| "Tainted Love" Diary 64 (c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Tainted Love" episodes of the show "Port Charles," formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb Morley (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley 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. |
| "Listen to me, Caleb. Listen to me," Michael begs. "If you love this girl, let Livvie go, please." "Why? She's having the time of her life," Caleb argues. "Her mother's with her right now getting ready." "Those people told me that her mother's in an institution," Michael says, looking perplexed. "Olivia wants to believe she's well again," Caleb explains. "And I want my bride to have whatever she wants. So I brought her mother back to life, so to speak." He smirks and purses his lips in smug amusement "How could you let that poor girl believe that . . . that her family's with her and everything's all right?" Michael reprimands. "How can I not?" Caleb asks mockingly. "Because it's cruel, Caleb," Michael scolds. "It's cruel, that's why. Why are you doing this to her?" "Because I can, Michael. What other reason do I need?" Caleb here assumes an attitude of detached omnipotence, which is at odds with his true feelings for Livvie. Denying his vulnerability, adopting an arrogantly masculine stance of conquest and invincibility, Caleb preens before the mirror of his meeker, more sensitive self (represented by his Father Michael aspect). But this attitude, like all the other illusions Caleb creates, is fragile, tinged with pain and rejection. As Caleb boasts and taunts, Michael, enraged, attacks him. "Is that the best you've got?" Caleb laughs, grabbing and twisting Michael's arms until his priestly counterpart crumples in defeat. "Oh, Bro, you're getting weaker by the minute. But I do give you a big gold star for valor, even if you can't win this one." |
| "Don't be so sure," Michael snivels. "But I am," Caleb smiles triumphantly. "This marriage will happen. I already lost one bride. I'm not letting this one get away. She'll never get away." By referring to Livvie as "this one," Caleb once again tries to deny the depth, intensity and danger of his feelings for her. He doesn't want to admit to himself or anyone else how vulnerable his love for her makes him. |
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| Caleb uses his phantom foils (Rachel and Michael) to reassure himself that he will prevail. "In just a few moments you will be marrying the most wonderful man you've ever met, and you're going to be happy forever, Sweetheart. You'll have all eternity to laugh and love together. It's so right," Rachel persuades Livvie at the Villa. "It's over, Mikey, all right. Go with the flow because there's nothing you can do to stop it," Caleb urges Michael at the monastery. In both scenarios Caleb is creating for himself a fiction of magic invincibility. "You really believe that?" Michael asks Caleb in the church. "You truly believe that?" Livvie at the Villa asks her mother as both Caleb and Livvie seek solace in their wish-fulfilling fantasies. "I know it," Caleb asserts for himself as well as Livvie. "I mean, not that it doesn't move me to see you so sad and defeated," he says, snarling in derision at his weaker self. "You should know better, Mikey. You should know better than going up against your own twin." |
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| When the doubting Michael aspect questions Caleb's power, pointing out that "there's a love out there stronger than yours; don't overestimate it," Caleb refuses to admit his secret insecurity and fear of rejection. "If you're talking about Jack, don't overestimate it," Caleb boasts. "Olivia can barely remember his name. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. And after tonight, the wedding night, Olivia dies, and then she'll be reborn." Creating for Livvie the illusion of maternal love and wisdom, Caleb convinces her that he alone can make her dreams come true. Creating for himself the illusion of a weak, ineffectual, and piously naive brother against which he will always triumph, Caleb convinces himself that he will conquer every obstacle, fulfill his deepest desires. |
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| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |