Wednesday, December 30, 2009, Episode #5722

Justin, Bill and Katie prepare to view the preview.

In the Forrester reception area, Bill and Justin discuss the Dare line while waiting for the preview to start. They wonder why Eric suddenly came around after initially being so resistant to the takeover and presume that seeing Steffy lose on THE CATWALK turned Eric around. Bill reminds Justin that he has a lot riding on this line, since he needs a smash hit to prove to the Spencer board that he was right to acquire Forrester. Katie joins them and apologizes for being late. Justin tells her not worry, since Eric and Ridge are still setting up . Bill grows impatient, since he has lots to do. Katie wonders what they're going to see, since the sketches were so different from typical Forrester. Bill reminds her that he wanted something bold and exciting. Katie recalls how hesitant Ridge and Eric were about doing a preview. Bill's glad she insisted on it. He can't wait to see the line first-hand in just a few minutes. Inside Katie's office, Eric, Ridge, Thorne, Brooke, Donna, Thomas and Steffy get ready. As Eric gives the ladies their dresses, he reminds everyone how much they have riding on this. Donna wonders if Katie and Bill will question using her, Brooke and Steffy as models. Ridge thinks he can convince them that the regular models might leak info about the line to the press. Thorne informs the others that the sewers signed a confidentiality agreement, so there's no risk of a leak there. Now they just have to sell Bill and Katie on the designs. On cue, Bill and Katie enter with Justin, anxious to get going. Bill wants to start now since he has things to do. Ridge and Eric remind their bosses of the short notice they had to prepare and indicate that they're ready now.

Steffy and Donna show off their dresses.

Eric and Ridge bring out Donna in the first bright, gaudy design. Donna smiles as she shows off the dress. Bill asks Eric and Ridge what inspired them to create this piece. Ridge explains that they wanted something that could be reasonably priced in the current economy, since there's potential for a huge profit margin. Bill clarifies that he was asking about their creative inspiration, since this is unlike any of their past designs. And that's the point, Eric explains; they can't play it safe anymore and they need to create designs that will get noticed. Bill and Katie ask Donna where she'd wear this dress. Donna cheerfully boasts that she can wear it anywhere, since a dress like this makes you stand out. Katie asks to see the next design, so Steffy comes out in a bright green sequined dress that shines so much that Bill asks for sunglasses to shield his eyes. They wonder if all the brightness is too much, but Ridge insists it makes a statement for the woman wearing it to be noticed. Thomas asks Steffy how she feels in the dress. "I feel hot and sexy," Steffy answers, praising the Dare line as the best work Forrester has ever done. While she appreciates her dad's past work, she always thought it was a tad conservative, but she thinks this futuristic take on the retro '80s look is way hot.

Brooke wears the showstopper while Ridge and Eric look on.

Katie guesses that Brooke's up next, so Ridge presents his wife in the showstopper, a timeless combination of looks from various eras that creates a new, inspired look. "You certainly could stop traffic in that thing," Katie quips. Justin notes the large shoulder pads, but Eric and Ridge insist that shoulder pads are in now. Eric asks Bill what he thinks. Bill and Katie indicate that they expected more, but Thorne tells them this was all they could do on short notice with the sewing room backed up.

Thomas and Thorne wait for Bill's reaction.

Bill tells the Forresters that he's seen enough. While he acknowledges Ridge's estimates on profit margins, he knows full well that margins mean nothing if the product doesn't sell. "We'll definitely profit from this," Eric remarks. Bill commends them for making such a bold departure from their usual style. Katie points out that Forrester has always stood for elegance, but Bill thinks it might be time for a change. He points out that he publishes wrestling magazines, but he's not Hulk Hogan. He publishes cooking magazines, but he's not Wolfgang Puck. And he publishes fashion magazines, but he's not a designer. Eric and Ridge, however, are designers, so he will defer to their judgment. Ridge is confident that women will buy these designs and feel fabulous wearing them. That's all Bill needs to hear, so he leaves, with Katie and Justin right behind. Once the Spencers and Justin are out the door, the Forresters quietly celebrate how they pulled the wool over Bill and Katie's eyes. They can't wait for this line to tank so they can buy back the company and restore it to its former glory.

In the reception area, Bill, Katie and Justin discuss the preview. Bill admits that the Forresters have a lot of work ahead of them, but he is willing to give them some latitude to pursue this vision. Justin points out that Eric is confident in the direction they're taking, but Katie doesn't share that optimism. Still, her sisters, Ridge and Eric all seem that agree that they're headed in the right direction, so she's going to trust that they're right in predicting that the Dare line will take Forrester in a whole new direction.

Nick and Sandy want answers.

At the police station, Lt. Baker apologizes to Sandy. He understands how hard her ordeal was on her. Looking at the police report, he asks Sandy what the status of her case is. Sandy explains that she hasn't heard a single word about the case since filing the report five years ago. She waited weeks for word from the police about the rape kit they collected, but she never got a single phone call, and now she's tired of waiting. Lt. Baker asks if she spoke to the investigator for her case, but Sandy says he had no answers. Nick asks the lieutenant if he can just look over this to help Sandy get some closure. Sandy asks about the DNA evidence they collected. Baker indicates that it should have been processed, but Sandy says she never heard a thing. Lt. Baker examines the report and sees the name Agnes Jones on it. Sandy explains that she changed her name. After reading the report, Lt. Baker can't figure out why the investigators never called and offers to look into it and get back to Sandy. Nick points out that Sandy waited years for a call that never came, so he urges the lieutenant to please look into this now and not make Sandy wait again. Baker agrees that Sandy has waited long enough and calls down to the crime lab to get some answers now.