| "Tempted": Allure and Menace in Port Charles' "Tempted,"An Analysis (c) by Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Tempted" episodes of the show "Port Charles," formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb Morley (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley 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. |
| "Tempted" Episodes 16-17 (cont.) “Well, you’ve always seen right through me, Sweetness,” he quips. When Livvie asks why she can see him now but she couldn’t before, he replies, “Because my love for you is so intense, it’s focusing all my powers, pulling everything together as it was. Desire is like a magnet. . . . You’re the reason I’m becoming real, Olivia, the reason you can see me. You’re making me stronger. And when I’m strong enough, I’ll have everything I want.” On the bed of pillows Caleb sits with Livvie. He lounges, graceful, sensual, while she nervously tries to make sense of what is happening to her. “This has to be a dream,” she tells herself. “OK, I’m going to wake up any minute. This can’t be real. It can’t be.” |
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| “It feels real enough, doesn’t it, Sweetheart?” Caleb asks.
“Yes. But. . . “ Livvie pauses, reaching out to touch Caleb, but grasping only air. “I knew it,” she exclaims, “You’re not. . . If I can’t touch you, then . . . '' “But you can feel me,” he replies. “You can feel my breath on you, right now, can’t you? I’m alive and inside every vein, in your mind, awake and asleep. In the depths of your heart, I’m there. . . . When all is right and in its place, we’ll be together.” |
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| Caleb’s words to Livvie vividly express what Caleb is to all of us who loved him and will continue to love him long after Port Charles’ cancellation. He is the “residue,” the desire he arouses within our hearts, the lingering, undying flame that inspires our imagination. Ancient yet vital, he is a regenerative force awakening us from our mundane slumbers and stirring our creativity as well as our passion.
“Tear by tear, as the lives of those who challenged me fall part, as their happiness dies and the power of their imperfect love fades, my power grows, my life grows,” he proclaims, smiling cryptically. “No, but love never fades. True love is forever,” Livvie claims, clinging to cherished clichés to ease her doubts. “That’s the lie, sweetheart,” he answers with a cynical smile, perhaps recalling his first Olivia’s devastating rejection. “A fairy tale told to children. I’ve told you human love is a fragile, brittle thing. Easy to break. This thing you have with Jack, it’s nothing,” he adds, running his hand through his hair dismissively. “Only my love is forever. Human love has boundaries. My love can go on and on and on, endless like the night. And I’ll prove it to you.” “Prove?” she repeats, succumbing to the magic and beauty of his words. “You’ll return to me willingly when I return,” Caleb explains. “And then you’ll know the meaning of everlasting love, when you’ll reach out your cold hand to touch me, and I’ll be there. And when that day comes, I’ll hold you close and make love to you.” “You’ll make love to me?” she asks, her hopeful voice betraying her need. |
| Snappies of "Tempted" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |