Monday, June 05, 2006, Episode #4822

Christian questions Dante's attitude.

In Dante's studio, Christian tells Dante that they have a misunderstanding. Dante tries to throw Christian out, but Christian says he'll leave when Felicia asks him to. Dante points out that this is his studio. And his woman? Christian asks. Felicia tells Christian that she'll call him, so he leaves.

Dante asks Felicia why she acts like a slut.

Felicia then turns to Dante and quips that she thought the caveman was extinct. He tells her not to joke, but she asks how she's supposed to react to his acting like a cheap Italian John Wayne who chased off a guy who's interested in her, especially when he's made it clear that he isn't. He asks why she makes it hard for people to care about her. Would that mean HE cares? she asks. He's furious that he was only gone two minutes before she threw herself at another guy. She was just having fun, she says. He asks what she was thinking, getting all over that guy. She sarcastically calls him "Grandma Damiano" and points out that he didn't have a problem when she took him home and had sex with him, even when she didn't remember his name. Who says he didn't? he asks, wondering why she has to act like a slut. Offended, she goes to gather her clothes and leave, but he stops her and asks why she doesn't get that she's better than that.

Felicia is moved by Dante's words.

Dante asks Felicia why she gets people to care about her and then scares them away. She says she doesn't mean to; she's a grown woman, he counters, so he has to know what she's doing. Maybe that's who she is, she supposes. But she doesn't have to pretend to be a hurtful, dangerous person, he says, because she's smart, intelligent, loving and caring. She says she never meant to hurt him, but her says he's only hurting herself by throwing herself away this way. He wants her to see her the way he sees her, and the way their son sees her. Wiping a tear, Felicia asks Dante what he wants. He says that he doesn't need much. He just wants to get to know her without complications like finding her in bed with her doctor. He doesn't think sleeping around, like she was doing when they met, will make her feel better. Felicia tells him nobody ever talked to her like this. That's because she hasn't found her cheap Italian John Wayne yet, he replies. They smile at each other as he hugs her.

Stephanie calls Taylor stupid for falling for Stephen's lines.

At the Bel Air mansion, Stephanie apologizes to Taylor for not seeing how vulnerable Taylor was when Ridge left her. She regrets that, since that left Taylor open for Stephen to prey on her. Stephen tells Stephanie not to play the victim, but Stephanie calls him a loser who tried to get back at her and her family by poisoning Taylor against them. Taylor points out that Stephen didn't betray her. Stephanie can't believe that Taylor can't see how Stephen played her just to get her stock, so he could stick it to Ridge twice. She never thought Taylor would be so stupid to fall for that, so she asks Taylor to save what little self respect she has left and return the stock. Stephen says that Taylor already signed the shares over to him. Stephanie turns to Taylor and asks her to let the lawyers fix it by saying that Taylor was drunk. She urges Taylor to make this right and throw Stephen out, because she doesn't want to be in the same room with Stephen. Taylor agrees that Stephanie and Stephen should not be here together, so she asks Stephanie to leave!

Stephen agrees with Taylor's wishes.

Stephanie can't believe that Taylor is siding with "that bum," Stephen. Taylor asks if that's how Stephanie sees everyone who has nothing to offer her. "You know that's not true," Stephanie replies. What she knows, Taylor replies, is that she fought like hell to get back to a family who would do anything for her. But apparently, 2% is all she was worth to that family, so she suggests Stephanie go talk to the person she thinks is worth half of everything she owns! She rails at Stephanie for respecting and admiring Brooke, and for being sorry for depriving Ridge of Brooke's love for years. And on top of that, Stephanie tries to get back into her heart by calling her a drunk? She calls Stephanie selfish, narcissistic and dangerous, and she feels like a fool for not seeing it sooner. She doesn't want to see or even look at Stephanie again. Seeing nothing further to say, Stephanie looks at Taylor and then leaves. Sobbing, Taylor turns to Stephen. She says that what they shared was very nice, but it has to end. Stephen guesses that Stephanie got to her, but Taylor points out that he's Brooke's father, and given the history. They all have baggage, he points out. Taylor asks if they can be friends. "No goodbye kiss?" he asks. He turns to the door but then comes back and gives Taylor one last tender kiss before leaving.

Nick tells Brooke that she can't be with him and be a Forrester.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Nick asks Brooke if she wants to be part of the Forrester family. She says it's her choice. He reminds her that she has control of the company, like she dreamed. He knows her history here, but she can't be with him and be a Forrester. He asks if she's changed her mind about him. She says she hasn't, and she understands his concerns. But she also wants to make this work for Ridge and his family, and she can do that by running Forrester from an office next to his at Marone. She wouldn't have to see Ridge. But they'll still be in her life, Nick states. Ridge and Eric ARE Forrester Creations, she states; not only is it morally wrong to fire them, but it's also bad business, since losing their lead designers would send clients into a panic and put the company in a tailspin. Ridge chimes in that Brooke's decision proves why she's a good CEO, since it shows her ability to look at the big picture, for the good of the company. Brooke asks Ridge if he can do that, too, since her future is with Nick. She points out that she's doing what's best for the company, but she could change her mind. She then goes to pack her things; as she does, Nick says he still doesn't like this. Brooke tells him that she loves him, but she can't do something she doesn't believe in. She wouldn't be the woman he loved if she could, Nick muses.

Bridget gives Nick advice.

At the beach house in Malibu, Bridget is on the porch watering some plants as she recalls Ridge predicting that her mom and Nick's relationship won't last. Nick arrives; Bridget asks if he's OK, since he sounded upset on the phone. He tells her that things have changed recently and he wanted to let her know. He tells her about how he and Stephen secured Taylor's 2% stake in Forrester for Brooke, giving Brooke complete control. So that's why he let her mom work at Forrester, she supposes, even though it seemed like a crazy idea. He tells her that he asked her mom to fire Eric, Ridge and Stephanie. Bridget says that her mom would never go for that. Well, Nick says, she sure knows her mother better than anyone. He tells her about Brooke's plan to run Forrester from an office at Marone; Bridget asks how he feels about that. A bit lost, he admits as they go inside. He laments that here he is, running Marone, but he has to deal with her family. He thinks they should all be locked up with the key thrown away, although he bets Brooke would probably let them out if that happened. As Bridget listens to him, he apologizes for dumping on her' he just didn't know where else to turn. He asks how she put up with him, anyway. She thinks he knows why; she reminds him that she wants the best for him, so he's sure he'll figure this out.

Ridge commends Brooke for what she did.

Back at Forrester, Brooke is still packing. She looks at a photo of her with Ridge, Hope and RJ as Ridge comes in. He commends her for letting Nick down easy. While he wishes he was working with her, he's willing to take what he can get these days. Still, there a lot of things, like fittings, that can't be done over the phone, even with his knowing her body so well, and... Brooke tells him to stop; she meant it when she said he needs to respect her relationship with Nick. Ridge compliments her for what she did for the company and the family today. That was the woman he loves, he says, and it's why she'll always be his Logan. He picks up the photo she looked at earlier and says that she's already determined their future. All that's left is playing it out.