Beyond the Gates Recap for February 5, 2026: It was gossip inside and outside the gates, while Shanice found someone else's big girl panties

Here's what went down Thursday, February 5, 2026 on Beyond the Gates when Vanessa took Joey's dinner invitation as an invitation to call U-Haul, Mona was intrigued by Randy's chivalry, and Martin remembered his promise to Smitty.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, maid Jan was late for her get-together with Mona at Orphey Gene's due to sprucing up employer Vanessa's bedroom – in case Joey came over. Mona giggled that Joey wanted all evidence of his presence wiped away; Jan winked that not everyone could work for the “morally unimpeachable Duprees” like Mona did. Jan was surprised when Mona described her own boss' date attire – Nicole had left wearing a dress that was “off the shoulder, up the hip.” Mona didn't like Nicole's recent “come hither” reinvention, but Jan didn't begrudge Nicole her post-divorce makeover. Jan got Mona to agree to be less judgmental, though Mona hoped Nicole wouldn't move too fast being a “sexually liberated phoenix.”

Jan took a call from Owen, who had driven three hours to see her. As she got up to leave, she was certain that if she could meet a man in the middle of the Atlantic, Mona could meet one closer to home. All she had to do was “get out there and live!” Once Jan left, Mona was paying her bill when she saw Randy and thanked him for rescuing Vanessa from the “skeevy man” who had accosted her. Randy didn't see himself as a hero; he just was willing to step up when a woman was in danger. Mona found that admirable but wondered where decency fit in working “for a devil like Joey Armstrong.”

Vanessa was amazed to finally see Joey's house after several months together. She declared the décor warm and masculine – and a reflection of him. Noticing that Joey was different behind his own walls, the casino owner said it was a place where he could envision what his life would have been like had he made different choices. Joey waxed lyrical about perhaps writing thriller novels and making love in every room. He cited Vanessa as the reason he had lowered his guard, at least in his home.

The haute cuisine Joey prepared Vanessa a four-course meal that featured ropa vieja. She marveled that he could feed her that way all the time once she moved in. Joey was taken aback, but Vanessa said they were together virtually every night anyway, and her home bore too many memories of Doug. It wasn't the proximity that concerned Joey – it was that Vanessa cohabitating with him would mean his enemies would realize they were a couple, putting her at risk should they lash out at her to get to him. After dessert, Vanessa remarked that the tour of Joey's home wasn't complete – she still had to see the bedroom.

Martin went to the Dupree mansion under the pretense of returning a book; Vernon knew his grandson was really there to check up on Anita...and him. After Martin said that the former senator had to be sure to take care of himself while seeing to Anita during her illness, Vernon swore that being her caregiver wasn't a burden. Despite Martin suggesting that Vernon step back from being an advisor to his campaign, Vernon wasn't about to. In fact, Vernon said, he needed it. He wanted the Duprees to keep doing good works and called Martin his legacy.

When Vernon recommended that Martin significantly increase his canvassing door-to-door, Martin resisted. Not only had he promised Smitty that he wouldn't let his run for re-election dwarf their family time, he was cognizant that they would soon have an empty nest, with Tyrell going off to college and Samantha a year behind her brother. Plus, Smitty had rededicated time to his career: Martin was happy to see the growth in his home, but he still wished that he could hit pause on it just a little bit longer. Vernon recalled him and Anita having that same feeling when Dani and Nicole were maturing.

Anita was with the country club with Samantha and Jessica, who was still averse to participating in the cotillion and its related events – she was just “doing time in a ball gown” because her father had compelled her to. La Dupree told the story of how she had only become familiar with the debutante tradition when the Articulettes had performed at an after-party – she'd been moved by being surrounded with proud, intelligent young Black women who hadn't had to fight for every bit of progress the way she'd had to. Plus, the connections available to those women at the galas were invaluable. Jessica couldn't help responding, “When you put it that way...”

The teenagers noticed that people were staring at Anita and her new short hairdo. Anita brushed it off and was in the middle of predicting that either Samantha or Jessica would be crowned at the cotillion when Fairmont Crest darling Anastasia approached, announcing that it would be her granddaughter who would be receiving the honor. Anita scoffed at Anastasia turning the coming-of-age event into a rivalry, but Anastasia sniffed that, unlike her, Anita had never worn the dress or the gloves. When Anita sighed that Anastasia had no decorum, the woman griped that to insult her was to insult Vernon, since she had been born and bred in the community that Vernon's father had founded.

Anastasia went so far as to spit that Vernon had found Anita gyrating “like a common” – “Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony-award winning quadruple threat,” Anita cut in. “I don't dabble – I dominate.” Undeterred, Anastasia sneered that, without Vernon, neither Anita, her daughters, her granddaughters, and certainly not Samantha – who didn't have “ a drop of Dupree blood” – would ever be allowed in Fairmont Crest...or anywhere else in polite society.

Anita had enough and rose, conceding that she hadn't been born with a silver spoon in her mouth...or up her butt, like Anastasia. She informed the haughty socialite that she had earned her place, both in their local community and the community at large, and that she and Vernon had created a family who “glittered behind and beyond these gates” with heart and grace...a family which included Samantha, whether or not the girl passed Anastasia's “23andMe purity test.”

Anastasia applauded after Anita finished by calling her “the queen of mean,” jeering, “this isn't Showtime at the Apollo.” No divas were allowed in Fairmont Crest! “Have you looked in the mirror?” Anita clapped back. Anastasia remained determined that her granddaughter would take the debutante crown, so Anita dared, “Let the best matriarch win” – then startled Anastasia by moving as if to slap her while simply brushing back a lock of hair. Once Anastasia stalked off, Anita had a lightheaded moment, causing Samantha and Jessica to worry.

Nicole sashayed into Uptown, knocking Kial out with her shiny, clinging dress. Kial noticed her change in wardrobe, and Nicole noted that he had become a “traveling doc” to deal with the end of his own marriage. Excusing herself to the ladies' room, Kial was sitting alone when Ted arrived with Shanice, who was surprised he was at the nightspot without a date. When Nicole returned, she pronounced herself Kial's date and wondered why Ted kept showing up when she was out.

Nicole took offense when Ted commented that he'd thought she was seeing Carlton; she added that Carlton and Kial both knew about each other and challenged Ted to ask Kial what his intentions were. Shanice began to lead Ted away, but Kial thanked Shanice for introducing him to Nicole, which was news to Ted.

Shanice and Ted moved to the bar, but she became upset when he seemed to be looking at Nicole more than her. Ted shook his head that the woman wasn't “the Nicole I know” – but Shanice interjected that Ted “[didn't] get to dictate how [Nicole] put [him] in the rear view.” When Ted said he just needed time to get used to Nicole's evolution, Shanice reminded him that he was evolving as well, and that there were other restaurants in town. Ted got the check, and the couple left.

Meanwhile, Nicole and Kial were smooching in their booth, with Kial breathily telling Nicole she qualified for “a kissing award.” Kial was inspired to move things to his place, but Nicole asked if they could limit their physical interaction to kissing for the time being. It wasn't that she wasn't tempted; she just felt that going to the next level would imply a seriousness their relationship didn't have. “I promise I won't fall madly in love with you,” Kial cooed, understanding. Nicole stated that she was enjoying having possibilities on the table, and Kial more solemnly replied that he'd been there.

Trending

Ted and Shanice began getting romantic at his hotel room, but Shanice soon stopped and asked if he just wanted her in that moment so he could forget Nicole. She started walking out, so Ted swore that his attention to Nicole had been more reflective of reflex than interest – it was Shanice he wanted to be with. She had brought him out of a dark place and wondered what he could say or do to prove himself. As he continued his plea, Shanice saw something tucked into Ted's couch and disgustedly picked it up with a piece of tissue paper. If Ted was so into Shanice, she frowned, then “who do these tacky-ass panties belong to?” Ted looked helpless as she waved them in his face.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

Quick Links

More from SoapCentral