Nazareth

I need a good idea for character conflict. It has to be something, that if My character descides to pursue the case, he will risk something valuable. It has to be something he struggles with deciding to do, something that will either change his nature, or where he remains steadfast, and prevails in the end. Something the audience roots for him to do the right thing- He might or might not be aware that he has a shortcomming ie: He's too sensitive to be ruthless when he needs to be, or he is too stymied by some past tragedy to pursue the case any further unless he can summon courage he didn't know existed- etc.

Examples of this conflict are:

The Law student Darby in "Pelican Brief" Risks both her life and her career if she pursues the death of the Justice dude- She decides that in the end, justice must prevail, and goes after the powerful people despite the cost.

Tom Cruise in "The Firm"- He risks his job going after the bad dudes- He lays everything on the line to do the right thing- He struggles with the decision, but ultimately wants to do the right thing.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

"Job on the line" crisis's have pretty much been done to death. What I need is some life altering crisis for My detective character to face- Could be political, could be religious in nature (He risks being austracised from the church if he pursues the case), could be physical (Though I'd prefere something with more depth.

It's got to be a real moral conviction as in "Do I risk everything? or just walk away and let the goons get away with murder?"

I'd like something with the detectives Cop father involved (His father is the "Impact character" (Someone who tries to disuade the detective from pursuing the case- He's not guilty, but he tries to disuade his son because of something- What? I don't know- I'm at an impasse here)

I don't have to go with having the father involved in the story- I can edit Him out, But I'm at a real loss here as to what crisis My character has to face. The story line is all thought out, but My Back-story/crisis throughline needs help.

Emma LB

Uh... you just want some suggestions? What about him risking not his own life or job, but the job of say his brother? He knows that something in his brother's department/jail/store/whatever is not right, isn't quite legal, though he's not quite sure what. It's easy to just go sniffing around people you hate to find out what they're up to, but when it's your brother... he's just torn between the love and loyalty towards his brother and what he thinks in right.
That the sort of suggestions you're looking for?

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Nazareth

Yes Emma, thanks- Just the kind of info I'm looking for- My mind doesn't work in laterals like that & I missed that possibility (I read about how a character should always face some sort of life changing crisis throughout the story & how it should escalate until a "do or die" situation erupts & I just get brain freeze about what that internal conflict should be) -- I'll work out some possibilities with that in mind, see if it meshes, it might be just what I needed.

Any other ideas would be welcome too.