The Young and the Restless Recap for Tuesday, December 24, 2024: Phyllis spreads her style of Christmas cheer

At Society, Traci and Ashley finished their shopping and met for a drink. Diane walked in and dampened Ashley’s mood, but Traci suggested they stay on the nice list. Diane told them that she knew they were upset at seeing Jack so angry at her when they were pretending to fight, but wondered if there was any way to move forward.

Diane acknowledged that it must have been awful for them to see their brother so upset. She added gratitude for Traci coming to her to help the situation under false pretenses. Traci thought asking for a fresh start was asking too much, but moving past it was probably doable. Ashley said she’d like to think she could move past it for Jack’s sake, but Diane had hurt Jack and Kyle countless times. She could only promise to keep things civil through the holidays and would try for more — maybe — in the new year.

Diane reiterated how much she loved Jack and Kyle. Traci said it was because Kyle loved her that he kept getting hurt. Ashley added that Diane needed to deserve Kyle’s forgiveness to earn it. “Then in the spirit of earning forgiveness, how about I buy you two a holiday drink?” Diane suggested. Ashley reluctantly agreed.

Traci noted that Alan was trying to get a flight back and was delayed by the weather. Diane offered a toast to determination and overcoming challenges in true Abbott fashion, and they all said cheers. Ashley, however, kept a suspicious eye on Diane.

At the Abbott mansion, Kyle found Jack having a drink in the living room and staring fondly at the Christmas tree. Kyle decided to join his dad for a drink and asked what he’d been thinking about when Kyle had come downstairs. Jack remembered what it was like to be Harrison’s age with his parents at Christmas and how, at that age, the thought they were so happy. Kyle noted that now that Jack knows what he does, his perspective must have changed on what he thought were good memories.

“You mean with what my mother did?” Jack asked. He said that they felt like she’d tricked them into thinking they were happy but she was actually moving further and further away. Jack said he chose to believe they had been happy. Jack regretted that he didn’t know that life wasn’t infinite and lost time with his parents. “The time to say what’s on your mind and in your heart is now. That way you don’t lose the last “I love you” and “I forgive you,’” Jack shared.

Jack said the best part about the holidays was that everyone paused working and going to school and spent time together. Jack told Kyle that miracles, second chances, and forgiveness happen at Christmastime. Kyle compared Jack and Dina to him and Diane. Jack agreed there were parallels but Diane got a lot of heat. Jack pointed out that he’d done a lot but always got a pass. “It took a long time for me to realize my mother was human,” Jack told him. Jack wished he’d realized it sooner and had loved his mom when she could really feel it. “Don’t make the same mistake I made,” Jack implored him.

Diane came home and said how excited she was to spend the holiday with Harrison. She told Kyle that his office was cleared out and ready for him. Diane pulled out some presents and asked if Kyle would open them early. Kyle opened the first gift. It was a nameplate for the door to his office at Jabot. “You’re back where you belong, Kyle. Co-CEO, along with your father, running John Abbott’s company,” Diane said as Jack welled up.

Diane handed Kyle another gift to open. It was the pages from her journals from when she was in Los Angeles and away from Kyle. The psychologist asked her to write down her thoughts and feelings. Diane had ripped out all of the ones from Christmases when they were apart. Kyle read excerpts out loud. Diane explained that there was so much she wanted to do and say during that time. She thought he was better off without her at the time. “Those pages are not written by the mother that you deserved. But maybe when you read them, you’ll see that I desperately wanted to be someone who deserved you,” she cried.

Diane added that her heart ached for Kyle every day. Kyle told her that he would read them, but not right at that moment. “Mom, I didn’t get you anything like this,” Kyle said. He told her he didn’t get her anything meaningful. “Yes you did. When you were a little boy, what did I tell you?” Diane asked. “All I want for Christmas is a hug,” Kyle remembered. Diane said that was right, and they embraced. Diane cried on Kyle’s shoulder.

Kyle said he wished he could stay, but he had to get over to see Claire. He gave Diane another hug before going. Once alone, Jack noted that she was kind and understanding, and Kyle seemed receptive. He thought what Diane had done was generous and loving, and he loved her for it. Diane said she had a gift for Jack; they decided to exchange gifts early as well.

Diane gave Jack a watch with the inscription, “My every heartbeat is yours.” Diane opened her gift. It was a diamond and emerald necklace. “These stones are from the Teardrop of Love,” Jack explained. It was his mother’s necklace that had gone missing, but he’d found it and brought it home before she passed away. Diane knew the story and the legend that whoever wore it was promised great romantic love. Jack put the necklace on, and Diane noticed he hadn’t worn the cufflinks that were also made from his mother’s necklace. He assured her he still had those stones and knew he was supposed to share them with his family.

At Sharon’s, Phyllis was aghast that Sharon was taking back her detailed confession. Sharon yelled at her to deal with it. Phyllis cried that she had no shame and couldn’t understand how Sharon could put her family through what she had if it wasn’t true. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” Phyllis hollered.

Phyllis told Nick, Sharon, Faith, Mariah, and Tessa that Sharon recanting her confession was an insult to Heather’s memory and a gut punch to her son. “Once again, you’re trying to avoid justice,” Phyllis told Sharon. Nick told Phyllis no one wanted to spend Christmas Eve arguing. Phyllis realized it was an inconvenience to Heather’s killer, so she offered to leave. Sharon yelled at Phyllis to stop. She said that the truth would come out and everyone would accept it but Phyllis because it made Phyllis happy to come at her. “But I am telling you right now: It wasn’t me,” Sharon told Phyllis. “Go home, Phyllis. I’ve had enough of you,” Sharon added.

Phyllis told Sharon that Nick and her family might fall for it, but she never would. “From the beginning, I said it was you, and no one would listen to me. Twenty-five to life is what you should get. And I will make sure for the rest of my life that everyone in town knows that you took an innocent life and framed an innocent man. You vicious psycho,” Phyllis said determinedly. Faith had an outburst at Phyllis that the cops would find out who the real killer was and that her mom was innocent.

Phyllis asked if that was Sharon’s new defense. Mockingly, she wondered if Sharon got a name or a face, but when she didn’t respond, Phyllis said Sharon made it up. Phyllis was astounded at how they all defended Sharon. “My son has suffered. My granddaughter is devastated! A beautiful woman was thrown away like a piece of garbage. You did that!” Phyllis snapped. Phyllis told Sharon to go ahead and wave her wand and manipulate the justice system. “Good luck to you,” she added before marching back out.

After Phyllis was gone, Faith regretted saying so much. Nick said that Phyllis was suffering, but Chance and the police would find the real killer. Sharon asked everyone to just stay, and if they managed some smiles, then her Christmas wish would be complete. Nick said they needed a pick-me-up, and they all let out a loud Ho! Ho! Ho! to make them laugh. Tessa sang Silent Night to everyone, and then they all sang Deck the Halls together before laughing some more on the couch. As they toasted to better days ahead, it began to snow. Faith, Mariah, and Tessa ran outside to see it. Inside, Sharon walked up to Nick and wished him a Merry Christmas. He wished her one as well, and they hugged.

Phyllis went to Daniel’s, who told her that Summer had to leave to put Harrison to bed and Lucy had gone to sleep. Daniel noted that she was late. “I missed Christmas Eve because of Sharon,” Phyllis lamented. She said that everyone was busy protecting Sharon, and Michael had a new defense. Daniel told Phyllis that he had let it slide earlier but pointed out that when Lucy asked everyone to hang an ornament and express their wishes and dreams, Phyllis had hoped for vengeance.

Daniel said that they were supposed to have lightened the holiday up for Lucy, but Phyllis had made it dark. Phyllis snapped that she got her hands dirty so he didn’t have to. Phyllis shared that Sharon recanted her story, and she was no longer crazy or drugged but claimed she'd been unconscious. She added that Sharon was now saying a third person had been there and was the killer. “You still sure you want me to let it slide?” Phyllis asked.

Daniel was upset and recounted all the things Sharon did to frame him. “And now she didn’t kill her? Can she even do this?” Daniel wondered. Phyllis said Sharon does this type of crazy stuff, then cries, and everyone rallies. Daniel asked if it wasn’t Sharon, then who it could've been. Phyllis told him that it was a lie and a smokescreen to stall. “It’s a stupid move created by Michael to buy some time,” Phyllis seethed.

Daniel thought it was almost over, but now it’s started up again. “It is almost over. She just has a lot of idiots around her. I don’t think I can ever forgive Michael or Nick.” Phyllis told Daniel. Daniel thought that there had to be something else for Michael and Nick to accept that she’d changed her mind. He thought maybe they hadn’t told Phyllis everything.

Phyllis snapped at Daniel to stop. “Don’t you dare do that!” she said. She told Daniel not to start doubting that Sharon killed Heather. Phyllis ranted that Daniel better not start believing the manufactured story that Sharon was spewing. She told Daniel that it wasn’t dark; it was justice, and Sharon better start paying for what she did.

At the end of the episode, cast members took turns speaking to say to the viewers, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Tis the season to tell you how much you mean to us. Because the best holiday gifts are the ones we’ve had all year. And that’s you: Our fans. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes again this year. May your holidays be merry, bright, and everything nice, and may all of your holiday wishes come true. Happy holidays from all of us at The Young and the Restless.”

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