Friday, November 07, 2008, Episode #5436

Rick keeps bashing Ridge to Eric.

In Rick's bedroom, Eric reels upon hearing that Ridge pulled the plug on him. When Rick says that Ridge thought he heard Eric's voice telling his to disconnect the life support, Eric suggests that Ridge was not in his right mind, but Rick insists that Ridge knew what he was doing and acted out of a greedy desire to control the company. Eric doesn't want to think about that, so Rick suggests that he think about happier times when he was married to Brooke. Rick recalls all the photos he saw of his parents' wedding and of his parents together when he was born, noting how happy they seemed. Eric agrees that he and Brooke were happy, but they took different paths. Because of Ridge, Rick insists, arguing that Ridge always puts himself first. He urges Eric not to cave in to Ridge by giving up the company. Eric points out that Ridge has been an important asset to Forrester, but Rick counters that Ridge doesn't approve of Eric's choice in a wife or vision for the company, although that doesn't surprise him given that Ridge is actually Massimo's son. Meanwhile, Rick has been loyal, loving and respectful, but he doesn't get half the validation Ridge gets because Ridge is Eric's favorite, and that kills Rick. Eric assures Rick that he loves all his children, but Rick counters that it doesn't feel that way. He feels like he did a good job running Forrester International, which makes him just as qualified to run Forrester Creations as Ridge, but Ridge feels more entitled. "I get treated like the bastard child because Stephanie isn't my mother," Rick gripes.

Taylor wonders if she should have fought harder for Ridge.

Taylor and Stephanie continue to talk about Ridge and Rick. Stephanie thinks Rick indirectly opened the door for Taylor to reunite with Ridge. Taylor feels bad about benefiting from Rick's misfortune, but Stephanie assures her that she's not responsible for Rick's anger toward Ridge and suggests that Ridge and Brooke probably would have imploded over Jack anyway. Taylor frets that things might have been different had she fought harder for Ridge when she came back, since not doing so led her to the bottle and to relationships with men like Nick and Rick. Stephanie tells her that those things are done, so she should just forget them and focus on her newly rediscovered desire to fight for Ridge. She thinks everything Taylor has gone through has prepared her for a wonderful life with Ridge.

Stephanie tells Taylor that they both learned from their mistakes.

Taylor wishes she could believe that, but she's afraid of getting let down again. Stephanie offers that Taylor already made progress by having Ridge stay over last night. Taylor retorts that it was only one night, but Stephanie says it's a start. Taylor is just thankful to have Stephanie in her life again as a friend and apologizes for all the times she lashed out at Stephanie or blamed her for things that happened. The two women hug. Taylor says that she's sorry about all the mistakes she made. Stephanie says that they both mistakes, but they won't let that happen to them again, because they need each other. Taylor agrees that they both have battles against the Logan sisters ahead of them. Stephanie says that those "slut sisters" may be the bane of their existence, but she thinks she and Taylor are going to win. Taylor thinks a lot is in Ridge's hands, but Stephanie tells Taylor that it's in her hands and urges her friend to fight for what is hers.

Ridge tells Brooke that he'll talk to Rick.

After making love to Ridge, Brooke is preoccupied by thoughts of Rick, who has made little progress since coming home. Ridge blames that on Rick's lack of focus and desire to blame him for all his problems; he doesn't know how much more of Rick's bashing he can take. When Brooke reminds him that Rick sees him as the man who took Taylor away, Ridge sees that as the latest in a series of hang-ups Rick has that led him to older women like Ashley Abbott or Taylor. Brooke blames herself for not being there for Rick when he grew up. "That's a crock," Ridge argues, advising Brooke not to pander to Rick's immature outbursts against him. Brooke says she just wants peace before she and Ridge are married, since Rick will be part of their family. Ridge says he wants that, too, and promises to make it easier for things to fall into place for Rick by having a little pep-talk with him. Since Ridge is confident Eric will soon turn the company over to him, he wants to be clear that Rick needs to lose his attitude if he wants to stay in the company. Brooke seems unsure about Ridge taking this "I'm the boss" approach, but Ridge assures her that they'll all look back and laugh about this someday. He wants her to know that nothing is going to stand in the way of their having the lives they dreamed of at Forrester and in their family. Brooke still seems a bit unsure, so Ridge promises to have a simple little peace talk with Rick. "You'll do anything for me, won't you?" Brooke observes. Ridge remarks that he'll do anything to make her happy and make her dreams come true, since that's what he lives for.

Eric has an announcement to make about Rick.

Back in Rick's room, he continues to vent to Eric about how poorly "favorite son" Ridge treats people in his life and vows not to let Ridge shatter Brooke's life again. Eric again tells Rick that he loves all his kids equally, but Rick still does not buy it and laments that he's kept these feelings inside him for too long. Taking Rick's face in his hands, Eric tells him that he loves him and promises that Rick will never feel second to Ridge ever again. At just that moment, Ridge walks in and overhears. He makes his presence known and reveals that he came by to make peace only to find Rick bashing him to Eric. Eric asks Ridge not to interrupt his talk with Rick, but Ridge thinks it's more like a guilt trip driven by Rick's playing on Eric's sympathy. Ridge points out that Rick was the one who attacked him on the roof, so what happened was Rick's own fault. Rick scoffs that the fact that Ridge could steal his fiancee and push him off a rooftop and still claim that none of this is his fault. Fed up, Ridge asks Eric to come with him to talk about the future of Forrester, but Eric says that Rick is part of that future. Ridge disagrees. Brooke comes in and asks what's going on. Eric is glad to see her, since he wants her to be there as he names their son as the new President of Forrester Creations. Ridge points out that he's already president, so Eric explains that he wants Rick to share the presidency with Ridge. When Ridge threatens to resign, Eric tells him that's his choice to make and congratulates Rick.