Friday, May 12, 2006, Episode #4806

Jackie tells Stephen about her engagement to Eric.

At Brooke's house, Stephen overhears Jackie calling the hospital to ask about Ridge. She tells them that she's a friend of Ridge's father, but she then thanks the person on the phone and hangs up. That didn't sound good, Stephen says. Jackie says that the nurse would only confirm that Ridge had surgery. Stephen asks about her saying that she's a friend of Ridge's father. Actually, both of them, she replies; she was married to and divorced his biological father, while the man who raised him is her fiance - she thinks. Stephen is surprised that Eric finally got a spine and walked away from Stephanie. Jackie realizes he's been out of the loop for a while and shows him the engagement ring around her neck. She explains that Eric proposed to her recently on the same day he remarried Stephanie, to honor his dying daughter Felicia's last wish. She asks Stephen what he wouldn't do for his daughter. Marry Stephanie Forrester! he retorts. Jackie defensively tells Stephen that she and Eric were involved since he broke up with Stephanie last summer, so they shared more than a roll in the hay. Stephen guesses that you can't teach an old dog a new tricks and asks Jackie if Eric told her he did exactly the same thing to Stephen's ex-wife.

Stephen tells Jackie how he'd do things differently.

Jackie asks Stephen what he means. He explains that Eric kept telling his ex- that she was the one he loved, and that he was only was with Stephanie out of circumstance. She asks if that was Beth. Stephen is stunned that Eric would have the gall to mention her name. Jackie says she heard the name mentioned, but can't recall where. Stephen says that he became Beth's "contingency husband" because of Eric's claims. Beth was disappointed - in him, because he never could measure up to Eric; in herself, as she wasn't dazzling enough to keep Eric's attention; and in life, because they were apart. The only thing Beth wasn't disappointed in was the the brilliant, beautiful and blameless Eric! He sees Jackie is angry. She admits she keeps asking herself if she's been a doormat. Stephen tells her that selfish people rule the world with their looks and their money, acting on impulse to take what they want. And why do they let them? Jackie asks. Because people like them politely pick up on the cues of those people and meekly give them what they want, he admits. He walked away from his marriage and family because he never really thought they were his, but he won't make that mistake again. Jackie asks what he'd do instead. He'd know what he is, what he wants and what's right, he replies, and he'd declare it. To demonstrate, he leans in and kisses Jackie, who doesn't look upset by the sudden kiss at all.

Dante pays Felicia a compliment.

Felicia is by Ridge's bedside, questioning a nurse who is about to take her brother for another CAT scan. She suggests that her brother might not want more tests. As the nurse offers to call the doctor, Dante comes in. He takes Felicia by the arm and assures the nurse that Ms. Forrester appreciates all they're doing for her brother. He looks to Felicia and asks, "Right?" She nods as the nurse leaves. Felicia quips that he might want to follow her around and give the world footnotes on what she's saying all the time. He says he just came to see if there was any news on Ridge. She says there's no change. He asks where her mother is, so she tells him that Stephanie went to Mexico. Since there's no change, Dante offers to leave, but Felicia asks him to stay. After Ridge is taken for his test, Dante offers to get her some coffee. Felicia complains that she feels full and fat from her medication, but Dante doesn't agree that she's fat at all. Her hair may look like hell and she may be as pasty-white as ricotta cheese, he says, but she otherwise looks hotter to him than when they met. Moving close to him, she says she used to be hot. Dante agrees that she was, and adds that she's even hotter now. But she's bald, she retorts. So what? he asks. Felicia asks why they're talking about this. About what? he counters. She responds by putting her arms around him and kissing him!

Felicia thinks Dante can read her like a book.

Felicia and Dante pull away from the kiss. She says that she heard that he proposed to Bridget, but her sister turned him down again. She asks how many times that is but then apologizes. It's just that no one has touched her in a long time other than to check her pulse, so she sometimes aches to be held by someone warm and alive. He says it's OK, but she says it isn't. He asks if she's forgotten what might be the greatest sex he had in his life. She says she remembers the gist of it, including his hands - she picks his hands up - holding her. She then puts his hands on her face and asks him to touch her. He cups her face as she says that she doesn't know if they're just getting started or just getting done. Dante drops his hands and says this makes no sense. He thinks she's just acting this way because she's afraid for her brother. She looks at him and says she must be an open book, as he embraces her.

Nick asks what Stephanie wants from Brooke.

In Cabo, Brooke can't believe what Stephanie's claim, especially since Ridge is too young to have a heart attack. Stephanie agrees, but she says that's on her conscience; she asks Brooke if she wants Ridge's death on her own. As Brooke gets out of the hot tub and puts on a robe, Nick asks Stephanie what she wants of Brooke. Stephanie turns to Brooke and suggests that she call the hospital or Eric if there's any doubt about Ridge. Nick notes that he's not surprised that a crisis came up just after Brooke quit Forrester. Brooke asks when this happened; Stephanie responds that it was less than an hour after Brooke left and explains about the argument she and Ridge had then. After that, she knew Ridge was right that she had taken his life from him, which is why Ridge needs Brooke right now! Brooke is confused; she asks if it was a heart attack or a tear in the aortic wall. Stephanie says it doesn't matter which came first. It just matters that it happened because of Brooke. Nick objects to her blaming it on Brooke. Stephanie says that she's actually blaming herself. Nick thinks this stinks, but Brooke doesn't see how Stephanie could fake this, since the truth would be easy to find. The truth, Nick says, is that Stephanie wanted Brooke away from her perfectly dysfunctional family and her perfect son. Stephanie admits that she thought she knew what Ridge needed, but now she knows she was wrong, and it may cost her son his life! She tells Brooke to hate her forever if she wants, but please don't punish Ridge and please come back to L.A. with her.

Brooke asks if Stephanie expects to just forget the past. Stephanie says she doesn't expect that, but she thinks they can understand each other. Nick says he understands that insanity loves company. He and Brooke feel bad for Ridge, he says, so they'll think good thoughts for him. He suggests that Stephanie get back to her son's side and forget about bringing back a time in Brooke's life that's passed, because Brooke will never be her best friend. Stephanie admits that's true, since Brooke did things she can never condone. But if she had accepted Brooke into her family, things might have been different. She points out that Brooke has never been a person who hates well, so she's hoping that Brooke can come with her now and forgive her, for Ridge's sake. Nick says that Brooke's life is with him now. Stephanie says that's her fault, too. Nick angrily asks why everything comes back to her, but she's had enough, as this isn't about him. Nick doesn't think Brooke's presence will make a difference, but Stephanie says it will, because Ridge has been calling Brooke's name. The whole family has been in to see him, but he has not responded to any of them, and the only thing he keeps saying is Brooke's name. Nick suggests getting a team of top cardiac doctors, but Stephanie says that Ridge already has all the medical care he needs. Even with that, he still isn't waking up, almost like he doesn't want to, and that's why she has to accept that Brooke really is his life.