Here’s what went down Thursday, May 7, 2026, on Beyond the Gates when Joey’s letter was sponsored by the letter H, Kat got her Nancy Drew license taken away, and Naomi’s face had a case of loose lips.
What happened on Beyond the Gates
On Beyond the Gates, Bill was still upset that Tomás had let Kat work on an investigation that Tomás was supposed to be handling. Kat came in and announced that Lia, who had been scammed by Lynette, could not be the reason Lynette had skipped town. Tomás tried to mediate when Bill growled that he didn’t want to have to worry about Kat getting involved in future assignments he gave Tomás; Bill declared that they had no idea what Lynette was really capable of, so he was telling Kat to back off out of care and protection. Kat smiled to Bill’s face but immediately told Tomás privately that she planned to continue digging. Tomás likewise feared for Kat’s safety and barely managed to talk her down. Don’t these people know that Kat is the only one on this show who can get any actual intel? Laura, Leslie, Allison…the list goes on.
At the Lakeview Casino, Joey handled an aged envelope addressed to him, which he shoved into a pocket when Randy approached. Joey knew that Smitty was working on some kind of special reporting and wanted to make sure that it had nothing to do with his businesses. Randy agreed to monitor Smitty personally and find out what he was looking for. Then, Joey called Lia and warned her that there were “eyes on us.” Holy soap gods! Joey is tied to the blood plasma ring! A little too obvious, but not entirely surprising…
Officially missing you
Hayley wasn’t thrilled when Vanessa found her at Uptown, saying that the only thing they had in common was the house that Vanessa had sold Bill in Fairmont Crest. Vanessa wanted to follow up on the penthouse that Lynette had had her eye on – since Hayley had been ready to buy it to lease to Lynette, perhaps she and Bill might want to buy it for themselves with Lynette gone? Hayley declined and played up the fact that Bill had been right about Lynette using her after saving her from the mugging. Yet Vanessa was clearly fishing for information. Is Hayley about to get busted? We’re pretty much seven months into knowing she’s a scam artist; the time for storyline retribution is at hand!
On Joey’s order, Randy followed Smitty to Jacob’s motel room and watched him enter – only to reluctantly leave the site when Hayley texted telling him to drop whatever he was doing and meet her. And he did it! He told Hayley he put a sub on Smitty, but he should know not to keep disobeying Joey. Ask Doug how that worked out. Anyway, Hayley was ready to celebrate – she poured champagne and told Randy that Vanessa accepting Lynette’s absence somehow put them in the clear. (How much champagne did she guzzle before coming up with that reasoning?) Soon, the cousins agreed, they would be able to live off of everything they’d be able to siphon out of Bill’s accounts. Though Hayley scoffed that Bill was “harder to kill than Thanos.” Ain’t that right! Bill’s taken more “Poison” than a Bell Biv Devoe maxi-single.
Later, Hayley returned to Bill’s office so tanked up that she referred to him as her “hexy susband.” Bill figured Hayley hadn’t been partaking alone, but got no answer as to who she had shared the bottle she was slurping from. He also noted that Hayley had been drinking more than usual and wondered if there was anything Hayley wanted to confide to him, thinking it might have something to do with Lynette. Hayley rolled her eyes and said she had just been celebrating user Lynette’s departure. While Hayley was pouring Bill a drink (which she’ll surely use her medicine dropper on), Bill got a text from P.I. Keegan that he was rechecking Lynette’s “transpo.” Bill looked upset…but why? Even Orphey Gene’s diner doesn’t cook up nothingburgers that big!
Briefly alone, Joey re-read his letter, in which the writer said they were suffocating – they had to go, and they didn’t want Joey tracking them down. Vanessa joined him and got him to admit that it was the anniversary of the day that his sister, Heather, had taken off. Joey went on that Heather had a strong personality like Vanessa’s and that he only let himself think about her on this yearly occasion. While Joey figured that Heather was fine wherever she was, Vanessa wondered if Joey had ever thought about at least using his resources to anonymously find out if Heather was all right. Joey considered the idea. Well, we know his sister can’t be Lia, because he just talked to her, and he looked all bummed out besides! The smart money says Heather is the character who will be played by Ashley Jones (ex-Bridget, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Megan, The Young and the Restless)…
Hustle hard
Nicole looked up from her laptop, not expecting to see Lia, who let Nicole know she was still looking into whoever hacked her. Could Nicole think of anyone who might have had access to her devices? Nicole remembered a conversation with Smitty about him missing her at the hospital, but she didn’t mention Smitty to Lia. Carlton came by, and the whole vibe between the three of them became extremely awkward. After Lia left, Nicole presumed that Lia must be “stressed out” about hospital security being compromised. Then, Carlton decided he wanted to take Nicole go-kart racing to distract her from it being her not-anniversary with Ted; he recalled that she and Dani had been fond of it when they were kids, which impressed her. Sounds like a keeper – too bad she’s more interested in Kial!
Carlton took Nicole to Uptown afterwards, with her laughing about how he had hydroplaned on the track. Nicole conceded that the adventure had helped take her mind off of what day it was, telling Carlton that she and Ted had talked and reached a place where they weren’t friends but weren’t enemies. Also, Nicole finked about how Ted had led Carlton astray in Maui so he could privately introduce himself to Nicole. Carlton mumbled that even then, Ted couldn’t handle competition. Like you can, Carlton? You’re the one who goes apoplectic whenever you see Kial with Nicole!
Kat and Tomás came in; when Kat was about to comment about her mom being with Carlton, Nicole winked, “Keep it cute, Katherine.” (You know it’s biz when you get referred to by your proper name.) While Tomás found them a table, Kat admitted that it made her heart smile to see Nicole with a man who looked at her the way Carlton did. Looks like Team Carlton is growing!
Let me take you on an escapade
Still limping from his stab wound, Grayson found the strength to grab Lia’s arm and drag her into a private spot to threaten to “blow [her] operation sky high” if she didn’t leave Ashley alone. Lia smirked that “our employers” had successfully sent their message by texting Grayson a photo of Ashley, making it clear they had Ashley under surveillance. Grayson called Lia a monster, but Lia said she was nothing compared to those above her. When Grayson hinted that he wanted out of the blood plasma ring, Lia declared that there was no getting out. Ever. Ish just got real at Garland, didn’t it!
Ashley had Naomi over to her apartment, sighing that she always chose men who lied to her. Naomi suggested that Grayson had been trying to protect her by keeping mum, but also exclaimed that it had been dangerous for Grayson to drag Ashley into the situation. Ashley fretted over someone finding out she had stolen meds from the hospital for him – and still thought that Smitty would have answers, since it was too coincidental that he had been Max’s emergency contact. Plus Max, like Grayson, had been stabbed. Just when Naomi grabbed her phone to call Smitty, Grayson showed up and frantically demanded that Ashley pack what she could – they were picking up his mom and all getting out of town tonight! Well, Ash…you did say you wanted to meet Mama Perez.
Grayson showed them the photo of Ashley he’d been sent; when Naomi backed Ashley’s refusal to leave with him, Grayson realized Naomi had been filled in. Naomi spat that Grayson was lucky Ashley hadn’t called the cops, prompting Grayson to counter that Naomi’s “dirty cop” husband was also up to his eyeballs in their illegal dealings. Ashley and Naomi’s expressions led Grayson to figure out that Jacob had been working undercover. Rut-ro.
Ashley told Grayson they were over unless he trusted her enough to tell her the full story. When he wouldn’t, she told him to escape on his own, since his bosses were only going after her to get to him. With Grayson gone, Naomi called Jacob and asked if he was investigating him. Jacob freaked to learn that Ashley had been tailed – especially because she had been with Naomi when photographed. Ashley left for her usual shift at Garland, but only after Jacob had Elon put security on her and Naomi. Smitty worried that Jacob’s cover had been blown, particularly after the missing Ren suddenly contacted “Rashad” and told him that there was a new assignment to be performed away from the hospital.
Smitty had learned that there were suddenly more blood donation trucks on the streets: either the syndicate was moving away from the hospital, or they were preparing for something big. Jacob didn’t want Smitty printing his story early because they’d lose their chance to nab The Impaler. Just then, there was a loud knock on the door – it was Grayson, who was angry that Jacob had played him. Jacob had been a detective all along! This was what you call a May Sweeps episode over here on the GATES!
Tune in tomorrow when Smitty gets a major break, Dani and Andre put their heads together, and Grayson does some dealing which may or may not be of a dirty nature.
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus.
Edited by Michael Maloney