History Main / InThatOrder

* A less-lethal version in ''Air Force One Is Down'' by John Denis. The criminal mastermind is busted out of prison by his organisation, and as they're escaping in a convoy of vehicles he lists several things he wants to be done ASAP, ending with him being provided with a woman. "...in that order." The NumberTwo replies that if he wants to change that order, the last car in the convoy is carrying a woman for him.

* In England, up until the late 19th century, particularly egregious crimes were punishable by the offender being [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanged,_drawn_and_quartered hanged, drawn and quartered]], a method of execution typically involving [[Main/CruelAndUnusualDeath beheading, castration and disembowelment]]; and if the offender was lucky, in that order.

** Before attending a dangerous peace parley with her enemies, Queen Cersei instructs the Mountain that if things get bloody he's to kill first Queen Daenerys (as the [[DragonRider greatest threat]]), then [[ItsPersonal her brother Tyrion]], then King Jon Snow (commanding the other major Houses opposing her). As for the others, he can clear out the Mountain in whatever order he wants.

* This quote from ''Literature/TheWarAgainstTheChtorr'': "Life is short. Then you die. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order." Chtorran gastropedes are giant worms that eat people alive.

* In "Valerie: A True Memoir", author Harlan Ellison recounts how someone had a habit of spreading rumors about him, then returns the favor by remarking, "What a nasty thing to say, particularly from a man who lures six-year-old boys into the basements of churches and then defiles, kills and eats them, not necessarily in that order."

* In ''Hannibal'' by Thomas Harris, a psychologist attempts to explain Hannibal Lecter's attachment to Clarice Starling; his patron, Mason Verger, impatiently asks, "does Lecter want to fuck her, kill her or eat her?" The psychologist replies, "probably all three, although I wouldn't want to predict in what order he wants to perform those acts." This quip is reproduced, more or less faithfully, in the film version.

[[caption-width-right:350:3/4 of the original [[https://toonhole.com/2016/04/rape-pillage-burn/ strip]] Used with permission.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ortolani_death_4.jpg]]

-->'''Julian Clary:''' I have come to sleep with your mother and then kill her ... in that order.

* "Die Zumutungen der Moderne" by Nicolas Mahler (about his life as cartoonist) has a somewhat unconvincing example, as the order is not that relevant. While the comic boheme does smalltalk, one member shocks them by claiming he will reduce his life to the absolutely necessary, "television and [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation]] -- not necessarily in that order".

* ''Film/{{Commando}}'' has a variation in which John Matrix tells [[spoiler:Sully]] that he'll kill him last. When he does kill him, it's nowhere near last; all he offers by way of explanation is "ILied".

** Before attending a dangerous peace parley with her enemies, Queen Cersei instructs the Mountain that if things get bloody he's to kill first Queen Daenerys (as the [[DragonRider greatest threat]]), then [[ItsPersonal her brother Tyrion]], then King Jon Snow (commanding the other major Houses opposing her). As for the others, the Mountain is free to KillThemAll in whatever order he wants.

* ''Film/TheMessenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'', the young Jeanne d'Arc is traumatized when her village is attacked by English soldiers, and she is forced to hide and watch as her older sister is murdered and raped - in that order.

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* ''Film/The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'', the young Jeanne d'Arc is traumatized when her village is attacked by English soldiers, and she is forced to hide and watch as her older sister is murdered and raped - in that order.

* In ''Hannibal'' by Thomas Harris, a psychologist attempts to explain Hannibal Lecter's attachment to Clarice Starling; his patron, Mason Verger, impatiently asks, "does Lecter want to f**k her, kill her or eat her?" The psychologist replies, "probably all three, although I wouldn't want to predict in what order he wants to perform those acts." This quip is reproduced, more or less faithfully, in the film version.

* In ''The Abduction from the Seraglio'', Osmin has a highly detailed plan concerning [[MurderTheHypotenuse his rival Pedrillo]]: "First beheaded, then hanged, then impaled on red-hot spikes, then burned, then manacled and drowned; finally flayed". At least one production (the Zürich Opera video recording with Malin Hartelius and Piotr Beczala) plays up the comedic effect in full: Osmin meticulously stresses the "first", "then", and "finally" (while Pedrillo, amused, counts the threats on his fingers).

* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''
** In the episode "Peggy and the Pirates", the dreaded pirate Rubio the Cruel (David Garrison) captures the Princess Scarlett (Katey Segall), and gloats, "Now nothing will stop me from marrying you, collecting your dowry, having my way with you, and killing you! Not necessarily in that order."

* ''{{Series/Married... With Children}}''

->''"If [the reavers] take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing. And, if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order."''