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Pre-Mortem One-Liner (view source)

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What's better than killing your most hated enemy? Sending them into the afterlife with your voice in their ears and the knowledge of your [[Badass|badassery]] in their head, that's what.
 
This finishing quote need not be a [[One -Liner]], but [[Just Between You and Me|the longer your little speech goes]], the more likely the bad guy will find some way to evade your intended killing blow or worse, make you [[Talk to The Fist]]. Consequently, [[Genre Savvy]] heroes are advised to just [[Kill Him Already]] and save the pithy quotes for [[Bond-One Liner|immediately afterwards]]. Of course, sometimes (as in the ''Heroes'' and ''Matrix'' examples) it seems that a [[Pre-Mortem One-Liner]] somehow paralyzes your enemy while you deliver it, or maybe they're just courteous.
 
The [[Roar Before Beating|monstrous equivalent]] is less articulate. Not to be confused with a [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]], which is used at the beginning of a fight; these quotes are used to ''end'' the fight. Also related but different is a one-liner delivered when [[So Long Suckers|escaping from battle]].
 
Compare with [[See You in Hell]]. Contrast [[Bond One-Liner]], aka [[Post Mortem One Liner]] which is a humorous aside for ''the audience''. If the victim is the one speaking, it's [[Defiant to The End]].
{{examples|Examples:}}
 
== [[Advertising]] ==
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{{quote| Kurotsuchi: Alright, then. [[And I Must Scream|Enjoy the next hundred years]].}}
* ''[[Fist of the North Star]]:'' "[[You Are Already Dead]]."
* ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'''s Light Yagami: {{spoiler|"I win, Near." Unfortunately for Light, about five seconds after said one liner is delivered, we discover that Near is one step ahead of the game and has [[Gambit Pileup|set events in motion to counteract Light's grand plan.]] The [[Pre -Mortem One -Liner]] instead becomes a confession.}}
** That's only his last one, he actually uses "Good bye (Name of the victim)" several times, {{spoiler|"Good bye Lind L. Taylor" "Good bye Raye Pember" "Good Bye, Naomi Misora"}} probably to gloat in the fact that he can kill them ''because'' he knows their names.
*** "Why do you keep looking at your watch?" "Oh that? That's because I'm Kira."
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{{quote| "I am neither the devil nor Death. I am just a murderer," just before killing [[Mad Artist|Wunder X]].<br />
"Don't look. It's the death of a man whose life is not worth living," to [[Distressed Damsel|Kaori]] just before Ken unloads a shotgun into the villain's mouth in the OAV. }}
* When manga artist Rohan Kishibe defeats Cheap Trick in part four of ''[[Jo JosJo's Bizarre Adventure (Manga)|Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure]]'' {{spoiler|by tricking it into getting dragged off to the afterlife. Before it goes, he uses his stand, Heaven's Gate, to open Cheap Trick like a book and write in a command.}} "I don't know if there is a Heaven or a Hell. But just in case, I will write... GO TO HELL!"
* In the manga of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', straddling the line between this and [[Bond One -Liner]] (being said after the killing blow but before actual death) is [[Four Star Badass|Major-General Armstrong's]] {{spoiler|"''You'' are among the weak who will become the foundation of this country," as she pushes General Raven into a wet concrete floor after stabbing him.}} Not only is it a pun, it [[Ironic Echo|echoes]] {{spoiler|the [[Social Darwinist]] speech Raven had just been giving her.}}
** Ed's defeat of the two brothers in Lab 5 fits this. Specifically, his line just before blasting their [[Animated Armor]] body in half using Scar's signature trick:
{{quote| '''Edward''': "I just remembered this guy I don't like."}}
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* ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'': A variation, where the '''winner''' of the climactic fight dies, after delivering his last line: "I want you to remember the one man who beat you."
* In ''[[The Punisher]] MAX'' story are, "Long Cold Dark", Frank comes up with a suitable reply to {{spoiler|[[Worthy Opponent|Barr]][[Made of Iron|acu]][[Scary Black Man|da's]]}} endless chatter:
{{quote| '''Frank''': "Shut the [[Precision F -Strike|FUCK]] up." ([[There Is No Kill Like Overkill|Empties an AK-47]] [[Your Head Asplode|into his head]])}}
* ''[[Scud the Disposable Assassin]]'' pulls off one before he wastes Voo Doo Ben {{spoiler|for the first time}}:
{{quote| "Hey Ben, MERRY GOD DAMN CHRISTMAS."}}
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{{quote| "Go ahead. Make my day."}}
* The ''[[Terminator]]'' series.
** ''[[The Terminator]]'': "You're terminated, [[This Is TVAll The Tropes Bitch|fucker]]."
** ''[[Terminator 2]]'': "Hasta la vista, baby." (though the T-1000 doesn't die right after the line)
** ''[[Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines]]'': "[[Taking You With Me|You are terminated]]."
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** Speaking of Haradrim: "[[You and What Army]]?!" [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|"This army."]]
* ''[[Star Trek First Contact]]:''
{{quote| '''Data:''' "[[Resistance Is Futile|Resistance]] [[Borrowed Catchphrase|is]] [[One -Liner Echo|futile.]]"}}
** From the same movie:
{{quote| '''Worf:''' "[[Dodge This|Assimilate this]]."}}
* The new ''[[Star Trek (Film)|Star Trek]]'':
{{quote| '''{{spoiler|Kirk}}:''' {{spoiler|I got your gun.}}}}
* ''[[The Thing (Film)|The Thing]]''. You can't really give him points for eloquence, but MacReady's [[One -Liner]] before blowing up the title monster is memorable enough:
{{quote| '''MacReady:''' "Yeah, fuck you too!"}}
* The [[Dolph Lundgren]] movie, ''[[I Come in Peace (Film)|I Come in Peace]]'' (aka ''Dark Angel'') was an entire movie built around the [[A Worldwide Punomenon|somewhat obvious]] [[Pre -Mortem One -Liner]].
** For those who don't know, the quote goes as such:
{{quote| '''Evil Alien Bastard:''' I come in peace.<br />
'''Dolph Lundgren:''' And you go in pieces, asshole. }}
* Even [[James Bond (Film)|James Bond]] did this instead of [[Bond One -Liner|his traditional post-death quips]], [[Pierce Brosnan]] in particular ([[Goldeneye (Film)|"For England, James?" "No, for me"]], "[[Tomorrow Never Dies (Film)|You forgot the first rule of mass media, Elliot! GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!]]", "[[The World Is Not Enough (Film)|She is waiting for you!]]", [[Die Another Day (Film)|"Time to face destiny." "Time to face gravity."]]). Not to mention one in his [[Dr. No (Film)|very first movie]]: "[[James Bond (Franchise)/Awesome|That's a Smith & Wesson, and you've had your six.]]"
** In ''[[Diamonds Are Forever (Film)|Diamonds Are Forever]]'' [[Ambiguously Gay]] (though confirmed in the book, only hinted at in [[The Film of the Book|the movie]]) hitmen Mister Wint and Mister Kidd come up with a few during their repeated attempts to kill James Bond, such as "Heartwarming", "How moving" and "A glowing tribute" after sending Bond down a conveyor belt into a crematorium. Coming across Bond a second time the proverb "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again" is uttered. For their third and final attempt, there is of course the unforgettable Bombe Surprise.
* Andy has one near the end of the first ''[[Childs Play (Film)|Childs Play]]'', which doubles as a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] for him.
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* "Give my regard to King Tut, asshole." -- Colonel O'Neil(l) of ''[[Stargate (Film)|Stargate]]'' the movie, just before {{spoiler|pushing the button to induce a version of [[Tele Frag]] against Anubis (Ra's first warrior).}}
* ''[[Air Force One (Film)|Air Force One]]'', "Get off my plane!"
** And another one later on: "Not so fast, [[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|you son of a bitch!]]"
* ''[[The Untouchables]]'':
{{quote| '''Frank Nitti''': I said your friend died screaming like a stuck Irish pig. Now you think about that when I beat the rap.<br />
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** "No sequel for you." in ''[[Last Action Hero]]''.
*** Lampshaded once he gets to the real world. "You've seen those movies where they say 'Make my day' or 'I'm your worst nightmare'? Well, listen to this one. ''Rubber baby buggy bumpers!''"
** "Let off some steam, Bennett." From ''[[Commando (Film)|Commando]]''. After Arnie impales the [[Dragon -in -Chief]] with a broken pipe, which cuts into a steam vent and causes steam to shoot out of the whole in his body. Yeah.
*** Also in ''[[Commando (Film)|Commando]]'':
{{quote| '''{{spoiler|Matrix:}}''' Remember when I said that I'd kill you last?<br />
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** Also, earlier: "You've been a good and faithful servant, {{spoiler|Severus}}, but only I can live forever."
* ''[[The Professional]]'': "[[Taking You With Me|This...]] is from... Mathilda."
* ''[[Taken (Film)|Taken]]'' : "It was just business, [[Nothing Personal]]!" [[ItsIt's Personal|"It was all personal to me."]] * BANG*
** "I believe you...but it's not enough to save you."
* ''[[Pans Labyrinth]]'' : [[Shut UP, Hannibal|"No. He won't even know your name."]]
** May not sound like much, but it is probably the cruelest thing that you could possibly say to the man, considering his obsession with passing on his family legacy. Considering [[Complete Monster|him]], it doubles as [[Badass|Mercedes's]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]].
* ''[[Friday the 13 th13th (Film)|Friday the 13 th]]'' (2009 [[R Emake]]): "Jason! Say hi to mommy...[[Narm|IN HELL!]]"
* Kevin Bacon's parting quip to the last Graboid in ''[[Tremors]]'': "Can you fly, you sucker?!"
* ''[[Skyline (Film)|Skyline]]'': {{spoiler|"''Vaya con dios'', you son of a bitch!"}}
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'''Vader''': "The transmission was garbled. He said you'd be left in pieces." }}
* ''[[Ciaphas Cain]]'', ''Cain's Last Stand'': "{{spoiler|Commissar Donal}} sends his regards."
** Which in some way also counts as [[Pre -Ass -Kicking One -Liner]].
* ''[[Bored of the Rings]]'': "...''and this is your gall bladder, right above your chitlins!''"
* Classic example from ''[[Honor Harrington (Literature)|Ashes of Victory]]'': {{spoiler|'''Oscar Saint-Just:''' "So now what? A big show trial before execution? Proof of my "crimes" for the proles and the newsies?" '''Thomas Theisman:''' "No. I think we've seen enough of those sorts of trials. ''Good-bye, Citizen Chairman''."}}
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'''Sylar''': Let me help you with that. * slices off the top of his head* }}
** Noah does one to {{spoiler|Sylar (though he ends up [[Good Thing You Can Heal|resurrecting]])}}: "Poor {{spoiler|Gabriel.}} You always wanted to be special. Look at you now. You're nobody."
* ''[[I CarlyICarly (TV)|I Carly]]'': Attempted by Spencer when he surprises Sam by hiding inside her locker. Sam slams the locker shut in his face, and he lampshades the trope:
{{quote| '''Spencer''': ''(annoyed at himself)'' I've gotta quit saying witty things before I blow.}}
** Later played straight by Sam by conniving with a delivery man to distract Spencer in one of her best [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]].
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** Buffy herself was so well known for offing baddies with one-liners that they lampooned it several times - examples include "Anne" where Xander and Willow fail in making good puns "I've always been amazed with how Buffy fought, but in a way, I feel like we took her punning for granted" and in "Bargaining" by having the [[Buffy Bot]] screw up pun attempts.
* [[Pushing Daisies|"I can hold my breath for a long time."]]
* In the grand finale of ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'', Angel's opponent hands him the ''perfect'' straight line for him to not only triumph, but to spin a CMoA-caliber [[Pre -Mortem One -Liner]] off of:
{{quote| '''Hamilton:''' Let me say this as clearly as I can: you can not beat me. I am a part of them; the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. Their strength flows through my veins! My blood is filled with their ancient power!<br />
'''Angel (a blood-sucking vampire):''' Can you pick out the one word there you probably shouldn't have said? }}
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'''Winston''': "I'm retired." }}
* Occurs in ''[[Community (TV)|Community]]'' episode [[Community (TV)/Recap/S1 E23 Modern Warfare|Modern Warfare]] when ambushing the Chess Club:
{{quote| '''Jeff:''' Checkmate, [[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|bitches]]!}}
* ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'': Rita tries her hand at this during the arc where Kimberly is transitioned out of the show to be replaced by Kat, but it's subverted because Kimberly doesn't die, she just suffers a concussion.
{{quote| '''Rita:''' ''This'''ll ruin Kimberly's chances of being in the Pan-Global Games.}}
** ''[[Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue]]:'' The response to [[Disc One Final Boss]] Diabolico's [[This Cannot Be!]] moment is "Sure it can, Diabolico. [[More Dakka|FIRE!]]"
* [[The Sarah Jane Adventures (TV)|Sarah Jane Smith]] gets in a nice one in "The Eternity Trap" when Erasmus Darkening seemingly avoids her trap for him:
{{quote| '''Darkening''': I'm disappointed, Miss Smith.<br />
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'''Aria''': But you're ''dead''!<br />
(Aria ''biotic uppercuts'' the Drone into a Praetorian. Cue explosion) }}
** Miranda does one (along with [[Killed Mid -Sentence]]) right at the beginning of [[ME 2]]: when you reach the shuttles, Wilson opens the door... finding himself face to face with Miranda. A scowl immediately appears on her face as he goes "Miranda! But you were--". *BLAM* "Dead?".
* ''[[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]'' : Kratos' most famous line, mostly for its [[Punctuated Pounding|punctuation]]: "Feel the pain (''* stabs the villain* '') of those inferior beings (''* stabs* '') as you burn in Hell."
* In general, finishing any boss in the [[Tales Series]] with a [[Limit Break|Hi-Ougi/Mystic Arte]] can feel very much like doing this.
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{{quote| "TAKE A SEAT!"}}
* Lulu does this in ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' before casting elemental spells if they're one-shot kills.
** The [[One -Hit Kill|Death]] spell has the delightful "Nice knowing you."
** Everybody except Kimahri has a premortem comment. Similarly, Tidus may deliver a [[So Long Suckers|one-liner when using Flee]].
* At the start of a battle in ''[[Final Fantasy X 2 (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X-2]]'' (and occasionally before casting spells or using similar special abilities), the girls toss one-liners between themselves, which are context-sensitive depending on the enemy. Clearly [[Woolseyism|the spirit of Woolsey]] had a hand in them, because there's [[Shout Out]] after Shout Out.
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'''Claire''': You lose, big guy. }}
** In ''[[Resident Evil 3]]'', if you {{spoiler|go out of your way to finish off Nemesis in the final battle and risk getting killed by the nuke}}:
{{quote| '''Jill''': "[[What Do You Mean ItsIt's Not Awesome?|You want STARS?]] [[Narm|I'll give you STARS!]]"}}
** In ''[[Resident Evil 0]]''
{{quote| '''Billy''': Hey queenie! Feast on this!}}
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{{quote| '''Chris''': Suck on this, {{spoiler|Wesker}}!}}
* ''[[Castlevania]]: [[Symphony of the Night]]'': "Go back whence you came! Trouble the soul of my mother ''[[Narm Charm|no more]]''!"
** ''Castlevania: [[Order of Ecclesia]]'': "[[What Do You Mean ItsIt's Not Awesome?|Go to hell]]."
*** {{spoiler|[[Secret Character|"Showtime."]]}}
* At the end of ''[[Legacy of Kain|Soul Reaver 2]]'', Raziel to {{spoiler|Serafan Warrior Raziel}}: "I renounce you."
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{{quote| [[Meaningful Echo|'''Oran''': "I BELIEVE!"]]}}
* Parodied in episode 33 of the [[Machinima]] series ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'', when Church pulls off a string of these at O'Malley while Tex mutters in the background - "You're a real headache-" "What?" "-and I've got a gun full of aspirin." "That was terrible!" "It's time to split, -" "Now that's just embarrassing." "-personality..."
** Also, one of the ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'' bonus videos, called "Sargeisms", was entirely dedicated to Sarge giving off large quantities of [[Bond One -Liner|Bond-]] and [[Pre -Mortem One -Liner|Pre Mortem One Liners]].
** From Church's string of one-liners: "I've got half a mind to kill you-- ''and the other half agrees."''
** Subverted in episode 3 of Revelation. Sarge aims his gun and begins to deliver his one-liner, only to fire before he's finished the sentence.
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
* ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja (Webcomic)|The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]:'' This quote at the end of a [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=7&issue=4 two] [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=8&issue=4 page] scene where the Doctor educates and demonstrates proper one-liner delivery:
{{quote| ''"A properly-executed pre-mortem [[One -Liner]] is '''vital''' to our health. It intimidates our enemies, pumps us up, and most importantly, that little satisfaction from some quick wit goes a long way in keeping us from [[Heroic BSOD|buckling under the stress of it all]]."''}}
** Further parodied when Gordito tries to put this advice into practice and starts giving one liners [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=23&issue=8 with] [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=24&issue=8 every] [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=31&issue=8 kill].
** It even gets used as a [[Brick Joke]] at the end of "Punch Dracula": Gordito says nothing when he [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=41&issue=11 shoots the Ghost Wizard], but that's because he' saving the one-liner for [http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=54&issue=11 much later]. The [[Alt Text]] even [[Lampshades]] this.
** An alternate-universe Chuck Goodrich has a good one in [http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/20p76 this] panel
* In ''[[Concerned]]'', Gordon Frohman almost succeeds in {{spoiler|sneakily killing Gordon Freeman}}, if not for his inability to come up with one of these.
* Parodied in ''[[Eight 8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'', where the Light Warriors are attempting to come up with a pre-mortem one-liner. Black Mage says one so bad that it kills the very enemy he was attempting to taunt.
{{quote| ''"Astos? Mo' like, yo' ass is toast!"''}}
** Red Mage is worse:
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== [[Web Original]] ==
* [[Shadowhunter Peril]] has this awesome exchange between Umbra Darkholme, an [[Ascended Demon]], and Azazel, an evil [[Voluntary Shapeshifter]]. Umbra even turned Azazel's [[One -Liner]] around.
{{quote| '''Azazel''': You're old. Washed up. Your power is MINE.<br />
'''Umbra''': I don't think so. *puts Azazel in a [[Neck Lift]]* I'm a Greater Demon. Absorbing me won't kill me. But, you're just an Eidolon. Granted a powerful one, but not a Greater Demon. Not a Greater Demon at all. *proceeds to begin drainig Azazel of his life force* Your overconfidence is your undoing. *drops Azazel, who falls into a [[Crucified Hero Shot|Crucified Villain Shot]] and turns into dust* *Umbra walks away without a word* }}
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'''Batman''': "Rise and shine. (activates a solar-machine)" }}
** (This instance was subverted in that Batman saved the day, so don't worry)
*** The true [[Pre -Mortem One -Liner]] comes just after he activates the solar machine as Dracula realizes how he got the solar machine.
{{quote| '''Dracula''': "You're Bruce Wayne!"<br />
'''Batman''': "No. I'm The Batman". ''(Cue bat-silhouette with the cape, then a final drop kick.)'' }}
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{{quote| '''Numbah 2''': STOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!<br />
'''Numbah 5 & Lice Monster''': Huh?<br />
'''Numbah 2''': You gotta say something ''cool'' first! Like: ''[[Bond One -Liner|Say cheese, bub!]]'' Or ''[[Incredibly Lame Pun|Cheez to meet you!]]'' (Numbah 5 reaches over to press the button) Waitwaitwait! How about this one? Cheese! (BOOM!) }}
** Even better, Numbah 5 and the monster actually share a "What is wrong with this guy?" look before she pushes the button. wh
** Ashely from Sector Z says "This is going to be delightful!" before her and her friends/team fight {{spoiler|the zombified Sector V.}}
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