Thursday, November 17, 2005, Episode #4684

Bridget wonders if she can trust Nick.

Nick is still in Bridget's bedroom, lying on her bed. She scoffs at his idea of delivering their baby on The Shady Marlin; although she's amused at some of his ideas at making a "water birth" work, she says that their baby will be born in a hospital. She said THEIR baby, he realizes: does that mean she's including him? He apologizes to her and the baby if he's been irritating. He's also been a bit funny, she admits. That's in contrast to her being so serious, he says, suggesting they compliment each other in a ying/yang kind of way. Getting up, she agrees that they're good together, but so much has happened. Nick concedes that she's right and admits that she deserves better. In fact, he's been saying that to her all along, so he wonders what he has to do to prove it to her. He's proved that he's thoughtless, reliable and a fool, she says. He asks if she's done. She tells him that they've been through this, but he says that he hasn't been through it. But he is prepared to go through it, for her. He'll do anything, even swim to Catalina or swallow an anchor (as long as it's in tiny pieces). Bridget asks him to go, as she's getting tired. Admitting he can be a bit overwhelming, Nick agrees to go. He looks to her belly and says goodbye to their baby and turns to leave, but he stops tells Bridget, "I love you" and then leaves.

Dante tells Bridget how he feels.

Dante returns from a walk on the beach and checks Bridget's room; he's surprised to find her awake. He sees her open window and offers to close it, but she says she likes the breeze. Dante tells her that Nick was there; she says she knows. Dante guesses she heard them arguing when Nick ordered him to leave. She says Nick was just protecting her, but he thinks Nick is the one she needs protection from. He tells her that the two of them have something good going, and he doesn't want to mess it up. He asks her to focus on their future together, as he'll always be there for her. Bridget thanks him. Dante tucks her in so she can get some rest and, with a kiss on her forehead, tells her, "Sleep tight, Bella."

Thorne is stunned at Ridge's plans.

At Forrester, Thorne talks with Stephanie about how good it is to be back. He thanks her for bringing him back and for putting her faith in him, especially since he knows she really wants both her sons working here. Actually, she says, she'd like all four of her children to be here, but in Ridge's case, she doesn't think that will happen. Why not? Thorne asks. Stephanie tells him how Ridge and Brooke dropped by earlier and stated that they'd start up a rival fashion house if she didn't give control of Forrester to Ridge. Of course she turned them down, she states, and then she sent her secret weapon to Marone to make sure Ridge and Brooke's idea goes nowhere. Thorne can't believe Ridge would start another company rather than work here. And Ridge plans to start it with Brooke, Stephanie reminds him. Thorne admits that he and Brooke made their share of mistakes while they were married. But he survived those mistakes, Stephanie states; she fears that she can't say the same about Ridge and Eric.

Ridge and Brooke try to explain their actions.

At Marone, Eric orders Ridge to get away from Brooke. Brooke tries to explain that Ridge just caught her when she felt faint. Ridge asks Eric to explain his order to "Get [his] hands off [Eric's] wife!" Eric doesn't think he needs to explain after finding out that the two of them were starting up a business behind his back, and now he finds them in each others arms. Brooke says that she can only guess what Stephanie told him, but she's not involved with Ridge. Of course not, Eric quips, since she's in love with someone else - but that someone is Nick, not him! Brooke and Ridge try to tell Eric that Stephanie obviously told him something to get him all fired up about this. Stephanie told him how the two of them were flaunting their plans, and their chemistry, when they went to Stephanie and ordered her to turn control of Forrester over to Ridge. He can't believe Ridge or Brooke would betray him that way. Brooke explains that it was just a bluff. Ridge admits that he doesn't agree with Eric's decision to marry Brooke, but he thinks Eric knows he'd never betray his dad. They were hoping to use the threat of a new company to get Stephanie to come around - but now that she didn't, Ridge thinks a new company might not be such a bad idea. So he's really considering this? Eric asks. Ridge explains that all he's wanted is what he thinks he deserves, the chance to run Forrester. But if he can't, why shouldn't he start his own company, one that Brooke and Eric would both be part of? Eric scoffs at Ridge now wanting him on board. Ridge says he ALWAYS did, and he admits it was a mistake to go to this mother without talking to Eric first. Unsure what to believe, Eric tells Ridge to go ahead with his plans to get back at Stephanie without him or his wife. He motions to Brooke and they leave.

Stephanie tells Ridge to consider the consequences of his actions.

Soon after, Ridge is taking something for a headache when Stephanie stops by. He quips that his headache just got worse and guesses that his mother came by to see what happened after she worked Eric into a paranoid frenzy. She reminds him that he wanted to take Forrester from Eric. She did that, Ridge accuses, and then she filled Eric's head with garbage get him riles up as part of her twisted game of revenge. She says that he and Brooke are the ones that threatened her. He says that he's just using the language she seems to be used to. He then warns that he's not bluffing about starting a new company. Stephanie can't believe that he'd let Brooke st him against his mother, his wife, his brother and now his father. She asks him to consider the consequences, but he has no concern for what happens to her and her band of misfits that are running this company. She asks why he'd do this to his family. He tells her to stop making this about his family, since she only did this to get back at Brooke for marrying Eric. She says that she's written off Eric, but she doesn't know why Eric hasn't done the same for Brooke. That marriage will never go anywhere, she says, since Brooke can never give Eric what he needs.

Brooke apologizes to Eric for not giving him what he needs.

Eric and Brooke return to her house. Eric is still fuming, even when Brooke tells him that it was all just a bluff to get the company from Stephanie. Eric says that this isn't about business: it's about their marriage, if they can even call it that. Brooke assures him that nothing happened between her and Brooke; Eric says that might console him if there was something going on between him and his wife, but there isn't. In fact, if his wife isn't spending time with Nick, she's with Ridge. Brooke apologizes for letting him down. Eric thinks they needs some time alone and suggests a Mediterranean cruise on a private yacht. Brooke doesn't think the time is right, since Hope is in school and Bridget's baby is on the way. She doesn't want to go because of Bridget? he asks. That is why they got married, she reminds him. Maybe that was a bad idea, Eric suggests. He wonders if he was wrong to tell Bridget to take Nick back. Brooke thinks he knows she would never jeopardize their daughter's happiness. Then what's keeping them apart? Eric asks. Brooke suggests that it's sex, but Eric thinks it's more about intimacy and connection. He laments that they are more like rumors than spouses, and that's not what he wanted. He's tried to be patient, but he has limits. Brooke admits that he's right and wants to give him what he wants. She starts to kiss him, but Eric pulls back. Isn't this what he wants? Brooke asks. What he wants, Eric says, looking into her eyes, is for her to love him.