Thursday, October 19, 2006, Episode #4918

Taylor asks to be sentenced now.

In the courthouse, Judge Owens accepts Taylor's guilty plea and schedules her sentencing in three weeks. Prosecutor Tartaro asks the judge to confirm that Taylor will remain in custody without bail. Stephanie asks Storm to do something about that; Storm reminds her that Taylor violated the terms of probation for her prior DUI conviction. Stephanie tells the judge that she will guarantee any bail amount, but Judge Owens still denies bail. The judge then asks the lawyers if they have anything else; Tartaro and Storm don't, but Taylor says that she has something to say. Looking at Thorne, she says that she knows that she took the life of a wonderful wife and mother. She turns back to the judge and explains that she doesn't want to put Thorne's family through any more heartache, so she'd like to be sentenced immediately. The prosecutor is willing to go along with that, but Stephanie asks Storm to talk to Taylor. Storm asks for a word with his client, but Taylor insists that she has to do this, so Thorne and Alexandria can heal. Agreeing to Taylor's requests, the judge schedules sentencing for this afternoon. Stephanie looks to Taylor, asking Taylor what she's doing. Taylor insists that this is how it has to be. Taylor is then led away in handcuffs.

Ridge vents to Brooke about Taylor's predicament.

At Forrester, Brooke finds Ridge in his old office (which technically is still Thorne's). She asks if the news about Taylor's arrest is true. Ridge confirms that it is and tells Brooke that he called her brother Storm to help. The only problem is that Taylor wants to plead guilty, in order to give Thorne some closure. He frets that Thorne and Taylor should be celebrating their engagement; instead, Taylor is in court and Thorne had his heart torn out, and there's nothing any of them can do about it. Ridge then tells Brooke how he called Steffy last night in London to fill her in; he hated to do it over the phone, but the media is all over this, so he had no choice. He comments that Steffy wanted to come home, but he told her to stay put. Ridge then gets a call from Stephanie, who tells him about Taylor's guilty plea and request to be sentenced today. Ridge tells his mom that he'll be right over. Having overheard, Brooke tells Ridge that she's sorry. Ridge laments that Taylor is caught up in her guilt, and he admits that he feels some guilt himself; he wonders if he could have prevented this by handling his divorce from Taylor differently. He laments that he was so caught up in winning Brooke back that he ignored Taylor's drinking. Brooke asks if he wishes he was back with Taylor; Ridge assures her that she's the one he wants to be with. But he still feels responsible, Brooke points out, because that's the kind of man he is. Ridge thanks her for being there for him. Brooke says that she'll always be there for him and kisses him.

Storm asks Taylor to let him help her.

In Taylor's jell cell, Storm asks Taylor to let him help her. He suggests having Phoebe tell the court what she saw, but Taylor refuses to put her daughter through the trauma of being on the witness stand. Besides, she doubts anyone would believe a daughter who is trying to protect her mom. Storm suggests that there has to be another witness out there who can confirm her story, but Taylor doesn't say a word about Shane. Sensing that Taylor is holding back, Storm asks Taylor what's on her mind. She says that it doesn't matter if someone else saw it, since she refuses to defend herself by blaming Darla. Storm suggests that her love for Thorne is clouding her judgement. He insists that what happened WAS an accident, which is why he's urging her to let him mount a defense for her. Taylor refuses; she feels that ten years of her life is nothing compared to what she's taken from Thorne and Ally.

Stephanie tries to get through to Thorne.

In the courtroom, Stephanie tries to plead Taylor's case to Thorne, who gets upset at his mother's defense of the woman who killed his wife. Stephanie tells him that Taylor is only pleading guilty to spare him and Alexandria any more pain, but Thorne reminds her that Taylor ran over Darla and then lied about it. In his opinion, Taylor deserves ten years in jail for tearing up his family, and nothing anyone can say will change his mind about that. Stephanie says that she's not trying to defend anyone; she admits that it was wrong to encourage Taylor to lie, but that's no reason to send Taylor to jail over an accident. An accident according to Phoebe, Thorne points out, suggesting that Phoebe is just trying to protect her mother. He thinks that story seems just a bit convenient, especially given how everyone tried to cover it up. Stephanie suggests that Taylor and Phoebe were scared. Thorne has another theory: he points out that Taylor was drinking that night, as well as driving with a suspended license. And the only witness is Phoebe, who has been lying for months to protect her mother. Stephanie asks if he'd feel differently if there was another witness. Thorne doesn't believe there is, but Stephanie asks him to just listen to her if she can provide a witness.

Hector thinks it's time Shane left.

At Taylor's home, Shane reads the newspaper account of Taylor's arrest. He wonders aloud why he should try to defend her. Hector overhears and asks what McGrath is talking about. "The newspaper, blind man," Shane retorts, taunting Hector that the cops are questioning the statements made previously in light of Taylor's confession. That includes Phoebe's and Hector's, Shane barbs. Hector frets that he knew this would happen as soon as Taylor started getting close to Thorne. Now she's in court, and he knows she's taking all the blame for herself to protect Stephanie, Phoebe and him. "And the cover-up has your name written all over it, blind man," Shane boasts, all because of Hector's lousy advice. Hector suggests that Shane pack his bags now that he doesn't have anything to hold over Taylor's head, but Shane thinks there may still be someone here who needs him. Hector responds that Phoebe still has her father to turn to, so she doesn't need Shane. But Phoebe might be going to jail, Shane points out, unless some new evidence comes to light. Or someone confirms Phoebe's testimony, Hector adds. Shane asks if Hector is telling him to testify; if so, he could do that - or he could take Hector's advice and leave. Shane then slips out of the room without saying anything, so Hector doesn't realize he's gone. Hector then gets a call from Stephanie, who asks if Shane is there. "I think he's leaving," Hector says. Stephanie urges him not to let Shane leave, since they may need him to testify. She tells Hector she's on her way to get Shane - not knowing that Shane is listening in on a hall extension.

Shane plays dumb when Stephanie arrives.

Hector calls out for Shane, who is actually sitting right near him by the door, not saying a word. When Hector walks away, Shane waits until he hears a car pull up and says, "Showtime." He then picks up a duffel bag and starts to walk out the door, just as Stephanie arrives. She asks Shane to come with her, but he tells her that he's catching a bus to San Francisco, where a friend has a job waiting for him. He thought it would be a good idea to leave with Stephanie accusing him of sponging off the family. Stephanie says she still thinks he's doing that, but that's beside the point. She explains that she needs him to come with her to court, since he's the only witness who can confirm that Darla's death was an accident. They need the judge to hear that before Taylor is sentenced. Shane reminds Stephanie that she recently told him to keep his big mouth shut, so maybe he should do just that.