Ridge and Rick have a discussion about Caitlin, and how talented she is. Caitlin and her mother have a conversation about her meeting with Ridge, which turned out to be a meeting with Rick at the Cafe Russe`. Caitlin is obviously smitten with Rick, and Samantha is concerned. Amber pays a visit to Rick in his office, and laments the loss of her marriage, hoping that Rick would give her another chance. She kisses him before she leaves. When she returns later, she finds Caitlin there giving Rick a kiss on the cheek. Stephanie brings Steffy home from her French lesson and is holding the baby when Brooke returns from her visit with Nick. They have their usual knock down drag out fight, and Ridge walks in on it. He throws Stephanie out of his house.
Ridge: Not bad. Not bad at all. Sophia: The dress or the model? Ridge: Both. [ Knock on door ] Come in. Hey, Rick. Rick: Hey. Ridge: Got your note. Sophia, thank you. That's all for now. Rick: That's -- that's Caitlin's design. What do you think? Ridge: You said she did it all herself? Rick: Right down to the very last stitch. Ridge: It's very impressive. Rick: I thought so. Ridge: Very impressive, yeah. I got that by your exclamation points. Rick: It's fresh. It's original. I think she's just what we've been looking for. [SCENE_BREAK] Caitlin: Oh, good. You're home. Samantha: Yes. I wanted to find out how your meeting with Ridge went. Caitlin: Oh. Well, it didn't happen. Samantha: Oh. Caitlin: But it's okay, 'cause Rick looked at my designs. Samantha: And? Caitlin: He says I have real talent. Samantha: Well, yeah. Caitlin: Yeah, but you have to say that. You're my mom. Samantha: Oh, well. I guess you trust it more coming from Rick. He does have a pedigree. Caitlin: Pedigree? Samantha: The first family of fashion. Caitlin: And he's the crown prince. Rick left a note for his dad and Ridge about me -- my designs. Samantha: Well, that was nice. Caitlin: No, but he said he wasn't just being nice. That, that he was being selfish. Because I'm such an incredibly talented designer. And when I meet with Ridge, I need to walk in there with confidence and pride. Samantha: Yes, you should. It seems like he took a personal interest in you. Caitlin: I think he did. [SCENE_BREAK] Amber: Hey, you. Rick: Amber. Amber: What's going on, huh? Rick: Look at you. Amber: Hmm, you like? Rick: Yeah, I never got used to the dark. Amber: Yeah, well, that was a phase, you know. I was in mourning. But, time to move on, right? Rick: So things are gettin' better? Amber: Oh, much, much. You know, thank you again for getting your family to rent me the beach house. You know, it's just so amazing, just waking up to the sound of the ocean. And just taking time out to watch the sun set. You know, the only thing that would be better would be having someone to share it with. [SCENE_BREAK] Catherine: Look who's home, R.J. Stephanie: No ice cream today. We had to come home and see the brand-new baby. Steffy: Is he awake? Catherine: Yeah. You want to say hi? [ Speaking french ] Steffy: Bon jour, mon frere. Stephanie: The French lessons are paying off. Steffy: I'm gonna teach R.J. Stephanie: You are? Well, I think that's wonderful. But I think first you'd better go upstairs and work on your vocabulary worksheet. Steffy: Now? Stephanie: Yeah, now. I'll come up in a minute and help. Catherine: And I'll come bring you milk and cookies. It'll help you concentrate. Do you mind? Stephanie: Oh, no, not at all. Come here. Come here. Come here. All right, I've got him. Catherine: Thank you. Stephanie: Yes. Yes. Oh, yes, yes, yes. Let me look at you and see you. [ Stephanie remembering ] Ridge: He shares all our blood, mother. Yours, mine and Brooke's. [SCENE_BREAK] Rick: You know, Amber, if you're lonely at the beach house, nobody would mind if you got a roommate. Amber: I'm not lonely. Rick: But you said you were. Amber: I just think it's such a great place, I shouldn't be the only one who gets to enjoy it. Rick: Well, don't be surprised if Ridge drops by to do some surfing. Amber: Well, what about you? Rick: I've been traveling a lot. Amber: Yeah, well, if your schedule clears up, maybe you could stop by. Rick: I will. Amber: You know, Rick, I know that we kind of lost touch -- Rick: Circumstances. Amber: Most of them my fault. Rick: Look, it's water under the bridge. Just forget about it, okay? Amber: But, see, that's the last thing I want to do. You know, I know this year's been tough for me. But it wasn't all bad. And even the stuff that was, you know, it taught me something. I think about the kind of person I was when we first met -- no integrity, no sense of loyalty or responsibility. And it was all about me and my insecurities. And when I finally got over them -- or, or when I finally learned how to be the kind of person you could be proud of -- it was too late for us. Truth is, you may have been a kid when we met, but I'm the one who really grew up in our marriage. Rick: You've been giving this a lot of thought. Amber: Hard not to. You know, it seems like everybody's getting a second chance these days. You've got Hhector and Samantha and Ridge and Brooke. And Eric's got his company back. Rick: And you want a second chance, too? Amber: Well, I could definitely use one. You know, a couple of months ago my whole life went up in flames. Literally. And if hector hadn't pulled me out of that apartment, I would have gone up with it. Rick: You know, I just found out today that it was Hector who saved your life. Amber: Yeah, well, he wouldn't have had to had I not run back in for our wedding photos. Yeah, yeah. I know. Stupid, right? Rick: Don't beat yourself up. Amber: Yeah, well. If I had to do it over again, believe me, I would've kept the marriage and lost the photos. [ Rick sighs ] [SCENE_BREAK] Caitlin: Isn't it exciting? Samantha: Very. How long did this interview last? Caitlin: Over lunch. At the Cafe Russe. Samantha: The Cafe Russe? Caitlin: Uh-huh. It's Rick's favorite place. Samantha: It's everybody's favorite place. Caitlin: Oh, I know. And we saw all of these celebrities. And Rick knew some of them. Mom, I'm telling you. This whole day was completely surreal. [SCENE_BREAK] [ Door closes ] Brooke: Well, now, that's a pretty picture. Stephanie: I'm just watching him until Catherine comes back downstairs. Brooke: Oh. Come here, sweetheart. Stephanie: He's fine. Brooke: It's okay. He wants to see mommy. How are you? I'm surprised to see you here. Stephanie: Oh, I just brought Steffy home from her French lesson. I do that all the time. Brooke: Mm-hmm. Well, that ended a while ago and you're still here. Did you want to see me? Stephanie: No. Brooke: Well, that's a shame. I was hoping that R.J. Could break some of that tension between us. Stephanie: He may be a blessing, but he's not a miracle worker. Brooke: You don't think so? Look what he's done already -- cemented my position here in this home, in this family. Makes you sick, doesn't it, Stephanie? To see me here in Taylor's house. Stephanie: You don't want me to answer that, do you? Brooke: No. Actually, I want you to leave. Stephanie: I beg your pardon? Brooke: I'm just really tired. And I'm very happy. But I just can't deal with your jealousy right now. Stephanie: Jealousy? Brooke: Please. It's coming off you in waves. Stephanie: What do I have to be jealous of? Brooke: Me, Stephanie. You're jealous of me. [SCENE_BREAK] Caitlin: It was no big deal for Rick. He eats there all the time. Samantha: So this lunch -- was it a date? Caitlin: No. Samantha: Oh. Just because the way you're talking about it, kinda makes it sound -- Caitlin: No, mom, he was just hungry. Samantha: He was trying to impress you. Caitlin: No. Samantha: And it worked. Caitlin: No, you've got it all wrong. Okay, maybe I was impressed, but I -- I can't believe you'd think that about Rick. I mean, he's such a nice guy. Samantha: Oh, well, Rick is a nice guy. He's just also a lot older than you. Caitlin: Not that much. Samantha: Caitlin -- Caitlin: Mom, it wasn't a date. You don't have worry. Samantha: I'm not worried. I'm not. Caitlin: Okay. Samantha: I -- I know that -- that Rick was probably very professional. Caitlin: Oh, totally. I mean, you probably think of him as being older than he is because he's just so responsible. You know, they made him vice president of Forrester when he was still in college? Samantha: Well, he got an early start, being from that family. Well, it's like Thomas. Have you -- have you seen him lately? Caitlin: You know, not really. I've been so busy with everything. Samantha: But you guys are still friends, right? Caitlin: Oh, absolutely. We're friends. But mom, Rick said Ridge has this youth line. And if Forrester's interested in my designs, I could actually work there. I mean, not just as an intern. Isn't that incredible? Samantha: Oh, yeah. It's incredible. It is. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: You've said that before. It was preposterous then and it's preposterous now. Brooke: You're threatened by me, Stephanie. That's why you've been so desperate to keep me out of Ridge's life. Stephanie: I tried to protect him. And his children. Brooke: Well, now, it's my turn. I get to protect all of them from you. Quite frankly, I would really rather you not be here at all. But, Ridge thinks you have a lot to offer the children, and I have to agree. If you can follow a few simple rules. Stephanie: Well, la de da. Queen of the manor. Brooke: Yeah. I've come a long way, haven't I? What was that you used to call me? "Little valley tart." Stephanie: You haven't changed. Brooke: Keep testing me. I'll show you just how much has changed. And as the new Forrester matriarch -- Stephanie: You? Brooke: The next time you show up here, bring a little respect. In the meantime -- Stephanie: In the meantime, I'll help Steffy with her French lesson. Brooke: No, I want you to leave. The baby and I need some rest. Stephanie: Oh, by all means, take care of your baby. I'll take care of Taylor's children. Brooke: It's all right. I can help Steffy with her homework. You can go. Stephanie: Taylor asked me on her deathbed to take care her children. Brooke: She didn't know I would be here. Stephanie: Oh, I think maybe she did. Brooke: Get out of this house. [SCENE_BREAK] Rick: Thanks, Aaron. Dad will get you an answer on that soon. Aaron: Great. Ric: You just can't stay away. Caitlin: I brought the sketches back for those designs. I thought your dad and Ridge might want to see them. Rick: You didn't come all the way back here just for that. Caitlin: No. I wanted to thank you. You didn't have to meet with me, or take me to lunch. Rick: I had fun. Caitlin: Me, too. I just -- I know how busy you are -- Rick: Well, I'm always up for a break. So if there's anything else on your mind -- Caitlin: Actually, there is. Caitlin: I wanted to explain. At lunch you when you asked me about Thomas -- Rick: You guys are friends. Caitlin: Just friends. Rick: Okay. Caitlin: I just -- I know I got kind of flustered when you asked me about him. Rick: A lot of things flustered you at lunch. Caitlin: Well, Cafe Russe? Rick: Chris O'Donnell? Caitlin: Everything that you said about my designs and my talent -- it really meant a lot to me. Rick: You asked for an honest opinion. You got one. Caitlin: And I appreciate it. Which is why I don't want you to get the wrong idea about Thomas and me. Rick: The wrong idea? Caitlin: Well, yeah. You guys are related and I'm friends with him. And I don't want you to feel obligated to help me. Rick: No, no, Caitlin. I don't feel obligated. Caitlin: Good, good. 'Cause I want to earn everything I get. Rick: Sounds good to me. Caitlin: So you understand? Rick: I think so. Caitlin: My friendship with Thomas won't change things. Rick: No. Caitlin: Good. Thank you so much for everything, Rick. This has just been a great day. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: You can't keep me from my grandchildren. Brooke: And I don't want to, Stephanie. I know how much you love them. But if you can't get past this animosity towards me -- Stephanie: All right. Ridge asked me to make peace with you. I'm here. Brooke: Well, that's not enough. Stephanie: Are you trying to provoke me? Brooke: No. I don't want to have to take this stand. If it weren't for the children -- Stephanie: The children? The children?! You don't give a damn about the children. It's just your -- it's your way of getting revenge against me, isn't it? By using them. Brooke: Oh, god, this is exactly what I was talking about! Stephanie: All right, okay. All right. If you want me to jump through hoops for you, fine. I'll do it. But don't you use Taylor's children. They have suffered enough. They've lost their mother. Brooke: They have a new mother, now. Stephanie: You think you can replace Taylor? Brooke: No, of course not. But I certainly can replace you. Stephanie: I won't allow that. I won't allow this. Brooke: Oh, my god, you don't get it, do you? You don't have a say anymore! Stephanie: Oh, you're such a bitch! You're such a bitch! You'd do anything, wouldn't you? You'd use anybody. You'd use that little baby. You'd use those children. They're just pawns for you! Ridge: That's enough! I ask for peace. And this is what I get now. Stephanie: I tried. Ridge: It doesn't look like it, mother. Stephanie: She doesn't want peace! She wants her revenge against me, and she's using your children. Ridge: Get out. Stephanie: Ridge, now, please listen -- Ridge: Look, you had your chance! I practically begged you. Stephanie: She doesn't want me here. She just said so. Ridge: Just get out. [ Baby crying ]Ridge: Get out. Just go! Stephanie: Ridge, I -- Ridge: I'm sorry. Brooke: It's not your fault. I'm going to go take care of the baby. Ridge: Yeah. Stephanie: Taylor. Oh, Taylor. Your home, your family -- she's taken it all. "Forrester Matriarch." We'll see about that. We'll just see about that.