Friday, November 02, 2007, Episode #5180

Ridge is working with some models in his office when one model asks if he heard about Spectra Fashions. Ridge confirms that he heard about the sale and thinks it's a shame. "Say what you want about her," he recalls, "but Sally Spectra definitely knew how to keep us on our toes."

Nick wonders why he should buy Spectra Fashions.

At Spectra, Clarke urges Jackie and Nick to take advantage of the chance to get Spectra at a bargain price and take on the Forresters. Jackie likes the idea, but Nick thinks Clarke just wants a job. Clarke admits he does; he wants to do what he does best, tweaking existing designs just enough to get around the lawyers so they can sell cheap, fabulous dresses to the masses. Nick scoffs at selling cheap items. Jackie agrees they'd have to shift gears to appeal to her clients; she wants to produce gowns that are not haute couture, but are still chic and classy while being reasonably priced. Nick asks his mother why she'd need Spectra if she already has a successful boutique chain. She points out that the Forresters have a line exclusive to their own boutiques, so she can compete if she has one, too. Nick reminds her that he sold Forrester to end the competition, but Jackie reminds him that the Marones are still in the fashion game, or at least she is. She thinks they can make a profit here with just a quarter of the money they got for selling Forrester. "But who's gonna be your designer?" Nick asks. "Eric Forrester," Clarke proudly replies. Jackie likes the idea of letting Ridge and Eric do all the work, and Clarke chimes in that they'll get rich doing it - unless Nick doesn't like making money, that is. "Show me around," a curious Nick replies.

Jackie tells her son how she can turn Spectra into a gold mine.

After a quick tour, an eager Jackie is convinced she can make a fortune here with just a little money and a lot of determination. She leans on the wall and carps when her hand goes through the wall. Clarke quips that Sally did that all the time. Nick wants a word with his mother, so Clarke goes to get a trowel to fix the wall while the Marones chat. Nick asks Jackie if she's doing this to get back at Eric because of Donna. Jackie dismisses that idea and says that Eric had his chance with her. He was her lover before, but now he'll be her motivation and unpaid inspiration. She explains that this isn't about revenge. It's about showing the world who the real Jackie M. is. She thought she reached the zenith of her career when Massimo gave her the Jackie-M boutiques, but she really just became a glorified shop girl kowtowing to the bored Beverly Hills masses. That's why she wants to emulate Sally and show that she's not playing games by going toe-to-toe with the Forresters. If anyone can do it, Clarke boasts, it's Jackie. "Tell me you're in," Jackie asks Nick. Nick says he's in, but only as a silent partner. As far as running the place, he asserts, this is all Jackie's baby. An elated Jackie gives her son a kiss and thanks him, reminding him that he has a baby of his own to tend to. As Nick turns to leave, Clarke says, "You won't regret this decision." "I probably will," Nick gripes as he leaves. Jackie and Clarke eagerly smile at each other and declare, "We did it!"

Clarke asks the new Empress of L.A. Fashion what her first edict is.

Taking stock of her new office, Jackie picks up the microphone Sally used to address the troops and calls out, "Calling all Forresters. Better watch your backs. The games are about to begin." Clarke comes in with the old "Sally says: Recycle!" poster and cheers Jackie on for her support of the little guy. Jackie thinks the poster is the perfect touch. Looking at the photo of Sally, Jackie hopes that the Grand Diva, on whatever beach her cabana rests on today, will have a double shot of Irish Whiskey to toast their success, because she promises Sally that she'll make this place live again. Clarke echoes the sentiment. Jackie looks around, marveling at the fact that this fashion house is all hers, to do with as she wants. Clarke asks the new Empress of L.A. Fashion what her first edict is. She tells him that she a name for their new line: "M." As in Jackie M? Clarke asks. As in mysterious, magnificent and money, Jackie laughs, promising to make this place a force to be reckoned with. "When Lady M. and her super boy take off," she brags, "the Forresters ain't gonna know what hit 'em." To underscore her point, she blows on her finger like she's snuffing out a candle.

Bridget talks to Ridge about baby Jack.

Bridget drops by Ridge's office to chat. She congratulates him on reuniting with her mom and thanks him for not letting Taylor's baby cause any problems between him and Brooke. Ridge admits it's hard knowing the woman in his life had a baby with a man he detests, but he believes Brooke when she insists that the baby is Nick and Taylor's. Bridget just wishes Taylor believed that. She knows it was hard for Taylor to leave her baby in the hospital I.C.U., especially since it means Taylor can't bond with or even hold her child at this crucial time. And finding out who donated the egg can't help matters, Ridge adds. Bridget tells Ridge that he may not know this, but her mother was headed to Taylor's house earlier with a document to surrender any legal right to the baby. She hopes that the signed document will put everyone's fears to rest.

Brooke doesn't understand why Taylor is hesitating.

But at the Marone mansion, Taylor hesitates as Brooke asks her to sign the papers. Taylor sobs about how the life she and Nick planned has turned upside down now. Brooke tells her she can still have that life, but Taylor doesn't know how she can live knowing that the baby gets half Brooke's, because DNA is a powerful force. So is love, Brooke asserts, urging Taylor to sign the papers. Taylor scoffs that changing the papers doesn't change anything. Brooke agrees that the situation is complicated, but she thinks they need to put the baby first, since the child needs a mother who will love him and support him. "I need to know that you can take care of my son," Brooke states, immediately apologizing for her slip. And this isn't the first time Brooke has slipped up that way, Taylor angrily points out, wondering if Brooke really knows how she feels. Brooke points out that the last 24 hours have been rough for all of them, but Taylor thinks they should take time to sort everything out before they sign any papers. Brooke doesn't see what there is to sort out, since the baby needs love and support from Taylor.

Taylor fears that Brooke's signing her rights away won't change anything.

Taylor says that everything changed when she found out the egg was Brooke's. She thought they had put the bad blood behind them, but she also knows that Brooke is a good mother who can't just walk away from her child. Brooke promises that she can, because she only wants the child to be loved the way he deserves to be. "Can you do that?" she asks. Taylor worries about the questions Jack might have when he grows up about his biological mother, but Brooke thinks Jack is just a baby now and needs love and attention. "is future is with you and Nick, just as mine is with Ridge," Brooke states. Taylor asks how Ridge feels. Brooke says Ridge is coping, but Taylor recalls Brooke and Ridge's pattern of breaking up. "This is going to work," Brooke assures, but Taylor thinks Brooke sounds like she's trying to convince herself, which why Taylor wonders if Brooke wants to sign the papers so badly because she fears she'll lose Ridge if she doesn't. Brooke says again that her life with Ridge while baby Jack's is with Taylor and asks Taylor to sign the papers, but Taylor doesn't want to. Brooke doesn't understand. Taylor sobs that Brooke just doesn't get that the paper doesn't change anything. Weeping that she's too tired to talk, Taylor asks Brooke to leave.