Monday, April 03, 2006, Episode #4777

Hope and R.J. are ready to be pirates.

At Brooke's house, Nick tells her about his unusual way of showing Taylor that she's not an alcoholic. He explains that sending someone on a bender teaches them not to abuse alcohol. OK, Brooke muses. She then tells him about her visit from Ridge last night; she shares Ridge's suspicions that she has abandonment issues over her father leaving her, and that her feelings for Nick are rooted in her thinking that Nick is safe and won't walk out on her. Like Ridge did, Nick guesses, and like Ridge will probably do again given the chance. Nick knows the scars she feels from her father walking out on her must run deep, so he promises that she can trust that he'll always be there for her. He thinks Ridge knows that, and that's what scares Ridge. Brooke smiles and starts kissing him, but they are interrupted by the entrance of Hope and R.J., dressed like pirates. Hope tells Uncle Nick that they're ready to walk the plank! Nick dons an eye patch of his own and, in his best pirate voice, tells his young "mateys" that they're about to set sail on the Marlin for an island where they will have a grand treasure hunt. Brooke laughs at his enthusiasm but says he must be talking about some pretend island and treasure. Oh, this is real, Nick says. He and his mates planned this two days of plundering - all in family fun, of course - in secret, and they're ready to head for the boat -- and he tells Brooke that she's coming with them!

Nick admires Brooke's "pirate booty."

Brooke tells Nick that she can't just blow off work. Nick looks to Hope and R.J. and suggests that Brooke might have to walk the plank. Argh, Hope replies in a pirate voice. In his normal voice, Nick tells Brooke that she can just call work and tell them that she's not showing up. He thinks the kids are looking forward to this. Hope pleads with her mommy, pointing out that R.J. has never been on a treasure hunt. Neither has mommy, Nick says, at least not like this one anyway. He asks Brooke in his pirate voice, what's it going to be? Brooke considers the offer and answers with a smile and her own "argh!" Nick tells Hope to take her little mate and get ready to head for the ship. Brooke laughs. Nick hugs her and he thanks her for that; he doesn't think he could do this alone. He'll never have to, Brooke replies, kissing him.

Megan worries about Brooke being away.

When the "pirates" get to the Marlin, Brooke dons a pirate t-shirt and doo rag and asks Nick how she looks. Nick tells her to turn around so he can see how she looks in back. He goes behind her and laughs. Brooke asks what's so funny. Nick says it's nothing, but Hope asks him what it says back there. Brooke goes to a mirror where she can see that the back of her shirt reads "Pirate Booty." She laughs that Nick is a bad boy. He then quizzes her on lots of pirate lingo like "blimey," "shiver me timbers" and "pirate booty." Based on her answers, Nick announces that they're ready to set sail. As he sends the kids on deck with the flag, Brooke kisses Nick. He replies by telling her to watch her "pirate booty" and they follow. Soon after, they set sail. While Nick helps Hope steer, Brooke is on the phone with Megan, telling her that she'll just be gone overnight. Megan asks Brooke why she's going away overnight instead of spending time working things out with Ridge. Brooke thanks her and assures her that everything will be fine. After she ends the call, she rejoins Nick and talk about how the kids are having a really good time. He asks her how she feels about pirates now. She says she likes the one she's looking at. Then they can get back to talking about her "pirate booty?" he jokes. Brooke laughs that he should stop talking about that in front of the kids, who don't know what he means. Nick thinks they should keep it that way, since he's not really interested in that booty anyway. How about now? she asks, putting his hands on her butt. He says he's interested now and they kiss.

Ridge asks for Stephanie's help.

At Forrester, Stephanie is in her office, on the phone with Dr. Ramirez (who she calls by his first name, Christian, for the first time on camera). He assures her that Felicia is doing fine so far, although there is still a chance she could reject the liver. But she's holding her own for now. He informs Stephanie that he's away from the clinic now, but he'll call in every half hour to check on his star patient. He tells Stephanie that her daughter is very special and ends the call. Outside, Ridge stops by Sally's desk to pick up some tickets to the auto show; he's looking forward to taking R.J. this afternoon. He then tells Sally he's going in to see his mother, who thinks it's Eric and says she has wonderful news. Ridge is glad to see her in such good spirits and hopes her mood will last long enough to help him with an urgent favor. He knows she'll do this, since he's sure she'll do whatever's best for her kids. Of course she will, she says. He says she's like Brooke in that regard. Hearing Brooke's name, Stephanie asks where this is going. Ridge shares with her his theory that Brooke is keeping him at arms' length because of her issues with her dad. Stephanie reminds him that he didn't disappear without a trace like Stephen Logan did, and she's sure Brooke knows that. But that didn't change how abandoned Brooke felt when he [Ridge] walked out on her, Hope and R.J., he explains, which is why he wants to do something that will make Brooke feel more secure about her: he wants Stephanie to tear up the papers naming her head of Forrester and put him and Brooke back in charge!

Stephanie says that he can't be serious, but Ridge assures her that he is. She tells him that she will do anything to protect him, but this is all about Brooke. It's all about his life and where he wants it to go, he explains, and that means building a home and family for Brooke and her kids where they will know he'll never walk away from them ever again. He tells his mother that he needs his son and can't live without Brooke and R.J. living without them would be as wrong as it would be for Stephanie to live without him, or Thorne or... Or Felicia, she says. He says he knows she blames herself, but there was nothing she could do for Felicia. But there is something she can do to help him get back his life, so he hopes she'll consider it. He then heads for Brooke's place and calls out for R.J., and he's surprised to find no one is home. He looks around and finds a pirate's eye patch laying on the table, indicating that he's been stood up.

The Ramirez brothers have a reunion.

Meanwhile, we go back to Christian and find that he's in Hector's living room. Hector asks Christian what the deal is with his kid brother coming back to the U.S. without even a phone call. Christian says he's been busy. With that star patient he heard Christian talking about on the phone, Hector guesses. He wants details, but all Christian will say is that he's been devoting his time to keep this young woman alive. He thinks he should be getting back there, but Hector isn't about to let his little brother just run off. He's going to a barbecue at his friend Bridget's and he wants Christian to come along. Is she a fireman, too? Christian asks. Actually, Hector says, she's a doctor, so they might hit it off. At the very least, they can talk shop, and maybe Bridget can get him to tell her more about this mysterious star patient of Christian's.

Thorne and Darla think Felicia would be pleased.

Over at Dante's, Bridget and Dante tell Thorne and Darla how Bridget has moved in to be close to "Dino." Thorne and Darla both think Felicia would be pleased seeing the love little Dino is getting. Thorne helps Dante with the grill while Bridget chats with Darla, who wants to know how serious things are with Dante. He's an amazing man and a great father, Bridget replies - but she's not sure about his grilling skills. Darla agrees that there seems to be a lot of smoke over there. Then it's a good thing they invited a fireman, Hector says as he arrives with Christian. Hector introduces his brother and tells the ladies that Christian is a doctor who practiced in Europe. Darla points out that Bridget spent some time studying in Europe. In Copenhagen, Bridget says, asking Christian what his specialty is. He says he has several, but right now, he's working exclusively with a cancer patient. Bridget goes somber. Christian asks if he said something wrong. No, Bridget replies. It's just that she recently lost her sister to cancer, and she wonders if Christian could have helped her sister had he come back to LA a bit sooner.