| "Desire": Analysis of the "Desire" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles (c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Desire" 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. |
| "Desire" #2 (cont.) "See you soon," Elizabeth gushes, her face ecstatic. Grinning mischievously, she listens as two nurses discuss the mysterious "Dr. Carter." "He's so cute," one of the nurses sighs. "Cute? The man is 80 years old," the other nurse, referring to the real Dr. Carter, remarks. "Then this must be a different Dr. Carter," the first nurse concludes. "I'd point him out to you, but he just went up to the roof to catch the medevac." Her smile fading, Elizabeth rushes to the window and sees the medevac, with Caleb inside, flying away. He has tricked her, used her, taken what he needed from her, and abandoned her. |
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| Snappies of "Desire" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| While Caleb makes his way back to the Villa in search of Livvie, she, in turn, has sought refuge with her father, Kevin. Having tearfully confided that she is now a vampire, Livvie begs for his help in finding out what happened to Caleb and protecting her from the Slayers. Kevin gives her the unconditional love and sense of security she desperately needs now that she believes Caleb has been killed. Her sanctuary, however, is threatened by Joshua, who, seeking Livvie to obtain the ring, stops by Kevin's house. Although Kevin denies seeing his daughter, Joshua, unconvinced, grabs him by the throat and is about to kill him but is stopped by Livvie. Despite her hatred and distrust of Joshua, Livvie begins succumbing again to his grimly debonair deceit. Like Caleb, he exudes a sinister charm, but whereas Caleb can persuasively assume a façade of vulnerability, even, at times, innocence, Joshua can never completely conceal his reptilian reserve. She knows Joshua is dangerous, yet she is so devastated by the loss of Caleb she feels a need to connect in some way with another of her kind. In a world of mortals, she and Joshua stand alone, outcasts united by their inhuman hunger. Although she feels Caleb's presence "even stronger" than before, she, nevertheless, fears that Joshua may be telling the truth when he says Caleb is dead, the body cremated. Having weakened her faith in Caleb's survival, Joshua tries, without success, to persuade Livvie to go with him into hiding and leave her father, but when he notices a bizarrely visionary painting Kevin has been in the process of creating, he realizes that Kevin may be just the ally he needs. Handing Livvie a bag of blood and promising to return with "more supplies," Joshua departs, his plans for sanguinary insurrection eerily prefigured by the manic mayhem of Kevin's painting. As the wannabe dictator Joshua prepares to annihilate his former boss and bring to life an apocalyptic nightmare, Caleb prepares to regain the power his usurper stole. Arrogantly confident after escaping hospital imprisonment and manipulating Elizabeth, he does not realize that he needs to use caution as well as deceit and seduction to survive against his foes. Although he has, as usual, outwitted Rafe and Elizabeth, he is up against a much more cunning enemy, one who, like himself, has a cold, treacherous heart and an unyielding obsession. |