History Main / LeftYourLifesaverBehind

Not related to LeaveBehindAPistol. See also WeHaveForgottenThePhlebotinum. Has nothing to do with abandoning the person who just saved one's life.

* In the second season of ''Series/BreakingBad'', when Jesse and Walt are being targeted by the murderous drug lord Tuco, Walt takes Jesse's gun and instructs Jesse to leave town after a brief argument. Jesse, defenseless, is held at gunpoint by Tuco and forced to lure Walt outside his house. Walt [[WhatAnIdiot leaves the gun behind]], something that causes Jesse no end of consternation when he finds out.

* ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}''. Mike Colefield rushes out to meet his [[AllLoveIsUnrequited Unrequited]] LoveInterest, taking his pistol but forgetting the video camera attachment used to identify vampires. This causes problems when he starts suspecting she's a vampire but has no means of verifying it.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' of Creator/AAPessimal, the {{Pegasus}} Service employs witches who can commute around the world with the aid of the Feegle "craw-step" and winged horses, viewed as an upgrade on broomsticks. One such is Rebecka Smith-Rhodes, who works part-time for the Service whilst living in [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica Rimwards Hwoondaland]]. While training as a Witch in Lancre, her [[UsefulNotes/{{Russia}} Rodinian]] sponsoring Witch gave her a winter-wear outfit suitable for surviving outdoor work in a harsh winter. When Bekki moved to the Discworld's Africa, she reasoned she did not need to pack heavy-duty winter clothing and left this at her family home in Ankh-Morpork.. However, her Pegasus status obliges her to work part-time for the Service. Therefore, in January, she flies from Howondaland to Ankh-Morpork. to be craw-stepped right into the middle of the worst blizzards and sub-zero temperatures for twenty years. Her sponsoring Witch, who rescued her, is not pleased, and stands over her with folded arms while she recovers the winter survival clothing from home.

* In the ''{{ComicBook/Asterix}}'' animated movie ''Asterix vs. Caeser'', Asterix has an argument with his best friend [[TheBigGuy Obelix]] while attending a bath-house in Rome. He storms out while getting dressed, leaving his bottle of [[SuperSerum magic potion]] behind accidentally. He does not realize this until he is accosted by two Roman legionnaires, who promptly throw him in jail.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. In "[[Recap/AngelS03E07Offspring Offspring]]", Team Angel page the title character to warn him about the MonsterOfTheWeek. The pager goes off in Angel's jacket...which is hanging on a nearby coat rack.

* ''Hoffa'' (1992). Jimmy Hoffa borrows Robert Ciaro's gun while he waits in the car. Later Ciaro sees a hitman draw a silenced pistol on the unsuspecting Hoffa, reaches for his now-empty shoulder holster, then gets shot as he desperately rushes to save his friend.

* One of the Treehouse of Horror specials of ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'' has a ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' spoof with Groundskeeper Willie as Freddy Krueger. After the Simpsons kids kill the evil Willie in their dreams, they go outside and an alive-and-well Willie gets off a passing bus and approaches them menacingly -- only to start chasing after the bus because he says he left his gun on it.

* In the last episode of ''Series/{{Blackadder}} the Third'', Prince George is shot dead by the Duke of Wellington after a complicated switcheroo to avoid the prince being shot dead by Wellington. Moments later, the prince reveals that the bullet struck a cigarillo case he was holding over his heart, stopping the bullet. He then finds out that he left the case on his dresser, [[PuffOfLogic and promptly drops back dead]].

* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. In "Offspring", Team Angel page the title character to warn him about the MonsterOfTheWeek. The pager goes off in Angel's jacket...which is hanging on a nearby coat rack.

* ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'': StateSec Chief Derek Almond confronts V at Dr. Surridge's house when V goes there to kill her, but discovers too late that, while he ''did'' bring his gun, [[ItWorksBetterWithBullets he'd left the bullets at home]]. Doubles as LaserGuidedKarma for him since he'd emptied the clip out earlier so he could threaten his wife with the empty gun.

* In ''Film/CrocodileDundee'', the titular character leaves his knife behind in the limousine just before he encounters a pimp he'd earlier decked. As things turns ugly, he reachs for it to find it no longer there, and only escapes being killed due to timely intervention by the limo driver.
* Happens in ''Film/Deadpool2016''. Deadpool leaves the taxi to kill Francis, and realizes he left his duffel bags of guns and bullets behind, leading to him only being able to use his swords. Then he does it ''again'' in the final battle, leaving a bag stuffed full of guns in the same taxi.
* While on the way to fire off the flares needed to destroy the title giant spider in ''Film/TheGiantSpiderInvasion'', Dr. Vance forgets the flares and needs to run back to the car and get them. [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Mike and the Bots]] immediately call out how dumb this was, since it doesn't add any real tension and only pads out an extra 10 seconds or so of running time.

* ''Film/PulpFiction''. Vincent is waiting at Butch's apartment to kill him if he shows up. While waiting, Vincent needs to go to the bathroom, so he leaves his Ingram MAC-10 on the kitchen counter. While he's in the bathroom, Butch shows up, and uses the Ingram to kill the unarmed Vincent as he leaves the bathroom.

* ''Film/ACureForWellness''. Lockhart takes a shovel with him while ExploringTheEvilLair, but leaves it behind when running to hide because the caretaker is coming down the stairs. [[spoiler:The caretaker sees the shovel and tries to kill Lockhart with it; later it's a ChekhovsGun when the MadScientist chases Lockhart down there and [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter his daughter]] uses the shovel to kill him.]]

* The non-fiction book by Creator/DavidSimon, ''Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets'' mentions that detectives have to remind themselves to take their guns with them, as real life officer-involved shootings are a rare event.

* In Season 2 of ''Series/StrangerThings'', when [[spoiler: Bob Newby]] leaves the pistol Hopper gave him behind in a lower level of the Hawkins Laboratory, and is subsequently killed by a Demodog.
* In the French-German mini-series ''Carlos'', several French detectives go to question a "Peruvian playboy" photographed with a terrorist courier they've picked up for questioning. One detective goes to get his gun, but his commander tells him not to worry as it's just a routine checkup. Unfortunately the so-called playboy turns out to be the terrorist Carlos the Jackal, who shoots them all dead in the belief they've come to arrest him.

* ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}''. Mike Colefield rushes out to meet his [[AllLoveIsUnrequited Unrequited]] LoveInterest, taking his pistol but forgetting the video camera attachment used to identify vampires. This causes problems when he starts suspecting she's a vampire, but has no means of verifying it.

* On ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', the Freeman family goes to the movies and Huey brings along nunchucks because he expects it to be a disaster. Later on he runs into the ushers while on his way to destroy the movie, and he realizes that he left his nunchucks on the sink after using the bathroom.

* ''Film/ACureForWellness''. Lockhart takes a shovel with him while ExploringTheEvilLair, but leaves it behind when running to hide because the caretaker is coming down the stairs. The caretaker sees it and tries to kill him with it; later it's a ChekhovsGun when the MadScientist chases Lockhart down there and [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter his daughter]] uses the shovel to kill him.

Not related to LeaveBehindAPistol. See also WeHaveForgottenThePhlebotinum.

* ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}'': The protagonist rushes out to meet his [[AllLoveIsUnrequited Unrequited]] LoveInterest, taking his pistol but forgetting the video camera attachment used to identify vampires. This causes problems when he starts suspecting she's a vampire, but has no means of verifying it.

* Some GMs will pull this on players, claiming that if the player didn't specifically state that they were taking specific items. Such GMs frequently find that nobody is willing to play in their games.

* In the French-German mini-series ''Carlos'', several French detectives go to question a "Peruvian playboy" photographed with a terrorist courier they've picked up for questioning. One detective goes to get his gun, but his commander tells him not to worry as it's just a routine checkup. Unfortunately the so-called playboy turns out to be the terrorist Carlos the Jackal.

->'''Clara:''' There's no way out of this. We're going to die here.
->'''The Doctor:''' Pass me the vibro-cutters.
->'''Clara:''' They're in my pocket.
->'''The Doctor:''' Come on then, pass them to me.
->'''Clara:''' In my other jacket. At home.
->'''The Doctor:''' Why have you got two jackets? Is one of them ''faulty?''
-->-- ''Series/DoctorWho'', "The Caretaker"

* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl''. Cyborg girl Triela runs away in tears after realizing her handler went on an assassination mission without her and [[SecretStabWound got wounded in the process]]. She leaves both her pistol and conditioning medicine behind, and withdrawal symptoms make her too weak to defend herself when she gets grabbed by a couple of Camorra thugs.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Invoked in ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009''. Watson is furious when Sherlock leaves without his revolver, knowing [[BatmanGambit he did it deliberately]] so his friend will feel obliged to chase after him.
* ''Film/TheSureThing''. When Gib and Allison hurriedly leave the hotel room, Allison accidentally leaves her all-important planner (which contains all her money) behind.
* ''Film/PulpFiction''. Vincent is waiting at Butch's apartment to kill him if he shows up. While waiting, Vincent needs to go to the bathroom, so he leaves his Ingram MAC-10 on the kitchen counter. While he's in the bathroom, Butch shows up, and uses the Ingram to kill the unarmed Vincent as he leaves the bathroom.
* Left Your Lightsaber Behind is a running gag for Anakin in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels.
* While on the way to fire off the flares needed to destroy the title giant spider in ''Film/TheGiantSpiderInvasion'', Dr. Vance forgets the flares and needs to run back to the car and get them. [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Mike and the Bots]] immediately call out how dumb this was, since it doesn't add any real tension and only pads out an extra 10 seconds or so of running time.
* In ''Film/CrocodileDundee'', the titler character leaves his knife behind in the limousine just before he encounters a pimp he'd earlier decked. As things turns ugly, he reachs for it to find it no longer there, and only escapes being killed due to timely intervention by the limo driver.
* Martin pauses, then leaves his gun in the hotel room as he leaves for the reunion in ''Film/GrossePointeBlank'' -- either because he's got a newfound respect for life or because he's in love with Debbie. [[spoiler:He ends up having to improvise when the assassin finds him at the reunion]].

* In ''Film/TheTreasureOfTheSierraMadre'' Tim Holt takes away the insane Humphrey Bogart's revolver. He returns it only after unloading it. Bogart forgets to reload it and finds himself defenseless at the end.

* ''Hoffa'' (1992). Jimmy Hoffa borrows Robert Ciaro's gun while he waits in the car. Later Ciaro sees a hitman draw a silenced pistol on the unsuspecting Hoffa, reaches for his now-empty shoulder holster, then gets shot as he desperately rushes to save his friend.

* In ''Literature/{{Masques}}'', this is played with. Aralorn leaves behind [[spoiler:her, unbeknownst to her, ''AntiMagic'' sword]] when she goes off to fight the BigBad. However, she didn't even know she would need the object, as she thought it was completely mundane and relatively useless. She is called out on it by someone more knowledgeable about magical things.

* Played with in ''Literature/MostlyHarmless''. Tricia Macmillian laments her boring life because a few years back she had the opportunity to go with a guy who was from another planet, but right after she went back for her bag, Zaphod left in his spaceship. She then used the mantra "Never go back for your bag." At the present time, she's running late for an interview as a prestigious anchor for a news program, and when she realizes she left her bag upstairs, doesn't bother to get it, citing her mantra. Later, she returns to her hotel room feeling horrible, having completely blown the interview, and goes straight for her bag, which has her contact lenses inside (without which made it impossible for her to read the teleprompter).
--> "As she dabbed each tiny plastic cup into her eyes, she reflected that if there was one thing life had taught her, it was that there are some times in which you do not go back for your bag and other times when you do. It had yet to teach her to distinguish between the two types of occasions."
* Discussed in ''Literature/HowNotToWriteANovel'' as a possible way to handle any situation where a reader might think, "Why doesn't the protagonist just whip out their cell phone and solve the problem with one call?" For example, having a character not have their phone on them because they were woken by a fire alarm and ran out of the house is completely believable.

* ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}'': The protagonist rushes out to meet his [[AllLoveIsUnrequited Unrequited]] LoveInterest, taking his pistol but forgetting the video camera attachment used to identify vampires. This causes problems when he starts suspecting she's a vampire, but has no means of verifying it.
* In the French-German mini-series ''Carlos'', several French detectives go to question a "Peruvian playboy" photographed with a terrorist courier they've picked up for questioning. One detective goes to get his gun, but his commander tells him not to worry as it's just a routine checkup. Unfortunately the so-called playboy turns out to be the terrorist Carlos the Jackal.

* On ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' when Sarah [[spoiler: goes on a real date with Chuck]] she leaves her gun behind. They are then quickly captured by [[ScaryBlackMan Michael Clarke Duncan]] and a bunch of mooks.

* One of the Treehouse of Horror specials of ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'' has a ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' spoof with Groundskeeper Willie as Freddy Krueger. After the Simpsons kids kill the evil Willie in their dreams, they go outside and an alive-and-well Willie gets off a passing bus and approaches them menacingly -- only to start chasing after the bus because he says he left his gun on it.

* Invoked in ''Film/SherlockHolmes''. Watson is furious when Sherlock leaves without his revolver, knowing [[BatmanGambit he did it deliberately]] so his friend will feel obliged to chase after him.

* Happens in ''Film/{{Deadpool}}''. Deadpool leaves the taxi to kill Francis, and realizes he left his duffel bags of guns and bullets behind, leading to him only being able to use his swords. Then he does it ''again'' in the final battle, leaving a bag stuffed full of guns in the same taxi.

* ''Hoffa'' (1992). Jimmy Hoffa borrows Ciaro's gun while he waits in the car. Later Ciaro sees a hitman draw a silenced pistol on the unsuspecting Hoffa and rushes over save him...only to remember too late that Hoffa has his gun.

* Happens in ''Film/{{Deadpool}}''. Deadpool leaves the taxi to kill Francis, and realizes he left his duffel bags of guns and bullets behind, leading to him only being able to use his swords.

* Subverted in ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''. When Clarice Starling goes to see Dr. Lecter in Tennessee, she has to turn over her spare reloader for her revolver. When she's discovered and rushed out, she leaves her reloader behind. If you noticed this and were GenreSavvy, then during her final confrontation with Buffalo Bill, you were expecting her to run low (or out) of bullets, look for her reloader and not find it, and have to defeat Buffalo Bill with just OneBulletLeft or an empty gun. In fact, she finishes off Buffalo Bill with several shots and then reloads.