History Main / PubliclyDiscussingTheSecret

** Invoked in ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', both the book and film. Tiger Tanaka, Bond's contact with the Japanese equivalent of MI6, says it's a Japanese custom.

* You see this in almost every role-playing video game whose world includes a "Thieves Guild" or something similar. Instead of remaining cagey and guarded until they're sure someone can be trusted, members of the Guild walk right up to your avatar and announce that they're thieves, and by the way they have a guild full of fellow thieves; would you like to come to their hideout for tea?

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter''. DoubleSubverted in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix '' when Harry, Hermione and Ron decide to avoid this trope by not discussing their plan in the village pub where all the students go. Instead, they go to the (nearly deserted) local BadGuyBar (owned, or at least tended, amusingly enough, by [[spoiler:Prof. Dumbledore's younger brother]]) where, as Sirius later tells them, they were more likely to be overheard.

* Happens [[{{RunningGag}} all the time]] on ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', especially in the early seasons. Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and [[spoiler:Morgan]] routinely discuss the secret mission du jour on the Buy More's sales floor. None of the characters in the know (including the folks back in [[{{CIA}} Langley]] and [[UsefulNotes/ThePentagon Arlington]]) see any problem with this approach.

* ''[[Anime/QueensBlade Queen's Blade: Hide & Seek]]'': Elina pins Leina right at the start of the semi-finals and feels her up in the center of the arena. Leina tries to make her stop by pointing out that the crowd is watching. To which, Elina bluntly replies she doesn't care, because she wants everyone to know [[AllWomenAreLustful she's horny]] [[LustObject for her sister]] and says Leina belongs to her!

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Pegasus", Riker and his former captain discuss their mutual secret (which could get them both court-martialed) in "Ten-Forward", the ship's bar, while it is full of people. Neither of them makes any effort to talk softly -- they're sitting casually across a table from one another. Also remember that the person who runs Ten Forward is a woman famous for being a "great listener".

* MarvelCinematicUniverse:

* MarveCinematicUniverse:

* When the courier brings the photographs in ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'', he announces himself quite loudly. The frustrated recipient {{lampshades}} this immediately, snarking, "Could you say that a little louder? We could open a window, and you could shout it towards [[SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Moscow]]."

* A RunningGag in the first season of ''Series/{{Roswell}}'' is Liz and Maria discussing the fact that Max, Isabel, and Michael are aliens in places like the Crashdown Cafe or West Roswell High School's cafeteria. Though they are GenreSavvy enough to not actually ''use'' the word "aliens", the word they decided to use is "Czechoslovakians", [[{{SubvertedTrope}} which manages to be no less weird and attention-grabbing a thing to talk about in New Mexico]], especially in [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp 1999-2000]].

* This trope is a major PetPeeve for ''WebVideo/CinemaSins''' Jeremy Scott. He usually gives an instance of it at least two sins alone.

* Happens [[{RunningGag quite often]] in the ''Film/JamesBond'' films:

!!Examples

[[folder: Advertising ]]

* {{Subverted}} in an iconic series of ads for the brokerage firm E. F. Hutton. Two people are out in public discussing stocks, and one of them says to the other, "Well, my broker is E. F. Hutton. And E. F. Hutton says -" and then notices that all other sound and activity have stopped. Everyone around is listening to find out what E. F. Hutton says.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' and [[{{Film/Watchmen}} the film version]] too: Dan & Laurie have a conversation in a restaurant reminiscing over old times as superheroes without any regard to anyone who might overhear.

[[folder: Film ]]

* When the courier brings the photographs in ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'', he announces himself quite loudly. The frustrated recipient {{lampshades}} this immediately, snarking, "Could you say that a little louder? We could open a window, and you could shout it towards [[{{SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn}} Moscow]]."
* Happens [[{{RunningGag}} quite often]] in the [[{{Film/JamesBond}} James Bond films]]:

* In ''Film/JurassicPark'' Dennis Nedry and Lew Dodgson discuss the plan to steal [[{{ItMakesSenseInContext}} dinosaur embryos]] from [=InGen=] in a Costa Rican restaurant. Dodgson even demonstrates the functions of the shaving cream can used to smuggle the embryos there while sitting at the table. Nedry [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] their OvertRendezvous, believing that HiddenInPlainSight is in full effect here:
-->'''Nedry:''' Dodgson!
-->'''Dodgson:''' You shouldn't use my name.
-->'''*Nedry makes [[FlatWhat 'you've gotta be kidding me']] expression*'''
-->'''Nedry: (starts pointing at Dodgson)''' Dodgson, Dodgson, we've got Dodgson here! See? Nobody cares. Nice hat. [[OvertOperative What are you trying to look like, a secret agent]]?

-->'''Lieutenant Commander Block''': Isn't this place a little public?
-->'''Wilson''': [[HandWave No, a crowd offers remarkable anonymity.]]
* Subverted in ''Film/TheManFromUNCLE2015''. The KGB and CIA spymasters are briefing the protagonists in a cafe, announce they're going to [[HeadbuttingHeroes leave them alone to get acquainted]], and get up to leave...along with everyone else in the cafe, as all the other customers are their agents.

-->'''Illya, when Napoleon approaches him and Gaby at the Spanish Steps''': You're not supposed to make contact in public!
-->'''Illya, when Napoleon knocks on his hotel room door''': What are you doing?! You're not supposed to be here!

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Happens [[{{RunningGag}} all the time]] on ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', especially in the early seasons. Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and [[spoiler:Morgan]] routinely discuss the secret mission du jour on the Buy More's sales floor. None of the characters in the know (including the folks back in [[{{CIA}} Langley]] and [[{{UsefulNotes/ThePentagon}} Arlington]]) see any problem with this approach.
* Happens a lot in the third season of ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' when [[spoiler:the DA]] repeatedly discusses murdering people with Dexter in restaurants, at parties, over the phone, in the office, and pretty much everywhere. Yet no one ever overhears, nor do the characters seem to be concerned that anyone will hear them. Because having the characters go somewhere private every time they need to move the plot forward would take too much screen time.
* ''[[Series/GetSmart Get Smart!]]'' [[PlayedForLaughs spoofed it]] on such a regular basis, that it's the TropeCodifier.
** Max would often call CONTROL Headquarters on his shoe phone and openly discuss mission details in plain sight of several, if not dozens, of onlookers. One episode even had Max use a phone that was hidden in a fire hydrant, while people passed him on the street.
** In other episodes, he'd make collect calls to CONTROL by [[{{RunningGag}} asking the operator to patch him through, after giving them their secured number]]. Eventually, [[{{SassySecretary}} the operator]] learned to recognize the number and would cut Max off in mid-sentence by simply stating: "Oh, you want CONTROL Headquarters. One moment please."

* In a recent episode of ''{{Series/Degrassi}}'', two perpetrators of a sexual assault were loudly discussing said assault in the hallway which allowed two other students to identify them as the perpetrators. Though they spoke in slightly hushed tones, [[{{SubvertedTrope}} it was evidently loud enough for two people all the way down the hall to hear them.]]
* A RunningGag in the first season of ''{{Series/Roswell}}'' was Liz and Maria discussing the fact that Max, Isabel, and Michael are aliens in places like the Crashdown Cafe or West Roswell High School's cafeteria. Though they were GenreSavvy enough to not actually ''use'' the word "aliens", the word they decided to use was "Czechoslovakians", [[{{SubvertedTrope}} which manages to be no less weird and attention-grabbing a thing to talk about in New Mexico]], especially in [[{{TheGreatPoliticsMessUp}} 1999-2000]].
* For undercover agents, Deeks and Kensi in ''NCISLosAngeles'' seem to spend a lot of time discussing their missions in public places.

* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is also guilty of this, though not to the same degree as some other shows. How easy it is for sensitive conversations to be overheard seems to vary based on dramatic impact.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Pegasus", Riker and his former captain discuss their mutual secret (which could get them both court-martialed) in "Ten-Forward", the ship's bar, while it is full of people. Neither of them makes any effort to talk softly - they're sitting casually across a table from one another. Also remember that the person who runs Ten Forward is a woman famous for being a "great listener".

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Exaggerated in ''VideoGame/{{SPYFox}}''. Not only does Spy Fox discuss secret plans on his spy watch out in the open, but he also refers to himself as a spy to incidental characters on the street.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', the heroes regularly discuss [[BigBad X.A.N.A's]] activities. This has gotten them into a trouble a couple times, but because their super computer has [[ResetButton Return To The Past]] functionality, they're able to undo anyone finding out too much.

[[AC:Advertising]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' and [[{{Film/Watchmen}} the film version]] too: Dan & Laurie have a conversation in a restaurant reminiscing over old times as superheroes without any regard to anyone who might overhear.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

** ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'': After making contact with Mathis, Bond and Vesper proceed to discuss their secret mission in a café just off the town square. Mathis also brings up blackmailing Royale's chief of police, with none of the other patrons noticing any of it.
* The 1979 film ''Film/TheInLaws'', CIA Agent Vincent Ricardo and Dentist Sheldon "Shelly" Kornpett (played by Peter Falk and Alan Arkin respectively), are conversing about the situation that they are in while dining at a restaurant. Shelly is not the least bit happy to have been dragged into this adventure and expresses his displeasure in the loudest possible manner which attracts the attention of its patrons.
* In ''Film/JurassicPark'' Dennis Nedry and Lew Dodgson discuss the plan to steal [[{{ItMakesSenseInContext}} dinosaur embryos]] from [=InGen=] in a Costa Rican restaurant. Dodgson even demonstrates the functions of the shaving cream can used to smuggle the embryos there while sitting at the table. Nedry [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] their OvertRendezvous, believing that HiddenInPlainSight is in full effect here:
-->'''Nedry:''' Dodgson!

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* ''Franchise/HarryPotter''. DoubleSubverted in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix '' when Harry, Hermione and Ron decide to avoid this trope by not discussing their plan in the village pub where all the students go. Instead, they go to the (nearly deserted) local BadGuyBar (owned, or at least tended, amusingly enough, by [[spoiler:Prof. Dumbledore's younger brother]]) where, as Sirius later tells them, they were more likely to be overheard.
* ''Literature/HowNotToWriteANovel'' strongly discourages this in the section called "Don't Mind Us", using a passage where a couple loudly argues about the husband's sexual life and [[ThoseWackyNazis neo-Nazism]] during a town hall meeting as an example.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* Happens [[{{RunningGag}} all the time]] on ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', especially in the early seasons. Chuck, Sarah, Casey, and [[spoiler:Morgan]] routinely discuss the secret mission du jour on the Buy More's sales floor. None of the characters in the know (including the folks back in [[{{CIA}} Langley]] and [[{{UsefulNotes/ThePentagon}} Arlington]]) see any problem with this approach.
* Happens a lot in the third season of ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' when [[spoiler:the DA]] repeatedly discusses murdering people with Dexter in restaurants, at parties, over the phone, in the office, and pretty much everywhere. Yet no one ever overhears, nor do the characters seem to be concerned that anyone will hear them. Because having the characters go somewhere private every time they need to move the plot forward would take too much screen time.
* ''[[Series/GetSmart Get Smart!]]'' [[PlayedForLaughs spoofed it]] on such a regular basis, that it's the TropeCodifier.
** Max would often call CONTROL Headquarters on his shoe phone and openly discuss mission details in plain sight of several, if not dozens, of onlookers. One episode even had Max use a phone that was hidden in a fire hydrant, while people passed him on the street.
** In other episodes, he'd make collect calls to CONTROL by [[{{RunningGag}} asking the operator to patch him through, after giving them their secured number]]. Eventually, [[{{SassySecretary}} the operator]] learned to recognize the number and would cut Max off in mid-sentence by simply stating: "Oh, you want CONTROL Headquarters. One moment please."
* The special agents in ''Series/{{Threshold}}'' would often publicly discuss the secret alien invasion they are investigating. In one instance, they interview a witness while pretending to be looking for terrorists... and then turn their back and immediately start talking about alien viruses and whatnot.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' made a lot of nods early on toward maintaining the masquerade for the muggles' benefit, but that fell by the wayside somewhere in the third season. From there on out, they would just talk about whatever wherever they happened to be.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': In a season 5 episode where Lorne hosts a party, he invites the senior partners, who set a trap for Angel. They discuss the trap and the plan to kill everyone at the party, while standing next to the dance floor.
* Occurs from time to time in ''Series/BurnNotice'', including one scene in season 2 where Michael and Victor discuss the former's next job while playing speed chess in a park in the middle of the day.
* The genre-blind titular characters of ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'' discuss dangerous secrets, the goings and comings of A, and all the rest of their business in the open more than once. For example, in episode 23 of the fourth season, the Emily shouts with Paige about [[spoiler:Allison, who is supposed to be dead,]] in the girls bathroom. This behavior repeatedly leads to the girls getting more trouble from A.
* Happens on ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' since they'll casually discuss whatever monster/ghost/demon their current hunt involves in the middle of diners with normal people just sitting around having a meal.
* In a recent episode of ''{{Series/Degrassi}}'', two perpetrators of a sexual assault were loudly discussing said assault in the hallway which allowed two other students to identify them as the perpetrators. Though they spoke in slightly hushed tones, [[{{SubvertedTrope}} it was evidently loud enough for two people all the way down the hall to hear them.]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* Exaggerated in ''VideoGame/{{SPYFox}}''. Not only does Spy Fox discuss secret plans on his spy watch out in the open, but he also refers to himself as a spy to incidental characters on the street.
* You see this in almost every role-playing video game whose world includes a "Thieves Guild" or something similar. Instead of remaining cagey and guarded until they're sure someone can be trusted, members of the Guild walk right up to your avatar and announce that they're thieves, and by the way they have a guild full of fellow thieves; would you like to come to their hideout for tea?

[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* ''WebVideo/TheBoothAtTheEnd'' plays off of this trope. The Man at the Booth discusses lucrative, dangerous, and questionable information with visitors who come to see him at his Booth. There are always some other customers in the diners that he appears at, yet he seems not to mind, or care. This leads to a waitress asking about his "business" (assuming he's some kind of therapist based on the overheard snippets). And then the Man gets a new ''friend...''

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', the heroes regularly discuss [[BigBad X.A.N.A's]] activities. This has gotten them into a trouble a couple times, but because their super computer has [[ResetButton Return To The Past]] functionality, they're able to undo anyone finding out too much.

* Happens occasionally on ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' and its {{AnimatedAdaptation}}s. The masquerade is never actually broken, but there are multiple close calls.