Emotional Stakes
What the character stands to lose or gain in the scene — the source of dramatic weight and audience investment.
Known for
- Rule of thumb: if the character wouldn't care whether the scene turned out one way or the other, the scene has no stakes.
- Stakes are usually relational (fear of losing someone) or existential (fear of losing self).
- Often elevated at the top of a scene by starting with a secret, a confrontation, or a confession.