Monday, November 21, 2005, Episode #4686

Eric gives Brooke a gift: her freedom.

At Brooke's house, Eric toasts to a new understanding between them. Brooke tries to speak, but Eric stops her, reminding her that this is his night, so she's not to talk until it's over. He tells her how wonderful she is. He feels like he can do anything when he's with her. The idea that the two of them could fly to Las Vegas and get married for Bridget, and to restore the family name and the company, was full of greatness, but also of risk. But he didn't care, because he wanted her. She tries to stop him again, but he again asks her to wait. He tells her that he's going to fulfill her needs like she never thought possible. He recalls Stephanie laughing when he told her of their marriage that it would barely last her week. If so, he told her, it would be the happiest week of his life - and it was. Even though it didn't turn out to be like he expected, there was more happiness than he ever expected, and that's why he wants to toast to their marriage - and give Brooke her freedom!

Brooke is stunned, but pleased, by Eric's overture.

Brooke asks Eric if he's leaving her. That would imply he ever had her, he states. He tells her that they tried to do something wonderful for Bridget, but it was never a good idea. Bridget never bought their marriage, and that's probably because it wasn't working for the two of them, either. He even bets Brooke was coming here to tell him just that. Brooke says she feels horrible, but Eric hushes her and tells her that there are no regrets. They still have plenty of good times to look forward to, he reminds her. Soon they'll be grandparents, and he also some ideas about how to get Forrester back from Stephanie. Brooke says he's incredible; she knows that there's a woman out there that deserves him. Eric agrees. And so, he says, part two of their wild ride together ends. He takes her champagne glass and removes her wedding band, then his, and places them on the table. "Damned if I don't still love you," he says. "I love you, too," Brooke replies. Eric says he knows and hugs her. Nodding to the bed, he then laughs that the pressure is off, and they have a bed going to waste, so he wonders if she's interested. Brooke just smiles at him. He kisses her on the forehead and they both laugh together.

Jackie is stunned when she reads Eric's note.

Soon after, Jackie is at her desk at Jackie-M; an invoice to Forrester makes her sigh Eric's name. Just then, the door opens and a man enters. Jackie tells him that she forgot to lock the door, but they're closed, so he'll have to leave. The man steps out of the shadows: it's Eric. He tells her that he's looking for a special gift to give tonight to someone dear to him. Jackie says there are other places to go, but he says none are as special as hers. She tells him that his inability to get something from Forrester because of Stephanie isn't a reason for him to come here and torment her. He says he would never do that and starts looking for a dress. Those aren't even Brooke's size, she tells him, taking several revealing and low cut items that she thinks are better suited for Brooke and shoving them at him. Actually, he says, he has something classier in mind, pulling a dress off the rack. That hardly suits Brooke, she states. Good, Eric says: he'll take it. If that's what he wants, she says, he should make sure to read the return policy. There is one? he asks. As long as the good are undamaged, she retorts, shoving the dress in a bag. Eric asks her to gift wrap it, so she angrily takes a box and shoves it in. He then asks for a card and a pen; she gives those to him. He scrawls a quick note and asks her to read it. Jackie can't believe his gall. Eric says it would mean a lot to him, so Jackie takes the card and reads, "Please forgive me. I am an idiot..." She then pauses and softly continues, "...Jackie." She goes on to read, "Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved. Eric." He tells her that his marriage is over; it never should have happened in the first place. He asks if there's a chance he can take her to dinner. There is, she says, but she warns that he'll have to pay. Eric says that he's willing, whatever it takes.

Dante and Nick disagree about what Bridget should do.

At the beach house, Dante urges Bridget to sign the papers and end a marriage that's already dead. It's just beginning, Nick says, begging her not to give up on him. She reminds him that he was acting like a devoted husband when deep down, his heart belonged to her mother. Does he expect her to just forget that just because the divorce papers came, and to accept that he changed overnight? It didn't happen overnight, he says, asking her to search her heart and stay true to it. She says shat she can't live a life of insecurity and games. Nick says he can't either, and he didn't start this. He thinks someone in this room ought to be man enough to own up to his part. Dante? she asks. He reminds her of her lie about having an abortion, to test him: that wasn't his idea and he bets it wasn't hers either. Dante insists that Bridget was unhappy even before that, because Nick told her that he loved Brooke. Nick says he did that to be honest; he thinks he and Bridget had an honest relationship before Dante came to town. He takes Bridget by the shoulders and says that he wants that back. He wants to end all the lies and start over, and he thinks she wants the same thing. That's why he's ripping up these papers. He grabs the divorce papers from her, but Dante grabs them from him and says, "Like hell! You're a son of a bitch. That's all you've ever been."

Stephanie tells Nick that he's no different than other men snared by Brooke.

Dante tells Bridget that he knows about family, so he understands that she never wanted to tear hers apart. At the same time, Nick has hurt her time and again, and Dante can't let that happen again. He laments that the light inside her foes out when she's sad, so he wonders how many times she can let Nick hurt her. He asks if she wants to be like Taylor, married to a man who can't let go of Brooke. "I'm not Ridge," Nick insists. Stephanie disagrees; she knows Nick thinks he's strong, but she's seen Brooke get under other strong men's skins, and she doesn't think Nick is any different from any of then. Dante tells Bridget that he loves her, and he isn't in love with anyone else. Nick tells Bridget that he knows he has to win her trust back, and he'll do whatever it takes. But he can't do it with Dante here. Dante lives here, she says, and has no place else to go. Nick offers to find a hotel, but Bridget says that Dante isn't going anywhere tonight. In that case, Nick says, she should pack a bag, since he's taking her to the boat. Stephanie tells Bridget to to forget about that. Dante tells Bridget to sign the papers. Stephanie tells Bridget to let Dante help raise the baby, "Nobody's raising my child!" Nick shouts. Bridget tells them all to just stop! Nick takes her by the arm and leads her out: all he's asking for is five minutes with her - alone! He thinks she owes him that.