Bold and the Beautiful - 2003 (S16 E226) FULL EPISODE 4112

[@NewYorkNick0607]

Sally telling Stephanie, "You compartmentalize everything" (in episode 4110) now feels like a _prediction_ as we see Stephanie wanting Little Eric to stay with Amber and Rick but also seizing the opportunity to use Deacon's custody to regain control of Forrester Creations. She is literally compartmentalizing personal and business in this storyline. Intriguingly, this compartmentalization allows her to assume her prior role of supporting Amber while opposing Brooke - a role that was once natural because Amber and Brooke were on opposing sides, but lately they haven't been so Stephanie can only slip back into that role through a compartmentalization of interests and a kind of storytelling schizophrenia.

[@annieo6527]

Great point! Stephanie is in a position where she wants Little Eric with Amber and Rick, but also wants to make the most of Little Eric being with Macy and Deacon. I think what makes this "compartmentalization" possible is that she actually likes _both_ Amber and Macy. She sympathizes with Amber, but is counting on Macy as an aIIy against Brooke.

[@SuzanneAllen-ne2nr]

Sheesh Brooke l o o k s like a rotten apple core at the end of this episode.

[@NewYorkNick0607]

*Rick:* "It's not a real divorce." *Stephanie:* "That's the only kind I know!" *Brooke:* "An annulment is a kind of not real divorce. I know a lot about those."

[@elr6169]

LOLOL Brooke has a couple more annulments in here future too. 😂

[@TriniT21]

Brooke also knows alot of marriages that aren't real, too 😂

[@annieo6527]

@@TriniT21 This is so on point. 😂

[@mike1054]

Stephanie is quick. She immediately started developing a plan 😏

[@34Jackson]

18:50 - u&ly 18:57 - U&LY 19:10 - *U&LY!*

[@gerrigatlin7098]

I just love the fierce combo of Stephanie and Massimo.

[@FayeIL]

Isn’t that Marone trio conversation fascinating, especially the part where Sam enters? Wasn’t it fascinating? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.

[@annieo6527]

*The DisBeLieF storyline begins* In order to show that Little Eric is a part of the family, Brooke has decided to give him shares in Forrester Creations. This is what gives Stephanie the idea to get controI of the company back from Brooke, because unlike Brooke _and her lawyer,_ Stephanie realizes immediately that this means that Deacon (who is Eric's legaI guardian) now has Forrester shares. This, of course, begs the question why Edward would think that this is a good idea that might help the custody case. It would be one thing (and actually make sense) if Brooke had _already done this_ years ago, when Little Eric was considered a Forrester, and we had heard about it then. Instead, this is a plot point that only appears now that someone else is already the child's IegaI guardian. Signing over those shares _now_ is the same as giving them to Deacon, as any lawyer would realize. Stephanie immediately takes controI of the plot and sets her plan in motion _the very same episode_ that we hear about this possibility for the first time (no buildup at all). And although it is a nice change to see her play an active role in storylines again, the anticipation is missing. We don't see this pIot coming until it's already happening, so we miss out on half the fun. (Also note that while Rick and Amber were _not_ given a phone number to Deacon and Macy because the newlyweds didn't want to be contacted unnecessarily, Stephanie had no problem reaching Deacon in Cabo san Lucas anyway. Because such triviaI details never stopped Stephanie. 😂) Of course, despite the lack of long term planning, there are some nice symmetry points connecting this storyline to the original BeLieF storyline - again, the key to changing controI of Forrester Creation Iies in fauIty paperwork. Eric's custody arrangement with Amber never being fiIed mirrors Brooke working at Forrester without a contract, both being unofficiaI agreements that ceased to be vaIid when that family member was no longer a part of the family (Brooke through her divorce, Eric through being "divorced" from Rick and Amber when Deacon recIaimed his parental rights). And again, something valuable was inadvertently given away to a person outside the family (Brooke got the formula, Little Eric got the shares), and the person controIIing this vaIuable thing also gets to name the CEO of Forrester Creations. There is also the narrative irony of Brooke's attempt to cIaim Little Eric as part of her family (by giving him a part of FC), in order to keep him away from Deacon and Macy, backfiring and actually _giving_ Deacon and Macy the upper hand. She is hoping to win on the personal level but ends up losing on the professionaI level. But in the end, the opposite will be true - Brooke will lose Little Eric as a member of her family, but win Spectra Fashions. And the Spectras/Macy will win Little Eric but lose Spectra Fashions. This mirrors the baIance that @Nick mentioned between Stephanie and Brooke in the original BeLieF storyline (they each win in one fieId and lose in another), but with Macy instead of Stephanie.

[@RWMTLM]

I would love for Brooke her Comeuppance

[@NewYorkNick0607]

Great analysis and comparison of the two storylines Annie! You're so right about the similarities and the balanced outcome that echoes Bill Bell even as the storyline this time is not as well-crafted as his work. Another similarity is the conflation of romance with business. Recall that Brooke wanted to be with Ridge (which the Forresters opposed) and the Brooke/Ridge/Taylor love triangle coincided with the Forrester's attempt to gain control of the patent (to the point where Ridge made his choice between the two women on the same night he got Brooke to sign the contract relinquishing her rights to Belief). And this time Macy wants to be with Deacon (which the Forresters oppose) and their wedding coincides with Stephanie's attempt to regain control of the company (to the point where she has to crash Macy and Deacon's honeymoon to discuss Little D's shares). There’s even an echo where Ridge had to choose between Taylor and Brooke before and now he’ll have to choose between Eric and Brooke (as CEO). And the conflation of romance and business puts Macy in a position similar to Brooke the last time. Just as Brooke claimed her takeover of Forrester was purely based on providing for her children when in fact it was based on wanting revenge, so too Macy claims she only wants to reunite Deacon with his son even though her encouraging him to vote out Brooke as CEO has nothing to do with that and can only be motivated by revenge. At the same time, Macy is not Brooke so there are important differences - like then fact that Macy is not pining for a Forrester prince (indeed she rejected Thorne) and her romantic pursuit involves getting married, not breaking up a marriage. In this way, Macy made the healthy choice that Brooke rejected (when she could’ve married Connor Davis instead). And that brings me to another thing that’s missing from the Disbelief storyline. In addition to the stuff you mentioned that made the Belief storyline superior (long term planning, careful pacing, more credible legal reasoning), the previous storyline also had more tension from the threat of Connor Davis. His suspicions and perceptiveness gave the proceedings a race against the clock feel - the Forresters needed to close the deal with Brooke before he discovered the truth about the Belief patent. But this time the plot is solely being driven by Stephanie and she doesn’t have an enemy on her heels (Brooke and her kids find out what she’s up to when it’s too late). She has no real opposition who’s trying to unravel her scheme and take control of the plot away from her. Instead it all hinges on whether or not Deacon agrees to go along - as an outsider with class resentment and a romantic alternative to a Forrester prince, he’s the closest thing to a Connor Davis type character in this storyline but he’s an object of the plot, not a subject.

[@annieo6527]

@@NewYorkNick0607 great points! I agree it is an interesting parallel between Brooke and Macy in that both are motivated, at least in part, by revenge. However, since Macy is a Good Girl, she isn't allowed to _admit_ that this is her motivation (because it goes against her archetype) - so Stephanie will cleverly provide her with other, more honorable, motivations which resonate with her character (justice, family loyalty, and artistic self-expression), by telling Macy about how Brooke just rejected Eric's entire collection. This gives Macy _three_ "good" reasons to help Stephanie - by identifying Eric with herself as an artist, with her mother as a founder of a family business, and with Deacon as a father who had his "baby" taken away - as well as one "bad" reason (revenge).

[@prestonrcasey]

Bill senior used several weeks of storytelling to buildup something like this. I agree that it’s annoyingly quick how Stephanie learns of the shares. It’s far too common now that storyline points just pop out of left field to move the show in a certain direction quickly.

[@TriniT21]

​@@annieo6527 great points, esp on the parallels Just FYI... I was trying to reply b4 but apparently I was reported for harassment and was banned on replying for a while.. Not sure who I offended this time lol. But it just reinforces my lack of interest in watching. Altho Steph being in the driver's seat is a draw for me

[@FayeIL]

*Did Edward and Jonathan go to the same nonsensical law school? *Brooke giving up even one teeny tiny fraction of her stock for the grandson who isn’t even hers biologically makes zero sense, even by the standards of this show.

[@TriniT21]

Edward filing a restraining order against Macy based on Brooke's say so that she's crazy is nonsensical. Rick filing for divorce from the child's blood relative also doesn't make sense.

[@babs4848]

Stephanie: "Where did you expect her( Amber) to go? " People know where to go when they need support. It's a shame they don't give a d a m n when is Stephanie the one who need support. Once it was Taylor as her close friend and Brooke pointed it out yesterday the she is alone. It's true, none af the people or relatives that she is trying to help really care for her. Stephanie is alone fighting for stupid simps all the time from now on.

[@StephWrites-id6cx]

U&ly Brooke. L o o k l i k e old croquet mallet.

[@FayeIL]

More like the ball the mallet hits, but close enough 😂.

[@dlross173]

And look at Sgephanie's wheels start churning in her brain..... 😂😂😂

[@Html962]

Are we expecting another stroke? 😅

[@nancytautuaa8996]

Oh Brooke dear that 2% will be your loss it will be rewarded by Deacon to give the company to the Forresters just look at Stephanie already figured it out woohoo gooooo Stephanie 🤣🤣🤣

[@gattomatto8592]

Dear Brooke, prepare yourself to say goodbye to the CEO position 😈

[@Html962]

Obviously you have not watched B&B new episodes 😅

[@gattomatto8592]

@Html962 it won't last, you'll see

[@Html962]

@@gattomatto8592 We will see but hopefully Marones are out Forresters for good.

[@lil_jon411]

Ever since it was found out lil Eric was really deacons Brooke was always quick to remind both Ric and deacon eric wasn’t a forrester. I’ve never heard her refer to him as her family and never paid attention to him when he was believed to be her son’s biological child. Now all of a sudden you want to give up some of your stock to deacons son because he’s your “grandson” that you love so much? The lawyer telling Ric to divorce Amber to win custody is stupid enough, but how does him getting shares in a company supposed to have an effect on a custody case?

[@annieo6527]

Little Eric became Brooke's beloved grandson the moment Macy took an interest in him.

[@MariaPerez-sb1xp]

I'd rather have someone divorcing me formally, while we still love each other, than be divorced with someone emotionally, while we stay married.

[@scor66]

All the efforts to keep the mattress away from her first "destiny" "Widge"....but as always, she'll go crawling back to him😂😂

[@kayschultz4113]

I If Amber's past is checkered, what do you call Brooke/Deacon's past? Who writes this stuff? it's not a real divorce. The only one that had a decent past was Bridget. That 2% will become important later on, as you can see Stephanie plotting. Wasn't Samantha on All My Children? I liked Ridge with the Marones.

[@Phillybags]

Yeah she was Julia on AMC

[@babs4848]

Brooke's way to show love and interest in Eric III is giving him some shares of FC...Equals you're a member of the Logam family now pretending to be Forrester. What can I say? bad luck this time Brooke: the lawyer is not in love with you...

[@PaulBonds-k2r]

Ridge and Samantha would a been a interesting storyline

[@babs4848]

I have my personal podium for the most vile characters on the show : Eric Brooke Rick. Brooke should be happy, she is 🥈 here😂

[@TriniT21]

Yup. Eric is my no. 1 disliked character too.. I've dragged him from. Season 1 😂 Poor Brooke, can't even be no. 1 on a most disliked character list 😂

[@VanessaLutz11]

Just stopping by to say “Hello” to my friends on here! I won’t be around as much , so please let me know if possible, which day we get to watch the episode we have RSVP-ed to. Thank you!🙏 ❤

[@SuzanneAllen-ne2nr]

You will be missed! 😭 I hope everything is all right. Do you mean the board meeting where Brooke loses control of Forrester? It looks like it starts Tuesday this week!

[@NewYorkNick0607]

It's Tuesday. This place won't be the same without you Es! I too haven't been posting as much lately but I hope we still see each other around every now and then (and I hope you and your family are OK what with everything going on in your neck of the woods). I also hope one day we can do that re-watch we talked about with our friends here. ❤

[@VanessaLutz11]

@@NewYorkNick0607 Thank you! ❤️ My family’s home in LA is still in tact. 🙏 I’ll do my best to be here on Tuesday.

[@babs4848]

Esi, I will miss you so much ❤.

[@annieo6527]

Hi Esi! ❤ It's good to hear that you are all right - hope to see you in the comment section today!

[@PatriziaIeraci]

No one in the comments shows sympathy with Amber and Rick. I understand that Deacon shouldn't be cut off from his son's life, but Amber and Rick raised the child since the day he was born. How painful must be to lose a child after 5 years? Not to mention that Amber has lost other two children. (So did Rick)

[@456Tanu]

IKR.I think most of the commenters here don’t like Rick Amber and macy seems like a fan favourite so no one cares.But honestly Deacon did leave his son for a while, the fact that he did it coz Brooke asked him to leave town doesn’t really matter.He could have said no but he was trying to be a good lover to his mil that time and putting her happiness first over his bond with children.The fact that RA will loose custody of that kid forever seems unfair to me.Its traumatising for the child also.Deacon should be part of that child’s life but asking for complete custody feels unfair.

[@Silvio67]

So help me ifcthey skip the episode brooke gets ousted as ceo.

[@RWMTLM]

They did create a segment about where Eric and Brooke divide up their shares.

[@mara4450]

13:44 Nick is not just 🚬 next to Samantha, here he is really kinda puffing the smoke right into her face. 🙄 At the time of the break-up, we had Bridget telling Deacon that she always hated his smoking habit and that he stinks. But why is she later falling for Nick, who also has to stink, needing a cigar every few minutes ?

[@annieo6527]

Nick's smoking alone is making me not like the character. He doesn't just smoke, he keeps doing it in other people's personal spaces.

[@lil_jon411]

I was also annoyed seeing that. Like you said it’s one thing if you smoke, but to repeatedly do it in peoples offices and in peoples faces without consent is infuriating to watch. I don’t know if it’s something the writers intentionally tell him to do or if Jack decides to do it on his own it’s beyond inconsiderate to do it in front of other people.

[@annieo6527]

@@lil_jon411 what is unrealistic about the writing is that most of the time, other characters just let him continue. Even if he is in _their_ office.

[@babs4848]

Nicky keeping lighting his cigars on any forniture he saw is annoying. He is acting entitled since he was introduced in the show rejecting the 🤑 life people are living around him without any effort to be really different from them. Going to a dingy bar is not enough.Who the hell he thinks he is? Third floor for him too?

[@alicia-rs4ef]

Warren and bj reunited!

[@kymdp1969]

I was just thinking was that her from Santa Barbara!

[@johannad8029]

Brooke looks even u&lier than usual in this episode, that color does nothing for her!

[@alicia-rs4ef]

Rick is such a useless character

[@annakorba8333]

Here we go again Brook between two brothers...it is absolutely disgusting 🤢 Everyone is upsatdwon for another time .

[@VjAdrasaVideos]

so thats how brooke looses the company giving her 2% to eric...and how things changed all the time and now shes ceo again fighting forresters all over again ...so recycled

[@prestonrcasey]

It’s annoying because in late 2005/2006 she gives control back to Brooke for a little while to show Ridge how she can “accept her” just to save him from his bleeding heart 🙄

[@VjAdrasaVideos]

@@prestonrcasey dint know that thanks

[@RWMTLM]

That Belief storyline is one of the most insulting to viewers. Brooke worked for the Forresters as a Jr Lab assistant. There was an older person working on the formula too.

[@OklahomaGirl]

I never saw or heard anyone mention another person in any of the shows I have found on KZbin.

[@kayschultz4113]

You mean Sheila Carter?

[@OklahomaGirl]

@kayschultz4113 Sheila was a nurse, not a chemist.

[@mara4450]

I guess you are mixing up the episodes when Brooke till worked at the hospital lab (ep 749 had an older guy at the hospital answering Eric's call) and the episodes when Brooke worked at the Forrester lab. After Eric had gifted Brooke a lab of her own, Brooke was always shown to work there alone, no assistants, no helpers, the Forresters always discussing with Brooke her findings: (ep. 971, ep. 985, ep. 1019, ep 1037, ep 1044,....) Brooke *_running the Forrester lab_* (without a legal working contract) was the reason for the BeLieF fiasco and why the Forresters lost control of the company.

[@ThatGirlyLife]

What rubbish Brooke developed that formula completely on her own, lol she was no junior, she was a professional chemist