Line #76 Main/ShippedInShackles


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3	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Take care to put your example in its proper place in accordance with Administrivia/HowToAlphabetizeThings!
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7	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheBoondockSaints https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/il_duce1.jpg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350:Hand and leg shackles: the only way to travel with a serial killer.]]
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10	Sure, you can build a fancy TailorMadePrison for when your OmnicidalManiac is hidden away, but what happens when you have to ''move'' the little bastard? He can't be thrown in the back seat of a black-and-white cruiser with just a uniformed officer for supervision. No, he's got to be shipped in shackles.
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12	This trope is about taking extreme measures to secure a prisoner and/or their intended route during transport. Simple handcuffs and a couple of escorts won't suffice. This is when the guards feel they must chain the prisoner hand and foot, wrap him in a straightjacket, secure him to a hand truck, give him a [[Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs Hannibal mask]] to prevent biting, cart him around in an armored vehicle full of strapping young guards toting [[MoreDakka high-caliber weapons]], along with a convoy of [=SUVs=], or all of the above. If he has superpowers, expect the guards' weapons to be loaded with the appropriate KryptoniteFactor, and/or the shackles to be [[PowerNullifier specially made to negate his powers]]. If he's a ManipulativeBastard notorious for talking his way out of being captured or manipulating his captors, he may even be gagged.
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14	This may be to prevent the prisoner's allies on the outside from pulling off a daring InescapableAmbush to rescue during transit or to keep him from contacting such allies, but more likely it serves the same purpose as a stationary oubliette: to show the audience that this guy is a OneManArmy so tough that it takes a quarter-ton of purpose-built restraints to hold him, or so [[OmnicidalManiac dangerous]] that his captors want to ensure that the odds of him escaping are exactly zero.
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16	Of course, these restraints prove ineffective as often as not, especially since most villains realize that escaping from a few chains while under constant armed surveillance is still easier than getting out of their usual super-maximum prison cell.
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18	Compare TailorMadePrison, which refers to custom-made prisons for similarly dangerous prisoners. If the prisoner fights while still restrained, that's WithMyHandsTied. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Has nothing to do]] with [[ShippingTropes (relation)shipping.]]
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21	!!Examples
22
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
26	* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': When Naraku first introduces [[TheBrute Juromaru]], he's in an iron cage and despite looking like a white-haired {{Bishonen}} wearing expansive clothes he's wrapped in chains and has an iron mask covering his face. As soon as he removes the chains and mask to have him fight the heroes at his top, Juromaru promptly beheads Naraku's golem, showing off why he was chained up.
27	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'':
28	** Once they're defeated by a hero, the more powerful villains are loaded into a heavy steel capsule referred to as the 'Iron Maiden' for transit to [[ExtranormalPrison Tartarus]]. There are also solid metal 'straitjackets' used to hold villains still; in the case of exceptionally powerful and belligerent villains, both are used simultaneously.
29	** At the end of the Shie Hassaikai arc, Overhaul is seen being transported to the villain hospital strapped to a gurney with his hands sealed inside a special shackle, designed to prevent him from using his (touch-based) [[ThePowerOfCreation deconstruction/reconstruction quirk]]. The gurney is kept in the back of an armored truck escorted by several police cars and a hero.
30	* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
31	** Captured pirates and other convicted criminals are transported in this manner to Impel Down. Normally they stop at shackles (Since the cuffs are made out of a mineral that can zap superpowers), but when Usopp and Franky are caught by the [=CP9=], they are carried to the Sea Train in burlap sacks.
32	** When Don Quixote Doflamingo is arrested, the Navy makes sure to wrap him in chains. The ship taking him to prison has him bound to the floor of his holding cell.
33	** When Big Mom passes out while rampaging through the Udon Prison Factory, Queen immediately has her wrapped in hundreds of Seastone chains and then injected with at least a hundred shots of animal tranquilizer before taking her Kaido's main base.
34	* ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'': The four [[IAmAHumanitarian Berserkers]] of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Twelve Heavenly Generals]] are so violent and ferocious that they are constantly chained up into an underground cell when not needed. In fact, as soon as the chains are removed, they promptly devour their own jailers. They only fully remove their apparel and chains when engaged in combat with their enemies.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Comic Books]]
38	* One story arc in the ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' sequel comics [[spoiler:ends with Azula's being wheeled in with a still whacked, disturbing smile on her face]].
39	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Several members of Batman's RoguesGallery tend to be shown like this during "downtime" in Arkham, particularly the Joker and Killer Croc. Special mention goes to [[SerialKiller Mr. Zsasz]], who's traditionally transported with a collar-and-rod system taking ''four'' guards.
40	* ''ComicBook/{{Copperhead}}'': Zolo's gang kidnaps Boo and handcuffs him. He escapes in a matter of hours and starts killing his captors. When they recapture him, he's bound with chains and stuffed into tiny seating flanked by guards with no range of movement.
41	* In several issues of ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'', Bullseye is shown being transported in this fashion, with his hands bound to the point that he couldn't grab anything if he wanted to, and his feet bound so close that he can barely walk. Later issues (after he's demonstrated that he retains the ability to kill guards even bound up like that) show him with bound hands, feet, a muzzle over his face, and tightly bound to a furniture mover's hand cart.
42	* ''ComicBook/TheIntimates'': Sykes is transported to a government research lab with his hands and feet bound to a wheelchair. Sykes exists in a state of near-total catatonia, incapable of speech or anything but the simplest physical action, but his handlers didn't want to get caught with their pants down in case he suddenly developed the ability to try something.
43	* In ''ComicBook/MaximumCarnage'', Cletus Cassidy is transported via the chained-to-hand-cart method. Unfortunately for the guards, his [[TheSymbiote symbiote]] has gotten into his bloodstream, so when a doctor takes a blood sample from him, the open wound allows him to transform back into Carnage.
44	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': When Diana and the Holliday Girls recapture the four villains who managed to escape from Reformation Island, they send the first two back bound hand and foot. The latter two are bound in Diana's magic lasso and escorted by the princess herself.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Fan Works]]
48	* In ''Fanfic/TheGreatRedPandaRescue'', [[WesternAnimation/TurningRed Mei]] is kidnapped and is moved in a large cage with her hands cuffed and ankles bound.
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50
51	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
52	* ''Film/Thirteen2010'' has a case of being literally shipped when a contestant in the DeadlyGame is shackled and [[HumanMail sent in a crate]] from a Mexican prison. He's shackled not because he's dangerous but because he ''really'' didn't volunteer for this.
53	* ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct131976'': Napoleon Wilson (who is said to have killed six people [[CrypticBackgroundReference for reasons that are never revealed]]) is shackled for the ride on the prison bus taking him to Death Row, and the Warden trips him up just to KickTheDog. A few minutes later Wilson returns the favor by tripping up the Warden with his chain. He doesn't get out of his shackles until halfway through the movie. In the final scene, Lieutenant Bishop refuses to allow Wilson to be handcuffed and [[FireForgedFriends insists they walk out of Precinct 13 together]].
54	* In ''Film/TheBoondockSaints'', Il Duce (pictured above) is moved from his cell to the ground floor for a parole hearing. He is cuffed hand and foot, chained to a rolling platform, and wheeled down to the parole board. The entire prison is put on high-alert, with shotgun-wielding guards on every floor, all to move one man down a few flights of stairs. Once he's there, they even put him inside a metal cage to protect the parole board. All this serves to establish this guy as perhaps the biggest badass of the movie. Makes you wonder why they even ''thought'' about parole...[[note]]It's more or less stated that Papa Joe Yakavetta was pulling strings and getting him out for the purpose of dealing with Rocco, who he thinks is behind the killings of his men that the [=MacManus=] brothers have been carrying out.[[/note]]
55	* Garland Green from ''Film/ConAir'' is introduced wearing similar restraints as Lecter. When he's taken onto the plane, there's trepidation among at least one of the other criminals about actually taking them off.
56	* Han Solo is [[AndIMustScream frozen in carbonite]] following his capture by Boba Fett in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' to be transported to Jabba the Hutt. Fett doesn't like the risk to Solo's life (and, thus, his bounty), but Vader is willing to write him a compensation check if Han dies. Unlike most examples, it isn't done because Han himself is too dangerous; the point of the exercise is to test the method for later use on Luke. However, Series/TheMandalorian is later shown to have a carbonite-freezer in his spacecraft, so it appears that the bounty-hunting fraternity thought Vader had come up with a good idea.
57	* In ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald'', Grindelwald starts the film being shipped from New York to Europe for trial. His hands are shackled, his wand confiscated, his [[TongueTrauma tongue removed]] (apparently, he's so persuasive that multiple guards assigned to him have defected), locked in a flying carriage with at least three other wizards training their wands on him at all times, and said carriage has magical locks that run around almost the entire doorframe. Two other wizards follow this carriage on brooms for backup. [[MagnificentBastard Grindelwald being Grindelwald]], [[spoiler:it's not nearly enough. He's not even in the carriage]].
58	* Snake-Eyes arrives at Einsargen Prison like this in ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation''.
59	* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
60	** At the end of ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Loki is shown in chains for his transport back to Asgard, in addition to a muzzle.
61	** In ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'', Loki is escorted to his trial in heavy handcuffs, legcuffs and a metal collar interconnected with chains that are also wrapped around his waist, and is accompanied by ''ten'' Einherjar, elite Asgardian warriors holding those chains. With the God of Mischief who [[Film/TheAvengers2012 has just tried]] to conquer Earth, you can't be too sure.
62	** In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', [[spoiler:when the team uses time travel to go back to [[Film/TheAvengers2012 2012]], we see exactly when Loki was shackled. Thor put the muzzle on him simply because he would ''not'' shut up]].
63	* Invoked with Dizzy in ''Film/TheNewGuy'', who is delivered by a sympathetic prison staff to his new school in a straightjacket and mask as a ShoutOut to Green (and, by extension, Lecter). The whole thing is a sham to convince his new peers that he's a formidable badass, rather a reversal of his former image.
64	* ''Film/PatientZero2018'': Every infected is brought to the interrogation room with their hands behind their backs, a rope around their neck, and their mouths held open with some strange device.
65	* In ''Film/{{Primal}}'', Richard Loffler arrives at the ship shackled hand and foot (like the page image). On board the ship, he is locked in a cage in the hold and chained to a chair that is welded to the floor.
66	* John Doe in ''Film/Se7en'', while being taken into what [[TrapIsTheOnlyOption seems to be an obvious trap]]. It makes no difference, as his BatmanGambit does not require him to escape or attack his captors.
67	* One of the most familiar examples comes from ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'', where Hannibal is transported from his usual maximum-security cell by being chained inside a straightjacket, wheeled around on a hand truck, and wearing his iconic mask.
68	* ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'': Killer Croc, considering his strength and penchant for cannibalism, is shipped to Task Force X in numerous restraints.
69	* ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' blurs the line between this and the TailorMadePrison with the government's mobile prison-van. [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Mystique]] is kept behind bars ''and'' with her hands shackled to the ceiling. [[TheJuggernaut Juggernaut]] and [[MesACrowd Multiple Man]] both got locked in standing metal coffins to seal off their abilities. The guards on the van were also armed with weaponized [[KryptoniteFactor Mutant Cure]].
70	[[/folder]]
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72	[[folder:Literature]]
73	* ''Literature/OneHundredCupboards'':
74	** A heroic example appears when Uncle Frank, Dotty, Penelope, James, Isa and [[TokenWizard Monmouth]] are kidnapped by [[spoiler:the Emperor's soldiers]]. Even the regular humans are transported shackled to posts in the hold of the galley they're aboard, and Monmouth is [[TapOnTheHead knocked unconscious]], bound hand and foot, [[BagOfKidnapping stuffed into a sack]] made of kelp [[PowerNullifier to contain his magic]] and [[UnwillingSuspension hung from a ceiling beam]]. [[spoiler:With good reason, [[BigDamnHeroes as it turns out]].]]
75	** Eli and Fat Frank are also briefly transported in kelp sacks by Caleb and by wizards, respectively.
76	* In ''Literature/AClashOfKings'', three prisoners from [[HellholePrison the black cells]], Jaqen, Rorge, and Biter, are transported to join the [[LegionOfLostSouls Night's Watch]] shackled to a flatbed wagon. They convince Arya to give them an axe to free themselves as she runs from a fire, with very mixed results for her in the long run.
77	* ''Literature/MarcusDidiusFalco'': When Falco gets himself arrested during the Roman festival of Saturnalia, his friends throw as many shackles as possible on him, then drag him before a holy man who, according to ancient Roman tradition, commands that the shackles be cast off, effectively releasing him.
78	* In the second ''Literature/MilesTaylorAndTheGoldenCape'' book, ''Rise of the Robot Army'', Lenore is always escorted between her cell and the cafeteria by two of General Breckenridge's robot soldiers, and in chains that only allow her enough elbow room to walk and feed herself. [[spoiler:This is because she has some kind of superpower.]]
79	* In the ''Literature/NurseryCrime'' series, the gingerbread man is transported this way, straightjacketed and handled by burly guards at all times [[spoiler:until he isn't]].
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
83	* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': Cylon prisoners are always excessively chained and restraint-collared after Leoben [[BreakingTheBonds demonstrates just how easy it is to break his handcuffs]] during his interrogation.
84	* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': Frank Castle is transported to the courtroom this way. Even when he's in hospital there are excessive precautions -- an entire floor of the hospital is blocked off for him, guarded by ESU officers with carbines, bags have to be searched twice to be absolutely certain no one's smuggling in a weapon, and there's a "do not cross" line around his bed marked with red tape, to which bed Castle is both strapped and shackled.
85	* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': D'Argo, one of the main characters who is a former prisoner of the Peacekeepers, has a couple of attachment rings ''permanently imbedded'' in his collar bone for this trope. He's from a species that suffer from regular bouts of [[UnstoppableRage Hyper-Rage]] so they must be restrained, or they'll kill someone. That doesn't make D'Argo happy about it however, and he has them surgically removed in Season 3.
86	* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'':
87	** MadBomber Ian Hargave is shipped in shackles when he is being transported from Blackgate to St. Mark's Psychiatric Hospital in the episode "[[Recap/GothamS1E9HarveyDent Harvey Dent]]".
88	** Jeremiah Valeska also gets this treatment at the end of the fourth season, when the GCPD are preparing him to be transported to Arkham. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, even putting him in full-bodied restraints reminiscent of Hannibal Lector's doesn't prevent him from escaping, because before he can be locked away in Arkham, [[VillainTeamUp he's rescued]] by invincible ninjas.]]
89	* This happens to [[spoiler:Baek San and [[WellIntentionedExtremist Sa-Woo]]]] toward the end of ''Series/Iris2009''. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]
90	* Happens in ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'' to one of the inmates taking a creative writing class.
91	* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': At the end of "[[Recap/TheOuterLimits1995S1E19IRobot I, Robot]]", Adam Link is able to effortlessly break his chains when he saves Carrie Emerson from being run over by a truck.
92	* Zig-zagged in ''Series/PrisonBreak''. Linc is usually moved around like this, but sometimes the guards go easy on the shackles because he's a good prisoner or because they want him to break out.
93	* Parodied in ''Series/RaisingHope'' with one of [[spoiler:Lucy]]'s bridesmaids at her jailhouse wedding. The bridesmaid in question is strapped to a dolly, with a face mask and everything.
94	* Zach Galifianakis is carted in Hannibal Lector-style in a "Scared Straight" sketch of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.
95	* Jake [=LaPlant=], "the man with the most dangerous jokes in show business", arrives at ''Series/TheSlammer'' in a straightjacket and face mask and strapped to a trolley like Hannibal Lector.
96	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': After a powerful witch is able to immobilize a Leviathan with a spell, the brothers ship him back to Bobby wrapped in chains in the back seat of their car. However it's made clear that only the spell is binding him, so they've got until it wears off to find out how to kill a Leviathan.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Music]]
100	* In a ShoutOut to ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs'', Music/{{Disturbed}} opens many of their shows by having their lead singer wheeled out on stage in a straight jacket and restraining mask, strapped to a hand truck while a roadie (usually dressed in a white coat) releases him to sing.
101	[[/folder]]
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103	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
104	* The Heavy Metal Sisters from Wrestling/{{GLOW}} would regularly be led to and/or from the ring in straitjackets. Their gimmick was they were mental patients at the state hospital, but were let out to wrestle "because it's therapeutic".
105	* For a time in 2003, Wrestling/{{Kane}} would be led to the ring in shackles and chains with several guards escorting him, who would then unlock the chains once he got to the ring.
106	[[/folder]]
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108	[[folder:Video Games]]
109	* In the opening of ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', the Joker's wrapped in a straitjacket and chained to a hand-truck for delivery to the asylum. The guards seem to [[TalkativeLoon wish he was gagged as well]]. [[spoiler:Batman later gets the same treatment in a fear-gas induced hallucination.]]
110	* At the start of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', you and the rest of your party are all shackled in a cart, being taken to your execution.
111	* In the Light Side Ending of ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed II'', the [[spoiler:Heroes]] transport a captive in an upright frame that appears to be six-inches thick solid durasteel. Probably justified, given that the captive is [[spoiler:Darth Vader]].
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
115	* ''VisualNovel/MissingStars'': Lena is apparently a nice girl but is always muzzled up. It's very unlikely to be for show either, considering her university is for kids who are mentally ill. Lena is otherwise unrestrained besides the muzzle.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Webcomics]]
119	* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'': The condemned contestants arrive this way. (Some leg irons might have been a good idea in Slick's case!) Daisy is even brought in strapped to a wheelchair, though at least part of that is thanks to her missing leg.
120	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': The Empire of Blood transports its arena champion [[spoiler:(Thog)]] [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0786.html locked inside a wheeled cage]].
121	* ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'': In her first appearance, Tigerlily Jones is wrapped in a straitjacket and strapped to a handcart.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Western Animation]]
125	* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the bounty hunters who capture [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] stick her in a metal box for transport so she can't use her earthbending to escape. Of course, Toph gets out by [[spoiler:inventing metal bending]]. See the series' [[Awesome/AvatarTheLastAirbender CMOA page]].
126	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' opens with Killer Croc being transported to prison with his arms and legs in shackles. He escapes by biting through the chains and uses their remains as evidence that he was a prisoner in a freak show. After Batman recaptures him, he is taken away chained, straight-jacketed and muzzled.
127	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': When the Joker is taken into custody at the end of "[[Recap/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBoldS1E13GameOverForOwlman Game Over for Owlman!]]", he is strapped to a trolley with a mask over his face ''a la'' Hannibal Lecter in ''Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''.
128	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers'': Drake Darkstar, Duck Dodgers' EvilTwin in the episode "[[Recap/DuckDodgersS1E5 Detained Duck]]", is transferred to the Shirley Temple Black maximum security space prison in an enclosed barrel with futuristic shackles. He still escapes, runs into Duck Dodgers, and switches clothes with him. Dodgers then is arrested and put in a straitjacket and muzzle and gets chained up to a dolly like Hannibal.
129	* In ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002'', Kobra Khan is shackled and muzzled when transported. The muzzle is left on in his prison cell due to him being able to spit acid-like venom.
130	* Muzzle from ''WesternAnimation/RoadRovers'' is kept restrained exactly like Hannibal, complete with a muzzle -- and he's one of the good guys!
131	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
132	** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E12MargeVsTheMonorail Marge vs. the Monorail]]", C. Montgomery Burns is given the Hannibal Mask treatment when he's dragged into court for illegally dumping radioactive waste around the city.
133	** So is Bart when he's accused of stealing the church collection money in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E7BartsGirlfriend Bart's Girlfriend]]". Marge even lampshades how excessive the punishment is.
134	* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', the police nab the Tattletale Strangler (for littering, of course) and proceed to wrap him in several miles of handcuffs, chains, manacles, and even eye-cuffs... all of which he slithers out of about five seconds later. "Not again!"
135	* In his first appearance in the ''WesternAnimation/Thundercats2011'' episode "New Alliances", Kaynar is being shipped in shackles back to his cell in solitary confinement.
136	* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'':
137	** In "[[Recap/TotalDramaNoPainNoGame No Pain, No Game]]", when the muscular Eva is voted off for the second time (on the day she returned, no less), she becomes very hostile and has to be tied in a straitjacket before she can be shipped off on the Boat of Losers.
138	** Delinquent Duncan is brought in as a classic competitor in "[[Recap/TotalDramaGrandChefAuto Grand Chef Auto]]" against his will. He's wheeled in tied to a trolley with a mask over his mouth, but has to be released so he can perform the demo. Of course, he immediately makes a run for it laughing madly and Chris admits this one is on him.
139	** The kindhearted but strong DJ is brought in as a classic competitor in "[[Recap/TotalDramaEatPukeAndBeWary Eat, Puke and Be Wary]]" against his will. He's wheeled in tied to a trolley with a blindfold over his eyes to taste and judge the dishes the current campers prepare. It works only until he sees what the mostly-alive dishes are, at which point he breaks open the ropes and runs away screaming.
140	** In "[[Recap/TotalDramaILoveYouILoveYouKnots I Love You, I Love You Knots]]", Rodney antagonizes Clucky by boasting that he eats six eggs a day. Chris prevents Clucky from attacking Rodney then and there, but as soon as the controller to shock the Pimâpotew Kinosewak comes within reach, Clucky dives for it and smashes the button in crazed fury. As Clucky is no longer trustworthy, she is wheeled off tied to a trolley and with a mask over her beak. A straitjacket hangs over her neck, but doesn't actually hold her wings. It's implied she gets turned into dinner that evening.
141	* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Decepticon prisoners are usually transported in stasis cuffs (which paralyze the prisoner from the neck down) and gags. The handcart makes an appearance for [[spoiler:Megatron]], not due to being dangerous, but because [[spoiler:Optimus beat him so badly he couldn't walk]].
142	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ShippedInShackles