Wednesday, August 30, 2006, Episode #4884

Taylor tells Phoebe about Hector's blindness.

At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor beats Phoebe at another game of gin; she jokes that Phoebe will be doing the housework until she's 30 now. Phoebe remarks how much better everything is today. Taylor admits she's doing her best to get things back to normal. Phoebe admits she's sometimes scared by her grandmother, but she supposes she and her mom needed someone on the outside to show them what the right thing to do was. Taylor thinks she can do this as long as she doesn't think too far ahead. Taylor takes advantage of the chance to tell Phoebe about Hector's blindness; she knows Hector wasn't the best influence, but he was trying to protect them. Phoebe thinks it's awful that Hector is blind, perhaps permanently, but his recent obsessive behavior was still wrong. Taylor points out that she could have spoken up, but she didn't. Just then, Thorne drops by. While Phoebe goes upstairs, Thorne asks Taylor to go to the cemetery with him: he's decided to stop the investigation into Darla's death so he can move on, and he'd like her to be there when he runs that decision by Darla.

Thorne pulls away after kissing Taylor.

Later, Thorne and Taylor return from the cemetery; he thanks her for being there when he "told" Darla about his decision. He thinks going to the grave site and talking to her reminds him of how his wife was. He realizes that giving up on the investigation feels right, because Darla wouldn't want him obsessing over who her killer is, for his own sake and for Alexandria's. But even so, he'll hope until the day he dies that the person who killed Darla never has a moment of peace. "I hope that bastard rots in hell," he states. He then thanks Taylor for her help, and he leans and kisses her. He quickly pulls away and says he's sorry, but Taylor says it's OK.

Blind Hector "sees" what Stephanie is up to.

In his hospital room, Hector hears someone come in. He thinks it's a doctor or nurse and says he must be getting better, since he doesn't need a pain pill. But it turns out that his visitor is Stephanie, who has today's newspaper. She reads the headline, "Hometown hero survives tragic fire." Hector thinks they should get right to the point. For starters, he wants to thank her for convincing Taylor not to confess to Thorne. She did that to protect her son, she explains. And what does that have to do with her visit here today? Hector asks. Stephanie tells him that she's done some research into his condition. She knows his insurance company would probably prefer to treat him locally, but she's learned of a leading institute for the blind. Since Hector's been such a good friend to her family, Stephanie would like to send Hector there to learn how to adjust to his blindness - provided his doctors agree, of course. And where is this place? Hector asks. Minnesota, she replies. Hector guesses she couldn't find one in Siberia, since he sees what she's trying to do. She wants Taylor and Thorne together, but she can't make that happen unless she gets him out of the picture.

Stephanie urges Hector to accept her offer.

Soon after, Dr. Hubert checks Hector out. He says Hector might see flashes of light, but that's just his eye muscles relaxing after the bandages have been removed. He then addresses Hector's inquiry about the Morlin Optical Institute in Minnesota; he thinks it's a fine place, but Hector's coverage is through the city, and they have solid rehabilitation in L.A. He tells Hector to talk with his social worker about his options here. Hector quips that Stephanie is his "anti-social worker," but the doctor has already left. Stephanie again presses Hector to take her offer, but he says he can see right through her, even without his eyes. He sees that she's saving Taylor for Thorne and thinks it's sick. Stephanie thinks those two can help each other, and she'll make sure Thorne never learns the truth. She urges Hector not to interfere with "the natural course of events," but Hector sees nothing natural about pushing Thorne toward the woman who killed his wife. Stephanie tells him to forget about any notions of being with Taylor, because Taylor doesn't want him. Besides, his trying to protect Taylor nearly destroyed Taylor and Phoebe, so Stephanie thinks it's best if he stays away. Or what? he asks. Stephanie tells him to get some rest and leaves.

Ridge and Donna show Brooke the outfit Donna will wear on TV.

At Forrester, Ridge shows Brooke some sketches of an outfit he wants Donna to wear when she goes on a talk show tonight; the outfit is designed so that Donna can strip it down with just one tug. Even though Brooke once said she would wear something like that, she doesn't think it's appropriate for a talk show interview. Where Donna will be talking about underwear, Ridge argues, so what's the problem with showing off their product? Donna offers to wear something else if Brooke wants; Brooke thinks her sister should go change, so she sends Donna off. Once Donna is gone, Brooke asks Ridge what he's doing by playing games with her and her sister. He says he's just selling their line, but she points out he just had his hands all over Donna. He had ONE hand on ONE spot, he clarifies - and while he doesn't know what Donna thought about that, it sure had Brooke going. Brooke says she does intend to get going, right now. Ridge asks why she isn't staying for the show. Brooke doesn't think she needs to be there, since Ridge and Donna are obviously doing what they want. Actually, Ridge says, Brooke is doing what he wants, since she's finally stopped acting like herself, instead of the zombie who married Nick.

Brooke tells Ridge how his actions are hurting her.

Brooke asks Ridge if he still thinks her marriage to Nick was an accident; Ridge calls Nick the "anti-accident," because he still thinks she married Nick because she thinks Nick won't walk out on her like he did. And what's wrong with wanting a man who won't walk out on her. He says that he has already apologized for that over and over. And what's he doing with Donna? she asks. Moving on, Ridge replies, like she told him to do when she chose Nick. Or does she expect him to just sit at home with microwave dinners while he babies his broken heart for the rest of his life? Brooke doesn't expect that, but it's hurt to see that he has chosen her sister to move on with. And she can't stand that, Ridge says. He then points out that he's been to hell and back trying to get her back, and he doesn't want to be alone anymore. And he treats Donna decently, so he thinks Brooke asking him to back away is unfair. Brooke agrees, but that doesn't change the fact that it hurts. Ridge reminds her that he's hurting, too, any time he sees her with Nick. On that note, Brooke goes home. When she gets there, she tunes in to the Rich Ginger Show.

Felicia wonders what her brother is up to.

Backstage at the Rich Ginger Show, Felicia waits with Ridge. A floor director has some coffee, but Felicia tells him that she doesn't want Donna to have anything to drink right now. Ridge tells the director that his sister is being proprietary, but Felicia points out that P.R. is her department now. Rich Ginger comes over and introduces himself. Felicia asks the host if he got her fax, asking him not to ask any personal questions. He did, he says, but he doesn't see what they can talk about if he complies. Ridge tells Rich that he thinks he can explain better and pulls the host aside; while watching, Donna and Felicia wonder what Ridge is up to.