Monday, August 07, 2006, Episode #4867

Taylor and Phoebe consider Hector's warning.

Phoebe stops by her mother's office and is surprised to find Taylor making arrangements for her colleague, Dr. Kibe, to take on her patients. After Dr. Kibe leaves, Phoebe asks Taylor if she's quitting her job and turning herself in. Taylor assures Phoebe that she's just taking a leave of absence, since she's not fit to advise others when her own life is so messed up. Hector comes in and tells Taylor that she doesn't have to do this; his contacts with the police told him that there are no solid leads, so the case will likely remain unsolved - that is, unless Taylor says something, in which case he and Phoebe... She cuts him off and says she knows what will happen to him and Phoebe if she confesses, so he doesn't have to repeat himself. Maybe he does, he says, because of the amount of time she's spending with Thorne and Alexandria.

Hector tells Taylor he wants to save her from herself.

Taylor escorts Phoebe outside. When she returns, Hector asks why she sent Phoebe out. She explains that she didn't want Phoebe here when she said that she's upset at the way Hector seems to be taking over her life. While she's grateful for his help, she won't let him tell her what to do. Even if it's to save her from herself? Hector asks. He tells her that it seems to him that she's barely functioning at a time when she needs to be strong and committed. He suggests that they get out of time, as far from Thorne and his daughter as possible, but she says she doesn't want to do that. Taylor tells Hector that Thorne is helping her get better by taking her to A.A., and she also doesn't think running away will solve anything. Hector says that HE should be the one taking her to A.A., since he loves her and would do anything for her. Like pressuring her into going along with this cover up when she was still in shock? she asks. She tells him to think about it and he'll see that what's happening is almost worse than what happened. She can't let him make choices for her, since it isn't healthy for them or their friendship.

Thorne is surprised by his mother's news.

Stephanie is at Thorne's, admiring Alexandria in the new dress that Taylor made for her. Alexandria laughs at her grandma's comment that they should get grandpa to let Alexandria model, but Stephanie tells Thorne, who's looking on, that they could use some innocence on the runway after today. Leaving Alexandria to color, Thorne walks out onto the patio with his mom and asks if that means the preview didn't go well. The supermodel was provocative, Stephanie says - and surprisingly, Brooke didn't like that at all. Thorne is shocked that Brooke would think the show was too risque. Stephanie responds that Brooke is jealous. Of Ridge working with Donna? Thorne asks. Of being replaced, Stephanie replies. Thorne asks if that means something's going on with Ridge and Donna. Stephanie replies that this is classic Brooke, as he should understand full well. She suggests that Brooke is once again dumping one man for another while not wanting anyone else to have the man she dumped.

Stephanie pays Taylor a visit.

Soon after, Stephanie stops by Taylor's office and asks the doc if she has time to talk. Taylor says she has nothing BUT time. Stephanie takes that to mean Taylor's lightening her case load, so Taylor explains about her leave of absence. Stephanie thinks it's a good idea, but she's surprised Thorne didn't mention it when she just saw him. It just happened, Taylor replies, asking Stephanie what she wants. Stephanie says she wants to thank her for spending time with Thorne and Alexandria. She's glad Alexandria has someone with Taylor's honesty and integrity as a role model. Looking uncomfortable, Taylor says that she doesn't need to hear this right now. Stephanie guesses that's because of everything between them, and she has to admit that she was wrong to let that happen. She was so busy fawning over Brooke because Ridge was dying that she was insensitive to Taylor, and there's no excuse for that. On top of that, she gave Brooke all that Forrester stock that Brooke won't return now, so she feels like a fool. Taylor says they all have regrets; they do, Stephanie agrees, and one of hers is that she let Taylor down. Taylor asks if Thorne told her everything. If she's referring to the drinking, Stephanie says, he did, and she knows about the A.A. meetings. Most importantly, though, she wants to be friends with Taylor again, so she hopes Taylor will forgive her. After losing one daughter in law, she won't lose another, especially after Thorne has done so well with Taylor's help. She hates to say it, but Taylor has been a saint to Thorne and his little girl.

Taylor says she's far from being a saint, since she doesn't have all the answers. All she can do is... All she can do is be Thorne's friend, Stephanie says, and hers - that is, if Taylor can find it in her heart to forgive her. Nearly in tears, Taylor says that question is, can she forgive herself. Stephanie apologizes for sounding so selfish and promises to be there for Taylor. She doesn't want anything to come between them again. Taylor stops crying and embraces Stephanie, but we see over Stephanie's shoulder how distressed Taylor is.

Donna thinks she knows what's on her sister's mind.

At Forrester, Ridge and Donna can't believe that Brooke has just fired Donna. Brooke says she will not argue about this after the tawdry sex show her sister put on for the press and their loyal buyers, a show that could cost them the whole line. That is, unless they can somehow salvage this. Ridge argues that everyone loved Donna, but Brooke tells him that some buyers walked out. Ridge says that he just wanted to try something different. And his designs were as spectacular as ever, Brooke says; it's just that what Donna did was so far away from what Brooke's Bedroom is all about. Donna admits she's not seasoned, but it sounds to her like Brooke is saying she demeaned herself. Brooke says that Donna was just inexperienced. Maybe so, Donna counters, but she felt the energy and the excitement in a room. She knows they were a hit, even though it was her and not Brooke on the runway - and that's where she thinks the problem is. She thinks Brooke still wants to be the face of Brooke's Bedroom, for obvious reasons that Brooke won't even admit to herself. She thinks she should have expected this; she knows Brooke is in love with Ridge, even though she married Nick, and she knows that Brooke would rather be here, where the action is, than stuck over at Marone. On top of that, Brooke has to watch her kid sister in her shoes on the runway, getting the kudos that should be Brooke's. Donna thinks all that is driving Brooke crazy!

Brooke says she's just protecting Donna.

Brooke says that this is not driving her crazy. She just doesn't want Donna and the line to become a laughing stock in the industry. Ridge says that's not what's happening; he argues that Donna is as committed to this line as he is. Donna adds that she only did what Ridge told her to. So she blames Ridge for this disgusting display? Brooke asks. Ridge says that this "disgusting display" was his idea, and Donna did it better than anyone could have - including Brooke! Brooke asks if he meant to hurt her, but he thinks she should know he loves her too much to ever hurt her. He also thinks she knows how he feels about the Bedroom line, so she should know that he'd love to have her back here, working with him. But Brooke can't come back, Donna says, and they both know why. Brooke says she has no idea what they're talking about, but if they think what happened today would bring her back here... Ridge asks Brooke just what she objected to. He points out that they had to grab people's attention, and they couldn't do that by just having Donna be a carbon copy of Brooke. They needed Donna to have her own spark, so Ridge came up with this idea and did just that. So what's the problem? Donna asks. Brooke says that the problem is that Donna doesn't see the "sophisticated sexuality" that Brooke's Bedroom is all about. So they simply disagree on how to market this, Ridge says; that doesn't surprise him, since Nick is forcing her to work at Marone, away from where all the energy and action is. He thinks that Brooke should just tell Nick to get over it and accept her being her, now that they're married.

Brooke considers what Ridge says as she gets a call on her cell from Nick, asking where she is. She tells him everything is OK and she'll be there soon. After she hangs up, Ridge tells her to call Nick back and tell him that plans have changed. Brooke pauses and then says she has to go.

Ridge is happy with where he and Donna stand.

After Brooke leaves, Donna tells Ridge she's sorry, since she knows how much he wants to work with Brooke. Ridge says he and Brooke make a great team, even when they disagree, because they respect each others talent. He and Donna agree that it's a shame that Brooke lets Nick control her life. All in the name of love, Ridge says. Donna asks if he thinks Brooke knows what's in her heart. She thinks she does, Ridge answers - and that leaves him here, with Donna, which is a pretty good place to be after today's preview showing. Brooke didn't think so, Donna says. Then Brooke will have to get over it, Ridge notes. Donna asks if he thinks this is the end of the line for her new job. Ridge tells her that it's only just starting for her. Donna hopes so. Ridge senses that she's doubting him, but she says she'd never do that. However, she thinks it was a mistake to tell him how she could never find a relationship because none of the ones she had could measure up to his. Ridge admits that he has faults, hard as that is to believe. But he's wonderful, Donna says, so she's glad he's in her life. She promises never to take him for granted the way Brooke does, which leads to the two of them kissing.