| "Surrender" : Analysis of the "Surrender" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Surrender" 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. |
| "Surrender" #3 (cont.) But Caleb’s victory and Rafe’s death are much too brief. No sooner has Caleb stepped over his enemy’s motionless form than the body stirs to life, grabbing him by the ankle. Like cartoon adversaries, Caleb and Rafe can endure perpetual pummelings, springing back from their temporary afterlife abodes as if they were merely returning from a short stay at a heavenly hostel or an infernal inn. “Sorry, Caleb,” Rafe replies. “I won’t be seeing them for awhile.” He gets up from the ground and stands, facing Caleb. “I thought it might go down like this, but I wasn’t sure.” “Go down like what?” Caleb asks, perplexed. “Actually, you gave me the idea,” Rafe says evasively. “You should give yourself a little pat on the back.” “You’re talking in riddles again,” Caleb complains. “Well, I figured if you came back because I came back, quid pro quo, balance of good and evil and all that, well, you see, if I can’t kill you, then you can’t kill me,” Rafe explains. “We can’t kill each other ever.” “Congratulations,” Caleb remarks, clapping his hands. “Bold move, Slayer. You remember that little glimpse of the future I showed you?” he adds, abruptly changing focus. “Me and Alison? There’s nothing in the books upstairs or downstairs that says I can’t kill her, is there?” “So now you’re threatening Alison?” Rafe asks. “It’s in your hands,” Caleb warns. “But if you don’t back off, it will be a lot more than a threat.” “You know what? You destroy mine, I destroy yours,” Rafe counters, answering Caleb’s threat with one of his own. “You’re talking about Olivia. Well, that would be against the rules, wouldn’t it?” Caleb gibes, reminding Rafe of the strangulating rules Rafe as an angel was forced to uphold when trying to protect the Port Charles residents during “Tempted.” |
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| Snappies of "Surrender" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| “I’m through with the rules when it comes to you,” Rafe defiantly declares.
“I’m flattered. But I don’t think you have the stones to kill. You’re too, uh, human, too decent,” Caleb says contemptuously. “You’re continuing this war, Rafe. Stop it or I’ll finish it.” Before Rafe can reply, Caleb vanishes, thereby ensuring that he has the last word in this verbal exchange of threats. Is Caleb’s observation that Rafe doesn’t have the “stones” (cojones) to kill merely another insult against Rafe’s manhood, a way of emasculating him, as he does Jack? Is it true, in which case Livvie is safe from harm by Rafe and Caleb’s mastery is unchallenged? Or is it a wishful illusion based on a falsely dualistic conception of the war between them? |