Scenario A: writer has idea for kick-ass contained action thriller, with a lone cop going up against sophisticated international terrorists in L.A. skyscraper. To flesh out the character and add emotional stakes to the story, he makes him a wisecracking NYC cop on a visit to his estranged wife, who becomes one of the hostages; the ordeal makes it easier for both to remember how much they still care about each other.
Scenario B: writer has idea for story about love and marriage, in which career choices and pride cause the husband and wife to live at opposites ends of the country, which nearly destroys their relationship. Since this only takes up about five minutes of story, the writer throws in a terrorist-hostage situation for good measure.
Scenario B: writer has idea for story about love and marriage, in which career choices and pride cause the husband and wife to live at opposites ends of the country, which nearly destroys their relationship. Since this only takes up about five minutes of story, the writer throws in a terrorist-hostage situation for good measure.
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