Wednesday, April 16, 2008, Episode #5291

Thorne and Felicia have some lemon bars.

As Eric and Donna enter Eric's office, Pam stops fiddling with the controls on Eric's phone. Eric asks Pam if she has something for him to sign, but she says she was just tidying up. Eric and Donna bluntly indicate that they have things to talk about and ask Pam to leave, so she rushes back to her desk, where Thorne and Felicia are helping themselves to some of Pam's famous lemon bars. The siblings compliment Pam on her new recipe that took out the sugar. When Tiny looks up from his spot beside Pam's desk, Thorne tells his aunt how well behaved her Doberman is. Pam asks Tiny if he heard what "Uncle Thorne" said and thanks Thorne. Thorne and Felicia then grab a few more lemon bars for the road and get back to work.

Pam gloats that her plan is working.

Once they're gone, Pam turns on her intercom and listens in to what's going on in Eric's office. She laughs as Donna asks Eric if he wants to lock the door, but he tells her that he's not in the mood. Donna tries to change his mind, but Eric says he doesn't have time right now. When Donna remarks that this isn't the first time he's been less than interested, Eric guesses she's referring to his being zonked out the other day and asks where all this sudden insecurity is coming from. Donna isn't sure, but she can't help wondering if maybe she doesn't turn him on anymore. Outside by her desk, Pam turns to Tiny and gloats that their plan is working.

Donna confronts Pam.

Pam turns the intercom off when Phoebe's friend Madison (who is apparently now working at Forrester) stops by the desk for some of those addictive lemon bars. Pam tells Madison to help herself and looks to Tiny, telling the pooch that he can't have any. After Madison leaves, Donna comes storming out of Eric's office. Pam offers Donna a lemon bar, but Donna says she'd rather eat strychnine. Pam notes that something looks different about Donna today and then barbs that she knows what it is: Donna doesn't look like a freak anymore! When Donna tells Pam to "give it a rest," Pam thinks the use of the word "rest" is quite apropos. Donna wonders what Pam is talking about and then realizes that Pam must be talking about Eric's recent troubles. She leans toward the desk and warns that she better not find out that Pam had anything to do with what happened, but she backs off when Tiny growls at her. Pam plays dumb and says that she doesn't know what Donna's talking about. She again offers Donna a lemon bar, although she looks to Tiny and tells him that he can't have any as she puts the lid back on the tray. Donna ribs Pam about the lemon bars being "only fit for a dog," prompting Pam to advise Donna not to belittle her. Pam then tells Tiny that she'll take him for a walk. Donna stops to take a call on her cell phone, but Tiny growls at her. "Darling, don't be mean to Donna," Pam lectures. "We wouldn't want to frighten her now, would we?"

Eric tells Pam to stop pulling pranks on Donna.

A bit later, Pam stops in Eric's office with some papers for him. She seizes the opportunity to make another pitch for him to give her sister Stephanie another chance. She can't see why he an intelligent, caring, decent man like him would prefer an inflatable doll when he could have Stephanie. Shaking his head in disbelief, Eric tells Pam to stop. Pam continues to sing her sister's praises and put down Donna, leading Eric to tell her that he's had enough. He warns that he's been defending her so far, but he won't put up with any more of these little pranks on Donna anymore, so he suggests she just lay off. Eric then orders her to get back to work, so Pam turns toward the door.

Tiny lies on the ground.

Outside, Donna sneaks over to Pam's desk to get to the tray of lemon bars, but Tiny growls at her. Frustrated by the dog, Donna throws the tray of lemon bars at him and tells him to eat up... which of course, Tiny does. When Pam comes out of Eric's office, she finds Tiny on the ground whimpering. She asks the dog what's wrong, but when Tiny keeps crying, Pam knows something's up.

Taylor and Rick ask Nick to do the right thing.

At the Marone mansion, Rick tells Nick to do the right thing and sign the papers, but Nick says he needs time to think about this. Taylor asks Nick why he's hesitating, so Katie chimes in then Nick has a lot to consider. "Like your sister's vendetta against me?" Taylor asks. "Or the fact that you were drinking again," Katie counters. Rick and Taylor continue to urge Nick to believe that Taylor just wants to be with her son, but Katie weighs in that this might be a preemptive strike to keep Brooke out of Jack's life rather than thinking about what's best for Jack. Taylor agrees that this should be about Jack and turns to Nick, hoping that he'll agree in his heart that the best thing is for Jack to be raised by both his parents, especially with all the stepparents and other people who will be around Jack as he grows up. Katie says that she agrees, but... Taylor cuts her off and says that she has no say in the matter. Rick agrees, since it's clear that Katie is biased toward her sister (and you're not biased toward Taylor, Rick?). "Who are you to judge me?" Taylor asks Katie, who starts to fire back a response. Nick then shouts for everyone to pipe down, since he's the one who, as the custodial parent, will decide what roles Taylor or Brooke have in Jack's life. Taylor tells Nick that he knows what the right decision is. Nick considers the remark and then tells Taylor to wait here, going into his study with Katie.

Katie offers Nick her two cents.

In the living room, Taylor nervously paces, wondering what Nick's going to do. Rick urges her to stay positive. He sees now that it may have been the wrong move to blindside Nick the way they did, but he thinks Nick will see in time that signing the documents is the right thing to do. Taylor doesn't see why Nick needs time, because Nick should easily see that he should sign the papers. She just hopes Katie isn't giving Nick some "sage advice" against her as they speak. In the study, Nick reads the document. When he looks to Katie for advice, she says she thought she said too much already. "According to Prince Valiant," Nick quips, referring to Rick. Katie tells him that the thought of Brooke's son being so attached to Taylor gives her the "heebie-jeebies." When Nick doesn't comment, Katie guesses that he disagrees, but Nick tells her that he didn't say that and asks her if she thinks he should sign. Katie advises him not to sign if he still has any doubts about Taylor's ability to raise Jack. Jack needs a mother, Nick states, wondering what poor, unsuspecting female would want a wreck like him. "It would be a project" Katie retorts, but she thinks someone would be up to the challenge, especially given all the things he has to offer that woman - like Jack. Of course, she adds, dealing with Nick would be the hard part. Nick says he'll remember that.