[ relaxing music ] >> Liam: I don't understand
how this is happening. Like, we-- we--
we talked about it and you said you-- you weren't
gonna let Thomas back on HFTF.
>> Hope: I changed my mind. >> Liam: Has he already gotten
to you? Like, this is exa-- This is the fear, right?
This is what I'm afraid of. Like, he always
takes advantage. >> Hope: Liam, no. It wasn't
like that. This was my decision. And Thomas actually
said he didn't wanna come back to the line if it would
cost me. And this is good, Liam.
With Thomas on board again, I can save my line,
and the best part is that Douglas seeing us getting
along, he wanted to come back home.
>> Liam: Look, I'm excited about that part.
That's the best news ever, but what are you telling me,
exactly? Is it-- is it that-- that Douglas only wanted
to come home because you and Thomas are gonna start working
together again? ♪♪
>> Thomas: What's that look? [ Steffy chuckling ]
>> Steffy: Nothing, just-- just seeing you at the office
makes me realize how much I missed you.
>> Thomas: Aw, well, thanks, sis, I-- I missed you too,
and you know, I'm-- I'm just happy. Right now,
I'm so happy that Hope was willing to give me another
chance, especially after what I did to Brooke and--
and to Douglas. I'm just gonna make sure that
Hope never regrets this decision.
>> Steffy: I believe you. >> Thomas: I just wonder how
it's going with Hope. Her telling Liam that
I'm rejoining the line. >> Steffy: Well, my guess,
I think Liam's gonna freak out when he hears what
Hope's done. ♪♪
>> Thomas: Maybe Liam will be on board with me coming back
and working with Hope again. >> Steffy: Look at you,
Mr. Positive. >> Thomas: Well, it's not like
the stakes could be higher, you know? I mean, how could
he reject me coming back and-- and saving Hope For The Future?
[ Taylor laughing ] >> Thomas: Hey, Mom.
>> Steffy: Mom, hey. >> Taylor: Hi. I came by
hoping I would see this. Ah. I missed seeing my kids
back together. I hated seeing you two at odds.
>> Steffy: Yeah, we didn't like it either.
>> Taylor: So, why don't you look happier?
>> Thomas: No, and I'm-- I am happy. You know? I-- I'm just--
I'm very glad that everyone is, uh, giving me another
chance. I'm just a little concerned about Hope's
decision to reinstate me and how that might actually cause
problems for her and Liam.
>> Liam: I'm so confused
right now. I thought-- I thought we agreed, like,
right here in this room that Thomas coming back to
Hope For The Future was a bad idea.
So-- so what happened? >> Hope: Liam, either Thomas
returns as lead designer or I lose my line.
And you know that Hope for the Future isn't just some
creative outlet for me. It's a way I get my message
into the world, and I don't wanna lose that. Not if there
was a chance to save it. And like it or not,
Thomas was that chance. >> Liam: No, I know, I-- That--
But that's-- that's Thomas's pitch, right? I know that
Thomas wants you to believe that. I just-- I'm trying
to understand w-- what he did to make you change your mind
and let him in again. Again. ♪♪
>> Taylor: Now, I know how badly you wanna help save Hope for
the Future, but what if Hope listens to Liam and she
doesn't want you to come back? >> Thomas: I'll head home and,
you know, figure out what's next.
>> Taylor: Good. I like that plan. You learn from it,
and move on. >> Thomas: Yeah, what I won't
do is I won't be some kind of issue in Hope and Liam's
marriage. I mean, I-- I-- I don't want Hope's decision
to bring me back on to affect that at all.
So, if Liam has a problem, I will respectfully bow out.
>> Taylor: Fingers crossed you don't have to. And--
>> Douglas: Thanks for lunch, Paris. See ya!
>> Thomas: Hey, bud! >> Taylor: Douglas!
>> Steffy: Hey, I was wondering where you went.
Are you enjoying your day off? >> Douglas: Paris took me to
the cafeteria. >> Taylor: Oh, that was nice.
>> Steffy: I heard the big news. You're going back to the cabin.
>> Douglas: I hope you don't mind. I know it was a big deal
choosing to live with you. >> Steffy: Hey, we were happy
to have you. And know that you are always welcome over.
>> Douglas: Thanks for letting me stay with you, Aunt Steffy,
and for taking such good care of me.
>> Steffy: Oh, get over here. Of course. My goodness.
>> Douglas: Where's mom? >> Thomas: Well, uh, she--
she went to tell Liam the big news, uh, that you are gonna
go back and live with them at the cabin.
>> Douglas: And about you guys working together again?
♪♪ >> Liam: I feel like--
like this is deja vu. Like where I tell you that
Thomas's track record scares me, I ask you not to let him
back into your life again, you agree, but then you--
you're standing here and you're telling me that you
changed your mind again. >> Hope: Yes.
>> Liam: Hope, I-- I-- I know that Hope for the
Future is struggling and you're doing everything that
you can to save it because th-- the-- You are the line,
and the line is you. I get that.
I even get that Thomas is a talented designer,
and I even get that one of the reasons Hope for the Future
has enjoyed so much success in the past is because of him.
But as your husband, my top priority is just
your well being. So, how many times does it take?
How-- how many chances do you have to give Thomas before
he finally proves to you that he can't control himself
around you. >> Hope: Oh, my gosh. Thomas
hasn't been inappropriate around me.
>> Thomas: Are you kidding me? He tried to kiss you at
the preview, Hope. >> Hope: Liam, I told him
it wasn't going to happen, and he respected that.
>> Liam: Oh. >> Hope: He didn't push that.
He let it go. And besides, this is about me not losing
Hope for the Future. >> Liam: I really thought you
agreed with me that rehiring Thomas was too dangerous,
so what changed? >> Hope: Liam, I am sorry to
disappoint you. I am. And believe me, I--
I heard everything that you had to say and I took it
all into consideration, and-- >> Liam: You're still not
telling me what changed. Do I already know the answer?
Is it just the same answer as it's always been in
the past? He got in your head? Is-- is it just that again?
>> Hope: No. Liam, this was my decision. Look,
you're just-- you're not gonna like what I have to say.
You're not going to like it. I do believe that Thomas
has changed. >> Liam: Hope.
♪♪
>> Douglas: So, is Mommy telling Liam?
>> Thomas: Uh, yeah. Yeah, not only that you're gonna be
living there at the cabin with them, but that she and I
will be working together again. >> Douglas: Will Liam get mad?
He doesn't seem to like you very much.
>> Taylor: I am sorry that you have to deal with that.
>> Steffy: Liam and Hope will figure everything out, okay?
>> Douglas: Any ideas for new designs?
>> Thomas: Well, here. I've got a few, I think.
Um, and, you know, I-- I, uh want you to remember
something. Even if Hope and I, we're not able to work together,
I need you to remember that you are loved.
We love you so much and we are always gonna be
team Douglas. Look, I-- I have made some mistakes
in the past, but I promise-- Hey, look right here.
I will never, ever do that again, okay?
♪♪ >> Liam: You think Thomas
has changed? >> Hope: I do.
>> Liam: Why? >> Hope: I do.
>> Liam: Why? Why? Because he said so? Again?
Like, how many times do you have to hear, "I'm a changed
man." How many times do you have to hear, "I'm sorry?"
The-- I mean, you-- you-- you remember him, like,
keeping the fact that Beth was alive from us for months
and how much that hurt you? >> Hope: Of course I remember
that. I haven't forgotten that. Thanks.
>> Liam: Okay, you also remember that, you know, he,
like, tried to throw me off a building so he could kidnap
you. That is as messed up a sentence as I think I can
conceive of, and yet, it's absolutely true.
What about the fact that he kept a mannequin that looked
exactly like you in his apartment so that he could
live out his sick, twisted fantasies of a life with you?
What about all the times that he's used Douglas
to manipulate you? Why are we just ignoring this?
>> Hope: Liam, I am not justifying or defending any
of that. >> Liam: No, but you--
but you are. You are when you say, "Oh, I think he's changed
this time." >> Hope: Liam, what I do
believe is that there's good in everyone. Even Thomas.
And yes, he has messed up, but what matters is that
he's willing to-- >> Liam: No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, m-- no, not messed up. I have messed up, right?
I'm the king of messing up. What Thomas does is not
messing up. Thomas has been fixated on you for years and
it festers and it festers and it festers and when it
finally doesn't work, when you turn him down,
he gets dangerous. He starts to do things that
actually hurt people, okay? So, this-- this is why
I'm asking you how you can let this happen again.
I am asking you how you can let him in to your life again.
And I'm not just asking for me, I'm asking for the sake of
your well-being, and I am asking for the safety of
our family. How? ♪♪
>> Taylor: You know something? not too long ago, Thomas
wouldn't have even admitted that he needed therapy, but--
but look at him now. Not only is he seeing someone,
he is doing the work. >> Steffy: Yeah, Thomas really
does wanna be a better man. To be worthy of the blessings
he's been given. Especially Douglas.
>> Taylor: Douglas is such a wonderful little boy.
>> Steffy: He really is. And it was so amazing when
he was spending time us, but... >> Taylor: But?
[ Steffy sighing ] >> Steffy: I worry. I worry
about Douglas spending so much time solving adult problems.
That's why he came to live with us in the first place.
He knew that there was tension between Hope and Thomas
and he removed himself. But now that Hope and Thomas
are working together again-- >> Taylor: Douglas feels like
his job is done. >> Steffy: Exactly.
>> Taylor: You know what, we'll-- we'll keep an eye
on it, okay? I-- Douglas should be focused on--
on being a kid right now and not healing family drama,
that's-- that's too much for any child to take on.
Just, um, we'll see where it goes from here, okay?
Honestly, I-- I have faith in Thomas. He is dedicated
to being the best father to Douglas.
>> Steffy: I agree. I really think that Douglas can come
out to be the big winner in this. As long as Thomas's
obsession with Hope is in the past.
>> Taylor: I don't feel concerned about that anymore.
I-- I don't. What I do feel is complete pride in my son.
>> Thomas: So, you excited to be moving back to Mom's?
>> Douglas: Yeah. It was fun living at Aunt Steffy's though.
>> Thomas: It's nice having the beach in
your backyard, huh? >> Douglas: And lots of cool
takeout and delivery. >> Thomas: Yeah, my sis is
a lot of things, but a good cook?
Not one of 'em. >> Douglas: Finn is
definitely better. >> Thomas: You like him, huh?
>> Douglas: He's the best, but no one is as cool as you, Dad.
>> Thomas: That's what I'm talkin' about.
Right back at ya. >> Douglas: Are you excited
about working with Mommy again? >> Thomas: Uh, yeah. Yeah,
I can't wait to get started. >> Douglas: She needs
your help. >> Thomas: What do you know
about that? >> Douglas: I hear stuff.
Hope for the Future's in trouble, and it needs you
and Mommy working together to fix it.
>> Thomas: Well, I am excited to get back to work
and do that. >> Douglas: I wish you could
be together all the time. >> Thomas: Are you, uh,
conveniently forgetting about Mommy's marriage to Liam?
>> Douglas: I know. >> Thomas: Hey, we have to
respect that. Always. >> Douglas: I do, but I still
hope that someday, I can live with you and Mommy
and we can be a real family. >> Thomas: Come here, bud.
♪♪ >> Hope: I hear everything
you're saying, Liam, but respectfully, this time,
I don't agree. Thomas lost everything.
He lost his job, he lost his family, he lost Douglas.
And in that time alone, he reevaluated, he sought
professional help, he actually has apologized to my mother
and he understands that that fake phone call to CPS
was not okay, and he regrets it.
>> Liam: As he always does. >> Hope: This time is different,
Liam. It is. I believe that. And-- and you're forgetting
the most important part, which is that we are setting
a good example for Douglas. Douglas is going to get to see
his two parents working alongside each other and
getting along. And I know I said I wouldn't rehire
Thomas, and I am so-- I am so sorry to go back on
my word, but Liam, I am not going to sacrifice
my career over this. I am not. So, while I am so thankful
for you looking out for me, and you caring for me,
I also need you to trust me because I have put Thomas
on notice. I let him know that I-- If I even see a glint
of the old him, he's gone. But I really don't think
it's going to come to that because he has made progress.
There are steps-- >> Liam: I feel like we're
talking past each other, though, so can I-- can I just
take a go at this? Can I-- Can-- can you listen to me
for one second-- >> Hope: Liam, I need you
to listen to me.
I understand your concerns. And I never--
I just-- I don't want this to become an issue in our
relationship because our marriage and our family means
so much to me. But so does my job.
So, please, when I say that this felt like the only
option and I think it's a good thing for Douglas, and I just,
like, I don't know how many times I can tell you I can
look out for myself. I will be vigilant. And if I--
If he even tries anything, it's done! It ends there.
So, can you just accept this decision? My decision.
>> Liam: Yeah, I think-- I think it's clear that you've--
you've made it, um, and he's-- he is coming back, so, yeah.
>> Hope: Yeah. Yeah.
>> Liam: Hey, you know I love you more than anything, right?
I just want you to have everything you need. And um,
I'm scared. That's all. I'm scared.
But I'm not gonna let Thomas be the thing that
comes between us and our life together.
I won't-- I won't do it, okay? >> Hope: Thank you.
Thank you so much, Liam. Thank you for understanding.
♪♪