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Anime and Manga
"This is the enormous tale of a tiny man, from a tiny blue planet on the end of a whirling galaxy. To tell it in full would take until after sunrise..."
Comic Book
Fan Works
"I'd explain, but it would take seventeen chapters," said Proton.
— Chapter 17 of Plan 7 of 9 from Outer Space
"So… what's with the watch?" I ask.
"It's a long story." Linda puts the other chair back and sits across from me.
"I'll take the cliff notes version."
Linda chuckles then shifts in her seat. "My ex got it from Star Labs. He used it to get in contact with someone. Later on, he gave the watch to that someone, who gave the watch to someone else, who gave the watch to me for safe keeping."
"Forget it, I want the long version."
"It's a long story." Linda puts the other chair back and sits across from me.
"I'll take the cliff notes version."
Linda chuckles then shifts in her seat. "My ex got it from Star Labs. He used it to get in contact with someone. Later on, he gave the watch to that someone, who gave the watch to someone else, who gave the watch to me for safe keeping."
"Forget it, I want the long version."
Film — Live-Action
"Let me 'splain. [beat] No, there is too much. Let me sum up."
— Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
Miles: Where's your wife?
Buck: Don't have one.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It's a long story.
Miles: You have kids?
Buck: No I don't.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It's an even longer story.
Buck: Don't have one.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It's a long story.
Miles: You have kids?
Buck: No I don't.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It's an even longer story.
Literature
Marco: <About time you guys showed up! We were getting our butts kicked.>
Jake: <Is there some reason why you're a snake?>
Marco: <Long story.>
Jake: <Is there some reason why you're a snake?>
Marco: <Long story.>
— Animorphs #20: The Discovery
Live-Action TV
Felicity Smoak: You know what, it's a long story.
Ray Palmer: Why am I under the impression that you have a lot of stories, all of which are long?
Ray Palmer: Why am I under the impression that you have a lot of stories, all of which are long?
— Arrow, "Corto Maltese"
Luke: Jessica?
Jessica: Luke...
Luke: How you been?
Jessica: Long story.
Danny: We have to get out of here! (pushes past her)
Jessica: Who's he?
Luke: Longer story.
Jessica: Luke...
Luke: How you been?
Jessica: Long story.
Danny: We have to get out of here! (pushes past her)
Jessica: Who's he?
Luke: Longer story.
"It's a long story and I don't know most of it."
— The Doctor, Doctor Who, "The Time of Angels"
Najia: Sorry, but Who Are You? How'd you know my daughter? Why have I never met you before?
Yaz: (exasperated) Oh, not now.
Najia: Yes, now. It's not a difficult question.
The Doctor: It is a bit of a long answer.
Najia: Well, I've got time.
The Doctor: But I haven't. Not right now.
Yaz: (exasperated) Oh, not now.
Najia: Yes, now. It's not a difficult question.
The Doctor: It is a bit of a long answer.
Najia: Well, I've got time.
The Doctor: But I haven't. Not right now.
"It's a long story, Harry, and I'm tired of telling it. I'm sure someone around here will tell you before long."
— Tom Paris, Star Trek: Voyager, "Caretaker"
Video Games
Aced: I've heard enough! Luxu, what was your role?
Luxu: I hope you like long stories.
Luxu: I hope you like long stories.
Webcomics
Phoebe: How did you even get the Shooting Star gloves?! Did you know the Legend? Are you their family?
Aster: It's uh... a long story.
Buzz: They crashed into my gym!
Aster: Okay, not a long story, but a weird one.
Aster: It's uh... a long story.
Buzz: They crashed into my gym!
Aster: Okay, not a long story, but a weird one.
Miscellaneous
Miss Pauling: First things first. How did Soldier become a public defender?
Spy: Its a long story, but chapter one: His roommate is a magician. Should I continue?
Miss Pauling: You know what? Nevermind.
Spy: Its a long story, but chapter one: His roommate is a magician. Should I continue?
Miss Pauling: You know what? Nevermind.
— Team Fortress 2's supplemental comics, "A Smissmas Story"
