Tuesday, July 01, 2008, Episode #5345

Ridge and Phoebe discuss Steffy's recent behavior.

In Eric's office, Ridge complains to Phoebe about her sister keeping Marcus's secret from the family. He thinks it's so unlike Steffy to keep that hidden knowing how concerned they were about Donna. Phoebe agrees that it seems odd that Steffy would be so into Marcus that she'd put his needs before the family's. Ridge asks why she thinks Steffy is into Marcus. Phoebe explains that she found out the truth about Marcus when she eavesdropped on him talking with Steffy by the bonfire at Bikini Beach. Hearing that Steffy was on a date with Marcus and acting friendly with the guy, Ridge seethes that Donna's sinking her hooks even deeper into their family by having her son going after his daughter. Phoebe thinks that Steffy and Marcus really seem to like each other, and that's precisely what worries Ridge. He thinks it's awfully convenient that this guy shows up just when his mother marries a wealthy guy, and now Steffy wants to hang out with him. Phoebe suggests to her dad that it all might go away if he leaves it alone, but Ridge can't do that, since he has to do what's best for his daughter.

Steffy and Marcus flirt while they work.

Down in Shipping, Marcus flirts with Steffy as he asks if she's made up her mind about him. She teases that she likes what she sees, so he suggests she get to see a little more by going on another date to Bikini Beach. Steffy admits that she had a good time the last time they went there. Steffy then asks if he's nervous now that word's getting out that he's Donna's son. Even though Eric has accepted him, it remains to be seen if everyone else will. Marcus says he can think of one person who can make him nervous, since he gets sweaty palms just looking at her. Steffy laughs, asking if she should take that as a compliment. When Marcus tells her she should, she puts her hand to his heart and is quite intrigued that he has a racing heartbeat on top of those sweaty palms he mentioned. Marcus suggests that instead of going back to Bikini Beach, they go bowling instead. She asks if he's serious. Marcus takes that to mean that she doesn't like bowling, but she tells him that she loves it and is actually pretty good at it. "How good?" Marcus asks. Steffy laughs that he'll just have to find out for himself on their date.

Katie tells Nick and Bridget about Beth.

Nick comes home and finds Katie nervously waiting for word from Brooke. When Nick asks what's wrong, Katie explains that her mother admitted to her why she's been acting so odd lately and tells him about Beth's health issues. She frets that she tried to tell her mother that it didn't matter because they all love her, but Beth left as soon as she turned her back. Nick asks if she knows where her mom went; she tells him that her dad and Brooke are out looking, but they don't know what they'll say or do once they find her. Nick asks why Beth didn't tell anyone. Katie guesses that it was pride, since Beth said she doesn't want to be a burden. Nick says he can understand that. Katie says she can, too, since she's felt that way herself, which is why she won't just let her mother disappear. Bridget comes home, so Katie fills her in on Beth's strokes and memory loss. Stunned to learn of her grandmother's condition, Bridget asks where Beth is. Katie recounts that Beth ran off and Stephen and Brooke are looking for her.

Hope asks Beth not to leave.

In Brooke's living room, Hope asks her grandmother why she looks so sad. Before Beth can answer, Brooke and Stephen arrive and are relieved to see Beth there with Hope. Beth asks how they found her. Brooke explains that Catherine called her and asks her mom why she came here. Beth isn't sure, but Hope says that her grandma came to see her. Beth confirms that she came to see Hope before she left. Hope asks her not to leave. Brooke agrees and tells her mom, "You need your family more than ever." Beth insists that she doesn't want to be a burden, but Brooke claims that it's their turn to take care of Beth, just like she took care of them growing up. Hope asks what a burden is. "Your grandmother isn't one," Brooke answers, "no matter what she thinks." Stephen tells Hope that they should give her mommy and grandma time to talk. Hope agrees, but she asks Beth to come say goodbye before she leaves. Brooke assures Hope that Beth isn't leaving. Hope is glad and tells Beth, "I love you, Grandma," before leaving with Stephen to find Catherine. Alone with her mom, Brooke wants to know why Beth didn't come to them about her health issues. Beth thinks it's best that she leave before she becomes a burden, but Brooke reminds her that their family sticks together in good times and bad. Beth doesn't know how much longer she'll recognize Brooke or her sisters as family. That's all the more reason they should make the most of the time they have, Brooke asserts.

Bridget and Nick reassure Katie.

Brooke calls Katie to tell her that they found their mother. Katie's relieved and gives Nick and Bridget the good news. Bridget asks how Beth is. Katie's just glad her mom isn't on a plane to Paris and asks if this type of memory loss is typical after a stroke. Bridget says that it could be, but she'd need to know more about Beth's symptoms and treatment to say for sure, so she offers to call the neurology department at the hospital to have Beth tested. Katie thinks that's a good idea, so Bridget leaves to make the arrangements. Nick assures her that Bridget will get right on this, since it's for a good cause. Katie tells him that he's like Bridget in that regard and thanks him for bringing her mother back to L.A., but Nick downplays what he did. Soon after, Bridget returns and reports that she made an appointment for Beth with the neurologist. Nick wonders if Beth will agree to be tested, but Katie says that they won't give her a choice. As Katie thanks Bridget again, Nick gives Bridget a kiss and a hug. Looking uncomfortable, Katie thanks Bridget one more time for coming through for her and says she's going to lie down. Bridget says she's glad to help. Once Katie's upstairs, Bridget tells Nick that she's worried about Katie having to deal with this after all she's been through. "She lucky to have you on her side, and I'm lucky, too," states Nick as he kisses Bridget, not realizing that a crushed Katie is watching from the top of the stairs.

Brooke tries to convince her mother to stay.

Back at Brooke's, Beth asks her daughter why she's trying so hard to force her to stay. Brooke asks why she'd want to be alone in Paris. Beth says that she won't be alone, since she has friends in Paris who can help her as long as possible. Brooke tells Beth not talk to her like she's some kind of stranger. She won't let Beth just leave them and run back to Paris. Beth says that she's spent a wonderful time with her girls and got to meet her little granddaughter, but it's time for her to go back. She just can't believe that Hope knows about the music box she gave Brooke when she was younger. Of course she knows, Brooke states, since that was the most precious gift Beth ever gave her. As they share fond memories of times they spent with that music box, Beth says that she sees Brooke in Hope. Brooke, however, thinks that she sees Beth in Hope, which is why she won't let Beth just disappear now that they've come back together. Beth insists that she's going to disappear, whether she leaves or not, and she refuses to subject her family to that. She wants to leave, but Brooke points out that the first flight to Paris is in the morning, so she suggests that Beth at least stay the night here. Beth guesses she doesn't have much choice. Brooke reminds Beth how Hope earlier pleaded with her to stay. Beth says that she wants to, but she fears that the love her family has for her will turn into pity and resentment if she does. Brooke tells her to think about the little girl she gave that music box to years ago, since that little girl doesn't want her to leave.

Stephen tells Beth why he thinks she should stay.

Stephen comes downstairs and tells Beth that Hope wants her to stay in her room with her tonight. Brooke tells her dad that she's having a hard time convincing her mom to stay. Beth asks Stephen not to start in, too, but Stephen feels terrible for leaving her alone in Paris and wishes he could have been there for her when she needed him. Beth tells him that she can't stay and become a burden to her family, but Stephen thinks there is plenty of time for her to make decisions like that. Beth says that she's still capable of making those decisions, so she doesn't need him or the girls doing it for her. Brooke tells Beth that their connection is more than just moments from their paths, since she and her sister will always be bound to her forever, no matter how close or far apart they are. Stephen tells Beth that her daughters love her, so they could never just sit by knowing what their mother is going through across the globe. Brooke agrees and tells Beth that she could never be a burden to them as she begs her mother not to cut them out of her life. Brooke gives Beth a hug, and over Brooke's shoulder, a tear runs down Beth's face.