Monday, September 18, 2006, Episode #4895

Eric and Stephanie are surprised by Bridget's plans.

While at work at the hospital, Bridget flashes back to making love to Nick, and then to telling Nick that they'd have to keep they're sleeping together a secret forever. Eric and Stephanie drop by to invite "Dr. Forrester" out to dinner Friday night, to celebrate her becoming a doctor. They're so proud of her. Bridget thanks them, but she thinks the timing is bad. Eric offers to make it another time, but Bridget explains that she's been considering a position in Africa. There's an open position at an AIDS clinic in Botswana, and she can leave once she gets her shots. Eric and Stephanie are surprised by this news. Stephanie asks Bridget if this has anything to do with Brooke. Bridget assures her that it has nothing to do with her mom. She knows this seems sudden, but she has no ties to L.A. other than her parents, so this seems like the perfect time to do this.

Bridget explains why she wants to go to Africa.

Stephanie reminds Bridget that her family is here. Bridget responds that she'll only be gone a year. Eric points out that a year is a long time. Stephanie asks Bridget how Brooke feels about this; she's surprised when Bridget says that Brooke doesn't know yet. Stephanie feels like Bridget is running away again. Bridget responds that she's not running from anything; before she can say any more, she gets paged, so she excuses herself. Stephanie however is still suspicious.

Hector is suspicious when Taylor introduces him to Shane.

At the Bel Air mansion, Shane tells Taylor that he saw what happened from the bushes, so he knows what her secret is, even though she probably thought no one would ever find out. Taylor mistakenly thinks that he's saying that he saw her and Thorne kissing; she knows some people will make an issue that Thorne just recently lost his wife, but... Shane tries to tell Taylor that's not what he means, but she doesn't hear. Instead, she advises him not to comment on the people he works for. Just then, Hector makes his way into the room, having heard the voices. When Shane calls him "Mr. Ramirez," Hector doesn't recognize the voice and asks Taylor who the strange voice belongs to. As Shane tries to cover, Taylor tells Hector that Shane is the new landscaper; she also tells him (based on her earlier comments) how Shane had seen her kissing Thorne and had some ideas about to make sure they kept their lives private (like not trimming the hedges low)). Hector is suspicious of this stranger who is involving himself in Taylor's life this way, and who seems to know him. Shane says he knows Hector from the newspaper article about the fire at Hector's house, but that still doesn't tell Hector why Shane (who excuses himself and leaves) is getting so involved in Taylor's private life.

Once Shane is gone, Hector tells Taylor that there is something odd about that guy, and he thinks it's about more than just protecting Taylor's privacy. Taylor thinks it might have been the way Hector grilled Shane with questions, but Hector doesn't buy that. If he's so concerned, Taylor tells Hector, then why not stay here to keep an eye on Shane, and to let the landscaper know that she's not alone? Hector tells her that he can't stay around if Taylor is with Thorne. Still, he senses something odd about the landscaper and intends to find out what it is!

Phoebe is stunned when she accidentally cuts Shane's hand.

Shane goes down to the pool, calling himself stupid for missing his perfect chance. Phoebe overhears and asks what's wrong. Shane accuses her of spying on him, but Phoebe says she wasn't. She just heard his comments and wondered what was wrong. She wonders if his meeting with her mom went poorly. Yes, Shane admits, it went poorly; he laments, "If your mom's friend, Smokey the Bear, just stayed out, it would have been better." He wonders why Hector is even staying here. Phoebe explains how the fireman is a friend of her mother's who needed help, but she wonders why that even matters. Shane tells her to forget it. but Phoebe points out that he still has work to do on the hedges. She decides to help him and picks up the electric hedge trimmer. Shane tells Phoebe to stop, but she says she's fine - until she loses control and accidentally cuts into his hand! As Shane yelps in pain, Phoebe grabs a towel and wraps Shane's hand in it, so she can get him to the hospital.

Shane is rushed to the hospital.

Phoebe drives Shane to the emergency room, where she frantically asks for someone to help Shane. As a nurse has Shane taken to a cubicle, Bridget hears Phoebe talking to the nurse and comes over. She asks her niece what's going on. Phoebe explains how she accidentally cut Shane's hand and asks her Aunt Bridget to help him. Bridget tells Phoebe to calm down and brings her to the cubicle where a doctor is checking Shane's hand. When the doctor sees Bridget, he asks if she knows the patient. Bridget says that she doesn't, but her niece here does. The doctor explains that Shane has a severe laceration... Phoebe tells Shane that she's so sorry and pleads with him to forgive, but Shane can only focus on the pain and calls out for the doctor to help him.

Brooke tells Nick that she's focused on their marriage, not on Ridge.

Brooke is in the CEO's office - yes, the CEO is actually using her own office for a change - admiring Eric's latest couture designs on some models. She thinks this is some of Eric's best work ever. Nick comes to the door - we see that the nameplate still reads, "Brooke Logan Forrester, CEO", even though she's married. As Nick stands in the doorway, he remembers making love to Bridget, and then Bridget telling him that they have to keep what happened that night a secret. Brooke sees her husband and greets him with a kiss. After sending the models off, she closes the door and tells Nick that she's all his - not that there's any doubt after last night. Nick is silent; Brooke asks if he's OK, but he just sighs. Brooke tells him that she can't apologize enough for what she's put him through. She feels like she doesn't deserve the devotion he's shown by forgiving her and giving their marriage one more chance. Nick suggests they bring in something for lunch; Brooke's surprised, since he usually doesn't like hanging out here. Nick replies that he doesn't mind it when Ridge isn't here - and speaking of Ridge, he asks if she's heard from Ridge or Donna. Brooke says she hasn't, but she hasn't really given them much thought, because she has more important things to focus on - like their marriage, their future and something else. Nick asks what else there is; she thinks he knows and kisses him.

Soon after, Nick and Brooke are enjoying a lunch of chicken wings and beer from Chuck's - by candle light! Stephanie comes in and interrupts. Brooke says they should have locked the door, while Nick tells Stephanie that lunch is over. Stephanie ignores the comments and demands that Brooke explain why Bridget is running away to Africa! Brooke is surprised, as she had no idea. She just hopes Stephanie's warped mind isn't jumping to any conclusions. Nick tells Brooke that Stephanie is going to find out anyway, so they might as well level with her. Brooke explains to Stephanie how Bridget still hoped Nick would end his marriage and come back to her - a hope that's been dashed now that Nick and Brooke have recommitted themselves to their marriage. It saddens her to think that Bridget has to run away to cope with those feelings, but she can understand why Bridget might feel that putting some distance between them is the only way to handle this. Stephanie thinks this is absurd, since Bridget loves Nick, while Brooke is still in love with Ridge. Brooke says that she plans on keeping her vows to Nick. "Like you keep all your other vows," Stephanie retorts. Nick suggests that Stephanie leave, but Stephanie thinks they have to face reality. The reality, Brooke argues, is that Ridge always had another woman in his life, like Caroline and Taylor. Nick, however, is committed only to her and would never cheat on her, since he has integrity and honor.