Wednesday, September 27, 2006, Episode #4902

Stephanie tells Eric about Thorne's special dinner for Taylor.

Stephanie returns home from her A.A. meeting and finds Eric making martinis. She tells him how proud she is that Taylor has stayed sober for sixty days, since she sees it as a sign that Taylor has gotten past her depression over losing Ridge and has moved on. Eric asks Stephanie why she didn't invite Taylor for dinner; Stephanie replies that she would have, but Thorne has a special dinner for two planned for him and Taylor. Eric realizes that's why he and Stephanie are watching Alexandria tonight and seems surprised that Stephanie approves of Thorne being on a date with Taylor; after all, Taylor was married to Ridge. But Ridge left Taylor, Stephanie points out. Because of Brooke, Eric reminds her, supposing that Taylor has convinced herself that she's found the one man in the world who will never disappoint her. That man doesn't exist, Stephanie states.

Eric worries that Thorne and Taylor might be moving a little too fast.

Stephanie tells Eric that Thorne and Taylor are just trying to move on with their lives, but Eric fears that Thorne and Taylor might be moving a little too fast. He thinks it's good that Thorne and Taylor have found comfort in each other after their mutual travails, and he agrees that Taylor and Thorne care about each other. Then what is he worried about? Stephanie asks. Is he concerned about what people might say, or how Alexandria might react? Eric admits that everyone loves Taylor, who is an incredible woman. Just like Darla was, Stephanie responds, which is why Taylor might be the perfect person to help Thorne be happy again. She thinks Taylor and Thorne need each other, which is why their relationship is equally important to both of them. Eric can't help but suspect that his wife knows more about what's going on than she's saying. Stephanie replies that she just wants Thorne to be happy again. If only... She stops herself and, as if she's assuring both Eric and herself, says, "He will be."

Thorne tells Taylor that their problems just slip away when they're together.

Taylor is still kissing Thorne by her pool. She pulls back and says that she doesn't know what she did to deserve this. Thorne responds that she's done more for for him than he can ever thank her for. So this is a thank you? Taylor asks; Thorne asks if she wants it to be. Taylor says that the only thing she wants is to take a peek at the dinner that smells so good over there, but Thorne tells her that dinner can wait and asks her to dance. Taylor says that she hasn't danced in a long time. Then it's been too long, Thorne says. After their dance, they sit down for dinner and "the finest sparkling cider money can buy." Taylor admits that she needed this. She thinks it's nice to just be able to sit here and relax and just enjoy being together with him. Thorne thinks they've both been through a lot, she when Ridge left her, and he when Darla died. But he thinks all those problems just slip away when they're together. Taylor asks what happens when they're apart. "Who says we have to be apart?" Thorne responds.

Taylor prays for God and Darla to forgive her as she gets passionate with Thorne.

Thorne asks Taylor why they are tiptoeing around when they both see how happy they are together. He wants to take their relationship to the next level and tell everyone how they feel. He suggests that start with Ridge, since she shares three kids with his big brother, and of course his mother already knows. But he wants the whole family to see how his friendship with Taylor unexpectedly grew into something wonderful, since he can't imagine his life without Taylor now. Taylor says that she feels the same way about him, but she worries that some people might think they're moving too soon or too fast. Thorne doesn't give a damn about what anyone else thinks. He knows that his daughter is crazy about Taylor, and so is he, and that's all that matters to him. Besides, his family thinks she's great. Taylor says she doesn't feel so great these days, but Thorne assures her that she is. She's great for him and for Ally, and he wants and needs her in his life, because he feels like he's falling in love with her. Thorne says that she feels like she's falling in love with him, too. Thorne then leads Taylor over to a double chaise lounge, where they start kissing. As they kiss, Taylor says to herself, "Oh, God, forgive me. Darla, forgive me."

Shane tries to tell Phoebe that she doesn't have to be afraid of him.

Sitting in the SUV by the side of Pacific Coast Highway, a panicked Phoebe demands to know what Shane wants from her. Shane tries to calm her, but she pulls away and tells him to leave her alone! She recalls that he left that night, after she locked herself in the car. Shane explains that he saw how afraid she was of him, so he walked away from the car. But he wasn't going to leave a young girl needing help alone on the side of a dangerous road, so he moved to the side and watched. That's when he saw her aunt arrive to help her change the tire - and when he saw her mother come speeding around the bend and hit Darla! Phoebe shouts for Shane to stop, but he needs her to know that he's really sorry. He wished there was something he could have done, but there wasn't. That's why he kept following the story in the papers. When he saw that the investigation had stopped, he knew Phoebe and Taylor hadn't told the police anything else - because they couldn't. Phoebe asks if he wants her to turn in her own mother. What he wants, Shane answers, is for her to listen to him. He knows she was afraid of him that night, but she has no reason to be afraid of him now.

Phoebe considers Shane's story.

Phoebe can't believe that Shane knew the truth all this time. She asks if he took the job as their gardener to blackmail then, but he assures her that he just wanted to be close to her. Ever since he saw the accident, he's kept reliving the horrible moment where Taylor hit Darla. He needed to find someone who understood to confide in, but no one could ever understand - except Phoebe and her mom, and that's why he tracked them down. He lied about who he was since he knew Phoebe would be freaked out if she knew. He hoped that maybe if she got to know him first. Phoebe exclaims that she doesn't know him, but Shane thinks she does. He guesses that she is having the same horrible nightmares of that night as he is, because he sees how much she loved her Aunt Darla. It has to be as horrible for her as it is for him. Agreeing, Phoebe starts to cry. Shane tells her to trust him. She asks how she can do that; he responds that she can tell his anything she wants. While he can send her mom to jail and ruin her life and her mom's, Phoebe points out.

Harry learns from Hector that Phoebe might be in trouble.

Back at Taylor's house, Hector is unable to get Phoebe on her cell phone and calls a cab. Now that he realizes that Shane knows what happened the night Darla died, he has to find out what the gardener intends to do with that knowledge. And on top of that, Phoebe has no idea what she's up against. When the doorbell rings, Hector thinks it's his cab. He opens the door and orders to be taken to Bikini Beach (where Shane and Phoebe were going to eat) right now, only to find out that it's Harry at the door. Harry asks Hector what's wrong. Hector tells the young sailor that Phoebe is in trouble and has to find her. Harry has Nick's car tonight, so he offers to drive Hector. As they race down PCH, Harry asks what's going on. Hector says he isn't completely sure, but he whatever it is isn't good.