| "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" #5 (cont.) “Yeah, sometimes you just got to do whatever you got to do to get a man’s attention,” she replies, eyes downcast, as if rather embarrassed to be admitting how desperate she is to be assured of Caleb’s love. “I can tell you that’s not a way to get a man to listen,” Kevin points out. “And I don’t think the problem is Alison. I think it’s you.” “Should I sign you up for her fan club now?” Livvie snaps, angered and hurt by her father’s apparent siding with Alison. “No,” Kevin explains calmly. “I’m just saying I think your behavior is a textbook example of how to drive a man away.” “How can you say that I am driving Caleb away?” she snarls defensively. “And honestly, Daddy, that’s not helping. You’re not helping me at all.” “Well, it might if you are willing to hear me out,” he continues. “Of course, you’re jealous of Alison. You’ve given her all this power over your life.” His voice is soothing yet objective. Love for his daughter has not clouded his professional wisdom. He speaks to Livvie with almost the same detachment he would have with any other patient plagued by obsessive jealousy. “No, that is not true!” she exclaims, stunned by her father’s observations. “I haven’t given her anything.” “Yes, you have,” he emphasizes. “Take it back. If you just realize what a treasure you are.” “Me?” she responds, disbelievingly. Despite her bravado, she is as vulnerable and insecure as a lonely little girl. “Yes,” he affirms. “Absolutely know that you’re enough for Caleb. Falling in love with you is the best thing that ever happened to him. . . . You have to let Caleb love you the way that he’s capable. And, honey, you have to let go of this vendetta for Alison, please, for the sake of your own happiness.” “Dad, I’ve tried,” she sighs in frustration. “Every time I turn around, Alison is there.” “Honey,” he soothes, “honey, a great place to start is to try to go one hour without saying the word ‘Alison.’” “But I hate her, Dad!” she protests. “It doesn’t matter. Just let it go,” he counsels. While Livvie and her father work on healing their relationship, Caleb and Rafe discuss the possibility of peaceful coexistence. Rafe has summoned Caleb to a meeting on the summit of a hill overlooking Port Charles, the same hill where Caleb and Tess shared their magically wistful evening looking at stars and gazing at the sparkling lights of the town below. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| “What a nice-looking town,” Caleb smirks as he stands beside Rafe, glancing at the small city they both call home. “I like it,” Rafe smiles. “Come here. See right over there? See that steeple? That’s the church where Alison and I almost got married.” He points to the place where Caleb disrupted their wedding and then married Elizabeth. “Thanks for that, by the way,” he remarks sarcastically, then points to another site. “And right there, right over there’s GH and a little to the left, that’s the Recovery Room, oh, I’m sorry, Elixir.” Rafe is reminding Caleb of the ways vampires have changed and, in Rafe’s opinion, ruined Port Charles as well as the lives of its human residents. |
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