The Bold and the Beautiful Recap for Monday, December 2, 2024: Ridge fires Carter

At the cabin, Hope was enraged at her mom for telling Ridge that she had overheard Carter and Hope planning a coup. Brooke told Hope that as much as she was concerned about Hope’s career situation, she and Carter had no right to be planning a corporate takeover. Hope reminded Brooke that she had no problem taking the power years prior. “You knew what you were doing was right for the company. Carter and I can say the same,” Hope explained desperately. Hope recounted how Stephanie was cruel to Brooke and felt that Steffy was doing the same. Hope cried about how much Carter cared, and he was acting out of concern for Hope and her future. “And now he risks losing it all,” Hope panicked.

Hope felt ill worrying about Carter. Brooke scolded that they knew the risks and the serious consequences. “Only we hadn’t done anything yet, Mom,” Hope complained. Hope reminded her that she had nothing to lose, but Carter did. She told Brooke that Carter wanted to show Steffy and Ridge what he could do. “Well, he’s certainly done that,” Brooke said, adding that he would probably live to regret his choices. Hope agreed that Carter might regret losing his friendship with Ridge but thought their relationship was worth it.

Hope relented that she and Carter may have been wrong, thinking they could take over Forrester. “Hope, there’s no question,” Brooke insisted. Hope reminded her that Steffy was wrong for firing her over a misconception. Hope said that what she and Carter did wasn’t a misunderstanding, as it was intentional and malicious.

Hope preached about her and Carter’s principles and how they always played by the rules but were mistreated. “Carter is COO. Why would he have felt wronged?” Brooke asked. Hope said Steffy and Ridge wanted Carter’s blind loyalty and that he was expected to do what he was told. “No. They expect him to do his job,” Brooke said firmly.

Brooke added that Carter is welcome to share his ideas, but he couldn’t take it personally if he was told no. She explained that she understood Ridge’s point of view about the expansion and that he didn’t want to drive the company into debt. “Besides, that’s not what Forrester is all about,” Brooke added.

Hope insisted that with Carter’s drive and passion, the company could be like his vision. She told Brooke that Carter was doing this for her, Brooke, and all the underdogs and would not stop fighting for everyone.

Brooke told Hope that nothing she had said justified a coup. Brooke said that she would never turn her back on Hope, but she was very bothered that she didn’t choose to tell the truth to get her line back. She added that Ridge and Steffy would never trust her again.

Hope told Brooke she wouldn’t need anyone’s trust if they filed the LLC paperwork. Brooke shared that Ridge had already hired a lawyer to invalidate the documents.

Hope said that if Carter got punished, it would be a huge injustice. “I’d call it a consequence, actually,” Brooke said. Hope insisted that Carter only made the move to take over the company because he loved it so much. Hope worried that Carter might lose his connection to Forrester, and she didn’t want to see him go through that.

“You know he’s a vitally important part of Forrester Creations,” Hope insisted. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say after today, he was a vitally important part,” Brooke corrected her. “Ridge can’t just take that away from him. He can’t,” Hope said as she shook her head in fear.

At the CEO’s office, Ridge asserted that there was a place for Carter at Forrester, but he got lost in a toxic relationship with Hope and led astray. He offered to tear up the LLC papers and start over. Carter confirmed Ridge was telling him to end things with Hope. “She guided you to this place. You can’t be involved with her anymore, you get that,” Ridge said.

“Understood, but not accepted,” Carter told Ridge. He said that Ridge was using Hope as a scapegoat but clarified that it was all on him. “It was me. Clear-headed. It was me. Your best friend,” Carter said.

Carter took credit for having the idea, doing the paperwork, and signing his name. He admitted that Hope encouraged him to do it. Ridge pointed out that Carter and Hope had known each other a long time but Hope suddenly was in love with him. He questioned the timing and said Hope was using him. Carter insisted that he and Hope loved and respected each other and their bond. “What about our friendship, our bond?” Ridge asked. He told Carter he was like a brother to him.

Carter agreed he felt the same way. Ridge asked why he would throw away everything he had worked for — his career, his friendships, his whole life — for her. “You’ve lost your mind,” Ridge told Carter.

“So I’ve lost my mind because I stood up for what’s right?” Carter repeated. Ridge said there was nothing right about betraying a best friend. Carter explained that he had come to Ridge and that he wouldn’t listen. “I did listen. I just didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear,” Ridge corrected him. He said that Hope told Carter what he wanted to hear.

Ridge said that Carter knew right from wrong but Hope did not. “There it is,” Carter interrupted. He said that, just like Steffy, if anything goes wrong in Ridge’s life, he blames a Logan. “Not surprising, though. It’s learned behavior. From your mother,” Carter lobbed.

“From my mother?” Ridge repeated. He wondered how Carter could think he was against the Logans. Carter started to rant about how everyone always came down on Hope or was silent when Steffy did. Carter told Ridge that the Logans had been disrespected for years and deserved better.

“Katie Logan runs the PR department. Brooke Logan, the woman I live with, is an executive here,” Ridge reminded Carter, who golf-clapped and said “Bravo” sarcastically. “You gave her some phony executive team position. So very generous of you. She should be CEO, not Steffy,” Carter told him. Carter said if Brooke was still running things, Hope’s line would still exist. He added that Steffy was immature and petty and that Ridge had allowed HFTF to be canceled.

Ridge smiled. “You just clapped your hands at me,” he said, “You think you can do this, don’t you? You think you can run this company better than me, my dad, or Steffy.” Ridge said he’d love to see Carter try, but it wasn’t going to happen because there was a takeover attempt that failed miserably. “And now, brother, it’s time to pay the price,” Ridge told Carter.

Carter snicked at Ridge. “Let me ask you something. When you came to work this morning, did you notice the sign on the side of the building?” Ridge asked. He told Carter that as Forresters, the company was Eric, Ridge, and Steffy’s legacy that they would leave for their kids and grandkids. He asked if Carter saw his or Hope’s name on the sign. Ridge said the only thing the coup attempt did was make him angry. “It made me realize I never should have trusted you in the first place,” Ridge added.

Ridge asked Carter who he thought he was telling him and his dad how to run the business. “You’re demanding things. You’re telling Steffy how to talk to someone that works for her. Poor little Hope, right? Put-upon little victim that she is,” Ridge said. He added that, meanwhile, Hope’s sitting at the kitchen table the whole time trying to figure out how to steal the company.

Ridge said that Carter was strong and full of integrity, always on time, and presented himself as the perfect employee. “Only you’re not. You’re just a lovesick puppy who’s scared of waking up alone. You’re just some guy, and I allowed you to betray me on so many different levels,” Ridge told Carter.

“Maybe I have. But I did what I had to do to protect Hope, the woman I love. So now you know Ridge, what are you going to do about it?” Carter asked Ridge. “Hang on,” Ridge said, then paused silently. “There it is. I just did it. I moved on from my COO, my attorney, and my best friend. You’re fired, Carter. You’re not welcome here anymore,” Ridge said. He told Carter to get out of his office, his building, and his life. Carter walked out and stood in the lobby, stunned.

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