From the February 2, 2009 issue of CBS Soaps In Depth (pp. 26-29): Clash Of The TitansWhen Victor and Brad do battle, Genoa City will be rocked to its core!The walls are closing in on Y&R's Brad this week as he faces attacks on both the personal and professional fronts. And just who is behind these moves? Victor! A battle is brewing between these longtime foes, and if Victor has his way, it'll be their last!
The Ties That Bind... And GagFor years, a major bone of contention between the Genoa City power players has been Ashley's daughter, Abby, who was raised by Brad despite being the biological daughter of Victor. And although in the past Brad's been the guy Abby called Dad, this week she uses that precious word in conjunction with Victor! Needless to say this development does not please Brad!
"Now, Abby is a Paris Hilton-in-training, and Victor is giving her every lavish gift that she can conceive of or that her heart desires," says Brad's portrayer, Don Diamont. "Of course, she's very taken with the lifestyle that he is providing for her. Brad is not happy to see the sort of value system that's being created!"
"Abby is living at the Newman ranch," explains headwriter Maria Arena Bell of the situation. "The temptations are really strong for a teenage girl! It's pretty incredible to be lured into this whole vibe of what being a Newman can bring you!" And while Brad voices his concerns about the situation to Ashley, she stands firm in her belief that Victor is a good influence in the life of her daughter. "Brad is thrilled to have Abby back in town," sas Bell. "But the heartbreak is that she's chosen not to live with him. This decision is really hard on Brad. He knows the troubles of being a child of Victor Newman!"
Brad does his best--especially after Victor buys Abby a horse--but his warnings fall on deaf ears. "As Brad says to Ashley, 'Don't forget who we're dealing with here. Don't be delusional. He'll give Abby a million-dollar horse this week and send it to the glue factory next week!' "
Getaway PlansMeanwhile, Sharon and Jack's troubled union continues to play a crucial role in Brad's life as he waits to see if the blonde beauty will soon be back on the market. "He's never given up hope on Sharon," says Bell. "That relationship for him has been really powerful." Not that Sharon necessarily feels the same way! "She was committed to Jack, but in the end, her relationship with Nick never disappeared fully into the background, either. She is a woman who is deeply conflicted. When Brad sees this, he takes it as an opportunity to try and steer her in his direction."
As fate would have it, Brad is in the right place at the right time when he overhears a conversation between Sharon and her estranged husband. Feeling more than a little lost and needing to work out a few things about her life, Sharon asks Jack if she can stay in the remote Abbott cabin for a few days.
With both Abby and Sharon, Brad is trying to convince women in his life--a daughter and a lover--that he is the person they should choose. "Brad is not sinister," Bell stresses. "He's well-intentioned in making both of these women see him for who he is and that he would be the smarter choice."
Victor Wants Brad Out!As if all this turmoil in his personal life wasn't enough to keep Brad occupied, there are storm clouds developing at Newman Enterprises, as well. It seems Victor, fed up with Brad, wants the guy off the Nemwan board of directors! "There are many levels that show there's no love lost between these guys," says Diamont with a chuckle. "Victor's had a hand in a lot of unpleasant events that have taken place in Brad's life!"
At the office, Brad is surprised to discover that he can't access the Web site meant for board members. He turns to J.T. for help, only to have Victor enter and say that he's responsible for Brad's being blocked, and he wants Carlton off the board! And while Victor would love to use the fact that Brad gave confidential information to Jabot a while back, that won't prove helpful. "Victor tries to use that, but Brad has a binding agreement in which he has immunity for prosecution," says Diamont. "Victor threatens Brad, but he's not intimidated."
"It's a huge point of pride for Brad to keep that seat on the Newman board, so Victor going after that as well as his increased influence on Abby are signs of Victor taking control away from Brad. And Brad is not happy about that!"
Later, Brad has lunch with daughters Colleen and Abby in an attempt to solidify his position in their lives. What he doesn't realize is that Victor is, at that very moment, making a move of his own by joining Ashley at their daughter's parent/teacher conference! When Abby casually mentions that her mom is attending the meeting, Brad decides to join Ashley... and gets the surprise of his life when he finds Victor already there!
Furious, Brad decides it's finally time to have it out with his nemesis. "He's a man who is being pushed to the limit of being able to tolerate the way things are going in his life," says Bell. "He's not accustomed to one comeuppance after another, which has been going on ever since he left Jabot!"
Following the confrontation, Ashley tells Victor that he and Brad will have to learn to co-exist, if only for Abby's sake. Brad later approaches Abby with a proposition, but his daughter takes a firm stance. In response, Brad makes a move that is sure to stun Ashley... and tick off Victor!
Bell concedes that things are looking pretty bleak for Brad. "He's in a tough situation. On every front, he's pretty rattled. It's a time where he feels on the outs with so many people! He has a lot of history with them, but there's a lot of animosity, too!"
The above article was typed up and posted at The Colonnade Room, with credit given to its source.