| "Desire": Analysis of the "Desire" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Desire" 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. |
| "Desire" #3 (cont.) We see in this short scene involving Kevin and Alison some justification for Livvie’s hatred towards Alison. Although Alison is perceived by most of the other Port Charles residents as a nice, gentle, compassionate young woman, in this scene she reveals a sanctimonious malevolence hidden beneath her sparkling smile. The Barbie doll beauty is not as sweet and innocent as she appears. She, like her Slayer fiancé, is blinded by prejudice towards the vampires who have embraced immortality and no longer desire to be human. Unable to release her anger towards Alison, Livvie turns to her father for empathy in dealing with the rage and sorrow consuming her. When he suggests taking her someplace safe, she tells him that without Caleb she doesn’t care what happens to her. “The man I love is dead, “ she sobs, “at least that’s what everyone’s been telling me . . . and that’s horrible in itself, but I have this ache, this . . . this voice calling out to me, telling me he’s out there looking for me somewhere and I can’t get to him. . . . All the time in the world isn’t going to make this better. I still have this emptiness in my heart. And it’s going to be there with me forever.” “No, no, it won’t,” Kevin pleads, desperately trying to comfort her. “It only feels like that right now. But I promise you, honey, I promise you, in time it will get better, and I can promise you that because I know. I’ve been there. And I will always be there for you, always.” “But, you can’t be, Daddy,” she replies grimly. “Have you forgotten what I am, what I’ve become? You can’t be there for me, not for all eternity. . . . It’s funny, I have what everyone wants, eternal life, but without Caleb it feels more like eternal damnation.” Frustrated that he cannot soothe his grieving daughter, Kevin directs his ire towards the man he holds responsible for all of Livvie’s pain—Caleb. “Caleb’s the reason you got into this mess in the first place,” he seethes. “Livvie, you should be glad that the monster is dead!” “You said you understood!” she wails. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he says gently. “I know how much you loved him, but you can’t deny the truth. I mean, he has done nothing but bring you pain. He has done nothing but hurt you time and time again. I can’t help but believe that you’re better off without him.” “Then you should be really happy that he’s gone now, huh?” she snarls. “That they cured him of being a vampire and he died a mortal so he’s not going to come back now.” Kevin tries to put his arms around her, to hold his child close, but she rejects his attempts to ease her unbearable misery. “No, Dad, please don’t touch me. Please, I just want to be left alone,” she cries, and sadly, dejectedly, he walks away. She withdraws into the world of memories, which, like the silken curtains at Caleb’s Villa, provide elusive shelter. Visions shift and merge, a blurring mist of candlelight and rose-tinged shadows. She sees the radiance of his face, eyes closed in ecstasy, lips parted like a saint in rapture, a glow surpassing mortal understanding. “I can still feel you with me, Caleb,” she murmurs. “How can you be dead?” |
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| Snappies of "Desire" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |