Friday, September 15, 2006, Episode #4894

Thorne tells his mom that he's pleased by Alexandria's rapport with Taylor.

Stephanie drops by Thorne's beach house to check on him and Alexandria. She sits down to help Ally color. Ally asks if her mommy would be sad if she loved Taylor. Stephanie says that Darla would want Ally to be happy, so she thinks it would be OK. Ally asks Stephanie, "Does Daddy love Taylor?" Stephanie says that Thorne and Taylor are long-time friends, but things are different for grown-ups. Ally asks how grown-ups are different. "They're tall," Stephanie jokes just as Thorne comes in with photos from the party they threw for Darla's birthday. As Thorne shows off the photos, Ally asks if there is one of Taylor; Thorne finds one and gives it to his daughter, who takes it to the table with photos of Darla. She then puts the photo of Taylor between two of Darla and says, "Mommy, I want to put Taylor right next to you. She's so nice. Just like you." Thorne then tells Ally to take the photos to her room and make a collage. Once Ally's gone, Thorne marvels at how quickly Ally has healed; without meaning disrespect to Darla, he thinks it's amazing that Ally is planning a future for them with Taylor and Phoebe. He's glad that Ally doesn't think he's betraying Darla by becoming close to Taylor.

Stephanie offers Thorne support and advice.

Speaking of Taylor, Stephanie says that she heard Taylor spent the night here last night. Thorne tells her that it was a pajama party, and Phoebe was here to. Still, it felt right to wake up this morning and have Taylor here. Alexandria calls for Thorne to help open the glue, so he goes to his daughter. When he comes back, he tells his mother how good it is to see Ally getting back to a "normal" life again. Stephanie thinks he owes a lot of that to Taylor. Thorne agrees. Stephanie tells him to trust his instincts when it comes to Taylor. Thorne wonders if Ridge will be a factor, as the father of Taylor's children. Stephanie responds that she doesn't want Thorne running off to a wedding chapel. At the same time, she'd like to let things take their course. While what happened to Darla was tragic, she suggests, sometimes happiness can come out of tragedy. Thorne asks if she thinks Darla is smiling at him and Taylor. Stephanie thinks she is.

Shane practices his speech

Shane is in his seedy, tiny room, practicing his "blackmail speech" to Taylor in front of a mirror. After several attempts, he thinks he has the right pitch for Taylor to pay him $1 million. This has to work, he tells himself.

At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor is out by the pool, recalling Stephanie telling her to keep the truth about Darla's death from Thorne. Just then, Hector makes his way outside; he guesses from the fact that Taylor is just getting home now that she stayed at Thorne's last night, and he thinks she's going too fast. He reminds her that getting close to Thorne could wind up with her in jail, and he asks if she can keep her secret, that she was driving the car that killed Darla, forever. Taylor reminds Hector of her promise to Stephanie, but Hector asks how she intends to keep that promise if her relationship with Thorne takes her and Thorne to the altar. Taylor tells him to slow down, because she's just focusing on being there for Thorne and Alexandria. She doesn't want to talk about this any more, so she tells Hector she'll be right back. While she's gone, Hector takes out his cell phone and calls Stephanie; he warns the Forrester matriarch that her attempts to play matchmaker between Thorne and Taylor are doomed to fail. Stephanie assumes from Hector's tone that he's jealous, but Hector argues that Taylor is a wreck over this. He's also sure that Thorne will never forgive Taylor when he learns the truth, so that relationship is doomed.

Hector thinks he should move out and move on.

Taylor returns from getting extra towels and sees Hector ending his call. She asks who he was calling; he lies that it was a friend at the fire station. He then assures Taylor that even though he's blind, he can still look after her. Taylor tells him not to go there. He recalls a time when he hoped to fill the void in her life. But then all this happened, and now she's trying to fill the void in Thorne's and Alexandria's lives. He doesn't think Taylor needs him, so he's moving out and getting on with his life. Taylor reminds Hector that she offered to let him stay here while he learned to cope with his disability, so he could move on. Hector thinks he knows that, but in the back of his mind... Taylor tells him to admit that he wasn't completely honest. Why? Hector asks. Because he couldn't put his thoughts into words? Or because she couldn't tell how he felt? Hector admits that he wanted her and not a nurse when he accepted her offer. But he doesn't think he can stay if she's going to be intimate with Thorne. Then maybe he should move out, Taylor suggests; she made a commitment to help him cope with this new phase in his life, so she doesn't understand why he can't just put his feelings aside and focus on that. Hector doesn't think he can do this. Then think about what she said, Taylor advises, since it will affect him for the rest of his life.

Phoebe asks Shane what brings him by,

Up at the house, Phoebe lets Shane in. She asks how he likes landscaping. He tells her that he actually prefers working as a carpenter and would like to do that at the studios, but the union's not hiring right now. Phoebe thinks that sucks. She recalls how Harrison Ford was a carpenter before he got his break in "Star Wars?" Shane tells Phoebe that he heard that, but he's tired of waiting for his own big break. Phoebe asks what brings him by the house; he reminds her of that business proposition he told her about yesterday and asks if she can find her mom. It's really important, he assures Phoebe. Phoebe goes down to the pool and tells her mom that Shane, the new landscaper, wants to see her. Taylor asks what Shane wants; Phoebe admits he seemed nervous and explains that he said something about a business proposition. Taylor tells Phoebe to think about what she said and heads for the house. Once Taylor is gone, Phoebe senses Hector's agony and asks if he's OK. He promises her that he'll be there for Taylor if Taylor ever needs him.