Monday, October 01, 2007, Episode #5156

Eric is surprised to see Donna.

Eric is surprised when Donna stops by the mansion to see him, as he thought she had a photo shoot. Actually, she tells him, Forrester Creations had a fashion show for the launch of their new "mystery line," which turned out to be a relaunch of "Brooke's Bedroom." Eric admits that relaunching the Bedroom line was a gutsy move on Nick's part until Donna tells him that Brooke was supposed to model their showstopper. Eric senses from Donna's tone that Brooke couldn't do it. Donna fumes at the thought that Brooke is in such a fragile state now thanks to Stephanie's interference that she couldn't go through with it, no matter how badly she wanted to. Eric suggests that Donna be with her sister now; Donna tells him that Ridge is with Brooke, although she's not sure what he can do. She seethes when she thinks about how much Stephanie has taken from Brooke, and from Eric as well, and she suggests that Eric take back what's his. Eric thinks that getting Forrester Creations back is just a dream, but Donna thinks that dream might just become a reality after what happened today. Eric doesn't think Nick will sell, but Donna, even though she and her sister both work for Nick, fears that Nick may not have any choice but to sell. She tells Eric that no matter how successful Forrester Originals becomes, it's not the company Eric loves, which is why she's urging him to take Forrester Creations back.

Eric looks at Donna's lingerie and sees that he's needed.

Eric asks Donna where her loyalty is, wondering if she's encouraging him to get back at Stephanie somehow. Donna tells him that like the dimple on his chin, Forrester Creations is part of who he is, a part he's forgotten since marrying Stephanie, so she intends to be his "identity consultant" and give him a refresher course on how to have fun. She then tells Eric how it felt for her to go on stage when everyone was clamoring for Brooke, only to have the crowd snub their noses at what she was wearing - and she removes her clothes to show him the outfit. Eric looks at it and sees that Clarke stole one of his old designs. Technically, Donna purrs, the designs belong to Forrester Creations - which can be Eric's company again if he wants it badly enough. Eric walks over to Donna and walks all around her, looking at the outfit. He admits that he likes the design and stitching of the lingerie, although he sees that Clarke used second rate fabric and an inferior clasp. To prove his point, the clasp comes off easily. "See how much they need you?" Donna asks. Eric says he's beginning to see it as he starts to kiss Donna passionately.

Nick asks Brooke why she didn't go on stage.

In Nick's office, Brooke vents to Ridge, asking how she could encourage women to wear things like this. She sobs that she was telling the ladies to flaunt it and encourage the men, just like Andy and Stephanie said she always did. Ridge tries to calm her down, reminding her that she was attacked by a sick, violent man, but Brooke weeps that she can't be the woman she was anymore. She explains how she looked out from backstage and though she saw Andy there, laughing at her and taunting her, and she even thought she smelled Andy's cologne. She asks Ridge how she can get Andy and Stephanie out of her life. "I can't let them get to me. I have to go back out there, to the press party," she cries. Ridge tells her that she's in no shape to see the press now, but Brooke says she has to do it, to show she's as strong as everyone says she is. As Ridge tries to tell her that she will prove that, just not now, Nick bolts in and asks Brooke what happened. Brooke laments that she thought she was ready, but she wasn't. She frets about the show, but Nick tells her to forget the show and care for herself. "She will," Ridge insists.

Jackie is upset that Brooke won't be meeting the press.

Just then, Jackie comes in; seeing their competitor there amid a shaken Brooke and the torn lingerie and posters, Jackie accuses Ridge of trying to sabotage them and asks Brooke to come with her to talk to the press. Nick tells his mother that Brooke isn't going anywhere. When Jackie protests, Nick repeats that Brooke is staying here and tells Jackie that Ridge didn't do anything. Meriah comes in and tells Nick that Clarke is having trouble outside holding off the press, so Nick sends his mother to help Clarke and promises to follow in a minute. Once Jackie is gone, Brooke blames herself for what happened, but Nick tells her it's not his fault. He promises she'll be OK and leaves. Brooke asks Ridge to take her home. He says he will, but they have to make a stop on the way. Brooke asks where they're stopping. Someplace she can get the help she needs, Ridge states. Later, after Ridge and Brooke are gone, Jackie asks Nick what happened today. Nick tells her to move on, but Jackie thinks the only place they'll be moving without Brooke is bankruptcy court.

Ashley is stunned to learn where Ridge is.

In the lab at Forrester Originals, Rick tells Ashley that he heard through the grapevine that Forrester Creations is reviving his mother's old Bedroom line, and he thinks it was a smart move to put his mother front and center over there. Ashley asks how he heard this; he tells her that his buddy Jarrett called him to find out why Ridge was backstage at Forrester Creations during their fashion show. Brooke fumes that Ridge would walk out on their wedding planning here just to watch Brooke modeling lingerie.

Meanwhile, Ridge takes Brooke to a rape crisis center to meet with a counselor. Brooke doesn't think she needs this, but Ridge thinks she needs to talk to someone who will understand. As they sit down, he gets a call from Ashley, asking when he's coming back. When Ridge tells her he's with Brooke, Ashley gets annoyed that he ran out on their planning their wedding to be with his ex. Ridge tells her that he can't talk now; Ashley thinks that's good, because she doesn't want to say something they'll both regret, and she hangs up. As Ridge puts his phone away, Brooke tells him she doesn't need to be here, but Ridge asks her to at least talk with the counselor while she's here. A rape counselor named Elizabeth Cambridge comes out and introduces herself to Brooke. When the counselor tells Brooke to call her Beth, Brooke notes that her mother's name is Beth, too. Ridge offers to wait outside while Brooke and Beth talk, but Brooke asks him to stay if it's OK. Beth says it is, so they go into one of the rooms to talk.

Rape counselor Beth listens to Brooke"s story.

Inside, Brooke tells Beth all about the rape, including how she came to confide in Ridge about the rape. As she tells Beth how she stayed silent because of Andy's threats, Brooke blames herself for what happened, especially because of the seductive image of herself she showed the public in promoting her lingerie line. Thinking about that, she believed Andy when he said no judge would believe she was raped. Beth tells Brooke not to blame herself, because no woman deserves to be raped, no matter what she does for a living. Brooke regrets taking a shower and staying silent instead of calling the police, but Beth explains how few women who have been sexually violated think about evidence chains after they are attacked. Beth then tells Brooke that she's not alone, since a woman in the U.S. is raped every 2 1/2 minutes in this country, and she offers to get some literature that will help Brooke.