Thursday, August 31, 2006, Episode #4885

Stephanie urges Thorne to let Taylor help him find peace.

Thorne is in the Forrester CEO's office, thinking about his kissing Taylor. Stephanie comes in and asks why he's not watching Donna on "The Rich Ginger Show" like everyone else in the building. He says he's taping it and asks why she isn't watching. She says that she's had her fill of Donna. Changing the subject, she comments that she couldn't find him earlier. Thorne tells her that he was at Taylor's, telling the doc that he was giving up on looking for Darla's killer. Stephanie's glad to hear that he's giving up on his anger and moving on, and she's just as glad that Taylor also supports that decision. She hopes that Taylor might help Thorne find peace of mind now.

Thorne tells his mother that he kissed Taylor.

Thorne doesn't respond; Stephanie senses from his silence that something is bothering Thorne and asks what it is. He admits that he kissed Taylor when he was at her house earlier, but he feels like that was wrong, since it's too soon after his wife died. Stephanie knows that no one can replace Darla in his or Alexandria's heart, but she wonders what his heart is telling him. He replies that is heart is broken. And Taylor can help fix it, Stephanie advises. She knows he can't turn off the love he felt for Darla, but he and Taylor both suffered huge losses, so there's nothing wrong with their wanting something positive in their lives.

Taylor gives Hector advice on adjusting to his blindness.

After his release from the hospital, Hector goes with Taylor to her house. He's wearing dark glasses and has a white cane. After Taylor leads him in, Hector thanks her for picking him up, since the guys at the fire station got a call. She sits him on the sofa and says that it's understandable that he'd want to be out of the hospital now. Hector tells her that Caitlin offered to bring him to New York to live with her. Taylor thinks that's sweet, but Hector points out that Caitlin has her own life now, as does Jimmy. He's grateful that his kids want to help him, but he'd feel like a fish out of water in a big, unfamiliar city like New York, especially since he can't even find his way around Taylor's living room. She knows adjusting to being blind will be hard for him, but there are people like her who will help him. Accepting help will be hard, he comments, since he was always the one who helped others. That will be one of his challenges, Taylor explains. Hector admits that the guys at the fire house invited him to stay with them. But even though they're like family, he thinks that would be too humiliating, and he also has to wonder what he'd do when the firemen are out on a call. Since he can't go with them now, he feels like he wouldn't belong there. In fact, he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere right now.

Hector feels funny getting sympathy from Taylor.

Hector apologizes to Taylor; he doesn't want her to feel sorry for him, since he knows how lucky he is to be alive right now. It's just that he has to find his purpose now. Taylor thinks he's doing well so far, but she suggests he lose the dark glasses; she feels like he's using the glasses to hide behind, and that will only slow his progress. He frets about his face, but she assures him he looks fine, so he lets her remove the glasses. Even so, he refuses to go back to the fire house, since he couldn't bear it, anymore than he can bear sitting here, getting sympathy from her. He thinks he should go, but she tells him to stay, since he has nowhere else to go. Yes, they both made some mistakes and they would probably change those if they could. But they can't, so they have to move on. She wants him to stay here with her and Phoebe as long as he needs to. Taylor then goes to get his things from the car. While she's outside, the phone rings; Hector manages to make his way across the room and answers the call, but he hangs up when he hears Thorne's voice on the other end. Just after Hector puts the phone back on the table, Taylor returns with his stuff. Upset to see him on his feet, she takes him by the arm and leads him to his room.

Felicia worries that Ridge might be using Donna to get to Brooke.

While "The Rich Ginger Show" takes a commercial break, Rich tells Donna that she's doing great. Donna says she's just glad Ridge is here. Rich is sure there's nowhere else Ridge would rather be. Backstage, Felicia asks Ridge what he's up to by asking Ginger to bring him on stage. As the show resumes, Rich holds up a photo of Donna from the "Brooke's Bedroom" showing and asks how it feels to be appreciated. She answers that everyone wants to be appreciated. But not everyone is a lead lingerie model, Rich quips. Donna retorts, "But in Brooke's Bedroom, they can all feel like one." Rich then asks how it feels to go from being a waitress to being an overnight sensation that men want to whistle at. She responds that she's been whistled at before, but now she gets paid for it. The audience responds with a rousing show of applause. Backstage, Ridge tells Felicia to listen to that. But this performance isn't for the audience, Felicia guesses; she bets he's appearing with Donna on national TV to drive Brooke nuts. Ridge replies that not everything he does involves Brooke. Felicia doesn't buy it, since she knows how much he loves Brooke. She just hopes he's not putting Donna in the middle of it.

Brooke and Nick watch "The Rich Ginger Show."

Back at Brooke's house, she is still watching "The Rich Ginger Show." Nick comes in and turns off the TV; he wants to show Brooke a model of a Marone tanker painted green, just like she suggested to the board. They'll have three of those ready by the end of the month, he proudly proclaims. Barely noticing the model, Brooke grabs the remote and turns the TV back on. Nick asks what's on that has her so engrossed. She explains that Donna is doing her first big TV interview. Nick watches with her and thinks Donna is doing well. So far, Brooke responds. If she's so concerned, Nick asks, then why isn't she at the studio? Because Ridge is there, Brooke replies, and she doesn't like what he and Donna have planned. She tells Nick about Ridge's idea to have Donna strip out of her suit and into her lingerie by tugging on some conveniently placed Velcro. She tried to talk them out of it, so she really hopes they don't go through with it.

Rich asks Donna about her relationship with Ridge.

On stage, Donna replies to Rich's questions about her new career by thanking her sister, Brooke, for giving her this opportunity. Keeping things "all in the family" seems to be the Forrester way, Rich quips. The audience laughs. And speaking of family, Rich asks, what's with all the rumors that she's involved with her sister's ex, Ridge? A coy Donna replies that working with Ridge is amazing. Rich tells her that Ridge said the same thing about her; in fact, even though Ridge always raved that Brooke was his inspiration, he's raving about Donna now. And everyone knows how Ridge and Brooke fell in love working together, so Rich asks if that's what's happening with Donna. Back at Brooke's, she's stunned that Rich Ginger is making it sound like Ridge and Donna have a relationship - which they don't. It's just gossip, she frets. But didn't she always say gossip was good for sales? Nick asks. He reminds Brooke of all the times she and Ridge fueled the rumor mill while she was the Bedroom line model, so he doesn't understand why things are different when the rumors are about her sister.

Donna is surprised by Ridge's on-air declaration.

Back on stage, Donna replies that she and Ridge work closely together. Rich recalls the history between Ridge and Brooke and suggests that the sparks must be flying between the designer and his "new Logan." Donna replies that she can't speak for Ridge. Then why not let him speak for himself? Ginger asks, inviting Ridge on stage. Felicia and Donna are both surprised as Ridge walks out on stage and gives Donna a kiss. Back home, Brooke is just as stunned. Whispering, Donna asks Ridge what's going on. Ridge tells her that he thought the talk show host's question deserved an answer. Donna says they can't do that here. Rich looks over to them and asks if they have a secret to share with the class. Donna asks if she should do "it" - apparently referring to the Velcro stunt - now, but Ridge says not yet. Rich quips that he feels like he's eavesdropping, so Ridge says that he and Donna have something they'd like to tell him about. As Brooke sits at home, wondering what's going on, Ridge decides to address the rumors Ginger mentioned by confirming them! As a stunned Donna listens, Ridge tells Ginger and the world that Donna has changed his life. He felt like he had lost his muse, but then this vision walked into his life, and he was immediately entranced. He tried to keep things strictly business, but working with Donna changed his direction, and he feels like today is the first day of the rest of his life. He then lays a big kiss on Donna!