Wednesday, November 09, 2005, Episode #4678

Stephanie wants Ridge to join her team.
It's a new day in Los Angeles, as Ridge stops by Forrester to see his mother. He tells Stephanie that she's had her moment of power, so now it's time to get back to business. Stephanie says she hasn't changed her mind. Ridge points out how she's made Eric pay already. He can see where she'd feel sorry for Thorne and name Thorne as President, and he could also see how she could hire Taylor in a bogus position to tick Brooke off. Actually, Stephanie says, she was hoping to help his marriage by giving him and Taylor a chance to work together. Like that worked for her and Eric, Ridge quips. She asks why he has so little faith in his wife; he says that he and Taylor were just getting back on track, so he hates to see his wife dragged into his mom's revenge plot this way. Stephanie says that she's sorry to see he's as indecisive as ever and asks him to think of the future. Is that the future where Thorne runs the company into the ground? he asks. Then why not stay, Stephanie suggests. Ridge says he can't work for Thorne. He and Thorne can be co-presidents, she says, running the company together, if he can prove that Brooke has no control of him. He says that Brooke never controlled him; they did, however, work well together to help make Forrester a successful fashion house, because they both knew that sex sells. That, Stephanie says, is the image she wants to get away from. She wants Forrester to define elegance and style under her leadership. And if she still thinks Brooke's way is better, she says, maybe he doesn't have a place here at Forrester.

Ridge asks his mom if she's firing. Stephanie says she just needs to know that he's loyal to her, not Brooke, since that kind of loyalty is what she expects from the members of her team. That team will help her execute her plan. Which is to get back at Brooke and Eric, Ridge guesses, by having him choose his mother over them. The choice is his, she says. And what a choice it is, he says: he can either turn his back on his father and on the mother of his child, or he can watch the business fall apart. She thinks Thorne and Taylor can run the company well. And as much as she doesn't want to, she will hire another designer. Ridge scoffs at Thorne's leadership ability based on how he did at Spectra. Stephanie can't dispute Thorne's record there, but she knows Thorne wants this company to be a success, as does Taylor. And once she's succeeded, she plans to reward those who were loyal to her by redistributing the stock, which means his children's legacy will be protected. And what about Brooke's kids? he asks. She doesn't intend to punish them for having Brooke as a mother, Stephanie says. He reminds her that Brooke has done a lot for this company. And she's brought lots of scandal, too, Stephanie retorts, That's not the image that she "wants" for Forrester. That's not what she wants. She wants them to design clothes for healthy, happy, proud, achieving women, like his wife and wants him to be by his wife's side, and hers, while they take this company back to its glory. But that can only happen if his loyalty is here.

Eric tells Bridget about Stephanie.
Out at the Beach House, Eric tells Bridget about the Stephanie Douglas Trust and how Stephanie now controls Forrester, as Dante works in the kitchen. Bridget is astounded that Eric's lost control of the company and asks if he has any voting rights. He says that he, Ridge and Brooke are fighting Stephanie, in order to protect their children's legacies. He thinks Stephanie is doing this because he married Brooke, but Bridget points out that he kept this trust a secret from Stephanie their whole marriage. As she should know, she reminds him, a marriage can't be built on secrets and lies. That last part catches Dante's attention. Eric tells Bridget that his and Stephanie's marriage didn't fail because of the trust: it failed because of mistakes on both their parts. And those pile up, don't they? she asks. Sensing she's talking about her own marriage now, Eric tells her that she still loves Nick and has a chance to get back to him. But it won't last if she can't trust Nick, she says, and just looking at him reminds her of Nick's feelings for her mother. She knows she lamented growing up without a father and said she wouldn't want that for her child, but she's divorcing Nick, She has to move on.

Dante takes care of Bridget.
Dante says that breakfast is almost ready, reminding Bridget how the doctor was concerned about her weight. He reminds her that she wanted to go for a swim first, so she goes to change. While she's gone, Eric notes the care Dante is giving Bridget. Dante says he's doing what's best for Bridget, but he wonders if Eric wants that given how he wants Bridget back with Nick. He assures Eric of his feelings for Bridget and promises to make her and the baby happy. Isn't that what he wants for his child and grandchild? Dante asks Eric. Soon after, Bridget returns in a swimsuit and finds out the Eric has left. Rubbing her tummy, she sees that she's showing. She laments the changes in her body, but Dante thinks this is great. She laments that things will never be the same now. Dante promises to be there for her to share the experience with. She tells him she trusts him; in fact, he's probably the only person she does trust.

Hector offers Taylor some support.
Hector drops by Taylor's office. He's stunned when Taylor tells him that Ridge wouldn't even consider working with her at Forrester. Ridge said he needed time to think about it last night, Taylor explains, but then he sneaked out this morning before they could talk. She's upset that Ridge doesn't think she's qualified. Of course she is, Hector says; if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then who would be better to understand how women feel than a psychiatrist who's spent years inside the fashion industry? She wishes Ridge would say things like that. Hector thinks Ridge is just worried about how Stephanie's plans will affect her, but she tells him that Ridge is also worried about Brooke. If she needs support, Hector says, he's there. She senses he means that as more than just a friend. He admits he does. She reminds him that she's married. Hector asks if she can be satisfied being with a man who doesn't believe her. Before she can answer, her buzzer sounds to signal the arrival of her next patient, so Hector leaves.

Nick asks for Taylor's help.
Taylor is stunned when Nick, wearing a baseball cap and shades, comes in and reveals that he's her next patient. He explains that he needs to forget about Brooke. Taylor asks if he's in love with Brooke. He can't be with Brooke, he admits. He wasn't strong enough to see it before, but he sees that Brooke is right that he has to commit to Bridget and their child. Taylor says there's no magic cure for heartbreak. She also thinks she should refer him to a colleague, as she's too close to the situation. The fact that she knows everyone involved is why he needs her, Nick tells Taylor. He wants her help in showing him how to rebuild Bridget's trust in him. She asks if he really wants to put Brooke behind him; he's here, he replies. But is he doing this out of love for his wife and child, she asks, or is he acting like a jilted lover? It's not his nature to do all this soul-searching and thinking, he says. He's here for her help, as there's nothing in the world he wants more than being with Bridget and his child. He wants his future to be with his wife and family, he tells Taylor.