Compelling Internal Conflict: Fighting an Impulse to Judge

Giving characters decent internal conflict is difficult--or rather, giving characters internal conflict that doesn't reach maudlin melodramatic levels of angst is difficult. Many plots use internal conflict surrounding past events: I was once hurt; I don't know if I can trust again.

Internal conflict based on ethics is rare but does exist: I'm believe in certain things; can I ignore my beliefs? 

There is an even rarer but extremely compelling conflict that rests on a refusal to act precipitously: Even though I distrust this situation, I will refrain from acting since I am an ethical person.

The added challenge in movies is to reveal internal conflict

without automatic recourse to a voice-over. Spiderman

accomplishes this through music and Tobey

Maguire's expressive face.

Not acting is less sexy than acting: many story lines resolve around people who regret that they didn't act immediately. However, the "I want to give others a chance" resolve is not only realistic (since humans are often limited in the decision-making process by a lack of complete information) but revealing.

One of my favorite examples comes from the first season of The Flash (and pretty much the only season I've seen). In response to ambiguous bad guy Harrison Wells, Joe West reigns in his doubts. He is a cop with good instincts; he knows that something is off about the guy. But he is a just and fair man. Absent actual proof, he waits to judge. In the meantime, he begins an investigation--slowly, carefully, methodically.

There is a line between the character who never acts on doubts and the character who leaps to point the finger. The Flash, Season 1, finds the right balance.

My second favorite example comes in Season 1 of Major Crimes when Rusty's biological dad enters the picture. Sharon Raydor, his foster mom at the time, is an extraordinarily fair-minded woman who views due process not as a burden to be met but as a way to handle life. She gives the dad the benefit of the doubt.

A frustrated and frightened Rusty accuses her of wanting to get rid of him--Does she actually want him to meet this guy? Near tears, Raydor responds honesty, "I can't be objective about this."

Rusty apologizes but she waves him off. He has the right to be concerned. He even has the right to know her opinion. She is trying to be fair. She doesn't think she can be fair since she has a stake in where Rusty lives. Hence the conflict. 

When done correctly, this type of internal conflict not only furthers the plot--the audience isn't quite sure what to think since the main characters themselves aren't sure what to think--this type of internal conflict can also tell us more about the characters themselves. An ethical character who is willing to withhold condemnation or refuse to act on assumptions wins the audience's support and approval. Such characters also win the audience's trust for when they do decide, "Okay, now I will act."