On the Wednesday, October 28, 2026, episode of “Beyond the Gates,” Anita (Tamara Tunie) pulled an April Fool’s in October, the Hawthornes discussed their problems with others and Smitty (Mike Manning) was ready to go “hasta la vista, baby.”
Sing A Simple Song
Tracy (Maria Howell) and Sharon (Bonita Brisker) arrived at Anita’s request, having just finished a Delaware stop on their tour. After the trio spoke about Smitty’s arrest, Anita revealed that she’d been working to get her voice back up to snuff after the damage from her chemo, and that she was ready to re-record Articulettes tracks and add Barbara’s voice. Sharon and Tracy were dubious and put Anita to the test, but Anita could barely do a scale without fumbling over it.
Anita suggested that they could use Auto-Tune on her voice, then begged for another chance to prove herself…and blew them away with her revitalized skills. Tracy and Sharon laughed as they realized they’d been played, and Anita was ready to call Devon Winters in Genoa City to schedule the studio time. Sharon worried about Leslie and asked if Anita was sure Leslie was Barbara’s daughter; Anita brought out a photo of the original Articulettes foursome and remarked on how they had overcome everything. Therefore, they would overcome Leslie and her input as well.
Can You Stand The Rain
Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) confided in Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Kat (Colby Nixon) about the state of her marriage to Jacob, including how Jacob had violated their “pact” about leaving work at work and aired a stream of resentments he had been holding back. Kat and Chelsea couldn’t deny that Naomi could be bullheaded enough that people didn’t want to push back on her. Naomi hoped that Jacob’s outburst had made him feel better, but she still worried that their marriage was on the brink.
June (Jasmine Burke) served Jacob (Jibre Hordges) and Izaiah (Lami), but barely spoke to Jacob because he had arrested Smitty. Izaiah listened as Jacob admitted he had “made an ass of [himself]” going off on Naomi; Jacob added that he had to treat Smitty like any other suspect despite Naomi wanting to live by the “Dupree code.” Jacob was encouraged by Izaiah to look inside and ask why he’d been so resentful, citing his own self-reflection, through which he had forged himself a path off the streets. The elder Hawthorne was proud of the younger Hawthorne’s progress.
Mother I Sober
Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) visited Eva (Ambyr Michelle) and was thrilled that Eva and Izaiah had marked their one-year anniversary. Eva reined Leslie in when she wanted to throw the couple a huge anniversary party at the country club, especially since they’d ruined Ted and Nicole’s commemoration there. Leslie had no regrets about publicly telling the Duprees that Ted had fathered Eva, and noted how much Eva’s life had improved since doing so.
Eva saw Leslie’s point, but still wished she had taken Ted aside beforehand instead of allowing him to be subjected to such humiliation. Izaiah arrived, and Leslie, remarking that paper was a first anniversary gift, handed them a slip that read “IOU an anniversary party, and you owe me grandbabies.” Eva rolled her eyes after Leslie left, but Izaiah decided that Leslie could throw them a bash for their fiftieth anniversary; Eva was overjoyed that Izaiah saw them still together that far into the future.
Is It Because I’m Black
Martin (Brandon Claybon) sighed to Vernon (Clifton Davis) that perhaps he didn’t deserve re-election – not after he’d kept the secrets of killing Kenny’s brother and Smitty’s arrest from his constituents. Vernon wrote Martin’s viewpoint off as foolishness, reminding Martin that he had been the victim of a hate crime and had only hidden his actions because the police would have seen him, a Black man, as the guilty party.
After Vernon added that Martin had never otherwise lied to his voters, Martin’s campaign manager, Shonda, joined them, approving of Martin’s idea to hold a forum with Vernon as a special guest to reach people with less than one week left until the mid-term elections. Shonda decided that the event should be livestreamed, calling it “an interactive fireside chat.” Martin was still fearful that the last-ditch attempt wouldn’t work, but Vernon was far more confident.
Abandonment Issues
Samantha (Najah Jackson) wanted Smitty’s guidance on everything from her Hallowe’en costume to wedding plans on the chance he’d go to jail and the family wouldn’t be able to see him. Smitty tried to get Samantha to veer away from worst-case scenarios, but Samantha lamented that she had already had a loved one disappear with no access to them. After maintaining his innocence, Smitty urged Samantha not to put her life on hold should he end up serving prison time for a crime he hadn’t committed.
Smitty sent Samantha to Orphey Gene’s, where June saw her upset. June couldn’t help feeling stung when Samantha reiterated her fear of Smitty disappearing, remembering how she had abandoned Samantha and Tyrell. June’s heart went out to Samantha, but she pointed out that things were different – Samantha now had a whole family to lean on, unlike when June had given her and Tyrell up. Samantha was gladdened when June stressed that she could come to her with any feelings she might have as Smitty’s ordeal went on.
Down In Mexico
Naomi reported to Smitty the finding that Max, the man who could prove Smitty’s innocence, had a cousin, Manuela, in Mexico. Though Max was still in the wind, Naomi theorized, perhaps Manuela could lead them to the missing man. Smitty immediately decided he needed to go to Mexico himself, but Naomi told him that he needed to stay put, as he had many people working on his behalf. Once Naomi departed, Smitty grabbed a travel bag and said to himself, “Sorry, Naomi.”
Martin came home and saw the bag, thinking Smitty was going to become a fugitive from justice. Smitty corrected that he just needed to find Max, since Max could dispute what the video seemed to reveal – besides, Smitty said anxiously, he couldn’t just sit around doing nothing. Martin worried that Smitty’s bail would be revoked if he left the country and was barely able to talk Smitty out of using his contacts to sneak away. Hugging Smitty, Martin promised, “I got you” and that he wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
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