4645 Friday, September 23, 2005
Taylor dined alone at Cafe Russe on escargot and a cosmopolitan. (Now there's a nutritious meal for you.) Suddenly, Hector appeared from nowhere. He made some lame joke about being there in case someone choked on a snail shell and asked if Taylor was by herself. She rattled off how her entire family was mad at her, so Hector joined her for dinner. He explained he usually didn't dine at such fancy places (and later proved it by drinking from his soup bowl) but he had gone to her office and found out where she was going to dinner. (Did I miss something? Why is Hector pursuing Taylor? I know that Miss Sydney Penny who portrayed Samantha has jumped ship and is now over on All My Children. But what happened to Samantha? Why is Hector stepping out on her? Was this covered and I fell asleep?) Taylor listed her woes and wondered if she was fit to give other people advice. Hector explained her only problem was not being appreciated for who she was. He had the same problem. In fact, he wanted to show her something. And away they went.
On the Shady Marlin, Nick's momentary pause was nothing at all. He and Bridget exchanged vows and were made man and wife. The wedding was over without a hitch. Poor Brooke stood on the deck and quietly cried as her daughter married the man she actually loved. There was a minor amount of celebrating and congratulatory conversation. Jackie told Bridget how happy she was for them and wanted to know if she could ever forgive her for being such a pest. Bridget smiled and told her mother-in-law she understood. Alone for a brief moment, Brooke and Nick chatted. She thanked him for making her daughter happy. Nick said she could count on him being a good husband and father. After everyone had left, Nick took Bridget into the cabin and showed her - just like on the night of their engagement - a huge bed had been installed where the sleep sofa usually sits. (How on earth does he get it in there?) He vowed his love to her. She told him how happy she was. And the love making began.
Meanwhile, Brooke returned to Forrester Creations. She went to Eric's office to look at some contracts. Eric found her there and stated how impressed he was with her actions. She had given up her own happiness with Nick in order not to hurt their daughter. Brooke said it was about time she was the mother Bridget had always deserved. After Eric left, Brooke sat alone in the dark and remembered all the good times she had shared with Nick. Her reverie ended when Ridge appeared at the door. He wondered why she was still there. Brooke said she had some work to catch up on and suggested Ridge go home. The designer said he didn't have a home. Taylor had kicked him out! Brooke was astonished by the news and wondered what was going on. Seeing Brooke was upset about something, Ridge made a play. He said he didn't think they had both been available at the same time ever before. And he needed her more than ever right now.
What on earth is he talking about? I'm not sure, but Brooke looked just as stunned by his admission as I was.
4644 Thursday, September 22, 2005
Eric found Bridget in his office at Forrester Creations. She invited him to the Shady Marlin that evening for her wedding to Nick. Eric was pleased Bridget was so happy and promised to find a dress for her to wear. Bridget explained she was getting over her insecurities about her mother and Nick. She hoped this wedding would settle all her doubts. She then took off to invite her mother.
Meanwhile, in Brooke's office, Nick repeated - several times - he simply could not marry Bridget if Brooke was in the vicinity. He didn't care what Brooke had to do, she could not show up on his boat that evening. After Nick left, Bridget came to her mother's office to see if she was ready for the wedding. Brooke explained it might be better if she didn't attend. It would be less complicated. Bridget protested. The best way to put the past behind them was to face it. If Brooke came to the wedding, then everyone would see the hurt and problems of the past were over. Bridget then stated she could not get married if her mother wasn't there. (Oh, what a pickle. Nick won't get married if she IS there, and Bridget won't get married if she ISN'T.) Brooke decided to honor her daughter's wish and agreed to attend. Eric entered and interrupted a bonding hug between mother and daughter. He gave Bridget a dress and she took off. Eric was surprised Brooke had agreed to go. Brooke assured her ex-husband there was nothing to worry about. Bridget's happiness was the most important thing to her.
Back in Eric's office, Ridge and Dante met up. Ridge had heard the news of Dante's job at Forrester Creations and was excited to be working with him. Dante assured him that his relationship with Brooke had nothing to do with him getting hired. Ridge stopped dead in his tracks. What relationship? Dante explained they were dating. You can imagine Ridge was not happy to hear that. Nor was he pleased to learn Bridget was getting married that very night. "You don't seem to know much," Dante uttered. (We all know THAT is a fact.) Dante said he hoped Ridge wasn't jealous he was seeing Brooke. Ridge hemmed and hawed a bit. He said he was still a big part of Brooke's life. Dante corrected him. Ridge was the last thing on her mind. (Boom! Ridge's ego simply burst like a helium balloon meeting a safety pin.) Ridge was offended. Dante said he had meant no disrespect. He simply meant Brooke was concentrating on making sure Bridget was happy.
On the Shady Marlin, Nick got dressed for the wedding. Our favorite temptress, Jackie, arrived and offered to help. But instead of hanging the crepe paper, she hounded Nick about his feelings for Brooke. For the final time, Nick implored his mother to give it a rest. He was marrying Bridget. They were having a child together. That was his future. If he married Bridget, he would lose Brooke. However, he'd also lose her if he didn't marry Bridget because Brooke would never forgive him. He couldn't win. Jackie vowed to support her son in his decision. Massimo arrived with the captain and everyone moved to the deck.
As the sun set, Eric and Bridget arrived. Bridget went in the cabin to fix her make up. Then Brooke showed up. Nick was unpleasantly surprised and pulled her aside. He reminded her of his threat. Brooke got tough. She told Nick to pull himself together and just get married. Sure, it wasn't what they wanted, but Bridget's happiness was paramount. Suck it up, sailor! A fife player squeaked out a little sea ditty and Eric walked Bridget the 8" to the middle of the deck and the ceremony began. (And oy! The captain stood with his back to Brooke, Eric, Jackie, and Mass! What sense did that make? He should have been on the other side of Nick and Bridget, not between them and their parents. I suppose it's for some artsy staging purpose, but it makes no sense to anyone who's ever been to wedding. And we've been to several with this couple alone.) Bridget said "I do." But when it came time for Nick's response, he just stood there. Brooke muttered under her breath "Do it, Nick. Just do it."
Sweet Duncan Hines. Where's the cake?
4643 Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Nick had just finished proposing to Bridget in his office at Marone Industries. Bridget happily accepted and got all hot and bothered. She straddled Nick in his office chair and reminded him of the incredibly hot sex they had the previous evening. She told him he had never been so passionate and she wanted to do it again. Right there. Right then. She hungrily unbuttoned his shirt. Nick obviously wasn't in the mood. He looked over Bridget's shoulder and spied a framed photo of Brooke on his bookshelf. Talk about your buzz-kill. (But here's my question. Why does Nick have a framed portrait of Brooke - all by herself - in his office? Wouldn't that seem a little strange to Brooke's daughter? Nick's fiance? I can understand a family portrait with Brooke and her kids which included Bridget. And if he's trying to forget Brooke, why does she have her picture sitting around? These are just some of the things that make me wonder.) Nick protested Bridget's amorous advances but she was determined to get some of the hot Nick lovin' immediately. Make out-us Interrupt-us! Nick's secretary barged in and told him the captain who was going to perform the marriage ceremony was on the phone. (Funny how Marone Industries, with all it's money, can't afford an intercom system, isn't it? Why did the secretary have to walk into the office and personally tell Nick about the phone call? I'm sure there is a button on the phone she could have pushed to let him know who was on the line.) Nick begged off Bridget's passion play and took the call.
Meanwhile, over in Brooke's office at Forrester Creations, Dante presented some design ideas to Brooke and Eric. Eric was impressed with the concepts and hired Dante on the spot. However, Brooke's mind was a million miles away. She was thinking about her love for Nick. Eric seemed a little perturbed by Brooke's ambivalence toward Dante's presentation. Brooke apologized and said she knew how fabulous his work was. After Eric left, Dante told Brooke she had to move on and forget her feelings for Nick. Brooke opened up and related how Bridget had told her of the fabulous sex she and Nick had shared. Dante thought she might be jealous, but Brooke explained she was afraid Nick's intentions might not be totally pure. The conversation was interrupted by a phone call from Bridget inviting her mother to the wedding on the Shady Marlin that evening. How could Brooke refuse?
Back in Nick's office, the sailor could not believe his fiancée had invited Brooke to the wedding. Bridget said she had to invite her parents. Nick replied he had wanted it to be only the two of them. Bridget poo-pooed Nick's complaints and said they could not get married without their parents there.
Later, back at Forrester Creations, Bridget went to her father's office and found Dante there. She was impressed he had landed a job. After some discussion, Bridget said she was still slightly insecure about Nick's latent feelings for her mother. He had not wanted to invite her to the wedding. What could that mean? Dante was honest and said Nick was not his first choice to share a life with Bridget. But he was a man of honor and integrity. He cared about and was committed to Bridget and their unborn child. And Dante knew for a fact that Brooke would never do anything to hurt her daughter. There was no need for Bridget to worry. Bridget thanked Dante for being such a great friend.
But elsewhere, Nick stormed into Brooke's office. She wanted him to leave. She had just been fantasizing about the two of them making love on her desk while wearing white clothes and being shot through soft-focus lenses. (Lord knows it doesn't get any hotter than that.) Nick made it clear Brooke could not attend the wedding that night. Brooke didn't want to watch him pledge his devotion to her daughter, but there was no way she could get out of it. Nick told her to think of something. He was committed to a future with Bridget, but he didn't think he could go through with it if Brooke was in attendance! Sweet San Francisco treat! Put the rice away and send the flower girl to bed! Another wedding is going down the tubes!
4642 Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Another new day had come to Los Angeles. We know that because Taylor was in her "old" office. Receptionist Margaret (I wonder how they picked that name for the person who really runs the place? Does anyone know any Margaret's take care of every little thing that comes up? Anyone? Anyone?) welcomed Taylor back to the fold and said they had not changed her office since she had died. (Funny. I sure don't remember this office at all. In fact, I don't recall Taylor ever having had partners in a group of shrinks, either. Must be my faulty memory. History is NEVER re-written to accommodate a new story.) Margaret left and Hector showed up with a potted plant to make the office nice and homey. There were some goo-goo eyes exchanged and then Butthead Ridge arrived and wanted to know what was going on. In fact, he hadn't even known Taylor was going back to work. He learned it from the twins. Hector told Ridge to go easy on Taylor. Ridge told Hector to go put out some fires. Hector scowled and took off. Ridge and Taylor disagreed about her going back to work, but the fireworks really started when he told her about his plan to get Thomas back home with a fashion competition. Taylor was shocked Ridge would do something to idiotic. (I don't know why. I've grown quite accustomed to his dumb ideas. Remember the time he repelled into the mine shaft to save Bridget? Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, that boy.) Taylor thought it was a bad lesson to teach Thomas. Besides, what if Thomas won the contest? Ridge assured his wife that would happen. But Taylor made it clear she would never accept Gaby into the family, no matter what silly bet was won or lost.
Over at Forrester Creations, Brooke was swamped with work from Megan. Busy as she was, she could not get Nick off her mind. Bridget arrived and wanted to chat with dear old mom. At first, she felt strange sharing personal things with her mother again, but Brooke insisted they become best friends again. So Bridget let it rip. She and Nick had the most passionate sex ever. He had taken her to places she never knew she could go. (OK, sweetie. That's way too much information. I'll bet Brooke was re-thinking her idea to share so much.) Bridget explained how Nick had said he was never "going back again." He had seen the light of true love on his boat on stormy night. Brooke held back her tears when she realized he had been talking about her and not her daughter. Brooke hugged Bridget and told her how much she deserved this happiness. But later, alone in her office, Brooke wept quietly as she remembered all those good time clips she had shared with Nick.
Meanwhile, at Marone Industries, Nick was equally busy with work and equally distracted by memories of Brooke. Dante arrived without an invitation. Nick wanted him to leave, but Dante decided to speak his mind first. (It didn't take long, believe me.) He wanted to know how long Nick thought he could pretend he was committed to Bridget when it was obvious he was head over heels for her mother instead. Nick basically told Dante to mind his own bee's wax. And for his butt-inski information, he had arranged for a nautical friend of his to marry him and Bridget on the Shady Marlin that very evening. Dante warned Nick it would all come crashing down around him sooner or later. Dante left and a shockingly svelte though pregnant Bridget showed up. (She called herself Nick's "sassy wench." Nick corrected her and said sailors preferred their wenches to be "saucy" instead of "sassy.") Anyway, they agreed the sex had been great. Nick surprised Bridget with the news of their impending wedding. Bridget asked for him to propose again. She took off her whopper diamond ring. Nick got on one knee and asked her to marry him again. Surprise, surprise, surprise! She accepted. Bridget looked ecstatic. Nick looked as if he learned Jackie was making spotted dick for dinner.
4641 Monday, September 19, 2005
SPOILER ALERT!!! I am going to go off the deep end later in this synopsis. Be prepared. Faint of heart, I'd advise you to skip it altogether.
It was a sunny new day in Los Angeles. Ridge had stopped by his house to chat with Taylor about Thomas. Taylor was upset her son had not come home. In fact, she was wondering if she should have returned from the dead at all. Nothing was the way she had imagined it and she had only managed to screw things up since her return. Ridge told his wife not to take all the blame in the situation. Everyone had made mistakes. He had a plan to get Thomas to move back home. And as for his return, he would do anything to get back in her good graces. "Counseling," said Taylor. "Anything but that," Ridge replied. (So Ridge is basically a liar. He says he'll do anything but he really won't. And what's the big deal, you chowderhead? You go with Taylor and see a shrink. You're obviously an accomplished liar, so lie. Tell her the things she wants to hear and you're back in. It's very simple. Geez! You are so stupid!) Taylor wanted to know Ridge's plan, but he decided he'd go and pull it off first. (Idiot!)
After Ridge left, Hector stopped by to check on the alarm system and Taylor. She said things were more of a mess than ever. Hector told Taylor she was beautiful and accomplished. Ridge was a fool not to see it, but he sure could. (What's this? Hector got a little crush on Dr. Taylor? That's cute.) He asked her out for coffee. Taylor was thrown by the invitation and said she and Ridge were definitely getting back together. Hector made it clear they could be friends and look for office space for her. Oh, she forgot. Taylor's starting to work tomorrow with her old partners. Boom! Done! Hector was proud of her efforts and said he was on her side.
Over at Spectra Fashions, Thomas and Gaby folded up their bed and discussed Sally's generous offer. Thomas thought it might be a good idea to take it. Upstairs, Sally showed Clarke, Thorne, and Darla the sales figures on Thomas' teen line. They were through the roof. Sally told Thorne of her plan to keep Thomas on the payroll. Thorne had nothing against it, but didn't want to force Thomas to do something he didn't want to do. Thomas and Gaby came into the room. After some discussion, Thomas decided to forgo college and stay working at Spectra. However, just as he was ready to put ink to paper and sign the contract, Ridge showed up to stop the proceedings.
Ridge had a deal. He challenged Thomas to yet another fashion showdown on the runway. Thomas' designs against Ridge's designs! After the show and reviews, whoever had the highest sales from their line would win. If Thomas won, Taylor and Ridge would welcome Gaby into the family and accept the marriage. If Ridge won, Thomas and Gaby would annul their marriage and Gaby would be sent packing to parts unknown. At first, Thomas said there was too much to lose. But Gaby convinced him he could win and this was their chance to be together AND have the blessing of Thomas' family. All righty then! Shake. Let the smack down being.
Is anyone else as flabbergasted by this turn of events as I am? To begin with, how many fashion showdowns can the world tolerate between Spectra and Forrester? First, there was the challenge in Portofino when Eric wanted to get Ridge out of the doldrums when Taylor died - although we now know she wasn't dead. Then when Thorne went to work for Sally, he and Ridge had a contest to see who was better. Third time, Eric wanted to take on Spectra. The winner got to keep Thorne working for them. Although repetitive, those were all well and good. But why on earth would ANYONE agree to Ridge's proposal? This isn't some silly bet, its Gaby's life! Why would Thomas agree to such a thing? It's ludicrous. It's totally unbelievable! I'm in such a lather. And so what if Thomas does win. Does it mean Ridge will truly accept Gaby into the fold? Heck no! It would be an uneasy truce at best. He'd only have to play nice to hold up his end of the bargain. Why didn't Thorne or Darla - or even Clarke for that matter - stand up and just say "NO." At the very least, I think Thorne and Darla should complain about being stuck in storyline Siberia while Thomas and Gaby are forced to take part in these shenanigans. I'm a true fan of "THE SHOW" and I'll stand by it through thick and thin. (Remember when Maggie held Sheila hostage in the Psycho house? It doesn't get much thinner than that.) I'm still here. Let's just hope this smack down happens soon and we can move on other things. Like why is Hector flirting with Taylor? Where's Samantha? Where's Caitlin? Where's Jimmy? Where's Falcon Crest?
