Friday, November 14, 2008, Episode #5441

Katie gets some news from Brooke.

Rick suggests to his mom that they get out of the house for a while to get some comfort food, but Brooke isn't in the mood. She just can't figure out why Ridge acted like she betrayed him. Rick thinks it's because Ridge is an immature, self-centered jerk. Ignoring her son's jabs, Brooke wracks her brain trying to figure out why Ridge was disillusioned by her speech. Brooke gets a call from Katie asking when she should bring Jack over. Brooke tells her sister that this isn't a good time and asks her to keep Jack for a while. When Katie asks if something's wrong, Brooke explains that Ridge walked out on her and might not be coming back. Katie agrees to keep Jack for a while longer. Brooke thanks her and says that they'll talk again soon.

Nick hopes Brooke will be OK.

Nick comes down and asks Katie if she's ready to head over to Brooke's. Katie tells him they're not going. When Nick asks why, Katie explains that something happened with Brooke and Ridge, and it's not good. Nick assumes it was just a little fight, but Katie informs him that Ridge walked out on Brooke. Nick wonders if it had something to do with Taylor; Katie hopes not, adding that she just can't imagine what could have torn Brooke and Ridge apart. "They have to stay together," she insists. Nick wonders what's going on at that house. Katie wonders if it has something to do with the tension between Ridge and Brooke since Rick forced Ridge to move out and then was named president of Forrester. She can see where Rick's problems could have derailed Brooke and Ridge's wedding plans, but she's sure that it's just a speed bump given that Ridge and Brooke have been through worse. Nick isn't as sure, since Brooke is a mother first and foremost; he thinks Ridge will lose if Brooke is forced to choose between her son and her fiancee. Katie asks Nick if he's saying that Brooke and Ridge won't make it, since she's sure they will. "They're in love, just like was are," she asserts. Nick thinks she's probably right, but he just hopes Brooke will be all right.

Rick comes clean with Stephanie.

Back at Brooke's, Rick urges her to get out of the house for a while. Brooke thinks that's a good idea and calls for someone named Gretchen to bring her horse down to the beach. Rick asks if she wants some company. Brooke thanks him, but she thinks she needs some time by herself and leaves. Soon after, Stephanie drops by looking for Brooke. Rick tells her that his mom's not home. Stephanie asks if he knows what's going on between his mother and Ridge. Rick tells her to leave it alone, since she has what she wanted now that Ridge walked out and left Brooke upset. Sensing from Rick's tone that he knows more than he's saying, Stephanie asks what he did. "What you've wanted to do for decades," Rick responds. "I have put a wedge between Ridge and Brooke." Tossing his crutches to the side, he stands there and declares that Ridge and Brooke's relationship is officially on its last legs. Stephanie is shocked that he's been conning everybody and has been faking the whole time. Rick assures her that he was initially paralyzed, and he was and still is in both physical and emotional pain thanks to Ridge. Stephanie asks why he did this. To buy the time he needs to separate Ridge and Brooke, he answers, explaining that losing Taylor was the last straw for him. Stephanie demands details. Rick tries to duck the question, but Stephanie threatens to call Eric, so Rick comes clean and admits that he edited the podcast to leave out the garbage about Ridge.

Stephanie refuses to play along with Rick.

Stephanie calls Rick a sneaky bastard, but he reminds her that she's pulled her share of scams over the years to break his mom and Ridge up. Now it's his turn to do that, to keep his mom from being hurt. "You are your mother's son," Stephanie proclaims. Rick thanks her for the compliment, but Stephanie points out that someone will figure out what he did. Rick boasts that he erased the original speech, but Stephanie reminds him that others were there and heard what Brooke said. Rick suggests they stop arguing, because they both agree that together, Ridge and Brooke are a train wreck. But if they can separate those two, Rick can have his mom back and Stephanie gets her precious son. Stephanie asks if he intends to destroy Ridge and Taylor, too. Rick says that it's Taylor's problem if she's foolish enough to take Ridge back. As for his mom, he remembers her marrying Ridge on the beach when he was a kid. He thought that would last forever, but then he realized there are no forevers where Ridge is concerned, and he doesn't want his mom to endure that heartache any longer. Stephanie refuses to play along and tells him to get over his personal issues with Ridge. "If you bust me, you'll have to deal with the consequences, and that's Ridge and my mom getting back together," Rick warns. Stephanie wants to do what's right, but Rick urges her to reconsider, pointing out that she can have her life back once Brooke is out of the picture.

In Malibu, Ridge reflects on his first wedding to Brooke.

Meanwhile, Ridge rides his motorcycle along the coast and reaches Malibu Beach. After parking his bike and taking off his jacket, he looks out over the ocean as he reflects that he's in the place where he and Brooke were married so many years ago. Standing on a cliff, he looks down on the beach as he remembers Brooke's vows to him that day.