| "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" #12 (cont.) “The young lady felt compelled to get your permission before saying yes,” Caleb mockingly points out as Rafe, smiling slyly, considers the options. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| “Or no,” Alison snarkily interjects. “Actually I just wanted to be here in person when you told him to go jump off a cliff.” She insinuates that she only asked Rafe because she wanted to see Caleb get told off, reprimanded as if he were a bratty child. Yet this excuse is rather unconvincing, especially since she had repeatedly urged Rafe to avoid confrontations with Caleb. Why wait to ask Rafe for permission to tell Caleb no? Why not do it herself without involving Rafe?
Rafe, however, has no intention of refusing the offer. Instead, much to Alison’s dismay, he calls Caleb’s proposal to perform at the fashion show “a sweet deal” and heartily voices his support for it. “What’s going on here?” Alison demands. “You guys are up to something. What is it? Tell me, please!” “Is Fair-Hair always this paranoid?” Caleb, giving Alison this old-fashioned-sounding term of endearment, smiles quizzically. “Look, we have a truce, right?” Rafe points out, seeming to doubt the truce even as he professes to believe in it. “Right now making this gym succeed is our number one priority, and the way I see it having the band play could only be good for business.” “I think it’s good for both of us,” Caleb with similar insincerity agrees. |
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| “What is good for both of us?” Livvie, arriving on the scene, irritably inquires. |
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| When Caleb explains to her that the band is going to perform their new single at the fashion show, Livvie immediately expresses her contemptuous disapproval, and Alison, reluctantly siding with Livvie on this issue, concurs.
Livvie, however, is so filled with jealousy and resentment towards Alison that she does not even seem to realize they both, for once, agree on something. Instead, she lashes out, falsely accuses Alison of hatching this “self-serving” idea to promote the gym and fashion show. Only when Alison reiterates that she hates the idea and Caleb points out that he was the one who came up with it does Livvie suspect there may be more to the scheme than Caleb acknowledges. Agreeing with Caleb to keep the music arrangements “simple,” Rafe accompanies Alison back to the gym and Caleb discusses with Livvie what is really going on with the fashion show plan. Both Rafe and Caleb, it is revealed, have an ulterior motive for their semblance of agreement. As he explains to Alison, Rafe decided to let Caleb perform at the gym because he wanted to keep tabs on him, try to find out what he is scheming and how he plans to regain the ring. Even though Rafe has promised Alison that he will focus on building a “normal” life with her, he clearly cannot overcome his obsession with Caleb and the ring. His instincts as a Slayer goad him into battle, threatening to sabotage his vow to Alison. |