# Wheezy overused plot device: Oops, I dropped my gun. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433 "2004-11-01T22:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/1 "2004-11-01T22:56:43Z")
I was watching the **X-Files** last night, (why, I don’t know), and there was a scene where Mulder is hanging off of a high precipice, and oops! There goes his gun. In case I missed it, they then had the obligatory scene where he looks down and sees the gun fall in slow motion. (Nobody ever drops it a few feet, it’s always when they’re hanging off the edge of a skyscraper). Turns out he didn’t even need it anymore, so it was totally gratuitous. Can we put a stop to this? Can someone come up with another, better way for a character who would normally be armed to lose his weapon? Can anyone recall other movies where this was used? Off the top of my head, I can remember **In The Line Of Fire** , several Bond movies, and **Shoot To Kill** , and I know I’m forgetting a boatload. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/2 "2004-11-01T23:16:02Z")
It’d just be easier to have them run out of bullets. In any case, it’s not **im** plausible to lose a gun under such circumstances, if you’re too dumb to reholster or pocket it while you’re trying to climb up a ladder. Showcase Action (a Canadian cable channel) has a series of “Rule” commercials, including one that declares “The gun is always slightly out of reach”, while showing clips form _Die Hard 2_, _Terminator 2_, etc. Among other tired plot devices is the ending where the hero and villian fight atop a skyscraper, the villian falls over and ends up hanging from a railing, the hero pulls the villian back up, the villian treacherously takes a wild swing at the hero, who dodges, and the villian plunges over the edge, for keeps. This way, the moral outrage of the audience can be satisfied by the villian’s death, but the hero avoids responsibility for it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/3 "2004-11-01T23:27:39Z")
One version that I quite liked was in _Training Day_ during that movie’s dreadful third act - Ethan Hawke jumps a roof, climbs over a balcony, can’t hold onto the gun once he gets up there. (He just drops it onto the balcony, by his feet, I think.) It’s a rare indication that yeah, it might be real hard to make flying leaps around rooftops and hang onto your gun. Several minutes later, while the movie has still descended into a pit of suck, there’s another great scene where Denzel Washington is in a car, slams into a car in front of him, and passes out. (Yes, indeed, folks, getting in a wreck hurts and can knock you the hell out even if you don’t go over the cliff and explode.) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/4 "2004-11-01T23:37:57Z")
I will usually go back through a book and re-skim it just to see if I missed anything good, but I no longer re-read like I used to. When I was younger and poorer and the only place to get books was the Waldens at the local mall, I re-read quite often. But now I have enough money to buy whenever I want and there are so many wonderful places to find books, including Amazon, that I usually have 3-4 in the queue. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/5 "2004-11-01T23:43:52Z")
Oops! That is the first time I have done that. :blushes: Sorry, that post was supposed to go in the do you re-read thread… The plot that I hate the most, I think, is the “gee, we’re locked IN the closet.” Most closest won’t allow it and I just don’t see it happening that often. The other one is, I am so mad at you I must kiss you. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/6 "2004-11-01T23:53:49Z")
What’s really bad about is that _every_ law enforcement officer I’ve ever talked has said that they carry a back up piece for just such a reason, because they know that if they’re weaponless, they’re _gonna die!_ ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/7 "2004-11-02T04:05:25Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > What’s really bad about is that _every_ law enforcement officer I’ve ever talked has said that they carry a back up piece for just such a reason, because they know that if they’re weaponless, they’re _gonna die!_ Plus a “drop piece” for plantin’!!! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/8 "2004-11-02T04:38:41Z")
I liked the dropped gun cliche in the _Bladerunner_ climatic fight scene between Roy Batty and Deckard. What I liked about it is that Deckard was desperately trying to get away from Batty. Dropping the gun just made it more important. Another WOPD is the “Oops, I falled” gimmick in chase scenes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/9 "2004-11-02T06:02:40Z")
Off topic but I’ve thought about this a few times. Movie guns seem to cost nothing. Perhaps in the movies people get the guns for free. Robin Williams in _The Survivors_ (paraphrased), ‘You shot my gun! Do you know how much one of these things costs?!’ One of the few times I can think of someone realistically complaining about the cost of a lost/destroyed gun. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/10 "2004-11-02T08:50:31Z")
Even worse than dropping the gun is when the person _has_ the gun, is holding the gun, has a clear shot at the villain, and for whetever reason, decides not to shoot the villian right away in favor of chatting with them or what have you. This of course invariably gives the villain enough time to figure out a way to disarm the person. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/11 "2004-11-02T09:10:42Z")
> [@](#): > > “We need to practice hand to hand combat in case an enemy knocks the laser gun out of our hands and they slide waaay across the room.” [RIGHT]_ **-Leela** _ [/RIGHT] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/12 "2004-11-02T09:13:22Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > Perhaps in the movies people get the guns for free. Robin Williams in _The Survivors_ (paraphrased), ‘You shot my gun! Do you know how much one of these things costs?!’ One of the few times I can think of someone realistically complaining about the cost of a lost/destroyed gun. That’s funny. Although to be fair, there are few situations in which somebody is going to lose a gun in a movie and then complain to the person who disarmed them about the cost of the gun. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/13 "2004-11-02T09:29:30Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Even worse than dropping the gun is when the person _has_ the gun, is holding the gun, has a clear shot at the villain, and for whetever reason, decides not to shoot the villian right away in favor of chatting with them or what have you. This of course invariably gives the villain enough time to figure out a way to disarm the person. :smack: Or the villain, instead of killing the hero immediately, proceeds to tell the hero the villains diabolical plans for world domination, thus allowing the hero to figure out a way to escape the villains clutches. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/14 "2004-11-02T10:25:50Z")
What really irks me is, on the rare occasion a hero in a firefight runs out of ammunition {usually with a revolver}, he will often pull the trigger a couple more times, hear the clicks of the empty chambers, give the gun a look of irritation, and toss it away. These things aren’t ballpoint pens, you know: they cost money, and who knows? You might be able to get some more ammunition later. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/15 "2004-11-02T10:36:16Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Or the villain, instead of killing the hero immediately, proceeds to tell the hero the villains diabolical plans for world domination, thus allowing the hero to figure out a way to escape the villains clutches. Argh! Which rule is this in the long ago written site having to do with “When I rule the Universe” or something like that? I tried to google it, to no avail. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/16 "2004-11-02T10:40:49Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Argh! Which rule is this in the long ago written site having to do with “When I rule the Universe” or something like that? I tried to google it, to no avail. [Number 7.](http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/17 "2004-11-02T11:37:10Z")
The villian has a gun to the head of the hostage, and snarls at the hero: “Drop your gun”, and the hero complies… A retired police officer friend of mine tells me that the first rule taught at the Acadamy is “never give up your gun”. If you keep your gun, the situation _might_, however implausibly, be resolved in your favor. If you give it up, it certainly won’t. If nothing else, you can shoot the sumbitch after he shoots the hostage… and if you tell him that is what you will do, he is much less likely to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/18 "2004-11-02T13:01:12Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Among other tired plot devices is the ending where the hero and villian fight atop a skyscraper, the villian falls over and ends up hanging from a railing, the hero pulls the villian back up, the villian treacherously takes a wild swing at the hero, who dodges, and the villian plunges over the edge, for keeps. This way, the moral outrage of the audience can be satisfied by the villian’s death, but the hero avoids responsibility for it. Or there is always some pointy thing sticking out at the right height to impale the villian or a handy electrical conduit to electrocute them. ---
**Author:** ![BeerDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@BeerDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeerDog)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/19 "2004-11-02T13:02:33Z")
Wasn’t this a running gag for a while on **X-Files**? I remember a scene where Mulder was chasing an Asian guy who stopped and beat the crap out of him while knocking his gun away. Then when the bad guy starting climbing a fence to leave we see Mulder pull another gun out of an ankle holster. He cocks the hammer, which makes the Asian guy freeze (are hammers really that loud, btw?) And Mulder says “I got tired of losing my gun.” The bad guy is arrested and justice wins again (or something). Or maybe i dreamed it… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433/20 "2004-11-02T13:15:59Z")
> [@](#): > > If nothing else, you can shoot the sumbitch after he shoots the hostage… and if you tell him that is what you will do, he is much less likely to do so. Naw, everybody knows you just do the Keanu Reeves maneuver (shoot the hostage yourself)… 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheezy-overused-plot-device-oops-i-dropped-my-gun/272433.md?page=2)