| "Tainted Love" Diary 9 (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. |
| ***************************************** In the next episode we see vividly contrasted the ravaging vampire urges of Jack and Gabby with the calm, controlled seductiveness of Caleb. Throughout this episode tender, lyrical scenes of Caleb romancing Olivia are juxtaposed with scenes of Jack violently pummeling Zach's vengeful gang of hoodlums and Gabby's panting, clawing erotic assaults on her boyfriend Joe. When Jack is attacked by Zach's henchmen, he easily defeats them, using his superhuman vampire powers to hurl his assailants against the walls, leaving them crushed and dying. But his vampire gifts are also his curse because he cannot control his rage, and when Jamal tries to intervene in the fight, Jack unleashes his irrational fury on Jamal also, injuring his best friend and making Jamal fear Jack's rash, inexplicable behavior. Similarly, Joe is stunned by Gabby's aggressive sexuality. Instead of sweetly, romantically celebrating the good news that Joe is HIV- negative, Gabby can't wait to have sex. When Joe asks her whether she wouldn't prefer to take things slowly, sipping champagne, enjoying tender intimacies first, Gabby replies that all she needs is "a flat surface." She doesn't need any romantic accoutrements; she doesn't want to make love; she only wants to satisfy her urgent desires as quickly and as rawly as possible. As they have sex, Gabby claws into Joe's flesh and begins to bite him. Afterwards, when he wants to rest, cuddle, and discuss their tranquil future together in the impoverished rural town Joe has decided they will call home, she becomes impatient and irritable, curtly informing him that she will not leave Port Charles. As Jack rages and Gabby lusts, Caleb, meanwhile, is sweetly, gently continuing his slow, sensual seduction of Livvie. Even before Livvie sees Caleb in the alley, she once again senses him, glancing up in the air as if she has felt some dark hovering presence. Suddenly appearing in front of her, Caleb speaks softly, reassuringly. "It's just me, Olivia," he says. "Then why do you keep following me?" she asks. "I told you before. I'm your future," Caleb replies. "I don't know what you think you are to me. But I know who my future is. And it is not you," Livvie says, trying to resist the attraction she feels. "Look at me. You know you want to," Caleb gently commands. "There . . ." "But I'm in love with Jack," Livvie protests hesitantly, as if in an attempt to convince herself. "Then why don't you leave? You can't. Because you know I'm right. You want to be with me," Caleb responds. As Caleb speaks to Livvie throughout this scene, he touches her very softly, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, stroking her hair with his fingertips, letting his fingers cascade from her hair to her shoulders and neck. "You're so beautiful," Caleb continues. "So soft. Eyes so warm. Hey," he murmurs, touching her cheek," I don't want to see more tears in them. There's been too many." |
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| Snappies of "Tainted Love" scenes taken by N. Klein and A. Armstrong. |