The Young and the Restless Recap, May 18, 2026: Nick tries negotiating for Phyllis’ freedom

On the Monday, May 18, 2026 episode of The Young and the Restless, Adam worried about Nick’s addiction, Sharon attempted to guilt Phyllis into turning Matt in, and Patty warned Matt about Phyllis’ intentions.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

Chelsea and Adam on The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI

At Society, Chelsea informed Adam that Connor had complained about the extra security following him to school. Adam figured the security would ease up once Matt was handled, but he worried that Nick would try to make a deal with Phyllis. Adam groused that Nick couldn’t get past his obsession with Matt to see the bigger picture, which was to protect their entire family by getting Newman Enterprises back.

Chelsea pointed out that Adam was thinking like a Newman by prioritizing his family’s legacy, but Nick was focused on getting rid of the danger and not just trying to prove a point. She understood why Nick wanted Matt off the streets, and she hoped no one would get in Nick’s way.

As Adam and Chelsea exited the restaurant, he lamented that his brother hadn’t started a treatment program because Nick believed he was the only one who could handle Matt. Adam revealed that Nick had claimed he was detoxing, but it looked like Nick was still using drugs and lying about it. Adam predicted the whole thing would spiral out of control if Nick kept avoiding dealing with his addiction.

Christine calls Nick out

Nicholas (Joshua Morrow) and Cricket (Lauralee Bell) on Y&R | Image: JPI

At the Athletic Club, Nick ordered Phyllis to take him to see Matt. Phyllis asked what Nick would do with Matt once he had him, and Nick replied that it was none of her concern. Phyllis demanded that the charges go away and that the Newmans allow her to keep Summers Conglomerate. Nick agreed, and Phyllis agreed to tell Nick where Matt was once the charges were dropped.

Nick insisted that Phyllis take him to Matt to prove she had him. Phyllis swore that Matt was somewhere safe nearby. Nick called Christine and requested to meet in person. Nick warned Phyllis against playing games or trying to screw him over. She declared that Matt was a means to an end to get her freedom and company.

Later, Nick met Christine at the Athletic Club bar. Nick questioned what it would take to get the charges against Phyllis dropped, but Christine asserted that a serious crime had been committed. She wondered if Victor knew about Nick’s request. Nick told her that dropping the charges against Phyllis would be beneficial to his family, since a violent criminal was walking the streets – Matt Clark.

Nick contended that it was Christine’s chance to bring Matt to justice. Christine preferred to prosecute both Phyllis and Matt, and she asked where Matt was. She judged from Nick’s silence that he didn’t know – but Phyllis did. Christine blasted Nick for letting Phyllis extort him.

Phyllis stands her ground

Phyllis and Sharon on The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI

At Crimson Lights, Sharon caught Phyllis looking around for someone, and she became suspicious since Esther had mentioned that Phyllis had picked up two coffees earlier. Sharon revealed that Nick had told her that Phyllis had stashed Matt away somewhere, and she assumed the coffee had been for him. Sharon excoriated Phyllis for harboring the man who’d tried to destroy their family, and she begged Phyllis to do the right thing.

Phyllis defended that her back was against the wall because Victor was threatening to take her company away. Sharon chided Phyllis for protecting a monster to keep what she’d stolen. Phyllis explained that Matt didn’t know who he was or who the Newmans were. Sharon ranted that Phyllis’ need for a trophy mattered more than anything else.

Phyllis swore that she wanted to end Sharon’s pain, but she also thought she deserved to end her own, and she refused to back down. Sharon imagined Phyllis missed her children and having Nick on her side, and she inquired whether Phyllis missed their friendship. Phyllis spat that everyone had turned their backs on her. Sharon cautioned that Matt would hurt Phyllis if she were the only person he had access to.

At the new Newman ranch, Adam voiced concern to Victor that Nick was on edge and planning to deal with Matt himself. Adam suspected that Nick would agree to whatever Phyllis wanted to get his hands on Matt, and they might never get Newman back if Phyllis handed Matt over to Nick. Victor thought Nick knew better than to trust Phyllis, but he agreed that Nick needed treatment. Victor got ready to call Phyllis.

Kindred spirits

Patty (Stacy Haiduk) and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) on Y&R | Image: JPI

Matt sipped coffee at the Chancellor Park Café. Patty showed up in response to his invitation and asked how she could help, referring to her high level of empathy. Matt confided that things were totally upside down, and he felt like a stranger to himself. He was freaked out that at any moment someone might start punching him in the face, and he mentioned the Newman guy who hated him.

Patty empathized, noting that there was a family who hated her, too. Matt asked what she’d done to them. Patty wondered if he just wanted to see if she owned what Phyllis had already told him. Matt admitted that Phyllis had mentioned some things Patty had done, but he didn’t know anything about anyone – especially himself. He explained that he had glimpses of memories, but he was really uncomfortable and could use a friend.

Patty conceded that most of the things Phyllis had told Matt were probably true. Patty confirmed that she had been arrested and committed to psychiatric facilities because she’d hurt people, but people in town couldn’t accept that she’d gotten better. Patty lamented that the way people looked at her with fear and disgust pierced right into her soul, and part of her wanted to run and hide, but she believed the best thing to heal was to stick it out.

Matt mused that he felt like he and Patty had a kinship, as if they were the same person. Matt said he had a feeling in his gut that he’d done bad things, and it was why the Newmans hated him. Matt shared that part of him wanted to apologize and fix it, but another part thought maybe he could never make amends because the things he’d done were more horrible than he could even imagine.

Matt was willing to risk going to the Newmans to figure out who he was. Patty agreed that he needed answers, but she advised him not to trust Phyllis. Matt bemoaned that living like that was no life at all, and he grappled with who to trust. Patty theorized that Phyllis wanted Matt to depend on her, and she inquired whether Phyllis had mentioned that she’d once been Noah’s stepmother.

Patty imagined that Phyllis knew who Matt was and what the Newmans had against him, but Phyllis was withholding the information to keep him alone and confused. Patty speculated that Phyllis was setting him up. Patty encouraged him to let her take care of things, since someone needed to have his back.

Watch full episodes of The Young and the Restless on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.