| "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" #4 (cont.) Agreeing to avoid dwelling on the past and to, instead, focus on their future, Rafe and Alison happily embrace. Later, with renewed hope and vitality, they turn their attention to the vacant warehouse Rafe plans to turn into a gym. This warehouse, possibly the same place “Stephen Clay” used for his decadent Halloween party during “Naked Eyes,” symbolizes transformation. Now abandoned, it is a blank canvas of possibilities, capable of being made into a gym, a party hall, or some other type of venue. For Rafe, it represents a new way of life, an opportunity to live as a normal mortal rather than an angel or Slayer, and to have a happy, healthy future with Alison. There, as the owner of the gym, he can teach fitness classes, have a real job, become more a part of the Port Charles community. Rafe’s dreams of a happy, healthy, more conventional life, however, are temporarily shattered when he and Alison discover that their warehouse has been vandalized. Garish graffiti covers the walls, and broken objects litter the floor. Predictably, Rafe blames Caleb for the damage, and seeing a teenager attempting to flee from the premises, Rafe assumes Caleb somehow got the kid to damage the warehouse. Grabbing the teen by the neck, Rafe violently knocks him down to the floor and, hovering over him, stake in hand, asks him about Caleb. Fearfully gasping for air, the boy, who, of course, knows nothing about Caleb, begs to be released. Eventually, the boy’s cries and Alison’s warning shrieks cause Rafe to drop the stake and let the young vandal go. With sorrow and contrition, Rafe realizes that his all-consuming rage towards Caleb nearly caused him to murder a teenage boy. Rage towards a scapegoat nemesis consumes Livvie also. Blaming Alison for all of her problems, Livvie fears the growing friendship between Alison and Caleb. Angry that Caleb tried to help Alison, Livvie lashes out at him, too. When he tries to take her arm and lead her back towards their apartment, Livvie shuns his touch, sullenly lagging behind as they head home. “So you want to say something or are you just going to give me the silent treatment all night?” Caleb growls, angrily tossing the keys as he and Livvie enter the apartment. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| “I would love to say something,” she sulks. “I would love to tell you exactly how I feel without you getting angry at me.”
“Oh, I think I know how you feel,” he says, curling his lips derisively. “You made it very obvious back at the docks.” “Yeah, well, so did you,” she retorts. “There is nothing going on between Alison and I,” he emphasizes. “You get that? She was sick. She was upset. I was. . . I was trying to help her.” “Yeah, I saw the way you were helping her,” she mutters. “Do you really want to have this argument again?” he challenges. “Do you? Listen to me. You have no reason to be jealous.” “Really?” she remarks sarcastically. “How would you feel if you saw me in the arms of another man, especially if it was someone you couldn’t stand, like Rafe?” |
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| “I wouldn’t like it,” Caleb concedes. “And if this was the first time you were upset, I’d understand it. But it’s not. It’s every time Alison comes around. I say two words to the girl, and you twist it into something that it’s not.” |