Movies
Don’t threaten me with jail, Blanche, because it’s not a threat. With my expenses and my alimony, a prisoner takes home more pay than I do.
— Oscar Madison ‧ The Odd Couple
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The threat of jail gets waved off as no threat at all. Between expenses and alimony, the speaker claims a prisoner would actually take home more pay than they currently do. It's a wry complaint about finances dressed up as fearlessness.
Context reviewed