Beyond the Gates: Beyond the Gates Recap for May 28, 2026: Friends gathered to remember Derek

Here's what went down Thursday, May 28, 2026 on Beyond the Gates when Dani stepped up to the Mike, Madison reconsidered a wedding guest, and Kial figured out Ted's motivation.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

Dani's dander was dandy on Beyond the Gates | Image: CBS

On Beyond the Gates, Bill ran into Dani at the country club and asked if Naomi had spoken more about what had turned out to be Jacob's undercover assignment. Dani replied that Naomi had been too busy consoling the grieving Ashley and remarked that she was glad Bill was handling Naomi's part in Madison's malpractice suit. However, Dani observed, if Bill had handled sexual harasser Mike correctly from the beginning, Mike wouldn't be representing the woman who was suing Madison.

Bill was incensed when Dani revealed that Mike had also paid her unwelcome advances during their years together, but Dani spat that Bill wouldn't have done anything about it if he'd known. He hadn't protected his female employees against Mike, and Dani certainly hadn't felt protected with Caroline and Bill's other associates covering up Bill's affairs. Bill tried to counter that Dani had grown up sheltered because of Vernon and Anita, but she hailed manager Pamela as having shielded her from exploitative men when she'd been a teenage model.

When Dani announced that Naomi hadn't joined Bill's firm because of its toxic work environment for women, Bill accused Dani of revisionist history – Naomi had wanted to start her own, non-corporate firm that served the more disenfranchised, he recalled. Dani stated that Naomi had heard the rumors about Bill's company, adding that she didn't want Naomi to be thinking that the “old boys club” atmosphere was all that she could expect from men. Bill relented, telling Dani that she had deserved respect. Referencing Andre, Dani snapped that she had respect now and left Bill standing there.

You tried it

Nicole wasn't looking to level up on Beyond the Gates | Image: CBS

Ted visited Nicole in her office, remarking on how she, Kat, and now Samantha had all taken Platinum Deb when they'd come out at their cotillions. After Nicole informed Ted that cad Nathan had only been Francesca's date because Francesca was hoping to hurt Samantha by going out with her former crush, Ted lamented being out of his family's loop, since he and Nicole were no longer living together.

Moving to the subject of replacing Lia as Garland's chief of staff, Ted shocked Nicole by saying he had recommended her to the hospital board for the position. “Are you out of your mind?” came Nicole's reply. Ted felt that Nicole was “uniquely qualified,” but Nicole asked him if he remembered how she'd always resisted anything to do with hospital administration. Waving away Nicole's somewhat sarcastic suggestion that he become chief of staff himself, Ted stepped in it when he said that he'd thought Nicole would look upon the position as a new challenge and obliquely equated it to Nicole's dating situation.

Nicole was just becoming indignant when Kial arrived, causing Ted to take his leave. Kial saw that Nicole was upset about Ted going to the board without her permission, but it was his take that Ted was trying to reconnect with her, as they'd be working more closely if she became chief of staff. Beyond that, Kial was supportive of Nicole taking on the role, though she recalled that she had become a psychiatrist to help people and considered that job continually rewarding, such as with a recent case where she had helped someone break away from a cult. Kial understood and kissed Nicole softly as he left.

Ted found Bill at the club, snarking that Bill would have been bored at the cotillion. Still, Ted bemoaned, he had felt like an outsider at the event despite having been invited. Bill concurred that he didn't think he'd miss being included with the Duprees but had come to feel that the disassociation stung; both Ted and Bill realized they had done it to themselves by doing Nicole and Dani wrong, respectively.

I love you, I hate you

Madison concerned Chelsea by suggesting they plant Willows at their wedding on Beyond the Gates | Image: CBS

At Orphey Gene's, Chelsea wondered how the rift between the estranged Madison and Willow was affecting the rest of Madison's family. When Chelsea predicted that the Montgomerys would boycott their wedding over not making Willow a part of it, Madison sheepishly replied that she was thinking of inviting Willow anyway. There was still time for things to improve between her and her mother, Madison thought wistfully – even if it was certain Willow would never take responsibility for anything she did, including providing someone a quack cure which had nearly killed their child. Chelsea declared it sweet that Madison thought a reconciliation was possible with Willow, but feared it was wishful thinking.

Dani joined the fiancées, excited about having gotten haute couture designers to create custom wedding dresses for them. Chelsea and Madison, who were thinking of holding their ceremony at an art museum, wanted to go for something more avant garde; Dani's jaw dropped when Chelsea showed the sheer, “sculpted resin” gown with strategically placed flowers that Chelsea had her eye on. Dani had to hold back further disappointment when Madison wanted to buy off the rack, but she couldn't help but smile when Madison commented that it didn't matter what she wore at the wedding as long as Chelsea said, “I do.”

Tracks of my tears

Jacob looked to be ordering PTSD with a side of survivor's guilt at Derek's Uptown memorial on Beyond the Gates | Image: CBS

Friends and co-workers of Derek's assembled at Uptown for the memorial Ashley and Naomi had put together; Ashley mentioned that Derek's father, Brian Baldwin, would not be attending. Shanice and Vanessa discussed how Vanessa could empathize with everyone's loss just months after Doug's demise. When Vanessa asked Jacob how the investigation into the blood plasma ring was going, Jacob angrily questioned if Vanessa wanted to know for herself or for Joey, hinting that he suspected Joey's involvement. Jacob didn't stop scowling even after Vanessa said that both she and Joey wanted to see justice done.

Andre entered, looking both sad and guilty; Ashley acknowledged his presence and said she was glad he had come by. Ashley got a text from Grayson letting her know he was thinking of her; Jan said that Ashley could still invite Grayson to the memorial, but Ashley said he was fine not having him there. Jan understood when Ashley cautioned her not to tell anyone, even accidentally, that Jacob had been working undercover.

Ashley began the ceremony, remembering the New Year's Eves and the double dates with Naomi and Jacob that she and Derek had had at the nightclub. She was gratified to be surrounded by people who knew what a wonderful person Derek had been and opened up the floor for others' remarks.

Izaiah said he hadn't known Derek long but that he had been impressed by how eager Derek had been to let the college students he was advising intern at the clinic. This inspired Vanessa to establish a fund in Derek's name that would allow for these students to be paid for their work at Phoenix Street, and Izaiah added that he was indebted to Derek for saving his brother's life.

Derek's former co-workers at the firehouse, Liam and Hank, presented Ashley with the flag that had flown over the station to pass on to Derek's family. Shanice laughed, remembering what a flirt Derek had been and shared warm gratitude that they had become friends instead of pursuing a romantic relationship. Naomi said that it was a reflex for Derek to be a hero – not only had he once rushed into a burning building to save a cat, but also that she still had her husband because of him.

But when Jacob stood up to speak, he couldn't get any words out. After Naomi offered gentle coaxing, Jacob shed tears about the check-up texts he had gotten from Derek while working undercover and the fact that he couldn't tell Derek what he had been doing. He'd promised Derek that they would get drinks there at Uptown once he was home, and now...

After the remembrances, Jacob looked haunted as he heard Jan say that Derek had been auditioning all his life to be a guardian angel. Then firefighters Hank and Liam performed a customary last call; they reported Derek to the dispatcher, who proclaimed that Derek had completed his duty on earth. Everyone was affected by the somber ritual, but Jacob seemed especially bothered.

Tune in tomorrow when Anita and Vernon's sexy time gets blocked, Leslie still wants Hayley on her team, and Bill's emerging condition is noticed by an unlikely person.

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