Thursday, August 23, 2007, Episode #5131

Phoebe doesn't want to talk to Ashley.

At a concert hall somewhere in L.A., Constantine's staff gets ready for the Boldface Challenge. Felicia and Phoebe are both impressed by the amount of work Constantine has put into the concert, but they wonder who the winner will be. Constantine's promoter, Don, comes over and predicts that his man Constantine will be the winner. Don then sees Felicia wearing a leather outfit and likes what he sees, but she tells him that she's too much for him to handle and goes off with Constantine. Meanwhile, Phoebe heads backstage and is followed by Ashley, who wants to talk to Phoebe about Rick. Phoebe has nothing to say to the woman who slept with Rick mere hours after he'd broken things off with Phoebe, especially with the concert starting soon, but Ashley wants Phoebe to know that she was wrong. She knows she thought Phoebe was too young and inexperienced for Rick, but seeing how torn up Rick is since losing Phoebe has shown her how much Phoebe means to Rick. Phoebe retorts that she can't forget how Rick hurt her, especially since Ashley standing here is living proof. Ashley tells Phoebe that Rick loves her [Phoebe] and knows he screwed up, so Ashley hopes Phoebe can forgive Rick before he decides he's done trying to apologize and moves on.

Felicia is impressed.

Meanwhile, Constantine takes Felicia aside and hands her a huge donation to the cancer hospital that treated her, as he promised. He wanted to live up to his word, even if he doesn't win the Boldface Challenge. Felicia says it doesn't matter who wins; she only thinks one thing matters now, and she shows Constantine what that thing is by kissing him.

Rick talks with Phoebe.

Rick corners Phoebe in her dressing room and tells her she looks beautiful. Phoebe tries to duck away to find Constantine, but Rick just wants a quick word with her before the concert. He wants her to know that he thinks their duet could win, no matter what Constantine says to the contrary. Phoebe asks how he can be sure. Rick says he knows what he feels in his heart when they sing together, and he hopes the fans will feel it, too. Phoebe doesn't want to talk about it, but Rick assures her that they will be wonderful when they get up there on stage, since everything will fall into place as they look into each other's eyes and sing to each other.

Bridget tries to get Brooke eating.

At Brooke's house, Bridget tries to get her mom to eat, but Brooke isn't hungry. Bridget worries about how fragile her mom is, but the only thing Brooke wants is her babies. She tries to convince herself that she will get the kids back in time. The phone rings, but Brooke doesn't want to talk to anyone, so Bridget answers it and finds Ridge on the line. Ridge tells her that Brooke missed Hope's camp recital today and asks why Brooke hasn't returned any of his calls. When Bridget doesn't answer, Ridge snidely asks if it has anything to do with Brooke's late-night partying with her new friend. Bridget says she has to go and promises Ridge that she'll tell Brooke he called. At the Forrester mansion, Ridge tells his mother and Joe, the custody lawyer, that Brooke won't talk to him. Stephanie thinks that proves that Brooke isn't fit to raise those kids. Joe informs Ridge that he found Deacon Sharpe in Vegas, and Deacon has agreed to surrender his parental rights, which leaves Ridge free to file for full custody of both kids. Ridge still feels torn about signing the papers, so Stephanie asks Joe if she can have a minute alone with her son.

Ridge is torn.

Alone with Ridge, Stephanie urges him to face the facts. Ridge says that the fact is that those kids need their mother, but Stephanie counters that the kids' mother is too busy carousing with some man to be there when those kids need her. She doesn't think living with Brooke will provide a stable home, which is why she urges Ridge to sign the papers. "The children come first," she stresses. Ridge warns his mother that if - and he does mean if - he signs the papers, he wants to be clear that Brooke will still not be denied access to those kids. "Is that understood?" he asks. Stephanie says it is, since that's the way it should be.

Nick wants answers.

Back at Brooke's, Bridget answers the door and is surprised to see Nick there. She asks how he got past the guard, but Nick is more concerned with why there's a guard to begin with and asks if Brooke is OK. Bridget tells him that Brooke is resting, but Nick isn't buying it and heads upstairs. When Nick enters Brooke's bedroom, Bridget follows and apologizes to her mom for letting Nick get up here, especially since the guard didn't stop him. Nick explains that the guard once did some work for him at Forrester Creations and asks Brooke what's going on. Brooke says this isn't a good time, and Bridget adds that Brooke isn't feeling well. Nick, however, doesn't believe either one of them and refuses to leave until he gets some answers. He knows the custody hearing was postponed and he wants to know why. Brooke assures him that the hearing was only delayed, but Nick isn't convince given how Brooke is cooped up here in her room, staring at a picture of her kids like she'll never see them again. Bridget covers that Ms. Bascomb saw Brooke was in no shape for a hearing, but Nick asks what that means. He asks Brooke if she's seen a doctor. "That's why I'm here," Bridget says, telling Nick she has things under control, so he can leave. Nick wonders why they're trying to get rid of him. Brooke thanks Nick for his concern and asks him to please just give her a few days to pull herself together. Nick reluctantly agrees and tells Brooke he is there if she needs him.

Ashley asks Ridge about his decision.

Ashley stops by the Forrester mansion to see Ridge, who tells her that he signed the papers requesting full custody of Hope and R.J. He explains that he didn't want to do it, but he felt he had no choice. Still, he knows how Brooke will take this news, so he's asked the lawyer to hold off on filing the papers until he can talk to Brooke. He just hopes Brooke sees that he's doing this for her sake. Ashley asks if he's really doing it for Brooke's sake, or is he just telling himself that because his mother made it seem like that's what he's doing. After all, she thinks he knows as well as anyone how much Brooke needs her kids. Ridge doesn't answer, so Ashley presses him for a response. Ridge makes it clear that this is his decision, not his mother's. Ashley concedes that Stephanie loves her family and wants to protect them, but... But when it comes to Brooke, Ridge finishes, his mom can't help but stick the knife in and twist it. That's why he hopes Brooke calls him back. Ashley suggests that he go see Brooke in person as they leave.