Monday, October 5, 2026

At the Dupree mansion, the Dupree family and their friends gathered for a pre-game party before the Banneker University Homecoming football game. Izaiah Hawthorne (Lami Friebe) approached Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) and Police Chief Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik) and told them how Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) had spilled the tea on Hayley Lawson’s (Marquita Goings) attempted murder charges being dropped.

Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) and Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) had a heated discussion about the supermodel’s need to run to her ex-husband’s rescue, even when it meant putting herself in danger. Dani Dupree told the photographer that since Lawson was out of Bill Hamilton’s (Timon Kyle Durrett) life, they could all move on.

Meanwhile, at the Richardson-Smith residence, Tyrell Richardson-Smith (Jaden Lucas Miller) returned home from campus to celebrate his university’s homecoming weekend with the family.

Bill Hamilton gave Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) bad news: Lawson had recorded multiple conversations about the country roadside incident they covered up for Congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and Vernon Dupree.

Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton-Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) arrived at the Dupree mansion and exchanged awkward glances with Congressman Richardson and Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning). Detective Hawthorne soon tried to ease the tension by asking the politician and the investigative reporter if they were excited to have their son home from college.

Congressman Richardson, visibly annoyed, tried to walk away immediately. Hamilton-Hawthorne pleaded with her cousin to stay calm, but he said he couldn’t pretend everything was fine when Jacob Hawthorne had been investigating Smith. After realizing his company wasn’t wanted, the former undercover cop walked away from the heated back-and-forth. Later, Martin Richardson apologized to Hamilton-Hawthorne for snapping at her husband and acknowledged that he was only doing his job.

After getting into a confrontation with her mother at the country club, Deanna McBride (Angela Fairley) arrived at the Duprees’ pre-game party. She told Dr. Dupree that Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) was being selfish for dating Armstrong.

When Deanna McBride said the late Dr. Doug McBride (Jason Graham) wouldn’t want her mother dating a dangerous man like Armstrong, Dr. Nicole Dupree (Daphnée Duplaix) said Vanessa McBride had earned the right to be with whoever she wanted. Deanna McBride declared that she would never accept the Lakeview Casino owner.

Dani Dupree also attempted to help the Banneker senior, telling her not to wait until a crisis occurred before realizing how lucky she is to have a mother who loves her deeply. Deanna McBride thanked the supermodel, then headed back to the country club to talk to Vanessa McBride once again.

Tyrell Richardson-Smith dropped a bomb on his family regarding the new woman in his life. Moments later, Francesca Belleclaire (Madison Alsobrook) walked in, revealing herself as the Banneker freshman’s girlfriend. Samantha Richardson-Smith (Najah Jackson) was understandably upset due to the long-standing feud with Belleclaire. She lashed out at her brother before her parents stepped in to restrain her.

Meanwhile, Vernon Dupree informed his wife about Lawson’s blackmail demands and promised to keep his family safe from the secret.Vernon and Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie), Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) and Elon Hawthorne discussed the potential damage if Lawson’s recordings were released. Chief Hawthorne said his career and marriage would be over and that he didn’t have the Duprees’ resources to survive the fallout.

When Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) came in, Armstrong asked Bill Hamilton to leave so he could speak privately with his employee. The Lakeview Casino owner asserted that Lawson was a threat not only to her estranged husband, but to him as well, so she was a “dead woman walking.”

Vernon and Anita Dupree agreed to wait until the election was over before telling Congressman Richardson about Lawson’s blackmail. The retired senator promised that if he had to handle the threat himself, he would. He vowed not to allow anyone to harm his family.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

The day after Banneker’s Homecoming festivities, Anita and Dani Dupree prepared to tell Nicole Dupree why Bill Hamilton dropped the charges against Lawson. Furious about the news, the psychiatrist lashed out about her parents’ decision to keep Lawson’s blackmail scheme hidden from her, reminiscent of when they stayed silent about Martin Richardson and Vernon Dupree’s night on that dark country road. Anita Dupree urged her daughters to keep living as if they weren’t in a crisis.

Vernon Dupree confronted Bill Hamilton at his office about the recordings. The criminal defense attorney told his former father-in-law that he hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Lawson to keep her quiet, and that Armstrong also knew about the blackmail threat. The two agreed they didn’t want another body on their consciences.

Izaiah Hawthorne stopped by the police station to see his father, but instead ran into his brother, Jacob Hawthorne, who started questioning him about Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon). The detective attributed his suspicions to the duo “looking cozy” at the Duprees’ pre-game gathering.

Feeling defensive, Izaiah Hawthorne told his brother that Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) trusted him and that nothing was going on between him and Kat Richardson. The Banneker advisor also told Detective Hawthorne not to give him any unsolicited advice unless he’s asked.

Meanwhile, at Orphey Gene’s, Chelsea Hamilton lectured Kat Richardson about Izaiah Hawthorne. Frustrated with her cousin’s constant accusations, the ChelseaKat manager made it clear that she doesn’t care how Eva Thomas feels about her friendship with the Banneker advisor.

Overhearing the comments, the Phoenix Street Free Clinic manager confronted her half-sister. Kat Richardson affirmed that everyone had something to say about her friendship with Izaiah Hawthorne and that if Eva Thomas was insecure about it, she’d have to deal with it on her own.

Upset with Chelsea Hamilton, Kat Richardson declared everything would be less complicated if people minded their business. Fed up with the constant persecution, the ChelseaKat manager stormed out of the diner.

Parker finally came clean about Lawson being his cousin. He told Armstrong that he’s aware of the former paralegal having dirt on Bill Hamilton, but he didn’t know the details. The Lakeview Casino owner then tasked Parker with retrieving the recordings his cousin is threatening to release.

After going shopping, Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) and Lawson greeted Anita, Dani and Nicole Dupree at the country club as they ate breakfast. The Dupree matriarch reminded Leslie Thomas of their previous conversation about the company she keeps, but the Phoenix Street Free Clinic owner dismissed the warning.

Eva Thomas returned to Chelsea Hamilton’s table and asked about Kat Richardson’s romantic relationship with Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria), but the handbag designer shut it down. Eva Thomas then said she wished her half-sister would let go of the past.

Chelsea Hamilton then shifted the conversation to Leslie Thomas bailing Lawson out of jail. The former model warned Eva Thomas to stay away from Lawson.

Parker told his cousin that Armstrong now knew she was blackmailing Bill Hamilton. He urged Lawson to forget the money and leave town with him, but she refused. Parker then told the former paralegal that she was on her own now.

Kat Richardson and Izaiah Hawthorne ran into each other at Uptown after their families hounded them about their friendship. They both agreed the accusations were baseless and confirmed what they already knew: they’re just friends.

After she argued with Parker, Lawson came to the casino to work out a compromise with Armstrong. However, the crime boss remained unmoved. Later on, as Lawson was walking into Uptown, she was blindsided and kidnapped by an unknown assailant.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

At Lakeview Casino, Armstrong threatened Parker with a gun just as Vernon Dupree walked in to stop him. Parker was dismissed, and Armstrong laid into the Dupree patriarch, saying Lawson had multiplied the original problem that brought them together.

Detective Marcel Malone (Darryl W. Handy) was revealed as Lawson’s kidnapper as he took her to a room lined with plastic. As Detective Malone prepared to “handle” Lawson, Vernon Dupree arrived and called him off.

Andre Richardson vented to his uncle about Dani Dupree constantly involving herself in Bill Hamilton’s life. The photographer admitted he wasn’t bothered by it at first when they were casual, but his feelings changed over time. Dr. Richardson advised his nephew to tell the supermodel how he feels.

Izaiah Hawthorne arrived at Eva Thomas’ condo to work remotely for the day, only to find Leslie Thomas had made herself comfortable watching television. The free clinic investor noticed her daughter’s boyfriend had been hanging out at the condo more often.

Izaiah Hawthorne affirmed Leslie Thomas’ assessments of his feelings for Eva Thomas, but said that they still weren’t ready for marriage. He then admitted that people close to him were bothered by his friendship with Kat Richardson. 

The free clinic owner confessed to raising her daughter to resent her half-sister, which contributed to her insecurity. Eva Thomas then arrived home and shared exciting news about her going out of town for a work opportunity. 

At home, Dani Dupree and Andre Richardson had another candid conversation about the supermodel’s close relationship with Bill Hamilton. The photographer said he was tired of being disrespected because his wife wanted to prioritize her ex-husband.  

Meanwhile, Lawson tearfully explained her plan to Vernon Dupree and begged him not to let Detective Malone kill her. She promised to give the retired senator all the recordings. When Vernon Dupree demanded to know who else Lawson worked with to pull off her cons, she revealed that her cousin, Randy Parker, set up all their schemes.

Back at the casino, Bill Hamilton, Chief Hawthorne and Dr. Richardson were briefed on how they would handle Lawson’s threats. The criminal defense attorney said his soon-to-be ex-wife’s death would not bode well for him in the public eye, as he would be the primary suspect.

Vernon Dupree returned to Lakeview Casino and discussed the details of his conversation with Lawson, including the fact that Parker was the alleged mastermind behind her cons. When Parker was escorted back to the casino, he denied Lawson’s claims and said he would do anything to prove his loyalty.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

After Detective Malone was ordered to let Lawson go, he dropped her off at Uptown and ran into Leslie Thomas. The free clinic owner pressed her new “bestie” about how she got her charges dropped.

When the former paralegal refused to talk, Leslie Thomas gloated that she could get the information from her boyfriend, Detective Malone. Lawson then shouted at the Thomas matriarch, demanding that she keep her mouth shut.

Continuing their argument, Andre Richardson asked Dani Dupree whether she still wanted to be married to him or be with her ex-husband instead. The supermodel acknowledged that Bill Hamilton never loved her the way Andre Richardson does, and she promised to no longer be obsessed with getting the criminal defense attorney’s attention.

Vanessa McBride and Dr. Dupree talked about their separate conversations with Deanna McBride. The Fairmont Crest realtor understood her daughter’s concerns, but would not end her relationship with Armstrong because she believes he can protect her.

Meanwhile, Deanna McBride talked to her father’s ghost at Orphey Gene’s. The Banneker senior said her father’s addictions pushed Vanessa McBride into Armstrong’s arms, and she then realized Dr. McBride wasn’t actually alive and talking to her like she believed he was.

Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson) observed Dr. Richardson and Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob) being secretive as he showed her something on his phone. After the plastic surgeon went to his office, Johnson tried to get information from Morgan, but she refused to divulge what Dr. Richardson was planning. Later, with Morgan’s help, the plastic surgeon surprised his girlfriend with a romantic getaway.

With things finally calm, Dani Dupree told her husband she’s happy in their marriage, and Bill Hamilton knows it too. She promised Andre Richardson that he is the man she wants.

The modeling agent then recalled that Andre Richardson started to share something about his past, but held back. Dani Dupree told her husband that he didn’t have to share if he wasn’t comfortable, because she trusted his judgment.

Later on, Deanna McBride met her mother at the country club and asked about what Dr. McBride was like right before he died. Vanessa McBride hesitated to taint the image her daughter had of her father, but the Banneker senior said she wanted to know. After hearing what the Fairmont Crest realtor said, Deanna McBride realized that she had to stop asking her mother to choose between her and Armstrong.

Parker showed up at Lawson’s hotel room to confront her about exposing his involvement in her scheme and lying about his role. The former paralegal justified her decision, saying she thought Parker had already left town. When Lawson asked how she could make amends, Parker angrily declared that he was done with her.

Friday, October 9, 2026

At the Dupree mansion, Vernon Dupree informed Nicole and Anita Dupree that Lawson had been neutralized without any violence taking place. Dr. Dupree shared her worries that the news might blindside her son.

Because Congressman Richardson was dealing with the election and his husband being investigated for Lia Whitmore’s (Cecelia Specht) death, the Dupree matriarch and patriarch did not want to add this to his plate, and Dr. Dupree agreed.

At home, Smith struggled with how his legal troubles could affect his husband’s campaign. When the investigative journalist asserted that he would not attend an upcoming campaign event, Congressman Richardson told Smith his mental health came first, and that he would deliver an excuse to cover for him.

While having drinks at Uptown with Chelsea Hamilton, Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) received an update over the phone from Hamilton-Hawthorne about the malpractice lawsuit. The plaintiff requested a $2 million settlement, but Dr. Montgomery declined. Hamilton-Hawthorne then arrived at the bar to deliver news about the judge ruling in Dr. Montgomery’s favor and dropping the lawsuit.

Dr. Dupree later arrived at her home to prepare for a romantic evening with Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). The psychiatrist thanked Dr. Rollins for being patient with her while she figured out what she wanted. Dr. Dupree then gifted Rollins a key to her home, which meant full access to her life and her heart.

Meanwhile, Dr. Richardson and Johnson took a romantic trip to New York City. After the couple returned from their dinner date, the plastic surgeon surprised his girlfriend with a romantic marriage proposal.

Johnson affirmed that she couldn’t wait to be Dr. Richardson’s wife, and they agreed to have a Christmas wedding. Viewers can watch “Beyond the Gates” on CBS at 2 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.