Wednesday, July 26, 2006, Episode #4859

Taylor gives Thorne some advice.

Taylor returns with Thorne to his house, where he tries to brush off all the sympathy cards he's gotten. Asking Taylor if she's ever had to tell a child that a parent died -- a few times, she admits -- Thorne laments that he messed things up. Taylor tells him that it's sometimes better to leave something like this to someone who is less involved. Thorne reminds her that she is involved. Taylor asks if Alexandria knew anyone knew anyone who died. There was Helen, Thorne recalls, although Allie might not remember that, and Darla told their daughter about "Aunt Macy," who Alexandria never knew. Just then, Alexandria enters and shows Thorne a get well card she made for Mommy. Taylor says the card looks so pretty. Brooke's nanny Catherine (who must charge a discount rate for the family, having taken care of all of Ridge's kids plus Hope over the years) comes in and apologizes for letting Alexandria rush in. Thorne says it's OK and asks Catherine to get Alexandria changed so she can spend some time with Aunt Taylor.

Thorne tries to explain to Alexandria.

As they wait for Catherine to bring Alexandria back, Thorne asks Taylor if Alexandria will ever forgive him for not having the chance to be at her mother's funeral. Taylor assures him that he's just trying to protect his daughter. She explains that children think of death like they see it in cartoons, where characters "die" and come back in the next episode. Catherine brings Alexandria in and excuses herself. Alexandria has cookies for Thorne and Taylor. Thorne sits his daughter down and tells her that he made a big mistake; he knows he told her that Mommy was away getting better, but something happened, and now Mommy's dead. He asks if she remembers where they told her Aunt Macy is. In heaven, Alexandria replies. And that's where Mommy is, Thorne adds. He then tells her that he went to church to ask God to take care of Mommy, because they couldn't anymore. Seeing how upsetting this is for Thorne, Taylor steps in and asks Alexandria if she's ever seen someone get hurt and wanted to cry, but she didn't want anyone to see. Alexandria nods. Thorne tells her that's what happened to him; he didn't want her to see him cry, so he didn't tell her about Mommy until now. He and Taylor try to explain about burying the body and ask Alexandria to think about whether she wants to be there Saturday when they do that. Thorne then tells her to ask any questions any time she has any. Alexandria asks about a pony ride in the park that Darla was going to take her on. Taylor says she can do that, or Thorne can, since Mommy isn't coming back. But Mommy will always be in her heart, Taylor adds.

Thorne thanks Taylor for her help. She says that she was glad to feel useful for the first time in a long while. Thorne asks if she'll come again, in case Alexandria has any questions. She says she will and offers to get Alexandria's get-well drawing for Darla framed. Alexandria, sitting on the sofa, asks her dad to sing to her. He says he's not that good, but he'll try "Row, Row, Row your Boat." Alexandria tells him that she wants "Mommy's song," so Thorne tries to sing "Smile [When Your Heart Is Breaking]" for her. Alexandria goes off to sleep and Thorne looks over at Taylor, who is standing in the doorway looking on.

Stephanie presses Phoebe for answers.

Phoebe is surprised when Stephanie drops by the Bel Air mansion to see Taylor. Stephanie is equally surprised to see that Taylor's not home. She confides in Phoebe that Taylor seemed to be acting guilty in the chapel. Phoebe asks her grandma why she's accusing her mom; she thinks Stephanie is just mad at her mom because Taylor told her off in front of everyone. Stephanie reminds Phoebe that she and Taylor were best friends before Phoebe was even born. Yes, they quarreled, but sometimes friends do that and later regret it, and she thinks Taylor was showing that regret today. She's also worried that Taylor has cut herself off from the family and wishes Taylor hadn't been too proud to accept Darla's invitation to Alexandria's birthday party. In fact, Darla was there for Phoebe that night when Taylor wasn't, and Stephanie thinks Taylor is blaming herself for that. She thinks Phoebe would agree. She adds that truthfully, they are all struggling to cope with Darla's death, but none of them is really to blame - that is, except the animal that ran Darla down. Stephanie asks Phoebe how Taylor has seemed lately. Phoebe says she's not sure, although her mom remembers the accident all the time. Stephanie says she thought Taylor wasn't there. Phoebe tries to cover by saying that she meant what happened after the accident. Stephanie then tells Phoebe that she knows about Taylor's drinking. She knows Taylor has a strong character, but some things in life need more than that. That's why she wants Phoebe to know that she's there if Phoebe needs her, or if Taylor does. Phoebe thanks her grandmother, who cryptically comments, "no one needs to know."

Ridge catches up with Donna.

Donna drops by Forrester and finds Ridge in Thorne's office. He quips that he thought he'd open Thorne's mail and send some memos in Thorne's name, so Thorne can yell it him and they can get back to normal. He asks what brings Donna by. She tells Ridge she wanted to check on him, since her big sister isn't allowed to. Ridge asks when she's headed back, since he bets there's some guy waiting for her in San Francisco. Donna admits that she's dated, but she guesses that he and Brooke set the "gold standard" she measures against, so none of the guys she dated measured up. Ridge asks Donna not to get him going on all that, so she says she's sorry.

Nick has an idea for Brooke.

Brooke and Nick are in the CEO's office, talking about the funeral. When Nick comments that the family seemed happy to see her and even Stephanie behaved, Brooke wishes he wouldn't monitor how people act with her that way. After all, she's a big girl. And she was a bigger girl to the Forresters when they put her naked body on the Internet, Nick fires back. He looks at some sales figures and says that it seems like she has brought the Bedroom line roaring back. She just wishes she could... Keep it that way without disrobing? Nick asks. Actually, she says, yes. Nick says he has an idea about that. Brooke says that's funny, so Nick backs out of the conversation. Brooke tells him not to just clam up after saying he has the answer to her problems. Nick teases her about her "underwear problem" and then finally tells her his idea: he saw Donna wearing a slip this morning while looking through Brooke's closet and thought that "Brooke's Bedroom" could promote itself by having Brooke's little sister wear what's in "Brooke's Bedroom." Brooke laughs that even she's never seen how her sister looks in her underwear. She looks good, Nick comments as Brooke gives him a look.

Brooke is hesitant about Nick's idea.

Brooke admits that Donna is pretty, but what does her sister, who is a waitress, know about modeling? [I guess she forgot Donna modeled for a while way back when, including lingerie, and she even posed nude.] Nick reminds her that she learned, and she was a biologist. Chemist, she corrects him. Whatever, Nick comments, asking what's to learn about wearing clothes. He pictures a campaign around little sister slipping in when big sis isn't home and strutting around in her sister's stuff. Brooke says she'll think about his idea once she sees his tankers in lingerie. He says that he thought she liked his tankers. She WANTS to see his tankers in lingerie, she teases. Nick starts to kiss her, but then Donna comes in. Brooke asks Nick if he should be going. Yeah, he says. Donna quips, "I hear Antarctica is nice this time of year." Nick gives her a cool look, turns back to Brooke, tells her that he loves her and kisses her goodbye, barely acknowledging Donna as he leaves.