Friday, September 14, 2007, Episode #5145

Brooke can't believe what Ridge has just told her.

After Ridge tells her that his mother was Andy's accomplice, a shocked Brooke asks, "How can you even think something like that?" Ridge admits that he doesn't want to believe it, but he found his mother's private line twice on the call log for Andy's cell phone. On top of that, he thinks back to when he confronted Andy and recalls how Andy said someone whose identity would shock Ridge had served Brooke to him on a silver platter by feeding him information about Brooke. As horrible as it is for Ridge to consider it, everything points to his mother being that person. Guessing that Stephanie wanted her to look bad to Child Services, Brooke gets ill thinking that someone could hate her that much. She knew Stephanie was obsessed with keeping her away from Ridge, and with taking Hope and R.J. away to raise them herself, but she's stunned that Stephanie would take the cocktail napkin she found in Brooke's purse with Andy's number and call the man. Incensed at his mother's actions, Ridge tries to call her, but he gets her voice mail. He starts to leave a message demanding answers about Andy Johnson, but Brooke grabs the phone and shouts, "You know what he did, because you put him up to it! He raped me, Stephanie. It's all your fault, and Ridge and I will never forgive you for that!"

Ridge tells Brooke that he's with her every step of the way.

Brooke apologizes to Ridge for the outburst, but Ridge says that he agrees with her and is done with his mother. He asks Brooke if she wants to press charges, but Brooke thinks Stephanie is already paying by having the worst thing she could ever imagine - Ridge wanting his own mother out of his life - happen to her. Ridge agrees that he'll never look at his mother the same way again. Brooke fumes as she thinks about all the years she spent seeking Stephanie's approval, years wasted on the most cruel, hateful woman she's ever met. A supportive Ridge puts his arms around Brooke and holds her. Brooke then goes to get dressed. When she comes down, still furious about Stephanie's actions, she asks Ridge if he heard from his mother yet. When Ridge says he hasn't, Brooke wants to go to the Forrester mansion to get some answers. Ridge wants answers, too, so he suggests they get going. Brooke thanks Ridge for his support. He tells her that he hates what happened to her and promises to be with her every step of the way.

Bridget opens up to Eric about Brooke's rape.

In the den at the Forrester mansion, Eric looks through the desk drawers. When he looks in Stephanie's planner and finds the news photo of Brooke with Andy that was clipped from the recent newspaper, he keeps digging for more. Finding a locked drawer, he tries to pry it open, but he stops when he hears Bridget calling for him from the other room. Bridget enters the den and apologizes if she's interrupting, but she was hoping that Eric might stop by Ridge's house to check on Brooke. Eric asks how Brooke is. Bridget breaks down in tears as she starts to talk about how hard the last few weeks have been on her mom. Eric tells her that he knows what's going on with Brooke, so Bridget opens up to him, sobbing about how scary it was that her mom wasn't safe in her own home. Eric tries to reassure her, but Bridget still gets upset thinking about how this guy Andy Johnson knew so much about her mother. Eric tells her that Andy had someone feeding him information about Brooke and that Ridge is looking for that person. A shocked Bridget can't believe it at first, although she realizes when she thinks about it that her mom's assailant knew things that only members of their family should know. Eric points out that Andy was a lawyer, but Bridget doesn't buy that; she reminds Eric that even a lawyer wouldn't know about her mother's custody hearing the following day, since the woman from C.P.S. called the judge after hours to schedule that. Eric says that he and Stephanie knew, since Dorothy Bascomb paid them a visit to tell Stephanie, but Bridget doesn't see how that would explain Andy knowing. Before Eric can answer, Bridget gets a call and excuses herself to take it.

Eric reassures Bridget.

While Bridget is on the phone, Eric pries the locked drawer open and starts to look for clues that would connect his wife with Andy Johnson. He seems to be coming up empty, but he then finds a yellow envelope at the bottom of the drawer. Opening the envelope, he finds the napkin with Andy's name and phone number on it! Bridget comes back from taking her call and sees how upset her dad is. "You still care so much about her, don't you?" she asks. Eric asks if she means Stephanie, but Bridget says she was talking about her mom. Eric admits that he cares deeply for Brooke, which is why it hurts so much to see what happened because of... Bridget cuts him off and agrees that her mom did not deserve this. She knows Brooke says she'll be fine, but having seen the physical and mental toll the rape took on Brooke, she's not sure if her mom can get past this. Eric promises to go see Brooke, who he thinks is strong enough to come back from this. Bridget sobs at the thought that her mom tried to fight back against Andy, but he was too strong. She knows Brooke thought Andy would kill her. Eric thinks they're all lucky that didn't happen. He then asks Bridget if she has someplace she needs to be. Bridget agrees that she should be going and thanks her dad for listening. Eric thanks her for talking. Bridget tells him how much she loves him and gives him a hug and a kiss goodbye, adding, "Remind Mom how much I love her when you see her." Eric says he will as she leaves. Alone in the den, Eric takes the napkin with Andy's number out and glares at it, fuming with rage as he crumbles it in his hand.

Ridge and Brooke arrive at the Forrester mansion and find Eric in the living room. "Was that Mother I just saw leaving?" Ridge asks. Eric isn't sure, although he thought he heard Stephanie down here. Brooke wants to go to the office, since it seems like Stephanie is gone, but Eric spots an envelope on the table that wasn't there earlier. Picking it up, Eric sees that it's addressed to Brooke and hands Brooke the envelope. Brooke starts to read, "Dear Brooke, I am staggered by the news of what happened to you. I cannot tell you how heartsick I am. I know how dreadful it seems now, my getting involved with this man Andy Johnson." Eric is stunned that Stephanie is admitting that she knew Andy. Brooke continues, "I had no idea what he was capable of. I believed he could have been an answer for you, Brooke, for your loneliness. I was wrong. What I did was unforgivable. But please know that I never intended for things to happen as they did. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. I went too far. I would ask you to believe that it was only out of my desire to protect your children-- misplaced perhaps, but not ill-intentioned. And for my part in the tragedy that has happened to you, I am so very sorry. I know you can never forgive me, and I will need some time away to try to forgive myself. Stephanie."