Brooke reminds Stephanie that she said she would do anything for Brooke's forgiveness. So make her believe it by telling the police she doesn't know who shot her. Tell the police they have the wrong man. Nick comes home early and is dismayed that Taylor thinks Jack doesn't like her. Katie visits her dad in jail and they review all that has happened. And she reveals that Stephen may not have to find another attorney as Brooke has a plan that could free him. He won't like it, but it's a favor from Stephanie. He states that Stephanie will want her pound of flesh, if not from him, then from Storm. Katie says Brooke is not going to mention Storm being the shooter. But Brooke does mention Storm; she blurts his name out to Stephanie. She is shocked but even more so when Brooke says they are not going to the police. Storm knows what he did was wrong, but they are not going to let him go to prison for this. Nick and Taylor have a little afternoon delight and declare that everything is alright now. She can be the perfect wife and mother. He reminds her that Jack is a whole person, not just half of someone else, so don't let that eat away at her. Stephen won't let Katie apologize for anything. She vows to make a deal with him; she'll stop feeling guilty if he will. She cries that she won't judge him again either. After a heartfelt talk, they hug and say their I Love Yous. Brooke laments to Stephanie that she knows she wants to forget all of this and not send Storm to prison. He just snapped, he's never done anything like this before nor will he do it again. He needs help, but not in prison. And don't say no. Stephanie has fought for her precious Forrester family, so now Brooke is fighting for hers. She never thought after her rape that she could forgive Stephanie, but now is her chance. Just tell the police she knows who shot her and it wasn't Brooke's father or her brother. Pointing her finger at her, Brooke tells her that she OWES her this!
Stephanie: You want me to tell the police your father didn't try and kill me? Brooke: You didn't see him with a gun. Stephanie: Brooke, they have him on the video. Brooke: (Scoffs) well, that's what everybody's supposed to think. Look, if you can't believe me, then make me believe you, and tell me that you meant it when you said you would do anything for my forgiveness. Just tell the police they have the wrong man. Stephanie: (Sighs heavily) [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Hey, you're home early. Nick: Yeah, I got tired of looking at dresses with no women in them. He looks happy. Hey, buddy. Taylor: Oh, he has been hungry. Nick: Did he nurse? Taylor: Yeah, a little bit this morning and then just a little while ago. But then he started rejecting my breast, because he seems to want that bottle now. Nick: That changes when you get older. Taylor: But he hasn't been crying. Nick: (Laughs) Taylor: No, not much. Nick: Good. Well, Bridget said that would change. Taylor: I just feel like I've been so foolish. Nick: No, you haven't, not at all. Taylor: No, no, I thought he didn't like me. That's what I thought. [SCENE_BREAK] Katie: Thanks. Hey. Stephen: Well, did something happen? Katie: Um, maybe. Not yet. Is it okay to talk in here? Stephen: Oh, I'm sure they'd love to bug this place, but they can't. So how's your brother? Katie: Um, he wants to go to the police, but we wouldn't let him. Stephen: Good. He tends to go in cycles, you know? First his anger goes too far, and then his guilt goes too far. Katie: He's not wrong to feel guilty. Stephen: He'll listen to you and your sisters. You just tell him that you need him. Katie: We did. What about you? Stephen: I'm fine. I may have broken up the family, but I can keep the four of you together. I am gonna need a new attorney, however. Katie: Maybe you won't. Stephen: Katie, I know that a good plea bargain is my best choice, but I can't have Storm represent me. Katie: (Sighs) That's not what I meant. Brooke thinks that she might be able to call in a favor and get you out. Stephen: How? What favor? Katie: You're not gonna like it. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: You want me to lie. Brooke: (Sighs) It's not like you don't know how. Stephanie: That may be true, but this is different. What am I supposed to say to the police? Who am I supposed to say it was? Who shall I describe? Brooke: I don't know-- a short bald man, whatever you want. Stephanie: I see. And if the police just happen to arrest a short bald man who might be innocent-- Brooke: There won't be any evidence. Stephanie: You're right. There won't be, because it all points to your father. Brooke: My father didn't do it. Stephanie: Do you understand the meaning of the word "codependent"? Brooke: Oh, God. Leave the psychoanalysis to Taylor. Stephanie: Well, what are you doing? Look at what you're doing. You're trying to turn this man into a kind, loving father-- a person that he never was. And you're allowing him-- you're allowing him to use you. Brooke: No, I am not. Stephanie: Yes, you are. You're allowing him to--to--to use your trust and your love. Well, I'm gonna do you a favor. I'm gonna put a stop to that right now. Brooke: Oh, my God, Stephanie, I wouldn't be here defending him if I wasn't absolutely sure. Stephanie: Okay, who took the gun from your desk? Brooke: Well, he certainly didn't. Stephanie: (Laughs) Okay, who pulled the trigger? Brooke: He definitely didn't. Stephanie: Okay, he didn't? Then who put the gun in his room? Brooke: My brother did. [SCENE_BREAK] Nick: Hey. I didn't hear a peep out of that boy. Taylor: Yeah, you know, I think it was that, uh, formula-only that they gave him right after he was born. I think it really messed up his stomach. Nick: Maybe he just wanted to feel close to you, and now he does. Taylor: You both have been so patient with me. Nick: Honey, you didn't do anything wrong. Taylor: No, no, I haven't felt like a real mother. I haven't felt like a real woman, for that matter. I mean, there's this whole belief where--where if you're a surrogate woman that--that you were just like an incubator or--or a machine or something. I mean, I didn't feel like that when I was pregnant. I didn't think that at all. It's just that when the baby was born, and then they said he was sick, and they took him away from me, and I-I didn't get a chance to bond, and I just-- (scoffs) Nick: Well, that's over. Thank God. Taylor: (Sighs) Nick: We're not a miracle of modern science. We're just, um, a miracle. And only a real woman could make me feel what I'm feeling right now. Feel what I mean? Taylor: (Inhales sharply) on that note, I think we should go upstairs. Okay. Nick: I think you're right. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephen: Did you and Donna try and stop her? Katie: (Sighs) Brooke thinks it might work. Stephen: Never, honey. Stephanie Forrester wants her pound of flesh. If she doesn't get it from me-- ohh. Katie: Brooke's not gonna mention storm, so it couldn't hurt to try. Stephen: It can hurt your sister. Katie, Brooke has this unshakable faith that people mean what they say. But the Stephanie Forresters of this world go through apologies like peanuts. Now promise me that you'll stop Storm from doing something foolish. Katie: (Sighs) It'll take a group effort. Stephen: Well, thanks for coming by. Katie: Do you want me to go? Stephen: Well, I imagine there's a lot of other places you'd rather be. Katie: I'm not the messenger. No one even knows I'm here. Stephen: Okay. Katie: (Sighs) sometimes I really feel like the odd man out. What you said before-- Brooke and--and even Donna-- they have this faith that people are gonna do the right thing. I am suspicious of everyone and everything. Stephen: Well, honey, that can be a useful thing. Katie: I used to think so. Katie: I decided a long time ago that-- that you never cared about us and nothing you ever said was true. (Sighs heavily) I'm sorry. (Crying) I'm so, so sorry. (Sniffling) [SCENE_BREAK] Stephanie: Storm? Brooke: You promised me you would do anything I asked. Stephanie: Storm. It's just-- well, I-I guess it wouldn't have been too difficult for him to hide the gun in your father's room, would it? But the video-- it's your father's hand pulling the trigger. I mean, you can-- Stephanie: Your brother has a ring just like your father. Brooke: Well, now you understand. Stephanie: No, actually, I don't understand, because storm came to us. He came to Eric and--and myself, and he said--well, that night, he was very apologetic about your father's behavior, and he actually warned us. He said, "keep your distance from my father." So what are you telling me? This is all part of some setup? Brooke: He probably doesn't even know the answer to that question himself. He was always the one who had to keep his wits about him, because he had to protect us from the worst. Stephanie: The worst, yeah. He must really hate your father. Two birds with one stone, I guess, huh? Get rid of your father and me at the same time. Brooke: He knows what he did was wrong. Stephanie: Wrong? You have to go to the police about this. Brooke: No, Stephanie. We're not. [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: Mmm. (Breathing heavily) Nick: (Exhales deeply) wow. Taylor: Yeah, wow. Nick: (Breathing heavily) Taylor: Mmm. Nick: Am I hard to be married to? Am I hard to live with? Taylor: Hmm, you're not serious, are you? Nick: Yes, I am totally serious right now. Taylor: (Giggles) Nick: Am I hard to be married to? Taylor: Mmm. No, you're awesome. I'm the problem child. Nick: (Laughs) no. I would say the problem child would be jack. Taylor: Mmm, oh, he didn't know he would be sick when he was born. Nick: (Exhales deeply) Taylor: That's not his fault. Me, on the other hand, I'm just a hormonal mess. (Chuckles) Nick: You know, the situation with Brooke-- Taylor: (Scoffs) I really don't want to talk about her. Nick: I only bring it up, because I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. Taylor: For what? Nick: I think I was taking care of everyone else but you-- Brooke, other people-- and, um, sort of skipped what you might have needed. Taylor: Well, I can take care of myself. I mean, I should know how too. Nick: Well, that's what I'm talking about. I just don't believe anybody is that together. Taylor: Oh, I fall apart. You've seen that. I mean, I-I try to look like I'm together, like I've got my act together and that I'm composed and perfect. But that's how I've had to live my whole life. I mean, my father was a gambler and an alcoholic. I had to make it look like everything was okay at home. And... (chuckles) that's how I got through medical school, with all the politics, trying to get my internship. That's how I got through my marriage with Ridge. You know, I mean... (scoffs) Brooke was always the one who was an emotional wreck. So I had to look like I was calm, cool, collected and rational and-- then Ridge left me anyway for being honest. And that's when I said, you know, "to hell with this act." I started drinking, and my dark side came out, and, you know-- I just did that in private, though, mostly. Nick: So... (clears throat) we're good then? Everything is okay now? Taylor: Yeah. It's all good. Nick: You'd tell me if it wasn't? Taylor: I would. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephen: Honey, all the evidence pointed right at me. You have to cut yourself some slack. Katie: Why didn't you tell us that you left because Storm told you to? Stephen: I'm not gonna make my son responsible for my decisions, but you don't have to apologize to me for anything. Katie: (Sniffling) I'll tell ya what. (Sighs) let's you and me-- let's make a deal. I'll stop feeling guilty if you will. I can be, um, harsh sometimes. I can be quick to judge. But I have to stop using what happened in my childhood to justify my own bad behavior. I'm just as selfish and corruptible as anybody else. Who am I to judge? Katie: And you know, if you had stuck around, I'm sure I would have a whole litany of complaints-- you never bought me a pony, you never took me to the circus. Stephen: I'd have taken you to the circus. Katie: (Sobbing) (sniffling) (laughs) what, no pony? (Laughs) I don't know you, not really, but I'd really like to. (Sobbing) [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: Prison is not what my brother needs. Stephanie: Well, it'd certainly keep him from shooting anyone else. Brooke: Well, he's the only one in danger now. Stephanie: Can you know that? I mean, look, you want to release your father from prison. We can do that right now. Brooke: I don't want to lose my brother either. Stephanie: I think he's lost already. Brooke: Stephanie, think about your childhood, what your father did to you. But if you picked up a gun, if you hurt somebody-- Stephanie: Brooke, this isn't the same thing. Brooke: No one's pain is the same, no one's anger. Stormy has been carrying the weight of our family on his shoulders for years. And he doesn't know how to stop, and neither do you. Stephanie: He tried to kill me. Brooke: And you tried to kill me up in the cabin, remember? You lost control. Sending storm to prison isn't going to help. If you could just forgive him for what he did to you, which is a fraction of the misery that you've caused me, then we can wipe the slate clean between us. Isn't that what you said you wanted? [SCENE_BREAK] Taylor: You have a dinner meeting? Did you tell me that? Nick: I did. But great lovemaking can make one lose one's mind. Taylor: Well, I have gotta be losing mine, because I don't remember that at all. So I guess I'll be having pizza from Vic's. Nick: I love you. I'll see you later on. Taylor: Mm-hmm. Wait a minute. Before you go, I just want you to know I've got it all under control here. Everything is good. I can be a great wife. I can be a great mother to Jack. Everything's perfect. It's great. And I can do it all gratefully. Mmm. Nick: Honey, our little boy is a whole person, not half a person and not half of someone else. Don't let that eat away at you. Taylor: I'm not. Nick: I won't be late. Taylor: Okay. Taylor: Whoa. Shoot. Damn it. [SCENE_BREAK] Stephen: Katie, we're both completely different people than we used to be. Katie: I guess the question is do I think that I would be a better person if you had stayed? And I don't know. But I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would not live with regret. I like the way my life is now, and I like where I'm going. Stephen: Oh, sweetheart, I think you're amazing. Katie: (Sighs heavily) don't talk like that. Stephen: Why? Katie: It hurts. I want to love you, but I don't know how. Stephen: You think it's not safe? Katie: Is it? Stephen: I couldn't stand to disappoint you again, not again. Katie: Say you won't. Stephen: I've disappointed myself too much to make that promise. Katie: Then I guess we stay as we are. Stephen: Katie, you're my daughter. And when I look in your eyes, I see... your mother and--and my mother. Katie: (Sniffling) Stephen: How can I not love you? Katie: I wanted you to be different. Stephen: So did I. Katie: (Sobbing) Stephen: I love you. Katie: (Sniffling) I love you, too. [SCENE_BREAK] Brooke: Say "yes." I know you want to. Stephanie: You're asking me just to forget that someone actually shot me. Brooke: He snapped. He never did it before, and he's never going to do this again. But we need to get him the help that he needs, Stephanie, and he can't have that in prison. So please, don't send him to prison. Stephanie: No. Brooke: No? Don't say "no," not after everything that you have done to me. You have fought for your precious Forrester family. Well, now I am fighting for mine. And you are going to go to the police, and you're going to tell them that you saw who shot you, and it wasn't my father, and it wasn't my brother. After my rape, I never thought that I'd ever be able to forgive you. Well, now is your chance. You owe me this, Stephanie. You owe me this.