Thursday, May 24, 2007, Episode #5066

Storm prepares to defend Nick.

In the courtroom, Assistant D.A. Tartaro makes her opening statement. She tells the jury that this is a simple open and shut case, despite the defense's attempts to complicate it. She's sure they'll see from the evidence that Dominick Marone, a man trying to protect his new family, shot Shane McGrath and then disposed of Shane's body to hide his crime. Then it's Storm's turn; he tells the jury that the case isn't as simple as the prosecution would like them to believe, because none of the evidence shows conclusively that Nick killed anyone. He intends to show the jury that Nick is a wealthy man with many jealous, vindictive enemies, any of whom could have framed Nick for a murder he didn't commit.

A.D.A. Tartaro makes her case against Nick.

Ms. Tartaro then calls her first witness, Mr. Chase, the Harbormaster at Marina del Rey. She establishes that Chase's job is to monitor traffic in and out of the marina and then plays a tape for him. Chase confirms that the tape is a transmission from Nick aboard the Shady Marlin II, stating that he's taking the boat out that night. Tartaro has no further questions. Storm then asks Chase if he ever leaves his post; the Harbormaster admits that he sometimes has to. Storm asks if someone could have taken a boat out of the marina without his knowing at one of those times. Chase admits it could happen. Storm is done, but Tartaro asks Chase on redirect if there was any suspicious activity at the marina that week. Chase avows that there wasn't. Tartaro then calls Digby from the Beverly Hills Police Department's forensics lab. She asks Digby if the hairs found on the Marlin by the police were Shane's. After Digby confirms that the hair was Shane's, Tartaro asks about the shirt found on the boat. To speed things along, Storm stipulates that the shirt is Nick's and that the blood on the shirt is Shane's.

Lt. Baker testifies.

Ms. Tartaro calls Lieutenant Baker next. The detective testifies about the chat he had with Nick and Taylor at Insomnia about Shane, including Taylor's inquiries about a restraining order against Shane. Baker notes how Nick grew frustrated that the police weren't taking Shane's stalking Phoebe seriously, so he vowed to deal with McGrath himself. On cross-examination, Storm gets Lt. Baker to admit that Shane was a drifter with a criminal record, the kind of man that no parent would want associated with their teenage daughter. Storm asks if that means Phoebe's father Ridge would want to protect his family even more than Nick would. Baker agrees that Ridge would be concerned about Shane, but he points out that Ridge agreed that a restraining order might not be needed.

Jackie's testimony doesn't help her son.

After a brief break, Ms. Tartaro calls her next witness, Jacqueline Marone. The A.D.A. asks Jackie about the day Shane McGrath recently came to Forrester Creations. Jackie explains that Shane came to the office trying to sell something, but they weren't interested. Then Nick arrived later and told Shane to leave, and when Shane resisted, Nick had to physically throw Shane out of the office. On cross-examination, Storm asks Jackie if Nick could have gotten Shane's blood on his shirt while fighting with Shane. Jackie admits that it's possible. When Tartaro objects to the question, Storm withdraws it and ends his questioning. Tartaro then asks Jackie if she saw any blood on Nick's shirt. Jackie tries to say that Nick had a dark jacket on, but Tartaro wants a yes or a no, so Jackie admits that she didn't see any blood. Tartaro then asks Jackie if Nick was angry when he threw Shane out. Jackie has to say yes, leading the A.D.A. to ask if Nick might have been angry enough to kill Shane. Storm objects; Tartaro withdraws the question, but you can see from the look on Nick's face that the damage is already done.

Brooke recalls all the humiliation and pain that Stephanie heaped on her.

At Big Bear, Stephanie orders Brooke to get out of the car. When Brooke hesitates, Stephanie cocks her shotgun to show she's serious, so Brooke agrees to go back inside the cabin. She tells Stephanie, "You can't hold me here." Stephanie says she'll keep Brooke here as long as she has to. Brooke argues that Shane's death was an accident, so she doesn't think Ridge will have to go to jail. But how will Ridge prove it was an accident? Stephanie angrily asks. Brooke doesn't want to argue this anymore. Stephanie asks Brooke why she's so loyal to Nick, who won't leave Taylor just because Brooke helped him. Brooke tells Stephanie to let her leave, or else she'll see Stephanie behind bars once she's free. Stephanie asks Brooke why she'd send R.J.'s grandmother to jail; Brooke reminds Stephanie that she strangled her, kidnapped her and held a gun to her. "I didn't shoot you, did I? I only lost my temper a little bit," Stephanie qualifies, but Brooke points out that she remembers all the times Stephanie hurt her. She recalls the physical attacks, like all the times Stephanie slapped her and the time Stephanie tried to strangle her at Big Bear. She remembers the humiliation, like Stephanie having her tossed in a garbage can after Eric took back control of Forrester. She thinks back to the insults, like Stephanie calling her a bitch who's no heroine, and like Stephanie lashing out at her and calling her "The Whore of Beverly Hills" when Brooke took over Forrester. Brooke's had enough of that mistreatment and won't put up with it any longer, which is why she won't help Stephanie put an innocent man in jail.

Stephanie remembers the good times she and Brooke shared.

Brooke sees only one way Stephanie can stop her, but she doesn't see that happening, so she thinks she'll be seeing the D.A. when she gets out of here. "If you get out," Stephanie states. Brooke takes that to mean that Stephanie would kill her. Stephanie asks if Brooke really sees her as capable of anything. "I have the scars to prove it," Brooke remarks. Stephanie points out that they've had good memories, too. She recalls welcoming Brooke to the family not too long ago. She points out the success Brooke brought to Forrester and the fondness Eric, Ridge and Thorne all have for Brooke, thinking back to Lake Como. She even admits that Brooke brought beautiful children into the family, children that Stephanie loves too, no matter how she feels about Brooke. She even remembers Brooke telling her, "you love me" when they were here to decide if Forrester Originals should start their own boutiques. She has to admit that Brooke is part of the Forrester legacy, a legacy she hopes Brooke won't jeopardize by sending Ridge to jail. Brooke admits she knows what Ridge is going through. Then why not wait to see if Nick is acquitted before saying anything? Stephanie asks. Brooke thinks the only way to keep Ridge from being haunted by Shane's death is to come clean about everything, including the fact that it was Rick and not Ridge who shot Grant. She's sure Rick, who was a minor when he shot Grant, won't be held accountable now, but they need to tell the whole truth. "Do it for our sons," Brooke pleads, begging Stephanie to call Ridge now. "You call him," Stephanie says, handing Brooke her cell phone.