History Main / PlotSensitiveLatch

* At the end of ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'' the suit case carrying the money pops open, dumping the cash into a crowd of people.

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
* At the beginning of the first ''Anime/EdenOfTheEast'' movie, Saki's suitcase bursts open as the cabbie manhandles it, spilling guns and ammo and ''grenades'' onto the ground- not hers, but a setup by another character. How they got the suitcase to open at exactly the right time, though...

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:{{Live Action TV}}]]
* Sawyer of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' uses it repeatedly as a con man, to the point of lampshading when we encounter an alternate universe where he's a cop.

* The Classic ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Image of the Fendahl" has a part where the Doctor gets locked in a storeroom by sceptical victims of TheSiege (in order to prevent him solving the plot too early). He tries the Sonic Screwdriver on it and it doesn't work. The scene cuts to the other characters (some of them die), then to a scene with Leela assuring another character of the Doctor's "great gentleness" and [[DescriptionCut back to him tantruming at his screwdriver and kicking things in rage]]. Then, there's a sudden click at the door and the Doctor emerges to rejoin the plot, no explanation for who opened the door given. WordOfGod says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor's screwdriver, but the only onscreen implication of this is a short scene of the Doctor [[CargoShip kissing the screwdriver]], although this could have been a simple apology from him for mistreating it earlier. WordOfDante from Terrance Dicks says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor kicking the lock (something that doesn't seem to happen on television).

[[AC:{{Western Animation}}]]

[[quoteright:307:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latch1_3996.jpg]]

Not related to PlotLock, which is about being forced to progress through the plot in a desired order. SisterTrope of PlotDrivenBreakdown; this can be reclosed immediately, though the contents may take some work.

* A standard trope of ConMan fiction.
* Sawyer of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' uses it repeatedly as a con man, to the point of lampshading when we encounter an alternate universe where he's a cop.
** Hurley falls victim when his suitcase springs open, causing him to miss his flight out of Australia. So he rebooks on the next flight, flight 815.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Krabs Vs. Plankton". Mr. Krabs is sued by Plankton for slipping in the Krusty Krab, and his lawyer is indisposed, giving [=SpongeBob=] his briefcase, which he claims contains everything necessary to win the case. Unfortunately, the lawyer neglects to tell [=SpongeBob=] the combination to the lock, so he spends most of the trial struggling to open it. At the last possible moment, the briefcase opens, revealing [[spoiler:a Krabby Patty, which is used to lure Plankton out of his ruse and lose the trial.]]

* The Classic ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Image of the Fendahl" has a part where the Doctor gets locked in a storeroom by sceptical victims of TheSiege (in order to prevent him solving the plot too early). He tries the Sonic Screwdriver on it and it doesn't work. The scene cuts to the other characters (some of them die), then to a scene with Leela assuring another character of the Doctor's "great gentleness" and [[GilliganCut back to him tantruming at his screwdriver and kicking things in rage]]. Then, there's a sudden click at the door and the Doctor emerges to rejoin the plot, no explanation for who opened the door given. WordOfGod says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor's screwdriver, but the only onscreen implication of this is a short scene of the Doctor [[CargoShip kissing the screwdriver]], although this could have been a simple apology from him for mistreating it earlier. WordOfDante from Terrance Dicks says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor kicking the lock (something that doesn't seem to happen on television).

* The Classic ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Image of the Fendahl" has a part where the Doctor gets locked in a storeroom by sceptical victims of TheSiege (in order to prevent him solving the plot too early). He tries the Sonic Screwdriver on it and it doesn't work. The scene cuts to the other characters, then to a scene with Leela telling another character of the Doctor's "great gentleness" and [[GilliganCut back to him tantruming at his screwdriver and kicking things in rage]]. Then, there's a sudden click at the door and the Doctor emerges to rejoin the plot, no explanation for who opened the door given. WordOfGod says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor's screwdriver, but the only onscreen implication of this is a short scene of the Doctor [[CargoShip kissing the screwdriver]], although this could have been a simple apology from him for mistreating it earlier. WordOfDante from Terrance Dicks says that it was a delayed reaction to the Doctor kicking the lock (something that doesn't seem to happen on television).

* Sawyer of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' uses it repeatedly, to the point of lampshading when we encounter an alternate universe where he's a cop.

* At the beginning of the first ''EdenOfTheEast'' movie, Saki's suitcase bursts open as the cabbie manhandles it, spilling guns and ammo and ''grenades'' onto the ground- not hers, but a setup by another character. How they got the suitcase to open at exactly the right time, though...
* In ''MeetTheParents'', Creator/BenStiller's suitcase gets lost in-flight. A suitcase is found matching the description and delivered to him (at the parents of his girlfriend). He attempts to open it but can't and leaves for the day, leaving his prospective father-in-law alone at the house. Being former CIA he opens it easily and finds it full of fetish and bondage gear and sex toys.

* Sawyer of ''{{Lost}}'' uses it repeatedly, to the point of lampshading when we encounter an alternate universe where he's a cop.
* At the end of ''ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'' the suit case carrying the money pops open, dumping the cash into a crowd of people.
* The ''{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "Krabs Vs. Plankton". Mr. Krabs is sued by Plankton for slipping in the Krusty Krab, and his lawyer is indisposed, giving [=SpongeBob=] his briefcase, which he claims contains everything necessary to win the case. Unfortunately, the lawyer neglects to tell [=SpongeBob=] the combination to the lock, so he spends most of the trial struggling to open it. At the last possible moment, the briefcase opens, revealing [[spoiler:a Krabby Patty, which is used to lure Plankton out of his ruse and lose the trial.]]

* Happens in ''MatchstickMen''.

[[quoteright:304:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latch_2767.jpg]]

* Near the beginning of ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia: TheSilverChair'', Eustace and Jill are escaping from some bullies towards a door that is always locked, and of course it turns to be unlocked. Justified in that Aslan has magically caused this to happen, but they don't know it at the time.

* In ''MeetTheParents'', BenStiller's suitcase gets lost in-flight. A suitcase is found matching the description and delivered to him (at the parents of his girlfriend). He attempts to open it but can't and leaves for the day, leaving his prospective father-in-law alone at the house. Being former CIA he opens it easily and finds it full of fetish and bondage gear and sex toys.

* The ''{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "Krabs Vs. Plankton". Mr. Krabs is sued by Plankton for slipping in the Krusty Krab, and his lawyer is indisposed, giving [=SpongeBob=] his suitcase, which he claims contains everything necessary to win the case. Unfortunately, the lawyer neglects to tell [=SpongeBob=] the combination to the lock, so he spends most of the trial struggling to open it. At the last possible moment, the suitcase opens, revealing [[spoiler:a Krabby Patty, which is used to lure Plankton out of his ruse and lose the trial.]]

* Sawyer of {''{Lost}}'' uses it repeatedly, to the point of lampshading when we encounter an alternate universe where he's a cop.

Examples:

* Near the beginning of ''TheChroniclesOfNarnia: TheSilverChair'', Eustace and Jill are escaping from some bullies towards a door that is always locked, and of course it turns to be unlocked. Justified in that Aslan has magically caused this to happen, but they don't know it at the time.