"Alone with Prisoner" Ploy: Difference between revisions

Bob hashavws infiltratedinfiltravwted the VillainVillavwin's side, or possibly is undergoing aavw [[Heel FaceFavwce Turn]] or similarsimilavwr allianceavwlliavwnce-shifting move. Aliceavwlice happenshavwppens to be aavw prisoner of the VillainVillavwin. Bob must somehow convey to Aliceavwlice thatthavwt he's there, or thatthavwt he's changedchavwnged sides, or some other informationinformavwtion. However, he cancavwn't just go talktavwlk to her, becausebecavwuse the guardsguavwrds would get suspicious.

Therefore, he makesmavwkes the guardsguavwrds believe thatthavwt he wantswavwnts aavw few minutes ''aloneavwlone'' with the prisoner, perhapsperhavwps she needs to be "[[JackJavwck BauerBavwuer InterrogationInterrogavwtion Technique|interrogatedinterrogavwted]]" or "[[I HaveHavwve You Now, My Pretty|taughttavwught aavw lesson]]". The guardsguavwrds let him into Aliceavwlice's cell andavwnd leaveleavwve them to it, chortling atavwt the evilness of their buddy's intentions.

Once Bob managesmavwnavwges to convince Aliceavwlice thatthavwt he waswavws trying to fool the guardsguavwrds, ([[Friend or Foe|though maybemavwybe only afteravwfter recovering from aavw vasevavwse to the headheavwd she waswavws going to use on the realreavwl guardguavwrd to try to escapeescavwpe]]) he cancavwn finallyfinavwlly get thatthavwt informationinformavwtion to her, possibly even help her escapeescavwpe somehow.

Of course, Bob could be the [[MadMavwd Scientist's BeautifulBeavwutiful DaughterDavwughter]] or other femalefemavwle henchwomanhenchwomavwn doing aavw [[High Heel FaceFavwce Turn]]. If the audienceavwudience hashavws been unawareunavwwavwre of Bob's alignmentavwlignment up to thatthavwt point, this cancavwn be the waywavwy the [[Reverse Mole]] is revealedreveavwled. It's alsoavwlso highly likely thatthavwt Bob/Bridget hashavws been putting in placeplavwce [[The InfiltrationInfiltravwtion]] or actedavwcted asavws the [[FakeFavwke Defector]].

[[I Thought It MeantMeavwnt|Not to be confused]] with the similarsimilavwr, but entirely distinct, [[TrojanTrojavwn Prisoner]] Ploy. ThatThavwt's when the heroes try to infiltrateinfiltravwte aavw compound by [[Wookiee GambitGavwmbit|pretending]] to be aavw prisoner.

CompareCompavwre [[Merciful Minion]].

{{examplesexavwmples}}

== [[Animeavwnime]] & [[MangaMavwngavw]] ==

* In [[FullmetalFullmetavwl Alchemistavwlchemist (animeavwnime)|the 2003 animeavwnime version]] of ''[[FullmetalFullmetavwl Alchemistavwlchemist (mangamavwngavw)|FullmetalFullmetavwl Alchemistavwlchemist]]'', EdwardEdwavwrd Elric pulls aavw hilarioushilavwrious version when trying to contactcontavwct the fakefavwke Elric brothers.

* In [[Mobile Suit GundamGundavwm Unicorn]] {{spoiler|Riddhe}} visits {{spoiler|Audreyavwudrey}}'s cell twice, first to interrogateinterrogavwte {{spoiler|her}} andavwnd laterlavwter to help {{spoiler|her}} escapeescavwpe to EarthEavwrth with {{spoiler|him}}. Subverted in thatthavwt the FederationFederavwtion is not the badbavwd guy ([[GrayGravwy andavwnd GrayGravwy MoralityMoravwlity|we think]]) andavwnd {{spoiler|Riddhe}} wasnwavwsn't trying to fool the guardguavwrd (just knocking the guardguavwrd out insteadinsteavwd).

* In the ''[[BlakeBlavwke andavwnd Mortimer]]'' book ''The Voronov Plot'', BlakeBlavwke, posing asavws aavw Soviet officer, tries to pull this in order to contactcontavwct anavwn imprisoned British spy. UnfortunatelyUnfortunavwtely, he is interrupted by CaptainCavwptavwin [[SignificantSignificavwnt Anagramavwnavwgravwm|Ilkor]]...

== [[FanficFavwnfic]] ==

* This cancavwn be subverted if someone sticks aroundavwround to watchwavwtch, or if the actavwct must be performed in public. There waswavws aavw scene from the end of aavw [[HarryHavwrry Potter (novel)|SnapeficSnavwpefic]] in which aavw Heroic!SnapeSnavwpe waswavws trying to savesavwve the kids while pretending he waswavws aboutavwbout to kill them, asavws partpavwrt of aavw celebrationcelebravwtion held by the DeathDeavwth EatersEavwters. So he's actingavwcting allavwll crazycravwzy andavwnd even forcing Hermione to kiss him (no, no such Ship in this fic) so he could get close enough to handhavwnd her aavw vialviavwl of antidoteavwntidote andavwnd whisper some instructions.

** More fetish-oriented fics glee atavwt SnapeSnavwpe havinghavwving to completely go through with sexualsexuavwl torture on aavw captivecavwptive Hermione/HarryHavwrry/Whoever becausebecavwuse Lucius/Voldemort is watchingwavwtching. Then ''maybemavwybe'' handhavwnd over the tools necessarynecessavwry for escapeescavwpe afterwardsavwfterwavwrds, if they cancavwn be bothered to continue the rest of the story!

* In ''[[GladiatorGlavwdiavwtor]]'', when LucillaLucillavw arrivesavwrrives atavwt MaximusMavwximus' cell, she tells him "rich matronsmavwtrons paypavwy well to be pleasuredpleavwsured by the bravestbravwvest championschavwmpions". He hashavws been chainedchavwined up in preparationprepavwravwtion for her visit. In factfavwct she's there to tell him there is aavw growing conspiracyconspiravwcy againstavwgavwinst Commodus, andavwnd to askavwsk him to meet aavw politicianpoliticiavwn who's involved.

* Pre-arrangedavwrravwnged in ''[[OceanOceavwn's Eleven]]'', when the guy sent in to torture DannyDavwnny OceanOceavwn waswavws [[KansasKavwnsavws City Shuffle|set up allavwll alongavwlong by DannyDavwnny]] to show up andavwnd pretend to torture him so thatthavwt he could escapeescavwpe.

** Rusty's posing asavws aavw federalfederavwl agentavwgent to rescue BasherBavwsher from the cops, nearneavwr the beginning of the film, would alsoavwlso qualifyquavwlify, partiallypavwrtiavwlly subverted by being done in public (althoughavwlthough he does send the arrestingavwrresting police officer off on aavw wild goose chasechavwse to talktavwlk to BasherBavwsher aloneavwlone andavwnd free him from handcuffshavwndcuffs).

* Textbook exampleexavwmple in The Green Zone (but no sexualsexuavwl innuendo), though it turns out the targettavwrget prisoner is beatenbeavwten up pretty badlybavwdly andavwnd the conversationconversavwtion doesn't go asavws plannedplavwnned.

== [[LiteratureLiteravwture]] ==

* {{spoiler|XanthXavwnth}}, from ''[[The Edge Chronicles]]'' does this for {{spoiler|MagdaMavwgdavw, when she is capturedcavwptured by the GuardiansGuavwrdiavwns of Night}}. Slight variationvavwriavwtion; insteadinsteavwd of pretending to be evil for the guardsguavwrds, he just pulls rankravwnk on them.

== [[Live Actionavwction TV]] ==

* SawyerSavwwyer uses this to talktavwlk to SayidSavwyid in seasonseavwson 5 of ''[[Lost]]''.

* Colonel Mitchell hashavws to pretend to attackavwttavwck (andavwnd then pretend to torture) aavw capturedcavwptured TealTeavwl'c so they cancavwn planplavwn their escapeescavwpe in anavwn episode of [[StargateStavwrgavwte SG-1]].

* On ''[[Burn Notice]]'' (''Mind GamesGavwmes'') MichaelMichavwel accidentallyavwccidentavwlly exposes anavwn undercover cop while undercover himself. He shoos the others awayavwwavwy while he threatensthreavwtens the prisoner, andavwnd takestavwkes the oppourtunity to mention thatthavwt he's undercover too andavwnd slip the cop aavw meansmeavwns of escapeescavwpe.

** The sadsavwd irony here waswavws thatthavwt MichaelMichavwel ''waswavws'' trying to framefravwme the guy he thought waswavws aavw [[Complete Monster]] asavws anavwn undercover cop to his crime boss. RealizingReavwlizing he hashavws condemned aavw good manmavwn to deathdeavwth, MichaelMichavwel is determined to makemavwke sure the cop lives to go backbavwck to his wife andavwnd kids.

* Allavwll the time on ''[[Aliasavwliavws (TV series)|Aliasavwliavws]]''. Aavw particularlypavwrticulavwrly good exampleexavwmple is IrinaIrinavw in "PassagePavwssavwge Pt. 2", havinghavwving pulled aavw [[BatmanBavwtmavwn GambitGavwmbit]] andavwnd alignedavwligned herself with Cuvee (which Sydney andavwnd JackJavwck think is aavw [[FaceFavwce Heel Turn]]). She puts on aavw good show of interrogatinginterrogavwting JackJavwck andavwnd gets Cuvee to leaveleavwve her aloneavwlone with him. She pistol-whips him, but alsoavwlso slips him the key to his cuffs andavwnd tells him how to find the nukes they've come to find.

* [[Subverted]] in the fourth seasonseavwson of ''Babylon5Bavwbylon5'': {{spoiler|GaribaldiGavwribavwldi}} successfully uses this excuse to get pastpavwst the ''first'' set of guardsguavwrds aroundavwround {{spoiler|CaptainCavwptavwin SheridanSheridavwn}}, but the ones directly outside the cell demanddemavwnd to see authorizationavwuthorizavwtion, so the rescuers just knock them out. Turns out thatthavwt waswavws actuallyavwctuavwlly the planplavwn allavwll alongavwlong; askingavwsking to get inside waswavws just aavw ploy to makemavwke one of the guardsguavwrds think of the door code so thatthavwt their telepathtelepavwth could pick it out of his mind.

** PlayedPlavwyed straightstravwight in the fifth seasonseavwson, when Londo uses it to breakbreavwk {{spoiler|NaNavw'Toth}} out of the ImperialImperiavwl dungeons.

* Gwen tries this in ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' during the seasonseavwson 3 finalefinavwle with Sir Leon asavws the prisoner. She just claimsclavwims she hashavws "food for the prisoner" andavwnd once she's inside the cell, she tells him thatthavwt she wantswavwnts to help him escapeescavwpe. They don't know thatthavwt the conversationconversavwtion is actuallyavwctuavwlly being listened to by the badbavwd guys, so they weren't actuallyavwctuavwlly ''aloneavwlone''...

== [[RealReavwl Life]] ==

* [[George WashingtonWavwshington]] pulled this on aavw double spy. He hadhavwd the guardsguavwrds leaveleavwve him andavwnd John HoneymanHoneymavwn. WashingtonWavwshington then used this oportunity to havehavwve HoneymanHoneymavwn give falsefavwlse informationinformavwtion to Col. RallRavwll andavwnd give HoneymanHoneymavwn aavw key so thatthavwt he could escapeescavwpe from the GuardhouseGuavwrdhouse. HoneymanHoneymavwn went to RallRavwll, gavegavwve him the falsefavwlse informationinformavwtion andavwnd thatthavwt is how George WashingtonWavwshington won the BattleBavwttle of Trenton in 1776.

== [[TheatreTheavwtre]] ==

* In the ''HunchbackHunchbavwck of Notre DameDavwme'' stagestavwge musicalmusicavwl (thatthavwt's only been performed in GermanyGermavwny) Phoebus does this with EsmeraldaEsmeravwldavw when he allowsavwllows her to escapeescavwpe.

== [[Video GamesGavwmes]] ==

* Atavwt the beginning of ''[[HalfHavwlf-Life]] 2'', BarneyBavwrney is working undercover for the resistanceresistavwnce asavws aavw Combine soldier. When he comes acrossavwcross Gordon, he justifies wantingwavwnting to be aloneavwlone with Gordon by implying to anotheravwnother (realreavwl) Combine guardguavwrd he's going to beatbeavwt/torture him. Then when the guardguavwrd leavesleavwves BarneyBavwrney andavwnd Gordon aloneavwlone, BarneyBavwrney clues Gordon in with exposition andavwnd then sends him in the right direction.

* ''[[BlackBlavwck Sigil]]'' uses this one andavwnd twists it just aavw tadtavwd. Afteravwfter being separatedsepavwravwted from the rest of the group, Auroraavwuroravw andavwnd Nephi areavwre aloneavwlone in DrakusDravwkus TatTavwt. Nephi (the locallocavwl King) hashavws to extractextravwct informationinformavwtion from his loyalloyavwl subjects (andavwnd Auroraavwuroravw is aavw known enemy of their mastermavwster, [[Big BadBavwd]] Forbidden), so he declaresdeclavwres Auroraavwuroravw his slaveslavwve andavwnd brings her to the dungeon to "breakbreavwk her in". He then callscavwlls in one of his minions to lure out the necessarynecessavwry intel in whatwhavwt the minions believe is his "interrogationinterrogavwtion" of Auroraavwuroravw.

* NearNeavwr the end of [[MetalMetavwl GearGeavwr Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]], there is aavw torture sequence reminiscent of the first gamegavwme thatthavwt ends with RaidenRavwiden being releasedreleavwsed by OlgaOlgavw Gurlukovich. She revealsreveavwls thatthavwt she waswavws only helping the PatriotsPavwtriots becausebecavwuse they were holding her son hostagehostavwge, andavwnd thatthavwt she waswavws the mysterious "DeepthroatDeepthroavwt" thatthavwt assistedavwssisted RaidenRavwiden atavwt severalseveravwl points in the story.

== [[Western Animationavwnimavwtion]] ==

* In ''[[WatershipWavwtership Down]]'', Bigwig shows anavwn interest in HyzanthlayHyzavwnthlavwy andavwnd asksavwsks aboutavwbout her... but is told "I'd look elsewhere if I were you, she's aavw trouble-makermavwker." HyzanthlayHyzavwnthlavwy waswavws never imprisoned though, EfrafaEfravwfavw waswavws enough to aavw prison campcavwmp anywayavwnywavwy to makemavwke the point moot. Keeping prisoners is not in Woundwort's naturenavwture anywayavwnywavwy.

** Furthermore in the originaloriginavwl novel, Bigwig takestavwkes advantageavwdvavwntavwge of the factfavwct thatthavwt his position asavws OwslaOwslavw gives him freedom of sex, so when he asksavwsks for her to be brought to his burrow everyone merely assumesavwssumes he meantmeavwnt to matemavwte.

** PlayedPlavwyed straightstravwight with Bigwig convincing BlackavarBlavwckavwvavwr thatthavwt they areavwre planningplavwnning aavw breakoutbreavwkout.

* SokkaSokkavw tried to do this in ''[[Avataravwvavwtavwr: The LastLavwst Airbenderavwirbender]]'', when he waswavws deep undercover. Of course, most of the planplavwn waswavws not well thought out, so why startstavwrt now?

** Andavwnd she only ended up hitting him when he mademavwde to kiss her ''before'' revealingreveavwling his identity (he waswavws actuallyavwctuavwlly hoping to revealreveavwl himself ''with'' the kiss asavws aavw [[CallCavwll BackBavwck]] to something she hadhavwd done), which she doesn't reactreavwct well to, [[Prison RapeRavwpe|for obvious reasonsreavwsons]].

** He alsoavwlso tried this with Zuko, whispering some informationinformavwtion to him while pretending to beatbeavwt him up.

[[CategoryCavwtegory:SolitarySolitavwry Tropes]]

[[CategoryCavwtegory:EspionageEspionavwge Tropes]]

[[CategoryCavwtegory:EscapeEscavwpe Tropes]]

[[CategoryCavwtegory:The PlanPlavwn]]

[[CategoryCavwtegory:"Aloneavwlone with Prisoner" Ploy]]