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* In the 2005 remake of ''Film/TheFog'', one of the four teens whose boat is first to fall prey to the haunted fogbank goes into a trance and draws a set of scales on the window. Presumably this is to foreshadow the ghosts' motive of [[spoiler: payback for their murders at the hands of the town founders]].
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/condensation_clue.jpg]]
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/condensation_clue.jpg]]
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* In ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'', Jack Frost provides Jamie with a sign that the Easter Bunny is for real by frosting over his window and drawing an Easter egg in the frozen condensation.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'', otherwise-imperceptible Jack Frost provides Jamie with a sign that the Easter Bunny is for real by frosting over his window and drawing an Easter egg in the frozen condensation.
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A family-friendly sister trope of CouldntFindAPen.
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A family-friendly sister trope of CouldntFindAPen.
CouldntFindAPen. AnIcePerson may use ''frozen'' condensation to leave messages this way, etching them in frost.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'', Jack Frost provides Jamie with a sign that the Easter Bunny is for real by frosting over his window and drawing an Easter egg in the frozen condensation.
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* In the suspense/horror film ''Patrick'', the titular telekinetic coma patient causes the words "You are mine" to appear on the fogged bathroom mirror of a nurse his damaged brain has become obsessed with. When she reacts by yelling how repulsed she is by his psychic stalking, he makes the mirror de-fog and then shatter explosively, cutting her badly with its shards.
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* In ''Literature/KingRat'', the title character writes a short message to the protagonist in the grime on a window when he's sneaking him out of jail, as speaking aloud would be overheard by the nearby police.
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* In ''CSIMiami,'' they use this principle to reveal shoe prints after a woman is electrocuted while taking a bath.
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* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', Lavender huffs on the window of Ron's train compartment and draws an [[{Glurge}} overly-cutesy heart]] in the condensation.
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* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', Lavender huffs on the window of Ron's train compartment and draws an [[{Glurge}} [[{{Glurge}} overly-cutesy heart]] in the condensation.
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* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', Lavender huffs on the window of Ron's train compartment and draws an [[{Glurge}} overly-cutesy heart]] in the condensation.
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* Used in an EncyclopediaBrown story where two spies in a hotel pass information to each other without being caught. The first took a shower and drew the info on the mirror, then waited until it faded to leave. The second went in and took a shower, copying down the message as it reappeared on the mirror.
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* Used in an EncyclopediaBrown story where two spies in a hotel pass information to each other without being caught. The first took a shower and drew the info on the mirror, then waited until it faded to leave. leave (he opened a window to speed the process). The second went in and took a shower, copying down the message as it reappeared on the mirror.mirror, then wiped the mirror down so no one else would notice.
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* On ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', when Steven traps himself and a girl in a bubble-shaped, soundproof magic shield, they both breathe on the sides and draw in the resulting condensation to try and convince Onion to break it and free them.
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* On ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', when Steven traps himself and a girl in a bubble-shaped, soundproof magic shield, they both breathe on the sides and draw in the resulting condensation to try and convince Onion to break it and free them. Steven tries to get him to use a harpoon gun with a complicated drawing. Connie just writes "harpoon gun".
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* Used on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' when Faith entices Buffy into ditching school to go slaying by breathing on the classroom window, then drawing a heart and 'staking' the middle of it with her finger.
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* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower. The BigBad figured it too, as he had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angle as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
to:
* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower. The BigBad figured it too, as he had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he that he's at the same angle as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
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* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower. The BigBad figured it too, as he had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
to:
* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower. The BigBad figured it too, as he had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel angle as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
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* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower.
** The villains figure it out too. The BigBad had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
** The villains figure it out too. The BigBad had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
to:
* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower.
** The villains figure it out too.shower. The BigBad figured it too, as he had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
** The villains figure it out too.
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** The villains figure it out too. The BigBad had planted bugs in the bathroom, and saw her mood change from depressed to happy. He instructs TheDragon to position himself so that's he at the same angel as she was, and seeing that she was looking at the mirror they both realize where the message is.
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* ''MysteryCaseFiles'':
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* ''MysteryCaseFiles'':''VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles'':
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Occasionally used to convey a message between two characters who are present at the same time, but either can't or won't speak aloud. In such cases, grime on the glass can serve the same purpose as condensation.
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Occasionally used to convey a message between two characters who are present at the same time, but either can't or won't speak aloud. In such cases, grime on the glass can serve the same purpose as condensation.
condensation. Also occasionally seen in a HauntedHouse, presumably because ghosts have an easier time manipulating condensation than writing implements.
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* In ''[[Literature/RepairmanJack The Haunted Air]]'', a ghostly presence writes on a fogged-up mirror to communicate with Lyle in real time.
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* In ''[[VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
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* ''MysteryCaseFiles'':
** In''[[VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', ''Escape From Ravenhearst'', the push-button combination to a padlock appears on a bathroom mirror once you repair the water heater and turn on the hot-water tap.
** In ''Shadow Lake'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
** In
** In ''Shadow Lake'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
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* JamesBond's contact Luigi Ferrara leaves a message for him in his hotel room using this method in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly''.
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* JamesBond's Film/JamesBond's contact Luigi Ferrara leaves a message for him in his hotel room using this method in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly''.
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* In ''Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches'', an unseen presence writes a clue on the upstairs bathroom mirror when you turn on the hot water and let it steam up.
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* The setup is seen in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' where Homer & Marge are trapped in a revolving door that dropped on them from a hurricane. Homer writes on the glass, "Save her first."
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* The setup is seen in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' where Homer & Marge are trapped in a revolving door that dropped on them from a hurricane. Homer writes on the glass, "Save her first.""
* On ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', when Steven traps himself and a girl in a bubble-shaped, soundproof magic shield, they both breathe on the sides and draw in the resulting condensation to try and convince Onion to break it and free them.
* On ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', when Steven traps himself and a girl in a bubble-shaped, soundproof magic shield, they both breathe on the sides and draw in the resulting condensation to try and convince Onion to break it and free them.
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* In ''[[MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
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* In ''[[MysteryCaseFiles ''[[VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
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* In one of the ''JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' books, Wobbler writes a note on a fogged-up window so he won't forget it, then keeps rushing back to huff on the glass and keep it foggy so the message remains visible.
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* In one of the ''JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' books, Wobbler writes a note on a fogged-up window so he won't forget it, then keeps rushing back to huff on the glass and keep it foggy so the message remains visible.
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* In ''VideoGame/AliceIsDead'', a mirror in the nightclub has a hidden message that can be revealed by messing with the club's air conditioning.
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* In ''Azada'', turning on the hot water in the bathroom reveals which two symbols to click on to open a locked chest.
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* In ''Azada'', ''VideoGame/{{Azada}}'', turning on the hot water in the bathroom reveals which two symbols to click on to open a locked chest.
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** Possibly an InspirationNod to the very similar plotline in ''Film/TheLadyVanishes''.
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A classic way for an investigating character to discover a hidden message is when it's been written/drawn invisibly onto a window or mirror with someone's bare fingertip. Imperceptible under dry conditions, such a message will be revealed if steam is allowed to build up near it, causing condensation to fog up the glass everywhere except where fingerprint-grease adheres to its surface.
Occasionally used to convey a message between two characters who are present at the same time, but either can't or won't speak aloud. In such cases, grime on the glass can serve the same purpose as condensation.
This trope is commonly used in bathrooms, where mirrors are found in close association with showers and sinks as sources for steaming-hot water. Only rarely will any marks ''besides'' the crucial clue appear, which can raise FridgeLogic issues if the surface in question hasn't been cleaned since it was last handled, so logically ought to have previous (random) finger-marks on it.
A family-friendly sister trope of CouldntFindAPen.
!!Examples:
[[AC: Film]]
* In ''Film/KillBill Pt. 2'', the swordsmith is unwilling to say Bill's name aloud, so he writes it in condensation on a fogged-up window for the Bride to read.
* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower.
* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. Constantine is sure that Isabel Dodson didn't commit suicide without leaving a message for her sister Angela. He uses a repeated ArmorPiercingQuestion on a reluctant Angela to force her to admit that she and Isabel used this technique as children. Angela then breathes on the window in Isabel's room, revealing her final message to her sister.
* JamesBond's contact Luigi Ferrara leaves a message for him in his hotel room using this method in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly''.
* The heart the daughter drew on the window in ''Film/FlightPlan'' confirms that Jodie Foster's character isn't going crazy and hadn't just imagined that her supposedly-dead daughter was on the plane.
[[AC: Literature]]
* In one of the ''JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' books, Wobbler writes a note on a fogged-up window so he won't forget it, then keeps rushing back to huff on the glass and keep it foggy so the message remains visible.
* Used in an EncyclopediaBrown story where two spies in a hotel pass information to each other without being caught. The first took a shower and drew the info on the mirror, then waited until it faded to leave. The second went in and took a shower, copying down the message as it reappeared on the mirror.
[[AC: LiveActionTelevision]]
* ''{{CSI NY}}'' had this in 'Unspoken'...the villain opens fire at a political rally and though no one is hit, he realizes Lindsay saw him. He goes into her hospital room wanting to kill her and writes 'I'm sorry' on the window. He doesn't kill her, because he realizes she's a mother and has a big thing against hurting kids, but the next morning, Lindsay's husband, Danny, is standing by the window with his coffee, and the steam reveals the would-be killer's words.
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'', Spike has been reduced to being a [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghost]] and can't be seen and can BARELY interact with the world. He manages to write a single word in the condensation while Fred showers.
* A message revealed by steaming a mirror provided a clue on the pilot episode of ''Series/{{Whodunnit}}?''.
[[AC: VideoGames]]
* In ''Azada'', turning on the hot water in the bathroom reveals which two symbols to click on to open a locked chest.
* One of the clues in the Stonehenge site's RV from ''The Omega Stone'' can be revealed in this way by entering the shower stall and turning it on.
* In ''VideoGame/DarkFall : The Journal'', you need to re-start the hotel's running water so you can steam up one of the bathroom mirrors and expose a lyric.
* In ''[[MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
* In chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/TheCatLady'', Susan figures out the fellow patient's mother's name by leaving the hot water running under the bathroom mirror, revealing part of the name written on it with a finger. Figuring out other parts [[MushroomSamba requires being drugged]].
* In ''Resorting To Danger'', one of the Dossier sub-series of VideoGame/NancyDrew games, a password can be revealed on the see-through door of an industrial dryer if you turn it on so its window steams up.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* The setup is seen in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' where Homer & Marge are trapped in a revolving door that dropped on them from a hurricane. Homer writes on the glass, "Save her first."
Occasionally used to convey a message between two characters who are present at the same time, but either can't or won't speak aloud. In such cases, grime on the glass can serve the same purpose as condensation.
This trope is commonly used in bathrooms, where mirrors are found in close association with showers and sinks as sources for steaming-hot water. Only rarely will any marks ''besides'' the crucial clue appear, which can raise FridgeLogic issues if the surface in question hasn't been cleaned since it was last handled, so logically ought to have previous (random) finger-marks on it.
A family-friendly sister trope of CouldntFindAPen.
!!Examples:
[[AC: Film]]
* In ''Film/KillBill Pt. 2'', the swordsmith is unwilling to say Bill's name aloud, so he writes it in condensation on a fogged-up window for the Bride to read.
* In the film, ''Film/{{Paycheck}}'', Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) contractually has his [[LaserGuidedAmnesia memory erased]] after completing a job, a wipe that has dire consequences. Knowing he'll need to contact his girlfriend Rachel Porter (Uma Thurman) for help after the memory wipe, he writes a message for her to meet him at their favorite bistro onto her bathroom mirror so that she will see it the next day when the mirror fogs from her shower.
* ''Film/{{Constantine}}''. Constantine is sure that Isabel Dodson didn't commit suicide without leaving a message for her sister Angela. He uses a repeated ArmorPiercingQuestion on a reluctant Angela to force her to admit that she and Isabel used this technique as children. Angela then breathes on the window in Isabel's room, revealing her final message to her sister.
* JamesBond's contact Luigi Ferrara leaves a message for him in his hotel room using this method in ''Film/ForYourEyesOnly''.
* The heart the daughter drew on the window in ''Film/FlightPlan'' confirms that Jodie Foster's character isn't going crazy and hadn't just imagined that her supposedly-dead daughter was on the plane.
[[AC: Literature]]
* In one of the ''JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'' books, Wobbler writes a note on a fogged-up window so he won't forget it, then keeps rushing back to huff on the glass and keep it foggy so the message remains visible.
* Used in an EncyclopediaBrown story where two spies in a hotel pass information to each other without being caught. The first took a shower and drew the info on the mirror, then waited until it faded to leave. The second went in and took a shower, copying down the message as it reappeared on the mirror.
[[AC: LiveActionTelevision]]
* ''{{CSI NY}}'' had this in 'Unspoken'...the villain opens fire at a political rally and though no one is hit, he realizes Lindsay saw him. He goes into her hospital room wanting to kill her and writes 'I'm sorry' on the window. He doesn't kill her, because he realizes she's a mother and has a big thing against hurting kids, but the next morning, Lindsay's husband, Danny, is standing by the window with his coffee, and the steam reveals the would-be killer's words.
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Angel}}'', Spike has been reduced to being a [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghost]] and can't be seen and can BARELY interact with the world. He manages to write a single word in the condensation while Fred showers.
* A message revealed by steaming a mirror provided a clue on the pilot episode of ''Series/{{Whodunnit}}?''.
[[AC: VideoGames]]
* In ''Azada'', turning on the hot water in the bathroom reveals which two symbols to click on to open a locked chest.
* One of the clues in the Stonehenge site's RV from ''The Omega Stone'' can be revealed in this way by entering the shower stall and turning it on.
* In ''VideoGame/DarkFall : The Journal'', you need to re-start the hotel's running water so you can steam up one of the bathroom mirrors and expose a lyric.
* In ''[[MysteryCaseFiles Shadow Lake]]'', a series of symbols is written in the condensation on the inside of a car window. A dying man inside the car wipes it away, but you can re-view the cinematic if you miss any of the symbols the first time around.
* In chapter 2 of ''VideoGame/TheCatLady'', Susan figures out the fellow patient's mother's name by leaving the hot water running under the bathroom mirror, revealing part of the name written on it with a finger. Figuring out other parts [[MushroomSamba requires being drugged]].
* In ''Resorting To Danger'', one of the Dossier sub-series of VideoGame/NancyDrew games, a password can be revealed on the see-through door of an industrial dryer if you turn it on so its window steams up.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* The setup is seen in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' where Homer & Marge are trapped in a revolving door that dropped on them from a hurricane. Homer writes on the glass, "Save her first."
