Audience gets the hint. Rule of 3's , third time is of variation. Also in drama . When approaching drama and comedy you must interest the audience right off. Even in comedy, you have to have something grab the audience.
Audience wants to see suffering.
The difference between a drama and Modern Tragedy. Has to be done in stylized manner. Tragedy has to go beyond drama. Tragedy has to bring on emotionally more than drama , it has to bring catharsis. This has got to be an enormous impact on the audience.