Tuesday, September 8, 2026

At the country club, Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) met with Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) to discuss the Articulettes’ desire to include Barbara Mitchell’s vocals in their next project. Leslie Thomas stated that the music group did not deserve to use her biological mother’s voice, and she blamed them for Mitchell’s demise.

The Phoenix Street Free Clinic investor said she would grant permission only if she received a producer credit on the album. Meanwhile, Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie), Sharon Winger (Bonita Brisker) and Tracy Tyler (Maria Howell) reflected on their friendship with Mitchell and their anger that Dante Green had erased her from their musical legacy.

When Vernon Dupree returned home with Leslie Thomas’ conditions, Winger and Tyler encouraged the Dupree matriarch to accept them, acknowledging that past inaction may have contributed to the person Leslie Thomas had become.

Elsewhere at the country club, Shanice Johnson’s (Ernestine Johnson) brothers Lamont Johnson (Denzell Dandridge) and Cedric Johnson (Khiry Walker) arrived to meet Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson). Things got off to a bad start when Dr. Richardson notified them that he would be late. At Garland Memorial Hospital, Johnson grew anxious about her boyfriend’s tardiness, but Dr. Richardson remained confident that he could still make a good impression.

While at Orphey Gene’s, Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) informed his wife, Naomi Hamilton-Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit), that he would need to question Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) as part of the investigation into Lia Whitmore’s (Cecelia Specht) death. Smith had been the last person to visit the former Garland Memorial Hospital chief of staff, and Detective Hawthorne could not show favoritism despite the family connection.

During preparation for Tyrell Richardson-Smith’s (Jaden Lucas Miller) college farewell celebration, Smith expressed regret to his husband, Congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon), about not recognizing signs that Whitmore was in mental distress during their last meeting. Just as Congressman Richardson tried consoling him, Hamilton-Hawthorne arrived to warn Smith that her husband intended to question him.

Later on, Leslie Thomas approached the Johnson brothers at the country club and shared her complicated history with Dr. Richardson. The two dismissed her claims, accusing her of having “an axe to grind.”

When Dr. Richardson finally arrived, Leslie Thomas approached him, ensuring that Cedric and Lamont Johnson witnessed their familiarity. After the plastic surgeon confirmed parts of his former mistress’ claims, the Johnson brothers ended the meeting, leaving Leslie Thomas feeling accomplished.

As Smith’s questioning began, tensions immediately rose between Jacob Hawthorne and Hamilton-Hawthorne as they struggled to maintain professionalism. The investigative reporter asked whether Whitmore’s death was being considered a homicide rather than a suicide.

Smith also questioned whether the Impaler could be involved. Detective Hawthorne replied only that the investigation was ongoing.

Before leaving the country club, Anita Dupree informed Leslie Thomas that the Articulettes had agreed to her conditions. The Dupree matriarch declared that her eldest daughter’s adversary would not have creative input on the album whatsoever.

Anita Dupree reminded Leslie Thomas of the hurt she had caused since arriving in Fairmont Crest. The EGOT winner then left her with a final warning: “What you sow, that you shall also reap.”

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

At Orphey Gene’s, Dr. Nicole Dupree (Daphnée Duplaix) observed Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) introducing herself to Tyrell Richardson-Smith and Samantha Richardson-Smith (Najah Jackson). Dr. Dupree immediately viewed her as a threat, then visited Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) and accused his sister of trying to infiltrate the Dupree family.

The psychiatrist recalled that Joey Armstrong had also warned Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) to keep her distance from Heather Armstrong. “I get a very bad vibe from her,” Dr. Dupree said as she demanded that Joey Armstrong put his younger sister on a leash.

At the police station, Detective Hawthorne updated his father, Chief Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik), about the Whitmore investigation. Chief Hawthorne was surprised to learn that Hamilton-Hawthorne had acted as Smith’s legal counsel during questioning, and he reminded his eldest son that the Impaler case remained under heavy national scrutiny.

Chief Hawthorne criticized the optics and pointed out the intertwined personal connections between everyone involved. Jacob Hawthorne promised to handle the investigation properly and make the police department and Hawthorne family proud.

Meanwhile, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon), Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla), and Hamilton-Hawthorne met at Uptown to strategize the best approach to the recent negative press ChelseaKat had received for dropping out of the Tokyo Fashion Collective. Hamilton-Hawthorne volunteered to manage all public communication and inquiries for the company, and advised her sister and cousin to focus on what they could control.

Chelsea Hamilton, still troubled by harassing calls from Allison Bailey (Brianna Roberts), received reassurance from her best friend. Kat Richardson encouraged the handbag designer to turn off notifications and focus on positive things in her life, including marrying Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil).

Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) supplied Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) with more poison to feed Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). The paralegal worried that her husband had built up a tolerance and was skeptical of the substance she’d been provided.

The cousin duo talked about Bill Hamilton’s series of medical incidents, and Lawson recalled a conversation she had with her husband earlier that day where he concealed a medical episode she witnessed, unbeknownst to him. Lawson saw this as an advantage because the Hamilton patriarch had chosen to keep his family in the dark about his growing medical concerns, giving her more time to carry out her plan.

Later, Nicole Dupree arrived at her grandson’s farewell party with a gift. Tyrell Richardson-Smith thanked his parents for taking him and his sister in as kids and for bringing their mother, June Hughes (Jasmine Burke), back into their lives.

Bill Hamilton and Hamilton-Hawthorne talked through the next steps of Dr. Montgomery’s case. The young attorney told her father that she would miss working with him once the case was completed.

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Leslie Thomas and Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) paid an unexpected visit to the Dupree mansion to ask Anita Dupree if she had any old recordings of Mitchell’s vocals that they could listen to. Initially annoyed by the request, the EGOT winner explained that the masters were stored out of state.

However, Anita Dupree then remembered a personal recording of her late friend singing “Happy Birthday” on her 17th birthday. The mother-daughter duo were deeply moved and thanked the Dupree matriarch for sharing that personal moment. Vernon Dupree then promised to send them a copy of the recording.

Deanna McBride (Angela Fairley) discussed her plan with Noah Rollins (Nick Hagelin) to sit out a semester of school to stay home with her mother. Rollins asked her to think about the advice her father, the late Dr. Doug McBride (Jason Graham), would give her.

The Banneker University senior replied that she believes Dr. McBride would’ve wanted her to look after Vanessa McBride. After Rollins left, Deanna McBride once again spoke to her father’s ghost and expressed regret about failing to follow through on the plan to get close to Joey Armstrong.

Meanwhile, at Vanessa McBride’s request, Izaiah Hawthorne (Lami Friebe) met with his student to discuss her decision not to return to Banneker. Deanna McBride explained that her concerns were personal, not academic, centering on her mother’s relationship with Joey Armstrong. The academic advisor shared his own experience with a strained parental relationship and told her she could not force her mother to see the casino owner the way she does.

At home, Anita Dupree told her husband that listening to the recording stirred a mix of emotions. The retired senator told his wife that she and her groupmates would need to brace themselves as they revisit more recordings of Mitchell. He warned tensions would be heightened with Leslie Thomas involved.

The Dupree matriarch began to wonder if Leslie Thomas’ disruptive nature stemmed from growing up without a mother. Vernon Dupree stated that Mitchell made sure the free clinic investor was cared for before she passed away.

At Law Offices of Bill Hamilton, Esquire, the Hamilton patriarch apologized to his eldest daughter for how his relationship with Lawson developed. Speculating that her father’s trust in her former best friend was waning, Hamilton‑Hawthorne revealed that Lawson had faked her ultrasound and that “Sammy’s” real name was Randy.

Hamilton-Hawthorne explained that she had withheld the information to avoid worsening the situation after Lawson had seemingly miscarried. She warned her father that the paralegal did not deserve his trust.

Friday, September 11, 2026

In Korea, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) and Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) discussed their plans for the day as the supermodel received repeated messages from Bill Hamilton. Although Andre Richardson expressed passive frustration, his wife assured him that she initially had no intention of communicating with her ex-husband during their trip. Dani Dupree suggested that they spend the day relaxing at the hotel.

At Uptown, Hamilton‑Hawthorne delivered encouraging news to her sister and Dr. Montgomery, stating that she believed opposing counsel was withholding evidence that could lead to a dismissal of the lawsuit. Chelsea Hamilton suggested that she and her fiancé celebrate the positive development.

Kat Richardson ate lunch with Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria), who expressed frustration over being shut out of Hamilton‑Hawthorne’s case with Dr. Montgomery. The ChelseaKat manager attempted to lift her boyfriend’s spirits by gifting him an upcoming handbag from her company for his grandmother, but Navarro dismissed the gesture as self‑promotion and walked away angry.

Later on, Shanice Johnson and Dr. Richardson met up with Lamont and Cedric Johnson to address the tension caused by Leslie Thomas’ sabotage. The Garland Memorial Hospital head nurse told her brothers that she would not be forced to choose between them and her relationship, and that they had not made a genuine effort to give Dr. Richardson a chance.

The confrontation Bill Hamilton was having with his wife paused when Mike Davis (Pierce Lackey) and Hamilton‑Hawthorne arrived for Dr. Montgomery’s virtual hearing. After successfully arguing for access to the plaintiff’s digital records, the Hamilton father-daughter duo celebrated.

Bill Hamilton once again asked his eldest daughter to join his law firm, but she declined, stating that she’s still committed to her own practice. Lawson eavesdropped on the entire exchange and was not pleased.

Meanwhile, Eva Thomas ran into Navarro at Uptown and listened as he described his professional frustrations and recent argument with Kat Richardson. The Phoenix Street Free Clinic manager acknowledged the challenges Navarro faced in competing with Hamilton-Hawthorne.

Eva Thomas also highlighted Kat Richardson’s perspective that Navarro had put her in a tough position by asking her to defend him against her cousin. The former hairstylist also added that her half-sister has never had to “fight for her place in anything,” which means she doesn’t understand what Navarro has been experiencing at the law firm. Before Eva Thomas departed, the junior partner thanked her for her empathy.

At the country club, Izaiah Hawthorne offered Kat Richardson a listening ear as she explained what had happened earlier with her boyfriend. The ChelseaKat manager then gifted him the handbag and said he could give it to Darlene Hawthorne (Monique Mosee) instead.

The Banneker advisor suggested that Navarro may have wanted reassurance that Hamilton-Hawthorne would not hinder his advancement at Bill Hamilton’s law firm. Kat Richardson expressed frustration that her boyfriend had not communicated that directly.

Chelsea Hamilton and Dr. Montgomery spent time together at home, hopeful about the outcome of the malpractice lawsuit. The couple reflected on their lives before and after meeting each other, and looked forward to their future together.

Lawson ran into Navarro at Uptown and warned him to remain cautious around Hamilton-Hamilton, suggesting that she could jeopardize his career. The paralegal’s remarks intensified her colleague’s insecurities about his future.

Viewers can watch “Beyond the Gates” on CBS at 2 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.