The Young and the Restless recap, May 14: Phyllis dangles a Matt Clark carrot under the nose of Victor Newman

Here's your recap for The Young and the Restless episode airing Thursday, May 14, 2026, as Victor and Phyllis made each other offers, Matt had a flashback to his past, Jack tried to con Patty, and Diane had a nightmare.

Diane's worst nightmare, The Young and the Restless

Patty and Jack gave Diane a scare on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

In her hotel suite at the GCAC, Diane looked at her phone's screensaver and gazed upon the image of herself and Jack. Then, she flashed back to her slapping him after finding him in bed with Patty on the yacht.

Later, Diane had a dream that she broke down and called Jack, asking to see him. She also dreamed that she returned to the Abbott mansion and found Jack there. Diane told Jack that she loved him and she wanted to go back to being happy, the way they were before Victor and Patty came along.

In her dream, Jack cryptically agreed with Diane that they needed to talk. However, he told her that it was too late for them to start over. Then, Patty appeared, kissed Jack, and asked what Diane was doing in "their" home?

Diane was incredulous that Jack and Patty were back together. "This can't be happening," she marveled. Patty sighed, "Poor Diane. Makes you wonder if Jack ever really did love you." (Ouch.) Dream Patty said there was more to share, and that Diane might want to brace herself.

Patty told Diane that she and Jack were blessed with a child. Patty claimed that she and Jack have a daughter. The child she miscarried is very much alive. Diane said that Patty was crazy. She wondered how Jack could be falling for this. Then, the doorbell rang. Patty said it was her daughter and that Diane could meet her -- before she and Jack threw her out. "Good-bye, Diane," Jack said. Then, Diane woke up from her nightmare, crying out Jack's name.

Jack plays Pattycakes

Jack got Patty on his side at Society on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Meanwhile, Jack approached Patty at the bar at Society, and he asked her if the seat next to her was taken. She was suspicious that Jack wanted to have a drink with her. Jack assured Patty that he wasn't going to verbally accost her. She invited him to stay. Patty said she was having a bad day. Jack said proving to everyone that she'd truly changed wasn't going to be easy.

Patty maintained that she had nothing but love for Jack. He admitted he's been fighting a lot of battles, too. Jack said that he should accept the fact that Patty was in Genoa City to stay. Patty asked if Jack accepted what happened between them.

Jack told Patty that he'd order his own drink at Society, given what happened on the yacht. "Maybe you were reformed?" Jack mused. He pointed out that it must be draining to try to show everyone she'd changed. Patty said that she didn't drug Jack. He asked if it was Victor. "Between us, you're right," Patty confirmed. "It was Victor."

Patty said she had no job prospects in response to Jack speculating that Victor paid her. She said that Victor sweetened the deal to seduce Jack with a big bag of cash. Patty said that if the booze had been spiked, it was Victor who did it. She chalked up their romp on the boat to chemistry -- not drugs. Jack told his ex that she was dreaming if she thought he would ever cheat on Diane.

Patty said she was a little overheated and lightheaded when Jack asked if she had felt drugged. "It could have been drugs," Patty conceded. Jack thanked Patty for giving him that. Patty said she was willing to accept that that's what had happened.

Jack said he can't move forward from that night without Patty's help. She said she was interested in helping him, but she wanted to know what she'd get out of it. Patty said that she needed to be practical. Patty asked Jack if he was planning on getting revenge against Victor. Jack said that he would make sure Victor loses Nikki if she loses Diane. It would be the last thing that he did.

Jack called Victor an emotional vampire. Jack said that Victor would be hurt if he lost Nikki. "A wife for a wife," Diane observed, noting that Jack meant business. Jack said it might not be his call about having a future with Diane. Patty said that she was sorry Jack was in so much pain. He said Patty could help him get revenge. Patty hoped that if she and Jack couldn't be friends, then at least they wouldn't be enemies.

Welcome, Matt

Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Phyllis brought Matt, still suffering from amnesia, to a suite she rented at the GCAC. Matt said he'd pay Phyllis back, and he wondered who his wife was. Phyllis shared that everything would work out.

Matt said he might wander around, but Phyllis urged him to stay put. Recounting Noah's accusations, Matt asked Phyllis if he was a horrible person. Phyllis assured him that he wasn't. Phyllis stated that Noah, his father (Nick), and his grandfather (Victor) were "Newmans." Matt didn't know what that meant. He suggested that they go and talk to him. Phyllis said that would be ill-advised.

"They're not good people, the Newmans," Phyllis said. She assured him that everything was under control. Phyllis gave Matt her phone number. He asked if they could have breakfast tomorrow. She said yes, and then she left.

Phyllis ran into Michael in the lobby of the GCAC. She acknowledged that he had one good idea -- to make a deal with the Newmans. Michael was suspicious, but Phyllis said that she had access to what Victor wanted more than anything in the world -- Matt Clark. And all Victor had to do to get him from her was to drop the charges. Michael demanded to know if Phyllis truly knew where Matt was. Phyllis was coy, but she said she could access him. Michael acknowledged that Victor would be open to a deal if Phyllis could deliver Matt.

The Nick of Time

Nick told Victor why taking down Matt is so important to him on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Nicholas came to his father's house. Victor told his son that Adam shared Nick's plan to dispose of Matt Clark. He asked him if he'd thought it through. Victor forbade Nick from killing Matt.

Nick recounted his plan to Victor; he'd kill Matt in "self-defense" in front of Det. Burrow so he'd have a witness. Nick hated that Noah and Sharon weren't safe, and that Christian was being raised by nannies. Victor hugged his son.

Nick told his dad that he didn't have a choice. Nick asked his father to let him handle this. He said he knew that there would be a cost. Victor noted there were other factors, including Nick using drugs. Nick claimed that he had his drug use under control, but he hasn't had time to go to the clinic. Victor yelled at his son that he hated drugs, pointing out Nikki's addiction.

"I don't want a lecture," Nick said. Victor apologized, but he said that Nick was talking about murder, not revenge, and he'd be spending the rest of his life behind prison walls. Victor said he might not be around much longer. Nick will be in charge. Victor urged Nick to abandon his plan to kill Matt.

Try to remember that kind of September

Matt took a good look at himself on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Alone in his GCAC suite, Matt opened a bottle of water. He looked into a mirror and asked, "What the hell happened to you?" He had a flashback to his fist fight with Nick at Chancellor Park. Matt wondered who Nick was. He wanted to know why he couldn't remember.

Power couple, power plays

Michael and Phyllis make quite the power couple on Y&R | Image: CBS

Victor assured his son that Matt Clark would get what was due him. Then, Victor got a text from Michael Baldwin; he and Phyllis were there. Nick said he had to stick around as he did not trust Phyllis.

Phyllis and Michael showed up at Victor's home. She said that what she had to offer Victor would blow his mind. Michael asked what it would be worth to Victor if they were to hand over Matt Clark?

Nick doubted that Phyllis knew where Matt was. Phyllis said that all they had to do was get Christine to drop the charges, and she would deliver Matt Clark at their feet.

Michael said Phyllis wanted to spare the public a long, expensive trial and do the Newmans a favor. Michael said everyone wins. Nick said that Phyllis was just trying to save her own butt. Victor said that Phyllis would have to add returning Newman to him, along with delivering Matt Clark. Phyllis said that wasn't the deal. Victor said the ball was in Phyllis' court.

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.