The Young and the Restless Recap, May 5, 2025: Phyllis learns Sally’s her replacement and promises revenge

On the Monday, May 5th episode of The Young and the Restless, Lily pushes Damian for a meeting with Aristotle Dumas, Kyle appeases a miffed Claire, and Phyllis vows to have the last laugh.

What happened on The Young and the Restless

Nate and Audra on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

At Society, Nate and Audra embraced and said they’d missed one another. He reported that Amy was in good spirits and seemed to be doing well with the cancer treatment. Nate surmised Audra had been busy getting her new company off the ground, and she rambled about her plans. Nate imagined Victor was shelling out the big bucks. Audra reluctantly admitted that she was still waiting for the official funding.

Nate questioned why Victor would be holding back financially. Audra chalked the delay up to red tape, but Nate argued that nothing stopped Victor if he wanted something. Nate wondered if Victor was pulling the rug out from under Audra before she even got started, but she denied it. Nate reiterated that Victor couldn’t be trusted, but Audra suggested that they focus on one another and not waste their time talking about Victor.

Nate recalled that he’d seen both good and bad sides of Damian when they’d spent time together in the clinic’s waiting room. Nate recognized that Damian had built up walls as a coping mechanism, but he and Amy had been able to make a few dents in them. Nate confirmed that he’d seen Damian’s more vulnerable side, and he felt things were too promising to turn back.

Audra was glad Nate and Damian were starting to bond. Nate finally felt it was possible to have his brother in his life. Nate offered Audra dessert, but she purred that she had something much sweeter in mind. She checked her phone and saw a missed call from Victor. Audra ignored it, and she and Nate kissed and headed out.

Damian greeted Lily at Crimson Lights, and she inquired about his mom. He shared that Amy was feisty as ever and that she’d refused to let him stay with her, so he’d followed her wishes and returned to Genoa City with Nate. Lily started to head home, but Damian stopped her and declared that there was something he needed to say – he was sorry.

Damian regretted that he’d been aggressive and overly defensive with Lily because he hadn’t been able to see anyone’s perspective but his own, but he’d had time in Boston to reflect and finally get to know Nate. Damian explained that talking to Nate had gotten him out of his own head, and he’d started to think about how Lily and Devon felt. Damian apologized for encroaching on their lives and handling things unfairly, and he hoped they could find a way to move past it.

Lily accepted Damian’s apology if it was sincere, and she was happy that he and Nate were making progress. Lily mused that she hadn’t seen that side of Damian before, and he wondered what he had to say to convince her to xtrust him. Lily again pushed Damian to find out what Aristotle Dumas’ agenda was. Damian protested that putting his relationship with his boss in jeopardy was a lot to ask. Lily proposed that he put her in touch with Dumas directly to set up a face-to-face meeting. Damian was certain that would never happen, but Lily begged him to at least give it a try.

Damian promised to see what he could arrange, but he urged Lily not to get her hopes up. Damian mentioned that Nate had told him that the jazz lounge had been dedicated to Lily’s father. Damian invited Lily for a drink there to see the club again through her eyes and find out more about the man who’d earned such love and respect in Genoa City.

Later, at the jazz lounge, Lily pointed out Neil’s portrait and murmured that she could almost hear her father’s voice when she looked at it. Damian shared that he expected to see Jackson when he heard someone with a deep belly laugh. They commiserated about losing their fathers too soon. Damian confided that it somehow felt like his grief had made him stronger, and Lily said it had made her the woman she was that day. Damian toasted to Neil for making her the woman she was.

Damian conceded that he’d built an impenetrable wall after his dad had died, and he’d seen it as a strength. Lily opined that the real show of strength was letting people in, since friends and family were a better source of support than an invisible wall. Damian remarked that a guy like him could always use more friends.

At the Abbott mansion, Claire stopped by to see Kyle. She informed him that Cole wasn’t doing well, but her father was back in his hotel suite, resting and waiting for test results. Kyle lamented that Harrison was upset because Summer had gone to Milan, and the boy hadn’t been able to go with her. Claire admitted that she had also been thinking about how Victor and Summer would react to her and Kyle moving in together. Kyle revealed that he’d already told Summer when she’d stopped by.

Kyle assured Claire that Summer had been unexpectedly cool about the news, but Summer had asked that they wait to tell Harrison until she got back. Claire wondered if Summer had finally accepted they were together, and Kyle hoped so. Kyle excitedly showed Claire photos of a potential new home on his phone, and she was shocked that he’d already started looking for a place.

Kyle explained that he’d heard Adam had moved to the Newman ranch and was looking to sell his place. Claire testily concluded that Kyle had already decided to move there. Kyle clarified that he’d been curious, and the listing had a lot of perks. He bet she could get Adam to give them a good deal, or they could have Harrison plant a bug in Connor’s ear. Kyle asked what Claire thought. Claire snapped at him for taking it upon himself to start searching for a home without her.

Kyle swore he hadn’t meant to exclude Claire, and he acknowledged that he should have told her about the listing. Claire preferred to take additional steps first, like making a list of things they wanted in a place. Kyle suggested that they forget he ever saw the listing, and he offered to back off if Claire wasn’t ready. Claire explained that she wanted to be sure they were doing it right without feeling rushed.

Kyle pointed out that it might soften the blow with Victor if they could get Adam on their side. Claire recounted that Adam had made it clear he didn’t like or trust her, and she voiced surprise that Kyle would consider Adam an ally. Kyle admitted he wasn’t above using Adam to get past their biggest hurdle – her grandfather.

Kyle noted that Adam’s building checked off a few boxes on his wish list, but Claire wanted to take their time weighing the pros and cons. They discussed the building’s amenities and location, and Kyle figured they were all things to consider when Claire was ready to start looking. “Let’s do it!” she proclaimed, and she offered to set up something with Adam. Kyle envisioned living together by the end of the month, and they kissed.

Over Champagne at the Athletic Club, Billy pressed to know if Sally was sure about walking away from fashion to work with him. She enthused about her ideas for Jabot Communications to cover the fashion world. They toasted to their new partnership as Phyllis approached. Phyllis sourly surmised they were celebrating her ousting without any remorse, and she imagined Sally was over the moon because Phyllis was gone.

Phyllis understood why Sally was celebrating her exit, but she couldn’t fathom why Billy was sharing in the joy. Sally swore that she wasn’t celebrating Phyllis losing her job, and she knew Phyllis had never had anything but the best of intentions with Abbott Communications. Phyllis indicated that she still did, and she wasn’t going away easily. Phyllis plopped down at Billy and Sally’s table, poured herself a drink, and asked what they should toast to.

Billy suggested they toast to Phyllis walking away from Abbott Communications to get her life back on track. Phyllis reiterated that the key to that was being laser-focused on building a company with him. Billy flatly stated that she was no longer on the payroll. Phyllis crowed that he couldn’t build the company without her, but Billy revealed that he’d found someone to help him. Billy added that he’d done it for Phyllis because she needed to take time to heal. Phyllis demanded to know who had filled such a vital role. Billy named Sally.

Phyllis accused Sally of being the reason Summer had suddenly needed to fly to Milan. Sally explained that she’d resigned from Marchetti because the opportunity at Abbott Communications had seemed intriguing and challenging. Phyllis guessed Billy and Sally had had their plans in the works for weeks. Phyllis was certain Sally had convinced Billy to throw away his friendship with Phyllis by firing her so Sally could take her place.

Billy clarified that he hadn’t turned his back on Phyllis, and he was trying to be a friend at a time when she clearly needed one. Sally confirmed that Billy had resisted firing Phyllis. Phyllis noted a pattern with Billy where he fired partners he’d once had romantic relationships with, only to pull his next girlfriend in. Phyllis acknowledged that Billy could be sweet and charming when he insisted it was them against the world, only to pull the rug out later.

Phyllis predicted that Sally would fall into the same trap as the rest of Billy’s exes, and Phyllis would have the last laugh. Billy firmly stated that he’d been patient and sympathetic, but he was done. He reminded Phyllis that he’d repeatedly asked her to get her head in the game, but she hadn’t listened. “You’re going to be sorry you did this to me,” Phyllis snarled, and she stalked off.

Billy resumed toasting to his and Sally’s new adventure, but she balked at dancing on Phyllis’ grave. Billy implored her not to let Phyllis get in her head. Sally worried that Phyllis’ threat to have the last laugh was real.