Wednesday, November 23, 2005, Episode #4688

In the Forrester CEO's office, Eric asks the attorneys if they have a decision about the company. Gregory and Gloria say that they agree on what will happen if this goes to court. There will be a series of judgements and appeals that will sometimes favor either side. Meanwhile, with Forrester's assets frozen, their customers and buyers will jump ship and their business will fall apart. Eric and Stephanie will have paid the two lawyers 10 -12 million dollars in fees, only to find themselves back where they started, fighting over the remains.

Stephanie disagrees; she can't see any judge overturning the ironclad trust. Eric says he's willing to fight her on that in court. And they'll fight until they're 110 years old, Gloria says, but they won't get anywhere. And then, Gregory points out, the judge will consider Forrester's 40 year history and the livelihood that history provided to hundreds of people, and that history won't just be tossed out as one big "oops." Their best bet, the lawyers agree, is to reach a settlement that they can all agree on them and present it to the court. Ridge points out that the six of them can't agree on anything. Start small, Gloria says: for instance, she thinks Stephanie should get this office if she agrees to give up her right to enforce the trust. Eric asks what he would get in return; a fair share of the company and a hand in running it, Gregory says. How big a share? Eric asks. Taylor says it sounds like they will have to decide that. It won't be easy, Gloria says, since they will disagree. But she's sure they'll be fine as long as no one pushes it into litigation. Gregory agrees that fighting in court will be the end of the company. The two lawyers then agree to adjourn to lunch at a vegan place Gloria knows (even if it means her shark of a colleague won't have his blood meal for the day, she laughs), so they leave their clients to get to work.

Stephanie, Thorne and Taylor consider their options.

Taylor asks if they can do this. Thorne doesn't think anything is stopping them. But when Stephanie refuses to work with Brooke, Ridge points out that his mother is already flushing the company down the toilet out of spite. Stephanie agrees to work with Eric and Ridge if they keep "the bitch" [i.e. Brooke] out of her sight. Eric and Brooke shake their heads in disbelief. After everyone else leaves the office, Stephanie calls Megan to find office space for Eric, Ridge and Brooke; they can't be on the executive floor, Stephanie insists before changing her mind and saying she'll do this herself. Taylor comes in and finds Stephanie all upset. Stephanie says she's just disappointed that the trust that was meant to protect her is just another empty promise. Taylor thinks Stephanie has a right to be angry, but she also points out that Stephanie got her chance to dish out some payback to Eric and Brooke. But now that's over. The business will go under if Stephanie keeps acting like a child just to spite Brooke, Taylor explains, and hundreds of loyal employees worldwide will lose their livelihoods if that happens. She points out that she and Stephanie can never love this business like Ridge or Eric do, since the business is what kept Ridge and Eric away from them so often over the years. The business is also what brought Brooke into their lives, Stephanie laments. But is it worth risking the business trying to punish Brooke? Taylor asks. She advises Stephanie, "You already lost your husband to Brooke. Don't lose yourself."

Eric and Brooke join Ridge in his old office, where he packs his things in a box. Brooke thinks that Stephanie will never accept her here, so she suggests that she remove herself from the business. Neither Ridge nor Eric will hear of that. Brooke thinks it's sweet of them to stick up for her, but if things become intolerable... She thinks she should make herself scarce until Stephanie unlocks her office or she finds a new one. In the meantime, she says, she has some "mom" duty to take care of, so she leaves.

Ridge wants no part of Thorne's offer.

Ridge is alone in the office, still packing, when Thorne comes in. Thorne thinks that there's more than enough work for the two of them here, so he offers for them to share the presidency, with equal office space, pay and say in the company. He admits that their mother's lack of control here benefited him this time, but it's usually the other way around. Ridge says that he never took anything he didn't earn, so he sees no reason for him to accept Thorne's offer and keep propping his brother up. Thorne takes that as a no. Ridge thinks Thorne will fall flat on his face again in no time. Thorne wonders how Ridge's ego would react to not having him around to treat like a screw-up. He asks Ridge to consider that he [Thorne] could succeed. Wouldn't that be a kick in the teeth? Ridge promises to have the office and the title of president back in time - and when he gets it, it won't be a gift, and it won't be from making Thorne look good. He takes his box of stuff and leaves.

Eric gets a look at his new office.

In the CEO's office, Eric packs his things. When Stephanie comes in, he asks her for office space and a drafting table. She thinks she has a space for him and Ridge. What about Brooke? he asks. What about Brooke? he asks. She reminds him that space is limited, since they are remodeling. Eric says he and Ridge can share with Brooke. When Stephanie doesn't think that's wise, Eric asks if she fears he'll be looking down Brooke's dress all day. Or does she think he'll fall in love with Brooke again? If it's the latter, he says, he wants her to know that he never stopped loving Brooke. Stephanie says she'll take him to his new office; they get there, and Eric finds a dimly lit basement room filled with toilets and mannequins. Stephanie says she thought it would be fitting for him to be among "thrones," and there's also plenty of room to put Brooke in the middle, so he and Ridge can have equal access. Eric wants to call his lawyer. Stephanie tells him to lighten up: the toilets are here because of the remodeling, but she promises to get then out. Eric says he'll take it; he'll be glad to be away from her. He tells her that she lost her power to humiliate him when they divorced. And just what power was that, she asks, since all she did was stay home to keep their home, raise their kids and support their lavish lifestyle? Meanwhile, he pussy footed around the company which he didn't tell her she owned. That was what she wanted, he says; she always wanted to be "idle and well dressed," as she was raised to be, and never showed any interest in learning about the business, or about designing. How could she take pride in being "idle and well dressed," she asks, while he was involved with Brooke, Lauren, Brooke, Sheila, Brooke and Brooke? Eric tells her to get out; he's tired of the sneer she's had on her face for the last few years, so he'll be happier here with these toilets than he ever was with her. "The truth hurts, doesn't it?" she asks before leaving.

At the beach house, Bridget is about to leave for her pre-natal exam when Dante tells her to wait for him. She tells him that she'd rather go alone. To keep him from getting too invested in this baby? he asks. She says that he's perfect as he is. He thinks she's saying that he's too invested given the fact that she's not interested in him. She wonders if it was a good idea for him to move him; while she appreciates all his help, she intends to be a single mother, so it's time she started acting like one. Then she better leave, Dante tells her. She thanks him and gets on her way.

Brooke asks Dante to let Bridget be with Nick.

Soon after, Brooke drops by and finds Dante making dinner. At first, he thinks she's Bridget coming back, so he's surprised to see Bridget's mom instead. Brooke tells him that it's time to accept that it's not over yet for Nick and Bridget. Dante thinks it is, since he thinks Nick is only hanging around for the sake of the baby. He can't believe Brooke would want a man like that for her daughter over a man who is 100% devoted just to Bridget. Nick is completely devoted to Bridget, Brooke insists. Dante disagrees, saying that Nick let both Bridget and Brooke down. He thinks Nick is just running around, acting like the perfect dad. He wonders what would happen if Bridget lost the baby. Brooke tells him not to even talk like that, but Dante bets she's thought of that and realized that Nick will be right back by her side if Bridget loses the baby. Brooke tells Dante that he can imagine all the "what if's" he wants, but she knows Nick and Bridget will be together, which is why she thinks it's time for Dante to bow out gracefully.