Tuesday, July 31, 2007, Episode #5114

Ashley tells Stephanie about her break-up with Ridge.

Ashley stops by the Forrester mansion to talk to Stephanie. Stephanie is delighted to see Ms. Abbott, since she's been thinking that Ridge and Ashley might take some time off to attend the fashion shows in Paris next week. Ashley tells Stephanie that it's not going to happen, since Ridge and she broke up tonight. Stephanie asks what happened. Ashley sets forth that she kept information about a man from her past from Ridge. Stephanie can't see why the past should matter to Ridge, so Ashley reveals that the man from her past is Rick. Stephanie is surprised by the revelation. Ashley explains how she and Rick became close in Paris. She admits that she came to L.A. to find out where things stood, but they agreed to end it once she found out that Rick was involved with Phoebe, long before Ashley started seeing Ridge. Stephanie understands why Ridge would be taken aback given the tension between him and Rick, but she still can't see why Ridge would break up over something that was over long ago. Ashley discloses that she and Rick slept together one time in Mexico after Phoebe broke up with Rick. Stephanie guesses that Ashley took a while to tell Ridge. Ashley explains that Phoebe told Ridge after finding out from Rick, and that's why Ridge is so upset with her; even if Ridge could forgive her for not telling him about Rick, she attests, he won't forgive her for hurting his daughter.

Stephanie tells Ashley not to worry.

Stephanie laments that Ridge was right to worry about Phoebe being involved with an older man. Ashley asserts that Phoebe had something special with Rick, who really loves Phoebe and wants to win her back. Stephanie advises Ashley not to say that to Ridge if she wants to make up with him, but Ashley insists that Ridge is done with her. She offers to go to her office to pack her things, and she promises not to fight the termination of her contract. Stephanie tells Ashley to stop babbling, because she doesn't think it's over with Ridge just yet. She knows Ridge is disappointed, but she's sure he'll get over it. Ashley reminds Stephanie about her night in Mexico with Rick, but Stephanie chalks that up to an error in judgement. Since only a handful of people know about Rick and Ashley, Stephanie is confident that they can contain this, and she thinks this situation is rather mild compared to other relationship crises Ridge had in the past. Ashley points out how upset Phoebe is over the loss of her first love, but Stephanie thinks Phoebe will get past this in time. Ashley still worries that Ridge won't forgive her, so Stephanie offers to put a good word with Ridge on Ashley's behalf. Being with Ashley has made Ridge happier than he's been in years, so Stephanie doesn't want him to lose Ashley. "My son needs you in his life. He might not know that right now, but I know it," La Forrester affirms.

Rick laments that Phoebe won't talk to him.

Phoebe is sitting on her bed, tearfully looking at photos of her and Rick in Sydney. When her cell phone rings, she looks at the display and thinks for a moment before answering. On the other end of the call, Rick asks Phoebe not to hang up. Phoebe reminds him that she doesn't want to talk to him, but Rick says that he needs to see her. Phoebe informs him that she's at her dad's house, and she's sure her dad would kill Rick if he came over. Rick is willing to take that chance and asks Phoebe to meet him in the garden, but Phoebe says that she can't. Rick asks her to at least please try, but Phoebe can't get over the fact that he slept with another woman within 48 hours of their break-up. Phoebe hangs up, leaving Rick talking to a dead phone.

Bridget tells her big brother that he may not be able to fix things with Phoebe.

Rick recalls how upset Phoebe was when she found out about Ashley, but he's brought back to reality by Bridget's arrival. Rick asks Bridget if he can use her phone, since Phoebe isn't answering his calls; he hopes Phoebe might pick up if she thinks it's Bridget. Bridget asks why Phoebe won't talk to him, so Rick recounts how he told Phoebe all about his involvement with Ashley. Bridget isn't surprised by Phoebe's reaction given how the truth came out. Rick thinks he could have found a better way to tell Phoebe if he had more time, but Bridget doesn't think there's a good way to tell his girlfriend that he had sex with an older, more sophisticated woman. Rick concedes the point, but he thinks the truth was bound to come out sooner or later, especially since Ashley wanted to be honest with Ridge. He knows he messed up, but he has to believe that there's a way that he can fix things. Bridget cautions that some things can't be fixed, no matter how determined he is. Ridge supposes that the person who said, "you don't know what you got until it's gone" was right. Bridget suggests that Rick give Phoebe some time to process what she learned, but Rick can't go on without Phoebe. He wants to go over to Ridge's house now to see Phoebe. Bridget suspects that Ridge won't let Rick anywhere near Phoebe right now. "He's going to have to try to stop me," Rick boasts.

Ridge tells Taylor and Brooke about Rick and Ashley.

Ridge calls Taylor and Brooke over to his house to tell them about Rick and Ashley. Taylor, of course, is concerned about how that news affected Phoebe. She asks Ridge why he didn't ask her to be there when he told Phoebe. "She told me," Ridge responds, explaining how Phoebe came straight to him after Rick informed her about his fling with Ashley. He then adds that Ashley told him that it's over between her and Rick, and he hopes Rick can accept that. He's glad things turned out like this, but he's relieved that Phoebe is now Rick-free, so he doesn't want Rick around. Taylor agrees, but Brooke asks if taking a hard line is best for Phoebe. Ridge reminds Brooke that he left those two alone in Sydney at her request and they wound up in the honeymoon suite. Brooke wants to hear Rick's side of the story, but Ridge is only concerned with the story told by his heartbroken daughter. Brooke reminds him that a relationship ending is hard at any age, just as Rick bursts in and says there's no relationships ending here.

Brooke tells Rick to go home.

Taylor tells Rick he shouldn't be here, but Rick wants to see Phoebe. Ridge says it's not going to happen. Brooke asks Rick if it's true about him and Ashley. Rick confirms that it is, but he wants to make it clear that it's over, and he needs to tell Phoebe that. Ridge thinks Phoebe knows all she needs to know. Rick refuses to let Ridge stand in his way, but Ridge says everyone here is standing in Rick's way. Rick looks at all of them, including his mom. Brooke suggests that he go home now, since the wounds are still fresh, but Rick won't do that. Ridge tells him that he has no choice, but Rick still refuses to accept that given what Phoebe means to him.

Taylor wants to know why she should believe Rick.

Taylor asks Rick what he was doing with Ashley if Phoebe means so much to him. She thinks Phoebe was a bit too trusting, but that was because Rick gave her reason to by promising never to hurt her. Rick asks Taylor to let him explain, but Ridge chimes in that it's over for Rick and Phoebe. Rick asks Ridge to stay out of this, because this is just between him [Rick] and Phoebe. In fact, he doesn't think it concerns Ridge, Taylor or Brooke. "The hell it doesn't!" Ridge angrily declares, and Taylor agrees. Brooke reminds Rick that she backed him up, because he said he was serious about Phoebe. Rick says he IS serious about her. What happened with Ashley was a mistake, he admits, and he knows it hurt Phoebe. But he also knows that everyone in this room has made a mistake and unintentionally hurt someone they loved, because that's part of being human. He knows what he wants, and he's not ready to give up just yet. But maybe Phoebe is, Taylor suggests. Rick wants to hear that from Phoebe, but Ridge refuses. Rick asks what Ridge is so worried about if things are "over" like Ridge claims. "He's worried I'm still vulnerable to you," Phoebe says from the top of the steps.

Phoebe tells Rick that it's over between them.

Ridge tells Phoebe to let him handle this, but Phoebe doesn't think he can. She just wishes someone could take her pain away. "I can, but you have to let me try," Rick declares, going to the stairs and begging Phoebe to give him a chance. He hopes she can see what this is doing to him, since it's just like what happened when he told her about Ashley. He feels like the love and light in Phoebe's eyes have gone away, but that's made him realize just how much he loves her. He asks if she remembers what they meant to each other. Phoebe says she remembers, but he didn't tell her the truth. Rick says he's telling her the truth now, but Ridge says it's too late. Rick asks Ridge to butt out, because this is Phoebe's decision. Phoebe tells her dad that she's old enough to decide. Taylor says she just wants what's best for Phoebe. Phoebe says she wants that, too. She thinks about all that she and Rick shared, and it only brought them closer, because Rick believed in her. She felt like she was the only woman in the world, but now she knows she's not. Rick says it was just one time. Phoebe counters that there was no one else for her, but there will be someday - and it won't be Rick. Rick pleads for her not to do this, but Phoebe says it is over. She kisses him and then retreats back upstairs.