The Young and the Restless Recap Dec 5: Claire chokes Audra, and Jack enlists Nikki to help

In The Young and the Restless recap for Friday, December 5th, 2025, Claire chokes Audra, and Jack enlists Nikki to help.

The Young and the Restless recap

At the Abbott mansion, Diane checked in with Kyle, who looked deeply engrossed in his laptop. She waited impatiently for an update on how they had begun transferring assets offshore.

Diane repeated that she would find hard evidence against Victor to put him in prison for what he was doing. Kyle told her there was a very good chance it would all end badly, meaning there would be no coming back for Jabot. Diane wasn’t sure if Jack could handle Victor winning this attack.

Diane invited Kyle to join her and Jack later for a movie and to try to relax, but Kyle told her he had plans with Claire. He didn’t want to think too hard about it, but hoped spending time together would do them some good.

At Society, Holden left a voicemail for Cane letting him know that he’d heard rumors of company troubles, but offered his help. When he hung up, his face lit up when he saw Claire enter the restaurant. He asked her to join him, but she said she was meeting Kyle for a drink.

Holden told Claire that things felt different since L.A., and there seemed to be distance between them. Claire said it wasn’t about what he told her of his past with Audra; it was about what she thought he didn’t tell her. Claire pointed out that all the previous talk about how it could ruin lives to find out, etc., didn’t add up with his story of taking a payoff.

Just then, Audra walked in and told Claire to get a life and stay out of hers. Claire told Audra she was asking about Holden’s past, not hers. Audra said that Holden charmed her with his smile and compliments but that was how he got more tips when bartending, hinting that he liked Claire for her bank account. 

Claire asked Audra what she used to do for tips. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” Audra snapped. Claire went in on Audra about how Holden and Kyle didn’t want her, but when she mentioned Nate, Audra slapped her hard across the face.

Holden held Claire back but Audra kept goading her until she lunged and put her hands on her throat. Claire gave Audra the shock treatment, choking her neck and asking if that’s the side of her she wanted to see. Holden broke them up as Kyle walked in. Claire stormed over to him and asked him to get her out of there. All Holden could do was watch as Claire left with Kyle. Audra cried that Claire was insane.

Holden said that he saw Audra come at Claire, assault her, and then complain when she struck back. Audra snapped that he was on the wrong side of the argument and smitten by Claire’s innocent act, as everyone else was.

Holden thought it was best that Audra back off, or Claire would dig more into her past. Audra was focused on how Claire strangled her and said that her act of aggression told her that she was capable of more than Holden gave her credit for. Audra was tired of Claire’s little Miss Innocent act. She warned Holden not to stand in her way.

At the GCAC, Victor found Nikki at a table in the dining room, distraught that Victor wasn’t answering. He overheard her telling him, in a voice message, to come home immediately, and asked what for. Nikki explained that she didn’t know what was happening in L.A. but had a feeling there was trouble. She thought maybe she should just go there and see for herself.

Jack and Nikki talked about Victor’s hatred of Jack. She realized something had happened, and Jack told her that it was the AI software. Nikki almost let it slip that she could confirm Victor had it. She reminded Jack that she’d advised him to get prepared and protect himself. Nikki asked if Jack had taken her advice or not.

Jack said he’d let her in on a secret, but only if she could keep it. Nikki was shocked that Jabot was shutting down and would stop manufacturing or selling anything. Jack told Nikki he was doing it to save Jabot from a cyberattack. Nikki thought that it was a terrible plan and it might not recover, but he said the family agreed that it was better to shut it down themselves than let Victor.

“I would be shocked if…somebody…tried to use that program against you,” Nikki said. “You’re telling me Victor has it,” Jack said. Nikki told him that Victor did have the software and that he had already used it against Cane. Nikki was sorry that Jack was going through such stress. She hated that Cane made the app and that Victor had it. Nikki said she would yank it away from him if she could. “Well now, there’s a thought,” Victor said.

Nikki wasn’t sure she could, but thought she could at least look into it. Their conversation didn’t get far as Diane came in and interrupted. Nikki made a quick exit, much to Jack’s chagrin. He thanked her, but she told him it was premature and hoped to update him soon.

After Nikki left, Jack admitted that he had told Nikki their plan. Diane hoped he was talking about what they were doing for Christmas. Jack said Nikki knew they were shutting down. 

Diane was furious and said that it was perverse that Jack thought Nikki was his best friend yet married to his worst enemy, and his decision to tell their plan to her could cost them everything.

Diane pointed out that Victor has done disgusting things to their family for years, and Nikki has never stopped him before. She didn’t know why this would be different. 

Kyle and Claire came in, and they invited them to join them, but Kyle declined, and they went to another table. Jack noted that Claire looked like she was ready to take someone’s head off. He hoped it wasn’t Kyle’s.

At their table, Claire vented about Audra and how brazen she was to attack her in front of an entire restaurant. Claire said that she made her point that Audra couldn’t mess with her. She suggested that she and Kyle team up to put Audra in her place.

Claire told Kyle that she knew something criminal about Audra’s past. She thought there was more to it and wanted to bury Audra with it. Taken aback by Claire’s demeanor, Kyle thought maybe he should take care of it, but Claire said no. She told Kyle that she needed Audra — and herself — to know that the hit came from her.

 

The Young and the Restless recap for Friday, December 5th, 2025