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Here's what went down Thursday, February 26, 2026 on Beyond the Gates when Smitty wanted to do quality control, Deanna was very much on Vanessa's mind, and Naomi replied to BRCA with a STFU.
What happened on Beyond the Gates
On Beyond the Gates, Anita's interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King, during which she revealed her battle with triple negative breast cancer, was airing, with various DMV denizens watching on their phones, tablets, and TVs. At the country club, Anastasia was annoyed that she couldn't get any service with everyone watching the segment; Vanessa shushed her and shot her a dirty look. At the mall, Naomi responded to Ashley's push to tell her family about carrying the BRCA gene mutation by sharply telling Ashley to mind her own business.
Ashley understood that the decision was Naomi's, but sensed there was more going on with her best friend to elicit such a reaction. Naomi confessed that Jacob had moved out to keep her safe during his undercover assignment; she was particularly anxious because she'd gotten the feeling that the criminals Jacob was trying to bust were very dangerous. Ashley could relate to Naomi's worry, having been involved with a firefighter. The nurse said that her mother, Jan, had helped keep her sane while Derek was out on perilous runs by spending time with her and distracting her. Ashley offered to be Naomi's “Jan,” and Naomi agreed to at least consider sharing her BRCA status with her family after Ashley's attempt to wear her down.
Anastasia approached the Duprees, telling “poor, poor dear” Anita that she'd help any way she could. Anita decided that Mrs. Belleclaire should walk into the water at Rehoboth Beach so she could join her fellow bottom feeders. “I can drive you,” Vanessa grinned. Anastasia was incensed and demanded not to be treated like a second-class citizen by someone who had only married into status. Vernon stepped in and reminded Anastasia that his father had created Fairmont Crest to be a safe space for their cross-section of the Black community. Anastasia backed off after Vernon all but threatened to have her country club membership revoked.
Vanessa sat with the Duprees, and Anita thanked the realtor for arranging for Donnell to be Samantha's escort to the cotillion. It was important to the matriarch that her family continue living their lives in spite of her illness. Vanessa noted that kids had a way of bouncing back from adversity...usually. She was dismayed that Deanna was still in deep mourning over her father and that her daughter had opted not to come home with Donnell. Anita passed along words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu which had been giving her strength: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” Vanessa hoped to take those words to heart.
At Nicole's house, Kat told Laura she had been unaware of her part in getting Anita to go in for a mammogram. Nicole decided that angels had been watching over them – Laura determined that the ethereal presence of her deceased mother was the only reason she was still alive, then flashed back to being run off the road the year before. Kat raged that Leslie still hadn't been taken down and that she wouldn't mind if Eva went down with her. Nicole frowned, saying that Eva had been lied to by Leslie as much as everyone else; Laura added that Eva had shown a lot of remorse for her part in the destruction of Nicole's marriage. Kat wouldn't hear it and was appalled that Leslie was trying to rehab her image by funding a free clinic with Anita's money. Laura had almost died because of Leslie and Eva, Kat reminded her mother and her mother's assistant.
Vanessa later visited Nicole and spoke of the difficulty she and her kids were still having dealing with Doug's death. Nicole didn't want to equate her loss with Vanessa's, but the shrink could empathize, since she had felt the pain of Ted's absence after learning of his betrayal with Leslie. The women agreed that there were days when memories led them down a “rabbit hole of emotions.” Vanessa sighed that neither her nor Nicole's marriages had ended up being fairy tales.
Smitty arrived and thanked Vanessa for suggesting that Donnell be Samantha's escort at the debutante ball. Though Martin was out of town campaigning in his bid for re-election, he and Smitty eventually wanted to sit down with Donnell before the gala just out of fatherly concern, which Vanessa was totally on board with.
At Orphey Gene's, Eva announced to Leslie that she had secured the donation of heart monitors for the Phoenix Street clinic. Leslie was happy but went on to pooh-pooh Derek's willingness to take management job there. Also, she noticed that the Duprees had made news once again owing to Anita's interview and decided she wanted to make her own “splashy announcement” about the clinic – that day. Eva grumbled that they couldn't just throw a media event without press packets or mission statements, but Leslie was intent on going ahead and instructed Eva to pack the diner with “homely lookin' people” whose appearance gave the impression they needed a doctor. Leslie would handle the rest and couldn't wait to take the headlines away from the Duprees.
Leslie first went to Smitty, offering the reporter the scoop on the clinic story. But Smitty, resentful that Leslie had stolen the idea to open one from his daughter, refused to help, even when Leslie deigned to let Samantha stand next to her during the conference.
Next, Leslie descended upon the Duprees, remarking on Anita's interview – though she hadn't seen the whole thing – and understanding the toll of illness, since Peaches still wasn't well. Leslie wanted Anita to give her Gayle King's phone number; Anita said that Gayle had been contacted through their publicist. Vernon offered to reach out and see if the agent was taking on new clients, but Leslie didn't want to wait. When the Duprees shrugged that they couldn't help her, Leslie loudly announced to those in the banquet room – including Anastasia – that Anita was a spotlight hogger and that the mighty Duprees didn't want her infringing on their moment in the sun.
Dani and Andre, marveling at what a bad-ass Anita was, were chagrined when Leslie showed up on their door. Dani balked when Leslie wanted her to contact fashion reporters to share the story of a clinic, and Andre wouldn't grant Leslie's request of filming her event. The Richardsons both broke into hearty laughter when Leslie named herself “the new face of benevolence” and ordered her out.
As the day progressed, Anita was stunned to see how much support she had gotten over social media, and how many women had posted that Anita had inspired them to schedule their own mammograms. Tracy and Sharon had arranged for a mobile mammogram bus to be parked in front of a concert venue and were gifting women willing to be screened there with free tickets. Plus, Anita Dupree impersonator Jackie Tyree was doing a Vegas show stressing the importance of early detection. Anita wanted to save as many lives as she could and asked Vernon to “hold [her] feet to the fire” in that undertaking. Vernon praised his wife for putting herself out there when she was at her most vulnerable and told her that their love was unbreakable – much like Anita's spirit.
Laura found Eva at Orphey Gene's and reflected that it had been a year since her “accident” – yet assured her one-time replacement as Nicole's assistant that she wasn't there to rehash the past. Eva said that Laura had every right to hold a grudge against her, but Laura felt that she was in a better place...unlike Kat, who was still bitter and aggrieved. Laura shocked Eva by expressing pleasure that Eva had been able to form a relationship with her father. Eva was humbled and warned Laura that Leslie would be back any minute; Laura said she was getting better at standing up for herself and took her place at the counter to enjoy a meal.
Indeed, Leslie blew back into the diner, dressed in a modest pantsuit and costume glasses. She was temporarily discouraged when Eva reported that she hadn't been able to get “bodies” for Leslie's announcement; Leslie likewise had to admit that her story wouldn't be taken on by any media outlets. That being the case, Leslie decided to livestream her announcement, even after Eva pointed out that Leslie didn't have many followers. Eva insisted that they at least do a dry run, which ended up being awkward and cloying.
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Kat joined Laura at the counter, stunned to see Leslie parading herself as a “pillar of the community.” Leslie performed for Eva's phone camera, calling herself an entrepreneur whose name should be on the clinic. “This isn't charity – this is legacy,” Leslie purred. Kat stepped into frame and objected that Leslie was a “homicidal homewrecker” – but Eva smirked that she was only recording, not livestreaming, and gave her mother a high five. The fuming Kat swore that she would find a way to expose Leslie and make her pay for what she had done to Laura, and to her family.
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus.
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