Thursday, May 28, 2009, Episode #5573

Bridget tells Nick that she visited Jack while they were apart.

At the Marone mansion, Nick comes downstairs and finds Bridget playing with Jack. Nick notes that it's like she never missed any time with the boy. Bridget admits that Jackie knew how much she missed Jack after they separated and secretly brought the baby to see her. She asked Jackie not to tell him, since it wasn't a big deal. But it is a big deal, Nick states, since he knows she could never forget Jack. After putting Jack down for a nap, Nick wants to get frisky, but Bridget wants to talk first. As Nick sits down so next to her so they can chat, Bridget finds the Nerf basketball and assumes it's Jack's. Nick stammers that it's technically not Jack's, but he supposes it is now. He tosses the ball aside and asks Bridget if they've talked enough. She thinks they have, so they cuddle and kiss.

Nick makes a sacrifice for Bridget.

As they canoodle by the balcony, Bridget asks Nick if basketball was his thing with Katie. Nick offers to give up hoops if she wants, since no sacrifice for her is too great. Bridget vows to make him eat those words and kisses him again. Nick asks where the sacrifices should begin, so Bridget asks him to give up cigars. Nick reminds her how much he loves cigars, but she tells him that giving them up will be healthier for him and for Jack, too. Nick hesitates, but when Bridget holds out the trash can for him, he tosses all his stogies in. Nick then tells her that he has a request for her: he wants her to put on her little white lab coat and play doctor or to put on her Madame X wig and outfit for him. Sorry, Bridget laughs, they took the night off; she wonders if they're holding out on him. Nick accuses her of torturing him by holding out on him, so he decides to turn the tables on her and subjects her to a tickle attack! Bridget giggles as Nick finds the spots that he knows will make her howl with laughter.

Bill is pleased with the reaction to Brooke's webcast.

At Spencer Publishing, Brooke thanks Bill for giving her the chance to respond to Stephanie's attacks, although she isn't sure why he made the offer given how it will hurt his plans to devalue Forrester. Bill tells her that her webcast may not have the effect she expects, and he as a businessman has learned to be prepared for anything. Brooke asks if he's prepared to lose, since that's what she predicts will happen. "Let's just wait and see," Bill laughs. After Brooke leaves, Bill checks his web site's stats and sees that Brooke's webcast already has a thousand hits and lots of comments, both for and against Brooke. He laughs with glee at the reaction to the webcast.

In Eric's office, Stephanie and Rick continue to argue about Brooke's webcast. Stephanie thinks Brooke put her foot in her mouth, but Rick claims that everything his mom said was true. Thomas runs in looking for Eric and sees his grandmother and Rick. Thomas fumes about Brooke's webcast, since it shows how the Logans want to take over. "Look around, squirt. We already have," Rick quips.

Ridge continues his talk with Taylor.

At Il Giardino, Ridge tells Taylor that he can't talk about the situation with him and Brooke, but she thinks he has to talk about it. She doesn't want to push him, but she doesn't like seeing him in this state, especially when she recalls how happy he was when he was with her. She thinks he has to accept that Brooke will always put her son before him, and Rick knows that. She's not saying that Brooke doesn't love him, but she thinks he and Brooke have grown into two different kinds of people. Conversely, when she was married to him, they were happy and grew together with their children. Ridge admits that those were great times. Taylor asks him when the last time he was happy was. She points out that she can ask these questions because she's not afraid of the answers like he is, and that's why he hasn't told Brooke about their marital status yet. She's sure his life will turn upside down when he tells Brooke. Before Ridge can respond, he gets a call from Stephanie to tell him about Brooke's webcast. She tells him to get back to Forrester right away.

Thomas trades barbs with Rick.

Thomas and Rick argue about Brooke's webcast. Thomas claims that the Forresters built this company and Rick's family just married into it, but Rick counters that Thomas is a Forrester in name only, while he is Eric's son. Thomas sarcastically snipes that Eric must be so proud of Rick, who reminds Thomas that he'd be in jail right now had Rick not intervened. Stephanie tells them both to stop, but Rick asks why she's defending a felon like Thomas. Stephanie retorts that no one is dead because of Thomas. Thomas tears into Rick for hurting the family and the company and snarls, "Logans don't run this business. Your family's a joke." Rick is about to lunge at Thomas when Ridge arrives and breaks them up. Rick and Thomas still continue to sling barbs at each other. Thomas gripes about Brooke's statement that the Logans are running the company, but Rick says she was just telling it like it is in response to Stephanie's attacks. Brooke walks in on the argument and asks what's going on. Stephanie sneers that they were just talking about Brooke's webcast. Brooke insists that she was just defending her family to let the audience see the other side to Stephanie's story. Ridge asks Brooke why she didn't leave this alone as he asked. Rick tells him that Brooke stuck her neck out for the company, which is more leadership than CEO Ridge showed in response to Stephanie's insults that are helping Bill Spencer devalue the company. Stephanie suggests that they let Ridge judge for himself and logs on to the web site to play Brooke's webcast.

Taylor speaks her mind to Brooke.

After Ridge listens to the webcast, Thomas asks him if this is their company. Of course, Ridge answers. Brooke says that she never said it wasn't, but Taylor thinks otherwise from what she heard. Thomas asks Ridge if he knew about this webcast. Brooke explains that it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that came up when she went to confront Bill Spencer about Stephanie's articles and assures Thomas that she never meant to shut him or any member of his family out. She just wanted to stop Stephanie's attacks on her family. Taylor accuses Brooke of only thinking of herself and not thinking about Ridge or his family. Before Brooke can respond, Ridge says that he wants to talk to Brooke alone. Stephanie, Rick and Thomas leave, but Taylor remains behind to lash out at Brooke about her behavior. She can't believe that Brooke told the world that Taylor's children have no place in the company. Brooke again states that she was responding to Stephanie's lies about her family, but Taylor can't believe that this is how Brooke rewards Ridge for his patience and understanding. She asserts that she would never put her family ahead of Ridge the way Brooke does and finds Brooke's attitude insulting. "Ridge deserves much better than this, and he knows where to come find it," Taylor states before she leaves.

Stephanie tells Taylor not to worry.

Taylor then heads for Jackie M, where Stephanie is on the phone with Pam about the reactions to the webcasts. Taylor tells Stephanie to call Bill and get on the web site to respond to Brooke's comments. Stephanie tells Taylor not to worry, since Brooke's putting her foot in her mouth is pushing them closer to getting control of the company and to reuniting Taylor with Ridge. Taylor frets that Ridge has not told Brooke that they're not married, but Stephanie thinks that's a good thing. Taylor fears that Ridge was already overwhelmed, and Stephanie's offer only made him feel more so. She wants Ridge to come back to her because he wants her and is tired of Brooke, not because of a war to control the company. Stephanie tells Taylor that Ridge belongs with her, and she doesn't care how that happens. She concedes that it's hard for Ridge to tell Brooke the truth about their marriage, but she thinks the gap between Brooke and Ridge grows each time Brooke chooses Rick over her husband.