Write authentically, even by breaking the rules

Crime and legal drama writers often struggle to develop authenticity in their stories. Authenticity is essential to keep readers or viewers interested because they need to believe in your characters and your story. The world of criminal law has its own procedures, language, and rules. Knowing the rules of criminal law is essential to creating an authentic story. However, that does not mean that the rules must always be followed.

Breaking the rules for the sake of drama is perfectly acceptable and often even necessary to create a compelling story. The key is to first know what the rules are, so you can make an intelligent decision about how and when to break them.

One of the best courtroom drama scenes in movie history broke the rules and did it in a way that didn’t take away from the authenticity of the film. Do you remember this exchange?

Witness: Do you want answers?

Lawyer: I think I have the right to do so.

Witness: Do you want answers?

Lawyer: I want the truth!

Witness: You can’t bear the truth!

Of course, this is the heyday of courtroom drama in A Few Good Men. This is the culmination of an epic battle between Tom Cruise as defense attorney, Lieutenant Kaffee, and Jack Nicholson as witness, the colonel. Jessep.

This exchange is followed by Col. Jessep’s long recitation on the importance of the military to our orderly society, although sometimes we don’t like the reality of the way they conduct their business.

This scene breaks the rules because the trials are held in a question and answer format. The lawyer asks questions and the witness answers. Here we have the opposite. The witness asks questions and the lawyer answers.

Then the witness gives a long speech that does not answer any questions. The testimony of a witness in a real trial is required to be a direct response to the lawyer’s questions. The objection to a speech so long that it does not answer any questions would be “no answer” or “no outstanding questions.”

However, breaking these rules is necessary to advance the story in A Few Good Men because Tom Cruise’s character is trying to pressure Jack Nicholson’s character into admitting that he gave the order that killed the victim. It is important for Col. Jessep to explain why he does some of the things he does out of military necessity, although most people might consider such acts as morally “wrong.” He finally admits his role in the contempt murder of Lieutenant Kaffee and everything he stands for, including the rules of the courtroom.

More importantly, the movie can break these court rules for the sake of the drama without losing credibility because most of the movie is so authentic. There is an understanding of the way trials and criminal cases actually operate that permeates the entire film. That kind of authenticity throughout the story allows the viewer to forgive the occasional breach of a rule. Especially when the result is great drama.

The lesson is that breaking the rules does not necessarily take away the overall authenticity of a story when done thoughtfully and with an understanding of the decisions you are making.

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