"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" #24 (cont.)
“I will be the first one to admit that I really don’t get you two,” she concedes. “I don’t understand you and
Livvie at all. But it’s obvious you love each other, and anybody who sees you two together can see that. But,
you know, I started to judge you a little bit, and I hate it when people judge what Rafe and I have together, and I
was doing that to you. And I just wanted to tell you I was sorry.”
“Oh, well, this epiphany is very moving and all,” he says with a sarcastic sneer. “But what you think of us
doesn’t matter.”
“I’m trying to apologize to you. You know the whole ring business that you did here was really unnecessary,
and, frankly, it was rude,” she scolds. “And you sort of disappointed me. . . . I sort of started to respect you,
and I thought that you were starting to respect me, too, and when you pulled that, you really hurt my feelings.”
“No. No, I don’t think you’re hurt at all,” he observes, regarding her coldly, not believing her wounded act. “I
think this another lame attempt to try to get my ring from me.”
“I will be the first one to admit that I really don’t get you two,” she concedes. “I don’t understand you and
Livvie at all. But it’s obvious you love each other, and anybody who sees you two together can see that. But,
you know, I started to judge you a little bit, and I hate it when people judge what Rafe and I have together, and I
was doing that to you. And I just wanted to tell you I was sorry.”
“Oh, well, this epiphany is very moving and all,” he says with a sarcastic sneer. “But what you think of us
doesn’t matter.”
“I’m trying to apologize to you. You know the whole ring business that you did here was really unnecessary,
and, frankly, it was rude,” she scolds. “And you sort of disappointed me. . . . I sort of started to respect you,
and I thought that you were starting to respect me, too, and when you pulled that, you really hurt my feelings.”
“No. No, I don’t think you’re hurt at all,” he observes, regarding her coldly, not believing her wounded act. “I
think this another lame attempt to try to get my ring from me.”
Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken
by A. Armstrong
by A. Armstrong
“No, it’s not,” she continues in her wounded yet scolding tone. “It was actually an attempt to apologize to you.
But I can see that means nothing to you saying I’m sorry, which it would mean something to me, but that’s
fine.”
“Maybe it does mean something,” Caleb, his anger waning, says softly. “Look, Alison, I’m . . . I’m sorry.”
“Wow, Caleb Morley apologizing,” she exclaims. “That’s got to be a first.”
“Maybe the first time I actually meant it,” he confides with a shy, embarrassed smile.
“Apology accepted,” she smiles back at him.
Behind the smiles lurk schemes. She schemes to gain Caleb’s trust while provoking Livvie’s jealousy. He, as
always, schemes to protect the ring. Despite his charming demeanor and seemingly genuine friendliness
towards Alison, he never relinquishes his cunning and instinct for self-preservation.
“You know,” he hesitates, assuming an almost bashful expression. “I’ve . . . I’ve known a few women in my
time.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you have,” she giggles.
“But I’ve never . . . never had this,” he grins. “Just being able to . . . I don’t know . . . just talk the way we
do.”
But I can see that means nothing to you saying I’m sorry, which it would mean something to me, but that’s
fine.”
“Maybe it does mean something,” Caleb, his anger waning, says softly. “Look, Alison, I’m . . . I’m sorry.”
“Wow, Caleb Morley apologizing,” she exclaims. “That’s got to be a first.”
“Maybe the first time I actually meant it,” he confides with a shy, embarrassed smile.
“Apology accepted,” she smiles back at him.
Behind the smiles lurk schemes. She schemes to gain Caleb’s trust while provoking Livvie’s jealousy. He, as
always, schemes to protect the ring. Despite his charming demeanor and seemingly genuine friendliness
towards Alison, he never relinquishes his cunning and instinct for self-preservation.
“You know,” he hesitates, assuming an almost bashful expression. “I’ve . . . I’ve known a few women in my
time.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you have,” she giggles.
“But I’ve never . . . never had this,” he grins. “Just being able to . . . I don’t know . . . just talk the way we
do.”
“So, you never actually had a woman as just a friend?” she asks. “Well, that’s a surprise.”
“So that’s what this is . . . we’re friends?” he muses, as if surprised by this revelation. He is not, however, as
unused to the concept of male and female friendship as he would like Alison to believe, for, in his “Father
Michael” aspect he had a deep, enduring friendship with Eve. Even though that friendship was tainted by
feelings of lust, he managed to subdue these feelings when under the influence of his priestly alter-ego.
Agreeing to be friends, Caleb and Alison shake hands.
“So that’s what this is . . . we’re friends?” he muses, as if surprised by this revelation. He is not, however, as
unused to the concept of male and female friendship as he would like Alison to believe, for, in his “Father
Michael” aspect he had a deep, enduring friendship with Eve. Even though that friendship was tainted by
feelings of lust, he managed to subdue these feelings when under the influence of his priestly alter-ego.
Agreeing to be friends, Caleb and Alison shake hands.
