[quiet music plays]
What is this whole party thing?
I never...[laughs] I never said anything about retiring.
You had your final show, and that's what you called it,
-over a year ago. -Yeah, but you, uh,
you never listened to a word I said.
I listen to everything you say.
Now you gotta listen to us. This is good.
You've taken it upon yourself to retire me.
-Is that it? -I've taken it upon myself
-because you've earned it. -I don't accept it.
I need to talk to Dad for a moment.
Did you see that? Did you see that look?
That's pity.
I don't need that in my life. I don't want that.
You can't do this, Ridge.
I will not be put out to pasture!
♪ ♪
That didn't go over well.
To say the least.
-You see how upset Eric was? -Oui.
I mean, I get that Ridge thinks
he's doing what's best for his father,
but pushing Eric to retire...
it's just not his place.
I'm sorry I missed the surprise.
I had to jump into a call with a patient.
Be glad you did.
I take it it didn't go as planned?
My grandfather is devastated, Finn.
What happened?
He thinks we're trying to take the power away,
that he's losing control, and it's leaving him no choice.
That's not...exactly true.
Well, he isn't exactly wrong either.
So where is he now?
My dad told Daphne, Carter, and me to leave
so they could speak privately.
It's just--the whole thing is so terr--
Oh, my God.
These are my grandfather's designs!
Wait, well, how do you know they're his?
Because nobody does couture like my grandfather.
Well, yeah, they're...
they're pretty amazing, huh?
They're stunning.
No wonder my grandfather doesn't wanna retire.
For you to put me on the spot like this--
DONNA: You should have discussed it first with Eric
at the very least,
or given me a heads up.
I-I-I have no plans to retire, Ridge.
We can see that.
That's why we're trying to help you,
trying to show you how much you're appreciated.
So you're trying to thank me.
Is that what you're trying to do?
Is that this is...
this is what's best for me?
You wanted to thank me?
Eric, it's not that.
-It's just-- -No, no, this, this...
this was not the way, okay?
You can't just spring something like this on Eric.
My God, Brooke, we were just talking about this,
and I told you how invigorated he is
and how he wants to do the next line.
Were you even listening to anything that I said?
We all want the best future for Eric.
This was all done in good faith, Eric.
You have to realize that.
So...forcing me into retirement and--and...
finishing all the decades that I put into this business...
that's what's best for me?
Yes, it is.
[dramatic music plays]
-Eric's been busy. -Truly.
This is almost an entire collection right here.
It's completely flawless.
Quintessential Eric Forrester...
elegance and sophistication.
-Unbelievable. -How'd he manage all this?
Ha. This is my grandfather we're talking about.
No, I know, but you said that he hadn't been
coming into the office much lately,
and hence, while you thought he was wrapping up his career.
I don't know. Maybe he was working like a maniac at home.
So you didn't know anything about this?
This collection? No. I had no idea.
It's probably why he wanted to speak to Dad.
Steffy, the way that these are laid out and organized,
do you think that this was supposed to be a presentation
for Ridge?
Oh, my God, you're probably right.
He probably wanted to surprise my dad.
Only Granddad got the big surprise.
Could this have changed things?
Would Ridge have asked Eric to retire if he'd seen these first?
That's a good question.
I'm wondering the same thing.
You've been totally devoted, Eric.
We're just worried you're gonna...
get worn out.
It's not like you're gonna not be in this building anymore.
You're gonna come, we're gonna consult on things,
-we've gonna have lunch. -Oh, stop.
I don't wanna have lunch. I wanna design!
Okay. We'll keep you active. What makes you think
-we're not gonna do that? -Active is not sitting
on a park bench someplace feeding pigeons!
Oh, come on, listen to me, this is not--
No, you listen to me! I founded this company
with my blood, my--
this is mine.
Yes, Eric. You've been amazing.
Nobody's discrediting what you've built.
You presented your final line.
It was a mistake to call it that.
-How was it a mistake? -He obviously still wants--
It was your crowning glory.
-I wanna do it again, Ridge. -Oh, you wanna do it again?
-I wanna do it again. Yes. -Who's gonna pay the price?
Look, we don't want you to get stressed out.
Okay. We are hearing that you care.
But you're not hearing how much he needs this!
Come on, Ridge, Brooke.
He still has more to give. He still has more to contribute.
What are you doing? We--we're doing this for him.
We're doing this for you!
And for you?
For me?
You asked me to run this company.
You asked me that.
So, what, now I'm not ready?
I am ready.
I am.
[dramatic music plays]
♪ ♪
If we're lucky,
we'll all get to grow older.
And if we're really lucky, we'll have our lives set up
so we can retire in peace someday.
Yeah. Sitting in rocking chairs, holding hands.
Traveling wherever we want.
Yeah. See, that's exactly what I'm talking about.
Eric's next chapter in life sounds pretty great to me.
Yeah. Dad just doesn't want him stressing out anymore.
Well, same here.
Like, Eric is doing well now,
but, you know, why risk any setbacks?
Exactly.
And Dad was coming from a loving, concerned place.
But seeing this... Granddad's collection?
If Dad saw it, maybe he would change his mind
about Granddad's retirement.
Is that in Eric's best interest, though?
Look, right now he's frustrated, disillusioned,
and it stings like hell, but Steffy, as a doctor
who literally brought Eric back to life...
I still think stepping down is a wise decision.
ERIC: You're ready?
I'm ready.
And so are you.
And it's time for a new generation.
And before you say anything,
that generation is barely me anymore.
It's Steffy, it's Thomas,
Zende, RJ--your whole family
that wants to follow in your footsteps.
Take some pride in that.
Their success is your success.
Their showstopper is your showstopper.
Just--just you need to look at it that way.
Do I?
You think I wanna push you away? You think I want you out?
I don't need you?
I need you. We all need you more than ever.
But you know what I see when you start doing this?
I see you in the hospital bed.
I can't do that again.
You can't do that again.
Is that what you want?
You wanna sit next to his hospital bed and--and...
wait for some miracle...
so that you can have one more day with him?
Take the day now. Take it! Take whatever day you want.
Just go! Take a boat to the Greek islands
or wherever you wanna go.
It does, uh...
does sound pretty wonderful.
I could do that, but I'd be back in week, Ridge.
-I would be back and-- -You'd be back why?
No. No!
You built this company. It almost runs itself.
You've climbed the mountain. Now take some time.
Sit on it!
Enjoy your life.
You really want me to retire that badly?
Why do you do that?
No, I don't--no. I just--no.
I just want...
I just want you to be here.
But yeah, sure. Why not now?
Why not retire now? You did your final line.
It was an amazing success.
The crowd cheering your name.
Isn't that what you wanted, what you always wanted?
That the young kid from Los Angeles,
make a dent in the fashion world?
You did it.
You can't talk about Armani or Valentino or Boss
without talking about you.
That's extraordinary!
So I don't wanna see you walking on a precipice
for--for one more line.
You've done it! You did the line.
It was great.
And you wanna be mad at me?
You don't get to be mad at me for this.
You can only be mad at me if I didn't do this!
I don't wanna put you in jeopardy again.
I love you too much.
All right.
We'll do it your way.
I love you too.
[melancholy music plays]
♪ ♪
I wish that went better.
My dad thinks I'm being selfish.
Your father knows
exactly how much you love him.
ERIC: I can't believe this.
I mean, it took a lot of nerve to pull a stunt like this.
This, uh, surprise retirement party.
You know?
My son doesn't even wanna work with me.
He doesn't wanna see me anymore
because I've slowed down a little bit
'cause I've gotten old.
But, uh, I'm pretty good for an old man like myself.
-Pretty good? Very good. -Yeah. Yeah!
But this is my place. This is...
this is my...my value.
This is my purpose here.
And this--this company...
I have a lot to offer this company.
-My company! -Yes.
-Yes, of course you do! -I mean, look at these.
Look-- they want to throw me out!
Throw me out on the curb like some old piece of furniture,
an old pair of shoes.
I mean, look at these drawings. Look at these designs!
These are as good as anything else in the world.
They're better!
They belong...
they belong on red carpets anywhere in the world.
Paris...Paris Fashion Week
or the Met Gala.
These--these--I can't--how-- I can't believe I'm saying this,
but I think I'm really starting to come into my own--
now, only now!
And these drawings prove it.
Eric, this is some of your best work.
Yeah. Is it?
It is. Why don't you show them?
-What? -Stand up and tell them.
-No, no, no, no, no! -Tell them what you've done!
No! I don't want them to see it.
I don't want them to see these.
I want these to stay private.
Nobody gets to see these. These are mine.
They're getting me out the front door, and...
I'm gonna take these with me
because these are mine.
I can't believe this is happening.
Okay. Okay, you know what?
I'm gonna go talk to Brooke,
because I cannot stand seeing you so upset.
No, no, no, no, no. Don't say anything to her.
Don't say anything to anyone. Don't.
I...
Maybe Ridge is right, maybe...
maybe--maybe I'm finished.
Maybe I am irrelevant.
Eric, no.
-Why? -Stop.
Why doesn't he want to work with me?
I'm still viable. My brain is still working.
My--my--
my eyes, my hands.
I can't turn it off. I-I...
my brain goes crazy all night long.
I can't go to sleep, I-I can't turn it off.
And they throw me a retirement party?
They want to-- they want to retire me, Donna.
What am I gonna do?
I'm s--I'm sorry.
Don't do that.
Don't do that!
I've been hearing that from everybody else tonight.
I don't wanna hear it from you.
You're the last person I wanna hear that from!
I'm sorry.
I don't mean to...
to put all this on you. I'm sorry.
It's okay. It's okay. It's been, uh...
A really rough day.
I'm gonna need a minute.
Okay. I'll just, uh...
I'm just gonna wait in the car.
[click]
[clank]
[melancholy music plays]
♪ ♪
Captioned by Los Angeles Distribution and Broadcasting, Inc.