Tuesday, January 16, 2007, Episode 4977

Ridge is angry with Phoebe.

Ridge is furious when Phoebe brings Shane by Brooke's house, since Ridge forbade her from seeing Shane. Shane tries to explain, but Ridge tells him to shut up. Phoebe tells her dad that it's not what he thinks. She informs him that Shane had been staying at Bridget's beach house after an injured Shane came to Bridget for help. Ridge is angry that Phoebe dragged Bridget into this, on top of her being involved with this creep Shane. Shane admits that he can understand how Ridge feels, since he knows he's the last guy Ridge would want to see hanging out with his beloved daughter. He knows Ridge doesn't trust him, since he's never given Ridge any reason to, and he also knows that he's made a few mistakes. But he's put all that behind him, which is why he hopes Ridge will just hear him out.

Shane vows to prove himself.

Shane recounts how he found a new job and a new place to live. Ridge doesn't care if Shane has a job rescuing kittens or helping old ladies. He just wants Shane to stay the hell away from Phoebe. Shane remarks that he would feel the same way if Phoebe was his daughter. He explains that his folks never cared about him the way Ridge does about Phoebe, so he never felt like he belonged in his family home. Ridge asks Shane if this story has a point; Phoebe begs her dad to let Shane finish. Shane says that he does have a point. He's trying to say that Phoebe is the best thing that ever happened to him, and her friendship changed his life forever. He never knew people like her existed in this world, but now that he does, he wants to be respectable and responsible. He respects Phoebe and is grateful to her, so he doesn't think Ridge has any reason to worry about him. He vows to prove himself one day, not only to Phoebe, but to Ridge, too.

Bridget feels funny discussing her feelings for Nick.

At the Forrester mansion, Bridget apologizes to Eric for going on about Nick, since she knows what Nick did to him. Eric tells Bridget that he loves her, so he likes to thing that they can talk about anything. But he doesn't think he can be objective about Nick, so he might not be the best person for Bridget to talk to about this. He suggests that she talk to Taylor. Bridget asks if that means he thinks she's a little crazy. Eric says that he only meant that Taylor can be objective, which might make her the right person for Bridget to talk to about her feelings. Bridget understands that this is complicated, so she can see why Eric is hesitant to talk to about this. Still, she feels ridiculous talking about this.

Eric wonders if he's the right person to talk to Bridget about Nick.

Eric realizes that Bridget still has feelings for Nick and offers to talk her out of getting involved with Nick if she'd like. Bridget asks if she's being a romantic fool. Eric thinks she's just being an optimist, even though he isn't really sure if Nick is the right man for her.He reminds her again that he's not exactly impartial toward Nick. Bridget tells him that Nick is a private man who is just reacting to the pain of seeing his mother humiliated in the press. Eric asks if that's just how she remembers Nick and points out that people change. But even if they change, Bridget counters, it will still be possible for her and Nick to find their way back to each other. Eric doesn't want to tell Bridget what to feel, but he just hopes that she'' be careful, since he fears that her going back to Nick might be a very dangerous proposition.

Brooke urges Nick not to get involved with Taylor.

At Taylor's house, Brooke demands that Nick and Taylor tell her if something is going on between them. Taylor doesn't think it's any of Brooke's business. Brooke really hopes she's wrong, but she doesn't want to see Thorne or Aly hurt after all they've been through. Nick assures Brooke that no one will get hurt. Brooke acknowledges that Nick has become close to Taylor, who helped him deal with his issues in therapy. She knows he's grateful for Taylor's help in breaking down his emotional walls, but she doesn't want him confusing that with romance, since Taylor is committed to Thorne. Taylor says that Nick knows she's marrying Thorne, but Nick remarks that Taylor is making a mistake. Brooke asks Taylor if she's having doubts after Aly found out how Darla died. Taylor thinks Brooke is making too much of this. Brooke honestly hopes she is, but she gets the feeling that she's not. She tells Nick that she knows how hard it is for him to grow close to someone, which is why he connected to Taylor and came to depend on her. But she knows that Taylor isn't what he needs. "And maybe you are?" Taylor asks, pointing out that Brooke is committed to Ridge. She asks Brooke to leave, but Brooke asks for a moment alone with Nick first. Whispering, she admits that this may be none of her business, but she can't handle his being involved with Taylor. She tells him that Bridget and she both care about him. "Not Taylor, please," she begs as she leaves.

Brooke returns home and tells Ridge about Taylor's near miss with Aly tonight on PCH. Ridge feels sorry for Aly and wonders if Thorne and Taylor will postpone the wedding because of this. Brooke hopes he's right. Ridge asks if she has doubts. More like concerns, she responds. Ridge asks what's on her mind, so she tells him how she found Nick at Taylor's house tonight. Ridge asks what Nick was doing there. Brooke answers that she's not sure, although Nick did give her something while she was there, She takes out the divorce papers, already signed by Nick, and shows them to Ridge. Ridge is surprised, since Nick stalled the divorce for months. Brooke agrees that it seems odd that Nick suddenly wants to get the divorce over with and wonders if Taylor has anything to do with it. Ridge asks if she's saying that Taylor encouraged Nick to move forward with the divorce, but Brooke doesn't think Taylor knew about the divorce papers. However, she saw tonight that Nick is dead set against Taylor marrying Thorne, to the point where he claimed that Taylor's relationship with Thorne is doomed after what happened to Aly tonight. Ridge wonders if Nick might be motivated by his vendetta against Ridge's family, with Nick trying to drive a wedge between Thorne and Taylor after failing to drive Ridge and Brooke apart. Or even worse, Brooke suggests, what if Nick has feelings for Taylor? She hopes she's wrong, but she knows Nick signing the divorce papers means something. It means they can get married in a couple of months, Ridge states, but Brooke prays that she's wrong, for Bridget and for Thorne.

Taylor thinks she mishandled things.

Back at Taylor's, Nick tells her that he's concerned about her, but Taylor tells him that she needs some time alone. Because of what Brooke said? he asks. Because she almost ran over Aly, Taylor frets, just like she ran over Darla. She can see in Aly's eyes how angry she is, but she doesn't know what to do about it. Nick doesn't see marrying Thorne out of guilt as an answer and urges Taylor to be honest with herself. Taylor doesn't want to talk about this. In fact, with everything that's happened, she can't help but wonder if she mishandled the whole situation. She even wonders if Brooke is right that Nick is saying these things as part of his quest to get back at the Forresters. That's not what this is about, Nick states, and he thinks she knows that. Taylor reminds him that she has been acting as his psychiatrist, so she feels uncomfortable talking to him this way. That's why she thinks it might be better for him to find another therapist to confide in. Nick tells her that it isn't going to happen.

Nick tells Taylor not to marry Thorne.

Before Nick can say any more, he gets a call on his cell from Bridget, who would like to talk with him sometime soon. She knows he's busy with work, but she wants to try and clear up some of the bad blood between her family and Nick. Nick says he's in the middle of something, so Bridget suggests some time next week. Nick says that will be fine and ends the call. Having overheard the call, Taylor suggests that maybe Nick might want to be with Bridget tonight; after all, Bridget was an important part of Nick's life and made him happy. Nick reminds her that they were talking about her, not about Bridget. Taylor however feels awkward talking to him about her life, since she is his therapist. She reminds him how much the lines between Spectra and Forrester have blurred to the point where it doesn't make sense for her to see Nick. Nick tells her that it doesn't makes sense for her to marry Thorne, either.