Taylor goes berserk that her husband will be kept in jail due to court proceedings when Ridge is the guilty party. Jackie too blames Stephanie for keeping this quiet. Brooke berates Stephanie and Ridge for not telling the complete truth. It is inexcusable what she is asking of Brooke to wait a few days until the sentencing. Ridge says Nick won't spend another night in jail. Stephanie resigns herself to the fact she needs to get a good lawyer for Ridge. Nick tries to calm Taylor in that she has a much more important job taking care of herself. She wants to blow off speaking with Ridge, but he insists. As shameful as it is, he admits it was he that was involved when the gun went off and Shane was shot and he dumped his body from Nick's boat, hoping he would be sent to prison for it. If Phoebe can forgive either of them, at least forgive Shane. He saw a glimmer of goodness in him and what Phoebe was attempting to do for him. Ridge only wants ten minutes with Nick. He ends up taunting him that he alone knows the truth. And he can tell him or he can walk out. Nick declares that he already knows Ridge's version. Ah, but nay .Ridge looks him in the eye behind bars and tells him it was he, he confesses.
Jackie: Nicky, this is terrible. I don't know what to say. Taylor: I just cannot believe this is even happening! How can it happen with Ridge standing right there in the courtroom? Lt. Baker: Ridge wasn't charged with any crime. Jackie: How long will he be here? Lt. Baker: Your son will be transferred to a state facility right after the sentencing hearing -- Taylor: No, no, no. That is not going to be happening. You know, if you guys don't want to do your job, fine. Give up. I'm not quitting. Storm: You know what, Taylor -- Taylor. Getting yourself arrested is not gonna help Nick. Juries make mistakes. We'll appeal the decision, so just relax, okay? Jackie: You know, this is complete retaliation. Stephanie is the one who should be in jail because of what she did to me. No, I had to egg you into buying the company. Nick: Mother, stop. Now, this isn't over. But what I need from the two you right now is to take care of each other. Taylor: Nick -- Nick: I mean it! It doesn't matter what anyone says. We gotta say solid, steady. And you don't forget we have a child on the way. Taylor: I won't. Jackie: And yes, I will watch over her just as you want. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: Ridge, why didn't you say something? You said that you would tell them! Stephanie: Let's just think this through, all right? He hasn't been sentenced yet. Brooke: What are you talking about? He was convicted of second-degree murder! Stephanie: Will you hear me out? Brooke: No, no. It's really not that complicated. Stephanie: Suppose it ends up just some sort of slap on the wrist? You know, a suspended sentence, probation. Brooke: How, Stephanie? It was murder. Ridge, if you don't go tell lt. Baker exactly what happened, I'm going to have to do it. Stephanie: Will you stop with that threat? The jury's make the decision. No one's going to listen to you now. Honey, look, I know you want to do the right thing, and that's wonderful, but I don't think you going to prison for the next 20 years is the right thing. You tried to keep this very sad young man from killing himself. I think that you should be commended for that. Brooke: An innocent man was convicted! Stephanie: Could we please just wait and see what happens with the sentencing? I mean, suppose -- suppose it is a probation or a couple of years? Brooke: What? No! Stephanie: What do you mean, "no"? What -- this is the son of a bitch that slept with your daughter when he was married to you. What is the sympathy that you have for him? What's the harm? What's the harm in waiting a day or two? Brooke: Even one hour that Nick spends in prison is wrong! It's inexcusable. Ridge, you know the difference between right and wrong, don't you? She should have taught you that. Ridge: Stop. Stop. You both have been like angels on my shoulder. But I don't think any angels in paradise could help me now. Ridge: Where did Taylor go? Brooke: Back to lock-up with Nick. Ridge: Was Phoebe with her? Stephanie: Why? Ridge: Because my daughter comes first. I used to know that. That's what this all used to be about in the beginning. Stephanie: Well, in my mind you come first now. Ridge: I understand now that's the parent in you talking, Mother. Now, I've got to come around and tell the truth. Nick's not gonna spend one more night in jail. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: I've got to get an attorney over here right away. Brooke: He's going to say what's he's going to say. Stephanie: Oh, God. Brooke: It may not go as badly as you think. Stephanie: How can it not? Brooke: He's going to protect you, Stephanie. I'm sure he will. Stephanie: I don't give a damn about that. I just don't want him to go to prison for the next 20 years. Brooke: He's back. The man that I know, the man that I loved, he's back. [SCENE_BREAK] Lt. Baker: I told your daughter she could wait in my office. Taylor: Thank you. Nick: Could we have a minute? Lt. Baker: Sure. Storm: I'll wait with Phoebe. I need to think about an appeal. Nick: Just sit with me over here, okay? Sit down. Taylor: I feel so devastated about this. I mean, I just -- I don't know. I was just planning on you being home. I had a whole "Welcome home" dinner planned. Nick: We'll have the dinner. Just a little setback. Taylor: We will find out who did this. I don't care if it's Ridge -- Nick: Shh. Listen. That's not your job. You have a much more important job. Taylor: Sleeping, eating, and pregnant. Nick: That's the most important thing here. Taking care of yourself because they can't do anything to me as long as I have you and that baby growing inside you. They can't that from me. Listen, why don't you go in an office, okay? You don't want to watch this. Come on. Go on. [SCENE_BREAK] Ridge: I'm looking for my daughter. Lt. Baker: She's in my office. Phoebe: Mom, are you okay? Taylor: I will be. Will you let us have a little time alone? Storm and I need to work on appealing the verdict. Phoebe: You mean, work on blaming dad? Taylor: Phoebe -- Phoebe: Mom, the case is settled now. I mean, can't we just work on getting Nick a light sentence? Storm: Phoebe, the evidence against Nick can be read two ways. My job is to get the court to read it the other way, that's all. Phoebe: Dad, I saw you at the courtroom. Taylor: You're really not wanted in here right now. Ridge: Storm, I need a moment to speak with Taylor and my daughter. Taylor: Well, we're busy. Ridge: Whatever it is, can't it wait a few minutes? Storm: You know what? He might have something to say, so I don't think it's a bad idea. I'll be outside. Phoebe: Nobody's saying it, but I know all of this is my fault. I mean, you guys not talking and what happened to Nick. Ridge: No, baby, it's my fault. Phoebe: I mean, about bringing Shane into our lives. I mean, I really thought I was helping someone less fortunate. Taylor: No, Shane was an adult. He's responsible for his own actions like we all are. Phoebe: Dad, why did you go to Paris? I mean, I know why you went, to open the store, but can you just tell mom that? Ridge: I don't really know why I do anything these days. But I do know that I was afraid, and mostly I was ashamed. Phoebe: Yeah, but you don't have to feel that anymore. I mean, the case is settled. And you know, everyone who wanted to blame you is having to stop now. Ridge: That's what I want, too. I want that. And I want that especially for you. Look, without getting into why and what I was thinking, I want to tell you both what I did. I was involved in shooting Shane McGrath. I dumped his body in the Santa Monica Bay, and I allowed Nick to be accused of doing that, hoping he'd get sent to prison for it. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: I can't get anybody on the phone. Brooke: Good. You'll find a lawyer soon or later. You always do. But to have one take this moment away from Ridge would be wrong. Stephanie: Do you fully understand what you've done? Getting him to come back here? Brooke: Stephanie, he wouldn't listen to either one of us. You really should go home. Stephanie: How? When my son is here? Brooke: He's going to be fine. You can't give him everything. No one should have everything. Stephanie: I just wanted to keep him safe. Is that so wrong? Brooke: No. It's not wrong. But was he safe an hour ago when he saw what happened to Nick and that he caused it? Look, I know you love him more than anything, but your love is a little overwhelming. And nobody should really be raised that way. I'm glad you never loved me. [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Let's go find Lt. Baker. Ridge: Not yet. Not yet. We don't have a lot of time. Just ask me anything you want. Phoebe: I don't understand, Dad. I mean, if you're just doing this for mom, to make Nick not have to go to jail, don't do that. I mean, you didn't kill Shane. Ridge: I don't know who pulled the trigger, Phoebe, but I was the one left standing. Phoebe: Did he attack you? Ridge: He came to make a point. Taylor: Did he bring the gun in the building? Ridge: Yes, he did. Phoebe: Was he trying to shoot you? Ridge: I thought so at first, then he put the gun to his own head. He didn't feel that life was really worth living without you. I think I understand that a lot better now. Phoebe: What did you do? Ridge: Whatever I did, it wasn't very effective. Taylor: But you were trying to stop him from hurting himself? Ridge: Taylor, I felt the gun in my hand when it went off. And then Shane fell to the ground. I'm so sorry for all this happening, but that's beside the point now. Taylor: But then Nick, why -- when did you decide to set him up? Ridge: It had nothing to do with Nick. It had more to do with his boat, because I went to see Phoebe on it that morning. Taylor: Yeah. Ridge: He said something about hiding a lot of secrets in the Santa Monica Bay, that's what it was. Taylor: Yeah, and certainly he shouldn't have been one of them. I mean, why didn't you go to the police or anybody? Just go to somebody! Ridge: I know. I know, but I didn't do that. Taylor: No, and then when he was accused, you -- Ridge: Yeah, I didn't see that one coming, either. Taylor: No, you just let it happen. You were there when he was arrested. Ridge: Right -- I did. That's exactly what I did. Taylor: And you said nothing. Ridge: I said nothing. That's about it. Unless you want to hear the details. Taylor: Yeah, I do. Ridge: Showing Shane a little kindness was not wrong, sweetie. You weren't the one that drove him over the edge. I was. I saw what you saw in him in those last few minutes. Maybe nothing could have been done to prevent it, but Shane took advantage of your goodness, of your trust. So did I. If you could forgive one of us, forgive him. Taylor: Are you going to tell all of this to Lt. Baker? Ridge: Soon. Phoebe: Why did you let it go on for so long? You didn't murder Shane, but that's all you'll go to jail for. Not the rest of it. Ridge: You go through your life, you think you're a decent person. You do for others when you can. Little things happen. You don't blame yourself, you just move on. All of a sudden one day, you're surrounded by devastation everywhere, and everybody's blaming you for it. Now you know me better today, sweetie. This is your father, right here who loves you, who raised you, probably the one true thing I've ever done. No matter what happens, don't you ever forget how much I love you. And Taylor, you take care of our kids like I know you will. Phoebe: Dad? Dad! Stop, Dad! Taylor: It's okay, sweetie. It's okay. Phoebe: No, it's not! [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: Do you need a ride? Maybe you shouldn't drive. Stephanie: Well, I can't just walk away while Ridge is here. Brooke: Well, he knows that. That's why he walked away from you. Stephanie: You blame me for all of this, don't you? You know, sometimes I say to myself, what universe do you live in? You just clap your little girl hands, cry your little girl tears, dust yourself off, pick yourself up, and just start all over again. Do you -- you really have no idea? You're incapable of giving everything, aren't you? Because whatever you give, it always just comes right back to you like a little yo-yo. Brooke: And what about you, Stephanie? Your family lives in fear of you. And when they try to run away, you just haul them right back into your little universe. Except you're not getting Ridge back. Not this time. He's discovered that other people matter as much as you do. More than you do. And that's what breaks your heart. I'm not going to cry any tears for you. [SCENE_BREAK] Nick: Careful. You may get those clean clothes dirty. Ridge: Ten minutes. I'll make sure the commissioner knows just how much my family and I appreciate it. Nick: This is it. Nothing much else to see. Unless of course, you're ready to trade places. Ridge: Oh, I'm sure you'd love that, Nick. Nick: Tell me, how was spring in Paris? Did you throw any bodies in the river? Ridge: Was that verdict really a surprise to you? Nick: You're what's not a surprise to me, Forrester. Ridge: You're such a piece of work, Nick. You can betray your own father, steal his company right out from under him. And you basically used extortion to steal ours. You terrorize my mother, bully some of our cl the way you want them to, you make threats. It wasn't the evidence that convicted you, Nick. The jury simply saw you. Nick: You did it. And I can prove it. Ridge: If you could do that, you would have done it by now. Nick: I will prove it. You know I will. Ridge: I just want to make something very clear to you. I don't owe you a thing. You're no better than I am. I'm going to tell you exactly how all this happened, or I'm going walk out of here. Your choice. Nick: Get out of here, Forrester. I've heard your version. I shot the man. I dumped the body. Get out of here! Ridge: Not you, Nick. Me. Nick: Forrester! Forrester, get back here! Ridge: Shane McGrath is dead because of me. You're in here because of me. That's right, Nick. I confess.