| "The Gift": Analysis of "The Gift" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "The Gift" episodes of the show Port Charles, formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay and any other characters relating to Port Charles are the property of ABC and their creators. This is a fan-run site and is not an official site, nor is it affiliated in any way with ABC, Port Charles, or the actors portraying any of the Port Charles characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The writings on this site are copyrighted by the author, Alison Armstrong, and may not be reproduced without the author's express permission. |
| "The Gift" #10 (cont.) “This is between me and Caleb,” Rafe warns as Jack, Ian, and Kevin worriedly ask what is going on. “Listen to him, folks,” Caleb somewhat mockingly advises. “I’ve seen him like this before. He’s very serious right now.” While the onlookers are focusing most of their attention on Caleb and Rafe, Jamal, reaching into his pocket, fondly touches the ring. “Just when I was kind of getting used to having you around, I’ve got to give you up,” he murmurs, foolishly forgetting that Caleb, with his supernaturally keen senses, can hear what he is saying. “What was that you said, Jamal? I didn’t hear you,” Caleb sinisterly remarks. “I want an answer. What the hell are you hiding?” An atmosphere of menace, sharply contrasting with the merriment of the partiers moments before, casts a chilling pall, and Rafe, sensing danger, urges the onlookers to go back inside. Lucy, having regained her Slayer powers, insists on aiding her cousin Rafe, but he asks her to let him handle this on his own. Little does Lucy know that the vampire she so eagerly desires to fight helped to save her life, for if Caleb, inexplicably acting against his own best interests, had not revealed to Ian the cure for Lucy’s fatal blood disease, she would have died. Ian apparently never told Lucy that Caleb helped Lucy regain her health, as well as her Slayer magic. He never told her that although she was revived by the blood of an angel (sweet, kind, newly dead Karen), it was a dark angel (Caleb) that disclosed the cure. Lucy gives all the credit for her recovery to Karen, not realizing that the miracle would not have been possible without Caleb. She continues to want to slay Caleb, unaware that she would be dead if he had not intervened on her behalf. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| Ignoring Lucy’s interference and the mutterings of the crowd, Caleb and Jamal remain unmoved by the chaos around them. “Come on, Jamal,” Caleb urges. “Look, why don’t you just save yourself a lot of trouble and hand over the ring?” When Jamal, like a stubborn, disobedient child, persists in denying that he has it, Caleb, assuming a stern parental pose, warns that he is “going to count to three” before taking matters into his own hands. |
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| Slowly, firmly, Caleb counts to three while Rafe sputters threats and Jamal continues stalling for time. “All right, enough! Enough!” Jamal finally announces as Caleb, having reached the count of three, springs into action. Rafe, simultaneously, also leaps forward, grabbing Caleb at nearly the same moment Caleb seizes him. They stand, hands squeezing each other’s throats, deadlocked antagonists. |
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| “I’ll give it to you,” Jamal mutters, seemingly oblivious to the tumult around him. “You’re right. I’ve got it right here in my pocket. I . . . I’ll just . . . just stay cool.” He feels inside his pocket, halts, then, becoming nervous, rummages through his pockets again. “I don’t have it,” he says nervously. . . “It was in my pocket. I don’t have it. I don’t have your ring.” |
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