Wednesday, July 02, 2008, Episode #5346

Steffy doesn't want to hear Phoebe's warning.

Steffy drops into Eric's office to get him to sign some papers and finds Phoebe there. Steffy tells her sister that she should be furious with her for ratting out Marcus to their dad, but she'll overlook it this time because of how amazing their grandfather was in accepting Marcus. Phoebe says she only went to their father because she was worried, and she still is. She knows from her experiences with Rick how far their dad will go to "protect" his daughters from a guy he doesn't trust. "You and rick were involved. Marcus and I are just friends," Steffy points out, but Phoebe disagrees having seen how Marcus and her sister look at each other. The bottom line, Steffy declares, is that their dad can't tell her who to hang out with. He can hate Donna all he wants, but he shouldn't hold it against a good guy like Marcus.

Rick has some questions for Marcus.

On the rooftop lounge, Marcus talks with two of his co-workers who have heard that he's Donna's son. They ask him all kinds of questions about what it's like to be the founder of the company's stepson. Marcus tells them that Eric's been cool about it all, although it might take time to win the others over. In the meantime, he's going to keep working hard in Shipping. The two guys are surprised he wants to stay in Shipping, but Marcus assures them he's fine where he is. Rick comes over and asks to have a word with Marcus, so the two guys leave. Rick asks Marcus why he didn't tell him who he was when they first met. Marcus explains that he wanted to be up front with everyone, but Donna was worried that Ridge would hold it against her because of his grudge with her. Rick says he gets it now, since he knows about the wrath of Ridge. Besides, he and Marcus are family now, because they're... he pauses for a moment and figures out that they're cousins. Marcus asks if that's all they are, since he's learning how complicated the Forrester family tree is. It's more like a snarl of ingrown branches than a tree, Rick laughs. Steffy comes up to the roof and overhears, so she trades barbs with Rick about his bad pun before Rick has to get back to work.

Marcus confides in Steffy.

Downstairs, a mysterious man approaches the Forrester building and looks it over from outside. "Marcus, my man, no wonder I haven't heard from you," he chuckles as he walks over. Meanwhile, back on the roof, Steffy asks Marcus how it feels to be the talk of the company. When Marcus confides that he feels like people are wondering if he's changed once they've learned who he is, Steffy advises him to just keep being the same great guy he's always been. Marcus doesn't think her dad will feel that way. She tells him to just keep doing his job and not to worry about her dad, since she knows how to handle her father. "I bet you do," Marcus laughs. Steffy asks if the way her family treats Donna ever gets to him. He admits he doesn't know a lot of the history, although he knows they all blame Donna for splitting up Steffy's grandparents. Steffy points out that her grandparents have broken up before, so the most recent break-up probably would have happened anyway. Donna was just there to pick up the pieces. Still, she bets Marcus must occasionally want to get back at her family for the way they treat Donna, especially when it comes to her dad. Marcus says he won't go there, since that will only make the family resent him and Donna more. Steffy admires his attitude and predicts he's going to shake things up around here, and she can't wait to see that unfold.

Owen Knight introduces himself to Marcus.

After Steffy leaves, the mysterious man from downstairs comes to the rooftop and approaches Marcus. Marcus thinks he recognizes the guy, who introduces himself as Owen Knight, private investigator. Marcus recognizes the name and says it's nice to finally meet Owen in person. Owen congratulates Marcus on his good fortune, adding, "And to think you owe it all to me."

In Katie's room at the Marone mansion, the Logan sisters discuss their mom's plight. Brooke tells Donna and Katie how their mom had a nice reunion with her kids (although how could it be a reunion if they just met for the first time?) and spent the night, and she thinks Beth seemed more like her old self this morning. Still, they have to get to the root of what's causing their mom's memory problems. Katie points out that Bridget is on it and has arranged for Beth to be tested by the neurologists at the hospital. Which is all the more reason they have to keep their mom here with the family, Donna insists. Brooke thinks bonding with Hope might have helped convince Beth, but Katie fears their mom is terrified as the details of her life slip away. The girls agree that the best way to deal with that is to remind their mother of the wonderful times they spent together, so Brooke proposes that the compile a list of those family and traditions as a summary of "ways to bring mom's memories back."

Stephen tries to convice Beth to stay.

Downstairs, Beth is recalling looking at the music box in Brooke's house yesterday when suddenly a memory pops into her head of her daughters as little girls playing "Ring Around the Rosy." The memory fades to black as quickly as it came. Stephen comes in with coffee and sees the look on Beth's face. Realizing that something is wrong, he asks her to open up to her. Beth tells him that he can't begin to understand how it feels to have your life fade away and weeps, "What did I do? Why is this happening?" Stephen laments that he doesn't know. Beth tells him that she's made a decision that she knows he won't like, but she asks him not to fight her. She announces that she's going back to Paris. Stephen asks why she wants to do that when things are starting to seem so positive here. Beth explains that she wants to leave while she and her family still can share some wonderful memories. She won't be able to do that once her memories fade, and she doesn't want to disappoint her girls by breaking their hearts. Stephen tells her that she can't predict the future, but Beth tells him that she's talking about what's happening now and recounts about the memory flash she just had that quickly flickered out. Things will only get worse as more memories leave her, and she refuses to act like a stranger with her own daughters, so her decision is final. Stephen gets quite vocal in insisting that she stay and tells her not to run away, but Beth tells him that this is the way it has to be!

The Logan sisters urge their mom to let them take care of her.

The girls hear all the arguing and come downstairs to find out what's going on. The sisters are stunned to learn from their parents that Beth has decided to return to Paris. Brooke, Katie and Donna all agree that this is a decision they should make together as a family, because they all want to help her get better, but Beth fears that it won't do any good. "The mother that you remember was Beth Logan at her best. Tell your children about her and let that Beth live in your memories, but, please let me go," she pleads to her daughters. Katie tells her mom that Bridget has called in a number of doctors who can help, but Beth tells her, "Stop pushing me!" Katie knows her mom is afraid, but she can't isolate herself at a time like this. She tells her mother she tried to cut herself off and wallow in her situation when she woke up with Storm's heart inside her, and she felt like she couldn't depend on anyone. But the people in this room helped her pull through, and she's sure they can do the same for Beth if she just stays in L.A. "Life is short, and every moment is valuable. You have to choose to live," Katie implores. Donna and Brooke both agree. Stephen tells Beth to look at the amazing trio of daughters she raised. How could they even think of turning their mother away at a time like this? he asks. At least try to let them help, he suggests, since Paris will always still be an option if it doesn't work out. He thinks this a chance to reunite the Logans and let them be the family they never had a chance to be until now. Katie adds that it's what Storm would want. Sobbing, Beth admits that she's scared, because she doesn't want to be a burden to her family. But now she's starting to see that more than anything, she wants to be with her family. They all sob and hug in a bonding moment.