Wednesday, July 30, 2008, Episode #5366

Bridget questions Donna's recent drastic actions.

Donna is sitting by Eric's hospital bedside when Bridget comes in. Donna asks Bridget if Eric had a good night. Bridget replies that Eric is doing as well as can be expected, Donna confides that she can't sleep because she's thinking about him. Bridget suggests that there might be another reason Donna can't sleep, like the fact that she fired Ridge, Thorne and Felicia from Forrester. Bridget thinks that was a bit drastic, but Donna claims that she just did what she thought was best for Eric's company. Donna says that she needs a little hope right now and asks if Eric is getting any better. He's stable, Bridget responds, but that's all she can say. Donna says that she has to believe that Eric is going to wake up soon. Bridget tells her to hold on to those good thoughts and leaves. Alone with her comatose husband, a tearful Donna pleads for him to wake up and come back to her, since no one can take his place.

Brooke tries to reassure Ridge.

When Brooke and Ridge wake up late, Brooke wonders why the alarm clock didn't go off. Ridge advises that he un-set it now that he's a man of leisure. Not by choice, Brooke reminds him. Ridge informs her that he's found a few benefits from his new status quo, but the biggest perk of all is the ability to spend more time with her and the kids. Brooke playfully reminds him that the kids are sleeping. "But we're not," Ridge laughs as she kisses her. Soon after, Ridge gets out of bed and gets dressed to go see Eric. Brooke offers to join him, but he suggests she go to the office instead. Brooke asks if he feels disloyal about her working there under Donna, but he admits that he actually feels better with her there in case she needs to salvage the company. Brooke sighs that she had hoped Donna would see by now that Eric would never condone her firing his children. Ridge admits that he doesn't agree with what Donna did, but he also doesn't hate her, and in fact, he admires her tenacity in trying to protect Eric. He even understands why she was mad about Felicia's idiotic plot, but that was no reason to fire him. Unfortunately, it's out of his hands now. Brooke says she'll do what she can. "If anyone can get through to your sister," Ridge praises, "it's you." He thanks her for being around to keep him sane and gives her a hug.

Pam squares off with Owen.

Pam enters Eric's office and finds Owen sprucing the place up for Donna's first day as C.E.O. Pam reminds him that Eric is still their CEO, but Owen counters that Donna controls the company for now by virtue of Eric's power of attorney. Pam quips that with Donna being the big cheese, all the "little cheeses" better watch their step. Owen defends Donna's actions and advises Pam to cooperate with Donna if she wants to be smart. "Or else.." Pam retorts, taking her finger and sliding it across her throat like she's slitting it.

Marcus worries about his mother.

When Donna arrives, she's pleased by how Owen has spruced up the office. Owen comes in and apologizes for not being there to welcome her, but she says he did fine. As she settles in, Donna wonders if she went too far by firing Ridge. Owen commends her for having a big heart, but he assures her that she did the right thing, since the Forresters have done nothing but try to intimidate her. "Like entering my home and going through my things," Donna agrees, wondering who did it. Owen advises her to forget that and focus on keeping the company going until Eric returns. "How do you always know the right thing to say to me?" Donna asks, thanking him for his help. Owen tells her to smile, since that's what Eric would want. As Owen informs her about meetings he set up with headhunters to find designers, Donna feels a bit overwhelmed. Owen tells her to breathe. Marcus arrives and tells his mom that he stopped by to see her before, but the gate was locked. Owen explains that he changed the code and explains about the break-in. Marcus asks what the police said. Donna tells him that nothing was stolen, so Marcus realizes that the police weren't called. They never got around to it, Owen states. Marcus tells Donna that she might have been in danger, but she tells him that Owen was the one who found that someone broke in. She thinks it was probably one of the Forresters trying to rattle her and thanks Marcus for his concern. Donna then sees she has time before her next meeting, so she decides to go up to the sky lounge for a while.

Donna hopes Brooke isn't abandoning her.

When she enters the sky lounge, Donna sees Davis, Madison and some of the other employees chatting. Walking past Pam, she goes over to ask her staff how things are going. Davis tells her that his department is in shock, since they reported directly to Ridge. Donna admits that the organizational changes were sudden, but it's only temporary until Eric returns, and she hopes they can all pull together and do great things until then. She adds, "Let's rock 'n' roll," but the employees seem less than enthusiastic as they leave the rooftop to get back to work. Brooke comes up just as the employees are leaving and asks Donna how things have been going. Donna tells her that she's just trying to help everyone adjust, but it's not working. That's because she changed the backbone of the company overnight, Brooke points out. Donna insists she's just doing what's best for Eric. Brooke wishes her luck. Donna hopes that doesn't mean that Brooke is abandoning her, since she needs Brooke's help. Brooke says she's not jumping ship, but she warns that it won't be easy. Donna thinks they can protect Eric's company until he returns if they work together.

Ridge visits with Eric.

Ridge gets to the hospital and asks Bridget how Eric is. There's no change, Bridget advises. Ridge asks if she heard about the shake-up at Forrester. Bridget confirms that she did, stating that it was unfair for Donna to fire him, Thorne and Felicia as punishment for what Felicia did. Ridge surmises that Donna thinks she's protecting Eric's interests, but Bridget is sure Eric would never want Ridge out of the company. Ridge goes over to Eric's bedside and tells him about what Donna did. He admits he feels sick about it, since he can't make Donna understand, but he still knows how much Eric loves this family and pleads with his dad to fight. "We don't want to lose you," he begs. Soon after, Brooke arrives and asks Bridget what else they can do. Bridget says that she's spoken to Dr. Patrick and every other expert she knows, and she can't think of anything else. Brooke praises her daughter for what she's done for Eric. She knows how hard it must be for Bridget to see her father in this state. Bridget wishes she had answers, but all she could offer are prayers.