Friday, January 04, 2008, Episode #5220

Felicia is upset by Eric's news.

Felicia finds Eric in the Forrester showroom on the phone, arranging for food and flowers to be delivered to the Big Bear cabin. She compliments him on his efforts to plan a romantic getaway with her mom and suggests some music for the occasion, but he reveals that he asked Stephanie for a divorce. Stunned, Felicia assures him that her mother will contest a divorce and asks if he plans to kick Stephanie out of the house again. Getting that his daughter isn't happy, Eric tells her that he loves her mother, but he doesn't think staying married is good for either him or Stephanie. Felicia doesn't buy that cheap excuse. Eric tells her that his life is changing and he's marrying Donna. Felicia thinks that's sad. Eric tells her that she's an adult and points out that she's not going to see less of him or her mother, and he accuses her of being put off by Donna because of how she looks.

Eric asks Felicia to respect his choice.

Felicia admits that Donna reminds her of the girls she hated in high school, and she doesn't think that's the kind of woman who is right for her father. Eric tells her that he's disappointed in her. "The feeling's mutual," Felicia counters. Eric tells her that he will respect her feelings, but he expects her to do the same, and that means accepting that Donna is now part of his life. He knows Stephanie is upset about how things came down, but he thinks she'll get over it. Felicia asks if her mom signed the divorce papers. Not yet, Eric confesses. Felicia asks how her mom reacted, but Eric thinks that should stay private between him and Stephanie. He admits that Stephanie is hurt, but he can't be the one to comfort her. Felicia bitterly says that she'll take care of her mother. Eric thanks her, but Felicia retorts that he doesn't have the right to thank her now, since her mother is no longer his concern.

Stephen is stunned by Stephanie's offer.

Stephen is sitting in a visitor's room at the jailhouse, remembering his last conversation with Storm. When a guard lets Stephanie in, Stephen tells her that he hoped it was Brooke when they told him "Mrs. Forrester" was here to see him. Stephanie quips that all his girls want to be Mrs. Forrester and tells him that they have to talk. She informs him of Brooke's plea for her to be lenient with him, but Stephen doesn't want anything from her and tells her to save her breath. Stephanie finds it pathetic that Brooke is still loyal to him after the way he abandoned his family, including the twisted son that Brooke is now protecting. Realizing that she knows about the shooting, Stephen tells her to sit down. Stephanie taunts that even with all her problems with her kids, none of them ever tried to kill someone and blame her for it. When Stephen suggests that her kids help her cover up her crimes, Stephanie asks if that's what he's doing for Storm. Stephen tells her to leave Storm alone and promises to stay out of her life if she does, but Stephanie explains that the one thing she'd like more than seeing him behind bars is getting her husband back. "Get a chauffeur," Stephen fires back. "You'll never notice the difference."

Stephanie pressures Stephen to get through to Donna.

Stephanie tells Stephen that Eric doesn't always know what he wants. Stephen asks if she plans to tempt Eric with her "womanly ways." What she plans, she explains, is to make a statement to the police that will set him free while not even bringing Storm's name up, clearing the way for Storm to get the psychiatric help he needs, and the only condition is that Donna has to give up Eric. Stephen is stunned, but Stephanie tells him that the relationship is bound to end eventually, so it's best that he advise his daughter to end it now. Stephen seethes at how manipulative she is being, but Stephanie bets he hates seeing Donna with Eric as much as she does. Stephen argues that Donna is in love with Eric, but Stephanie counters that Eric is just the father figure Donna never had, a role Eric is more than happy to fill for obvious reasons. Stephen reminds her that she still might not get Eric back, but she tells him to let her worry about that while he focuses, for the first time in his life, on his family. That's her gift to him, she explains. Stephen is less than enthused about the gift, especially since it comes from her. Stephanie reminds him that this is the chance to reunite his family, but Stephen points out that Donna might not see it that way. Stephanie bets that Donna will get over it, and at least Donna will have daddy to dry her tears if she doesn't.

Storm still wants to confess.

After hearing about Stephanie's offer to keep Storm out of jail, Donna gripes that she won't do it! Brooke admits it sounds outrageous, but she asks Donna if she really thought a relationship with Eric would last. Donna informs her big sister that Eric proposed to her tonight; she's finally found a perfect man who loves her, and as much as she hates the idea of Storm in prison, she doesn't think it's fair to ask her to give that kind of man up. Brooke fears that Storm will never make it out of prison alive. While Donna shares that concern, she doesn't think that's a reason to let Stephanie win and urges Brooke to find another way. Just then, Storm comes in from the kitchen and jokes about practicing his kitchen skills for his prison stint. Brooke tells him not to talk that way, but Storm thinks his actions have wrecked his personal and professional life. Brooke suggests that he go back to his old law firm in San Francisco, since she's sure Taylor could recommend a doctor up there, but Donna and Storm remind her that Storm got fired after he sued her landlord for letting himself into her apartment 24/7. The landlord just happened to be the senior partner's biggest client, although Storm has no regrets about sticking up for his sister, even if it did cost him a job. Storm then heads back to the kitchen to help Katie with making some pasta for them.

Donna asks Brooke why she's doing this.

Donna asks Brooke why she's doing this; she knows Storm has sacrificed for her, but she fears that Eric will feel like a fool if she leaves him, because he'll feel like everyone that warned him that she was just using him was right. She can't do that to Eric, especially if helps a woman who has hurt their family as much as Stephanie has. Brooke argues that Eric shares a lot of history with Stephanie, and that might lead them back together if Donna is out of the picture. Donna thinks that's all the more reason to tell Stephanie no, since Eric will be miserable living as Stephanie's whipping boy. She doesn't want to send her brother to prison, but she also doesn't want Eric to be imprisoned in a life with Stephanie. She fells like it's an impossible choice. Brooke asks Donna if she can live with herself being with Eric knowing that Storm paid the price for it. Donna says that's not fair, but Brooke counters that it's not fair for their brother to languish behind bars, either. Donna is sure Storm would not want her to do this. Brooke explains that Storm and Eric can never know.