Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
Ill Communication: Thorne (Winsor Harmon) gets the bad news about Eric from Ridge.
Thorne, who’s been living in Paris while working for the European division of Forrester Creations, is in Texas when he gets a life-changing call. “Thorne is at the Houston airport to visit some friends and then he’s catching a flight to L.A.,” explains Winsor Harmon (Thorne), who himself hails from the Lone Star State. “I don’t know which writer thought of using Houston but I think it’s fantastic. Anyway, Ridge calls him and says, ‘You need to get here tonight.’ ”
Ridge informs his brother that Eric is throwing a party, but stops short of disclosing that their father is very ill. Still, Thorne picks up on the urgency in Ridge’s voice. “Thorne says, ‘All right, I’ll change my flight now and come in,’ ” Harmon notes. “But in the back of his mind, he senses that there’s something going on. Thorne knows nothing about his dad’s health. He now thinks he’s going home for this big family party — and for now, that’s all he knows.”
According to Harmon, Thorne heads back to L.A. with the same complex inner feelings about his family dynamics. “Even though his mother has passed on, there is still the underlying second child syndrome has always haunted him,” the actor offers. “Even as a grown man, I think that it’s something that will never leave him. Thorne has always been family-oriented, maybe to a fault, and [it’s] probably the reason he stays away. On another level, from a character standpoint, I think he’s ready to come back and get some things in line.”
When Thorne arrives home, Forrester Creations is his first destination. “Thorne is trying to feel celebratory, but he’s still a little on guard because this party was quickly planned at the last minute, plus there are some siblings who won’t be there,” says Harmon. “Thorne still thinks there’s something strange [afoot], but the mood seems great, and that it’s just another lavish Forrester party like they’ve always had.”
Ridge then takes Thorne aside for a private chat and breaks the news that Eric is dying, and that his diagnosis is their dad’s real motive for throwing the bash. “Thorne is blown away,” sighs Harmon. “Then Thorne is told that Eric doesn’t know his family knows about his condition, so they have to pretend that everything’s fine. Thorne is like, ‘How are we supposed to act like that when he’s dying?!’ He’s incredulous.”
Later, at the party, Thorne and Eric are reunited, and Thorne does his best to mask his upset and concern over Eric’s health. “But Thorne keeps a close eye on his dad the whole time while trying to be in party mode, which he isn’t. It helps that he has relatives to talk to. They’re being supportive and leaning on each other.”
Then something happens at the party that none of the guests expected. Hints Harmon, “It changes the whole course of the night….”
