| As the episode ends, the tormented majesty of Caleb is succeeded by the conflicted, hesitant heroics of his Michael aspect. Encountering Eve in the church as she prays for the safety of her unborn child, "Michael" is forced to make choose between the two sides of his being. "You have to make a choice, Michael, once and for all," Eve informs him. "It's either me or your brother." Asking him to sacrifice one part of oneself for another, Eve, like Lucy, Jack, and the other Port Charles characters affected by Caleb, is deepening the split within him, forcing a confrontation that could bring disastrous results. ********************************************** Echoing the theme of family conflict which recurs throughout this arc, the episode following Lucy's rescue of Kevin foreshadows the deadly confrontation that determines the fate of Caleb and the future of Port Charles. Despite the rather absurd, silly subplot featuring Lucy's plan to visit Transylvania to research her and Caleb's family backgrounds, the predominant mood of this episode is one of foreboding and futility. The jarring intrusion of this campy element into an otherwise dramatically cohesive plot represents, in my opinion, one of the few weaknesses in the intensely riveting, emotionally stirring story line of "Tainted Love" and sets the stage for ineffective uses of camp in future arcs. Caleb is faced with enemies from many sides--Lucy, Kevin, Jack, Jamal, Alison, Eve and Ian. Uniting them all is their shared fear and loathing of him, their desire to destroy him. While Jack and Alison continue to badger Livvie into doubting her love for Caleb, Jamal uses his familial bond with Gabby to try to persuade her to reject Caleb, and Eve pressures Michael to kill Caleb. Responding to Alison's question whether Caleb hurt Livvie in any way, Livvie points out "Caleb is not this monster you all seem to think he is. He is kind and he's wonderful, and he is my future." "It's what he's programmed into your brain," Alison replies, corroborating Jack's opinion that Livvie does not know what she truly feels. After Livvie tells them that Caleb brought her mother to visit, Jack suggests that they visit Livvie's mother in the hospital and see for themselves whether Caleb has performed the miraculous resurrection Livvie describes. When they visit the hospital where Rachel is staying, they discover, of course, that Rachel is still in her comatose or catatonic state. Although Livvie pleads and screams, trying to get her mother to show some signs of recognition or awareness, there is no response. Unable to accept her devastating disillusionment, Livvie attempts to convince herself that "this isn't happening. She was--she was better. She was there." Meanwhile Eve, at the chapel, confronts Michael regarding Caleb's danger to Eve's baby. "Your brother is after my baby. . . . You're the only one who can stop him," she urges. "Eve, even if I thought I could . . . " Michael pauses, nervous and troubled. Eve then tells Michael that she had overheard his prayer to God confessing his love for Eve. Although Michael insists that Eve "misunderstood" and that his love for her is "strictly as a friend," Eve reassures him that she understand his true feelings, knows that he wouldn't act on them, but also knows that his love prevents him from turning Eve away. |
| Asking Michael to help her protect her son from Caleb, she becomes desperate. "Don't tell me you can't do this!" she yells. "You know what your brother is! You locked him up because of it! You gave me this amulet for protection because of it. You're the only that knows how to deal with him." His hands to his mouth as he sorts through his agitated thoughts, perhaps stalling for time, Michael hesitatingly replies, "I did. But he's much worse now. I don't know what I can do with him." |
| "Tainted Love" Diary 73 (c) Alison Armstrong |
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| "If you have any love for me at all, " Eve demands, "you'll get rid of your brother." "It's beyond my control," Michael persists. "That's not true," Eve argues. "You've always had control over Caleb." "That was before," Michael explains. "Before he saw Livvie." "Please--" Eve begs. "Will you please stop telling me that you can't do this? My God, Caleb is preying on an innocent young girl. He wants my baby!" "He can't touch you as long as you're wearing the necklace," Michael reminds her. |
| 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. |
| "No. You don't understand," Eve responds. "Michael, he has gotten inside my head. I hear his voice, his threats, and I don't know if it's real or if it's just fear trying to drive me crazy. I don't know, but there's nothing I can do to stop it, but you can. Please. Please, " she sobs. "I'm begging you." "Eve, come here," Michael says softly, holding Eve in his arms for a few moments. But then, perhaps feeling his guilty desire stirred by their embrace, he releases her. "Sorry I . .. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he apologizes. As they sit together, he has his arm on the back of the pew, a lingering closeness, a tentative intimacy. |
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| "You have to believe me," Michael insists. "I never meant for any of this to happen." "O.K. I know. It's all right," Eve replies. As she clears her throat, Michael moves his arm away from the back of the pew. Unease casts an invisible barrier, and the physical closeness momentarily shared becomes too tempting and troubling to sustain. "No, it's not all right," Michael explains, an anguished look on his face. "I'm a priest, and I took a vow before God. Until now, I never questioned it. But you--oh, I have prayed so hard to remain strong. But it's too late. You have stirred these feelings in me that I--I never thought I had." "I . . . I don't know what to say," Eve falters. |
| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |