Wednesday, August 27, 2008, Episode #5386

Brooke can't believe Donna's accusation.

Donna tells Brooke that she thinks Stephanie tried to kill Eric, but Brooke finds that hard to believe. Marcus walks in and overhears. He asks his mom why she thinks Stephanie did it if they know it was Owen. Donna and Brooke explain why Donna thinks Owen lied to protect her. Marcus doesn't really buy it, but even assuming it's true, he doesn't see how that points to Stephanie. Donna tells her son about Stephanie's deranged behavior, recounting how Stephanie once drugged a woman named Morgan and perpetrated many violent acts over the years. She thinks someone like that is a natural suspect to have done the crime, especially since Stephanie is leading the charge to name her and Owen as the culprits, but Marcus still doesn't see it. Brooke confirms what Donna said about Stephanie's violent history, but she also can't accept that Stephanie would harm the love of her life just to get even with Donna. Donna suggests that Stephanie could have done it while drinking or while depressed over losing Eric, but Brooke thinks the kind of set-up Donna is suggesting would take time to plan out. Donna reminds her sister that Stephanie used just that kind of careful planning when she befriended that scum Andy last year and thinks that's just one example of of how evil Stephanie can be. Marcus asks if Stephanie is really that much of a beast. Brooke says that Stephanie is deeply troubled at times, but Donna tells her son that his aunt Brooke is being undeservedly charitable. She theorizes that Stephanie planned to just get Eric sick, but not to nearly kill him, and then to pin the rap on her once Eric recovered. Marcus says that he still doesn't buy it, but he has someplace to go now and will see her later.

Stephanie scoffs when Donna accuses her of drugging Eric.

After Marcus leaves, Donna guesses that Brooke thinks she's crazy. Brooke says she doesn't think that, but she thinks it's a long-shot that Stephanie could do this, especially since it involved harming Eric. Right on cue, Stephanie comes in and passes on a reminder to Brooke from Madison about a conference call. Brooke frets that she has to take the call, so Donna tells her sister to take care of that and they'll talk later. Once Brooke leaves, Stephanie tells Donna about her visit to the police station, alluding to her suspicions about Donna and Owen conspiring to try to kill Eric and informing Donna that her boyfriend didn't rat her out. Donna accuses Stephanie of trying to pin this on her and Owen to cover her own tracks. After Donna explains her reasoning, Stephanie laughs, suggesting that Donna's guilt over her crime has pushed over the edge. Donna asks Stephanie why she went after Eric to get back at her. Stephanie scoffs at the idea that Donna would accuse her of doing that, and she suggests that this is what she gets for standing aside and trying to support Eric's marriage to Donna. Donna says she's putting a guard around Eric around the clock and will block Stephanie from trying to see him. Stephanie tells Donna that she's gone too far. She's watched Donna ruin Eric's family and reputation and alienate his kids, but she won't let Donna slander her this way, especially when she knows Donna is guilty. She snarls, "I don't care how well you think you've covered your tracks in this mess, but I won't let you get away with that, and you can count on that." She then storms out.

Owen insists that he and Donna are innocent.

Ridge pays Owen a visit in jail and asks what Eric did that warranted Owen's trying to destroy a good man's life and family. Owen says that Ridge probably won't believe this, but he is sorry. Ridge doesn't buy Owen's apologetic act and states that he still thinks Donna conspired with Owen, but Owen continues to plead Donna's innocence and asks why Donna would put the bottle of pills in her own bedroom if she was guilty. Ridge tries to come up with motives for Donna's actions, but Owen rolls his eyes in disbelief and tells Ridge to just accept that Donna was 100% devoted to Eric. He knows the Forresters, including Ridge, don't want to believe this, but there isn't a man in the world who could tempt Donna away from her love for Eric, including him, and that's why he broke the deal he had with Felicia. He advises Ridge that if he really wants to honor his father, he start by showing Donna a little respect and some compassion. Disgusted, Ridge calls for the guard to let him out and leaves.

Marcus wants answers from Owen.

Soon after, Marcus arrives at the jail to ask Owen how he convinced Donna to believe that he's innocent. Owen tells Marcus that he really doesn't know who drugged Eric or planted the pills in Donna's drawer, but he thinks what's more important now is that Marcus get out of here and start protecting his mom. Marcus asks who he has to protect Donna from, since Owen is here behind bars. Owen tells Marcus to forget about him for a second and consider that the person who did this is still out there. That person went to a lot of trouble to set Donna up, which is why Owen threw a monkey wrench into those plans by confessing. But he's sure that whoever did this will find another way to get to Donna, so he urges Marcus to protect his mother before that happens. "Do whatever it takes," he pleads.

Ridge scoffs when Brooke tells him who Donna thinks drugged Eric.

Ridge returns to Forrester and tells Brooke about his confrontation with Owen. When he tells her that Owen insists that Donna is innocent, Brooke informs him that she already learned that from Donna and explains that Donna believes that Owen is innocent. Stunned that Donna is pleading her own innocence and Owen's, Ridge asks who else had a motive. Brooke shares Donna's suspicions that Stephanie set Owen and her up, but Ridge scoffs at the notion. Brooke admits that she doesn't think Stephanie did it, but she doesn't think Donna is guilty, either. Which means that Owen is feeding Donna a pile of lies, Ridge surmises, but Brooke asks him to consider that they might not be lies. Ridge can't do that, especially when it's his mom that Owen is fingering. Brooke asks him to think for a moment about the facts. It's possible that neither Owen nor Donna is guilty, she puts forth, so maybe the culprit is someone with a grudge that they haven't thought of yet.