| "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 #5 Although Joshua has been destroyed and his ruthless regime has ended, the residue of his corrupt, poisonous reign continues to contaminate the people whose lives he afflicted. Relationships have been severed, ties of blood, friendship, and love frayed. Healing from the emotional and spiritual devastation wrought by Joshua has been painful. Scars of doubt and fear mar the memories of happiness and faith. A father’s protective embrace, a lover’s caress, awakens feelings of distrust. In a world where minds have been enslaved and souls corrupted, even the ones we love the most are suspect. As a result of Joshua, Livvie’s bond with her father (the only person besides Caleb she believed loved her unconditionally) has been tainted. Brainwashed and addicted to drugs by Joshua, Kevin had tricked Livvie, stolen from her Caleb’s ring, and nearly killed her. Although his paternal love eventually prevailed, stopping him from carrying out Joshua’s deadly commands, Livvie is, understandably, scared of her father when she sees him approach her outside of the Elixir. “It’s amazing! I was just looking for you,” Kevin greets her happily. Nervously saying “hi” and quickly adding that Caleb “will be here real soon,” she tries to evade his attempts at conversation. With hasty, frightened steps she walks away. “Please don’t run from me,” Kevin begs in an anguished voice. “You don’t have to be afraid of me anymore, I promise. . . . I wanted to say I’m sorry.” Sensing her wariness, he sadly acknowledges that she has “no reason” to trust him now. “Joshua got me on drugs,” he confides. “I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s some kind of explanation. Honey, I have a lot of regrets. I’ve been a terrible father. I’ve been a lousy husband, and I’ve been a worse friend. . . . Look, I know this is sudden, but I can tell you this feels more right than anything I’ve done in a long time. And I want my daughter back. I . . . I miss you, Livvie.” “I miss you, too, Dad,” she replies, a smile, childlike, hesitant, brightening her tear-stained face. She reaches out her hand and touches his in a tentative handshake. When he asks her how she has been, she immediately starts complaining about Alison. “It seems like every time I turn around, Alison Barrington has found another way to make my life a little bit more miserable,” she laments. “Well, you know, honey, someone can hurt you only if you let them,” Kevin, effortlessly assuming his therapist role, advises. But Livvie balks at her father’s wise guidance, choosing to vent her rage at Alison. Instead of advice, she wants an ally, someone to confirm her paranoid delusions regardless of their absurdity. “Alison has done nothing but hurt me,” Livvie rants, “and any time I don’t allow her to, everybody accuses me of all kinds of criminal behavior. . . . Calculating, manipulating, trying to get every man I’m interested in against me by being their best friend.” She then gives her take on the tension between her and Caleb, as well as Rafe and Alison, relating that “the minute her and Rafe get into a fight, which is a lot these days now that she stabbed him,” Alison “goes running” to Caleb, “crying on his shoulder, batting her baby blues.” “Have you told Caleb how you feel about it?” Kevin asks gently. “He thinks I’m nuts and I’m jealous,” she pouts. “Are you? Jealous, I mean?” Kevin probes. “No,” she insists. “In fact, the other night . . . three girls, totally hot, all over Caleb. I didn’t care. I didn’t even blink an eye.” “But when it comes to Alison?” he prompts. “It’s different,” she admits. “He’s got a big, fat blind spot there, and no matter how many times I try and tell him . . . ” “Over and over and over again, ad nauseum, I bet,” Kevin, well-aware of Livvie’s relentlessness, interrupts. |
 |
| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |