Thursday, March 27, 2008, Episode #5277

Brooke feels protective of her son...

A furious Rick drops by Brooke's office to tell her that she got her wish, since Taylor told him that nothing will ever come of their relationship. Brooke is relieved that Taylor came to her senses, but Rick fumes that Taylor was influenced by outside forces - like Ridge, who he overheard telling Taylor last night to suppress her feelings for him. Guessing that she sent Ridge over, Rick tells Brooke that it drives him nuts, because he and Taylor had something special. That's why he intends to keep trying to change Taylor's mind. Brooke can't believe that he wants to change Taylor's mind when Taylor is finally doing the right thing. Rick states that he's doing it because he wants a future with Taylor. After Brooke warns that he has no idea what he's getting into, Rick seethes at her self-righteous attitude. Brooke claims that it's natural for a mother to protect her child, but Rick thinks it's just as natural for a mother to let go and let the child grow up. Brooke asks if there's anything else she can say. Rick says that she can say that she approves of his relationship with Taylor. Brooke suggests that Taylor is driving a wedge between them, but Rick tells her that she's the one driving the wedge, since she's never approved of any of his relationships. He asks why she constantly feels the need to get involved in his love life.

...but Rick tells her he's a grown man now.

Brooke reminds him that he didn't exactly choose wisely with Amber, who had him wrapped around her finger, and she fears that the same thing will happen with Taylor. "I just don't want to see you hurt," she states. Rick assumes that his mom doesn't want to see him happy, either. Brooke says that she does want him to be happy, but she feels that a relationship with Taylor will be a recipe for disaster. Feeling like they're going nowhere, Rick suggests they end this conversation. Brooke says that's fine, since she has to meet Katie. Regretting the rift between them, Rick says that he's sorry. He loves her, but he needs her to accept that he's not her little boy anymore. Brooke disagrees, because she thinks he'll always be her little boy. After Brooke leaves, Rick takes out his cell phone and calls Taylor. When the call goes to voice mail, he leaves her a message that he'd like to change her mind about their relationship and ends it with, "I love you." Rick then replays last night's conversation with Taylor in his mind, recalling how Taylor urged him to let her go. He tells himself, "I'm not giving up on us, Taylor. I can't."

James is surprised by Taylor's revelation.

James arrives at the Bel Air mansion at Taylor's behest. Taylor thanks him for coming, since she needs to talk to him. She knows this may sound off the wall, but she's fallen in love with Rick Forrester. James is surprised that she's fallen for Brooke's son, especially since Rick used to date Phoebe. He guesses that this will affect Phoebe quite a bit. Taylor points out that Phoebe ended her relationship with Rick and moved on, so Rick is in Phoebe's past now. But at the same time, she's still confused. She tried to end things with Rick last night, but then she spent the night missing him.

Taylor tells James that she wrote a letter to Rick.

James asks Taylor if Rick is a bit young for her, but Taylor explains that she doesn't feel like Rick is young when she's with him, especially since he seems so mature with his efforts in helping her rebuild her life. She frets that it was so awful when she ended things last night, since Rick looked so betrayed. She didn't want to hurt him and wants him to know that, but it's too hard for her to find the words to tell him. That's why she wrote her feelings down in a Letter, in the hopes that Rick might understand when he reads it. James is glad she found a way to express her feelings, since it's inadvisable to completely suppress her emotions. "That's why I've gotta do this," Taylor states in agreement. James asks what she has to do. "I've just got to explain all of my feelings and give it to him in the letter," Taylor replies, hoping it's not too late.

Katie comments on Donna's looks.

Wearing a black hood and dark glasses, Donna tries to slip into Forrester, but Pam sees her and offers her an "overdone" pastry. Donna just ducks into Eric's office, where Brooke and Katie are waiting for her. Katie and Brooke ask their sister what's going on with her attire. Donna takes off her dark glasses and reveals her darkened skin tone. When her sisters ask what happened, Donna tells them about the accident at the tanning salon. "I look ridiculous," she laments, but Brooke assures her that it should fade in a few days and suggests that she just go about her business until it does. Donna agrees, suggesting that her hair appointment this afternoon should make her feel better. Katie chimes in that a hair change typically brings a change in luck and reminds Donna that she has a photo shoot and interview with EYE ON FASHION today. Donna doesn't want to go through with the interview, since she fears the photos will make her the laughing stock of the fashion industry.

Eric chats with Pam about Donna.

Outside, Eric asks Pam if she's seen Donna. "She's in your office with the other ho-gan -- um, Logan sisters," Pam responds, offering Eric a pastry from a selection she has on a cart next to her desk. She suggests he try one of the lemon bars, but Eric tells her that he's trying to stay slim for his wedding and suggests that she offer some to Jarrett Maxwell and his crew from EYE ON FASHION when they arrive to interview Donna and him. Speaking of Jarrett, Eric asks Pam to tell the reporter not to bring his photographer in, since Donna's a nit self-conscious about her skin right now. Eric then enters his office, where Donna is telling her sisters that she just can't do this interview. Realizing that Donna is upset, Eric tells her that they'll reschedule the photo session for another time and assures her that they'll just be meeting with Jarrett today. Donna thanks him for being so sweet, since she still doesn't understand how this happened.

Pam offers Jarrett a brownie.

When Jarrett arrives for his interview, Pam offers him a brownie and tells him that he won't need his photographer today, since Eric asked that there be no photos. Jarrett asks if there's something wrong. "You'll see for yourself," Pam informs him. Once Jarrett enters Eric's office, Eric explains about the accident at the tanning salon. At Eric's request, Jarrett agrees to pretend he doesn't notice, but when Donna enters the room, the reporter blurts out, "Oh, my God!" Jarrett then gets to work, asking Eric and Donna about the wedding. Eric and Donna point out that they're setting a date, although they can't actually get married until Eric's divorce is final. Remarking about the tabloid controversy around Eric's leaving his family for Donna, Jarrett tries to comment that Donna must have developed a "thick skin," but he slips and remarks about her "tan skin" instead.

Donna puts herself in Raphael's hands.

Outside, Pam takes a call from Felicia, who's still in Genoa City with Ashley (even though viewers of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS saw them prepare to depart on that show yesterday). As Pam ends the call, a man approaches her and says that he has an appointment with Donna Logan. Pam realizes that this is Raphael the hair stylist and tells him that Donna is in an interview. She offers Raphael a brownie while he waits for Donna to wrap up. Brooke is walking down the hall with Katie when she sees Raphael; while Brooke tells the stylist that Donna really needs a pick-me-up and introduces him to Katie, Pam takes advantage of the opportunity to swap a tube of hair coloring from her desk with one in Raphael's bag. When Donna finishes her interview, Raphael goes into Eric's office. After Donna explains about the accident at the tanning salon, Raphael suggests that they darken her hair a bit to a darker blond that will lessen the contrast of the skin. While Raphael sets up, Donna takes some tooth whitening gel and puts it into a mouthpiece that she places in her mouth. She guesses that brighter teeth and different hair will make her forget about that tanning fiasco.

Phoebe surprises Rick.

Rick is passing in the hall when he sees Pam. He stops to ask her how she likes the new job. Pam says it's wonderful and thanks him for asking. Rick sees the lemon bars on the cart and reaches for a corner piece, but Pam tells him that she saves those for his father and offers him another piece instead. Rick decides to pass. Pam then hands him a letter that came for him. As Pam returns to her desk, Rick opens the letter and reads: "Dear Rick; I've given a lot of thought to our relationship, and I'm glad that we've taken things slowly. There may be a large age difference, but I realize that I'm in love with you. You've wanted to make love to me, but I wasn't ready, and now I am. Come by the house for the greatest night of our lives... Me" Rick guesses that the letter is from Taylor and is pleased that she feels the same way. He heads over to the Bel Air mansion, where he finds a table set for two. Looking around for Taylor, he's surprised when Phoebe comes in and says that he obviously got her letter. "Your letter?" he asks. Phoebe gushes, "I've waited a really long time for this night" and hugs him.