The Bold and the Beautiful recap (March 20): Bill’s plan is revealed

The Bold and the Beautiful returned today with a new episode that detailed just how far back Bill’s plan to entrap Sheila and bring her to justice went. Apparently, that fateful night on the beach was a set up. He lured his lady love there, it was the beginning of his plan to make sure that she went to jail not for attempted murder but murder in the first degree which would carry a life sentence.

I’m of the mind that Bill and Ridge should have left well enough alone because if this FBI sanctioned mission doesn’t work out, their one chance at putting Sheila back behind bars for a crime they know happened is out the window. Their plan hinges on Bill being able to use her affection for him against her so that she’ll confess to a past murderous crime or hopefully several so they can truly throw the book at the infamous woman.

Bill, however, is struggling to keep up the charade. He’s opened his home to Sheila and his bed. The sacrifice he’s made is all in the name of protecting his family, and he’s had to push them away to achieve his goal. From his sons to Brooke to Katie, Bill has alienated everyone he loves and who love him in his quest to send Sheila away for good.

What happened today on The Bold and the Beautiful

As he told Ridge, this scheme they’ve got going wasn’t supposed to last months but it has. So as much as he’s enjoying seeing Sheila squirm, he wants to be done with the whole thing. It’s unclear what role Ridge has played in all of this. While we were told he hasn’t actually been in Europe like he claimed but rather miles down the road manning cameras set-up by law enforcement, he hasn’t done much it seems besides be Bill’s connection to his “real life.”

Though, upon second thought, that is an important role considering Bill did admit that sometimes he finds himself believing what he’s been saying to Sheila. While what he’s doing isn’t quite like undercover work, it is a degree of lying that could leave one confusing fact with the fiction they have to sell their target. Bearing that in mind, it is a good thing Bill has Ridge even if he’s only there to playfully antagonize him and crack jokes about the situation they’re in.

Also, Ridge was right today. Bill’s family may be thrown by the reveal that he’s been lying to them the entire time, but when they’re told why, they likely will throw him a party. He did put on quite the performance and, though he did blackmail Taylor, Steffy, and Finn, he did ensure that Taylor wouldn’t go to jail by already notifying the FBI of what happened years ago and securing her immunity so she can never be charged. Bill thought this plan out before executing it.

Now these two, plus the FBI agent handling their case, have to wait for Sheila to give them something useful. Ridge urged Bill to try harder, but to be fair to the billionaire, he is giving it his all. He’s appealed to Sheila’s weakness which is her desire to be loved and he’s tried to foster a relationship and environment where she’d feel safe enough to confess her darkest secrets, she just hasn’t done so yet.

To be honest, I’m not sure how Deacon factors into this storyline. Bill’s aware of the affair and doesn’t seem to care beyond feeling relieved that because she’s spending time with the restaurateur that means she’s spending less time at Spencer Mansion. But it’s not obvious which direction the soap plans on taking this story in the context of what seems like a very genuine love connection between Sheila and Deacon.

Speaking of Sheila’s other man, after he got off the phone with her, he caught up on Hope’s life. She dropped by Il Giardino for a check-in and he got to voice his concern about her working with Thomas once again, but she assured him that she has everything under control. She’s aware of how Liam feels about her last second change of mind, but she feels that she was within her right to do so and is forging ahead. Not to mention Douglas is home now so she wants to revel in that rather than focus on what could happen with Thomas down the line.

We’ll have to wait and see if any of this blows up in the characters’ faces because you know what they say about the best laid plans…they often go awry. Until next time, Bold fans. Stay beautiful!

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more The Bold and the Beautiful news and coverage! New episodes of the soap are available to stream on Paramount+.