Today’s Young and the Restless recap airs in the USA on Monday, December 11, 2023, and airs one day ahead in Canada. We post our Y&R recaps every weekday!
Last Episode
On the last episode of Y&R, Phyllis poured her heart out to Michael, Tucker looked to oust Ashley from Glacade, and Danny cooked up romance for Christine.
The Genoa City Athletic Club
Victoria and Cole sit at a table in the dining room as they talk. Victoria says she’s exhausted from their trip to see Claire.
Cole says they know for sure that Jordan was in charge and had fooled Claire her whole life.
Victoria says the emotional abuse to Claire is heartbreaking.
Cole wonders if the damage can be undone.
Victoria doesn’t want to talk about that. They’ll take it one step at a time.
Michael walks up to their table and is surprised to see Cole.
Victoria asks if Michael would like a coffee… Or perhaps something stronger.
Michael wants to keep his wits about him.
Cole says they’re going to tell him a shocking story, and then they’re going to ask him something even more shocking.
The Newman Ranch House
Victor tells Nikki that Jordan is a menace who is walking around free and tormenting Nikki.
Nikki thinks Jordan is trying to shame her by playing the music she used to strip to over the phone to her, but Nikki says she’s not ashamed about it. She danced at The Bayou, ; so what? She can’t believe Jordan violated her sobriety, and they’d never even met.
Victor says he will find Jordan before she can do more damage.
The GCAC Dining Room
Cole and Victoria finish telling Michael what happened at the Lake House.
Michael is shocked. He asks how they’re doing emotionally.
Cole says it’s unsettling knowing that Jordan is out there.
Michael can’t believe that they’re having to relive the passing of their infant daughter. He wonders if Claire could actually be their daughter; was Jordan actually capable of taking their baby from the NICU?
Victoria says they met with Claire, and she’d agreed to a DNA test. She says they promised Claire they’d find a lawyer to get her out on bond.
Michael says they’ll have to find a good lawyer. He sees how they’re looking at him and says they can’t ask him to be Claire’s lawyer! He says Claire terrorized them and blindly obeyed her mentally ill aunt. He can’t believe they want him to represent her!
Cole asks him if he can’t do it.
Michael says he didn’t say that. If anyone can get Claire out on bond, it’s him! He asks if they will risk Claire being at large and possibly partnering with Jordan again.
An Oregon Jail
Claire rolls over in her cell bed. She dreams of Victoria telling her she’s not her mother.
There’s a clanging that wakes her up. It’s Jordan knocking on the bars of her cell.
Claire sits up in bed, shocked to see her aunt.
The GCAC Dining Room
Michael asks Victoria and Cole what will happen if he succeeds in getting Claire released.
Victoria says they haven’t thought that far ahead.
Cole asks what Michael would recommend.
Michael says Claire would need to get a comprehensive psychological evaluation. He says that if he can’t exonerate Claire, he could have her admitted to a psychiatric facility, which would get her out in less time than a prison sentence. He says Claire is an adult, and she terrorized people who she thought were her family; she’s not blameless in the situation.
Victoria says she hears Michael loud and clear, but she needs to know the truth.
Michael asks Cole what his thoughts are.
Cole says he doesn’t know what to think, but he knows that Jordan filled Claire’s head with lies and hatred toward the Newmans and himself.
Victoria asks Michael to talk to Claire. Maybe he can gain some insight into who she really is.
An Oregon Jail
Jordan tells Claire to be quiet. She says it was more difficult to get into the jail than it was to get into the maternity ward when Claire was born.
Claire says it’s not safe for Jordan to be there.
Jordan says Claire is “weak,” so she was caught. Jordan, on the other hand, is strong, savvy, and determined to win. She thought she raised Claire to understand how the world worked, but she’s let her down now.
Jordan tells Claire that Victoria and Cole will think she’s “broken” and can be managed and won’t be scared of her anymore. She throws the Victorian doll she’d used to terrorize Nikki onto Claire’s bed.
Claire wakes up. Jordan’s visit was all a dream!
Jordan’s Motel Room
Jordan unpacks her suitcase. She places a photograph of Eve on the nightstand and pulls a knife out of the suitcase, which she places on a table.
Jordan pulls three vials out of the suitcase and looks at them intently.
The Newman House
Victor tells Nikki she needs to rest and recover from her ordeal.
Nikki says her day was stressful. The phone calls, finding out that Victoria and Cole went to visit Claire… It was a lot!
Victor says she went to an AA meeting and is glad she has support. He asks if there’s anything he can do for her.
Nikki says she only needs his love. She tells him to go upstairs and she’ll be up shortly; she wants to make some tea first.
Victor leaves the room.
Nikki takes a deep breath and looks longingly at the vodka bottle.
The GCAC Dining Room
Michael asks Victoria and Cole if they’ve spoken to Nikki and Victor about hiring him as an attorney for Claire.
Victoria says she hasn’t yet; she assumes they’ll try to talk them out of it. She says that the only way Claire will agree to a DNA test is if they hire her a good lawyer, and they’re hoping that Michael will help them.
Michael says everyone accused of a crime deserves a good defense, but what if this is a trap?
Cole says they’re not naive.
Michael says Claire’s a good actress; she conned Nikki without any problem. She could make Cole and Victoria let down their guard.
Cole tells Victoria he wants to know the truth as much as she does, but he’s not sure they can trust Claire. He wonders what would happen if Claire ran away and met up with Jordan after she was released.
Michael says it’s possible there’s something at the Lake House that has Claire’s DNA on it. A hairbrush or lipstick, maybe.
Victoria says she doesn’t want to set foot in the house again.
Cole says Victoria doesn’t have to go there; he’ll do it.
Jordan’s Motel Room
Jordan flips through a photo album that contains pictures of the Newmans. Angry, she slams the album down on the bedcovers.
The Newman House
Nikki sips her tea. Her phone pings with a message notification.
Nikki picks up the phone and looks at her messages. There’s a message from an unknown number with a picture of Nikki asleep in the bed at the lake house with the alcohol IV in her arm. An excerpt from a poem called “The Sleeper” by Edgar Allan Poe is written underneath.
She ne’er shall force an echo more,
Thrilling to think, poor child of sin!
It was the dead who groaned within.
Nikki runs over to the booze tray and drinks the vodka directly from the bottle. After a quick chug, she fills her teacup with vodka.
Crimson Lights
Adam enters the coffee house and sees Nick holding a takeout cup. He asks where everyone’s been; he’s been trying to get ahold of Victoria for the last few days about work, but she hasn’t returned his calls or messages yet. He says he couldn’t reach Nick, Victor, or Nikki either… Where were they?
Nick says they were dealing with a personal matter.
Adam asks if it was a personal family matter that didn’t involve him.
Nick nods. Yep. He goes to leave the cafe but bumps into Sally on the way out. He clutches his chest and groans.
Sally apologizes and asks what’s wrong.
The Newman House
The following day, Victoria walks in and greets her mom. She asks how Nikki is feeling after her stay in the house of horror.
Nikki says she’s doing her best to put it behind her.
Victoria says that having your sobriety forced away isn’t easy to get over.
Nikki nods. She says she went to an AA meeting yesterday, is planning to go to another one today, and will keep going every day for a while. She says she can’t forgive what Jordan and Claire did to her, but she won’t let them defeat her.
Victoria says that’s what she wanted to hear.
Nikki asks what Victoria was thinking when she went to see Claire.
Victor walks into the room and says he wants to know as well.
Victoria says she’s glad she and Cole went to see Claire. It was overwhelming, but they learned a lot. She says Jordan tried to destroy Claire’s personality, which is why she turned out the way she did.
Victor asks what Jordan did to Claire.
Victoria says she’ll tell them all about it, but she wants them to know that she and Cole met with Michael and asked him to defend Claire.
Victor is shocked. “What?!” He tells her to come to her senses. Why did she decide to defend Claire?
The Oregon PD Visiting Room
Claire is escorted into the room by a police officer. She sees Michael and asks who he is.
Michael introduces himself and says he’s an attorney hired by Victoria Newman. He says he hasn’t decided to take her case yet, but he’s her best shot at having a life again. Whether he takes her case or not hinges on how she responds over the next few minutes.
Claire says she understands and is grateful for any help she can get.
Crimson Lights
Nick tells Adam that nothing’s wrong; Sally startled him.
Adam doesn’t believe him. He asks if Nick is injured and whether it has anything to do with the “personal family matter.”
Nick says he’s not hurt, and it’s none of Adam’s business.
Adam shrugs it off. He asks how Sally is.
Sally says she’s good.
Nick rolls his eyes. He tells them to have a good morning and leaves the coffee shop.
Sally wonders what’s up with Nick.
Adam figures Nick didn’t have enough coffee yet. He says something is up with the Newmans; he says none of them were at the offices and were unreachable, and when he asked Nick about it, it seems he struck a nerve.
Sally nods. She asks what Adam’s been doing since they last saw each other.
Adam says he’s been thinking about her a lot.
The Newman House
Victoria tells her parents that Claire is convinced that Jordan stole her as a baby.
Nikki says there’s no evidence to prove that Claire is Victoria and Cole’s daughter.
Victoria says Claire was raised by Jordan, and she never asked her aunt for proof.
Victor asks why Victoria got Michael Baldwin involved.
Victoria says Claire agreed to take a DNA test if they got her a good lawyer.
Nikki asks what happens if Claire goes back on her word.
Victoria explains that Michael told them to get something with her DNA on it, so Cole went back to the Lake House to see what he could find.
Nikki says that Victoria could have found an attorney who isn’t as good as Michael… Unless Victoria wants Claire to get out of jail.
Victoria says she couldn’t let it go. She says Claire is a victim as well.
Nikki says she can’t accept it; she can’t see Claire as anyone other than a monster.
The Oregon PD
Michael tells Claire they need to set some ground rules. He asks her if she’s willing to tell the truth.
Claire agrees.
Michael says Claire agreed to take a DNA test if he takes her case. Is she still willing to do that?
Claire says she’ll keep her word. She asks what he needs to know before he agrees to be her lawyer.
Michael asks if Jordan tried to contact her after her arrest.
Claire shakes her head. Jordan only appeared in her nightmares.
Michael asks her to walk him through her story. He tells her to leave nothing out, and then he’ll decide whether he wants to represent her or not.
Claire says she was trained for one thing… To hate Victoria, Cole, and all the Newmans.
The Newman House
Victoria says that Claire needs help and doesn’t deserve jail time.
Nikki asks what happens if Claire is not Victoria’s daughter… Will she feel as kindly about her then?
Victoria says it doesn’t matter how the test turns out. She wants Claire to have a better future no matter what.
Victor says Claire is a troubled woman who comes from a family with mental problems. Victoria shouldn’t go easy on her!
Nick walks in and warns Victoria that she shouldn’t get involved with Claire in case Jordan is in contact with her and is plotting to use Claire against them.
Victoria says if Claire is her daughter, it changes everything.
Nick says he’s not trying to start an argument with Victoria.
Victoria is glad; Nick wouldn’t be able to change her mind.
Nick asks how his parents are; did Nikki finally get a good night’s sleep?
Nikki says it’ll be a while before that happens.
Nick understands. She’s had it rougher than the rest of them.
Victor says he admires Nikki. This ordeal has been an assault on her sobriety, and he’s proud that she didn’t give in.
The Oregon PD
Claire explains to Michael that Jordan had told her that her parents had given her up, and they were cold and selfish. She says Jordan planned to knock them off their high horse and inflict as much pain as possible.
Michael says Jordan and Eve were estranged, yet Jordan planned revenge even though she didn’t know how the Newmans had treated Eve.
Claire agrees that Jordan couldn’t have known about the Newmans’ treatment of Eve. She says she was going to help Jordan because as far as she knew, her parents deserved vengeance for how they’d treated her.
Michael figures Jordan made Claire believe the Newmans had abandoned her.
Claire nods. She had no reason to believe otherwise. She’d been convinced her parents had discarded her after she was born because of her connection to Eve. She says Jordan saved her from being all alone in the world and believed she was special, even if her own parents didn’t.
Michael says Jordan tore Claire down before building her up.
Claire explains that she had to be educated to infiltrate the Newman conglomerate. She did everything Jordan asked her without question. She says being a good little soldier got her some praise. It was the closest thing she had to a mother’s love, but when she met Victoria, she wanted her to know instinctively that she was her child.
Claire says she wanted Cole and Victoria to look her in the eye and tell her that they’d made a terrible mistake by giving her up when she was born, but they never said that, and they never will.
The Newman House
Victoria asks if Victor is going to work today. She says she is.
Victor says of course he’s going to work.
Nick asks Nikki if she feels well enough to go in or whether they should cover for her at Newman Media.
Nikki says she will go in… She can only imagine the paperwork built up on her desk while she was away.
Nick and Victor leave for the office.
Victoria asks Nikki if she needs someone to help her with what she’s going through… Maybe a trained professional?
Nikki says she’s going to her AA meetings and will be fine.
Victoria says Nikki’s the strongest person she knows, but she might need help getting through it.
Nikki’s phone pings with a message notification. She looks scared and holds the phone close to her chest.
Victoria asks what the message is.
Nikki says it’s nothing she can’t handle.
Victoria presses. Is it work?
Nikki yells that Victoria doesn’t need to worry about it.
Victoria tells her mom not to shut her out.
Crimson Lights
Sally and Adam sit at a table with their morning coffee. Sally tells Adam she’s been thinking about him too.
Adam asks if she’s been thinking about him a lot.
Sally smirks and tells him not to push his luck. She says she hasn’t figured anything out yet. Their night together changes things, but she thinks that they need to think about how it will affect them both before they take things any further. They’ve been through a lot and suffered a huge loss.
Adam says he’s willing to take a leap into the unknown with her, and if they crash, she can hate him, and he’ll accept it. Maybe this time, fate will be on their sides for once! He asks if they can have a dinner date to see how it goes.
Sally agrees to a date.
The Oregon PD
Claire tells Michael that Jordan had lied to her throughout her entire life. Her parents didn’t abandon her. Jordan told the Newmans that she’d stolen Claire as a baby. She says her entire life is meaningless because of Jordan’s lies. She buries her face in her hands, crying.
Michael asks if Claire needs a moment.
Claire shakes her head and continues. She says she wanted to hurt her parents and confront them with what they’d done to her, but now she wants a real connection with them. Finding out that Jordan had kidnapped her and robbed Victoria and Cole of their child was her breaking point. She says she saved her parents and the Newmans’ lives in the end, but she can’t imagine how they’d ever forgive her. She wants to get out of jail and leave all of this behind her.
Michael says he understands why she’d feel that way.
Claire asks Michael if he’s willing to help her.
Jordan’s Motel Room
Jordan looks at a photo of a young Victor and Nikki. She says, “The high and mighty are going to fall, and they’re never going to get back up!”
She looks at the photo of Eve that she’d placed on the nightstand. “It’s all for you, my sister. All for you!”
The Newman House
Nikki tells Victoria she’s been getting text messages and calls from an unknown number. She hands her phone to Victoria to read.
Victoria reads the message. She figures it must be Jordan. She says they have to find her and stop her.
Missed an episode? Check out our Young and the Restless recap archives!
Make sure to comment about this episode and recap below!
Have you joined our Facebook group “Official Y&R Early Recaps, Spoilers, and News!” yet? Enjoy chatting with other like-minded Y&R fans in our group, which is dedicated to recaps, spoilers, rumors, gossip, and comings and goings.
You can also follow us on Twitter or Threads to make sure you never miss any updates!