"The Gift": Analysis of "The Gift" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong
(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.
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" Analysis #17
The force crushing Kevin is a cyclone synthesis of impetuous, ill-chosen wishes and malicious, ill-willed
strategems. Innocence and ruthlessness fuse in a macabre tempest misguidedly set into motion by the two
people who love him most. Christina and Livvie, his two daughters, have unknowingly subjected him to a
nightmarish fate from which he cannot escape. They have released a genie of destruction that stops at nothing
to fulfill its whispered commands.
In horror, Livvie wails as her father lies helplessly immobile underneath the heavy light fixture, the victim of a
plot she had devised for Alison. “Daddy, what have I done?” she gasps.
Indifferent to the anguish and turmoil surrounding him, Caleb focuses on the ring, feeling its elusive presence like
a missing part of himself waiting to be reconnected. “One of you has it; I can feel it,” he mutters while Livvie
sobs with terrified remorse.
Her sobs gradually penetrate his callously relentless consciousness, and, momentarily walking away from the
stage, he goes to her. “Hey, hey, come here. It’s OK. It’s all right. They’re not sure what’s wrong yet,” he
soothes, holding her in his arms as she cries.
The force crushing Kevin is a cyclone synthesis of impetuous, ill-chosen wishes and malicious, ill-willed
strategems. Innocence and ruthlessness fuse in a macabre tempest misguidedly set into motion by the two
people who love him most. Christina and Livvie, his two daughters, have unknowingly subjected him to a
nightmarish fate from which he cannot escape. They have released a genie of destruction that stops at nothing
to fulfill its whispered commands.
In horror, Livvie wails as her father lies helplessly immobile underneath the heavy light fixture, the victim of a
plot she had devised for Alison. “Daddy, what have I done?” she gasps.
Indifferent to the anguish and turmoil surrounding him, Caleb focuses on the ring, feeling its elusive presence like
a missing part of himself waiting to be reconnected. “One of you has it; I can feel it,” he mutters while Livvie
sobs with terrified remorse.
Her sobs gradually penetrate his callously relentless consciousness, and, momentarily walking away from the
stage, he goes to her. “Hey, hey, come here. It’s OK. It’s all right. They’re not sure what’s wrong yet,” he
soothes, holding her in his arms as she cries.
Snappies of "The Gift"
scenes taken by A.
Armstrong
scenes taken by A.
Armstrong
“But he looks so pale,” she whimpers. “Caleb, it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He wasn’t supposed to be
up there.”
“Nothing this night turned out the way we planned,” he scowls, peeved that his scheme to regain the ring has not
yet seemed to work.
up there.”
“Nothing this night turned out the way we planned,” he scowls, peeved that his scheme to regain the ring has not
yet seemed to work.
Embracing, they watch the stretcher arrive and the hospital staff carefully place Kevin upon it. With tear-stained
eyes she sees her father being brought away to the hospital. She has hurt him, ruined his life yet again,
destroyed the brief peace and contentment he had obtained after making amends with those he had wronged.
Now she has wronged him and might never be able to make amends.
“Easy, easy,” Caleb murmurs, caressing her. “Tell me something. Do you have any idea how this happened?”
“No, of course not,” she lies, looking at him accusingly. “Why would I? Why would you ask me something
like that?”
eyes she sees her father being brought away to the hospital. She has hurt him, ruined his life yet again,
destroyed the brief peace and contentment he had obtained after making amends with those he had wronged.
Now she has wronged him and might never be able to make amends.
“Easy, easy,” Caleb murmurs, caressing her. “Tell me something. Do you have any idea how this happened?”
“No, of course not,” she lies, looking at him accusingly. “Why would I? Why would you ask me something
like that?”
