"Tainted Love" Diary 62 (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.
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Family relationships, real or imaginary, tie together three interrelated storylines as Caleb and Livvie's wedding day
arrives. In this episode, Gabby and Jamal grapple with the sudden revelation that they are siblings, Livvie has an
illusory reunion with her mother, and Caleb battles with his inner nemesis, his "brother" Michael.
Locked in Chris's electrified cage, Gabby uses her family bond and her vampire wiles as tools of persuasion in her
attempts to convince Jamal to release her. Claiming that she was irresistibly mesmerized by Caleb, she tries
appealing to Jamal's sympathy and brotherly concern. However, when this approach fails, she resorts to hateful,
vindictive threats, calling Jamal a "little worm" and invoking Caleb's godlike wrath.
Meanwhile, as Caleb strives to ease any remaining doubts Livvie may have about their marriage, his own
psychological conflicts threaten to sabotage his carefully devised plans.
Walking in on Livvie as she gets herself ready for the wedding, Caleb savors the vision of his soon-to-be bride.
"Don't move. I just want to look at you," Caleb says admiringly, overcome by his sight of fairytale beauty and
romance. Like the Villa and its furnishings, Livvie radiates feminine grace, delicate sensuality, and classical
elegance.
Family relationships, real or imaginary, tie together three interrelated storylines as Caleb and Livvie's wedding day
arrives. In this episode, Gabby and Jamal grapple with the sudden revelation that they are siblings, Livvie has an
illusory reunion with her mother, and Caleb battles with his inner nemesis, his "brother" Michael.
Locked in Chris's electrified cage, Gabby uses her family bond and her vampire wiles as tools of persuasion in her
attempts to convince Jamal to release her. Claiming that she was irresistibly mesmerized by Caleb, she tries
appealing to Jamal's sympathy and brotherly concern. However, when this approach fails, she resorts to hateful,
vindictive threats, calling Jamal a "little worm" and invoking Caleb's godlike wrath.
Meanwhile, as Caleb strives to ease any remaining doubts Livvie may have about their marriage, his own
psychological conflicts threaten to sabotage his carefully devised plans.
Walking in on Livvie as she gets herself ready for the wedding, Caleb savors the vision of his soon-to-be bride.
"Don't move. I just want to look at you," Caleb says admiringly, overcome by his sight of fairytale beauty and
romance. Like the Villa and its furnishings, Livvie radiates feminine grace, delicate sensuality, and classical
elegance.
When Livvie shyly reminds Caleb that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day, Caleb
replies that he "couldn't resist". Gently kissing her and stroking her hair, he asks her what he can do to make this
day perfect.
"There is only one thing that's missing," she confides.
"Not for long," Caleb promises.
"You mean it's possible?" Livvie asks, still somewhat afraid to believe in the magic she craves.
"Anything's possible here," Caleb smiles. Vowing "to make dreams come true," he once again conjures up a visit
from Livvie's mother, Rachel, then leaves.
Livvie's mother serves as a sort of phantom accessory for Caleb. Although she appears vibrant, loving, and
miraculously cured of mental illness, she is, in reality, a zombie-like presence who merely echoes Caleb's
thoughts and feelings. While her body lies comatose or catatonic in a hospital, her spectre, like an automaton,
says what Caleb wants her to say. She is a prop used to make Caleb's fairytale world more real, to convince
Livvie as well as Caleb himself that wishes can come true and that eternal, unconditional love vanquishes all
sadness. When Livvie voices her doubts about her decision to marry Caleb, saying "It's just that sometimes I feel
like I didn't have a choice, like something pulled me toward him and I didn't have any choice at all," Rachel
replies, "Well, I'd say you felt that way for a very good reason . . . Jack can't give you what Caleb can. The man
that you chose is every woman's dream. He can grant your every wish, your every desire. You could ask for the
universe and he'd bring it to you on a bed of silk, Sweetheart. Oh, Livvie, don't doubt the decision that you made.
Don't do that. Nothing else matters. Nothing and no one."
"You truly believe that?" Livvie asks, seeking additional reassurance.
"Yes, I do and you do, too," Rachel persuades her. "That little voice inside you knows the truth. It knows."
Although these words are spoken by an illusory presence invoked to further Caleb's goals, they nevertheless do
contain truth. When people do have intense erotic desire for each other, when there is that irresistible chemistry
between them, it can feel as if they have no choice, that they are driven, propelled towards each other by fate or
some other indescribable force despite their "better" judgment. While Jack may fulfill Livvie's conscious desires,
Caleb fulfills her more powerful, subconscious ones.
As Livvie and Rachel discuss Livvie's decision, Caleb hovers by the door, sniffing a white rose. The white rose, a
recurring symbol associated with Caleb, may represent Caleb's fatal beauty and allure, the pallor of the rose
suggesting loss of blood and vitality as he drains his victims of their energy and will. Listening to Livvie and
Rachel's conversation, Caleb has a distant, haunted look in his eyes. "After tonight," he says to himself, "it won't
matter who came before. Once we're married, there's no going back, Olivia, for all of time."
replies that he "couldn't resist". Gently kissing her and stroking her hair, he asks her what he can do to make this
day perfect.
"There is only one thing that's missing," she confides.
"Not for long," Caleb promises.
"You mean it's possible?" Livvie asks, still somewhat afraid to believe in the magic she craves.
"Anything's possible here," Caleb smiles. Vowing "to make dreams come true," he once again conjures up a visit
from Livvie's mother, Rachel, then leaves.
Livvie's mother serves as a sort of phantom accessory for Caleb. Although she appears vibrant, loving, and
miraculously cured of mental illness, she is, in reality, a zombie-like presence who merely echoes Caleb's
thoughts and feelings. While her body lies comatose or catatonic in a hospital, her spectre, like an automaton,
says what Caleb wants her to say. She is a prop used to make Caleb's fairytale world more real, to convince
Livvie as well as Caleb himself that wishes can come true and that eternal, unconditional love vanquishes all
sadness. When Livvie voices her doubts about her decision to marry Caleb, saying "It's just that sometimes I feel
like I didn't have a choice, like something pulled me toward him and I didn't have any choice at all," Rachel
replies, "Well, I'd say you felt that way for a very good reason . . . Jack can't give you what Caleb can. The man
that you chose is every woman's dream. He can grant your every wish, your every desire. You could ask for the
universe and he'd bring it to you on a bed of silk, Sweetheart. Oh, Livvie, don't doubt the decision that you made.
Don't do that. Nothing else matters. Nothing and no one."
"You truly believe that?" Livvie asks, seeking additional reassurance.
"Yes, I do and you do, too," Rachel persuades her. "That little voice inside you knows the truth. It knows."
Although these words are spoken by an illusory presence invoked to further Caleb's goals, they nevertheless do
contain truth. When people do have intense erotic desire for each other, when there is that irresistible chemistry
between them, it can feel as if they have no choice, that they are driven, propelled towards each other by fate or
some other indescribable force despite their "better" judgment. While Jack may fulfill Livvie's conscious desires,
Caleb fulfills her more powerful, subconscious ones.
As Livvie and Rachel discuss Livvie's decision, Caleb hovers by the door, sniffing a white rose. The white rose, a
recurring symbol associated with Caleb, may represent Caleb's fatal beauty and allure, the pallor of the rose
suggesting loss of blood and vitality as he drains his victims of their energy and will. Listening to Livvie and
Rachel's conversation, Caleb has a distant, haunted look in his eyes. "After tonight," he says to himself, "it won't
matter who came before. Once we're married, there's no going back, Olivia, for all of time."
Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by
A. Armstrong
A. Armstrong
