So, the next time you sit down to write or watch, look for the loaded glance across the dinner table. Listen for the history hidden in the "Hello." That is where the real story lives. That is the family drama. And it is the only story we never truly finish telling.

Hidden relationships, past betrayals, or long-held family scandals act as "the gift that keeps on giving," driving the plot forward through dramatic reveals.

Certain recurring themes serve as the foundation for most complex family narratives: