[stirring music plays]
So--so what you're saying
is you wanna help me with couture.
What better team is there in high fashion
-than Eric and Ridge Forrester? -There is no better team.
-Never was, never will be. -Okay, well, then...
-But Dad-- -I wanna dive in!
I wanna help my son.
After seeing these designs,
I would say that Ridge has another huge hit on his hands.
Most definitely. They are gorgeous.
As a matter of fact, this one reminds me
of something Eric might have done in his prime.
But understandably,
considering Ridge did learn from the best...
DEACON: Things going well at Forrester?
Great. Yeah. I mean,
you know, I'm still in a trial period,
but I'm really enjoying it.
It's gotta be exciting.
You're working with your sister
and designing with her.
Yeah, I mean, you know, a dream come true, all of it.
Well, the dream fully comes true once I'm leading
the design team, not just on it. That's the goal.
If anyone can do it, it's my talented son.
♪ ♪
I see he's inherited your sense of ambition.
Well, big goals are important.
Sure. Just don't forget.
You are surrounded by amazing talent over there.
Uh, yeah. Yeah, I know.
I mean, I'm really enjoying working with Zende,
learning from him, and...
I've studied Thomas's design work extensively, but...
at the same time, I have my own style and fashion sense and...
I need to remember to lean into it
and hope it's ultimately what they'll want.
Absolutely. Listen, don't worry about copying anyone else.
You just develop your skills, all right?
You know, uniqueness, authenticity--that sells.
Look at me. I'm one of a kind.
I gotta go. I got an appointment.
-Did he really just say that? -I think he just did.
Are you on your way to see the good Dr. Hayes?
Well, can't you see I need it? Yes. I'm, uh, gonna go
for a little shrinking time, so you two, just play nice.
You won't let this go, will you?
You really think Eric feels that Ridge doesn't want him here?
Well, he wasn't exactly welcoming earlier, Brooke.
That's because he's very busy.
Too busy to show the man gratitude
who built this entire company?
Donna, he has a lot of respect for his father.
-Believe me. -Hmm.
If you say so.
You'll see.
You know, if you think that he really loves him
and wants the best for him...
he should listen to him.
I really hope he does.
Come on, Ridge. I couldn't be more excited.
I'm ready for this.
-Aren't you? -I--am I ready?
I am ready because of you! I'm ready.
-Okay. -But you're not ready.
You're not. You don't wanna be back in the trenches again.
You don't want that.
[edgy music plays]
♪ ♪
Uh, I'm a little early.
Do you want me to wait outside?
No! No, no need. I'm just...
about...
I'm done.
It's good to see you, Deacon.
I'm glad you haven't been scared off by me yet.
I actually figured you'd be the one running for the hills,
digging around in the dark recesses of my mind?
Yeah, I don't scare easily and, uh,
I enjoy the digging, actually.
All right, well, go grab your shovel, lady.
Let's get dirty.
♪ ♪
Hey.
Are you leaving already?
Well, you know, since my dad's not here anymore...
Won't you stay, you know?
I'd like to get to know you a little better.
Uh, yeah, that sounds great.
I ju--um, I just--I don't wanna be away from work for too long.
Okay.
Look, I get it. I'm...
I'm not your favorite person.
But, um...
I don't know, Deke, I just-- I feel like if you...
...just stayed--come on.
I'd really...I'd like you to get to know me a little better.
I gotta be honest, Sheila.
The things I already know are a bit troubling,
to say the least.
All right. My past is a little iffy.
"Iffy"?
I would really love for you to get to know the Sheila
that is standing before you right now.
It's a Sheila that loves your dad more than anything.
And I'm hoping one day you'll see it that way too.
That you'll believe in our marriage
the way that your dad and I do.
DEACON: Things with Sheila?
You can't be surprised I'm asking.
She's one of the main reasons you wanted to get into therapy.
Fair enough. Um...
Actually, I feel pretty confident about things.
Pretty positive.
Well, that's good to hear.
How was Thanksgiving?
I'm assuming Hope and Deke steered clear.
Yeah.
I don't know, it's like...
it's like sometimes I feel like I'm making progress with them.
You know, like today Deke was over at the restaurant,
and, uh, you know, he was perfectly polite with Sheila.
I mean, you know, they're not embracing or anything,
but I mean, I think it's a start.
As far as all of us spending Thanksgiving dinner together,
we're not quite there yet.
But I spent time with the kids,
and Sheila and I had a really nice dinner for two, you know?
We talked about gratitude, things we're thankful for.
Your name came up.
My name?
Sheila's incredibly grateful that I came back to her.
She, uh, she gives you all the credit.
Believes that you saved our marriage.
Forrester Creations only exists because of Eric,
his dedication, his talent.
Nobody's denying that.
Ridge understands the legacy he's inherited.
See, that? That there, that's exactly it.
They haven't inherited anything
because...Eric's still here.
Thank God. We're all so grateful.
Especially Ridge.
Really?
Well, maybe if he could just express it once in a while?
He should welcome working with his father again.
[sighs] It's not up to me, Donna.
Whatever is decided
is between Ridge and Eric.
You can't be surprised at this, Ridge.
Of course I wanna step in
and do this beautiful collection with my son--of course.
But you've already done it. We've done this.
You did a final line, and it was amazing, it was gorgeous!
But it almost put you in the grave,
so I'm not asking you to do that again.
You're not asking me. This is coming from me, Ridge.
This is, uh, this is a collaboration.
It's not a competition like that was.
Dad, you stepped away from this, and rightly so.
No, I didn't step away. I haven't put a pencil down
since I left the company-- I haven't!
I'm a designer. I'm an artist.
No, you are one of the greatest designers in the world, Dad.
You changed fashion. Who can say that? Nobody!
You did that.
And now it's time to do something else.
Go off into the sunset, do something.
That's what I do if I were in your shoes.
You're not in my shoes, Ridge.
You can't possibly know what it feels like for me
to be standing here in this room like this right now.
You can't know.
Do you remember what it's like?
Hard work, the sleepless nights.
You know what you did? You asked me to do that...
and I'm doing it. I can do it.
I'll take the frustration,
I'll take the headaches
so you don't have to.
I got it.
[soft, dramatic music plays]
Why is this a reoccurring theme in my life?
What do you mean?
People claiming to change,
that they aren't who they used to be?
That's because they do. People can change.
Sure, but I...
people like you?
Yeah, I changed. I changed because of your father.
Truly. And I would love nothing more than to
just live a nice, simple life with him now.
Okay, that's...
that's not entirely true.
Because I would love to be accepted...
embraced...
by his children, and...
Deke, you and Hope,
your dad, me...
we're a family.
I realize that
Sheila is appreciative,
but I can't take credit for that.
I mean, you can downplay it all you want,
but Sheila thinks that you are the great savior
that rescued our relationship.
Look, marriage, family...
acceptance, love--
these things mean more to Sheila than you can imagine.
Well, I'm happy for the two of you
if...the acceptance is really there.
Do you think that Sheila will ever
really be accepted by your family?
By Hope and Deke?
Of course Eric should be on the design team.
He created this entire company.
Look, let's just--here. Sit down.
Sit down, okay?
Haven't you been enjoying
all this time that you've been spending with Eric?
Right? All the day trips you've been taking
and that cruise you guys had together?
I mean, none of that would have happened
if Eric was still working.
And now what? You want him back in the office
every single day?
You know how he is when he throws himself back into work.
-No-- -He's gonna be the first one
here in the morning, and he's gonna be
-the last to leave at night. -No.
I'm not gonna let him push himself to his limit like that,
not--not after what happened last year.
Now, would I prefer to have him all to myself,
24/7? Of course!
But that...
that wouldn't really be fair of me to ask him
to give up something that he loves so much.
It wouldn't really be fair of Ridge either.
Please get through to him.
Because Eric--he needs this.
He needs to be in the thick of things.
He can't just be some figurehead watching from afar.
Eric is and always will be
a designer.
Until his dying day.
You're telling me there's frustration and heartache
and how difficult it is?
You're telling me this?
None of that matters, because in the end
you have this collection, beautiful gowns--
Yes, it's all beautiful, and yes, it's all worth it,
but it's not worth putting your life on the line for.
It's not worth it.
Let us do what we do and then come back and watch the show,
-you know, just-- -And watch the-- watch the show?
Oh, don't do that. I don't mean that.
That's not what I'm-- I mean go up on the stage,
talk to the buyers, talk to--
I love that. I love that!
But, Ridge, it's the work itself
-that really counts. -The work itself is covered Dad!
It's covered!
You asked me to do this.
You asked me to take over the company.
I got it.
[phone chimes]
I'm sorry. I have to cut this short.
[solemn music plays]
♪ ♪
You know what I'm really excited about?
Your sister's wedding.
Oh. Yeah, you, uh, you like weddings?
Oh, my gosh, of course!
I mean, who doesn't like a wedding?
I mean, the romance, the...
the fact that two people are committing their lives
to one another.
But this wedding, it gives me the opportunity
to show you and Hope
that I can be a part of your lives.
This is really so special.
And when I am at Hope and Liam's wedding
on your dad's arm...
that's gonna show everybody
that the Sharpe family is truly united.
DEACON: I don't know. I have to hope that they will.
You know, hope that Hope and Deke will...
eventually see Sheila the way that I do.
It's like two steps forward, one step back, you know,
and unfortunately,
Sheila covering for Luna was an enormous step back,
and it's one that I don't know
if they're gonna be able to forgive.
It's understandable.
You struggled with it yourself.
Yeah. You know, I don't blame 'em, you know?
They're...worried for me.
Maybe another family session in the future?
Yes. Especially because
Hope and Liam's wedding's coming up.
Oh. It's a big day for your family.
-Yeah. -You don't want things to be
uncomfortable.
Do you think that Sheila will be welcomed?
In an ideal world?
Let's talk about the world we're in.
I mean, I don't know, Taylor. She's my wife, you know?
I mean, she's technically Hope's stepmother.
I'd like to think that Hope would want her there, but...
I gotta admit, I don't know if she's gonna get an invitation.
And if she doesn't...
she's gonna be devastated.
-Hey. -Hey.
How did that go?
How'd it go with my dad, you mean?
What did he wanna talk about?
Oh, you're never gonna believe it.
He wants to jump back on the couture line.
Oh, yeah, I can believe it,
after some of the things that Donna was telling me.
Donna's encouraging this? She's supposed to keep him healthy.
Oh, I think she was trying to in her own way, you know,
his mental health.
And if he still wants to be a part of this...
I don't know if he wants to be part of it, I don't know.
At this point it just seems like it's a habit, you know?
And--and--but--
he's had such a great career, and now it's over.
He's gotta hang it up.
What if he doesn't wanna hang it up?
No one wants to hang it up. No one wants to do that.
Ask anybody, any professional athlete or actor or model.
Everything is great, and then one day it's done, it's over.
My dad, at least he had a swan song.
He put this whole beautiful line together
and it was great,
and it almost killed him, almost put him in the ground.
I get it. It's hard for him.
But it's my job to keep him safe.
Okay.
You didn't tell him about the party, did you?
No, I didn't tell him about the party.
-What are you--no. N-no. -Okay.
-It's still a surprise. -What did you say to him?
Said that everything that he has in his life, he's earned.
That includes his right to walk away.
[indistinct chatter]
[phone rings]
-[ringing] -[chatter]
ERIC: Out with the old...
in with the new.
The place I built with my own two hands...
the company I founded.
Time for me to leave?
I don't want to leave.
[quiet music plays]
♪ ♪
[soft, emotional music plays]
♪ ♪
Captioned by Los Angeles Distribution and Broadcasting, Inc.