Tuesday, January 18, 2005, Episode #4472

Sally wonders where Amber is.
At Spectra, Sally tries to call Amber, but Amber's not in her office. Darla tells her that Amber left to see Brooke. Sally fumes that Forrester might be stealing another employee away, but Darla says that this was personal: Amber said she was going over there to save Ridge from himself and save his marriage. Sally thinks that makes no sense, since Amber hates Ridge.

Darla wonders what Amber is up to.
Darla agrees that Amber hates Ridge, and she understands why from personal experience. Then why is Amber trying to help Ridge, Sally asks, and how does she intend to do it? Darla isn't sure, but she suggests that Sally call Amber on her cell and tell her to come back. Sally said she thought Amber wasn't out to cause trouble between Ridge and Brooke. That's what she said, Darla confirms: she really thinks Amber's trying to help. Then more power to her, Sally says, especially with the way Ridge has been acting lately.

Nick and Ridge disagree about Bridget.
At Marone Industries, Ridge stops by Nick's office while in the building to check on Massimo. He finds Nick playing pinball. He kids Nick about taking it easy now that Massimo's back in charge but then gets to the reason he's here. After the other night, he doesn't want there to be any tension between them over Bridget, but he's worried that Nick's playing matchmaker before Bridget's ready. Nick thinks Bridget will never be ready until Ridge is out of the picture and tells Ridge to leave her alone.

Ridge resents that Nick thinks he knows what Bridget needs. Nick says he just wants to make Bridget smile. Like when he played "morality police" the other night? Ridge asks. Nick admits he should have talked to Ridge alone then. Ridge thinks Nick shouldn't be involved at all. Nick says he doesn't want to be, but he's worried about her. About Bridget, Ridge asks, or Brooke? He accuses Nick of offering self-righteous advice about how wrong it is for Bridget to be around him just to stir up trouble, because Nick still has feelings for Brooke. Nick admits he still cares for Brooke, and that's why he's trying to save the most important in her life: her family. He thinks Ridge has two incredible women living with him who are bound to get hurt. And he's just making sure that won't happen? Ridge asks. Nick honestly hopes it won't, for Ridge's sake. He's been sitting on the sidelines watching Ridge, and so far, nothing's blown up. But when something does blow up, Nick intends to be there for Brooke, to pick up the pieces like he promised. That's one promise he won't have to keep, Ridge boasts.

Stephanie and Eric worry about Bridget.
At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie frets to Eric about Bridget's problems. She can't believe Ridge and Brooke can't see how wrong it is for Bridget to be living in their home. Eric assures her that Brooke and Ridge won't let anything happen, but she's not as sure. Just then, Bridget drops by; smiling, she asks her dad and step-mom why they're inside on such a lovely day. Eric says they were talking. Bridget apologizes for interrupting; she just wanted to know if she and a friend could borrow the pool, since she didn't want to bother her mom or Ridge. Stephanie tells Bridget not to pretend that everything's fine over at that house when it isn't. Bridget asks what she means. Eric tells her they know about her breaking her engagement and asks why she didn't tell them. Because she wanted to avoid looks like the one he's giving her now, she says. No one's blaming her, Stephanie says. Bridget doesn't want them to blame Ridge, either: her heart just wasn't into the engagement. Eric and Stephanie worry about her living with Ridge because of her past feelings for him.

Bridget assures her dad and Stephanie that she's OK, thanks to Nick.
Bridget says she's moved past that. She wouldn't be living there if she couldn't handle it. But she's not handling it by dropping out of school and living with a stepfather she has feelings for, Stephanie argues. Bridget tells them she really has her life together now: she's transferred her records to UCLA and her mom and Ridge are OK with her living with them. Eric thinks she should move in here and let him and Stephanie be her support system. She says she already has a working support system, since Nick's been helping her. He's the reason she's feeling so good. Stephanie's surprised that she's been spending time with Nick. Bridget says he's been a good friend: he got her to open up when she wouldn't to anyone and she's glad he did. He got her to stop obsessing over the past and even set her up on a blind date with a young doctor. She wasn't ready and didn't go, but thanks to Nick, she might be ready soon. In fact, "Mr. Matchmaker" is the friend she invited over.

Nick's date Sasha is kind of a “wild child.”
There's a knock at the door; Bridget says that will be Nick and tells Eric and Stephanie to stick around. She thinks they'll get a kick out of the surprise she has for Nick. She opens the door. Nick says he got her message and asks about the date she mentioned. Think of it as payback, she laughs. Nick sees Eric and Stephanie and asks if they're double dating, but Bridget thinks his date might be a bit wild for them. So she's a wild child? Nick asks. Stephanie asks if this girl's a friend of Bridget's. Actually, Bridget says, she met this girl at the pediatric ward when she picked up her ID from UCLA. Nick asks if the girl's a doctor, as he prefers his women down to earth. Bridget says this girl's earthy all right: she knew from the minute she saw her that she was just Nick's type. There's another knock at the door: that will be her, Bridget says. Nick asks how he looks. Perfect, she says as she opens the door and introduces Nick to his date, Sasha - a tutu clad orangutan!

Amber tries to convince Brooke she's not out for revenge.
At Ridge's Bel Air home, Brooke stares in shock at the photo and tearfully recalls Ridge's promise not to cross the line with Bridget. Amber says she knows what Brooke's thinking right now. She wants to make it clear that she didn't do this to hurt Brooke. This has nothing to do with her and Thomas and isn't an act of revenge. Then what is it? Brooke asks. Proof of how out of control her husband is, Amber says. When she saw this, she just had to snap that picture to show Brooke how Ridge crossed the line with Bridget. Brooke tells Amber she crossed the line by invading their privacy; she asks Amber if she plans to take this to the press. No, Amber says: she just knew how much Brooke values her family and wanted to help, but she knew Brooke wouldn't just take her word on something like this without proof. Now that Brooke sees the problem, Amber thinks she can fix it. Brooke asks Amber if this is her way of ingratiating herself. In a way, Amber says, it is: she thinks Ridge will thank her someday for stopping him. But Ridge didn't do anything, Brooke says. Pictures don't lie, Amber says, pointing to the photo. That photo shows something's there, and only Brooke can stop it.

Amber admits she doesn't know the details of what happened with Ridge and Bridget. Brooke wishes Stephanie had left well enough alone, but Amber thinks the photo shows that Stephanie was right to be concerned. Brooke suggests Ridge was just helping Bridget. Like he helped Thomas by taking a restraining order against her and nearly assaulting her in her mom's trailer? Amber asks. Or like he helped Thorne and Eric by trying to push them out of Forrester? She thinks Ridge is spinning out of control with his hurting the people he loves, and she thinks Brooke has to do something before Bridget is his next victim. Brooke looks at the picture again and says this can't be right. She asks Amber if Stephanie put her up to this, or if this is payback for the trick they had Rick play on her. Amber reminds Brooke how she didn't blame her for that. Brooke reminds Amber how she called Lt. Baker to force her out of town. It's not about that, Amber says.

Brooke confronts Ridge over the photo.
Brooke recalls Ridge's promise: she warned him to be careful, because Bridget was vulnerable. She made it clear what was at stake if he crossed the line. He told her not to worry, because he wouldn't risk their marriage. Just then, Ridge comes in the door. He sees Brooke crying and asks what's wrong. He then sees Amber and asks why she's here. Brooke silently hands him the picture. He looks at it and asks Brooke where she got it. He then looks at Amber and says she did this. No, Brooke says, HE did this, and she wants to know how he could do this to them!