"Tainted Love" Diary 8 (c) by 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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Following Gabby's seduction, Caleb's tainting influence over the Port Charles populace grows. We see his power
at first indirectly as he stands in the background at the Nurses' Ball, silently and subversively making his presence
felt as he directs Gabby's performance, exerting his mesmerizing influence on her like a puppeteer in the shadows.
The way he watches her, guiding her actions with his eyes, controlling the proceedings, reminds me somewhat of
the emcee character in "Cabaret"--a sinister presence overseeing and perhaps arranging events on the stage to
reflect the perversities within the populace and how these may presage future events.
Doing her rendition of the "Gypsy" song "Let me Entertain You," Gabby at first is hesitant, self-conscious, shy.
However, as she looks into Caleb's commanding eyes, watches the slight shifts in his expression, her movements
become wilder, more abandoned. She becomes like a woman possessed by carnal appetites and energies she can
no longer control or suppress, writhing, flashing her breasts at her boyfriend Joe, taunting the audience to partake
of her sultry and dangerous charms. It is clear from this scene that once having sampled Caleb's tempting gifts,
she will never be able to be satisfied by Joe; she cannot settle for less. Throughout the Tainted Love arc I identify
quite strongly with Gabby. Once Caleb came into her life, she was addicted to him; no other lover would ever
satisfy. She could never again be content with what passes as happiness in the ordinary mortal world. Yet even
though Caleb was her supreme passion, he felt nothing for her; she was his to use and possess, then toss aside.
As with the triangle between Caleb, Livvie and Jack, there is a triangle here, with Joe, like Jack, being the loser for
his beloved's affections. Watching Gabby's gyrations, Caleb's face takes on a mischievous, lewd expression,
demonstrating Michael Easton's mastery of subtle yet brilliantly evocative facial expressions; with a curl of his lip
or flutter of his eyes he eloquently conveys minute shifts in thought and feeling.
The theme of seductive sorcery represented by Caleb's psychological manipulation of Gabby's onstage behavior is
echoed also in the "Love Potion #9" sequence performed by Livvie, Jamal, and Alison. As this song seems to
show, "love" is like a spell, irresistible and uncontrollable. It, like vampirism, has symptoms similar to
disease--fainting, weakness, palpitations, fever.
This episode, focusing on the Nurses' Ball to raise money for AIDS research and on Joe's waiting to find out the
result of his HIV test, emphasizes also the parallels between vampirism and other blood-transmitted diseases, such
as AIDS. Just as the characters of Port Charles believe their problems are over--Serena is safe after a train
accident, Joe's HIV results are negative, Jack is back from the dead--their future will become darker than they
could imagine. Jack is the first to sense his doom, when getting ready to leave, he once again starts to feel the
sickness return. Caleb, watching in the background and sipping a glass of dark red wine, says, "Do you think this
is bad, Jack? Just wait. This is just the beginning." Caleb's vampirism, like an infection and an addiction, has
begun to spread.
Following Gabby's seduction, Caleb's tainting influence over the Port Charles populace grows. We see his power
at first indirectly as he stands in the background at the Nurses' Ball, silently and subversively making his presence
felt as he directs Gabby's performance, exerting his mesmerizing influence on her like a puppeteer in the shadows.
The way he watches her, guiding her actions with his eyes, controlling the proceedings, reminds me somewhat of
the emcee character in "Cabaret"--a sinister presence overseeing and perhaps arranging events on the stage to
reflect the perversities within the populace and how these may presage future events.
Doing her rendition of the "Gypsy" song "Let me Entertain You," Gabby at first is hesitant, self-conscious, shy.
However, as she looks into Caleb's commanding eyes, watches the slight shifts in his expression, her movements
become wilder, more abandoned. She becomes like a woman possessed by carnal appetites and energies she can
no longer control or suppress, writhing, flashing her breasts at her boyfriend Joe, taunting the audience to partake
of her sultry and dangerous charms. It is clear from this scene that once having sampled Caleb's tempting gifts,
she will never be able to be satisfied by Joe; she cannot settle for less. Throughout the Tainted Love arc I identify
quite strongly with Gabby. Once Caleb came into her life, she was addicted to him; no other lover would ever
satisfy. She could never again be content with what passes as happiness in the ordinary mortal world. Yet even
though Caleb was her supreme passion, he felt nothing for her; she was his to use and possess, then toss aside.
As with the triangle between Caleb, Livvie and Jack, there is a triangle here, with Joe, like Jack, being the loser for
his beloved's affections. Watching Gabby's gyrations, Caleb's face takes on a mischievous, lewd expression,
demonstrating Michael Easton's mastery of subtle yet brilliantly evocative facial expressions; with a curl of his lip
or flutter of his eyes he eloquently conveys minute shifts in thought and feeling.
The theme of seductive sorcery represented by Caleb's psychological manipulation of Gabby's onstage behavior is
echoed also in the "Love Potion #9" sequence performed by Livvie, Jamal, and Alison. As this song seems to
show, "love" is like a spell, irresistible and uncontrollable. It, like vampirism, has symptoms similar to
disease--fainting, weakness, palpitations, fever.
This episode, focusing on the Nurses' Ball to raise money for AIDS research and on Joe's waiting to find out the
result of his HIV test, emphasizes also the parallels between vampirism and other blood-transmitted diseases, such
as AIDS. Just as the characters of Port Charles believe their problems are over--Serena is safe after a train
accident, Joe's HIV results are negative, Jack is back from the dead--their future will become darker than they
could imagine. Jack is the first to sense his doom, when getting ready to leave, he once again starts to feel the
sickness return. Caleb, watching in the background and sipping a glass of dark red wine, says, "Do you think this
is bad, Jack? Just wait. This is just the beginning." Caleb's vampirism, like an infection and an addiction, has
begun to spread.
Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by
N. Klein and A. Armstrong.
N. Klein and A. Armstrong.