"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.
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" #25 (cont.)
“Wow, was that really Livvie?” Alison whispers to Caleb as Livvie begins talking with Jack.
“That’s my girl,” he replies and gazes proudly at Livvie. He then asks Alison the real reason she demanded to
meet with him at the Elixir rather than telling him her “proposition” over the phone. Gradually, her lies crumble,
to be replaced by other, more convincing, lies. Admitting that she called him here to discuss her missing charm,
she, of course, does not tell him that she dropped the charm on purpose. Although claiming that she did not
want to mention the missing charm in front of Livvie because she knows how “crazy” Livvie gets, that was
actually the reason she planted the charm where Livvie might see it.
“So, I’m just really hoping she doesn’t find it,” Alison deceitfully insists.
“No, I did,” Caleb says, giving her a rather sinister look.
“Oh, good, good, because I wouldn’t want to make trouble for both of you,” she lies again.
“You already have, Alison,” he responds coldly and suggests that they continue their conversation outside.
Caleb, like the others, harbors a hidden agenda, but his is the most cryptic. Livvie, Jack, Alison, and Rafe have
much more easily identifiable schemes and motivations. For Alison and Rafe, the agenda, though impractical, is
fairly clearcut—to manipulate Livvie into stealing Caleb’s ring and, then, somehow, manage to get the ring away
from Livvie. For Jack, the agenda also involves manipulating Livvie, but his motivation for doing so is
ambiguous. He seems to want to regain control of the ring for his own purposes, yet might also, for reasons of
revenge or desire, wish to rekindle his relationship with Livvie.
“Wow, was that really Livvie?” Alison whispers to Caleb as Livvie begins talking with Jack.
“That’s my girl,” he replies and gazes proudly at Livvie. He then asks Alison the real reason she demanded to
meet with him at the Elixir rather than telling him her “proposition” over the phone. Gradually, her lies crumble,
to be replaced by other, more convincing, lies. Admitting that she called him here to discuss her missing charm,
she, of course, does not tell him that she dropped the charm on purpose. Although claiming that she did not
want to mention the missing charm in front of Livvie because she knows how “crazy” Livvie gets, that was
actually the reason she planted the charm where Livvie might see it.
“So, I’m just really hoping she doesn’t find it,” Alison deceitfully insists.
“No, I did,” Caleb says, giving her a rather sinister look.
“Oh, good, good, because I wouldn’t want to make trouble for both of you,” she lies again.
“You already have, Alison,” he responds coldly and suggests that they continue their conversation outside.
Caleb, like the others, harbors a hidden agenda, but his is the most cryptic. Livvie, Jack, Alison, and Rafe have
much more easily identifiable schemes and motivations. For Alison and Rafe, the agenda, though impractical, is
fairly clearcut—to manipulate Livvie into stealing Caleb’s ring and, then, somehow, manage to get the ring away
from Livvie. For Jack, the agenda also involves manipulating Livvie, but his motivation for doing so is
ambiguous. He seems to want to regain control of the ring for his own purposes, yet might also, for reasons of
revenge or desire, wish to rekindle his relationship with Livvie.
Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A.
Armstrong
Armstrong
For Livvie, the agenda is to be assured of Caleb’s undying love. By convincing Jack that everything is fine
between her and Caleb, she perhaps hopes to convince herself. She fears losing Caleb yet finds herself drawn
towards Jack, the pull of nostalgia intensifying along with her doubts about Caleb’s lasting devotion. Although
things between her and Caleb seem for the moment to be going better, she still feels that old familiar bond with
Jack. She needs Jack now, not for consolation or company, but for verification that her relationship with Caleb
is improving. When Jack remarks to her that the “trouble in paradise seems to be over,” his comment validates
her insecure belief that the problems have been resolved.
“Yeah, over for good,” she rather hesitantly affirms.
“So I guess that means Caleb has agreed to share the ring with you,” Jack probes.
“Contrary to what you may think, Jack, I don’t need Caleb’s ring to prove that he loves me,” she retorts. “In
fact, we had a long talk, and Caleb made me see that I don’t have anything to worry about, especially when it
comes to Alison.”
“Well, it all sounds good in theory, Livvie, but let’s get real,” Jack warns. “Things might seem OK now, but it’s
going to take the slightest thing to make them not OK. Let’s just hope Alison is not caught in the middle of the
crossfire.”
“Yeah, it’s always about her, isn’t it?” Livvie snarls, her jealousy resurfacing. Even though she is no longer
involved with Jack, she still feels jealous over his friendship with Alison.
“Well, she’s my friend,” Jack points out.
“What about me?” Livvie demands. “Am I your friend?”
“I don’t care what happens to you, if that’s what you’re asking,” he insists.
“You are such a liar!” she challenges. “We had a little moment, and we got carried away. You kissed me.
That’s it. Sorry,” she sulks, walking away. She is angry and confused, not knowing where she stands with
Jack yet apparently wanting to resume their friendship.
Despite his arrogant rebuff, Jack is also confused regarding their relationship. He fantasizes about telling her off,
warning her that “it’s payback time” for all the games she played on him, all the tricks and betrayals. He then
envisions her asking his forgiveness and declaring that he is the only man she has ever loved.
between her and Caleb, she perhaps hopes to convince herself. She fears losing Caleb yet finds herself drawn
towards Jack, the pull of nostalgia intensifying along with her doubts about Caleb’s lasting devotion. Although
things between her and Caleb seem for the moment to be going better, she still feels that old familiar bond with
Jack. She needs Jack now, not for consolation or company, but for verification that her relationship with Caleb
is improving. When Jack remarks to her that the “trouble in paradise seems to be over,” his comment validates
her insecure belief that the problems have been resolved.
“Yeah, over for good,” she rather hesitantly affirms.
“So I guess that means Caleb has agreed to share the ring with you,” Jack probes.
“Contrary to what you may think, Jack, I don’t need Caleb’s ring to prove that he loves me,” she retorts. “In
fact, we had a long talk, and Caleb made me see that I don’t have anything to worry about, especially when it
comes to Alison.”
“Well, it all sounds good in theory, Livvie, but let’s get real,” Jack warns. “Things might seem OK now, but it’s
going to take the slightest thing to make them not OK. Let’s just hope Alison is not caught in the middle of the
crossfire.”
“Yeah, it’s always about her, isn’t it?” Livvie snarls, her jealousy resurfacing. Even though she is no longer
involved with Jack, she still feels jealous over his friendship with Alison.
“Well, she’s my friend,” Jack points out.
“What about me?” Livvie demands. “Am I your friend?”
“I don’t care what happens to you, if that’s what you’re asking,” he insists.
“You are such a liar!” she challenges. “We had a little moment, and we got carried away. You kissed me.
That’s it. Sorry,” she sulks, walking away. She is angry and confused, not knowing where she stands with
Jack yet apparently wanting to resume their friendship.
Despite his arrogant rebuff, Jack is also confused regarding their relationship. He fantasizes about telling her off,
warning her that “it’s payback time” for all the games she played on him, all the tricks and betrayals. He then
envisions her asking his forgiveness and declaring that he is the only man she has ever loved.