Two Scoops: Audra Charles, the Patron Saint of Have Nots: The Young and the Restless Two Scoops for the Week of August 31

We thought Sally might be going into premature labor on The Young and the Restless during the week of August 31. Even though that didn't happen, the show was pregnant with possibilities, dramas, twists, and turns! The business stories are still going strong, and our support went to an unlikely underdog, who is going to be in the power position for a change!

Dear God in Heaven

Lily thinks Billy has called off the war, but that's only for now | Image: JPI

We’d like to say we’re waiting for Billy to drop the bomb on Lily that he truly still does want Chancellor Industries after Sally has their baby. But, we’re not. The two fighting over the late Katherine’s company isn’t grabbing us. Jason Thompson’s Billy Abbott came onto Y&R after Katherine died. Yes, we get that he wants to run Chancellor to show his mother, Jill, that he’s capable of doing so. But aren’t there other ways for Billy to find peace? Like…therapy? Deep, intensive therapy?

We have the feeling that if Billy were to get control of Chancellor Industries and take the company to new heights, he’d find out at the end of the day that Jill doesn’t feel any differently about him. And Billy wouldn’t feel any better about himself. And what will going after Chancellor Industries cost him in terms of his relationships with his siblings, Sally (who is the best thing that ever happened to him), Lily, Jill, and the relationship he has with himself?

We’re not sure what Lily’s going to lose in all this, either if she ends up forfeiting Chancellor Industries once Billy reveals he was lying about giving up his pursuit of Katherine's company.

Lily will continue to work at Winters, Inc., which needs her more than ever know that Devon is taking on philanthropic endeavors. Where will this leave Cane? Well, we imagine Lily will create a position for him at Winters, Inc., just like she created a job for her newfound half-brother, Holden. What are the far-reaching stakes in this battle/non-battle for Chancellor Industries?

Something's Missing

Jill needs to be in Genoa City if a story involving Katherine is playing out | Image: JPI

According to next week’s teasers, Jack is going to offer to set Billy up with his own company. Again, how can viewers have stakes in these business stories when the stakes aren’t very high? Companies are bandied about, sold, resurrected, bought, shut down, and traded like the characters of Genoa City were playing Monopoly. Is anyone facing financial ruin? As long as Victor and Lily are standing around, ready to hand out big salaries and titles, we don't think so.

Who would Katherine want to run he company? If there’s a fight for Chancellor Industries, will Phillip III, Jill, and/or Nina be a part of it? What about Devon and the missing Mac? Wouldn’t Katherine Chancellor’s grandchildren want to make sure their late grandmother’s wishes were honored?

We need someone to be looking up at Kay's portrait in the Chancellor Mansion living room, promising her that her company will be safe!

"A" for Audra Charles

Audra would love to have a great guy like Nate in her life again | Image: JPI

One business storyline that has caught our attention is Kyle and Vicki’s plan to revive Vibrante. The company wasn’t around very long, but it has just enough assets to put Audra Charles in the driver’s seat for once.

Audra is in a good place right now at Spectra Charles, and she has a strong ally in her pal Sally. She’s got the audience on her side, too, because Audra’s a have-not. She has something that Victoria wants, and she’s going to make sure she gets the best deal possible.

We love watching Audra fire off dismissive zingers as she calls Claire by the name “Claire Bear,” in a way that is not endearing. Plus, she referred to Vicki’s tenure at Brash & Sassy as if it were something out of the Stone Age!

Zuleyka Silver brings an indifference to the surface of her character; underneath, she wants what everyone else wants in life – to have a purpose, someone to love, and be loved.

Audra opened her heart to Sally, telling her how her pregnancy had brought up a lot of memories about the baby she lost, and about Noah. She said if Noah had stayed, their relationship could have been revisited, but he’s moved on with Sienna.

“It makes me feel like I’m the problem,” Audra told Sally, after recounting that she also lost Nate. Watching Audra be vulnerable one moment (with Sally) and fierce the other (with Kyle and/or Victoria) makes her one of the most fascinating characters in Genoa City right now.

The Widow Kirkland

Logan Kirkland (Tommy Walker) and Marie Kirkland (Jade Harlow) | Image: CBS

Y&R introduced us to Marie’s abusive spouse, and has apparently jettisoned him from the canvas in short order. Rest in peace, Logan Kirkland (played by Tommy Walker). It’s too bad if he’s truly dead, because that’s one impressive, strong soap opera name: Logan Kirkland.

Nick covering for Marie is going to tie the two together in a way that could keep them bonded for a while. (Looks like Nick might end up rescuing Marie after all?) Might Nick marry Marie so that he wouldn’t have to testify against her if she were to be brought up on charges for his death? (If he’s truly “dead” dead.)

Of course, that whole spouses testifying against each other only applies to what occurred after you tie the knot, but a good lawyer (paging Michael Baldwin) could get around that, right?

Nick’s been firm about not letting Phyllis get away with allying herself with Matt Clark. Earlier this year, he blasted Phyllis for getting into bed business-wise with Cane. Now, he’s had it with her siding with Matt Clark, given the heinous crimes that he has committed against his family on and off for decades.

Ironically, Adam, who is not exactly a Boy Scout, blasted Phyllis for associating herself with Matt. It seems like the more that Phyllis is told to distance herself from Matt, the more she grows determined to stick by him.

The Doctor May Be In Again

Nate and Stephanie at the GCAC | Image: JPI

Y&R has taken a big step forward in balancing the professions belonging to characters in Genoa City now that Nate is undergoing surgery so that he can get back into the operating room. Genoa City has enough business executives. There isn’t a C-suite available in the financial district. It’s good to know that the next time there’s a medical crisis, characters will have someone to turn to other than Sally Spectra, who will draw on her experience in the circus to help keep people alive!