History Main / MysteriousNote

%% Thanks

[[folder: Anime & Manga ]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* In ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', one of the results of Harry's experiments with a [[FantasticTimeManagement Time Turner]] is a note from his future self reading only "DO NOT MESS WITH TIME"

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

* ''Film/MurderByDeath''. While Sam Diamond and Miss Skeffington are in their room, they hear a ticking sound. A note is slipped under their door that says, "That ticking sound is a bomb that will go off in 30 seconds. Signed, The Murderer."

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''Literature/TheFamousFive'': In ''Five Fall into Adventure'': after George is kidnapped, the Five receive a threatening typewritten note, demanding a specific notebook belonging to Uncle Quentin, and warning them not to leave the house to warn the police.

* Parodied in ''Literature/LordsAndLadies'', when Verence receives a technically-anonymous note which, in eccentric spelling, advises him to deal with Magrat's indecision over marriage by simply taking the decision out of her hands, gets sidetracked to point out that witches don't pay taxes and this should continue, and is signed "A Friend (Mss)". Whether this has anything to do with the witch who knows what's best for everyone, has eccentric spelling, and signs herself "Esmeralda Weatherwax (Mss)" is for the reader to determine...

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Pinball ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* VideoGame/TheDreamMachine has it's main plot started by one Viktor finds in his new apartment.
* You can get these from couriers in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. The most common and benign are letters from "a friend" who heard you [[MakeMeWannaShout Shouting]] somewhere and give you directions to another Word of power you can use as you develop your Dragonborn skills. More ominous is an anonymous note you receive if you start looking into the [[MurderInc Dark Brotherhood]], which consists of nothing but an image of a black hand and the words "WE KNOW." [[spoiler:The next time you sleep after getting this note, you'll be kidnapped by one of the assassins, who makes a macabre recruitment offer.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{World of Warcraft}}'': At the start of the Mists of Pandaria legendary questline, you receive this [[http://www.wowhead.com/item=87261/mysterious-note conveniently named item]], indicating that the last of the Black Dragons wishes to recruit you to save the world.

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* In ''Webcomics/AutumnBay'', IntrepidReporter Felicia Kingsley receives one from "a friend" when she is supposed to meet a contact. It is pinned to a post and has her name on it.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''. The "note" is in the form of a digital tablet with a video message inviting Mr. Incredible to do secret superhero work.

* The Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty's [[AllegedCar discount spaceship]], the ''Occurrence Border'', is covered with little yellow post-it notes bearing helpful messages such as [[GravityScrew "The gravity in this corridor is tilted 37 degrees to the left"]] or, all too often, [[DontTouchItYouIdiot "Do not ever touch this button."]] That's in realspace, though, once the ship lurches its way into [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace the Warp]], more notes start showing up in areas the party has already visited, with always helpful but disturbingly specific advice like "In case of bad dreams check [[FantasticRadiationShielding Gellar Field]] [[OhCrap integrity."]]

* ''Film/{{Memento}}'': The hero receives a few of these. Some of them from himself, since he suffers from anterograde amnesia.
* In ''Film/SherlockHolmesAndTheSecretWeapon'', Holmes receives an envelope that is supposed to contain a coded message from Dr. Tobel, containing vital information regarding the bomb sight. However, when he opens the envelope, he finds the coded message has been replaced by a taunting note from Professor Moriarty.

* ''Literature/{{Home}}'': Frank Money receives a note that says, "Come fast. She be dead if you tarry." This causes Frank to start his journey home to save his sister.
* In ''Literature/TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles'', Sir Henry Baskerville receives a message consisting of words cut and pasted from the ''London Times'' warning him to stay away from the moor (where Baskerville Manor was).
* Mysterious poison-pen letters (together with pranks and outright vandalism) are part of a plot against Shrewsbury College, Oxford in ''[[Literature/LordPeterWimsey Gaudy Night]]''.

* ''Literature/DeadEndJobMysteries'': In book 8, Helen starts getting anonymous threatening letters in the mail, which she figures are related to her current murder investigation. It turns out to be her ultra-religious mother trying to stop her upcoming wedding, since she doesn't believe in divorce and therefore considers Helen to be still married to her first husband.

* ''Literature/TheFamousFive'': In ''Five Fall into Adventure'': after George is kidnapped, the Five receive a threatening typewritten note, demanding a specific notebook belonging to Uncle Quentin, and warning them not to leave the house to warn the police.

* In ''Series/TheXFiles'', Agent Mulder repeatedly receives revealing documents on various conspiracies from his informants. They try to be sneaky about it.
* In the Spanish series ''Series/ElInternadoLasCumbres'' León, the music teacher, receives a blank envelope. Inside there is a photocopy of a newspaper clipping with the headline "Kidnapper of girl in Lisbon remains at large"[[labelnote=Original Spanish]]Continúa el paradero desconocido del secuestrador de una menor en Lisboa.[[/labelnote]] and an attached note reading "TEN CUIDADO" (BE CAREFUL).
* In an episode of ''Series/MagicCity'', an envelope is shoved under the door. When opened, it contains a photo with "$20,000" written on the back. The photo shows one of the heroes in bed with a mobster's wife and is clearly an attempt at blackmail.

* ''VideoGame/SilentHill4'': Henry can receive messages from the dark world if he slides blank pieces of paper under his door. [[ShameIfSomethingHappened Better go check on your neighbor!]]

* ''VideoGame/{{World of Warcraft}}'': At the start of the Mists of Pandaria legendary questline, you receive this [[http://www.wowhead.com/item=87261/mysterious-note conveniently named item]], indicating that the last of the Black Dragons wishes to recruit you to save the world.

* ''Film/OneBR'': After a day or two of staying at the apartment, [[TheProtagonist Sarah]] receives a note that's slid under her door. It tells her that she's in violation of the building's "No Pets" policy, which has an additional notice written on it in red capital letters that more-or-less says "[=SOME=] [=TENANTS=] [=ARE=] [=ALLERGIC=] [=

* ''Film/OneBR'': After a day or two of staying at the apartment, [[TheProtagonist Sarah]] receives a note that's slid under her door. It tells her that she's in violation of the building's "No Pets" policy, which has an additional notice written on it in red capital letters that more-or-less says "[=SOME=] [=TENANTS=] [=ARE=] [=ALLERGIC=] [=YOU=] [=SELFISH=] [=BITCH=]".

* You can get these from couriers in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim''. The most common and benign are letters from "a friend" who heard you [[MakeMeWannaShout Shouting]] somewhere and give you directions to another Word of power you can use as you develop your Dragonborn skills. More ominous is an annonymous note you receive if you start looking into the [[MurderInc Dark Brotherhood]], which consists of nothing but an image of a black hand and the words "WE KNOW." [[spoiler:The next time you sleep after getting this note, you'll be kidnapped by one of the assassins, who makes a macabre recruitment offer.]]

* etc

* In ''[[Pinball/WHODunnit WHO dunnit]]'', HardboiledDetective Nick Spade receives an unsigned note asking him to meet someone in the basement of Tony's Palace. It's actually a setup for an ambush by the murderer.

* The Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty's [[AllegedCar discount spaceship]], the ''Occurrence Border'', is covered with little yellow post-it notes bearing helpful messages such as [[GravityScrew "The gravity in this corridor is tilted 37 degrees to the left"]] or, all too often, [[DontTouchItYouIdiot "Do not ever touch this button."]] That's in realspace, though, once the ship lurches its way into [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace the Warp]], more notes start showing up in areas the party has already visited, with always helpful but disturbingly specific advice like "In case of {{bad dreams}} check [[FantasticRadiationShielding Gellar Field]] [[OhCrap integrity."]]

* Parodied in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'', when Verence receives a technically-anonymous note which, in eccentric spelling, advises him to deal with Magrat's indecision over marriage by simply taking the decision out of her hands, gets sidetracked to point out that witches don't pay taxes and this should continue, and is signed "A Friend (Mss)". Whether this has anything to do with the witch who knows what's best for everyone, has eccentric spelling, and signs herself "Esmeralda Weatherwax (Mss)" is for the reader to determine...

* ''Literature/DeadEndJobMysteries'': In book 8, Helen starts getting anonymous threatening letters in the mail, which she figures are related to her current murder investigation. It turns out to be her ultra-religious mother trying to stop her upcoming wedding, since she considers Helen to be still married to her first husband.

[[folder: Fanfiction ]]