Wednesday, July 05, 2006, Episode #4844

Bridget doesn't want to hear Stephanie's pleas to stop the wedding.

Stephanie is outside Bridget's beach house talking on her cell to Massimo, who tells her that the Brooke's Bedroom ad is about to be put up near the wedding site. There's no way Nick can miss it, he predicts. Stephanie has to hang up when Bridget comes out; she says she heard about Bridget's sunburn from Eric. Fixing her dress, Bridget says she's fine, but she has to go, as she doesn't want to be late for her mother's wedding. Of course not, Stephanie retorts, since Brooke is only getting married because of Bridget's sacrifice; that's why she's urging Bridget to stop this fiasco before it's too late. Bridget says that Stephanie's wrong; she wishes Stephanie would accept that Nick loves Brooke and just wants to do something that no other man, including Ridge, has done by making Brooke happy. "Like he promised to do when he married you?" Stephanie asks, quickly apologizing for her remark. Bridget isn't surprised, since she's never known Stephanie to shy away from saying something hurtful when she wants something. Stephanie suggests that Bridget's walking away from her marriage to Nick was a gift that Brooke couldn't say refuse. She just wishes Brooke would follow her heart. "She is following it," Bridget states, "to Nick." Stephanie insists that if Brooke was really following her heart, she'd be with Ridge, who doesn't want to change her the way Nick does. Bridget tells Stephanie that Brooke IS marrying Nick today, and there's nothing Stephanie, Ridge or anyone else can do about it. She then leaves, leaving a pensive Stephanie behind.

At Brooke's house, the bride comes downstairs, carrying her wedding dress over her arm. She hears the doorbell and goes to answer it, only to find a ball and chain on the ground with a note. She smiles as she reads, "Our wedding day. In a few hours, we'll be married and I'll be your ball and chain for life. I love you, Nick." "I love you, too," she says, going back back inside and putting the ball and chain down. As she goes to get her things, she flashes back to the very first time, years ago, that Ridge told her he loved her. She pauses when her cell phone rings; it's Nick, who's out for a run by the site of their wedding. He asks what she's doing. "Marrying my handsome ball and chain," she replies, smiling. He asks if he can join in. She asks where he is, so he tells her he's at the park and everything looks awesome, just like the hot chick he's marrying. They both look forward to their perfect day.

The Brooke's Bedroom ad is put in place.

After he hangs up, Nick continues on his run and stops by the kiosk near the wedding site, where two men are removing the Marone Industries poster inside. He asks the men what they're doing. One guy asks if there's a problem. Nick points out what's going on around them and looks to the wedding site. It looks like someone's getting murdered today, the guy quips, asking Nick if he's the "victim." Nick says that he is the groom, Nick Marone - as in Marone Industries, he points out, pointing to the poster the men are removing from the kiosk. He doesn't want anything to disrupt his wedding, so he hopes the men can finish their work quickly. No problem, the men tell him. Nick thanks them and continues on his run. Once he's gone, the men finish removing the Marone poster and replace it with the ad for Brooke's Bedroom with the semi-nude Brooke. Putting the new ad in place, the men admire their handiwork.

Ridge asks Brooke why she's letting Nick make the rules.

Brooke hears the doorbell again and is surprised to find Ridge there. He walks in and says that he tried to respect her wishes, but he couldn't do it. He feels like he's watching her drown, but she won't let him throw her a life preserver. Brooke asks him to stop. Ridge says that he knows she has feelings for his brother, but... "But you know my mind better than I do?" Brooke asks. Ridge says that he knows her heart. That's why he can't understand that she wants to marry someone like Nick, who only wants to change her and make her play by his rules. Brooke says that Nick knows she's her own person. Only when she's doing something Nick agrees with, Ridge qualifies. Otherwise, Nick starts issuing "strikes" to make her do things his way. As opposed to him, Brooke asks, who walks out on her every chance she gets. Ridge says that it was never that Taylor was better than her, and he finds it interesting that she brings up his walking out on her on the day that she's marrying Nick. He thinks that should tell her that she's marrying Nick because she thinks Nick, unlike him or her father, won't leave her. He thinks it's wrong for her to choose security over love by letting Nick dictate all the terms. Brooke again says that Nick isn't trying to change her, but Ridge asks how she can accept a man who wants to make her something else, especially when there's a man right in front of her who accepts her for who she is. He's sorry, since he knows he should give her his blessing and be done, but he has to be honest - and she has to do the same, before it's too late. Brooke looks at him and then picks up her things, leaving the house and leaving Ridge alone.

Rick arrives for his mother's wedding.

At Chuck's, Bridget greets her brother Rick, who Dante has picked up at the airport. Rick says that Dante told him about the sunburn, so he'll pass on giving her a hug. Dante says that he and Rick got to know each other better during the ride from the airport. Brooke arrives and is thrilled to see Rick, who hugs her and says, "congratulations." Bridget points out that you say "congratulations" to the groom and wish the bride, "best wishes." Rick apologizes, since he should know that after all his mom's trips to the altar. Bridget calls him on that comment; Rick turns to Brooke and apologizes, but she says it's OK, because they have been down this road before. The only difference, she says, is that she believes that this marriage will last forever.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick gives Jackie a paper towel and tells her not to cry. She says she can't help it, since she's waited so long for him and Brooke to get married. Nick finishes buttoning his white dress uniform and thanks Jackie for being his and Brooke's biggest supporter, unlike someone else they know. Massimo, she guesses. Nick doesn't want to talk about the old man. Jackie says it's sad that Mass won't share in their son's wedding, but Nick points out that Mass made that choice by crossing a line he shouldn't have; that's something Nick won't put up with, even from someone he loves. Besides, he got the girl, despite the old man's support for his number one son. He bets the dressmaker and his mother would do anything to stop the wedding, but he's ready for them.

Stephanie comes by Brooke's and finds Ridge there, staring out the window. She asks if he tried to stop the wedding. Ridge wonders if he should have used his brother's tactic of picking Brooke up and throwing her over his shoulder like a caveman. Why didn't he? Stephanie asks. Ridge says that he can't force Brooke to see what she doesn't want to see. Still, he wishes there was something more he could do, short of busting up the wedding. Stephanie says something still might happen, but Ridge doesn't see Nick sabotaging his own wedding. Stephanie says that they never know who things will turn out. She reminds him that she promised to do everything in her power to make things right with him, and she won't stop until she does. Stephanie leaves, leaving Ridge alone to look at all Brooke's family photos.

At Chuck's, Bridget helps Brooke get dressed. Once she's in her wedding gown, Brooke tells Bridget that she's glad they have some time together. Bridget says that Brooke doesn't have to say anything, but Brooke comments that this can't be easy for Bridget. Bridget tells her not to worry, but Brooke asks how she can not worry about her daughter when... Bridget asks her to stop; she doesn't want Brooke to feel guilty about being happy with Nick. She and Nick had their chance, but it wasn't meant to be, so it's Brooke's turn now. Brooke points out how Bridget made it possible, but Bridget says it's what Brooke and Nick both wanted. Brooke wants to know what Bridget wants; after all they've been through, she needs to know if Bridget is OK with all this. Bridget smiles and says that she wants Brooke to be with Nick, so Brooke is doing the right thing. Brooke smiles.

Outside, Massimo and Stephanie check out the kiosk with the ad from Massimo's limo. Stephanie says it's perfect. Mass says that he knew she'd approve and asks how their son is. She tells him that Ridge thinks he's lost Brooke, but she's sure that will change once Nick sees the ad.

Dante and Jackie arrive at the pavilion.

Rick, Bridget and Dante greet Jackie by the pavilion. Jackie is glad to see that Rick made it and says that they only need their bride and groom then. Just then, Bridget sees the ad in the kiosk. Jackie, Rick and Dante follow her gaze, and they are all stunned to see a nearly-nude Brooke in the ad photo. Jackie frets that Nick might see it; Rick points out that it's too late, because Nick is approaching. Nick comes over and greets them all, thanking Rick for being here for him and Brooke. Dante introduces Nick to Walter Bynum, the Justice of the Peace. Nick thanks Walter for doing this on short notice and notices the tense look on everyone's faces. He asks what's wrong; is it the outfit? Do they think it's too much?

Brooke arrives to meet her groom.

Before they can answer, they hear a horse's whinny; Nick looks over to see Brooke arriving in a carriage drawn by a white horse. As the carriage crosses a bridge and approaches the pavilion, Nick goes to help Brooke out. "You are so beautiful," he says as Brooke laughs and smiles at him. The Justice of the Peace asks if they're ready to begin.