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Everyone Knows Morse: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[File:International Morse Code.svg|thumb|400px|Now you know Morse, too.]]
{{quote|''Friday afternoon, I'm walking home from school and I'm watching some men build a new house. And the guy hammering on the roof calls me a paranoid little weirdo. In Morse code.''|'''[[Emo Phillips]]'''}}
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In another example of [[Did Not Do the Research]] or maybe [[Acceptable Breaks From Reality]], movies and TV usually show the Morse operators visibly tapping the key. Even a basic Morse class teaches you to grasp the sides of the key button with thumb and middle finger and index finger on top, and work the key from your wrist. But that's much less visual.
Incidentally, Morse Code is, for official purposes, largely obsolete: In 1999, it was retired as the international standard,
By the way, [[Distress Call|if you're in trouble]], you can always send the most commonly-known message in Morse Code: 3 Dots, 3 Dashes, 3 Dots (
There were also a few common abbreviations, such as the "30" which indicated the end of a news wire story, which trace their roots to landline or wireless telegraphy.
[[I Thought It Meant|Not to be confused]] with [[Inspector Morse]] being recognized everywhere.
{{examples|. -..- .- -- .--. .-.. . ... (Examples)}}
== [[Anime|.- -. .. -- .]] / .- -. -.. / [[Manga|-- .- -. --. .-]] (Anime
* Played with and slightly subverted in ''[[Pokémon Special]]'' when Professor Rowan's lab assistant Roseanne is stuck when the lab is attacked by Yanmegas. She has the idea to turn the lights on and off in order to attract attention from the outside, and thus call for help as the Yanmegas are drowning out her voice due to their supersonic buzzing. [[Idiot Hero|Diamond]] notices this, and tells Sebastian, a butler, about it. Sebastian then proceeds to flash back a message using his Chinchou. Diamond realizes something and points out this is kinda stupid when they really should just head over and check out whats going on. Sebastian agrees.
** In an earlier, Pryce would tap his cane on the ground to non-verbally communicate with his Pokemon. Apparently Pokemon can learn Morse code as well.
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* Amusingly subverted in ''Developers'' (a prequel to ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' about the construction of the very first Zaku). When they discover the radiation from the mech's experimental reactor is disrupting their wireless communications, they attempt to communicate with the crew in the work area by flashing lights in morse code, only to find out the only thing anybody there knows in morse is how to say "please respond", leading to an [[Overly Long Gag]].
* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', when {{spoiler|Pride and Alphonse}} are both trapped in a huge stone prison made by alchemy, {{spoiler|Pride}}, helpless to escape, grabs a stick and starts banging on Alphonse's helmet. It isn't until it's too late that the heroes realize that he's been banging out the equivalent of a morse-code message, transmitted through the underground tunnels, telling Father their position.
* ''[[Zipang]]'' averts this trope in the scene where a [[World War II]] fuel tanker communicates with the time-displaced ship ''Mirai'' before making a rendezvous with it. The Morse code conversation is done at a realistic speed, the coding of ''Mirai''{{'}}s reply is so regular that it's obvious to the viewer that it's being sent by computer instead of by hand, and both sides of the conversation have to wait for the messages to end before being able to understand them.
== -.-. --- -- .. -.-. / -... --- --- -.- ... (Comic Books) ==
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** A subtle [[Shout-Out]] there in the title, as a Morse sender's individual style and rhythm of sending is called his or her "fist."
* ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'': The short story "[[P. G. Wodehouse|What Ho]], [[H.P. Lovecraft|Gods of the Abyss]]" had a one-off joke about [[Jeeves and Wooster (novel)|Bertie]] trying to signal to [[The Jeeves|Jeeves]] by coughing in Morse code. Jeeves came running, but it turned out later that he didn't recognize the signal and just thought Bertie was choking.
* [[Mad]] Magazine's ''Spy vs. Spy'' contained one token line of code, the author's Morse signature "BY PROHIAS".
== ..-. .. .-.. -- ... (Films) ==
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'''Scotty:''' What're ye all standin' aroun' for? Don't ye know a jailbreak when ye see one? }}
* In ''[[Space Camp]]'', one of the campers in the accidentally-launched shuttle realizes that she can use a telemetry switch to send Morse code in place of the nonfunctional radio. The control room operators need the help of the ever-annoying robot Jinx to notice that one of their console lights is rapidly blinking in an irregular pattern...
** Trope averted in that the only reason ''any'' of the campers know Morse is because one of them happened to read a book on it once, and has a photographic memory. Visibly no one else on board, including the trained astronaut, knows how to tap out anything more complicated than 'SOS'.
* In ''[[Executive Decision]]'', the trope is played with when Kurt Russel's character uses the boarded plane's tracking lights for Morse code, knowing the only reason this can work is that the US fighter planes following the plane are Navy, the only US armed service that still trained its pilots in Morse code.
* In ''[[Under Siege]]'', Seagal's character is able to rescue a group of survivors who just happened to be broadcasting Morse code as he was nearby. Somewhat justified in that he was previously a Navy SEAL.
{{quote|'''
** The people he was rescuing were also sailors, and anybody who's been to boot camp can at least tap out a simple "SOS" even if they don't know anything else about Morse.
* In the movie ''[[Panic Room]]'', [[Jodie Foster]]'s daughter sends an SOS to a neighbor via a flashlight. Jodie Foster asks where she learned Morse code, and the daughter says, "From ''[[Titanic]]''." Unfortunately, the neighbor does not recognize that he is being signaled and goes to bed, forcing them to deal with the problem themselves.
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** Also, [[Fridge Brilliance|they're probably not very experienced with sending Morse by radio]].
* ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'': While Frenzy has Maggie, Glenn, Secretary Keller, and Agent Simmons pinned in the archives, Glenn modifies an ancient PC to send a Morse code tone through the shortwave radio set so Keller can authorize an air strike against the Decepticons in Mission City.
* This trope is key in ''[[Eagle Eye]]''; in order to get his message out, the [[Sacrificial Lamb]] flashed his cell phone light while walking in circles around an elevator shaft. Somehow, the all-seeing [[
** This also a trope ''aversion'' -- the supercomputer has no reason to know Morse Code (all of its radio communication will be done by either voice or computer networking protocols), which is exactly why the character in question can use it under the computer's nose.
* In the [[Stephen King]] movie (that is, written AND directed by King) ''[[Maximum Overdrive]]'', the machines have suddenly gained intelligence and started slaughtering humanity in wildly ridiculous fashions (eg. a vending machine pitching soda can fastballs, push mover killing its pusher, and so on). Anyway, at one point the vehicles are running low on fuel, so they have the mounted gun among them honk its horn in Morse, which the boy scout among the survivors in a diner translates into a "fuel us and we don't kill you" message. A perfect display of the trope: spoken language speed translation, post sending translation, and so on.
* In ''[[The Hunt for Red October]]'', two submarines communicate with one another by flashing Morse code over the periscope light. The American transmitting (Scott Glenn playing Capt. Mancuso) says, "My Morse is so rusty, I'm probably sending him the measurements of the Playmate of the Month."
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* In ''Phenomenon'', Forrest Whitaker's character is a HAM operator, so he should know Morse code for that reason, but John Travolta's character not only knows Morse code (for no reason) and can decipher a very fast message that Whitaker picks up on his HAM radio.
** To be fair, Travolta's character has a {{spoiler|brain tumour}} which rewires his brain, allowing him to learn things easily. He could have picked up Morse code off camera.
* Babyface, one of Sid's toys in ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]]'', taps out "RR Come out" in morse code on a metal table leg in Sid's room to call the mutant toys out.
* Parodied (and then played straight by Simpkins) in ''[[Carry On]] Spying'';
{{quote|'''Bind:''' It's Morse code!
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'''Bind:''' ''I'' don't know.
'''Simpkins:''' Oh, give it here! }}
* In the film ''[[
** The same is true of most depictions of the ''RMS Titanic'' – the one notable exception being the book ''Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan'' (1898) which failed to predict the 20th century impact of Marconi's apparatus in time of maritime disaster. Titanic was launched in April 1912, so any coverage of the history now inherently becomes a [[Period Piece]].
* In [[Let the Right One In]], Oskar copies down Morse Code from a library book so he and Eli can communicate through the common wall they share for their neighbouring bedrooms. Later, Abby uses Morse to tap out the message 'hi' when knocking on Oskar's door. At the end, when she's in her trunk she and Oskar tap out the word 'kiss' to one another.
* [[U-571]] had a bound German sailor aboard a captured U-Boat tapping out a message with a wrench so that another German warship in the area would hear on Sonar... {{spoiler|I am U-571... destroy me!}}
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* In the Brazilian book ''A Droga do Obediência'' ("Obedience Drug"), a boy gets captured in his school, and requests the captor to go to the bathroom before leaving. There he writes a Morse code message for [[Coolest Club Ever|the detective club he idolizes]] on the wall using... contents of a toilet.
* In ''[[The Hunt for Red October]]'', two submarines communicate with one another by flashing Morse code over the periscope light. In the book, British intelligence officers on the HMS. Invincible are the ones exchanging Morse code with Ramius, and the American submarine just happens to catch part of the message—which allows Capt. Mancuso to deduce part of the situation and realize how highly classified the operation has become.
** Averted in that the only characters who know Morse are dating back to the era in which it was routinely expected for all officers (i.e., Rear Admiral White and Captains Hunter, Ramius, and Mancuso), and some of them are implied to have specifically brushed up on their Morse in preparation shortly beforehand.
* In ''The Crow Road'' by [[Iain Banks]], two lovers communicate their love for each other after sex using Morse code... with their genitals.
* In ''[[The Mysterious Benedict Society]]'', the kids send messages in Morse code. One of them comments that nobody uses Morse code anymore, and Mr. Benedict responds that that's exactly why it's so useful for secret messages.
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** According to The Corellian Trilogy, the series where this first became a plot point, Leia is considerably better at it than Han.
* The tribute/compilation book "Nancy Drew's Guide to Life" points out that you never know when a skill will come in handy- using, as an example, Nancy's once combining her knowledge of Morse code and tap-dancing to signal for help.
* Appears in Dalton Trumbo's novel [[Johnny Got His Gun]]. The main character is blind, deaf, mute, and a quadruple amputee after being hit by an artillery shell in [[World War
* In ''[[Matthew Reilly|Area 7]]'', Fox got tied up, and was able to call for help on her wrist mike by tapping out her callsign in Morse code.
* In ''[[Shades of Grey]]'', everyone ''does'' know Morse code; it's used to communicate at night via East Carmine's central plumbing system. {{spoiler|The librarian}} transmits (illegal) book readings.
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* In the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "[[Star Trek/Recap/S1/E22 Space Seed|Space Seed]]", the automated signal ''Botany Bay'' (Khan's ship) sends is in Morse. Uhura recognises the "CQ" call signal by ear.
** Justified in that Lt. Uhura is the ship's communications officer, and Starfleet Academy might well expect familiarity with obsolete but formerly widespread comms protocols in case they run across some [[Lost Colony]] or [[Ghost Ship]] with a still-functioning beacon.
*** Given that Uhura fluently speaks over a dozen languages ''in a setting with universal translators'', your theory that Starfleet communications officers are expected to learn multiple not-frequently-used forms of communication just on the off chance they might come in handy someday would seem to be upheld.
*** In Expanded Universe material, Uhura has a PhD in linguistics, continually studies obscure languages as both profession and hobby, and is on the committee of experts who write the software updates for the universal translator. Knowing Morse Code is perhaps the least surprising thing she could be doing.
* In ''[[The Adventures of Superman]]'', Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane are trapped in a room with a flue with a closable hatch. Jimmy realizes that he knows how to signal SOS with smoke, but the only thing to burn is a large amount of cash a rich person gave him. With much regret, Olsen agrees it is the only way and burns the money to do the smoke signaling. Fortunately, at least Superman sees the distress signal and rescues them.
** A bit of fridgelogic here: What about their clothes? Those would have burned just fine.
*** In the 50's? This was an era when Lois Lane wasn't allowed to appear in the Superman Corn Flakes commercials with Clark, Jimmy, and Perry because of the implications.
**** That still wouldn't have stopped Jimmy from burning ''his'' shirt -- topless males were still acceptable by 1950s comics standards, just ask Tarzan -- especially since he'd almost certainly be wearing a t-shirt underneath anyway.
** It's also used in a episode of "Superboy" in which Lana Lang is kidnapped by Lex Luthor. When Luthor sends Superboy a "wedding video" of the two of them in order to taunt him, Superboy notices the methodical way Lana is blinking and realizes she's using Morse code to tell him where she is.
* In ''[[Doctor Who]]'', the Third Doctor once managed to get out an SOS to [[The Brigadier]] from under the noses of some military goons who had captured him by using the machine he was supposed to be building to send static through the phone lines.
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** Arguably Justified though, since most of the episode is [[All Just a Dream|an hallucination]] caused by being in the transporter for longer than usual. It wouldn't matter if Archer really knows morse code or not, as long as Hoshi does.
* An episode of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'', introduced trailers for a "The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights", but went on to have fun with other film parodies of well-known literature. All of which are done with (random) signal dialogue, subtitles, and melodrama (no talking).
* An episode of ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' called "The Town" employed this when Jim Phelps was paralyzed and could only communicate to his friends via blinking.
* In ''[[Inspector Morse]]'' (what else?), composer Barrington Pheloung based the theme on the Morse code for "Morse." He claims that in many episodes he works the name of whomever done it into the musical score via Morse code (and sometimes the name of another character as a red herring).
* In an episode of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', an SOS in Morse code draws Voyager to a planet occupied by the descendants of abducted humans.
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* Justified in ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'', Lt. Col. Shepard taps out SOS in subspace so that Atlantis could recognize his distress call, but the wraith, being not even from the same galaxy as Earth, wouldn't have a clue.
** A similar situation happens in ''[[Stargate SG-1|SG-1]]'', when Sam reprograms a Tok'ra beacon to broadcast an SOS, knowing that their only hope of rescue, Daniel and Jacob/Selmak, are also the only two people who would be able to interpret the signal.
*** Curiously absent in another episode. O'Neil is stuck invisible and intangible and can only interact with the others by typing on an alien keyboard that got him into this mess. Despite being a fairly senior Air Force officer (and able to see everything normally) the idea of communicating through Morse never comes up. Instead he's stuck answering yes or no questions by pressing one key for yes and one key for no.
**** Justified: none of the ''recipients'' could be expected to know a damn thing about Morse.
** And again in ''[[Stargate Universe]]''. Eli realizes he could send a message to Destiny with a damaged gate's subspace transponder, but so far he's only figured out how to turn it off and on. Cue [[Eureka Moment]] from Lt. Scott.
*** Although, since he's a hardcore geek and an inveterate gamer, Eli should have thought of it himself.
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== ...- .. -.. . --- / --. .- -- . ... ([[Video Games]]) ==
* The latest{{when}} ''[[Portal (series)|Portal]]'' patch adds an achievement based around collecting the radios and listening to broadcasts being sent by an unknown source. Some of those broadcasts are in Morse code. [[Paranoia Fuel|Have fun.]] {{spoiler|Two of them are entirely an inside joke, one being "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" phrase and the other being Morse code (depicted in text) for "LOL".}}
* ''[[Ace Combat]]'' 5 has an ace who's secretly on your side after {{spoiler|you're betrayed by the 8492nd}} flash morse code. The fact that he can use lights to put out 4 words in roughly 6 seconds (and that your squad can decode them equally quickly) is pretty impressive.
* Several ham radio stations in ''[[Fallout 3]]'' broadcast repeating Morse signals, all of the format "CQ CQ CQ DE (station ID) K." Translated, the message is "All stations, this is (station ID), please respond." Of course, the stations are simply auto-broadcasting, their owners having died centuries ago...
== .-. . .- .-.. / ... .... .. - (Real Life) ==
* The BBC started off their [[World War Two]] wartime radio news broadcasts with the first four notes of [[Ludwig Van Beethoven|Beethoven's]] Fifth Symphony, in order to symbolize the "V" for victory.
** Morse Code was ubiquitous in both world wars. Often the messages it carried were secret communications from spies or encrypted in some form - the German Enigma code being the most famous (or infamous).
* During the Vietnam War, some US POWs, downed aviators, were forced to make televised statements by their Vietnamese captors. They actually used this method to make it clear that they had been tortured and otherwise coerced into making these statements. When the Vietnamese found out, they stepped it up. The first one was some USN or USAF pilot; he began blinking in the middle of his first such appearance, claiming that the harsh studio lights were hurting his eyes!
** It is believed that Jeremiah Denton and John McCain (both future Senators) were the first to try this.
*** this was referenced on the NPR radio show "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me!", in the context of ads for WalMart. ("They show employees... but they're blinking funny."
* Real Life subversion: The British Special Air Service reportedly provides training in Morse code for emergency backup communication, counting on the fact that proficiency in its use is no longer common knowledge.
*
* The city of Pittsburgh recently failed at this. [http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/07/12/A-Morse-Code-typo-lights-city-skyline/stories/200907120242] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fTYzoSDAS4] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iE9yyYQlsc] Later they tried to fix it and [http://gadling.com/2009/07/13/famous-pittsburgh-morse-code-landmark-actually-spells-pitetsbkrr/ replaced "PITETSBKRRH" with "TPEBTSAURGH"].
* In the 1930s and '40s, newspaper columnist Walter Winchell had an extremely popular radio show in which he noisily tapped a telegraph key while he spoke his text into a microphone. His opening catchphrase for each edition contained a reference to "all the ships at sea". Gullible listeners were supposed to be impressed that Winchell could read his text aloud and transmit it in Morse at the same time. Actually, his telegraph transmissions were gibberish.
** People back then were familiar with highly-trained operators in radio and telegraph offices, who could send and listen to messages almost simultaneously and instinctively (they understood the message by listening, no need to write it down). Of course, anyone of these skilled men would register immediately the hoax.
* The RMS ''Titanic'' was one of the first British ships to send the <span style="text-decoration:overline;">SOS</span> distress signal, interspersed with
* If you use Firefox, there's ''Leet Key'' add-on (as the name implies, also capable of converting input into [[Leet Lingo]], among the other things).
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