Wednesday, November 29, 2006, Episode #4945

Jackie is stunned that Brooke sided with the Forresters.

At the Marone mansion, Nick presents Jackie with the signed contracts that make him the new owner of Forrester Creations. Jackie is stunned that Nick won given Stephanie's determination to fight them, but she's pleased that he pulled it off; now there's nothing standing in the way of his marriage to Brooke, she enthuses. Nick tells her that his marriage is over, as Brooke sided with the Forresters and sold him her stock. Jackie is shocked and assumes Brooke felt forced to sell by Nick's determination to take the company. Nick reminds Jackie what Stephanie did to her and suggests that La Forrester got off easy. Now that they have Forrester, he wants to move forward. He tells Jackie that in thinking about the Forrester family, the only one loyal to him was Bridget; that's why he wants Bridget to be part of the new Forrester Creations.

Taylor asks Stephanie why she's been avoiding her.

In the Forrester CEO's office, an employee clears out some boxes as Stephanie packs some last things. As she comes across the copy of the trust her father set up giving her sole control of Forrester, she again flashes back to her father's fury at her dropping her milk glass in his study. Taylor comes in and gives Stephanie a hug; she remarks at how unbelievable it is that this is the end of Forrester Creations. Stephanie bemoans how hard it was to pack all her personal items up. But no one can take away the memories tied to those items, Taylor suggests. Taylor then asks Stephanie why she's been avoiding her calls; she knows it's normal for therapy patients to seek help and then back away out of fear of what therapy might reveal. Stephanie denies that she's avoiding Taylor; she thinks it's been hard with everything going on, so she's tried to focus on the good times. Taylor recalls Stephanie talking about her life growing up during their session and asks Stephanie to expand on her thoughts about her father, but Stephanie refuses to get into that now. Eric comes in; Taylor tells him how sorry she is. Stephanie tells Eric that after their argument the other day, she turned to Taylor for help. Before Eric can comment, he's called away to check on some boxes. He says he'll be right there. Stephanie tells him that her talk with Taylor felt good. It's a start, Eric agrees as he leaves. Stephanie tells Taylor that Eric seems to know that she's trying. Taylor warns Stephanie that she'll have to do more than just try if her marriage is going to survive.

The family gathers in the CEO's office.

Felicia, Thorne and Sally join Stephanie in the office. Bridget arrives and is glad that she caught them before they left. Ridge and Brooke enter, with Ridge telling them that the truck is almost loaded. It's so sad, Brooke frets. Stephanie gives Brooke a hug and thanks her; she knows Brooke didn't have to sell her stock, too, and it's a gesture Stephanie won't forget. They're in this together, as a family, Ridge and Brooke agree. Eric comes in and laments, "A lifetime to build, and two days to haul it all away." Sally remarks that you can't keep a Forrester down. No you can't, Eric agrees; he learned some of that from Sally, who's now one of them as well. Ridge, Thorne, Felicia and Brooke all agree that their name may not be on the designs, but they'll always be Forresters, standing for the gold standard of the industry. And it's all because of Eric and Stephanie, Ridge adds. Eric thanks them but thinks they should get moving, as the employees are all downstairs. Before they go, Stephanie recalls her children growing up in this building. She's proud of how they all turned out, combining the talent they inherited from Eric and the determination to be demanding of themselves. She then recalls how Sally always kept them on their toes, proving that the word "panache" was coined for her. But now it's all over, because of what her family sacrificed for her, and she wants to thank them all. She's just sorry it has to end this way.

Eric tells Stephanie that he'll always forgive her.

With Stephanie's speech done, it's time to leave. Eric tells everyone that he and Stephanie will be right down. The others all file out one by one, giving hugs and showing support to Eric and Stephanie as they leave. Alone with Eric, Stephanie tells him that she needs him to forgive her. Eric tells her that he loves her, so he'll always forgive her. Stephanie notes that times like this make her realize how much she wants their marriage; she tells Eric that's she's proud to be Mrs. Eric Forrester. With that, Eric asks "Mrs. Forrester" if she's ready. She tells "Mr. Forrester" that she is and they leave the nearly empty office.

Bridget tells Nick that she lost the baby.

Soon after, Nick enters the CEO's office. He sits down behind the desk and reflects on his new company. Bridget comes in and sees him sitting there. She asks him once more not to do this, reminding him that her whole family feels sorry for what happened to Jackie. Sorry doesn't cut it this time, Nick retorts, stating again that Stephanie had to be held accountable. Bridget asks what did the rest of her family did to him. They forgave too much, Nick replies. He then reminds Bridget of the feelings they once shared; he knows they can't recreate what they had, but he wants her to be a part of the company. Bridget is shocked that he expects her to betray her family. Besides, she reminds him, she's a doctor and has no interest in the fashion business. Nick thinks she can succeed at anything she wants to. And she has a child on the way, so he can give her flexible hours to accommodate that. Bridget tells him to stop. She doesn't need his help, his flexible hours or anything, because she lost the baby. Stunned, Nick tells her that he's sorry. Bridget says she doesn't want to talk about it. She just wants to move on with her life. Nick tells her that she could build a life here, but Bridget refuses to play the fool again, especially after he stripped her family of what they loved most. Nick says they were given a choice. What choice? Bridget asks, turning to join her family as they say goodbye. Standing in the door, she wonders what happened to the honest, decent man she fell in love with. She hopes he's still there and warns Nick not to lose himself in all this.

The Forrester staff gathers to say goodbye to the Forresters.

Downstairs, Eric and Stephanie step off the elevator and are met with applause from their family and their former employees. They're moved my the sentiment. Eric thanks them all for their dedication and love over the years. That connection between them is what made Forrester a success, he reflects, and he never intended to leave that this way. But he promises them all that he will be back. The Forrester family will reclaim their position in the fashion industry, he vows, and he'll someday get this company back. Everyone again applauds.

Stephanie returns to the CEO's office and confronts Nick. She warns him not to get comfortable, because she's not done with him. Nick reminds her that he has her company now, but Stephanie retorts that he can never succeed in a business he knows nothing about. She asks him if this was all about revenge; Nick replies that he calls it justice. "You've made an enemy for life," Stephanie fires back. "So have you." Nick replies. But his enemy understands his weakness, Stephanie suggests; that weakness is Brooke, who he has now lost forever. And what about the loss of everything she and her family poured into this company, Nick asks, all because of their bitter matriarch? Picking up a fireplace poker, Stephanie looks at the three stained glass windows with the stylized letter "F" on them. She asks the letter "F" stands for in Nick's business. "Is it freighter?" She asks. "Or maybe it's fraud, which you are!" she adds, taking a swing at the first window and smashing it. She then swings at the second window and asks, Or maybe it's fool, which you are, also. Or maybe it's just the conventional 'F'." Nick tells her to go on; Stephanie says she won't say it in mixed company and smashes the third window!