Final Exchange

Not all last words go unanswered, especially if you're with someone, whether in battle or heartwarming moments. When it's the former, expect it to be a Pre-Asskicking One-Liner or something of the sort.

Sub-Trope of Last Words. If the response comes after the death, it's also a Bond One-Liner.

A very spoileriffic trope. Read at your own risk.

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Examples:

Anime & Manga

• In Attack on Titan, Theo Magath and Keith Shadith introduce themselves to each other before they perform a Heroic Sacrifice together.
• Fate/Zero:
  • When Kiritsugu rejects the Grail after finding out its true nature, Kirei rants over how he would reject it after sacrificing too much. Kiritsugu responds with a gunshot to the head.
    Kirei: It's so foolish I don't understand it! Give the damn thing to me then! You may not think you need it, but I most certainly do!
    [gunshot]
    Kiritsugu: No... you're the fool... I cannot understand.
• Gundam:
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Nena Trinity and Wang Liu Mei
    Wang Liu Mei: Nena... but why?
    Nena Trinity: I told you, didn't I? I despise you. I only obeyed you in order to survive. I just had to be a little friendly with you, and you believed me. But you know what? Your usefulness is over!
  • One in the Distant Finale of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, with the responder being shot.
    Ride: Do you know Orga Itsuka?
    Nobliss: Huh? Who the hell is that!? And who are you—? [shot four times]
• In the finale of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the dying Anti-Spiral begs Simon to protect the universe, which has been his Well-Intentioned Extremist goal from the beginning. Simon returns that they will do so, and to believe in the human race.

Films — Animation

• While The Dragon Scroop from Disney's Treasure Planet saws at the cord that tethers Jim Hawkins to the Legacy, he sneers, "Say hello to Mister Arrow for me," referencing how he'd likewise severed the first officer's lifeline, sending Arrow to his doom. Hawkins, however, muscles his way down the pirate flag and reverses positions with Scroop. Jim's rejoinder: "Tell him yourself." When Scroop peels the flag away from his face, he discovers too late that it's he who's drifting into the void.
• In the climax of Mulan, Mulan is trapped with only a paper fan. Shan Yu comments "Looks like you're out of ideas." Mulan then uses her fan to take his sword, shouts "Not quite! Ready Mushu?" Cue Mulan pinning the Hun leader down so the said dragon can launch a large firework at him.
• Shrek the Third:
  Prince Charming: This is my happily ever after!
  Shrek: Then you better find it somewhere else. Because I’m not giving up mine.

Films — Live-Action

• Bruce Willis is known for such rejoinders. One of The Chessmaster's henchmen from Die Hard has detective McClane trapped beneath a conference table, and has just reloaded his firearm to deliver the coup de grace. The mook jeers, "You should have killed me when you had the chance." The Hero, however, has regained his firearm, and shoots through the tabletop, killing the mook. Speaking to the fallen corpse, McClane says, "Thanks for the advice."
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier, while the returnee of the exchange gets shot.
  Nick: You know... there was a time I would've taken a bullet for you.
  Pierce: You already did. You will again when it's useful.
  [Natasha electrocutes herself, then Nick shoots Pierce twice]
• Goldeneye, between Bond and his Face-Heel Turned friend, Alec Trevelyan:
  Alec: For England, James? [Bond drops him off a giant satellite dish]
  Bond: No. For me.
• After finally rescuing her daughter, Kyle of Flightplan (2005) takes the detonator to the bombs on the plane. Carson nearby asks her if she was going to blow up the plane. Kyle answers, "No, only you." Cue an Oh, Crap! moment when he finds where the bombs are.
• In Unknown (2011), the main protagonist recovers from an explosion in preparation for one last fight against his Evil Doppelgänger. Said doppelganger mocks him saying, "You really forgotten everything, have you?" The response? "I didn't forget everything. I know how to kill you, asshole!"
• In the climax of xXx: State of the Union in confrontation with the Big Bad.
  Deckert: I've been waiting for this moment, Stone!
  Stone: Well, you better keep waiting! [jumps out, a missile blows up the train and kills Deckert]

Literature

• The exchange between Orcus and Ardneh in Empire of the East after the armies of the West have been sent into retreat, leaving Ardneh alone to face Orcus and all the forces of the Empire.
  Orcus: Die.
  Ardneh: I die, and at the moment of my death let go the change I have held over the world. It is my will that the nuclear energies flow again, that you, hellbomb creature, be as you were when my change first came upon you.
• In the end of the Mike Hammer novel I the Jury, Hammer shoots the killer, Charlotte Bennett, in cold blood.
  Bennet: How could you?
  Hammer: It was easy.
• In A Storm of Swords from the A Song of Ice and Fire series Petyr Baelish calms down an enraged Lysa Arryn.
  Petyr Baelish: I have only ever loved one woman.
  Lysa Arryn: Truly?
  Petyr Baelish: Only Cat. [shoves her down the Moon Door]
• Warrior Cats: The Last Hope has quite a few of these exchanges, since it was originally meant to be the grand finale of the series, and as such includes a lot of battle and death. The most notable is when the Big Bad Tigerstar and The Hero Firestar finally come face to face for their last battle, which ends with a Mutual Kill:
  Firestar: Has it been worth it, Tigerstar? All the hate? All the death?
  Tigerstar: Every moment. The moment Bluestar found you, I became nothing! I have waited all this time to have my revenge! When you're dead, I can rule the Clans or kill them.
  Firestar: I will not die until the forest is safe from you. You lived like a rogue. You can die like a rogue.

Video Games

• StarCraft is full of these, especially in the sequel Starcraft II.
  • Kerrigan and Mengsk:
    Mengsk: I made ya into a monster, Kerrigan!
    Kerrigan: You made us all into monsters. [uses pyschic attack that blows up Mengsk and his entire office]
  • Malash and Alarak, when the latter is close to the Pit of Sacrifice.
    Malash: The master has already won, Alarak. You will lead our people to their doom...
    Alarak: You're right about one thing, Malash. I! will! lead them! [pushes Malash in the Pit]
  • Narud and Stukov
    Narud: Stukov... you came here to gloat, haven't you?
    Stukov: No, I came here to say "good night", you son of a bitch! [fires a Corrosive Blast that destroys Narud]
  • Amon and Kerrigan
    Amon: You are but a product of the flawed cycle. Manipulated for the entirety of your existence...
    Kerrigan: You know nothing about me! I care little for the xel'naga's Infinite Cycle or your twisted lies. No, I choose something different. I choose freedom... for all of us. [obliterates Amon]
• War Craft III: When Grom succumbs to his wounds after killing Mannoroth (a demon who had enslaved the orcish race via Blood Magic), he and Thrall have this conversation:
  Grom: I have freed myself.
  Thrall: No, old friend... you have freed us all.

Visual Novels

• Sunrider, after Fontana exposes the Prototypes controlling humanity from the shadows, the People's Alliance.
  Prototype Arcadius: You Are Too Late... We already own everything.
  Fontana: No. [fires point blank in the head] You do not own PACT.

Web Animation

• RWBY:
  • In the final episode of Volume 3, after Cinder disables Pyrrha, they have their final exchange before Cinder executes Pyrrha:
  Pyrrha: Do you believe in destiny?
  Cinder: [frowns, narrowing her eyes] Yes.
  • Another in Season 8, where Jacques and Ironwood are trapped in the prison onboard Atlas. The force fields containing the latter end up malfunctioning, allowing him to grab a large handheld cannon before blasting the former to smithereens.
  Jacques: You are going to open up my door, too, aren’t you?
  Ironwood: [aims cannon] Sure thing.

Western Animation

• Biker Mice from Mars: One of the first mookss that Doctor Karbunkle sends against the Biker Mice is a Terminator Expy, complete with a stilted Austrian accent. Throttle tricks the mook into driving a motorcycle into a vat of Hollywood Acid. Just before its head is submerged, the robot intones, "I'll be back." Throttle responds, "Don't forget to write."
• In the "hidden episodes" of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), when a spirit form of Hamato Yoshi defeats the demon form of the Shredder.
  Shredder: I will fight you to the last breath!
  Yoshi: Your dragon form was your last breath. [performs One-Hit KO]

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