Today’s Young and the Restless recap airs in the USA on Friday, February 23, 2024, and airs one day ahead in Canada. We post our Y&R recaps every weekday!
Last Episode
On the last episode of Y&R, Victor planned to have Claire released into Victoria’s custody in order to lure Jordan, while Chelsea & Adam faced Connor’s possible OCD diagnosis.
The Abbott Mansion
Ashley enters the house.
Traci asks where she’s been… She and Jack have been worried!
Ashley says she was too tired to come home last night, so she got a room at the club.
Traci asks if everything’s alright… Did something happen?
Ashley says she spoke with Tucker. She told him he was right and she was wrong!
The Genoa City Athletic Club
Tucker enters the dining room and approaches Nate, who’s sitting alone. He says Nate has a great job and a “swanky” penthouse apartment yet he seems to spend a lot of time at the club.
Nate asks why Tucker cares where he spends his time.
Tucker wonders what keeps bringing Nate back… Is it the steak frites, or is it Audra Charles?
Memorial Hospital
Victoria and Cole go to visit Claire.
Nadia is visiting with Claire. They’re playing gin rummy, and Nadia claims a win as Victoria and Claire enter the room. She asks if Claire is letting her win.
Claire says she’s not… It’s definitely Nadia and her slick card moves!
Victoria and Cole smile at each other as they watch.
Newman Ranch
Michael, beaming from ear to ear, enters the living room and greets Victor. After some small talk, Michael asks Victor how Nikki is doing.
Victor says Nikki is doing better; she’ll be her old self again soon!
Michael’s glad to hear it. He asks what Victor wants to meet about.
Victor asks Michael what strings he would have to pull to get Claire released from the psychiatric ward.
Michael says he doubts Claire is far enough along in her treatment to integrate back into society. He asks why Victor wants to have Claire released.
Victor tersely says he has his reasons.
Michael says he’s heard that Claire has made good progress, but why push it? He asks if the doctors think she’s ready to go home this soon.
Victor says Michael needs to reassure them that she’s ready and figure out a way to get her released. Victor wants Claire to come home to her family.
Michael asks Victor if he’s sure Claire won’t revert to a need for revenge against the family.
Victor says he’s talked with Claire, who supports his plan. He tells Michael that he needs to tell the doctors that Claire will have the best psychiatric care available after her release. He’ll do whatever it takes to get her back into the family again and thinks it’d be advantageous for everyone if Claire were more easily accessible.
Michael wonders about Victor’s motives… He asks if Victor has devised a plot to trap Jordan using Claire. He says that what Victor is doing is clearly for his benefit, not Claire’s. He asks if Victor is willing to risk further damage to his granddaughter after everything she’s been through.
Victor says Claire is eager to help because of the damage that’s been done to her.
Michael asks if Victor has run his plan by Cole and Victoria… What do they think about it?
Victor says they’ll love his plan… Once they realize it has been successful.
Memorial Hospital
Claire says goodbye to Nadia, telling her she’ll win the next game… She can bet on it!
Nadia grins. Maybe! She leaves the room with a nurse.
Victoria tells Claire it’s obvious she loves spending time with Nadia.
Claire says Nadia is sunny and silly, but she can see that she’s scared that her life might always be like this. She says she had the same feelings when she was Nadia’s age but for different reasons. She smiles brightly and says Nadia is on the road to recovery, and it won’t be long.
Cole says he’s impressed with Claire’s insight and empathy. He says she’s being a positive influence in Nadia’s life.
Victoria agrees. She says it’s impacting Nadia’s health in the best way possible.
Claire says she can’t take credit for that; Nadia has been more of a positive influence on Claire! She says Nadia is brave and determined to overcome her health challenges. She wishes she had a friend like her when she was young, but says at least she gets the chance to hang out with her now and see the world through her eyes; it’s invigorating!
Cole and Victoria are happy to see Claire with a smile on her face. Cole says it might be the most relaxed he’s ever seen her.
Claire says she feels lighter. She explains that she wasn’t allowed to play with other kids when she was growing up; she could only play against Jordan, who never let Claire win. Jordan would cheat if she had to, as long as it made Claire feel like a loser.
Cole can’t believe that Jordan undermined Claire’s self-esteem even as a child.
Claire says Jordan taught her the same lessons over and over… Life isn’t fair and only the strong survive, and the Newmans stole a life of privilege from her.
Victoria says she loathes Jordan. Nobody should be mentally abused like that.
Claire says she tries to make up for it by hanging out with Nadia and letting her be a kid. She says she won’t teach Nadia any “dark lessons.”
Cole says he wishes he’d been there for Claire… Things would have been different.
Claire says she’s getting better. Therapy and spending time with kids are really helping her, and the doctors agree.
Victoria says she’s proud of the progress Claire has made.
Cole tells her to keep up the good work; she’ll get through this!
Victoria and Cole’s phones ping with a notification from Michael, who wants to meet with them.
Claire asks if something happened.
Cole says he’s not sure.
Victoria promises that they’ll deal with whatever has happened.
The Abbott Mansion
Ashley pours herself a cup of coffee.
Traci is astonished that Ashley admitted to Tucker that she was wrong about the incident in Paris. She says the realization must have been very difficult for her. She asks what changed Ashley’s mind since she was so sure that Tucker had paid off everyone at the bistro.
Ashley asks if Traci remembers Ashley telling her about her friend in Paris… The one she felt comfortable with enough to share things with?
Traci says she remembers; she didn’t want to pry or seem more nosy than she already was and figured Ashley would talk to her about it when she was ready.
Ashley says she’s ready now. She says her friend in Paris is a psychologist.
The GCAC Dining Room
Nate asks Tucker if he’s jealous that Nate and Audra have maintained a friendship despite her business dealings, or whatever they are, with Tucker.
Tucker says he’s not jealous but is concerned that Nate will distract Audra and shift her focus. He grins and says Nate may convince her to drive a stake through Tucker’s heart!
Nate laughs and says anyone would enjoy driving a stake through Tucker’s heart.
Tucker says it’s too bad… He’d love to have a worthy adversary, but Nate certainly isn’t one.
Audra enters the club and sees Tucker and Nate talking.
Tucker says he thinks Nate has blown any romantic chance he might have had with Audra, yet he’s always hanging around like an annoying fly at a barbecue.
Nate likes that Tucker is underestimating him. That’s when he’s at his most dangerous! He says that he’s not pursuing anything with Audra… He’s just looking out for her best interests.
Tucker says Nate should keep telling himself that. He warns Nate never to come between him and Audra; it’d be a fool’s attempt even to try it!
Nate nods. He says they’ll have to see how things shake out. He leaves the dining room.
Audra stops Nate in the lobby on his way out. She asks him what he and Tucker were talking about.
Nate says it was nothing worth mentioning.
Audra tells him to stop thinking he needs to protect her from Tucker or anyone else.
The Abbott Mansion
Traci’s surprised that Ashley’s friend in Paris is a psychologist.
Ashley says she feels safe enough with her friend to talk about these types of things with him. She says he’s a personal friend, not someone she’s seen professionally. She says he had a good perspective and asked her many of the same questions that Traci and Jack had. He wondered if Tucker might not have been as aggressive as she’d remembered.
Traci asks if that helped things sink in for her.
Ashley says it didn’t help initially, but then he said something that resonated with her. She says her friend told her that Tucker sounds like he’s a narcissist, and narcissists have a need for a positive outcome. That made her question what Tucker would gain from lying about things… How would that create a positive outcome for him? She says that was a game-changer for her.
Newman Ranch
Victor says he was hoping to release Claire into Victoria’s custody, but if Victoria objects to it, they’ll have to come up with another plan.
Michael asks Victor why he thinks Jordan would take the bait.
Victor says “that Jordan woman” thinks of nothing but retribution and thinks Victor and Nikki are responsible for Eve Howard’s death. Jordan will stop at nothing!
Michael says Victor can’t know that. If Jordan has any sense at all, she’ll lay low for the rest of her life instead of coming after Claire.
Victor reminds Michael that Jordan burned down a prison and killed people in the process so that she could get to the Newmans again.
Michael nods. He’s got a point.
Victor says Jordan will stop at nothing… Unless they force her to stop.
Michael agrees that Jordan is relentless.
Victor says he’ll pretend to be vulnerable, which will cause Jordan to move in for the kill.
Michael wonders if they need to deliver the message through Claire. He thinks she’s been traumatized enough by Jordan.
Victor reminds Michael that Claire has indicated her willingness to help.
Michael asks if Victor thinks Claire will be stronger as a result.
Victor nods. Of course!
Michael finally agrees. He says the details of Claire’s hospitalization were vague in the court ruling, saying only that Claire needs to stay in care “until the facility and the court deem her fit to return to society.” He says he’ll make some phone calls and start the ball rolling.
Victor says that’s why Michael is his legal counsel… He’s smart, and Victor trusts him to do the right thing.
The Abbott Mansion
Traci tells Ashley that it’s good that she finally has some clarity about what happened between her and Tucker.
Ashley says her friend gave her an objective opinion. She realized that Tucker had nothing to gain from lying. She says she created the whole scene in her mind so she could push Tucker away and back out of her marriage. When she realized it, she had a sense of calm and freedom wash over her.
Traci thinks that’s wonderful. She’s happy to hear it.
Ashley says her anxiety and anger weren’t good for her, and she realized what she was doing to everyone in her life that she loved.
Traci says she’s just glad Ashley finally has some relief from the agony she was going through.
Ashley says she is, too. She had the best sleep last night!
Traci asks why Ashley went to Tucker with her realization before talking to anyone else about it.
The GCAC Dining Room
Nate tells Audra he’s only trying to be a friend to her.
Audra asks if that’s what they have… Friendship and nothing more?
Nate asks what else it could be.
Audra thinks Nate is trying to be a hero and expects something in return. Maybe he wants to prove he can go toe-to-toe with a man like Tucker.
Nate scoffs. He asks how she can claim to know Tucker so well, yet she puts him on a pedestal; nothing is admirable or even human about him!
Audra says she doesn’t put him on a pedestal. She knows the best and worst of Tucker like nobody else! She says Tucker is very human, even if people like Nate can’t see it.
Nate says that tells him everything he needs to know. He says Tucker has a hold on Audra, and Nate won’t let her walk off a cliff without saying something.
Audra tells Nate that he may think he’s trying to help, but he should back off. This isn’t Nate’s battle to fight; she doesn’t need his help.
Nate says she only thinks she doesn’t need his help.
Audra tells Nate he’ll never understand her personal or professional relationship with Tucker. He can’t grasp the stakes at play. She asks him to focus on his life and stop worrying about hers.
Nate nods. He says Audra’s right… It’s none of his business. He leaves the club without another word.
Tucker walks up to Audra and says he doesn’t think she realizes how fixated Nate is on her, and it seems to him it’s only getting worse.
Audra and Tucker sit at a table and look through the menu. Audra says Tucker and Nate are fixated on each other… It has nothing to do with her!
Tucker says Audra’s so used to every man falling over her that she no longer notices it.
Audra says it’s a curse. She asks Tucker if he’s made the arrangements for their trip to Paris.
Tucker says he hasn’t. He’ll get on it in the next couple of days. He wants a break from Genoa City and all the “haters” there. He looks at the menu and decides he wants a break from the restaurant’s food, too. He says he wants to be with Audra in the City of Light. It’ll be like seeing Paris anew!
Audra asks about work since that’s why they planned the trip in the first place. They’re supposed to visit Glissade and the other companies Tucker wants to acquire.
Tucker shrugs. “I guess we can do that, too.”
Audra asks what’s going on… Something has Tucker’s attention, and it’s not Audra. She wants to know what it is!
The Abbott Mansion
Ashley tells Traci she went to Tucker first because she felt she owed it to him. For months, she’d been trashing his reputation by telling everyone he was violent and gaslighting her, and she wouldn’t entertain the possibility that he was being truthful. It must have been maddening for Tucker because he was telling the truth the entire time. She had to tell him to his face.
Traci asks how Tucker responded when Ashley told him he was right all along.
Ashley says Tucker was suspicious that Ashley was up to something and had some kind of agenda.
Traci says Tucker must have been surprised at her sudden turnaround.
Ashley says he’ll have to accept it eventually. She’s just happy she’s free of her anger and rage. She needed to unburden herself from it so she could find some peace.
Traci asks Ashley if this has changed her situation with Tucker.
Society
Michael meets with Victoria and Cole. He asks if they’re aware of Victor’s plans for Claire.
Victoria and Cole are well aware that Victor plans to lure Jordan out of hiding by using their daughter. Victoria says she told her father it was completely out of the question.
Cole says Claire’s been through enough.
Victor says there’s no way she’ll let Claire be used as a pawn. Victor needs to back off and let the police handle things.
Michael says he understands that they would feel that way.
Cole is surprised Victor turned to Michael for support; he can’t just get a court order to force Claire into delivering a message to Jordan.
Michael says that’s true, but it’s going to take some legal maneuvering to get Claire out of the hospital.
Cole says that would make Claire an easier target.
Victoria can’t believe Victor wants Claire to be released and interrupt her treatment. She asks if Michael is on board with Victor’s plan.
Memorial Hospital
Victor visits Claire in the hospital. He asks how she’s doing.
Claire says she’s okay and having a good day so far, but she has a feeling that he’s there to talk to her about Jordan.
Victor nods. She’s right.
Claire says Jordan hasn’t reached out to her yet.
Victor says he has a solution to that.
Claire asks if that’s why Victoria and Cole went to meet with Michael Baldwin.
Victor says Claire’s very perceptive. He says the Newman family owes her a debt of gratitude… She saved Nikki’s life!
Claire says they don’t owe her anything. She regrets she was a part of it and says she owes them, not the other way around.
Victor says they all want the same thing… They want Jordan to be put behind bars where she belongs.
Claire says she can’t give Jordan a message if she doesn’t call her.
Victor nods. He says he’s getting Michael Baldwin to arrange for her early release.
Claire says it’s part of her plea agreement to remain in treatment, and she feels safe in the hospital.
Victor says he understands. He promises she’ll be protected and safe wherever she is.
Claire asks how her release could even be possible.
Victor says to leave it to him.
Claire talks it through. She says it’ll be easier for Jordan to contact her if she’s free from the hospital. She says if Jordan finds out that she’s free because of the Newmans’ generosity, she won’t be able to restrain herself.
Victor smiles. Claire gets it.
Claire says Jordan wanted her to believe that the Newmans would leave her in the hospital to rot, so she’ll have to contact Claire if only to remind her of how horrible the Newman family is – not that she believes that anymore. She asks if she has a say in it… What would happen if she told Victor she wasn’t ready to leave yet?
Victor says he wouldn’t insist on it, but he thinks it’s the only way they can lure Jordan out of hiding and is the only way they can prevent her from doing damage to Claire’s new family.
Claire says Jordan has to be stopped. How can they live knowing that Jordan could come after them at any time?
Victor nods. Precisely. He says if she’s opposed to an early release, he’ll stop Michael from continuing with getting her released.
Claire is surprised. He will?
Victor says that Claire’s recovery is not only important to Victoria, but it’s important to him as well.
Claire thanks him. She says that means a lot but wants time to think it over.
Victor says that’s fine. He says having another granddaughter is a great feeling and welcomes her to the family. He says to contact Michael Baldwin if she has any questions or decides she wants to be released.
Society
Michael tells Victoria and Cole he’s caught in the middle. He can see the situation from both sides. Victor will do everything he can to protect his family, and as parents, Cole and Victoria’s number one concern is their daughter’s full recovery. He asks what their take is on Claire’s progress.
Victoria says Claire is doing so much better; she’s seeing brightness and hope in the world and understands that not everyone is cruel and vindictive like Jordan.
Cole says it’s a delicate balance right now, but Claire’s daughters feel she’s making progress.
Victoria says Claire’s been working hard to overcome the trauma she’s been through and still has a long way to go. She doesn’t think Claire is ready to be released.
Cole agrees. He thinks Claire could have a setback. Being exposed to Jordan again could undo everything. He tells Michael it’s not an option, no matter what Victor wants.
Victoria can’t believe Victor refuses to listen to her. She says he went behind her back with this plan.
The GCAC Dining Room
Audra tells Tucker that he’s been all-in on their plans, but his attention has shifted suddenly. Did something happen?
Tucker says he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but he’s snapping out of it. Isn’t she used to his idiosyncracies by now?
Audra says she’s an expert in all of Tucker’s moods and can usually read him pretty well.
Tucker says he can read Audra like a book… Something is on Audra’s mind, too. What is it?
Audra says she keeps thinking of her conversation with Ashley last night. Everything Ashley said contradicted what’s been happening between them the previous few months. Ashley had told her that the “dynamic has changed” and that Audra would soon be seeing what that meant.
Tucker is interested; she said those exact words?
Audra asks what Tucker makes of it. Does he know what Ashley is referring to?
Tucker says he has no idea what’s going on in Ashley’s mind anymore. He says he doesn’t care, and neither should Audra. He flashes back to Ashley meeting him in his room, telling him she’d had an epiphany because of a fender bender. She’d told him that she was okay mentally now and wasn’t feeling any rage or confusion.
Audra notices Tucker drifting. She asks him what he’s not telling her.
The Abbott Mansion
Ashley tells Traci she’s not sure what’s going to happen with her and Tucker.
Traci asks if she’s rethinking her feelings for him… Does she think there might still be something between them?
Ashley says she doesn’t have any answers. She says her situation with Tucker hasn’t changed, but their dynamic has to. She thanks Traci for listening to her and says she needs to change her clothes. She heads upstairs.
Traci gets her phone and sends Jack a text message saying that Ashley is home safe and things seem to have changed. She tells Jack they need to talk.
Newman Ranch
Victor comes home and says hello to Victoria.
Victoria asks her father how he could go behind her back and discuss his plan with Michael, knowing that Victoria is opposed to him using Claire as bait.
Victor says he’s doing everything he can to protect his family. Has Victoria seen what Jordan is doing to her mother?
Victoria says she has, but she doesn’t think he should go ahead with his scheme when it could ruin all Claire’s progress.
Victor says Nikki is a mess because of the alcohol that they forced into her veins, and now Jordan is trying to push Nikki over the edge again!
Victoria thinks there has to be a way through this that doesn’t involve putting Claire in the line of fire.
Victor promises he’ll protect Claire. He says he doesn’t think it’s good for her to stay in the psych ward.
Victoria rolls her eyes. She says if Victor cared so much about Claire, he wouldn’t want to take her away from the care she needs.
Victor says he’ll arrange for the “best damn therapist” they can find.
Victoria is still concerned that meeting Jordan could set Claire back.
Victor says he’ll do everything in his power to protect his granddaughter. He says it’d be nice for Victoria to know that Claire can openly associate with her and be part of her life.
Memorial Hospital
Smiling, Claire calls for a nurse and tells her she wants to make a phone call to her attorney, Michael Baldwin.
Next Week on The Young and the Restless
In the Abbott Mansion, Ashley asks Audra if she’s threatening her.
Audra says she should consider it a warning. She says she has more experience at fighting dirty than Ashley does, and she enjoys it more than she should.
Mamie tells Nate that Jill Abbott has had a “stranglehold” on Chancellor-Winters for far too long. It’s time their family takes full control of their company, and she’s here to make sure that’s what happens!
Claire tells Michael it’s time for her to be what her family needs her to be, and that means that she’s going to help catch Jordan however she can. Full speed ahead!
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