Wednesday, August 16, 2006, Episode #4874

Ridge urges Brooke to leave Nick.

In Ridge's office - or is it Thorne's, with Ridge using it while his brother's still out? - Brooke responds to Ridge's statement that they belong together by reminding him that she's married. Ridge insists that she is still in love with him, and they can have a second chance if she will only leave Nick. Brooke insists that she and Nick are building a future, but Ridge thinks she's making a mistake, just as he did not too long ago. He knows what it's like to go down the wrong path, only to feel like changing course is impossible. But as much as it hurts to change course, sometimes you have to if you want to be truly happy. That's how he thinks it is with her and Nick, so he hopes she'll come back to him - but if she doesn't, then he intends to move on. Brooke responds that making her feel guilty won't draw her back to him. Ridge says that it's not about guilt. It's about facing the truth. He asks if she's willing to accept seeing him with another woman. If he's asking if she'd be jealous, Brooke replies, she has to admit that she'll always feel the connection between them. But that's exactly why they can't do this to themselves. Ridge doesn't think she can ever forget that connection, so he's urging her to accept that. He pulls her toward him and tells her, "Make it now." Brooke pauses and then says she has to go to her meeting at Marone. But she has a meeting here, Ridge points out. Looking him in the eye, she tells him to handle that and leaves.

Donna thanks Nick, but asks him to stay out of her personal life.

In the Marone board room, Nick has his assistant, Shelley, set an extra place for his wife, right next to him. As Shelley leaves to get everything ready for the board meeting, Donna comes in. She asks Nick if this is where he issues his orders, like "shape up or ship out." Exactly, Nick responds, informing Donna that her sister's not here yet. Actually, Donna admits, she came to see him. She wanted to thank him for motivating her to confront Ridge. Nick says that Ridge is just using her to make Brooke jealous; Donna responds that Ridge is just trying to move on, but that's really just between her and Ridge, so she'd appreciate Nick keeping his opinions about Ridge to himself in the future. Nick thinks her future would be brighter without Ridge, but she says it's HER future and HER choice. Nick thinks she can do better, which is why he thought he was doing her a favor by looking after her. Donna says she'll return that favor by doing one for him: she warns that he isn't going to help anyone, least of all himself, by acting like the "king of the castle" whenever Ridge comes over to see RJ or her, so he should get over this thing he has against Ridge. Nick says it's not in his nature to do that. That attitude may make Brooke all warm and fuzzy, Donna cautions, but not her. Nick warns that she'll only get burned if she gets involved with Ridge.

Soon after, Donna arrives at Forrester and finds Ridge sketching. She's glad to see that he's still working here after his confrontation with her sister. Ridge tells her that he and Brooke talked. Donna asks if that's a good thing. Ridge replies that Brooke is scared, and she's still angry at him for leaving her for Taylor. She can't deal with those feelings, so she is running away to be with Nick. And as if that relationship wasn't crazy enough, now Nick is trying to get her to join the board of Marone Industries. Donna can't see Brooke on the board of a shipping company, because it's so... It's so "not Brooke," Ridge finishes; he suggests that Nick wants to replace Forrester with Marone in Brooke's life, in the hope that Nick might someday replace him in Brooke's life, too.

George notes Nick's lack of information about the business.

At Marone, Nick greets the board members, who are less than impressed that Nick doesn't know the company the way Massimo did. Nick assures them that he'll know the company that well in due time. George, one of the board members, responds that Nick had better learn if he wants to keep this company around. Nick agrees that they need some improvements, and that's one of the things he wants to discuss today. George suggests that they get started, but Nick says that they're still waiting for his wife. George is surprised that Nick has invited his wife, a model, to observe their meeting. Actually, Nick says, he's asked Brooke to join the Marone board. He reminds then that Brooke is CEO of a leading company in the fashion industry. She might look good on a billboard, George quips, but that hardly qualifies her to sit on this board. Nick suggests that George give Brooke a chance. Right on cue, Brooke enters the room. Nick greets her with a kiss and introduces her to the members of the board.

Nick is surprised by Brooke's suggestion.

Nick starts the meeting by reviewing the company's earnings. They're holding steady, George remarks. Nick agrees, but he thinks they need to grow and adapt to market change if they want to stay that way, and he'd like George's suggestions on how they can do that. George suggests that Brooke might be bored by all this, so he suggests that Nick's "missus" get back to her fashions. He tells Brooke that it was a pleasure meeting her and he hopes they see each other again. Nick tells George that Brooke's not leaving. Actually, Brooke admits, she's intrigued and would like to hear George's ideas. George thinks this discussion will be less exciting than it seems, but Suzanne, another board member, suggests that this is a very exciting time for Marone with the Chinese markets opening up. But with the overhead costs, the other board members chime in, they'll have to cut their prices to maintain their competitive edge. Nick asks Brooke if she has any thoughts. Actually, she says, she does. She thinks it's safe to assume that the Board would like Marone to stay on top. Obviously, George quips. Brooke picks up a model of a Marone tanker and asks if they've always been mostly black, like the model. Always, Nick replies. Then maybe a change is in order, Brooke suggests, in order to set Marone apart from their competitors as a leader in the shipping industry: "Paint your tankers green," she suggests, drawing skeptical looks from the board members,

Phoebe tries to be supportive of Taylor.

At the Bel Air mansion, Phoebe can't get Taylor to eat; Taylor explains that she is still sick over keeping the truth about Darla's death a secret. Phoebe tells her mom it was an accident, reflecting on the events of that night. Taylor laments that she just can't escape her guilt, no matter how she tries, and she regrets letting Hector convince her to keep quiet. Phoebe reminds her mom that she already said she'd be OK if Taylor really feels like she has to tell Thorne the truth. Taylor just wishes she had been honest. Phoebe points out that they were just scared; that doesn't make Taylor a criminal, and she's sure a judge will see that. Taylor suggests that she might be able to keep Phoebe and Hector out of trouble by pleading for mercy. Phoebe points out that the judge might have mercy on Taylor, too, but Taylor just doesn't see that happening. Phoebe thinks Taylor might get a suspended sentence, especially if Thorne testifies on her behalf about how much she helped Alexandria. Taylor says she has to tell Thorne first. Phoebe is sure Thorne knows that her mom would never intentionally hurt Darla. And maybe that might help Thorne find closure and move on, Taylor suggests. She recalls how keeping a secret destroyed her marriage to Ridge, and she refuses to let another secret destroy their lives. That's why she intends to tell Thorne the truth. Just then, Hector arrives; after exchanging greetings, he tells Taylor that they need to talk, Taylor says there's nothing to talk about, since she's going to tell Thorne the truth. If she thinks the truth will set her free, Hector states, he has something to show her. He asks Taylor and Phoebe to take a ride with him.