Matt Clark Breaks Down as His Memories Flood Back — and Nick Threatens Phyllis

At the outdoor café, Adam walks up to Sally’s table and tells her she looks beautiful before letting her know she heard about her and Billy’s plans to get married.

Sally confirms she’s marrying Billy. Adam hopes it works out for her and adds, “Billy also mentioned you’re having a baby.” Sally’s sure that didn’t feel good, coming from Billy. Adam says Billy will never be good enough for her, and he gloated about the wedding, but wasn’t totally heartless about the baby. They acknowledge that it brings up a lot of feelings.

Sally recaps that they lost their baby, Ava, and should talk about it. Adam says, “I’m sad.” Not that Sally is pregnant, but that Ava’s not there. Sally understands. When she first found out, she felt guilty. Adam protests. This is a gift and she’s allowed to be excited. Sally is, but she misses Ava. Adam croaks, “So do I.”

Sally admits she sees Ava in her dreams and Adam is blown away. “How is she?” he asks. Sally says she’s beautiful and describes a dream with the two of them at the beach. Someone was with her… she didn’t see, but it was Adam who had her. “She was safe because of you.” He wells up and nods.

Adam and Sally keep talking about Ava. Sally feels she’s with her, part of her. “We did our best. For whatever reason, she couldn’t be with us.” Sally doesn’t want to let fear get in the way of this pregnancy. Adam assures her she’s brave and will give this kid the world.

An Unexpected Emotional Exchange

At the ranch, Victor is shocked speechless when Phyllis shows up at the door looking sheepish. She explains she wanted to check on Nick but he’s not at his place. She assumes he’s not there either. Victor suggests they have a talk and invites her in.

Victor tells Phyllis that Matt Clark got Nick hooked on fentanyl. They marvel that the same guy saved Nick’s life last night. They agree it was terrifying. Victor will never forget it. He thanks Phyllis for her part in saving his son. She tears up. “I froze.” She recalls using CPR and Victor, again, thanks her from the bottom of his heart. She smiles, “I love your son.” Victor wells up. Phyllis chokes up saying goodbye. Victor thanks her for coming.

Bonkers Breakdown

At the GC Shadow Room, Matt’s horrified as he remembers threatening various Newmans and his wife. He starts to cry and sobs, “I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry.”

Sienna, moved and concerned, tells the others this is real. As she moves closer to Matt, he warns her to stay back as he’s too dangerous. Sharon whispers to Nick; she thought if his memories came back the darkness would as well. Matt sobs that he doesn’t want that, having a near breakdown. Sienna asks if he wants to hurt anyone right now. He doesn’t… but he has to go. Nick growls, “You’re not going anywhere.” Matt cries.

Matt’s desperate to leave the Shadow Room, but Noah won’t let him. Matt pleads that he doesn’t want to die. There must be some way to wash this off. His life can’t end without him doing at least one thing right. With that, he starts weeping again. Nick eyeballs him with puzzlement.

As Sienna steadies Matt, Sharon asks Nick and Noah to call the police. Nick warns they’d have to take him back to Vegas, and they’d have to take the stand and re-live everything to convict him. Nick says he’s useless to them now and barks at Matt to follow him out the door, warning the others not to follow. Sharon wonders how much more damage has to happen before this ends.

What’s Going On Here?

Nick takes Matt back to the workout room at the ranch, where the villain sobs, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Nick!” Nick barks, “Stop!” He tells him to calm down, assures that he’ll be back, and exits.

Joining Victor, Nick says he has Matt in the gym. Some of his memories have returned and it’s fried his brain. He thinks it’s real. Nick muses, “I’ve wanted nothing more to get this guy out of our lives, forever. What if he’s already gone, dad?” Wow, they’re really going to try and redeem this violent rapist!

They go over Matt saving Nick’s life and wonder if he’ll go dark again. Victor asks Nick to leave Clark to him, but Nick argues. Victor hollers about him needing treatment. He nearly died! Matt Clark saved his life, as did Phyllis! He scared everyone to death. Victor will observe Matt and see what the memories trigger.

At the Shadow Room, Noah, Sienna and Sharon discuss the Matt Clark plot twist, marveling that the monster has turned into a man. Sharon points out that even if his remorse is sincere, they’re entitled to their feelings. Noah declares that they need to know if he’s changed forever, or if the man who tried to kill them will come raging back.

Back in the Newman gym, alone, Matt’s tormented by the same flashbacks we saw earlier and pleads along with us, “Make it stop! Please, no more!”

The Calm Before the Storm

Nick walks into the Club, where Phyllis rushes over and embraces him. She was so scared. Nick admits he was too. He thanks her for saving his life and for turning over Matt. Phyllis admits she did that for herself. Tearing up, she tells Nick he has to get through this. He will, but asks her not to tell Summer. She agrees and asks if Christine has Matt. What will happen next? Is she going to prison?

The Final Scenes

In the ranch gym, Victor joins Matt, who confirms that his memories have come back. He’s a vicious human being. Victor rasps that he saved his son’s life last night, but that doesn’t wipe away everything he’s done to his family. Matt questions if he ever had a soul, there’s no way a man like him could ever be redeemed. (Yet it looks like Y&R is trying it anyway!)

At the outdoor café, Sally and Adam marvel at Connor being a full-blown teen now. She tells him he’s a really good dad to his son… and in her dreams about Ava. He assures her she’ll be an amazing mother and walks off.

At the Shadow Room, Noah, Sienna and Sharon wonder what Nick is doing with Matt. Sharon is sure Matt will go to prison. Sienna points out the man he is now is shattered and wouldn’t survive it.

Back in the gym, Victor asks Matt if he thinks he ought to be punished for his crimes. Matt thinks he should have been gone a long time ago. He can’t understand the feelings that he had while he was doing those things. He wants the darkness to be gone, but doesn’t know if it is. Matt asks Victor to let him live and he’ll prove himself. Crying, he says he doesn’t want to be that person. “Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

At the Club, Nick tells Phyllis there are pending charges against Matt Clark for drug-trafficking and kidnapping. She may not have known that, but she was harboring a fugitive. Phyllis points out he’s harboring him now. Nick argues that they didn’t pay his hotel bill, and drops, “You still have our company.” Phyllis recoils as if he’d slapped her. He can’t be doing this right now!

Nick is doing it, though. He tells Phyllis if she doesn’t give back the company, he’ll tell the police she harbored a known criminal. Phyllis gasps, “I saved your life! I saved your life! Why are you talking to me like this?! Who are you?!”