History Main / StoppedDeadInTheirTracks

* ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'': In [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII Part II]] and [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII Part III]], Marty stops walking away [[BerserkButton every time somebody calls him "chicken" (or some variation)]], before turning around and saying, "[[NobodyCallsMeChicken Nobody calls me chicken]]" This FatalFlaw gets him into trouble several times, either because the person who egged him on is bigger than he is, or because he gets goaded into taking serious risks that put his life and livelihood at stake. His CharacterDevelopment involves reaching a point where he's no longer phased by this comment.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': PlayedForLaughs in "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsChocolateWithNutsMermaidManAndBarnacleBoyV Chocolate with Nuts]]". When Patrick starts running off to buy more bags for their chocolate bars, [=SpongeBob=] starts piping up with a new selling idea, causing Patrick to freeze mid-run with a dopey look on his face.

* ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'': After Puss in Boots confronts Humpty Dumpty over their history, he starts to leave in anger. Just then, Humpty mentions how bad prison life was for him. This stops Puss in his tracks for a bit, but eventually he continues walking away.

* In the film version of ''Literature/RikkiTikkiTavi'': Nagina the cobra has the British family in her sights, aiming in particular for young Teddy. "Son of man who killed Nag (her mate), if you move, I strike! And if you do not move, I strike." Mongoose Rikki appears and calls Nagina out, but she remains focused on her target. That is, until Rikki queries, "What price a cobra's egg?" Nagina instantly realizes that the mongoose must have found her egg clutch, and killed all but one. She wheels around, abandoning her revenge target, and makes a desperate lunge at Rikki. The mongoose easily dodges the strike, which leaves the egg unguarded. Nagina snatches her last spawn and flees the scene with fearsome speed for an animal without limbs.

* ''WesternAnimation/RikkiTikkiTavi'': Nagina the cobra has the British family in her sights, aiming in particular for young Teddy. "Son of man who killed Nag (her mate), if you move, I strike! And if you do not move, I strike." Mongoose Rikki appears and calls Nagina out, but she remains focused on her target. That is, until Rikki queries, "What price a cobra's egg?" Nagina instantly realizes that the mongoose must have found her egg clutch, and killed all but one. She wheels around, abandoning her revenge target, and makes a desperate lunge at Rikki. The mongoose easily dodges the strike, which leaves the egg unguarded. Nagina snatches her last spawn and flees the scene with fearsome speed for an animal without limbs.

This trope is commonly PlayedForDrama but can be PlayedForLaughs too. An ArmorPiercingQuestion or WhamLine can result in a stunned stop, their back turned away from the character, the audience grasping their reaction from their StunnedSilence. [[ReactionShot Sometimes the camera will focus on their shocked face to really seal the impact.]] It may also involve a DramaticPause or Beat before a subsequent reaction.

# They [[RunningAwayToCry run away crying]]

Can result in a DramaticDrop, or if they are driving, [[BrakeAngrily braking angrily]]. The internal version of a SpitTake. The aftermath of this may include looks of guilt and reconsideration of their actions. Compare ExplainExplainOhCrap, when a character stops speaking (instead of doing something) about a particular topic when they realize something wrong or alarming. Compare DeerInTheHeadlights as someone freezing in fear of being attacked.

** In "Hurricane Neddy", the people of Springfield volunteer to rebuild the Flanders' home after it got destroyed by a hurricane. However, they do such a terrible job that it immediately collapses from a slight touch. As Ned tries to step away and wipe his glasses, one lens slips out and shatters, and Ned stops in his tracks and says:
--->'''Ned:''' Now, calm down, Neddly-diddily-diddily-diddily-doodily. They did their best, shodaiddily-iddily-iddily-diddily-diddily. Gotta be nice, hostidididildilidilly-ah-[[PrecisionFStrike HELL]]-[[SuddenlyShouting diddily ding-dong-crap]]! [[RageBreakingPoint Can't you morons do anything RIGHT?!]]

--->'''Ned:''' Now, calm down, Neddly-diddily-diddily-diddily-doodily. They did their best, shodaiddily-iddily-iddily-diddily-diddily. Gotta be nice, hostidididildilidilly-ah-[[PrecisionFStrike HELL]]-[[SuddenlyShouting diddily ding-dong-crap! [[RageBreakingPoint Can't you morons do anything RIGHT?!]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Marge, who throughout "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E14ScenesFromTheClassStruggleInSpringfield Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield]]" was obsessed with hiding her family's "lower-class" nature in order to get in with the elite of Springfield, [[RuleOfSymbolism almost leaves her family behind her in an act of choosing class over them]]. However, she soon stops, hearing Homer say that now she's a better person, the family can see how awful they really are. She turns around and runs back to take her baby in her arms, choosing her family.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'': Bob, [[TranquilFury incredibly angry]] at his boss's apathy for a mugged man, makes his way towards the door to help, before he is threatened with being fired, stopping him in his tracks. Needless to say, [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom his reaction to this isn't so subtle]].

Sometimes characters are unwilling to listen to the protagonist, or vice versa. They continue on with their previous activities, or simply walk away from them. Occasionally the character will say something that strikes a chord within the listener, intentionally or otherwise. This can cause the listener to stop dead in their tracks, as indicative of a sudden appreciation of events or to highlight the shock they feel.

TruthInTelevision, as many do in fact stop what they are doing abruptly when faced with some armor-piercing words, contemplating what to do next. Even more common are those who walk away from situations they don't want to face. Consequently, most iterance's of this trope throughout media follow this general type. The stop must be given prominence to qualify, it can't just be a single frame where the character pauses. It can be a precursor to TheReveal, so '''expect mild spoilers'''.

** Miguel, running away from his great-great grandmother Imelda, stops and turns around when he hears Imelda sing, revealing that music, which starting with her was long despised by the family, was an integral part of it in the beginning.

* ''WesternAnimation/RikkiTikkiTavi'': Nagina the cobra has the British family in her sights, aiming in particular for young Teddy. "Son of man who killed Nag (her mate), if you move, I strike! And if you do not move, I strike." Mongoose Rikki appears and calls Nagina out, but she remains focused upon her target. That is, until Rikki queries, "What price a cobra's egg?" Nagina instantly realizes that the mongoose must have found her egg clutch, and killed all but one. She wheels around, abandoning her revenge target, and makes a desperate lunge at Rikki. The mongoose easily dodges the strike, which leaves the egg unguarded. Nagina snatches her last spawn, and flees the scene with fearsome speed for an animal without limbs.

** When Chessy questions why "Hallie" [[TwinSwitch (actually her sister, Annie)]] is acting so strangely, she starts to say it's almost as if Hallie was someone else. Chessy starts to walk off, dismissing the idea, until "Hallie" mentions Annie. This shocks Chessy into stopping, since Hallie isn't supposed to know Annie exists.

* ''Film/YouveGotMail'': In one scene Joe is watching the news as he runs on a treadmill. A story about his feud with Kathleen's book store comes up. Having the reporter take his quote out of context was bad enough, but Kathleen's soundbyte shocks him so much that he stops running and lets the treadmill pan him out of frame:

* ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'': This happens to Lord Vetinari, when he believes the useful conversation with his scientific advisor Leonard of Quirm has been completed. Vetinari has just turned to go when it belatedly occurs to him that Leonard has just said something surprising about going ''underneath'' an island out in the Central Sea. He stops in his tracks, turns, and applies a little more careful listening. Which establishes that Ankh-Morpork has a submarine at its disposal.

* ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'': A variant occurs in the fourth book of the series. A healer goes to see a family where the kids are sick from a plague outbreak, and the parents described the youngest child having some strange sores on her legs. The healer misses a step... they just described a variant which is 100% lethal, no exceptions.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': After finding Serah's crystalized form, everyone sans Lightning tries to dig her out. Lightning instead says goodbye and walks away. Snow catches on and calls her out, but she doesn't stop until he replies that he can't know how Serah feels about this if he leaves her behind. He then goes on to promise that everything will be fine, he'll protect Serah, and save Cocoon, which incenses Lightning to point of turning around, marching back up to him, and [[FisticuffProvokingComment decking him]]... ''twice''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': The Turtles bicker over whose fault it was that they lost their first battle against the Kraang, resulting in the O'Neil family being kidnapped. Mikey, being last in line, says that maybe it wouldn't have happened if somebody didn't trust them to go up to the surface in the first place. This makes Splinter stop dead in his tracks, the camera cutting to his surprised face. However, he actually agrees with Mikey on this, and says the Turtles should wait another year to try again (they don't, otherwise the rest of the show wouldn't have happened).
[[/folder]]

Sometimes characters are unwilling to listen to the protagonist, or vice versa. They continue on with their previous activities, or simply walk away from them. Occasionally the character will say something that strikes a cord within the listener, intentionally or otherwise. This can cause the listener to stop dead in their tracks, as indicative of a sudden appreciation of events or to highlight the shock they feel.

# They mutter a DefensiveWhat

This trope is commonly PlayedForDrama. An ArmorPiercingQuestion or WhamLine can result in a stunned stop, their back turned away from the character, the audience grasping their reaction from their StunnedSilence. [[ReactionShot Sometimes the camera will focus on their shocked face to really seal the impact.]] It may also involve a DramaticPause or Beat before a subsequent reaction.

-->'''DI Oldman''': Jack... they shot the owl.\\

'''Cloth''': ...owls die. [''starts walking away again'']\\
'''DI Oldman''': They shot [[AsHimself Todd]], too.\\

'''Theon''': [[ParentalAbandonment You gave me away!]] Your boy! Your last boy! ''(Balon halts)'' You gave me away like I was some dog you didn't want anymore, and now you curse me because I've come home!

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/AnneOfTheThousandDays'': Anne Boleyn has just given birth to a child. King Henry the Eighth strides in, expecting a son and heir. When presented with a daughter, Elizabeth, his joy fades and he turns to leave. "Sire!" calls Anne, "Will you not kiss your daughter?" The King stops at the door, takes a breath, then replies, "Perhaps later. When she has a brother." The HeirClubForMen is strong with this one.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder: Films - Animation]]

[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]

---> '''Chessy:''' It's almost as if you were... Forget it, it's impossible.
--->'''Annie as Hallie''': Almost as if I were who, Chessy?
--->'''Chessy:''' ''(starts to walk off)'' Nobody. Forget I mentioned it.
---> '''Annie as Hallie''': Almost as if I were... Annie?
---> '''Chessy:''' ''(stops in her tracks, before turning around)'' You know about Annie?
---> '''Annie:''' ''(in British accent)'' [[TheReveal I]] ''[[InternalReveal am]]'' [[AccentRelapse Annie]].

---> "I have met Joe Fox. I've heard him compare his store to a Price Club and the books in it to cans of olive oil."

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

-->'''DI Oldman''': Jack... they shot the owl.
-->[''Cloth stops walking away'']
-->'''Cloth''': ...owls die. [''starts walking away again'']
-->'''DI Oldman''': They shot [[AsHimself Todd]], too.
-->[''Cloth stops and, this time, turns round'']

-->'''Theon''': You act as if I volunteered to go. You gave me away, if you remember, the day you bent the knee to Robert Baratheon [[CurbStompBattle after he crushed you]]! [[IronicEcho Did you take what was yours then]]?!\\

--> '''Dan Fielding:''' I'll give your respects to the downtrodden and oppressed, I'm sure they'll understand.
--> '''Harry:''' You're not playing fair, Dan.
--> '''Dan Fielding:''' You were good Harry! Very good! (Harry stops) You were impartial. You were fair. Patient. Compassionate. Understanding. And I admired you. (Harry turns to look at Dan, astonished) That's really hitting below the belt, isn't it?

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Theatre]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' In "[[Recap/GameOfThronesS2E3WhatIsDeadMayNeverDie What Is Dead May Never Die]]" Theon calls his father out for handing him over to the Starks as a child, and accusing him of becoming weak due to his "time with the wolves" upon Theon's return.

'''Theon''': [[ParentalAbandonment You gave me away!]] Your boy! Your last boy! ''(Balon halts)''You gave me away like I was some dog you didn't want anymore, and now you curse me because I've come home!

* ''Series/{{Frasier}}'': While on drugs, Frasier accidently lets slip that [[WhamLine Niles is in love with Daphne]], causing her to stop mid-massage, mouth agape in shock.

The question/statement could be, intentionally or not, a DevastatingRemark, which generally triggers the TraumaButton. This character is prone to being a BrokenBird. If the character in question has so far been a Jerkass, this trope can change them into a JerkassWoobie. Might also precede a moment of TranquilFury.

This trope is commonly PlayedForDrama. An ArmorPiercingQuestion or WhamLine can result in a stunned stop, their back turned away from the character, the audience grasping their reaction from their StunnedSilence. Sometimes the camera will focus on their shocked face to really seal the impact. It may also involve a DramaticPause or Beat before a subsequent reaction.