Not Big Enough for the Two of Us

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A Stock Phrases used to emphasize two characters cannot occupy some important place or situation.

Originated from western movies and is now mostly used for parody.

Examples of Not Big Enough for the Two of Us include:

Advertising

  • An advertisement for a television rental company had two cowboys complain that the television they were on (presumably not rented from the company in question) wasn't big enough for the both of them.

Film

  • Inverted in The Frisco Kid: "This is a very big country. How about I take California, and you take the rest?"
  • Toy Story: One of the phrases that Woody says when his string is pulled is "This town ain't big enough for the two of us!".
    • He never says it directly to Buzz, but the town not being big enough for the two of them is a plot point.
  • Bedtime Stories

Young Skeeter: The galaxy's not big enough for the both of us.

  • The Virginian (1929)

Trampas: This world isn't big enough for the both of us!

  • The Western Code (1932)

Nick Grindell: This town ain't big enough for the both of us and I'm going to give you 24 hours to get out. If I see you in Carabinas by this time tomorrow, it's you or me!

Literature

  • There's a Tanya Huff short story called "This Town Ain't Big Enough" in which Vicki Nelson, who's now a vampire, fights another vampire to keep her territory.
  • Asian Saga

Dirk Struan: Hong Kong is big enough for Struan's and the other british traders. It's big enough for Britons and Americans. Whether it's big enough for the Brocks and the Struans is a different matter.
Tyler Brock: I'll tell you this, boy; China isn't big enough for the two of us.

Live Action TV

Judge Willard: On July 12th of this year, didn't the defendant, claiming quote, "This courtroom ain't big enough for the two of us," unquote, squirt you in the face with a water pistol in open court?

Dr. Phillip Matheson: I warned you, dude, Summer Bay ain't big enough for the both of us.

Louis Stevens: Now listen, the school ain't big enough for the both of us, so you just get out of here.

  • The Gene Autry Show episode "Feuding Friends"

Pat Buttram: I told you before, Autry, no town is going to be big enough for the both of us.
Gene Autry: Then you better find yourself another town.
Pat Buttram: I will not! I found this one first.
Gene Autry: I'm stayin' here tonight. You can do what you want.
Pat Buttram: And I'm doin' it - right now! [Slugs Autry in the jaw]

  • A Sesame Street short on the history of movies used this line as a running gag. At the beginning, Grover, dressed as a cowboy, is in a black-and-white silent film, accompanied by the title card "This town ain't big enough for the two of us!" This is followed by variations of the scene that add sound, color, a wide screen, musical numbers, and special effects.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In "The Initiative", Buffy is told that Spike has returned to Sunnydale and fumes, "Doesn't he know this is my town?"

Music Tropes

  • Rock band Sparks released a song in 1974 called "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us". According to The Other Wiki, the song originally was going to be full of TVTro...—um, I mean movie clichés.

Newspaper Comics

Calvin: This town just ain't big enough for the both of us.
Hobbes: Yep, I reckon we'll have to annex part o' the county.

Garfield: Spider, this house isn't big enough for both of us. Well, actually it probably is... [smashes the spider with a newspaper] So let's just do this for fun.

Radio

  • In Firesign Theatre's Nick Danger bit, when time travel leads to a woman's past and future selves fighting, they both exclaim, "There ain't room enough in this dress for both of us!"

Video Games

  • One adventure in Kingdom of Loathing involves both you and an unnamed NPC making this remark about the other. You both decide that the appropriate response is to take out your carpentry tools, do a bit of construction, and make the town a bit bigger.
  • Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds: Dr Doom will use this as his intro line against the likes of Dormammu.

Doctor Doom: This DIMENSION is NOT BIG ENOUGH for the BOTH of US!

    • Nova's win quote against Magneto involves regarding their helmets.

Web Comics

"This town isn't big enough for the both of us. Let's run away together!"

Western Animation

Yosemite Sam: This town ain't big enough for the two of us.
Bugs Bunny: It ain't? Pardon me, Mac. [Runs offscreen, building noises ensue]. Now is it big enough? [Bugs has built an entire city nearby]
Yosemite Sam: No, it still ain't big enough!

Daffy: As I was saying, buster, this planet ain't big enough for the two of us, so... (shoves Marvin off the remains of Planet X) off you go!

  • SpongeBob SquarePants: quoted when SpongeBob and Patrick were talking about the advantages of being felons.

SpongeBob: And you get to talk tough. [gruff voice] This town ain't big enough for the two of us.

Metroplex: This planet's not big enough for the both of us!

Jade: Sorry Charlie, but my body ain't big enough for both of us!

    • Episode "Black Magic"

Captain Black Dark: Oh Captain Black, I don't think Section 13 is big enough for the both of us.

    • Episode "Little Valmont, Big Jade"": again by Jade, only this time's she's 50 feet tall, and fighting a giant ogre.

Jade: Okay Handsome, this town ain't big enough for the both of us!

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