Actually, I Am Him: Difference between revisions

 

{{examples}}

* Happens at the end of the first ''[[Baccano!]]!'' [[Light Novel]], when a Japanese tourist in the [[Framing Device|frame story]] decides to ask the narrator (whom is assumed to be Maiza) [[Where Are They Now|where Firo is now]], seeing as he's not present like everyone else is. "Maiza" responds...?

{{quote|Isn't he right here?...Oh, That's right, I have yet to introduce myself. Well, normally with business associations, I just leave without having ever said my name...}}

* In ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' [[The Movie]], Van and Hitomi are looking for a man named Dryden Fassa - then they meet someone who pretends not to know who Dryden Fassa is, before turning out to be actually him.

 

* In issue #101 of the French comic book ''Donjon/Dungeon'' (''Twilight, vol. 1: Dragon Cemetery'', in English), when Marvin the Red meets his idol Marvin the Dragon, the latter first pretends to be someone else.

* When Bruce Banner goes looking for the Panchen Lama in ''Ultimate [[Wolverine]] vs. [[Hulk]]'', he is greeted at the monastery doors by a wizened old man who assures him that the Lama is inside and offers him hot cocoa. Banner shows a [[Genre Savvy]] flash by assuming the old man is the Panchen Lama, calling it "one of those Yoda things"... but [[Averted Trope|nope]]. He's talking to Steve, who makes hot cocoa.

* The "Pagliacci" joke that Rorschach heard from the Comedian in ''[[Watchmen (comics)|Watchmen]]''.

 

* In ''[[American Wedding]]'', the main characters go into a gay bar unknowingly looking for a dress designer (named Leslie, I think—a classic fictional bigender name) to design a dress for the bride and after impressing a group of gay men with their comical antics one of the members of the group finally reveals that he * is* Leslie.

* In the 1989 ''[[Batman (film)|Batman]]'' film, Vicki Vale corners a man at a swish party at Wayne Manor and asks whether he's seen elusive billionaire Bruce Wayne. He says he hasn't. Later, as she and Alex Knox are in one of Wayne's rooms, making fun of the statues, the man appears behind them and informs them that the statue they're currently laughing at comes from Japan. How does he know? "Because I bought it in Japan. Bruce Wayne."

* In the movie version of ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'', in one of the possible endings, Wadsworth reveals himself as Mr. Boddy, saying that the alleged Mr. Boddy was, in fact, his butler, and not the other way around.

 

* [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s short story ''[[All You Zombies]]'' in which, {{spoiler|thanks to a great big [[Timey-Wimey Ball]], every character, [[Grandfather Paradox|male]] or [[Squick|female]], was actually the same person.}}

* In ''Assassin's Apprentice'', the first book of the ''[[Realm of the Elderlings|Farseer]]'' trilogy by [[Robin Hobb]], Fitz asks a woman where he can find Hod, who is going to teach him swordfighting. Naturally, the woman is Hod.

{{quote|'''Wedge''': "You recall mentioning that you'd killed plenty of Rogue Squadron members at Brentaal, and that Wedge Antilles would be back?"

'''Lorrir''': "Y-yes?"

* In one of the ''[[1632]]'' novels by Eric Flint, a young lady accused of witchcraft is brought to the American territory. Because the Americans have to get along with their 17th century neighbors, a new trial is convened. Going through their research material for the period, one of the Americans remarks that they need one particular historical figure to help them with the case, a famous individual who had historically opposed witch trials. By coincidence the person they were speaking of is the same one who brought the girl to them in the first place.

* ''[[Judge Dee]]'' frequently disguises himself as a peasant or travelling martial arts instructor (the latter suits him much better) during his investigations. This frequently results in him dropping "''I'' am the magistrate" when things get serious and someone suggests to report to the judge.

* In one of the ''MYTH Inc.'' novels, Skeeve gets set up on a blind date with a vampire, Cassandra. For whatever reason, she doesn't ask his name, and later she remarks, "Say, you're a friend of Vic's from Klah... do you know the Great Skeeve?" He plays along for a little while before revealing his identity.

* In [[Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban]], Remus Lupin says of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, "We’ve met." {{spoiler|He's Moony.}}

* In one of the [[Star Trek: Stargazer]] novels, Admiral McAteer is strolling the Starfleet Academy grounds, and starts thinking about Boothby, whom he admires. At least, he's heard good things about the man. He encounters an elderly groundskeeper whose general attitude annoys him (and who has the gall to tell him off). Eventually, he demands the groundskeeper's name. Upon being told he's talking to Boothby, McAteer walks off spluttering.

'''Biggles''': No one has ever mistaken me for him. }}

 

* People looking for ''[[The A-Team]]'' usually found Hannibal in disguise when they met with the person who was supposed to get them in contact.

* Doctor Franklin from ''[[Babylon 5]]'' has a reputation for taking his oath of confidentiality very seriously, so when he arrives with an offer to set up a meeting between Captain Sheridan and the man in charge of smuggling fugitive telepaths through the station, nobody is surprised. You already know who the meeting turns out to be with.

* This also happens to Saul in 'I Samuel' when meeting Samuel for the first time. Saul is looking for a prophet of God and goes to a town where one is reputably staying. Thinking that he is just a citizen of the town, Saul approached Samuel and asks where the prophet is. Samuel informs Saul that he is the one Saul is searching for.

 

* Subverted in a vignette of a third party ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' supplement, where a warrior seeking a martial arts teacher is first greeted by a humble, chuckling old man who claims he knows the teacher very well—only to step aside as the actual teacher, a large, muscular warrior tells him to be quiet and welcomes the would-be student.

 

* ''She Stoops To Conquer'' takes place almost entirely within the space between the deceit and the revelation. Charles Marlow, on the way to a blind date, stops at what he thinks is an inn and flirts with the barmaid. He's actually at the manor he was traveling to, and the barmaid is his date.

* In ''Camelot'', a nervous King Arthur and Queen-to-be Guinevere run into each other before the wedding. Guinevere, not knowing it's Arthur, complains a bit about having to marry a total stranger and is assured that the king isn't really all that bad.

 

* In ''[[The World Ends With You]]'': {{spoiler|Quoth Joshua: "It was me, Neku. I'm Shibuya's Composer."}} Cue Neku's [[Heroic BSOD|Heroic Blue Screen of Death]].

* ''[[Seiken Densetsu]] 3'' has a sequence in which the party needs to find a legendary (and tiny) strategist. The old man in town tells them that he's not in this place, and suggests they ask around. After a long fruitless search, they come back only to be told that the old man ''is'' the strategist. Justified with "I was walking around at the time, so I wasn't in any place". And then the town mocks them for their gullibility. * grumble*

* In ''[[Mabinogi (video game)|Mabinogi]]'' the {{spoiler|wandering merchant Price}} helps you try to find the {{spoiler|missing ex-paladin leader Redire, it is later revealed that Price IS Redire.}}

 

* ''[[Inverloch]]'' gets insidious with this, between Silvah/Kayn'dar {{spoiler|--and Acheron/Kayn'dar}}.

* In ''[[Hanna Is Not a Boy's Name]]'' a certain paranormal investigator is often thought to be the sidekick to his undead (and nameless) companion. Usually his clients were [[Expecting Someone Taller]].

* Happens in ''[[Girls with Slingshots]]'' when Hazel is trying to spy on Jamie, and the person she believes to be Jamie's new boyfriend, by enlisting Jamie's new ''girlfriend''.

 

* [[Asdfmovie]] does this.

{{quote|Guy 1: Did you take my sandwich?

Guy 2: I am your sandwich. }}

 

* Aang in the first episode and a half of ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. The others weren't actually looking for the Avatar, but their reactions when they find out that that's him definitely fit.

* Master Dashi in ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]''.{{context}}

* An episode of the ''[[Pole Position (animation)|Pole Position]]'' animated series had the characters sent to retrieve a sensitive research satellite for a "Doctor T. Russell." Along the way, they're helped by this flannel-wearing, backwoods-type [[Cool Old Lady]] named "Dora." Meanwhile two fellows, both claiming to be "Dr. Ted Russell" and "Dr. Tom Russell" are trying to get the satellite. The protagonists finally find it...and the backwoods-lady reveals that they're ''both'' industrial spies. Her full name is Dr. ''Theodora'' Russell, and she just happens to live out in the middle of nowhere.

 

* Nestor Makhno, the great Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary, caught a group of German officers going to a party held in their honour by Ukrainian landlords, who had welcomed the invading Germans. After executing the officers, Makhno and his men dressed in the German army uniforms and attended the party in their stead. Much of the conversation at the dinner party circled around Makhno. At the end of the meal, a toast was offered to the capture of the dreaded anarchist Nestor Makhno. Makhno drank off the toast and announced, [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|"I am Nestor Makhno."]] In the silence and horror which followed, Makhno tossed a bomb into the room as he and his men leaped out the windows and escaped.

* [[Truth in Television]], sort of: A president-elect, governor, business leader, etc., initiates a search committee to fill an appointed position, but ends up picking someone on the committee or the person who had already been helping him in that area anyway.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Unisex Tropes]]

[[Category:I Am an Index]]

[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]

[[Category:Identity Index]]