Monday, July 09, 2007, Episode #5098

Rick talks with Phoebe's friend Madison.

At Insomnia, Rick sits with Phoebe's friend Madison and talks about his singing duel with Constantine. Constantine comes in and spots them; he wonders if Madison could be Rick's "other woman." When Felicia comes in, Constantine points out Rick with Madison and asks if Felicia knows who the girl is. "Dude, you are so barking up the wrong tree," Felicia remarks. Constantine goes over to the table, where Rick introduces Madison (who embarrasses herself by making an offer to help out with the contest, since Rick and Phoebe will be too busy staring at each other). Phoebe enters and gushes about how excited everyone is about the contest. Constantine excuses himself to check with C.J. on the sound system and finds C.J. trying to get Felicia to order some coffee. C.J. excuses himself for a minute, leaving Constantine with Felicia. Felicia asks when they'll hear these duets. Constantine says she's the one barking up the wrong tree now. Felicia asks him to leave her out of his issues with Rick, since Rick is family. So's Phoebe, Constantine points out, wondering why Felicia isn't protecting her niece by revealing who Rick is cheating on Phoebe with.

Felicia refuses to help Constantine.

After checking out the sound system, Constantine tells Rick and Phoebe that he can make this work if he brings some of his own equipment in. Rick sarcastically thanks Constantine for not using the sub-standard sound system as an excuse to back out. "I don't do excuses," Constantine says as he leaves. While Phoebe scolds Rick for his snarky comment, Constantine stops by to chat with Felicia on his way out. He again asks her who Rick's other woman is, since he's sure Felicia knows. Felicia refuses to come between Phoebe and Rick. Constantine asks what the big deal would be in telling him who the woman is if Rick isn't cheating anymore.

Alone with R.J., Hope calls 911.

At Brooke's house, Hope and R.J. wake up, having slept on the couch. On the way to get R.J. breakfast, Hope sees a sticker on the phone stating to call 911 in an emergency, so she dials 911 and says, "My mommy is lost. Can you find her?" The dispatcher asks the six year old when the last time she saw Mommy was. Hope says it was yesterday, but Mommy didn't come home last night.

Lt. Baker has news for Stephanie.

At Forrester Originals, Ashley and Stephanie chat over coffee. Ashley gives Stephanie a thank you card from Abby for the Fourth of July. Stephanie thanks Ashley and says it was her pleasure, especially since Abby and R.J. got along so well. She laments that R.J. has so few friends and attributes that to the way R.J.'s sorry excuse for a mother has raised him. She fears Hope and R.J. will be raised as poorly as Rick and Bridget were, and she won't have that. Ashley thinks La Forrester sounds harsh, but Stephanie thinks her tone is appropriate where Brooke is concerned. Before Ashley can say anything, Lt. Baker comes by, having heard on the radio about the call from Brooke's daughter stating that Brooke is missing. Stephanie tells him that it's just that Brooke doesn't work here anymore and offers to call Bridget, but Lt. Baker tells her that it was Hope who called after spending the night home alone with her brother last night.

Dorothy from Child Services arrives on the scene.

Stephanie and Lt. Baker arrive at Brooke's house and find two uniformed cops questioning Hope about her Mommy. Stephanie rushes over and gives the kids a reassuring hug, asking Hope why she didn't call her or Eric. "You might be asleep," Hope says. Stephanie thinks that's sweet but tells Hope she can call her anytime. She assures the kids that their Mommy is fine. Dorothy Bascomb from Child Protective Services enters, having been called by the dispatcher since kids are involved. Lt. Baker recognizes her, and so does Stephanie, since Stephanie met Dorothy while serving on an Abuse Prevention Council. Stephanie introduces Ms. Bascomb to the kids. While one of the cops gets breakfast for the kids, Stephanie tells Dorothy what she knows about the kids' call to 911. Just then, Brooke walks in, rushing to the kids and asking if they're OK. Lt. Baker, Stephanie and Dorothy all smell alcohol on Brooke. As Brooke apologizes to the kids, she asks why all these people are here. One of the cops explains that Hope called 911. "No one knew where you were," Stephanie states. Brooke is stunned when the kids tell her that Donna left them alone here. Meanwhile, Stephanie sees a piece of paper sticking out of Brooke's purse: apparently the guy in the bar slipped his phone number in there. "Your children spent the night alone, but it looks like you had company." Stephanie snipes, holding the note.

Stephanie gives Brooke a warning.

Brooke insists she wasn't with anyone and explains that she pulled over after almost having an accident. She asks if the cops can leave, but Lt. Baker says they have to file a report. Brooke again wonders why Donna would leave the kids. Hope explains that a car came, and Aunt Donna thought it was Brooke's. Stephanie guesses that was the messenger she sent over with Brooke's things from the office. When Hope says she didn't let the man in, Brooke tells her she did the right thing. One cop asks Brooke where her car was when she was "sleeping it off." Brooke says she was a quarter of a mile away, but she wasn't sleeping anything off. Dorothy introduces herself and asks Brooke if they can speak to Donna when she returns. Brooke is shocked that child services was called. Dorothy suggests that the kids go outside, since it's a nice day, so Stephanie sends the kids out back. Once they kids are gone, Brooke insists that this is a big misunderstanding between her and her sister. Dorothy points out how long the kids took to call 911 and wonders if that's because they're left alone often. "They're never left alone," Brooke insists. Lt. Baker asks Brooke where she was. When Brooke doesn't want to answer, Stephanie suggests that they ask Brooke's gentleman friend. Brooke suggests they do that, since the man will tell them that he didn't sleep with her.

The cops point out that Brooke smells of liquor. Brooke tells them she was only drinking sparkling water and explains that the man got pushy and spilled his drink on her. She offers to take a breathalyzer test to prove she wasn't drinking. Stephanie attests that Brooke is not a drinker, and she also points out that Donna isn't too bright at times. Dorothy suggests the kids spend the afternoon somewhere else, but Brooke wants to be with her kids, especially after they were alone all night. The cops and Dorothy take their leave. Alone with Brooke, Stephanie wants to know about the man who gave Brooke his number. Brooke again insists she didn't sleep with anyone, but Stephanie thinks someone like Brooke could have slept with a man. She tells Brooke to promise that this won't happen again. When Brooke says it won't, Stephanie hopes she means it, since she vows to do whatever it takes to protect those kids if Brooke screws up again.

Brooke reassures her kids.

After Stephanie leaves, Brooke sits with Hope and R.J. and apologizes for being so upset with herself that she didn't call. "Why didn't you?" R.J. asks. Brooke tells the kids to think about the way they sometimes want to hide in their rooms when they are upset and explains that Mommy was that way yesterday. "It's okay if you cry, Mommy," Hope says. Brooke insists she's fine and promises that this won't happen again. Hope offers to call Daddy Ridge, or maybe Nick. Brooke agrees that Daddy or Nick would do anything for them, but she doesn't think she needs Ridge or Nick. She tells the kids that they're a family, so they can get through this together.