Ever since Thom Bierdz returned to Y&R earlier this year, his character hasn't been in any front-burner storylines and fans have been worried that Phillip might be written out. In response to these concerns, Bierdz recently posted this message on Y&R's CBS.com message board: "I know I am on eight episodes in November, and then the truth is, I sort of disappear. My six month contract is up. I really want to support the gay community, and I want the gay community to support me. I would like the gay community to write to CBS and say, 'We want a gay character on the air.'"
This week, Phillip shocks everyone by announcing that he wants to move back to Australia. "Cane is still a marked man because of the cattle rustlers he helped send to jail," explains Bierdz. "They're still mad, but Phillip is worried that if they ever find out where he is, they'll also find out where Cane is."
Phillip assumes that returning to Australia will help cover Cane's tracks, but moving away means he would have to leave his family in the dust yet again. "He wants to protect Cane," explains Bierdz. "Phillip does have a life in Australia and he's connected to a lot of people there. He feels he might be able to use that to defuse a volatile situation."
When Cane gets word of Phillip's plan, he wants to go with him, but Phillip refuses to let him tag along. "Cane has Lily to take care of," says Bierdz. "Plus, Phillip feels he owes Cane because Cane was there for Phillip's family when he couldn't be."
Phillip tells Cane that he doesn't want his family to his the real reason he's skipping town. "Phillip doesn't want Kay, Jill or Nina blaming Cane for this," explains Bierdz. "Things aren't quite smoothed over between them, so Phillip doesn't want to cause any more friction there. He'd rather just look like the bad guy."
When Phillip tells Nina about his travel plans, she isn't happy. "She lashes out at him about running away again," says Bierdz. "Nina can't keep things inside, so of course, she has to run off and tell someone else. But will they be able to stop Phillip?"
Does this mean that we've seen the last of Thom Bierdz on Y&R for good? "I can't say anything more about that," he answers cryptically.