Eric: Stephanie?
Stephanie: I was just going to check up on him.
Eric: Ridge will be fine, unless you think Massimo's going to do something to harm him.
Stephanie: Of course not.
Eric: Then everything's going to be all right.
Charles: Mr. And Mrs.. Forrester, good evening.
Eric: Charles, hello.
Charles: Can I make a recommendation from the wine list?
Eric: Champagne, please. Something extraordinary. Something for a special occasion.
Charles: We have one remaining bottle of the '82 Dom rose.
Eric: Hmm. Sold. That'll be fine. Thank you very much.
Charles: Thank you, sir.
Stephanie: Did I miss something?
Eric: Yes, you did. We both have -- many opportunities for moments like this. How long has it been?
Stephanie: I don't remember, but it's really not important.
Eric: Yes, it is. How are you going to know how much you mean to me if I don't take the time to show you?
Stephanie: Well, that's very sweet.
Eric: Is this all right?
Stephanie: I'm sorry?
Eric: Or would you rather be somewhere else?
Stephanie: No. I love the Cafe Ruse. I'm enjoying myself. I just find it a bit ironic.
Eric: Ironic? I'm not sure what you mean.
Stephanie: Would you and I be sitting here if it weren't for Massimo?

Stephanie: I think I'll write Massimo a thank you note.
Eric: I think you should. He's obnoxious, and he's meddlesome, but he did bring my attention to something I've been ignoring.
Stephanie: Me.
Eric: I've been very focused on the children and everything that's wrong instead of paying attention to everything that's right, and that's us.
Stephanie: This really wasn't necessary.
Eric: It wasn't? You mean i could be at home right now watching football?
Stephanie: Sure. Want to go?
Eric: Waiter, check please.
[ Stephanie laughs ]
Stephanie: No, I'm having a good time.
Eric: Good.
Stephanie: I mean, this is fun. We should do it more often, but I don't need that much attention. And I'm not really high-maintenance, like some people i know.
Eric: Yeah. No, you're not, but a family is, and if Massimo were here, he would say that you've been doing all the work and that it's cost you your health and your happiness.
Stephanie: Massimo has a tendency to see life as either black or white.
Eric: Still, when i think back on the woman you were when I first met you, how you were so happy and carefree.
Stephanie: Is that how you remember it?
Eric: Are you saying that's not the way it was?
Stephanie: What does it matter? It was a long time ago. But I will tell you this -- Massimo's contention that life with him would have been a bowl of cherries is kind of silly. You never knew where he was going to be from one day to the next or whom he was going to be with. It wouldn't have worked out.
Eric: But you thought about it.
Stephanie: Huh?
Eric: Marrying him. You thought about what that would be like.
Stephanie: I didn't think about marrying anyone at 17.
Eric: Then I got you pregnant. How do you feel about that now?
Stephanie: How do I feel about that?
Eric: When you look back on that decision, the life you chose, do you have any regrets?

Stephanie: To happily ever after.
Eric: Are you sure? Our life hasn't exactly been a fairy tale.
Stephanie: That's because we got married too young.
Eric: Oh, you think?
Stephanie: Yes, i do. A lot of people were worried about us, and then ridge was born. I remember when they put that red, screaming, wrinkled baby in your hands, and I saw the expression on your face. I knew then that everything was going to be all right.
Eric: We just fell in love with him, didn't we?
Stephanie: Mm-hmm, we did.
Eric: Just watching him sleep -- I'd come home from the shop, and no matter what kind of a day it had been, I'd just take one look at him, and everything was all right.
Stephanie: Do I have regrets? Well, if i'd married someone else, I wouldn't have the children, and they wouldn't have you. And you've turned out to be a very loving and wonderful father. So, even though we've made mistakes, and we've caused each other a lot of pain sometimes, in my mind, it doesn't compare to the joy that we've shared with one another.
Eric: It doesn't, does it? It's true.
Stephanie: I'm not the only one that's made sacrifices.
Eric: Let me tell you something. The only regret I have is the sacrifices i didn't make. If I've ever made you feel unappreciated, if I have ever seemed resentful, I apologize. It's the last thing I ever wanted you to feel. You've given me everything -- everything any man could ever want in this life, and I thank you for that.
Stephanie: You're welcome.
Eric: Come on. Let's dance.
[ Soft music playing ]

Thanks to TV Megasite for transcript!