Thursday, July 13, 2006, Episode #4850

Clarke clowns around.

At Thorne and Darla’s beach house, the couple happily observe the love in the room as Alexandria opens her presents. Darla doesn’t think they can ever go wrong with the love this family brings when they’re together. As long as she’s there, too, Thorne adds. Always, she promises. Thorne agrees with the sentiment. Alexandria calls her daddy over to see the dolls Thomas bought her. She rushes over to thanks Thomas, who’s still recording the party on video. Alexandria’s next gift is a sleeping bag; “Grandma” Sally thinks she has an idea how to put that to good use and invites Alexandria to sleep over with her at her house. Alexandria eagerly accepts just as Clarke comes in, dressed as a clown. Darla and Thorne watch with glee as Clarke greets the birthday girl, squirts Thorne with a quirting lapel flower, makes balloon animal hats for everyone (although Stephanie won’t wear hers) and gives Ridge a taste of his joy buzzer. Everyone is having a great time as Thomas continues to tape the happy moments.

Darla and Thorne help Alexandria get ready to sleepover at Sally's.

As the party wraps up, Darla asks Ridge what happened to Phoebe. Ridge guesses his daughter was being a typical teenage girl. But she was looking forward to this, Eric points out. Stephanie suggests that Phoebe was jet-lagged and fell asleep in front of the TV. Ridge tells Thomas they should be going; Darla gives them both a hug and thanks them for coming, and she asks Thomas to tell his mom they were thinking of her. Eric and Stephanie think they should be going, too; Eric nearly has to pull Stephanie away from Darla’s effusive thanks and goodbye wishes. After Clarke says his goodbyes, Thorne gets Alexandria ready to go to Sally’s; Darla asks Sally if she’s sure about taking Alexandria. Of course, Sally replies, explaining that’s why she bought the sleeping bag. She thinks Thorne and Darla need some time alone. Darla thanks Sally with a huge hug. Thorne and Alexandria come in and say they’re ready to go to “Grandma” Sally’s. Darla says goodbye to her little girl; Thorne then leaves to drive his daughter and Sally to Sally’s apartment.

Thomas worries about his mother.

When Ridge and Thomas arrive at the Bel Air mansion and find no one downstairs, they guess that Phoebe and Taylor are in bed. Thomas wishes his mom could have been at the party. “She misses you and our family,” Thomas tells Ridge, asking his dad if there is anything they can do. Ridge replies that he never meant to hurt Taylor, but he did. “Do you still love her?” Thomas asks his dad. Ridge says he does and always will, but he doesn’t want to complicate things for Taylor. He promises that everything will sort itself out before heading upstairs to say goodnight to Phoebe. As Ridge makes his way up, Thomas spots the wine bottle in the sink and a wine glass in the counter. He picks up the glass and the bottle and sniffs the glass, wondering what it means.

Phoebe wonders where her mother is.

After dropping her cell phone, Phoebe finds herself face to face with the bearded, hooded stranger who is offering her help with her flat tire. She tells that man that someone’s coming to help her and turns to the car. She tries to get back in, but the door is locked. With the stranger still watching, Phoebe manages to get into the car and locks the doors. The stranger knocks on the window, but Phoebe tells him that she’s fine. The stranger wanders off, so Phoebe takes advantage of the chance to get out and retrieve her cell phone. She wonders where her mom is. Taylor, meanwhile, desperately makes her way down the foggy highway to get to Phoebe.

Taylor races to the scene.

Back at the beach house, Darla is recording a message to Alexandria about how much they love her when the phone rings. It’s Phoebe. Darla tells Phoebe that everyone left and asks if Phoebe’s OK; Phoebe tells Darla about her flat tire, and about the strange man who offered to help her. Her mom is on the way, but she hasn’t been able to reach either of her parents on their cell phones. Darla asks Phoebe where she is; when Phoebe says she’s about a half a mile from Big Rock, Darla says that’s just down the road from her place, so she’ll be right there. Phoebe tells her that Taylor is coming, but Darla hears how nervous Phoebe is and says she can be there sooner than Taylor. Meanwhile, Taylor tries to reach Phoebe, but the phone goes to voice mail. She says to herself, “Mommy’s almost there. I’m always there, sweetie.”

Sally has some party ideas.

Stephanie is at home, looking at photos of Thorne and Darla when Sally calls. When Stephanie tells Sally about the photos she was looking at, they both agree how wonderful Thorne and Darla’s family is. Stephanie says she’s glad to have someone as stable as Darla in the family. Sally notes that Darla’s birthday is coming up, so she suggests that they throw her a big “hoedown” for the occasion. Stephanie agrees and asks Sally to call her tomorrow so they can make plans.

Darla gets hit by Taylor's car.

Darla gets to Phoebe, who is glad to see her aunt. Phoebe suggests that they leave a note for Taylor to find her at Darla’s; Darla says that Sally taught her how to change a tire, so she should be able to change Phoebe’s in no time. Phoebe frets about the fact that there is so much traffic on the road, but Darla gets to work, telling Phoebe to stand on the other side of the car, away from traffic. Darla finds that one of the lug nuts is on tight, so she struggles to loosen it as Phoebe watches. Straining, Darla finally manages to get the nut free, but she had to twist so hard that the force sends her falling backward. Just as Darla falls back, Taylor’s car barrels down the road and, in the foggy night, hits Darla. Darla falls onto the hood of the car and rolls over toward the windshield. Taylor puts her foot on the brake as Darla’s head crashes down on the windshield! Taylor can only stare in shock as she stares right at Darla’s bloody head in front of her. Taylor brings the car to a full stop, sending Darla’s limp body into a ditch. Phoebe calls out to Darla and rushes to her side, and she finds Darla all bloody and unconscious. Still in shock, Taylor gets out of the car and screams, “NO!” She checks Darla for any signs of breathing or a pulse as a hysterical Phoebe watches. Taylor takes off her jacket to keep Darla from going into shock. Phoebe asks, “Is she dead?” Taylor tells Phoebe to call 911, now!