| "Tainted Love" Diary 53 (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. |
| "No, nothing can hurt me as long as I'm here," Rachel reassures
her. "No one will find me here. Caleb will see to that."
"God, you look so beautiful," Livvie gushes, as she and her mother embrace. Rachel then gives Livvie even more good news. "I'm all better," she says. "You're cured?" Livvie asks. "Completely, Sweetheart," Rachel replies. "Completely. Now everything can go back to the way it was, Hon. Isn't that what you've wanted for so long?" "Yes, Mommy. Oh, yes!" Livvie hugs her mother. "And he knew. Somehow Caleb knew exactly what I needed and I wanted." As Livvie draws back slightly and looks sad, Rachel asks what is wrong. "I'm afraid," Livvie admits. "I'm afraid that you're not really cured." "Honey, don't be." Rachel soothes her, then adds rather cryptically, "I'm as far from crazy as any mother could be." She goes on to ease one of Livvie's greatest fears--the fear of hereditary insanity. "The thing that you've been most frightened of- -this family curse--it's broken, honey. What happened to Grandma and Aunt Grace, what happened to me--it will never, never happen to you. You'll always have that balanced mind and heart that you have right now. You believe that, don't you?" As Livvie sobs with relief, Rachel asks Livvie to tell everything that has been happening. However, as Livvie begins conversing with her mother, rejoicing that Rachel is now "back for good," Rachel reveals that she is not able to stay this time. She promises that she will be back soon and will then "stay forever." Asked when she will return, Rachel replies, "Sweetheart, if you want it bad enough, your heart's desire is just around the corner. We'll be back together just like before, thanks to Caleb." "Yes. All thanks to Caleb," Livvie echoes, consoled somewhat by her mother's promise and grateful to Caleb for fulfilling her greatest wish. As the scenes in this episode shift to other characters, the underlying theme of family, recurring throughout "Tainted Love," is emphasized. In addition to the emotional scenes between Livvie and her mother, we see here the continuing confrontation between Jack and Chris as Jack escapes from his cage and vengefully terrorizes his brother. The relationship between Gabby and her family background is also explored, with Gabby realizing, after attacking Emilio, that he is not her brother after all. Her search for her family "blood" is key to her discovery of her hidden past, her identity before being transformed into a vampire. Saying farewell to her daughter, Rachel vows that she will return soon and will never again leave Livvie, "You wait for me, OK? You wait here with Caleb," she urges Livvie as she kisses her goodbye. Once Rachel is gone, Caleb suddenly appears. "Better?" he asks Livvie. He stands with one hand stroking his shoulder, a gesture of restlessness perhaps as he strives to calm himself and be patient this time. |
 |
| "Caleb," she thankfully exclaims. "You gave me the one thing I
wanted more than anything. You gave me back my mother."
"I promised," he reminds her. "All the questions--all the doubts I had--they're gone," she continues. "Now I will give you what you wanted. You wanted me to stay for a week." |
 |
 |
| "It could change your life," he says, looking intently into her
eyes, "if you trust me."
"Oh, I do. With all of my heart," Livvie, with the fervor and innocence of a little girl, exclaims. "Olivia, you've made me so happy," Caleb smirks. Lightly, he touches her hair. "So happy I've decided to share something else with you. Something so rare. Like nothing you've ever experienced before. Or ever will again," he whispers as he kisses her neck. |
 |
| The episode ends with a glimpse beyond Caleb's enchanted magic, the
external reality behind the fantasy, as we see Rachel lying comatose in a hospital room. "Poor thing," the nurse attending her remarks. "Day after day like this. Never a sound, never moving. I bet you haven't been out of this room for a moment since they brought you in. Not one moment." We are left wondering whether Rachel has any awareness of Livvie or the external world. Is Rachel also dreaming of her own wonderland, her own sheltering, blissful refuge where nothing ever changes, no one ever dies, love heals all hurt? Is it possible that Caleb did enter her mind or even momentarily transported her to a world of wish- fulfilling imagination? Or is she creating her own paradise? Perhaps even her own hell? |
| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |