"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" #29 (cont.)
“Yeah, that tells you something, doesn’t it?” he observes. “That happiness really does come from the inside. So
maybe you should stop looking outside of yourself and your relationship in order to find it. And maybe you
should think about what I said about family. Who knows, honey? Maybe everything you need is already within
your grasp.”
Kevin’s advice about finding happiness within instead of seeking it from sources outside of herself wisely offers
Livvie a chance to escape the self-destructive impulses ruining her life. But Livvie does not understand what her
father is trying to tell her. Instead of realizing that she already has a family and everything she needs to be happy,
she takes her father’s counsel as a sign that she should make a wish to have a child with Caleb. She is so
preoccupied with Caleb, so consumed with jealousy over Alison, Lucy, and ever her own adopted sister,
Christina, that she seems to have forgotten the original purpose of her visit. Given the opportunity to heal her
father, she now decides to leave him as he is—paralyzed and hoping for a cure—opting, instead, to use the ring’s
magic manipulatively as a means to fix her relationship with Caleb.
Preparing to leave, she wishes her father “good luck” with his check-up and tells him she is “proud” of his
progress towards recovery (his ability to move a finger). As she starts to apologize again for not visiting him
sooner, he suggests that she use that negative energy “for something better.” She thanks him for his advice,
telling him that it has “made a world of difference” to her, and promises to call him tonight (another promise
likely to be broken).
While Livvie is breaking more promises to others, as well as herself, Caleb is intervening to prevent Alison from
concluding a spell that would land her in Hell with Rafe. His motives for intervening are unclear. Although he,
almost reluctantly, harbors friendly feelings towards Alison, he seems more concerned with making her and Rafe
pay for their treachery. He savors the irony of the situation Rafe is in—the former angel imprisoned in Hell—
and does not want Alison to provide any company to Rafe there. He also wants to exact his own revenge here
on Earth by toying with Alison while Rafe is unable to protect her.
Surprised to see Caleb suddenly appear at the barn, Alison assumes he is there to help her regain Rafe, but Caleb
quickly sets her straight.
“Yeah, that tells you something, doesn’t it?” he observes. “That happiness really does come from the inside. So
maybe you should stop looking outside of yourself and your relationship in order to find it. And maybe you
should think about what I said about family. Who knows, honey? Maybe everything you need is already within
your grasp.”
Kevin’s advice about finding happiness within instead of seeking it from sources outside of herself wisely offers
Livvie a chance to escape the self-destructive impulses ruining her life. But Livvie does not understand what her
father is trying to tell her. Instead of realizing that she already has a family and everything she needs to be happy,
she takes her father’s counsel as a sign that she should make a wish to have a child with Caleb. She is so
preoccupied with Caleb, so consumed with jealousy over Alison, Lucy, and ever her own adopted sister,
Christina, that she seems to have forgotten the original purpose of her visit. Given the opportunity to heal her
father, she now decides to leave him as he is—paralyzed and hoping for a cure—opting, instead, to use the ring’s
magic manipulatively as a means to fix her relationship with Caleb.
Preparing to leave, she wishes her father “good luck” with his check-up and tells him she is “proud” of his
progress towards recovery (his ability to move a finger). As she starts to apologize again for not visiting him
sooner, he suggests that she use that negative energy “for something better.” She thanks him for his advice,
telling him that it has “made a world of difference” to her, and promises to call him tonight (another promise
likely to be broken).
While Livvie is breaking more promises to others, as well as herself, Caleb is intervening to prevent Alison from
concluding a spell that would land her in Hell with Rafe. His motives for intervening are unclear. Although he,
almost reluctantly, harbors friendly feelings towards Alison, he seems more concerned with making her and Rafe
pay for their treachery. He savors the irony of the situation Rafe is in—the former angel imprisoned in Hell—
and does not want Alison to provide any company to Rafe there. He also wants to exact his own revenge here
on Earth by toying with Alison while Rafe is unable to protect her.
Surprised to see Caleb suddenly appear at the barn, Alison assumes he is there to help her regain Rafe, but Caleb
quickly sets her straight.
Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken
by A. Armstrong
by A. Armstrong
“Slayers who steal and they find themselves in the fire, well, they’re on their own,” he sneers and warns her to
“leave things alone” that are his, such as the ring and the incantation.
“leave things alone” that are his, such as the ring and the incantation.
"I actually believed somewhere deep inside that you and I were friends,” she reproaches, conveniently
overlooking the fact that this so-called friendship was used as a ploy in her and Rafe’s attempt to obtain the ring.
“You don’t think I figured out that was all just a con?” he laughs.
“Yeah, I totally used you, just like I use everyone,” she replies sarcastically, her self-righteousness preventing
her from seeing the truth of her words.
“At last, honesty,” he smirks, realizing the truth she refuses to face.
“You know what?” she pouts. “You have no friends. You wouldn’t even know what to do with a friend.”
“Hmm,” he leers, approaching closer, his face inches from her. “I do know what to do with my enemies.”
“So, fine,” she defiantly concedes. “I’m your enemy. Go ahead and do your worst.”
“Haven’t I already?” he boasts. “Look at you. Begging me to save Rafe’s life, and, once again, I’m saying . . ."
He pauses for dramatic effect, then mouths the word “no.” “Good bye, Alison.”
overlooking the fact that this so-called friendship was used as a ploy in her and Rafe’s attempt to obtain the ring.
“You don’t think I figured out that was all just a con?” he laughs.
“Yeah, I totally used you, just like I use everyone,” she replies sarcastically, her self-righteousness preventing
her from seeing the truth of her words.
“At last, honesty,” he smirks, realizing the truth she refuses to face.
“You know what?” she pouts. “You have no friends. You wouldn’t even know what to do with a friend.”
“Hmm,” he leers, approaching closer, his face inches from her. “I do know what to do with my enemies.”
“So, fine,” she defiantly concedes. “I’m your enemy. Go ahead and do your worst.”
“Haven’t I already?” he boasts. “Look at you. Begging me to save Rafe’s life, and, once again, I’m saying . . ."
He pauses for dramatic effect, then mouths the word “no.” “Good bye, Alison.”