Follow TV Tropes

Following

Any Last Words?

Go To

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boobs2.png
Well, he did say one word.

Young G'tang: Any last words, Mister Gyo?
Haban: Actually, yes. I've prepared a short speech.
Young G'tang: Well, would you look at the time...

So the villain's got the hero cornered. As a mocking gesture, the villain asks the hero if there are any last words he would like to say before he dies. The hero would often make a snappy comeback, a "The Reason You Suck" Speech or a Pre-Asskicking One-Liner, depending on what's going on or what's going through his mind. Or they could just resort to obscenities.

A villain who asks this will usually make a comment on what they think of those last words—whether they're good or bad.

Other times it's an executioner asking a prisoner sentenced to death asking if the condemned would like to make a final statement. At times, the response is the same as above.

Usually related to Pre-Asskicking One-Liner or Bond One-Liner.

Here is a compilation with a lot of examples of this trope.

As this is a Death Trope, unmarked spoilers abound. Beware.


Examples:

    open/close all folders 
    Anime and Manga 

    Comic Books 
  • The Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines story "Truce Or Consequences" (Hanna-Barbera Fun-In #10, Gold Key, January 1972) had Dick and Muttley luring Yankee Doodle Pigeon to their side during a 24-hour truce, hypnotizing him and making him pose for pictures depicting him as a traitor. With thirty seconds left in the truce and finding himself A.W.O.L., Yankee Doodle consigns himself to the ultimate journey. When Dastardly asks if he has any last words, Yankee Doodle says "ABOUT FACE!," causing Muttley to turn the lit cannon aimed at him towards Dastardly.
  • Sins of Sinister: In Nightcrawlers #1, Doctor Stasis asks Wagnerine if she has any last words. The question becomes his own last words, as Wagnerine immediately stabs him in the head with her tail blade.

    Fan Works 
  • Abraxas (Hrodvitnon): Monster X asks Ichi/Eldest Brother (Ghidorah's middle head) as much before destroying his head:
    Monster X: It's customary to have a choice of last words, you know.
  • Fate: Kill: Syura asks this of Shirou while strangling him. Shirou gasps, "My body is made out of swords!" and fatally impales him with swords coming out of his wounds.
  • J-WITCH Series: In "Framed", when Frost and the Dark Chi Enforcers surround Jackie and the Guardians, the former poses this question. Jade gives the reply before using a bazooka to fire a rocket at the villains.
    Frost: This is the end for you. Any final words?
    Jade: I got some! Say 'hello' to my little friend!
  • Katzenjammer: After Starscream makes up his mind about killing Tidearrow, he tells the latter that his last words had better be worth saying. Since Tidearrow has already been teasing Starscream despite doing so being a bad idea even when he isn't hung over, he quips that Starscream is bad at performing some sexual act he doesn't get to name before Starscream blasts him.
  • In the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fic Loved and Lost, King Jewelius makes this question to his overthrown aunt Princess Celestia whom he has sentenced to be hanged. He expects her to try and expose his secret evil actions to the public like Twilight Sparkle's friends and brother just tried to do in vain. Knowing her former subjects and corrupted student Twilight Sparkle have lost all faith in her and that pleading to deaf ears won't get her anywhere, Celestia instead makes a heartwrenching apology speech to Twilight and the angry crowd, taking full responsibility over everyone who lost their lives and is suffering now because of the Changeling invasion she inadvertently allowed to happen by refusing to listen to Twilight about the impostor Cadance and failing to realize how much of a monster Jewelius truly is until it was too late. As she prepares to Face Death with Dignity after raising the sun for the last time, Twilight and the entire crowd are so moved by Celestia's remorse that they start demanding Jewelius to spare her. Fortunately Luna rescues her sister just in time.
  • In Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction Prison Island Break, Head Warden Mephiles asks the injured and helpless Nack the Weasel if he has any last words.
    Mephiles: I'm a decent warden. So do you have any memorable last words, Westhall?
    Nack: Yeah... Guess I'm gonna die the way I lived... at the wrong end of a gun.
    Mephiles: Very nice. Very... poetic. [shoots twice] Now you get to die... all alone.

    Films - Animation 
  • Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. An elderly Bruce Wayne is stuck on Mission Control, Forced to Watch as the Joker is about to kill the new Batman, Terry McGinnis.
    Joker: What about it, kid? Any last words for the old Bat-fart?
    Terry: Yeah. Sic 'im! (Ace attacks the Joker)
  • In South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, as Terrence and Phillip are about to be executed, Sheila asks them is they have any last words. Phillip responds "How's aboot 'Get me the fuck out of this chair!'?"
  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Asked by Doc Ock to Peter B. when she has him in her clutches in the Super Collider. Miles intervenes before Ock can finish Peter off.
  • Played for laughs in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as Quasimodo and Phoebus are about to be hanged during the "Court of Miracles" number.
    Clopin: Any last words?
    (their words are muffled by the rags in their mouths)
  • During the sword fight of Pixar's Up, Mr.Fredericksen is cornered. The villain says, "Any last words, Fredericksen? Come on, spit it out!" Mr. Fredericksen promptly spits his false teeth in his face.
  • From Flushed Away:
    Spike: Any last requests?
    Roddy: Yes. Could you fly, quite suddenly, off the boat, screaming like a girl?
    Spike: What? (is jerked off the boat by the cord he's attached to) AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!
  • Happens in The Aristocats, when Scat Cat is about to execute Roquefort as a spy. Rather conveniently, only then does Roquefort remember Thomas O'Malley's name, something that alarms Scat and his crew enough to listen to Roquefort's request for backup against Edgar on O'Malley's behalf.
    Scat Cat: Mousy, you just struck out. Any last words?
    Roquefort: [beside himself in fear and exasperation] WHY DID I LISTEN TO THAT O'MALLEY CAT?!
    [at the sound of O'Malley's name, Scat and his crew realize Roquefort is on their side]
  • In Hulk Vs. Wolverine, when the Weapon X team corners Wolverine and Banner as they try to escape the lab:
    Sabretooth: End of the line, runt! Got any last words?
    Wolverine: Yeah. TWO!
  • In Ice Age: Continental Drift, when the bad guys have cornered Granny and Sid.
    Gupta: Any last words?
    Granny: PREEEEEEEECIOOOOUUUUSS!
    Sid: Will you stop with the "Precious"!?
    [Granny's pet whale Precious appears, causing the pirates to run away screaming]
  • At the climax of Despicable Me 3: Enraged at his giant robotic self-replica being destroyed, Balthazar Bratt furiously confronts Gru and holds him Keytar-gunpoint.
    Bratt: You've ruined everything! And now, it's time to die! Any last words, Gru?
    Gru: You know what? I got two words for you: Dance fight.
    Bratt: Oh, it is on like Donkey Kong! I'm going to enjoy this!
  • In Beavis And Butthead Do America, the pair find themselves at the end of the shotgun of Muddy, a domestic terrorist they unintentionally betrayed. When he asks if they have any last words the two, oblivious as ever, say, "buttcheeks" and "boobs."
  • Batman vs. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Shredder beats up Batman and asks if he has any last words. Batman says, "Cowabunga." This distracts Shredder and serves as a signal for the Ninja Turtles to jump in and tackle Shredder.

    Films - Live-Action 
  • Deadpool (2016): Asked by Deadpool to Francis at the end before blowing his head off.
  • In the climax of Jumanji. Van Pelt has Alan at gunpoint as one of his dice seems to roll endlessly into the basement. As Van Pelt asks if he has any words to say before he kills him, the die finally stops rolling and Alan's space moves to the finish line, and he makes his last word "Jumanji!", which causes Van Pelt to get sucked back into the game.
  • In Enchanted, Prince Edward says this when he believes that Robert has kidnapped Giselle.
    Edward: Have you any last words before I dispatch you?
    Edward: Strange words.
  • "HULK... SMASH!"
  • Man of Steel General Zod and his comrades are sentenced to "300 cycles of somatic reconditioning" in the Phantom Zone, Zod is asked if he had any last words. The General indeed has some Profane Last Words, calling the Council fools for not executing them. He also tells Lara Lor-Van that he would find Kal-El and the Codex in the boy.
  • Dredd
    • Judge Anderson is about to be executed by gang-member Kay with her own sidearm.
      Kay: Any last words, bitch?
      Anderson: That's funny, I was about to ask you that... bitch. (Kay fires the booby-trapped gun and blows his own hand off.)
    • Played with when Judge Dredd is bleeding out after catching a bullet in the gut. The man who shot him is about to finish Dredd off when...
      Dredd: Wait.
      Lex: "Wait?" Are you kidding me? Did you just say, "Wait"? Judge Dredd - THE Judge Dredd - finally gets on the wrong end of a gun and all he says is, "Wait." You know what? I expected more from you. I mean, wait for what? Wait for me to change my mind? Wait for another two or three seconds of life because you are so fucking weak you can't stand to see it end?
      Dredd: No.
      [Anderson shoots Lex from behind]
  • Return of the Jedi. Jabba the Hut gives our heroes the opportunity to grovel for mercy before being thrown to the Sarlacc. Han Solo replies for them all.
    Han: 3PO, you tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden...filth he'll get no such pleasure from us! (uncertain look at Chewbacca) Right?
  • A funeral version is averted in Alien. When it's time for Kane's Burial in Space, Captain Dallas asks if anyone has any last words regarding the deceased. Traumatised over Kane's Cruel and Unusual Death by Chest Burster, the crew remains silent.
  • Speed. Howard Payne asks this of the cop he's holding hostage, and is not impressed by the response.
    Payne: In two hundred years, we've come from "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country" to "fuck you"?!
  • The Pacifier: At the climax, Shane manages to deactivate the traps guarding Plummer's safe, and a fight breaks out between himself and the villains over who gets to open it. Eventually, The Mole has Shane dead to rights and asks if he has any last words. Shane replies with the safe's activation phrase, "Say goodnight, Peter Panda"; the safe door flies open and smacks The Mole in the face, knocking him out cold.
  • Hang 'Em High. During a multiple public hanging, the condemned are allowed to give this trope to the assembled crowd, who regard the occasion as public entertainment. One man gives a lengthy speech of how his dissolute ways lead to his demise and urging others not to follow his path. Another prisoner's final words are a request that the first man shut up so they can Get It Over With.
  • Undercover Brother. Mr Feather has kidnapped singer James Brown and is about to inject him with the brainwashing drug. He quips, "Any... final requests?" This turns out to be a mistake, as Brown entices Feather to sing along with him.
  • This, from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian:
    Reepicheep: Choose your last words carefully, Telmarine!
    Prince Caspian: You are a mouse.
    Reepicheep: (sighs) I was hoping for something a little more original. Pick up your sword.
  • Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen: Hero to villain version. After taking down Demolisher, Optimus asks if he has any last words. Demolisher uses his to issue a cryptic warning that The Fallen will rise again.
  • The Adventures of Baron Munchausen: At one point the Baron is due to be executed, and is asked if he has any famous last words. His reply of "not yet" confuses his would-be executioner. ("Not yet? Is that famous?")
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit: When Judge Doom captures Roger and is about to sentence him to death over the murder of Marvin Acme, he asks Roger if he has any final words. Roger is about to answer, but Doom just strangles his neck to keep him from speaking.
  • Renfield (2023): At the end of the film, Rebecca and Renfield trap Dracula in a protective circle and prepare to kill him as thoroughly as possible. Renfield asks if Dracula has any last words before they send him to Hell, and Dracula says that he's looking forward it. He then does the devil horns hand symbol and shouts, "HAIL SATAN!"

    Literature 
  • A Song of Ice and Fire.
    • Tyrion Lannister ponders this trope while awaiting execution. Despite being The Snark Knight, he can't think of anything except "Bugger you all", which he decides won't earn him much fame in the history books.
    • As rulers of the North the Starks are expected to carry out executions personally, including looking the victim in the eye and hearing his last words.
  • Discworld: Going Postal: Moist Von Lipwig is about to be hanged while under his alias Albert Spengler and is asked this. His first answer is "I really wasn't expecting to die today;" everyone finds it funny, but that wasn't really what he was going for. After his seeming last-second reprieve fails, he finally comes up with "I commend my soul to any god that can find it." All the witnesses agree it was a good choice.
  • In a Sven Hassel novel, several soldiers taken out to be hung by the SS are asked if they have anything to say, "and make it quick, because no one's interested except you."

    Live-Action TV 
  • In the Family Matters episode "A Pirate's Life for Me", Steve, Carl and Laura are walking the plank and they're asked this when they use Steve's time watch to go back to the present.
    Steve: So long, suckers!
    Captain: That's an odd choice of words.
  • In the Castle episode "Once Upon a Time in the West", the murder is done by the proprietor of an establishment. When Castle confronts him, he pulls out a gun and asks this question. Castle's response: "If I survive this, I'm giving this place a scathing review on Yelp."
  • Doctor Who
    • In "The Crimson Horror", Strax almost executes a horse for getting lost.
      Strax: Horse, you have failed in your mission. We are lost, with no sign of Sweetville. Do you have any final words before your summary execution?
      Horse: (sniffs ground)
      Strax: The usual story...
    • In "The Caves of Androzani", the Doctor and Peri are about to be executed by Firing Squad and are formally asked if they have a 'last declaration'. The Doctor denounces the Kangaroo Court that sentenced them, while Peri says to just Get It Over With.
    • In "The Woman who Lived," Sam Swift keeps telling jokes to the crowd, knowing the longer he keeps them laughing, the longer he lives.
    • In "War of the Sontarans", a Sontaran commander tells some captured humans that if they have any last words... they should keep them to themselves. He then orders them executed without further discussion.
    • In "Legend of the Sea Devils", the Chief Sea Devil notes the Doctor's tendency to ramble on so she has time to think of a plan and gloats, "Any last words to try and save your skin, Doctor?" when he's about to execute her. The Doctor keeps it short for once.
      Doctor: Yep...Going up! (hits lever to force them to surface)
  • Game of Thrones
    • In the series premiere, Will is allowed to give a brief statement before Ned chops his head off. Will apologizes for deserting and warns Ned that the White Walkers are coming. Unfortunately, Ned does not believe him and kills him.
    • When Jon Snow prepares to execute Janos Slynt, he allows him some last words. Janos spends it fearfully begging for his life and is killed.
    • When Jon Snow prepares to execute four traitors, he allows them last words. Bowen Marsh says this situation is not right, Othell Yarwick apologizes and gives a Last Request to tell his mother that he died in battle, Alliser Thorne says he has no regrets and gives a final taunt, and Olly does not say anything and gives a Death Glare.
    • In "No-One", Sandor Clegane has an axe to grind with the outlaws who massacred his friends, so he uses one to chop an outlaw in the goolies. Naturally it's difficult to deliver some Last Words under those circumstances.
      Clegane: Where's the other one? The one with the yellow cloak.
      Outlaw: (in agony) Fuck you!
      Clegane: Those are your last words, fuck you? Come on, you can do better.
      Outlaw: ...Cunt!
      Clegane: You're shit at dying, you know that?
    • Cersei mockingly asks Missandei if she has any of these just before having Gregor execute her. Turns out she does: "Dracarys!"
  • Deconstructed on Adam Ruins Everything. Adam and Emily attend an old man's funeral, and Emily asks what his last words were. Adam responds that they were probably something like "Whoops!" or "Ow!"
  • In the fourth series of U.K. kids' game show Trappednote , the Voice will ask contestants who don't make it to the next round this question word for word.
  • Iron Fist (2017). In "Bar The Big Boss", Bakuto has threatened to decapitate Harold Meachum and asks if he has any last words. Harold thinks it's the appropriate moment to call his son Ward a disappointment and tell his daughter Joy he loves her and that she should never trust her brother, ensuring their relationship will be poisoned if he does die.
  • Criminal Minds: In one episode, Garcia is forced to shoot a man who was about to kill Reid. The man is a professional assassin, so this allows them to capture him and sentence him to death. Garcia feels horribly guilty. When she tries to apologize to him, he asks her to be there for him during the execution (he has no family, and she's literally the only person who's reached out to him) because he's afraid to die alone. Garcia struggles with it, but she ultimately does attend the execution. When they ask the man for a final statement, he looks directly at Garcia and says "Thank you."
  • The Whitest Kids U' Know: "Any last words?" "Yes, just three."

    Video Games 
  • During the Deviant route of Connor's story in Detroit: Become Human, Connor is asked this question by a non-deviant copy of himself if he is mortally wounded by them during his infiltration of CyberLife Tower.
  • In Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, after Caellach, one of the six Grado generals, destroys Freila's Sacred Stone, a surviving soldier calls him out on his actions.
    Caellach: Huh? What's this? Still breathing, are you? Come. If you've any last words, I'll hear them, fool of Frelia.
    Soldier: You...monster...
    Caellach: You waste your last words on insults? And feeble ones, at that... Hardly the right note to enter the eternal on, wouldn't you say? Well then, die. (kills the soldier)
  • During the final battle of Kingdom Hearts III, Xemnas, Saïx and Xion managed to thrash Sora, Kairi, and Lea. As he prepares to execute Lea, Xemnas discusses "a time when I trusted you to deal with traitors. And now, your betrayal outstrips them all", before asking Lea for any final words "for your superior?" Lea's response?
    Lea: Well, let me think about it. How about "You were never my superior."
  • At the end of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the Vizier makes this question to the title hero when he decides to murder Princess Farah and frame him for it. The Prince has nothing to say to that, and since the worst of the boss battle has been gone through, you just need to deliver the final strike to kill the Vizier.
    The Vizier: Do you have any last words you wish me to communicate to the Princess before I kill her? Words of love, perhaps?
  • Shadow Hearts: Covenant: Garan the Oracle has trapped the heroes in a facsimile of Hell in Japanese mythology. Then he goes into a rant of how they will be soon shredding tears of pain. Which is completely ignored by Yuri and co, who are instead fixated on the way Garan hovers around, eventually arriving to the conclusion it must be the pillow he's sitting on. When Garan ask them if they have anything to say before they all die in the most horrible way imaginable, Yuri simply asks: "That pillow... Where I can get one?" Cue Garan flying into homicidal rage. Boss Battle time!
  • One level in Superhot VR has the player pinned down in a graveyard by three enemies with shotguns. One of them asks "Last words?"
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 1: During the battle on Prison Island, Metal Face/Mumkhar asks this of Dunban before Emperor Sorean intervenes with lightning.

    Web Original 

    Western Animation 
  • The pilot short for The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy has Grim ask this to Mandy as he prepares to win the limbo game and claim Mr. Snuggles' soul. Mandy's reply is "Two words: kiss-kiss!", which causes Mr. Snuggles to attack Grim, causing him to lose and be Billy and Mandy's friend forever.
  • In The Ren & Stimpy Show episode "An Abe Divided", Sergeant Big-Butt asks this to Ren and Stimpy before she punishes them for destroying the Lincoln Memorial. Ren responds by attempting to pin the blame on Stimpy.
  • In the Gravity Falls episode, "Headhunters", the wax Sherlock Holmes says this when he has Dipper cornered on the roof. Dipper replies "Got any sunscreen?" and much to the wax Sherlock Holmes's surprise the sun rises, causing him to melt.
  • Big City Greens: In "Handshaken'", Cricket asks this to Bill during their handshake showdown in Downtown Smalton. Bill's reply is, "Fill my hand, you son of a Bill!" as he proceeds to defeat his son.
  • Birdman (1967) episode "Professor Nightshade". After the title villain captures Birdman he asks him this question before trying to send him into the fourth dimension (time) to be lost forever.
  • In the pilot for The Transformers, Optimus and Megatron are fighting on Sherman Dam. Prime's response to being asked this trope is a defiant "None you'd want to hear, Megatron!" and implies that the words he does have for Megatron are not fit for children's television.
  • Asked this by Peridot as they believe they're about to die in Steven Universe, Steven opts for:
    Steven: I love you, Peridot!
    Peridot: Wow, thanks...!
  • In the The Spectacular Spiderman episode "Group Therapy", when Doc Ock reveals the newly-formed Sinister Six to Spidey:
    Doc Ock: Now then, Arachnid. Any last words?
    Spider-Man: "Homina Homina Homina" comes to mind.
  • In American Dragon: Jake Long, before Jake and the Huntsclan's Final Battle:
    The Huntsman: Before I wish for your annihilation, any last words?
    Jake: Well, considering the occasion, I have just two: Let's Dance!
  • Sonic Boom:
    • In "Let's Play Musical Friends", Orbot and Cubot are caught in a closing wall trap.
      Orbot: Any last words, friend?
      Cubot: Yeah. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start.
      *trap door opens beneath them*
    • In "Eggman The Video Game Part 2 The End Of The World", Shadow gives Sonic a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown and asks if he has any last words. Sonic yells, "Volcano wonder pants!" Shadow says that doesn't make any sense, then Sonic tackles him while he's distracted.
  • Justice League - At the climax of "Starcrossed", Hro Talak has Green Lantern by the neck and is ready to finish him with his axe.
    Talak: I've beaten you, little man! Any last words?
    John: Yeah. You can kiss my axe. [forms an axe construct with his ring]
  • Yin Yang Yo!:
    Yuck: Any last words?
    Yo: Kumquat and meteorite. I don't know, I just really like those words.
  • Super Friends: In "The Curator", Remlar has been freezing everyone in suspended animation to display them in his museum, and only Samurai is left. Remlar asks Samurai if he has any final words for posterity. Samurai says his magic words, "Kaze no Yō ni Hayaku!" to turn into a tornado and escape.
  • SpongeBob SquarePants:
    • A non-death-related example in "Plankton!". Having taken over SpongeBob's body, Plankton is about to force him to drop a Krabby Patty into a machine that will deduce its secret formula, and mockingly asks SpongeBob if he has any last words. SpongeBob replies with a eulogy for the Krabby Patty that seduces Plankton so much that he leaps out of SpongeBob to try and eat it, only to fall into his own analyzer.
    • In "Frankendoodle", SpongeBob asks this to DoodleBob before erasing him. DoodleBob drops a bunch of gibberish, and slowly and almost annoyed repeats it when SpongeBob admitted he didn't quite catch that.

 
Feedback

Video Example(s):

Top

You Are a Mouse

In "Prince Caspian," the mouse Reepicheep brings the titular prince to the ground, telling him to choose his last words carefully. "You are a mouse," he replies, stating the obvious, which wasn't exactly what Reepicheep was hoping for.

How well does it match the trope?

5 (9 votes)

Example of:

Main / AnyLastWords

Media sources:

Report