can communicate with her. He enters the VR world several times and they start getting intimate. One of his colleages is disgusted, and protests the unethical nature of what he is doing. He refuses to listen, and she gets fed up and leaves, [[spoiler: and in doing so, escapes being involved in the OuterLimitsTwist at the end.]]
* One ''AttackOfTheShow'' sketch has a DumbBlond TV host who can't pronounce "[[WorldOfWarcraft Cataclysm]]" ("Cuh-TACK-a-lism!"), and is handed a speech therapy computer program. After spending several minutes with her completely failing to catch on, the program says "to hell with this" and deletes itself.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Music]]
* The second verse of Lupe Fiasco's song "Hello, Goodbye" is about a general who deserted a war because he didn't believe in the cause. In the end, "''He stands, to find himself surrounded by thousands of soldiers, who he once trained to never miss their targets.''"
** I was listening to that song while playing Crisis Core's final level... I was freaked out.
* A more humorous example can be found at the end of Liam Lynch's "Happy Song". The singer, disgusted by all the TastesLikeDiabetes he's been forced to sing about, says "I'm outta here! Screw you!"
* ''Take This Job And Shove It!'', I ain't workin' here no more/ Don't you try to stand in my way as I go walkin' out the door! ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and a case of CoveredUp (by Johnny Paycheck, it was written and first performed by David Allan Cole.)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture The Rapture]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Radio]]
* The British Tolkien Radio parody ''Hordes of the Things'' begins with the Crown Prince Veganin giving the mighty hordes of Albion a rousing speech about how they will stand fast though Albion is surrounded by the hordes of evil. His speech is interrupted by the wizard Radox, who informs him that the mighty hordes of Albion can't make it today, but have left a sick note.
-->'''Veganin:''' Well, then, old Radox, but you and I...\\
'''Radox:''' Umm... ''(horse gallops away)''\\
'''Veganin:''' So. Farewell, thou cowards. Know you I would scorn to die in your company. To horse unto the King, to raise another force of men who would rejoice to die!
[[/folder]]
[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* The opening fiction to ''[[VampireTheRequiem Night Horrors: The Wicked Dead]]'' has a recurring character rooming with an up-and-coming supermodel, trying to see if she'd be a good candidate for initiation into a cult. She comes home a bit early one night, and finds some hideously bloated ''thing'' sucking what looks like the supermodel's life out from her thigh... and the supermodel enjoying it. Her reaction? "Yeah, I'll just... see myself out."
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* Near the end of ''FinalFantasyVIII'', Biggs and Wedge -- who've been playing mid-boss to you for most of the game -- decide to drop their current assignment (guarding the door leading to the Boss) and just walk away to look for gainful employment elsewhere.
* Likewise, near the end of ''FinalFantasyVII'', you can talk [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Turks]] out of fighting you and into just walking away, seeing as how the Shinra Corporation has just been blown to pieces. Only works if you've established the rudiments of an OddFriendship with them by playing the Wutai sideplot earlier, though.
* Done yet again in ''FinalFantasyX'', where Maester Mika decides to send himself (effectively committing suicide) rather than face a world where Sin cannot be defeated.
* In ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', all of the secret characters will do this in a Jagd if left unconscious (you can recruit them again). Unfortunately, [[NonStandardGameOver the main character doesn't have such immunity]]
* In ''TheBardsTale'', you can do this right before the final battle instead of taking a side, resulting in the [[MultipleEndings Neutral Ending]].
* In ''[[BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]'', after being beaten by the two main characters the third time, Klungo chooses this option, fearing [[YouHaveFailedMe retaliation from Grunty]] and decides to be a game designer, befriending the good guys. He makes good on this in ''Nuts N' Bolts'', where he makes the ([[StylisticSuck intentionally]]) SoBadItsGood [[GoodBadBugs buggy as all hell]] "Hero Klungo Sssavesss Teh World" minigame.
** Arguably the Ensemble Darkhorse of the game, when DLC was announced, the fans demanded the teased sequel, "Hero Klungo Sssavess Teh Universe". [[AndtheFandomRejoiced Rare delivered]].
* In [[PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokemon Platinum]], Mars and Jupiter decide to drop out of Team Galactic and live normal lives once you defeat them for the final time.
* In the RPG ''ShadowMadness'', at one point, your characters tell some Mooks they'd better run away because they've killed so many already. Amazingly enough, they actually do. In the next room, your characters try it again, but it doesn't work. "So much for sensible enemies..."
* In ''[[DefJamSeries Def Jam: Fight for NY]]'', BigBad Crow has been a dishonorable backstabber whose methods disgust even his own men. Just before the final fight, Crow's bodyguard refuses to kill the hero, and instead gives him his gun and leaves. The hero does an IronicEcho of an earlier Crow quote and notes that Crow has "a little morale problem".
** Also played straight a bit earlier when one of Crow's bodyguards sees the "army" the protagonist had gathered for storming their lair and just walks away while saying "Screw this, man, he's your problem". He even joins your character in a "2 vs 2" tournament after the end of the game.
* During the fight to reach Fist in ''MassEffect'', you can convince a couple of {{Mook}}s in Chora's Den to depart instead of killing them (you've pretty much massacred all the other {{Mook}}s in the bar at this point). Wrex mentions that it would've been easier [[HeroicSociopath to just shoot them]].
-->'''Shepard:''' ''(Renegade option)'' I just killed my way through 50 bodyguards back there. What do you think I'm going to do to you?\\
'''Warehouse Worker:''' Aw, screw this. Fist doesn't pay us enough for this.
** A [=LOKI=] Mech in the Project Overlord [=DLC=] tries this after you shoot both its arms off. It doesn't get very far.
* In ''{{Fallout}} 2'', when you reach Vault 15, the woman guarding the back door will let you past if you explain that you are trying to rescue a young girl; she leaves the area (although she turns up later in Vault 13). [[spoiler:Much later, a squad of Enclave soldiers decides to desert after you engineer the oil rig's destruction. You can talk them into taking on Frank Horrigan for you, but they're likely to die horribly without some help.]]
* You can skip the final battle of ''{{Fallout}} 3'' by convincing TheDragon and his men that his goals are illegitimate and he should just walk away. If you have neutral karma, your companion remarks that the retreating enemies are likely to simply be gunned down by allied forces as soon as they step outside. If you have good karma, your companion remarks that they're probably just going to pop up a few years later to cause more trouble.
** Also, hurting ordinary enemies enough without actually killing them has a decent chance of causing them to shout something along the lines of the trope title and run away. Unfortunately, they have a high chance of changing their minds and attacking you some more after fleeing for a minute or so.
* ''ChronoTrigger'': While the Hero is escaping from the dungeon and kicking every ass in sight along the way, he's attacked by a mean-looking Omnicrone. Rather than die after the battle like everyone else, the Omnicrone stops, exclaims, "They don't pay me enough for this!", and leaves.
* It's possible (if you don't kill them) for three of the Tasen in ''{{Iji}}'' to just up and leave. [[spoiler:They're probably the only survivors.]]
** This is what Ansaksie and a bunch of other Assassins do when Asha loses it.
* In ''NeverwinterNights2'', just before the final battle, your TokenEvilTeammate refuses to help you fight the BigBad on principle. He normally then sides with the BigBad against you, but you can instead convince him to simply not take any side at all and just walk away.
** Although the expansion pack sequel reveals that he still died off screen, along with almost everyone else.
* ''{{Geneforge}} 3'' has a heroic example act similarly to a {{Non Lethal KO}} if your {{sidekick}}s reach 0 HP. Sadly, every other party member in the series just gets a FinalDeath.
* In ''YggdraUnion'', [[LethalJokeCharacter Mizer]] is one of the few enemies to survive clashing with your army because he eventually does this.
* In ''OperationDarkness'', German tank ace [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Wittmann Michael Wittmann]] voluntarily leaves a battle with the Wolf Pack in disgust over the SS's use of reanimated German soldiers which in his opinion is defiling the corpses of brave men.
* Goblins in ''DwarfFortress'' tend to be all AttackAttackAttack... until most of them have marched into the meat grinder of [[ChainsawGood serrated metal disc]] traps in the entry to the base, at which point the survivors look at the [[LudicrousGibs gore dripping off the ceiling]] and decide "Screw that fortress, I'm going home."
** Through the aforementioned meat grinder of [[ChainsawGood serrated metal disc]] traps... yeah... they usually don't get very far.
* If something happens to Imoen in the first dungeon of ''[=~Baldur's Gate~=] II'' that would normally result in her death, she will instead [[{{Determinator}} get back up, declare that she is "not going to die in this forsaken pit," and run away to the surface]].
** Played 100% straight by Brennan Risling, who wisely decides not to continue indulging his JerkAss boss' violent tendencies the instant the fight starts going badly for him. Of course, you can still kill him if you're quick enough.
* An Indian henchman of H.A.R.M. in ''NoOneLivesForever'' does this near the end of the game, about the fifth time [[ActionGirl UNITY agent Cate Archer]] gets knocked out. Interestingly, this becomes a minor plot point in the sequel, as he helps Archer get into the Calcutta branch of H.A.R.M..
* In ''MegaManX 7'', after the [[BountyHunter Red Alert Syndicate]] [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope jumped the slope]], one of its key members, Axl, defected from them and was captured by the Maverick Hunters (later becoming a legitimate member of the latter group).
* In ''SonicCD'', if you leave the controller alone for a while with the game unpaused, Sonic gets bored enough to run off the screen and shout "I'm outta here!", resulting in a NonstandardGameOver.
* In ''CaveStory'', the player is given the option to do this. At a point when all but a handful of your allies are either dead or captured by the BigBad, one of those allies tells you that the fight is probably hopeless, and it would be better for the two of you to just run away. Agreeing to leave results in the game's [[MultipleEndings bad ending]].
** It's not really bad as such, since you live out your days in quiet obscurity with the guy, but it's a quiet obscurity where you have to live with never knowing if any of your friends, some of whom are your companion's family, ever made it out alive, so it kind of guilt trips you for not being a war hero.
* Atton Rand's backstory in ''{{Knights of the Old Republic}} 2'' pulls this trope out twice. [[spoiler:He first tells the Republic "screw it" and joins those who were only loyal to Revan, then after a rather impressive career as a Sith torturer and Jedi-killer, a female Jedi he tortured and brought to the brink of death showed him he was Force Sensitive, and a prime candidate for ending up on the other side of the torture rack]]. Whether you interpret this as a HeelFaceTurn, or just saving his own ass [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation depends on your own (and your Exile's) interpretation]].
* In ''ValkyriaChronicles'', [[spoiler:Jaeger]] walks out after being defeated, as [[spoiler:he believes that Gallia will not be easily conquered.]] Partially redeeming since [[spoiler:he's serving under a DealWithTheDevil in exchange for [[MyCountryRightOrWrong his homeland's independence]].]]
* Similar to the ''{{Fallout}} 3'' example, in the fantasty/sci-fi RPG ''{{Albion}}'' you can convince the spaceship's security chief and his men that the ship's goals are illegitimate; he and his men then retreat, allowing you to skip a very tough battle and go straight to the final fight against the MasterComputer.
* In ''NoMoreHeroes: Desperate Struggle'', [[spoiler:Henry leaves you to take on the final boss alone because the BigBad is ''too stupid for him to be associated with.'']]
--> [[spoiler:Henry]]: I mean, I've got ''standards'', for fuck's sake.
* Marta from ''{{Tales of Symphonia}}: Dawn of the New World'' leaves the party a nearly uncountable amount of times. Several times, once she returns to the party, she'll leave... AGAIN.
** Said word for word in {{TalesOfVesperia}} by a commentator in the colliseum.
* The miniboss of the fifth dungeon of ''[[TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]]'' will, after you have laid down a considerable beat-down to him, exclaim, "Argh! [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy I can't defeat you!]] I'm outta here!" He then ''immediately flees the BossRoom''. Which sucks for Link, because he has fled with [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement the dungeon's item]], and has even left a note in the treasure chest where he stole it from [[DoNotTauntCthulhu that taunts Link]], [[WhatAnIdiot telling him to come and get it from him]]. Link has to find him again, defeat him again, then... ''he flees at the last minute '''again'''''. [[OverlyLongGag Link has to find him AGAIN, defeat him AGAIN, then...]] ''[[WhyWontYouDie he flees at the last minute. AGAIN.]]'' Finally, after finding him for the fourth time, he'll exclaim that he'll never be able to escape Link, and [[LastStand decides to hopelessly duke it out with Link one last time]]. This time, he stays dead.
* If the player decides to skip the tutorial battle in SuperMarioRPG... "HeKnowsAboutTimedHits!"
* In {{Earthbound}}, the game itself does this when you get powerful enough. Instead of wasting your time with a battle that you can't possibly lose, it'll just give you the "You Win" screen and your EXP points. This is the purpose of the [[LethalJokeWeapon Casey Bat]], which has incredible attack power but almost never hits.
* In ''[=~Assassin's Creed~=]'' games, if you slaughter enough guards without taking a hit and there are no EliteMooks around to rally them, the survivors will break and run. Sometimes, they will do so even ''with'' EliteMooks around. [[VideogameCrueltyPotential For all the good that does them.]]
** In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, upon hearing [[spoiler:Ezio spared Rodrigo Borgia, Templar Grandmaster's life]], [[ThePrince Machiavelli]] bitches out on Ezio, storming out of Monterrigioni.
* In the original ''StarCraft'', the final mission involves Raynor and the player character Magistrate breaking away from the Sons of Korhal after the fall of New Gettysberg.
* In ''[[StrangeJourney Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey]]'', after defeating the [[spoiler:angelic Zelenin]] in the Neutral path, [[spoiler:Mastema]] appears. The player expects another boss battle, but he instead leaves the player with a warning before disappearing for the rest of the game.
* [[spoiler:Conrad Marburg]] can be convinced to do this in the ending of ''AlphaProtocol'' if your [[RelationshipValues approval with him is trusted or friendly]]. The look on [[spoiler:Leland]]'s face if you pull it of is hilarious.
* In {{Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance}}, Prince Reyson can be used to convince [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Naesala]] to abandon his support for Daein, thus avoiding an impossibly strenuous boss battle. In the sequel, the first boss in Part IV becomes overwhelmed by fear of the Laguz and flees his post.
* Roxas in ''[[KingdomHearts358DaysOver2 Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days]]'' ends his second to last diary entry with "I am DONE WITH THIS!"
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In ''{{Red vs Blue}}'', Simmons and Grif plan to flee from the tank that's threatening to attack them and try to make it to the Warthog, agreeing to start running together on the count of three. Although they spend a fairly ludicrous amount of time staring down the tank making sure they are on the same page with regard to "on the count of three", Grif deliberately sneaks away from him and starts running early while Simmons is still counting.
** "''Oh, you backstabbing cockbite!''"
** Happens later with Donut and Grif. They are hiding behind the warthog as Tucker approaches in a out of control tank.
** This time Donut sneaks off while Grif is counting.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''{{Looking for Group}}'': Richard pulls one of these (for no particular reason) in [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/268 this strip]].
** The reason Richard starts to pull this (a single line quickly changes his mind so he doesn't quite do this trope) is that he was not wanting to be killed (or what ever the term is for turning the undead to merely dead) as most previous plans had nearly killed him, and he was starting to feel like settling down.
* [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/540.html This strip]] of ''IrregularWebcomic'' speculates about the fate of [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Moradmin_Bast one character]] from ''StarWars''.
* ''{{The Order of the Stick}}'' proves that there's a limit to how far minions are willing to take AttackAttackAttack [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0618.html here]]. It holds true for {{Red Shirt}}s as well, as in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0452.html this]] strip.
** And for a raven in [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0440.html this one.]]
--->'''Blackwing:''' Caw CAW! Caw caw caw caw, caw! ''(POP!)''\\
''(Translation:)'' "Screw THAT! You're on your own, mammal!"
** "Screw this! I'm not getting rubbed out by magic-wielding [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0240.html hookers]]!!"
** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0077.html Monster: "Eh, screw this. I'll order Thai."]]
* In ''SluggyFreelance'' Oasis [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=020709 inspires this in several Hereti Corp henchmen]], prompting Torg to remark, "Well, ''that'' was too easy!"
* Leo, the genetically enhanced lion in ''SkinHorse'': "I guess he wanted me to rush 'em or something, but I was all, screw that, Master, they've got guns, man!"
* [[PennyArcade Tycho]]'s brain [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/7/16/ does it]] when confronted with ''[[DieHard Live Free or Die Hard]]'''s interpretation of the Internet.
** A literal meaning of [[IncrediblyLamePun "one's senses taking leave"]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* Chip from the web fiction serial ''DimensionHeroes'' completely abandons his ally after discovering his Guardian Band, wanting nothing to do with the conflict, despite the fact that he's involved whether he wants to be or not.
-->"Hello and Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn! Say... *Pulls out his pocket watch* It's Mill- [makes a break for it]
** "[[PowerRangers Fuck this, man]]. [[JohnnyYongBosch I'm]] [[ActorAllusion going into]] {{Anime}}"
** ToddInTheShadows announces his [[TenMinuteRetirement retirement]] from TGWTG after seeing that he's reviewing "Blah Blah Blah" by Ke$ha for his debut episode.
* [[TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles The Shredder]], during the TMNT parody by MyWayEntertainment: "Man, fuck this shit; you're gonna [[GroinAttack kick me in the nuts]]! I'm off this motherfucker! Sheeeeeit... fuck you!"
* Becomes something of a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bO56bcpiYA running gag]] for Brad of 4 Player Podcast when he plays ''Just Cause 2'', using gas canisters as miniature escape rockets.
* BumReviews: "Change?! Ya got cha-- Oh my God, they're filming [[Film/{{Steel}} a Shaq movie!]] [[TheCameo I'm out of here!]]"
* TheNostalgiaCritic During his review of ''{{Rock a Doodle}}'': [[SouthPark "Screw this movie, I'm going home." [...] "No, no, no. Screw this movie. Home."]]
** ''TheStarWarsHolidaySpecial'': "Hi, I'm TheNostalgiaCritic, [[CatchPhrase I remember it...]]" [legs it]
*** He and TheNostalgiaChick both try to run the fuck away when RobinWilliams starts rapping in ''{{Ferngully}}''.
* In the orgin story for a Fanfic writers OC he is simply a mook working for a massive company and is basically a meat sheild for the elite soldiers .After one of the elites attempts to use him as a barrier against a sniper bullet he declares loudly "SCREW THIS SHIT" and ducks letting the elite take the bullet
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* One of the most memorable moments of ''MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers'' is Mickey saying that Donald can't give up because they're Musketeers. Donald promptly tears off his Musketeer uniform to reveal his standard sailor suit (in Renaissance France!) and pulling some suitcases from hammerspace to escape with.
* Cartman from ''SouthPark'' does this so much that one of his {{Catch Phrase}}s is, "Screw you guys, I'm going home."
** He actually does this in the middle of the rainforest (after beating the shit out to two separate endangered species.) he walks all of twenty feet and ends up immediately running into a logging crew...And he even gets chicken!
** Mercilessly parodied in the Startling two-parter (the ones with the guinea pigs). Craig hates the plot. All he wants to do is pull this trope and go home... and every time he walks away, he walks straight into ''more plot''.
** Chef, along with all the black soldiers pull this off in ''TheMovie'' when they are put on a suicide mission by their blatantly racist commander.
* The ''BeastWars'' ChewToy Waspinator. The long rant where he finally had more than he could take and quit was the funniest moment of the entire series, and possibly his CrowningMomentOfAwesome. Of course, he did get immediately blasted by his own former teammates... but it wasn't really a subversion, since (as always) [[BackFromTheDead he got better]].
* Mouse pulls a form of this in season 1 of ''{{ReBoot}}'', after being hired by Megabyte to hack into Bob's brain and find the password to the Supercomputer. When she finds out she got stuck in Enzo's brain by accident, she sternly informs Megabyte that she won't mess with children, and declares her intention to quit then and there. Being the MagnificentBastard that he is, Megabyte tries to sabotage her ("Nobody double-crosses the Mouse!" "I double-cross whomever I please!") but is naturally thwarted when Bob shows up to help Mouse out.
* Mandalay -- the colossal, mute bodyguard of Mr Brisby in ''TheVentureBros'' -- is a threatening presence throughout the episode in which he appears. However, when faced with a duel to the death with Brock Samson towards the end of the episode, he breaks his silence to state that he doesn't really need this job and walks away.
** If I remember correctly, this happens again in "Love Bheits" when Brock [[spoiler:finds a lump on the testicle of a henchman he is fighting.]] That henchman loses his urge to fight, and Brock lets him go.
** Brock himself does this in the Season 3 finale... [[spoiler:before he was nearly killed by a car explosion.]]
** [[spoiler:Henchman 21/Gary announces he's quitting right to the Monarch's face]] in "Operation: P.R.O.M", even giving [[spoiler: The Monarch and Dr. Mrs. both middle fingers as he's walking out.]]
* Some ''KimPossible'' episodes had [[HypercompetentSidekick Shego]] getting fed up with the plans of [[HarmlessVillain Dr.]] [[GeneralFailure Drakken]] that she just walked away in the middle of the ongoing caper.
* In an early Fleischer ''Superman'' cartoon, "Jungle Drums", a primitive African tribe has been turned into a CargoCult by Nazis. Everything is going smoothly to the rhythm of a faux-tribal drum beat, when Superman suddenly shows up to foil their plans and save Lois. Exit entire tribe, stage right!
* In the ''{{Phineas and Ferb}}'' episode "Day of the Living Gelatin", Baljeet's reaction to the gelatin monster is to walk off with the casual remark "O-kay, I'm going home."
** Another episode has Buford doing this the moment he meets the princess who has swapped places with Candace for the day.
* In the ''JusticeLeague'' episode "Wild Cards", as King and Ten are trying to stop Superman from disarming a bomb...
-->'''Superman:''' Are you as crazy as Joker? We have less than a minute! If you beat me, you'll die in the explosion!\\
'''Ten:''' So? I'll win.\\
'''King:''' ''(checking the timer)'' I'm out of here! ''(runs)''
* In one of the last episodes of ''AmericanDragonJakeLong'', and the climax of the last season's main story arc, Huntsgirl evokes a spell to kill every Huntsclan member on the planet (as [[BigBad the Huntsman]] was about to use the spell to kill every supernatural creature on the planet). ThoseTwoBadGuys, a pair of obnoxious teenage Huntsclan trainees, are smart enough to loudly announce that they quit the Huntsclan before running away as fast as possible once they realize what's going on. The Kill-Everything-Spell, being a rather LiteralGenie, thus ignores them while proceeding to [[KilledOffForReal Kill Off For Real]] every single Huntsclan member, [[RedemptionEqualsDeath including Huntsgirl]]. It helped that the spell apparently identified Huntsclan members by their tattoos, which the trainees didn't have.
* One ''{{The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy}}'' episode had Mandy [[NoFourthWall walk out of the cartoon itself]] simply because she was tired of episodes based around pets.
* "[[AquaTeenHungerForce 'Await further instructions from talking hole in neck.' ... Eh, screw that.]]"
* In one of the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, ''TheSimpsons'' has a variation of Orson Welles' reading of ''{{The War of the Worlds}}''. As Welles' character reads, you see a sound effect guy working with him. Welles' descriptions get increasingly detailed, until the sound guy holds up a sign "Screw You" and leaves.
** Homer's brain has also been known to do this when Homer ignores its sensible suggestions.
* In an episode of BatmanTheAnimatedSeries, Maxie Zeus orders his henchman Alex to attack Batman. Being GenreSavvy, Alex declares that there's no way he can possibly win and tries to leave. Zeus angrily tries to gun him down for his defiance, but he outruns the gunfire and escapes into the swimming pool. Although he disappears for the rest of the episode, he was presumably arrested after the battle.
* [[PinkyAndTheBrain The Brain]]'s fatal flaw is that he often doesn't know when to fold 'em. Just one example: he would have gotten away scot free, plan intact, in "Pinkasso" if he didn't try to make a production out of the last painting he auctioned.
* {{Family Guy}}'s Peter Griffin was apparently present at Tiananmen Square until he decided it just wasn't worth it.
** Peter:[[spoiler:Aw, screw this! I just came over to buy some fireworks!]]
* In the CaptainPlanet episode ''Scorched Earth'', after Captain Planet rips the roof from a buiding.
-->'''Mook''': First the weather goes crazy and now ''this''? Let me out of here! (runs)
* In the DannyPhantom episode ''Pirate Radio'', [[MusicalAssassin Ember McLain]] and [[{{Pirate}} Youngblood]] team up. When the good guys board Youngblood's ship and attack, Ember joins the battle for a while, but after accidentally setting the sail on fire, she jumps overboard and escapes.
* In the first episode of ''TotalDramaWorldTour'', Duncan is tied to Courtney and Gwen. After putting up with three hours of them fighting, the hot Egyptian sun, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking having to sing]], he quits, telling Chris off.
** Also subverted between 'Island' and 'Action.' The campers' first reaction when Chris tells them about season 2 is "No way!" However, Chris then brings up that its in their contracts, and they really should [[ReadTheFinePrint Read the fine print next time.]]
* Finally, ''finally'', after two and a half seasons of flip-flopping, [[AvatarTheLastAirbender Zuko]] says "screw this!" to the Fire Nation and heads off to help the good guys.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:RealLife]]
* When one flight attendant had had enough, he didn't just quit his job -- [[http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/09/jetblue-attendant-goes-ballistic-on-flight-to-jfk/ he did it with style]].
-->Slater got on the plane’s public address system and yelled:\\
"To the passenger who called me a motherfucker, fuck you. I’ve been in the business 28 years. I’ve had it. That’s it."\\
Sources said Slater then grabbed some beer from the plane, deployed the inflatable emergency slide, and took off in his car parked in an employee lot.
* Russia as a whole did this during WorldWarOne when the Bolsheviks took power and opened peace talks with ImperialGermany. The Western Allies were extremely unhappy to hear about the resulting Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, since it freed up all of Germany's resources to be focused on them.
* Sometimes, the lowest-ranked member of a group of pack animals will go off on its own in hopes of starting its own pack. Being the "lone wolf" is less awesome than it sounds - it's less "I'm so {{Badass}} I don't need anybody" and more "life sucked so much back there I'll risk starvation and bigger/more numerous animals and roll the dice."
[[/folder]]
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