Leave Behind a Pistol: Difference between revisions

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A variation is shown in works that feature [[Pirate|pirates]]; a pirate marooned on a [[Desert Island]] (in fiction, at least) is usually left a pistol, powder, and shot to kill himself before he dies of thirst/starvation/boredom.
A variation is shown in works that feature [[Pirate|pirates]]; a pirate marooned on a [[Desert Island]] (in fiction, at least) is usually left a pistol, powder, and shot to kill himself before he dies of thirst/starvation/boredom.


A [[Sub Trope]] of both [[Driven to Suicide]] and [[Ate His Gun]]. May be the start of a [[Treachery Cover Up]] -- partly because they must [[Never Speak Ill of the Dead]]. See also [[Face Death With Dignity]]. A particularly cruel subversion is when the villain goes to take the hero's offer... [[It Works Better With Bullets|only to learn that the gun's empty]].
A [[Sub-Trope]] of both [[Driven to Suicide]] and [[Ate His Gun]]. May be the start of a [[Treachery Cover-Up]] -- partly because they must [[Never Speak Ill of the Dead]]. See also [[Face Death With Dignity]]. A particularly cruel subversion is when the villain goes to take the hero's offer... [[It Works Better With Bullets|only to learn that the gun's empty]].


Has nothing to do with the common [[Retroactive Preparation|time-traveller's gambit]] in which a gun is deposited where you know an ally (or an alternate you) will be needing one later.
Has nothing to do with the common [[Retroactive Preparation|time-traveller's gambit]] in which a gun is deposited where you know an ally (or an alternate you) will be needing one later.
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* The page quote comes from Oliver Stone's ''Nixon''; whilst not an example of the trope [[Real Life|for obvious reasons]], [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] lampshades it to General Haig at one point. It's when Watergate is starting to go sour, and a revealing insight into his less-than-healthy mental state at the time.
* The page quote comes from Oliver Stone's ''Nixon''; whilst not an example of the trope [[Real Life|for obvious reasons]], [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] lampshades it to General Haig at one point. It's when Watergate is starting to go sour, and a revealing insight into his less-than-healthy mental state at the time.
* The finale of ''[[Point Break]]'' is something like this: Bohdi is caught bang to rights, but is given the option of dying in the surf. Which he takes, of course.
* The finale of ''[[Point Break]]'' is something like this: Bohdi is caught bang to rights, but is given the option of dying in the surf. Which he takes, of course.
* The climax of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36_Quai_des_Orfèvres_(film) 36]'' is a subversion -- after confronting Klein, Vrinks ''does'' leave behind a pistol, but Klein doesn't use it, instead running outside to taunt Vrinks. Then a [[Chekhov's Gun]] fires.
* The climax of ''[[wikipedia:36 Quai des Orfèvres (film)|36]]'' is a subversion -- after confronting Klein, Vrinks ''does'' leave behind a pistol, but Klein doesn't use it, instead running outside to taunt Vrinks. Then a [[Chekhov's Gun]] fires.
* ''[[Enemy At the Gates]]'': "I have to report to [[Josef Stalin|The Boss]]. Perhaps you'd like to avoid the red tape?"
* ''[[Enemy At the Gates]]'': "I have to report to [[Josef Stalin|The Boss]]. Perhaps you'd like to avoid the red tape?"
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (Film)|Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' offers a variation; when Captain Jack's crew [[The Mutiny|mutinies]], they dump him on a desert island with a pistol and a single shot, so that he may kill himself rather than face a long, painful death from starvation and exposure; not so much an honorable end as a ''quick'' one. Jack keeps the pistol, and eventually uses it. [[Designated Bullet|But not on himself.]]
* ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean (Film)|Pirates of the Caribbean]]'' offers a variation; when Captain Jack's crew [[The Mutiny|mutinies]], they dump him on a desert island with a pistol and a single shot, so that he may kill himself rather than face a long, painful death from starvation and exposure; not so much an honorable end as a ''quick'' one. Jack keeps the pistol, and eventually uses it. [[Designated Bullet|But not on himself.]]
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== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* The ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' [[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]] novel ''Just War'' has the Doctor pull this on a captive, unrepentant Nazi in the guise of a round of [[Russian Roulette]]. The Doctor plays by the rules, and no harm comes to him. The Nazi, when he gets the gun, cheats and tries to shoot the Doctor, and accuses the Doctor of cheating when he fails to. The Nazi then looks in the gun -- and discovers it's loaded. The Doctor leaves the Nazi with the gun and the knowledge that he's ultimately a coward and a failure.
* The ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]] novel ''Just War'' has the Doctor pull this on a captive, unrepentant Nazi in the guise of a round of [[Russian Roulette]]. The Doctor plays by the rules, and no harm comes to him. The Nazi, when he gets the gun, cheats and tries to shoot the Doctor, and accuses the Doctor of cheating when he fails to. The Nazi then looks in the gun -- and discovers it's loaded. The Doctor leaves the Nazi with the gun and the knowledge that he's ultimately a coward and a failure.
* The ''Doctor Who'' [[Past Doctor Adventures]] novel ''The Devil Goblins Of Neptune'' features a subversion; a spy who's been acting to undermine U.N.I.T has discovered that his superiors have betrayed him, and has been captured and tortured by them as a result when he tried to defect. Later, one of his minders appears to leave a gun behind to end the spy's misery; he tries to, only to learn it's not loaded. His former boss then enters the room and bluntly tells him that ''he'll'' be the one to decide when it ends for him.
* The ''Doctor Who'' [[Past Doctor Adventures]] novel ''The Devil Goblins Of Neptune'' features a subversion; a spy who's been acting to undermine U.N.I.T has discovered that his superiors have betrayed him, and has been captured and tortured by them as a result when he tried to defect. Later, one of his minders appears to leave a gun behind to end the spy's misery; he tries to, only to learn it's not loaded. His former boss then enters the room and bluntly tells him that ''he'll'' be the one to decide when it ends for him.
* Lord Peter does this to the murderer at the end of the [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] novel ''Murder Must Advertise''. The drug ring the murderer's involved with has shown a nasty penchant for staging fatal accidents for anyone who gets in their way. So, after he's confessed, Peter tells him that there's one way to get out of this without his family being dragged in: go home slowly, on foot, and don't look behind him too carefully.
* Lord Peter does this to the murderer at the end of the [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] novel ''Murder Must Advertise''. The drug ring the murderer's involved with has shown a nasty penchant for staging fatal accidents for anyone who gets in their way. So, after he's confessed, Peter tells him that there's one way to get out of this without his family being dragged in: go home slowly, on foot, and don't look behind him too carefully.
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* In the latest ''[[Robin Hood (TV)|Robin Hood]]'' series, Guy's sister Isabella is in the dungeon following the capture of Nottingham by the peasants. Her execution is scheduled for the next day. While Guy doesn't exactly feel anything for his [[Face Heel Turn]] sister, he does give her a vial of poison, claiming she'll be dead by morning. Isabella manages to escape and, in the ensuing fight, kills Guy with a dagger and then cuts Robin with it, having covered it with the poison beforehand. This gives Robin just enough time to kill the Sheriff and Isabella and say his good-byes to the gang.
* In the latest ''[[Robin Hood (TV)|Robin Hood]]'' series, Guy's sister Isabella is in the dungeon following the capture of Nottingham by the peasants. Her execution is scheduled for the next day. While Guy doesn't exactly feel anything for his [[Face Heel Turn]] sister, he does give her a vial of poison, claiming she'll be dead by morning. Isabella manages to escape and, in the ensuing fight, kills Guy with a dagger and then cuts Robin with it, having covered it with the poison beforehand. This gives Robin just enough time to kill the Sheriff and Isabella and say his good-byes to the gang.
* A similar case happens in ''[[Prison Break]]'', where Agent Mahone tells C-Note that his wife will go free if he uses what is in the package Mahone gives him. C-Note opens it to find a rope, already tied in a noose. C-Note tries to use it, but the guards manage to pull him off just in time. Subverted in that this isn't about honor at all.
* A similar case happens in ''[[Prison Break]]'', where Agent Mahone tells C-Note that his wife will go free if he uses what is in the package Mahone gives him. C-Note opens it to find a rope, already tied in a noose. C-Note tries to use it, but the guards manage to pull him off just in time. Subverted in that this isn't about honor at all.
* In ''[[Blake's Seven (TV)|Blakes Seven]]'', Avon captures a professional Federation [[Torture Technician|torturer]] and teleports him to an underground cave with a limited air supply. He offers the man a "way out" if he tells him what he wants to know about his [[It's Personal|ex-lover]] who was supposedly tortured to death. After the man breaks down and tells Avon all he can, Avon coldly teleports away, leaving him his "way out": a loaded gun.
* In ''[[Blake's Seven|Blakes Seven]]'', Avon captures a professional Federation [[Torture Technician|torturer]] and teleports him to an underground cave with a limited air supply. He offers the man a "way out" if he tells him what he wants to know about his [[It's Personal|ex-lover]] who was supposedly tortured to death. After the man breaks down and tells Avon all he can, Avon coldly teleports away, leaving him his "way out": a loaded gun.
* In ''[[Mara Daughter of the Nile]]'', when Thutmose reclaims the throne from Hatsheput, he offers her a poisoned goblet. She accepts, on the condition she be allowed to drink it in the privacy of her chambers, although Thutmose accompanies her as a witness.
* In ''[[Mara Daughter of the Nile]]'', when Thutmose reclaims the throne from Hatsheput, he offers her a poisoned goblet. She accepts, on the condition she be allowed to drink it in the privacy of her chambers, although Thutmose accompanies her as a witness.


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[[Category:Betrayal Tropes]]
[[Category:Betrayal Tropes]]
[[Category:Leave Behind A Pistol]]
[[Category:Leave Behind A Pistol]]
[[Category:Trope]]
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Leave_Behind_a_Pistol"