Month: March 2026

Lauren: Wow. I’m not sure I’m ever going to get used to the sight of you behind Victor Newman’s desk.

Phyllis: Well, this is my desk now. It’s mine. And if you’ve come to, uh, read me the riot act, really, you can leave.

Lauren: Now, what on earth would I do that for?

Phyllis: I don’t know. Because you’re empty handed. You don’t have flowers or champagne or anything. Et tu, Brute?

Lauren: Oh, we’re quoting The Bard, now?

Phyllis: Well, yeah. I mean, Victor quoted Shakespeare, so I figure I can do whatever I want. But really, I – I’m so tired of character assassinations by people who are triggered by my success. So …

Lauren: Well, then … let me rewrite Julius Caesar for you. I have not come to bury you. I have come to praise you.

Phyllis (sitting with Lauren in the GCAC dining room, shouting): Breakfast for everyone! Breakfast on me. (Lowers voice) They can eat their hearts out.

Lauren: (laughs)

Billy: That sounds great. I’ll take a side of bacon.

Lauren: Oh. Hello, Billy.

Phyllis: You look happy, Billy.

Billy: Well, I’m just happy to see you two beautiful women here together, although I am surprised that you’re here together.

Lauren: Why? We’ve been friends forever.

Billy: Yeah, I know, but you’re also married to Michael Baldwin, so the fact that you are here together could mean one of two things. You’re either in the process of chastising her for the coup that she just pulled off, or maybe you’re actually happy that she was the one that screwed Victor over because of the amount of times that he screwed Michael over in the past. She’s the one to make it happen. Maybe you’re okay with that.

Phyllis: Lauren is the only one who’s not passing judgment on me.

Billy: Hey, now, I was on board from the get-go.

Lauren: Well, of course you were all for it. Everybody knows you hate Victor Newman and probably jumped at the chance to be part of his demise.

Billy: Honestly, I had nothing to do with it. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

Billy: So this is just the two of you being gal pals? I’m supposed to believe you’re not using your decades-long friendship to try and convince Phyllis that she made a mistake?

Lauren: Oh. That’s a page out of your playbook, Billy, not mine. I’m not that devious. Especially with my friends. And Phyllis is a very important friend to me, whether you believe it or not.

Phyllis: Phyllis is right here.

Billy: I’m very much aware of that. I would say proceed with caution where your friends and enemies are concerned because I’m sure they’re coming at you at all angles. Don’t cave under the pressure. Don’t let anyone convince you you don’t deserve this. You’ve come way too far to have someone talk you out of your success now. Good to see you.

Audra: Sharing so much as a stick of gum with him is a huge mistake and something you should avoid at all costs.

Sally: Okay, you make it sound like I lose all sense of myself when I’m around him.

Audra: This so-called dinner can only go one of two ways. Either he convinces you to get back with him, and you’ll end up back on that roller coaster you swore you were done riding. Or you’ll stand your ground, in which case he won’t take no for an answer. And if that happens, you two adults could end up being anything but civil.

Sally: There’s no way I’m letting Billy talk me into getting back together with him, okay? I made it very clear to him, and now to you, I am moving forward.

Phyllis: This is the way I see it. This is my last chance, Lauren. This is quite possibly my only chance to change my life. For the better. Do you understand what I’m saying? Maybe do something good in the world. It’s incredible to me that I am the villain and the Newmans are the victims in my dastardly deeds. That’s how people see it. The Newman family, no matter what crisis befalls them, they come out on top. I mean, I can’t believe doing what I did has affected my friends and family the way it has, that they wanna alienate me. These are the same people who chastised me for going toe to toe with Victor Newman and winning, and I won – I won, Lauren. Nobody has been able to do that. And I did it. But somehow I’m alone because of it. I’m the town pariah? I am? Really? Listen, if that means I have to go solo, fine. If that’s my only option, so be it – I don’t care.

Lauren: I’m – I’m so sorry, and if there’s anything … that I can do to help you, just you say the word, okay?

Phyllis: Maybe there is.

Lauren: Name it.

Phyllis: Come work for me.

Lauren: I’m so flattered and, uh, touched by the offer. I – You know, I think I’m content where I am right now.

Phyllis: Mm. Is that really contentment that you feel?

Lauren: Well, as opposed to what?

Phyllis: As opposed to complacency, maybe? You know, to be honest, you’re due for an adventure, you know, something besides picking out wedding dresses for the Bug, you know, while beautiful, but still, putting together bachelorette parties. You’re better than that. Come work for me. Just think about it just a bit. But don’t let Michael talk you out of this, please. But imagine us together. We could take over the world.