Beyond The Gates Updates
Update written by Suzanne
Martin naps on the couch, having a nightmare. Smitty wakes him up, so he jerks awake, sweating.
Anita looks out the window. Vernon comes in, wondering what she’s thinking so hard about. She was remembering their early days of marriage, when times were simpler. They thought they could change the world. It’s much harder to deal with the problems that arise from having children and grandchildren. Anita concludes, “They hurt, we bleed.” She vents that she could kill Bill with her bare hands. Vernon says they don’t have a choice on how to go forward. Martin must be protected. She laments that Dani will pay the price – again.
Meanwhile, Dani threatens Bill with his golf club, so he tells the others to leave and close the door. He wants to know what she wants and if she feels better, having gotten that out of her system. She says that she doesn’t yet, but then she slaps him, hard.
In Nicole’s office, Ted praises Kat’s marketing skills. Her ideas have increased his bookings by 10% (he’s a plastic surgeon). Andre is impressed and notes that her talents will take her far in life. Nicole asks him where he’s shooting the video bio. He replies that he’ll shoot tin her office, and also on Ted’s grounds. He jokingly asks Ted if he’s camera shy. Ted says that he’s not and he’ll be there to support his beautiful wife, who’s getting an award. Ted and Nicole hold each other in their arms. Kat and Andre agree that the couple should talk about how they met and the rest of their story. Ted praises Andre and says that it’s good to see him. Andre points out that they all saved him. He thanks them, saying he can never repay them. He and Ted hug warmly.
Naomi and Chelsea watch one of Chelsea’s social media videos and talk about it. Naomi doesn’t know how Chelsea can live such a public life – always being judged. It doesn’t bother Chelsea. She tells her sister about the purse line that she and Kat are working on. Naomi thinks it sounds great but wonders how their mom, Dani, will feel. Chelsea hasn’t told Dani yet about her plans, or that she’s quitting modeling.
Bill picks up chairs, making fun of Dani for threatening him and slapping him. She says that beating him to death would be fun, but she demands answers. How dare he move his whore into her community, she asks. He bristles at that, saying that Hayley is no whore. They like it there in Fairmont Crest. He sold his house and has been living in a suite at the Ritz. She suggests, exasperated, that he find another house, outside of their community. He says that it’s the best address in Maryland. She reminds him that it was marrying her, and getting help from her family, that moved him into their community in the first place, and it was her father’s connections that jump-started his career. He laughs derisively, telling her to get over herself. He states that he would have gotten to the same place, with or without their help. They didn’t make him; he made himself and brought her along for the ride. She looks at him like he’s crazy.
Leslie, AKA Dana, sits with Jan and Mona at the diner, Orphy Gene’s. Jan notices that Leslie seems down. She says that the guy sitting nearby reminds her of her late husband, Alan. They know she lost him not too long ago, but she’s still processing her grief. Leslie brightens up and asks to hear about the rich folks gossip. Mona tells her about Dani punching Hayley, and also about how Vanessa saw her throw the coffee cups. She asks Mona for more, but Mona says that things go smoothly at Ted and Nicole’s. They are in love. Leslie admires Nicole, so Mona says that Nicole is amazing and inspirational.
Andre recalls his first year after the plane crash that killed his parents, Stan and Ira (I guess Ira is a girl’s name here). Nicole tells him that she and Ted haven’t flown together since. Andre hates to think how his life would’ve turned out if not for them and Martin. Kat hugs him. They’re happy to have him home. Kat wants to take his photo, but he won’t let her. He doesn’t want to be on social media. He takes a photo of the three of them, instead.
Naomi advises Chelsea that both she and Dani are adults, so she can do what she wants and not have to worry about Dani. Chelsea just wants to do her own thing. Naomi can relate because she moved away, married Jacob and opened her own firm. Dani also did that she was young, ignoring her parents’ wishes. Chelsea feels that Dani is very fragile right now and that being her manager is all she has. Naomi reminds her of when they were younger, always waiting to see what mood Dani was in. They still do that, and she thinks Chelsea should move out, to get away from all that. Chelsea feels guilty, but Phoebe tells her that there’s only one life, and that Dani is a survivor. It’s not easy, but she has to create a distance of her own.
Dani and Bill argue. He says that his marrying Hayley is not about her. He fell in love. She knew he was unfaithful, but she ignored it, to keep the family together. He says that he can’t do this with her. He says that people change and move on. He postulates that maybe one day, she can wish he and Hayley well. She replies, “Never.” and hopes that he has a long life of misery. She would put a curse on him if she could, and she calls him a selfish, heartless bastard. He warns her never to touch Hayley again. She storms out of his office, but Hayley is outside, so she figures she must have heard everything. She sneers at Hayley that she’s not special and warns her that “Past is prologue.” Once she gets in the elevator, Dani breaks down, crying.
Vanessa is in a bar called Upswing (at the country club?). She’s sitting in a booth, wearing sunglasses and a scarf, like she’s in disguise. A handsome man comes in and takes the other seat. He flirts with her and grabs her knee under the table, which she enjoys. Dani arrives, orders a drink and wonders what’s going on. She can tell that this is not Vanessa’s husband, Doug.
Doug is sitting in his car when a man named Randy Parker gets in. Doug hands him some kind of paper or packet. They shake hands, and Randy leaves.
Kat lets Andre know that she’ll bet at the photo shoot tomorrow. He agrees that she can be his assistant. She warns that things will be tense between Dani and Chelsea. She asks him how he’s doing, so he tells her that he’s been photographing a new resort in Bali. They laugh about how tough that must have been. She feels bad that he lost his parents in a horrible accident, even though it was 10 years ago. She admires that he lives his life on his own terms. He reminds her that he lives off his parents’ inheritance, which makes him feel uncomfortable, but she thinks it balances out, since he gives so much to charity. He asks what she’s been to and whether she has anyone. She shares that she’s been working a lot and has no time for romance. She’s been learning about business. She declares that she and Chelsea will do big things, but she swears him to secrecy for now. He agrees, and they do a brother-sister type of secret handshake, which is cute.
Anita and Vernon look at a photo of Dani as a baby. It kills them that they have to add to her pain, as well as give in to Bill and help Hayley. Vernon suggests that they call his bluff, but Anita doesn’t want to gamble with Martin’s future. Vernon tells her that she’s not telling Martin about any of this, and she agrees. She notes that they’ve never spoke about “that night,” and he adds that it’s for good reason. They don’t admit their choices, so they’ll move forward as planned. Then they hug.
Mona leaves her friends at Orphy Gene’s to go back to work. She complains about having too much work and overtime. Leslie points out that she’ll be glad to get that in her paycheck. She has missed Mona at choir practice.
Smitty tells Martin that he thinks he should talk to someone about the nightmares he’s been having. Martin doesn’t react well to that suggestion. Martin gets a text about a sudden family meeting with his grandparents, so he has to leave.
Naomi and Chelsea hug. Chelsea decides that she’ll wait until after the wedding, and Dani’s feeling better, to tell her the news. They both the text, too.
Nicole, Ted and the rest also get the text. Nicole hopes that Dani didn’t do something she shouldn’t.
Vanessa tells Dani that she hired the guy for some role-playing. She’s Incognito Taylor and he’s her biggest fan. Dani looks shocked, so Vanessa laughs and says that she’s joking. She introduces the guy to Dani as Zeke from her office. She thanks him for dropping off her keys, and he leaves. Dani notes that role-playing with him might not be such a bad idea. She tells Vanessa about her visit with Bill (leaving out the golf club and the slap). Dani vents to Vanessa that she can’t reach the man that she was married to for her over 30 years. It just makes her hurt and more angry. She’s decided to go to Paris after Chelsea’s photo shoot tomorrow. Vanessa thinks that’s a great idea. Dani gets the text. She says that if Bill has done one more thing to disrespect her, she can’t be held responsible for her reaction. She leaves.
Mona gets a bracelet from Laura as a thank-you for her previous advice. Nicole walks in and admires it. Laura tells Nicole that the smaller country club room is available for both nights. Nicole just has to choose which night. She tells them both to take off early. When Laura brings up Maui again, Nicole mentions that she met Ted at a medical conference there.
Naomi spills her guts to Chelsea about how angry she is at their dad. She despises him for the affairs and the way he treated their mom. She no longer feels any love toward him. Chelsea is shocked by what she said because they used to be so close. Nicole declares, “Never again,” saying that she has no father.
Bill and Hayley pick up debris in his office, including a photo of them (now the glass is cracked). She’s sad that they both lost their relationship with Naomi. She misses her. She hopes that she’s worth his losses. He agrees that she is worth it. He was going through the motions before meeting her. She jump-started his heart. He tells her that he’ll never regret being with her, and he kisses her.
Naomi plays piano and sings a little, at her grandparents’ place. Chelsea is on her phone nearby, on her live social media feed. She tries to take a video of Naomi, but Naomi waves her off. Nicole and the rest of her family arrive. Kat suggests to Chelsea that she’s eating too much meat (before the photo shoot tomorrow). She apologizes for acting like Dani and urges Chelsea to eat it, quick, before Dani arrives. It’s too late because Dani arrives and takes the plate away from Chelsea. Chelsea seems used to this, so she doesn’t even resist. Dani fixes her a plate of vegetables instead. Naomi suggests to Dani that she let Chelsea live her own life, but Dani doesn’t want to hear what she says. She says that eating healthy food is just as easy as eating junk food. Martins asks Nicole quietly how he can help. Nicole says that Dani needs someone to listen to her. Vernon and Anita arrive.
They tell their family that there’s been a change of plans, and they won’t like. Dani tells them, first, that she’s going to Paris tomorrow, but Vernon says that won’t do because they need everyone there to go to the wedding as a family. Dani, shocked, says, “No!”
Laura tells someone on the phone that Nicole likes option #3 for the Lynch brunch menu. She heads out from the office, alone.
Anita reminds them all that they’re Duprees – they don’t cower or hide. She says, “If Bill has the nerve to marry that heifer in our community, then he’ll do it looking at their pissed-off faces.” Vernon says that it’s not just their family; he needs to get people from the community to turn out for it, too. Dani can’t believe they want her to support her ex, who’s marrying again. Martin says he’s all in for making Bill and Hayley as uncomfortable as possible. Dani refuses, but Anita tells her that she needs to be there. Naomi also likes the idea. Dani storms off. Vernon follows her and asks her to attend, saying that he has a good reason that he can’t tell her. He asks her to trust him. She agrees, reluctantly. He kisses her on the forehead and thanks her. Vernon goes back and tells Anita that Dani feels betrayed all over again. Anita assures him that they’ll make it right.
Later, Naomi and Chelsea ask Dani if she’s okay. They don’t understand what’s going on. Dani figures that Bill got to her parents somehow. They think of ways that they could ruin the wedding and sympathize with Dani’s feelings. They tell her, “We got you,” and they all huge.
Laura drives home, but someone behind her comes up, fast, with their brights on, and she’s run off the road. Leslie arrives at home, all dressed in a black motorcycle outfit. She smiles after taking off the helmet.
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