Ridge tells Taylor that this little power play by his brother only works if she supports it. Just tell Thorne that this makes no sense and be supportive of him, the children's father instead. Eric demands they stop this. He's not going to stand here and watch them tear each other's throats apart. Thorne repeats again that Ridge is not Eric's son by blood. He's a Marone. And now they have the shares to make a change. Taylor speaks up and tells Thorne that she really doesn't want her children to have to side against their father. Pompous Ridge advises Eric to just let Thorne go. He brought all of this upon himself. Amber ambushes Rick and renews old acquaintances. Now she just wants for her little girl what she didn't have. She encourages him to call her sometime and she will even make him a meal. He leaves his briefcase behind and she quickly goes through it. Jackie spies Eric preparing to sit alone and invites him to sit with her at lunch. He reveals what happened between him and Stephanie and their intimacy problem, but he's going to be more patient and work through this. Now with Stephanie out of town, Jackie suggests that Eric come over and she will make him dinner, no hanky panky. Taylor apologizes to Thorne. He tells her this is more than just company business; maybe it is finally their time. She laments that he is a dear man and she knows he has her best interest at heart, but she is not sure they didn't get caught up in the moment of Anthony's predictions and perhaps now is not the time for a man in her life. Ridge invites Brooke to meet him at Il Giardino and they see Eric with Jackie. Although, it is innocent, they also see them hold hands and his kiss.
Ridge: Taylor, my little brother's power play only works if you support him. Thorne: This company needs a change of direction. We both know that. Ridge: He wants to oust me as C.E.O. That's why he's been cozying up to you, using you to make his great escape from the basement to the executive floor. Eric: Ridge, there's no need to be condescending here. Thorne: Why not, Dad? That's who my brother is-- conceited. Ridge: Tell him it won't work, Doc. Tell Thorne your loyalties are wit me, your children's father. Let's end this misguided nonsense right now. [SCENE_BREAK] Amber: Thank you. Oops. Amber: Hmm. Excuse me. Don't I know you from somewhere? Rick: Uh, I don't think so. Amber: Oh, but the face-- that ace is so familiar. Rick: It's probably another Rick Forrester you're thinking of. Amber: (Laughs) That's it. Rick Forrester. Oh, it's been so long, I couldn't even tell. Mm. Oh, sorry. Rick: (Chuckles) Amber: (Laughs) I get a little carried away sometimes. Rick: Amber, you look good. You look happy. I'm pretty sure I know why. Amber: (Sighs) Rosey, yeah. I mean, that little girl is a miracle. She is the best thing that ever happened to me in my life, not that what you and I had back in the day wasn't pretty special. Rick: I thought, uh, you and Marcus have something going on. Amber: Well, you know, he's Rosey's dad. He'll always be a part or lives, but... he's got a thing for Dayzee. It's not hard to see why. She's, like, the total opposite of me, or, you know, what I used to be. See, I'm really trying to change, I am, for my sake, for my little girl's rake, only I get scared sometimes, you know, that I might not be able to seeing as that I've tried before, and I've always kind of backslid. Like that's some big newsflash to you. Rick: Yeah. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: My, my, my. Can you believe this? Not only is Thorne trying to incite a coup, he's trying to commandeer my ex-wife and family. Eric: All right, Ridge. That's enough. That's enough. Now just stop it, both of you. I'm not gonna stand here and watch the two of you tear each other's throats out. Thorne: But you'll let him tear this company apart and this family. Ridge: The only person tearing this family apart is you with your adolescent tantrums and delusions of grandeur. As for this company, Forrester Creations couldn't be in better hands. Just ask anyone. Thorne: You don't have a clue, do you, Ridge? People around here don't like you. They think you're pompous, full of yourself, and if it were up to them, I'd be running this company, as well I should be, because I'm a Forrester by blood. You're a Marone. Eric: Oh, stop it, Thorne. Ridge: (Laughs) Eric: You're both my sons. Thorne: Then why have I been passed over time and time again? I'm through. I'm through standing in Ridge's shadow. For years, I've been powerless to change the status quo. I'm not going to anymore, and neither is Taylor. She's looking out for the best interest of her kids for the future, because Steffy and Thomas have been slighted in favor of Brooke and Hope far too long, and that's going to change, because we have the shares to make that happen. [SCENE_BREAK] Amber: I know you can't force someone to fall in love with you, even if you are the mother of his child. (Chuckles) It's just, um... Rick: Everybody needs to be loved. Amber: I just want my little girl to have what I didn't. Rick: She already does. You love her like crazy. Marcus does, too. I'm sure that both of you are trying to give her the best life possible. Amber: Yeah. Wow. (Chuckles) You really are a great guy. Rick: (Scoffs) Amber: (Chuckles) Why aren't you married? Rick: (Scoffs) Please tell me that's not a proposal. Amber: (Laughs) Your mother would go ballistic. Rick: Oh, my mother's got a lot more to deal with right now. Amber: You know I've done some stupid, hurtful things in my life. But hurting you-- that's the one I regret the most. [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Thorne, please understand that I-- I want you to know how much I appreciate you-- that you care about me an family, but I just don't want to put Thomas and Steffy in the position to side against their father. Ridge: You tried to use my family against me. I should fire your insubordinate ass right now. Thorne: You gave him everything, Dad-- lead designer, your office, C.E.O., the Forrester name. He's nothing like you. He's selfish. (Sighs) And the only person he's loyal to his mother, because he's part her and he's part Massimo, the man you despise, the man whose blood pumps through his veins, just like the way yours pumps through mine. Eric: Son. Ridge: Let him go, Dad. Thorne brought this all on himself. [SCENE_BREAK] Amber: Here you go. Fresh cup of joe. Rick: Thank you. Amber: Yeah. You know, um, look, I'm not knocking Dayzee's or anything, but... I kind of miss Insomnia... Rick: Yeah. Amber: Don't you? Rick: Yeah. Amber: Yeah. I'm mean, we had some great times here. I mean, do you remember? (Chuckles) I mean, you and me and--and C.J. and Raymond. I mean, can you believe it? He is, like, this big, huge mega recording star now and singer, actor. And we knew him when. I actually sang with him once, too, right there on that stage. (Sighs) Who am I kidding? (Chuckles) Screwing up is in my D.N.A. or something, not that I'm passing that off to Rosey. Mnh-mnh. That little girl-- she's gonna make every right decision in her life. She will. You just wait and see. And who knows? Maybe she'll even, uh, snag herself a Forrester someday... like I always wished I could have. [SCENE_BREAK] Thorne: What the hell is going on? Man: Uh, Ridge told me to store these things in here. This is the last load. Taylor: Thorne, I am so sorry about what happened. I wouldn't blame you if you never spoke to me again. [SCENE_BREAK] Eric: Uh, just a table for one, if you will thank you. Eric: Hi. Jackie: Hi, Eric. (Chuckles) Eric: Hi. Jackie: Are you meeting someone? Eric: No, no, no, no. Jackie: Oh, well, Nicky's just left. Will you join me? Eric: Sure. Thanks. Jackie: Great. Eric: Uh, thank you, although I don't think I'm gonna be very good company. I can tell you that. Jackie: Oh, dissention at Forrester? Eric: (Scoffs) Jackie: Well, why don't you tell me about it? Maybe I could help. [SCENE_BREAK] Amber: Do you remember our first kiss? I was totally into you. I mean, but who wouldn't be? You were so hot. Rick: Forrester? That's what clinched it for you, right? Amber: You were so good to me. Then I just kept screwin' things up. (Chuckles) Rick: It was in the past, Amber. There's really no point in dwelling on it. No regrets, right? [SCENE_BREAK] Thorne: You didn't let me down, Taylor. My father did again. Look, you didn't want to pit your kids against their dad. I respect that, okay? And I respect you. Yes, this company means a hell of a lot to me. And, yes, I did get my hopes up. But, you know, something far more significant has happened here, something that has taken us by surprise and... (Sighs) You know, you and I share so much. Maybe... maybe it's finally our time. [SCENE_BREAK] Eric: (Sighs) Jackie: The last time we spoke, you told me Stephanie's good news. The--the tumors, they appear to be gone. So if ever that was cause for celebration, I-- Eric: Jackie, I love Stephanie. I can't remember my life without her. You know, we try to strangle each other from time to time... Jackie: (Chuckles) Eric: But that's just the way it is, you know? I did have a celebration planned, actually. I designed a beautiful piece of lingerie, very simple, very elegant, for her, and she completely misread my intentions. She thought I was pushing for more intimacy and, uh, well, needless to say, the evening-- the evening just went downhill from there. Jackie: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: No, Mother, don't rush home. Everything's under control here. Right. Well, you just get back to the subcommittee. We'll talk later. Okay. Hey. (Sighs) I need to see you. Meet me as soon as you at-- Il Giardino. [SCENE_BREAK] Rick: All right, I-I really gotta go. There's a lot happening at Forrester. Amber: Hey, you think we could do this again sometime? I could cook for you. I am actually really good in the kitchen now. (Laughs) Rick: I bet you are. Amber: Well, call me sometime? Rick: We'll see. I, um, I gotta go. Amber: Okay. (Chuckles) Rick: (Chuckles) Amber: Yes. Rick: Yes. Amber: Oh. [SCENE_BREAK] Thorne: Am I moving too fast, assuming too much? Taylor: I-I don't know. I... (Sighs) Maybe we got caught up in something-- Anthony's prediction, you showing up taught, us... (Chuckles) Spouting our feelings about feeling kicked around and--and not going to take it anymore. But I know that you only want what's best for me and my children. I know that's what's really in your heart, and I want you to know how much I appreciate that. Maybe, you know, maybe just... (Sighs) Maybe it's not the right time for me to have a man in my life. I-I don't know. But I do care about you, Thorne. I do. You're such a dear, special man, Thorne Forrester. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: How was your meeting? Ridge: Hey. Well, if I never have another like it, it'll be too soon. Brooke: Did you know your dad's here? Jackie: Okay, please do not take this the wrong way, because you know how fond I am of Stephanie, but I can't say that it comes as a total surprise to me. I mean, this lack of warmth, of--of passion... it's been an issue between the two of you or a while now, hasn't it? And I do realize that this is different because Stephanie, the poor thing, has been battling cancer, and the toll that takes on a body-- Eric: She needs me to be more patient, and I will be. We're gonna work though this. Jackie: She is a very lucky woman to have you, Eric. Very lucky. Ridge: Dad knows Thorne doesn't have what it takes to lead Forrester. That's why he supports me... and Mother, too. Brooke: You've spoken to Stephanie? Ridge: She's amazing, Logan. A real dynamo-- all the important work she's doing. I just wish that, uh, Dad could be there in Washington with her. I'm sure she'd love having his support. Jackie: I've got an idea. While Stephanie's out of town, why don't you let me make you dinner one night? Okay, we'll order. (Laughs) Eric: (Laughs) Jackie: And there will be absolutely no hanky-panky. Eric: Mnh-mnh. Jackie: 'Cause I know you're missing Stephanie. And I'm still very much in love with Owen. Eric: How's that going? I mean, you've given up... you've given up this man you love. Jackie: He's where he should be, Eric. He really is. He belongs with Bridget and their son, although I'd definitely be lying if I didn't say that I really miss being in his arms. Eric: Oh. Jackie: He was always so gentle with me, you see. He was always so sensitive. In fact, the only man that I've ever known who's been that gentle with me and that sensitive... is you, Eric. Ridge: Mother makes dreadful mistakes now and then. There are times I just want to wring her neck. Right now, I'm so darn proud of her. Everything she does to make a difference in people's lives... when think how close we came to losing her... I don't know what our family would do without her. Dad would be lost if he didn't have her.