Friday, May 19, 2006, Episode #4811

Brooke is at Jackie M, explaining to Nick and Jackie why she wants to be at the press conference to support Ridge, and to help Stephanie assure the press that Forrester isn't losing its top designer. Jackie worries that Stephanie is still trying to lure Brooke back to the family. Brooke assures them that won't happen; her life and future are with Nick. She admits it will be hard to return to Forrester, but this will be a good time to announce her resignation. Nick tells her that he has a conference call with the Marone board, but he can postpone it if she wants him to come with her. She tells him no, assuring him that she'll be fine, and they leave together. Once Brooke and Nick are out the door, Jackie looks at a photo of Nick and Brooke and then calls Stephen over. He arrives soon after; once Jackie tells him what's going on, Stephen is glad she called. They both agree that something isn't right about Stephanie asking Brooke attend the press conference, so they think they should get over to Forrester Creations and see for themselves.

Taylor tries to give Nick some advice.

Nick is at work at Marone when Taylor drops by. She says that Shelly said his conference call was delayed, so she came right in. Nick guesses she's here to discuss his proposal to provide counseling services to his employees who are away from home often and their families. She says she is, and she likes the idea. She'd be glad to help him get it off the ground. With that out of the way, Nick asks if he can pick her brain for some free advice. In a mock Freudian accent, she asks what "ze problem" is. He wants to understand Stephanie's fixation with Brooke, especially in light of Stephanie sudden acceptance of Brooke. She assumes that Stephanie's new attitude has to do with Ridge nearly dying. But that doesn't mean it's real, Nick states, so it may not last. Taylor agrees, but she admits that it's better than things have been the past few years. That's not Brooke's fault, Nick says. She points out that he's not exactly objective there, but he reminds her that she has her own differences with Brooke. She tells him that no one understands Brooke's vulnerabilities like Stephanie does. Nick responds that whatever Stephanie knows, or thinks she knows, won't change how Brooke feels about him. But Taylor thinks the relationship between Brooke and Stephanie is a complex one filled with love and hate.

Eric helps Ridge prepare to leave the hospital. Ridge is still in a bit of pain as they talk about Stephanie's plans for a press conference. Eric assures Ridge that Stephanie has Ridge's and the company's best interests at heart. Ridge has a hard time believing that when his mother has relegated the two of them to the basement, and with Brooke gone, he thinks the company is a shadow of the one he and Brooke ran together. Eric suggests that Stephanie might just want to fix that. Christian then drops by with Ridge's release papers; he gives Ridge a clean bill of health, but even so, he intends to be at the press conference today, at Eric's suggestion. As Christian goes to get a wheelchair, Eric senses Ridge is still hesitant and tells him that Brooke will be at the press conference. Ridge asks why she'd want to be there is she resigned. Eric asks Ridge to trust him when he says that the feud between Brooke and Stephanie will finally end today.

Felicia confronts her mother.

At Forrester, Stephanie checks with Sally, who assures her highness that no one knows what she has planned. Felicia comes in and overhears; she says SHE knows, since she heard about Stephanie's threat to deport Dante if he doesn't sign away his parental rights. While she's sure her mother only wanted to protect her, she says that she and Dante intend to work this out on their own. That's fine, Stephanie says, excusing herself to prepare for the press. Felicia asks Sally what's going on, but Sally feigns ignorance. Felicia guesses that this conference is about more than just Ridge's health and bets it has something to do with Brooke. Sally remains silent.

Brooke isn't sure she can stay.

Brooke steps into the empty press room and looks at podium, flashing back to her moments of triumph with Ridge, both on the runway and in the lab. Stephanie enters and sees the look on Brooke's face; it's obvious to her that Brooke still loves his place and still has a lot of good memories. Brooke agrees, but she points out that Stephanie took all those away from her when she took over the company and squashed everything. Stephanie admits that she overreacted; Brooke thinks Stephanie always did that when she came to her. Stephanie nods in agreement. Brooke says that she knows she agreed to be here to support Ridge, but standing in this room now, she thinks it might be too painful. "Because of me," Stephanie states. Brooke says that she only wanted Stephanie's respect, but she only got... She starts to turn away, but Stephanie reaches for her arm and asks her to stay; she promises Brooke will be happy if she does. Brooke, however, looks unsure as she turns toward the door.

Stephanie, Eric and Ridge answer questions.

As the room fills up, Dante, Felicia and Bridget find seats, while Jackie sits with Stephen. Darla sits with Sally as Thorne stands with his mother at the podium. She worried that Brooke isn't there and wants to find her, but Thorne tells her that there's no time. As he takes a seat with his wife and Sally as the director - the conference is being televised - counts down and says they're live. Stephanie begins by assuring everyone that, despite Ridge's recent hospitalization, both her and Forrester Creations are fine, ready to move forward toward a bright future. She thinks they'll all agree once they hear about the new direction she wants to take the company in. Brooke walks in the back of the room as smarmy Eye on Fashion reporter Jarrett Maxwell asks why the company need another new direction. Stephanie thinks he'll be quite surprised and motions for Eric, who wheels Ridge out on stage. The crowd is all abuzz. Christian sits joins Felicia, Dante and Bridget as Eric reminds the crowd how no one is as committed to Forrester's creativity as Ridge is. Stephanie asks Ridge how he is; he quips that she should ask him after this crowd of reporters grills him. Everyone laughs. There are a bunch of questions about Ridge, but Jarrett chimes in and asks if it's true that Brooke has left Forrester. Ridge confirms that it is, but Stephanie says that it isn't -- or at least, she hopes it isn't. That brings her to her second reason for this press conference. In addition to assuring them that Ridge is fine, she wants to thank Brooke Logan for her contributions to Forrester.

Stephen and Jackie are stunned.

Spotting Brooke in back, Stephanie calls her to the stage. Brooke is reluctant, but the crowd starts to applaud for her, so Brooke walks to the stage. Stephanie tells the assembled reporters that she has another surprise for them, and especially Brooke, and she asks them to look at the video screen behind her. Indeed, the crowd is stunned, as is Brooke, when they view a video put together by and narrated by Stephanie. As Stephanie's voice-over talks about how Brooke has always written her own rules in fashion, Ridge reaches over for Brooke's hand; Stephanie sees Brooke put her hand in Ridge's and smiles. Meanwhile, a stunned Jackie takes out her cell phone and calls Nick, who is telling Taylor that Brooke is ending her association with Forrester Creations as they speak. Jackie tells her son to turn on Channel 31; hearing the distress in his mother's voice, Nick turns on the TV, and he and Taylor are both surprised to see a montage showcasing Brooke's Bedroom and BeLieF. Stephanie's voice-over praises Brooke for each of these accomplishments, and for making the company flourish as Forrester's CEO. It was during that time that Brooke introduced their Men's line and made Forrester a success internationally as well. She then gets to Brooke's quintessential moment, the Portofino challenge. Ridge smiles at Brooke as they watch Brooke sail across an Italian river in Eric's showstopper. The video concludes with more praise for how Brooke made the House of Forrester what it is today, and that's why they are here to honor Brooke. Everyone applauds.

As the applause dies down, Stephanie tells Brooke that she has failed to acknowledge Brooke's talent and passion for her work publicly, and it's time that she does so. Brooke is stunned - and she's even more shocked when Stephanie says that Brooke's Bedroom and the men's line are both back in production as of today. Stephanie then points out how Eric was just out of college when they started this company, and she had a baby on the way. And while they were a success, there was one particular team in the company's history that brought Forrester its biggest profits ever, and she wants to reinstate that team. She takes Brooke and Ridge's hands and tells them that there is no doubt in her mind that they are the future of Forrester Creations, and that's why she's stepping down as CEO - and offering Brooke the job! She thinks the company needs Brooke more than ever. She then holds up the stock certificates for Forrester, which she holds. She takes one certificate for 50% of the company's stock and hands it to Brooke, who can just stare in disbelief. Stephanie tells Brooke that this stock, and the CEO title, are hers (Brooke's) now, her legacy for the children and the grandchildren. Brooke can only ask, "Is this real?" It is, Stephanie states, embracing Brooke and welcoming her to the family. Flashbulbs go off, the reporters are buzzing, and the Forrester family and friends in the audience don't know what to think.