Never AND. Always OR.
Real dramatic conflict gives the protag a choice. This OR That. Success OR Failure. Save the mother OR the child. Capitulate to the antagonist OR get shot.
Conflict that has a lot of options is not real conflict.
The protagonist is free to save the mother AND the child only after it’s been established that only one of those things is possible.
Scenes of conflict focus on a single OR that represents an obstacle to the protagonist’s goal.
- Reveal your source OR go to jail.
- Obey me OR starve.
- Take your little brother with you OR don’t go at all.
All very different conflicts in different tones, but all the same in that the protag is forced into a choice they don’t want to make.
Conflict is two forces committed to mutually exclusive outcomes. When the forces are strong and focused, the conflict has purpose and clarity. It’s dramatic.