After Ridge leaves for International in Paris, Thomas pops in on Brooke at the office. She thinks it won't hurt for Ridge to be alone for a little while. On the jet, up pops Taylor wondering why Ridge is leaving so suddenly .and why he would let Thomas and Brooke defy him. They are just about ready for takeoff and she is not through talking to Ridge, so she buckles up and says she is going too. She reminds him what he said if Brooke ever crossed that line again and created a scandal  that he would leave her and come flying back to Taylor. Eric tells Stephanie that the press conference got his juices flowing and he wants to do something for the new women's line. She is surprised that he doesn't know the line was pulled. She explains the kiss Thomas gave to Brooke while she was asleep. Eric insults Stephanie by saying she needs to go home and lay down. Her medications must be working at cross purposes. He won't stand there and listen to her badmouth his grandson. Brooke is totally devoted to Ridge so this is not her fault either. He and Stephanie go to talk to Thomas. Eric sides with Thomas that he thinks Ridge acted too impulsively in killing the Taboo line. He wants Thomas to look at some designs that he has drawn. Hope and Oliver have lunch on the Rooftop while they are on a break from Thomas and Brooke's shoot. Taylor confesses to Ridge that it was Whip who took the photo of Brooke and Thomas and showed it to the press and all over the web. Ridge says he must be a very small, insecure man to do that and does not deserve Taylor. Brooke won't justify Stephanie's claims that she likes enticing Thomas. Stephanie declares how she trusted her and was welcoming her back into her life and now Brooke is throwing all of that back in her face. Brooke cries that she is not going to let Stephanie's paranoia ruin Thomas's career and she loves her husband too much to let this ruin his and Thomas's relationship. Eric tells Thomas that he has earned this. Stephanie calls Ridge on the jet and wonders what he is going to do. She tells him that Brooke and Thomas are in a photo shoot as they speak. They are going against his wishes. He says he can not deal with that now. She advises him to find Taylor and discuss this with her as she is the only woman who really understands him and can give him good advice.
Brooke: (Sighs) (Knock on door) Brooke: He left... Thomas: All right, well... maybe we should call it a day. Brooke: For Paris. Thomas: Wait. What? Brooke: Marcus called. There's a dockworkers' strike, and Marcus doesn't know how to handle the players the way Ridge does, so... Thomas: Okay, well, uh... (Scoffs) How mad was he still? Brooke: Talking is good. Thomas: Yeah. Brooke: Sometimes it takes a little while to hear things. Thomas: (Sighs) Brooke: And I think it's good that Ridge will be alone for a little while. It certainly can't hurt. Thomas: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Ridge? Where are you flying off to? Ridge: There's a labor situation at International. Taylor, what-- what are you doing here? Taylor: The pilot Jerry called the house, and, I don't know, I guess maybe he was talking about the-- the wrong Mr. Forrester, but I just had these visions of Thomas hijacking the company jet or something. Ridge: Yeah, well, no telling. That could be next. Taylor: So how did-- how did things go? How did--how did you leave it? Did you fire him? Ridge: No. Taylor: So he-- he was able to see reason? Ridge: Well, reason is generally in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? Taylor: But he does understand that the Taboo line is over, right? Ridge: I suspect we're gonna play it as it lies. Taylor: What does that mean? Ridge: It means the way we left it is the way we left it. Taylor: You--you mean the way they left it with the press, that there's going to be a women's line, perhaps, and a lot other ridiculous announcements? Ridge: (Sighs) Taylor: Why, why would you let them defy you like this? [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Oh, you haven't lost your touch, I see. Eric: Well, good. Thanks. I'm glad you feel that way. Stephanie: Did you ever wonder why I had a love-hate relationship with your creative process? Eric: No. Stephanie: (Laughs) Why does that not surprise me? Because, well, it was the only socially acceptable way that you could possibly obsess over a woman's body. That's the truth. Eric: The press conference got my creative juices flowing. That's what it is. I want to do something for the--the women's Taboo line. Stephanie: Obsessing over Brooke's body again, uh? Eric: Oh, for God sakes. Stephanie: Wait a minute. You do know what's going on here. Ridge has canceled the whole Taboo line. There isn't gonna be a women's line. There isn't gonna be anything. Eric: Since when? Stephanie: Well, since earlier today. Well, since he found out that Tom kissed Brooke. Eric: Well, everybody knows that. That's old news. Stephanie: No, this happened on the flight back from Paris. He kissed her, I guess, when she was asleep. Eric: Ah. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Would you get a grip? He kissed his stepmother. Eric: Yeah, if she was asleep, what's the harm? Stephanie: We're not talking about a little stuffed animal or something. Eric: Oh. (Stammers) Just stop gossiping about this. Stephanie: I'm not gossiping. I'm telling you. This is a catastrophe. Eric: You just can't accept the fact that a woman, an older woman like Brooke, would hold an allure over a young man. When I was 16, it was all I could think about. Stephanie: Honey, will you-- please, this isn't about you. We're talking about Tom. It's his father's wife. Eric: All right. Brooke was asleep, and then he kissed her. Then what happened? Stephanie: She woke up. Eric: Just like a fairy tale. Stephanie: Oh, Eric, for God sake. Eric: (Scoffs) [SCENE_BREAK] Thomas: Did it again, didn't I? I just went ahead and enlisted you without your consent, made you the human tennis net between my dad and me. Brooke: (Chuckles) I wouldn't mind if you broke yourself of that habit. Thomas: I'm really sorry. Brooke: No, no, this time, you did have my consent after the fact. I think your father made an impulse decision that isn't in the best interest of himself or the company. (Knock on door) Thomas: Oh. Hope: Here they are. We've been waiting for you guys in the studio. Oliver: Or do you want to do the shoot up here? Hope: Thomas wanted photos to send with the release about a women's line for Taboo. Brooke: We will do it here. Oliver: Okay, no problem. Hope: Okay, cool. Thomas: Whoa, wait, Brooke, a-are you sure? I-I don't want to make you dig yourself any deeper than you already are. Brooke: We told the press Taboo was on. That's how it stands. Thomas: (Chuckles) [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: Doc, do you think that my killing the line was an abuse of my authority? Because that's what Thomas thinks. Taylor: No, no. (Scoffs) If anything, if you hadn't done something about it, it would have been tantamount to child abuse. Ridge, you have got to stop letting Thomas manipulate you with this absent parent guilt. He and Steffy have it down to an art form. (Intercom dings) Taylor: (Sighs) Ridge: Yeah, Jerry? All right. Thanks. All right, we're set to take off here. Taylor: Well, I'm not finished talking. Ridge: Doc, uh, look, I don't know how long I'm gonna be in Paris. Uh, Jerry's gonna take the jet back for us. Taylor: Well, then I'll come back with him. Besides, I don't think you should be alone right now. [SCENE_BREAK] Eric: You need to go home and lie down. I think your medication is working at cross purposes. Stephanie: Well, that's absolutely insulting. I'm appalled by this whole situation. Eric: Look, I'm not-- Stephanie: And you should be, too. Eric: I'm not gonna let you browbeat and insult our grandson like this. Stephanie: I don't blame Tom. Eric: Well, who do you blame? His parents? Stephanie: No, it's Brooke I blame. Eric: (Scoffs) Brooke was asleep! Stephanie: He would never have kissed her if he didn't feel that he had permission, and don't stand there and give me that funny little blank look of yours. Eric: (Sighs) Stephanie: That woman can issue an invitation without so much as a word. Eric: So I see. I see that you are once again dredging up the old, uh, "Brooke is the bane of all people's existence" platform. I'm disappointed. Stephanie: Well, I'm disappointed, too. I thought she changed. Eric: Well, even you cannot deny that she's completely devoted to Ridge. Stephanie: Can't I? Look, when he found out about this thing, he canc--he was so furious, he canceled the Taboo line. And what did she do? She went down there with Tom and held that press conference and announced to the entire world the exact opposite. Please. Eric: Yeah. You're right. It's serious I'm gonna talk to them. Stephanie: Thank you. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: What? Taylor: Nothing. Ridge: Doc, I don't know where she fell asleep. Maybe over there I imagine. I don't know. Taylor: You know, you told me that... (sighs) you weren't giving Brooke any more second chances, and if she ever did anything to cross the line with--with Thomas that you were going to leave her. Ridge: I said I'd walk out that door and straight back to you. I guess that was imagining that they would be having an affair, you know, not an alliance against me. And, of course, you are married. Taylor: (Sighs) Well, I guess, uh, if we're going to sit here and--and tell all... I need to be honest with you. [SCENE_BREAK] (Dance music playing) (Camera shutter clicking) Hope: Think you got enough? Oliver: Yeah. Uh, what do you think, Tom? Thomas: Yeah, I-- you know, I think we're good. Brooke: Yes, sounds great. Thomas: Yeah? Brooke: Mm-hmm. Hope: It must have been some crisis for dad to just take off like that. Oliver: Yeah, it's a serious labor dispute, so it'll be a serious problem Forrester all around the world if it isn't taken care of, and I think that's why--why Ridge went and took care of it. Thomas: Yeah, well, he still should have waited and flown commercial, no matter how inconvenient. That carbon footprint for flying just one person to Paris--come on, that's pretty hard to justify, don't you think? Hope: No, that's right. I mean, it's something we should all think about. Stephanie: What's going on? Thomas: What's it look like? Brooke: (Sighs) Hope: We're-- we're almost finished. Did you need to talk to mom? Stephanie: And Tom. Hope: Okay, well, you know what? We can take a break. Have you eaten? Oliver: I can always eat. Hope: Cool. Stephanie: Your grandfather has something that he wants to say to you, Tom... Thomas: (Sighs) Stephanie: Well, actually, to both of you Thomas: Okay, Grandpa, dad was being ridiculous. He was upset, and he wouldn't listen to reason. He wanted to cancel the press conference, but there was really no time, so I went along with it and... come on, Grandpa. You--you saw the reaction in the showroom. Even leaving myself out of it, I-I still think killing the Taboo line would be the worst decision he's ever made for this company. Eric: I agree with you, Thomas, and I'll tell your father that when I see him. Brooke: So what did you want to say to us, Eric? Eric: I have some designs I want you to see. They're for the Taboo women's line, if, uh, if you'll let me work on it with you. Thomas: What? Come on, let you? Eric: M-hmm. Thomas: Can I see them now? Eric: Yes, come on. Thomas: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: I gather that didn't go quite the way you expected. Stephanie: Where's my son? Brooke: International needed him. Stephanie: So while he's away, uh, you and Tom in cahoots are leading a full- out charge against his authority? [SCENE_BREAK] Hope: Well, that cannot be good for you. Oliver: Onions are a vegetable. Hope: (Laughs) Oliver: Besides, it's just a snack. Hope: What quantity constitutes more than a snack? Oliver: I had a burger before the shoot. This is my second part of lunch. Hope: Hmm. Oliver: I always have my meals in trilogies. Hope: Oh, well, I am so pleased that you could squeeze in some work in between your--your trilogy of meals. Oliver: I like to eat. When you're eatin', there's always something to do. Hope: (Sighs) Well, so Stephanie's on the warpath again. Oliver: How can you tell? Hope: Look at her. She was using Eric as her missile launcher. "Stand still. He's got somethin' to say to you." Oliver: I bet his note is, "more clothes, less touching." Hope: I think the shoot went very well. Oliver: Yeah. Hope: It did, but there is something about my mother. No matter who she is standing next to, whether they are tall or short, young or old, you can't help but think to yourself, wouldn't they make such a nice couple? Oliver: Maybe I should have some salad. You want to switch? Hope: Absolutely not. (Laughs) [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: So it was Whip. Taylor: Yeah, I-I couldn't tell you about it, but I-I had my suspicions about it for a long time. After all, I kind of thought, who else could get into all those web sites and put those pictures of Brooke and--and Thomas all over the web? So... it just took him a while to tell me the truth. Ridge: He is a weak, insecure little man, and he doesn't deserve you, and he's not worthy of you. Taylor: Mm, not without my share of the blame. Ridge: Do you love him? Taylor: You know, he treats me like a queen. You know, I'm happy that... I can be the relationship expert that doesn't have a string of all failed marriages behind her so... but Whip's a--he's a great husband. He's--he's really great. And, I mean, I don't think it's my ideal dream life, but, then again, I don't think anybody really has that, do they? [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Do you have any idea how deeply you hurt Ridge's feelings with that press conference? Brooke: I am not discussing my marriage with you. (Sighs) Stephanie: Tom is at odds now with both of his parents. Does that make you happy? I mean, are you happy to destroy what's left of that family? Brooke: I've done nothing to apologize to you for. Stephanie: Tell me the truth. Do you want that boy? Or do you just enjoy the idea that the boy wants you? Brooke: I'm not even going to justify that with an answer. Stephanie: Of course, you wouldn't. I'm so disappointed in you. I am so disappointed in us-- you and me. I gave you my friendship. I gave you my trust. I gave you my love, and you threw it right back in my face. Brooke: Well, then your love doesn't mean very much, does it, if it wilted in the first high wind? Do you know what this is really about? This is about Thomas. That's all it should be about. He's an ambitious young man who wants to make it in the fashion world. And you know how difficult that is, Stephanie. I am not going to let your paranoia ruin this for him. I raised him (sighs) I love him, and working side by side on this line with him, I've been able to see the wonderful human being that he's grown into. And he deserves to come out from behind his father's shadow and make a name for himself. If Ridge pulls the Taboo line, it is going to destroy their relationship forever, and it may never heal. And I love my husband too much to let that happen. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: Eric, these are fantastic! Eric: Good. Thomas: Wow. Eric Forrester working for me. Eric: Well, that's what this has all been about, Thomas-- all my press conferences and all my successes and failures and champagne and sleep deprivation and brushes with bankruptcy and years when the money came rolling in here hand over fist, so that I could build up something that would be left here when I was gone and in your hands. You can handle it, can't you? Thomas: Yes, sir. Eric: That's what I thought. Thomas: (Sighs) Well, in all fairness, Grandpa, you do know when my dad does come back, this-- Eric: Oh, don't worry about that. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. (Door opens) (Door closes) Brooke: You heard him. You've earned this. You have. I know there were some harsh words spoken today, but I do believe your father thinks so, too. So stop anticipating the worst, okay? Thomas: (Laughs) I will if you will. Brooke: (Sighs) Deal. (Laughs) Thomas: (Sighs) [SCENE_BREAK] (Computer alert chimes) Ridge: Hello there, Mother. Stephanie: Hi, honey. I-I know you're on your way to Paris. I-I just want to talk to you for a moment. Sweetheart, what are you-- what are you going to do about what happened with the press conference? Ridge: Can we discuss all that after I get home? Stephanie: No, we can't. We have to talk about it now. You can't run away from this. I just left Brooke and Tom in a photo shoot. They're doing a whole new campaign line for Taboo, the line that you cancelled. Ridge: Mother, I-I'm on my way to Paris here for a meeting. I-I can't--what can I do from here? Stephanie: (Scoffs) Wait, aren't you the one who said that you would never tolerate another scandal? That was you. That wasn't anybody else. You made that promise to yourself. You've gotta keep it. Listen, I think you should find Taylor, wherever she is, and talk to her. Ridge, you can't stay married to a woman who has no moral compass. She doesn't respect you. She doesn't respect your children, your family. Oh, God, please find Taylor. Talk to her. I mean, she's the only woman who's ever brought any sanity into your life. Grab hold of her, honey, and don't ever let go.