| "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" #21 (cont.) “Oh, please, like you and Alison are any different than me and Caleb,” she remarks, her snide comment uncharacteristically perceptive regarding the similarities they share. Instead of focusing on their differences, for once she focuses on the bond each values above all others—the love between soulmates, a love each hopes is strong enough to endure any force Heaven or Hell can devise. “You’re not, Rafe, and if you want to live your life without any interference, it’s not going to be possible if we keep bumping into each other every two seconds.” “If you’re really serious about this, you’re sort of ignoring the obvious,” Rafe observes. “See there is one person that Caleb will listen to, someone near and dear to what passes for his heart. That would be you.” “Not lately,” she says sadly. “He’s kind of been tuning me out.” “I know you,” Rafe grins slyly. “You can be pretty persuasive when you give yourself a chance. . . . So think about it. You know, you get the ring and you happen to make a wish that you and Caleb leave town and never come back. You leave all the bad memories behind.” “Yeah, a fresh start,” she muses, tempted by his bait. “Of course, that’s what I want. . . . Yeah, I just got to do it myself if I want the job done right. Thanks,” she tells him, a pleased, hopeful look on her face, and turns to leave. It is difficult to understand how Livvie could be so gullible, could be so easily fooled by Rafe, believing what he says about the ring, yet be so insanely suspicious when a situation involves Alison. Why would she fall for his ploy? Why would she believe that if she stole Caleb’s ring everything could turn out just the way she had hoped? Why would she betray Caleb yet again because of a suggestion her enemy, Caleb’s enemy, made to her? As Livvie unwittingly allows herself to be fooled by Rafe, Alison lets herself be manipulated by Caleb. She had come to Caleb’s house with a sense of mission, a strong, unflinching conviction that she is doing what is necessary to help Rafe. Yet somewhere along the way, she, too, ends up being hoodwinked. Annoyed by the insistent knocking at his door, Caleb is surprised to see that Alison has decided, unannounced, to visit him again, even though their previous encounter (resulting in the newspaper photo of her on his lap) had done nothing but cause trouble for them both. Caleb assumes that she has come, on Rafe’s behalf to discuss “a particular piece of jewelry,” but is unexpectedly informed that she has come on her own inclination, without Rafe’s knowledge, and is not there to talk about the ring. Relieved that Livvie is not home, Alison confides that she “will do anything” if he and Livvie leave town. She looks at him with steady, yet questioning eyes. “Now I just need to know what you want me to do,” she asserts. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| “That’s a . . . a very dangerous question, Alison,” Caleb leers. He picks up an 8-ball, the kind that, when shaken, reveals fortune-telling messages. “Are you sure you’re prepared to do anything?” he asks, giving the 8-ball a shake. |
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