Beyond the Gates Recap for December 24, 2025: Vernon never can say goodbye for Christmas

Here's what went down Wednesday, December 24, 2025 on Beyond the Gates when Eva and Izaiah straddled nice and naughty lists, Shanice said “Bah!” to Ted's “Humbug!”, and Nicole and Dani got egg on their faces instead of eggnog.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, Dani and Andre exchanged Christmas gifts – not knowing it, they had each gotten each other snow globes from Las Vegas. They laughed that it was appropriate, since Sin City had been where their relationship had taken a turn into something real – and they celebrated having their first Christmas together as a married couple.

Eva and Leslie said that, the previous Christmas, neither of them could have envisioned spending this one sipping tea in a country club. The Thomas women were glad that Peaches seemed to be doing better as she opened presents, and they looked forward to sharing their rom-com movie marathon. Eva gave Leslie a plaque that read “La belle château de Thomas” to mount on the front of her house when it was finished, and Leslie surprised Eva with a pair of genuine diamond earrings. When Leslie thanked Eva for forgiving her and being a better daughter than she had been a mother, Eva found that a gift more precious than the diamonds.

Leslie couldn't help noticing how Eva lit up when she received a text from Izaiah. Eva was determined to continue her holiday celebration with her mom, but Leslie piped up, “Girl, go see that young man.” Eva wondered if Leslie would end up going to visit Marcel, but Leslie replied that all they had done was converse. She had no plans regarding him.

At Uptown, Eva met with Izaiah, who lamented that, once again, he had been the problem child at his family's holiday celebration. Izaiah was still grateful that Eva had talked him into reaching out to his fellow Hawthornes, since at least his mother had been glad he had been there. Eva and Izaiah were very complimentary of each other and began flirting heavily, with Eva cooing that she could show Izaiah where she'd hung her stocking with care.

Eva brought Izaiah to her apartment and showed him her actual stocking. Izaiah said that Eva had the face of an angel and wondered what she was doing with a bad boy like him. Eva likened him to candy – hard on the outside but gooey and tasty on the inside. Izaiah had her sit on his lap à la Santa and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Eva slid Izaiah's jacket off, and the two kissed passionately.

Naomi and Chelsea sat down at the country club, just having come from Bill's house. The sisters complained that Hayley had tried too hard with the holiday meal, which had made them feel sick. They sipped peppermint milkshakes to ease their stomachs, with Chelsea happy they were done “humoring the ho ho ho.”

Ted was shocked when Kat stopped by his hotel room with his favorite pizza, knowing that he'd be watching football. Seeing that her father was limited to a version of Scrooge owing to choppy WiFi, Kat made a reference to Scrooge that made Ted feel like he was being accused of something – but Kat pivoted by saying she missed him. Ted acknowledged that he had been thinking about how he, Kat, Martin, and Nicole and still been a family the previous Christmas. Kat and Ted both wondered where they might be the following holiday, and Kat moved on to the Duprees' celebration, winking to Ted that she was his favorite daughter.

Next, Leslie arrived on Ted's door with a sprig of mistletoe. Ted felt that it was enough of a blessing that they had emerged from the year's events as friends; Leslie conceded the point and left, kissing “Teddy bear” on the cheek on her way out. In the hallway, Leslie saw Shanice getting off the elevator and heading to Ted's room. “When did that heifer start making house calls?” Leslie griped to herself.

Shanice brought Ted a homemade pie from a batch she reserved for friends. Ted asked if that's what they were; Shanice doffed her coat and showed off a flattering dress, saying “For now.” They sat down to watch Scrooge, enjoying their pie and pizza together.

Anita futzed with her Christmas decorations, insisting that everything had to be unforgettable. She had anticipated where each family member would be sitting and what they'd be doing, catching herself breezily saying “Life is short!” Vernon listened as Anita said she wanted to revisit every moment of their Christmas celebration during her upcoming cancer fight, telling his wife that “next year will be even better.”

Sharon and Tracy arrived at the Dupree manse, remembering what it was like to be on tour with Anita during the holidays. Anita informed her friends that she had chosen not to tell anyone else but them and Vernon about her diagnosis until after Christmas; Tracy and Sharon honored Anita's request, though Tracy furrowed a brow when she saw Sharon exchanging a look with Vernon.

Nicole, who had just come from dropping off gifts for the country club staff to thank them for their help with WinterFest, joined her parents and the Articulettes, making cold and cryptic comments directed at Sharon. As Vernon later shared a private moment with Sharon, Nicole asked Anita to tell her more about her friend.

The bulk of the family finally amassed at the Dupree home, with several members having discussions. Vernon brought out a box and smirked that he knew Anita had suddenly been “hunting for the vacuum cleaner” in recent days, looking for her present. Anita was moved to receive the photo of her first meeting with Vernon that Andre had restored. As relatives championed the patriarch and matriarch for making all of them possible, Anita didn't think anything could top the memento. Vernon looked very pleased with himself.

More gifts were exchanged: Chelsea and Kat gave Anita a purse from their line which had been named after her, and the elder Duprees were shocked to receive from Nicole a trip to anywhere in the world they wanted to go. Both Vernon and Anita knowingly expressed gratitude for having something to look forward to.

Nicole couldn't stand it anymore and took Dani aside, declaring that they had to tell Anita that moment that Vernon was cheating on her with Sharon. Dani didn't want to ruin Christmas, but Nicole recalled what it was like to be blindsided with betrayal – as did Dani – and felt it would be better with the family there to help Anita. As Dani continued to object, Anita happened upon her daughters and wondered what they were talking about. Nicole and Dani tried to prepare Anita...there was something about “Daddy” that she needed to know...

...when suddenly a voice boomed from the foyer singing “Joy to the World” – it was Vernon! Anita couldn't believe that her husband, whose forté had never been singing, was leading her family in a carol. Everyone joined in; afterwards, Vernon announced that he had had professional help – and Sharon gently waved. Hearing that Vernon had been sneaking away for months and had engaged in some subterfuge to keep his voice lessons with Sharon a secret, Dani and Nicole became sheepish and realized they had worried for nothing.

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Vernon then prepared everyone for his next song, which he deemed “important and necessary.” He proceeded to perform “Never Can Say Goodbye” (the song, made famous by the Jackson 5 and Gloria Gaynor, was written by portrayer Clifton Davis in 1970) – and both Vernon and Anita found new meaning in the lyrics given Anita's diagnosis.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus. The show will not air tomorrow, Thursday, December 25, and will feature a repeat episode for Friday, December 26. New episodes will resume Monday, December 29.

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