From the March 1, 2011 issue of Soap Opera Weekly (p. 5): Victor Corners Abby!When Victor plays on Abby's emotions this week, she has second thoughts about her lawsuit against him--even though Nick has joined his sisters in siding against the Mustache.
"Nick joining the lawsuit is a big deal," notes co-head writer Scott Hamner. "He fills a bit of a void for Abby, because she feels alienated from Victor."
Abby may be feeling the love from her big brother, but Victor is seething over Nick's apparent disloyalty. Later, Victor's ace attorney, Michael, appeals to Abby's emotions, hoping that she'll drop the lawsuit. Unfortuantely, Michael goes too far when he suggests that Abby is at risk of losing Victor, just as she lost Brad. "Michael is pushing Abby's buttons," Hamner points out. "You could argue that he's hitting below the belt, because this is such a tender thing for Abby. Losing Brad and Colleen has really been one of the most impactful series of events in her life. So Abby's still feeling very raw and vulnerable and grieving over Brad, and now there is the prospect of losing Victor, as well. It breaks her heart. Abby is furious at Michael for hitting her where it hurts. But it's a situation where even if you know you're being manipulated, your feelings are your feelings. [What Michael says] can't help but touch Abby and make her worry about the future."
Victor makes the situation worse when he accuses his children of destroying their legacy, Newman Enterprises. "It's infuriating on one hand, and it's heart-breaking on another, particularly since this all began with Abby wanting to assert her independence and make a fortune for herself so that she would impress Victor," shares Hamner. "She [wanted to be] independent and not forced to just follow in her father's footsteps. But now, the exact opposite seems to be happening. The situation has spun out of Abby's control and is becoming her worst nightmare. Undermining Newman Enterprises, and the legacy of her father, which she knows is so deeply important to Victor, is the last thing that she wanted to have happen--and yet here she is."
An unexpected family member intervenes and urges Victor to zero in on Abby, because she's wavering about the lawsuit. Victor meets with Abby and assures his daughter that he knows she'll end up doing the right thing. "It's one of those instances where it's almost the less you say, the more impactful it can be," Hamner explains. "For Victor to just be very simple with his daughter in asserting his belief in her, it's more of an argument for Abby to do what he wants her to do--rather than if he had spent hours yelling at her, or figuring out schemes to try and challenge her. It's the most powerful thing he could say to Abby in that moment to make her question her actions."
Will Abby have a change of heart?
The above article was typed up and posted at The Colonnade Room, with credit given to its source.
