Tuesday, September 05, 2006, Episode #4887

Stephanie tells Hector to move out.

Upstairs at the Bel Air mansion, Hector accuses Stephanie of treating Taylor like her personal property. Stephanie tells him that she only wants to keep one person away from Taylor: him! Hector fears that he can't deal with his blindness without Taylor. Stephanie says he can. She feels terrible about his blindness, but she wants the love between Taylor and Thorne to take its natural course, and if that means removing some obstacles... "Obstacles like me?" Hector asks. Stephanie tells him that he should never have moved in here. It was dishonest, because he wants more than friendship from Taylor, but Taylor's not prepared to give him what he wants. That's why she's urging him to do the right thing and move out.

Thorne is surprised to learn that Hector is staying at Taylor's.

Downstairs, Thorne stops by to make sure the phones are OK, since he got cut off earlier. Taylor tells him that his mother already came by to check, although she thinks Stephanie used that as an excuse to check up on her after learning that she kissed Thorne. Thorne hopes she's not upset that he told his mother about the kiss. She says she isn't. He hopes Stephanie isn't pressuring her. Taylor replies that she can make her own decisions. Thorne thinks his mom has a point, because Taylor saved his life and made him smile again. He hugs her and thanks her. She tells him, "You're welcome." Thorne senses some hesitancy from her and hopes he's not frightening her. She says he isn't. They start to lean in to kiss each other, just as Stephanie comes down and interrupts. Thorne is surprised to see his mother, who says she was upstairs chatting with Hector. A surprised Thorne asks, "Hector's here?" Not for long, Stephanie hopes.

Hector gets upset after he takes a tumble in the hall.

Thorne and Taylor sit down on the couch. He understands that she'd want to help Hector after the way she helped him and Alexandria, but he can't help but wonder if it's wise to let Hector move in. Stephanie agrees; Thorne tells her to hush. He then reminds Taylor that Hector has a crush on her. But he just lost his eyesight, Taylor points out, and he needs someone to help him adjust. Stephanie reminds Taylor of her offer to pay for the care Hector will need. Taylor thinks that Hector is in a fragile state, but Stephanie thinks the same could be said of Taylor. Thorne reminds Taylor that there are others who need her; he's worried that she's spreading herself thin. Taylor still wants to help Hector, so Thorne offers to aid her in any way he can. Taylor thanks him and assures him that Hector will only be here temporarily. She then hears a crashing sound from upstairs, so she goes to check on Hector. She gets upstairs and finds Hector in the hall, where he has knocked down a lamp and a photo. Taylor leads Hector back to his room, where he laments that he wound up the hall just trying to find his way around the room. When he didn't know where he was, he panicked. Taylor assures him that he'll get through this in time, with her help. She hugs him and tells him that everything will be OK.

In the living room of the Forrester mansion, Ridge has his arms around Brooke as he tells her to forgive him. He promises to never leave her again. He knows they can be happy, and he thinks she knows that, too; that's why he's urging her to come back to him.

Nick is angry and confused after Donna tells him what she saw.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick is still on the phone with Donna, asking who is kissing who. Still out on the terrace, Donna tells him that Ridge kissed Brooke, but Brooke didn't resist. Nick wants to know if Ridge is touching Brooke. Donna doesn't want to answer, but Nick orders her to tell him! She replies that it's like they're hungry, ready to swallow each other up. Unable to hold back her tears, Donna tells Nick that she can't talk anymore and hangs up. Back on the Marlin, a furious Nick slams down the phone and reaches for his bottle of whiskey. Bridget tells him that he doesn't need it, but he thinks he does. His wife loves another man more than him. Bridget says she's so sorry. She hoped it would be different, but her mother has a sickness that drives her back to Ridge. She knew this would happen when she let Nick go, but he had to learn it for himself. Lesson learned, Nick responds, shaking his head and wondering what to do now.

Ridge makes a last-ditch attempt to get Brooke to take him back.

Ridge leans in to kiss Brooke, but she pulls away. She tells Ridge that it's too late for them. The damage has already been done. Ridge says they are still young, creative and passionate. They made the wrong decisions, but they survived, and now they can make everything right. He asks Brooke why they should spend the rest of their lives apart. "Because I don't trust you," Brooke says. Ridge tells her that he hears her distrust of her father, not of him. But she's not the child that watched her father walk out anymore, he states, and she knows that great things don't come without risks. Maybe not, Brooke responds, but what she found in Nick... What she found in Nick is compromise, Ridge insists, and he doesn't think she wants to settle for that when she can have her true passion. Brooke argues that she loves Nick, who makes her laugh and feel safe, and always will. She tells Ridge that she will always love him. Ridge replies, "I don't want a memory. I want us." Brooke is sorry, but she can't go back to him. In that case, Ridge says, he has to move on. "With Donna?" Brooke asks. Ridge tells her that her sister is an amazing woman. "Just don't hurt her," Brooke says. Ridge says he won't. Brooke says it hurts to see him with Donna. No one gets to her like him, she explains, but she and Nick took vows, and she's standing by them, because Nick has stood by her. Brooke and Ridge stare at each other for a moment, not saying a word; Brooke then leaves.

Donna gives Ridge a piece of her mind.

Donna comes back into the living room and asks where Brooke is. Ridge replies that she went home to sort things out. Donna guesses that her sister went to tell Nick she's leaving him for Ridge; she tells Ridge that he really had her going. She accuses him of making a fool of her on national TV by using her as bait; he knew Brooke couldn't resist seeing him kiss her on television and would want to reclaim him. She sees now that he's not the man she thought he was. She thinks it's sad that he's empty inside, saying whatever he needs to to get what he wants, no matter who he walks on. Ridge asks her to hush up for a second and listen. Donna doesn't think she wants to hear anything he has to say, but he informs her that Brooke chose to stay with Nick. Donna isn't sure if she should believe him, so he tells her to call Brooke to confirm it. Brooke doesn't trust him not to leave her, he explains, so he can only guess that she wants a safe life with Nick. But he knows what he wants, and it's Donna. But Brooke will always be there, Donna laments. Ridge admits that it will be difficult to let go, because he and Brooke have a history. But that's all it is now - history, and it will never be repeated again. Donna suggests that she get home now; they can follow up on this tomorrow. Ridge says he's looking forward to it, because she's what he needs. Donna finds a trace of Brooke's lipstick on his cheek and teases that she'll see him on tomorrow. On the way out, she says that she's grateful to Nick; she hopes Nick makes her sister happy for a long time to come.