Tuesday, January 02 2007, Episode 4967

Ridge is stunned to learn of Jackie's past.

At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie cleans up after her New Year's party. While Brooke gets the kids from the guest house, Ridge chats with his mother. Ridge asks where Eric is; Stephanie tells him that Eric already went to bed. Both are concerned about Eric's lack of enthusiasm for their new company. Stephanie thinks Eric's spirits will improve if they get Forrester back. Ridge is still skeptical that Nick will sell Forrester back, even if Taylor helped Nick make some miraculous breakthrough. Stephanie tells him to have faith. Ridge senses his mother's confidence and asks what she knows that the rest of them don't. She announces that Jackie was a whore. Ridge at first laughs at the notion; he knows his mother hates Jackie, but to call her a prostitute? Stephanie tells him that she's serious. Ridge is stunned; he can't believe Taylor would breach her doctor/patient confidentiality to tell his mother this news. Stephanie explains that she only found out by accident, having overheard Taylor recording her session notes. Ridge is delighted that they now have the ammunition to pay Nick back for blackmailing them into selling Forrester to him. Stephanie warns Ridge not to let Taylor know that he found out about Jackie from her. Ridge agrees not to tell, but he still plans to use this information. Stephanie cautions him that Taylor could lose her license if they go public with this; she won't place Taylor in jeopardy that way after the way Taylor helped her, so they'll just have to hope that Nick keeps his word and sells them back the company.

Taylor reacts to Nick's kiss.

At the Marone mansion, Nick and Taylor stare at each other after their kiss. Nick tells her to slap him if she wants, since she's engaged. She says that she isn't going to slap him, since she recognizes a case of a therapy patient transferring his gratitude for his therapist and seeing it as love. She doesn't want him to think of her helping him as something romantic or sexual. Nick thinks she protests too much, since he thinks their relationship is more than just therapeutic. He reminds of her of the time on his boat where he touched her closely. She says her memory of that night is fuzzy, but he recalls that she wasn't drunk when she told him that he made all her pain go away. She remembers that, and she admits that it was a significant moment, since they both felt betrayed and vulnerable. And it was special, since that was the night she realized she had a drinking problem. She can only imagine how different things would have been had she paid attention to that problem sooner, since moments like that can change your life. Nick asks if this is one of those moments. Taylor reminds him of their deal, that he would return Forrester Creations if she helped him. Nick points out that he used Marone Industries funds to buy Forrester, so the Marone board would frown on him selling the company before he showed a profit. Moreover, she promised to help him find peace, and that hasn't happened yet. Taylor concedes that they have work to do to get there and suggests that they call it a night. Nick tells her not to forget her gift and bids her good night.

Taylor comes home and finds a note from Thorne telling her to wake him when she gets there to celebrate the new year. Before she can go upstairs, she gets a call from Stephanie, who wants to know if Nick agreed to sell the company back. Not yet, Taylor replies. Stephanie whispers that Nick said no to Ridge, who fumes that he knew "that bastard" couldn't be trusted. Stephanie asks Taylor why Nick didn't live up to his end of the bargain. Taylor tells him that she promised to help Nick find peace, and he's not there yet. She thinks he just needs time, just like Stephanie did with her mother, but she's sure Nick will keep his word. Taylor then says she has to go find Thorne and ends the call. As she hangs up, Stephanie tells Ridge that she fears Nick is playing a cat and mouse game with Taylor. However, she has a plan to deal with that. She reaches for an envelope and shows Ridge a set of transfer papers she had drawn up, in the event that Nick agreed to sell tonight. She's going over to the Marone mansion to see Nick and convince him to live up to his word. Ridge tells her to be careful how she... He then pauses and says, "Just be careful." Stephanie leaves to go see Nick.

Jackie frets that her relationship with Nick is ruined.

Taylor gets a surprise visit from Jackie, who tears into the shrink for violating her oath to "do no harm" and ripping Nick's heart open. Taylor says that she just wanted to help Nick heal and find peace. Jackie argues that her son was fine, and they had a wonderful relationship where Nick knew he could always count on her. Now Nick can't bear to look at her, despite the fact that everything she's ever done was for him, and she fears he'll never see her the same way again thanks to Taylor She frets that she warned him not to dredge up the past, holding her head in frustration. Taylor asks Jackie if she's OK; Jackie says she's fine, but her relationship with Nick isn't. Taylor points out that Jackie can use this opportunity to rebuild her relationship with Nick based on honesty, but Jackie fumes that she makes her own son sick! Taylor assures Jackie that Nick loves her; she doesn't think this would upset him so much if he didn't. She suggests that Jackie give Nick time to deal with this, but Jackie asks how she is supposed to deal with it. She thinks about how her son lost Brooke and the children; now he's lost his mother as well, so her little boy feels all alone! Taylor asserts that Nick isn't a little boy anymore, but Jackie thinks he will always be her little boy. She just wanted to protect him, which is why she hoped he would never know what she did. Taylor states that they all mistakes, so she thinks Nick will forgive Jackie in time. Jackie says that she has to believe that, since Nick is the only thing she has left in the world.

Stephanie has a proposal for Nick.

At the Marone mansion, Nick is surprised to find Stephanie at his door, bidding him Happy New Year. Nick quips that he'd heard that she reconciled with her mother, which surprised him since he thought she was raised by wolves. Stephanie retorts that she was adopted and gets to the reason for her visit. She understood that he had agreed to sell Forrester back to her family if Taylor helped him psychologically. She heard Taylor had helped him, so she wants him to live up to his end of the bargain. Nick is upset at the thought that Taylor told Stephanie about their session. Stephanie insists that Taylor is too professional to do that. She reminds Nick that Taylor is a person of integrity, and she always thought Nick took after his father in that regard. That's why she hopes he doesn't tale after his mother. Nick tells her to leave his mother out of this. Stephanie says that she'd be glad to, but Nick dragged Jackie into it by using Jackie's accident as the means to wrest control of Forrester away. Nick points out that his actions may have created a debacle for Stephanie's family, but his family made out well. Stephanie doubts that given the buzz she's heard about the first line from the new Forrester. That's why she's here with a proposal. She hands Nick the sales contract she had drawn up and offers to buy Forrester back for whatever Nick paid, plus any money he spent since. That way, Nick won't lose a dime.

Nick refuses to sell to Step[hanie.

Nick laughs that he won't make any money with Stephanie's proposal. Stephanie argues that he'd never make money anyway, since he knows nothing about fashion. She suggests he act like a Marone and live up to his word, saving himself and his family from a ton of humiliation in the process.Nick asks Stephanie if this deal was her idea. Actually, she admits, she was appalled by the idea of Taylor treating him at first. But now that he's had his breakthrough, she expects him to own up to the bargain he made. Nick tells Stephanie that he still hasn't found the peace Taylor promised him, because his mother is in constant pain since her fall. Stephanie suggests that Jackie was never the woman Nick thought she was. Nick tells Stephanie not to insult his mother; Stephanie says she'll be happy to forget them both if Nick will only sign the papers. Nick laughs at how Stephanie is nearly drooling at the prospect of getting what she wants, especially since she's so close to getting it. She bets that she's looking forward to playing the hero to the Forresters, by getting the company back, but it ain't gonna happen! He tears up the sales contract, tosses it in the fire, and says it will be a cold day in hell before he gives Stephanie anything.