>> Steffy: I needed that.
>> Finn: Mm. Yeah? >> Steffy: Mm-hmm.
>> Finn: Why? What's, uh, what's going on?
>> Steffy: Well, once again, Hope for the Future lives to see
another day. ♪♪♪
>> Brooke: It was incredible, Carter, how you managed to
persuade Ridge and Steffy to keep Hope's line afloat.
I mean, really. Oh, honey, I was just thanking
Carter for speaking so passionately at the meeting.
>> Hope: Very passionate, indeed.
>> Brooke: Thank you for saying such wonderfully kind things
about my daughter. >> Carter: I meant every word.
Forrester would lose its way, would lose its conscience
without Hope and Hope for the Future.
♪♪♪ >> Bill: So you're giving advice
now. >> Liam: Yeah, you should-you
should listen to him once in a while--you got a wise kid here.
>> Bill: Yeah, of course I do. I raised him.
Now, what is this about you and Hope?
You want another shot? >> Liam: I mean, have you met
me? >> Bill: Liam, your marriage
ended ages ago. I thought you'd moved on.
>> Liam: I know. I... thought I had too, but, um...
I didn't. And...grateful to him for
helping me realize it.
♪♪♪
>> Bill: Look at you two, like old pals already--I love it.
>> Will: Liam and I have been meeting for lunch since I've
been home. >> Bill: That's what I want for
my boys, for you to be close. >> Liam: It's been nice having
him back, it's been really nice. >> Bill: Yeah, the best.
So tell me, uh, what did Will say to you to convince you that
you wanna reconcile with Hope? ♪♪♪
>> Finn: Well, Carter sounds optimistic.
>> Steffy: Yeah. Speculatively. I mean, he's pretty much the
only one--my father and I, we have our doubts.
>> Finn: Carter's the details guy--he's focused on the finer
points. I'm sure he has a plan to make it work.
>> Steffy: Yeah, he's all in on Hope and her line.
Like he wants to pour more resources into it.
>> Finn: Well, I'm surprised Carter went to bat so hard for
her, given all the budget concerns.
>> Steffy: You're surprised? It's like why is Carter suddenly
showing so much interest in Hope for the Future?
♪♪♪
>> Deacon: Brooke. Wow, this is a nice surprise.
It's good to see you. >> Brooke: Good to see you.
>> Deacon: You by yourself? >> Brooke: Yes.
>> Deacon: Ah, no Ridge. Even better.
Sheila's not here either. She's got the day off.
>> Brooke: Good. We'll have a chance to catch up about our
daughter.
>> Hope: Okay, well, now that we
actually have a moment alone, I would like to take the time to--
>> Carter: You don't have to thank me.
>> Hope: How do you know what I was going to say?
Really, though, the way you... you stood up for my line,
you-you defended it. >> Carter: You deserve it, Hope.
Your line is one of our legacy labels, and it took me a while
to realize it, but cutting it would be foolish on so many
levels. >> Hope: Well, thank you.
I am so, so happy, and this just means that I get to-I get to
carry that vision forward now. >> Carter: You know, we should
celebrate. At my place.
No interruptions, no one barging in and you pretending to be on
the phone. [both laugh]
Just you and me. ♪♪♪
>> Steffy: Carter leads with logic--facts and efficiency.
That is his motto. >> Finn: Yeah, he's always been
a straight shooter. >> Steffy: I mean, yeah, he is a
straight shooter. He lives for this business.
He's loyal, he's committed, and he doesn't make rash
emotional decisions. >> Finn: That's what makes him
an excellent COO. I mean, you need someone that's
responsible but also, you know, willing to take risks.
>> Steffy: Yes, yeah, absolutely, and it needs to make
financial sense, like it has to benefit in the long run, right?
>> Finn: Well, then, Carter must have a lot of faith in Hope and
her line. >> Steffy: Yeah.
He called her a beacon of light. I mean, that is so unlike him.
It's really throwing me off. >> Finn: You think he might have
gotten it wrong this time? >> Steffy: Something just seems
off, considering her line is underperforming.
>> Finn: You're wondering if something else is going on.
♪♪♪ >> Deacon: All right, what about
Hope? Should I be worried? >> Brooke: Do we ever stop
worrying about our children? >> Deacon: Well, that is a good
point. All right, tell me who it is.
I'll straighten 'em out. >> Brooke: [laughs] No.
>> Deacon: I'm on it. >> Brooke: It's not like that.
>> Deacon: [laughing] >> Brooke: No. I don't wanna
jinx it, but I think things are looking up for Hope.
>> Deacon: Looking up. >> Brooke: Mm-hmm.
>> Deacon: Okay, good. I like to hear that. So what happened?
>> Brooke: Well, Steffy called another one of her meetings.
>> Deacon: So Steffy's still gunning to kill Hope for the
Future. >> Brooke: She's looking for
every excuse in the book. >> Deacon: Yeah, it's just-it's
so stupid, it's-it's-- Take my restaurant, for example.
I mean, things were slow here. But now they're on fire.
I mean, I can barely keep up with the demand.
Same thing's gonna happen for Hope--mark my words.
>> Brooke: And I believe that. I do.
You know who else agrees? Carter.
Carter saved the day. >> Deacon: Hmm.
>> Bill: So you're done being single--that's it.
>> Will: I mean, you should have seen Liam trying to flirt up
some of these Forrester models. >> Bill: No, no, he's got no
swag like you and me. >> Liam: Excuse me! Excuse me.
I was not trying to flirt. You were trying to flirt.
I was trying to have a conversation.
>> Will: Right, right, about your daughters' swim lessons
and their favorite baby toys. >> Liam: Yes, yes, about my
daughter--are you not listening? This is my whole point is I
wanted to talk about my daughters because that's
actually all I care about right now.
I want my family back. >> Bill: All right, okay.
So...so what did Hope say when you told her how you feel?
>> Liam: Didn't exactly go rushing into my arms.
>> Bill: Well, you probably threw her for a loop.
>> Liam: Yeah, no, she--I mean listen, I-I-I understand where
she's coming from. I'm just, uh...
not gonna give up. ♪♪♪
>> Hope: Wow. Does it always look this nice?
>> Carter: Made some phone calls.
>> Hope: Mm.
Well, it, uh, certainly is... beautiful, like the vibe of the
place. >> Carter: Well, I'm glad you
feel comfortable. >> Hope: Well, you certainly...
have that effect on me. Uh...thank you again
for today. I-I really appreciate you...
stepping up like that, and more than you can know.
>> Carter: Well, I have a confession.
I wasn't just thinking about what's best for the company.
'Cause I can't stop thinking about you.
♪♪♪
>> Steffy: Carter came to Hope's
rescue big time. Like all this talk about
compassion and generosity. >> Finn: Well, I mean, her line
does have a powerful message. >> Steffy: Yeah, yeah it
resonates with people, and it should.
>> Finn: Except the math isn't adding up.
>> Steffy: [sighs] >> Finn: Hmm.
>> Steffy: Do you think Carter notices something that I don't?
>> Finn: I don't know, but like you said, honey, I mean, he's a
smart, rational guy. There's gotta be a good reason
for all this. >> Steffy: And I do trust his
judgement. >> Finn: Hey.
I bet it'll all make sense at some point. [chuckles]
>> Steffy: Yeah, I hope so. Anyway, why am I talking about
this with you? Especially you're over here
looking like a snack. The last thing I wanna be doing
is talking about Hope. >> Finn: [chuckles]
♪♪♪ >> Will: Now that Dad's gone,
you can really fill me in. >> Liam: What, uh...
wish there was more to fill you in on.
I don't--I just--I need to be patient.
>> Will: Well, just keep showing up.
It's your actions and not your words that'll show Hope how
important she is to you. >> Liam: Here's the thing.
I know--[sighs] I know what Hope needs.
What she needs is to be the one woman in a man's eyes,
and I haven't given her that. I need to prove to Hope that...
she's the only woman for me.
>> Deacon: Carter Walton,
Ridge's main man, and also one of the top execs at Forrester
came to our girl's defense. Wow. >> Brooke: He sure did.
>> Deacon: That's nice. I mean, I-I gotta admit, I wouldn't have
predicted that. >> Brooke: I'm very grateful to
Carter, and so is Hope. >> Deacon: Well, guy knows
his stuff, right? I mean, if he didn't think that Hope's line
was gonna hit the mark, he would have let it die.
>> Brooke: Needless to say, Steffy wasn't thrilled.
>> Deacon: Oh, I bet. >> Brooke: He was so prepared
when he came to the meeting. He had evidence and ideas.
He takes his job very seriously. >> Deacon: He's definitely the
kinda guy that you want by your side, right?
>> Brooke: It's refreshing. Because Hope is usually under
siege over there. >> Deacon: Thanks to Steffy.
>> Brooke: [small laugh] Well, times are changing.
>> Deacon: Well, sounds like Hope not only has you in her
corner, but now she's got Carter too.
>> Hope: Well, it was very sweet of you to do...all this.
[phone whistles] Oh, just-just a second.
Um...
Hold on. It's just, uh, it's Liam double-checking what time
he needs to pick Beth up from her friend's house.
>> Carter: I know he wants you back.
>> Hope: Well, I mean... [light laugh]
he did ask if we could explore...patching things up,
and...raising Beth together as a family.
>> Carter: What'd you say? >> Hope: I told him the truth.
That I-I don't think I can do that.
Just because two people are married doesn't mean it's
healthy, and plenty of children thrive being raised in two
separate households. And I will always put Beth's
needs first, always. But I would rather her see her
parents happy separately than... than not happy together.
I'm sorry, was that too much of an overshare? I just--I don't--
>> Carter: No, no, no, Hope, you have to take care of yourself
before you take care of everybody else.
You're a dedicated mother no matter what.
And when you're in a good place, Beth feels it.
And that's whether you're single or with Liam or...
with somebody else. You deserve all the beautiful
things that life has to offer you, so it'd be a huge mistake
if you went back to your ex-husband.
Not before you fully explored and got to see what's out there,
Hope. Got to see what opportunities
await. ♪♪♪
>> Finn: You're leaving me, aren't you?
>> Finn: [light laugh] Yeah. I gotta check on a
patient. >> Steffy: Okay, well, I won't
be too long. >> Finn: Me neither.
Let's, uh, put the kids to be early
tonight. >> Steffy: I'm really glad you
visited me. >> Finn: Every spare second I
have I wanna spend with you. I almost lost you because of
Luna, and I'm treasuring every
opportunity to hold and kiss my beautiful wife.
I'm never gonna let you go. >> Steffy: I'm never gonna let
you go. [both laugh]
♪♪♪ >> Deacon: Carter Walton.
Well, that guy definitely deserves a big thank you.
>> Brooke: Believe me, I made sure I thanked him right after
the meeting. >> Deacon: Great. Good. Hey, you
know what? Tell him to come in for a couple of pizzas on the
house, you know, being there for our daughter, recognizing her
contributions to Forrester. >> Brooke: Okay.
He really championed Hope today. >> Deacon: Our daughter's on a
roll, Brooke. Let's just pray it continues.
>> Brooke: And I believe it will, because Carter sees the
value in Hope and her line. And he's exactly the support she
needs right now.
>> Liam: I mean, losing Hope was devastating, but I'll be honest.
A huge part of that was my fault.
>> Will: Dude, does it even matter whose fault it was at
this point? You guys are not the same people
you were then. >> Liam: Yeah, I know. I know.
I mean, it's just it was so intense there for so many years.
It's possible that what we needed was time apart, was space
from each other to-to reflect, to-to appreciate everything
that we had built together. >> Will: Fight for her, man.
Make it happen before some other guy comes along and gets to Hope
first. ♪♪♪
>> Hope: You know... you might have singlehandedly
saved my life. >> Carter: [chuckles]
It was worth sticking my neck out, and I stand by everything
I said. You inspire people, Hope.
You do, and we always get positive feedback from our
clients, plus your work with the Foundation...
it's integral to our identity, and it's who Forrester is, who
we represent. And it all starts with you.
Your generosity, your... tenderness.
Your beauty.
I remember Rome. I remember...how gorgeous you
looked at the Piazza Navona.
♪♪♪
>> Hope: Well... you are pretty inspirational
yourself. Really, Carter, the way...
I don't know--anyone can talk to you about anything
without judgement. I-I know it's certainly been
a comfort to me over the past year.
I mean, this was probably one of the most difficult years of my
life, and I behaved in ways I wasn't exactly proud of.
But, uh, I am a divorced mom just trying to do my best while
my career hangs in the balance, and yet I'm still craving love
and affection, and, uh... trying to be okay throughout
it all. And all I can say is that...
it hasn't really felt like anyone has been in my corner...
until now. I just-I-I really am
appreciative of that, Carter, of this connection.
>> Carter: I appreciate our connection, too, Hope, and...
if you can't tell, I'm crazy about you.
>> Hope: [laughs] Well, uh, we certainly aren't
leaving...much up to mystery, then, are we?
>> Carter: No. I like to make my intentions
very clear. That bother you?
>> Hope: Not at all. >> Carter: I think you're
amazing. You're all I can think about,
Hope... right here.
♪♪♪
>> Hope: Wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait.
Oh, um... we--Carter, we-we shouldn't.
We shouldn't. We shouldn't. >> Carter: But we could.
♪♪♪
>> Man: Here's a look ahead. >> Ivy: Hi, Steffy.
>> Steffy: Ivy. >> Carter: I been thinking about
you for quite some time. >> Will: One of the big draws of
working at Forrester was all the beautiful women.
>> Hope: One of them will be thrilled to meet a handsome
catch like you. >> Will: I'm Will.
>> Electra: I'm Electra.
Captioned by Los Angeles Distribution and Broadcasting, Inc.