The Last Straw

Not to be confused with Obstacles and Arguments, there comes a time when the hero or heroine does something that leads to something that is terrible at its worst, like the hero's worst tantrum, crossing the line, or the breaking point in a story. In other words, this is the last straw.

Films/Movies

 * After Sebastian spills the beans about Ariel being with Eric, King Triton confronts Ariel in her grotto, leading to their breaking point.
 * Merida slashes her family's tapestry in anger during an argument with her mother.
 * Owen Grady knocking the dinosaur models off the table in anger when Claire Dearing didn't listen to him about The Indominus Rex.
 * Karen Sympathy snaps at Rocky and Bullwinkle about wanting results during their first fight.
 * When Miguel Rivera blurts out that he wants to be a musician, his family forbids it and Abuelita, in a desperate attempt to protect him, smashes his guitar.
 * When Belle enters the West Wing and tries to touch an enchanted rose, this leads to the breaking point in the story, where the Beast yells at her to get out of his castle.
 * The 2017 film elaborates on this, with the Beast fearing the curse on the castle will never be broken because of Belle's presence in the West Wing.
 * When a defiant Simba coldly exiles Kovu believing he was involved in the outsider's ambush set by Zira, he gets an arguement with his daughter Kiara that she will not leave Pride Rock unescorted and forbidding her to near Kovu, resulting to defy his father Mufasa's paw prints that he himself must follow, breaking the Circle of Life, and Kiara finally rages to him that he will never be Mufasa.
 * Eep Crood tries to call Guy with her shell horn but her family breaks it. With that, she flies into a rage and hits her brother on the head, which in turn makes Grug furious.
 * Harry Potter reaches his breaking point when Aunt Marge insults his deceased parents in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
 * Shrek is going through tons of stress at his children's birthday party, with the three pigs having eaten the cake, and a bratty kid repeatedly pestering him to give him a roar, to which Shrek eventually lets out a roar of frustration. When a replacement cake with a cute looking ogre decorated on it is brought into the room, Shrek finally loses his temper and smashes the cake with his fist before storming out of the party.
 * Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible: While in a meeting with his boss Mr. Huph, Bob sees a man outside the window getting mugged and tries to alert Mr. Huph to the man being mugged, but Huph nonchalantly remarks that he hopes that the victim isn't insured. Bob attempts to save the victim, but Huph threatens to fire him if he leaves his office. Bob then sees the mugger running away and succeeding. Enraged that he failed to save a citizen and disgusted by his boss' callousness, Bob finally snaps and he snatches Huph by the throat, before tossing him through five walls, severely injuring him.
 * Max crosses the line when he bursts forth in front of his mother and bites her on the shoulder when she tries to take him to his room.
 * After Terrell and his goons turn his friend Kevin against him, Chiron reaches his breaking point and smashes a chair over his back out of revenge, which leads him to get arrested and sent to juvenile hall.
 * After Cloud and his friends arrived Gold Saucer, Barret Wallace who has painful past, finally reaches his breaking point, when Aerith Gainsborough attempted to cheer him up, yelling at them to stop messing around and they're are still aftering Sephiroth and he jumps off to the Wonder Square.
 * After Billy screams at his spider-like son, Jeff and telling him to get out of his life, Jeff reaches his breaking point and yells at his father, Billy for being a really horrible father to him, because of Billy's bad parenting to Jeff over the years.
 * After an argument with Batman about Poison Ivy's kiss being poisoned, Robin reaches his breaking point and snaps at Batman, saying that he doesn't need his help.

Quotes
"(Ariel dances around the statue of Eric, giggling, but gasps when she notices King Triton in the entrance, glaring at her.) (Ariel: Daddy!) (Sebastian watches on; Flounder hides behind a treasure chest.) (King Triton, sternly: I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed.) (Ariel: But, Daddy - !) (King Triton: Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?) (Ariel: Daddy, I had to!) (King Triton: Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden. Ariel, you KNOW that! EVERYONE knows that!) (Ariel: He would've died!) (King Triton: One less human to worry about!) (Ariel, defiantly: You don't even know him.) (King Triton: Know him? I don't HAVE to know him. They're ALL the same - spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling—) (Ariel, breaking her silence: Daddy, I LOVE him!) (She gasps and backs up behind the statue. Sebastian gasps, and Triton is surprised.) (King Triton: No! Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're a mermaid!) (Ariel, still defiant: I don't care.) (King Triton, furious: So help me, Ariel, I am going to get through with you! (he breathes fire) And if this is the only way... so be it!) (King Triton's trident turns a fiery orange and, in an unstoppable rage, he begins to blast the treasures in Ariel's grotto with it one by one.) (Ariel: Daddy! No! No, please! Daddy, stop! Daddy, STOP IT!) (Triton aims his trident at Prince Eric's statue. Ariel tries to stop him, but it's too late.) (Ariel: Daddy, NO!) (Triton demolishes the statue, shattering it to pieces. Ariel puts her head down on a rock and begins to cry. Her father swims away, ashamed. Flounder and Sebastian approach) (Sebastian (tremulously): Ariel, I--) (Ariel: Just go away!) (Sebastian and Flounder sadly leave as well.)"

- Ariel and King Triton reaching their breaking point. "I just wanted Christmas to be like it used to be, but forget it! I HATE CHRISTMAS! I HATE ALL OF YOU!"

- Max's breaking point after his cousins make fun of him, which leads to him picking a fight. "I'M GONNA BE A MUSICIAN! (Cut to Miguel's treasures being dropped to the ground with a clatter and a crash.) (Abuelita, shocked: What is all this? You keep secrets from your own family?!) (Uncle Berto: It's all that time he spends in the plaza.) (Aunt Carmen: Fills his head with crazy fantasies.) It's not a fantasy. That man was Ernesto de la Cruz! (He gives his father the photo of Coco, Imelda and her husband.) The greatest musician of all time! (Papa, sternly: We've never known about this man! But whoever he was, he still abandoned his family. This is no future for my son.) But, Papa, you said my family would guide me. Well, de la Cruz IS my family. I'm supposed to play music. (Abuelita: Never! That man's music was a curse! I will not allow it.) If you would just-- (Mama: Miguel.) (Papa, sternly: You will listen to your family. No. More. Music.) (Miguel picks up his guitar.) Just listen to me play! (Papa, still stern: End of argument.) (Miguel prepares to strum his guitar, but Abuelita grabs it from him!) (Abuelita: You want to end up like that man? Forgotten? Left off your family's ofrenda?) (bursting forth) I don't care if I'm on some stupid ofrenda! (His whole family gasps in shock. Abuelita looks at the guitar and raises it over her head.) No! (Papa: Mama!) (But it's too late. Abuelita brings Miguel's guitar right on the ground, smashing it to pieces.) (Abuelita: There. No guitar, no music.) (Miguel breathes shakily, on the verge of tears.) (Abuelita, trying to comfort her grandson: Oh, come. You'll feel better after you eat with your family.) (exploding) I don't wanna be in this family! (Miguel snatches the photo from his father and runs away from home.) (Papa: Miguel! Miguel!)"

- Miguel Rivera's breaking point. "BANKRUPT! SUICIDE! YOU'RE F*CKING LOSERS!"

- Dwayne Hoover breaking his silence after his dream of becoming a pilot is shot down.

"(Aunt Marge: Actually...it's nothing to do with the father. It's all to do with the mother. You see it all the time with dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, then there's something wrong with the pup.) (With that, Harry throws his tablecloth down.) SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!"

- Harry Potter's breaking point when Aunt Marge insults his late parents.

"(Queen Elinor drags Merida into the tapestry room by her arm and tosses her inside.) (Queen Elinor: Mighty me! I've had just about enough of you, lass!) You're the one that wants me to - (Queen Elinor: You embarrassed them. You embarrassed me!) I followed the rules! (Queen Elinor, slamming the door: You don't know what you've done!) I don't care how - (Queen Elinor, sternly: It will be fire and sword if it's not set right.) Just listen! (Queen Elinor, putting her foot down: I am the QUEEN! YOU listen to ME!) AAAARGH! This is so unfair! (Queen Elinor, with a scoff: Unfair?) (Merida grabs up her sword.) You're NEVER there for me! This whole marriage is what YOU want. Do you ever bother to ask what I want? No! You walk around telling me what to do, what not to do, trying to make me be like YOU. Well, I'm not going to be like you! (Queen Elinor: Och, you're acting like a child.) (Merida walks over to the family tapestry.) And YOU'RE a...BEAST! That's what YOU are! (Elinor gasps.) (Queen Elinor: Merida!) I'll never be like you! (Queen Elinor: No! Stop that!) (exploding) I'd rather DIE than be like you! (As she speaks, Merida slashes the tapestry with her sword, ripping a huge gash between the images of herself and her mother. Elinor gives out a gasp. But then, her shock turns to anger and she steps up to her daughter.) (Queen Elinor, fuming: Merida, you are a princess...) (Elinor pulls the sword out of Merida's hands and takes away her bow.) MUM! (Queen Elinor: ...and I expect you to ACT like one!) (In a fit of rage, Elinor tosses Merida's bow into the fireplace. Merida gasps and her mother gives her a stern glance. Merida feels her lower lip tremble and as she runs out of the room in tears, Elinor calls out to her.) (Queen Elinor: Merida! MERIDA!) (Elinor hears the bowstring twang, and in regret, she fishes the bow out of the roaring fire.) (Queen Elinor: Oh, no. What have I done?) (As Elinor sinks to the floor, sobbing, Merida rides away from the castle on Angus.)"

- Merida slashing the family tapestry in a fury during her argument with her mother.

"(Tonguc furiously storm off to outside with hammer) Shero: And what the f**k with you? Tonguc (he approaches Shero with a raised hammer) Time to meet the creator! TODAY, even nine lives will not save you! It's Over! Understand!? (he kick folding stool) You're dead! Shero (confused): But what's a matter, I don't get it? (Tonguc growls in anger at Shero, while Rifki takes a fish, but Tonguc noticed that and brandishing a box with his hammer tring hit Rifki, who escaped. Then in fury knocks down the table and the grill) Riza: Let's go, because guys want talk. Rifki: Let's f**k away. (Riza and Rifki flies off) Tonguc (takes a desk wanting to barricade the entrance for cats) You... just always.. (Nailing desk entrance) Take it and take it! You don't give anything in exchange! And now because of YOU I have f**ked up! So, you will not go into this house... anymore! Shoo! Shero: What you talking about, man? That's probably you're paying the rent, not me! Tonguc: From now you are officially: A tramp! An ordinary roofer! A stray bastard! (Tonguc enter to inside, closes the door, throws out the brush, barricates the windows and throws out a photo portrait. Shero picked up the photo portrait with him and his owner)"

- Tonguc's breaking point and kick out Shero from house due to overdue rent.

"Now, Asset Containment can use live ammunition in an emergency situation. You have an M134 in your armory. Put it on a chopper and smoke this thing! (Claire Dearing: We have families here. I'm not gonna turn this place into some kind of a war zone.) You already have. (Claire Dearing: Mr. Grady, if you're not gonna help, there's no reason for you to be in here.)(Owen splutters with fury as he hitting the dinosaur models from the table.)"

- Owen Grady snapping at Claire Dearing before knocking the dinosaur models off the table in anger.

"(The Turner house is completely destroyed and Mr. Turner's boss arrives to give Mr. Turner a cleanest house award) (Mr. Turner's boss: Turner, I decided to give you a second chance and- (sees the trashed Turner house) Good Heavens! Dinkleberg, catch this nicest house plaque and the raise that goes with it.) (Mr. Turner's boss throws the award and money to Dinkleberg and Dinkleberg begins his celebration by continuing to play fetch with his dog) (Sheldon Dinkleberg, happily: Sweet. Fetch, Dinkledog.) (Mr. Turner's boss leaves and Mr. Turner finally snaps about losing all the awards and money to Dinkleberg that he can no longer take as he pulls his hair out very hard and his head is now bald) GRRRAAAH!"

- Mr. Turner's breaking point, when he finally snaps about not winning all of the awards and money after losing the cleanest house award to Mr. Dinkleberg.

"Dad! How dare you call Velma "my girlfriend." She's my fiancé. (Jeff starts to shake.) What's happening to me. (Jeff begins to snap at his father, Billy for not being a good father to Jeff.) OHHHH! OHHH! I'VE BECOME ANGRY! AHHHH! Get away from me. I hate you, dad! I hate you! I only wanted to be a good son and you never came to any of my birthday parties and you never let me see mom and you took all my college money to buy jawbreakers and you keep getting my free cables and I'VE HAD IT! I DON'T NEED YOUR STUPID RULES!!! (Jeff leaves, upset.) (Billy: Good.)"

- Jeff the Spider's breaking point when he yells at Billy for being a really horrible father to him.

"(Poison Ivy: Let me kiss you.) (Batman puts a stop to it.) (Batman: Stop, don't kiss her. (Batman confronts Robin for what he just did.) The victim at the airport. Toxins introduced through the mouth.) (Robin stands up to Batman.) What are you talking about? (Batman: Why do you think she's so desperate to kiss us, I'm betting her lips are poison.) Poison kiss? You got some real issues with women, you know that? You just couldn't stand that she was gonna kiss me and not you. You couldn't stand it that something was gonna be mine and not yours, could you? (Robin pushes Batman and Batman avoids Robin's attacks and pushes Robin into the vat of green slime and Poison Ivy and Bane have the chance to escape.) (Poison Ivy: Exit Bane.) (Bane: Exit.) (Bane and Poison Ivy leave and Robin realizes that this is the last straw as gets out of the slime dip and leaves in anger.) Ivy's right. I don't need your help. I'm going solo. (Robin leaves and Commissioner Gordon shows up.) (Commissioner Gordon: What happened? How'd they get away?) (Batman is upset about this.)"

- Robin snapping, when he tells Batman that he doesn't need his help after a harsh argument with him about Poison Ivy's kiss.

"(At Shrek and Fiona's children's birthday party, Pinocchio dances and sings) (Pinocchio: ♪Happy Birthday Bash! No more diaper rash! One year older, not a pain! Friends still remain the same, refrain! Super duper, party pooper! Birthday, birthday, birthday bash! Birthday, birthday, birthday bash!♪) (Crowd: ♪Birthday bash! Dah-dah-dah-dah-dah!♪) (Donkey: C'mon, Shrek, it's a sing-along! You've gotta sing along!) No thanks. (Donkey: Please? I'll be your best friend!) When does being your best friend entail me doing everything I don't wanna do?! (Felicia squeaks her doll in her father's ear. Shrek snatches the doll and places it in his vest pocket.) Please, Felicia, not in Daddy's ear. (A villager taps on Shrek's shoulder) (Lemke: Excuse me, Mr. Shrek? Could you do that ogre roar of yours for my son? He's a big, big fan!) (Butter Pants: Do the roar.) Y'know, I'd rather not. It's my kids' birthday party. (Butter Pants: Do the roar!) (Fiona walks in.) (Fiona: Uh, honey, why don't you go check on the cake?) Phew. Sure. (Fiona: And don't forget the candles!) (Shrek sighs) (At the counter, Muffin Man adds frosting pants to Gingy's legs) (Muffin Man: Hold still.) (Muffin Man finishes icing Gingy's legs and gives him a cowboy hat) (Gingy: Thanks for the pants, Muffin Man! I always wanted chaps! Yeehaw! Giddy up!) (Muffin Man: Ah, Monsieur Shrek.) (Gingy: Howdy, Shrek!) (Muffin Man: Your cake. Voila!) (Muffin Man holds out a cake decorated with a rainbow and a smiling adorable ogre at the center. Shrek scowls.) Oh, what is that supposed to be? (Gingy: That's Sprinkles the Ogre!) (Doris: Isn't he cute? He looks just like you.) (Donkey: But happy. It's a party, Shrek. You gotta cheer up!) I'm in a great mood, actually! (Donkey: Oh, I'm gonna lick me a rainbow!) (Donkey licks the cake) Donkey! (Lemke: As long as you're not doing anything, how 'bout one of those famous Shrek roars?) (Butter Pants: Do the roar!) Let me set you straight, Butter Pants. An ogre only roars when he's angry. You don't wanna see me angry, do you? (Butter Pants: Do it! [licks his lollipop]) (Shrek begins to fume. He walks away from Butter Pants and Lemke, trying very hard not to snap.) Hold it together. Just hold it together. (Butter Pants: Daddy, he's getting away. Do something!) (Shrek drops the cake on the table in front of Fiona.) (Fiona: Oh, good. [gasps as she sees the toungue-smeared cake] What happened to the cake?) Trust me. It's an improvement. (Queen Lillian: Ugh, you licked it!) No! (Queen Lillian: Just because you're an ogre doesn't mean you have to eat like one.) (Doris: Looks like you forgot the candles!) (A balloon pops in Shrek's face.) AAH! (Fiona: Okay, just watch the cake. I'll go get them.) Watch the cake? AAAH! (The cake's gone!) Where's the cake?! (The three pigs stand with frosting on their mouths) (Pig 1: We ate the cake!) (Pig 2: Yeah) What?! (Farkle, Fergus and Felicia begin to cry) No, don't cry! (Lemke: Hey! I believed you promised my son a roar.) (Butter Pants: Do the roar.) Uh, roar. (Butter Pants: I don't like it.) Pigs, we need another cake! (Pig 3: But we ate the other cakes!) (Lemke: C'mon, man. One roar!) (Donkey: Hey, everybody! Shrek's gonna do his famous ogre roar!) Not now, Donkey! Pigs, are there any cupcakes? (Pig 1: We ate them, too.) (Pig 2: They have lollipops.) (Pig 3: No, I ate them.) (Pig 2: What?! You didn't share?!) (Pig 3: Well, you didn't share any of the croissants!) (Shrek tries to calm his kids down) Everything's gonna be okay! (Fiona: Shrek, what's going on?) (Donkey: C'mon, Shrek! You're fans are waiting!) (Butter Pants: Do the roar!) (Pinocchio dances around Shrek. The Big Bad Wolf pops a balloon. Shrek glances at the crowd around him, grimaces, then opens his mouth wide.) ROAAAAAAAAR! (Shrek lets out a roar so loud and forceful that it nearly knocks the entire crowd over. He finally stops and pants heavily. Everyone stares in shock. Then suddenly, the crowd cheers.) (Crowd: YAY!) (Butter Pants: I love you, Daddy!) (Crowd: Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!) (Puss in Boots: Everybody, I have found another cake!) (Puss unveils another rainbow ogre cake.) (Fiona: Shrek, are you okay?) (Shrek glares at the cute ogre imprinted on the cake. He can't take it anymore!) (Crowd: Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!) ARRGH! (Shrek smashes the cake with his fist. The crowd gasps in shock. Fiona frowns. Shrek storms out the door.)"

- Shrek going through tons of stress at his kids' birthday party, eventually losing his temper and smashing the cake.

"(Cloud Strife and his friends arrive at the Gold Saucer) (Aerith Gainsborough: Wow, lets have some fun! (she notices Barret Wallace standing alone upset from his past) I know this isn't the right time to do this. (walks over to Barret and touches his shoulder) Hey, Barret cheer up!) I ain't no cherry mood. So just leave me alone. (Aerith Gainsborough: Really? That's too bad. (runs back over to Cloud and grabs his arm) Let's go! (Tifa Lockhart, whispering: Wasn't that a little harsh Aerith?!) (Aerith Gainsborough, whispering: Just act normal when this happens.) (Tifa Lockhart, whispering: You think so...?) (Aerith Gainsborough: Of course! (runs over to Barret) We're gonna play.) (Barret snaps, turns around and swings his arms in a fit of rage) SO PLAY!!! MESS AROUND ALL YOU WANT!!! Don't forget we're after Sephiroth! (runs toward to the Wonder Square and jumps in) (Aerith Gainsborough: I think, he's mad.) (Tifa Lockhart: He'll be fine. He seems to be doing a little better now.)"

- Barret Wallace reaching his breaking point from his past, yelling at Cloud Strife and his friends to stop messing around and still aftering Sephiroth.

"(Bob arrives at Mr. Huph's office) (Mr. Huph: Sit down, Bob.) (Bob sits down, knocking one of Mr. Huph's pencils out of place on the calendar; Huph fixes the pencil to get back in line with the other pencils) (Mr. Huph: I'm not happy, Bob. NOT... happy! [Huph gets out of his chair and paces around Bob] Ask me why.) Okay. Why? (Mr. Huph: ‘Why' what? Be specific, Bob.) Why are you unhappy? (Mr. Huph: Your customers make me unhappy.) What, you've gotten complaints? (Mr. Huph: Complaints I can handle. What I can't handle is your customers' inexplicable knowledge of Insuricare's inner workings! They're experts! EXPERTS, BOB! Exploiting every loophole, dodging every obstacle! THEY'RE PENETRATING THE BUREAUCRACY!) Did I do something illegal? (Mr. Huph: (through gritted teeth) No.) Are you saying we shouldn't help our customers? (Mr. Huph: The law requires that I answer "no".) We're supposed to help people! (Mr. Huph: We're supposed to help OUR people! Starting with our stockholders, Bob! Who's helping them out, huh?! [sighs as he recomposes] You know, Bob... a company...) Is like an enormous clock. (Mr. Huph: Is like an an enormous cl-- Yes! Precisely! It only works if all the little cogs mesh together. Now, a clock needs to be clean, well-lubricated, and wound tight. The best clocks have jewel movements, cogs that fit, that cooperate by design. [chuckles] I'm being metaphorical, Bob. You know what I mean by cooperative cogs? [Bob sees a man getting mugged right outside the window] Bob? Bob? [grabs Bob by the chin and pulls him toward him] Look at me when I'm talking to you, Parr!) That man out there! He needs help! (Mr. Huph: Do not change the subject, Bob! We're discussing your attitude!) He is getting mugged! (Mr. Huph: Well, let's hope we don't cover him!) (Bob gets out of his seat and heads for the door) I'll be right back. (Mr. Huph: Stop right now OR YOU'RE FIRED! [Bob stops; Huph smirks] Close the door. [Bob scowls as he reluctantly closes the door] Get over here now. [Bob lets go of the door knob, now crushed out of shape, and walks over to Huph.] I'm not happy, Bob. Not happy.) (Bob sees the mugger run off and glares) He got away. (Mr. Huph: Good thing, too. Heh! You were this close to losing your jo–AAAGH!) (Bob furiously snatches Huph by the throat. Then he throws him through five office walls. Huph crashes into a filing cabinet, badly injured. Everybody stares at Bob in shock.) Uh-oh."

- Bob Parr losing his temper with his callous boss Mr. Huph forcing him to leave an innocent citizen get mugged right outside the window and he grabs him by the throat before throwing him through several walls, severely injuring him.