On the Thursday, September 3, 2026, episode of “Beyond the Gates,” June (Jasmine Burke) spilled the wrong cup of tea, Heather (Ashley Jones) put Joey’s pieces together, and Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) fell into a familiar pattern.
Supersonic
Smitty (Mike Manning) met Jacob (Jibre Hordges) at the station and learned that his article had helped to dissolve another branch of the Red Market ring in San Francisco. Jacob was excited that this crack in the organization might help him break it once and for all. Meanwhile, Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) met with Elon (Malachi Malik) at Orphey Gene’s to discuss her concerns about Jacob losing his objectivity in the Impaler case. Elon was certain Jacob wouldn’t turn it over to anyone else in his quest to avenge Derek’s death, but he encouraged Naomi to sit Jacob down, get him to open up, and share her own worries with him.
Heather entered the diner and became unnerved to see an officer of the law at one of the booths. Chatty June explained that he was the chief of police. After seeing Smitty’s article about Lia’s death on the front page of a newspaper, Heather brought up the event, prompting June to voice her opinions about Smitty not heeding her warnings about The Impaler. When June lamented how Derek had been an innocent who had gotten killed by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Heather planted seeds of doubt by hinting that Derek’s presence at the warehouse might indicate that he had somehow been involved with the plasma ring.
Diggin’ On You
Elon returned to the station and could barely get Jacob’s attention, mentioning that he had just spoken to Naomi. Jacob was ready to cancel plans with Naomi when Elon recommended that Jacob not get so preoccupied with the Impaler case that it would hurt his marriage. Jacob conceded the point but revealed that he had found a phone number in the San Francisco intel that matched a number in his D.C. intel…a number which lit up Heather’s phone at Orphey Gene’s.
Heather took the call and learned that the leaders of her Portland operation were panicking over the breakdown in San Francisco and the articles from Smitty. Taking control, Heather told her caller that she had a plan to ensure that the reporter would no longer cause them problems. Heather then introduced herself to Naomi, secretly hoping to build on what June had told her about Jacob running point on The Impaler case. After Naomi confirmed Jacob’s devotion, Heather deemed Jacob a hero…who certainly would get everything he deserved.
Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) was surprised to find Smitty at her office door. When he asked for help, she initially thought he had a personal problem and stated that it wasn’t ethical for her to treat family members. But Smitty clarified, saying that he wanted her to use her expertise to piece together a psychological profile of The Impaler based on the available information.
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
At home, Bill awoke from a nap on his couch and saw Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) hovering over him. He cracked that the devil had come for him; she smirked that this devil wore Prada, and sometimes Forrester Creations. Bill was stunned to learn that Leslie had come to see Hayley (Marquita Goings), who came downstairs and was equally irritated that Leslie was in her living room.
Bill couldn’t get away fast enough, and Hayley denied Leslie’s claim that they were friends. Leslie reminded Hayley how she had been there for her while Bill had lain unconscious in the hospital, but Hayley wasn’t buying Leslie’s claims that she wanted them to be besties. Countering that neither of them had anyone to turn to because they were town pariahs, Leslie took her leave but refused to give up on a friendship with Hayley – who later had to admit to Bill that she was lonely because everyone in town hated her.
Leslie ventured to the hospital, where Ted (Keith D. Robinson) had just finished sighing to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson) and Ashley (Jen Jacob) about how the news of Lia’s death had put Garland in a negative public spotlight once again. Privately, Shanice told Ted she had spoken to her brothers about his desire to meet them, but she objected to meeting at the country club, sure her siblings would find a way to embarrass him there. Leslie returned from haranguing chief of staff Monica about the impact the renewed hospital scandal was having on her clinic – then overheard Shanice’s predictions about her brothers, the wheels turning.
Let Me Know Something?!
Nicole arranged to visit Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli), knowing her best friend would be struggling with the anniversary of Doug’s death on that day. Vanessa acknowledged that Doug had made his own choice to drive drunk, but she felt guilty over having berated him over his descent into gambling and debt instead of truly helping him. Nicole reminded Vanessa that blame was a coping mechanism and urged her to instead focus on the fact that she had done the best she could with the knowledge and understanding she’d had at the time.
Over at Joey’s condo, he flashed back to Vanessa sobbing during their getaway to Puerto Rico, when a drunken Doug had crashed his car into a ravine and died. He then remembered swearing to Vanessa that he hadn’t had a hand in Doug’s death, and reading the letter he’d found among Doug’s belongings that blamed him in advance should any harm come to him. Joey later tried to cheer Vanessa up with his baked goods, but she still felt bad that she was with Joey when Doug had died and that her last conversation with her husband had been an argument over her affair.
Joey probed Vanessa to find out if she and Deanna had found anything “interesting” in the latest batch of Doug’s things, but Vanessa wept that Deanna had sent her away to go through the box alone. Then, Heather arrived uninvited and wondered if “JoJo” had made Vanessa cry. Seeing Vanessa’s dismay over Doug, Heather offered a shoulder and heard the story of how Doug had become drunk at the casino and gotten into an accident while drunk driving. Heather eyed Joey, and, after sending Vanessa to take a hot shower, she accused her brother of offing Doug so he could have Vanessa for himself.
How I Could Just Kill A Man
Bill wanted to lie down to resume his nap, but first Hayley suggested he drink the vitamin-enriched smoothie she had prepared for him. Not long afterward, Bill began seeing double and lost control of his motor functions before falling off the couch and collapsing in a heap. Hayley returned to the living room and kicked Bill’s foot to make sure he was really passed out, silently cheering to herself and leaving his lifeless body on the floor.
Beyond The Gates: Clip Of The Day
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