Beyond the Gates Recap, April 8: The extended Dupree family lives the fashion life

Here's the Beyond the Gates recap for Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

What happened on Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, Samantha looked at social media posts about Chelsea's final fashion show. Smitty remarked that he was doing research about influencers for his investigative reporter gig. Samantha suggested in-person study in the form of taking her to the show; Smitty declined...until Kat and Chelsea came over saying Smitty had volunteered Samantha to help at the event. Samantha excitedly ran upstairs to find something to wear, while Martin came home to find his sister and cousin. Kat was pleasantly surprised to hear that Smitty was writing again. Chelsea also congratulated Smitty and wholeheartedly agreed to help him with his influencer piece.

Later, as Martin got ready for the show, Smitty continued his research, amazed by how much money flowed through the influencer world with no oversight; the reporter felt this left people open for exploitation. Martin voiced that he'd forgotten how hot Smitty was when he was on the trail and wondered why he'd discouraged his husband from going back to work. When Smitty smiled that he'd always found Martin attractive dressed for fundraisers, and that presidential campaigns had lots of them, Martin soured.

Martin told Smitty how his grandparents still weren't on board with him making a run at the presidency, which had given him pause. He treasured their moments as a family and wondered how much time they'd miss with Tyrell and Samantha by traveling all over the country campaigning. Smitty appreciated Martin opening up to him; Martin relayed he didn't want anything unspoken between them. Their conversation moved to the topic of Samantha dating, and Martin came to Smitty's side in the affirmative, recognizing how responsible their daughter was. They decided to give Samantha the good word after the fashion show.

Vernon grumbled over having to go to yet another fashion show; at the last one, he said, the models looked like they had been attacked by a herd of balloon animals. Anita knew that Chelsea had grounded Dani – as much as Dani could be grounded. The Duprees agreed that it must be hard for Dani to let Chelsea do her own thing, and Anita determined they would be there if Dani got too much in her feelings.

Nicole intuited that Chelsea's generosity in doing a last fashion show for Dani was to thank her mom for kicking off her career; Nicole also thought it wise that her niece hadn't invited Bill, who would have brought Hayley. When Ted joked about tiptoeing around Dani, Nicole sternly pointed out that Dani had to create a whole new identity for herself after losing Bill and her place managing Chelsea's career. Nicole was proud of her sister.

With the Richardsons having arrived, Vernon asked how they felt about Kat dating Tomás. Ted revealed he hadn't met Tomás yet, and Nicole was taking her cues from Kat because she didn't know if things were very serious between them. Nicole assured Ted that, when they'd seen Kat and Tomás together at the country club, Vernon had shot Tomás one of his special scowls reserved for men interested in his daughters and granddaughters. “I remember that scowl,” Ted recalled, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. “I do not scowl,” Vernon protested. “I inspect.”

The family concurred that Ted would have an easier time without Kat work than Dani would without Chelsea. Anita remembered the drama when Dani wanted to quit school to become a model – crying, screaming, tantrums...“and that was just me,” Vernon deadpanned. Anita deduced that perhaps the ordeal had had to happen so that Dani could show Chelsea grace today.

Dani gazed forlornly at a wall of Chelsea's magazine covers. Andre reminded Dani to stay focused on the positive and to think of the fashion show as a celebration of Dani's work with Chelsea, not as the end of life as Dani knew it. Andre regarded Chelsea's pictures and observed that everything in them was there because of what she had inherited from Dani. Though Dani knew Chelsea would be a success on her own, Dani admitted that she would miss her daughter.

Andre was startled when Dani announced that Kat and Chelsea were coming over to get ready in her studio; Dani confirmed that she hadn't told anyone about their “friendship” and advised Andre not to peer at her hungrily with her family there. Andre grinned, saying that he enjoyed being Dani's guilty pleasure. When the girls came in with Samantha, Andre brandished his camera, saying he was there to get behind-the-scenes snaps. As the stoked Samantha asked Chelsea if she was going to miss modeling and all that went with it, Dani hinted that maybe Chelsea should reconsider, but Chelsea replied that she had learned to listen to her gut when it was time to move on. Dani put on her best face and swore to be Chelsea and Kat's biggest fan.

Chelsea taught Samantha how to light for a livestream and then went online to talk about the fashion show and it being a benefit for The Dupree Heritage Foundation First-Gen Grant. Samantha couldn't believe how much went into all the proceedings and gawked over the fancy dresses Chelsea got to wear – but Chelsea knocked Samantha out by offering for her to try one on. Kat gave Samantha shoes to go with the gown Chelsea had selected and said they would be Samantha's stylists.

After Samantha walked out looking fabulous in Chelsea's dress, Chelsea told the teen that, on the runway, the focus was the clothes. She showed Samantha how to stand and pick a point on the wall to stare at, then encouraged the girl to work the catwalk. Samantha was self-conscious at first but warmed up into it, and Kat and Chelsea cheered vociferously.

A dolled-up Dani arrived at the country club and congratulated her organizers for making it look like New York Fashion Week. Dani caught up with her parents and thanked Vernon for coming, especially knowing how much he hated such events. The former senator did recognize a dress on a mannequin as the one Anita had worn during a Madison Square Garden performance. When the elder Duprees left to mingle, Nicole checked on Dani, who reported she was fine in that moment – but she couldn't give odds about tomorrow. Nicole promised to be there for Dani as long as it took until Dani was on solid ground.

Later, Nicole found Anita admiring her old dress; Anita smiled that Vernon would win the gown back for her in the auction. But, caressing its sleeve, Anita admitted that she did miss that time in her life “a little.”

Once Kat put Samantha to work livestreaming the show, Kat noticed the arrival of Tomás, who had wanted to surprise Kat by buying a ticket. Kat cautioned that she'd be backstage most of the event but agreed to spend time with Tomás afterward, which pleased him. Samantha couldn't stop raving to her relatives about how lit it had been hanging out with Kat and Chelsea, who hadn't at all treated the 16-year-old like a little kid. Smitty joked that Samantha would not be going into politics like Vernon and Martin had; Samantha remarked that influencers had more pull than politicians did, anyway. Smitty told Naomi not to let Martin hear her comment about only one-third of the population knowing who their congressman was.

Martin and Ted talked about Ted's upcoming anniversary party, then about how Martin and Smitty had arranged for Samantha to shadow Kat and Chelsea. Martin said kids that age needed times to feel special, especially given how brutal they could be to one another. Martin explained to his father how Tyrell had come home roughed up and how he and Smitty hadn't bought Tyrell's story of how it had happened. Martin was still ready to charge in and handle the situation, but Ted warned that doing so would make Tyrell think his dads didn't trust him enough to deal with his own problems. Martin was slightly tweaked at the unsolicited advice but agreed to give it some thought.

Nicole found Andre and thanked him for exhorting her to check in on Dani; Andre felt better knowing he hadn't overstepped. He explained that he and Dani had been working on getting the fashion show up and asked Nicole's opinion about how Dani seemed to be doing. Nicole offered that the real test would come when the event was over, and Dani was out of her element.

Anita assured Dani that Chelsea wasn't rejecting Dani personally. It was just time for Chelsea to move into something new — like when Dani had left home for New York. Dani remembered what a hell-raiser she had been and figured Anita hated her. Anita relayed that she had only been afraid for Dani, though her fear had been unfounded, since Dani had shown she could overcome any challenge.

Vernon recognized Tomás* who cheerfully introduced himself to the one-time lawmaker. Tomás suddenly found himself surrounded by Vernon, Ted, Martin, and Smitty, who wanted Tomás to tell them about himself; they collectively winced when Tomás revealed that he worked at Bill's firm. Tomás sensed the tension when Martin asked if he considered Bill a mentor; Tomás wouldn't deny that Bill was a good boss, but he nervously acknowledged the pain Bill had put Dani through. When Tomás assured the men of his respect for Kat, Ted said they weren't worried about Kat. They were worried about Tomás, Martin said wryly, with the generations quipping about what Kat had done to the last man who crossed her. Seeing Tomás being ganged up on, Kat quickly led him away, putting him to work on the livestream and sending Samantha to help out backstage.

Dani started the fashion show, calling everyone to their seats as Andre gave her a secret, supportive nod. She described how, so far, they had raised half a million dollars towards scholarships that would go to first-generation college students – and she publicly wished Chelsea luck on her new venture but didn't give away what it was. With that, outfits of all descriptions came down the runway – but the Duprees howled when Chelsea brought Samantha from backstage to take a turn of her own.

During the intermission, the show's organizers heaped praise on Samantha; Smitty and Martin were also extremely proud. Samantha marveled that Kat had thrown her onstage so fast, she hadn't had time to be nervous; Kat replied that she had improvised, having seen how the teen had picked up on the moves Chelsea had taught her. Samantha declared right then and there that she wanted to be a model and asked Dani for pointers; Martin and Smitty tried to slow their daughter down.

For the finale, Dani revealed that Chelsea would be wearing a Silas Riker dress – and that it would be accessorized by a purse the model had designed herself. Chelsea slinked down the catwalk, retrieved her creation from its stand, and proudly displayed her handbag to all in attendance. Afterwards, Chelsea invited Dani to join her on stage and credited her “momager” with putting the whole event together. Chelsea added that, without everything Dani had shown her about work and life, she wouldn't be able to tackle the next challenge of her design business. Andre snapped photos and looked on proudly.

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