Tuesday, February 27, 2007, Episode #5007

Stephanie wonders why her mother hasn't found a condo yet.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric shows Stephanie, Pam and Ann his ideas for the new boutiques while they wait for Pam's pot roast dinner to cook. When Eric suggests marble floors, Stephanie thinks that would be too expensive, but Eric asks Pam what she thinks. Pam points out that marble, while very pretty to look at, is hard to clean, leading Eric to reconsider. Stephanie changes the subject and asks Ann if she liked the condo she saw today; when Ann admits she didn't even go look based on what she saw in the brochure, Stephanie drags her mom over to the guest house to take a closer look at the brochure while they wait for dinner. Pam stays behind with Eric and offers him some more sherry. Eric declines but asks his sister in law for advice; he wonders why, after getting the whole family on board with the idea of opening their own boutiques, he feels like he's waiting for someone to talk him out of it. Pam points out it's normal to have a case of jitters when trying something new; she even felt a few jitters of her own when Eric asked her to move to L.A. Eric thanks her for the advice.

Ann speaks her mind to Stephanie.

Stephanie and Ann arrive at the guest house, where Stephanie is miffed that her mother never even opened any of the condo brochures they got her. When she offers to call the realtor tomorrow to tell her that Ann will take the condo, Ann insists that she won't live there. Stephanie surmises that her mother has no intention of moving out of the guest house. "Eric won't make me," Ann protests, explaining that she wants to be close to the family after being denied her place in it years ago. Stephanie argues that there is no room for Ann to live here, wondering if her mom is trying to set herself up as head of the family; that position is taken, Stephanie explains. By whom? Ann asks, pointing out how Stephanie never lifts a finger around here. She remarks that Pam is more of a wife to Eric than Stephanie is. Stephanie asserts that Ann has no right to judge her and claims that she was just as responsible for the success of Forrester Creations as Eric was. Ann argues that Eric was the one who contributed all the talent, while all Stephanie brought to the table was start-up funds from her father. Stephanie states that Eric relies on her, but Ann thinks Eric would be happier with a comfortable home and a warm meal to come home to. She suggests that Stephanie and Eric might even be having problems in the bedroom. Stephanie thinks her mom has overstayed her welcome and threatens to send Ann back to Chicago, but Ann doesn't think Eric will let that happen. Stephanie says that Eric doesn't tell her what to do. Ann thinks things would be different if Eric was firmer with Stephanie, like Stephanie's father was. Bothered by that comment, Stephanie tells her mother to pack.

Eric has words with his wife.

Stephanie heads back to the main house, where she tells Eric that her other has to go back to Chicago ASAP. She's upset that Eric may have said some things to Ann about their marriage that have Ann thinking she knows everything about their marriage. Eric says that Ann is not going anywhere, nor is Pam. Stephanie argues that no condo will ever satisfy her mother. Then maybe Ann should stay on here in the guest house, Eric suggests, but Stephanie refuses to deal with her mother's contentious attitude in her own home. Eric accuses her of needing to control everything when he needs support, just like she did last night in bed. Stephanie says she had a good time and she thought he did, too, It was like a shower after a long drought, Eric states. Stephanie asks if he's that shallow to make a comment like that and suggests he look to himself to find out why that's how he saw it. They're so busy fighting that they don't see Pam approach and listen. Stephanie accuses Eric of waffling, just like he always does, Eric says he had the jitters, which is normal - and instead of support from his wife, he gets this argument! Stephanie turns to leave, saying that she guesses she has to be the one to make the decisions again, since she's the one doing the brick and mortar so he can build his castles in the sky. She can't be the "wifey-wife" he wants, she says.

Pam considers her mother's suggestion.

While Eric and Stephanie are still fighting, Pam goes back to the guest house, where she and Pam eat Pam's pot roast. They hear Stephanie leave the main house and go to her car, wondering what happened. Ann suggests that Stephanie is storming off after a fight with Eric. Pam says it really doesn't concern them, but Ann thinks Pam should be concerned about the way her sister wants her gone. Ann accuses Stephanie of not wanting Pam around since Pam shows her up and reminds Eric of what he doesn't get from his self-centered wife. Pam suggests they go back to Chicago, but Ann doesn't think she really wants that. Instead, Ann suggests that Eric is a fine man. When Pam agrees, Ann says that a fine man like Eric deserves better than what he has: he deserves someone like Pam!

Ridge lays out his plans for a grand wedding.

Over at Forrester Originals' new Rodeo Drive location, Ridge and Brooke show Felicia, Bridget, Rick and Phoebe their plans to have their wedding coincide with the boutique's grand opening. Everyone wonders if this is a joke; more like a stunt to get the press's attention, Brooke and Ridge explain. Phoebe worries about how her mom will react to the news, but Ridge promises to make sure Taylor knows what's happening. Ridge then asks Rick if he cooled off now. Rick quips that it's a lot cooler at Malibu than at his mom's. Ridge is sorry, but it had to be done, and he thanks Rick for understanding his feelings about putting distance between Rick and Phoebe. "We do what we have to, Rick responds.

Felicia confides in Bridget.

Felicia works with one of the foremen to look over some plans and sees that Bridget is still there. She asks Bridget if she stayed because she's expecting some medical emergency. Bridget answered that her mom called her over for to hear the surprise news. About the wedding, Felicia assumes. Bridget asks Felicia if she and Dante will feel upstaged by this huge wedding. Felicia is quiet, so Bridget asks what's up, pointing out that she's been quiet since she and Dino returned from visiting Dante in Rome. Felicia confides that Dante likes being the toast of the art world in Rome and wants to stay there, and he asked her to pack her things and come over there with Dino to live. The problem is, she doesn't want to do it. She may have thought about going back to Europe when she was dying, but now she has her life back. Bridget asks if Dante is willing to let her go. Felicia says he apparently is, since he said something about suing her for custody of Dino. She's not letting that worry her, though, since her place is here with her family. She supposes Dante letting her go is par for the course, since he showed her as much devotion as he did first Taylor, then Bridget. The worst part is that she still misses Dante, and she finds it funny that they broke up over something like this; she would have thought that if anything came between them, it would have been Bridget, who consoles her sister.

Brooke discusses the wedding plans with Ridge.

Ridge and Brooke are talking about wedding plans when Ridge sees Rick and asks him to check some inventory in the back. Rick says he'll get right on it. Ridge tells Brooke that he thinks Phoebe may be having a hard time being around Rick right now. He then tells her that they should get back to the office to get inventory to put in this place. Brooke says she wants to say goodnight to Rick first. Ridge assures her again that she did the right thing breaking Rick and Phoebe up. Brooke supposes so. Ridge then apologizes for getting carried away with this whole wedding thing and offers to call it off if Brooke isn't comfortable with it. Brooke admits that she wanted something small, but she doesn't think she can pass up the wedding of the century. "That's the spirit!" Ridge says. While Brooke goes to look for Rick to say goodnight, Ridge asks Bridget how things are with her new house-guest, Rick; Bridget is surprised he even brought it up. She says Rick is fine, although she still doesn't know much about why Ridge kicked Rick out of her mom's house. Ridge says it doesn't matter; the fact is that Rick is being a perfect gentleman, and Ridge admits he has to thank Rick for that.