Friday, October 28, 2005, Episode #4670

Lawyer Bill Butler reviews the trust documents.

Eric is still in his office with Stephanie, asking how she can say he betrayed her trust. Massimo tries to get Stephanie to leave, but she offers to spell it out for Eric. Eric asks how she can talk about betrayal after bribing a doctor with a million dollars of his money, or breaking her word about telling Bridget about Nick and Brooke. She says he deceived them all by marrying Brooke. Eric turns away, but Stephanie again asks about betraying her trust. Eric tells Massimo to take his [Mass's] childhood sweetheart and make sure she gets on that plane to Boca. Eric then leaves. Stephanie tries to follow, but Mass stops her. She asks why she shouldn't tell Eric and his slut that they don't own the company. Mass explains that the Stephanie Douglas Trust is so old that it could have changed. Then get his lawyer over here, Stephanie says, since she's not leaving until she knows what the documents mean. Soon after, the lawyer, Bill Butler arrives. Mass explains that he and Stephanie grew up in Illinois, where Stephanie's father, John Douglas, lived until he died and drew up the trust. Bill says that the laws for trusts have not changed in any way that would invalidate this one. Stephanie asks why she and Eric never knew about this and wonders if her father changed his mind. He couldn't, Bill says, since it's an irrevocable trust; that means her father gave up his rights to the Forrester stock when he put it in trust. Stephanie points out that her father's estate was divided between her and her sister. But the trust wasn't part of that estate, Bill explains.

Stephanie and Massimo learn more about the trust.

Stephanie suggests that her father's lawyers weren't aware of the trust when he died. It's either that, Bill says, or the trust was dissolved. He offers to have a friend in Illinois do a search for a dissolution, but he also thinks they should ask the successor trustee named by her father; she lives in Genoa City, WI and her name is Katherine Chancellor. Bill thinks he recognizes the name. Mass points out that she owns Chancellor Industries (as fans of The Young and the Restless know, since Katherine has been on Y&R since its first year on the air). Stephanie recalls that her father and Katherine were friends. Mass is sure Katherine wouldn't cheat Stephanie against John Douglas's wishes. Bill says that Katherine could have sold the trust to a bank or foundation. Mass points out that Katherine has an office in L.A. and offers to call there to find her. He offers to drop Bill at his office; Bill accepts the offer, as he wants to make that call to Illinois. He asks to take the trust documents with him. Only if he guards them with his life, Stephanie says. Bill says he read about her and Eric separating; he asks if Eric knows he might be nothing without her. That's a question for another day, Mass says as he and Bill leave.

Eric goes to Brooke's office, fuming. Brooke asks if anything went wrong at the fashion showdown. Actually, Eric says, they beat Spectra, so he was in a good mood, until he went to his office and found Stephanie. Isn't she moving to Florida? Brooke asks. Yes, Eric replies. Brooke is glad, although she admits it will be odd not having Stephanie around to threaten or insult her. Eric thinks they can get used to it; besides, they have better things to worry about, like pointing Nick and Bridget on the path to reuniting. Brooke asks if it's too soon; not for their child, Eric says. He's sure he could get through to Nick and Bridget if he can get them in a room and convince them that his marriage to Brooke is solid. Brooke wonders if that could ever happen, because of her problem being intimate with Eric. Eric tells her not to worry; their world has turned upside down, he says, so it will take a while to get used to. He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and leaves.

Eric talks to Nick about Bridget.

Nick is in his office, looking at a wedding photo of him and Bridget. He recalls Brooke telling him that Bridget loves him and is carrying his child, so she won't be the woman to take Bridget or the baby away from him. He picks up the phone and calls Bridget, but he can only leave her a message to call so they can talk. Soon after, Nick arrives at the beach house at Eric's invitation. Nick apologizes for being late; Eric says he was, too, after some excitement at the office. He tells Nick Brooke isn't here. Nick wonders why he's here. Eric says he wants to talk about Bridget and their future, but Nick explains that Bridget wants nothing to do with him. Eric brings up the baby; Nick says this is his first time through this, but he thinks Eric should know that the husband and father can't always be the same. Eric thinks that's up to Nick. He recalls how Nick said he loved Bridget. There are different kinds of love, Nick says. Eric agrees, but he reminds Nick that Brooke is his wife now, so nothing can come of any love Nick shared with her. With all these marriages just to make a point, Nick feels like a lab rat and asks Eric if that's what he is. Before he can answer, Bridget arrives and asks why Nick is here. Nick is surprised to see her. Eric says that he knows they don't want to be interfered with, but there is a baby involved.

Bridget tells Nick that they have nothing to discuss.

Nick asks Bridget why she didn't return his calls. She says there's nothing to discuss. Nick reminds her about the baby and assures her that he will be part of his child's life. Bridget says she knows that, but her dad obviously doesn't. Eric recalls the love they shared and suggests that they can do more than just make an agreement, but Bridget has had it with pretending that her mom and Nick aren't in love. Brooke is spoken for, Eric points out. Bridget doesn't buy it; she's removed herself from the misery of her mom's relationship with Nick, but by marrying her mom, Eric hasn't. She fears Eric's misery is just starting. Eric says he went into this marriage knowing of Brooke's infatuation. He can call it that, Bridget says, but her mom's feelings for Nick are even stronger than what she felt for Ridge, so this marriage is just as doomed as her parents' first. Eric says that Brooke is now less impulsive and wants real happiness based on shared values: he thinks he and Brooke have that, but Brooke is now in a position to appreciate it. He tells Bridget that she and Nick can have that same happiness. Bridget is tired of swimming against the tide of her mom and Nick's feelings and asks Eric why he'd want to deal with that. Eric asks Nick if he sees himself as a threat to Brooke's marriage. What marriage is that? Nick asks, guessing that Brooke and Eric are not even sharing a bed. Bridget agrees, pointing out that her parents are living in separate houses. That will soon change, Eric says. As for his sex life, he admits this is something he's never discussed with Bridget - but if she must know, he and Brooke DO have sex. Nick and Bridget both look on in disbelief.

Brooke is in her office when Stephanie comes in. She assumes Stephanie came to say goodbye before she leaves for Florida. "You are leaving?" Brooke asks. Stephanie thinks Brooke knows how she feels about rash decisions. The move makes sense, Brooke says. Stephanie however isn't sure how Brooke and Eric will do without her, plus she wonders how she will adjust to the humidity will be. Brooke suggests Morocco instead. Stephanie says she might still be useful here. Like she was when she ruined Bridget's life? Brooke asks. Stephanie says she did that since Bridget's husband had the hots for Brooke. Brooke brings up Stephanie using her heart attack hoax to get Ridge to make a choice he wasn't ready for. But he and Taylor are together, Stephanie says. Brooke brings up the gun Stephanie brought her so she could kill herself. She thinks Stephanie isn't useful, so she should go. Eric found her useful when they built the company, Stephanie says. Brooke thins Stephanie is just dead weight that hung on to Eric's talent; the competition of the Beverly Hills Matron vs. the Slut from the Valley is over and Brooke won. And since L.A. isn't big enough for both of them, Stephanie has to leave. "So you've always said," Stephanie replies.