Monday, December 11, 2006, Episode #4953

Phoebe tells Bridget that everyone is wrong about Shane.

Phoebe drops by Bridget's beach house, where Bridget frets about Phoebe's feelings for Shane. She reminds Phoebe what happened the night Hector hit Shane and cites that as an example of how dangerous Shane might be. Phoebe retorts that Hector was wrong, because she saw Shane as a sweet guy who made her laugh and even said he loved her. Bridget tells Phoebe how a banged-up Shane came to the hospital seeking treatment for his wound. Phoebe is relieved that Shane is OK, and that he was able to slip away from the hospital before Bridget could call security. She feels terrible, because Shane only ran because of the charges against him - charges that ensued from her using him to make sure he testified on her mother's behalf. Bridget says that she understands how Phoebe feels; she knows Shane is hot and makes Phoebe laugh, but that stuff can be so deceiving, so she wants Phoebe to promise that she'll be careful. Phoebe frets that it was partially her fault, since she led Shane on by pretending she would do more than she actually did. But that was only because Shane wanted more, Bridget points out. Phoebe doesn't believe that; she knows Shane was aggressive, but he was also respectful too. He just feared that she would dump him once she had what she wanted. A knock on the door interrupts the conversation; Bridget answers and is surprised to see Shane.

Shane tells Phoebe how he feels.

Shane demands a chance to talk to Phoebe, who asks how Shane found her. He apologizes for following her, but he just wants to talk. Bridget threatens to call the police, but Phoebe begs her not to. Shane tells Bridget that he just wants a chance to tell Phoebe that he's sorry he let her down. Phoebe reminds him that her mother could have gone to jail without his testimony. Shane insists he would not have let that happen. He only ran because Hector wanted him arrested, but he swears he never wanted to hurt Phoebe, the only person who ever cared about him. He promises never to touch Phoebe again if that's what Phoebe wants. Bridget says that Phoebe doesn't want him touching her, but Shane continues anyway. He tells Phoebe that he would never have let her mother go to jail. Had her mother come back, he would have marched right down to the D.A.'s office, even at the risk of being thrown in jail. And the fact that people even think that he wanted to rape her makes him sick. He tells Phoebe that he wants to be with her, because she inspires him to be a better person. He thinks of how he sliced his hand and got hit by a bat since they met, but he still thinks it's been worth it. Phoebe is confused, but she lets Shane kiss her.

Just then, Shane hears sirens blaring. He asks Phoebe if she called the cops, but she swears she didn't. Fearing that either Phoebe or Bridget called the police, Shane bolts out, despite Phoebe's cries for him to wait.

Jackie thinks her son needs a woman who is his intellectual equal.

At the Marone mansion, Jackie watches Nick hard at work, trying to figure out Forrester's global distribution plans. She frets that taking Forrester was supposed to bring him and Brooke together while punishing Stephanie, but now Brooke is with Ridge, and Stephanie is free and clear and still with Eric. She suggests that Eric is a candidate for either sainthood or the loony bin for staying with Stephanie, who went off to Chicago with him. Just thinking about what Stephanie did brings on a flash of pain. Nick tells her to wait, but she tells him the pain will pass. Right now, she's more worried about him. She asks what the point of having all this power is if he can't find a woman to share it with. Nick replies that he'll have time for that later, but Jackie thinks he needs a warm companion who is his intellectual equal. Just then, the doorbell rings; it's Taylor, holding an olive branch in her hand. She says that she came by to check on Jackie, who thanks Taylor and goes to get some tea. Alone with Taylor, Nick asks Taylor why she's really here. She presents him with the olive branch in her hand, explaining that she came in hopes of making peace. She tells him that he's too decent a man to take a company away from a family. If she thinks he's going to change his mind about Forrester, Nick replies, she's wrong.

Nick is skeptical about Taylor's suggestion.

Taylor tells Nick that she's seen people with distorted thinking change their minds once they become aware of their behavior. Nick, however, doesn't feel that his thinking is distorted; his mother is in pain and his relationship with Brooke is over, and it's that simple, so he doesn't see how therapy could help him. Taylor points out that he now has this huge fashion empire to run. An empire she'd like him to give up, Nick points out. Taylor replies that personally, she doesn't care, reminding him that she sold him her 2% of Forrester knowing that he and Brooke could shaft the Forrester family. Nick suggests that she did that because she was feeling emotional over losing Ridge and having Ridge's family abandon her. Taylor counters that she drove the family away. Because they weren't there for her, Nick asserts. Taylor tells him that she forgave the family in time, because everyone makes mistakes. Speaking of mistakes and guilt, Nick says that he heard about her engagement to Thorne; he suggests that she only accepted Thorne's proposal out of guilt, so she can make up for her mistakes to Thorne and Ally. Taylor tells him that she loves Thorne, who is a wonderful man who forgave her for nearly destroying her family. And that says it all, Nick suggests.

Taylor thinks Nick should spend some time in therapy with her.

Taylor doesn't want to talk about her and brings up Nick's need to get out of this payback mode he's in. She thinks he can get out of that mode by giving Forrester Creations back to the Forresters. She thinks she knows better than anyone about grappling with her inner demons, so she can tell him that owning the company will not take away his anger or make him happy. She doesn't want to see him wind up in her shoes. She suggests that he's angry about his father not being there for him when he grew up, or about his inability to have a child of his own, or over the loss of his marriages to a daughter and her mother. She recalls how Nick offered his own unique brand of help when she was in trouble and just wants to return the favor. She thinks he might find something that really brings meaning to his life if he'll just get off his power trip. She hands him one of her business cards and tells him to call her for an appointment. She then leaves. Jackie comes back in, having overheard the conversation; she comments that Taylor is too interesting a woman for the Forresters. Nick agrees. Jackie suggests that his talking to Taylor about his issues might not be such a bad idea.

Donna wants to clear the air with Thorne.

Donna drops by Taylor's house to see Thorne. She explains that she wanted to congratulate him on his engagement, and also to clear the air between them. Thorne agrees that clearing the idea is a good idea, although he can't help but wonder if she's here to spy on him for her new boss, Nick. Donna insists that Nick has nothing to do with her being here, but Thorne reminds her how she backed up Nick with her claims of what happened to Jackie. Donna stands by her story, but that has nothing to do with why she's here. She reminds him that her sister is back in his family, and she hears that Stephanie is dealing with her anger, so maybe some good came out this. Thorne agrees with the sentiment, but he doesn't think it justifies what Donna did. He knows how alluring success can be in the fashion business, but he fears that Nick is only using their company for revenge. He thinks Nick is using Donna as a tool to get that revenge, which is why he suggests that Donna get as far away from Nick as possible. "He's nothing but trouble," Thorne warns.

Thorne gives Taylor an engagement ring.

After Donna leaves, Taylor comes home to a pleasant surprise: as Thorne whistles "Here Comes The Bride," Alexandria walks into the room and shows off her flower girl dress. Taylor thinks it looks so pretty; she tells Ally she loves the dress and she loves Ally. After Ally goes upstairs, Thorne talks with Taylor, reflecting on everything that's happened in their lives lately. Now that he and Ally have moved in, he thinks it's time they discussed their future as a family and set a wedding date. Taylor agrees. Thorne admits that he's done some things out of order, like getting the flower girl dress first. That's why he has something for Taylor. He takes out an engagement ring and presents it to Taylor. She says it's beautiful. Thorne tells her that he kept thinking about how diamonds sparkle when he picked out that ring. He also thought about how so much of his life is in heaven now. But even though he'll always cherish his past, his life is here, with Taylor, which is why he wants them to make magic together as husband and wife. Taylor accepts his proposal and kisses him.