Monday, January 22, 2007, Episode 4981

Bridget and Phoebe are put to work.

In the Forester Originals offices, Taylor chats with Lauren Fenmore while Eric, Ridge, Thorne, Felicia and Brooke delight in the headlines and orders proclaiming them "The hottest new couture house in the country." Taylor is glad to see Eric so upbeat; Lauren agrees, since Eric seemed so depressed when she called recently. Taylor thinks Lauren should understand how he felt - Lauren recently had her own bout with depression after giving birth to a son, Fenmore, a.k.a. "Fen," on "The Young and the Restless" - and is glad Eric and Lauren are both better now. Phoebe and Bridget arrive at Eric's request and he puts them to work, Phoebe as a model and Bridget approving designs; he tells them that this is a family business, so he wants everyone involved, even if it means working around Bridget's schedule at the hospital. Eric asks Lauren what she thinks; she laughs that she should let him get to work, but Eric wants her to stay. He tells her how much he appreciates that she made her first trip away from her new baby to support him. Lauren replies that what she saw on his runway today gave her confidence in his product, but she wonders how he'll distinguish his work from Forrester Creations on the rack. Ridge boasts that their designs will be the quality ones, but Lauren reminds him that she's known Nick and Jackie for a long time, so she doesn't think Ridge should underestimate them.

The Forresters weigh in on their opinions of Nick.

Eric works with Thorne to look over some quality, but pricey fabrics that will be prefect for their original designs. When Brooke and Thorne both hesitate about the price of the fabric, Eric reassures them; he promises that this business will be profitable, and more importantly, every one of their designs will be an original work of art. Brooke says they are all behind him, but Ridge worries about the amount of money they have sunk into this company. Felicia and Thorne think they need to give their all for this first collection, to make their mark in the industry, but Ridge doesn't think "Captain Bligh" could ever really compete with them. Taylor asks Ridge why he's so intent on destroying the company they built, but Eric argues that Nick already destroyed it. Taylor can't understand why none of them think there is room for both Forrester Originals and Forrester Creations and asks Brooke and Bridget if they are bothered by all this anti-Nick sentiment. Bridget points out that Nick has never been afraid of a fight, and Brooke adds that this must be the fight Nick has been waiting for. Ridge boasts that Nick might think he could make a profit by owning the Forrester Creations name, but Nick doesn't see that it's designs that count, not the name on the door.

Jackie explains fashion distribution to Nick.

Jackie arrives at Jackie-M and finds Nick doing some research; he explains that he wants to know all about how distribution works in the fashion world. He asks how many design houses Jackie-M handles. Jackie explains that she takes on as many as she can handle, but there are five major distributors in the world who handle most of the haute couture on the market. She tells him that in the US, Lauren Fenmore has the Midwest, Harvey Golden the northeast and Arthur Harrison the west coast, while St. Julienne has Europe and Chen's has Asia. Nick suggests that whoever controls those five companies controls the market. Jackie balks that they could never afford to buy out all of them, and they'd have to won them all; if Forrester Originals had even just one or two of those outlets, it would just make their designs seem even more exclusive. Nick tells his mother to worry about their designs and let him handle the distribution end that he sees as key to the market. He asks if there are any other potential outlets, like department stores or the Internet, but Jackie explains that those could never cater to the special needs of anyone who can afford one of Forrester Originals' designs. That means that the Forresters rely on the five big distributors to move their product, Nick surmises. Jackie says he's correct.

Lauren has kind words and some criticisms for the Marones.

Nick thinks they have their first chance to execute his plan when Lauren Fenmore pops in; Lauren tells them that she was in town for the Forrester Originals debut and wanted to stop by. Jackie tries to feel Lauren out and says that Eric gave quite a sales pitch, but Lauren thinks the work speaks for itself, since Eric and Ridge are still one of the few safe bets in this business. Jackie asks Lauren what she thought of the new Forrester Creations' first cruise line; Lauren thought it instilled confidence, but she thinks they need a more dynamic designer. Still, she thinks they can be a formidable team, and she even told the Forresters that. She also thinks they know how to buy extravagant baby gifts, and she wanted to stop in to thank them. Jackie recalls what it was like having a newborn and asks if Lauren will still have time for her business while taking care of Fen. Lauren thinks that's an odd question, since she never thought she had to give up her career; Jackie says she was just thinking about how things were for her while she raised Nick, but Lauren points out that women like Brooke and Taylor kept their careers while being wonderful mothers. In fact, she just came from Forrester Originals and was pleased at how Eric has the whole family working. Jackie apologizes if she misspoke and asks Lauren to give Forrester Creations a chance, too. Lauren promises to have her buyer in the front row at their next showing. Jackie and Nick both send their best to Fen and to Lauren's husband Michael, and Lauren leaves. Once Lauren is out the door, Jackie asks Nick why he didn't make an offer to buy Lauren out. He explains that she's too close to the Forresters now, and he doesn't want word of his plan to leak right now. He wants the Forresters to sink all their money into this new collection until they find out they have no place to sell it.

Thorne tells Ridge not to worry.

Back at Forrester Originals, Bridget has to get back to the hospital and Felicia has to check on Dino. Eric offers to take the others down to the production floor, but Ridge opts to stay here to work some things out with Thorne. Once they are alone, Ridge asks Thorne about the wedding gift Nick brought Taylor. Thorne isn't really concerned, since his focus now is to get Aly to accept Taylor. Ridge agrees that he should focus on that, but he still worries about Nick. He knows Nick and Jackie can't possibly compete with their designs, so Nick must have some plan to pursue his grudge against them/ Thorne suggests Nick might take them to court over their name, but Ridge thinks Nick's time would be better spent finding a new designer. Thorne says that his sources say Forrester Creations is not looking for a new designer, which makes Ridge wonder what Nick has in mind. He wonders if the wedding gift means Nick intends to somehow use Taylor, but Thorne tells Ridge that he has complete trust in his fiancee. Ridge just wants him to keep hie eyes open, but Thorne is sure Taylor is loyal to their family.

Eric is surprised by Ridge's news.

Later, Ridge tells Eric that he got a call from Rachel at Forrester Creations, who told him that they just went into full production over there. Eric thinks Nick is a fool, but Ridge still thinks Nick must have a plan. Eric doesn't see how Nick can possibly compete with their designs. He's sure their old clients will follow them here, and Nick won't be able to stop them.

Taylor warns Nick that the Forresters are more determined than ever.

Meanwhile, Taylor stops by Jackie-M. Nick asks if she wants to buy a frock, but she says she came looking for him, since his receptionist said he was here. Nick and Jackie both tell her that they're not out of the market just yet, even though they've been told they need a better designer. Taylor says that's why she's here; she wants to give Nick a head's up. As Jackie excuses herself, Taylor tells Nick that he's lit a light under the Forresters that has them more focused than she's seen in a while. She knows how formidable they are when they're like this, and she fears they really could crush Nick with that kind of determination. Nick isn't really concerned, for him of the half dozen employees who didn't quit on him. He's sure he can get by, although he appreciates the warning given the risk Taylor took by coming here today. She says that the Forresters know what they are up against, so she thought he should, too. Nick boats that he may have a trick or two up his sleeve. Taylor is concerned about his lack of concern and asks if he's crazy; he quips that his shrink should know, especially since she is the one who dragged him out of his shell. He promises that the Forresters will not run over him. He thanks her for her concern, but he still plans to strike at the Forresters and make them accountable for what they did to his mother. He just hopes Taylor doesn't get caught in the middle.