History Main / LastRequest

* ''Fanfic/OneDayAtATimeFanfic'': In the previous timeline, Damian Wayne's last request to his older brother Jason Todd was to let him remain dead and to not revive him using the Lazarus Pit. Jason ultimately didn't have the heart to refuse him, especially since he was still dealing with the effects of his own revival via Lazarus Pit over a decade prior.

* UsefulNotes/CharlesII : "Let not poor Nellie starve." To James the 2nd's credit, she didn't. The newly crowned king paid off Nellie's debts and gave her a pension, but sadly she passed of syphilis a few years after.

-->-- '''Gervais Phinn''', ''It Takes One to Know One''

** After being fatally shot by a Geass-inflicted [[TheEvilPrince Schneizel]], [[ImmoralJournalist Diethard Ried]] has the gall to ask that Lelouch finish him off with the Geass so he can experience it before he dies (after seconds ago, Diethard tried to kill Lelouch himself). Lelouch, however, [[KickTheSonOfABitch would prefer that Diethard bleed to death instead and refuses him]], coldly stating that a SmugSnake like him merely isn't worth the effort.

* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': In the conclusion, [[spoiler:Izaya wakes up in a vehicle with Kine and Manami after nearly being killed. Kine informs Izaya he only has a fifty-fifty chance of living and that they're taking him to see an underground doctor. Izaya tells him it's fine as long as he's not in the city as he doesn’t want Shizuo to be anywhere near his deathbed]]. However, [[spoiler:it's subverted in the light novels as he does survive and even gets his own series. For anime watchers, it's up to the viewer to decide if he's dead]].
* ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'':

* In ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'', during his PlotTriggeringDeath, [[TheEveryman Satoru Mikami]] asked his coworker Tamura to remove his hard drive from his computer, put it in the bathtub, and submerge it so it would be wiped.

* Mario's dying request in the season 2 finale of "WebAnimation/{{Sonic for Hire}}". Sonic actually fulfills this request in season 3.
--> "If you see the princess... tell her... she's a bitch."
* Chief asks Arbiter to [[spoiler:wait at the gate of the Afterlife for him so they can go in together and "fuck shit up"]], in "WebVideo/ArbyNTheChief".

---> '''Homer:''' I'll do it! But if I die during the operation, will you do one thing for me?
---> '''Marge:''' Oh, anything sweetheart!\\

* Often played for laughs in ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId''. For example, in one Sunday strip, Turnkey asks a condemned prisoner what he wants to eat before he's hanged; "a helium sandwich", says the guy. In another strip, Turnkey tells spook that a hoagie about twenty feet long is for "Dirty Dirk", who hangs tomorrow, although the sandwich will clearly take a week to eat.

* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'': Eddie Murphy plays a condemned man who is trying to stall his execution as long as possible. After being reminded that he has already had his last meal, he has a last request - meet Music/JohnnyCash (the guest host of the evening). He expects to have to wait for Cash to be flown in, but the warden just happens to have him in his office. Then the prisoner wants Cash to play his favorite song, "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" - the uncut version, which is "999,999 Bottles of Beer on the Wall".

* In one ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'' comic, [[http://smbc-comics.com/comic/last-meal a murderer is told he gets one last meal]]. What does he request? [[spoiler:The executioner]].

* ''Literature/TheEminenceInShadow'': When Cid mortally wounds Getton, he uses his dying breaths to ask Cid to take care of his beloved Yukime. Unfortunately, Cid completely misinterpreted what he said. Depending on the translation, Cid thought he was saying he had buried treasure in the snow (because yukime is snow in Japanese) or under a yew tree (because Getton got cut off mid-word). Cid spends some time trying to find this nonexistent treasure before giving up. He leaves the woman Yukime to her own devices.

** When [[spoiler:Malack kills Durkon]], the dying [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html asks the only person present]] for one favor: [[spoiler:if their friendship wasn't all a lie, Durkon asks Malack not to kill the rest of the party]]. Several comics later, [[https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0895.html he fulfills that request]] [[spoiler:by not telling Tarquin they're hiding by the Gate]].

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0772.html Haley's dead mother]] asked her and her father to be better than the WretchedHive city they lived in as her last words.
** Done again with [[spoiler: Durkon]] [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html here.]]

Something you request right before you die. The opportunity may be offered to you by your executioner on DeathRow out of [[PetTheDog personal kindness]] or [[GoodOldWays cultural tradition]].

Common possibilities include:
* Something you can use to pull off a [[SoLongSuckers surprise escape]]
* Something that will [[ClearMyName exonerate you]] of your supposed crime -- bonus points if it also [[ThePerryMasonMethod exposes the real perpetrator]]
* Something you can use to [[ThanatosGambit achieve some post-mortem goal]]
* Something that will take time to deliver, [[HoldingTheFloor delaying matters]] while you wait for rescue or an escape opportunity
* A chance to convince your captor that [[ScheherezadeGambit you're worth keeping alive]]

You can also transfer your responsibilities to someone else with your last breath. Asking someone to [[TakeCareOfTheKids take care of your family]], [[BringNewsBack deliver a message]], [[BestServedCold avenge you]], or generally [[TakeUpMySword keep up the good fight]] is almost playing low though, as a deathbed promise, even by request, is very hard to refuse and nearly [[IGaveMyWord unbreakable]] -- even if [[WhatYouAreInTheDark no one would ever know]]. (Though if you are DyingAsYourself, you may have no choice.) You can even do it with your enemies if they accept a DyingTruce. This can be made especially touching with added PietaPlagiarism, or even CradlingYourKill.

If you are dying very slowly, as of cancer, you can, in fact, make it a period before death; for instance, at the last visit to the hospital, even if you die a week later. Requests made by ghosts and other undead qualify only if undeath is ending quickly.

Of course, this trope only tends to work if you're dying slowly enough.

* The Alec Baldwin Capital One credit card ad, where Baldwin starts out having the guy wipe out his flight record, then has him press a button that gets him knocked out, so Baldwin can escape.

* A Advertising/WilkinsCoffee commercial had Wilkins asking this to Wontkins when he's strapped to an electric chair.
-->'''Wilkins:''' Any last requests, like for a cup of Wilkins Coffee?
-->'''Wontkins:''' No!
-->'''Wilkins:''' You don't drink Wilkins?
-->'''Wontkins:''' No!
-->'''Wilkins:''' [[PreMortemOneLiner How shocking.]] ''(flips the switch)''

Of course, this trope only tends to work if you're dying slowly enough. Since this is a death trope, expect '''spoilers''' below.

* In ''LightNovel/AestheticaOfARogueHero'', when Akatsuki defeated the Demon King, with his last breaths, the King begged Akatsuki to take care of his daughter Myuu. Akatsuki found this odd, but honored his foe's request, taking Myuu under his protection.

* ''Manga/AkameGaKill'': When Akame mortally wounds Izou, he calls her a WorthyOpponent and tries to pass her his katana, Kousetsu, asking her to wield it so it can feed on more blood. She responds by slashing him again and walking away. Izou is horrified by Akame's lack of respect in his final moments, and his last words are full of shock.
-->'''Izou:''' How could you... betray the last request of... a fellow katana user...?

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': After Vegeta is shot through the chest by Freeza, his last request to Son Goku is to avenge the genocide of the Saiyans at Freeza's hands and for turning Vegeta into the monster he became. Goku [[AlasPoorVillain buries Vegeta afterwards and promises to honor his last request]].

* Subverted in ''Film/WildWildWest''. When Artemus Gordon is about to be executed, he asks to be shot in the heart because he's secretly wearing a bulletproof vest. The DiabolicalMastermind calmly orders that he be shot in the head.
* Rick O'Connell to a nameless guard in the 1999 version of ''[[Film/TheMummy1999 The Mummy]]''.
-->Any last requests?
-->Yeah, loosen the rope and let me go.
** Hilariously, the executioner isn't sure if he should honor the request or not.

* ''Film/{{Vibes}}''. TheDragon Carl is holding Nick at gunpoint in Ecuador.
-->'''Carl:''' I'll give you a break. Where wouldn't you like to be shot?
-->'''Nick:''' South America.

* Near the end of ''Film/IndependenceDay'', when Russell is about to perform a HeroicSacrifice he asks an officer to tell his children that he loves them.
-->'''Russell:''' Please do me a favor, tell my children I love them very much.
* ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}''. When Klytus visits Flash in his cell before his execution he asks him if he has "any final requests". Flash asks to see Dale Arden.
* In ''Film/SpiderMan1'', the dying Green Goblin asks Spider-Man to [[TreacheryCoverUp hide the truth]] from his son.
-->"Peter, don't tell Harry."

* In ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', [[spoiler:Captain Stacy]] tells Peter that as his superhero life is dangerous, he should keep his distance from [[spoiler:his daughter Gwen]] in order to spare [[spoiler:her]] from danger.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. Eddie Valiant asks Judge Doom to grant one to Roger before "dipping" him. Doom agrees, and Eddie gives Roger a double shot of bourbon. This causes Roger to do [[CantHoldHisLiquor his "steam whistle" impersonation]], which distracts Doom and the weasels enough for Eddie and Roger to escape.
* ''Film/{{Tron}}'': Ram's last words. "Flynn, help Tron..."
* In ''Film/DieHardWithAVengeance'', [=McClane=] asks Gruber if he has any aspirin. This doesn't help [=McClane=] escape his predicament, but it does give them a lead on where to find Gruber later.

* In the 1962 JidaiGeki film ''Harakiri'' (aka ''Seppuku''), a {{ronin}}[[note]]warrior without a lord[[/note]] arrives at the Ii clan's castle and humbly asks to be allowed to commit honorable suicide on their grounds. As a final request he asks for a major retainer of the clan to assist his suicide. Oh no, that retainer has called in sick. Another named retainer, perhaps? Same thing there. When the ronin asks for a third retainer who happens to be absent that day, the clan lord senses something is wrong. [[spoiler:The ronin's real business is revenge for the Ii forcing his son-in-law to painfully kill himself with a bamboo sword. He has already defeated and disgraced the three retainers, and wearing his suicide robe proceeds to wreak RoaringRampageOfRevenge on the Ii until gunned down.]]
* In ''Film/TheAfricanQueen'' Charlie and Rose ask the German boat-captain to officiate their wedding.
-->"I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution."
* ''Film/RockNRolla'': Well, technically Handsome Bob wasn't dying when he made of request, but since he was so devasted about the impending jail time, One-Two let him have [[spoiler: the lovely slow dance in a gay club. When he finds out that Handsome Bob didn't go to jail after all, his colleagues tease him about this.]]
* Ichirō Yashida’s in ''Film/TheWolverine'' is to see Wolverine one last time. [[spoiler:Turns out there are far more nefarious motives for it]]
* ''Film/ScaryMovie3'': Parodied when Tom, in a flashback, finds his wife breathing out her last after she's pinned to a tree as a result of a tragic car accident. Her last request is that [[VowOfCelibacy he never sleep with another woman again]], and he quickly pretends that her last words are too unintelligible to make out and tells her to go into the light.

* In ''Film/LittleWorldOfDonCamillo'', the town's schoolmarm asks that the Italian monarchist flag is put on the casket at her funeral. Given [[UsefulNotes/FascistItaly the circumstances of Italy becoming a republic]] and that it was not long after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, this is a big request and many of the town council try to veto it... Then the mayor Peppone (a communist, who voted to depose the king in the referendum) reminds everyone that in town it's the communists who are in charge and he, as their leader, will grant her dying wish and personally throw out of the window anyone who tries to stop him, and is among the pall bearers (wearing a red scarf, of course).
* ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'': As [[spoiler:Miller]] lays dying, his last words are to ask Ryan to earn the sacrifice of the men who came (and died) to relieve him from his duty on the battlefront. Although he passes on before getting a reply, Ryan certainly took his words to heart, [[spoiler:as we see his older self paying his respects to Miller's grave, telling him how he tried to live his life the best he could, hoping that it would be enough.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'', Bing Bong does a HeroicSacrifice so that Joy can stop Riley from running away back to her old home after a traumatic move to San Fransisco. His last request is for Joy to take Riley to the moon.
* ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes2001'': General Thade visits the deathbed of his father Zaius, who asks him to wipe out all humans before providing him with a human relic: a RayGun.
* ''Film/{{Dunkirk}}'': As he lays dying from a head wound caused by a fall on the ''Moonstone'', [[spoiler:George]] mentions that he'd always wanted to be mentioned in the papers. After ''Moonstone'' returns to England, his friend [[spoiler:Peter]] goes to the town paper with the story and a class photo. The next day, the paper has a ''front page'' article reading "Local Boy Hero At Dunkirk".

* In ''Film/HighPlainsInvaders'', Sam's fellow prisoner Gus mentions they get one before being hanged and suggests asking TheSheriff for one of his cigars because their really expensive and it will annoy him to lose one.
* ''Film/{{Gladiator}}''; As he's about to be executed on trumped up charges to treason, Maximus asks the Praetorian carrying out the order to give him a "soldier's death". The Praetorian complies and moves behind Maximus to stab him rather than behead him, but it's a ploy to put the man in a position where Maximus can fight back and escape.

* ''Film/HelenOfTroy 2003'': After the Greeks infiltrate Troy with the Trojan Horse and King Priam realizes he's surrounded by them, he asks them to, "Spare my Queen." They kill him and ''don't'' honor his request, as they quickly kill Queen Hecuba too.
* ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'': When Gorr the God Butcher is mortally wounded, he asks Thor to look after his daughter. Thor agrees and adopts the child.
* ''Film/MoulinRouge'': Just before Satine [[DiedInYourArmsTonight dies in Christian's arms]], she urges him to write the story of their love, because that way she'll [[AlwaysWithYou alway be with him.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2021'', [[GreaterScopeParagon King Grayskull's]] dying words were to instruct all of his successors to the throne to never wield the power he once did, for it was "too great". [[spoiler:What was forgotten was that Grayskull was referring to the power of ''[[TheDarkSide Havoc]]'', which he used to defeat the snake men but then [[FallenHero fell to its corruption]]]].

Something you request right before you die. The opportunity may be offered to you by your executioner out of [[PetTheDog personal kindness]] or [[GoodOldWays cultural tradition]].

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "Armageddon's Game", representatives of the T'Lani and Kellerun arrive in the abandoned town where O'Brien and Bashir are holed up, intending to kill them, as TheyKnowTooMuch about the harvester viruses. O'Brien has a request that's rather simple - let Bashir help him stand up, as he doesn't want to be shot lying down. (He's been infected with the virus, and is too weak to stand on his own.) They let him do so, and fortunately for them, this brief delay gives Sisko and Dax enough time to beam them to safety.