Putting the Foot Down

Like Releasing Stress, Putting the Foot Down is a positive alternative to the Villainous Breakdown. In this situation, the hero or heroine reaches the end of his or her rope. He or she channels that into making a firm policy, making a clear statement, and/or using firm discipline, whether it's scolding someone for doing something terrible or standing up against the villain.

Examples

 * Belle puts her foot down several times in Beauty and the Beast, like when she tells off the Beast for scaring her and standing up to Gaston.
 * Roger Radcliff puts his foot down and tells Cruella De Vil that he and Anita are not selling Pongo and Perdita's puppies.
 * Marge Simpson scolds her son Bart for his pranks.
 * Mufasa scolds Young Simba for disobeying him and putting Nala in harm's way.
 * Justin scolds 17-year-old Timmy Brisby for leaving his post.
 * Darkwing Duck often scolds his daughter Gosalyn for disobeying him and her misbehavior throughout the Darkwing Duck series.
 * Edd puts his foot down to Eddy's mischief, and sometimes to Ed too.
 * Delia Ketchum scolding her son Ash for his recklessness in the second Pokemon film
 * Dracula puts his foot down when he discovers Mavis kissing Jonathan.
 * Princess Bala does so when she stands up to General Mandible and reveals his evil plan to flood the colony.
 * Homer Simpson scolds his son Bart for shoplifting an expensive video game from Try-N-Save
 * Brandon scolds Ash Ketchum for his recklessness and carelessness, which resulted in him to be possessed by the King of Pokelantis
 * Mr. Krabs scolds Patrick, alongside Spongebob, for selling his crabby patties without his permission, while Patrick was selling Krabby Patty google-eye sculptures at a higher price.
 * Mac & Coco scolds Bloo for scaring kids.
 * Homer and Marge scolds Bart for destroying his sister's Thanksgiving centerpiece and ruining Thanksgiving, and sends him to his room.
 * Homer Simpson scolds his daughter Lisa for ruining his barbecue.
 * Marge Simpson scolds her son Bart for disobeying him by going to Nelson's after she explicitly forbade him to
 * Nelson and Molly scolds Eddie for playing on dangerous things like what he's not supposed to do and not listening to advice from other animals.
 * Vegeta scolds Goku for not saving their sons and Piccolo after Kid Buu destroyed the Earth.
 * The Crystal Gems scolds Steven Universe for disobeying an order.
 * Marge Simpson scolds her husband Homer for dumping the silo in the lake and letting the EPA put a dome on Springfield.
 * Homer Simpson scolds his son Bart for not watching Maggie and banning him from seeing the new Itchy & Scratchy movie.
 * Mr. and Mrs. Turner scold their son, Timmy for using the elements from Maho Mushi to unintentionally ruin both their jobs and banning him from watching TV.
 * Stacey and Wayne Jeremiah scold their son, Jason after he was blamed for shoplifting by Mortimer. Next, after finding out that Jason was framed, Stacey stood up to Mortimer and she was going to call the police.
 * Mr. Anderson sends Riley to her room after she makes a scene at the dinner table and yells at him to shut up.
 * Sheila Broflovski, Sharon Marsh and Liane Cartman scolds their sons, Stan, Kyle and Cartman for seeing the Terrance and Philip movie again and grounding them.
 * Linda Flynn and Lawrence Fletcher scold their daughter, Candace for throwing a wild party when she is forbidden to do it.
 * Drew Pickles scolds her daughter, Angelica for wrecking his home office and sending her to her room.
 * Leah Estrogen stands up to Mayor Phlegmming when he blows off her point that Jones was right about Thrax. Realizing the mayor only cares about his re-election, she heads to the hypothalamus herself.
 * Stinger scolds Maverick for disobeying a direct order to land his plane even though he was trying to save Cougar from crashing his plane.
 * James Henry Trotter standing up to his aunts in New York City.
 * Mavis scolds her father, Dracula while she discovers the viral video of him tossing Dennis over the edge of a tower.
 * Baloo puts his foot down with Mowgli, while having to take him back to the Man-Village.
 * Mrs. Willow Leary stands up to Tabitha Harperstein for the murder of his parents and lying to Edward.
 * Kira Watanabe stands up to Coco LaBouche for deceiving Chas Finster and mistreating the Rugrats gang.
 * When Merida slices the family tapestry in rage, Queen Elinor puts her foot down, takes her bow and then throws it in the fireplace. Then she realizes her mistake, but fishes it out.
 * Chakotay scolds B'Elanna Torres for pushing Joe Carey and fighting with him.
 * Rose Dewitt Bukater puts her foot down with her mother Ruth, when she learns that there aren't enough lifeboats for everyone on board, and she also puts her foot down with her abusive fiancé Cal Hockley, when she finds out that he framed Jack Dawson for stealing the Heart of the Ocean diamond necklace.
 * Kerchak puts the foot down with Tarzan by ordering him to stay away from the humans and to protect the gorillas Later Kerchak tells Tarzan off for disobeying his orders to stay away from the humans as well as fighting, over-powering and almost strangling him to death and for betraying the gorillas.
 * The Genie puts the foot down with Aladdin, when Al thinks he cant get him and Abu out of the Cave of Wonders.
 * Bulma scolding Krillin, Yamcha and Master Roshi for having Goten and Trunks in the Time Chamber to be killed by Super Buu.
 * Big Macintosh scolds the Cutie Mark Crusaders (Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle) for writing mean-spirited gossip about him and Applejack.
 * Jason Shepherd puts his foot down with Marty Wolf after he burns his story Big Fat Liar.
 * Shrek puts his foot down with his wife Fiona about going to Far, Far Away, but it's no use.
 * Helen Parr firmly orders Violet and Dash to get a grip.
 * Marlin puts his fin down with Nemo, which leads Nemo saying that he hates his father.
 * Jiminy Cricket puts his foot down after discovering that Pinocchio is friends with Lampwick.
 * Stu and Didi Pickles grounds their son, Tommy for taking Stu's medallion without asking.
 * The Crystal Gems and Greg scolding Steven Universe for trying to run away with Connie and banning him from TV for 1,000 years.
 * Nicole sending Gumball and Darwin to their room that means no TV, internet and miss out on the trip to the museum.
 * Stan always make Dipper do dumb chores. He's putting his foot down this time.
 * Chief Bogo reprimands Judy Hopps for leaving her post and causing trouble in Little Rodentia.
 * Nick Wilde berates Judy Hopps for her speech about predators going savage.
 * Tantor scolds Terk over her "emotional constipation", and tells her that Tarzan really needs their help.
 * Ella puts her foot down with Lady Tremaine, calling her out on her cruelty.
 * Anastasia gets angry at Dimitri for conning her.
 * Mickey Mouse scolds his dog, Pluto for digging all the holes in his yard and banning him from using his bone.

Quotes
"Princess Willow, the trouble you caused this night is inexcusable. (As he speaks, the Goblin King points one sharp, scaly claw toward his daughter.) (Fairy Princess Willow: I know, and I'm sorry, Daddy.) (The Mystery, Inc. gang, with a gasp: Daddy?!) (Fairy Princess Willow, ashamed of what she had done: I never should have snuck out early and I'll never do it again. I promise.) (sternly) As such, you are officially grounded for one year... (As soon as she hears this, Willow cringes, but the Goblin King's voice grows calm and gentle.) ...but I'm awfully glad to have you back, my little princess.) (Willow kisses him on the cheek.)"

- The Goblin King reprimanding and punishing Fairy Princess Willow for putting his kingdom in danger but then admitting he's glad to have her back. "(Judy Hopps rolls Duke Weaselton, who is tied up with the donut sign, towards Benjamin Clawhauser. She plants her fists on her hips in triumph.) (Judy: I POPPED the weasel!) (Suddenly, above her, Chief Bogo breathes fire.) HOPPS! (Judy looks up. Bogo points down the hallway, motioning for her to go to his office. Inside, Chief Bogo lists Judy's reckless actions.) Abandoning your post, inciting a scurry, reckless endangerment of rodents...but, to be fair, you did stop a master criminal from stealing two dozen moldy onions. (Bogo places the bag of bulbs Judy confiscated from Weaselton on his desk.) (Judy, trying to reason with her boss: Hate to disagree with you, sir, but those aren't onions. Those are pest riddance called Midnicampum holicithias. They're a class C botanical, sir. Well, I grew up in a family where plant husbandry was kind of a thing...) (fuming) Shut your tiny mouth now! (Judy, firmly: Sir, I got the bad guy. That's my job.) (sternly) Your job is putting tickets on parked cars! (The intercom beeps and Clawhauser's voice rings out.) (Clawhauser: Chief, Mrs. Otterton's here to see you again.) Not now. (Clawhauser: Okay, I just need to know if you want to take it this time. She seems really upset...) NOT NOW! (Judy, sincerely: Sir, I don't wanna be a meter maid. I wanna be a REAL cop.) Do you think the mayor asked what I wanted when he assigned you to me? (Judy: But sir - ) (Bogo cuts her off.) Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and your insipid dreams magically come true! (sternly) So let it go."

- Chief Bogo putting his foot down and reprimanding Judy for putting Little Rodentia at risk - despite the fact that she stopped a criminal. "Simba, I'm VERY disappointed in you. (Young Simba: I know.) You could have been killed. You deliberately disobeyed me. And what's worse, you put Nala in danger."

- Mufasa scolding Simba for disobeying him and putting Nala in risk.

"Candace, I trusted you! I can't believe you threw a party! (Candace, lying: I didn't threw a party!) Well then, whose party is it? (The teens open the door, chanting) (Party members: Candace party! Candace party!) Young lady, you are so busted! Tell your friends to go straight home and go straight up to your room!"

- Linda Flynn scolding her daughter Candace for throwing a party.

"Leave the mammoth alone."

- Diego standing up to Soto.

"Young lady, you are most definitely not accompanying us. And that is FINAL!"

- Basil of Baker Street refusing to take Olivia Flaversham on the case and puts his foot down.

"Tim, you left your post. You put us all in danger. (Timmy, protesting: But I--) You've got to learn to listen. You always think you know better than everyone else."

- Justin scolding Timmy Brisby for leaving his post.

"Nicholas Wilde, you're under arrest. (Nick Wilde: For what? Hurting your feelings?) Felony tax evasion."

- Judy Hopps putting her foot down.

"(Tantor hears Tarzan's cry for help) That sounded like Tarzan! He sounded like-like he was in trouble. (Terk, selfishly: Yeah, well, why doesn't he get his new friends to help him? I don't care.) Thaaat's IT!! (Tantor grabs Terk with his trunk) I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU AND YOUR EMOTIONAL CONSTIPATION! TARZAN NEEDS US, AND WE'RE GONNA HELP HIM! YA GOT THAT?! (He puts Terk on his back.) Now, pipe down, and hang on tight! We've got a boat to catch."

- Tantor calling Terk out on her selfishness upon hearing Tarzan's cry for help before heading to the rescue.

"That's it! Go to your room! Now!"

- Bill Andersen sending Riley to her room for making a scene at the dinner table.

"Drew Pickles: ANGELICA!! Angelica Pickles: Oh! Hello, daddy. Drew Pickles (sternly): Angelica! What did Daddy say about playing in his study? Angelica Pickles: Mmm... Drew Pickles (pointing his finger at her): Didn't Daddy tell you not to play in here?! Didn't Daddy specifically explain to you about a hundred times how important his papers are??!! Angelica Pickles: Yes, daddy. I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again. I promise. Drew Pickles (sternly): Angelica, it's not gonna work this time! Angelica Pickles: Ok, I'm really, really sorry, daddy, dear. I promise, I'll never, ever- Drew Pickles (angrily): You're not being sincere, young lady! (Angelica gasps) This time, you're in big trouble! Angelica Pickles: Daddy, you're silly. I can't be in trouble. I'm Angelica, your only daughter, you're princess, your cupcake, you little tax shelter. (Drew instead puts Angelica to her room as punishment) Drew Pickles (furious): And you're gonna stay in your room! Angelica Pickles: But daddy... Drew Pickles (Cutting her off): You're gonna stay in your room and think about what you've done! (Drew slams the door)"

- Drew Pickles scolding his daughter Angelica for wrecking his home office and sending her to her room in the Rugrats episode, "Runaway Angelica".

"JUNIOR!!"

- Peter Cottontail calling his son Junior for not watching the nougat factory in Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie.

"You buttered your bread. Now sleep in it!"

- Jiminy Cricket putting his foot down after discovering that Pinocchio is friends with rude boy Lampwick.

"You're sick, you know that? All I wanted you to do was CALL MY DAD AND TELL HIM I WROTE THAT PAPER! (Wolf, arrogantly: Or else what? You're going to shoot me with a spitball? Hmm? Gonna give me a wedgie? Grow up, Shepherd! This is Hollywood, baby. It's a dog-eat-dog town. Worse. We got cats eating cats. We got fish munching fish. (Before Wolf speaks, he pinches Jason's cheek, then Jason shoves his hand down.) (Wolf: We play by our own rules.) (He walks on the other side of his desk.) I am not leaving, until you make that call. (Wolf: Oh, I'll make a call, all right.)"

- Jason Shepherd angry at Marty Wolf for burning his class paper and tells the arrogant producer to call his father.

"(Judy Hopps: That went so fast. I didn't get any chance to mention you, or say anything about how we--) Oh, I think you said plenty. (Judy: What do you mean?) Clearly, there's a biological component? These predators may be reverting back to their primitive savage ways? Are you serious? (Judy: I just stated the facts of the case. I mean, it's not like a bunny can go savage.) Right, but a fox could, huh? (Judy: Nick, stop it! You're not like them.) (Nick gets angered) Oh, so there's a them, now? (Judy: You know what I mean! You're not that kind of predator.) The kind that needs to get muzzled? The kind that makes you believe that you need to carry around fox repellent? Yeah, don't think I didn't notice that little item on the first time we met. So l-let me ask you a question: Are you afraid of me? (Judy didn't answer.) Do you think I might go nuts? Think I might go savage? You think that I might try to...(Nick jumps forward) EAT YOU? (Judy jumps back, and she puts her hand over Fox Spray.) I knew it. Just when I thought someone actually believed in me, huh? (Nick hands his employment application to Judy.) Probably best if you don't have a predator as a partner. (Nick leaves.)"

- Nick Wilde telling Judy off about her speech about predators going savage.

"(Iago pops his hand out of the sand) Iago: [cough! cough! cough!] Finally! This is terrific! (Strains to pull himself out and comes out with Jafar's black lamp underneath him) I've got sand in places I didn't even know I had! (Jafar [from inside his lamp]: Spare me your prattling, Iago! Are we out yet?!) Iago [mimicking]: "Are we out yet?" "Are we out yet?!" Yes, we're out! No thanks to you! If it weren't for me, you'd be stuck down there forever! (The lamp rumbles with Jafar's fury) (Jafar: IAGO!!!!) (Jafar's yell sends Iago blasted out of the lamp and landing face-first into a a clump of sand. Jafar's lamp glows red as he angrily speaks.) (Jafar: You will now release me...so that I may have my revenge.) Iago (dusting himself off): Yeah, yeah, when I'm good and ready. (Jafar: DO AS I SAY, YOU WORTHLESS PIPSQUEAK!) Ya know somethin'? You're NOTHING without me! (Jafar: WHAT?!) Who comes up with all the good ideas? ME! Who does all the work? ME! (Jafar: If it weren't for ME, you'd still be in a cage at the bazaar, squawking, "Polly want a cracker!" (Iago snarls with rage. He's finally had enough!) Iago (singing) That's it, I've had it! I hate to be dramatic / But it's time for me to fly the coop! Terrific! Fine! / I'm drawin' the line / Before I wind up in a parrot soup! (Iago picks up Jafar's lamp and flies to a nearby water well) I was a fool to let you run the show /I'm cuttin' ya loose, pal! / Look out below! (Drops the lamp down the well)/ Arrividerci! / C'est la vie! / Hope all goes well! I'm lookin' out for ME!"

- Iago finally fed up with Jafar's abuse, abandons him as he drops the black lamp into a nearby well.

"I am not seven years old anymore, Aunt Trunchbull!"

- Jennifer Honey standing up to Agatha Trunchbull, revealing that Miss Trunchbull is her aunt.

"Ms. Harperstein, you can't treat Edward badly or kill his parents for revenge. (Tabitha, with evil glee: I ruined his life once. I can ruin yours, Willow.) (Mrs. Leary, finally fed up with Tabitha's abuse stands up to her.) I am not a child anymore, Tabitha!"

- Mrs. Leary finally standing up to Tabitha Harperstein for murdering his parents and lying to Edward.

"Give me my son."

- Mavis putting her foot down.

"Now just a minute! That's goin too far!"

- Baloo putting the foot down with Mowgli, while reluctantly having to take him back to the Man Village.

"Madame LaBouche, you cannot go through with this. It's obvious you really don't love Chas or Chuckie. (Coco: Which is which again?) (Kira gasps) I can no longer stand by, and watch you destroy their lives. I'm going to tell Chas the truth, and there is not a thing you can do to stop me."

- Kira Watanabe standing up to Coco LaBouche for deceiving Chas Finster.

"Why are you so cruel? You don't understand it, I've tried to be kind to you. (Tremaine: You? Kind to Me?) Yes. And no one deserves to be treated the way you've treated me!"

- Ella confronting Lady Tremaine.

"I've just about had enough of you! Go that way! You'll be malfunctioning within a day, You Near-Sighted Scrap Pile! And don't let me catch you following me begging for help, Because you won't get it!"

- C-3PO putting the foot down with R2-D2.

"Trust me. It's a bad idea. We're not going, and that's final!"

- Shrek putting his foot down with Fiona about going to Far, Far Away.

"(Cruella: When can the puppies leave their mother? Two weeks? Three weeks?) Never. (Cruella, shocked: What?) We're not s-selling the...the puppies. N-n-not a single one. Do you understand? (Cruella: Anita, is he serious? I really don't know Roger.) (Anita: Well, Cruella, he...) (Cruella: Oh, surely he must be joking.) No, no, I mean it. You're not getting one. N-N-Not one. A-And that--that's...final. (Pongo nods in agreement)"

- Roger Radcliff refusing to sell Pongo and Perdita's puppies to Cruella De Vil and puts his foot down.

"(Aladdin: Provisos? Y'mean, Limitations, on wishes? Some all-powerful Genie, He cant even bring people back from the dead. I dunno, Abu. He probably can't even get us out of this cave. Looks like we're gonna have to find a way outta here.) (Genie stomps his foot to stop the duo.) Excuse me! Are you lookin at me? Did you rub my lamp? Did you wake me up? Did you bring me here? And all of a sudden You're walkin out on me? I don't think so! Not right now! YOU'RE GETTIN YOUR WISHES, SO SIT DOWN!!!"

- Genie putting the foot down with Aladdin after Al doubts that he can get him and Abu out of the Cave of Wonders.

"ALVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!''"

- Dave Seville (constantly) putting his foot down at Alvin's recklessness.

"Have you lost your mind? (Mowgli: You said you wouldn't get mad) Did you listen to anything Akela taught you? There's no place in the jungle for these tricks. You want to do this, you do this in the man village."

- Bagheera putting the foot down, that Mowgli did tricks in the jungle.

"Merida, you are a princess. (Elinor throws the sword on the floor.) I expect you to ACT LIKE ONE! (Then she tosses Merida's bow into the fireplace.)"

- Queen Elinor scolds Merida for slicing the family tapestry with a sword.

"Dames! What dames? Jessica's the only one to me! You'll see. We'll rise above this pickling peccadillo! We're going to be happy again. You got that? Capital H-A-P-P-I!"

- Roger Rabbit, yells at Eddie Valiant about him and Jessica going to be happy.

"(Homer: I know I screwed up. This is big.) It’s huge! We're homeless! Our friends wanna kill us! Before we can even stay in the same room with you I need to know what was going through your mind when you didn't listen to me and dumped that silo in the lake!"

- Marge Simpson scolding Homer disobeying her and dumping the silo in the lake, causing springfield to be domed

"Oh, don't even mention that horrible place. I was so embarrassed and frightened. (Tramp: Oh, now, now, now. Who could ever harm a cute little trick like you?) Trick? Trick? That reminds me. Who is Trixie? (Tramp: Trixie?) and Lulu? And Fifi? And Rosita Chiquita whatever her name is? (Tramp: Ch-Chiquita, oh, oh, yes, well I) As far as I am concerned you needn't worry about your old heel. (Tramp: M-My heel?) I don't need you to shelter and protect me. (Tramp: Yes, but-but) If you grow careless, don't blame me. And I don't care if the Cossacks do pick you up. Goodbye! And take this with you."

- Lady putting her foot down, what Tramp did to her.

"(Dash: We're dead! We're dead! We survived but we're dead!) Stop it! We are not gonna die! Now, both of you will get a grip, or so help me, I will GROUND you for a month! Understand?!"

- Helen Parr being firm at the panicking Violet and Dash Parr

"You think you can do these things, But you just can't Nemo!"

- Marlin putting his fin down with Nemo.

"(Anastasia gets really angry with Dimitri after he's been booted out of the Dowager Empress Marie's private box at the Russian Ballet after hearing who Dimitri really is.) It was all a lie, wasn't it? (Dimitri: No. No.) You used me? I was just part of your con to get her money? (She begins to leave, but Dimitri follows her.) (Dimitri: No. No, no, no. Look, it may have started out that way, but everything's different now, because you really are Anastasia. You are.) Stop it! (Anastasia pokes Dimitri in the chest) From the very beginning, you lied! And I not only believed you, I actually--(She groans in frustration and leaves, but Dimitri tries to follow her again and stops her.) (Dimitri: Anya, please! When you spoke of the hidden door of the wall opening, and the little boy...Listen to me. That was--) (The conversation is cut short as she refuses to listen.) NO! I don't wanna hear about anything that I said or remembered. You just LEAVE ME ALONE! (When Dimitri grabs her arm, Anya powerfully slaps Dimitri's face, and then storms off.) (Dimitri: Anya, please. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH!) (Dimitri tries to follow her again, but fails and gets caught in the crowd.)"

- Anastasia realizing she's been conned by Dimitri.

"(Chakotay comes in B'lanna Torres' quarters and B'lanna throws a bowl at Chakotay, but misses and Chakotay gives B'lanna the PADD that contains the medical report on Liutentant Carey) Chakotay: Here, B'lanna Torres: What's this? Chakotay: The medical report on Lieutenant Carey. B'lanna Torres (frustrated): Lieutenant Carey is an idiot! When I tell you what happened- Chakotay (Cutting her off): I don't want to hear it! You might be interested to know that the impact fractures along his cranium were pretty severe. If you'd hit him just a little harder, you could have driven some of those bones into his cerebellum. B'lanna Torres: I didn't even come close to hitting him that hard. Chakotay (angrily): So on the one side, I'm facing a Vulcan who wants court-martial you. And on the other, I'm facing all the Maquis who are ready to seize this ship over this. You've turned this into one lousy day for me, Torres!"

- Chakotay scolding B'Elanna Torres for pushing Joe Carey and fighting him.

"(SpongeBob and Squidward finally arrive at the customer's house to deliver the pizza) SpongeBob: I can't wait to see the look on our customer's face! (rings doorbell) (Customer: Yeah?) Congratulations, sir! Your Krabby Patty Pizza's here! (Customer: Wow! Thanks, I've been dying for one of these--wait. Where's my drink?) SpongeBob: What drink? (Customer [in an angry tone]: My drink!? My diet Dr. Kelp. Don't tell me you forgot my drink!) SpongeBob (checking through the order): But, you didn't order any... (Customer: How am I supposed to eat this pizza without MY DRINK?!) SpongeBob (tears start rolling down his face): But...but... (Customer: Didn't you ever ONCE think of the customer?! [tosses the pizza back] You call yourself a delivery boy?! WELL, I AIN'T BUYIN'!) [slams the door. SpongeBob goes over to Squidward, smiling and trying not to cry] Squidward: ponge? Sponge? It's okay. Sponge? [SpongeBob drops the pizza, falls over, starts sobbing and absorbs his tears] Sponge? (Squidward gets angry, grabs the pizza, stomps towards the Customer's house and pounds on the door.) (Customer: Another one?! Look, I told your little friend I ain't payin' for that!) Squidward: Well, THIS one's on the HOUSE!! (slams the pizza in the customer's face, knocking him out) SpongeBob (sniffling): Did he change his mind? Squidward (smugly): He sure did. Ate the whole thing in one bite. SpongeBob (stops crying): No drink? Squidward: Nope."

- Squidward slamming the pizza in the rude customer's face for berating SpongeBob for not bringing him a drink (which he never even ordered).