Friday, March 27, 2009, Episode #5529

Owen gets some company at Il Giardino.

Jackie stops by Il Giardino to put in a takeout order and spots Owen dining alone, so she decides to join him. Owen is pleased to have the company of a beautiful woman, although he thinks it's a shame that she's stuck burning the midnight oil at the office. Jackie asks if he's flattering her in the hopes of landing a job. Owen admits that he was always taught that flattery will get him anywhere, so Jackie suggests that he buy her a drink and asks for champagne, although she quickly changes her mind and asks for sparkling water. When Jackie's drink arrives, they toast to the future. Jackie asks Owen how he's spending his time now that he's not under Forrester rule. He says that he's been surfing when he isn't feeling sorry for himself. Jackie empathizes with the latter part, but she doesn't think surfing is her cup of tea. Still, she's impressed by his love for the waves and asks if that's what inspired him to create a surf line at Forrester. Owen admits that he thought it was a great idea, and so did Rick at first. But then sales tanked and Rick made him into a scapegoat instead of giving him a chance to turn things around. He just hopes someone else gives him another shot at it to prove what he has to offer.

Jackie thanks Owen for giving her a diversion.

Jackie tells him that she looked over his portfolio and thinks that he has some fine talents. Owen asks if that's all she saw. Jackie laughs that he's a "cocky little bugger" and decides to share some of her stories of the fashion industry with him. When the waiter arrives with Jackie's takeout order, Owen apologizes for not telling her to cancel it and dine with him instead. Jackie says that she has to be getting back to the office, anyway, but she tells the waiter to put Owen's drinks on her tab. Owen tells her that she doesn't have to do that, but she insists. Owen thanks her. Jackie thanks him for providing her with a very pleasant diversion and leaves.

Ridge tries to defend Thomas.

At Taylor's house, Rick pulls free of Ridge's grip. Ridge orders Rick to leave Thomas alone. Rick asks why he should when Thomas was the one who tried to kill him. Ridge tells Rick that Thomas didn't try to kill him and was just pushed beyond his limits, but Rick points out that he could have been killed by Thomas's attempts to "scare" him. Thomas admits that what he did was wrong, but Rick finds little comfort in that and asks how he can be sure that Thomas won't do it again. Thomas insists that he won't, but Rick doesn't believe him. Ridge tells Rick to back off, but Rick refuses to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder and wants to call Lt. Baker. Ridge tells Rick to wait. Rick can't believe that Ridge wants him to let this slide after Thomas made his life hell and terrified Steffy. He doesn't want to do this, but he doesn't think he'll feel safe until Thomas is in prison. He picks up the phone to call the police, but Ridge puts his hand over Rick's to stop him from calling. Ridge asks Thomas to give him and Rick a few moments alone. Thomas wants to stay, since this is is all his fault. Ridge thinks he and Rick need to come to an understanding first, so Thomas reluctantly leaves. Ridge invites Rick to take a seat so they can talk.

Steffy assures her mom that she kept their secret.

Taylor sends Steffy a text message to meet her in Eric's office. When Steffy arrives, Taylor expresses concern about Steffy's rash decision to rush over to see Rick as soon as they got back from Big Bear. Steffy assures her mom that she didn't tell Rick about Thomas, even though it was hard to hide the truth from Rick. Taylor agrees that it's difficult, but she thinks it's necessary to protect Thomas, since there's no telling what Rick might do if he learns the truth. Steffy trusts Rick and thinks he would keep their secret for her, but Taylor doesn't think they can take a chance, since Thomas could go to jail if Steffy is wrong about Rick. Steffy asks about Pam. Taylor reveals that she got a call on the way over from Stephanie, who informed her that Pam's lawyer got the D.A. to dismiss the charges due to lack of evidence. Steffy wonders how Rick will react to that news, since he thinks Pam was his assailant.

Taylor worries upon learning that Rick knows the truth.

Taylor tells Steffy that they still have to keep the secret to protect Thomas, who bursts in and tells his mother and sister that Rick knows what he did. Taylor and Steffy ask how Rick found out. Thomas recounts how Rick came by to confront him and figured out what he'd done when they were argued. Taylor asks if Rick called the police. Thomas says that Rick was about to when Ridge arrived and stopped him. Steffy asks Thomas why their dad was there. Thomas explains how Ridge showed up and then asked him to leave; he knows Ridge was trying to reason with Rick, but he fears Rick will still turn him in. Steffy offers to talk to Rick, but Thomas doesn't think Rick will back off now that he has a new way to torment their family. Steffy thinks she can keep Rick from doing that.

Ridge asks Rick to give Thomas a second chance.

Back at Taylor's, Ridge recalls how he wanted to send Rick to jail for taking Phoebe away, but he didn't once Brooke begged him not to. Rick contends that what happened to Phoebe was a tragic accident, and he never meant to hurt her. Ridge claims that he gave Rick a second chance by refusing to press charges, and now he's asking Rick to give Thomas a second chance. Rick notes that he's the one holding all the cards and asks why he should give Thomas his freedom. Ridge laments that he's been forced into another tragedy, one that's making him watch his family disintegrate before his very eyes. And when he looks back to where it started, it all points to one person. Rick can't believe that Ridge is blaming him. Ridge says that it's not about blame. It's about Rick showing the same compassion for Thomas that Ridge did for Rick. Rick argues that Thomas could have faced him instead of sneaking in for the kill. Ridge asks Rick to see it through the eyes of Thomas, who felt like Rick took one sister from him and was about to take the other. Rick doesn't buy that, but Ridge insists that trying to be the man of the house took a tremendous toll on Thomas. He recalls all the times Rick said he'd do anything to make up for his part in Phoebe's death and thinks this gives Rick the chance to live up to those words. "In the name of compassion, don't throw my son's life away," Ridge begs.

Rick agrees to do what Ridge wants, with some conditions.

Rick points out that the police aren't just going to drop their investigation, especially after Thomas left that note saying, "The end is near." Ridge tells Rick to forget that and think about how happy he'll make Steffy by doing right by her brother. Rick considers Ridge words and agrees to stay silent about Thomas, but he wants Ridge to know that there's a price attached. Ridge asks if he wants a payoff, but Rick says he doesn't want money. There are just a few simple things he needs, like a new coat of paint for the beach house and a replacement for the vintage 1956 Buick convertible that Thomas blew up. Ridge agrees to those terms, but Rick says he's not done. His next demand is that he wants to be treated as Ridge's equal at Forrester, since he's Eric Forrester Jr. and deserves to be treated like the heir to the throne. Ridge doesn't say a word in protest, so Rick takes that as a "yes" before he presents his final condition: he wants Ridge to accept his relationship with Steffy, with all its ups and downs and ins and outs. "And there's going to be a whole lot of in and out, if you know what I mean," Rick smirks. Rick then boasts that he wants Ridge to endure the same things he had to endure for years watching Ridge with Brooke. If he has Steffy in his office with the door closed, Ridge will accept it. If he's in the steam room with Steffy, Ridge will accept it. And if he asks Steffy to stage a lingerie show of the latest Bedroom designs, like Ridge had Brooke do for years, Ridge will accept it. Ridge bites his tongue and says nothing. Rick bets Ridge is feeling sick right now and dares Ridge to hit him, knowing that Thomas will go to jail if he does.