Characters
Do you think I'd be working in a place like this if I could afford a real snake?
— Zhora · Blade Runner
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
This is a dry, sarcastic answer to a question: the speaker points out that working somewhere shabby proves they can't afford the genuine article. The bitterness lies in a dig at the setting, using the snake as a symbol of what real money would buy.
Context reviewed