Monday, July 03, 2006, Episode #4842

Felicia has plans for Bridget's sunscreen.

Dante comes by the Forrester guest house to bring Dino home. He tells Felicia that he can't stay, as he and Bridget are going to the beach, but he wants her to know that his sculpture of her won an award in the competition. She says that she knows, since she was invited to the award ceremony. He admits her told them who inspired the piece. At least someone else sees how good they are together, she quips, asking if he's taking Bridget. He says he is. As if on cue, Bridget comes in with Dino's diaper bag. As she hands the diaper bag over, Bridget drops it and her beach bag. As Bridget picks the bag up, Felicia spots Bridget's SPF 50 sunblock in the beach bag. So they're going to the beach? Felicia asks. Bridget replies that they were going to use her mom's pool, but Hope has friends over. Then why not use the pool here? Felicia asks. Dante thinks that might be a good idea, so they can avoid traffic by the beach. Just then, Dino starts crying; Felicia suggests that Dante and Bridget go check on the baby. Bridget seems surprised but goes with Dante, giving Felicia the chance to take Bridget's sunscreen from the beach bag.

Christian questions Felicia's actions.

Soon after, Christian stops by to check on how Felicia is doing since her cancelled wedding. He senses that she's angry at Bridget and Dante. At least angry is all she is after what they did, Felicia replies, as a less grounded person would be homicidal. Christian asks if she was thinking of anything like that. Not quite, she says, although she did put baby oil in Bridget's sunblock bottle. Christian is stunned that she can be so cavalier about that, since Bridget could get sun poisoning. Felicia tells him to relax, since it was just a tiny prank. It's more than that, Christian says. Felicia agrees, stating that it's poetic justice: Bridget burned her, and now it's her turn.

Bridget feels like a french fry!

Out by the pool, Bridget asks Dante to help her put her sunscreen on, since she'll fry in the hot son without it. She'd hate for that to happen today, since it will mean she'll be uncomfortable at his ceremony tonight. As they sit on chaise lounges by the pool, Dante says it was nice of Felicia to offer them the use of the pool. Bridget admits she doesn't like the tension between them and Felicia, although she can understand why Felicia would be less than forgiving. Dante thinks this is a step in the right direction; Bridget agrees as she puts on more sunscreen. After they lie outside for a while, Dante suggests that slip away to the pool house for a while; Bridget likes that idea and smiles, but then Dante reaches out for her leg. She cries out in pain at his touch! Bridget takes off her sunglasses and sees that she's got a nasty sunburn, and she has a pale, raccoon mask shaped area on her face where her sunglasses were. Bridget doesn't know what happened, since she used her sunscreen, but she urges Dante not to touch her. Felicia watches from the shrubs and looks pleased with herself.

Brooke and Ridge discuss the photos.

At Forrester, Stephanie watches Brooke and Ridge talking about the photos, thinking about how much they obviously love each other. And when Nick sees the nude photos, she thinks... Brooke praises Brio for the provocative, but not salacious, photos she took. Stephanie agrees that the second set of photos are striking and raves about the kind of publicity they will generate. Brooke admits surprise that Stephanie would approve of something like this. Stephanie says that a leopard can change its spots and wants to call the ad agency right now. Brooke tells her to wait, as she hasn't approved the ads yet. Ridge asks Brooke why she's hesitant, especially with even his mother on board. Stephanie replies that Brooke is afraid of how Nick would react, and she can't understand why Brooke would want to marry someone who is holding a free spirit like Brooke back this way.

Massimo offers Nick a warning.

Nick finds Massimo at Marone and asks why he's there. Mass picks up Nick's wedding announcement and says this can't be what it looks like, since Nick's father didn't get one. Nick points out that Mass doesn't support this marriage, unless he's changed his mind. Mass says that he still thinks Brooke and Ridge belong together, and he insists that he's just trying to keep Nick from getting hurt. Nick thanks Mass for coming by to tell him, since it's always nice to know who your allies are. In fact, he thinks he should go check on the other side now. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Mass calls out as Nick leaves. He then calls Stephanie, who is looking at the nude photos of Brooke on the computer, lamenting that Nick doesn't know his fiance at all. Mass tells Stephanie that Nick is on his way over. Stephanie is glad that Nick didn't come sooner, since he would have gotten an eyeful. She then asks Mass for a favor: she knows he's good friends with the head of their ad agency, Jeremy Myers, so she need Mass to set up a meeting with Myers and his top ad people today. Mass says he'll do it but asks why, but Stephanie says that she has to go and hangs up.

Nick comes in looking for Brooke; closing the laptop, Stephanie says Brooke is downstairs. She tells Nick that he missed quite a show from his fiancee, who was quite proud of her work. Nick says he's proud of Brooke, even if he can't quite accept the idea of her wearing her underwear in front of the whole world. If lingerie bothers him, Stephanie says, he has nothing to worry about. What worries him, he says, is her lecturing about how to treat Brooke. She advises that he's making the mistake many men have made in trying to mold Brooke into his version of her; she warns that he can't make Brooke play by his rules, since Brooke plays only by her own rules, which is why she thinks his "three strikes" ultimatum to Brooke was foolish. Nick tells her to mind her own business, but Stephanie says she just wants to help. Nick says he knows what she wants, but she says he doesn't. She tells him that Brooke is someone who isn't embarrassed by scandal, because she thrives on it. Nick disagrees, saying that Stephanie and her family made Brooke into someone who lives for scandal, which is why he's offering Brooke a man he can rely on. Stephanie asks if he can rely on Brooke. He replies that he knows that this is hard for Stephanie, but Brooke wants a life with him, so Stephanie can do what she wants. He knows there will be no strike three. He then leaves. Stephanie then opens the laptop computer up and looks at the photo of Brooke again.

Stephanie makes her pitch.

Stephanie heads over to Marone, where Massimo has the ad executives waiting in an office. Mass asks her how this will stop Brooke from marrying Dominick. She responds by handing him a folder containing the nude photos. They then go inside to show the photos and pitch the campaign to Jeremy Myers and his staff. The ad executives all thin this is very good. Mass plays up the slogan, "Brooke's Bedroom, or nothing at all." One of the executives asks Stephanie what she was thinking of" print? Outdoors? TV spots? All of that, Stephanie says, as well as the Internet. In fact, she wants these photos all over the Internet by tomorrow.

Ridge finds Brooke in the CEO's office, looking at the nude photos. He thinks his mother was right that Brooke is hesitant about the photos because of Nick. She says that she is marrying Nick, so she has to consider his feelings. But what about her own feelings? Ridge asks, pointing out how she has always gone by her instincts. He tells her to forget about what Nick, Stephanie or even he say and do what she wants. He can't believe that Nick could take the independent Brooke he knows and come between her and what she knows is right. She replies that Nick has put up with enough scandal. It's just an ad campaign, Ridge says. But it's provocative, Brooke says, pointing out that the two of them understand that from working in the business. It's like the kiss on the runway, which was a publicity stunt, even though Nick thinks it was personal. That's because Nick doesn't understand her, Ridge states, asking why she is letting Nick try to change her by clipping her wings, just when she's ready to soar.

Brio is disappointed by Brooke's choice.

After Ridge is gone, Nick comes in, so Brooke turns the photos down, He tells her that he just spoke to Stephanie, who said she did brilliantly during the photo shoot. She asks if Stephanie said anything else. Just her usual insanity, Nick replies, explaining to Brooke why he doesn't like his fiancee being photographed in her lingerie. But what if the shots are done tastefully? Brooke asks. Nick says that he knows what men think when they see ads like that, and he doesn't want them thinking about her that way. He kisses her and suggests that she show him where she wants to have the wedding. Just then, Brio comes in. Brooke introduces Nick to Brio, who asks Brooke if she's made a decision about the photos. Brooke tells her to go with the first set. But the second set is incredible and cutting edge, Brio says, so maybe if Brooke looked again. Brooke insists she wants to go with the first set; Brio is clearly disappointed. Brooke and Nick then leave to see the place where they will be married. When Ridge returns, Brio tells him about Brooke's decision. They both agree that they could have set new industry standards had Brooke gone with the nude photos. Ridge says that Brooke only made that decision because of what Nick wants. That's too bad, Brio laments. Yes it is, Ridge agrees, for Forrester and for Brooke. After Brio leaves, Ridge takes one last look at one of the photos and picks up the wedding announcement. He flashes back to his wedding to Brooke on the beach and thinks about how wild and free Brooke has always been. He thinks Nick will never understand that.