Thursday, November 03, 2005, Episode #4674

Brooke tells Nick that she loves him, but can't be with him.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick tells Brooke that they can't hold back any more. No more holding back, she replies. He asks if she's with him; she says she is, as she's wanted him more than she's wanted any other man. Nick says he's here and caresses her face, but she then pulls away. She says that she can't do this to her daughter. But Bridget knows the truth and doesn't want him, Nick reminds her. And what about her vows to Eric? she asks. Nick says that she took a wrong turn, but it can be fixed if she will just focus on them and what they're feeling right now. Brooke says that she's thinking about her daughter, the mother of his child. He says that his child will always come first, no matter who he's with; he thinks Brooke should know that. And now he sees why she can't do this. She says. Nick thinks they deserve their shot at happiness, but Brooke won't take that at her daughter's expense. If she keeps denying her feelings, Nick tells her, they'll all be miserable. Brooke says she's not denying her feelings. She loves him and wants to be with him. But she also needs to be able to look herself in the mirror. Nick asks her to listen to him, but she says she can't. She insists that she'll never forgive herself.

Nick doesn't see why she should forgive herself when she's only facing the truth. She has to do it for being selfish, she states, and for being out of control. What's out of control, Nick argues, is marrying a man she doesn't love. She says she's protecting her child and his, which is why she needs him to let her go. No, he whispers. If he loves her, she says, he will... She pauses. She can't say it, he says, turning her to face him, because she knows that belongs to him. Brooke pulls away. She says this isn't him; it's their impulse, desire and frustration. Nick agrees that it's frustrating, because they keep hurting Bridget. He insists that they have to stop doing that, and the only way to stop is to be honest with themselves. Brooke asks if he's really being honest with himself. She knows they want each other, but at the same time, she has to ask if it's worth it for him to walk away from Bridget and their child. She wants to know, because if he thinks it's worth it, then Bridget deserves better. Bridget deserves a man who is loyal to her and who will love her with all his heart. If Nick can't do that, Brooke says, then Bridget's better off without him. But Brooke thinks she knows him, which is why she can't see him walking out on a wife and child who are counting on him. As angry as Bridget is, Brooke still believes that Bridget loves Nick, so she wants to know if Nick is willing to give that up to be with her. If he's that kind of man, Brooke says, Nick should take her right now. Nick considers making love to her, but he stops; he can't do this, any more than Brooke can. He promises that he'll love Bridget and the child with all that he has. Brooke predicts a happy life for him and Bridget. He agrees, and he owes it all to Brooke. He thanks her as he holds her close.

Dante has an offer for Bridget.

Meanwhile, a shirtless Dante helps Bridget move in to the beach house, since her father is moving in to Brooke's. Dante notes how she has the place all to herself. She says that this isn't how she pictured herself eight months ago. He reminds her that she's not alone. She says she knows that, so she's sorry for laying all her self pity on him. If she wants to feel sorry for someone, Dante quips, she should feel sorry for him, since he helped her move all this stuff in here. It would have gone faster if he's let her help, she says. Dante reminds her that she's still a mother to be, so he promises to look after her as he puts her feet up. He then goes to bring more boxes in. While he's gone, Bridget looks at her latest ultra sound, which she is carrying in her purse.

Bridget goes to unpack; when she stops for a break, she finds Dante in the kitchen, cooking lemon chicken and cappelini. She says it smells great, but she's not hungry. She's supposed to gain weight, he reminds her. Not all in one night, she says. He suggests that he move into the guest room, to help take care of her, Bridget isn't sure, so he tells her to think about it. As they eat dinner, Bridget tells Dante that it doesn't feel right to let him live here. If he lives here, Dante assures her, it will be just as friends. That suits her fine, since she's not sure if she's ready to trust a man just yet. Dante says that he knows she's still in love with Nick. She admits that she is. He says Nick is such a fool. They all got caught up in a bad situation, she says, and now her dad is mixed up in it, too. Doesn't her dad know about Nick's feelings for her mother? Dante asks. She wonders if maybe her mother and Nick should just be together already, so her dad can move on. And what about her? Dante asks. She says that she knows it will be hard, but she'll eventually move on, too. They embrace.

Eric tells Stephanie that she's acting out of a sense of vengeance.

In Eric's office, Stephanie sits behind the desk and tells Eric that justice has been served. This is vengeance, Eric says, not justice. She says that he can't possibly know what she's going to do. She's not going to do anything, Eric says, since it's not her company. Even if her father set up this trust to protect his investment, Eric thinks it's his talent that made Forrester a success. Thanks to him, they're able to pay back his debt to her father 10 times over. She asks how he can talk about his debt after she played the devoted wife for years, only to watch that bitch take her company and her family. Eric tells her to leave Brooke out of this. He informs her that he will have Jonathan fight this, but she reminds him of the crimes he and his shyster lawyer committed, like fraud, embezzlement and grand larceny. She can just imagine Brooke knowing her hubby is in jail. Eric calls for Jonathan; Stephanie quips that it's a good idea to call Jonathan, so he's here when the police arrive. Eric asks if she's really calling the police. She says that's up to him. She thinks of all the times she's watched him and Brooke dismantle her dreams for this company. Eric says that their children will suffer if she executes the trust, but she thinks they already suffered. By keeping the trust a secret, she says, he let Brooke steal their children's inheritance. Eric says it's not about Brooke. Stephanie agrees; she thinks it's all about her, and the way her father taught her to live a principled life based on morals and dignity. So she's not going to Florida? Eric asks. No, she responds, she's not, as she has a company to run here and a lot to do.

Stephanie shows off...

Eric tells Stephanie to stop playing games and think of the families of their employees who will be impacted if she starts making unnecessary changes. She finds it interesting that he thinks of their employees' families, since he never thought about their own family. If he had been loyal to their marriage, she states... Eric tells her to stop; this is not about their marriage, but about the company they built, which thrived under his leadership. Since she got it back for him, she states. Eric says he will always be grateful for that. But not enough to tell her about the trust. The trust is worthless, he says, taking the documents and tearing them. He wonders why he didn't do this earlier. Because he was either too stupid or too arrogant to get rid of it, she says. She asks if he believed he could get away with this. He thought she would do right by the family, he says, pointing out that reversing all the stock transfer from the children has stripped them of their legacy. Stephanie explains that Taylor told her, during their sessions, to start thinking of herself. She thinks of all the humiliation and pain she had to face over the years, because of him. Eric reminds her that he's the artist behind the success of the company and asks who can replace him as lead designer. Stephanie says she'll do it herself. And what will they make? Eric asks. Cell phones? Pick up trucks? Stephanie asks how hard it can be to be head designer. Everything he designs is a reflection of who he is, Eric says. In that case, Stephanie says, let her try to capture the true essence of Eric Forrester. She goes to his drawing pad, takes a marker and writes "LIAR!" on the page in bold letters, showing the page off to Eric.

...her "designs" capturing...

Dropping that page on the floor, Stephanie takes the next page and writes on it "CHEATER!", also in bold letters. She says that this, too, shows off the real Eric Forrester, and she drops that page on the floor, too.