Wednesday, May 23, 2007, Episode #5065

Storm, Donna and Rick wonder where Brooke is.

The day of Nick's trial has arrived. Storm, Jackie and Taylor talk with Nick in the holding area before he's taken to the courtroom, hoping that Brooke might come through for him where Rick couldn't to find some evidence to clear him. Nick asks if they've heard from Brooke; Storm says he hasn't, even though he left her a dozen messages. Donna arrives and asks her brother if he's seen Brooke; when Storm replies that he was about to ask her that, Donna reveals that Brooke didn't come home last night and didn't leave any message about where she might be. Jackie wonders if Stephanie knows something and heads over to the Forrester mansion to check. Rick arrives, all apologetic at not being able to find anything at Forrester Originals to help Nick. Nick tells him he's not worried about that, but he is worried about the fact that no one can find Rick's mom. After Storm explains that Brooke went over to Stephanie's yesterday about getting Ridge to confess, Rick calls Bridget, who is already at the courthouse with Felicia. Once Rick tells her that no one has seen their mom since yesterday, Bridget agrees to call around to the hospitals. Nick worries that Brooke being missing is a bad sign.

Eric scolds Jackie for her son's accusations against Ridge.

Jackie gets to the Forrester mansion and finds Eric there. Eric scolds her over the fact that her son is basing his defense on a claim that Eric's son did the deed. Jackie says that she doesn't have time to discuss this, since she needs to find Brooke. When Eric says he hasn't seen Brooke, Jackie asks where Stephanie is. Eric tells her that Stephanie went to Paris to help Ridge with the boutique opening there. Jackie asks if either Brooke's or Stephanie's cars are here. Eric says that he hasn't seen Brooke's car, either, although Stephanie's is right there in the garage, since she took a limo to the airport.

Nick and Taylor worry that Jackie couldn't find Brooke.

Concerned, Jackie calls Storm and tells him that Brooke is not there while Stephanie has apparently gone to Paris to be with Ridge. Storm gives Nick, Taylor, Donna and Rick the news. Taylor wonders if Brooke got through to Stephanie; if that was the case, Storm explains, then Ridge would be on the way here rather than Stephanie being on the way to Paris. And Brooke would have called, Nick adds. Rick tries to call his mom's cell phone again.

Brooke remembers Grant telling her that her son shot him.

Up at Big Bear, a pajama clad Stephanie greets Brooke as she wakes up after a good night's sleep. Stephanie tells Brooke not to think about trying to sneak out, since she has the car keys, and she also advises that none of the neighbors at the other cabins are around, so Brooke shouldn't think of running off for help. Sitting around with nothing to do, Brooke remembers when Grant told her that it was Rick, and not Ridge, who shot him. Stephanie offers Brooke some coffee, but Brooke only wants to know when Stephanie intends to let her go. "When you come to your senses," Stephanie states, telling Brooke to enjoy this mini-vacation. Brooke asks how she can enjoy being held prisoner, and she points out that Stephanie can't hold her here. Brooke's cell phone starts vibrating (it's Rick trying to call), but Brooke can't answer it since Stephanie has the phone. Brooke points out that Donna will have noticed that she didn't come home last night by now, so she's sure someone will be looking for her. Stephanie tells her not to think about that and to instead focus on realizing that she can't tell the police the truth about Shane's death. She thinks Brooke will thank her once she comes to her senses and realizes how wrong it would be to turn Ridge in.

Jackie frets that she can't find Brooke or Stephanie.

Back at the Forrester mansion, Jackie turns to leave, but Eric wants to know why she's so worried about Brooke and Stephanie. When Jackie explains that Brooke came here yesterday to confront Stephanie about Ridge's involvement in Shane's death, Eric insists that his son was not involved. He sympathizes with Jackie about her son's plight, but he thinks it's wrong for Nick to drag Ridge's name into it. Jackie tells him that she's more concerned with the fact that Brooke didn't come home last night, and that Stephanie was apparently the last person to see Brooke. And now, Stephanie is missing too, and... Eric again tells her that Stephanie is in Paris. "Conveniently," Jackie snipes. Eric asks Jackie if she's saying that Stephanie has done something to Brooke.

A.D.A. Tartaro discusses the case with Lt. Baker.

In the courtroom, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tartaro talks with Lt. Baker about what they both think is an open and shut case. In the gallery, Bridget finishes her calls to the hospitals. Felicia asks Taylor how she can believe Nick's claim that Ridge set him up to take the fall for Shane's death, since she thinks Taylor has to know that Ridge is incapable of murder. Taylor says she didn't want to believe it, but there are just too many unanswered questions about this case, and Nick is running out of time. She just wishes they knew where Brooke is. Bridget says that there's no record of anyone fitting Brooke's description at the hospitals. Rick says he's getting the same bad feeling Nick had earlier.

Judge Owens tells Nick to be quiet.

Nick is brought into the courtroom and the bailiff calls everyone to rise for Judge Owens. The judge comes into the courtroom and takes his place at the bench. As soon as Judge Owens has called the room to order, Storm asks for a postponement, as the advanced trial date did not leave him enough time to properly prepare his client's defense. Tartaro accuses Storm of trying to stall and doesn't see the need for the Judge to grant Storm even a few more days. Storm argues that he's just defending his client. When Nick breaks up the bickering lawyers by asking the judge why he's here when Ridge Forrester is the guilty party, the judge tells Nick to sit down and keep quiet. The judge then advises Storm to control his client and tells the jury to disregard Nick's comments.

Bridget and Felicia disagree about Nick's claims.

While the attorneys approach the bench to confer with the judge, Felicia asks Bridget what Nick's up to. Bridget replies that Nick is fighting for his life, and she thinks that they should be supportive of him. Felicia says that she'd rather punch Nick in the you-know-what after the way he's tried to pin the blame on Ridge, because they all know Ridge isn't guilty. Bridget doesn't think Nick would accuse Ridge if he wasn't sure; Felicia can't believe that Bridget is defending Nick over Ridge. Bridget says she's not defending anything, but she thinks they should keep their cool. Felicia wishes they knew the truth about Shane's death. Bridget hopes the figure that truth out before an innocent man goes to jail for a long time.

Brooke wonders how Stephanie intends to hold her at the cabin.

Back at the cabin, Brooke still wants to come forward with the truth. Stephanie argues that Shane tried to commit suicide, and Ridge only tried to save him. Brooke thinks Stephanie should tell the police that, since she doesn't intend to keep her mouth shut. "There's only one way that you could possible keep me quiet, and that would be to kill me," Brooke states. "That's the first intelligent thing you've said all day," Stephanie quips in reply. Brooke can't believe that Stephanie would kill her, but she then recalls that Stephanie's already guilty of obstructing justice and kidnapping. Stephanie says this isn't funny. Brooke says she doesn't think it's funny, either, but she does think Stephanie has gone too far this time. Stephanie asks her to just please keep quiet until after the trial. She points out that Nick has a great lawyer in Brooke's big brother Storm, so there's a good chance Nick could get off, in which case no one ever has to know the truth. "But Ridge killed a man!" Brooke argues. Stephanie again argues that it was an accident, although she admits that it was stupid for Ridge to dump the body in the bay. She then reminds Brooke that Ridge couldn't go to the police because he took the rap for Brooke's son in Grant's shooting. She again pleads for Brooke to wait and see if Nick gets off before deciding whether to say anything.