I actually like the first scene better. Don't shoot me. lol.

The second scene seems like something straight out of a soap opera. Very on the nose.

The first scene is subtle. What makes it work, I think, are the sighs. It's a funny gag in a small scene.

Also the scene delves out the crucial exposition without harping on it, in very few words. To me, the first scene seems like real people. There's real character there.

The second seems -- contrived.

Not to mention, I've seen it before, a gazillion times. The sigh gag, I haven't.

Food for thought.

Well, perhaps that's why it's a 'dumb' writing trick!

I used this in Forest of Glass, though not to make the exposition seem less...expositioney. I just like making two characters argue. It amuses me greatly.

I agree with James on this one. The first scene is still an argument. It's just a subtle argument, but maybe it all depends on the movie. If this were a comedy maybe the second scene would work better. It's more over the top.

"Well, perhaps that's why it's a 'dumb' writing trick!"

Scott, don't sell yourself short. Brilliant advice as always. Conflict drives stories and makes them more interesting. Great reminder. Good rewrite.

If Egor ever bottles your brain, I so want in on that action. Dido that for Joshua James. I got dibs one that IQ latent blob of smart gushy stuff!

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

It reminds me of a time when I was acting wounded for the Red Cross First Aid patroll and we had a show where me and my friend had an argument in a small boat and should fall into the water. We sat quietly and suddenly we rose and started to fight. Must have looked pretty strange.

Conflicts are the core, but it has to be part of the story and not just something thrown in for fun.

Agreed, the first scene was already an argument and worked very nicely as such.

The scenes above were bad examples, but it's still very good advice.

Just remember -- depending on the genre, a long sigh can be far more serious than throwing books across the room.

This is really interesting. As I read I agreed with the inital point, but after reviewing the comments I agree with JAMES. As a young writer I appreciate this learning experience

I liked the first arguement better, it was more subtle. The second one felt so over-the-top and fake. The characters seemed to be screaming at each other for no reason. Seriously, who acts like that in real life? The first one felt more real. Then again, you always have to look at how your characters would react. It you wanna have them screaming at each other you have to build up to it, not have them explode all of the sudden like a volcano. That's just my two cents worth.