Tuesday, November 08, 2005, Episode #4677

Brooke and Ridge can't believe Stephanie's actions.

In Eric's former office, everyone stares in shock at Stephanie's kneeing Eric in the groin. Brooke asks how Stephanie could do that; Stephanie wonders why Brooke cares if she's not sleeping with Eric. Eric says he's OK. Taylor doesn't think Stephanie should have resorted to violence, but Stephanie thinks her actions were a long time in coming. But she kneed his dad in the groin, Rick states. Darla tries to calm everyone as Rick asks Stephanie to leave. Stephanie refuses, as this is her office now. Ridge disagrees; he can't believe that his mother would kick Eric, the man who built this company, out on a technicality. Stephanie reminds him that her father named her as the sole beneficiary of the trust he set up. But it was Eric who made this company a success, Ridge points out, not John Douglas. Stephanie agrees, and says she went along with everything Eric did until "SHE" (pointing to Brooke) came along. Of course this is about Stephanie's vendetta toward her, Brooke supposes. Ridge asks Taylor if she condones this, but Stephanie cuts him off and repeats that she is taking this company back to its roots. She tells Thorne they have a lot of work to do. First, she wants him to kill the "Reunited" ad campaign. Next, she wants any pre-production work killed on the Brooke's Bedroom line. That's one of their most popular lines, Ridge protests. Not anymore, Stephanie replies.

Eric warns Stephanie that she will kill this company. He wants her to know that he and Brooke will fight this. She tells Brooke and him that they have 30 minutes to clear out their offices and vacate the building. Brooke, Ridge, Eric and Rick leave. Stephanie thanks the rest of them for staying and sticking by her. Taylor asks Stephanie if she's sure that this isn't just a vendetta against Brooke? Stephanie says it's about making the company great again, together. She knows that the people in this room have not gotten the respect they deserve, so this is their chance to prove themselves.

Ridge, Brooke and Eric head back toward Brooke's office. Ridge thinks the company is doomed. Brooke thinks they should have asked Rick to stay, but Eric thinks they need someone they can trust at International. Trust to do what? Ridge asks. Eric thanks Ridge for his loyalty, but he wants Ridge to know that he doesn't have to leave Forrester. Ridge says that he has no intention of staying on this ship while his mother is intent on sinking it. Brooke refuses to give up. Eric doesn't know they have much choice, especially since Jonathan thinks he'll be lucky to avoid prosecution for hiding the trust document. Ridge asks Eric what he was thinking when he hid that document for years. Eric admits he thought the family's inheritance was safer with him at the helm of Forrester considering Stephanie's temper and some of the decisions she's made. Brooke fears the family legacy is gone, for them and their children. Ridge quips that this legacy won't be worth much for long anyway, with Thorne in charge. He can't believe Taylor is going along with it. He knows this will cause trouble in his marriage. so he wants to go talk to his wife. Eric tells him to go. Once Ridge is gone, Eric laments that he thought all the sibling rivalry was over. Brooke blames Stephanie for dredging this up: she fears they will all pay dearly with Stephanie in charge.

Thorne and Darla celebrate.

Thorne and Darla go into one of the offices, marveling at their good fortune. Thorne admits that he's worried about Eric, but he's also elated that his mother chose him over Ridge. Darla laughs about the look Ridge had on his face when he realized his mother wanted Thorne, and not him, as President of Forrester. Ridge was so sure Stephanie was going to choose him, she laughs. "But she chose me," a beaming Thorne says. That's right, Darla tells her husband, reminding him that she told him that good things were coming for them. He thinks about how they were almost down and out. But now everything's turned around and they're back on top where they belong, she says, smiling. She knows he'll be the best president Forrester has ever had. He's thrilled at the idea that he's Ridge's boss now, assuming Ridge stays. He points out that Ridge might leave, since he's not too thrilled with their mother. Darla tells Thorne that his mother is obviously thrilled with him [Thorne]. His mother trusts him, he says, and he finally feels like she means it when she says that. Darla thinks Stephanie loves him as much as she does. They kiss.

Taylor tries to convince Ridge to stay on.

Ridge approaches his office, looking at his name on the door. He walks in and finds Taylor waiting. He asks if this is still his office, or has his mother given it to her. She thinks they need time to digest what's happened so they can talk about it. He hopes she told his mother that she won't be a part of this. She says that she told Stephanie that it was wrong to attack Eric. This is all wrong, Ridge says, because it's about his mother getting revenge on Brooke! He doesn't think it's right to kick Eric out of his own company. But Eric hid the trust, Taylor reminds him. As for Brooke, she adds, Stephanie just disagrees with Brooke's vision for the company, and she does, too. Ridge can't believe she's buying into this. He has no intention of working here, and he doesn't want her working here, either. Taylor advises Ridge to let his mother enjoy the power she has for now; she thinks Stephanie will bring Eric back soon enough. But Forrester needs Eric now, Ridge says. "Forrester needs you," Taylor replies, since he's the only designer that have. Then Thorne will have to bring someone in, Ridge says, since he has no intention of working for Thorne.

Taylor tells Ridge that they're all on the same team, but Ridge sees no team. He reminds her that Thorne ran Spectra into the ground while his mother has only organized charity events. And as for Taylor, he reminds her that she's a psychiatrist and knows nothing about fashion. Taylor says that Stephanie obviously thinks she has something to contribute. After all, she knows women and is sick of hearing women being told they're worthless unless they wear a size zero and have their "assets" hanging out. She wants to be part of Stephanie's vision, and she wants Ridge to be there with her. Together, she thinks they can restore class and dignity to Forrester. Ridge thinks his mother only wants to restore her dominance over Brooke, and he fears that the company will fold in six months with a bitter woman, a proven loser and a psychiatrist at the helm. Taylor thinks that this could be good for Eric and Brooke, as it will give them time for a honeymoon, and to spend time with their kids. Ridge fears that Brooke and Eric will never be welcome in this company as long as they're together. Isn't that a good reason to stay and keep an eye on things? Taylor asks. She thinks they can make this company amazing, so she asks Ridge to consider it.

Massimo helps Stephanie clean house.

Stephanie has a flashback to various scenes of Brooke. Massimo asks if she's relishing her victory. Not quite, she says, as there's too much work to do to restore "prestige" to Forrester. She thanks Mass for his help. He says he did it for Ridge as much as for her. He had hoped that Ridge would have joined him at Marone, but he's accepted that fashion is part of who Ridge is. He admits, however, that he's disappointed that Stephanie made Thorne President over Ridge. Stephanie says she had no choice, as Brooke has too much influence over Ridge. If Ridge can put that aside, she says, there will be a place for him here. She then gets some boxes and starts walking around the office, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Mass follows with a trash can as she throws photos of Brooke, ads for "Forrester Reunited" and pieces from the "Brooke's Bedroom" line into it. She then call Travis ans asks him to send one of the boys to take these things to Brooke's office.