>> Steffy: Granddad's been sick the entire time I've been gone? I-- I wouldn't have left
if-- if I knew. >> Ridge: Don't do that.
You couldn't have known. We didn't know.
>> Steffy: How's Donna? >> Ridge: She's okay.
It was hard for her in the beginning because she
didn't have anyone, but now she's got Katie
and Brooke. That's why she went over there now.
>> Steffy: Oh. >> Thomas: This, uh...
it doesn't feel real. >> Steffy: Yeah.
>> Thomas: Right? He can't-- He can't go.
I'm not ready to lose him. >> Ridge: I'm not either.
♪♪♪ >> Donna: Honey, um, why
don't we just chill by the pool today?
It's-- it's a gorgeous day. >> Katie: You know, you did
what you wanted to do. You won the fashion challenge.
You beat Ridge. I think that deserves
a little bit of a breather. >> Eric: To the victor belong
the spoils. I'm going to go into my building,
into my office. I'm gonna put my feet
on my desk. [ Eric coughing ]
>> Donna: Here you go. >> Eric: Thank you,
but it's all right. It's all right. I'm fine.
I'm not going to die today. ♪♪♪
[ Eric coughing ] >> Eric: I'm sorry. Excuse me.
I have this, uh, this cough thing, and every time--
every time I cough, she thinks it's gonna be
the death of me. What-- what do I owe
this visit? >> Brooke: Uh, well, I have
a break in my schedule and I thought it would be
nice to spend some time with my sisters.
>> Eric: Ah, good. >> Brooke: So, are you going
to the office? >> Eric: Yes. Yes. My office.
Yes, I am. Uh-huh. Is Ridge there?
>> Brooke: Yeah, he is. >> Eric: Good, good.
I want to see him. I want to talk to him.
But don't worry, I won't gloat about his loss.
Not too much. I'll see you later. Bye.
>> Brooke: Bye. How are you holding up?
>> Donna: I don't know. I'm just trying to hold it
together, you know. It's been killing me,
keeping this a secret. >> Brooke: Yeah. Well, uh--
>> Katie: What is it? What's going on?
>> Donna: Brooke, what? >> Brooke: Uh, Ridge couldn't
hold back. He said he couldn't look his kids in the eye
and just lie to them, let alone hide his feelings, so...
>> Donna: What are you saying, Brooke?
>> Brooke: So, he-- he told Steffy and Thomas
the truth about their grandfather.
♪♪♪ >> Thomas: So, we're really
supposed to keep this a secret?
>> Ridge: Granddad doesn't want anyone to know.
>> Steffy: Just act like everything's fine?
>> Carter: Seems like I walked in on something.
>> Ridge: Just filling Steffy in on what she missed.
>> Carter: Okay. Maybe you can fill me in too?
You've been avoiding me. Do they know?
>> Ridge: Do they know what? >> Carter: About the fashion
challenge? The showcase that Eric won?
>> Ridge: Yeah, they know. >> Carter: Okay, then
I need answers. After months of hard work,
us bending the budget forwards and backwards so this
showcase can happen, you what? You just-- you just give away
the win? Your designs outsold
Eric's that day, so why did you let him
believe you won? ♪♪♪
>> Donna: I can understand why Ridge would wanna tell
Thomas and Steffy about Eric. I mean, it would be too
difficult to keep it from them, but listen,
Eric cannot know that they know.
>> Brooke: They understand. >> Donna: Thank you.
Now, I just-- I just have to pull it together because I--
I need to be strong for Eric. >> Brooke: Donna, you've been
his rock through this. >> Donna: But then why do
I feel like I'm just falling apart?
>> Katie: Because you shouldn't have to go through
this all by yourself. >> Donna: Well, what choice
do I have? I mean, I-- Uh, Eric doesn't want
anyone to know. >> Brooke: I wish he would
just give up on the need to feel like he has to keep
his condition to himself. We could all be there for him
and love him and support him. But instead, we have to play
this charade and pretend like everything is fine when
nothing could be further from the truth.
>> Donna: I know. [ knock on door ]
>> Hope: Hi. Um, is Eric around because I had a few
ideas for Hope for the Future and I--
Aunt Donna, is everything okay? >> Donna: Yeah. Why?
Of course, everything's fine. I just, um-- um-- I--
>> Hope: Mom. What is-- what is going on?
>> Brooke: Uh... >> Donna: You can tell her.
>> Hope: Tell me what? >> Brooke: Sweetheart,
it's Eric. He's sick.
>> Hope: Sick? >> Brooke: Well, it's awful
really. He's-- he's dying. Eric is dying.
♪♪♪ >> Carter: What is this
Ridge? Come on. Why are you avoiding
my question? You let Eric believe he won
the fashion challenge. Why? >> Ridge: I wanted
to see him happy. It means a lot to him.
>> Carter: No, I know how much you were looking
forward to winning. I was there when you saw
the numbers. I showed them to you. Now, you weren't
thrilled it got this far, but you were happy you won.
You believed you should be sitting behind that desk.
You asked me to keep it quiet. You wanted to be the one
to tell Eric he lost. And out of nowhere,
I hear that you announced him and RJ the winners?
You see, the more you avoid my question,
the more I want an answer. Talk to me, man.
What is this? There has to be a reason.
Do you two know why? >> Ridge: Carter, just...
>> Eric: Well, look at this. [ Eric chuckling ]
I'm glad to see that my office is being used
as a conference room. That hasn't really changed.
Although, I have to say, I don't want anyone
to sit behind my desk, all right?
>> Ridge: No one's gonna sit in your chair, Dad, because
winner takes all, right? >> Eric: And I will.
Yes, that's right. I forgot that a little healthy
competition is really good for an artist.
And you did that to me. You did some really wonderful
work and you forced me to do some of the best work
in my career. In-- in my whole life.
>> Ridge: Is this you saying thank you?
Is that what this is? >> Eric: No, although I do
appreciate it. It was really fun beating you.
What's this? Why are you all looking
like that? Oh, I think I understand.
Your father got to you, didn't he?
>> Steffy: Yes, he did. He told us everything.
♪♪♪
>> Hope: I don't understand. How could Eric be dying?
He seemed more energized than ever.
He completed his last collection. I mean, he beat
Ridge in the showdown, so... >> Brooke: I know, I know.
We were all shocked to find out about
his condition. >> Hope: How long has
he been sick? >> Donna: Um, well, uh, we--
we-- we started seeing symptoms a few months ago.
>> Hope: So, he's-- he's just been in pain
this entire time? >> Donna: Yeah, we thought
the tremors was just arthritis really, and--
and that's why we asked RJ to help him design
because he couldn't sketch. >> Hope: So, that's how RJ
became involved in all this? >> Donna: Yeah. RJ was
literally Eric's hands. >> Brooke: Eric is a very
proud man, so it was devastating for him to think
that maybe he wouldn't be able to design anymore.
>> Donna: Especially when he felt that he had so much
more to create. >> Hope: Oh, so that's why
he wanted to call this collection his grand finale.
>> Katie: What's crazy is that if Ridge had known about
Eric's condition, he never would have tried
to stand in Eric's way. >> Donna: Well, we didn't
know the full extent of it at first. We just thought
that we'd have time to figure it out, you know?
>> Hope: I'm so sorry, Donna. >> Brooke: Honey, it's
important that you don't let Eric know that you found out.
Because he only thinks that Katie and Donna and RJ know.
>> Katie: But word is spreading.
>> Hope: But why wouldn't he want everyone to know?
>> Donna: He doesn't want to be pitied.
>> Hope: We wouldn't pity him. We love him.
He's always been there for all of us and now,
when he needs our support the most, we're just, what?
We're supposed to pretend like we don't know?
I'm sorry. That's just-- Mom...
>> Brooke: I know, honey. I know.
♪♪♪ >> Eric: So, what exactly did
your father tell you? Thomas? [ Eric chuckling ]
Your-- your kids are tongue-tied here?
Well, I think they can't quite believe that their
grandfather beat the great Ridge Forrester.
>> Ridge: Well, if I'm great, Dad, it's because of
everything you've given me. >> Eric: What about you,
Carter? Were you surprised that I won
the fashion challenge? >> Carter: I have to admit,
yes. But not too surprised though.
You're Eric Forrester. I'm very excited to see you
back at the forefront for many years to come.
Now, I should get going. Thanks to you, I have several
orders to manage. Catch you later, Ridge.
>> Eric: Nobody should be that surprised. Not really.
I mean, I'm older, God knows. And, uh, I've lost a few steps
here and there, but there's still a lot of--
a lot of gas in the tank. And besides, we do art here.
Art lives forever. It never dies
and it's our job to be sure it's never forgotten.
It's like, uh, like this-- this old stapler here.
It's been here since the very first day.
Helping-- helping this-- this company start from
the beginning and to last forever, but he got--
he got lost and he got forgotten for a while.
But now, it's back, like me. These are going to be
mighty days at Forrester. They really are.
And I'm going to make the most of every day
I have left. >> Ridge: Dad, you--
>> Eric: Look Ridge, uh, you know, I'm not naive.
My days are limited. Time is not on my side.
>> Steffy: Grandad, please don't say that.
>> Eric: Steffy, it's true. Look, I'm not gonna just, uh,
go quietly off into the good night somewhere.
I'm not gonna do that. And Ridge, you--
you, hey, you want me to-- You wanted me to just retire.
To sit back and lie back on some-- some yacht
somewhere. But life is meant to be lived and I intend
to live every day of my life until my last.
♪♪♪
>> Brooke: Ridge has told Steffy and Thomas about
their grandfather. >> Hope: And how did they
take the news? >> Brooke: Well, like you.
Shocked and in disbelief. >> Hope: Oh, I just don't
understand why he thinks that we would pity him?
When we could support him and show him our--
our-- our love. >> Katie: It's his decision.
>> Hope: Maybe it's the wrong one.
I'm sorry, but... >> Katie: No, no, I--
Believe me. We all felt the same way
when we found out about Eric's illness, but it's not
about how we feel. It's about how he feels.
It's his decision, how he wants to live his life.
And he says he wants to live until he dies.
>> Donna: Exactly. That's-- that's what he keeps saying.
No sorrow. No tears. >> Katie: We can love and
support him by honoring his wishes and not treat him
like he's dying. Just try to treasure every
moment we have with him. >> Donna: That's so hard,
but that's what I'm trying to do. To-- to live in
the moment. To love in the moment.
And as-- as horrible as this is, Eric's happy.
I mean, you should see how excited he is about life.
I mean, you should have seen him designing with RJ
in this room. He was-- he was on fire.
And-- and the look on his face when he learned that
he won the-- the showdown. That's what he wants to do,
until the end. Smiles and laughter and love.
>> Brooke: Don't worry, honey. We'll all get through this
together, as a family. ♪♪♪
>> Eric: Time stops for no man. Not even your grandfather.
And don't worry, I'm not going anywhere very soon,
and certainly not after my greatest achievement.
>> Ridge: No, that was your finest hour. Mine too.
Because I got to share the stage with you.
>> Eric: It was fun, wasn't it? >> Ridge: It was.
You inspire me. >> Thomas: You inspire me too,
Granddad. You know, I don't-- I don't know if you actually
remember this at all. I must have been like 14.
Yeah. Um, I had an art project for school.
>> Eric: I know. I know. It was the, uh...
it was that watercolor. >> Thomas: Yeah.
>> Eric: Yeah. >> Thomas: That was it.
It was amazing. You just, I-- It made no sense to me, right?
And you were just eager to help.
That's always how you are. You're just, you're--
you're thoughtful, you're caring
and you're always there and um,
it meant a lot to me. But you-- you taught me then,
but you still continue to teach me now.
Not just as a designer, but as a man.
>> Eric: Yeah. >> Steffy: The truth is
you've always been a light in our family.
I remember when I was really little, when I'd come here
and yeah, I was kind of excited to see the gowns,
but I was really excited to see you working behind
the desk and creating. >> Eric: I thought it was
just because of the jelly beans in the top drawer?
>> Steffy: Yeah, that-- that too.
[ Eric laughing ] But even when
you were so busy, you always-- you always made time for me.
I looked up to you then and I still look up to you.
You know how close we are. Like we've always had this
connection and maybe part of it is because I'm
grandmother's namesake, but... >> Eric: Two beautiful,
wonderful, fearless women. >> Ridge: Fearless.
Everyone gets that from you. The great Eric Forrester.
♪♪♪