The Young and the Restless' Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) could be ready to leave the show that she's called home since 1979.

Backstage at this year's Daytime Emmys, Soap Central learned that the actress is currently involved in contract negotiations. According to the source, Scott is not arguing the salary portion of the new deal. It is said that Scott wants to be more of a foreground player.

"Melody loves Y&R," the insider told Soap Central, "but she's disappointed that she's been relegated to backburner status for so long."

With the summer months ahead and the show's plans to rely even more heavily on its teen scene, it doesn't look like Scott will have a big storyline any time soon.

According to the chatter, Scott is being wooed by a rival network, ABC's General Hospital. Another insider tells SOC that it's unlikely that Scott would join the show because there are already has more than enough actresses in Scott's age group.

In its most recent edition [May 29, 2001], Soap Opera Digest implies that Scott could be up for the role of Heather Webber. Webber, of course, was previously played by Robin Mattson. Mattson is currently "without soap," so it is unclear why the magazine assumed that Mattson would not reprise her award-winning role.

Another wrinkle in the supposed jump is that Scott's husband, Edward Scott, is executive producer of Y&R. According to SOD's published article, Edward Scott is ready to make a jump of his own - from producing television to film production.

In an effort to do some damage control, Y&R head writer Kay Alden has stated that there are some major front burner stories brewing for Nikki this fall.

Neither Y&R or GH spokespersons would comment on the report that Scott is mulling a leave.