Thursday, January 11, 2007, Episode 4974

Eric shows support for Jackie.

At the Marone mansion, Jackie is still upset about her recent humiliation. When she hears the doorbell, she thinks it's the press and shouts out to go away;o she's surprised to hear that it's Eric. Jackie lets Eric in, guessing that he's here to talk about Nick's selling his Marone stock to buy Forrester. She assures him she had no idea about it. She then changes her guess and asks if he's here to confront her about her past as a prostitute. Actually, Eric explains, he doesn't care about what happened 30 years ago. He's here to apologize to a beautiful, stunning accomplished woman whose life was shattered by the actions of his wife and sons. While he wanted the company back, he didn't want it to be at Jackie's expense, so he deeply regrets what happened, and he intends to make sure Stephanie knows that when she gets back from Palm Springs. Jackie thanks him but then gets one of her headaches. She asks Eric if he can get her pills from the other room. While he's gone, Stephanie arrives; she just got back in town and is about to go visit her mother in Chicago, but she couldn't leave town again without gloating about how her family wrested control of Forrester back from Jackie and her son. Smiling, Jackie warns that things aren't what they seem, but Stephanie doesn't think anything can spoil her moment of triumph - that is, until Eric returns and tells her that they don't have their company back!

Stephanie is stunned by what Eric tells her.

Stephanie is stunned to see Eric and even more stunned by his statement. Eric confirms that they didn't get the company back, and they likely will never get it back thanks to her, because her scheme backfired. Stephanie doesn't understand. Eric explains that her actions made Nick even more livid at their family than ever, so he came back with a vengeance and made a better offer to the Marone board to buy the company. Now Nick is the sole owner of Forrester Creations, all because Stephanie couldn't trust Taylor and had to pull one of her stunts. Stephanie argues that she had to do something; she couldn't bear watching him grow more depressed each day over the loss of their company because of her, so she had to act, even if it meant humiliating Jackie! Eric can't believe that he actually thought she changed after her breakthrough. Stephanie says she has changed, but she doesn't want to discuss this in front of Jackie and suggests that they continue this when she gets back from Chicago. Eric is surprised that she's going to Chicago; she explains that she's going to see her mother, while her sister Pam will be visiting here in L.A., but she wonders if she should stay now. Don't bother, Eric says, Jackie chimes in, "Eric can't stand the sight of you," and offers to support Eric if he needs it. Stephanie quips that Jackie will probably expect payment, Eric's had enough and tells Stephanie to leave; she says she'll see him at home and exits.

Once Stephanie leaves, Jackie admits to Eric that she feels free now. She thought she'd never be able to show her face in public, but now that she has his forgiveness and her son's, anyone else can go to hell, including Stephanie. But right now, she wants to warn Eric that she intends to do everything in her power to remind him how good they were together. She leans in close and kisses him, and he doesn't pull away.

Pam promises to help her sister.

Stephanie stops by the airport to pick up Pam and then heads for the mansion. Once Pam is settled in, she asks her sister what's had her so preoccupied since they drove here from the airport. Stephanie apologizes; it's just that everything backfired on her, Now they don't have the company back and Eric is furious with her, all because of that bitch, Jackie. Pam asks who Jackie is. Stephanie explains that Jackie is a whore who chased Eric for years, and now she's being more brazen about it than ever. But she has an idea how Pam can help her in that regard; she asks Pam to keep an eye out while she is away. Pam says she will. Stephanie confides in Pam that her marriage means everything to her. "I need you to keep that whore away from my husband," Stephanie stresses.

Aly and Hope suddenly stop their play date.

At Taylor and Thorne's Bel Air home, Alexandria tells Hope to take back what she said about Taylor, but Hope insists that her friend heard that Taylor ran Darla over. Aly insists it's not true, because Taylor is nice and wouldn't do that. She knows her daddy would never marry Taylor if she did what Hope is saying. Meanwhile, in the living room, Brooke is relieved to hear that Taylor intends to make her wedding to Thorne her main priority, although she admits she's worried that Taylor still intends to see Nick. Taylor says she explained that. Brooke understands that Taylor thinks she owes Nick, but she also knows how psychiatrists can develop feelings for... Taylor asks what Brooke is insinuating; Brooke points out that nick is attractive, and Taylor wouldn't be human if she didn't notice. Taylor quips that she didn't know Brooke studied psychiatry. Before Brooke and Taylor can discuss this more, Hope and Aly come in. Aly says she wants to go to her room, while Hope wants to go home. Taylor and Brooke are both surprised at the girls' coolness, but Brooke thinks she and Hope should be going anyway and they say their goodbyes.Once Brooke and Hope leave, Taylor asks Aly what's wrong. Aly tells her that Hope said something bad to her, Taylor is sure Hope didn't mean to be hurtful and asks Aly what Hope said, but Hope asks if she can go wash her hands now. Taylor wants to talk about this some more, but Aly runs off to clean her hands.

Thorne apologizes to Taylor

Taylor is surprised when Thorne walks in the door, looking upset. She asks why he's not celebrating. Thorne tells her that there's nothing to celebrate. He explains about Nick selling his Marone stock to buy Forrester, in order to pay him and his family back for what they did to Jackie. He's has to admit now that she was right all along. They should have trusted her to get Nick to turn around in time. He knew it was wrong to use information that Nick had told her in confidence, but he wanted to get the company back for his father so badly. Now, instead, they've made an enemy for life. Taylor tells him that she understands that he just wanted to please his father. But it was still wrong, Thorne asserts, hoping she can accept his apology. Taylor says she understands that he got caught up in something. But that's in the past now, and now they need to move forward with their wedding plans. Thorne is glad that she still wants to marry him and says that he feels like the luckiest guy in the world. He promises never to let anything come between them and kisses her.

Brooke asks Hope what's wrong.

As they arrive at home, Brooke asks Hope why she was so quiet on the drive home. Hope tells her that Aly is mad at her. Brooke urges her younger daughter to tell her why Aly is so upset with her.

Taylor is stunned by Aly's revelation.

Back at Taylor and Thorne's, Taylor tells Thorne that Nick called her earlier and asked to see her, but he didn't mention anything about buying Forrester. She guesses he wanted her to hear his side of the story. "Including why he doesn't think you don't really love me," Thorne guesses. Taylor tells him that Nick had no right to suggest that. If anything, she doesn't feel worthy of him, which is why she really wants to marry him and make a home with him, Aly and her kids. [Never mind that only one of her kids is at home these days.] She and Thorne kiss again. Aly comes into the room and watches them kiss; as she does, she remembers what Hope said about Taylor killing her mommy. Thorne sees Aly and asks her to come over. Taylor explains that she and Aly were talking before he arrived, since Hope apparently said something to upset Aly. Thorne asks Aly to tell him what happened. Aly remains silent, so Thorne reminds her that she can tell him and Taylor anything. Taylor wonders if the girls got into the fight and tells Aly that she won't be getting Hope in trouble if she tells them about the fight. Aly tells her dad that Hope lied, and lying is wrong. Thorne agrees, but - Before he can say any more, the phone rings. Taylor answers and it's Brooke, who needs to tell Taylor about something Hope told Aly. Taylor tells Brooke that she and Thorne are dealing with that now, so she has to go.