Friday, August 03, 2007, Episode #5117

Ridge still isn't ready to forgive Ashley.

Ashley is still at Ridge's house, asking him to forgive her, when Stephanie arrives with Hope, R.J., Aly and Abby. Ridge asks what they're doing here; the kids tell him that Stephanie said they're having a barbecue. As Stephanie sends the kids to put on their swimsuits, Ridge objects to the cookout, but Stephanie tells him to help bring the groceries in, since Eric is right behind her to help with the grilling. Ashley asks Ridge if anyone ever says no to his mother. "Does she ever hear it?" Ridge quips in reply. Soon after, Eric puts some hot dogs on the grill as R.J. asks about Eric's age and guesses that his grandpa is 17. Meanwhile, Stephanie tries to convince Ridge to forgive Ashley. Ridge objects to her playing matchmaker, no matter what he wants. Stephanie thinks she knows what he wants, but she thinks he has too much pride to admit it. She asks him to consider how many times she has forgiven Eric for breaking her heart; she thinks he can put aside his pride with Ashley for love, just as she's done with Eric. Hope comes over and asks Stephanie if she and R.J. can go home to Mommy. Stephanie encourages Hope to stay, since Aly is staying over, and Abby might, too. When Abby and Hope both ask if Abby can stay, Ashley tells her daughter that they can talk about it after dinner. After dinner, the kids go to watch a movie; Stephanie takes that as her cue to leave with Eric, but Ridge tells her she's not going anywhere, since this was her idea. Ashley says she should be going, but Ridge asks her to wait. Stephanie's pleased by Ridge's request to talk to Ashley, although Ashley isn't ready to get her hopes up.

Stephanie and Eric wonder what's up in Ridge's room.

Eric finds Stephanie dipping her feet in the pool. When she notices a light on in Ridge's bedroom, she looks around and sees that Ashley isn't by the pool anymore, either. "Things are definitely looking up," she predicts.

Ashley talks with Ridge.

Ashley comes up to Ridge's room and tells him that she and Abby will be leaving, but Ridge asks her to come in for a minute. He wants to talk about how they'll handle seeing each other. Ashley promises to stay professional at work, since they work on separate floors, but Ridge says he's talking about seeing her here and tells her that he doesn't want her to leave. Ashley tells him that he doesn't have to worry about how to handle breaking up with her, since they haven't been seeing each other too long. Ridge says he knows how to handle breakups. What he doesn't know how to handle is the fact that she betrayed his daughter, even though Phoebe has gotten over it. "Why can't I do the same?" Ridge asks. He doesn't know if he can forgive her, but at the same time, he thinks he'd be a fool not to try, because he loves her. Ashley admits that she should have told him, and she's sorry that she didn't. She promises not to hurt him that way, because she wants to prove that she's worthy of his trust. But she has to warn him that if they go through with making up, she's playing for keeps. Ridge is fine with that as they fall on the bed and start kissing. Down by the pool, Stephanie sees the light go off in Ridge's room and tells Eric that they better let Abby know she's staying over.

Brooke shows Donna a DVD of the kids.

At Brooke's house, Donna finds Brooke struggling with some new designs for Forrester Creations. Donna sees that Brooke has her computer out; Brooke explains that she was watching a DVD Nick made for her of the kids. She smiles as she shows Donna the video of Hope and R.J. playing pirate under Nick's tutelage, but she gets sad when the kids turn to the camera and say, "We love you, Mommy." Donna tells Brooke that she saw the kids having lunch at Bikini Beach today. Brooke is glad that Ridge got the kids out, but she gets upset when Donna tells her that the kids were with Stephanie. Donna assures Brooke that the kids seemed fine and were glad to see her. Brooke asks if the kids asked about her. "She didn't really give them a chance to," Donna sadly replies. Brooke laments that all she can do is focus on her work and her therapy to show she's responsible. Donna assures her that she will get her kids back. Donna then turns to go upstairs; when Brooke asks where she's going, Donna says, "I've got a date." Brooke goes back to watching the DVD and cries as she replays the part where the kids said, "We love you, Mommy."

Thorne changes his plans for Donna.

Donna arrives at Thorne's house and finds him all dressed up in a suit and tie. Thorne is surprised to see her, since he was going to pick her up. Donna asks why he's dressed up, so he tells her that he was thinking of dinner at Cafe Russe. Donna notes that Cafe Russe is pretty formal and expensive and acts insulted at the thought that he might be trying to buy her off like some hooker! "Despite what your mother says about me, I don't need to be paid off for the other night," she states, acting insulted. Thorne assures her that a payoff is the last thing he had on his mind and suggests a change of plans. Taking off his tie, he suggests that have some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with a couple of beers. Donna likes the sounds of that and offers to help, but Thorne says he can handle it. As Thorne heads for the kitchen, Donna sees a photo of Darla with some mementos on the table; Thorne explains that Aly left some things out since the anniversary of Darla's death is coming up. When Thorne is in the kitchen, Donna goes over to the table and picks up Darla's engagement ring and tries it on. Thorne asks how the beer is. Looking at the ring, Donna answers, "It's perfect."

Donna asks when Aly is coming home. Thorne says his daughter is at Ridge's house with... He pauses, but Donna knows her niece and nephew are there and takes that as a cue to vent about Stephanie's poor treatment of Brooke. Not wanting to get into an argument, Thorne tries to change the subject. Donna asks why he doesn't want to offer his opinion. "No one in my family gives a damn about my opinions anyway," he states, getting up to look for something in his jacket. Donna guesses he's not much of a drinker, even though he didn't remember their other night together. Donna takes out the bottle of pills Thorne typically carries and asks if that's what he's looking for. Thorne gets upset that she went through his pocket on their first date, but she points out that addictive pills are only supposed to be taken once a day at bedtime. Thorne states that the pills are mild and meant to relax him, but Donna guesses he has a problem. Thorne admits that he couldn't sleep after losing Darla, so his doctor prescribed these pills, but time didn't heal the wounds caused by the loss of Darla, the most important person in his life. Donna says that love isn't hard to come by. Thorne says he believed that until the mess with Taylor, and he asks her why she's alone of that's true. Donna says she isn't alone right now. Thorne guesses that she's not interested in him.