History Main / ScrewThisImOuttaHere

Not to be confused with LineInTheSand, where a general gives his troops the opportunity to leave before a suicidal battle. Nor OptOut, in which someone quits for reasons of principle rather than mere frustration or cowardice. 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 actively to join the forces of good. If they resort to a violent solo career (or in company with other deserters), they're a DangerousDeserter.

[[TakeThat But all they played was disco, man]]\\

* This is the reaction of Button-Up Barry in ''RatMovieMysteryOfTheMayanTreasure'' when the Giant Rat shows up and grabs Garon, Guardian of the Treasure Chest. "Ah, fuck this, I'm off."

** In the Literature/BookOfEzekiel, the Judaic religious sytem at the time of Ezekiel's ministry was so corrupt, with the priests worshiping idols even in God's holy Temple, that the glory of God decided to vacate the premises with Ezekiel watching.

* ''WebSeries/MGTSchool'':
** In "My New Helper!" Zodiac nervously tried to walk away before Seira noticed her, but failed.
** In "The Video Contest", after Zodiac announced a video contest between herself and Seira, Yoshiko claimed that [[INeedToGoIronMyDog she had to go to class]], and walked off.
** In 'No Pain, No Gain' Akira attempted this after Rasta said that they have to exercise.

** In "My New Helper!" Zodiac nervously tried to walk away before [[spoiler:Seira]] noticed her, but failed.

* ''WebSeries/MGTSchool''

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere/WebOriginal

--> ''Gotta get away, gotta get away now''
--> ''And I'm outta here''

-->'''Doctor''': Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, Profit again should hardly draw me here.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/LookingForGroup'': Richard pulls one of these in [[http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/268 this strip]]. Until Cale bribes him with a "Blow up a mountain" mission.
* [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/540.html This strip]] of ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' speculates about the fate of [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Moradmin_Bast one character]] from ''Franchise/StarWars''.
* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' 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."]]
** Laurin Shattersmith does this during her duel with Vaarsuvius. While the more powerful spellcaster of the two, Laurin had already expended a great amount of power fighting other characters, and when V points out that (s)he still has more than two dozen spells remaining, Laurin teleports away without another word.
* In ''Webcomic/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!"
* ''Webcomic/CogaNito'': Eric's first reaction to [[spoiler: the robot BB]] is to scoop Niko up and attempt to flee.
* Leo, the genetically enhanced lion in ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'': "I guess he wanted me to rush 'em or something, but I was all, screw that, Master, they've got guns, man!"
* [[Webcomic/PennyArcade Tycho's]] brain [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/07/16/brains-with-urgent-appointments does it]] when confronted with ''[[Franchise/DieHard Live Free or Die Hard]]'''s interpretation of the Internet.
** A literal meaning of [[{{Pun}} "one's senses taking leave"]].
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sonichu}}'', Jason Kendrick Howell and Beel pull this when Chris goes to bring down the 4-cent Garbage building, leaving Clyde Cash and Jack Thaddeus to die.
* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' -- Xanatos peels off after Cypress panics from coming out of her hypnotic Tone and [[http://www.lastres0rt.com/2010/11/keep-the-camera-rolling/ dives into a pool of nanotech]]. He escapes during the collective FreakOut that ensues.
** [[WhamEpisode Given everything that went wrong after that point]], it's hard to imagine him staying could've made the situation any WORSE, at least...
* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'''s Black Mage has attempted to, on multiple occasions, opt out of the quest to save the world Fighter signed him up for. However, numerous elements keep forcing him back into the game, such as Thief's blackmail or Sarda's reality-warping power.
* ''WebComic/RustyAndCo'' introduced the mook Sir Malevolus, likely a mini-boss in his own right. As he begins to make his BadassBoast, [[http://rustyandco.com/comic/level-5-19/ he suddenly realizes that between Rusty and Cube, he doesn't stand a chance. After giving them directions to the boss, he books it.]]
** Later on, he meets with TheDragon of the arc. TheDragon tells Malevolus the protagonists are one direction; [[http://rustyandco.com/comic/level-5-21/ Malevolus heads in a different direction because that's where the ''exit'' is.]]
* ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'':
** A group of PunchClockVillain Drow [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0164.html duck out of the fight]] when one of their number gets dropped and they decide they like the protagonists better than the [[PathOfInspiration Child of Angelo]] who hired them.
** The [[HornyDevils succubus]] Yo-Lee gets unleashed on the Material Plane to {{balance|BetweenGoodAndEvil}} out a {{Celestial Paragon|sAndArchangels}}'s direct intervention, but sidelines her plans to play TheCorrupter and [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0667.html asks]] a mage to send her back to the Abyss when [[spoiler:she senses a vastly more powerful {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} wreaking havoc nearby]].
* In ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'', [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000421c Megaman pulls this]] [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000422c on the]] [[BreakingTheFourthWall comic.]]
** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/021025c He's not the only one to pull it, either]].
--->'''Mynd:''' [[WeCanRuleTogether Yes! Finally, Mega Man is defeated! We could make an excellent]]...[[OhCrap Say,]] didn't I [[DeathIsCheap kill you]] when I was here last?\\
'''Bass:''' Yes.\\
'''Mynd:''' [[KnowWhenToFoldEm Right, well, I'll just be going then.]]
* A member of the Webcomic/KarateBears does a Doug (Michael Showalter) in this strip, and [[http://www.karatebears.com/2012/08/doug.html actually leaves the page.]]
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'':
** The [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries.]] Similar to one of the Real Life examples, Maxim 3 is "An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody".
** In the Haven Hive arc, when Kathryn finds out that the mercenaries have had their memories altered by the UNS, she decides to leave both because they're too dangerous for her and she might be too dangerous for them (she's a former UNS agent). They end up working together again later.
--->'''Kathryn:''' Ficus foxtrot! You people! When I ditched you earlier all I knew was that you'd crossed the U.N.S. and I'd have to be crazy to associate with you. But if you had dealings at Xinchub's level it's so very much worse than I thought.\\
'''Bunni:''' You're not running away right now.\\
'''Kathryn:''' Twenty minutes ago I killed a U.N.S. agent and accidentally stole his intel. I may have relaxed my standards a little.
** During the Oisri arc, the mercenaries realize in the middle of a huge emergency that all their clients are already dead due to a mistake said clients made. They're just about ready to happily pack up and go home when they realize there ''is'' a survivor, [[SubvertedTrope so they go back to rescue her]].
--->'''Schlock:''' ''[PuppyDogEyes]''\\
'''Tagon:''' Is that the "please let me kill things" face or the "please let me rescue the nice lady" face?\\
'''Schlock:''' Those are the same face.
** Near the end of the worldforge arc, things are mostly resolved, but there's still a big mess to clean up and the commodore is unconscious. Kevyn half-jokingly suggests just going home.
--->'''Kathryn:''' If the commodore wakes up at home he might not yell at us.
** [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-11-09 One spaceship commander]] upon realizing how hopelessly outclassed he is.
--->'''Pirate:''' We're going to do the opposite of get closer.\\
'''Srabbin:''' What are you saying?\\
'''Pirate:''' Probably 'good bye'.
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
** When Equius is first introduced, ''the narrator'' doesn't want to spend too long on him.
** Also, [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/index.php?s=6&p=002556 at one point]], an enemy absconds off John's roof with [[ParasolParachute an umbrella]]. Because that's what weak enemies do when they are vastly outclassed.
** [[spoiler:In the afterlife]], Tavros attempts to do this when Vriska declares [[RageAgainstTheAuthor her desire to start fucking shit up]] so that they'll be relevant to the narrative again. Unfortunately, Vriska brainwashes him into obeying.
--->'''Vriska:''' [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=006740 I'm sick of this shit.]] I'm sick of being [[spoiler:dead]] and useless and bored, and I'm not going to take it anymore. You're with me, right?\\
'''Tavros:''' No way.
** A lot of characters pull this off at once in Act 6 Intermission 5. [[spoiler: Upon realising that the Ring of Life, a ring that can revive a dead person, has just been lost, [[KillerDM Vriska]] starts yelling at [[ExtremeDoormat Tavros]], the last one who (she thinks) had it, about losing it. At this point, he [[GrewASpine grows sick of her crap]] and flies off to parts unknown, {{flipping the bird}} and yelling a taunt previously used against him at her. [[MoodSwinger Sollux]] then follows suit, taking [[CatGirl Nepeta]] and [[GenkiGirl Feferi]] with him.]]
* Near the end of the Battle for Gobwin Knob in ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'', the chief warlord for the Royalist faction was croaked during a parley. Superfluous Elves, as their name suggests, aren't particularly good units and don't have any impressive abilities, but they ''do'' know when they aren't needed and should just leave. So their chief, who was also the chief of all the elves at the battle, gave the elves the order to retreat. Most of the elves stayed and croaked when the volcano erupted, but everyone that went with him survived [[spoiler:and eventually sided with Stanley thanks to their grudge against Jetstone and the need for a patron.]]
* All of the Mandragora initially reject Willow's offer of freedom and forgiveness in ''Webcomic/{{Earthsong}}''. But Neuria and Jormand decide later that they actually ''would'' like to ditch Beluosus [[spoiler:after he eats two of their comrades to sustain himself]].
* When a mook in ''Webcomic/WeAreTheWyrecats'' realizes YourHeadAsplode doesn't work on Mela, he decides to ditch his partner and book it.
* ''Webcomic/DraculaRulerOfTheNight'': [[spoiler: After Dracula and the brides are killed, Lucy Westenra and her mother, Minerva, both now vampires and still under the curse, decide to flee and live on in their undead states rather than continue the fight.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Minerva''': I was already elderly before the bite, and that death was plenty scary enough. Forgive me gentleman, I know you mean well. But I much rather continue being a so called "walking corrputed abomination" then go through that again.]]
* The entire second half of ''Webcomic/CuantaVida'', a very dark DeconstructionFic of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', is devoted to the saner team members doing just this. [[spoiler:[[AnyoneCanDie Most of them]] make it.]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': One overambitious crime boss uses a brothel as a front; the employees flee the city as soon as the situation with [[spoiler:the First Silver superweapon and a GeneralRipper]] spirals out of control.
-->'''Male Prostitute:''' I'm too twink for this crap.
* ''WebComic/MierukoChan'': In chapter 6, Miko's predicament attracts the attention of a NotSoPhonyPsychic, the "Godmother of Downtown". She tries to help Miko with her habit of attracting powerful monsters, but when her strongest ward is overwhelmed by the presence currently haunting Miko and her friend Hana, the Godmother decides it's time to get out of fortune-telling and accept her son's offer to come back to the family farm.

!!Examples

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere/FanFic

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere/ProfessionalWrestling

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]

* ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony''.
** In "Hippocratic Oafs", after seeing how poorly Ponyville is treating Blue Twilight, Purple Twilight decides she wants nothing more to do with them. "That's it. I'm out. I hope a bear eats you all."
** In "The Penny and Clyde Show", Pinkie Pie breaks the fourth wall and tries to walk out of the series after Discord makes his introduction. "''Ultra Fast Pony'', season two, everybody! I hope you all enjoyed it. I'm going home."
** In "Reading to Rainbow", Twilight is the only pony willing to visit Rainbow Dash in the hospital. Until Dash cracks a racist joke, at which point Twi replies, "Okay, that's it, I'm out! ''I'm done.'' You have fun by yourself."

[[folder:Webcomics]]

-> "But Cartman-"

-> "No: screw you guys, home!"

When this is done by children--or by childish adults--it's considered more contemptible than truly evil, and mockingly referred to as "taking your ball and going home" (in reference to the deserter taking the ball so the game couldn't continue without him).

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' has two skits where Yang and her dad Tai start trading puns (and in the first one on Tai's side, dad jokes) with each other. Both times, with the expections of one character (Nora in the first one, Weiss is the second), everyone decides to get the hell out of dodge before they get too far. A season 1 episode saw Sun attempt to do this when Yang is doing puns as a comedy act, by Ren stops him.

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]

* A famous UK advert for Weetabix breakfast cereal had the [[Franchise/TheLoneRanger 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:

* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', a {{Subverted|Trope}} example occurs when Tukson attempts to get as far away from the White Fang as possible by escaping to Vacuo. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't work out as Cinder's henchmen corner and eventually [[KilledOffscreen kill him offscreen]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': {{Subverted|Trope}} with bookstore owner Tukson. He decides to escape from the White Fang and flee to Vacuo in an effort to distance himself from the group. Unfortunately for him, Cinder's henchmen corner and eventually [[KilledOffscreen kill him offscreen]].