Friday, January 02, 2009, Episode #5472

Eric answers Jarrett's question.

Backstage at Forrester, everyone gets ready for the surf line's debut, and Ridge and Brooke get ready for their own "debut" as husband and wife right after. Meanwhile, Donna tries to tell Eric about the showstopper bikini, but Eric assures her that the crocheted bikini is the most unique item in the collection. Katie comes over to make sure Donna is ready, since Marcus is getting the cameras ready to broadcast the show live to all their boutiques and offices worldwide. Eric senses Donna is nervous and assures her that she'll be wonderful in the showstopper. While Steffy and Marcus give out press kits and play up the show's tie-in with the v8 "Feeding America" campaign, snooty reporter Jarrett corners Rick to ask Forrester's new firebrand president what surf togs have to do with veggies. Rick comes up with a quick answer about how the surf line and v8 are both promoting healthy lifestyles and excuses himself. While Felicia gives Thorne the revised music order, Jarrett approaches an area where both Stephanie and Donna stand and calls out for "Mrs. Forrester." Of course, both women respond, each giving the other an icy glare. Eric steps in to answer Jarrett's question about how designing surfwear seems like a radical idea for Forrester. When Eric says it's a sign of how invigorated he feels, Jarrett quips, "Out with the old, in with the new," which doesn't please Stephanie.

Rick watches as Eric addresses the troops.

In the showroom, Katie greets Jackie. Without noting why the owner of one of Forrester's competitors is there, Katie shows off her engagement ring to her future mother-in-law, who is thrilled for Katie. Meanwhile, Eric gathers the troops together to get them all pumped up for the debut of their groundbreaking new line. After he finishes his speech, Eric apologizes to Stephanie for Jarrett's comment and assures her that she's not being discarded. After he thanks her for being there, she agrees to stay and wishes him luck.

Pam sits in the audience crocheting.

In the showroom, the crowd cheers as Ridge introduces Eric over the loudspeakers. Eric comes out and thanks everyone for joining them as they launch a new line that invokes the energy and youthfulness they all feel here lately. He then introduces their new president, Rick, who comes on stage to plug the new line. As Rick comes out, Steffy watches and recalls kissing Rick on New Year's Eve. Rick tells the crowd that Forrester might have a new president and a new CEO to accompany this new collection, but they have not lost their creative vision. They've just brought the sense of style they've had for decades to the beach. That said, Eric invites the guests to enjoy the show. As the screen on the stage displays images of surfers and beach-comers, Pam sits in the audience crocheting.

Katie tries to reassure Donna.

As the first models come out wearing swimsuits and Ugg boots, the crowd doesn't know what to think. When Donna and Rick notice the less than enthusiastic response, Eric assures them, "We haven't wowed them yet, but we will." Donna urges Katie to do something, because Eric looks upset, but Katie thinks Eric is fine. Donna senses that Eric is faking for Rick's sake and worries about her husband. Steffy comes over to Eric and asks if he's OK. Eric covers that their buyers just don't know what to think, since this is a major departure for them. Steffy says that doesn't make it a bad idea, but Eric points out that new ideas are sometimes hard to accept. "Tell me about it," muses Steffy. Meanwhile, having seen the response so far, Donna tells Owen that she won't wear Crazy Pam's crocheted bikini, since that "show-killer" will make Eric a laughing stock.

Taylor tells Stephanie to go support Eric.

Sitting with Taylor in the audience, Stephanie sees that Eric is worried. Taylor tells her friend to get backstage to support Eric, but Stephanie points out that she's not Eric's wife anymore. "Eric will always need you," Taylor states, so Stephanie heads backstage. Meanwhile, Steffy sees Rick is upset over the response from the crowd. She tells him that at least they have his mom's wedding to her dad to look forward to, but that doesn't cheer Rick up much. Trying to be supportive, Steffy says that things can still turn around and asks what she can do to make him feel better.

Ridge and Brooke wait for their chance to leave.

Standing with Ridge, Brooke wonders if she should leave, since Rick seems upset about the mixed response to the line. Ridge tells her that an apology from his mother won't make Rick feel better and suggests that Rick is a big boy and will get over it. Besides, Rick has Eric, Donna and Katie there to support him, and he's sure Katie can put a good P.R. spin on the line if needed. Brooke agrees, so Ridge thinks they should get going. He points out that Rick will have more showings, but they are only going to have one more wedding, and he can't wait one more minute to make her his wife. Brooke concurs and tells him, "OK, let's go get married!"

Owen tells Donna to get out there for her husband.

While Stephanie tries to console Eric backstage, Owen comes over to tell the big boss that Donna refuses to wear the showstopper. Eric instructs Owen to get back there and tell her to put the crocheted bikini on. Thorne comes over to tell Eric that it's time to get Donna on stage. Eric says she's not ready, so they'll have to stall. Stephanie kids her ex-husband about how he was just saying that he loved the rush of these fashion shows. Eric doesn't see the humor, so she assures him that everything will be fine. Meanwhile, Owen brings Donna the crocheted bikini and tells her to put it on. When she refuses, Owen tells her that her husband needs her, so she has to put it on.

Bridget and Jackie wonder what's going on.

In the audience, Bridget sits next to Jackie (which seems kind of odd to me given how Bridget's marriage to Jackie's son ended, but I'm still wondering why Jackie is even there). Bridget wonders where the showstopper is. Eric comes on stage to talk about the surf line and how it fits in with the other designs from the house of Forrester. Backstage, Rick wonders what his dad is doing. "He's working the crowd like only dad can," Thorne explains. Stephanie returns to her seat and reports to Taylor that everything is fine just as the music resumes.

Rick and Eric join Donna on stage.

Eric then invites the crowd to take a look at their showstopper, which comes from the creative mind of his wife Donna. He then steps off stage as the screen in the background shows a bikini-clad model surfing. As the model gets close to the screen, Donna bursts through, wearing Pam's bikini while riding across the stage on a motorized surfboard. Sitting in the audience, Pam is livid that Donna is taking credit for her creation. As the crowd goes wild, Eric and Rick join Donna on stage. Donna kisses Eric, to Stephanie's dismay. Eric congratulates Rick on starting his first trend. Meanwhile, Donna heads backstage, where Pam tears into her for taking credit for the bikini Pam designed.