"Tainted Love" Diary 110 (c) Alison Armstrong
An analysis of the "Tainted Love" episodes of the show "Port Charles," formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character
Caleb Morley (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley 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 (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley 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.
Livvie, his "soulmate," represents his need for eternal, unconditional love. She is his fairytale ideal, the
reincarnation of his murdered fiancee, his second chance for happiness and the redemption of love. If he can get
her to love and accept him for who he is, she can transform him from a beast into an immortal prince. She can
banish his self-hate, his feeling of being a "monster" forever scorned and rejected.
Gabby represents his lust, his sensual pleasures, his delight in his vampire nature--its power, passion, desires,
hungers, and defiance of conventional morality. She, alone of these three women, accepts him as he is and does
not try to change him, but since he sees her merely as a diverting plaything and tool to achieve his goals with
Livvie, she has the least influence over him.
Eve represents his need for family, connection, and spiritual redemption. She bears the child he needs to form a
family with Livvie; as the mother of "his" child, she is the means to obtaining an heir to his vampire legacy, to
perpetuate the Morley name. Through her, he can become a father; through her, he can also become the "Father"
Morley, the "father" of his human flock. She provides him with immortality of a different kind than his vampirism
offers--the symbolic immortality of a father passing on his lineage, as well as perhaps the possibility of a spiritual
immortality. By affirming his illusion of being a priest she also affirms his inner goodness. Hated by almost
everyone else, Caleb in his priestly aspect is loved by Eve. Unlike most of the others, Eve sees that he is not just a
beast, evil and deserving of Hell. In her eyes, he has the possibility of salvation, and since Caleb frequently refers
to Biblical concepts in his "arguments" with Michael, it is likely that a part of him does believe in Michael's
theology, a theology which considers him one of the damned. Eve's belief that he can be "saved" may provide
some comfort if he perceives himself as the abomination others consider him to be. But although Eve in a sense
offers him the spiritual immortality a part of him seeks, she is, paradoxically, the agent of his death. Offering
salvation, she leads him into extinction, for by luring out his self-sacrificing Michael aspect, she turns his vengeful
powers inward, against himself.
As the final episode begins, Caleb, still throttling Jack, is threatening to complete his revenge. Vying for his
attention, Eve tries to summon his Michael side, begging him to come and let Jack go, while Livvie calls to Caleb,
pleading with him to stop his assault on her loved ones.
"Limb from limb, Olivia, I'll tear him apart," Caleb boasts, his hair blowing wildly in the wind, his voice
husky with excitement. "And everyone else, all the others," he smiles viciously.
"No, you won't," Livvie yells. "I'll go with you, Caleb,"
At these words, the rest of Caleb's foes rush onto the roof.
"Well, well, well," Caleb exclaims. "The gang's all here. Perfect."
reincarnation of his murdered fiancee, his second chance for happiness and the redemption of love. If he can get
her to love and accept him for who he is, she can transform him from a beast into an immortal prince. She can
banish his self-hate, his feeling of being a "monster" forever scorned and rejected.
Gabby represents his lust, his sensual pleasures, his delight in his vampire nature--its power, passion, desires,
hungers, and defiance of conventional morality. She, alone of these three women, accepts him as he is and does
not try to change him, but since he sees her merely as a diverting plaything and tool to achieve his goals with
Livvie, she has the least influence over him.
Eve represents his need for family, connection, and spiritual redemption. She bears the child he needs to form a
family with Livvie; as the mother of "his" child, she is the means to obtaining an heir to his vampire legacy, to
perpetuate the Morley name. Through her, he can become a father; through her, he can also become the "Father"
Morley, the "father" of his human flock. She provides him with immortality of a different kind than his vampirism
offers--the symbolic immortality of a father passing on his lineage, as well as perhaps the possibility of a spiritual
immortality. By affirming his illusion of being a priest she also affirms his inner goodness. Hated by almost
everyone else, Caleb in his priestly aspect is loved by Eve. Unlike most of the others, Eve sees that he is not just a
beast, evil and deserving of Hell. In her eyes, he has the possibility of salvation, and since Caleb frequently refers
to Biblical concepts in his "arguments" with Michael, it is likely that a part of him does believe in Michael's
theology, a theology which considers him one of the damned. Eve's belief that he can be "saved" may provide
some comfort if he perceives himself as the abomination others consider him to be. But although Eve in a sense
offers him the spiritual immortality a part of him seeks, she is, paradoxically, the agent of his death. Offering
salvation, she leads him into extinction, for by luring out his self-sacrificing Michael aspect, she turns his vengeful
powers inward, against himself.
As the final episode begins, Caleb, still throttling Jack, is threatening to complete his revenge. Vying for his
attention, Eve tries to summon his Michael side, begging him to come and let Jack go, while Livvie calls to Caleb,
pleading with him to stop his assault on her loved ones.
"Limb from limb, Olivia, I'll tear him apart," Caleb boasts, his hair blowing wildly in the wind, his voice
husky with excitement. "And everyone else, all the others," he smiles viciously.
"No, you won't," Livvie yells. "I'll go with you, Caleb,"
At these words, the rest of Caleb's foes rush onto the roof.
"Well, well, well," Caleb exclaims. "The gang's all here. Perfect."
Snappies of "Tainted Love"
scenes taken by A. Armstrong
scenes taken by A. Armstrong
"It's over, Caleb," Kevin warns.
"Oh, no, Dad. It's just beginning," Caleb exults.
"Michael, don't do this. Don't let this happen," Eve pleads, but Caleb struggles to block her influence.
"Michael's not here anymore," he shouts back, asserting his resistance.
"Michael, please. This is your life," Eve persists.
"Shut up!" Caleb screams in response.
"This is your soul," she urges.
"Shut up or he dies," Caleb threatens in desperate anger. Then, addressing Kevin, he yells, "Oh, you can't protect
her now, Dad. You can't protect her now. It's too late for all of you!"
"Oh, no, Dad. It's just beginning," Caleb exults.
"Michael, don't do this. Don't let this happen," Eve pleads, but Caleb struggles to block her influence.
"Michael's not here anymore," he shouts back, asserting his resistance.
"Michael, please. This is your life," Eve persists.
"Shut up!" Caleb screams in response.
"This is your soul," she urges.
"Shut up or he dies," Caleb threatens in desperate anger. Then, addressing Kevin, he yells, "Oh, you can't protect
her now, Dad. You can't protect her now. It's too late for all of you!"
"He won't let this happen," Eve argues, still attempting to contact the hidden Michael. "He won't let you hurt
anyone else, not again. Not Jack, not anyone."
"Watch me!" Caleb retorts.
"Fight him, Michael. Fight him. I know you can hear me," Eve continues.
anyone else, not again. Not Jack, not anyone."
"Watch me!" Caleb retorts.
"Fight him, Michael. Fight him. I know you can hear me," Eve continues.