On the Wednesday, August 26, 2026, episode of “Beyond the Gates,” Smitty (Mike Manning) came down with early-onset Empty Nest Syndrome, Mona (Karan Kendrick) took a gamble on Randy, and Heather (Ashley Jones) went for the next best thing.
It Was the Circle Of Life
Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) stopped by the Richardson-Smith brownstone with “shower shoes” for Tyrell, since he would soon be bathing in communal areas at college. She was saddened to learn that Jessica had broken up with him, calling first heartache “its own category of pain.” Smitty became wistful and confided that he was having a hard time with the idea of Tyrell, and eventually Samantha, leaving home. Nicole confessed that she’d cried for weeks when Martin left for university.
Situationship
Ted (Keith D. Robinson) encountered Carlton (Robert Christopher Riley) at the hospital and asked if Carlton could cover an event so Ted could meet Shanice’s brothers. Carlton decided this was a big step and joked that he wouldn’t be standing up at Ted’s wedding with Shanice as he did at Ted’s wedding with Nicole. Ted had to laugh when Carlton brought up how Ted’s younger self had gotten serious with a woman named Veda, only to learn she was married. The men were glad that their friendship had survived them both having had a relationship with Nicole.
Andre (Sean Freeman) then came to see Ted in his office, wanting to know how Ted had lived with himself, facing Nicole every day while keeping his past affair with Leslie a secret. Ted replied that he had learned to compartmentalize his life, and that it had helped that Bill had chased Leslie out of town. Andre confirmed Ted’s suspicion that he was in trouble, claiming he could handle it. Ted warned that he had told himself the same thing about Leslie.
Later, Ted ran into Nicole on her way back to her own office and apologized for leaving her alone and going to Leslie while Nicole was at home fighting for their marriage by way of looking for ways to solve their fertility issues. Nicole said she had already made peace with it, but Ted countered that he hadn’t – and that Nicole had deserved better from him. Appreciating the gesture, Nicole gave Ted a hug.
Pick Up Your Feelings
At the country club, Dani (Karla Mosley) was still musing with Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) about what had been bothering Andre. Dani narrowed it down to something having to do with whatever Andre had been ready to confess about his days living in Europe, an admission that had been interrupted. Vanessa agreed that it had been odd for Andre to get drunk in the middle of the day, and Dani feared that perhaps the nomadic photographer was feeling held down by their marriage.
Heather made her carnal intentions known when Andre came to her hotel room, grumbling that she missed the fun Andre after he repeatedly declared himself a married man. Andre didn’t like that Heather was suddenly hanging around Dani and didn’t buy her reasoning that meeting Dani had been a coincidence. Heather nearly threw herself at Andre, and when he refused her multiple sexual advances, she menacingly said she wouldn’t take it well if he kept rejecting her.
After Andre scurried out of her room, Heather called Vanessa, glad that Dani was with her so she could invite them out for a drink. Both Dani and Vanessa had prior commitments, and once Heather hung up with them, she hurled a glass knick-knack across the room in anger.
Ain’t It A Sin
Joey (Jon Lindstrom) was surprised to see Mona entering the back room of his casino and joked that she was risking her soul venturing into the devil’s playground. Mona revealed that she had come to see Randy, but with him off-site, she indulged Joey in a game of seven card stud, handling the cards like a pro. When Mona won her second bundle off of Joey, she wondered if he’d been letting her win. Joey assured her that wasn’t the case and noticed how Mona lit up when Randy arrived; he agreed to reschedule Randy’s work so he could take Mona up on her offer to sing in her church choir.
Vanessa met with a decorator who had been working with Leslie on her “shouse” and got him to fast-track the renovations she wanted done on the Lakeview’s back room. She then visited Joey, who wanted to have one more romp with her on the old poker table before it was retired. When Joey remarked on the “spark” he’d seen between Mona and Randy, Vanessa deemed that as ridiculous as the idea of Randy having an affair with Hayley.
Body Party
Andre found Dani at home, and she put away her work so they could get into what he had been about to tell her regarding what he’d done while living in Europe. Dani listened as Andre again went over the acts he’d committed overseas that he wasn’t proud of, but just as he began saying he was intent on protecting her, he got a text from Heather reading “tick tock.” Seeing how panicked Andre suddenly became, Dani implored him to tell her what was wrong.
Heather stomped into Uptown, ordering herself a spicy margarita at the bar. A few chairs down sat Carlton, who openly flirted with her. Though Heather’s disinterest was obvious at first, she allowed Carlton to join her after he kept making moves; he licked the spice on her glass to let her know he could handle heat. Not giving her name and making sure Carlton wasn’t married, Heather agreed to take him to her hotel room to capitalize on the seduction.
Beyond The Gates: Clip Of The Day
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