Brooke: You think I betrayed you? Ridge, maybe you didn't understand what I said.

Ridge: No, I heard you, Brooke. I got your message loud and clear.

Brooke: (Sighs)

Eric: You listen to me. I love you. I've loved you from the moment you were born.

And I'm here for you. I hear what you're saying, and I understand. And I promise you-- I promise you that never again will you feel or be second to Ridge. Not ever.

Ridge: Come on. Let's go. Let's have a real talk about the future of Forrester Creations.

Eric: Rick is a part of the future of Forrester Creations.

Ridge: Fine. But he's got nothing to do with the conversation we're about to have.

Eric: Yes, he does, Ridge. He's my son. He's my son just as much as you are.

Ridge: He's a kid.

Eric: I do not look at it that way.

Ridge: Oh, for God sakes, Dad.

Brooke: What is going on here?

Eric: Brooke, good, you're here. Take a good look at our son, the new president

of Forrester Creations.

(Knock on door)

Rick: Come in.

Taylor: Rick?

Rick: If you're looking for Ridge, he isn't here.

Taylor: I know. I was looking for Steffy, and she's not down in shipping, and it's kind of crazy around here. Everybody's running around on their phones.

Rick: Well, I guess good news travels fast.

Taylor: Mm-hmm. I wanted to come tell you that I'm very happy for you. I was very excited about your news.

Rick: Well, thank you. Yes, I'm--I'm very happy, too. I'm happy to finally get the recognition and respect I deserve.

Taylor: No, I meant, um, you walking again.

Rick: Oh. (Laughs) walking. Yes, of course. Walking, are you kidding? Look at me. (Groans) I am floating on air, Taylor. Look at me. (Grunts) although I have to admit, Ridge would probably rather see me still lying flat on my back unable to move.

Taylor: That's not really fair.

Rick: He pushed me off of a building. You remember that? And all he gets is-- is he loses his job? However, if that is the only justice that I get, then I guess I'll just have to live with that, right?

Taylor: Yeah, that's right. And--and--and you're fine. And Eric didn't make you president just to punish Ridge.

Rick: No, he didn't. But I have to admit it is nice to take something from someone who takes something from you.

Taylor: Rick, don't blame Ridge for my feelings. I didn't know that I had them still.

Rick: He confused you. Taylor, come on. That's how he works. That's how he operates. He affects women. You and--and my mother. He mixes up your priorities. He--he turns your lives upside down.

Taylor: And this is your way of what? Evening the score?

Rick: No, I earned the right to sit behind that desk. I belong here.

Taylor: Yes, and apparently your mother thinks so, too.

Rick: Yeah.

Taylor: I was watching the podcast with Ridge. I don't have to tell you how devastated he was.

Rick: I can only imagine.

Eric: I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with Ridge.

Stephanie: But you won't change your mind about Rick.

Eric: No, but I think Ridge may have a different perspective on it now.

Stephanie: Have you heard from him?

Eric: No, but I think he probably saw the podcast by now.

Stephanie: It was quite a show.

Eric: It was. It was beautiful, I thought. Brooke was, uh, kind of stuck between her fiancé and her son, but I think she did a terrific job.

Stephanie: Doesn't change the fact that you made Rick president.

Eric: No. But she was very astute in reminding Ridge how important he is to this company, to Forrester Creations, and how important he is to her.

Stephanie: Point well taken.

Eric: You know, someday you are going to have to accept Brooke's position in this family. Those two love each other, and they always will. Nothing is ever gonna come between them.

Stephanie: Hmm.

Brooke: What did I do wrong?

Ridge: Oh, you have to ask?

Brooke: Yes, I do. Because I don't think I need to apologize for saying warm, wonderful things about somebody that I love. I meant every word.

Ridge: I asked for your support, Brooke. I really thought I could count on you. Everybody tuned in to find out why I wasn't running the company and why Rick was.

Brooke: Eric addressed that.

Ridge: No, he announced it. But he didn't tell exactly what happened-- how Rick parlayed his accident into a nice seat at the top.

Brooke: Ridge, I spoke from the heart. I wanted to make my feelings very clear to you. And then I spoke about the leadership and the future of the company. (Sighs) I don't know what more you expected. I did my best.

Ridge: Well, that was the best you could do for me?

Brooke: Yes! I don't understand why you're so upset.

Ridge: So you say that was your best, huh? I expected better from you, Brooke. A hell of a lot better than that.

Rick: Ridge had to know that my mother was not about to get up there today and make the entire world believe that it was a mistake promoting me.

Taylor: Well, I don't think that's what he expected.

Rick: Well, he expected blind loyalty, Taylor. He always has, because he's always gotten it from you and from Mother, but that's not gonna happen anymore.

Taylor: She didn't even mention his name.

Rick: Because it wasn't about him. This was my day. It was about my new presidency at Forrester Creations. Why even mention his name, Taylor, except to stroke his ego, which, by the way, is not a priority around here anymore.

Taylor: Is that the message Brooke wanted to send?

Rick: (Scoffs) How arrogant is he that a mother is not even going to support her own son?

Taylor: No, nobody-- nobody's faulting her for that.

Rick: Nobody but Ridge.

Taylor: But Brooke knew he was watching. I mean, there were a million things she could have said. Anything to put his mind at ease. She could have noted his contributions to the-- to the company. She could have talked about his great talent. She could have said something, anything.

Rick: Wh--wh--why? Why? Why, Taylor? Again, today was not about him. He acted like a child. He threw a temper tantrum, and he bailed on us today. So what is my mother supposed to do? She's supposed to make him feel li--like a big shot? I don't think so. The days of Ridge playing his games are over.

Taylor: Well, if Brooke doesn't find a way to set things right, that is not the only thing that's going to be over.

Eric: Look, make no mistake, Brooke and Ridge are the future of this company.

Stephanie: Well, what do you mean? Rick's job here is then just temporary?

Eric: No.

Stephanie: Why don't you make Ridge C.E.O.? Or is that what you already had planned?

Eric: Look, Ridge and Brooke are the king and queen of fashion. Everybody knows that. Ridge doesn't need me to validate that.

Stephanie: Oh, sometimes you're such a dolt. He needs to know that he's appreciated.

Eric: Brooke made that clear today.

Stephanie: It's not about Brooke. He needs to-- don't you realize what an impact it would have if the appreciation came from you?

Eric: Nobody can get through to Ridge the way Brooke can.

Brooke: I don't know what else I could have done, Ridge.

Ridge: I wanted you to put things in perspective for me. Well, you certainly did that. During your speech, I was thinking back to all the times you and I shared the podium together. Our greatest triumphs, believing that we finally achieved the lasting happiness that we've strived for for so long. But it still isn't there. We still don't have it.

Brooke: You're just unhappy because of the decision your father made.

Ridge: Why aren't we married, Brooke?

Brooke: (Sighs)

Ridge: Years ago, I left Taylor and my children. I walked out on my family to make a life with you and hope and R.J. and then Nick came into it and then Jack.

Brooke: But we've dealt with that.

Ridge: No, Brooke, I've dealt with it. I've been as understanding and as accepting as I can possibly be.

Brooke: Yes. Yes, you have. You've been incredible.

Ridge: So what's one more little compromise, huh?

Brooke: Ridge, I'm not the one that hired Rick as president. But that's really not the issue here, is it? What you're feeling, what you're talking about, this resentment. You've been hanging onto this for a while.

Ridge: Oh, you don't think I have a right to be upset? You kicked me out of the house.

Brooke: Rick needed me.

Ridge: He played you, Brooke! It was a con. And if you don't see that after everything that's happened--

Brooke: Don't! Don't make this about my son.

Ridge: You're right. You're right. This is about us. It's like we're cursed. We get so close--so close. And then everything just falls apart.

Brooke: Don't say that.

Ridge: How can I not say it, Brooke? We've been doing this dance for so many years, and we're still not together. It's frustrating as hell, Brooke. The two things that I want in this world-- to run Forrester Creations and to have you by my side. And now-- now they're both gone. Gone!

Rick: Well, I guess that's good for you if Mom and Ridge break up.

Taylor: I-I didn't say they will.

Rick: You were at the house. How was Ridge feeling?

Taylor: I left before your mother showed up.

Rick: (Groans) You still don't trust him to do right by you, do you? (Groans)

Taylor: I-I don't know what will happen.

Rick: And you never will, Taylor. You're never gonna know where you stand with Ridge. When are you gonna understand that?

Taylor: The only one who doesn't know where they stand is Ridge because of what your mother said.

Rick: And the things she didn't say.

Taylor: Well, he just-- he didn't understand.

Rick: What? That my mother could be happy for me? That she could possibly put someone before him? How dare she?

Taylor: Well, I-I just don't think your mother understands how serious this whole thing is.

Rick: She probably does now.

Taylor: Well, maybe it's for the best.

Rick: You deserve better, Taylor.

Taylor: I'm not talking about me, Rick. I'm talking about this toxic relationship between your mother and Ridge. They've been on this roller coaster. They've been riding it for years, and one day, the ride has to stop, and today might just be that day.

Eric: Ridge and Brooke have always come together in a crisis, and this one is no different. Their love is something to be celebrated.

Stephanie: (Sighs)

Brooke: What are you saying, Ridge?

Ridge: You let your son take my home, my job and my dignity.

Brooke: Rick hasn't taken anything from you. I gave him a place to recuperate. Eric gave him a job. And you chose to step down.

Ridge: It's a pattern, Brooke. Talk about destiny, how we always come back to each other, overcome every challenge. Why do we always have so many challenges? Why is it all always so damn difficult for us to get our lives together? Maybe it's not really meant to be. Maybe that's our real destiny, Brooke-- always longing for each other, but we can never really make it happen.

Brooke: (Whispers) No.

Ridge: Maybe we got it all backwards.

Brooke: (Normal voice) Ridge, you are not giving up. I won't let you. Do you hear me? This feeling that you have right now, this anger, this resentment, it's going to pass.

Ridge: Hmm.

Brooke: But our love won't. Our love is stronger than ever.

Ridge: I always thought so. I always believed that we could get through anything. Every choice I made, every decision I ever made was based on that belief, Brooke. But somebody always comes between us-- my mother, Nick, countless others, and now Rick. When is it gonna stop? When's it gonna stop, Brooke? I have no idea. I just--I just don't know.

Brooke: Ridge? Ridge, wait! Ridge! (Motorcycle engine revs)

Brooke: Ridge!

Brooke: (Sighs)

Ridge: How could you do this? How could you betray me like this?

Brooke: (Sighs) Whatever this is, whatever you're upset about, we can't forget what truly matters.

Brooke: (Sniffles) (sobs) What is it, Ridge? (Sobs) Why are we even fighting? I don't understand why you're so upset. (Sobs)

Brooke: We can't give up. We can't give up. I know I won't. We need to hold onto our love.

Brooke: (Sobs)

Stephanie: (Scoffs) No, I really don't have a comment. Well, I just don't think I could add anything above and beyond what's already been said. Okay. Yes, well, call anytime. Thank you. Hi, honey. What's up?

Ridge: Brooke. She knew how I felt, what I needed from her.

Stephanie: Is this about the podcast?

Ridge: I told her this whole thing was a con, Mother. That Rick was determined to tear us apart. Well, apparently, it worked.

Stephanie: Well, I-I heard what she said.

Ridge: Look, stop. About how she went on and on about him? I don't need a recap. Thank you.

Stephanie: Uh, well, um... (chuckles) I mean, she was very supportive of Rick. That's true, but--

Ridge: Mother, I know how you feel about her. I don't really need your take on it, okay? I don't even know why the hell I came over here.

Stephanie: I have to tell you, honey, I'm a little confused. I'm not--

Ridge: I just don't want to talk about it anymore, all right? Just let it go. Let it go.

Brooke: What happened? How could this have happened? (Sobs)

Rick: Mom? You okay?

Brooke: I don't want to talk right now, honey.

Rick: Taylor was at the office today and said that, um, she watched the podcast with Ridge and that he wasn't too happy about it.

Brooke: Why? Everything I said was so-- (sighs) he was angry at first, and then he was-- he was sad, and he was disappointed, and he said that I betrayed him.

Rick: That you betrayed him? Why? Because you were supporting your son? Are you kidding me?

Brooke: I don't know. God, what did I do?

Rick: Nothing. Look, I-- maybe this'll blow over. It--it always does.

Brooke: No, I don't think so. He was very hurt and disillusioned when he left here. He stormed out.

Rick: He left?

Brooke: I don't think he's coming back. "Maybe our destiny is to be apart." That's what he said.

Rick: He said that? Well, maybe he's right.

Rick: (Sighs) Mom, look, how many times are you gonna set yourself up for this? I can't take it anymore. This man hurts you time and time again. He storms out of here because--because you were supporting your son? Please. Look at me. Look at me. You have to let this man go. Tell me it's over with Ridge. Say it. Say it. It's over. (Sighs)