Monday, May 01, 2006, Episode #4797

Stephanie lays down the law.

At the Forrester guest house, Bridget asks Felicia what happened to their agreement, as Stephanie is challenging her guardianship. Felicia says she didn't know. Stephanie insists that Felicia can care for her own child now. No one wants to take Dino away from Felicia, Dante says. They just wanted to take him away for a week, yet Stephanie had them hauled off the plane with the threat of kidnapping charges. And it would have been less than a week, Bridget adds, since she and Dante saw how upset Felicia was and decided to cut their trip short. That's generous of them, Stephanie says, but it doesn't change the fact that they have no right to take the child away anyway. Felicia has had enough: she doesn't want all this fighting around her son. Bridget agrees and thinks they can work this out together, but Stephanie insists that shared custody is not an option. She doesn't want Felicia to have this kind of stress. Bridget and Dante agree, but they think Stephanie is the cause of the stress, especially when she insists that they deal with her to settle this. Felicia is drained from all this and wants to get some rest, so she suggests they put this off until tomorrow. As Stephanie escorts Felicia to her bedroom, Bridget and Dante wonder how Stephanie got to Felicia. Stephanie overhears as she returns and says that she told Felicia that she's capable of taking care of her own son, which is why Bridget's guardianship will be revoked in a few days. Dante says that he's still Dino's father. One drunken night doesn't make a father, Stephanie says. Still, she's willing to make it worth Dante's while if he surrenders his parental rights to Felicia.

Bridget and Dante are stunned by Stephanie's veiled threats.

Bridget can't believe that Stephanie would ask Dante to sell his own son, since they love that baby. Stephanie knows that, but she thinks this has gotten out of hand. They need to draw some boundaries, so Bridget understands that she is not the child's mother. She sympathizes with Bridget's loss of her own child, but she feels that Bridget needs to let go. But Dante doesn't have to let go, Bridget says, since he's the baby's father. But Dante also needs to work, Stephanie states. Dante realizes what she's saying and explains to Bridget that Stephanie can fire him. Without a job, he'll lose his visa and will have to leave the country. Bridget can't believe that Stephanie is threatening to deport Dante. Stephanie says she's not threatening anyone. She just wants Dante to understand where she stands, and that she refuses to budge on this. But even if he has to leave, Bridget tells Dante, it won't mean that Felicia will automatically get custody. Stephanie reminds them that an international custody battle will be long and expensive. She has nothing against Dante and would love for him to marry Bridget so they can have babies of their own. Dante points out that he already has a son. And she's not asking him to turn his back on that boy, Stephanie says. She's just asking him to do right by a son he just recently learned about. Dante thinks this is absurd. Bridget thinks it's insulting, especially with Stephanie trying to control everyone. She suggests that with Ridge refusing to let his mother interfere in his life anymore, Stephanie has turned to Felicia, who's afraid of losing her child. Stephanie says that she won't let Felicia lose her son. The thought never crossed their minds, Dante says. That's good, Stephanie replies, and it had better not ever cross their minds.

Jackie fantasizes about a day she prays will come.

Jackie is in Nick's office, looking at pictures of him with Brooke and her kids. She thinks about how lucky her son is to finally have a chance for a life with Brooke, and she wishes that she could be as happy. Just then, Eric comes in. She tells him that Nick isn't here, but he says that he's here to see her. He knows he hurt her and wants to fix that. Jackie says that her feelings are not his responsibility; it was her choice to wait for him, and perhaps she made that choice too freely in the belief that there was a man for her out there somewhere. There is, Eric says. He made a promise to her, and he intends to keep it. That's why he's divorced Stephanie. Taking her engagement ring off the chain around her neck, he slips it on her finger and says that the day she's been waiting for is here. They embrace... and then Jackie comes back to reality as her fantasy ends. Who is she kidding? she asks as there's a knock at the door. Stephen stands in the doorway, asking if Nick Marone is there. Jackie asks if he has an appointment. Stephen says that he just wanted to invite his future son-in-law for dinner and drinks. Jackie realizes who Stephen is and says that Nick has mentioned him. Stephen explains that he and Nick got off on the wrong foot, so he'd like to fix that and get to know Nick better. Jackie says that Nick is a wonderful man who is devoted to Brooke and her children. Hope just adores Nick, she says. As does she, Stephen observes of Jackie. Jackie thinks she had better, since she's Nick's mother. But she's much too young, Stephen says. And he's too charming, Jackie replies, introducing herself as Jacqueline.

Stephen is charmed by Jacqueline.

Jackie suggests that Stephen get on her son's good side by treating her kindly, since Nick is very protective of her. Stephen says that Nick seems just as protective of Brooke. Nick would do anything for the two of them, Jackie states. Stephen wonders if she could put in a good word for him. She thinks she can; since they may be in-laws someday, she thinks they should get along, although she knows that's not always possible. Like with Brooke having Stephanie as a mother-in-law, Stephen suggests. Jackie senses that he doesn't think much of Stephanie. She and Massimo Marone played him perfectly and ruined his life, Stephen states, although the mistakes he made were his own. So he knows the "Tag Team of Doom," Jackie surmises. Stephen guesses that she does, too; she says she ought to, since was married to Massimo. Stephen says he's sorry she was married to that man, but Jackie feels sorrier for him, having been related to Stephanie. Stephen says the one he feels sorriest for is his daughter. Stephanie does treat Brooke badly, Jackie agrees, but Stephen adds that he had encouraged Brooke to go back to Ridge. He explains to Jackie how Ridge brought him here as a "trump card" in Ridge's plans to win Brooke back. He can't believe that he supported Ridge's plans at first. So he's changed his mind? Jackie asks. More like a crisis of conscience, Stephen explains, after Ridge did something to hurt Brooke. He knows Brooke forgave Ridge, but he doesn't know if he can. Jackie assures him that her son is 100% committed to Brooke. Stephen admits that he doesn't know Nick well, but if he's half as charming as his mother, then he doesn't see how Brooke can resist him.

Nick wants answers from Brooke.

At Big Bear, Brooke tries to hold Nick back, but Nick still wants to lash out at Ridge for what he did to her. She tells him that what happened with Ridge was a mistake, but he tells her that Ridge claimed that she wanted it. Ridge says that's not what he said. Ridge boasted about her love of sex, Nick says, and the way that no one could satisfy her like he [Ridge] does. Brooke asks Ridge if he said that. He replies, "Well..." Brooke can't believe that he would say that and tells Nick that Ridge was just trying to get a reaction out of him. Nick doesn't care about his reaction; he's more concerned about how she's reacting to what Ridge did. He asks when she's going to do something to show Ridge that his actions aren't acceptable. Ridge tells Nick to shut up and let Brooke explain, but Nick just wants to know if Brooke asked Ridge to leave. She says she did, so Nick thinks there's nothing else to discuss. Ridge tells Brooke to put a leash on Nick; Nick calls Ridge a son of a bitch and charges at him again, but Brooke gets between them. She tells Ridge to leave, so he does. She then asks Nick if he can calm down so they can discuss this. Nick just wants to know what happened. Did Ridge violate her? Or did she want to sleep with him?