History Main / ShameIfSomethingHappened

* Heroic variant in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'': Sam Wilson does this to TheMole after said mole asks why he should go with Sam like Sam said to:
-->'''Sam:''' Cause that tie looks ''really'' expensive and I'd hate to mess it up. *cue a laser sight from a sniper rifle appearing on said tie.*

[[caption-width-right:280:"[[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation The raccoon moneylender who gives you your home loan being the local mafia don]] is the [[StockParodyJokes obvious]] ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' joke."]]

-->-- '''Garak''', ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' ("Profit and Loss")

[[caption-width-right:280: [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation "The raccoon moneylender who gives you your home loan being the local mafia don]] is the [[StockParodyJokes obvious]] ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' joke."]]

There may be some overlap with TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive (when the Bad Guy backs up this threat by proving he knows where to find the Good Guy and/or the Good Guy's family). This may lead to an AndYourLittleDogToo situation, making the Good Guy much more likely to take the Bad Guy down than if they [[ItsPersonal hadn't threatened the Good Guy's friends and family]]. And the Bad Guy needs to make sure that the Good Guy they're trying this on with isn't [[MuggingTheMonster someone who could instantly and unexpectedly turn them into a smear on the wall]] if they were in any way displeased, since threatening innocent loved ones is a good [[BerserkButton way to trigger an]] UnstoppableRage from [[BewareTheNiceOnes the seemingly meek and mild]].

*** After two troll thugs working for the troll crime boss Chrysoprase tell Commander Vimes that their boss wants to see him, Vimes tells them "Well, he knows where I live," to which one of them remarks meaningfully "Yeah, he ''does''." [[BerserkButton Not a good idea.]] Later, Chrysoprase insists to Vimes that he never gave orders to make any threats, and had the infractors... [[YouHaveFailedMe dealt with]]. (And incidentally, would the Commander care for a new rockery for his garden?)

* ''A Mere Interlude'' by Creator/ThomasHardy:

* In the early 20th century novel ''A Candle in Her Room,'' the third-generation protagonist Nina finds herself confronting the wicked Dido. The person Nina loves most in the world is her great-aunt Melissa, who became her guardian after the deaths of her parents, and in order to compel Nina to do what she wants, Dido starts talking about what a terrible thing it would be if elderly Aunt Liss were to stumble on the stairs or something equally dangerous.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* After Kaname is kidnapped in an episode of ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu,'' Sousuke walks into the female gang leader's hideout. An ExtendedDisarming later, Sousuke plays the trope for ''all it's worth,'' dangling the gang leader's little brother from the hideout's rafters and rattling off a list of the "most precious things" of all the other gang members (sickly mothers, little sisters, exotic fish, etc.), causing them to disperse in tears. This is all done with a [[FaceFramedInShadow ominous shadow over his face]] and in a CreepyMonotone. [[spoiler:Then, when Kaname is released, Sousuke reveals that he'd bribed the little brother to play along. We're not sure how much he was joking about the rest, though...]]
* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', a great scene shows Ed trying to quit his job, but then the Fuhrer casually remarks about Ed's "nice childhood friend Winry", who of course Ed has strong feelings for. Averted when [[MadBomber Kimblee]] makes a similar comment to Ed, but is honestly saying that he just thinks Winry is nice.
* In ''Manga/DeathNote'', TheMafia [[spoiler:kidnap Sayu, Light's little sister, and tell it to her father with a speech to this effect.]]
* In an early episode of ''Anime/{{Medabots}}'' (or at least, the English dub), one of the gang of Medabot thieves threatens Ikki thusly: "Nice Medabot you've got there. Shame if something were to happen to it."
* Subverted [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesomely]] in ''Manga/PsychicSquad''. The Normal People, who have The Children in an [[PsychicStatic ECM]] field try to get Minamoto's computer password by threatening Kaoru, [[spoiler: ''[[MemeticMutation just as Minamoto planned]]''. The password Minamoto told them was actually a trigger for an emergency ECCM unit, freeing Kaoru to use her powers.]] Since "ECM" and [[spoiler:"ECCM"]] are pretty obscure acronyms and sound pretty similar: The ECM is an AntiMagic field, [[spoiler:the ECCM is an Anti Anti Magic field.]]
* In ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', [[spoiler:[[MagnificentBastard King Yomi]]]] managed to do this on [[TheSmartGuy Kurama]] and get away with it, revealing that not only had he already done extensive research on Kurama and his [[MoralityPet human family]], but that he'd taken measures to [[spoiler:[[BlackMail ensure that Kurama will be forced to work for him]]]]. Notable in being the only time in 112 episodes that Kurama [[PrecisionFStrike actually cusses at someone]].
--> '''[[spoiler:Yomi]]:''' Humans love to travel don't they? It would be a shame if a plane were to crash. Although I doubt a story about middle-aged newlyweds dying on their honeymoon would even make it on the evening news.\\
'''Kurama''': You [[PrecisionFStrike bastard]]...
* Roberto uses this to great effect on [[spoiler: Detective Runge]] in ''Manga/{{Monster}}'', talking about his ex-wife, daughter, and grandson in this manner.
* In ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'', fed up with [[AlphaBitch Erika's]] TrashTalk about how there is an unspoken rule that weaker schools (such as Ooarai, the protagonists' school) should stay out of Tankery, let alone "superior" schools like her Kuromorimine, the otherwise lethargic Mako Reizei, driver of Ooarai's flagship tank, snarks that it'd be a shame were a team of "nobodies" to beat the top dogs that came up with that rule, to which Erika could only glare. [[spoiler:Come the FinalBattle, Ooarai does just that, [[SpannerInTheWorks screwing up Kuromorimine's carefully-laid plans]] with [[ConfusionFu unpredictable moves]], one of which involved fooling Erika's tank into falling off a ditch, leaving her unable to do anything but [[VillainousBreakdown go into a screaming fit on national television]].]]
* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', this is part of Eren Yeager's plan to stop [[spoiler:Reiner from potentially transforming into the Armored Titan, or from Eren having to transform into the Attack Titan to defend himself]], as they're in a basement of an apartment building, and [[spoiler:either of them transforming]] would cause the building to crumble and all the people in it to die, as well as [[spoiler:all the other citizens, politicians, military officials and nobles who are gathered in the area for an annual festival]] who would get caught in the crossfire. [[spoiler:Eren ends up transforming into his Titan and attacking the ruler of the Kingdom of Marley, Willy Tybur, as Willy is delivering a speech on the festival's grand stage]].
[[/folder]]

* Played completely straight in the ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story "Knock Wood": a lawyer uses a genius defense to acquit the son of a mafia boss, who then wants to recruit him permanently. When the lawyer refuses, the boss says the trope name nearly verbatim to threaten his family if he turns down the offer...

* Ivana Baiul of ''[=DV8=]'' calls a troublesome US Senator to console him on the recent death of a good friend of his (which, needless to say, she orchestrated), saying that it would be terrible for anything like that to happen to his wife or daughter.
* The origin of [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] involves this. Mob boss Tony Zucco uses this on the Ringmaster, and after being thrown out partially cuts the ropes for the Graysons' trapeze. The rope breaks when Dick's parents are using it, and they fall to their deaths.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/IronTouch'', Hol Horse uses this tone to {{Blackmail}} Depeche Mode into [[ItMakesSenseInContext making a fake passport for]] [[FanCreatedOffspring Michelle Polnareff]], threatening to tell the cops about the bounty Depeche put on the mayor's head otherwise. This falls on deaf ears, given that [[spoiler: Hol Horse himself was the one who actually did kill the mayor]].
* ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-30822/DianeCastle+Hermione+Granger+and+the+Boy+Who+Lived.htm Hermione Granger and the Boy Who Lived]]'': Hermione pulls this on Dolores Umbridge so carefully that Umbridge ''doesn't realise Hermione is working against her''.
--> '''Hermione''': ''<after surreptitiously speed-dialling Ginny on speakerphone>'' This is a disaster! I just hope no-one's around the septic tank to take pictures!
* After Ned Stark manages to figure out that Tony is Iron Man in ''Fanfic/AManOfIron'' and confronts him about it, Tony responds to his accusations by (not-so) subtly implying to Ned that he knows of [[spoiler:Jon Snow's true parentage]], with the message that entails being very clear: if Ned reveals Tony's secret, then Tony reveals Ned's secret.
* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'', Mori asks enemy esper Kyouko how her grandfather is in Osaka. She immediately gains a look of barely concealed terror.
* In the 16th chapter of ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'', Twilight discovers that her friends' CassandraTruth about [[spoiler:[[LoveInterestTraitor Jewelius]] being EvilAllAlong was true. However, she is forced to remain compliant when Jewelius reveals that [[IHaveYourWife he is holding her parents hostage]]. Fortunately, a Changeling disguised as Raven Inkwell arrives to help Twilight by freeing her parents and helping all three of them escape from Canterlot]].
-->[[spoiler:'''Jewelius''']]: I'd hate to one day find [[spoiler:your beloved parents]] found as casualties of a possible attempted changeling attack.
* ''Fanfic/NightsFavoredChild'': [[TheDragon The Inquisitor]] is attending a PeaceConference with the griffin kings which is falling apart (mostly due to the Inquisitor [[FantasticRacism hating griffins]] and intentionally infuriating them), when the head king eventually threatens war. The Inquisitor then points out that the king's daughter (implied and later confirmed to be Gilda) is currently in Equestria on an exchange program, and while he's monitoring her, it might be... "difficult" to insure her safety if there's a war. The king backs down.
* Used in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/119688/1/you-obey/the-interrogation You Obey]]'' as the interrogator is [[NightmareFuel eyeing his victim's limbs.]]
* ''Fanfic/DirtySympathy'': [[BadBoss Kristoph]] tells Apollo after he's nine minutes late to work that if he should adhere to schedule so people will know where he is and where he's supposed to be. Because he doesn't, people wouldn't know where he's supposed to be and won't notice if Apollo went missing.
* In ''[[Fanfic/TheQueenWhoFellToEarth On The Wings of Dragons]]'', Harry shows a photograph where a dragon appears smiling right behind a small girl playing in a park. The girl is the grand-daughter of a man that Harry knows is planning to have him attacked in some way because he humiliated the man before, and Harry is doing this to show him he is not to be trifled with. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in that it is just a bluff, since Harry is completely unwilling of harming an innocent.
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9076277/1/Unfortunately-Unbreakable Unfortunately Unbreakable:]]''
-->'''Harry:''' If you want me to treat Snape with the respect he has earned, I'll start insulting him and his parents in front of the whole school. And I'll start destroying things that matter to him. That's a nice potions storeroom you've got there, Snape. Be a shame if anything happened to it.
* ''Fanfic/TheVow'': When [[VillainProtagonist Lord Shen]] discovers that [[TheDragon the Wolf Boss]] Zhan has his eyes on a dhole [[NinjaMaid maid]] named Jade, he tells Zhan to focus on their upcoming conquest of China and put aside his infatuation.
-->'''Shen''': I need you, Zhan. If you're distracted, I may have to find the cause of it and have it ''rooted out''.
* [[http://members.iglou.com/scarfman/70061518.htm This]] fan cartoon (redrawn ''Webcomic/TheHeroOfThreeFaces'' version [[http://www.arthurkingoftimeandspace.com/3faces/abhub.htm here]]) involves [[Film/TheGodfather Don Vito Corleone]], after a NoodleIncident involving [[Series/DoctorWho the Third Doctor]], trying this after the Doctor refuses his offer of 'friendship'. Corleone coldly points out that he has friends who are more powerful than the Doctor can imagine. [[SubvertedTrope Amused]], the Doctor retorts that he has ''enemies'' who are more powerful than Corleone can imagine.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8333963/14/Emerald-Flight-Book-One-Union Emerald Flight Book One: Union]]'' Supergirl threatens an Intergang member's ''jacket'' when he refuses to talk.
-->'''Supergirl:''' Would be a shame if something happened to it? Spontaneous combustion could be a bad thing. My eyes tend to get excited when I see such a nice jacket.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10917821/13/The-questionable-burdens-of-leadership-of-a-troll-Emperor The (Questionable) Burdens of Leadership of a Troll Emperor]]'', Xanna and Naruto comment on a plan to take over and assimilate a particularly troublesome society with severe Nazi-esque practices. When Naruto asks what will happen if their plan fails, Xanna gives a rather simple reply.
-->'''Xanna''': [[PhysicalGod Supernovas]] [[HurlItIntoTheSun happen all the time]].
* ''Fanfic/MegamiNoHanabira'': Mai gets this from the mastermind behind the demon outbreak: [[spoiler: [[SinisterMinister Father]] [[BitchInSheepsClothing Archibald]] [[DarkMessiah Phillips]], who coldly tells her that if she refuses to give up the locations of her friends and they end up ruining [[PathOfInspiration The Flock's]] reputation by revealing the truth behind the outbreak, The Flock will have no reason to save [[DoomedHometown Kazamino]] from the demons, or for that matter any other city full of innocent people where a demon outbreak could...crop up. This doesn't have the intended reaction: Mai refuses to cave, looks Phillips right in the eye and tells him ''exactly'' [[YoureInsane what she thinks of him.]]]]
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3179790/1/Addition-to-the-Fray Addition to the Fray]]'', a short fanfic set during Marvel's ComicBook/CivilWar, ComicBook/DoctorDoom contacts Reed Richards one night and questions why Reed, given his past political leanings, should join the pro-registraton side. Reed admits to Doom that SHIELD had mailed photos of Franklin and Valeria sleeping in their beds (which they could only have acquired by breaking through the Baxter Building's advanced security protocols) with the message "Say nothing and agree". This turns out to be a mistake on SHIELD's part, since at the time of Valeria's birth, Doom had declared the child to be under his protection. [[SpannerInTheWorks The story ends with Doom essentially declaring war on SHIELD.]]
* In ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/4584735/chapters/10499001 A Different Beginning]]'' Ron taunts Hermione to distract her so he and Harry can grab some of the library books she's hoarding.
-->'''Ron:''' This your essay, Granger? You shouldn't just leave it out like this. Be a shame if something were to happen to it.
* In ''Fanfic/PrincessOfTheBlacks'' a joking version is used along with ImpliedDeathThreat when Sirius starts getting on Jen's nerves about her time with Krum.
** Amelia informs Fudge that he has a security detail that's prevented attempts on his life but if he refuses to do his job as Ambassador, she'll have to fire him and he'd lose his security detail.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/12591880/chapters/28798128 Lila and the Anger Management Class]]'' this is how Lila, [[MilitaryBrat daughter of two Italian diplomats]], shuts down the school's AlphaBitch Chloe and [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections her usual recourse to her father, the mayor of Paris, to get away with everything]]:
-->"Did you just say that the mayor of the capital of France abuses his power to spoil his daughter? My, I wonder what would happen if some foreign power were to give the government some evidence of this, like a cellphone recording taken by the daughter of two high-level diplomats..."
* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12712943/8/Brotherhood-of-Trust Brotherhood of Trust]]'':
-->'''Quirrell:''' Hello. That's a beautiful wife you have there. Is she eight months along? I see I was close, eight months and two weeks. A boy. How old is the toddler? She's two years and three months. What a beautiful young family you have. It'd be a shame if anything happened to them.
* In ''Fanfic/TheirBond'', for years Ganondorf kept Zelda from telling anyone about [[spoiler:his ColdBloodedTorture and sexual abuse]] by threatening to kill her loved ones.
* After arresting Malfoy and his goons for attempting to attack Harry and Hermione in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9037762/3/I-Fall-out-to-Pieces I Fall(out) to Pieces]]'', everyone involved, including the auror who arrested them, Kingsley Shacklebolt, know without a doubt they'll be out soon due to their families' [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney wealth]] and [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections connections]]. However, they can only be released once the proper paperwork has been filed, and papers for cases involving people like Malfoy just so happen to get *ahem* "lost" a lot.
* ''[[Fanfic/ThePiratesSoldier The Pirate's Soldier]]'' has a non-lethal, PlayedForLaughs version. When Mihoshi lists all the criminal charges against Ryoko, Heero asks her if the device she's holding is her only evidence of it. After she confirms, Heero not-so-subtly says it'd be a shame if it got destroyed, so that Ryoko catches the hint and "accidentally" blasts it with her powers, claiming PowerIncontinence.
* In ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheGreatAceDetective'', Mael Stronghart compliments Klint van Ziek about the latter's daughter Henrietta, [[ChildProdigy having another paper being published at the age of ten]]. He brings up that Henrietta has many opportunities thanks to her father's standing, [[spoiler:implying what might happen if [[SinsOfTheFather Klint was exposed as the Professor]]]].
[[/folder]]

--> '''Flaversham:''' You can do what you want with me. I won't be a part of this-this... this evil any longer!
--> '''Ratigan:''' Oh, very well, if that is your decision. Oh, by the way, I'm taking the liberty of having your daughter brought here.
--> '''Flaversham:''' O... Olivia?
--> '''Ratigan:''' ''(activating Olivia's wind-up ballerina doll and watching it dance)'' Yes... I would spend many a sleepless night if anything ''unfortunate'' were to befall ''her''.
--> '''Flaversham:''' You... Y-You wouldn't!
--> ''[Ratigan picks up the doll, then squeezes the toy so hard that it breaks]''
--> '''Ratigan:''' [[SuddenlyShouting FINISH IT, FLAVERSHAM!]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** Parodied when Homer threatens Mr. Burns: "Nice office you have here. It would be a shame if somebody... DIDN'T USE A COASTER!" Mr. Burns [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment appears to be truly shaken]].
** In another episode, Homer threatens the manager of a beauty salon by hurling a hairnet to the ground and unscrewing the lid off of a jar. The manager is perplexed, especially as it is only after these things have happened that Homer explains his intent: he wants the salon to honor Marge's coupon for two free hair streaks, "or a lot more jars are going to be unscrewed."
** And again when Homer hires a private investigator, Dexter Colt, to find information about Lisa. Dexter comments that it would be a shame if Principal Skinner's papers were shuffled and does so. Skinner responds that he could easily put them back, to which Dexter staples the now mismatched pile. Cue a BigNo from Skinner.
** Parodied again in "The Clown Stays in the Picture", where Marge becomes Krusty’s assistant director for a movie, who in turn becomes dependent on her and tries to get rid of Homer for spending too much time with her.
--->'''Homer:''' I'm telling you, your crazy boss is out to get me.
--->'''Marge:''' No he's not. Krusty loves our relationship. Every day he says it would be a shame if something happened to you, then laughs and laughs…
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "Nightsisters", Darth Sidious senses the growing powers of Dooku's assassin, Asajj Ventress. He subtly invokes the trope, hinting that he would kill Dooku if he was breaking the Rule of Two.
-->'''Darth Sidious''': I can sense her powers growing stronger. I would hate to think you are training your own Sith apprentice to destroy me.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'': When Baltazar is less than pleased at seeing [[Characters/{{Wakfu}} Qilby]] again in Emrub, Qilby responds with the following while smirking smugly, practically unfazed by Baltazar's draconic yelling:
-->"''Watch your words, old dragon, just like me you don't want us to fight here. ''[glances meaningfully at Baltazar's young charges]'' Think about the consequences for all these kids.''"
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'', when Cindy, trying to sell products for a school fundraiser, says the above phrase in regards to a rocking horse on the man's front porch. This causes him to worriedly buy several boxes.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', [[EvilChancellor Long Feng]] tells Aang "I understand you’ve been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest." This is a variation on the standard trope, as the threat was merely expulsion from the city; although Long Feng ''was'' indeed holding Appa, he had to know that directly using him as a hostage would end... badly.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** A trio of bender thugs from the [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs Triple Threat Triad]] are rather unsubtle about it.
--->'''Viper:''' Mr. Chung, please tell me you have my money, or else I can't protect your fine establishment. ''[The Firebender gangster [[FingersnapLighter palms a ball of fire]] and grins]''
** In the second season, [[spoiler: Varrick]] threatens Mako in this way about Asami and Bolin. [[spoiler: It's a bluff, and Varrick opts to frame Mako.]]
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Freakazoid}}'' had a one-shot villain named Arms Akimbo, an old-style gangster who offered "Oops Insurance"; whenever the shopkeeper asked "What's 'Oops Insurance'?", he'd knock something over and say "Oops". This culminates with a StockFootage building [[StuffBlowingUp exploding]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments followed by his usual "Oops".]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': The gist of the Grunka-Lunkas' song in "[[CharlieAndTheChocolateParody Fry and the Slurm Factory]]".
-->'''Grunka-Lunkas:''' Grunka-Lunka-dunka-dee-doo.\\
We've got a friendly warning for you.\\
Grunka-Lunka-dunka-dee-dasis.\\
The secret of Slurm's on a need-to-know basis.\\
'''Grunka-Lunka:''' Asking questions in school is a great way to learn.\\
'''Grunka-Lunka 2:''' If you try that stuff here, you might get your legs broke.\\
'''Grunka-Lunka:''' We once found a dead guy face down in the Slurm.\\
'''Grunka-Lunka 2:''' It could easily happen again to you folk.\\
'''Grunka-Lunkas:''' So keep your head down\\
And keep your mouth shut!\\
Grunka-Lunka-Lunka-dunka-dee-dut!
* Played with on an episode of ''WesternAnimation/RugRats'': on a dark and stormy night, a stranger shows up at the Pickles' doorstep, making vaguely threatening statements about their home and family. Then he realizes he's being inadvertently creepy, and reveals he's just an insurance salesman and would like a few moments of their time.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', mob boss Tony Dracon runs a protection racket and blows up the buildings that don't pay. As a gargoyle, who sees protecting the innocent as a sacred duty, Goliath is enraged over someone doing this and calling it “protection”.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Le Petit Tourette" has Chris Hansen telling Cartman that if he doesn't appear on his show, he will be killed, citing about how a pedophile "shot himself" to get out of being on ''Series/ToCatchAPredator''. Subverted in that when multiple pedophiles actually are baited into appearing on the show, they immediately kill themselves, suggesting that Chris Hanson wasn't threatening Cartman but was stating a fact.
* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Summer Job" had Mr. Krabs making Mrs. Puff work at the Krusty Krab to pay for [[CarMeetsHouse driving into the restaurant]], using this method to threaten her with telling her parole officer if she refuses.
* On the season 3 episode of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', "Meter Maid" Stan blackmails the maitre'd by threatening to boot his car if he and Francine weren't offered a better table at the restaurant.
* ''WesternAnimation/ParadisePD'': The Kingpin blackmails Agent Clappers by showing him a picture of his family, saying it would be a shame if something happened... to his family [[BaitAndSwitch photo of them]] while holding up a permanent marker. But Clappers treated the situation as if his actual family was being hostage, since the picture was his only copy and it's hard to get the perfect family photograph.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': Naoto notes that it would be a terrible shame if Namatame escaped through the large television set in his hospital room. Then again, there's the not entirely unwelcome possibility that he wouldn't be able to get out of it and be left at the mercy of the Shadows. Rise gets the gist of what Naoto is implying, and is horrified that Naoto is seriously suggesting it.
* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'', [[StopPokingMe clicking on]] VideoGame/{{Diablo}} will eventually cause him to make this threat -- [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou against the player's soul]]!
-->'''Diablo:''' That's a nice soul you've got there. It'd be a shame if something ''happened'' to it!
* In the 3DO game ''Zhadnost'', a common thug named Zygi managed to steal a nuclear bomb, and as the announcer is describing him to the game show host, it shows surveillance footage of Zygi "playing" with his new bomb in his house, pretending to be the President of the United States. "You have such a lovely country here. It would be a real... ''shame''... if something happened to it." He pats the bomb while he says this, too.
* In ''VideoGame/SilentHill4'', you get an ominous note under your door reading: "Better check on your neighbor" shortly before [[spoiler: Eileen gets brutally attacked and almost killed]].
* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' if you're playing evil you can try and pull this on a merchant. Of course he won't understand you and once you switch to simple threats, will chastise you for not getting right to the point. Hilariously, he's actually delighted that the thieves' guild is extorting him, because it means he's treated as a serious businessman and it will generate free publicity and draw customers.
* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' gives us something among these lines when leaders want to threaten you into giving them free stuff. ''Civilization III'' takes this into full-on ethnic stereotyping when Julius Caesar says "Nice civilization you've got there. Be a shame if anything happened to it."
* In ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'', [[VillainousGlutton Krew]] is trying to convince Jak to throw the championship race, which Jak refuses to do. Krew then makes a thinly veiled threat against [[WeaselMascot Daxter]]. [[TheDragon Errol]] then makes a dramatic entrance, so we don't get to see Jak rip Krew to shreds for daring to threaten his best friend.
* LampshadeHanging in the UsefulNotes/ZXSpectrum game "Bugsy":
-->"Nice pawnshop you got here. Shame if anything should happen to it."\\\
Okay, so ya want originality. Well, let me tell you dis is 1922 and right now dis line is very original.
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' has a few examples.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', a few Carta thugs can be found threatening a shopkeeper in Orzammar Commons. As well as another opportunity for good/evil/money, it ties into the main plotline for Orzammar.
** Also in ''Origins'', members of the fanatical dragon-worshiping cult from Haven gain the cooperation of a timid innkeeper by threatening his wife and children.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Hawke will be on the receiving end of this if they accept a loan shark's offer of financial assistance during the first act. In the second act, the loan shark comes to their home and says he wants more money, and not-so-subtly threatens to harm Hawke's mother Leandra if he doesn't get it. Hawke being [[OneManArmy Hawke]], this ultimately ends up being a very unhealthy move on the part of the loan shark.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': Kefka Palazzo, when asking the King of Figaro where Terra is, says "it would be a shame if something were to happen to your precious Figaro!" He attempts to keep his promise with fire, but Figaro Castle escapes by ''burrowing under the ground''.
* ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'': Gizel employs this tactic when he tells Lymsleia about her upcoming coronation as Felana's new Queen, now that the period of mourning for Queen Arhstat and her husband, Ferid, had passed. Lym refuses to go along with it, recognizing that Gizel intends to use her as his puppet, until he invokes the trope:
-->'''Lymsleia:''' ''[defiantly]'' That right! I refuse to be your PUPPET QUEEN!!\\
'''Gizel:''' ''[nonplussed]'' My, my, and here everyone was ''so'' looking forward to the princess's coronation, but the princess is being difficult. ''[pause]'' You wouldn't want anything to happen [[CoolBigSis to Miakis]], or your other servants, would you...?\\
''[Miakis and Lymsleia gasp in realization]''\\
'''Lymsleia:''' ''[horrified]'' Y-you wouldn't! You wouldn't dare!\\
'''Gizel:''' ''[nonchalant]'' Hmph... or would I...?
* ''VideoGame/PizzaTycoon'': You can sometimes get a visit from the Mafia, who will say something along the lines of "Nice place you've got here... pity everything's so flammable..." in an extortion attempt.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': The trope is used by Gensokyo's resident meddling gods, Kanako Yasaka and Suwako Moriya, as part of a faith-gathering scheme. Kanako's a big planner/speaker and Suwako has a group of curse gods under her control; together they essentially offer the chance ''not'' to be cursed by Suwako. ''Mountain of Faith'' is Reimu and crew's response to this scheme.
* Implied in ''VideoGame/StarWarsRebellion''. If the Imperial player builds a Death Star, its mere presence near worlds with Rebel leanings reduces Imperial garrison requirements and can even automatically subdue uprisings in progress, thanks to the populace being terrified you might actually use it.
* In ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII'', ''you'' do this. The Attila the Hun campaign has a scenario where your objective is to extort tribute from Roman cities by destroying their buildings.
* This is considered a viable gameplay style by some players in ''VideoGame/EveOnline'' where PVP corporations will do anything from outright extort funds to stop shooting to ask for donations for their "defense fund."
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' includes a base management system that was originally released with an optional online feature where other players can raid and pillage your base for your personnel and resources. Then, just as Konami started offering a monthly fee to protect you from such losses, the online component became ''mandatory'' to play even the single player mode.
* ''VideoGame/FallenLondon'': Attempted by a couple of thugs on Claremont's tattoo parlour. Fortunately for Mr. Claremont, he had hired you, and it's a dangerous test. The two only get as far as "It'd be a shame if something-" before you throw them under a carriage for their troubles. The following SickeningCrunch gets the point across rather wonderfully.
* ''VideoGame/{{Paperboy}}'': Non-subscribers will become subscribers if you do enough damage to their homes, strongly implying that they're subscribing so you'll leave them alone. They'll still want that paper, though.
* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': The way Hazama managed to coax Litchi Faye-Ling into his services 'by her own will' is by casually mentioning that he HAS information on the 'cure' she's looking for, and it'd be a shame if he'd just destroy that bit of information (and eventually her target of curing) because it's personally useless to him.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has the "Infiltration" short, in which Sombra casually threatens to reveal Katya Volskaya's dealings with the Omnics that her company supposedly opposed while holding a picture of Volskaya's daughter. Quirkiness of Sombra aside, it's pretty unnerving when you think about it.
-->'''Sombra:''' (While holding a picture of Volskaya's daughter) What would that do for the future of Russia?
** Widowmaker can also throw this back at Sombra if they're on the same team, but it's a subversion: Widowmaker isn't threatening anything Sombra holds dear, but merely implying that it'd be a pity if she had to ''kill'' her out of annoyance.
* In ''VideoGame/StarControlII'', one alien race agrees to help you in your fight if you can eliminate the monsters that forced them to evacuate their homeworld. After you do so, they try to back out of the deal by saying that they will help you once they're done re-colonizing the planet. You can then point out that the creatures are not actually dead; they're just in stasis aboard your ship. The aliens get the hint.
* ''VideoGame/PsyCard'': The second line from Aya, right after saying that the second All Night Tournament is "nice", is:
--> It'd be a real shame if something awful happened to it...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'':
** There was a sketch mocking former Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, which has had a reputation of being one of the most corrupt states in the US and is widely stereotyped as having a Mob-controlled government (past ties to UsefulNotes/AlCapone probably don't help the reputation either). In the sketch, he gets HauledBeforeASenateSubcommittee to answer questions about an attempt to auction off UsefulNotes/BarackObama's former Senate seat. At the witness table, he points out that the wiring in old buildings like the Capitol is prone to catching fire and offers to hire a couple guys to keep an eye on the place.[[note]]He was later convicted on multiple charges of corruption and is currently imprisoned.[[/note]]
** In a later example, SNL also parodied Governor Chris Christie of UsefulNotes/NewJersey (another state that is infamous for its political corruption) in the wake of his "Bridgegate" scandal[[note]]Allegedly, some of his staffers ordered the blockade of several lanes of traffic on a highway bridge in retribution to a perceived snub by the local politicians in that area.[[/note]] by having him implicitly threaten [[Creator/{{CNN}} Piers Morgan]] during an interview and invoking this trope word for word.
* This often happens in ''Series/{{Cluedo}}'', where the murder victim knows a secret of one of the suspects, and says this gloatingly.
--> '''Dave:''' Oh, by the way, you know our little ''arrangement''? The one we're not supposed to tell anyone about? Wouldn't it be terrible if Mrs Peacock somehow found out?
* ''Series/TheDailyShowWithJonStewart'', when in 2013, Democrats threatened to hold up the Obama's nominee for the CIA, John Brennan, in order to get drone memos, Jon Stewart likened their threats to a mobster: “Hey. Nice nominee you got there, ''[sniffs, straightens tie]'' It’d be a shame if something happened to 'em, Mr. President. Know what I mean?”
* [[MagnificentBastard Scorpius]] from ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' pulls a rather aggressive version of this trope by forcibly showing [[TheHero John]] a hologram of Earth and [[KickTheDog threatening]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom to send a fleet to destroy it]] if he doesn't start co-operating. [[spoiler: Despite this, even after John foils his plans, Scorpius gets a rather sympathetic scene where he points out that petty revenge against John is pointless if the [[FreudianExcuse revenge he really wanted]] was out of his grasp.]]
* The protection version is sent up in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'', when Dino and Luigi Vercotti [[BullyingADragon do this with an Army base]].
-->'''Luigi:''' How many men you got here, colonel? \\
'''Colonel:''' Oh, er ... seven thousand infantry, six hundred artillery, and er, two divisions of paratroops. \\
'''Luigi:''' Paratroops, Dino. \\
'''Dino:''' Be a shame if someone was to set fire to ''them.''
* Parodied in ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', where an officer delivers his files to Lois in response to her objecting a traffic ticket, and tries to make innocuous small-talk:
-->'''Police Officer:''' Nice house you have here.\\
'''Lois:''' Are you ''threatening'' me!?
* Played with in episode 4.08 of ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy''. Lieutenant Roosevelt remarks that Jax has a beautiful family and naturally, it would be a shame if anything happened to them. However, he's not threatening Jax, just emphasizing that getting into the drug business could cause his loved ones serious harm - by this point the Sons have already been witness to multiple assasination attempts by their cartel's competition.
* The episode "Damned If You Don't" of ''Series/AmericanGothic1995'' inverts this trope: when Buck comes to collect on a debt, and mentions him having "a lovely daughter...how old is she now, fifteen?" Carter believes (helped along by the sheriff's smarmy turn from AffablyEvil to [[{{Squick}} downright pedophilic]]) that this is a blatant threat to his daughter's life if he turns Buck down--but all the sheriff is doing is innocently offering her a job at the precinct. Of course, when Carter ''does'' turn him down and opts for a different means of paying the debt, the daughter, his wife, and his entire livelihood are indeed threatened...with tragic consequences.
* Parodied in a Swedish cop comedy show called ''S.W.I.P Snutarna''. One StoryArc parodies ''Film/TheGodfather'' with one family being an apple mafia and their neighbours wanting to keep their apple trees (includes a hilarious scene that parodies the horse head, where a man wakes up to find his bed filled with apples). Anyhow, one member of the apple mafia family threatens the neighbours. "''Lovely apple trees you've got. It would be a shame if someone was to... [[InherentlyFunnyWords scrump]].''"
* Lana Lang in S6 of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' does this with one of Lex Luthor's scientists with regards to his family, home and livelihood.
** Lionel Luthor is also a fan of this trope, and we see him pull it multiple times throughout the series. In fact, [[spoiler:Lionel doing this to the Kents is what caused much of the plot of the series.]]
* In ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', Michael, [[NobleDemon a demon trying to learn about human ethics]], is trying to find a way to kill Derek. After Chidi patiently explains that murder is against most human ethical systems, Michael proposes an alternate plan which is totally innocent, but would ''tragically'' and ''unfortunately'' result in Derek's death.
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':
** [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'', when it's actually the ''good guys'' doing the persuading, complete with the "Nice place you got here" shtick. The duo pulls the [[PokeThePoodle parody version]], which is met with worry from the object of their persuasion.
** And again, in ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' by [[TheAtoner the White Ranger]] when he tries to threaten the resident bad-girl into returning a [[SeriousBusiness children's]] [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries trading card]] by revealing to [[BigBad his father]] that her cover was blown. Funny how it's the former bad guys who are okay with pulling this stuff...
* On ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', Nathan et al learn a hard lesson on why it's not a good idea to piss off the wrong people while passing through a town to help someone. "Too bad you won't be here next week when the [victim]'s house burns down." (Ultimately subverted in that Nathan then plays a little XanatosSpeedChess to ensure that the man making this threat is arrested.)
* ''Series/PoliceSquad'' had an episode with a mob protection racket; this trope was one of the few that the episode played straight.
* One ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' short involved a bread salesman; Mike and the bots decided to add some subtext to one scene with a grocer.
-->'''Salesman:''' G'morning, Mr. Marco.\\
'' '''Mike:''' Mr. Marco, you want my coffee ring today? Sure be a shame if something bad happened to your store here.''\\
'''Salesman:''' (Notices shopping cart) Hey! Something new!\\
'' '''Mike:''' Be a shame if this ran over your kid.''
* ''Series/PeepShow'': "Nice packet of Crunchy Nut you've got here, pretty expensive as I recall..."
* On ''Series/TheLeagueOfGentlemen'', Papa Lazarou's exceptionally creepy "makeup speech" eventually turns out to be one of these about a woman he's kidnapped.
-->"You know, the thing a lot of people don't realize about makeup is that you can tend to overdo it. It's much better to have too little, and then add on. I learned my skills from [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty my wives]]. Each one of them has something different to offer. ''Your'' wife, for example, knows a great deal about curling eyelashes. You didn't know that, did you? Perhaps you should have paid more attention to her. I ''know'' I did."
* ''Series/FoylesWar'' contains two examples in the same episode... both of which are rather awesomely thrown back in the faces of the people trying to intimidate our heroes:
** Number one has an arrested black marketeer casually mention to Milner that many of the people he works with won't be pleased that Milner has arrested him, and that Milner should 'be careful' and 'watch his back'. Unfortunately for the black marketeer, he made this comment in front of the desk sergeant as well, giving Milner a reason to calmly add two more charges to his sheet -- obstruction and threatening a police officer. [[spoiler: Even more unfortunately for the black marketeer, someone else later ''does'' try to kill Milner, thus putting the black marketeer in the position of Chief Suspect. The marketeer ends up having to frantically backtrack and plead that he didn't have anything to do with it, honestly]].
** Number two has Sam overhear a conversation that perhaps she shouldn't have between a suspect and a third party at her new job in a map-making facility. Later that night, the suspect surprises her as she's leaving to go home, suggesting that it ''really'' would be better for her if she forgot all about that conversation, and that he really wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her as a result of it. Sam calmly replies that she'd actually forgotten all about the incident already, "but since you're so worried about it you've come out here to try and bully me, I'm going to mention it to everyone I can." She then rides off without a backwards glance, leaving the suspect with an OhCrap expression and the feeling that this possibly wasn't one of his better ideas. [[spoiler: Curiously, the men making 'hints' turn out to be uncle and nephew. Having your threats casually dismissed must be genetic.]]
* Subverted on ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'': when speaking to a possible new Active, Adelle brings up the candidate's mother's financial situation. The candidate thinks she is going to threaten his mother, but Adelle actually offers to solve his mother's financial troubles if he agrees to become an Active. Since Adelle offers a combination of threats and promises (carrot and stick), the underlining threat behind this promise was "we know your mother matters to you." She's a MagnificentBastard for a reason.
* Various antagonists in ''Series/BurnNotice'' do this to Michael Westen all the time. In one episode [[spoiler:Brennan kidnaps Michael's brother to force the crew into helping him steal classified weapons information. Michael stalls long enough to discover that Brennan has a daughter, and uses this trope on ''him'' to get his brother back. Played with in the sense that Michael clearly never intended to harm the girl, but Brennan wasn't willing to call his bluff.]]
* A gang member once tried this on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', threatening [=McGee=] and Ziva if Gibbs didn't get off his back. Notwithstanding who Ziva ''is'' (or [[BadassBookworm McGee]] for that matter), he was ''[[TooDumbToLive saying this straight to Gibbs' face.]]'' Needless to say, he took it back. ''Fast.''
** Another [[SarcasmMode genius]] casually advises Abby--''right in front of Gibbs''--to drive safely on her way home. Given that his sister (they are the children of a man Gibbs murdered years ago) tried to kill Gibbs' father earlier in the episode, it's pretty obvious what he's getting at. Once again, Gibbs' [[BerserkButton reaction]] isn't pretty.
** A terrorist Ellie Bishop is interrogating not-so-subtly threatens her then-husband:
--> '''Terrorist''': "It's been a long time, Eleanor. I thought about you."\\
'''Ellie''': "You should have stopped by the office and said hello".\\
'''Terrorist''': "That's too formal. [[TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive I much prefer your apartment in DC.]] How is your husband Jake? He should really learn to watch his surroundings."
* Schillinger does this to Beecher in ''Series/{{Oz}}'' saying he's got a beautiful wife and kids, forcing Beecher to take the photos he has of his family and tear them up.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'':
** In the final MirrorUniverse episode, "Smiley" says this about [[spoiler:the Klingon flagship once its shields are down]].
** The trope backfires when Weyoun Seven tries this with Ezri Dax, [[BullyingADragon forgetting he's standing next to Worf]], the one Starfleet character who has no qualms about {{Neck Snap}}ping him on the spot.
** Done in a more teasing fashion in "In Purgatory's Shadow", when Jadzia suggests that Worf had better hurry back from the Gamma Quadrant before she loses the Klingon opera recordings she borrowed from him.
* Parodied in a ''Series/{{MADtv}}'' Miss Swan sketch. A mobster tries to extort money out of her by threatening her beauty salon. He demonstrates what could happen if she doesn't pay by "accidentally" knocking a glass jar on the floor. However, Miss Swan is such a CloudCuckooLander that she finds that to be entertaining, and begins destroying other things in her store for fun. The thug has to quickly step in and stop her before she destroys her television.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderUK'': James Steel confronts his nemesis with irrefutable evidence of his guilt in several murders and urges him to have the decency to plead guilty and not torture the families of his victims with a lengthy trial. The man responds by casually asking, "He's eight, isn't he? Your little boy? Ethan? Gradley Street, Edinburgh. Beautiful house they've got. But busy roads, though. On his walk to school." Although visibly shaken to realize just how much of a monster he's dealing with, Steel keeps it together long enough to coldly bid the man farewell and walk out of the room.
* ''Series/TheSopranos'':
** Played with in the final season. One of the family's minor protected businesses folds and is replaced with a BrandX Starbucks. Two of Tony's lieutenants go in to try this routine on the new manager. He immediately recognizes what they are doing, but in an almost sympathetic tone he points out the store's workforce isn't unionized and the company is a billion dollar multinational with complete insurance. What's more, every single bean is in the computer, so if he started skimming for the mob he'd be fired immediately and they'd have to start over. The two mobsters leave, complaining about the state of modern business.
** Then there's the time Bobby Bacala is sent to smooth over a situation involving a recalcitrant union leader:
--->'''Bobby''': I mean, you recently got an offer, for a lot of money. And, if you don't get paid, you can't feed your family. I presume you got a family. I'm a family man myself, and I gotta tell you I'd rather take two shots to the back of the fucking head than not be able to feed my family.\\
''[makes a gun with his hand and points it to the back of his own head]''\\
'''Bobby''': One... Two... To the back of the head. You think about that.
* A standard tactic of the [[GirlScoutsAreEvil evil Girl Guides]] in ''Series/YoureSkittingMe''.
* And done with the Boy Scouts in ''Series/TheGoodies'' episode "Scoutrageous", where Bill and Graham become rogue criminal scouts shaking people down for "Bob a Job" week. In this case you pay them ''not'' to do the job.
-->'''Bill Oddie:''' What a pity it would be if it were to...catch fire. I mean if I were to accidentally rub these two sticks together...
* Variation in the first episode of ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''. John is kidnapped, taken to an abandoned building, where a sinister gentleman says he "worries about Sherlock" in an attempt to get Watson to spy on Sherlock for him. Watson [[BigBrotherInstinct assumes this is a threat,]] only to discover later that Sherlock's "archenemy" is [[spoiler: not Moriarty, as [[NotHisSled viewers familiar with the books probably expected]], but rather Sherlock's brother Mycroft, and he is legitimately concerned about him.]]
** Another ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' example: when John and Sherlock are touring through a hospital that [[VillainOfTheWeek Calverton Smith]] donated to, he runs into a couple of employees who are hesitant to give in to his demands. He'd then proceed to ask how long they'd been working at the hospital, they'd tell him, and he'd repeat the amount of years in a very pointed tone that invokes this trope against their job security. They then understand the implicatiom being made and begrudgingly acquiesce to whatever he wants them to do.
* Used in nearly every episode of ''Series/TheVampireDiaries''. By every major character. [[{{Cliche}} Against every other major character]].
* In the ''Series/ColdCase'' episode "Sandhogs", the victim, an avid union activist, is threatened by one of his opponents. He dismisses the threat, warning the man that if anything happens to him, no one would believe that it was an accident and that everyone would quickly and correctly suspect him. The man agrees, but then reveals that he wasn't really threatening ''him'', stating, "But who's going to care if some random colored woman goes missing on her way home from work?", thus telling him that he'll harm his girlfriend if he doesn't back off.
* In an episode of ''Series/BarneyMiller'' the squad discovers that someone is going around shaking down business owners in the neighborhood on the basis of a spurious rumor that the stationhouse is being closed. Nobody will come forward as a witness because, with the police gone, they're the only protection available. But then one business gets robbed and the extortionists don't do anything about it - ''now'' he'll press charges!
* Cancer Man delivers Assistant Director Skinner one of these in ''Series/TheXFiles''. "You ever wonder what it would be like to, uh... die in a plane crash? Of botulism? Even a heart attack's not uncommon for a man your age. You think I'm bluffing?" However, Skinner has an insurance policy in case of such an event and is not intimidated.
-->'''Walter Skinner''': This is where you pucker up and kiss my ass.
* In ''Series/{{Copper}}'', this is a tactic Maguire employs after he joins the Druids counterfeiting ring to persuade the local merchants to pay more for the counterfeit cash. For example, he points out to a tobacconist how the important thing to remember about tobacco is that it burns...
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'':
** In "Think Tank" the EstablishingCharacterMoment for the VillainOfTheWeek is him threatening this on a ''planetary'' scale. His think tank of {{Evil Genius}}es has just solved the problem of a planet beset by earthquakes with a [[AppliedPhlebotinum containment field]]. When they try to quibble over payment, he threatens to turn the containment field off. "Have you ever experienced a Level 12 seismic event? Most violent. Quite unnerving."
** Likewise in "Concerning Flight", an ArmsDealer points out that if an ambassador doesn't want to buy his expensive weapons, he could always sell them to a neighboring star system with aggressive tendencies.
* On ''Series/DrQuinnMedicineWoman'', the local Klan leader is rallying the townspeople to drive TokenMinorityCouple Grace and Robert E. out of their home and to equally terrorize the titular character, given that she abhors their behavior. When she confronts him about burning a cross on her property, he remorselessly tells her , "Folks don't take kindly to sympathizers. And you've got those young'uns to look after. . ." This turns out to be a huge mistake on his part as (a) It presses both her and Sully's BerserkButton--Sully outright threatens to kill him if he lays a hand on any of the children, and (b) Even some of the other Klan members express disgust at this.
* Invoked by ''Series/MissionImpossible'' when members of the mafia appeared, such as the crooked food distributor in "The Execution".
* In ''Series/DayBreak2006'', Detweiler shows Hopper the footage of Rita being assassinated. Then he reminds Hopper of what could happen to his sister and her children if he didn't play along and confess to Garza's murder. Hopper returns this threat against Detweiler's family when he tracks down and confronts him in episode 6.
* ''Series/DropTheDeadDonkey''. PlayedForLaughs when Gus Hedges is forcing George Dent to testify favourably during a lawsuit. He threatens to have George's house bulldozed by the CorruptCorporateExecutive who owns Globelink News, and even holds up a picture of the house during the trial to encourage him.
* ''Series/Daredevil2015'':
** In "Into the Ring", James Wesley walks up to Clyde Farnum, a jail guard who owes money to a crime boss that Wilson Fisk has recently removed from play, and strongarms him into carrying out a hit on Karen Page by showing him a live feed on a tablet of Farnum's daughter in a park, and then making him call her on his phone.
--->'''James Wesley:''' Now you see this man here? ''[points to Rance, sitting on a nearby park bench]'' If we're being honest with each other, Mr. Farnum, I find [[KnifeNut his methods]] ''unpleasant''. [[Film/TheAvengers2012 But such are the times we live in.]] ''[into the tablet]'' Give us a wave, Mr. Rance! ''[Rance looks up and waves to the camera]''
--->'''Clyde Farnum:''' I told you, that I will get you the money.
--->'''James Wesley:''' Such a small sum is of little interest to [[ComicBook/TheKingpin my employer]]. [[DirtyCop Your position]], however? [[PragmaticVillainy That's something we can work with.]]
--->'''Clyde Farnum:''' [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse What do you want me to do?]]
** In "Rabbit in a Snowstorm," Karen is now working for the newly established Nelson & Murdock. Wesley drops by to hire the firm to defend a hitman who just killed a rival gangster on Fisk's orders. Wesley immediately recognizes Karen due to the previous attempted hits he'd sanctioned on her.
--->'''James Wesley:''' [[FalseReassurance I assure you, all my employer wants is for you to continue to be ethical, decent men... good lawyers.]] [[BlatantLies And for that, for nothing more than your exceptional skills and your discretion...]] [[EveryManHasHisPrice you'll be fairly compensated]]. ''[Wesley passes a check to Foggy. Foggy looks at the amount]''\\
'''Foggy Nelson:''' [[GoldFever Uh-huh. It's... It's fair. That's... That's fair.]] \\
'''James Wesley:''' Your partner doesn't seem convinced.\\
'''Matt Murdock:''' Like Foggy said, '''[[InsistentTerminology we're particular about our clientele]]'''. ''[Wesley glances at Karen]''\\
'''James Wesley:''' [[DeadpanSnarker I'm curious about your... clientele]]. Do they all end up working for you after [[ClearMyName you get them off for murder]] [[SexySecretary or just the pretty ones]]? ''[[[OhCrap Karen gasps softly]]]''\\
'''Matt Murdock:''' ''[to Karen]'' [[TranquilFury You, uh, give us a minute, please?]]
** In the season 3 episode "Revelations", Ray Nadeem showers at home after his boss Tammy Hattley blackmails him into working for Fisk. When he gets out of the shower, he comes downstairs and finds Dex in his living room chatting with his wife and son. Ray is smart enough to figure out that Dex is here to intimidate him, as Dex makes clear when Ray takes him outside to his back deck to talk in private (as well as express his personal displeasure at Ray for breaking into his apartment with Matt the night before).
* ''Series/JessicaJones2015'': Trish does a segment on ''Trish Talk'' about Hope, hoping to raise awareness of her case and get victims of Kilgrave to come forward. In the midst of this, she launches into an offensive tirade about Kilgrave, insulting him and calling him a sadistic bastard. Jessica barges into the booth and tries to cut Trish's mike, fearing that Kilgrave is listening to the broadcast. [[SpeakOfTheDevil Guess who calls the station at that very moment]].
-->'''Kilgrave:''' First time caller, long time listener. Trish, I want to applaud your courage. You've always been a hero to the downtrodden. Self-preservation be damned. It's admirable. But my question is, if there really is a man with the abilities you've described, someone who could make anyone, anywhere, do whatever he wanted them to do, seems to me that insulting him would be wildly dangerous. Or, let's just say it, stupid in the extreme. Everyone has feelings, even, um, how did you put it? Sadistic, corrosive men? Are you worried he might, I don't know, make you kill yourself? Or worse? I'll take my answer off the air.
* ''Series/LukeCage2016'': In the season 2 premiere, Luke visits Mariah Dillard in her box at Harlem's Paradise while she's meeting with some gangsters she wants to sell her guns to, one of whom is the drug dealer pushing a package with Luke's name on it.
-->'''Mariah Dillard:''' What are you gonna do, Luke? You gonna arrest me? You gonna slap me around?\\
'''Luke Cage:''' You'd probably like that.\\
'''Mariah Dillard:''' Oh we ''could'' tussle a little bit, no doubt. But ''[taps Luke's tie in a seductive manner]'' I think it might make your girlfriend ''Claire'' a little jealous.\\
''[Luke turns around and much to his dismay, sees Claire hanging out in the crowd down on the dance floor]''\\
'''Mariah Dillard:''' I like her dress. It'd be a shame if something happened to her. Take her home, Carl. You take her ''home''.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. In "The Wolf and the Lion", [[TheSpymaster Master of Whispers]] Varys and Master of Coin [[MagnificentBastard Littlefinger]] have an entire conversation like this, dropping bits of intelligence they've found out about the other and discussing how unfortunate it would be if various factions of the DecadentCourt found out about them.
* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger''. When an AmoralAttorney gets an attack of conscience and tries to quit working for a crime boss, the man responds by casually asking, "How's your little boy? I worry about him in this big, dangerous world."
* In the Australian mini-series ''Scales of Justice'', a crime boss arranges for a HighClassCallGirl to become the SexySecretary of a politician who's campaigning against him. The two have an affair and pictures are taken, but rather than submit him to crude blackmail the crime boss just walks past the politician at a public event with the 'secretary' hanging on his arm.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''. A victim's brother approaches ADA Stone in a bar and casually mentions Stone's sister. Unusually, the reason he wants Stone to drop the charges against the defendant is so that ''he'' can kill the guy.
* Done in a veiled fashion in the second season of ''Series/StrangerThings''. Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, who have been planning to expose the resident GovernmentConspiracy, get themselves captured by government agents and meet Dr. Sam Owens, who runs the whole show. Throughout their conversation, Dr. Owens is never anything less than friendly, polite and reasonable, and he never threatens or tries to overtly intimidate them at anyway. However, the theme of the conversation is how vital it is that the operations of the lab and the events it led to in the previous season be kept secret from the world at large, and the lengths it is necessary to go to sometimes -- and it ends with Dr. Owens showing Nancy and Jonathan the lengths his agents have to go in order to prevent the portal to the other dimension they're monitoring from unleashing a whole load of horrific other-dimensional beings upon the world. [[KillItWithFire It involves a flamethrower]]. The implication is clear.
* ''Series/{{Cannon}}'': In "A Flight of Hawks", a thug threatens the widow of the VictimOfTheWeek by implying what a tragedy it would be if something happened to her son's dialysis machine.
* ''Series/RiseOfEmpiresOttoman'': Mehmet gets the governor of the Genoese colony of Galata to collaborate with the Ottomans by just calmly pointing out how much they could profit from doing trade with the new empire, and ''how disappointed'' he would be with them if they hindered his success in any way.
* There's an episode of ''Series/TheOfficeUS'' where Michael believes he's being threatened by the mob because someone keeps making statements that sound like this trope, but the man doing it is actually an insurance salesman.
* ''Series/PennyDreadfulCityOfAngels'': Goss non-too-subtly threatens Michener's family during their confrontation by revealing he knows exactly where his children (and grandchildren) live.
* Darkly subverted in ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. Jubal Early seems like he's going on a speech like this when he has Kaylee cornered and starts talking about how delicate ''[[CoolStarship Serenity's]]'' engine is... then [[MoodWhiplash he bluntly states mid-sentence that he will rape her]] if she does not follow his instructions, with zero transition.
* ''Series/OddSquad'': In "How to Interrogate a Unicorn", Olive is attempting to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin interrogate a unicorn]]. When the unicorn is uncooperative, Olive changes tactics, putting a bucket with a rainbow inside on the table and telling it that it would be a shame if something happened to it. The unicorn still refuses to comply, and Olive angrily knocks the bucket onto the floor, spilling the rainbow.
[[/folder]]

!!Examples:

* ''Film/SawII'': The brown desk, second drawer down. Jigsaw further pushes Eric's buttons by revealing all the other victims in the house trap are [[spoiler:people who Eric personally arrested after ''planting evidence on them'' during his career]], and tauntingly notes, "It would be a shame [for Eric's son] if they discovered who you are."

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "Summer Job" had Mr. Krabs making Mrs. Puff work at the Krusty Krab to pay for [[CarMeetsHouse driving into the restaurant]], using this method to threaten her with telling her parole officer if she refuses.

** In "Into the Ring", James Wesley walks up to Clyde Farnum, a jail guard who owes money to a crime boss that Wilson Fisk has recently removed from play, and strongarms him into carrying out a hit on Karen Page by [[AdultFear showing him a live feed on a tablet of Farnum's daughter in a park, and then making him call her on his phone.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/35107504/chapters/92248984#workskin The Great Ace Detective]]'', Mael Stronghart compliments Klint van Ziek about the latter's daughter Henrietta, [[ChildProdigy having another paper being published at the age of ten]]. He brings up that Henrietta has many apportunities thanks to her father's standing, [[spoiler:implying what might happen if [[SinsOfTheFather Klint was exposed as the Professor]]]].

--->'''Viper''': Mr. Chung, please tell me you have my money, or else I can't protect your fine establishment. ''[The Firebender gangster [[FingersnapLighter palms a ball of fire]] and grins]''
** In the second season, [[spoiler: Varrick]] threatened Mako in this way about Asami and Bolin. [[spoiler: It was a bluff, and Varrick opted to frame Mako.]]

* Lana Lang in S6 of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' does this with one of Lex Luthor's scientists with regards to his family, home and livelihood. Of course, Lana being [[CreatorsPet Lana]], the scientist shows up later in the series to help her get superpowers... ''on purpose''.

* ''WesternAnimation{{Wakfu}}'': When Baltazar is less than pleased at seeing [[Characters/{{Wakfu}} Qilby]] again in Emrub, Qilby responds with the following while smirking smugly, practically unfazed by Baltazar's draconic yelling: