Megan helps Eric prepare for the showdown.

Backstage at Forrester, the fashion showdown with Spectra is about to begin. Eric helps Samantha and Caitlin make last minute adjustments. Thomas asks Eric where Stephanie is; Eric reminds him that she's visiting her sister in Chicago. Hector comes backstage and wishes Eric luck. Megan comes over to tell Eric that they have more reporters than they invited. Since it seems like word got out, Eric tells her to do her best to accommodate them. As Megan goes to do that, Eric gets a call on his cell from Ridge, who's driving up to Big Bear; he just heard from Brooke about the showdown and wants to know why Eric didn't tell him about it. Eric says this is his battle, so he doesn't want Ridge to worry. Ridge asks if he's ready. Eric asks how he could be, since without Ridge beside him, this certainly isn't his best collection. Ridge is sure his dad can beat Spectra without him. Eric agrees, but he still needs both his sons here at Forrester, and he'll be damned if he loses one of them to Sally Spectra.

Meanwhile, Darla inspects the gift bags Sally put together for the press. She's impressed by the Spectra key chain and t-shirt, and the CD of songs like "Mustang Sally" and "We Are The Champions," but she's distressed to find $500 in cash in each bag! She tells Sally that's going too far and takes the cash from the bags. Sally calls her a party pooper.

Clarke wonders what Amber is up to.

Over at Spectra, Clarke finds Amber asleep on Sally's couch. He guesses her "talk" with Ridge went awry. She tells him that Ridge convinced Thomas that she was making trouble, so Thomas broke up with her. Then Ridge rubbed it in and called her a loser; she intends to prove him wrong. She notes how everyone dismisses Ridge's behavior because of who he is. She wants to get justice by taking from Ridge what's most precious to him. If she means Brooke, Clarke says, forget it: those two are too tight. Amber thinks she has what she needs, the same person who split them up last time. If she means Bridget, Clarke says, Ridge won't risk his marriage by hooking up with his step-daughter. [How does Clarke know about Ridge and Bridget anyway?] Amber says they'll see after she goes up to Big Bear. Clarke reminds about of the showdown, but she thinks they can do without her while she works on a special project. He asks what she means; before she can answer, he gets a call from Sally calling him to the fashion show. He tells her he's on his way and hangs up, but Amber's gone.

Sally tries to give Jarrett a "gift."

In the Forrester showroom, Sally preps a group of cheerleaders dressed as reporters on how to cheer Spectra to victory. She tells the girls that this is the championship game to get them to understand how serious this is. She then spots snooty reporter Jarrett and tries to butter him up, telling him how important he is in the fashion world while sticking a wad of cash in his pocket. Jarrett hands her back the money; he thought she'd have fewer doubts now that she has Thorne Forrester on her team, but her "gift" suggests that she doesn't have much faith in her collection. It's her best one yet, Sally assures him. Jarrett says he'll be the judge of that. Meanwhile, Darla gives the models the latest changes to their rundown. She spots Thorne prepping one of the models and asks him if he's ready to accept today's outcome, whichever way it goes. After all, losing will mean his dad wins and he loses everything he worked for at Spectra. Thorne says they can't turn back now.

Brooke offers to call Ridge for help.

In the Forrester camp, Thomas helps Brooke and says Spectra won't know what hit them. Caitlin tells him not to say that in front of Amber. Actually, he tells her, he and Amber have cooled things off a bit. Before he can say more, Brooke calls him over again. Meanwhile, Eric tells Megan to be on "Sally Watch" in case the Spectra diva tries to pull anything. Brooke asks him if he really thinks Sally would do that. Eric thinks Sally will do anything to keep Thorne at Spectra. Thorne did turn Spectra around, Brooke reminds him. Eric agrees; he's proud of what Thorne did there, which is why he wants his sons back by his side. Brooke agrees it's time for that and offers to call Ridge to come back. Eric tells her not to ruin Ridge's vacation, since Ridge will be back here soon enough.

Thorne tells Eric he still has lots to prove.

Before they're about to start, Sally pulls Eric aside and reminds him how much Thorne means to her company and to the Spectra family. Eric reminds her that Thorne is a part of him; he's sure she can understand that, so he hopes she sees why he's fighting so hard to get his son back at Forrester. Thorne comes over and asks Eric if he's ready. Eric says he is. He can't wish Thorne luck, obviously, but he appreciates Thorne giving him the chance to settle this on the runway. Thorne points out that some people say he wins either way, since he'll be either an owner at Spectra or a Forrester executive. Eric asks Thorne what he'd say. That he still has a lot to prove, Thorne says. Eric feels responsible for that, since he pushed his own son out of the company. Thorne thinks it was the push he needed, but Eric thinks Thorne has done so much at Spectra that he's outgrown them. Now it's time for Eric to help take Thorne to the next level. Thorne asks if that means he needs Eric. They need each other, Eric says, and he intends to earn the right to work with Thorne today.

Darla asks Thorne if they can beat Forrester.

Sally goes on stage to start the show. She reminds the reporters that their applause will decide who wins. Thorne and Darla watch anxiously from backstage, knowing Thorne's future at Spectra is at stake. Darla says she knows how loyal he is to his family, but she thinks he's better off at Spectra. He has a team that works together to give him whatever he needs there, she says, and he's been excited and energized about working since he started there. Maybe he won't have to lose that, he says. But are their designs really good enough to beat Forrester? she asks. He thinks they're about to find out.

Nick is suprised when he and Bridget return from skiing.

Nick and Bridget arrive at Big Bear. As Bridget puts groceries away, Nick tells her to leave some steaks out to defrost so he can grill them later. Impressed by his alleged cooking talents, Bridget asks if he's just as talented at skiing. He says there's only one way to find out, so they hit the slopes. When they return, they find their food scattered all over. Nick asks who did this; Bridget looks around and finds a St. Bernard standing there.

Hercules, the neighbor's dog, drops in for a visit.

"Hercules," she calls out. As she starts petting the dog, Nick shakes his head in disbelief. Bridget explains that Hercules is their next door neighbor's dog and tells him to look at that face. Pretty cute, he says - but he's not talking about the dog. He admits, though, that dogs are loyal. And they love unconditionally, Bridget adds. Nick thinks they should get the dog home, so Bridget points the way. Nick takes the dog by the collar and leads him out.

Ridge asks Bridget about her and Nick.

At the Forrester cabin, Ridge arrives. He tells Bridget that he saw Nick as he walked up. Bridget says she invited Nick and hopes Ridge doesn't mind. So she and Nick are kind of serious, he says. Just friends, she says. Ridge looks at the disarray in the room; she tells him that Hercules paid them a visit. Ridge laughs, recalling all the times that dog has raided this cabin. Bridget reminds Ridge that the sun's about to go down and asks if he wants to come outside and watch with her. Sure, he says. As they step out on the deck, Ridge asks if she's sure she and Nick are just friends. They just enjoy each other's company, she says. He warns her that Nick is more complicated than he seems, but she says that's what she likes about him. He guesses some women go for Nick's crusty sailor act, although none have gotten him to settle down. Bridget asks who says she wants to settle down. She reminds Ridge he was the one who wanted her to date. So she is dating Nick, he says! She tells him to stop. Running his hands through her hair, he says he just wants her to take it slow.