Beyond the Gates Recap Dec 2: Dani and Bill bond

In the Beyond the Gates recap for the episode on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, Hayley questions Randy’s existence, Andre gets unsolicited marriage advice, Bill and Dani bond, and Derek confides in Jacob.

Beyond the Gates Recap

​​On Beyond the Gates, Derek had drinks with Jacob at Uptown. He saw his coworkers across the pub, including Cheryl, who was sprinkling innuendoes about them kissing into the conversation when he went to say hi. Derek went back to his booth with Jacob and told him about Ashley going to Andre the moment they took their rings off.

Jacob tried to be encouraging about Derek and Ashley having an honest conversation, but Derek said it didn’t matter now, as he and Ashley were over. He told Jacob that he and Cheryl had made out in Ashley’s apartment and it could’ve gone further, but he stopped it. 

Jacob asked if he was interested in Cheryl. Derek didn’t think he was ready, but Jacob warned him not to get involved with a coworker. Jacob told Derke that he should focus on getting back to his job, and there was plenty of time for hooking up with someone later. 

Cheryl came over with a round of drinks for Derek and Jacob. She was saucy with Jacob, teasing him about battling in a game against the police department one day. After she walked away, Jacob told Derek he could understand her appeal but Derek was now all about getting his job back. He didn’t like it that someone else was doing his job, and he felt left out.

Jacob knew the solution: he told Derek they should go sit with his other family and went to join his coworkers. Cheryl happily pulled up a chair for Derek next to her as Jacob went to get them a round of drinks on Derek’s tab.

Meanwhile, Ashley was at home, feeling sorry for herself and keeping company with a bottle of Tide and her laundry. Jan came over, gushing about Winterfest and how she wanted her to be her plus one. Jan realized that Ashley was crying and asked why. Ashley told her about her conversation with Derek at the hospital.

Ashley was frustrated when Jan pushed back at her for lying and for being with Derek when she had feelings for Andre. Ashley got upset and blurted out that she had gotten back together with Derek because she felt sorry for him.  Jan advised Ashley to forgive herself for her own mistakes, and to learn from them. 

Hayley met with Randy at the country club gym cafe and asked him why the poison was taking so long. She thought at the pace it was working, Bill would die of old age. Randy reminded her that she had to make it look natural and wondered why she was so anxious. Hayley said that Bill was too close to Dani, and she wanted her payout.

Hayley got cheeky with Randy, noting that he left his drinks uncovered around her. Randy reminded her she couldn’t afford to get rid of her as he was her source, and none of her cons would have happened without his help. Hayley insisted that she was the brains behind the operation. Randy didn’t think that Dani was that much of an issue, but Hayley told him she’d find a way to keep her husband away from his ex.

After Randy left, Andre walked by, but Hayley stopped him. She told him that her husband and his wife were probably together as they spoke. Andre said he was more secure in his marriage than she was. Hayley said she just realized he was her ten months ago, and he was saying all the same things she used to say to Dani. 

Andre said if Bill’s eyes were wandering again, she should step her game up. Hayley assured him she had a game plan, but said it was all for nothing if he didn’t do the same. She advised him to look at it objectively, and he’d see what she did.

Upstairs in the dining room, Dani told her daughters that she and Andre were in love and asked if they were in support of her marriage. They told her that they were and thought the two of them were a good match. Dani spotted Bill in the lobby and went to see why he was hiding. Bill said he was waiting on Hayley, who he knew wasn’t welcome at their table, so he didn’t want to be there when she arrived.

Dani went back to Chelsea and Naomi and heard about their Thanksgiving celebrations. Then Dani told them about her cooking skills on the holiday. As they teased her about keeping her away from open flames, Bill joined the table, and joined in on the teasing. 

Bill said that they had an experience in their marriage when Dani almost burned a hotel to the ground when cooking. Dani took over telling the story, but Bill interjected, telling his version as well. Along with flashbacks, they recounted the entire evening. Chelsea and Naomi watched awkwardly as their parents fondly recalled a night in a hotel room, while talking about how Dani left a marshmallow over a flame too long, causing it to catch fire.

Chelsea and Naomi sat speechless as Dani and Bill caught each others’ eye, and Bill dropped hints that he was attracted to Dani. The girls bolted to the bar to order drinks, leaving Dani and Bill alone. At the bar, Chelsea and Naomi thought their parents were acting like they used to before Hayley came along. 

Chelsea admitted she had wished they would get back together. Naomi didn’t entirely agree but knew where she was coming from. Naomi said there were still issues before Hayley, but seeing Bill and Dani together when they clicked made her think about it as well.

Chelsea and Naomi returned to their parents and all were laughing when Andre walked in. Dani happily greeted him as Hayley walked in as well. Dani suggested that Bill join her, but he sat there glowering and watching as Andre kissed Dani.

Chelsea and Naomi went downstairs to the cafe to discuss what they had just witnessed. They could see that something was drawing their parents together, no matter how happy they were with other people. Naomi suggested that Hayley could think of osmeting to keep their dad away from their mom. “Maybe something permanent,” Chelsea agreed. 

At her table, Hayley texted Randy to hurry up her order. Across the room, Dani and Andre made chit chat about his work, but Dani kept watching Bill and Hayley at their table. A waiter brought over a burnt marshmallow under a silver dome on a plate. He laughed and pointed at Dani at their private joke. Dani told Andre about the story behind it, as Hayley ignored it and kissed Bill.

Andre told Dani that she was playing into Bill’s hands by doing nostalgic things like that. Dani agreed that the marshmallow represented their relationship. It was scorched and sticky, and no one wanted it, including her. Bill grimaced across the room as Hayley noted his reaction to Dani and Andre kissing.

Beyond the Gates Recap Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025