Friday, December 01, 2006, Episode #4947

Nick and Jackie address their staff.

Nick gathers the staff in the Forrester CEO's office (where the windows have been boarded up since Stephanie smashed them). He admits that he doesn't know much about fashion, but he intends to learn. He introduces the staff to Jackie, their new president, and Donna, who'll stay as head model while acting as creative consultant. Under their leadership, he's sure they can work together to make this company a success; after all, this is still Forrester Creations. Luigi, the Head of Operations, exclaims, "Like hell it is. Not without the Forresters!" Nick thinks Luigi has guts, even if Luigi's calling him out in front of the staff this way is pretty dumb. He won't tolerate that kind of ignorance, so he fires Luigi. As Luigi walks out, Nick suggests that anyone who agrees with leave, too. Many employees walk out, and only four stay behind. Nick asks one of the employees who stayed, Bruno, if he can do Luigi's job. Bruno is hesitant, since Luigi worked under Thorne for years, but when Nick presses him, he says he can do it. "The job's yours," Nick tells Bruno, telling the others to learn from this. He cares more about what they think they can do than about what they did before. He thinks that if they work together toward a common goal, they can make Forrester into a bigger success than ever.

Clarke signs on as Forrester's new head designer.

Donna and Jackie watch as Nick goes through Forrester's most recent financial reports and market research. Donna is impressed by how quickly Nick dived in; he explains that he has to show the Marone board that this company can make lots of money quickly. Clarke pops in, having been summoned to the "new inner sanctum." Nick asks if Clarke's interested in the job he faxed about. Clarke replies that he wouldn't be here if he wasn't. Nick asks if he wants the job. Clarke admits it would be a feather in his cap to be lead designer for Forrester Creations, but this isn't the same Forrester Creations. That era's over, Nick says. Donna asks Clarke if the Garrison era is about to begin. Clarke points out that Eric and Ridge would never have given him this chance. Nick wants to know if Clarke's in. Clarke says he is and asks when he starts. Immediately, Nick replies; he tells Clarke to see his assistant about an office and get to work, since he wants Clarke's ideas for the spring line by tomorrow. Clarke says he'll have them in the morning and leaves. Nick tells Jackie that he'll need her at that meeting. Jackie says she'll be there, since she'll do anything to help him succeed. Nick says he's already succeeded, by doing something no one else ever did: he held Stephanie Forrester and her family accountable.

Ridge and Thorne run some ideas by Eric.

At the Forrester mansion, Ridge and Thorne marvel at all the flowers and cards that suppliers and buyers have sent to show their support. Eric comes in and asks if Stephanie is there; when Ridge says she isn't, Eric guesses that she must be in therapy with Taylor, not that it will do any good. Ridge agrees that therapy is not Stephanie's thing, but Thorne points out that Taylor is also their mother's friend. Eric fears that something will have to change if Stephanie wants to learn to open up to anybody. Thorne changes the subject and says that he spoke to a real estate broker who has a small manufacturing space across town. It's not as upscale as Forrester, but it's also not as pricy. Eric says they'd need room for legal and marketing, and Ridge points out that they can shop out advertising, payroll and shipping. If they keep their costs low, Thorne calculates, they can show a profit within five years. Eric points out that it took 40 years to build up Forrester Creations; he doesn't think he has it in him to do it again, even if it takes half the time. Ridge tells Eric that Nick won the opening battle, but he'll lose the war. "Unless you throw in the towel," Thorne tells his dad.

Eric tells Ridge and Thorne what he has in mind.

Eric says that he's not quitting. He loves designing too much to do that, even if he's not so enthused about the business part. Thorne asks if that means Eric doesn't want to start a new company. Eric explains that he just wants to put out a limited line of unique pieces that focus on quality. However, he knows that Ridge and Thorne both have families to raise and may have other ideas in mind, so he doesn't want them to be bound by his decision. He'll be happy to do just a few designs a year, but he'll understand if they want to do something else. Ridge and Thorne point out that the spring showings are coming up, so they need to get product out to the buyers. Eric says that his mind is made up, but he repeats that he'll understand if they don't agree with his direction. Thorne and Ridge both say that they're not going anywhere. Whatever Eric has in mind, they're both behind him. Ridge points out that Eric rallied the whole family around Stephanie, so now it's their turn to rally around Eric. They both embrace Eric as a show of support.

Taylor links Stephanie's need for control to her feeling powerless against her father.

In Taylor's office, Stephanie cries as she remembers her father hitting her when she did something wrong. But her father had every right to be angry, she explains. Taylor points out that she gets angry with her kids, but she doesn't hit them. Times were different then, Stephanie replies. Taylor accuses Stephanie of trying to justify what her father did. Stephanie says that her father wasn't cruel; he only punished her when she deserved it. She asks why they're even talking about this when they should be discussing her marriage. Taylor explains that Stephanie's need to control everything, the key to her marital problems, is tied to what her father did. She suggests that Stephanie felt like her father had all the control when he hit her, because she was a powerless little girl who couldn't defend herself. Stephanie scoffs at the idea that her father caused her problems. Taylor counters that abuse is about control. Stephanie asks Taylor not to use the word abuse, but Taylor asserts that an adult striking a child is abuse. Stephanie responds that her father just lost his temper. Taylor asks Stephanie if she ever told a teacher or a friend. Stephanie says she didn't. Taylor asks if anyone suspected. Stephanie says they didn't, although she'd sometimes skip gym class if her gym clothes would expose marks or bruises. Taylor asks Stephanie if her sister or mother noticed, or if Stephanie told her mother. Stephanie thinks this is going nowhere and turns to leave. Taylor has one last question before Stephanie leaves: "Did you cry at your mother's funeral?"

Stephanie refuses to confront her mother.

Stephanie stops in her tracks. She then admits that she has something to say, but only if Taylor promises not to repeat it. Taylor assures Stephanie that anything said here is confidential. Stephanie tells Taylor that her mother is still alive, although she may as well be dead to her. She hasn't seen or spoken to her mother in thirty years, and she wants it to stay that way. Taylor thinks that seems a bit extreme. Stephanie goes back to Taylor's earlier question and explains that she told her mother what her father did - but her mother did absolutely nothing. She just wanted her mother to listen, but her mother couldn't even do that. Taylor asks about Stephanie's sister. Stephanie says that she and her sister don't talk about what happened. Taylor asks if Stephanie's sister cut their mother out of her life, too. She didn't, Stephanie replies. In fact, Pam still lives in Chicago and takes care of their mother. Taylor urges Stephanie to go see her mother and deal with this. Stephanie doesn't see the point, since she can't change the past. But she can change her need to control everything, Taylor argues, or her tendency to ride Eric about his faults - and the root of those behaviors is what happened in Stephanie's past. Stephanie refuses to have anything to do with her mother. Taylor insists that Stephanie confront her mother if she wants to save her marriage. She tells Stephanie to call her mother now, before it's too late.

Stephanie's sister Pam is surprised to hear from Stephanie.

Stephanie reluctantly picks up the phone and calls her sister Pam, who is surprised to hear from Stephanie. Stephanie asks Pam how she is. Pam says she's fine. Stephanie then asks about their mother. She's also fine, Pam replies, pointing out that she's with their mother right now. Stephanie says that she was just thinking about them, and... She pauses and says that she's glad that everything is fine. She tells Pam to take care of herself and hangs up. Putting down the phone, Stephanie tells Taylor that the phone call was a mistake. Taylor tells Stephanie that the only way to deal with her issues is to face her mother. "No!" Stephanie retorts. Taylor implores Stephanie to do this if she wants to save her marriage. She recalls how Stephanie always said she'd do anything for her family. "Not this," Stephanie sobs. She tells Taylor that it's pointless to try, since her mother will never listen. "She will hear you," Taylor asserts. She insists that if Stephanie is really serious about changing, she'll go to Chicago and confront her mother.