[dynamic music plays]
♪ ♪
[music continues]
♪ ♪
Well, this is exactly what I envisioned--all of it.
Yeah, me too, and more.
You totally nailed it, Granddad.
Ha ha. We all did. The whole team, all of us together.
But a special shout-out to you, R.J.
All your hard work and your dedication
and your late nights--
-it was, uh, it was invaluable. -Ah, I don't know about
-invaluable, but-- -Hey, take the compliment.
He doesn't give 'em out very often.
-ERIC: [chuckles] -R.J.: Thank you.
And what do you think, Zende?
It's great, right?
Absolutely.
Uh, Granddad has never put out better work.
ERIC: Yeah.
Hey, you see that?
Yeah, I see it. I--yes!
Yes, you picked the right fabric.
-You always do. -ERIC: Thank you. Thank you.
All right, I'm gonna say it
because I think Granddad is too humble to, but...
I think when this Forrester couture line drops,
Logan's gonna be left in the dust.
[dynamic music continues]
♪ ♪
My mother wanted to know how my leave of absence was going,
and she was kind and supportive about it.
Like, honestly, it seems like she's counting down the days
until I'm back at Forrester again.
Well, you didn't let on...
No! No, of course not. I just...
hate lying to my mother about all this.
Oh, look, hold it. You're not lying.
You are... withholding information.
This is difficult for Hope.
It's gonna be difficult for her either way.
Okay, well, there's a quick fix.
-What's that? -We have Brooke come over here
right now, and you tell her everything.
KATIE: Are you kidding me?
BILL: Well, no! Then Hope will come clean
and she'll feel better. Of course, it will blow
our meticulously crafted strategy right out the window
and put us at a huge disadvantage with Forrester.
Okay, okay, nobody's-- nobody is suggesting
that we do that, specifically not you.
-Right? -No, of course not.
I understand the importance of secrecy,
and the reason why we're doing it.
It's just something this big...
me leaving to go work at Logan with my aunt?
That is something I'm worried my mom may never forgive me for.
I can't believe it.
Marjorie's retiring?
[huffs] I know.
30 years in the sewing room.
I don't know what we're gonna do without her.
Well, she's not leaving right away, is she?
No, no. God, no. Not until couture is completed.
But it's getting closer by the day.
Speaking of which...
I know what you're gonna say.
-You do? -Yes.
You're gonna remind me about that promise I made.
Once we're finished with couture,
Hope for the Future will be back into production.
Well, I hope you stick to your word,
because Hope is counting on you.
Mm. I think you're counting on me too.
What do you mean?
You and I are getting along,
and you'd like it to stay that way.
Now, if I renege on my promise to Hope, then...
You wouldn't do that, Steffy.
Please tell me you wouldn't do that to my daughter.
[edgy music plays]
♪ ♪
[bright music plays]
♪ ♪
Okay, everyone. Great job.
You can go get changed. Thank you.
Is there a problem, Carter?
Looks like, uh, maybe there might be.
-Is there a problem? -No, no.
There's no problem. It's just, uh...
as amazing as this all is, it's costing us.
This is shaping up to be the most expensive collection
of Forrester history.
Steffy, Hope's been put on the sidelines for far too long.
Nobody's trying to hurt your daughter's feelings,
but couture became a priority
when Granddad came back to the company.
And we're all excited about that.
-And Hope understands that too. -Okay.
I made a promise, Brooke, and I'm sticking to it.
Hope's line is gonna be next, okay? And in the meantime--
And in the meantime, Hope has taken a leave of absence
and she continues to sit on the bench
until you say otherwise.
BILL: Hope, if you're having second thoughts,
if you're thinking of backing out, we need to know it,
-and we need to know it now. -No, no, she's not...
She's not saying that. You're not saying that.
No! No, not at all. I am committed to Logan.
I'm excited about what we're building here.
Oh, good, because we are so excited to have you,
even though we can't go public right now.
BILL: We need the most bang for the buck possible
when we finally make this big reveal.
You are obviously a huge name in the fashion world
with an equally huge following,
and we have to milk that for everything it's worth.
Okay, but are you saying
you're trying to throw this in Forrester's face,
in Brooke's face?
No, no. We're not throwing anything in your mother's face.
-No. -No. The Dressmaker,
on the other hand, that smug S.O.B.?
He deserves whatever's coming to him...
after the way he treated Katie and you and Will?
Honestly, my dad's got a point here.
I mean, Forrester, Ridge, all of them,
I mean, they had every opportunity
to make it right with you three, and they just--
they chose to side with their own.
KATIE: Well, they're never gonna see it that way.
I mean, to them, they had the best intentions,
which is why, when they find out that you're moving on...
Well, it's not just moving on.
They're going to see it as me joining the enemy.
It's going to feel like the ultimate slap in the face.
No, the ultimate slap in the face
will be when we finally spring the secret on them.
Everyone at Forrester's gonna be humiliated.
And really, when you think about it,
it is David versus Goliath.
You got your little...little start-up that could over here
and then your fashion industry titan over here.
Exactly.
No one at Forrester's going to see this coming...
until it's too late.
[lightly edgy music plays]
♪ ♪
We're all aware of the expense
of the collection, Carter.
But it's not just any collection.
This is Eric Forrester coming back.
-Can't put a price on that. -R.J.: Exactly.
If we're gonna showcase Granddad's genius
in every way, what's a couple extra bucks?
It's more than a couple extra bucks, R.J.
At the moment, the company is completely focused on one line.
All its resources are in couture.
I'm not saying there's a problem necessarily.
I'm just pointing out that we're--
There's no need to apologize. That's your job.
The very definition of his job is to watch expenses,
to be sure we don't overextend.
Yeah, especially if we're bringing back
Hope for the Future immediately after Granddad's collection.
I mean, that is the plan, right, Ridge?
Hope'll return from leave,
and then it's full steam ahead on her line?
[chuckles] You think I owe Hope?
She's been more than patient, Steffy.
Patient? She tried to replace me as co-CEO.
Look, I don't know what else I can do.
I've tried to reassure her on more than one occasion
that we're gonna bring her line back.
Okay. Reassurances are great,
but what Hope really needs to know--
What, a day, an hour, a minute when she knows
Hope for the Future's gonna be up and running?
I can't do that right now, not until couture is behind us,
and until then, we'll just have to--
And until then, my daughter will remain MIA at Forrester.
The leave of absence was Hope's decision.
I didn't suggest it.
Though, more and more...
More and more what?
I'm starting to wonder if something is going on with Hope
that she doesn't want us to know about.
Deke's latest designs are impressive.
I mean, he is really coming through for us.
Not that there was any doubt.
My brother is extremely talented.
And he's not some prima donna like Eric
whining about the, uh, finest silk not being available
within our production time constraints.
[funny accent] Oh, yeah. Bill doesn't care for that.
Look, I'm all for using the best of everything.
But I'm also all for Hope's collection being profitable.
Absolutely. And Deke is going to get us there.
BILL: The line's going to be great.
-And so will the money. -We are going to make
a bold statement when we hit the runway.
Everyone is gonna know
that there's a new fashion house in Los Angeles
that is deserving of respect and attention...
Logan.
-Logan! -[giggling]
This is fire! Well done.
Oh...thank you.
[moody music plays]
♪ ♪
What was that about?
What was what about? Carter taking Zende? Nothing.
They just had to talk about something.
I think it's probably about Hope for the Future
and how much my grandson misses it.
Zende wants to get back there. I get it.
So, what, he can ditch working on the couture line
with you and Granddad?
It's crazy, no? A little insulting?
I don't think that's how your cousin meant it, not at all.
RIDGE: No, I don't think so either.
I think he enjoyed working with us.
Yeah. But Hope for the Future is his real passion.
Zende, I know you better than anyone.
I can tell when you're upset.
This whole thing with Hope for the Future--
-That's not why I'm upset. -Really?
'Cause the way you were pressing Ridge in there--
Yeah, okay, fine, it's true. I miss Hope's line
where my work and contributions are actually appreciated.
So you don't think your work is appreciated by Ridge and Eric?
Not in the way it should be, no!
But, hey...
when the golden child's in town,
he kind of sucks up all the praise around here.
Doesn't leave a lot for the rest of us--me included.
And there it is. You obviously think
you're still taking a back seat to R.J.
Because I am.
BROOKE: Well, to be honest, I'm not quite sure
what my daughter's thinking.
I was shocked when she said
she wanted to take a leave of absence,
especially so close to the release of the couture line.
What about Katie? Have you spoken to her?
Do you know where things stand at Logan?
Who her mystery designer is, you mean?
Well, you know she's keeping everything hush-hush
just like she did when she lured my grandfather over there
behind our backs.
I wonder what she's up to this time.
I don't have a clue.
But I really don't think we have to worry.
'Cause, first of all, Logan is not gonna be able to compete
with Eric and Ridge's new designs.
And she's not gonna poach any more Forresters.
Remember? That's what she promised.
She was gonna stay in her lane and only hire Spencers.
Hey, Hope Spencer...
can I just say how proud of you I am
and how excited I am for you?
You've got a new chapter right around the corner,
and it's not just for you.
It's for the entire Spencer family.
One that's going to surprise the hell out of everyone.
-Mm-hmm. -[phone chimes]
Oh.
Oh, it's, um...
it's Steffy.
-[chiming continues] -What does she want?
Well, answer it. Answer it. Find out.
Yeah. O...kay.
Uh, hey, Steffy.
Are you in the middle of something?
Why?
I'd like to see you at the office.
Now?
Yes. It's important.
Okay.
What did she want?
Well, uh, she, um, she wants to see me.
She says it's important, and she...
sounded a little intense.
Well, when does she not sound intense?
I know I said that I would go, but maybe--I mean, should I?
What if she's on to me?
-I can't imagine how. -Yeah, I can't either.
Although...
if you put her off,
I mean, she may grow more suspicious, so...
You should go.
O-okay. Uh...
-wish me luck. -Hey, hey, hey--
No need. You're gonna do great. You're gonna do so great.
-Just remember... -That as long as Steffy knows
that I am on sabbatical from Forrester.
One you're never returning from.
[uneasy music plays]
♪ ♪
You heard Ridge and Granddad bending over backwards
to give R.J. props!
You don't think he deserves them?
Well, it's not like he designed the line.
That is very true, but perhaps his father and grandfather
just wanted to give him some encouragement.
Yeah, look, okay, fine. I understand that.
And it's not like he's not talented.
But I've put in the work!
I have the cred and the reputation to prove it.
Zende, here's some well-meaning advice, all right?
How 'bout you stay calm and be patient?
What, like Hope? Look how well that worked for her.
Maybe I should take a leave of absence too.
You think that will get their attention?
Okay, Zende, listen to me, man.
You're taking this way too far.
I can't keep doing this, Carter,
being overlooked, overshadowed by R.J.?
Something's gotta change, has to change.
Soon.
ERIC: No, it's okay. Leave that.
-Hi! -Hey.
Sorry I missed the looks on the models.
How did it go?
These two killed it, per usual.
With some help from your talented son.
Boy, that's the truth.
I'm more impressed with this guy more and more every day.
Ha ha. I know.
I'm so happy that R.J.'s here with us
designing at Forrester Creations
instead of globe-trotting around.
R.J.: Makes it easier for this one to keep tabs on me,
-right, Mom? -Honey, I don't need to
keep tabs on you!
You're an amazing young man with a bright future ahead.
And I couldn't be more proud of my son.
Look what you did. Look what you did.
I just wish I could say the same about my little sister.
Hope should be there by now.
You know, it would have been really nice
if Steffy just, like, said what she wanted.
Yeah, well, she said it was important. What if she--
Katie, come on! [huffs]
[laughs] We can "what if?" this to death...
work ourselves up like the two of you are doing right now!
But the odds that Steffy found out anything about Hope
are virtually zero.
-Still, anything is possible. -BILL: You're killing me.
Especially with Steffy, because she's sharp
and she could, you know, put it together.
How? There are only a handful of people
that know anything about this, half of which are in this room.
I don't know, I'm just... I'm worried for my wife
that she's walking into some kind of trap
that I sent her to.
HOPE: I was surprised to get your call.
Why? This is still your place of business.
When I called you earlier, did I, um,
did I catch you in the middle of something?
Why do you ask?
Just something I sensed.
Well, I'm--I'm fine.
Really? You just...
you seem a little off.
Uh, well, I am pressed for time,
so whatever this is about...
It's about you and me...
and our relationship through the years.
Look, I know we've had our issues in the past
and we have our issues now regarding Hope for the Future
and you've been really sad about it...
so much so that you need to get some space.
You wanted to get away from the company.
But let's be honest, Hope.
No more games.
I know exactly what you're doing.
And I called you here to put a stop to it.
[intense percussive music pounds]
♪ ♪
Captioned by Los Angeles Distribution and Broadcasting, Inc.