| "Tainted Love" Diary 72 (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. |
| Standing his ground, Kevin replies that he's not afraid to die "as long as Livvie is OK," but Caleb slyly notes that death is not be what he has planned for Kevin. "Killing you, that wouldn't be any fun," Caleb explains. "You see, I'm going to make you one of us. And then you'll bring your daughter to me." "I'll never be one of you. I'll fight it," Kevin vows. "You can't fight it," Caleb explains, his face contorted in a frustrated, manic smile. "Don't you get it?" He laughs, the hollow laugh of one irredeemably damned or addicted. "Look at Jack. He's trying. He's a mess. The hunger always gets to you." |
| He then snuffs out a candle with his fingers. It sizzles with a futile sigh, evoking the association of candle flames and human existence, both so ephemeral and easily extinguished. Beautiful in his wild, unearthly, and vicious yet vulnerable essence, Caleb haunts the imagination, inspiring our darkest fantasies and deepest, most revelatory insights into ourselves. Like the villains and antiheroes of classic literature, Caleb is doomed by his exceptional, indomitable spirit. Always striving, always yearning, he risks condemnation and misery in pursuit of unattainable dreams, unquenchable desires. |
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| As Caleb bares his fangs, Lucy bursts into the room. "Get the hell away from him," Lucy hisses, pushing Caleb aside. While Caleb suddenly recoils in fear and dread, Lucy rescues Kevin and the two of them run towards the awaiting jet. Caleb covers his mouth, as if trying to conceal his fangs and all traces of his vampire nature. Clutching the fireplace mantel and shivering in fear, he murmurs, "I didn't realize. She's the one." |
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| "I know Olivia despised you for what you are," Kevin adds, wounding Caleb even deeper. "You just snuffed her out. Not exactly giving a girl the world is it?" "You can't stop me!" Caleb warns. "I already have," Kevin answers. "Your wedding to my daughter is over." Struggling to regain his control, Caleb tries to adopt once again his detached, sarcastic tone. "You keep talking like this," Caleb laughs bitterly, "and I'm going to forget that you're my future father-in-law." "How does it feel, Caleb? How does it feel to know that you murdered the woman you loved? How does it feel to know that you destroyed her entire future?" As Kevin probes Caleb with these relentless questions, Caleb grimaces, his expression a malevolent mixture of smile, smirk, and snarl. "All aboard. Guilt trip leaving the station," Caleb sneers, still trying to retain his sarcastic edge. "Olivia must have been terrified, but that didn't stop you, did it?" Kevin torments. "In fact, I'll wager you even enjoyed it." "I never meant to hurt her," Caleb tries to explain, his lips curled back in suppressed anger. "Olivia was my life. I loved her." "No, real love is about sacrifice, the kind of love Jack feels for Livvie," Kevin lectures. "He'd lay down his life for her; he wouldn't try to take it away." Caleb rolls his eyes, looking like a frustrated, chastised child. With these comments Kevin demonstrates his lack of understanding as well as his hypocrisy. Whereas previously in this arc, Kevin disapproved of Jack and distrusted him; now he is praising Jack, entrusting him with Livvie's life and soul. Perhaps confusing Caleb with Kevin's own psychopathic brother. Kevin fails to realize that Caleb, unlike Ryan, was forced into a life of killing in order to survive. His "evil" was forced upon him, and Caleb, deeply loving his first Olivia, desperately wanted to be loved for who he was. He trusted her, revealing himself in all his damned glory, but she could not accept his darkness, his animal self. Her rejection made his soul wither and retreat. She killed him from the inside out, dooming him to an eternity of loneliness and self-hatred. In his intensity, passion, and insight, Caleb has much more capacity for love than the immature, inexperienced, repressed Jack could ever have. Experiencing the anguish of unmitigated remorse, Caleb knows what it means to love with the desperate futility of one condemned to the hell of one's own regret. "Oh, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," Caleb scoffs, assuming his mocking tone to disguise his pain. "It's a nice testimonial for Jack, but your daughter wants me." "How long before the spell wears off, Caleb?" Kevin asks, echoing the words Jack used when trying to turn Livvie against Caleb. "How long before Livvie looks at you in disgust? How long before she remembers what she feels for Jack and leaves you alone?" Angrily picking up a glass bowl and throwing it at the fireplace, Caleb yells, "That's not going to happen! Now, what wrong with this picture? You know what? Too much talking and not enough bleeding." |
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| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |