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Clip description
Eli (David Lyons) sets about discovering the identity of the person who ordered his kidnapping and tries to further needle his captor, John (Travis McMahon), with the aim of shifting the power balance between them and gaining an upper hand.
Curator’s notes
The power struggle between kidnapper and victim is the film’s backbone, providing its central dramatic conflict. This clip gives a highly effective example. Eli’s needling John for calling his employer 'sir’ indicates how different the two men are in their class backgrounds and attitudes. The final straw for John is when he asks Eli if his wife is disappointed in him. John’s over-reaction shifts the power balance in Eli’s favour by exposing John’s emotional vulnerability regarding his marriage.
