Reasonable Request Rejected

Judge Haller: That is a lucid, intelligent, well-thought-out objection.
Vinny Gambini: Thank you, Your Honor.
Judge Haller: [firmly] Overruled.

— My Cousin Vinny

You want me to describe Reasonable Request Rejected here? Well, that is certainly a reasonable expectation on a tropes page. Request denied.

You have just seen an example of the Reasonable Request Rejected. A person will make a request for something that they want or need, including reasons why they should be given what they're asking for, and the authority figure being given this request will acknowledge that it's well thought out, reasonable, and fair. And then promptly deny it. Maybe due to reasons of bureaucracy, maybe due to simple pettiness, or possibly even because of a conflicting agenda.

This is typically played for laughs, though it can be used for dramatic purposes as well.

Can happen alongside Bait-and-Switch. It's a hallmark of the Obstructive Bureaucrat. A common trait among Mean Boss and Corrupt Corporate Executive types. Sometimes sealed with a Stamp of Rejection.

In many works, it can lead someone to say Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!.

In some settings, this could be a Justified Trope if the authority figure is concerned about Precedent Excuse causing less reasonable requests to flood their desk as soon as they grant permission for the more reasonable request.

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Examples:

Comic Books

• In Transformers Lost Light, there is a flashback to the time Shockwave leaves the Autobot prison Garrus 9 with a handpicked crew and runs into the Decepticon Justice Division. Shockwave points out that every single one of his crew is wanted by the DJD for various "crimes" and offers them up if they allow him to leave. DJD leader Tarn admits that having so many of their targets in one place offered up to them is extremely convenient and Shockwave probably has some plan in the works that will benefit Cybertron as a whole... but declines and informs Shockwave he'd much rather kill Shockwave anyway. This turns out to be a huge miscalculation on Tarn's part: the DJD are attacked by Shockwave's backup Bludgeon and Monstructor, forcing them to flee with nothing to show for their efforts.

Films—Live Action

• My Cousin Vinny: Vinny Gambini, serving as legal counsel, objects to the surprise addition of a new witness, making sure to explain his reasons clearly due to past history of not being understood by the judge. The judge acknowledges the reasonableness of the request before firmly overruling it.
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: Starfleet, apparently, has more than a few Obstructive Bureaucrats:
  • When Sarek explains Spock's katra to Kirk, Kirk goes to Starfleet Command, specifically Admiral Morrow, and makes an earnest request to be allowed to return to Planet Genesis to retrieve Spock's body to fulfill Sarek's request. Because of the controversy surrounding the Genesis Project and its potential to be misused as a weapon, as well as the controversy regarding its inadvertent deployment, Kirk is denied permission. He tells his crew, "The answer is 'no'. We are therefore going, anyway."
  • When Saavik and David find the rejuvenated Spock on Planet Genesis, they request permission to beam him aboard the U.S.S. Grissom. Captain J.T. Estaban, who is strictly "by the book" insists on contacting Starfleet Command for instructions on the matter. He agrees that Starfleet would probably approve, but he's not taking any chances. Ironically, this action saves Saavik and Spock, and gives David a little longer to live, as this is when the Klingons decide to show up, and the gunner disobeys an order to target the engines only, wiping out the whole ship.

Literature

• In the X-Wing Series, one of these kicks off the Wraith Squadron books. Wedge Antilles goes to Admiral Ackbar, a friend and Reasonable Authority Figure, about an idea for a "free" fighter squadron - Wedge will take a Rag Tag Bunch Of Misfits who would otherwise get washed out of Starfighter Command, and give them a Last-Second Chance as an unorthodox bunch of commando-pilots perfect for irregular missions. Ackbar agrees that Wedge has made some excellent points, and then bluntly denies his proposal... unless Wedge agrees to stop Declining Promotion if this experimental squadron flops.

Live-Action TV

• The Big Bang Theory: After Raj has to find a new department to work for at the University, lest he be deported, he decides to take Sheldon up on a job offer. But he has some conditions.
  Raj:I do however have a few conditions. First, at all times I am to be treated as a colleague and an equal. Second, my contributions shall be noted in all published materials. And third, you are never allowed to lecture me on Hinduism or my Indian culture.
  Sheldon: I'm impressed, Raj. Those are very cogent and reasonable conditions.
  Raj: Thank you.
  Sheldon: I reject them all.
  Raj: Then you leave me no choice. I accept.
• In the Blackadder episode Private Plane when Blackadder asks for leave at the end of the episode.
  Blackadder: I was wondering whether, having been tortured by the most vicious sadist in the German army, I might be allowed a week’s leave to recuperate, Sir.
  Melchett: Excellent idea. Your commanding officer would have to be stark raving mad to refuse you.
  Blackadder: Well, you are my commanding officer.
  Melchett: Well?
  Blackadder: Can I have a week’s leave to recuperate, Sir?
  Melchett: Certainly not!
  Blackadder: Thank you, Sir.
  Melchett: Baaaaaa!
• Doctor Who: While restrained, Missy goads Osgood into coming close to her, at which point she whispers she's going to kill her. While Osgood doesn't believe her, Missy proceeds to reveal her handcuffs are off, kills the guards and prepares to kill the scientist. Osgood tries convincing the Time Lady not to murder her by pointing out she's of more use alive, which Missy agrees is true and completely reasonable. Unfortunately, Missy then explains she's also crazy and shoots Osgood anyway.
• The Good Place: The humans and Michael race against the clock as the Judge aims to reset Earth and humanity as a solution to the dysfunctional points system. They manage to come up with an alternate plan for the afterlife to avoid this outcome, but need Shawn's approval. Despite Shawn admitting their plan is sound and benefits all parties, he rejects it since he'd rather wait around for millions of years than let Michael have his way. Luckily, they are able to convince him when Shawn realizes that fighting Michael made him happy and it would come to an end if the Earth was reset.
• M*A*S*H: In one episode, Trapper and Hawkeye are lamenting that they have no incubator, meaning that they have to wait days to get results on cultures to find out what illness a patient might have. They arrange a meeting with the Quartermaster's office, who looks up the incubator and what it does. He notes that it would be useful for a medical unit, then promptly denies the request. He would, he notes, be able to give them a jukebox or a pizza oven.

Web Animation

• OverSimplified: In The Pig War, there is a minor Running Gag where delegates from the US and Britain are trying to decide where to draw the line between their territories in North America. The British delegate offers a reasonable solution, and the American delegate seems to agree before angrily refusing to cooperate.
  British Delegate: Look, why don't we just draw the border along the river? That way we both have access to it.
  American Delegate: Well, that would be a completely fair compromise that protects the interests of both parties. AND THERE'S NO WAY I'M EVER GONNA AGREE TO IT!
• Sonic In X Minutes: In ''Sonic Forces in minutes Part 2," a news anchor asks a bear named Mrs. Brown if she has any questions about the oppressive Eggman Empire. Mrs. Brown asks why she should worship Eggman, and what Eggman has done for her. The news anchor says that's a good question, and then it cuts to Mrs. Brown being roboticized.
  News anchor: That's a good question!
  (Mrs. Brown is roboticized)
  News anchor: We don't tolerate good questions!

Western Animation

• In The Transformers, Grapple the Autobot architect once approached Optimus Prime with the plans for a solar tower. Optimus hears him out, agreeing that such an energy-generating facility would surely be helpful to the Autobots. However, he points out that such a facility would also assuredly become a target of the Decepticons and so reluctantly denies Grapple permission to build it. Grapple goes behind Prime's back and builds the tower anyway, and sure enough when the Decepticons come a battle erupts that leaves the tower nothing but debris.

Real Life

• Charles Lamb was a Royal Navy pilot who survived WW2 and fought against all three principal Axis members. In his autobiography War In A Stringbag, he recounts events after crash-landing in the French territory of Algeria. Unfortunately, the French colonial administration was Vichy — allied to Germany — and Lamb was detained in a prison camp in the Sahara Desert for over a year. He recounts his experience as a prisoner-of-war in a penal camp administered by the French Foreign Legion and recalled his continual struggle to get better treatment for the inmates. the FFL commanding officer would listen to his requests, acknowledge them, and then flatly refuse. His deputy, a more reasonable man, would grant them where he could but was often forced to say "This is fair. This is reasonable. But it has to get past the colonel."
• Nelson Mandela, who struggled to get better treatment for black prisoners in South Africa. Quite often white prison officers would agree Mandela had a point, but the inflexibility of the system and the intractability of senior prison management meant flat refusal.