Monday, November 20, 2006, Episode #4940

Jackie dislikes being fretted over.

Nick brings Jackie to Massimo's old house. Jackie asks if Massimo is around. Nick explains that the title to the house was in Marone Industries' name, so the house is his now. Jackie enters, walking with a quad cane and helped by a nurse, Florence. Jackie gets a headache, but it quickly passes. She tells a concerned Nick that the pain from the headaches lessens each time she has one. Donna comes downstairs. Nick tells Jackie that Donna helped him get the place ready, although Donna comments that the maid and caretaker did all the work. Nick introduces Donna to Florence and explains that the nurse will help out during the day. Jackie insists that she'll be back at work soon; Nick thinks she should wait on that and assures her that he won't be running Forrester Creations without her. Donna asks if she heard that last comment right. Nick tells her that she did. While Florence goes to make some tea, Donna tries to help Jackie get comfortable. Jackie insists that she doesn't need a nurse or anyone else doting on her 24/7, but Nick wants the nurse to stay until his mother is stable enough to be on her own. Jackie relents, so Nick tells her to relax.

Donna thinks Nick is going to extremes.

Donna pulls Nick aside and remarks about how much Jackie is improving. Nick gathers that Donna hasn't spoken to Brooke. Donna admits she hasn't, since Brooke's been holding down the fort at Forrester. Nick tells her that he has given the Forresters a choice: either they sell him their company or Jackie presses charges against Stephanie. Donna thinks that's a bit extreme and asks if that's fair. Nick thinks it is, especially after what his mother has been through. Donna agrees that Stephanie should be held accountable, but she doesn't see what Nick hopes to gain by taking over Forrester. Nick replies that taking over the company will end the entitlement the Forresters think they have over everyone, especially Brooke. Donna asks Nick if he really thinks kicking Ridge out will keep him away from Brooke. Nick answers that Brooke will have to decide what's more important to her: the work or the man.

Taylor prepares for the verdict in her trial.

Thorne arrives at the county jail, having heard that the jury has reached a verdict in Taylor's trial. He tells Taylor that the jury didn't deliberate long. Taylor tells him that the verdict doesn't really matter to her. Thorne asks what she means. She tells Thorne that the opinions of twelve strangers on a jury can't compare to what he said about her in court yesterday. Thorne tells Taylor that he missed her, so he couldn't help but be honest when he took the stand. Storm arrives and tells Taylor that they have to get to court. Thorne asks Storm if the jury reaching a verdict so quickly is a good thing. It shows that the jury thought the issues were clear cut, Storm explains. Thorne has a hard time agreeing with that. Storm assures Taylor that they'll appeal if the verdict goes against them. Taylor thinks she should prepare herself for the possibility that she's going to prison. She wants Thorne to know that if that happens, she's OK, thanks to him, but Thorne doesn't want to lose her, too.

Storm works his magic in the courtroom.

In the courtroom, Eric, Stephanie, Ridge, Thomas, Phoebe, Felicia, Sally, Hector, Harry and Lt. Baker anxiously wait for the verdict to be announced. Judge Owens arrives and has the jury brought in. He then asks the foreperson of the jury for the verdict - and the verdict is NOT GUILTY! Storm then makes a motion to vacate the judgement against Taylor for obstruction of justice; he points out that justice could not have been obstructed if no crime was committed. Assistant DA Tartaro argues that she needs to review this motion before she can offer a response from the people, but the Judge asks if she really wants to argue this on. In the interests of justice, the prosecutor relents, so the Judge dismisses the obstruction charge against Taylor and sets aside the sentence. Storm then petitions the judge to recall the judgement for Taylor's driving with a suspended license. He points out that Taylor only drove to aid her daughter, who was in physical danger, and he reminds the Judge that Taylor has already spent weeks in detention for a crime she was just found innocent of. In that light, he thinks a six month prison sentence is too much, and he recommends that Taylor instead do community service at a mental health clinic that has recently suffered from budget cuts. Ms. Tartaro objects, but Storm points out that the decision is solely the judge's. Judge Owens agrees and tells Taylor that she's well represented. After sentencing Taylor to 100 hours of community service at the mental health clinic and placing her on probation, the Judge says that she's free to go.

Ridge thanks Thorne again.

Taylor's family and friends gather at her house to celebrate. While Taylor calls Steffy with the good news, Felicia comments Storm for managing to get Taylor off. The lawyer admits that even he wondered if he could pull it off. "Didn't you used to be older and kind of boring?" Felicia quips. If she means always annoyed with big eyebrows, Storm jokingly replies, that was her father. Everyone laughs. Ridge then thanks Thorne for making this possible; he wants Thorne to know that he's OK with the idea of his little brother being with Taylor, under the condition that Thorne not call Taylor "Doc." "Trust me, it's the stupidest nickname I've ever heard," Thorne retorts, jokingly asking how Taylor put up with Ridge for so long. Ridge guesses it was overabundance of charm. Eric asks Taylor how she's feeling. Taylor replies that she's not sure. She admits that she realizes now that she can't use alcohol to deal with her problems. She wants to thank Storm for his legal expertise. She also wants to thank Darla; she wishes she didn't have to look at Darla as a memory, but she promises to honor that memory by matching Darla's example of what a good person really is.

Ally is glad to see Taylor.

After most of the crowd leaves, Phoebe tries to get Taylor to relax, but Taylor points out that there's still one more guest - Harry - out on the patio. Thorne offers to take Taylor's clothes from court upstairs, but Taylor wonders if she should bronze those or burn them. Thorne asks Taylor if she's tired, but she says she isn't. Thorne then sees that his mother left her glasses. When the doorbell rings, he thinks it's her, but it's Catherine with Alexandria, who rushes into Taylor's arms. Ally tells Taylor that she missed her and asks if Taylor got her letter in London. Taylor says that she got the letter and read it over and over. Ally tells Taylor not to go so far away again, unless she and Thorne can come, too. Taylor promises to tell Ally all about the trip to London someday, but right now, she just wants to say how glad she is to be home. Ally's OK with that.