| "Tainted Love" Diary 52 (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. |
| As the scene fades, we see their faces close together, their innocent, yearning, childlike vulnerability evoked in a poetic, poignant, lingering vision. |
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| When Caleb and Livvie reappear in this episode, they are walking back
into the Villa, presumably after Caleb has shown her around the
grounds. He asks her what she thinks of them, and she, still
nervously clinging to her protective doubts, replies,"They're beautiful. You know --you're not the first man to make promises." "Umm...But mine won't be broken," Caleb vows. "You can have the family that you want." "I wanted that family . . . " Livvie pauses, "with Jack." Caleb smiles, controlling his jealousy. "But can Jack give you the rest of it?" he asks. "Imagine. Olivia, something you never thought could be." He strokes her face, and she closes her eyes, as if in a reverie. "Imagine it," he whispers. "And then open your eyes." When Livvie opens her eyes, we see her dream fulfilled. Standing before her in the Villa is the woman she considers her mother; the wish for family, the dream she has craved so long is in on the verge of becoming true. As this episode comes to a close, we see three fairytale visions merging and colliding. Whereas Jack dreams that he is a hero, a knight-like figure rescuing his lady fair from the evil beast, Livvie envisions a happily-ever after paradise where wishes can come true and love makes anything possible. Caleb, the dream shaper and the dream believer, is at once the beast, the prince, and the lonely, dreaming child. He reveals all of these sides to Livvie in the Villa- -his anger and violence, his tenderness and elegance, his vulnerability and pain. As Caleb and Livvie get to know each other better, he blends his dream with hers, seeking to create a magical world where every desire and wish can be fulfilled. |
| *********************************** As Livvie sees the realization of her greatest wish, meeting with her mother Rachel at the Villa, she becomes entangled in the sweet, reassuring fairytale fiction Caleb has created for her. In this blissful realm, love is eternal, family is forever, and everyone lives happily ever after. Her experience, however, like a joyful dream we wish would never end, is fragile, sustained by magic and belief. Impermanent and addictive, it appears to solve all her worries, ease all her fears, but it can only bring more craving as reality, bitter and disappointing, trickles in and destroys the illusion. "Mom?" Livvie says with surprise as she opens her eyes and sees her mother standing before her. "It's really me, Sweetheart," Rachel smiles. "I can't... I can't believe it," Livvie exclaims with tears of joy in her eyes, still somewhat afraid to believe what she most wants to be true. |
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| "I told you I'd give you what you wanted most," Caleb tells her as he
looks upon the loving reunion between mother and daughter. Livvie
and her mother embrace, weeping with happiness. "God, I can't
believe it. I can't believe you're really here--it's really
happening," Livvie cries.
"That's because you wanted it so much, Sweetheart," Rachel says. "And somehow. Caleb, he--he knew," Livvie replies. "He's the one that brought me to you," Rachel confirms. When Livvie asks how such a thing is possible, Rachel changes the subject. "Look at this place!" she exclaims. "How wonderful it is! Nothing is impossible here, Livvie. Nothing. It's a dreamland. It's our paradise, for us, for all three of us--Caleb, you, and me." "But for how long?" Livvie asks, still worried that the magic will fade and her mother will be gone. "How long can you stay? There's still so many people out there that want to see you punished." |
| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |