Confession Deferred
A common Sitcom trope. When asked if they did something the character vigorously denies it, until they discover the asker has benevolent intent (or that continued denial is just going to get them into a worse situation), whereupon they instantly confess.
Like so:
Character A: Did you take the $20 off my dresser? |
Not to be confused with False Start.
- Boiled down by Monty Python's Flying Circus to its bare bones in the repeated line "No! No! No! Yes..." (usually delivered by Eric Idle).
- A variant from Stargate SG-1:
Dr. Jackson: He's the guy you stole the bracelets from, right? |
- In The Princess Bride, when storming the castle:
Westley: Give us the gate key. |
- This joke:
X: Are you Mr. Brown? I have a bill... |
- Similar to Princess Bride, this exchange from Underworld: Evolution:
Marcus: Victor struck two keys. Where are they? |
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