History Main / FinalSpeech

** Parodied in the ''Beyond The Fringe'' sketch when Jonathan Miller [[OverlyLongGag took forever to die]]: [[OhCrap "Now is steel twixt gut and bladder interposed!"]]

* Some characters may use this a chance for them to give TheReasonYouSuckSpeech if they're dying as the results of another character, bonus, if it's involved a long standing vendetta between them.

In RealLife, as long as the heart, lungs, major arteries and brain remain inviolate a person is well more than capable of carrying on a conversation. However, given that losing a certain amount of blood causes the mind to be flooded with first a sense of panic and doom, then confusion and fear, and finally lethargy, these conversations aren't exceptionally enlightening or deep. They do tend to ask for water a lot. Dying makes you thirsty.

** Done by Portgas D. Ace and Whitebeard, Ace his entire torso, inside and out, was burnt by Admiral Akainu's magma yet he was still able to tell everyone on the battlefield that he was grateful for being loved by them. Whitebeard had been slashed 267 times, was hit by 152 bullets, withstood 46 cannonballs, had been in bad health for quite a while and had half his face blown off by Akainu (seeing a pattern here?). Despite all this, he was still able to shout his last words across the entire island loud enough that it was broadcast over the entire world.

* [[spoiler:Shirley]] from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has one of these after [[spoiler:being shot point blank by Rolo]]:

* ''Anime/RomeoXJuliet'' ''loves'' this trope. Pretty much every character who dies on screen gets some variant of this, whether it's [[spoiler: the heroes]] or the [[IllGirl Ill Boy]].

-->[[spoiler: The Major: Deny it all you want. My humanity is not in question. I still have that one trait that puts us in ascendance even above the angels. It is my will that drives me. The vampires that you were so happy to keep in your employ...without the life blood of others to keep them going, they would shamble to a halt. If it's a monster you want, look no further than Alucard , and this little one, playing at immortality. Don't mention me in the same breath as that fraud. The moment I am propelled by my own unadulterated will, I become heir to something Alucard can only steal. Even if I were reduced to nothing more than a brain in a jar, synapses firing in a sea of pure thought... I am human just like you are. Within me rests a human soul...and a human's will, precious beyond all worth. He smiles at you in the form of a young girl, or pulls at your heartstrings in the form of a weary veteran. So many faces a monster has, and all of them stolen, all of them lies. I despise him. Every cell in my body called for his annihilation. So I destroyed his kingdom and cast him down into the dust. Fitting that it took a man with the trappings of a monster, to slay a monster with the trappings of a man. He was a casualty to my will. 'My enemy is not human. My enemy is less than a human.' Since the earliest dawning of mankind, this is the battlecry...it just happened to be more literal in my case. That battlecry...those thoughts are running through your thoughts right now, aren't they? I planted the seeds of this war half a century ago...now, show me what has blossomed.]]

** Subverted in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones''--after Zam Wesell is hit by a saber dart loaded with an exceptionally virulent poison that will kill her in seconds, she isn't even able to intelligibly finish her sentence which would have informed the heroes who TheDragon of the man in front of [[TheManBehindTheMan the man ]]''[[TheManBehindTheMan behind ]]''[[TheManBehindTheMan the man]] was (get all that?)...though to her credit, she tries.

** As mentioned above, in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Yoda tells Luke that death is the way of all things, confirms that Vader is his father, that he won't be a Jedi until he defeats Vader, and that he has a long-lost family member (but by that point is too weak to say what kind or who it is). Cheery. This is somewhat more believable in that he's dying of old age, not an injury. Also, Darth Vader, after his suit is damaged to the point it can't sustain him anymore, asks Luke to take his helmet off so he can look on his son's face with his own eyes, then tells him to leave him behind. ([[NoOneGetsLeftBehind Luke doesn't]].) At Luke's protestations, Anakin tells him that he's already ''been'' saved, and he should tell his sister he was right--that there was ''some'' good left.

-->'''Khan:''' No! No, you ''can't get away!'' To the last I grapple with thee...from Hell's heart I stab at thee...for hate's sake I spit my last ''breath'' at thee...

---> '''Kirk:''' How's our ship?
---> '''Spock:''' Out of danger.
---> '''Kirk:''' Good...
---> '''Spock:''' You saved the crew.
---> '''Kirk:''' You used what he wanted against him. That's a nice move.
---> '''Spock:''' It is what you would have done.
---> '''Kirk:''' And this... this is what you would have done. It was only logical. I'm scared, Spock. Help me not be. How do you choose not to feel?
---> '''Spock:''' I do not know. Right now, I am failing.
---> '''Kirk:''' I want you to know why I couldn't let you die... why I went back for you...
---> '''Spock:''' Because you are my friend. [''Kirk places his hand against the glass and gives the Vulcan Salute as he dies''] \\[[spoiler:KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!]]

--->'''Sir James''': Madam! Are you ''quite'' sure you're dying?
--->'''Mimi''': Not dying... but giving up my life. I'm going to another world!... There's a convent over that hill!

** The film in general contains a handful of final speeches of otherwise unimportant soldiers of the American Civil War. [[note]]The films plot of buried treasure runs parallel to the civil war, and the meaningless deaths of young soldiers, imprisonment in a POW camp, showdown in a military cemetery and other plot points symbolise death in all its forms[[/note]] Being a Western, the speeches are often very short and contain more body language than words.

* In ''Literature/{{Taiko}}'', UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi's advisor Hanbei, knowing that he's about to die of illness, gives him a long DareToBeBadass speech, telling him that he, [[UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga Nobunaga]], and [[UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu Ieyasu]] all have their seperate roles to play in bringing unity to Japan.

* Literature/TheSongOfRoland takes this UpToEleven. While secondary characters just get cleaved in two and drop dead, mortally wounded heroes will have time to say goodbye to their comrades, deliver final monologues, pray God for forgiveness and arrange themselves in aesthetically pleasing positions before finally dying. Archbishop Turpin also takes the time to bless the corpses of the previously fallen. And all that, of course, only comes after they did [[DoNotGoGentle one or two final charges]] against the enemy to [[TakingYouWithMe take as many of them with them]] as possible... while already mortally wounded.

-->"We all change, when you think about it. We're all different people, all through our lives. And that's okay, that's good - you've got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be. I will not forget one line of this. Not one day...I swear. I will always remember...when the Doctor was me."

-->'''Rose:''' Can't you do something?\\

** He also has a pre-recorded one, just in case he is forced to send Rose and the TARDIS away:
--> '''The Doctor:''' [''as a hologram''] This is Emergency Programme One. Rose, now listen. This is important. If this message is activated, then it can only mean one thing. We must be in danger, and I mean fatal. I'm dead, or about to die any second with no chance of escape. And that's okay. Hope it's a good death. But I promised to look after you, and that's what I'm doing. The TARDIS is taking you home. [''Rose protests''] And I bet you're fussing and moaning now. Typical! But hold on and just listen a bit more. The TARDIS can never return for me. Emergency Programme One means I'm facing an enemy that should never get their hands on this machine. So this is what you should do: let the TARDIS die. Just let this old box gather dust. No one can open it. No one will even notice it. Let it become a strange little thing standing on a street corner. And over the years, the world will move on and the box will be buried. And if you wanna remember me, then you can do one thing, that's all, one thing. [[[TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat ''turns to Rose, his voice no longer sounding projected'']]] Have a good life. Do that for me, Rose. Have a ''fantastic'' life.

-->''"Oh, there it is. Silly old universe. The more I save it the more it needs saving. It’s a treadmill. Yes, yes I know they’ll get it all wrong without me. Well, I suppose... one more lifetime won’t kill anyone. Well, except me. You wait a moment, Doctor. Let’s get it right. I’ve got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first. Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish... and love, is always wise. Always try, to be nice and never fail to be kind. Oh, and... and you mustn’t tell anyone your name. No-one would understand it anyway. Except... except... children. Children can hear it. Sometimes, if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too. Children can hear your name. But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever. Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind. Doctor... I let you go."''

*** Actually credit goes to Casey Biggs, who played Damar, and lobbied not to go down without a word. So they gave him approval to ad lib something. He admits that he has no idea how he would have finished the line.

** Mr Wellard has a sad dying scene when he's shot by the Spaniards who have taken ''Renown''. He's a young PluckyMiddie, nearly [[BreakTheCutie broken in spirit]]. He tells Gunner Hobbs that his Captain, who died before him, assured him that he was brave. Hobbs reassures him as well.

--> '''Guy of Gisborne:''' [''dying''] Is this the end?
--> '''Robin Hood:''' [''having been fatally poisoned''] For you and me both, my friend.
--> '''Guy of Gisborne:''' I'm sorry. At least you have someone waiting for you...Marian. The love of my life, but she was always yours. I've lived in shame, but because of you, I die proud. I am free. [''dies'']

--> '''Much:''' What am I going to be without you?
--> '''Robin Hood:''' [''Places his hands around Much's neck''] You are already more of a man than I will ever be. [''Removes Much's cap''] Much...and you are my best friend. [''An emotional, long hug'']

* PlayedForLaughs on ''Series/{{Frasier}}''. The episode "Ham Radio" has the station put on a murder mystery show with Frasier directing. Gil Chesterton plays the role of a man who gets fatally shot and delivers a lengthy speech about his childhood which Gil is quite proud of. The show ends up going on too long and Frasier is forced to cut the speech. Gil tries to deliver it anyway, so Frasier tries to stop him. After Gil's character is shot twice more and he ad libs two new characters who also get killed, he finally stops his attempts.

* Tristan does this for almost an entire act: "Ohhh, Im dying... where is Isolde? Meanwhile, Random Feverish Hallucinations... where is that woman? Still not here... Okay, hallucinating a bit more... hey, Kurwenal, do you think the traffic is that bad on the Channel?"

* ''TabletopGame/{{Mekton}}'': Operation Rimfire has an exaggerated version of this trope. The villain says a twenty-seven line speech before he dies, while his enemies, about ten or so mecha armed to the teeth surrounding him just standing still as he delivers it. [[{{Railroading}} And no, you can't pull a]] ShutUpHannibal, [[{{Railroading}} it goes against the rails]].

* Nearly every names character in ''Franchise/FireEmblem''. They range from something as as short as another character's name to a full paragraph in size.

-->'''Natasha''': Me, I could only walk over ice. I only skated... I never walked.

---> '''Vasir''': "You want to judge me? Look in the mirror! Kidnapping kids for biotic death camps! Hell, ''your own unit'' on Akuze! And you're with them! Don't you ''dare'' judge me! Don't you..."

-->'''[[spoiler:VideoGame/MegaManX]]:''' Can you hear me, Zero? My energy is almost all spent. I can't... stay in this world... much longer... Zero... I want to leave this world in your care. The threat Weil represents has not left this world. I want you...to protect humans and Reploids. Ze...ro... You can do it... You...can...

** Averted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. Really, Aeris had the perfect opportunity for one, and think of everything she could have said... and then be thankful she didn't, because it probably wouldn't have been half as dramatic as it ended up being.

* Professor Gerald Robotnik gives one to Gun (Which is later shown on the airwaves to all of humanity in a cutscene in the "Last Story") prior to being execution in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' which outlines the ColonyDrop and pointing out his DisproportionateRetribution (If Maria's death has any indication).

->'''Kayto:''' All hands, this is Captain Kayto Shields of the assault carrier Sunrider. Last surviving vessel of the Cera Space Force. We travelled the stars, finding allies across the galaxy, with the hope of liberating our home world. It was a long journey, filled with adventure. At times, we felt sorrow. At times, we celebrated our triumphs. Throughout, we were hopelessly outnumbered. Our mission was nothing but a long shot, a gamble against impossible odds. Finally, we are here, at our home’s doorsteps. Let it be remembered. On this day, we did not abandon Cera to fend for herself! [''[[ManlyTears Kayto begins crying]]''] On this day, the Sunrider stood her ground! We did not run, but protected all those we hold dear until we fell into the black night! We did not falter in our defense of our family! Today, we perished to save our home! [''an apparition of his dead sister Maray appears before him''] THE SUNRIDER… AS HER FINAL ACT… WILL SAVE EVERYONE!!!! MARAY…!!!! I’M COMING HOME…!!!!

* Endlessly parodied in ''Webcomic/TheChosenFour'', where it seems like even the most minute enemies relates their tearful life story after getting beat up by the heroes.

--> "It's dark now isn't it? Can't you turn on the light mum? Why won't you turn on the light mum?" Mum. Why won't you hold me mum? Why aren't you here? Mum. Do you remember the day my cat died? Mum? There was this pain in my heart that day that I had never felt before. Remember. The vet let me hold her before they pressed the needle in. When I left her she gave me this look of profound betrayal as if I had been the one to kill her. I couldn't go back in. Promise me mum. Promise me you won't leave me like that. Don't let me go."

-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Let me tell you something my mother used to say to me.\\

* In ''WebVideo/{{Aventures}}'',when Seb's character, Shin, is gravely wounded he acts as he is making this with actually good roleplaying, then the whole group decides to milk it for all it's worth and tries to cram as many cliché they can find.

-->'''Darkwing''': She's gone.
-->'''Launchpad''': Ya sure?

* Parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft", where Randy's character is attacked by the griefer the boys are in battle with just after delivering the InfinityPlusOneSword they need to finish him. Despite Randy's character being low level enough that it should have died instantly, it survives long enough for the boys to take the guy down just so Randy can give an in-character one of these to Stan afterwards. For added fun, at the very end it shifts to Randy's POV, showing him perfectly fine at a computer [[LargeHam groaning his "dying breaths" into his headset.]]

-->'''[[UnfortunateName Flying Monkey Crap]]:''' [[HiddenDepths Forsooth! What great tragedy that lays its hands towards our ungainly demise! Fie and folly! I let out my final breath, and draw nearer to sweetest death.]]\\

* In the first ''Yakuza'' game, Fuma gives one to Kazuma as he is dying. Despite being hit by a damn grenade, he finds the strength to reveal several important plot details to Kazuma, then, just before dying, revealing that he was the one who killed his parents.

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* "Hey, we did good, didn't we? [[ItHasBeenAnHonor Nice knowing you, pal]]." (See FamousLastWords)

FamousLastWords is where they keep it brief. KilledMidSentence is the ultimate inversion, and DistractedFromDeath is usually an aversion where the person dies and someone who is right near them or was just with them doesn't notice.

-->''"Oh, there it is. Silly old universe. The more I save it the more it needs saving. It’s a treadmill. Yes, yes I know they’ll get it all wrong without me. Well, I suppose... one more lifetime won’t kill anyone. Well, except me. You wait a moment, Doctor. Let’s get it right. I’ve got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first. Never be cruel, never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish... and love, is always wise. Always try, to be nice and never fail to be kind. Oh, and... and you mustn’t tell anyone your name. No-one would understand it anyway. Except... except... children. Children can hear it. Sometimes, if their hearts are in the right place, and the stars are too. Children can hear your name. But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever. Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind. [[FamousLastWords Doctor... I let you go.]]"''

* [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/Hellsing/ Anime/Hellsing]] has an amazing one for The Major. On the ground, missing his left arm and leg, faced by Sir Integra and Seras, he still manages to give a speech both entirely true and giving The Major the [[spoiler: moral high ground when facing the protagonists of the story. keep in mind, he's a Nazi, so that is saying something.]]

* In ''FanFic/FromFakeDreams'', a ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' fanfic, Gilgamesh gives one before he lets himself fade away.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has a few of these, such as the holotape to Sydney from her DisappearedDad, and Marcella's final instructions to the player in ''Point Lookout''.

* In ''VisualNovel/MajiDeWatashiNiKoiShinasai'' in Mayucchi's route [[spoiler: Matsukaze "dies"]], though she uses the speech as an opportunity to [[spoiler: finally accept another part of herself]].

* In ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'', issue #168, Antoine's father dies, but gets to tell ''mon fils''[[note]]Translation: "my son"[[/note]] how proud he is of him, and also urges him to stay together with Bunnie.
** In issue #18, this happens to Sally's mentor, Julayla.

* In ''Manga/KannazukiNoMiko'',[[spoiler: Chikane's death speech makes up all of the last episode. AFTER having been run through by a katana.]] Really.

* Zero's best moment in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero4'' are his final words, a KirkSummation, WorldOfCardboardSpeech and sum up exactly what he really was to the world: [[spoiler:A true hero]], showing exactly ''what he's fighting for''. All rolled into these 4 sentences:

* [[spoiler:Kyrie]] gives quite a long one in ''VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction'' while [[DiedInYourArmsTonight lying in Morte's arms]]. It's one-half WorldOfCardboardSpeech and one-half DyingDeclarationOfLove, and 100% proof that he's NotQuiteHuman: Naja just ''punched his claws through his chest'' ([[ICanNotSelfTerminate at his request, of course]]), so his heart and lungs should really look like sloppy joes and make saying ''anything'' really difficult - but he manages to get out several sentences before he finally DisappearsIntoLight.

** ''Naruto'' loves this trope. When we flash back to [[spoiler: Kushina and Minato's death]], the former gives a freaking ''monologue'' of advice for her son -- all ranging from mundane tasks to what woman to marry -- and then lampshades it with "Sorry I'm such a chatterbox." The latter's FinalSpeech is much shorter: "Yeah, everything she said."
* In ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'', [[spoiler: after [[YoungConqueror Reinhard von Lohengramm]]'s fleets completely surrounded the Alliance fleet led by [[CoolOldGuy Alexandre Bewcock]] during the [[LastStand Battle of Mar-Adetta]], he ordered a temporary ceasefire to give Bewcock a chance to surrender.]] The latter refused politely and gave a FinalSpeech instead.

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', "The Satan Pit", one character gets a FinalSpeech version of a FacingTheBulletsOneLiner.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Played with in the Season 5 finale. Buffy whispers her FinalSpeech into Dawn's ear before jumping into the portal. We hear it as a voiceover accompanying the visuals of Buffy's HeroicSacrifice.

* [[spoiler: Bobby Strong]] from ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'' gets a whole song for his FinalSpeech, called ''Tell Her I Love Her''

* The {{Big Bad}}s of both ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' games deliver {{Final Speech}}es after the PlayerCharacter defeats them. Darth Malak makes some rather somber observations about Revan before his death, but it's Kreia who really wins the prize, relating to the Jedi Exile the futures of most of the main cast and the various planets visited over the course of the game, and making several other observations regarding the Exile and the game's plot, before she finally kicks off.

* Done with [[spoiler:Honest Stu]] in [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=060226 this]] ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' strip. Being ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', however, the FinalSpeech ends up being more of a Final Pun.

* It's common for WesternAnimation/BugsBunny to give a fake FinalSpeech after Elmer Fudd supposedly shoots him, like the one from his first official short ''WesternAnimation/AWildHare''.

* ''Discworld/{{Maskerade}}'' takes the page quote and runs with it. The villain reveals that he absolutely hates opera. After being stabbed [[spoiler:by a fake sword, no less, on an opera stage - this being Discworld, NarrativeCausality determines that he dies anyway]] he spends a good two pages ranting about how terrible opera is, including how long!!!! people!!!! take!!!! to!!!!! die.

A major character doesn't just [[InstantDeathBullet get killed straight away]]. [[DeathIsDramatic Oh, no.]] They've got to deliver a speech before dying. It can run the full gamut from {{Narm}} to some of the most [[TearJerker touching]] and [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments memorable]] scenes in media.

* The ''StarWars'' series has a couple, played mostly straight.

* Seemingly random non-sequitur [[DyingClue that the heroes need to decode]]. Classic examples are ''Film/CitizenKane'''s "[[ItWasHisSled Rosebud]]" and [[StarWars Star War's "There is another Sky... walk... er..."]]

** Parodied. Haley is about to declare her love for Elan as she dies, only for a cleric to show up and cast Cure Serious Wounds. She's incredibly embarrassed.

* The {{Big Bad}}s of both ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' games deliver {{Final Speech}}es after the PlayerCharacter defeats them. Darth Malak makes some rather somber observations about Revan before his death, but it's Kreia who really wins the prize, relating to the Jedi Exile the futures of most of the main cast and the various planets visited over the course of the game, and making several other observations regarding the Exile and the game's plot, before she finally kicks off.

* In ''VideoGame/GodOfWar II'', [[spoiler:Athena]] manages to keep talking for a good few minutes after Kratos [[spoiler:accidentally stabbed her]]. Subverted in all three games by [[DeathIsCheap Kratos]] himself: The first time, he doesn't have the strength to talk before he kicks it (of course, there was no one around to talk to), the second, he gets out a single sentence (and it sounds like he struggled to get out that much), and the third [[spoiler: and possibly final]] time, he doesn't say anything at all.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': Dr. Hiluluk combined a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome with SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} in his Final Speech.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' provides one of the most memorable and iconic final speeches through Android 16, which achieves being a TearJerker, SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}, SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome '''and''' DyingMomentOfAwesome:

* ''Film/TheLastHurrah'': Defeated mayoral candidate Frank Skeffington more-or-less reconciles with the Roman Catholic Cardinal on his deathbed. As Skeffington fades off into death, Roger Sugrue (a longtime nemesis of Skeffington and [[MoralGuardian self-appointed arbiter]] of acceptable Roman Catholic behavior) suggests that Skeffington would do everything differently, if he had it to do over again. Skeffington then [[AlmostDeadGuy summons the energy]] to say one last thing before he dies: "''Like hell I would!''" Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

* In ''LordOfTheRings'', while both Boromir and Theoden had some last dying words in the book, they really spice it up in the films, especially with Boromir's last line to Aragorn: My brother, my captain, my king.

'''Spock:''' ...or the one. I never took The Kobayashi Maru until now. What do you think of my solution?\\

* A, final, casual conversation between friends: "See you tomorrow, bud..." "Yeah... see you tomorrow." (See PlanningForTheFutureBeforeTheEnd)

'''Max:''' [[Theatre/JuliusCaesar For cowards die a thousand deaths, while heroes die but once]]... [[MediumAwareness Unless they're playing video games, in which case heroes die a lot, too.]] [[{{Hamlet}} So goodnight]] [[Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir Fresh Prince!]] [[{{Hamlet}} And may]] Series/CharliesAngels [[{{Hamlet}} sing thee to thy rest.]] *collapses*\\