Thursday, June 19, 2008, Episode #5337

Rick introduces himself to Marcus.

Marcus comes up to the new gym/smoothie bar on the roof of the Forrester Creations building to take a break and "admire the view." Rick is working out and sees the newcomer looking around, so he comes over to chat. When Marcus comments about all the beautiful models up here, Rick agrees that he'd be admiring them, too, if he wasn't engaged. Marcus asks when this place opened, so Rick explains that it was an idea his step-mom pitched to his dad, the boss. Marcus then realizes that Rick is a Forrester, so Rick formally introduces himself and explains that his stepmother is also his aunt, which of course gets Marcus's attention. Marcus laughs that he'd love working up here since the new setup is so cool, but Rick points out that not everyone thinks so - and right on cue, Ridge comes up to the roof. Rick calls Ridge over and comments on how everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Ridge tells Rick that he actually thinks this new gym/break area is a great idea in concept, but Donna pushed it through without consulting anyone. Rick corrects him by pointing out that Donna ran the idea by Eric, who approved the idea. Maybe so, Ridge states, but Donna still should have run this by the rest of the family before proceeding.

Brooke fills Ridge in about Katie.

Brooke comes up and joins the trio. After Brooke greets him with a kiss, Ridge asks her how Katie is doing. Brooke answers that Katie sounded OK when they spoke this morning, but she's still upset about their mother. Ridge agrees that it doesn't seem like Beth to stay out of touch during so crucial time or to cut Katie off on the phone the way she did. Rick suggests that Beth might just need some space, but Brooke reminds him that his grandmother lives 5,000 miles away in Paris, so how much more space should she need? Ridge says there has to be some explanation. Brooke agrees, but she can't think of what that might be. She especially can't understand her mother's cold attitude to Katie, who shouldn't have to beg for attention after being on her deathbed. She decides to go visit Katie and cheer her up, so Ridge and Rick both tell her to send Katie their regards.

Ridge warns Rick that Donna is going to bring down the company.

After Brooke leaves, Ridge and Rick resume their discussion about Donna. Marcus sits off to the side at a table drinking a bottle of water and eavesdrops on the conversation. Ridge argues that he's just trying to protect Eric and the company, but Rick sees it more as an attempt to cut Eric out. Ridge argues that he has sales reports and magazine reviews that all prove his point. "Donna is an albatross," he argues, "and I'm not the only one saying this. She's gonna bring the company down if we don't do something about it." "Those aren't facts," Rick counters, "That is speculation." Ridge retorts that it's not speculation that this rooftop lounge cost a ton of money, money that they probably shouldn't be spending during a sales slump in a weak economy. The worst part, he feels, is that the board never would have approved this, but Brooke just went around them to get her project green-lighted. Rick defends his aunt, stating that she's just trying to make a good impression around here. Ridge says that they're just keeping any eye an eye on Donna, but Rick disagrees and says it's a witch hunt, so he thinks Ridge should just call it what it is. Ridge then concedes that it's a witch hunt and declares that he'll be the first one to apologize to Donna in front of the whole company if there are no witches to be found. But he doesn't think that's going to happen, since he's sure that Donna has something to hide.

Marcus gets some advice.

Rick argues that they all have secrets. Ridge states that most people would leave if their secrets could take this company down, but Donna won't, since she doesn't give a damn about this business and the legacy that he, Rick and the rest of the family have spent a lifetime building. Seeing that they obviously disagree, Ridge and Rick end the conversation, but not before Ridge gets out one last barb about how the ticking time bomb that he thinks Donna is hiding will take her marriage down. He just hopes it doesn't take the company down with it. Marcus, of course, is concerned upon hearing that jab at his mother. Ridge says he has to get back to work, so Rick gives him some news about how well Taylor and Jack are doing and says his goodbyes. On his way down, Ridge asks Marcus to go check on a shipment that just came in. Marcus says he's on his way, but before he can leave, Ridge gives him a parting piece of advice: "Don't get too close to Donna Logan. It's not a smart move."

Katie continues to wonder about her mother's behavior.

At the Marone mansion, Katie is dressed and out of bed as she looks at a photo of her mother and wonders why Beth wouldn't tale to her last night. Shortly after, Brooke arrives and asks Katie how she's doing. Katie says that she's weak, but she's not feeling any pain thanks to Bridget. Brooke sees the photo Katie was looking about and guesses that her little sister was thinking about their mother again. Katie laments that she should be able to trust their mom, but it seems like Beth doesn't even care. Brooke assures Katie that Beth loves them, but Katie isn't feeling it, especially after the chilly reception she got from Beth when they talked on the phone last night. She just doesn't understand it. Brooke tries to change the subject and asks Katie about her recent prom night. Katie raves that Nick was amazing, but that night was just a single moment that's now over. Brooke is glad Nick was there for Katie, who says that she's been given her life back and just has to figure out what to do with it. She realizes that there are so many people around who love her, but she's so independent that she feels like she's really alone, and that's why she wishes... Brooke asks what she wishes. Katie responds, "I miss my mom. Sometimes a girl needs her mom." Brooke agrees.

Jackie continues to grill Nick about his feelings.

Nick is on his private jet flying to Paris. Jackie, who has tagged along since she has business there, questions his plan to drop in on Beth Logan unannounced. Nick says that he has a few questions for the woman about why she missed her son's funeral and ignored a daughter on her deathbed. The whole thing seems so bizarre, especially given everything he's heard about Beth from the Logan ladies, so he can't understand why Beth would just disappear from their lives. Jackie comments that he seems awfully involved in getting these answers, especially since he's never even met Beth. She asks if Bridget knows about the trip. He says that Bridget knows he's taking *A* trip, leading Jackie to guess that Bridget doesn't realize he's making the trip for Katie. Nick argues that he can't help it given how torn up Katie was about this. Jackie asks why he didn't let one of Katie's sisters handle this. Nick tells her that he didn't ask them.

Nick tells his mother she's off base.

Seeing how her son dropped everything to run all the way around the world on Katie's behalf leads Jackie to ask if this is connected to the feelings he obviously has for Katie. She comments that he might feel differently about Katie if Bridget wasn't in the picture, but Nick reminds her that Katie wouldn't be alive right now if Bridget wasn't in the picture. But despite his vocal defense to his mother, Nick obviously has Katie on his mind, since he flashes back to the happy moments they shared when they thought she was dying.