| "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" Analysis #43 As “The Gift” comes to a close, the lyrics to Caleb’s haunting song (“With the promise of my kiss, you’ll never know a pain like this”) foreshadow sorrows at the time unanticipated by Port Charles' scriptwriters, who were unaware that the series would be cancelled. Written in the expectation that a new arc would soon begin, continuing where this one left off, the show ends without closure. Like its title, this last arc is grimly ironic, for, in the end, the only “gift” is a sense of longing for what has been lost. Throughout this last episode we see the mirroring contrasts between the two long-anticipated weddings (Caleb and Livvie’s, Rafe and Alison’s). While Alison and Rafe prepare for their sweetly romantic, very traditional nuptials, Caleb has something more mysterious and seductive in store for his bride. He begins by covering Livvie’s eyes as he leads her into their room at the inn. She is happily amazed at the beauty of her surroundings. “It’s our wedding night,” he murmurs, giving her a tour of their suite. “All your dreams come true, all your wishes come true tonight, Sweetheart.” He takes her out onto the balcony, and they stare down at the lovely garden. “What do you think?” he asks. “I say, let’s do our vows right here. The stars will be beautiful when the sun goes down.” He picks a rose and hands it to her. “What do you say to that?” The red rose, symbolizing their passion, also presages danger, for in taking the rose Caleb offers, Livvie, like a doomed fairytale princess, pricks her finger. Apologizing for this accident, Caleb gently puts her finger into his mouth, sucking on the blood, another symbol of their passion. |
| Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
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| “So you’re glad you came?” Caleb inquires.
“Glad?” she smiles. “You have no idea how glad. And I am so sorry for ever doubting you.” “I just want everything to live up to your expectations,” Caleb assures her. “Well, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she replies, kissing him. “I think this is pretty much everything I could ever have wished for, and you are everything I could ever wish for.” As she goes “to check out the rest,” Caleb stands on the balcony, holding a rose. “Your dreams come true, Olivia,” he says softly, more to himself than to his beloved. “Caleb, come look!” she calls out excitedly, enthralled by the loveliness of their suite. “I can’t wait, Sweetness,” he responds in a slow, seductive voice that belies the urgency of his words. “I can’t wait.” Languorously, he sniffs the rose, savoring its delicate fragrance. “Everybody gets what they wished for tonight,” he notes, then, biting the bud off the stem, he eats it. His destruction of the rose, as in the previous episode, demonstrates his defiling influence. He destroys what he touches; he taints its innocence then consumes it. Having arranged for both weddings to take place at this inn, he perversely threatens to destroy the future happiness of Rafe and Alison, as well as Livvie and himself. |
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