Tuesday, November 22, 2005, Episode #4687

At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor calls out to Ridge that she's leaving for work, but gets no response. She hears voices from the terrace: Brooke is telling Ridge that Eric has managed to get Forrester back based on some "equitable right." Then Destiny Designs can be a division of Forrester, Ridge states. That will drive Stephanie mad, Brooke says. Taylor comes out and asks what this is about "Destiny Designs." Ridge apologizes for not telling her sooner. She knows how he feels about his mother pushing him out of Forrester, so he and Brooke told his mother that they were starting a new company, to bluff her into taking them back. Taylor isn't surprised that there's some convoluted plot going on, since Brooke's here. Actually, Ridge says, it was HIS idea. And the name "Destiny Designs"? Taylor asks. "Mine," Ridge says. He's sorry she had to find out this way, but Forrester means too much to him. Taylor reminds him that he could be at Forrester right now if he wasn't so intent on shoving Brooke down his mother's throat. Actually, Brooke says, she and Ridge will both be back there - today.

Taylor asks what this "equitable right" means. It means that promises were made and accepted by those who built Forrester, Brooke explains. Taylor asks about the good faith in Eric hiding the trust. Ridge points out that he and Brooke didn't do that. Taylor asks Brooke why she's not out celebrating with her husband. Brooke reveals that Eric prepared a romantic night for the two of them where Eric told her how much he loved her, before agreeing to annul their marriage. Ridge is glad, since he knows Brooke only married Eric to protect Bridget. Taylor points out that Brooke is now unattached. Brooke says that she and Ridge aren't... Taylor cuts her off and says she's actually worried about Bridget and Nick. Tired of being accused of stealing her daughter's husband, Brooke wonders why Taylor is so concerned. She wonders if Bridget said something to Taylor, since Nick would never come to Taylor. When Taylor clams up, Ridge suspects Nick turned to his wife as a patient. Taylor admits that she told Nick he could not be her patient, but she saw he was dealing with the issues in a healthy way, rather than finding a new spouse in the family. Ridge thinks Nick's ego couldn't accept that Brooke wasn't really interested in him. All Brooke is interested in right now is Forrester, which they're taking back today.

Stephanie arrives at the office. She asks Megan to get her some coffee and a roll as she walks into her office - and finds Eric sitting at the desk, sketching. He smiles and asks for her opinion on the hemline. She asks why he's in her office. He points her to the door, where the nameplate again reads, "Eric Forrester, CEO."

Stephanie takes the nameplate and tells Megan to throw it out and then orders Eric out of her office. He says he can't do that. Stephanie guesses that Brooke cast him aside already. It was amicable, Eric admits. Stephanie calls him a sap and says that he can't just crawl back to her now. They trade barbs about why they each wouldn't want the other working there. Stephanie thinks he's snapped, so he hands her a document - a temporary restraining order, or (TRO) - and tells her to get the hell out of HIS office. Stephanie tells Megan to call security, and to call Mr. Butler, Massimo's lawyer. She comes back in to find Eric on the phone with his lawyer. She says she's not worried about Jonathan; Eric says Jonathan, who is in South America for all he knows, no longer represents him. He suggests she read the document his new lawyer had the court issue on an ex parte basis. She says she was never informed of legal proceedings. That's what ex-parte means, Eric says - and that document means she's been served, so it's in effect. She tears it up just as security arrives. Stephanie orders the guards to show Eric out, but Eric tells them they'll be breaking the law if they do. Stephanie tells them her lawyer will indemnify them, but Megan comes in to tell her that Massimo took Mr. Butler off the case. What did she expect when she excluded Massimo's son? Eric asks. Stephanie tells Megan to call that "Gloria" who sat with her at a charity function last week. She and Eric then each order the guards to escort the other out of the building. Megan suggests that Stephanie and Eric discuss this privately over coffee. They say in unison, "It's too late for that."

Darla brings her husband some coffee.

Darla brings Thorne coffee in his office. He thanks her and tells her to come over; she does and he kisses her. He asks if she wants to be like all those people who have sex in their offices. She giggles that they must make better use of their bedroom than those people. She then asks why he left before the alarm went off this morning. He says he woke up without it, because he had so many things he wanted to do here. She tells him to pace himself, since he doesn't have to earn this job. It's already his. Megan then calls to tell him that his parents are in the office, fighting. Thorne asks Darla if he should stop them, or should he let them kill themselves? Darla chuckles that he can do something presidential to stop them. Someone has to work around here, he says, since his mom's dreams of size 12 couture gowns won't happen on its own. He wishes Ridge was here. She tells him to hire his own team if Ridge just wants to pout; it's not like he needs permission, since he's a mighty fine president, so who would care? He says he cares, more than he wants anyone but her to know. The one thing he really needs in life is her, he says, kissing her again.

Brooke pulls up to the building and calls Megan to say she's on her way up to meet with Eric and his lawyer, who just arrived. As she shuts the car, she finds a CD Nick made for her of his song, "Bring It On." As the song plays, she flashes back to memories with Nick and Hope. Coming back to reality, she says that's all they'll ever be, just memories.

Eric, Ridge and Brooke are ready to take back Forrester...

Eric's attorney, Gregory Morehouse, sees the torn TRO and asks Stephanie if she understands what contempt of court is. She asks if he understands the phrase, "Get out of my office, Mr. S.O.B." He guesses she didn't read the document. She says she owns 100% of this company under the Stephanie Douglas Trust. Which she has been restrained from using, Morehouse says, since all her accounts except payroll are now frozen. How can she run a business that way? she asks. He suggests she bring scraps from home. Brooke comes in; Eric introduces her, as his co-CEO, to Gregory, who Brooke recognizes as "The Silicon Valley Shark" who worked on a big anti-trust case. She tells him and Eric that Stephanie locked her out of her office. Stephanie says she won't unlock anything until her lawyer arrives. Taylor then comes in and asks if Stephanie is OK. As Stephanie starts to explain, Thorne comes in, followed by Ridge, asking when his mom gave his office back to Ridge. Ridge says he never said she gave it to him; he just said it's his. Eric introduces his sons to Gregory. He says that he, Brooke and Ridge will remain as principal officers, although he wouldn't mind offering Thorne a position. How generous, Stephanie retorts, saying he won't steal her company a second time.

...but Stephanie, Taylor and Thorne aren't giving up just yet.

Gloria Schiller, the lawyer Stephanie met at the event, arrives. Gregory introduces himself as Eric's attorney. Gloria says she knows about him, and he's scum. Stephanie asks for 15 minutes to brief Gloria, but the lady lawyer says she already read the documents and spoke to the judge who issued the TRO. She tells Ridge and Brooke to get out, while she'll see Eric and Gregory in court, when she brings Eric up on criminal fraud charges that would put him away for 15 years! Stephanie makes a fist in delight at her new lawyer's actions. Gloria then pulls Stephanie, Thorne and Taylor aside. Thorne says he doesn't want to put his dad in jail. Gloria says she was just posturing when she said that; truthfully, Stephanie's fraud claim is weak, since Stephanie wasn't really deprived or unhappy. Taylor says this thing is escalating quickly. But Eric is acting like nothing happened. Taylor addresses the order and asks what an equitable right is. It's a common law term where wronged parties can ask for equitable relief if the law creates a blatant inequity, Gloria says. Then they're sunk, Thorne states. Stephanie thinks they've been fair. Gloria asks how Morehouse got involved, since he's usually fair. But she said he was scum, Taylor says. That, too, Gloria states.

Gregory assures Eric that the only one going to jail will be Stephanie, if she keeps trashing the TRO. Brooke asks if Stephanie can be arrested. Ridge asks if they can argue that Stephanie and her crew are incapable of running this company. Gregory says they can, especially since Forrester employees in L.A. and abroad have their livelihoods at stake. He thinks Eric, Ridge and Brooke will get some chunk of the company because they contributed to its success. Ridge says it will be a chunk of nothing if they can't stop his mother. Gregory asks what they can bargain with. Brooke offers to use her as a bargaining chip, since Stephanie is only doing this to hurt her, but Eric would sooner give up this office than lose Brooke. Ridge agrees. Gregory asks to talk to Gloria, who is still conferring with her client.

The new lawyers try to hash out a solution.

Gloria tells Stephanie that they can't just ignore the TRO. She can, however, negotiate if she knows what Stephanie's bottom line is. This office, Stephanie says, stays hers. She adds that Eric can submit his designs from home, and the only job Brooke gets is parking attendant. OK, Gloria says, calling Gregory over. Taylor points out how two strangers are deciding their fate. Ridge says they can't make the decisions themselves with his mother insisting on having everything her way. Stephanie reminds him that she owns the company. From a $100,000 interest, Brooke points out. Eric reminds Stephanie of the stocks they have given as gifts over the years, and the taxes he paid over the years. If none of that is his, then he wants his money back. Along those lines, Stephanie asks if she can get a lien against Eric and Brooke's property for salaries paid improperly. Maybe, Gloria says. Stephanie says, "Aha!" but Brooke reminds her of the tax bill Stephanie will have to pay on 40 years of everyone's salary. That's good, Gregory says, saying Brooke is a keeper. Brooke's a time share, Stephanie quips, suggesting Gregory take Brooke to the broom closet as the only man in the room Brooke has never had. She tosses the keys in the air; Brooke grabs them and says she's going to unlock her office. Stephanie tries to stop her, so Brooke tosses the keys to Ridge. Everyone starts shouting at each other.

Eric hushes everyone and asks the lawyers, "For the love of god, who is running this company?"

Stephanie says, "I am!"

Ridge adds, "I should be."