Friday, July 23, 2010, Episode #5865

Rick and Amber flirt and reminisce.

Rick and Amber continue to flirt at the Forrester rooftop Sky Lounge, flattering each other and fondly remembering the "hot times" they shared. He recalls the big role she played in his life, but she doubts his family will ever forgive her and bets some of them won't be thrilled to see her. That's because she liked to shake things up, he chuckles, seeing the twinkle in her eye that usually means she's up to no good. She takes that as a compliment and asks if he thinks she can get into the press conference to hear the surprise announcement about Brooke. He promises to get her on the guest list. "You've grown up real well, Rick Forrester," she laughs.

Ridge believes Steffy will keep the secret.

Ridge and Brooke kiss in the Forrester showroom before the press conference announcing her return to Forrester. She thanks him again for dealing with Steffy. He admits he's proud to see Steffy making amends. Brooke wonders if Steffy will really keep their secret. Ridge really believes she will. Brooke hopes he's right, since she knows she'd lose Hope if the truth came out about her and Oliver.

Hope talks to Oliver about her decision to stay in L.A.

Hope and Oliver kiss backstage, celebrating her decision to stay in L.A. She tells him her mom took her decision well, and Steffy surprisingly did, too. She was so sure Steffy was ready to make moves on him as soon as she left, so she assumes Ridge was responsible for Steffy's change of heart. She wants to believe that Steffy really has changed.

Stephanie has questions for Steffy.

Stephanie drops by Steffy's office, hoping to find out what Steffy has on Brooke. Steffy won't say, but she assures that she'll tell all when the time is right. Stephanie asks to see the video tribute to Brooke. Steffy is about to cue it up when Ridge pages her to the showroom. Stephanie says she'll watch the video by herself, but Steffy wants to be with her when she sees it, so they go to the showroom together.

Jarrett and Liam are surprised by Justin's request.

Liam goes to Justin's office to get Steffy's laptop so he can finish purging it and return it to Forrester. He worries about the chat he accidentally recorded between Steffy and Ridge and wants to delete it with the rest of the files to be purged. Justin thinks it's a lucky coincidence that Liam recorded that conversation since Steffy is about to present a video tribute to Brooke today. Liam nervously asks what Justin is doing with the laptop. Justin reveals that the laptop has been very helpful in getting into Forrester's file server remotely, providing opportunities for him to "embellish" some files. Liam doesn't like the sound of that. Justin hints that people would want to know what Brooke is all about, wondering how it must feel for Steffy to create a tribute to a woman she despises. Liam asks Justin if he did something to the file for the tribute. Justin says that around here, people respond to opportunities - like one that would create chaos at Forrester Creations, a company Bill Spencer owned and lost because of Steffy. Justin actually admires Steffy and thinks she'd fit in well at Forrester if it was back in Bill's hands, and he thinks shaking things up with a ticking time bomb in the family can make that happen. Jarrett enters. Justin instructs the reporter to cover Steffy's press conference and to take new intern Liam along to show him how things work here at Spencer. After Jarrett and Liam leave, Justin does some more editing on the video.

Taylor, Stephanie and Thomas are surprised to see Amber.

Stephanie and Steffy join Ridge, Brooke and Hope in the showroom. Stephanie thinks it's a lot to ask of Steffy to do a tribute to Brooke, but Steffy thinks it came out better than she thought. Ridge is happy, since he wants the fashion world to see all of them united as a family today. As the Forrester crew mingles with the press, Stephanie, Taylor and Thomas spot Amber entering and wonder why she's there. Rick comes over to greet Amber, who is pleased that her entrance attracted so much attention. Thorne comes over and warmly greets Amber (which is surprising since he fired her last time they saw each other).

Eric meets Liam.

Jarrett takes Liam around the room and introduces him to Pam, Stephanie, Taylor and Eric. Jarrett tries to get the scoop on Brooke's retiring and un-retiring and the news that Hope might be leaving L.A., but Eric will only say that they're happy Brooke is staying. Jarrett asks Stephanie and Taylor if they share that sentiment, but they don't answer.

Steffy and Brooke look out at the audience.

Backstage, Brooke and Steffy peek into the audience from behind the curtain and look around the room. Brooke thanks Steffy for putting the tribute together, but Steffy says her dad didn't give her much of a choice. Even so, Brooke appreciates the effort. Steffy says she gathered a lot of material on Brooke and hopes she did it justice. Brooke is sure she did and expresses her hope that this will be a new beginning for them. They hug, but Steffy doesn't really look happy.

Justin runs into Ridge.

Ridge spots Justin in the room and wonders why one of Spencer's top dogs would be here. Justin asks if Ridge wants him to leave. Ridge doesn't think that would be a bad idea, but he relents and allows Justin to stay as long as he behaves himself.

The video takes a stunning turn.

Steffy takes the stage and begins her tribute to Brooke. After offering some words of praise for Brooke's contribution to both Forrester Creations and the Forrester family, she calls on Brooke's youngest daughter, Hope, to say a few words. Hope announces that she will be going to college, but instead of flying, she'll be driving - across town, that is, since she's staying in L.A. to continue with the Hope for the Future line. She thanks Ridge and Brooke for making that line possible and offers her own glowing assessment of her mother before turning things back over to Steffy. In the audience, a nervous Liam wonders what Justin did to the video. Justin tells him to watch and learn. Steffy plays the video, narrated by her, which starts off calling Brooke a "renaissance woman" and "a powerful force in the first family of L.A. Fashion." After listing accomplishments like BeLieF, the Men's Line and Brooke's Bedroom, the video shows shots of Brooke with Hope as the narration praises Brooke's abilities as a mother. Steffy's voice then mentions the graduation party Brooke threw for Hope, and video from the party appears. As the narration reveals how Brooke led Oliver outside during the party and seduced him, everyone is shocked. "Brooke can't even control her libido," Steffy's voice declares. "That's the kind of wife and mother she really is." Finally, an image of Brooke and Oliver with the word SCANDAL sprawled across it appears. The reporters go wild. Ridge steps up, saying this is all a mistake. Steffy is shocked. Brooke and Oliver both look ashamed. And Hope is devastated.