Zende lies into RJ for no reason, unaware of why his younger cousin works with their grandfather. Meanwhile, Ridge has to grapple with having to tell his nephew everything. Thorne Forrester arrives back in Los Angeles at the request of Eric not understanding why. Meanwhile, Bridget Forrester returns Forrester to learn what is going on with her dad.
Let’s start with the Zende and RJ stuff first. We’ve covered this before, but it’s worth repeating. RJ is minding his own business when Zende walks in, demanding to know why his cousin is working with Eric. RJ scrambles to defend himself only for his father to walk in and explain to Zende what is going on. Eric is dying.
At first and understandably, Zende believes it’s a ploy to explain away RJ’s sudden interest in design. Ridge ensures him it’s not, and Zende instantly breaks down, given how much he idolises his grandfather. He is surprised that Luna is aware of what is going on, but he wasn’t told until later.
Moving over to Thorne Forrester, he sits at the airport waiting for his flight to Houston before he flies to LA. He gets a phone call from Ridge telling him to get home quickly. Thorne questions why only for Ridge to tell him he just needs to get to Los Angeles as soon as possible. Ridge tells him he can’t discuss it over the phone, leaving his brother confused.
Thorne returns to Forrester Creations and meets with Ridge in their father’s office, where he learns the truth.
Elsewhere, RJ, Thomas, Zende and Luna talk about Eric and the symptoms he’s been having. Zende clarifies that everyone knows about Eric. He also apologises to RJ for being so hard on him.
RJ and Luna explain to Thomas and Zende how they became involved in designing Eric’s “grand finale.” Thomas and Zende reassure RJ that he did the right thing in telling his parents. Luna also reveals that Eric has some form of cancer, a diagnosis we didn’t know before.
Carter then joins the group and assures Zende as Luna does that Eric’s condition is worse than it appears.
In Eric’s office, a devastated Thorne questions why he’s only being told now. Ridge says he and Brooke didn’t even know and that they have to pretend nothing’s wrong and that there’s only a handful people who Eric is aware of who are in the know. Throne admits he’s not sure if he can keep up the facade and is pulled into a massive hug by his big brother. Steffy enters and hugs her uncle.
At the Forrester mansion, Eric is on oxygen again just as Katie walks in through the front door and asks if he’s okay. She then asks if he still wants the party. He goes off at her for even suggesting she and Donna take him to the hospital.
Off screen, Bridget is told about her father’s condition and she is devastated. Brooke and Hope do everything they can to comfort her. Bridget asks if Eric has seen specialists and Brooke tells her that he has seen a ton of doctors and they’ve all said the same thing. She also questions, as Thorne has, why they have to pretend they don’t know about Eric’s condition.
Bridget also pieces together why Eric moved the party up. Hope explains that the disease is progressing faster than they realised.
The family gathers together, minus Eric, Donna and Katie. Bridget thanks her little brother for helping Eric when he needed it. Thorne agrees with his sister and thanks his nephew.
Ridge walks in and tells the family that if they can’t hide their grief, they need to stay behind as they need to keep pretending that none of them know. Bridget explodes, saying that playing “make believe” isn’t helping Eric. Ridge explains that he understands where she’s coming from, but their father wants his party and they have to do what he [Eric] wants. As they leave, Ridge reminds everyone to put their game faces on.
At the house, Katie puts the oxygen tank away just as Ridge and Brooke walk in, flanked by Hope and Steffy, and revealing that Thorne and Bridget are back.
As Bridget hugs her father, she struggles to keep her emotions to herself. Thorne is the same way. Eric also manages to conceal a cough at the sight of his second son. Bridget says she should have bought her son, Logan, with her if there were more time.
RJ walks in with Luna with Zende and Thomas not far behind. Carter is the last to walk in and is reminded by Eric that he’s part of the family and always has been.
Eric toasts to the family, though the atomsphere is not as bright and cheery as you’d expect since everyone knows and can’t say a word.
