| "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" Analysis #21 Caleb wisely perceives that Livvie is keeping secrets from him, hatching covert plans that she believes will “fix” her already failed schemes and somehow, ironically, regain his trust. However the more she tries to redeem herself in his eyes, the more she ends up making things worse. By meddling in situations that affect them both without consulting him, she intensifies his growing distrust in her. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" taken by A. Armstrong |
| Livvie’s impulse to act rashly, taking matters into her own hands, is shared, though in a lesser degree, by Alison. Despite their enmity, Livvie and Alison have one very important similarity—the intense, undying devotion each has for the man she considers her soulmate. Opposites in many ways, they yet find themselves in similar scenarios, battling similar problems, because each is willing to sacrifice anything for love. As a result of this similarity, this courageous, often reckless, passion, Livvie and Alison, separately yet almost simultaneously, come up with the same type of plan—a plan each believes will protect the man she loves by convincing his enemy to leave town. Livvie, therefore, heads towards Rafe’s apartment, while Alison goes to Caleb’s place, each woman hoping to attain victory by her opponent’s departure from Port Charles. Arriving at Rafe’s apartment during the time that Alison is out visiting Caleb, Livvie shrilly demands that Rafe move out of Port Charles. “It’s as much your benefit as it is mine,” she argues. “The four of us here together are poison.” When Rafe points out that he and Alison have just opened a new business (the gym) and have no intention of leaving, Livvie concedes that she wouldn’t mind moving away from “this hick town, but Caleb seems strangely attached to it.” “Well, when your last address was Hell, anything’s an improvement,” Rafe quips, referring to Caleb’s previous abode before returning to Port Charles. “Could you not be sarcastic for, like, two seconds, please?” Livvie complains, then, realizing she is getting nowhere with Rafe, asks to speak to Alison. Rafe does not know where Alison has gone. Although Alison has left him a note to tell him she is out, he has no idea of her true whereabouts. He trusts her, never suspecting any deception. Unlike Caleb, he has no reason to doubt the openness and honesty of his beloved. “She’s with her mother,” Rafe tells Livvie. “Keep her out of this, all right?” he warns. “Oh, yeah, God forbid, your delicate flower,” Livvie sneers, scornful of Rafe’s chivalrous protectiveness towards the woman she delusionally perceives as her rival. Alison represents everything Livvie is not but perhaps wishes to be—popular, well-liked, respected, even somewhat idealized by friends and acquaintances. Even though Caleb protects Livvie as fiercely as Rafe protects Alison, he does not entertain any illusions as to her virtue. Caleb sees every fault Livvie possesses and loves her anyway, yet Livvie sometimes seems to wish he didn’t see her quite so clearly. She envies the way people, especially men, spring to Alison’s defense, taking Alison’s side, believing Alison can do no wrong. “She can take care of herself. I just don’t want her anywhere near you or Caleb,” Rafe retorts. “Listen to reason,” Livvie urges, using his response as a means of strengthening her argument that he and Alison should leave. “If the two of you relocated, you wouldn’t have to worry about Alison crossing paths with Caleb ever again.” “OK, so what do you think I’m going to do—just let you and Caleb stay here in town with the ring? Sorry,” Rafe scoffs. “What’s this all about? What’s got you so worked up, huh?” “Rafe, I love Caleb, you know that,” Livvie, suddenly becoming vulnerable, confides. “But lately, it just. . . .” “All right, you know what? I’m sorry, I’m sorry I asked,” Rafe interrupts. Sensing that Livvie might be on the verge of talking about intimate matters, he prudishly cuts her conversation short. “The last thing I want to hear about is you and your messed up love life,” he grimaces. |