Wednesday, July 19, 2006, Episode #4854

Brooke is stunned when Ridge tells her about Darla.

Brooke returns to Forrester and finds a somber Ridge sitting in the CEO's office, looking out the window. She notes the record sales orders for “Brooke's Bedroom” that have been coming in and is surprised to see things so quiet here. Ridge tells her that no one's going to be here today, because there was an accident. It was a hit and run. A stunned Brooke asks what happened; It was Darla, Ridge replies. Brooke hopes Darla's OK, so Ridge solemnly tells her, “She's dead.” Brooke is shocked. After Ridge explains the details, she asks who could have done such a thing. She can only imagine what Thorne's going through and wishes someone had told her. Ridge admits that he knew she was back, but he didn't want to intrude; he thought that's how she wanted it. A disbelieving Brooke tells him, “Thorne is somebody that I loved. Darla is someone I loved. And so are you.”

A blood-covered Darla haunts Taylor - in a nightmare.

Taylor wakes up in her bed and looks at the clock. She then flashes back to the last time she saw Darla alive, when Darla invited her to Alexandria's party. “We're sisters. We're friends,” she recalls Darla telling her as they embraced, She looks over to the dresser and spots a bottle of wine with a glass; she goes over, looks at the bottle and then throws it in the trash. She then recalls the moment when her car hit Darla, including Darla's face crashing into her windshield. Suddenly, she hears a sound. She asks who's there. The bedroom door opens an a hooded figure in black comes over. She walks over to the figure and lifts the hood, and she screams when she sees Darla's bloody face!

Taylor is stunned by Hector's news.

As the nightmare ends, Taylor finds herself actually in her bed, with Phoebe asleep next to her. She frantically looks for the phone but can't find it. Phoebe wakes up and says she moved it. She knows Taylor wants to tell the truth about the accident, but she doesn't need her mother to be honest; she just needs Taylor to be be her mom, but that can't happen if Taylor is in jail, like Hector said she'll be if she tells the truth. Taylor says that won't happen; she's sure Darla will be fine with the love and support from the family. What if she doesn't? Phoebe asks. They go downstairs; Phoebe senses her mom's tension and offers to call the hospital. Taylor asks if Phoebe intends to keep playing “jailer” to her. “If you make me,” Phoebe replies. The doorbell rings. Taylor answers and finds a grim looking Hector there. Taylor asks if there's some news. He breaks down, crying, and tells Taylor he's so sorry.

Hector and Phoebe worry about Taylor.

Taylor wants to get dressed and go out. Phoebe stops her and tells her that she can't go to to the police. Taylor says she was thinking of Thorne. But what can she say to him? Phoebe asks. Taylor tells Hector to stay here with Phoebe, but Hector advises her to think about this for a moment. She asks what's to think about when she killed a woman! It was an accident, Phoebe shouts. “Then I'll get what I deserve!” Taylor replies. But she won't, Hector warns, once they remember her DUI arrest and find out that Lt. Baker smelled alcohol on her breath. Phoebe hysterically tells Taylor not to do this; she won't lose her mother again. Taylor asks if Alexandria wanted to lose HER mom. Phoebe points out that going to jail won't bring Darla back. “I know. Maybe it'll bring me back,” Taylor replies. She goes to get dressed. Phoebe collapses in Hector's arms and begs him to do something. Soon after, Hector goes to the door; when Phoebe comes over, he tells her that he heard the gate. Phoebe wonders if it was her dad and asks Hector what he said to her mom. He asks what she means. She replies that her mom isn't in her room.

Stephanie tries to comfort Thorne.

Thorne comes home and finds the house as they left it after the party, with the decorations still up. He looks around the room. Stephanie tells him to go up and get some rest while she cleans up, but he's wracking his brain, trying to remember what Darla said to him before he left for Sally's. If he only knew that would be the last time he'd see her, he laments. He starts to clean up, desperately looking for one of Darla's mismatched shoes. Stephanie tells him to go get some rest; he doesn't have to do this, she pleads, since everyone knows he loved Darla. “I can't. I don't think I can stand to wake up without her,” he laments. He wonders about Alexandria; Stephanie offers to go to his daughter at Sally's now, while he gets some rest. Thorne thanks her, but he asks her to just tell Allie that Mommy had to go to the doctor; he wants to be the one to tell her daughter. Stephanie agrees and leaves, leaving Thorne alone with his memories. Just then, he sees the video camera across the room.

Darla's video message makes Thorne break down in tears.

Thorne runs the video and relives the happy moments at the party, which make him both laugh and cry. As he reaches a break in the tape, he's interrupted by a knock at the door; it's Taylor, who says she's so sorry and hugs him. Suddenly, they hear Darla's voice from the video. They turn to hear Darla say that it's sometimes easier to tell someone what you want to say when you don't have to say it in person. Thorne and Taylor rush to the television and listen to Darla tell Thorne that she has a confession to make. She was wearing her diamond anniversary earrings in the hot tub and lost one, so she doesn't want him to be mad when he sees two checks on their statement. The first is for $300, for the repairman who she hired to fix the hot tub. The second is for the $250 she paid to the jeweler; she wanted to replace the earring, but when she found out how expensive it was, she bought a cubic zirconium that looks just like the real thing.She tells him not to be mad when he hears this, and not to buy her another present, except maybe some chocolate. She then tells Alexandria that she loves her and Thorne so much.