Wednesday, September 24, 2008, Episode #5404

Bridget tears into Owen.

At an outdoor restaurant called Il Guardino [which is actually the Forrester rooftop sky lounge set redressed], Bridget is having lunch. As she takes a sip of wine, she spots Owen sitting at a nearby table. She walks over to Owen's table, picks up his water glass and throws water in his face, scolding him for being with her father's wife in his own house. "Men. You're all the same," she snarls as she slams the water glass down and returns to her table. When Owen comes over to her table, Bridget puts down her fork and stops eating her salad, stating that she just lost her appetite. Owen tells her that he fell in love with Donna, but Donna didn't love him back because she's devoted to Eric. Bridget points out that he cost Donna her marriage, but Owen reminds her that he helped save both Donna and Eric. Bridget asks if she's supposed to thank him. Owen says that he just wants her to understand, leading Bridget to rant about how men always expect her to understand or forgive. She bets Owen is just like her husband, always ready to save the day, but she's tired of men like that and asks him to please just leave her alone. Owen says he can't do that, since he won't let everyone here think he said something to make her angry.

Owen tells Bridget that he knows where she is coming from.

Bridget tells Owen not to feel sorry for her, but he thinks he knows where she's coming from, since he had his heart stomped on, too. Bridget finds it hard to believe that he and Donna had some great love story. Owen admits that it might have all been in his head, but isn't that where the best love stories happen? Bridget tells him that there are no "happily ever after" endings in real life, and especially not in her world. She's learned that the hard way by trying to pick a winner and by letting herself get picked by the worst of the bunch, so she's had it with trying to find her Prince Charming. As far as she's concerned, she's done with men for good. Owen however finds it hard to believe that a pretty girl like her would just be done with love.

Ridge tells Stephanie about his wedding plans.

Ridge stops by the Forrester mansion to check on Eric and learns from Stephanie that Eric tossed and turned all night, probably because of the way Donna sneaked into Eric's room and because of Brooke's attempt to defend Donna. Ridge insists that Brooke had nothing to do with Donna's ambush, and he and his mother both hope that Donna doesn't try to sneak in again. Ridge then tells Stephanie that he and Brooke agreed not to let the situation with Eric and Donna affect their relationship and informs her that he and Brooke are moving ahead with their wedding plans. He hopes that she and Eric will be at the wedding together.

Stephanie gives Ridge a warning.

Ridge then tells his mother about what's going on with Bridget, Nick and Katie. Stephanie is shocked that Nick took advantage of Bridget again, just as everyone feared he would. Ridge fumes that Nick is a complete loser who had Bridget completely snowed. Stephanie points out that Bridget had to know that Katie had feelings for Nick, although she admits that she's surprised that Katie would act on those feelings. Ridge places all the blame on Nick for once again taking advantage of a woman at her most vulnerable. Stephanie wonders what's going to happen with Jack now. Ridge reminds her that Jack still has Taylor, but Stephanie suggests that Brooke might also want to be there for Jack. Ridge doesn't want to go there, but Stephanie tells him not to kid himself. She suspects that Brooke only stayed away from Nick, who Ridge just called a loser, out of respect for Bridget, so the whole situation has changed now that Bridget and Nick have separated. Ridge assures her that Brooke knows that her future is with him and their family, but Stephanie suspects that Brooke will want to include Jack in that future. Ridge doesn't think Taylor would ever allow that to happen, so he assures his mother that everything is going to be fine.

Rick tries to reassure Taylor.

At the Big Bear cabin, Brooke is shocked that Taylor wants her to be a mother to Jack. "I'm Jack's mother. I just want him to be happy," sobs Taylor. Rick tells her that he knows she would do anything to make Jack happy, but Brooke has a biological connection to Jack. Taylor points out that biology doesn't make Brooke a better parent, but Rick says that this isn't about who's the better parent. It's about what's best for Jack, and he knows she's been struggling with Jack lately. Brooke suggests that Taylor talk to Nick if she needs a break, but Taylor insists that she doesn't need a break. She just wants Jack to get what he deserves, but he's not getting that from her. Brooke admits that she's shocked, since she knows how Taylor feels about her involvement with Jack. But at the same time, she's also impressed that Taylor would even consider what they're talking about for the sake of her child.

Brooke and her kids play with Jack.

As Brooke goes over to where Hope, R.J. and Jack are playing and joins them, Taylor and Rick look on. Rick tries to comfort Taylor, reminding her that this doesn't have to be permanent. Taylor however sees how happy Jack is playing with Brooke and the kids and sighs that Jack isn't like that with her. She recalls how she used to dream of spending moments like this with Jack when she was going through the custody battle, but it just never happened, even when she finally got to bring Jack home. "This is the way it's supposed to be," she states, wondering why it could never be that way for her.

Brooke is moved by Taylor's plea.

Brooke asks Rick if he can take Hope and R.J. outside for a while, so he goes to show his half-siblings a tree that he and Bridget used to climb. Brooke then puts Jack down in his playpen so she and Taylor can talk. Taylor points out that Jack sometimes fusses when he's put down, but Brooke gently gets him settled in. Brooke asks Taylor if she's sure about this. Taylor doesn't know what else to do. Brooke notes that Taylor is exhausted, but Taylor qualifies that she's beyond exhausted from the events of the last year. She admits she should have known it would be this way when Brooke gave the bone marrow transplant that saved Jack's life. Brooke reminds Taylor, "You carried him for nine months. You gave him life." Taylor replies that she can't even get Jack to sleep, no matter how hard she has tried, but Jack is content when he's with Brooke. She didn't have this problem raising Thomas or the twins, so she assumes that Jack needs something she can't give him. She sees what the problem is, but all her years of experience can't fix it, because her son is unhappy because of her and has been since he was born. She thinks Jack feels the tension that comes from her fear of Brooke and her anxiety of raising her rival's son, and that makes her feel like she's failing Jack. "I'm on this downward spiral, and I don't want to take him down with me," she sobs, conceding that she has no choice but to let him go and give him to the person who can give him what she can't, Brooke.