Tuesday, November 14, 2006, Episode #4936

Bridget has tragic news for Dante.

Bridget arrives at Dante's beach house and finds him running late to meet Felicia at the courthouse for Taylor's trial. Dante asks if she's going; she says she isn't and asks if she can have a word with him. Dante asks if she can tell him while he finishes getting ready; Bridget asks him to stop and listen to her. She went to see Dr. Caspary this morning and had an ultrasound. She didn't tell anyone because she didn't want to worry anyone until she knew for sure what was going on. Dante wonders if she didn't tell him because she was worried about his relationship with Felicia; if that's the case, he tells her not to worry, since Felicia understands that he intends to be part of his new child's life as well. But there is no child, Bridget states. Dante asks what she means, so Bridget explains that she went to the doctor because she was bleeding this morning. When Dr. Caspary checked, there was no heartbeat. Bridget tearfully tells Dante that she lost the baby.

Bridget tells Dante that she feels like a failure having lost two babies. Dante asks if her problems with Nicole had anything to do with her miscarrying this child, but Bridget tells him that all signs indicated her pregnancy was healthy. Then what happened? Dante asks. Bridget reminds him that she's a doctor, so she knows these things sometimes just happen. She wonders if it was for the best, since she's on her own and he's with Felicia. Dante tells her not to say that. He assures her that he and Felicia both supported her in this pregnancy. Bridget wonders if maybe she's not cut out to be a mother after losing two babies. Dante holds her and tells her to listen. He knows it's hard to lose two babies, but she knows as a doctor that things could be different next time. Plenty of women have children after multiple miscarriages, and some women take years to finally conceive. So he's sure it will happen to her. When it does, Bridget hopes the father is as warm and caring as Dante is.

Phoebe tells Harry about her promise to celebrate with Shane.

As Eric and Stephanie arrive at the courthouse, Stephanie wonders if it was a mistake keeping Storm on Taylor's case. Eric assures her that Storm will see this through. Storm overhears and tells them that he intends to win, thanks to Shane's testimony. Ridge comes in with Phoebe and Thomas; Phoebe freaks out when she sees Shane isn't there yet. Thomas says he didn't see Shane at the house, either. Ridge reveals that he was worried about Shane's growing in interest in Phoebe, so he told the gardener to find someplace else to stay last night. Storm just hopes Shane shows. Hector and Harry arrive; when Harry tells him that Shane isn't there yet, Hector also worries, since Taylor doesn't stand a chance without Shane's testimony. Phoebe goes out to the hall, frantically waiting for Shane. She's startled when he comes up behind her. Shane asks her what's with the worried look on her face. She tells him that she was worried he had overslept. Shane tells her that he could hardly sleep last night, because he was so excited about their celebration plans for tonight. He hopes she's just as excited as he is. Phoebe says that she needs to focus on her mom now and goes inside the courtroom. She goes over to Storm and asks him to make sure Shane testifies today; Storm says he'll do what he can, but the prosecutor presents her case first. As the bailiff calls the courtroom to order, Phoebe tells Harry about her promise to celebrate with Shane tonight; she didn't tell him last night, since she knew he would overreact. Harry asks what she means by "celebrate", but the judge enters the courtroom before she can answer.

Taylor has her day in court.

Thorne, Sally and Felicia have also arrived and take their seats. Taylor sees Thorne and gives him a sympathetic look. The judge calls the court to order in Case #96598, The County of Los Angeles vs. Dr. Taylor Hayes. The judge asks Assistant District Attorney Tartaro to begin. Tartaro starts of by admitting that the jury may think they know Taylor, having seen or heard of her in the media. But while the defense will attempt to show Taylor as a devoted mother, Tartaro intends to show them another side of Taylor and prove that Taylor is a liar and a killer. Tartaro then points out that Taylor admitted she had been drinking the night she struck Darla with her car and hid it from everyone. She asks if those are the actions of an innocent person. Storm then makes his opening statement, focusing on how Taylor rushed off to her daughter's aid; it may not have been a wise decision if she'd been drinking, but that act did not kill Darla, as the defense's eyewitness testimony will show. He's sure the jury will see that once they hear the evidence and will set Taylor free.

Assistant District Attorney Tartaro states her case.

Tartaro then presents the jury with Taylor's confession; she thinks that says it all in black and white, as Taylor admitted to drinking and driving and took responsibility for Darla's death. Storm points out that Taylor did not have counsel present when she made that confession, but Tartaro points out that Taylor waived her right to an attorney. The judge tells the prosecutor to continue, but she doesn't think she needs to say any more. She asks the jury to hold Taylor to her admission of guilt. Tartaro next calls Lt. Baker and asks him about the night of Darla's death; Baker explains that he smelled alcohol on Taylor's breath that night. During cross-examination, Storm asks Baker if Taylor was asked to submit to a breathalyzer test; when Baker says he didn't, Storm points out that there is no way to determine if Taylor's blood alcohol was above the legal limit on the night of the accident.

Storm tries to turn Shane's testimony around.

Next, Ms. Tartaro questions Shane. She gets Shane to admit that it was dark and foggy that night, and that he was standing at a distance away from the accident scene. So his view may have been obstructed, Tartaro suggests. Shane starts to disagree, but Tartaro then asks why he didn't come forward after seeing the news of Darla's death in the media. Shane points out that he didn't exactly get newspapers when he was homeless. Tartaro asks Shane where he is living now. Shane says he has his own place, but Tartaro points out that he's been living someplace else the past few months. Shane tries to explain about how Taylor and her family took him in after his accident with his hand. So he was a loyal employee of the defendant, Tartaro points out - perhaps loyal enough to say anything to protect the woman who took him in? Storm objects, so Ms. Tartaro withdraws the question and turns Shane over to Storm. Storm then gets Shane to explain how Taylor had no idea that he had witnessed Darla's death when she took him in. He then asks Shane about how he came to be at the accident scene; Shane explains how he offered Phoebe help with her flat tire, but she got scared, so he decided to step back and watch from a distance.

Judge Owens interrupts Shane's testimony.

Before Shane can say any more, Judge Owens interrupts to tell the lawyers that an urgent matter has come up. He tells Shane to step down, and they will resume his testimony tomorrow. Phoebe panics and frets that they have to let Shane finish, but the judge leaves the courtroom. Thorne goes over to Taylor and tells her not to worry; he's sure she'll be going home tomorrow. Taylor frets that she wanted this to be over, but Thorne and Phoebe assure her that it's just one more night.