| "The Gift": Analysis of "The Gift" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(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. |
| "The Gift" #19 (cont.) When he replies that hers is the second such offer he had received “in a matter of minutes,” Lucy’s being the first, Livvie rather petulantly asserts that her suggestion is much better. “No, Daddy,” she pouts. “You are not moving in with Lucy and Ian. You will be much happier with me and Caleb. . . . It will be great, Dad,” she continues in a flurry of make-believe contentment. “I will take care of you, and I will make sure you get better, and I will cook your food, make sure you take your medicine, and then. . . ” She pauses, considering her next move, the move that will reveal her true intention. “And then,” she adds, in a smaller, much less confident and buoyant voice, “well, maybe you could help me, too. . . . I didn’t want to burden you with this because you are obviously going through a lot and have a lot on your mind, but Caleb and I haven’t really been getting along lately.” “Is that so?” Kevin asks, suspicion darkening his already-gloomy mood. “The truth is, Dad, I think this would be good for me as it would be for you,” she admits in a halting, hesitant tone. “I know that you and Caleb really don’t like each other that much, but he does have a lot of respect for you. And given what you’re going through, if you would just take the time to talk to him, maybe, I mean, you would be able to get to him, you know, maybe tell him that I’m hurting, you know? You would do that for me, wouldn’t you, Daddy?” she pleads. “I mean, you’re a shrink. You must be able to see what I’m going through.” “Actually, Livvie, I’ve been a little preoccupied wondering if I am ever going to be able to walk again,” he comments, his mouth clenched with pain and anger. “Well, I am in a lot of pain, you know, a lot like you,” she has the gall to reply, selfishly and absurdly comparing the emotional problems she created for herself with the agonizing, life-shattering future her father faces as a result of her actions. “Yeah, that situation you’re in with Caleb?” Kevin retorts, his suppressed anger rising to the surface. Like a fierce yet tethered dog, he is impotent to express his rage and lash out at those insensitive to his torment. His own daughter has shamelessly revealed her callous disregard for his pain, thinking only of her own difficulties and hoping to use him as a go-between to fix her relationship with Caleb. “You invited that in,” he snarls. “You could walk away if you chose to. That’s not so easy for me. I won’t be moving in with you, Livvie.” “Daddy, I love you, I want to take care of you,” she implores. “You know, based on what I’m seeing right now I seriously doubt that you’re even capable of it,” he grimaces. “What you want to do is use my condition to manipulate Caleb. You have taken the ‘it’s all about me’ syndrome to a whole new level.” “I can’t believe you would attack me like that,” she sobs, again shifting the focus to her self-created pain. “God, that is such an awful thing to say!” Tears stinging her eyes, she stalks out of the hospital room. Her father has given her words of advice and insight she is too narcissistic and deluded to heed. Like Caleb, Kevin has shown her the error of her ways, the consequences of her actions. He has shown her the mirror to her conscience, has issued a stern yet loving rebuke meant also to be a warning of dangers that lie in wait if she continues to wield her power in reckless, ruthless, ultimately, self-destructive vendettas against imaginary opponents. Unless she learns to trust in the love she continually doubts and tests, she will end up poisoning it. Unless she gives up her need to possess and control, she will lose everything she ever hoped to attain. |
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| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |