History Main / StagingTheEavesdrop

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Bossy Boots", Mr. Krabs tasks Spongebob with firing Pearl (since he doesn't have the heart to do it himself). After Pearl reveals to Spongebob that she ''wants'' to be fired, the two decide to stage an overly-dramatic firing for Krabs to hear from behind the door to his office.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', this is how [[DaddysLittleVillain Azula]], [[KnifeNut Mai]], and [[PerkyFemaleMinion Ty Lee]] formed their alliance with [[SecretPolice the Dai Li]]. Knowing the Dai Li would be monitoring them, Azula arranges for Dai Li agents to overhear Mai and Ty Lee "accidentally" outing themselves as Fire Nation infiltrators. This prompts the Dai Li, angry at the Earth King due to the recent imprisonment of their leader, to make an alliance with Azula and company where both sides look to use the other.

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* In ''[[https://musings-of-apathy.fanficauthors.net/Harry_Potter_and_the_Cracked_Reservoir/index/ Harry Potter and the Cracked Reservoir]]'', Harry, in order to protect Ginny, arranges for a few Death Eater kids to overhear them arguing about a fake prophecy, one claiming harm to Ginny will result in Harry unlocking his full potential.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Spacetrawler}}'', Pierrot and Krep become guests of King ([[spoiler:of the civilized, underground Mihrgoots]]), who's been hiding the existence of his faction from the outside universe. To maintain the masquerade, King has to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia wipe Pierrot's and Krep's memories of the visit]]. He [[https://www.baldwinpage.com/spacetrawler/2011/06/28/spacetrawler-150/ arranges everything]] so his mind-wiped guests can think they're escaping from a prison. This includes two cooks having a conversation nearby, to give away the exact information needed for the escape.

* In ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'', Jessica Rabbit is caught [[YourCheatingHeart playing pattycake with another man]]. Pictures are taken and her name is sullied. As it turns out, Jessica was forced into that situation so that Eddie could catch her doing it. She's otherwise a dutiful wife who is HappilyMarried to Roger.

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* In ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'', this is how Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into falling in love (or admitting that they love each other). First Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato stage a conversation about how Beatrice is in love with Benedick while Benedick is eavesdropping, then Hero and her maidservants do the same thing to Beatrice. In each case, the eavesdropper is convinced that if the other is in love with them then they should requite the love.

->'''Eddie:''' Weren't you the one I caught playin' pattycake with Old Man Acme?
->'''Jessica:''' You didn't "catch" me, Mr. Valiant. You were set up to take those pictures.

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* In ''Film/{{Midway}}'' (a World War [=II=] {{Dramatization}}), American Navy Intelligence deduce that the Japanese are planning on targeting two sites, coded A-F and A-O. The air base on Midway Island is instructed to radio in the clear that its fresh water condenser is broken in the hope that the Japanese intercept it and radio this update to Fleet Command. The Japanese fall for it and the US Navy had the confirmation they needed: A-F is Midway Island.

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* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': In "The Way of the Warrior", Sisko wants to warn the Cardassians about an impending Klingon attack, but doing so openly would violate the Federation-Klingon alliance. The solution is to discuss the matter at a staff meeting, while Garak -- supposedly just a tailor, but actually a Cardassian spy as Sisko knows perfectly well -- drops in to take his measurements.

What do you do if you have an information you want to spread around, but want to do it in a way where other people think they just overheard something important? Why, just say it as [[NoIndoorVoice loudly]] and [[LargeHam exaggeratedly]] as possible!

* ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'': [[TheUsurper Prince Jewelius]] uses the Changeling invasion to steal Equestria's throne and exile the princesses as well as Twilight's friends and brother. One week later, the BigBad decides to lure them all back, so [[KnightTemplar Commander Hildread]] and [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Lieutenant Shackle]] go to the lair Spike's taking residence in. They act like they're secretly searching for escaped Changelings, suggesting that they are impersonating as Jewelius and planning to have revenge on Twilight who gets no special protection. Hearing this prompts Spike to gather together the other exiled heroes, and they all return to Canterlot, intending to redeem themselves by helping Twilight. [[BatmanGambit All according to the plan]] of [[spoiler:Jewelius]].

-->--''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''

->'''Eddie:''' What are you talkin' about?
->'''Jessica:''' Maroon wanted to blackmail Acme. I didn't want anything to do with it, but he said if I didn't pose for those pattycake pictures, Roger would never work in this town again. I couldn't let that happen. I'd do anything for my husband, Mr. Valiant. ''Anything.''

Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=who-framed-roger-rabbit

* Jessica Rabbit from ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' is caught [[YourCheatingHeart playing pattycake with another man]]. Pictures are taken and her name is sullied. As it turns out, Jessica was forced into that situation. She's a dutiful wife who is HappilyMarried to Roger.

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* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', after David has the group on the ropes [[spoiler:thinking he]] killed Tobias, they stage a conversation in the barn where they admit he has them beaten before discussing out loud what to do next. Tobias reports that a rattlesnake left the barn soon after they did, confirming that he took the bait, allowing them to get rid of David.