Talk about must-see TV. Ever since BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL'S Bridget and Deacon eloped last May, her mother, Brooke, has been waiting for the marriage to crash and burn. This week, while Bridget is away at the cabin in Big Bear for an overnight trip with girlfriends, Brooke summons Deacon to her house in an attempt to convince him that his 18-year-old wife deserves a brighter future as a carefree - and single - college girl. "Brooke just feels that she has to save her daughter from Deacon before Bridget becomes pregnant or gives up career aspirations for this guy," explains Executive Producer/Head Writer Bradley Bell. "Brooke can see Bridget making Deacon her top priority and letting everything else fall aside, and she's just not going to let that happen." Deacon agrees to ask Bridget for a divorce - but not without a little convincing....

"I really believe that Deacon loves Bridget within the parameters of how he's able to define love," defends his portrayer, Sean Kanan. "You've got to remember that he's a very damaged guy. He has a lack of emotional maturity and involvement."

A kinder, gentler Deacon promises Brooke that he will ask Bridget for a divorce as soon as she returns from her outing. When Deacon starts to lament how the Forrester family will always think of him as scum, a softened Brooke declares that she has new respect for him because of his willingness to set Bridget free. "This is the first time Brooke sees through Deacon's bravado; that he does in fact care about her daughter," notes Kanan.

A grateful Brooke embraces Deacon, and a sudden spark of chemistry crackles between them. "Brooke now sees that there's a vulnerability to this guy," Kanan points out, "and vulnerability is a very attractive quality."

They stop themselves, and Deacon leaves. Brooke retires upstairs to her bedroom. But as she begins to undress, she looks out the window and spies Deacon standing below in the courtyard gazing up at her. Brooke races downstairs and opens the door to find him waiting on the other side. "He really doesn't want to go home," says Bell. "Not only because of the unexpected moment he just shared with Brooke, but also because he's not looking forward to what he has to do at home."

Deacon invites himself in for a nightcap, and Brooke agrees to just one. As they toast to Bridget's freedom, the sexual tension rises. "Brooke takes a swig of scotch - which is Deacon's drink of choice - but it's harsh," chuckles Kanan. "It burns her throat, and a little bit drips out of her mouth. Deacon reaches out and wipes it with his thumb. It's very sexy."

A lot more than booze comes out. "She starts to spill her guts, and he starts to spill his," previews Bell. "Brooke has been dumped by Ridge, and Amber has done the same to Deacon, so they're both hurting from recent rejection. That gives them something in common, and there's enough smoldering to ignite."

Brooke urges Deacon to go home; he reluctantly departs. She finishes getting ready for bed, and before turning in, wanders over to the bedroom window again. She's disappointed to see that the courtyard is empty. "But then, Brooke's bedroom door opens and there stands Deacon," reveals Bell. "He makes his move on her. At first, Brooke says she can't do anything - but she doesn't want him to leave. Finally they give in and start to kiss."

Talk about going for Brooke.

"It's so out of left field that it's exciting," enthuses Kanan. "Brooke and Deacon have been at adversarial ends with each other for so long, and sometimes sexuality emerges from friction. They're actually cut from the same cloth. There's a very mercenary-type quality to both of them. I think they each are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what they want to do and protect who they want to protect. There's a kindred soulship there."

The next morning, Brooke wakes up in bed and is shocked to find Deacon looking down on her. Snapping to her senses (translation: Oh, my God!), Brooke immediately cautions her new paramour that no one can ever know what transpired between them. Deacon tries to talk a skittish Brooke in off the ledge by taking the blame for their tumble. "These are two people who just fell into this," reasons Kanan. "There wasn't any kind of ulterior agenda on Brooke's part. It wasn't like she was trying to seal the deal by taking her son-in-law to bed. It just happened."

"This is a classic case of one thing leading to another," Bell adds. "We've all had nights of passion that we wish never happened - but damn, they were still good."

After both parties agree that the previous night never happened, Brooke asks that he be gentle with Bridget when he tells her their marriage is over. Deacon promises not to let Brooke down and really leaves this time. He heads for his beach house and waits pensively for his wife to return from her overnight sojourn. Soon, Bridget walks in all flushed from her trip, excited to see him.

We need to talk, Deacon greets her.

YEAR IN, YEAR OUT

As Deacon embarks on a new and controversial (would there be any other kind with this guy?) storyline, his portrayer, Sean Kanan, celebrates his first year with BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL. "It has gone by fast," marvels Kanan. "This has been the best work experience of my life. I've had an amazing run here. I absolutely love the cast and crew. I'm tremendously thankful that Brad Bell wrote this character and chose me to play him. I would like to think of Deacon as a group effort. This is definitely not all of my own doing, and I'm very happy to share it with everybody else because I've learned a lot since I've been here. I think I've grown as an actor and Brad has really allowed me to put my stamp on who this guy is. His writing and hopefully my acting have found a rhythm that works really well together." Kanan is equally effusive about working more with a certain co-star. "Katherine Kelly Lang is a wonderful actress to work with," raves Kanan. "She's committed, giving and professional - everything you could ask for."