Monday, August 13, 2007, Episode #5123

Jackie tells Nick about Donna's plan.

Nick is in his office, going over some financial projections with Jackie. When Nick out of the blue asks if she gave Brooke a wind up bird, Jackie guesses that he's worried about Brooke and admits that she feels the same way, especially with the way Stephanie seizes every opportunity to rub Brooke's nose in her misfortune. She tells Nick not to worry, because Stephanie will soon get hers. Nick asks what she means. Jackie reminds him that everyone has a weak spot; they thought Stephanie's was the company, but Donna had another idea and is using that to look after Brooke. Nick wants details, so Jackie tells him that Donna seduced Thorne, and they're now engaged.

Stephanie seethes at the news of Thorne's engagement.

At Thorne's beach house, the news of Thorne's engagement stuns Stephanie. Donna flashes her engagement ring in Stephanie's face to prove how Thorne feels, but Stephanie tells Thorne that he can't marry Donna. "Why not?" Thorne asks. Stephanie insists that Donna carries baggage that Thorne doesn't need, but Thorne doesn't think his mother knows what he needs at all. Stephanie warns him not to let Donna exploit the fact that he's vulnerable after losing Darla and Taylor in the same year; Thorne is put off by his mom's condescending attitude and insists that Donna makes him happy. Stephanie asks how Aly will react to this news. Thorne reminds her that Aly has been around Donna, who's Hope and R.J.'s aunt, quite a bit. Stephanie orders him not to do something so reckless and refuses to let him drag his little girl into a life with this pole dancer as part of some midlife crisis. Donna asks Stephanie if she'll stop them by taking Aly away, just like she took Hope and R.J. from Brooke. Stephanie suddenly realizes what Donna's up to and tells Thorne that Donna is just using him to get revenge for what happened to Brooke. "She wants to take you away from me," Stephanie charges, "but it isn't going to happen!"

Thorne sees no need to explain himself.

Donna can't believe Stephanie's accusations. "My sister's right," she asserts, "you really do believe everything is about you." Stephanie insists that Thorne is just a means to an end to Donna and orders Donna to take the ring off, but Thorne won't let his mother act this way in his home. Stephanie tells him to wake up and see that Donna is just trying to drive a wedge between them. Donna tells Stephanie to hold on, but Stephanie orders Donna to stop! Donna refuses to take orders from Stephanie, who she feels is treating Thorne like a toddler. "He's a grown man and can make his own decisions," Donna states. Thorne tells his mother that he's made a decision now. Stephanie asks him to give her a rational explanation for this engagement, but Thorne sees no need to explain himself. He hands his mother her car keys and tells her to leave. Stephanie wants to wait for Eric, but Thorne says he and Aly will drive Eric home and throws his mother out! As she leaves, Stephanie glares at Donna, who has a pleased smile on her face. Once Stephanie is gone, Donna gives Thorne a hug and calls him her hero, since no one has ever stood up for her that way.

Ashley gives Rick advice about Phoebe.

At Bridget's beach house, Rick tells Ashley that he needs to get Phoebe back in his life. "What if you can't?" Ashley asks. Rick says he'll be an idiot if he can't, since he'll have lost two really incredible women. She asks if he can wait for sex if Phoebe takes him back. Rick says he can, since he's actually glad Phoebe wanted to wait. Ashley asks if he'll still feel that way in the future. Rick says that he will, because Phoebe is his future, even if he has to jump through hoops. Ashley thinks those will be pretty big hoops, but Rick thinks he'll deserve that for what he put Phoebe through.

Rick will do anything to win Phoebe back.

Ashley doesn't think Phoebe is playing games. Rick agrees. He thinks he only needs to convince Phoebe that she's the one he wants to make things right. Ashley warns that he can't make Phoebe feel something. Rick says he knows, and that's one thing he loves about Phoebe. He admires the way she stands by her convictions, and he has no intention to ask her to do otherwise. He thinks the fact that Phoebe trusted him enough to think that he would say no to sex showed how amazing their relationship was, and he'll do anything to win back that trust. Ashley suggests, "Just tell her exactly what you told me and I don't see how she could help but forgive you."

Constantine offers Phoebe advice about Rick.

Phoebe stops by Constantine's loft and finds him recording in the studio. When he comes out of the studio, he asks what brings her by. Phoebe says she needs a place to hang out. Constantine tells her how the boldfacerecords.com site is buzzing about their contest. He's sure it won't be long before they have a winner. When Constantine mentions the slim possibility that she and Rick might win, Phoebe goes silent. Constantine guesses that she can't imagine singing on stage with Rick that night. Phoebe admits he's right, because the guy she loved cheated on her with the woman her father is now dating. And if that weren't insane enough, I might have to do a concert with him. "I'm sorry, Constantine," she apologizes. "If that happens, I don't know if I'll be able to go through with it.

Phoebe relives fond memories while listening to the song.

Constantine goes back into the booth to record the tracks for his new song. The song sparks memories in Phoebe's mind of all the time she spent with Rick in Sydney. Constantine sees Phoebe is still upset, so he takes a break in the middle of the song and tells his engineer to give him and Phoebe a minute. He asks Phoebe if she misses Rick. She answers, "I miss what we had, but I'm not sure we can get it back again."

Eric is suprised to hear that Thorne is engaged to Donna.

Thorne stops in Insomnia with Eric and Aly on the way to taking Eric home. Eric gets coffee for him and Thorne and chocolate milk for Aly. While Aly drinks her milk and watches Phoebe's duets on the computer, Eric asks Thorne what happened between him and Stephanie at the house. He guesses it was about the woman who was there when they arrived. Thorne tells his dad that the woman was Donna Logan, who is now his fiancee. Eric seems surprised. Thorne asks his dad to keep mum about this until after he and Donna can tell Aly. Eric asks Thorne how long he's been seeing Donna. Thorne admits that it's a recent thing, but he doesn't see what difference it makes when the relationship started as long as Donna makes him happy. Eric suspects it will matter to Stephanie. Thorne agrees that Stephanie might not ever accept Donna given what he heard them say here today.

Back at Thorne's, Donna lies on the bed, still clad in her leopard print bra and panty set, and talks to Jackie on the phone. She gloats to Jackie about the way Stephanie totally lost it wile arguing with Thorne, and she gushes with praise over the way Thorne defended her. Jackie thinks it must have felt good to make Stephanie feel miserable. Donna thinks everything is working out better than she planned, since she gets to be with Thorne and get her revenge on Stephanie. Before Jackie can answer, the line goes dead; Donna looks around and sees Stephanie with the disconnected phone cord standing there. Donna asks Stephanie if she intends to strangle her; Stephanie says no, since she doesn't want to touch Donna. Donna counters that she only wants one Forrester touching her, but Stephanie predicts that Thorne will soon wise up to what Donna's up to. She suggests that Donna consider that Thorne might be using her instead of the other way around, and she warns that the ring on Donna's finger is no guarantee. Donna argues that Thorne wants to be with her, which is why he proposed. Stephanie asks why Thorne didn't just marry her in Vegas if he really wants her as his bride. Donna explains that Thorne waited for Aly's sake, but Stephanie calls that a convenient excuse.