Monday, July 02, 2007, Episode #5093

Phoebe asks Constantine to destroy the recording of the "other woman".

Phoebe arrives at Constantine's loft and apologizes for being late. When she explains that she got caught in a promo meeting for the "Phoebe" fragrance, Constantine guesses that Rick was at that meeting, but Phoebe assures him that Rick wasn't even there and couldn't have made her late. "This time," Constantine retorts. Phoebe reminds him how much Rick means to her, even when Constantine brings up the recording he made from Rick's voice mail. Phoebe again points out that Rick was with the other woman when they were broken up and asks Constantine to destroy that tape. Not wanting to waste time fighting over Rick, Constantine reluctantly agrees and suggests that they get to work.

Rick challenges Constantine...

Constantine and Phoebe head for his recording booth, where they lay down tracks for a duet version of his song, "Everybody Loves, Everybody Cries." As they're singing, Rick comes in and peeks at the singing duo through the recording booth window. When Constantine and Phoebe are done, Constantine and his engineers agree that it sounded great. Phoebe gives Constantine a hug, but then she sees Rick and bolts out of the booth to talk to him. She asks Rick if he heard the song. When Rick was he did, she asks what he thought. "It was good," he replies without enthusiasm. Constantine hears the tone of Rick's response and suggests that Rick be more excited, for Phoebe's sake if nothing else. Rick sees no reason to be excited about the way Constantine is changing Phoebe into just another pop diva, just so Constantine can sell a few records. Constantine balks at Rick's lack of support, but Rick asserts that he can see that Constantine's plans for Phoebe have disaster written all over them.

...and Constantine accepts the challenge.

Constantine asks when Rick became an expert on the record business. Rick says he doesn't have to be, since he's an expert on marketing, and he asks how Constantine plans to distribute the duet with Phoebe that they just recorded. Constantine talks about how the Internet is now key in selling music and Phoebe agrees, but Rick asserts that an approach like that is bound to fail with Constantine's attempts to change Phoebe. Constantine disagrees, but Rick points out that Constantine is trying to build on the existing fame that Phoebe has from her work for Forrester Originals - a fame that's built on the wholesome, classy image that Forrester Originals has created. That's why he doesn't think Constantine's attempts to make Phoebe "Goth" will work, and he has an idea to prove that. He challenges Constantine to a competition where he and Phoebe will also record a duet, and then he and Constantine will each perform their respective duets with Phoebe at Insomnia. If the audience prefers Constantine's duet, then Rick will back down and not oppose Constantine's plans anymore. But if they prefer his duet, then the "dynamic duo" of Constantine and Phoebe will end and Phoebe will come back to Forrester Originals full time. Phoebe isn't sure that she likes this idea, but when Constantine agrees to the "duel," she gets on board. "May the best man win," Rick states as he and Constantine shake hands.

Ridge tells Brooke he can't stay the night.

In Brooke's bedroom, Ridge pulls away from his ex's kiss. Brooke asks what's wrong, since she knows he enjoyed it. She asks him again to stay the night so he can be there when R.J. wakes up, but Ridge says that he can't. Even though he misses his son, being in this house reminds him of all the memories of him and Brooke. Brooke agrees that they made some wonderful memories, but Ridge says they weren't all wonderful. That's why they need to start over and do it right this time, Brooke states, standing close to him and asking if they can go back to the way things used to be. She knows she's asking a lot, but she urges him to consider it for their son. Ridge asks where this concern for their son was when she left him. She says she was so caught up in what happened to Rick that she made a huge mistake. Ridge agrees that they both made mistakes. But while he can forgive her for walking out on him, he can't get past the way she ran straight back to Nick after. He says that he's sorry and walks out.

Stephanie tries to change Ashley's mind.

Over at Ashley's beach house, Stephanie urges Ashley to have faith in Ridge, but Ashley reminds her that Ridge and Brooke have a son. She can't in good conscience stand in the way if there's a chance for two parents to raise their child together. Stephanie tells Ashley to concentrate on Ridge, while she [Stephanie] will focus on Brooke and R.J. Ashley is still reluctant to get in the way if Ridge prefers Brooke, but Stephanie isn't OK with Brooke worming her way back in Ridge's life yet again. She would prefer to see Ridge with a woman who respects him like Ashley. Ashley's flattered, but she thinks it's best that she return to Genoa City now. Stephanie urges to reconsider; before Ashley can respond, there's a knock at the door. Ashley goes outside and is surprised to see Ridge there. She asks what happened to his plans with R.J. "Brooke had something else in mind," he states, asking if he can come in. Ashley invites him inside, and Ridge is surprised to see his mother there. Pleased to see her son back, Stephanie excuses herself; as she leaves, she reminds Ridge, "You get your good taste from my side of the family."

Ashley shares ice cream with Ridge as they talk.

Alone with Ridge, Ashley asks about his visit with Brooke just now. Ridge points out that he's here now, and that's just where he wants to be. He presents her with a bag of rum raisin ice cream, since they didn't have dessert earlier. Ash asks how he knew she loves that flavor. "You seem like the rum raisin type of girl," Ridge replies. Ash doesn't know what that means, and Ridge admits that he doesn't, either. But he does know that he would have lost Ashley before he ever had her if he had spent the night with Brooke, which is why he's here now. Ashley takes a bite of ice cream, but her plastic spoon breaks, so Ridge suggests they share his. He then asks her again if she'd reconsider staying in L.A., pointing out the virtues of Southern California living like smog and freeway traffic. But seriously, he thinks that Ashley might like to stay here if she gives it a try. Ash points out that Abby's dad Brad lives in Genoa City. Ridge suggests she ask Brad to move here, but she doesn't see that happening with Brad going through a messy divorce. In that case, Ridge says, he'd have to follow her back to Genoa City if she chose to leave. He jokes about becoming a Wisconsin "cheese head" if he followed. Ashley laughs at the thought. On a more serious note, Ridge says he could show up the men who have dissed her in the past, like Brad or Victor Newman, by showing them how to appreciate her. "Are you saying that you would appreciate me?" Ashley asks. Ridge says that he'd like the chance to try and kisses her.

Brooke is stunned by what Stephanie tells her.

Back in Brooke's bedroom, she hears the door downstairs and thinks it's Ridge, so she's surprised when Stephanie waltzes into the bedroom. She asks Stephanie to leave before she calls the police, but Stephanie doesn't budge and comments on the surroundings in the bedroom. Stephanie bets Brooke was upset when her plans with Ridge didn't work out. Brooke says that Ridge just wanted some time alone. "Then why did I just see him at Ashley's?" Stephanie asks. Brooke is surprised that Ridge went to Ashley's right after leaving here. Stephanie states that Ridge obviously knows what he wants, and what he wants is a life without Brooke. She suggests that Brooke herself helped Ridge reach that conclusion by trying to come between Ridge and his son. "Face it, it's over," Stephanie gloats. Brooke points out that Ridge asked her back to Forrester Originals, but Stephanie thinks Ridge just did that because he feels sorry for her. But personally, she thinks the best thing Brooke can do is walk away from the company and from Ridge and try to focus on her kids. Brooke refuses to believe that it's over with Ridge. Stephanie tells her to think about that next time she sees Ridge with Ashley. Brooke points out yet again that she and Ridge share a son, but Stephanie doesn't think that will let Brooke keep a hold on Ridge this time. "He's done with you. I think he's going to end up with Ashley, and I think you're going to be alone," Stephanie states as she leaves.