Wednesday, December 13, 2006, Episode #4955

Lt. Baker gets a visit from Phoebe.

Phoebe goes to the police station to talk to Lt. Baker. She wants to have the charges against Shane dropped. Lt. Baker reminds her that only the district attorney can drop criminal charges. Phoebe tells him that she will not testify that Shane tried to rape her. Lt. Baker reminds her that Harry was assaulted, but she counters that she will testify that Harry started the fight. Lt. Baker reminds her of the last time she lied, but she assures him that she isn't lying. She explains that Harry and Hector were only trying to protect her, but they overreacted. Unlike her, they didn't believe that Shane would never hurt her, so Harry confronted Shane, and then Hector hit Shane with a baseball bat and nearly killed him. Lt. Baker admits that he has no case without her testimony, so he agrees to talk to the D.A. to get the charges dropped. Phoebe thanks him, but the detective tells her to hold on; he knows how her parents feel about Shane, so he wonders how they'll react to her sticking up for Shane.

Ridge frets about Phoebe's attraction to Shane.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric, Thorne and Ridge make plans for their new fashion house. Thorne and Eric discuss some supplier options, but Ridge seems distracted. Thorne asks his big brother what's wrong. Ridge explains that he's worried about Phoebe. He fears his young daughter might mistake Shane's attentions toward her as affection, or worse. Thorne thinks Ridge needn't fret, since the police are out looking for Shane. Ridge can't understand how Phoebe can prefer Shane over any of the cool guys at her school. Thorne tells him not to worry, because Phoebe is smart, and because Shane is going to jail soon. Ridge hopes he's right. Eric gets back to their new business and points out that they need a name. And they can't use their family name thanks to Nick, Ridge laments. Eric suggests that he talk to Jackie, to see if she can talk to Nick. Ridge insists that Nick won't budge on this, but Thorne isn't so sure. He tells his dad and his brother about Taylor's plan to take Nick on as a patient and convince him that running Forrester won't make him happy. Eric thinks it's a good idea, but Ridge doubts it will work. Eric asks Ridge if he has any better ideas, suggesting that Taylor's plan could be the answer to their prayers.

Shane has some questions for Bridget.

At her Malibu beach house, Bridget makes breakfast for Shane, who tells her that he dreamed that he didn't have a broken rib. Bridget assures him that he does. Shane thanks her for treating him, pointing out how incredible her family is. Looking at his breakfast, Shane recalls when Phoebe made him breakfast. As Bridget checks the bandage on his ribs, Shane asks if she lives here all alone. She tells him not to get nosy; he replies that he was just curious, since it seems like they have something in common. Like what? Bridget asks. Shane admits he's only guessing, but he feels like she made some bad choices, just like he did, and it left her feeling alone inside. He wonders if she betrayed somebody's trust. Bridget grows uncomfortable with Shane's questions and resumes checking his ribs. Phoebe drops by and asks Shane how he's doing; he replies that he's better since her -- he pauses and asks Phoebe how she and Bridget are related. Phoebe tells him that Bridget is her aunt. And they both share that Forrester "good gene" quality, Shane remarks. Shane then hears a siren outside and asks Phoebe if she... She says that she didn't and informs him that he doesn't have to run anymore, since she got the D.A. to drop the charges against him. Shane is moved that she would do that for him; he's glad she knows that he would never hurt her, no matter what anyone says, and he hopes this means she'll let him back into her life.

Phoebe refuses to let Shane leave town.

Back at the mansion, Ridge gets a call from Lt. Baker, who tells him that the charges against Shane were dropped once Phoebe said she wouldn't testify against Shane. Ridge is livid and calls Phoebe on her cell phone; when she answers, Ridge asks why she refused to testify against Shane. When Phoebe tells him that it's not a good time to talk now, Ridge guesses that she's with Shane now. Phoebe tells him that they'll talk later and hangs up. Ridge vows to do whatever it takes to keep Shane away from his daughter. At the beach house, Shane guesses that Phoebe is in trouble with her old man. He doesn't want to complicate her life, so he offers to leave Los Angeles. Phoebe won't hear of it. Bridget asks Phoebe what she wants to do; Phoebe isn't sure, but she knows that she doesn't want Shane to leave, so she asks Bridget if Shane can stay here a few more days. Bridget reluctantly agrees to let Shane stay for a while. Phoebe thanks Bridget for her help. Shane adds his thanks, marveling at how wonderfully Phoebe and Bridget are treating him. He promises Phoebe that he'll be the kind of man who deserves someone like her. Phoebe is sure he will. Phoebe and Shane then start kissing as Bridget suspiciously looks on.

Taylor begins counseling Nick.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Nick is reading some reports. When Taylor arrives, Nick picks up the phone and makes a mock call; he says into the handset, "This is Marone. About that hat I ordered? Make sure it's the smaller size, as I'm about to get my head shrunk." Taylor quips, "That's so funny, I forgot to laugh." Nick apologizes for not taking this as seriously as she does, but he thinks he's going to disappoint her, as he doesn't have any dark secrets in his head. At least none that he's aware of, Taylor states, noting that the goal is to make him aware. Once that happens, she thinks he can make better choices. Like selling Forrester back to the Forresters? he asks. He suggests that if he isn't crazy now, he will be when this is all over. Taylor respects his self assurance, since it means he doesn't tolerate B.S. She thinks the bottom line is that he's not happy, so she wants to help him find happiness. Nick tells her to go on, since it sounds like she doesn't need anything from him. But she does, Taylor insists. She points out that he lost Brooke and their family, and he wants children, but he doesn't have anyone to have them with. So instead, he seeks out money and power and runs his business from this big office at a company he knows nothing about, where his few remaining employees think of him as the enemy.

Nick tells Taylor about his past.

Nick tells Taylor to stop preaching, so she backs away. Nick reminds her that she's not unbiased, since she's Ridge ex-wife, Stephanie's best friend and Thorne's fiancee. Taylor accuses Nick of not having the guts to open up to her; he tells her that he's sorry he's wasting her time, but he's learned to roll with the punches life throws you. Taylor tells him to relax and open up to her, since she's on his side. She tells him to go ahead and just talk. Nick tells her that he grew up in Seattle, where it was just him and his mother. He hadn't learned yet that Massimo was his father, so he thought Frank Payne was his dad. He was about ten years old when Frank died, but Frank was never around much, anyway. Taylor asks if Frank wasn't around because he knew Nick wasn't his. Nick explains that Frank left Jackie with a lot of debt, so they struggled. It bothered Nickthat he couldn't contribute, but he was thrilled when one of the fisherman he befriended at the docks would give him some salmon or halibut to take home.