Line #39 Main/RuleOfPool


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15	->'''Ted''': What shall we do with him?
16	->'''Campers''': Throw him in the pool!
17	-->-- ''Series/HiDeHi'', "[[Recap/HiDeHiS1E0HeyDiddleDiddle Hey Diddle Diddle]]"
18
19	A.k.a The Law of Inevitable Immersion.
20
21	If there's a swimming pool, and the people around it are fully clothed (i.e., not in swimsuits), someone's going to end up in that pool -- either by falling in or being pushed. Sometimes by jumping out of a building.
22
23	If the program is a PoliceProcedural, the immersion will have already occurred, and the police will be investigating its tragic results (or possibly its antecedent, as not all bodies found dead in the water necessarily died there). If it's an action genre, someone's ''going'' to fall into that pool and [[BloodIsSquickerInWater die in a diffusing cloud of pink]].
24
25	A form of ChekhovsGun. Frequently enforced (at least in live action material) by the aggravations and hazards of filming near a pool -- protecting the equipment from moisture damage and electrical shorts, risk of someone falling in by accident and ruining makeup/wardrobe/props, etc. -- that all add up to avoiding using a set with a pool unless the script demands a pool.
26
27	May overlap with SymbolicSereneSubmersion, if the water [[RuleOfSymbolism represents something else]].
28
29	[[{{Snowclones}} Not at all related to the]] RuleOfCool, but pools are cool, figuratively and literally.
30
31	----
32	!!Examples:
33	[[foldercontrol]]
34
35	[[folder:Advertising]]
36	* Was central to an ad campaign in TheSeventies: Take the Nestea Plunge!
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
40	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesBlackAndWhite'': Ash falls victim to this trope whenever [[CuteClumsyGirl Bianca]] is around. Even when there shouldn't be water in the area, expect Ash to fly and somehow land in the pool of a fountain.
41	* If you see a body of water, ''any'' body of water in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', someone '''WILL''' fall into it (or have it spilled/splashed on them), [[InvoluntaryShapeshifting triggering]] their Jusenkyō curse and transforming them [[{{Animorphism}} into an animal]], and/or [[GenderBender the opposite sex]] as a result. That's sort of [[RuleOfFunny the point]] of the whole series. And that includes body of water, glass of water, pot of water, etc.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Comic Books]]
45	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheHairBearBunch'' story "The Weirdo Map," the bears are trying to get away from a thief called the Gecko (they're in town but it's okay--Peevly granted them weekend passes). On top of a building's ceiling, they climb in the moonroof and land in a gymnasium's swimming pool.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Comedy]]
49	* Comedian Steve Byrne laments the death of this trope in RealLife in recent years. Years back, when you do this, the person mucks around the water and you all get a good laugh. Nowadays, you do this, the person screams out "Oh, my iPod! My cellphone!" and you're out a few hundred dollars. The trope may make a comeback in the future once waterproof phones become widespread.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Fan Works]]
53	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11913447/29/Amalgum-Lockhart-s-Folly Amalgum - Lockhart's Folly]]'' Lockhart conjures a temporary floor over the pool he had installed in Hogwarts' dungeons, then vanishes it after most of his fourth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class unsuspectingly walks on top of it.
54	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4907797/4/Beneath-Boundless-Skies Beneath Boundless Skies]]'' Harry tackles Draco after he tears up some of Harry's old shirts for use as rags and they both fall into the pool.
55	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6628695/26/Eyes Eyes]]'' Viktor tries to dump Nick into the pool at the Malfoys' French manor as a tease, but ends up in it himself after Nick's dog bites him in the rear. Nick then pushes in Adrian, who returns the favor by pulling Nick in after him.
56	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12265183/1/Picnic-Panic Picnic Panic]]'' a drunk Ron bumps into a four-year-old guest at the neighborhood barbecue Hermione's parents are hosting, sending her flying into the pool. Fortunately Harry fishes her out unharmed.
57	* A sidestory of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' centered on Misty starts out when her parents send her to do cleaning duties, and while she's moping the floor around the gym's pool, she starts throwing a tantrum and ends up slipping in and falling into the water. Thankfully, before she can drown her bloodliner powers kick in and allow her to breathe and get out by herself.
58	* "Arm Candy", part of the ''Fanfic/SorrowfulAndImmaculateHearts'' series, opens with a party around the pool at Wayne Manor. By the end of the fourth paragraph someone has been pushed into the pool fully-clothed for being a jerk.
59	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2856856/12/Time-to-Live Time to Live]]'' three Death Eaters following a tracking charm on Harry Portkey to the Muggle hotel where he's staying, appearing over (and falling into) the pool. Harry later jokes that they "attacked the pool and lost."
60	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1462543/15/A-Moment-in-Time A Moment in Time]]'' Draco throws Harry into the pool after he gives Draco a DopeSlap.
61	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6048432/8/Summer-Lessons Summer Lessons]]'' Remus and Tonks push Harry into the pool during a party.
62	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11290145/1/Swimming-In-The-Rain Swimming In The Rain]]'' a tipsy Draco falls into the pool and Harry fishes him out.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
66	* ''Film/AgentCodyBanks'' has Cody being thrown into the pool at Hilary Duff's casino-themed party by a bunch of {{Jerk Jock}}s.
67	* ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'': During a pool party, one of Martin's friends gets a knife out and pokes at David with it to see how the android reacts. The knife triggers David's self-protection programming, causing him to grab onto Martin and refuse to release him as they both fall into the pool. Martin is saved from drowning, but the scary incident leads the Swintons to question whether they should keep David and heightens the [[TearJerker emotional impact]].
68	* ''Film/AlmostFamous'': Tripping rock star Russell stands on the roof of a house over a swimming pool surrounded by drunk, cheering fans, ranting incoherently and preparing to jump in. Beleaguered trip-sitter William attempts to talk him down. Russell says "okay" and turns to go back inside. Yeah, ''right''.
69	* ''Film/AmericanHoney'': Jake crashes the cowboys’ private pool party to get Star. Jake threatens the men with his handgun and forces them to jump into the pool fully clothed before he and Star take off.
70	* Several sissies in the cowboy/sissy brawl at the end of ''Film/BlazingSaddles'' wind up in a shallow pool. They start doing water ballet.
71	* ''Film/TheBurning'': As other guys dive in the lake, Alfred isn't that excited to follow, as he cannot swim. Glazer then rushes to him and pushes him into the water. Moments later, after Woodstock shoots Glazer in the ass with his air pistol while he tries showing off to the girls, camper Rhoda does the same to Glazer while his back is turned.
72	* Subverted in ''Film/TheCannonballRun''. The hotel where the race starts has a pool, but you don't see it until Terry Bradshaw drives his stock car into it.
73	* In ''Film/CatchUsIfYouCan'', the characters attend a party at the Roman Baths. Once the party spills out into the actual bath area, people almost immediately start jumping or falling into the pool.
74	* ''Film/ChildrenOfALesserGod'': Sarah likes to go swimming in the pool at the school she works at. James visits her there one night to make a LoveConfession, but as he's about to do that, he slips and falls:
75	-->'''James''': I'm falling in the pool with you!
76	* ''Film/DDay'' have a massive fight breaking out near a waterpark, leading to one of the park guards being pushed into a park slide and into a pool while fully clothed.
77	* In ''Film/DeathBecomesHer'', Ernest chooses to let himself fall off a roof rather than [[spoiler:take an immortality potion and be stuck with the horrible Madeline and Helen for all eternity]]. He winds up crashing through the glass roof of a [[ChekhovsGun previously established pool house]], and lands in the water mostly unharmed.
78	* In ''Film/Deranged2012'', Silvia pushes the fully clothed Mary into the pool at the villa.
79	* ''Film/DoctorSeries'':
80	** ''Film/DoctorInClover'':
81	*** As Dr. Grimsdyke hangs in the air off of some physiotherapy bars to impress Jeannine, Matron asks what on earth he is doing, causing him to lose balance and fall into the pool.
82	*** When Matron tries to get Dr. Grimsdyke to go back to Research, he backs into Sir Lancelot who is standing at the edge of the pool. Sir Lancelot grabs Dr. Grimsdyke for balance, who in turn grabs hold of Matron, and all three tumble into the water.
83	** ''Film/DoctorInTrouble'': When Captain Spratt tries to announce a lifeboat drill, Wendover is trying to undo Dawn's bra at the same time. Captain Spratt tells Wendover to cut out the horseplay, so he shoves him, and he bumps into Dawn, who lurches forward but is pulled back by the elastic of her bra strap (still being held by Wendover) and bumps into Wendover, who in turn knocks into Captain Spratt and sends him falling into the pool. Basil and Roddy try to pull him out until they hear the emergency bell. Because Captain Spratt never got to announce it was only a drill, they (and all the other passengers) panic and drop Captain Spratt into the pool again. Satterjee then tries to help him out but isn't strong enough and Captain Spratt is dropped in once again, while Satterjee follows shortly after when Basil takes him down with him after he loses a scuffle with Dr. Burke over who gets the only lifejacket.
84	* In ''Film/Driven2018'', after trying on a dress from John [=DeLorean=]'s wife, Katy jumps into the pool.
85	* In ''Film/GentlemenPreferBlondes'' at the end of "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?" Dorothy gets knocked into a swimming pool by a dancer leaping over her. This was actually an accident that the director decided to [[ThrowItIn keep in the final cut]] because it was funnier than just having Jane Russell stand on the edge of the pool.
86	* In ''Film/{{Gordy}},'' a young boy is sitting on the diving board over a pool as he talks to his new friend. Of course, when he gets up to leave, he loses his balance and falls in.
87	* ''Film/{{Hellzapoppin}}'': After being [[TheDoorSlamsYou slammed in the face with a door]], the stunned Betty turns around and walks fully clothed into the pool. Later during the "Watch the Birdie" number, she pushes the man whose photo she is taking into the pool for not meeting her standards.
88	* ''Film/HitTheIce'': DoubleSubverted -- [[Creator/AbbottAndCostello Lou]] is pushed backwards right to the edge of the pool, but doesn't go in. He then [[BreakingTheFourthWall turns to the camera and mocks the audience]] for assuming he'd fall in, [[TemptingFate only to promptly do so]].
89	* ''Film/HolidayOnTheBuses'':
90	** After Olive insults him, Arthur uses his foot to push her into the indoor pool, causing her to lose her bikini bottoms.
91	** Blakey pushes Stan into the boating pool with his walking stick after he believes he's been shagging Joan.
92	* Sneaks up on the viewer in ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife''. The high school dance seems to be in an ordinary gym, but the floor is mechanized and has a pool underneath. A prankster notices this feature and activates the floor to dump the dancing George and Mary into the drink.
93	* Film/JamesBond:
94	** In ''Film/{{Thunderball}}'', SPECTRE lieutenant Emilio Largo has a pool at his estate. It turns out it's a SharkPool, and he gets rid of a henchman who [[YouHaveFailedMe failed to kill Bond]] by feeding him to the sharks. Bond later ends up in it and survives an encounter with the sharks.
95	** In ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', some mafia-like Slumber Inc. thugs surprise Bond and Plenty O'Toole at their hotel in Las Vegas and throw Plenty through a window... fortunately, she lands in the hotel's pool below. But then she's later found dead in another pool with CementShoes, killed by Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd.
96	** In ''Film/LicenceToKill'', a party is thrown by Lupe at Sanchez' estate after Bond's victory over Sanchez. There's a pool, and as Bond sees Pam Bouvier go away thinking he is romantically interested in Lupe, he [[RaceForYourLove jumps in the pool as short cut to reach her]]. Pam ends up joining him in the water, cue TheBigDamnKiss.
97	* ''Film/JohnAndTheHole'': Played with. John is constantly seen swimming in the pool and constantly practices holding his breath underwater. At the end, when he's fully clothed, [[spoiler:he tries to drown himself.]]
98	* In ''Film/LastVegas'', first, Billy pushes Paddy into an indoor pool during the party. Then, Paddy returns the favor the next day at the hotel pool.
99	* In the first ''Film/LethalWeapon'', as the heroes are escorting a suspect past a covered pool, the suspect goes for a weapon and Riggs reflexively shoots him. He was trying to be nonlethal (this time) but the injured suspect falls in the pool, is tangled in the plastic covering, and drowns.
100	* Averted in ''Film/LittleMissSunshine''; at one point two characters get into a poolside argument. It seems like a clear set-up for one to throw the other into the pool, but it never happens.
101	* The "Dancing Queen" number in the film version of ''Film/MammaMia'' has women jumping off a pier for no reason.
102	* Taken to [[OverlyLongGag extremes]] in ''Film/MidnightMadness''. While the yellow and blue teams race for the finish, the red, green, and white teams argue near the pool. Eventually, the red and green teams start pushing each other's members into the pool. When two members of one team are left, all four members of the white team come up to push them in. After doing so, all four members of the white team lose their balance and fall in themselves.
103	* ''Film/TheMillionDollarDuck'': The Hoopers have a swimming pool in their backyard. Shortly after Charley the duck moves in with the Dooleys, she escapes and goes for a swim in the pool. Albert and Hooper both end up in the water while trying to catch her.
104	* In ''Film/MissCongeniality'', Eric and Gracie have a heartfelt conversation in/by the hotel pool (he had been swimming laps, and she had just stormed in after getting fed up with her pageant training). Immediately afterward, Eric grabs Gracie's wrist and yanks her into the water. Gracie notes that Victor is going to kill him for ruining the gown she'd been wearing.
105	* In ''Film/MyFavoriteWife'' (1940), Ellen tries to make a grand exit when Nick and Stephen start arguing over who has more right to be with her, but she doesn't look where she's going and falls into the swimming pool.
106	* ''Film/LaNotte'' by Creator/MichelangeloAntonioni features high-class socialites jumping into the outdoor pool during the party. Though the heavy shower that had begun just before that had left nobody dry anyway.
107	* A major plot point in ''Film/NowYouSeeHimNowYouDont'' where the bank robbers drive the invisible car coated with the water-soluble invisibility formula through a fence and into a swimming pool.
108	* ''Film/OutlawBrothers'' have a fight scene in a mobster's mansion, complete with swimming pool, with a few mooks getting kicked in. The film plays around with the ass-kicking female lead (played by Creator/YukariOshima) who spends much of the fight teetering near the water's edge but never falling in.... but once the fight is over, she adjusts herself a little, and then slips - ''splash''!
109	%% * ''Film/{{The Parent Trap\|1961}}'', the original.
110	%% * In the 1998 version of ''Film/{{The Parent Trap\|1998}}''.
111	* ''Film/TheParty'' stars Creator/PeterSellers as a bumbling fool who ''almost'' falls into the extensive pools throughout the party venue every couple of scenes, until the inevitable happens -- to pretty much everyone in the movie.
112	* In ''Film/RockyIII'', a fully clothed Paulie is pulled into the pool by Rocky during the TrainingMontage.
113	* ''Film/RumRunners'':
114	** There's a pool at Linda's mansion, so of course one of the guests at her party drunkenly falls in it.
115	** When the BarBrawl spills out into the streets, Cornelius and Hammond end up falling in a fountain.
116	* In ''Film/SammyTheWayOutSeal'' (1962), the titular seal pushes a poolside shindig guest in with his nose. Since no one saw the seal, an escalating series of retaliatory pool-pushes ensues.
117	* In ''Literature/TheSatanBug'', Dr. Ostrer is found floating dead in his own swimming pool. The image was used prominently in some posters for the film as well.
118	* ''Film/SecretsInTheHotSpring'': When [[TheProtagonist Qie]] is trying to fish his grandfather's body out of the hot spring, [[spoiler:not realizing he's just doing hydrotherapy,]] he ends up pushing Lu Qun into the hot spring.
119	* An almost example in ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' but instead of a pool, it's a holographic ocean. Otherwise, it fits the description of this trope.
120	* ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'' memorably opens with its main character floating face down in a pool.
121	* ''Film/TrickOrTreats'': Happens a few times in the prologue of the movie. When Malcolm is fighting the orderlies who came to take him away, he kicks one into the pool, then shoves another, and eventually all three end up in it.
122	** When [[TheProtagonist Linda]] sees Charlie floating face-down in the pool, she runs into the pool to get him out.
123	* ''Film/VivaLasVegas'': Lucky tries to hit on Rusty by singing a duet with her around a pool. Eventually they get on a plank and Rusty gets the last word by pushing him into the pool.
124	* ''Film/WhateverItTakes2000'', with a full ballroom of people in long dresses or smoking.
125	* ''Film/TheWreckingCrew'': Matt fills Contini's chateau with blinding gas and Linka gets caught in it. As Matt escapes, he finds Linka staggering in the pool house, pulls her to keep her from falling in and hugs her, causing a jealous Freya to push Linka into the pool.
126	%% * Both pool-side scenes from the 2010 movie ''Film/YouAgain'' follow this rule.
127	* In ''Film/TheWolverine'', the protagonist interrogates a scumbag who schemed to have his fiancee murdered. Logan, utterly pissed, throws the guy off his balcony, where he lands in a swimming pool several stories below and allows Wolverine to make a [[Film/DiamondsAreForever James Bond reference]]:
128	--->'''Yukio:''' How did you know there was a pool down there?
129	--->'''Wolverine:''' I didn't.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Literature]]
133	* In the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, David's house has a pool, and the other characters mention it a few times in the context of how they envy David's good fortune in this respect. Eventually, this comes into effect when the characters are chased by several {{Mooks}} through David's yard, and they are able to make their escape because the mooks fall into the pool.
134	* In the book ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'', the characters discover a pool in a well-hidden room. [[spoiler: It turns out to be the "merciful" way of killing Elantrians, originally when they chose to die, later when they were overwhelmed by the pain.]]
135	* ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'' has Gatsby's mansion having a marble pool as a symbol status, but has Gatsby himself never swimming on it and telling his servants not to drain it throughout the whole summer. Ironically, Gatsby's first dip at the pool was his last after being shot by George Wilson.
136	* Subverted in the ''Literature/HerculePoirot'' mystery ''Literature/TheHollow'': the victim dies at the edge of the pool, and a bystander with... complicated motives throws the apparent murder weapon into the pool, just to make it that bit harder for the detectives.
137	* In ''Literature/InstrumentOfGod'', 246 pushes a woman who can't swim but is afraid she'd drown into the pool in order for her to understand that because they're already dead they ''cannot'' drown.
138	* In the first Literature/JackReacher book ''Killing Floor'', in the final act Reacher sets a trap for a group of killers with himself as the bait at Hubble's house, which has a pool in the backyard. Though he manages to kill four of the group silently with his knife, [[spoiler:Kliner's son]] spots him trying to sneak up on him in the backyard. After managing to avoid getting blasted with his shotgun, Reacher [[spoiler:tackles him into the pool and drowns him.]]
139	* Someone is thrown into the Wakefields' backyard pool in pretty much every ''Literature/SweetValleyHigh'' book.
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
143	* ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel'': Happened on Cycle 8, when one of the models annoyed [[Music/FiftyCent 50 Cent]].
144	* ''Series/BabylonFive'': Not actually seen onscreen, but a past incident between Ivanova and a member of the Psi Corps involved a swimming pool:
145	-->'''Ivanova:''' You know how I feel about telepaths.\
146	'''Sheridan:''' Do I ever. You [[DestinationDefenestration threw one out a third-story window]] on Io.\
147	'''Ivanova:''' There was an ample pool below the window!\
148	'''Sheridan:''' I'll assume you ''knew'' that.
149	* On the ill-fated ''[[Series/BradyBunchSpinOffs Brady Bunch Variety Hour]]'', the show's stage literally had a built in pool. While it was primarily used by a synchronized swimming troupe (The Kroftettes) during the credits, you can be certain that a fully-dressed Brady cast member would occasionally take a dip.
150	* ''Series/TheBrittasEmpire'', being a sitcom centred around a Leisure Centre, naturally has a pool as part of the main attraction. Surprisingly though, it takes until Series 6 for someone to actually be pushed into the pool, with Tim pushing Gavin into the pool during a lovers' tiff ("[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS6E1BackWithABang Back with a Bang]]") and a somewhat blinded Gavin pushing a woman into the pool by mistake ("[[Recap/TheBrittasEmpireS6E2BodyLanguage Body Language]]") respectively.
151	* ''Series/BrothersAndSisters'':
152	** There was a jump-in by several people.
153	** Invoked right from the first- William Walker falls in during his fatal heart attack.
154	* The very first episode of ''Series/{{Castle\|2009}}'' has the third victim of a serial killer floating face down in a pool, wearing a yellow prom dress and with a knife in her back.
155	* Series/{{Chespirito}} had plenty of this trope in the Acapulco episodes of ''Series/ElChapulinColorado'' and ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'' whenever they were near the pool. Notably in the final scene of the latter, as it follows a quick succession: first, it's kicked off by Quico pushing la Chilindrina into the water (for mocking him before); Don Ramón pushes Quico in retaliation; Professor Jirafales falls in while trying to get Quico out; Mr. Barriga tries to help the professor out only to get pulled in himself; then while Don Ramón argues with Doña Florinda, the latter gets pushed in by Doña Cleotilde; and while Don Ramón's busy laughing at her, el Chavo throws a coconut at his head by accident and falls in. Doña Cleotilde then goes "Stand back! I'll save him!" and jumps in herself.
156	%% * Subverted and teased at in the episode 'Blackout' of ''Series/ColdCase''.
157	* An episode of ''Series/CriminalMinds'' had a bikini-clad starlet pull Spencer Reid -- shirt, tie, shoes, sidearm and all -- into a pool. Of course, with [[CluelessChickMagnet Reid being Reid]], he ends up deflating the moment by telling the starlet that [[spoiler:her agent has been murdered]].
158	* The opening of the ''Series/{{CSI}}'' episode "Suckers" ''looked'' like this trope, until the team fished out the "body" and discovered it was a mannequin.
159	%%* ''Series/{{Dallas}}''
160	* In ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' the title character pushes his adopted daughter Astor into the pool at a party in an attempt a playfulness. While she is actually wearing a bathing suit, she doesn't much appreciate it.
161	* ''Series/Dynasty1981''. A scenic catfight even happened on a lily pond, which is close to a pool as anyone can get.
162	* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/GilmoreGirls,'' where [[PromotionToParent Luke]] and [[TroubledButCute Jess]] get into a fight and walk off in the same direction across a bridge over a pond. At the end of his rope with Jess's attitude that episode, Luke pushes him into the water and walks off without flinching.
163	* ''Franchise/KamenRider'' has a tradition of heroes getting beaten up and tossed in the drink by an exceptionally strong opponent who'll probably have more characterization than a standard {{Monster Of The Week}}. An early round with a general, an upgraded version of a monster the hero thought completely blownuptified, or [[LetsYouAndHimFight another Rider under a misunderstanding]], ''will'' happen on a bridge over a river and the Rider ''will'' be taking a bath. ''Series/KamenRider555'' was especially fond of it.
164	* One episode of ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' included a man shoving his wheelchair-bound wife into their indoor pool, proving she is [[ObfuscatingDisability not really wheelchair-bound]].
165	* Practically every episode of ''Series/TheLoveBoat'' has someone falling or being shoved into the swimming pool.
166	* Averted in the ''Series/MadMen'' episode "The Jet Set," when Don goes with some strangers to their vacation house and passes out from the heat right ''next'' to the pool, but played straight in "A Tale of Two Cities" when he comes out of a [[MushroomSamba drug-induced fantasy]] at a party to find he faceplanted into the pool and nearly drowned, which is in keeping with the "death wish" imagery established in the season opener.
167	%%* ''Series/MelrosePlace''
168	* Though not a pool, in an episode of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' Ziva falls into a creek, dragging Ducky with her - naturally she has just told him she doesn't need assistance crossing said creek.
169	** [=McGee=] and Ziva are also pushed into a fountain in one episode.
170	* ''Film/{{Nowhere}}'': At Jujyfruit's party, Dark withdraws to the poolside to moodily stare into it, fully clothed. Sure enough, a few minutes later Ducky shows up and tries to drown himself in it.
171	* ''Series/{{Numb3rs}}'' If there is a pool (or any water, really) Colby will end up in it.
172	%% * In the first episode of ''Series/PartyDown''.
173	* An episode of ''Series/{{Psych}}'' features [[spoiler:[=McNabb=]'s mailbox rigged with a bomb, which explodes, sending him flying backwards -- into the outdoor pool of the apartment complex he lives in]].
174	* Averted in the third ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode, "The Great Game". Sherlock agrees to meet [[spoiler:Moriarty]] at a swimming pool, but no-one falls in at all.
175	* ''Series/SilkStalkings'': In "S.O.B.", Rita is talking to a suspect by his pool when the suspect's fiancee gets suspicious and tries to hustle Rita out of there. Rita gives her a push that topples her over the edge of the pool.
176	* ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'' takes advantage of this trope to inexpensively but effectively film a CurbStompBattle against a terminator from ''under'' the surface of a pool, with an entire SWAT team plummeting into the water one (SPLASH!) by (SPLASH!) one (SPLASH!) to muffled yells and gunfire. (And also to the dulcet voice of Music/JohnnyCash.)
177	* ''Series/TheTomGreenShow'': One skit had him standing near his father, who was talking about their new in-ground pool. Needless to say, Tom pushed him in it and after his Dad cursed him out for doing so, Tom laughs and grins at the camera.
178	* ''Series/TheWestWing''. During a flashback to when Toby offered CJ a job on the Bartlett campaign. CJ wasn't wearing either her contact lenses or her glasses and was carrying a box of her possessions on the way back home from the PR firm from which she had just been sacked.
179	-->'''Toby:''' [[DeadpanSnarker C.J., you fell into the pool there.]]\
180	'''C.J.:''' I can't see!
181	[[/folder]]
182
183	[[folder:Music Videos]]
184	* The video for "Swimming Pool" by Music/TheFrontBottoms begins with the two band members messing around next to a dirty and overgrown swimming pool. Mat gets pushed in not long after.
185	* In the video for Music/{{Steps}}' cover of "Last Thing On My Mind" the final scene shows the band at a swimming pool. At one point Lee stops to talk to some girls only for Lisa to walk past and shove him into the pool.
186	[[/folder]]
187
188	[[folder:Theatre]]
189	* Casa Bonita (restaurant near Denver, depicted in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'') has little shows (gunfight between Black Bart and the sheriff, for example) taking place over a large pool of water. You pretty much know that, during any given show, ''somebody'' is going in.
190	[[/folder]]
191
192	[[folder:Video Games]]
193	* In ''Series/TheLoveBoat'' one man throws another into the pool after the victim says that he knew the thrower wouldn't be able to get Angela's number. Cleaning up the resulting puddles is Isaac's task for the level.
194	* In ''Merge Mansion'' Ursula comments that she once pushed her future husband into the pool because she saw her mother coming and nobody knew that they were dating.
195	* One of the ''[[VideoGame/RockBand Rock Band 3]]'' band progress cut scenes has your band at a rooftop party with a pool front and center. Sure enough, one of the first steps towards rowdiness is the singer pushing some random schmuck into the pool.
196	* The first ''VideoGame/TimeCrisis'' has a special mission where Richard infiltrates the Chateau de Luc, a terrorist superweapon facility disguised as a hotel, including having it's own pool area. Mooks shot near the poolside will fall into the pool - the game even have splashing animations for moments like these.
197	[[/folder]]
198
199	[[folder:Webcomics]]
200	* ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'', though the people who fell in were [[spoiler:pushed off a FloatingContinent several hundred meters above it.]] Also, it [[SoftWater saved their lives]].
201	[[/folder]]
202
203	[[folder:Web Original]]
204	* The ''Blog/OneBruceOneRecaps'' of ''Sweet Valley High'' (see above) have a [[https://1bruce1.livejournal.com/tag/pool%20push tag]] listing every book in which this trope happens.
205	-->'''[[https://1bruce1.livejournal.com/267415.html Svjh:]]''' Everyone follows tradition and throws Jessica in the pool.
206	* In the 2009 Halloween episode, WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic (intentionally) dives into a pool fully clothed. After he climbs back out, he gets knocked back in again, almost immediately.
207	* At the big Halloween party in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, there's an Olympic sized pool, but it is under a concrete floor and not accessible from the big party area. Jimmy T still falls into it.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Western Animation]]
211	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' combines this with SheetOfGlass when he comes across a pool while pursuing a paranoid Music/KennyLoggins. Not just a pool, but a glass walled pool on the top floor of a high rise hotel. Not only is the dunking inevitable, that glass ''must'' shatter the same way [[ChekhovsGun the gun]] ''must'' fire.
212	--> '''Archer:''' [[LampshadeHanging The predictable thing is going to happen now]], so... ''[crash!]''
213	* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheBeatles'' cartoon "Chains," the boys (aboard a cruise ship) jump into a pool full of girls.
214	-->'''Paul:''' Oh well, boys. If we must, we must.\
215	'''Ringo:''' We must!!
216	* ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman'':
217	** [=BoJack=] has a pool on his rear deck that he's seen floating in in the opening credits, but rarely uses on the show. That is, until the end of Season 3, where he goes on a bender and accidentally drives his Tesla into his pool.
218	** Another episode has the plot kicked off when [=BoJack=] and Diane find a dead body in a pool, and [=BoJack=] has to clear his name (though it's the body of an Orca).
219	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'': Fred and Wilma have gone upscale seeking a better life for themselves and especially Pebbles. Fred comes home to discover an impromptu pool party going on with the neighborhood jet setters attending. One attendee grabs Fred and throws him into the pool (or in the attendee's pronunciation, the "pu-ool").
220	[[/folder]]
221
222	[[folder:Real Life]]
223	* A tragic variation occurred where [[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330733/Bride-Rachelle-Friedman-paralysed-freak-bachelorette-party-accident.html a bridesmaid pushed a bride into the pool]]. The bride landed wrong and has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since . Basically, while it may look fun in the media, please DontTryThisAtHome.
224	* German [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball footballer]] Lukas Podolski seems to love this rule; he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAJemkAZ0Lw tossed a reporter into a hotel pool]] during a training camp in Italy before the 2014 World Cup... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDe6bTXXN8 then did the same thing to a teammate a few weeks later.]]
225	* [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince McMahon]] is also very fond of [[https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-vince-mcmahon-loves-to-push-people-into-swimming-pools/ pushing people into swimming pools]], finding it to be one of the funniest things in the world. Many visitors to his mansion, including [[Wrestling/JimCornette Jim Cornette]], have found themselves being the victim of this trope courtesy of his personal pool.
226	* Another less-fun version occurred when model Jasmine Fiore fell into a pool after her husband Ryan Jenkins [[DomesticAbuse punched her in the arm.]] For this, charges would be filed but ultimately never answered for since another violent episode lead to her murder, him going on the run and finally committing suicide.
227	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RuleOfPool