"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" #30 (cont.)
Instead of considering how Livvie’s betrayal must affect Caleb, however, Alison ignores his pain and continues
begging him to help her. “Caleb, can’t you just get the ring back and help me get Rafe?” she demands. “Look,
this war between the two of you is killing all that is good and is real.”
“And still she battles on,” Caleb mutters, knowing that despite her hypocritical appeals for peace, she has helped
Rafe continue the battle.
Instead of considering how Livvie’s betrayal must affect Caleb, however, Alison ignores his pain and continues
begging him to help her. “Caleb, can’t you just get the ring back and help me get Rafe?” she demands. “Look,
this war between the two of you is killing all that is good and is real.”
“And still she battles on,” Caleb mutters, knowing that despite her hypocritical appeals for peace, she has helped
Rafe continue the battle.
Snappies of "The Gift"
scenes taken by A.
Armstrong
scenes taken by A.
Armstrong
“Because I have to,” she rationalizes. “Otherwise, there’s no point to any of this at all. I will continue to fight
for Rafe, just like you will continue to fight for Livvie, no matter how much pain we’re in.”
“You don’t know anything about my pain,” he counters, his voice low, resentful.
for Rafe, just like you will continue to fight for Livvie, no matter how much pain we’re in.”
“You don’t know anything about my pain,” he counters, his voice low, resentful.
"Yes, I do,” she insists. “Listen to me, just for a second. When you talked about the two women you trusted
who betrayed you, Livvie and me, I saw something in you that touched me, and I think that you liked that.”
“This is all pointless now, all right?” he snarls, angered by her saccharine-coated sob story and also, perhaps, by
the realization that a part of him is actually affected by her pleas.
“No, it’s not. It’s not pointless,” she argues. “I know you have other powers. You know things. You know
dark secrets. And I know you can get to the place where Rafe is, and you can free him from the curse. I
know you can.”
“I’m sorry, Alison,” he growls. “It’s out of my hands. Rafe’s on his own.”
No longer an angel, no longer protected by heavenly associates, Rafe is, for once, “on his own.” Yet even in
Hell, Rafe continues to believe he can play by his own rules, trying to persuade the infernal powers that it was
morally right to use Caleb’s incantation as a means of obtaining Caleb’s ring.
Rafe’s demonic chastiser is unconvinced, arguing that “in the hands of its rightful owner, the ring is a dutiful
servant”; neither good nor evil in itself, the ring merely acts on the wishes of those who use it. “You violated a
sacred code,” the infernal voice admonishes. “Making the choice to come here was the defining moment of
your life. Your fate is sealed. And even if you get the ring back now, it won’t matter. . . . You’re now
responsible for what is going to happen. You set the wheels of fate in motion, and you, Rafe Kovich, will have
to live with the consequences for all eternity.”
By acting with Alison and Jack in manipulating Livvie to steal the ring, Rafe has set in motion the consequences
that will result from Livvie’s desperate insecurity. Furthermore, by entering Hell, on his own free will, Rafe has
left Alison unprotected, vulnerable to whatever Caleb or Livvie may have in store for her.
Foolishly believing that Caleb has been convinced by her ring switch deception and seductive lies, Livvie
prepares to get everything perfectly set up so that she can make her wish. Since she intends food to be part of
the enchanting evening she has planned for her and Caleb, she stops by the Elixir to pick up some enticing
treats.
At the Elixir, Jack suspects that she is planning a special evening of some sort and, as usual, delights in toying
with her, seeing if he can trick her into revealing what tricks or tempests she might be plotting.
who betrayed you, Livvie and me, I saw something in you that touched me, and I think that you liked that.”
“This is all pointless now, all right?” he snarls, angered by her saccharine-coated sob story and also, perhaps, by
the realization that a part of him is actually affected by her pleas.
“No, it’s not. It’s not pointless,” she argues. “I know you have other powers. You know things. You know
dark secrets. And I know you can get to the place where Rafe is, and you can free him from the curse. I
know you can.”
“I’m sorry, Alison,” he growls. “It’s out of my hands. Rafe’s on his own.”
No longer an angel, no longer protected by heavenly associates, Rafe is, for once, “on his own.” Yet even in
Hell, Rafe continues to believe he can play by his own rules, trying to persuade the infernal powers that it was
morally right to use Caleb’s incantation as a means of obtaining Caleb’s ring.
Rafe’s demonic chastiser is unconvinced, arguing that “in the hands of its rightful owner, the ring is a dutiful
servant”; neither good nor evil in itself, the ring merely acts on the wishes of those who use it. “You violated a
sacred code,” the infernal voice admonishes. “Making the choice to come here was the defining moment of
your life. Your fate is sealed. And even if you get the ring back now, it won’t matter. . . . You’re now
responsible for what is going to happen. You set the wheels of fate in motion, and you, Rafe Kovich, will have
to live with the consequences for all eternity.”
By acting with Alison and Jack in manipulating Livvie to steal the ring, Rafe has set in motion the consequences
that will result from Livvie’s desperate insecurity. Furthermore, by entering Hell, on his own free will, Rafe has
left Alison unprotected, vulnerable to whatever Caleb or Livvie may have in store for her.
Foolishly believing that Caleb has been convinced by her ring switch deception and seductive lies, Livvie
prepares to get everything perfectly set up so that she can make her wish. Since she intends food to be part of
the enchanting evening she has planned for her and Caleb, she stops by the Elixir to pick up some enticing
treats.
At the Elixir, Jack suspects that she is planning a special evening of some sort and, as usual, delights in toying
with her, seeing if he can trick her into revealing what tricks or tempests she might be plotting.