Monday, August 06, 2007, Episode #5118

The Forresters and Ashley watch Stephanie on TV.

At Forrester Originals, Ridge and Ashley are kissing when Eric and Felicia come in to remind Ridge that Stephanie and Phoebe are appearing tonight on "The Rich Ginger Show." As Ridge turns on the TV, Felicia worries about what their unpredictable mom will say on the show. Eric is sure that Stephanie will simply clear up the brand confusion between their company and Forrester Creations, but Felicia remembers the last time her mom had a microphone, when Stephanie outed Jackie as a prostitute on national TV. Ashley asks Ridge if Jackie was really a prostitute - if you ask me, he shouldn't answer, since Ashley might not appreciate his part in that debacle - while they wait for the show to start.

Rich Ginger interviews Phoebe and Stephanie.

Over at Forrester Creations, Jackie and Clarke review some of Brooke's designs. Jackie thinks they're good, but not great. When Clarke finds one that looks like a design for a little girl, Brooke explains that she was just missing her kids. Jackie assures Brooke that she'll get her kids back, pointing to this very company as proof that Stephanie doesn't always win. Speaking of La Forrester, Clarke points out that Stephanie is appearing on Rich Ginger's show now. Brooke doesn't want to watch, but Jackie thinks they should tune in, since Stephanie's bound to bash the competition. The show begins and Rich (again played by Alan Thicke) welcomes Phoebe and Stephanie to the show. He starts off by talking to Phoebe about the fragrance that bears her name, which leads to chat about her budding musical career. Phoebe tells him about "The Boldface Challenge" pitting her and Constantine Parros (this is the first time they've mentioned Constantine's last name on the air) against her and her ex-boyfriend, Rick Forrester. Back at Forrester Originals, Ridge fumes at the thought of Phoebe performing with Rick and declares that it will never happen.

Alexandria gets help with her hair from Donna.

At Thorne's beach house, Donna helps Alexandria get ready to go to the mansion to spend time with Aly's grandparents and cousins. Aly excitedly shows off the hair extensions that Donna helped her put on to Thorne, who tells his daughter that Catherine will be here soon to pick her up. When Catherine arrives, Thorne and Donna bring Aly to the door; Donna asks Aly to tell Hope and R.J. that she misses them as Thorne gets Aly on her way. Alone in the house while Thorne brings Aly out, Donna looks at a photo of Eric and Stephanie and proclaims that Stephanie won't win this time. Thorne comes back and wants to thank Donna for helping out with Aly, and for last night. But before they can do anything, Thorne gets a call from Eric about Stephanie's interview, so Thorne turns on the TV and sees Rich Ginger ask Stephanie about the two fashion houses named Forrester. Stephanie assures Ginger that her family has nothing to do with Forrester Creations anymore, even though they founded both that company and the family's current business, Forrester Originals. Rich asks Stephanie about Brooke Logan Forrester, who he's heard is over at Forrester Creations. Stephanie points out that Brooke is no longer a Forrester and suggests that Brooke's being over at the competition has made for some happy moments for the Forresters. At Forrester Creations, Brooke fumes at being bad mouthed by the "bitter old cow" who stole her children and vows to make Stephanie pay, while Donna watches at Thorne's and gets upset by Stephanie's words. Thorne offers to take her mind off his mother, but Donna says she's too upset.

Brooke and Jackie get upset listening to Stephanie.

At Forrester Originals, Eric and Ridge seethe that Stephanie is bashing Brooke. Ashley suggests that it might be a tiny jab, but Felicia says that's not her mother's style. Sure enough, when Rich Ginger brings up Brooke's name again while discussing the two companies with the Forrester name, Stephanie laughs at Brooke's being out of her family and makes light of the way Brooke was married to all the men in Stephanie's family. She even suggests that if she had a brother, Brooke likely would have been her sister-in-law, too. Rich then brings up the fact that Stephanie is presently playing mother to her young grandchild. Stephanie seizes the opportunity to tell Rich and his audience about Brooke's instability as a parent. Ridge and Eric can't believe Stephanie is going there, but Stephanie keeps going, telling Rich about the fire and about Ridge gaining custody of Brooke's kids. She then steers the conversation back to fashion, leading Rich to speculate about Brooke's wacky sense of style. He then reminds Stephanie that he interviewed Brooke's sister Donna last year and asks La Forrester how she feels about losing both Brooke and Donna to the competition. Stephanie states that Forrester Creations can have those wacky, classless Logan sisters, since she thinks her family is better off without those Logan girls. She concludes the interview by pointing out that Forrester Originals will always stand for style and elegance. Rich thanks her for coming on the show and thanks Phoebe as well.

Thorne tells Donna that he's going to deal with his mother.

At Thorne's beach house, Donna fumes that Stephanie has again humiliated the Logan family, this time on national TV. Thorne suggests that she stay here and let him help her forget what his mother said, but Donna says she can't do it. She fears that Stephanie might even come between her and Thorne. Thorne offers to talk to his mother about them, but Donna asks him not to. Thorne agrees, but he also finds his mother's behavior to be unacceptable, so he wants to head for the office and set his mother straight! He tells Donna to wait here while he takes care of this once and for all!

At Forrester Creations, Clarke and Jackie try to console a despondent Brooke, who can't get over the way Stephanie has insulted her again, this time in front of a national TV audience. Donna comes in and adds her own words of support for her sister, giving Broke a big hug. Brooke wishes Stephanie would just leave their family alone. Donna tells Brooke to hang in there. Brooke isn't sure if she can, but Donna reminds Brooke that she's not alone in her fight with Stephanie. "If you can't fight Stephanie," Donna declares, "I will, with everything I've got."

Stephanie tries to set Thorne straight.

Phoebe returns to Forrester Originals, where everyone praises her for her appearance on Rich Ginger's show. Ridge wants to talk to Phoebe about the "Boldface Challenge", but Eric thinks they have other issues to discuss first. Right on cue, a pleased Stephanie comes in, thrilled with how the interview went. Eric and Ridge berate her for what she said about Brooke, reminding her that she went on that show to draw a line between Originals and Creations. Stephanie thinks she did, but Eric, Ridge and Felicia can't believe she did it at Brooke's expense. Stephanie insists that she just answered the questions she was asked, steering the questions back to fashion whenever she could. Ashley tries to mitigate Eric and Ridge's words by saying they are just concerned about the effect Stephanie's words might have on the brand, but Stephanie doesn't think this is the time to be pulling punches against their competition. Thorne bursts in and angrily accuses his mother of being cruel and harsh in attacking the Logan sisters. Stephanie tells him not to worry about those Logan girls, since they wouldn't give a fig about him, either. Thorne takes her aside to talk to her in private, demanding that she leave the Logans alone. Stephanie attributes his defense of those women to his missing Darla and tells him that she knows about his outburst to Taylor at Bikini Beach the other day. Thorne insists that he's fine and scolds his mother for the cruel things she said about Brooke and Donna tonight on TV. Stephanie sees no reason to regret what was said, since she meant every word and is thrilled that the Logan girls are out of her life - hopefully for good this time. She tells Thorne to get it into his head that she's happy without the Logans in her life.

Donna prepares to become Stephanie's worst nightmare.

After his mother leaves, an anguished Thorne calls Donna on her cell phone and asks if she's still at the house. She tells him she's at the office and offers to meet Thorne back at his house, but Thorne wants to meet her somewhere else, because he wants to get out of here. Donna asks if he told his mother about them. He says he wanted to but didn't. Donna asks him not to tell, because it will poison what they have. Thorne tells her that Aly will be at his parents' place for a few days, so he suggests they drive up the coast and book a B&B in Santa Barbara. Donna suggests that he let her make all the arrangements for their little jaunt. After she hangs up, Donna sits at Nick's computer and searches on the Internet for details about Las Vegas, but she's interrupted when a disheartened Brooke comes in. Brooke feels alone and helpless, since Stephanie has taken everything that means anything to her, and she has no one to appeal to with Ridge and Eric on Stephanie's side. Donna agrees that things look bleak, but she urges Brooke to hang on. She tells Brooke that she'll stand by her, and Stephanie will regret messing with them.