Oscar Madison, a 43-year-old sportswriter, is hosting a weekly poker game at his apartment for his friends Vinnie, Roy, Speed, and Murray. As they wait for their other friend Felix, they comment on the state of Oscar’s apartment. He offers them sandwiches from the kitchen and invites them to choose between brown and green ones, with the green being “either very new cheese or very old meat” (9). Oscar has also been reckless with his finances in the time following his divorce and can only join the game by borrowing money from Murray. As Oscar’s friends’ frustrations begin to mount, he receives a call from his ex-wife Blanche. She angrily reminds him that his child support check is a month late. Oscar brushes her off, telling her that he’ll get to it as soon as he can and insisting that money is tight. Roy, who is also Oscar’s accountant, tells him that Blanche could easily send him to jail for his failure to pay and urges him to get his life and finances together.

Shortly after, they get a call from Murray’s wife, who lets them know that Felix failed to show up for work. Everyone finds this worrying since Felix is extremely organized.