| "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" #11 (cont.) The return to Hell, the encounter between Caleb and his father, the entire expedition to and from the infernal realm were, unfortunately, never shown since word of Port Charles’ upcoming cancellation and frequent news-related pre-emptions resulted in the deletion of scenes, even perhaps entire episodes, already written. ABC wanted to make sure that Port Charles ended on a certain date (October 3, 2003), so storylines were abridged to accommodate the abrupt termination of the series. To make matters worse, the scenes (and/or episodes) selected for deletion were central to the plot of “The Gift” and the character development of Caleb Morley. We never get to see the scenes in Hell as father and son discuss the secrets of the ring; we never get to witness the drama of their reunion. Another deleted sequence, probably occurring a bit later in “The Gift,” was to involve a reunion between Caleb and his priestly alter-ego, “Michael.” Such a sequence would have been a pivotal moment in Caleb’s psychological growth and a vital unifying thread linking “Tainted Love” (where “Michael” is revealed as an aspect of Caleb) to the rest of Caleb’s storylines. The deletion of these scenes, key to Caleb’s evolution as a character and to the metaphysical themes of the series as a whole, demonstrates ABC’s callous disregard for its own creations as well as the audience. Due to the cut scenes, all we see of Caleb’s descent into Hell is what Livvie witnesses—the engulfing flames, Caleb’s plea to his father, followed by Caleb’s scream and collapse. We see nothing of what takes places shamanically, inside Caleb’s mind and soul as he journeys to the underworld. Like Livvie, we have very limited access to Caleb’s experience. Livvie cannot share Caleb’s terrifying revelations. She can only stand by helplessly as he is encircled by fire. When the flames have subsided and Caleb, released from their grip, has fallen to the ground, she runs to his limp, unconscious body. “Oh, please, you can’t be dead,” she sobs, holding his head in her lap and stroking his hair. “Please, I can’t lose you, Caleb.” |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| Slowly, he opens his eyes, returning to her and his earthly existence. “I know how to do it,” he exclaims triumphantly. “I know how to get the ring back.” |
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| Having fallen into unworthy hands, the ring, meanwhile, has been wielded foolishly, irreverently, by those ignorant of its perverse potential for disaster. Its current possessor, Jack, has unintentionally used it as a way to free himself from his girlfriend Reese’s increasingly clingy demands, and now, thanks to his wish that Reese find something or someone else to occupy her attention, has caused her to become romantically interested in Ricky. Although no harm has resulted from his wish, Jack has demonstrated his selfish, manipulative desire to control others. Fearing commitment and the possibility of being hurt again as he was by Livvie and Tess, Jack has become callous, cynical, emotionally stingy. The ring has given him the power to act upon his self-serving impulses and disengage himself smoothly, with no hassles or resistance, from relationships he finds tiresome. He makes the decision to put the brakes on his relationship with Reese, and she, ruled by the ring’s power like a puppet pulled by invisible strings, does as his wish commands, not even knowing that she is under a spell. Jack seems to enjoy the sense of forbidden enticement the stolen ring provides, and when Jamal, sensing that Jack took it, confronts him, Jack, choosing the ring over his best friend, denies he has it. Jamal, in turn, reacts with violence, baring his fangs and almost biting Jack but stopping himself just in time. Both men then realize that they have been corrupted by the ring. They have let it start to destroy their friendship, their happiness, their humanity. The only way they can free themselves of its sinister influence, keep it away from Caleb, and protect others, they believe, is to get rid of it. Tossing it into the river, they hypocritically imagine they are saving their loved ones and their town from its poisonous presence. They do not know that the ring, sparkling with infernal lustre, can enchant the purest heart, as well as the most corrupt. Its danger lies in its allure and power to grant desires in unforeseen ways, its capacity to transform the most innocent wish into something diabolical and disastrous. |