Tuesday, December 22, 2009, Episode #5717

Katie thinks about the holidays.

In Katie's office, Bill gets a manicure while Katie wonders if his decision to stick Eric in the basement is about punishing Eric. Bill notes that Eric didn't fight him, leading Katie to believe that the Forresters might finally be on board. After the manicurist leaves, Katie suggests that they forget about Eric and think about their first Christmas as husband and wife. Bill doesn't think her family will want him around, but Katie points out that he's family now and tries to remain positive that they'll celebrate Christmas as a family.

Eric gets a warm welcome back from some employees.

In Ridge's office, a torn Brooke frets about keeping secrets from her sister. Ridge reminds her that Katie is Bill's CEO and Bill stole their company. "This is about justice!" he insists. Downstairs in Eric and Thorne's office, Rick and Steffy give Eric the teaser video for the DARE line. Rick notes that the video has a "wave of the future" vibe that will hook Bill, but he still wonders if Eric's plan will work. Ridge comes in and points out that Bill is a businessman, not an artist. He and Eric intend to use Bill's lack of fashion sense against him. Some employees from the cutting room stop by to welcome Eric back and tell him that he'll always be the boss. They're dismayed at how cold this place is under Bill Spencer and are disturbed by Bill's choice to kick Eric downstairs. Eric assures them that his new office is only temporary and asks about their families. After the employees leave, Eric is summoned by Bill to come upstairs with the work so far on the new line, warning that it better be hip and daring enough to blow him out of his seat. Eric promises that the collection is like nothing Bill has ever seen before. After hanging up, Eric tells Ridge, Rick and Steffy that Bill has taken the bait, so they need to go up there and sell this campaign with total conviction. He then hands Steffy a garment bag and tells her to stay behind for a few minutes and then come up wearing this. Steffy opens the bag and is shocked by its contents.

Donna and Brooke break some news to Katie.

Back in Ridge's office, Brooke and Donna discuss the plan and how it will impact Katie. They fear the conflict at work between their husbands and Katie's will make Christmas difficult were Bill to show up at the mansion when Eric and Donna have the family over. Katie rushes in, excited to talk about holiday plans. She's glad to see Eric back at work and informs her sisters that she saw the little "pep talk" they gave Eric earlier downstairs. She thinks that's a good sign that they can all work together. She then asks what she and Bill can bring for Christmas. Brooke and Donna break the news to Katie that she's invited for Christmas, but Bill isn't. While they've been putting on smiles for the press, Brooke and Donna have to acknowledge how tense things are for their husbands since Bill took over the company. They've tried to be positive at work for Katie's sake, but they just can't ask Ridge or Eric to share the holidays with someone who disrespects them the way Bill does, especially after Bill took their family legacy away. Katie thinks they're being unfair, but if she has to choose, she will stand by her husband. Donna counters that she and Brooke have to stand by theirs. Katie is heartbroken, as she was looking forward to all of them being together. Donna and Brooke admit that they didn't want this, either. Brooke is sure they'll all be close again once all the business issues are resolved.

Steffy models a sample of the DARE line.

Across the hall, Eric, Ridge and Rick present Bill with the first designs from the new line, assuring him that they are cutting edge and will cater to the younger demographic Bill seeks to attract. Bill doesn't envision the Logan sisters in these designs. Ridge thinks the Logans will have to sit this one out if they want to create something cutting edge. Eric adds that the designs are so unbelievable and over the top that their raw power will make you "dare" to be motivated. Bill asks to see the teaser, so Rick plays the video, a combination of black and white images of Eric, Ridge, Rick and Steffy using the word "dare" to challenge the viewer to be different and original. When the video ends, Eric opens the door and ushers in Steffy in a bright green sequined gown that looks like it stepped out of the 80s. Stunned, Bill picks up the phone and buzzes Katie, asking her and her sisters to come to her office ASAP. Bill then asks Eric if he's kidding. He thinks this 80s throwback is a bad fashion nightmare that will make them a laughingstock. Eric and Ridge point out that every fashion trend starts with a dare, like when Chanel suggested women wear pants instead of gowns. Although this design is out of the 80s, they feel it has a futuristic twist to it that makes it "retro chic." When Bill suggests they call the line "Scare" instead of "Dare," Eric scoffs that Bill wouldn't know innovation if he stepped in it.

Eric, Rick and Ridge stand by their ideas.

When the Logan sisters arrive, Bill asks Katie for her opinion of this sampling of Eric's new line. When Katie shares her husband's skepticism, Eric and Ridge question Bill's ability to see a fashion trend staring him in the face. Donna is offended that Eric is just barely back at work and already having his fashion sense questioned. Eric contends that he did just what Bill asked. Bill wanted something out there and daring, but now he's balking when Eric gave him just that. He's sorry to see that Bill can't step outside his comfort zone on this. Bill asks if Eric really believes in this. Eric insists that he does. Steffy bets that Bill will apologize when Dior puts this on the runway next spring. Eric explains that he got the idea from watching the Catwalk challenge. Seeing Jackie M present something innovative and new made him see that Forrester has to do the same, and he's sure this line will blaze a whole new path to glory for them. Katie asks Brooke for her opinion. Brooke states that the designs are radical, but they will bring in a better chapter for this company. Based on her sister's opinion and Eric's conviction, Katie hesitantly offers her support of the line. Bill reminds the designers that it's their reputation on the line with these designs. He just hopes "Dare" will make him lots of money. "That's exactly what we're going to do," Eric vows.

Bill plans to keep an eye on the Forresters.

After the Forresters leave, Bill and Katie discuss what they just saw. They agree that the designs were far from Forrester's typical subtlety, but they also note how passionate Ridge and Eric are about the direction they want to go in. Brooke and Donna also seemed excited, Katie comments. Bill admits he doesn't understand the Forrester mystique, but all he really cares about is the bottom line, and the Forresters stood there and told them with supreme confidence that this line is a winner. Still, he has his doubts, and he thinks Katie does, too, so he intends to keep a close eye on the Forresters.