Everyone seems to be saying "And then there were two" (the number
varies) to the point where it's become cliche.  Someone even used that
phrase on the final episode of MTV's The Real World Austin last week. 
My question is, where did this phrase originally come from?  Is a line
from a book or play?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 23 Nov 2005 18:47 PST

This is an old nursery rhyme refrain that's been around for ages.  You
can see an example in some of this original text from Mother Goose:

http://www.mothergoose.com/Rhymes/6RhymesmerryMelodie.htm

One of these little birds back again flew,
Fal de ral--al de ral--laddy.
The other came after, and then there were two,
Fal de ral--al de ral--laddy.


It was also poularized by Agatha Christie's mystery novel, "And Then
There Were None":

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312979479/103-9579514-2203051?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance


Is that far enough back...?