Beyond the Gates' Jason Vendryes makes first appearance in Fairmont Crest

On Beyond the Gates, while we were busily watching Jan and Leslie fight over motherhood, Martin and Vernon watched it go down, but someone was watching them, too.

Orphey Gene’s, where it all happens on Beyond the Gates

Orphey Gene’s, the scene of several bits of drama today, was also the setting of a much-anticipated new character's arrival. Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) arrived to get her fave cornbread and noticed that her friend, Jan Morgan (Jerri Tubbs), was sitting at the counter. It didn't take long for Leslie to realize that there was no friendship remaining after the lies surrounding her purpose in Fairmont Crest, and that Jan and Leslie shared nothing in common with raising a daughter.

It was then that viewers noticed that a man sitting at the window counter was turning his head to scan the room and listen. At another booth, Congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) greeted his grandfather, Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis). They sat and talked about Martin's dreams, or rather nightmares, which have been coming back more regularly and with more intensity.

Before, Martin would just get visions of a car scene at night, voices, arguing, then sounds of violence. Now he can make sense of one of the voices and hears it say, “Let's see the color of your money.” These nightmares and this dark secret that Martin carries are part of the reason he has decided not to pursue his lofty ambitions of running for president.

As the voices grow louder at the table with Leslie and Jan, the mystery man is undeterred from his perch and focuses on Martin and Vernon. We don’t know his name yet, but the character is played by actor Jason Vendryes. All we know about this man's agenda is that he is there to watch Martin and Vernon, and we cannot deny the strong possibility that it has everything to do with the night that Martin recalls in his nightmares. The storyline involving this secret has been a slow burn on Beyond the Gates, and little bits get teased every now and again. But, it looks like we are set to ramp up the pace a little now that Vendryes has arrived in Fairmont Crest.

What do we know about Jason Vendryes’ character?

Well, we don’t know much. But we do know that the night Martin remembers in his nightmares is violent. And, it’s something so bad that if revealed, it could fracture the Duprees beyond repair, and put Martin in no position to become the first openly gay black President. We also know that fixer extraordinaire Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durett) is involved with the cover-up and burial of the scandal — hopefully not of an actual person.

At Bill and Hayley's wedding, Bill made a veiled threat to Martin about not shutting him out, as Martin needed him. Bill had used the word “overkill,” which brought terror to Martin's face. Bill also told Smitty (Mike Manning) that he had better remind his husband, Martin, that they were on the same team and not forget that favors make the world go ‘round.

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So there we have it, a quick catch-up on the story we believe intrigues our mystery man. Today, Vendryes' character was carefully observing, and then left to follow Martin and Vernon as they exited Orphey Gene’s. He could be either a reporter following up on the incident of that night, or perhaps the victim was known to him — or was him. Either way, tread carefully, Martin, you're on his radar now.

Catch Jason Vendryes in full episodes of Beyond the Gates weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.

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