Wednesday, December 06, 2006, Episode #4950

Taylor tells Stephanie's secret to Thorne and his siblings.

Taylor gathers Ridge, Thorne and Felicia at her home. She explains that Stephanie wanted her to explain some things to them, since Steph knew some of these things might be hard to understand. She then breaks the news to the trio that their grandmother Ann is alive. Ridge, Thorne and Felicia can't believe it, since they remember their mother describing their Grandma's funeral in detail. Ridge wonders why his mother said that Grandma was dead. Taylor explains that there was some truth in Stephanie's statement, since she had completely cut her mother out of her life. Felicia doesn't understand, since her mom always held their grandmother up as an example of the perfect wife and mother. Taylor tells them that her mother did that to cope with some painful childhood memories - memories of her being abused by her own father! Ridge, Thorne and Felicia are all stunned. Taylor reminds them that their grandfather had a quick temper, and he also had a drinking problem. Ridge says he doesn't remember that. Taylor assures him that it's true and hopes this will help the three of them understand why their mother has been so overprotective; Stephanie was just trying to give them the protection she never had.

Ridge and Felicia start to understand their mother's behavior.

Ridge, Thorne and Felicia try to digest what Taylor has just told them. Taylor knows this news is hard for them to hear, but it shows how their mother's need to control their lives stemmed from her lack of control as a young girl. She thinks Stephanie can get better if she confronts these issues, and that's why Eric and Stephanie have gone to Chicago. Taylor then tells them of the lengths their mother went to in order to keep anyone from seeing her bruises. And that's why their mother set out to be exact opposite kind of parent to them, Ridge realizes. He can only imagine the pain his mother has been holding back for years. Thorne asks what his mother wants from his grandmother now; Taylor replies that Stephanie needs to confront her mother with some questions, like why her mother didn't protect her. Felicia asks if her grandmother knew about the abuse; Taylor confirms that Stephanie told her mother. Felicia wishes she had known sooner. She thinks of all the years she battled with Stephanie, rebelling because of her mother's overbearing need to control them. But now that she knows why her mother acted that way, she feels like a brat for pushing her mother away. She realizes now that her mother didn't want her kids to experience what she had, and she wonders why she didn't see it sooner. Because they only saw what their mother wanted them to see, Ridge states. Felicia admits that their mother was the best. Ridge holds her and comforts her.

Eric orders Ann to wait and hear what Stephanie has to say.

In Chicago, Eric orders Ann to wait and hear what Stephanie has to say, whether she wants to or not. Stephanie agrees that her mother needs to hear what she has to say. Ann scolds Eric for speaking to her this way; she reminds him how she stood up for him when her husband didn't approve of Eric marrying Stephanie. Eric retorts, "I really don't give a rat's ass." Ann refuses to tolerate such language in her home, but Eric points out that she's tolerated plenty in her home. Pam suggests that she take Eric out to the garden so her mother and sister can have a heart to heart. Ann doesn't want any heart to heart talks; she tells Stephanie to go if she wants, since she's gone 30 years without a word from Stephanie. Stephanie says she's not going anywhere and tells her mother to listen to her. She reminds Ann of the conversation they couldn't have 30 years ago; she thought it wasn't necessary, but she was wrong. Ann suggests that Stephanie did well enough on her own for 30 years, but Stephanie says she didn't. She explains to her mother that she has a bottomless pit of rage inside that she can't control. That has tainted all of her relationships, and now it cost her husband his life's work. Ann recalls that she always warned Stephanie about her temper; "Did you warn daddy about his?" Stephanie responds.

Ann refuses to listen to Stephanie.

Ann points out that Pam has always had a sweet temperament, and she even stayed with her all these years while Stephanie went off and got married. Pam turns to go turn off the electric blanket, but Ann tells her not to, as she's going to bed. Stephanie insists that her mother stay and hear her out. She tells Ann that she's not trying to take anything away. She has fond memories of the fun she had with her parents, and of the way they made her proud to be a Douglas. "But nothing was ever good enough for our little Stevie," Ann replies. Stephanie fumes at hearing that childhood nickname, as it reminds her that her father wanted a son. Ann thinks Stephanie is being morbidly sensitive. Stephanie demands to know, "Why did you let him hurt me that way?" She recalls how her father drank almost every night. Ann suggests that Stephanie should have acted more like a lady, but Stephanie recalls her father hitting her with his hand, with his belt, with a razor strap, and with a wooden spoon. She thinks back on all the times her mother helped her get into her pajamas and recalls that her mother saw the bruises and put lotion on them. "Why didn't you stand up for me when I couldn't stand up for myself?" she asks.

Pam reveals that she knew about the abuse.

Ann guesses that Stephanie is seeing a psychiatrist with the way she's talking. She regrets that Stephanie hasn't found peace in the last 30 years and claims that IF John struck Stephanie, it was because she deserved it. That's just how things were then. Pam jumps in, reminding her mother how she used to ask about how Stephanie was bleeding from her back; she recalls Ann telling her she would understand when she was older. Stephanie is shocked that Pam knew; Pam recalls how she always wanted to ask Stephanie about it, but her sister said she was fine. Ann asks if she is supposed to believe that her husband beat Pam, too. Pam says that he didn't, as he didn't expect as much of her. But she recalls times when she was in the music room with her mother and they heard Stephanie screaming from her father's study - and her mother would just play the piano louder and louder! The worst part was that she couldn't do anything, since no one ever explained anything to shy little Pammy. Stephanie tells Pam not to blame herself; "It wasn't up to you to protect me," she says. "It was up to you, Mother!"

Ann asks Stephanie if anyone gave her a handbook on raising children with Ridge was born. She recalls how John only wanted to give them a gracious life. Stephanie agrees that her father did that, and she loved him for it. Ann thinks Stephanie has a funny way of showing it and accuses Stephanie of staging this little fantasy for Eric's benefit. Stephanie asks why Pam remembers it. Ann recalls how Pam always believed anything "Stevie" said and asks Stephanie why she never came to her. "I did!" Stephanie states. Ann thinks Stephanie's memory is playing tricks on her and orders Stephanie not to rob her of her own memories of her loving husband. She refuses to let Stephanie make her think of her happy home a place of poison and misery. Stephanie says that she won't allow her mother to turn her away again. "I've had to face my children and answer to them for my failings; why shouldn't you have to answer to me?" she asks, wondering if her mother lied out of fear. "How dare you?" Ann asks in response. Stephanie wonders if her mother was afraid for herself, but Ann says that John never raised his voice to her. Pam, however, recalls that her father did raise his voice - and every time he did, her mother would leave the room and take her along, leaving Stephanie alone!