Thursday, January 04 2007, Episode 4969

Thorne and Taylor are in bed together. They decide they should get married next month, since the family will be idle during this typically busy season with no line to put out. Taylor senses this is hard for Thorne, who explains that he's worried about the funk his father is in. He laments that Nick was evil to take advantage of Eric'[s love for Stephanie and blackmailing them into selling the company. Taylor reminds him that Nick thought he was defending his mother. She's sure Nick will come around once he deals with his own issues. Thorne hopes that happens soon, since his entire family, and especially his mother and Ridge, are going crazy. The worst part is that he fears Nick will never sell the company back. Taylor points out that healing takes time and asks him to have faith. Thorne says he'll try. Taylor then reminds him that she has a conference to go to in Santa Barbara today, so she won't be home tonight. She plans to see Nick before she goes, in the hopes that he's time to deal with his past and is ready to move on, since that's the only way they'll get Forrester back.

Clarke shows Nick and jackie the latest designs.

In the Forrester showroom, tension mounts between Jackie and Nick, who is only bearing to be in the same room with his mother because of their showing tomorrow. Jackie assures him that whatever she did was out of love for him. Clarke comes in with a bevy of models showing off their classy, elegant designs. Nick and Jackie are both pleased, and Nick thanks everyone for all their hard work.

George gives Nick a warning.

Nick then spots George, the skeptical member of the Marone Board - he's the one who insulted Brooke and all her ideas when she attended a Marone board meeting, back when Nick wanted Brooke to join the Marone board. Nick asks George what he thinks. George admits that it's a different world here, albeit one that now belongs to Marone. Jackie asks George if he got his invitation to the showing, George confirms that he did and says that he'll be there, along with fellow board members Vijay and Suzanne. They'll all want to see for themselves that Nick was right to use Marone assets to buy a fashion house. Jackie assures him that Forrester is a good fit for Marone, but George can't help but wonder if Nick's reasons for buying this company were personal. Nick replies that Marone can use some diversification with the oil business being so volatile these days, but George wonders if this company can be profitable without the Forresters. Especially without the Forresters, Nick states. George reminds Nick that he's Marone's CEO, so whatever happens, good or bad, falls on his shoulders.

Taylor tries to give Nick some advice.

After George leaves, Nick sees that Jackie is tense and asks if her headaches are bothering her. Jackie tells him she can deal with headaches, but not with the heartache. She begs him to forgive her, but he can't. Taylor comes in and tells them that she's on her way to an out of town of conference, so she wanted to see if Nick or Jackie wanted to talk. Nick doesn't think this is the time, but Taylor thinks it's the perfect time, unless he wants to feel this way at the showing. Nick quips that his feelings won't change how people feel about their clothing, but Taylor points out that unresolved issues can spill over into anything and everything he does. She admits that Jackie had a lapse in judgement, but it wasn't out of malice. She knows that Jackie was just doing the best for her son, and she thinks Nick knows that, too. They all have flaws, Taylor advises, which is why she thinks Nick needs to take his mother off the pedestal he put her on and forgive Jackie. If he can't, she feels that the tension between him and Jackie will destroy their relationship, and she doesn't want to see that happen.

Jackie is relieved that Nick forgives her.

Nick walks over to Jackie and tells her that she's like royalty to him. He'll never be able to accept the things she did, but he sees now that she did for him. As far as he's concerned, the woman who made the mistakes is gone, and he has the loving mother he grew up0 with before him now. There was never a day he doubted her love, he recalls, and he'll always love her. Jackie asks if he can forgive her. Nick says that he already has. They embrace and agree never to talk about Captain Jerry Kramer ever again.

Captain Kramer visits the Forrester mansion.

At the Forrester mansion, Ridge and Stephanie read the previews of the Forrester showing with disgust as they wait for Captain Kramer to arrive. They both hope that the sea captain creates so much scandal for Nick and Jackie that the conservative Marone board will be equally disgusted, to the point that they will sell Forrester Creations back to its rightful owners. Ridge and Stephanie agree that their plan has risks, especially where Taylor is concerned. But they rationalize that the rules went out the window when Nick and Jackie blackmailed them, so they feel justified in showing the world what Jackie is really made of. When Captain Kramer arrives, Stephanie greets him and introduces him to Ridge. She lies to him that she is extremely close to his old, dear friend Jacqueline Payne, who has been talking about the Captain a lot lately. She then explains that Jackie had a significant impact on her family recently, so she wants to pay Jackie back, and she wants Captain Kramer to be a part of it. Kramer finds it hard to believe that Jackie will be as thrilled to see him. Stephanie points out that Jackie said she was close to Kramer and several other captains. Kramer recalls the others and recites their names. Stephanie tells Kramer that she understands that he might have issues with Jackie, but she thinks this is the perfect time to work them out. She explains that Jackie is now the owner of a leading fashion house that is launching a cruise line. She thinks it would be perfect if Captain Kramer attended the showing in full dress uniform to surprise Jackie. With all Stephanie's egging on, Kramer agrees to attend. Stephanie thanks him, promising a day that Jackie will never forget.

Ridge and Stephanie discuss Captain Kramer.

Kramer leaves. Stephanie and Ridge discuss their plan as Thorne comes in and overhears. He is stunned to learn that Jackie was a prostitute, but he is even more stunned when Stephanie and Ridge tell him how they found out. Thorne is incensed that they could betray Taylor this way. Ridge tells Thorne his theory that Nick is not even really Taylor's patient, since she never met with him at her office or billed him. Thorne thinks that's a load of bull, and he's sure Taylor will agree.