Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Episode #5321

Pam tells Marcus that she knows who he is.

At Insomnia, Marcus asks Pam who she is and what she wants. Pam insists that he's being taken advantage of by Donna Logan, but Marcus says that he doesn't know the name. When Pam tells him that she knows he called Forrester asking for Donna, Marcus asks if tracking phone calls is part of her receptionist duties. Pam says she knows what's going on; he's either working his way through college or trying to make a quick buck with the caterers, but then he found out how "all hands" the new lady of the Forrester manor was. Realizing that she thinks he and Donna are having an affair, Marcus tells her that she's barking up the wrong tree.

Marcus denies Pam's accusation.

Pam doesn't believe Marcus, especially since he called up asking for Donna Logan and not for Mrs. Forrester. She asks if he knew Donna before, sizing him up as just the type of guy who could satisfy Donna. Annoyed, Marcus tells Pam that how he knows Donna isn't important, but he suggests she get her brain checked out, and he even offers to take a lie detector test to prove his honesty. "If you can't respect her, then respect me, and keep that twisted little mind to yourself," the young man orders. When Pam starts to wonder if he might be telling the truth, Marcus fumes that she's calling him a liar. Pam dares him to prove her wrong by telling him why he called Donna, but Marcus tells her it's none of her business. Pam thinks it is since she, like he apparently, has a personal history with Donna. Marcus tells her to believe what she wants, but he is not having an affair with Donna!

Rick tells his mother to stay out of his business.

In Ridge's office, Brooke pleads with Taylor not to accept Rick's proposal. She thinks Taylor will be rubbing her relationship with Rick in Phoebe's face by accepting. Rick scoffs that Phoebe is OK with this now, so there is nothing stopping him and Taylor. Brooke tells Taylor that dating your girlfriend's mother is serious, as is divorce and drinking when you're nursing a baby. Taylor tells Brooke to shut up, but Brooke points out to Rick and Taylor that they were both on the rebound and in need when they became close. "This wasn't a romance, it was a rescue mission," she argues. Even if started that way, Rick retorts, why does it matter? He admits to Brooke that it might not have been love at first sight like she had with Ridge, but look how that worked out. Ridge chimes in that Rick can't just wash his hands of the damage he's done now that Phoebe is OK with this relationship. "Phoebe's feelings matter. Yours don't," Rick responds. Brooke urges Rick not to rush anything. If his feelings for Taylor are real, they'll still be there later, and if not, he'll be glad he didn't rush into anything. Like sex? Rick asks, accusing his mother of having nightmares just thinking about him making love to Taylor.

Brooke pleads with Rick to hear her out.

Brooke asks Rick if she can blame him. Tired of having this conversation, Taylor breaks in and tells Brooke and Ridge that they have no say in this. She then turns to Rick and tells him, "Yes, I will marry you." Rick laughs and they embrace. Taylor then tells him that she only has one thing to ask. She needs time to talk to Steffy and Thomas to make sure they're OK with this. Rick says that he understands that she has to put her kids' feelings first, unlike HIS mother. He then turns to Brooke, who insists that she's only been pleading with him to stop because she cares. Rick says that he knows she cares and loves him, and he loves her, too. But the woman he loves just accepted his marriage proposal, so he has to warn Brooke that she'll lose him if she continues to be so negative about this relationship. Rick then turns to Taylor and asks if she's ready. "Let's go home," she says.

Ridge gives Brooke some advice.

Alone, Brooke and Ridge continue to discuss Rick and Taylor. Ridge thinks Taylor has too much dignity to go through with the marriage, but Brooke tells him that Taylor isn't the woman he once knew. Ridge blames the drinking for the change in Taylor's attitude, but Brooke thinks it's Taylor's need to get revenge on her that's responsible. Ridge wonders how Phoebe could just give Rick a free pass and is just glad Phoebe left before the on-the-spot proposal. Brooke thinks that was for her benefit, so that Taylor could flaunt the engagement right in front of her. Ridge points out that Rick and Taylor will still have to wait to get married since Taylor just got divorced. Brooke doesn't think that matters. "What's important is turning Rick against me," she sighs, fuming at the thought that Rick and Taylor are about to sleep together for the first time. Ridge doesn't think this is some calculated plot on Taylor's part, but Brooke disagrees, pointing out how Taylor blames her for everything bad that's happened to her. Even if that's true, Ridge says, he knows from experience what it's like to love a woman who his mother hates, so she suggests that Brooke back off. Brooke tells him that she loves him, but she can't do that. She can't just stand by and watch her son be used.