Monday, November 19, 2007, Episode #5191

Clarke tells Nick about Stephanie's insults.

Jackie returns with Clarke to Spectra, where she tells Nick that Stephanie kicked them out of the fashion show. Nick fumes that Stephanie was even at the show, since he only sold the company back to Eric on the condition that Stephanie would have no part in it. Jackie adds that La Forrester also humiliated her and Clarke by insulting them in front of the press; she can't even bring herself to repeat the remark, but Clarke tells Nick that it involved sailors. Nick seethes that Brooke will never feel safe at that company while Stephanie roams the halls at will. Clarke bets that the Forresters will regret crossing Nick, while Jackie wonders what they can do to get Stephanie out of their lives. While Nick gets on the phone with his lawyer to see if he has any legal recourse against the Forresters, Jackie sends Clarke to download cell phone photos of the Forrester collection from the Internet so he can start "improving" the designs. After ending his call, Nick decides to go over to Forrester to assess the situation, since Stephanie is clearly running around like she owns the place. Jackie joins him.

Backstage at the fashion show, Donna gets a heart-shaped box of chocolates. One of the workers, Staci, suggests Donna put them aside until after the show, since she might muss her lipstick if she eats the chocolate now. As Donna puts the box down and reads the card, Eric comes over and asks who sent the chocolate. Donna laughs that she won't be able to keep the hot bod he likes so much if he gives her gifts like this. Eric teases that he was just returning the sweetness she gave him, with gratitude. As they hear the cheers and applause from the showroom, Donna tells Eric that he's a hit and kisses him.

Stephen ignores the runway to look for Stephanie - click here to see what's on the runway.

In the audience, Katie tells a distracted Stephen to pay attention to the runway. Stephen tells her that he's making sure that Stephanie isn't around, since none of them want La Forrester here. Storm tells his dad to calm down, but Stephen wants to go backstage to check on Donna. Storm tells Stephen to sit down, but Stephen gets up anyway, so Katie follows her dad to keep an eye on him.

Ridge talks to Brooke about his dad's realtionship with Donna.

Backstage, Brooke joins Ridge, who is giving instructions to the models. Brooke tells Ridge that she just left Donna, who is walking on air over Eric's announcement. She guesses it must be exciting for Donna to go from being a waitress to a fashion model, and then to have the owner of the fashion house she works for leave his wife for her. Ridge hopes Donna isn't expecting too much, since Eric hasn't said anything about marriage or kids or anything permanent with Donna. Brooke suggests that they let the lovebirds enjoy their time together now, since there will be time to discuss the details later. Ridge doesn't look convinced, but he goes along with the suggestion for Brooke's sake.

Meanwhile, Thorne and Felicia stand with Stephanie as they watch Donna get ready. Thorne and Felicia lend their support to Stephanie, who doesn't want to see Eric take a big pratfall in front of the entire industry. Stephanie walks up behind Donna, who sees La Forrester in the mirror. "Move, please," Donna quips. "I need this mirror and I don't want you cracking it." Stephanie counters that Donna doesn't have to worry about seven years bad luck, since luck has no part in what's happening to Donna. Stephanie asks Donna not to go out on stage and bring Eric down after all his hard work. Donna says she'd never do that, as she loves Eric. "If you really love him," Stephanie argues, "then don't go out there with him and embarrass him." Donna orders Stephanie to leave her alone. Just then Stephen comes over and implores Stephanie not to ruin his daughter's big day. Katie comes up behind her dad and tries to calm him down. Ignoring Stephen, Stephanie tells Donna, "Don't say I didn't try" and walks off.

Katie warns Thorne that her dad and his mom are at odds.

As Katie stops to grab a bottle of water, Thorne comes over and greets her, but he then sees her long face and asks what's wrong. She tells him that she's trying to stop a war between her father and his mother, since Stephen is worried that Stephanie will ruin Donna's big moment. When Thorne snaps back that he has no comment, Katie retorts that his dad made a choice, so he better get used to it. She then apologizes for snapping at him. Thorne says that he wants the feud between their families to stop as much as she does. Maybe they should set an example, Katie suggests, leaning in to kiss him.

Brooke checks on Donna as Donna's big moment approaches.

With Stephanie gone, Brooke rejoins Donna, telling her sister that she looks like a fairy princess in the showstopper gown. Donna wishes she could wave her wand and make Stephanie disappear. Brooke advises Donna to forget about Stephanie and focus on her big moment with Eric, since everything will fall into place from there.

Eric recalls past shows with Stephanie by his side: click here to see his flashbacks.

Eric peeks out from behind the curtain and remembers all the times he stood backstage or on the runway with Stephanie over the years. Whether it was applauding his success in L.A. or offering reassurance in Lake Como, she was always there for him. He then remembers her recent plea for him to think about his decision, for his own sake if not for the family's, since she was sure he'd live to regret his decision if he didn't think about it.

Thorne and Felicia tell their mom they're on her side.

Having failed to get through to Donna, Stephanie tells Thorne and Felicia that it's time for Plan B. Meanwhile, Donna finds Eric and tells him that Fenmore's ordered the whole line, sight unseen. Eric is thrilled by the news. When the crowd cheers for the designs on the runway, Donna tells Eric that they all love him, just like she does, and she kisses him. When the smooch messes up her lipstick, Donna returns to her dressing table to fix it. Felicia is standing by the dressing table and cries out in horror as Donna sits down. Donna asks what's wrong; Felicia gasps that there is a big brown stain on the back of Donna's dress and wonders if Donna sat in some chocolate. With the finale approaching, Donna panics. Felicia brings Donna over to Thorne, who says that he knows just how to get the chocolate stains off the dress. Picking Donna up and throwing her over his shoulder, he carries her into the company gym and opens the steam room door. Donna screams in protest as Thorne tosses her into the room. Donna sobs and pounds on the door as Thorne and Felicia slam the door closed and put a weight bar in the handle to hold the door shut. Donna asks what they're doing. "We have to save our company from being trashed by you," Felicia replies, giving her brother a high-five. Donna shouts that they'll break their father's heart, but a pleased Thorne predicts Eric will get over it, just like he did. Donna pleads for them to let her out; Felicia says they'll do that after the show and leaves with Thorne. Weeping as she calls out for help, Donna promises to make Stephanie pay for this.

Nick and Jackie observe the Forrester runway.

Brooke asks Eric where Donna is. Eric answers that Donna went to fix her lipstick and sends Brooke to find her. As she goes to find her sister, Brooke runs into Ridge and comments on the crowd's pleased reaction to the new line. Ridge is proud of his dad's work, but he regrets that the crowd's validation will all come undone once Donna joins Eric on the runway. Brooke snipes that he sounds like his mother. Ridge admits that on this one point, he agrees with his mother. Meanwhile, Nick and Jackie arrive and look around for Stephanie. Brooke asks Katie and Stephen if they have seen Donna. Stephen wonders if Stephanie has anything to do with Donna's absence. Stephanie overhears and tells Stephen to stop sounding like his daughters with his fears about her. She then joins Thorne and Felicia, who tell her that everything is set. Stephanie thanks her kids for their help, since they ensured that their father will have the spotlight to himself. Stephen and Katie rejoin Storm in the audience and wait for the big finale. Katie predicts that Stephanie will be out of there once Donna is on stage with Eric. Just then, Eric comes on stage and thanks everyone for being here for his first fashion show since regaining control of Forrester Creations. The thing that makes today special, he explains, is that he found a new muse and inspiration, and he thinks the designs they saw today reflect that. He then calls out for his new muse, his love, to join him on stage.