| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% |
| 3 | %% |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | %% |
| 9 | %% |
| 10 | %% |
| 11 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1320959922088080100 |
| 12 | %% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 13 | %% |
| 14 | [[quoteright:272:[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/85db4b36472964db1c78cb78358ef769.png]]]] |
| 15 | |
| 16 | ->''"A man with 'principles' is just another way of saying 'he can't be bought cheap'."'' |
| 17 | -->-- '''Chester Hoenicker''', ''Film/{{Flubber}}'' |
| 18 | %% |
| 19 | %% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | This occurs when a character or group of characters in a narrative are repeatedly able to use their money as "persuasion" for anyone in their way, with little to no resistance from those being bribed. Whether it's getting past the guards at the SupervillainLair or [[WillTalkForAPrice retrieving vital information from the local townsfolk]], these characters always find that money is the universal negotiator especially to those who are OnlyInItForTheMoney. This act of shameless coercion is obviously based on the StockPhrase and heroes and villains alike, it seems, are never shy about finding out what "every man's" price is. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | Since large sums of cash can be required for their bribes, it is common to see a character pull out a BriefcaseFullOfMoney when invoking this trope, but this is certainly not required. It is not required that the bribes involve actual cash either, and they can include anything from [[FoodAsBribe delicious candy]] to gratuitous sexual favors. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Note that this trope does not mean a character ''simply bribes someone'' during the plot threads. It is only indicative of characters who frequently use bribes to coerce others with impunity. Particularly horrendous abusers of this trope show characters that can regularly bribe their {{Mooks}} or other characters to do damn near anything, even with situations where the payment would certainly not be worth the risk or loss (such as jobs with a [[CannonFodder near-guarantee of death or dismemberment]]). |
| 26 | |
| 27 | A subtrope of ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney, although the character doesn't ''necessarily'' have to be richer than anybody else. |
| 28 | |
| 29 | Compare BuyThemOff, where a character attempts to use a form of bribery to atone for evil actions, and VillainWithGoodPublicity, for characters who take bribery, coercion, and fraud to a whole different level. Contrast BribeBackfire, which is what happens when the briber underestimates the [[ComicallySmallBribe price]] and/or [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules integrity]] of their target and MoneyIsNotPower, where the situation may be bad enough (or the person is driven enough) that whatever "the price" may be, it is not possible to pay with money (and most certainly will doom a "rich" character). |
| 30 | ---- |
| 31 | !! Examples: |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 34 | |
| 35 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 36 | * Inverted by the [[JerkassGods God Hand]] in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', they believe that anyone can be brought to a [[DespairEventHorizon point so low]] that they would give up anything to escape it and are [[HumansAreFlawed usually right]]. |
| 37 | * PlayedForLaughs in ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'' with Richard's constant weakness to sweets. |
| 38 | * In the AlternateHistory of ''Anime/CodeGeass'', Creator/BenjaminFranklin was bribed by the British Empire with titles of nobility. He then betrayed the American Revolutionary movement. With the information provided by him, the British army organized an ambush where UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington was killed, thus bringing the American Revolution to a screeching halt. |
| 39 | * ''Manga/ExcelSaga'': Kapabu's control of Fukuoka City is founded entirely on bribery and blackmail. |
| 40 | * ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': |
| 41 | ** ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'': Used constantly by [[CoolOldGuy Joseph Joestar]]. Like in the example image of the trope, there are many times when Joseph solves problems by throwing money at them. [[spoiler:Including, but not limited to, buying a car to trade for camels, buying an airplane, bribes, a ''goddamn submarine'', and buying a car in the middle of a life or death fight to use as a getaway vehicle. Not to mention all the hospital visits.]] |
| 42 | ** ''Manga/StoneOcean'': The [[TheAlcatraz Green Dolphin Street Prison]] has the inmates running on a hierarchy within prison walls, prisoners occasionally use money to bribe guards and get past other prisoners to use the phone, and would resort to extortion from other inmates who weren't able to pay back money they borrowed. |
| 43 | * ''Franchise/YuGiOh'': |
| 44 | ** Early in the original ''Anime/YuGiOh'', [[Characters/YuGiOhSetoKaiba Seto Kaiba]] was known to use both bribery and blackmail to get what he wanted (in the manga, he even admitted he got his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons cards this way), and Mokuba intended to do the same thing in the manga too (he was far more evil in that version than he was in the anime, at least early on). Kaiba mellowed on this a little as the series progressed (he stopped using methods that were outright illegal, but he still tended to use his wealth to his advantage). Of course, as bad as Kaiba was, his adoptive father was ''much'' worse. To Gozuburo's thinking, money was the answer to everything, and there was nothing that couldn't be bought (which was a big factor that led to Kaiba taking him down the first time). |
| 45 | ** This was inverted in the episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' that featured one-shot character Anacis. An incredibly wealthy man (among his possessions were a gold-and-gem-encrusted Duel Disk and a submarine with a private dueling arena) he was also a very shallow and arrogant man who thought anyone could be bought. Unfortunately for him, his attempt to recruit Judai into his new project through bribery (even though the amount he offered was the equivalent of over a million dollars) failed; [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules Judai's loyalty to Duel Academy and his allies was more important than money.]] |
| 46 | [[/folder]] |
| 47 | |
| 48 | [[folder:Card Games]] |
| 49 | * ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': In addition to the monger cards, and the new legend rule (wherein playing a second copy is bribing the character to leave), this is the default behavior of black, which uses ''everything'' as a resource. |
| 50 | ** Perhaps the best proof of this is [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=185811 Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer]], who is able to buy off anyone (except those with Hexproof, Shroud, an applicable Protection effect, or [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=142030 Tatterkite]]). [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4228 Mercenaries]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=222736 soldiers]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=175392 spies]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202276 bats]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=370709 vampires]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=217996 evil robots]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220103 dragons]], [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=193632 Lovecraftian horrors]], ''anyone'', doesn't matter, Gwafa Hazid has enough money to pay them off. |
| 51 | [[/folder]] |
| 52 | |
| 53 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 54 | * ''ComicBook/Agent47BirthOfTheHitman'': Diana gets Savi's thugs into turncoating to work for her by offering them lots more money than what Savi offered. |
| 55 | * During Creator/GrantMorrison's run on ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', ComicBook/LexLuthor recruited mercenary ComicBook/TheFlash villain Mirror Master as part of his Injustice League. Mirror Master ultimately quit the team; his loyalties were always to the highest bidder, and Luthor was ultimately outbid... by [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]]. Also a rare usage of this trope as a PetTheDog moment, Luthor couldn't outbid Wayne because Wayne was giving the money to Mirror Master's favorite charity: an orphanage he grew up in. |
| 56 | * Zig-zagged and subverted for laughs in ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'' story "Everything Must Go." Mojo Jojo is having a yard sale of all his weapons and robots. Ms. Keane is eyeing one of his robots but notices its rather steep price tag ($2 million). Mojo vehemently defends his pricing saying it was labor intensive and he's even selling it at a loss. Ms. Keane offers 75 cents for it. Mojo takes it. |
| 57 | * In ''ComicBook/{{Violine}}'', the Zongo customs official takes the bribe after being offered enough money. |
| 58 | * ''ComicBook/XMen'': The Juggernaut is known and feared for being an unstoppable, invulnerable villain who crushes anything in his path. However, one surefire way to stop him (assuming he's working as a hired gun, and not pursuing a personal vendetta) is to offer him more cash than his current employer is offering. |
| 59 | [[/folder]] |
| 60 | |
| 61 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 62 | * ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': Discussed by the duo in one strip during their wagon ride. Calvin claims his price is: "[[ComicallySmallDemand Two bucks cold cash up front]]" |
| 63 | -->'''Hobbes''': I don't know which is worse: that everyone has their price, or that the price is always so low. |
| 64 | -->'''Calvin''': I'd make mine higher, but it's hard enough to find buyers as it is. |
| 65 | * ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' proves that this trope applies to talking objects as well. Upon weighing himself in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/14 the April 14, 2022 strip]], [[TemptingFate Garfield attempts to bribe the talking scale into lying about the result for him, but the scale refuses. Garfield promptly names his bribe of choice, which gets the scale to oblige.]] |
| 66 | -->'''Garfield''': If you give me a good number, I'll make it worth your while.\ |
| 67 | '''Scale''': You can't bribe me!\ |
| 68 | '''Garfield''': [[TwoWordsAddedEmphasis Two words: unlimited batteries.]]\ |
| 69 | '''Scale''': Hellooooo, '''SKINNY!''' |
| 70 | [[/folder]] |
| 71 | |
| 72 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 73 | * In ''Fanfic/HelluvaJob'', Blitzo tries to bring up professional integrity while denying St. Anger's use of the grimoire to get to Earth, but is shut up when Anger shows him a check worth a lot of money. |
| 74 | * In ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'', Professor Oak suffers severe financial problems, which sometimes force him to do things he doesn't like to keep his lab afloat and continue his research work. This is established as early as the second chapter when he's forced to give starter Pokémon to a pair of twins when their father ([[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections who is an important politician]]) threatens to cut his funds. |
| 75 | * [[spoiler:[[Franchise/TheMuppets Miss Piggy]]]] in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10393946/1/The-Rainbow-Connection The Rainbow Connection]]'' paid Shinji's teacher enough money to give up his guardianship of Shinji over to her and lie to Gendo about it, despite the teacher knowing exactly how Gendo would react. |
| 76 | * {{Discussed}} in ''Fanfic/SomeoneHasHeardThemScream''. Garrus claims that long experience at C-Sec has taught him that ''anyone'' can be bribed with ''something'', but that something is not always cash or purchasable with cash. |
| 77 | * In ''Fanfic/WhenReasonFails'', [[spoiler:Shoto is initially hesitant to bring Aiko the Outsider of Existence back to UA, but when she offers him the knowledge on how to become a Magister, he immediately says they should allow her to come home with them. Izuku is stunned by his shamelessness.]] |
| 78 | * PlayedForLaughs in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12446027/23/With-Sprinkles With Sprinkles]]''. Every time Xander does something that the crew of the [[Series/{{Firefly}} Serenity]] say is impossible, he passes Mal a roll of gold coins, causing the captain to either buy Xander's blatantly false excuse or make one up. Xander pulling off a WallCrawl? Must be a malfunction with the gravity controls. Xander pulls [[{{Hammerspace}} far too much out of his pockets]]? Nothing wrong with having deep pockets. |
| 79 | * ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'': During one fused loop between ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' and ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', Eddy is trying to get Numbuh 1 to give him a treehouse seed for his own purposes. At first, Numbuh 1 is insistent that the only way to get one is to actually be an operative, until Eddy offers to deal with [[TheDreaded Billy]] for the next five loops. Numbuh 1 changes his tune and tells him that he'll have it authorized. |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Film -- Animated]] |
| 83 | * Invoked by Percival C. [=McLeach=] in ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder''. Counts as a subversion, since he speaks of it but never actually does it. |
| 84 | --> '''[=McLeach=]''': Everyone's got his price. All I gotta do is offer him whatever he wants... and then not give it to him. |
| 85 | ** Of course, what Cody wants is for the Eagle and her eggs to be safe and he knows telling [=McLeach=] will ensure that will not happen. [=McLeach=] realizes that he doesn't care about the eggs, he just wants the Eagle and wants them to kill the eggs to have the last poached eagle of her species. Cody wants both... additionally he wants his own freedom. So [=McLeach=] releases Cody, telling him that the Eagle was shot this morning and it was on the radio. Cody, with this knowledge, goes straight to the nest, only to learn that the eggs and the eagle are safe... but true to his word, [=McLeach=] didn't give him what he wanted. [=McLeach=] followed this trope so well, the audience didn't realize it. |
| 86 | --> '''[=McLeach=]''': I didn't make it all the way to the Third Grade for nothing! |
| 87 | [[/folder]] |
| 88 | |
| 89 | [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]] |
| 90 | * ''Film/TheCountOfMonteCristo2002'' shows Monte Cristo's servant driving a wagon up to the manor of a Parisian. He tells the owner that he is there to purchase the man's huge ancestral estate, and is laughed at heartily--until the servant opens the back of the wagon, out of which pour coins, huge gems, and other treasure. Cut to the man driving off with the wagon, and the servant with deed in hand. |
| 91 | * In ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin'', a pianist refuses to replay a concerto so it can be recorded for Stalin, because [[ItsPersonal Stalin had her family murdered]]. Until... |
| 92 | --> '''Director''': Ten thousand roubles.\ |
| 93 | '''Pianist''': Twenty. |
| 94 | * ''Film/FlodderInAmerika'': By the end of the movie, the US government is practically begging the Dutch ambassador to ship the Flodder Family back to Holland. However, Johnnie realizes they have some leverage because the family can implicate the President of the United States in the destruction of the Statue of Liberty. The US government bribes the Flodders to shut up about it. |
| 95 | * The frequency and relative ease with which the protagonist in ''Film/LesInvasionsBarbares'' bribes the people around him to make his father's last weeks the best he can is both funny and rather depressing. |
| 96 | * Most of the ''Film/JamesBond'' films feature him using both financial and "non-financial" bribery to further his cause, meaning that the cumulative amount of bribes he has performed over the years is staggering. |
| 97 | ** In ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'', Bond turns down a million-pound dowry from Marc-Ange Draco to give up his carefree bachelor's life and marry his daughter Tracy, but he ''is'' willing to play along in exchange for the whereabouts of Ernst Stavro Blofeld. When Tracy forces her father to give Bond the information anyway, Bond keeps after Tracy, falling in love with her for real and refusing the dowry when Draco tries to quietly slip him the cheque at the wedding. |
| 98 | ** ''Film/LicenceToKill'' specifically features a villain known for his "million dollar bribes". [[spoiler: His [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[KickTheDog betrays Felix Leiter]] to help him escape at the beginning of the film for 2 million. [[ItsPersonal Bond]] [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules is not]] [[KarmicDeath amused]].]] |
| 99 | ** ''Film/GoldenEye'' has an example where Bond sets up a bank heist with Valentin Zukovsky in order to pay him off for setting him up with Janus. Considering Bond nearly crippled him years before, it went well. |
| 100 | ** This is the reason behind the title ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'' and the Bond family motto "[[GratuitousLatin Orbus Non Sufficat]]" (first mentioned in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''), i.e. that to bribe Mr. Bond himself, paying him the ''world'' would not be enough. [[TitleDrop Title Dropped]] near the end of the movie, too. |
| 101 | ** ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' has a local sheriff whom both [=MI6=] and the BigBad will want to influence. Bond's contact, {{Ma|gnificentBastard}}this, decides not to start a bidding war and instead [[TakeAThirdOption forges evidence that they had successfully bribed the sheriff]] and leaks the evidence to the [[TheStarscream deputy sheriff]], whom Mathis had bribed at a relatively cheap price. It's not always the highest bidder who wins. |
| 102 | * ''Franchise/JurassicPark'': Dr. Alan Grant is primarily focused on his excavation work, but he can be persuaded to go to the dinosaur islands for the right price. In ''Film/JurassicPark1993'', John Hammond offers to fund his team's digs for the next three years if he goes to Isla Nublar, while in ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', Paul Kirby offers him a blank check to be his tour guide on a flight over Isla Sorna. [[spoiler:While Hammond's offer is apparently sincere, Kirby is actually scamming Grant in a desperate attempt to find his missing son.]] |
| 103 | * In ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' [[note]] which takes place in between the above films[[/note]], Hammond mentions that Eddie and Nick didn't believe him about live dinosaurs being on Isla Sorna and that he "had to use [his] checkbook" to convince them to even go on the expedition. Meanwhile, Roland subverts this when he agrees to help Ludlow lead his own expedition in exchange for the right to hunt a male ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', basically telling Ludlow that he can stick his money where the sun doesn't shine if he doesn't agree to this. |
| 104 | * ''Film/LifeIsBeautiful'': PlayedForLaughs as Guido is about to close the restaurant for the night. The maitre'd says a government official has arrived and wants dinner. Guido insists the restaurant is closed until the maitre'd points out that Guido would get a big tip, at which Guido tells him the restaurant is open. |
| 105 | * Yuri Orlov in ''Film/LordOfWar'' says at one point that he has never met a single border guard unwilling to look away for a moment in return for an envelope full of US dollars. He does note, however, that some people - like the Interpol agent who takes a personal interest in him - can't be bought with money. |
| 106 | -->They say every man has his price - but not every man gets it. Interpol Agent Jack Valentine couldn't be bought, at least not with money. For Jack, glory was the prize. |
| 107 | * ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': |
| 108 | ** Cutler Beckett actually quotes this Trope, after he forces Governor Swann to devote all his influence and political power to support the East India Trading Company. |
| 109 | ---> "Every man has a price he will willingly accept. Even for what he hoped never to sell." |
| 110 | ** This line also feeds into Davy Jones's M.O., which involves finding dying soldiers and offering them a prolonged life if they spend it serving on ''The Flying Dutchman.'' |
| 111 | ** Even Davy Jones in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest second film]] has a price as Jack manages to negotiate him into an offer of 100 souls in exchange for his own. |
| 112 | ---> '''Jack''': So, we've established my proposal as sound in principle. Now, we're just haggling over price. |
| 113 | * ''Film/Posse1975'': Jack Strawhorn believes this and attempts to prove it by handing back the $30,000 the posse had raised to pay Nightingale's ransom and telling them to split it among themselves: $6,000 each. [[spoiler:He is ultimately proven correct as four of the five posse members abandon Nightingale and ride off with Strawhorn.]] |
| 114 | -->'''Jack Strawhorn:''' ''[to Howard Nightingale]'' Honest men stay honest only as long as it pays. That's why I'm a thief and you're a liar. |
| 115 | * ''Film/RunawayJury'' involves an ample amount of JuryAndWitnessTampering by the lawyers defending a firearm manufacturer in a negligence lawsuit, and they're frustrated over the interference in ''their'' machinations by one juror and his outside accomplice, who offers each side a guaranteed win for a $15 million payment. TheReveal is [[spoiler: that, despite accepting the defense's payment, the jury still voted against them - Nick never had control of the jury to begin with. He just wanted to counter the defense's interference in the measure, and ensure that the lawyer retired from practice due to the sleazy tactics he'd employed when his accomplice (actually his girlfriend)'s mother tried to sue another firearm manufacturer a few years earlier.]] |
| 116 | * The corporate executive in ''Film/SmallSoldiers'' solves all problems by throwing money at them. At the end of the film, he passes out cheques to everybody involved to get them to keep quiet about what happened. One of them protests that you can't just buy people's silence like that, then reads the amount of the cheque and decides that actually you can. |
| 117 | * In ''Film/SWAT2003'', a French drug lord is arrested in Los Angeles and announces on national TV that he is offering a 100-million-dollar reward to anyone who can free him from police custody. Chaos erupts as multiple gangs and other lowlifes try to break him out. The titular SWAT team is tasked with delivering the prisoner to a federal prison and he offers them the money to help him escape. [[spoiler:One of the SWAT members finds the money to be too much of a temptation and betrays the team.]] |
| 118 | * ''{{Film/Wonka}}'' has the Chocolate Cartel bribe the police chief, not in cash, but in boxes of the chief's favorite chocolates. As it turns out, the chief's price in question for his loyalty is 1800 boxes. |
| 119 | * Shepard Lambrick in ''Film/WouldYouRather'' invokes this trope almost verbatim, as he coaxes his guests through a series of challenges benign at first (offering $10,000 to a vegetarian to eat some foie gras, for instance), then becoming more and more sadistic (how much pain will you subject yourself - or a complete stranger - to in order to "win?"). |
| 120 | [[/folder]] |
| 121 | |
| 122 | [[folder:Jokes]] |
| 123 | * At a party, a man asks a woman: |
| 124 | -->"A hypothetical question: Would you sleep with me for one billion dollars?" |
| 125 | -->"Wow, that's a lot of money... yes, I guess I would." |
| 126 | -->"Would you sleep with me for five dollars?" |
| 127 | -->"Just what sort of a girl do you think I am?!" |
| 128 | -->"We've already settled that. Now we're just haggling over price." |
| 129 | * A lobbyist working a state legislature gets wind of a bill that would go against his clients' interests, so he goes around offering campaign funds to willing legislators to drop the bill. A [[CorruptPolitician particular official]] is tricky to get but the lobbyist finally gets him to commit with a $10,000 donation. When the bill comes to a floor vote, the lobbyist is outraged to watch that official vote ''for'' the bill. He angrily confronts the man later on to find out the opposition had paid him off with a $50,000 donation. The lobbyist keeps cursing out the legislator, who finally shrugs and answers "[[OutGambitted you knew I was weak when I took the ten thousand]]." |
| 130 | [[/folder]] |
| 131 | |
| 132 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 133 | * AvertedTrope in ''Literature/TheBourneIdentity'' when Jason Bourne is caught by men Carlos has paid to kill him. |
| 134 | -->"Suppose I paid you. You were at the bank; you know I've got funds."\ |
| 135 | "Probably millions, but I wouldn't touch a franc note."\ |
| 136 | "Why? Are you afraid?"\ |
| 137 | "Most assuredly. Wealth is relative to the amount of time one has to enjoy it. I wouldn't have five minutes." |
| 138 | * ''Literature/TheCatWhoWalksThroughWalls'': Richard and Gwen bribe their way around Luna, which is kind of justified since they're "on the lam." |
| 139 | * Played for laughs in ''Literature/CharlieWilsonsWar'' when a Swiss ArmsDealer offers Gust Avrakotos a lucrative job at his company when he leaves the CIA. Gust bluntly tells him to stick it up his ass. Not put out in the slightest, the Swiss then asks if Gust likes blondes. "Well, [[EveryoneLovesBlondes that's different]]." |
| 140 | * In ''Literature/TheCodexAlera'' this idea is acknowledged with regards to the Grey Tower, a reportedly impenetrable prison meant to hold powerful magic users. The men assigned there are some of the most reputable and hard-to-bribe men in the service. Add to that, anyone who tries, the guard can turn, report the attempted bribe, and be paid double it by the government. So, while every man has a price, the government just makes sure they are the highest bidder. |
| 141 | * This is the standard MO of ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo''. It almost fails when he struggles to persuade an unambitious and scrupulously honest telegraph operator to accept a bribe. |
| 142 | * ''Literature/CradleSeries'': Reigan Shen is the richest man in the world, so bribery is often his first option--though even he does have a budget, and he sometimes encounters people with a price too high for him. He is rather proud when he bribes Eithan Aurelius, a man who '''hates''' him, to [[spoiler:throw one of the most important tournaments in the world]]. We see this event from Eithan's point of view, and it comes off rather differently: He's pretty sure he was going to lose anyway, his allies will be able to carry on without him, and he'll be able to bleed Reigan for an absurd amount of money in the meantime. In fact, due to the gifts Reigan gives Eithan, [[spoiler:Eithan is able to foil one of Reigan's later assassination attempts against a rival faction. And Eithan was right; one of his personal disciples wins the tournament anyway]]. |
| 143 | * Comes up from time to time in the ''Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption'' novella from ''Literature/DifferentSeasons''. In a prison setting, inmates can be convinced to do anything for the right (even meager) reward. |
| 144 | ** The contraband smuggler Red is reluctant to try sneaking a rock hammer to Andy but agrees when promised ten dollars (eight for the hammer and two more as interest). |
| 145 | ** When the rapist Bogs Diamond is found beaten half to death in his cell, Red reasons that it was probably Andy, his victim, who had enough hidden cash to bribe a guard for the key and a couple more guys for the beating. |
| 146 | ** Tommy agrees to cover up evidence of Andy's innocence in exchange for being sent to a more comfortable prison. The [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption film adaptation]] instead has him trying to help Andy, [[spoiler: only to get shot for his trouble.]] |
| 147 | * ''Literature/TheDogsOfWar'' by Creator/FrederickForsyth. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive British mining tycoon Sir James Manson]] ponders this trope, concluding "If they cannot be bought, they can be broken." Unfortunately for his plans, the mercenary he's hired to overthrow an African dictatorship for his own puppet ruler proves otherwise as he's SecretlyDying. |
| 148 | * ''Literature/EndersGame'': In ''Speaker for the Dead'', Ender needs to get out to a remote colony world to which no flights are scheduled for a few decades. So, he (through his AI Jane) simply buys a local freight ship and all its cargo for $90 billion. [[Fiction500 His wealth is such that he can do things like that without even noticing.]] |
| 149 | * Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/TheFoundationTrilogy'': |
| 150 | ** "Literature/TheGeneralFoundation": |
| 151 | *** Privy Secretary Brodrig tells Lathan Devers that he has somehow resisted the General's MindProbe, but that he has a better one, one which 'can make any man talk'. Brodrig's Probe turns out [[spoiler:to be [[WeWillSpendCreditsInTheFuture a big wad of cash credits]]; he bribes Devers to tell him what the General is really trying to do]]. |
| 152 | *** SubvertedTrope when Devers and Barr are bribing their way up the chain of Imperial bureaucrats (nobility would have been faster, but ''their'' price is beyond the budget). Just a couple of bureaucrats away from the Emperor, the one they're bribing turns out to be a quite incorruptible Imperial Police Lieutenant. The police had noticed their efforts at bribing the lower-ranked officials and arranged a sting operation. |
| 153 | ** "Literature/TheMerchantPrinces": Secretary Jorane Sutt comes to Trader Hober Mallow and tries to convince him to switch over to his camp. The trader remarks that his opinions might be for sale, but the politician isn't offering him ''profit''. Sutt is unable to offer a price high enough to satisfy Mallow so he leaves, threatening to ruin the trader. |
| 154 | ** "Literature/SearchByTheFoundation": When the police are searching the airport for Arkady, the Palvers secretly offer [[WeWillSpendCreditsInTheFuture five hundred credits]] to let them through without problems. Arkady, however, is convinced that the police wouldn't have done that unless releasing her was intentional. [[spoiler:She's right; the police lieutenant was a spy for the Foundation working on Kalgan, and merely wanted to establish that she had successfully escaped the planet. Her father is quickly informed so that he wouldn't worry when war between the Foundation and Kalgan begins.]] |
| 155 | * In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, it's repeatedly noted that even the [[IncorruptiblePurePureness incorruptible Heralds]] can be bribed. It's just that [[EvilCannotComprehendGood the sort of person who would bribe a Herald wouldn't be the sort of person who could think of a bribe that would work]]. |
| 156 | * The entire point of Terry Southern's satirical novel ''The Magic Christian'', as well as [[Film/TheMagicChristian its film adaptation.]] |
| 157 | * In the ''Series/TheManFromUncle'' novelization ''The Dagger Affair,'' the AffablyEvil THRUSH leader Ward Baldwin that Waverly, Solo, and Kuryakin are temporarily allied with makes the point that not all prices are in money. For example, Waverley's price is furthering certain moral ideals and one that can never be met by THRUSH. He notes that even in THRUSH, money is the lowest price; the elite get paid in power. He goes on to say that men who ''truly'' have no price are inherently unpredictable and dangerous in the extreme--like the potential threat to all life on earth that they have allied to defeat. |
| 158 | * ''Literature/MaraDaughterOfTheNile'': This is basically Sheftu's life philosophy, and he's proven right time and again, only for him to discover Mara is [[spoiler: being tortured because [[SubvertedTrope she refused to betray him for a bribe]]]]. |
| 159 | * ''Literature/MotherOfLearning'': |
| 160 | ** When faced with the need to gather information quickly, Zorian shies away from using his telepathy to just MindRape mages into telling him all their secrets; even if they'll be reset by the GroundhogDayLoop, ''he'' won't. Instead, he settles for offering them what would otherwise (outside the time loop) be ludicrous payments. |
| 161 | ---> '''Zorian''': Yes, but what if you gave them an ''outrageous'' offer? The collected secrets of dozens of mages. More money than they'd ever seen in their life. Rare materials that cannot be obtained on the open market. A chance to hire a group of archmages for a task. That sort of thing.\ |
| 162 | ...\ |
| 163 | '''Xvim''': There is some merit to it. Some of these people… I don't think there is anything I could offer them to share their findings with me. Most, though, probably have their price, if one were willing to go high enough, and the offer looked credible. |
| 164 | ** Zorian even manages to pull off a bribe during the FinalBattle, [[spoiler:giving two divine artefacts to the dragon mage Oganj in return for stepping out of the fight. Red Robe is furious at Oganj's betrayal, but can't stop him from flying away]]. |
| 165 | * In the ''Literature/NeroWolfe'' story "[[Literature/ThreeForTheChair Immune to Murder]]", Wolfe says that everyone has their price, but his is well beyond anyone who might want to bribe him. |
| 166 | * A variation of this features in in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' spin-off ''Literature/PastDoctorAdventures'' novel ''Mission: Impractical'', when bounty hunters Sha'ol and Karthakh make it clear more than once that their honour prevents them accepting bribes from their targets to abandon their current contract. However, when Niccolo Mandell offers them double their current fee to not go after the Sixth Doctor until he's finished the job Mandell has asked him to help with, Karthakh accepts that "bribe" as they're essentially getting paid to do nothing since it's more practical for them to wait until the Doctor's finished his current job and has gone somewhere where it's easier for the assassins to get at him. |
| 167 | * ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': |
| 168 | ** Tyrion Lannister believes this, coming as he does from the richest family in Westeros. Unfortunately, he makes an enemy of his own sister, the Queen Regent, who is able to outbid him in power and wealth. |
| 169 | ** Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish is also ''mostly'' a believer in this; but, despite being the poster boy of the series for the use of soft power and solving problems with money, Littlefinger actually acknowledges that some people have very different motivations and are too honorable to go for a bribe, whether it's in money, titles, or positions. He also knows how to be more subtle about it, most famously with Nestor Royce. Littlefinger later explains to Sansa that any attempt to bribe Nestor would have inflamed Nestor's very real sense of honor and pride. Now, a little flattery, some appreciation, and dangling [[VicariouslyAmbitious the chance for a better life for Nestor's children]] (thus saving them from becoming {{Impoverished Patrician}}s), on the other hand... |
| 170 | * ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': |
| 171 | ** Cordelia's assessment of Aral, in ''Shards Of Honour'', is that he cannot be bought at any price - but that there are things for which he will, to his personal shame, pay a heavy cost. That her therapist fails to see the distinction between the two positions is down to the fact that Cordelia is privy to one of Barrayar's most closely-guarded secrets, and can't properly explain. This does not assist her in proving that she's really in love with Aral, and not an unlikely double-agent snared by the unlikeliest of honey-traps. It ends up proving to her that there are heavy costs of her own that she is prepared to pay - like half-drowning said therapist in a fish tank and fleeing the planet of her birth to be with the man she loves. |
| 172 | ** In ''Literature/CaptainVorpatrilsAlliance'', Tej's father questions her about what it would take to coopt Ivan into using his lineage to the Arqua family's benefit. Tej explains that Ivan has no ambition, thinks ambition dangerous, and that what he wants is comfort (which of course he already has too much to risk). The same is asked of Simon and Ivan is amazed at the idea that Simon could be purchasable. In fact, Simon was purchasable in a way; Simon didn't think the project would hurt Barrayar, was interested in getting an ally for Barryar's future covert-ops, had a personal interest in keeping the ObnoxiousInLaws from interfering in Ivan's new marriage, and he was [[ItAmusedMe just plain bored.]] |
| 173 | ** ''Literature/{{Memory}}'' demonstrates that other bribes besides the normal money, sex, power, revenge, etc, are quite common by telling an [=ImpSec=] war story of how an agent was assigned to get an elephant because a foreign diplomat had asked for that as the price of his favor in negotiations. Simon says he could not tell whether or not it was a joke but an elephant was requested and an elephant was given. In the end, he decided the diplomat really ''did'' want the elephant, as he meticulously cared for it personally and took it home with him when he left. |
| 174 | ---> '''Simon:''' It expanded my world view, ever after. Money, power, sex... and elephants. |
| 175 | * ''The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook'' has one chapter, "How to Pass a Bribe," where the entire outline seems to be written for a scenario revolving around the reader getting in trouble with a customs official while attempting to smuggle goods out of a third-world country. |
| 176 | [[/folder]] |
| 177 | |
| 178 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 179 | * ''Series/BurnNotice'': |
| 180 | ** Michael explains that is possible to bribe even the most upstanding officials. To do so, convince them you think the bribe is a standard fee and make yourself [[{{Jerkass}} as thoroughly unlikeable as possible]] so that [[AssholeVictim they don't feel bad for ripping you off]] and making themselves a few bucks richer. |
| 181 | ** In one memorable episode, Michael tries to bribe a foreign official, who responds by pulling a gun on Michael and ''immediately'' tries to have Michael arrested. After Michael gets away, they then have Fiona approach the official by pretending to be a CIA agent trying to catch Michael and offers to "cover expenses" if he plays along with their sting. Michael comments that convincing someone that they can make money by doing the right thing even works on the incorruptible. |
| 182 | * ''Series/{{Cheers}}'': |
| 183 | ** This was subverted by Diane in one episode, but she came ''very'' close to succumbing. When it was clear that an employer offering her a new job likely wanted sexual favors from her (he asked Sam, who was acting as a reference, whether he had seen her naked), she grabbed the phone and yelled at him: |
| 184 | --->'''Diane:''' You listen to me! I wouldn't take your job if you offered... ''[[BeatPanel (Beat)]]'' ''How'' much? ''[[BeatPanel (Beat again)]]'' Plus medical?? ''[[BeatPanel (Beat again)]], then grunts and hangs up in disgust.'' |
| 185 | ** In another early episode, this is combined with AnOfferYouCantRefuse. Norm's boss offered him the position of their company's "corporate killer". (The guy in charge of firing people, not exactly a much sought-after position.) He told Norm that there was a large raise involved, ''and'' that he'd be fired if he didn't accept it. Norm's stern response: |
| 186 | --->'''Norm:''' Sir, I cannot be threatened... And I cannot be bought... But... Put the two together and you've got a deal. |
| 187 | * ''Series/CopRock'': The mayor accepts a bribe in exchange for awarding a building contract. She even gets a song about her habit of taking bribes, “She’s The One”. |
| 188 | * ''Series/Daredevil2015''. In "Shadows In The Glass", Wilson Fisk wants [[DirtyCop Detective Hoffman]] to kill his partner Blake, which he's reluctant to do because they've been friends for 35 years. Fisk implies that Hoffman will be killed if he refuses and someone else will then kill his friend anyway, so the only question is how much money will be needed to ease Hoffman's conscience. |
| 189 | -->'''Fisk:''' How much are each of those years worth to you? In round figures. |
| 190 | * PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/FamilyMatters''. The father of [[StalkerWithACrush Myrtle]], who aggressively pursues Eddie, gets Eddie to agree to marry [[AbhorrentAdmirer Myrtle]] via bribery, as he's a wealthy peanut tycoon himself.[[note]] This leads to Eddie and Myrtle's wedding ceremony, though it turns out to be AllJustADream in the end.[[/note]] |
| 191 | -->'''Myrtle's Father''': I will give you $10 million. |
| 192 | -->'''Eddie''': Daddy! *''hugs Myrtle's father''* |
| 193 | * ''Series/GameOfThrones'': A matter-of-fact principle of the Lannisters that occasionally gets subverted. |
| 194 | ** In "Walk Of Punishment," Jaime plays it well with a seemingly agreeable Locke [[spoiler:only for Locke to cut off his hand; this sadistic act on one of the arrogant highborn he despises giving Locke more satisfaction than any amount of gold.]] |
| 195 | ** It is totally subverted in Season 4 when the Lannisters find themselves in debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos. When Queen Cersei tells her father, Tywin Lannister, to find someone at the bank to bribe or bully, he replies that the Iron Bank won't respond or bend to such tactics. |
| 196 | ** During Joffrey's massacre of Robert Baratheon's bastards, Janos Slynt [[WouldHurtAChild kills a baby girl]] in front of her hysterically pleading mother, right after one of his own men [[EvenEvilHasStandards refuses to do so]], and walks out leaving the poor woman screaming in anguish on the floor. Later, after removing Janos from power and sending him to the Wall, Tyrion asks Bronn if he would be willing to do the same. |
| 197 | --->'''Tyrion''': If I told you to murder, an infant girl, say, still at her mother's breast... would you do it, without question? |
| 198 | --->'''Bronn''': Without question? No. I'd ask how much. |
| 199 | * ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E7TheThingLayStill The Thing Lay Still]]", Lestat de Lioncourt, Louis de Pointe du Lac, and Claudia want to be in charge of the city's Mardi Gras ball. Normally, this would be impossible because the festivity is only a month away, and it's presided by the Committee of Raj, which has finalized its plans three years ago. However, the vampire family gains control of the MasqueradeBall after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEt0GtpUsJI they bribe]] Tom Anderson and his fellow Raj members. |
| 200 | -->'''Louis''': We know you're on the committee.\ |
| 201 | '''Tom''': The Committee of Raj is a secret and sacred group of citizens-- ''(Claudia puts a list of the committee members on his desk)'' ...bound by honor and tradition.\ |
| 202 | '''Louis''': Get us a price, get back to us.\ |
| 203 | '''Tom''': These things are planned years in advance. Louis, you're a native.\ |
| 204 | '''Lestat''': You've expanded your export business, shipping coffins from port back to Europe?\ |
| 205 | '''Tom''': Shipping and manufacturing. Double dip. Good margin, product in high demand.\ |
| 206 | '''Claudia''': You lost one of your ships recently.\ |
| 207 | '''Tom''': Took a torpedo in the rear from one of the Fritz's U-boats.\ |
| 208 | '''Louis''': Would you like a new one?\ |
| 209 | '''Tom''': ''(is silent for several seconds while he ponders the offer)'' I['ll] attempt your no doubt humiliating and reputation-destroying ask.\ |
| 210 | '''Louis''': ''(in 2022 narrating to Daniel Molloy)'' The Krewe of Raj had been three years in planning their Mardi Gras theme, and they abandoned it within a week once the Parisian law firm of Roget and Albert had transatlantically wired their bribes. From the Marais to the Mississippi, money flooded the town. Unavailable vendors became available. |
| 211 | * ''Series/KingdomAdventure'': Pitts makes this assumption when he tries to purchase Keena's watering can. Keena doesn't trust him and doesn't accept his offer, even when he offers 50 silver coins! |
| 212 | * In the second season of ''Series/LukeCage2016'', Luke tells [[TheMafia an Italian mob boss]] that he can't be bought. She points out that he can't say that conclusively, all he can say for a fact is that nobody has found his price ''yet''. In a very roundabout way it turns out Luke ''does'' have his price: [[spoiler:peace for Harlem, free of the outside mobs.]] |
| 213 | * ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': Mr. Shimokawa (Marcy's boss) collects American classic "junk" and wants to add Al's car to the collection. Marcy will gain her desired promotion if she persuades Al to sell it. (They can't get another car of that kind because half had been recalled and the other [[TheAllegedCar dissolved in rain]].) When Al finally agrees, Mr. Shimokawa comments that he knew every man had his price. Al replies that every woman has it as well. Marcy has to perform a sensual dance, and Mr. Shimokawa offers the promotion because of how sexy she is. She then [[SubvertedTrope subverts the trope]] by beating her boss and calling it her resignation. |
| 214 | * ''Series/MissionImpossible'': |
| 215 | ** "The Play": When escaping from the PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Vitol Enzor bribes the border guard checkpoint commander and tells Jim that [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribe money]] solves any problem in an Eastern Europe nation-state. See recaps [[http://www.tv.com/shows/mission-impossible/the-play-69709/ here]], [[http://www.tv.com/shows/mission-impossible/the-play-69709/recap/ here]], [[http://www.tv.com/shows/mission-impossible/the-play-69709/trivia/ here]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/user/MIuploader here.]] |
| 216 | ** "The Pawn": Phelps offers an indirect bribe to the KGB officer who is guarding the nuclear scientist Phelps has been assigned to extract. He is threatened with deportation by the KGB officer who sees through his ObfuscatingStupidity and orders more surveillance. However, Phelps knew the KGB officer could not be bribed and used the conversation to manipulate the officer’s emotions. |
| 217 | *** Later Phelps uses fake evidence to convince the [[ThePoliticalOfficer commissar]] that the KGB officer is about to defect. This evidence includes UsefulNotes/UnitedStates currency. The commissar believes this evidence since the KGB officer resembled Patton in their behavior and personality. In addition, at the beginning of the episode, Phelps says that if they are successful the KGB officer will be sent to a prison camp for failure. Therefore, it can be assumed that the officer was already under suspicion, the fake evidence simply proved the disloyalty. |
| 218 | * In the series finale of ''Series/{{Newhart}}'', a Japanese businessman wants to buy the town and turn it into a country club. The residents refuse, until the businessman offers a million dollars for each home, at which point someone shouts "bring on the bulldozers!" Averted with the Loudons, who still refuse to sell (the businessman opts to build around them). |
| 219 | * ''Series/PersonOfInterest''. Harold Finch discovers a politician they are protecting is in the pocket of Decima Technologies, who want him to pass legislation favourable to them. Finch offers to match their price from his ArbitrarilyLargeBankAccount, but the politician refuses. He believes the legislation is the best thing for the country, and if he's making money on the side, well that's just a fringe benefit. |
| 220 | * ''Series/{{Rhode}}'' (1996). Cecil Rhodes discusses this trope with an idealistic underling. As with the ''Series/TheManFromUncle'' example, he also points out that not every price is in money; for instance the missionary groups he's working with to advance British colonialism are dedicated to the spread of Christianity. |
| 221 | * In the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' episode where Creator/OwenWilson is the guest host, [[AsHimself he plays himself]] going to [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Studios]] to record his lines for the upcoming ''Cars 4: the Spinout'', and he slowly realizes that Lightning [=McQueen=] has been turned into a creep who hits on any and all female cars around him, and there's even a scene where he hits on some (heavily implied to be) underage high school girls, and another where he goes to court for a sexual harassment charge. When Creator/LarryTheCableGuy (not played by Larry himself) is brought in to put him at ease, the script calls for Lightning to openly admit he seduced Mater's sister and called him the "R-word" [[note]]the word in question is retard, which is now considered an offensive slur because it demeans people who have a mental disability[[/note]] because of [[DrunkOnPower "Power"]], which when Wilson says he will no longer record his lines because Pixar is going out its way to destroy a beloved children's cartoon character. However, when the producer shows him a copy of the contract, Wilson sees that he'll be paid a hefty sum for just that one session, never mind the rest of the script, because, according to the producer: "Creator/{{Disney}} [[Series/WandaVision had]] [[Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier a]] [[Film/BlackWidow2021 very]] [[WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021 good]] [[Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings year]]." Wilson goes back to the recording boot and keeps recording lines showing that fame turned Lightning from cocky race car to sex-obsessed freak. |
| 222 | * In ''Series/ServantOfThePeople'', the oligarchs are firm believers in this and do their best to corrupt the new government. |
| 223 | * ''Series/SquidGame'': |
| 224 | ** The show has people in desperate situations lured into competing in a series of {{Deadly Game}}s for a 45.6 billion Korean won cash prize. To drive this point home, a large piggy bank hanging over the players' dormitory fills with money when players are eliminated: the price for each player's life is 100 million won. |
| 225 | ** After the first round, Sang-Woo brings up the rule in which the players are allowed to leave if the majority vote not to continue the game. However, he ultimately votes to allow the game to continue, and it is implied he changed his mind out of his desperation for the prize. |
| 226 | * ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': |
| 227 | ** There is a very well-done moment in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E19InThePaleMoonlight In the Pale Moonlight]]" when Sisko has to bribe Quark to cover up the crimes of someone involved in a covert mission. Quark accepts, [[NotSoDifferentRemark smugly pointing out that this trope cuts both ways]]: Quark is openly willing to let criminals go free for money, but Sisko is willing to do the same if the cause is important enough. The only difference is where they set their price. Sisko looks [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame really uncomfortable]] through the entire scene. |
| 228 | ** Specifically, this trope (verbatim) is the 98th Ferengi Rule of Acquisition, a motto to live by. |
| 229 | ** Conversely, there is an old Ferengi proverb that Quark quotes in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E13ArmageddonGame Armageddon Game]]" when he (and everyone else) believes that O'Brien and Bashir are dead: "Good customers are as rare as latinum; cherish them." |
| 230 | ** The ExpandedUniverse eventually revealed that [[LanguageEqualsThought the Ferengi language has a number of different words for "no", each one indicating how much latinum it would take to make it into a "yes"]]. |
| 231 | * ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'': London Tipton exhibits this and also appears in spin-off ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOnDeck''. |
| 232 | [[/folder]] |
| 233 | |
| 234 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 235 | * The song "Selling Out" by Music/TomLehrer features a verse with the message that integrity isn't limitless when compared to profitability: |
| 236 | -->''It's so nice to have integrity\ |
| 237 | I'll tell you why\ |
| 238 | Cause if you really have integrity,\ |
| 239 | It means your price is very high!'' |
| 240 | * Music/RogerWaters: [[Music/AmusedToDeath "Three Wishes"]] jokingly alludes to this trope in a ShoutOut to Music/BobDylan, who influenced Waters' singing style on the album. However, as Waters had a known grudge against record producer and prior Music/PinkFloyd collaborator Bob Ezrin (who was talked out of producing Waters' previous solo album in favor of working on the first Floyd album after Waters' departure in the middle of a protracted legal battle over the rights to the band name), he didn't mind if people interpreted it as a jab at him. |
| 241 | [[/folder]] |
| 242 | |
| 243 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 244 | * [[Wrestling/TedDiBiase Ted [=DiBiase=]]]'s character in ''Wrestling/{{WWE}}'' bribed quite a few people during his time as a wrestling {{Heel}}, to the point that it actually became his routine. His catchphrase, also the first line in his entrance theme, was "Everybody's got a price." |
| 245 | * [[Wrestling/CharlesWright The Godfather]] bribed opponents as well, though with "hos" instead of money. |
| 246 | * [[Wrestling/RonKillings R-Truth]] bribed Music/BadBunny with Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin merchandise for the 24/7 Championship belt, which the latter happily traded for. |
| 247 | [[/folder]] |
| 248 | |
| 249 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 250 | * In the ''Radio/CabinPressure'' episode "Edinburgh", Martin refuses to humiliate himself groveling to Mr. Birling for £500. £6000, however, is another matter entirely. Unfortunately, Martin's terrible luck holds out. |
| 251 | [[/folder]] |
| 252 | |
| 253 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 254 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' |
| 255 | ** In the ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' campaign setting, it's possible to get almost anything you want in Sigil through bribery - information, special treatment from a service, entrance into a place you couldn't otherwise get into, even getting the town watch to look the other way (depending on how honest he is). Probably nowhere in the universe is the expression "money talks" more true than there. |
| 256 | ** ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'' magazine #42 article "Irilian". Almost everyone in the town of Irilian can be bribed. The article lists each NonPlayerCharacter's "bribe level" (the minimum amount necessary to bribe that character). If the PlayerCharacter pays more money, the chance of successfully bribing the NonPlayerCharacter increases: each additional payment equal to the bribe level increases the success chance by 20%. |
| 257 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'''s Solar charm ''Knowing the Soul's Price'' allows you to do exactly that by revealing the one thing for which its target will do ''anything''. The charm description, however, states that although every man has his price, this price is not necessarily money, and that it is more likely both to be really high and not to be money for persons with high moral standards. |
| 258 | * This is the [[PlanetOfHats hat]] of the Syndicate from ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension''. Their [[InsistentTerminology Enlightened science]] focuses on manipulating economies and individuals through the flow of money and valuable resources; the more powerful ones can literally break reality by throwing money at it. "Hey, fire hydrant! I'll give you two hundred dollars if you'll become a flamethrower!" |
| 259 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'': 'Everything has a price' is a CentralTheme of the setting, and is one of the 'core tenets' of it shown to new players in the 5th edition rulebook. It's pointed out repeatedly in the game's lore that an upside to living in a capitalistic hell-scape where well over half of the population is living near or under the poverty line means almost ''everyone'' takes bribes, and a quick transfer of funds from a cred-stick can buy you anything from network access to forbidden technology to making the police 'lose you' shortly after arrest, provided the money you offer will offset whatever inconvenience you're about to cause. |
| 260 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' campaign supplement ''The Traveller Adventure''. The section "Zilan Wine" says that [[PlayerCharacters PCs]] can bribe every single government official on the planet Zila, no exceptions. |
| 261 | * ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' |
| 262 | ** Greasus Goldtooth is rich enough to bribe any enemy into incompetence thanks to controlling and extracting a considerable tax on anyone using the ''Warhammer'' equivalent of the Silk Road, which runs through his territory. This includes most royal guards and is, by name, actually ''one of his special abilities'', which allows him to force Stupidity tests by bribing enemy units near him in the middle of battle. |
| 263 | ** There's also the Lore of Slaanesh spell from the End Times update. Song of Seduction allows a Slaaneshi sorcerer to tempt any enemy unit into switching sides using this trope, even using the Trope Name in its description. "Every man has his price, even if he knows it not, and Slaanesh's wizards can divine such things whilst magic flows strong." |
| 264 | [[/folder]] |
| 265 | |
| 266 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 267 | * In ''Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville'', Don Bazile acts as fixer for Doctor Bartholo, and keeps asking him for money on the grounds that his work for Bartholo requires bribing a lot of people. At the end of the play, himself is easily bribed by Figaro and the Count. |
| 268 | * In ''Theatre/KnickerbockerHoliday'', the Councilmen distribute hush money to people who ask troublesome questions, including each other. |
| 269 | * In ''Theatre/TheMikado'', Pooh-Bah would be ''insulted'' if you offered him a bribe, and ''mortified'' at the prospect of working for a salary. However, as a man of high moral principles, he is grateful for every such opportunity to practice self-abasement. |
| 270 | [[/folder]] |
| 271 | |
| 272 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 273 | * In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', you can bribe Heralds to stop announcing your presence to the populace. |
| 274 | ** And then pickpocket them moments later to get all your money back. |
| 275 | ** This is discussed in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', where after Connor learns this trick from Sam Adams he states that it feels wrong to rely on bribery and dishonesty. |
| 276 | * In ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries'', if Bruce decides to give Gordon evidence of Falcone's crimes, Gordon immediately says this won't make him turn a blind eye to the investigation into the Wayne family. Whether Bruce agrees or says any person can be brought is dependent on the player. |
| 277 | * The player in ''VideoGame/BeyondCastleWolfenstein'' can bribe any of the elite troops guarding Hitler's bunker with a few Marks if you don't have a legitimate pass. |
| 278 | * Any machine in the first ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'' can be bought out with a cash payment -- vending machines, health stations, and even security drones. |
| 279 | * ''VideoGame/BoilingPointRoadToHell'' allows the protagonist t bribe ''any'' enemy before they turn hostile. It always works, but it's quite expensive, especially for a large group of enemies. |
| 280 | * The Diplomat unit in the original ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' could buy off enemy units. When the government type is Democracy, it is quite an efficient way to weaken the enemies' resistance. |
| 281 | * Similarly, the Probe Team unit in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' can take over enemy units by spending a certain amount of money, although it seems that this involves a bit of mind control as well. Probe Teams can also do this to whole bases (cities), as well. Moreover, the Economic Victory condition amounts to buying the loyalty of ''every single base on Planet''. Naturally, you need scads upon scads of [[EnergyEconomy energy]] [[GlobalCurrency credits]] to do this. |
| 282 | * The allied Spy unit in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' can buy the loyalty of enemy units, who switch sides permanently. Only [[HeroUnit Hero Units]] and those ranked at heroic will be immune to any form of bribery. |
| 283 | * Getting approval from the demon assembly in ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' is '''far''' easier with bribes (and helpfully tells you when a senator wants or doesn't want an item for a bribe). Of course, considering you're in the Netherworld, this has nothing to do with corruption: if a senator doesn't want to support you and you don't want to bribe them, you can ''beat the crap out of them'' too. It's just a normal way of doing business. |
| 284 | ** Unfortunately, the system was completely broken. Even if you bribed a senator fully onto your side, it was still totally random if they would vote for you when the election happened - the percentage just went up a negligible amount for every rank in your favor you moved them. It also made other senators jealous, lowering ''their'' favor between the current vote and the next. And beating them up shot their approval of you down. The Dark Assembly was a massive ScrappyMechanic. |
| 285 | ** By ''VideoGame/DisgaeaD2ABrighterDarkness'' the senators have stopped beating around the bush; you can simply pay out a large amount of cash for a win. Since by the postgame you'll have vast amounts of money, there's little reason not to. |
| 286 | * Humorously played by [[PlayerCharacter Renegade!Shepard]] in a sidequest in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. |
| 287 | -->'''Shepard:''' I just went all the way up to the Presidium for this. Why should I give it to a random Krogan? |
| 288 | -->'''Krogan:''' I'll pay you a ''lot'' for it! |
| 289 | -->'''Shepard:''' Oh, well, that's different. |
| 290 | * ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': |
| 291 | ** In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', the player can bypass the "conversation" mini-game (to make someone like you with the Speech skill) by paying them off (this seems to literally buy you their friendship). Not that they need it after you've created a 100 charm spell. |
| 292 | ** Bribery is also an option for many interactions in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', such as when being arrested for low-level crimes. Depending on the severity of the situation, the bribes can become quite large; the success or failure of the bribe attempt depends, much as in ''Oblivion'', on the player's Speech skill. |
| 293 | * Several ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, most notably ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', make it possible for the party to bribe MONSTERS to make them leave you alone. ''FFX'' even lets you bribe an ''OptionalBoss''. In particular, ''FFX'' makes bribery an extremely useful ability, as a number of enemies hand over useful items if successfully bribed (the aforementioned OptionalBoss coughs up ''ninety-nine'' of an extremely rare and valuable crafting material). |
| 294 | ** FFX also included the optional Yojimbo summon. Unlike other summons, you must negotiate a cash payment for his services before he agrees to work for you, and then even after that must pay him for each attack when he's in battle. The more you pay, the more damage he will do. Truly obscene amounts of payment will get him to OneHitKill anything - yes, ''anything'' - in the game. |
| 295 | * Mad Gear in ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' had the last mayor of Metro City in their back pocket this way. When Mike Haggar took office, he turned down their "little bonus to [his] paycheck", which is why [[IHaveGotYourWife they kidnapped his daughter]]. |
| 296 | * The ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series is pretty famous when it comes to convincing people to turn traitor on their former friends to work for you but there are many characters in the series that specifically only side with you if you can dish out a couple grand to buy their loyalty. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'' the mercenary class' description flat out says they only fight for money. |
| 297 | * ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'' game also uses this. Bribing a DirtyCop gives you temporary immunity from the law as long as you don't overdo it and bribing their chiefs gives a longer duration for that, while bribing an FBI agent completely empties your Vendetta with other gangs and is the easier way to win a MobWar. |
| 298 | * ''VideoGame/KingOfTheCastle'': |
| 299 | ** The object of the Corruption scheme is for the Patricians of the Coast to bribe the entire Royal court senseless, then publicly accuse the ''King'' of being the corrupt one and "save" the Kingdom from chaos. The second part of their scheme involves shifting from bribing lesser members of the palace hierarchy to buying the loyalties of the King's inner circle; the Spymaster is (initially) too savvy to fall for it, while the Chancellor is fiercely loyal to the King, but the Treasurer and the Marshal are more receptive to having their allegiances bought off. |
| 300 | ** The Intimidation scheme, to which multiple factions have access, involves infiltrating the Palace Watch by either bribing or {{Blackmail}}ing the soldiers to either swear allegiance to the faction's claimant or step aside in favour of someone more easily bought. For the final stage, the nobles can use the purchased loyalty of the Watch to either assassinate the King or render them a PuppetKing under threat of assassination. |
| 301 | ** The premise of the Monarch's Golden Choice voting option is to buy votes by offering 500 gold in personal Wealth to all nobles who choose the Monarch's preferred option. (This can be used against the King if the Patricians' Corruption scheme succeeds.) |
| 302 | * In ''VideoGame/MadnessProjectNexus2'', the Mercenary Origin in Arena Mode has the unique ability to pay dazed enemies a small amount of money to fight for him. Better yet, this ability works on everyone, including [[GiantMook GOL3Ms]]. |
| 303 | * In ''VideoGame/MegaManMaverickHunterX'', Chill Penguin says that Sigma has met his price for joining his Maverick rebellion. He does not say what Sigma gave him but does add that working for Sigma is a million times better than piddling around at the South Pole. |
| 304 | * ''VideoGame/MutantFootballLeague'' allows each team to bribe the referee once per game half. A bribed ref will perform three main functions: |
| 305 | ## Overlook penalties for pass interference, quarterback kill dirty plays, and cheap hit kills after a play has ended. |
| 306 | ## Will call out [[FelonyMisdemeanor completely nonsensical]] penalties on the opposing team. |
| 307 | ## Absolutely '''will''' call a penalty that completely negates any legitimate forms of scoring points such as a touchdown, field goal, or safety. At this point, the game will call alert you that the ref is bribed, and the only way to fix this is to bribe the ref yourself, or kill the referee and incur a 15-yard penalty from the new ref who replaces him. |
| 308 | * ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9YdKxL0yE Storm Rising trailer]], Maximilien, a high-ranking member of the criminal organization Talon, says that everyone has their price. |
| 309 | -->'''Maximilien:''' Everyone you know... everything you do... can be bought and sold. The price of loyalty is always changing. |
| 310 | * ''VideoGame/PennyPunchingPrincess'' has this as its main gimmick. Almost any enemy can be tricked into not fighting you if you throw enough money at them. The most recent enemy you bribed can then be used to fight for you as a limited form of SummonMagic. |
| 311 | * ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'' has the Spy unit, [[EnemyExchangeProgram who can bribe most enemy units to your side.]] |
| 312 | * The moral system in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' isn't based on good or evil but rather if The Boss would accept a bribe over mayhem. The game starts with Johnny expressing that they have gone soft since becoming a franchise which The Boss replies that franchise gives them a lot of money. By the fourth game, they dropped the gangster life and used their P.R. to become president instead. |
| 313 | * In ''VideoGame/SatelliteReign'', you can bribe doctors and scientists to join your research team, as well as the occasional corporate soldier stationed outside a facility to take the night off[[note]]Bribing a guard is always prohibitively expensive, though: it's much easier to build up your hacker's mind control ability and make the guard take a walk. Or just shoot him in the head[[/note]]. Don't expect it to be an option with those actually inside the facility grounds, though. |
| 314 | * ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours'' allows you to pay off gangs or the police in order to lower Heat. Given that, past a certain point on the Heat meters, gangs will attack on sight and cops will react much faster to any misdemeanours, one is likely to use this a lot. |
| 315 | * ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games sometimes have this. You can converse with demons and successfully sweet-talk them into essentially selling themselves and join your forces, whether by literally bribing them with Macca or with an item exchange. Mechanics may vary, even reaching AuctionOfEvil territory on ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor''. |
| 316 | ** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', demons will even raise their prices if you clash with them on the OrderVersusChaos scale, or cut their price if you match. (Be warned - some demons will accept your bribes, then change their minds at the last second. Fricking Angels.) |
| 317 | ** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiImagine'', you still talk to demons to convert them into allies, but some are much pickier. You have 3 types of conversation, talk, joke, and threaten, but certain demons, mainly the higher leveled or the rarest, won't even talk to you unless you use one of the bribing talks, starting with macca and going up, ending in gems, to befriend you. Fortunately, the amount needed is set, and once you get to higher levels, when you start needing it, you can easily get the amount needed to bribe 'em. |
| 318 | ** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', you will be taken to Charon TheFerryman should you suffer a TotalPartyKill. The man himself is ''massively'' overworked, and is quite willing to look the other way to send you back with a lit-okay, a boatload of Macca, or 3DS Play Coins, if you regularly take 10-minute walks with your 3DS. He's still kind enough to offer a tab should you lack the money he demands, but be sure to pay him before you fall in battle again, or risk being KilledOffForReal. |
| 319 | * In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', during Sunry's murder trial on Manaan, it's possible for the player to make the hotel clerk [[JuryAndWitnessTampering change his testimony]] if you successfully bribe him. |
| 320 | * In ''VideoGame/SuperheroLeagueOfHoboken'', all monsters have a "Greed" trait. If it's above 0, you can bribe them, but the higher their greed is, the more you'll need to spend. This still counts as defeating them for experience points. Creatures with 0 Greed, on the other hand, can never be bribed. |
| 321 | * Many of the ''VideoGame/TotalWar'' games allow you to bribe armies and cities to switch sides. Generals and other factors increase the cost/chance of failure of pulling off the bribe, but it is almost always possible. |
| 322 | * Subverted in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher''. Geralt needs to get past an unfriendly guard and pulls out a bag of gold, stating that "money can open every door". When the guard contradicts him, Geralt [[LiteralistSnarking proves his statement]] by [[MoneyMauling using the bag to knock him unconscious]]. |
| 323 | * ''VideoGame/XCOMApocalypse'' allows you to "make reparations" to the various organizations that make up Mega-City. You can give them money to change their attitude from openly hostile to neutral, or from neutral to allied (which costs a lot more). Even the Cult of Sirius, who are all but allied with the ''aliens'' can be made neutral for a short time (they'll become hostile the second you attack the aliens, which is kind of your job, so...). It's entirely possible and, given your budget, ''expected'', to raid other organizations, steal their valuable stuff, sell whatever you don't need, and then buy your way back into their good graces. |
| 324 | * ''VideoGame/ZeusMasterOfOlympus'': |
| 325 | ** Starting in this game, you can (finally) ask other cities for help (such as various goods), although this lowers their opinion of you. You can raise it by giving them goods in return, with the bribes being more effective if you give them items they normally import from you. However, giving them more than four gifts in a year will cause them to refuse further gifts. |
| 326 | ** Attacking enemies can be given a BegoneBribe so they won't even appear on the city map. Despite often demanding thousands of drachmae, this is more often than not the easiest solution, as it saves you from using the incredibly clunky combat system and do horrible things to your economy as the militia stop producing to go attack the enemies. |
| 327 | [[/folder]] |
| 328 | |
| 329 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 330 | * ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'': Sarine's preferred method of dealing with people with whom she needs something really fast with a minimum of fuss is to bribe them with LostTechnology that, as an elven ranger, is frequently just one of her personal belongings. After one instance, she notes that she's going to quickly run out of bribery material at her current rate. |
| 331 | * ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Parodied, Caliborn paid off his session's Jack Noir with candy to murder his sister Calliope, and comments that "every man has his price when it comes to sweets" when describing this afterwards. This is downplayed, however, as Caliborn suspects that Noir would likely have done it anyway, bribe or no bribe. |
| 332 | * ''Webcomic/LatchkeyKingdom'': Rex, as a talking dog and the Royal Guard, feels patronized when Willa tries to bribe him with a StockFemurBone. He's willing to overlook her breaking into the Castle when given a Special Scratch-n-Sniff Issue of Maydog Magazine (featuring double entendre and innuendo!), though. |
| 333 | * ''Webcomic/MagickChicks'': At the end of the comic's final volume, Mel makes up with [[spoiler: Cerise]] and [[EasilyForgiven lets her off the hook]] [[KarmaHoudini after everything she's done]]. Faith calls bullshit, demanding that [[spoiler:Cerise]] answer for her crimes... until Tiffany offers her a bribe: |
| 334 | -->'''Tiffany:''' Aw c'mon... can't we turn a blind eye just this once?\ |
| 335 | '''Faith:''' ''[outraged]'' No way! It's [[spoiler: burning at the stake]] for her!\ |
| 336 | '''Tiffany:''' ''[rolls eyes]'' Sigh... tell you what: be lenient, and I'll talk to Tiffany Winters about giving you a DVD recording of her morning yoga workout. M.M.A.A's honor.\ |
| 337 | '''Faith:''' ''[[[CrushBlush blushing]]]'' What would I--\ |
| 338 | '''Tiffany:''' It's ''nude'' yoga.\ |
| 339 | '''Faith:''' [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/make_up Grrr, cheater.]] |
| 340 | * ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': The title character, Sergeant Schlock, is independently wealthy thanks to his skills at playing the stock market (at one point, he was majority stockholder of the mercenary company who employed him). A RunningGag in the strip is Schlock paying for subcontractors and getaway vehicles with cash without blinking. |
| 341 | -->'''Dr. Bunnigus:''' Kathryn, it doesn't matter how skillful you are, I ''can't'' afford this.\ |
| 342 | '''Schlock:''' Gimme. ''**glances at the bill**'' Add 10%, you get it all in advance, [[YouHaveFailedMe and the penalty clause for screwing us]] is [[ExtremeOmnivore 'I get to eat you.']] |
| 343 | * ''Webcomic/VampireCheerleaders'': For Leonard, [[AManIsAlwaysEager it's sex.]] All Lori and her squad had to do to [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/half-time_3 buy his silence]] about them being vampires, was spread 'em [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/half-time_7 for him.]] |
| 344 | [[/folder]] |
| 345 | |
| 346 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 347 | * In ''WebVideo/CriticalRole: [[WebVideo/CriticalRoleCampaignThree Campaign Three]]'', the group is not above using bribes in order to "convince" people to do what they want. Ashton bribes a tavern owner for the name of a dwarf patron who visited the inn in the recent past, and Dorian bribes a Dreamscape Theater worker to give the group box seats to a play. |
| 348 | * ''WebVideo/NightmareTime:'' The episode "Yellow Jacket" has Charles making a deal with Ethan to allow Hannah to fight the fighting ring's champion. He initially refuses, since the champion has [[spoiler: assimilated every single one of his previous opponents into a hivemind, stripping them of their identity]]. Hannah eventually makes him accept a deal of $100,000,000. |
| 349 | * In the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' short film ''WebVideo/PokemonApokelypse'', which is a parody of DarkerAndEdgier, Team Rocket has basically overrun Kanto society with this trope. Giovanni even has a BriefcaseFullOfMoney. Unfortunately, even in this messed-up universe, [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules Ash still has standards.]] |
| 350 | [[/folder]] |
| 351 | |
| 352 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 353 | * Dr. Robotnik almost quotes this trope by its name in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' episode, "[[Recap/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehogS01E27BoogeyMania Boogey Mania]]" when he offers [[AbsentMindedProfessor Professor Von Schlemmer]] diamonds in exchange for converting his Dream Machine into a Nightmare Machine. Von Schlemmer instinctively accepts, but then reconsiders. |
| 354 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Arcane}}'': Standard procedure for Silco's gang is to mix the implied threat of violence with a nice little bag of coins. Laws melt away easily as officials and law enforcement look the other way. |
| 355 | * ''WesternAnimation/BlueEyeSamurai''. Heiji Shindo offers the title character 50,000 ryo and a profitable lordship if she gives up her RoaringRampageOfRevenge. Despite this being an unbelievable offer for someone of her station (Mizu is a half-breed outcast and, [[SweetPollyOliver unknown to everyone else, a woman]]) Mizu turns it down, saying she has no interest in money, power or happiness. She also notes that someone as experienced in commerce as Shindo would be prepared for this refusal, and so will have a second, [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse less pleasant offer]]. |
| 356 | * In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', Jay finds himself in this situation with his insensitive boss following a public humiliation. |
| 357 | --> '''Jay''': You think you can put a price on my humiliation? ''(Duke hands him a check. Jay looks at it)'' Wow! That's it to the penny! |
| 358 | * Count Duckula inverts this in the ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' episode "The Great Bone Idol" as he asks Baron Greenback what's in it for him if he goes out searching for the Idol: |
| 359 | -->'''Greenback:''' How about...Australia?\ |
| 360 | '''Duckula:''' Australia? Bondi Beach... Woolamaloo... kangaroo stew... yes... Done! |
| 361 | * From the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'': |
| 362 | -->'''[[TropeNamer David Xanatos]]:''' Pay a man enough, and he'll walk barefoot into Hell. |
| 363 | * In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'', this almost spoken word for word by Scrooge [=McDuck=] after he buys the titular club, and WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse protests that WesternAnimation/{{Pete}} is the owner. |
| 364 | -->'''Scrooge:''' Everyone has their price.\ |
| 365 | ''(Pete drives up in a golf cart, dressed like a pimp and hauling around a huge sack of cash with a dollar sign on it)''\ |
| 366 | '''Pete:''' And my price is a big fat bag of cash! |
| 367 | * When ComicBook/LexLuthor in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' assembles an 'Injustice League' of various criminals, they succeed in capturing Franchise/{{Batman}}, who then proceeds to, among other things, bribe Ultra-Humanite with an [[BriefcaseFullOfMoney outrageous sum]]. It works. Humanite takes the bribe...[[AntiVillain and donates it]] [[ViewersLikeYou to public broadcasting]]. Franchise/{{Batman}}, meanwhile, brings down the whole league from the inside. So even [[BigBad supervillains]] have their price... |
| 368 | -->'''Ultra-Humanite''': What do I need with money? |
| 369 | -->'''Luthor''': Everybody needs money. The only question is: How much? |
| 370 | * ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In "Thanksploitation Spectacular", Congress willingly goes along with the [[VillainOfTheWeek Turkey President]] just because he's giving them all enormous raises. |
| 371 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': |
| 372 | ** Lampshaded in a scene between Mr. Burns and the nuclear inspector: |
| 373 | ---> '''Inspector''': Burns, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to bribe me.\ |
| 374 | '''Burns:''' Is there some confusion about this? [thrusts the money into the inspector's pockets] Take it! Take it! Take it, you poor schmo! |
| 375 | ** In another episode, an ancestor of Mr. Burns was looking for a fugitive slave and Hiram Simpson knew where said slave was hidden. At first, Hiram invoked the IGaveMyWord trope but Col. Burns said that, as a slave owner, he knows how to evaluate a man's price and calculated Hiram's to be "a pleasant surprise". It worked. The surprise happened to be a pair of shoes. Hiram's ex-wife got one of the shoes at the divorce. Instead of laces, her shoe came with a note from Hiram telling her he'd keep them. |
| 376 | ** But sometimes it's not that easy, as when Homer worked at a carnival and Chief Wiggum came for his bribe and, despite Bart trying to help, he just didn't get it. |
| 377 | --->'''Chief:''' The person [wink] that I'm looking for [wink] is Mr. Bribe. [wink, wink, places hand on money box]\ |
| 378 | '''Homer:''' It's a ring-toss game. |
| 379 | [[/folder]] |
| 380 | |
| 381 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 382 | * Economics regards this as a near-universal fact--all motivations can be quantified and converted into money.[[note]]More generally, it's "utility" that everything can be measured in; money is just another thing that can be measured in utility.[[/note]] There are even economic analyses of how people could engage in suicide attacks on the basis of rational self-interest. |
| 383 | * Many defectors have used bribe money to escape UsefulNotes/NorthKorea and/or convince North Korean officials to ignore black market deals. Bribery became very common after North Korea's economy started to fail when the UsefulNotes/ColdWar ended. North Korea depended on foreign aid to keep its economy intact. When Russia and China began to charge higher prices for petroleum and other supplies; the infrastructure suffered a breakdown that became worse after the famine. However, the BribeBackfire can instantly apply if the bribe threatens the North Korean official with public exposure. |
| 384 | * In UsefulNotes/{{China}}, bribes are paid so black market operations will be ignored. |
| 385 | * This is common practice in many countries, especially poorer ones. There are many places around the world where the difference between success and failure is dependent on giving the right corrupt official a small cash payout. Where foreigners from richer countries are involved, such a bribe can easily amount to more than said official's paycheck. |
| 386 | ** Often though, it is customary to have a small face-saving device by paying the bribe in something that looks less crass than money. An art object or rare wine bottle might do, for example. |
| 387 | *** On the other hand, it is sometimes a custom to send such an object as a gift after a successful or lucrative business deal. While this can actually be perfectly innocent, the recipient can't accept the gift, because of company policy born of this trope. |
| 388 | ** In some places where bribery is so ubiquitous, it's necessary in order to get an official to ''actually do their job at all''[[note]]Not about bribing a water inspector to change the results of a test of river water, but about simply getting them to take the sample in the first place[[/note]]. Companies will often have (suitably discreet) line items in their planning budgets to handle the required bribes. This is often because public servants in these countries are ludicrously underpaid, as the government there has no money. At least, no money for lower-level government employees, because usually [[StealingFromTheTill the people at the top have been lining their own pockets out of the state treasury]]. |
| 389 | *** Ubiquitous to the point that the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the American law that prohibits bribing officials in foreign countries, actually has an exception for bribes that are required for people to do their job. |
| 390 | * This is also why there are so many "bad Russian driving" videos uploaded to Website/YouTube - because of the rampant use of bribes, installing dashboard cameras was the easiest way to combat the corruption. It's a bit hard to convince a judge that you were at fault when there's video evidence proving that the other guy ran a stop sign. |
| 391 | * When Ritchie Blackmore was leaving Music/DeepPurple in 1975, he invited the members of their opening act, Elf, to be part of his new band, Music/{{Rainbow}}. The offer did not extend to their guitarist, Steve Edwards, whom Blackmore offered a sizable BegoneBribe (rumored to be in the neighborhood of $50,000). He took it. |
| 392 | * Soldiers throughout history have fallen into primarily one of two categories: honor-bound aristocrats and paid ruffians. Considering how bad military pay has been up until just last century, soldiers used to be very easy to bribe. Now, thanks to things like professional militaries, decent wages, and strict accountability, good luck. |
| 393 | ** To this day, irregular and poor troops can be bribed, especially if they aren't sitting on anything especially important, are bored, dissatisfied, or a combination. Works quite easily on freelance mercs, considering how the boss often pays peanuts if anything, and they generally don't have to hold up to ethics inquiries. |
| 394 | * There are several instances in history of wars being won by bribing the enemy's soldiers to abandon their cause. A prime example would be the brief, largely-abortive war the (New/2nd) 'Guangxi Clique' waged against the Kuomintang in the mid-1930s. Chiang Kai-Shek's 'Silver Bullets' did far more to ensure the collapse of the Warlords' forces than did the efforts of the Kuomintang's troops. Since they were all nominally under the government of the Republic of China, all the country's troops (regardless of who actually paid them and where their real allegiances lay) technically answered to Generalissimo Chiang, it was actually perfectly legal for him to give large bonuses to 'his' commanders as 'rewards for their service and loyalty' - though all said commanders were actually equipped and supplied by and answered to the Guangxi Clique. |
| 395 | * Philip of Macedon (UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat's father) used to say that even a donkey can enter the strongest fortress there is. Provided the donkey carries enough gold, of course. |
| 396 | * The (possibly apocryphal) story goes that when Abe Lincoln was a lawyer, a man came to his second-floor office and offered him a bribe to throw his client's case. When Lincoln refused the man said "Everyone has his price." and raised the offer. This went on for a few moments as the man kept saying that "Everyone has his price" and making a larger offer. Suddenly, Lincoln grabbed the man and threw him down the stairs. When a stunned man asked why Lincoln didn't just refuse the latest offer, Lincoln said, "He was getting too close to my price." |
| 397 | * A mechanic was asked to do an emergency repair that would require him to work through his lunch break. The customer's bribe was a pizza so that the mechanic could eat while he worked. |
| 398 | ** Stuff like this is actually good business practice. You still have to pay your employees overtime (which is expensive). Minor benefits (such as free meals) make employees much more agreeable to working extra from time to time. |
| 399 | * Arab-American stand-up comedian Ahmed Ahmed relates a story wherein he - at the insistence of his agent - auditioned for the part of "Terrorist #4" in a movie. He proceeded to the audition and played the part as over-the-top as he could, hoping to troll the casting director. [[SpringtimeForHitler The next day his agent informed him that he got the part]]. He at first refused, believing it would only contribute to negative stereotypes. He was then informed that he would be paid $30,000 for a week's worth of work, at which point he promptly signed on. |
| 400 | * Comedian Creator/GabrielIglesias has referenced the trope in several of his stories. |
| 401 | ** When he first received word from his agent that Saudi Arabia wanted him to perform, he named a ludicrous price in the millions, as he didn't really want to go. To his shock, the Saudis paid the price promptly and without argument (Gabriel later learned he is apparently ''much'' more [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff popular in Saudi Arabia]] than he ever realized). |
| 402 | ** In his famous "Racist Gift Basket" story, in which he made a... well, racist gift basket for fellow comedian G. Reilly as a prank, the receptionist at the hotel happened to be a black woman. He asked her to deliver it, but she initially refused... until he offered her some money. |
| 403 | --->'''Receptionist''': Listen here, Nacho Libre, I ''know'' you did NOT just ask me to deliver that to a black man!\ |
| 404 | '''Gabriel''': I'll pay you $50.\ |
| 405 | '''Receptionist''': ''[Immediately grabs the basket]'' Where that motherfucker at? |
| 406 | [[/folder]] |
| 407 |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / EveryManHasHisPrice
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
