Monday, March 27, 2006, Episode #4772

The opening credits were changed slightly today. A new head shot of Hunter Tylo as Taylor was added, showing her current short haircut (as opposed to the hair extensions she used when she first returned to the show last year). Mario Lopez, aka Dr. Ramirez, was added between Felicia and Thomas, and his first name, Christian (which has yet to be used in dialog) is listed for the first time on air. And Dan McVicar (Clarke), who is currently on recurring status, has been removed. And now, on with the show...

Brooke tells Nick that he's her future.

Nick and Brooke are still on the double chaise lounge on the Shady Marlin, kissing. Brooke reminds him of her promise to Bridget, so Nick suggests they set the ground rules. The cheek and the neck are OK, Brooke agrees as he kisses her in each place. He then finds a corner of her lips which he thinks should be OK and kisses her there, although he stops and teases, "no tongue." As long as it's innocent, Brooke says. Nick says he's not thinking about being innocent and laments that he feels like he's in high school. He might as well move to Tibet and be a monk, he quips. Brooke doesn't think that will be necessary. He guesses he could always paint the boat or varnish the floors for six months. Or he could erect the mast, Brooke teases. That's no fair, he retorts. Brooke then says he'll just have to love her and care for her. For six months? he asks. Forever, she replies, as they kiss again. Soon after, he helps her put on her shoes, remarking that he'd be better at UNDRESSING her than DRESSING her. They can try that in six months, he laughs. Turning serious, he then asks her to let him know if Ridge tries anything. She promises that he's her future now, with the family they had here tonight and RJ, and she can't wait. She kisses him goodbye and they exchange "I love you's" before she leaves.

Taylor warns Nick to be wary of Brooke.

Nick is whistling "Going Back Again" and doing the dishes when Taylor arrives, noting his good mood. He explains that Brooke and Hope were there for dinner. She admits that she was there earlier, but she left when she saw him with Brooke. She asks how things went. It was good, he replies, and Hope had a good time. She bets that Hope is crazy about him. They get along well, Nick admits, guessing that's what fatherhood is all about. He;s sure Taylor would agree Hope deserves a good father. Just as Brooke deserves a good husband, Taylor says, wishing him luck. She confesses that she's never known anyone like him, and she thinks he deserves to be happy. Nick thanks her but wonders where she's going with this. Well, she responds, she thinks it's wonderful that he thinks Brooke will make him happy. She just doesn't want him to be hurt when Brooke lets him down.

Nick asks Taylor what her warning means.

Nick asks Taylor what she means by that. She explains that she doesn't want to see a good man like him get burned. He tells her that she doesn't know what she's talking about, but she reminds him that she's known Brooke a long time. She's seen all the men - Eric, Thorne, Grant, James and many more - who have been mesmerized by Brooke, and she can't think of one who has walked away unscathed. But those men are different, Nick points out. Taylor disagrees. She thinks she knows Brooke better even than Brooke knows herself, and she thinks Brooke used all the men in her life as a bandage over not having Ridge. She had to learn that the hard way. In befriending Nick, she's come to respect him, which is why she's being honest with him, so he can avoid being added to that statistic. Nick chides Taylor for ruining the good night he was having by telling him this. She apologizes to him and says that she just wants him to be prepared. She's known Brooke longer than he has and thinks she has a better understanding of Brooke's long history with Ridge than he does. Nick says he's sorry that things haven't worked out for her and Ridge. She insists that this isn't about her; it's about him, because he's a special man, so she just wants him to keep his eyes open.

Dr. Ramirez worries about Felicia's condition.

At the clinic, monitors start buzzing as Felicia is removed from life support. Doctors Ramirez and Harwood work feverishly as Felicia's vitals drop and she goes into cardiac arrest. Stephanie asks what's happening; Dr. Harwood urges her to let Dr. Ramirez work. She asks if they should put Felicia back on life support, as she does not want to lose her daughter. Harwood assures her that Ramirez knows what he's doing and advises her to calm down if she wants to stay in the room. Ramirez urges Felicia to hold on and manages to stabilize her heartbeat; once her heart is steady, he tells Dr. Harwood to put Felicia on the transplant list. Dr. Harwood starts objects, but Ramirez tells him to do it. Harwood leaves the room to prepare the paperwork, leaving Stephanie with her daughter and Ramirez. She asks the young doctor if Felicia is going to make it. He promises to do everything he can, but the most important thing now is for Felicia to want to stay with them. All they can do is hope, he states. Stephanie thinks Felicia needs more than just hope, and she thinks she knows what to do. As she turns to the door, Ramirez asks where she's going. She just walks out and leaves.

At Dante's place, Bridget is overwhelmed by the papers that Dante has given her, which name the two of them as Dominick's legal guardians. It's what Felicia wanted, Dante reminds her. She guesses he had something to do with this. He thinks she knows how he feels about her. The baby starts crying, so Bridget jokes that they need just one more person's approval and goes to get the baby. She brings him back in and notes that the boy doesn't want to go to sleep, no matter what she does. Dante tells her not to worry, since the baby's slept all day. That's the problem, Bridget says, suggesting that they need to get Dominick on some sort of schedule. Dante recalls how a ride in the car got Dominick to sleep last time, so he suggests that they take the boy for a drive. Bridget thinks it's worth a shot, so she takes the baby and they head for the door, only to open it and find Stephanie there. Stephanie apologizes if she startled them. It's just that she was hoping that she could take Dominick and have him spend the night with her. She thinks the baby is her only hope.

Bridget and Dante are suprised by Stephanie's request.

Bridget knows that Stephanie has gone through a lot lately, but she asks if Stephanie really needs to take the boy tonight. Stephanie knows it sounds odd, since it's late, but it's important for her to be with Dominick tonight. She's gone through a lot without Felicia and thinks having Felicia's son with her will help, so she has the car seat ready in the car. Bridget says that it's not a matter of safety. She just thinks it's late and suggests they set up a better time for this. Stephanie says that this is one of those times where you just have to be with family and promises to bring the baby back in the morning. Bridget turns to Dante, who thinks it might not be a bad idea to let the baby spend the night with Grandma. After all, he reminds Bridget, they have Dominick for the rest of their lives, and this is only one night. When he puts it that way, Bridget can't help but reluctantly agree. Dante gives the diaper bag to Stephanie, who thanks him and turns to leave. Before Stephanie can get out the door, Bridget stops her so she can give her sweet angel a kiss goodnight. This baby is a miracle worker, she tells Stephanie. Stephanie says that she sure hopes so and leaves. Soon after, Bridget and Dante go out on the deck. He tells her to look at the bright side, since they don't need to waste all that champagne now. As he hands Bridget a glass, she smiles, but she laments that she misses Dominick already. It's just one night, Dante reminds her, but Bridget couldn't help but notice how desperate Stephanie seemed. Dante promises her that no one can ever take Dominick from her now.