Tuesday, October 25, 2005, Episode #4667

Dante offers Bridget the naked truth.

Bridget is in the hospital, working with some fellow interns. They decide to take a break before "Dr. Killjoy" gets back, but Bridget decides to stay and review her notes. An orderly brings in a dead body and quips that they're "dropping like flies tonight." Bridget frowns, so the orderly apologizes and leaves. Bridget then sees a note on the toe tag that says "Dying to be with you." Amused, Bridget playfully announces that the next procedure for this corpse is a vasectomy. She reaches for a scalpel and pulls back the sheet - and sees a totally nude Dante! She gives him back the sheet and asks why he's not preparing for the fashion show. He says that she's more important. She's flattered, but she thinks he's better off with someone who's life isn't such a mess. Her parents remarrying didn't help, she laments, and Nick is in love with her mom, which is why... Why what? he asks. She says that she knows she's better off, but right now, the fool's paradise that Stephanie "saved" her from doesn't look so bad. Dante asks Bridget if she really believes that. It would make things simpler, she says. Maybe for now, he says, but later it will be different. He offers to take her away from all this. Before or after he gets dressed? she asks. He says that he's serious: he loves her and will love her child like his own, so he asks her to let him take her away from this mess to a wonderful life. Before she can answer, Bridget gets paged. She has to go, but she thanks him for being a dear friend. He says that he wants to be more, if she'll let him. Smiling, she says she'll see him later and leaves.

Ridge and Taylor listen to what Stephanie is saying.

At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie tells the family that she's selling the house and moving to her family's estate near Boca Raton, Florida. Ridge thinks this decision is crazy, but Stephanie assures him that she's quite sane. Thorne says that she's not an impulsive person. And this isn't an impulsive decision, she says. She has many regrets, such as letting Thorne leave Forrester. Massimo says they all have regrets, but her actions are extreme. Timing is everything, she says, and so is knowing when to quit. Darla asks if this is about Bridget, but Stephanie has no regrets about telling Bridget the truth. It's just that she's come to see that her attempts to guide her family are seen as interfering or controlling. She explains that her parents taught her that an unprincipled life is an empty life, but that belief seems to bring her into conflict with the family, and she doesn't want that. She wants what's best for the family. Even when Brooke is part of it? Eric asks. Thorne looks to his dad, but Stephanie says it's all right, as it always seems to come back to Brooke. She knows when it's time to quit. Ridge can't believe that his mother is running off just because she lost to Brooke. He never thought he'd see the day his mother would be a quitter!

Darla has questions about Stephanie's decision.

Stephanie says she needs this change. Darla asks Stephanie why she can't change here. Thorne agrees and asks his mother to reconsider, so that they can be there for her. If she stays, she says, something will happen that she can't walk away from. Her brand of truth has served the family well, she says, but at a price, and now she sees the costs of her beliefs to her family. She's lost perspective in trying to protect her family, so she doesn't want to be that woman anymore. Taylor walks over to Ridge and tells him that his mother needs to make a life of her own. Stephanie says she can't do that here. She can't welcome Eric's wife into the family, or go into the office and see Brooke, only to deny that it hurts. She won't be able to keep quiet, she says, but speaking out will alienate those she loves. That's why she has to leave, as painful as it is - and it is painful, she assures them.

Massimo bids his friend goodbye.

Ridge asks Eric if he's considered that Stephanie is only leaving because he [Eric] married Brooke. Eric asks Ridge how he can blame him for this, Stephanie comes over and tells them not to cast blame, as it won't change a thing. They'll still see her, she promises, as they can visit each other. She asks Sally to come down to visit her. Only if it includes a round trip ticket and a muscular cabana boy named Raul, Sally laughs. Stephanie says yes to the ticket, but they'll have to work on the cabana boy when Sally arrives. Massimo asks Stephanie if she's sure she wants to do this. She says she HAS to do this. Knowing that Mass is there for Ridge will help, she says. She then turns to Darla, thanking her for being there for Thorne. Next she tells Thorne that she always loved him; he was never second in her heart, and she's proud to be his mother. She says she's blessed to have two wonderful sons, which leads her to turn to Ridge. Ridge asks if she's really doing this. She tells him to always remember what a miracle Taylor's return is, so he should always treasure that. Ridge laughs that she never gives up and gives her a hug. She says she loves him and turns to Eric, saying that she pushed him into Brooke's arms. She kisses him and says she'll always love him. Eric hugs her as she says that she will miss them all.

As the family leaves, Massimo tells Stephanie not to give up. He knows that Stephanie Forrester, or Stephanie Douglas, is not defeated and will rise from the ashes. Massimo then leaves, and Stephanie is all alone.

Gaby tries to calm Thomas down.

At Spectra, Thomas is frantic that he just can't get his designs to gel. Gaby tells him not to put so much pressure on himself, but he can't help it. If he loses, he says, Spectra loses, too - and, he reminds Gaby, she'll be deported. He can't let that happen, but he doesn't know what to do. Gaby goes to get some coffee. While she's gone, Taylor arrives and watches her son. Gaby returns and tells Taylor that Thomas has been like that for days, worrying about what will happen if he loses. Between the buzz about Ridge's line and Eric's marriage, Gaby explains, Forrester has all the momentum, and she bets Taylor couldn't be more pleased. Taylor says she isn't, but Gaby thinks Taylor can't wait to watch her son fail. Taylor says she doesn't want that. Why not, Gaby asks, since Thomas failing means Taylor will be rid of her forever? That's not what this is about, Taylor says; it's about her son getting married too young. Gaby still thinks Taylor will be happy knowing she [Gaby] is on a plane to a country where she knows no one. Taylor says she won't be, but Gaby doesn't believe her and asks her not to lie to her.