Beyond the Gates Recap, August 25, 2025: Chelsea identified her captor while receiving unusual coping advice

Here's what went down Monday, August 25, 2025 on Beyond the Gates when Samantha had her eye on a boy, antagonists worked together, and Chelsea was a vision in a non-physical way.

What happened on Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, Madison left a message on Chelsea's voicemail, letting her know that she and her family were beginning to get worried. Hanging up, the neurologist told the Duprees that her nervous but excited girlfriend would not be so late for her own launch. Kat couldn't reach Chelsea, either; Vernon concluded that Chelsea was either on a call or had gotten a flat. Anita found a fresh social media post from Chelsea, but it had been scheduled, not live. Various family members began putting out feelers as to Chelsea's whereabouts.

Naomi called Jacob, who arrived at the Dupree mansion and announced that he had filed a missing person's report in Maryland and other states, as there was no waiting period to do so. Dani informed Jacob that she had arranged for George, head of Fairmont Crest security, to pull the gate's surveillance tapes for him. While Dani cheerfully encouraged Madison to relax, she worriedly told Vernon that Chelsea had never been late for a call when she was a model. Dani received a text from Bill, who himself was concerned that Chelsea hadn't arrived for her big night.

Kat and Jacob separately descended on the guest house; Chelsea was nowhere in sight, and Kat noted that Chelsea's car was still parked outside. Jacob found Chelsea's phone, which Kat exclaimed Chelsea would never leave behind, because her cousin and the device had “a long-term, committed codependent relationship.” As Jacob summoned a forensics expert, Kat called the family with the new information; Jacob added that the FBI and a K-9 unit were being brought in as well. Madison wondered if Kat could get into Chelsea's phone – she could. Dani took her call from Bill and notified her confused ex that Chelsea was gone. “Our baby's gone,” Dani repeated, beginning to cry.

Anita realized that, because of Chelsea's social media presence, there had to have been someone who could help them find her. Dani took the opposite view and posited that there were two million suspects. Madison cut in and declared that she was sure Allison had kidnapped Chelsea. Dani remembered Allison as being the woman Chelsea had credited with helping her to realize she wanted a real relationship and couldn't make sense of Allison kidnapping Chelsea when Allison had ended things. Madison felt Allison wasn't the same person whom Chelsea had been involved with.

Madison explained how Allison had begun tailing Chelsea and then played on her sympathies by claiming she fell, only to pivot and say her husband beat her. According to Madison, Allison had been playing games and had gotten hostile when Chelsea wouldn't play along; Madison didn't put Allison getting physical past her. Nicole had to admit that, from Madison's descriptions, Allison seemed the type. Bill entered, and Dani fell into his arms as Naomi watched. “I want you to do what you do,” Dani instructed Bill, who was willing as long as he could work with no “handcuffs.” The ex-Mrs. Hamilton assented and implored Mr. Hamilton to bring their girl home.

Jacob got permission from his department to tap into Chelsea's phone; Kat gave him the password. The detective found nothing unusual in the device or any signs of struggle in the guest house. He was ready to send Kat away so that he and the other professionals could proceed in their investigation, but Kat begged to stay so she could help find her beloved cousin. Jacob agreed since Kat also lived there and could sense anything out of place. Kat found Chelsea's hairbrush where it didn't belong, and Jacob soon discovered subtle traces that indicated someone had been dragged out the door.

Kat surmised that a smaller person must have taken Chelsea, since a bigger one would have carried Chelsea instead of dragging her. Jacob and Kat disagreed about turning Chelsea's phone over to the FBI, but Kat realized that everything about the launch was synced to her own tablet. Kat shared Chelsea's social media passwords with the Duprees and Madison, who all began scouring Chelsea's followers and reporting suspicious ones to the police; Madison, in particular, searched for anyone who sounded like they could be Allison using a different name.

At the country club, Martin was proud of Samantha, who was doing her first turn as brand ambassador at the ChelseaKat launch. Samantha was jazzed that half of her class and many in the fashion world had come to the event. “Model mode has been activated,” the teen said confidently. When Martin wondered why Kat and Chelsea weren't in attendance yet, Samantha opined that former supermodel Chelsea was likely still getting her lashes done to look flawless.

Samantha was bummed her whole family couldn't be at the country club with her, but she was glad to get some alone time with Martin – and glad he had moved back into the condo. Martin reminded her that his cohabitation didn't mean there had been a reconciliation with Smitty, though he remained hopeful. “You're seriously testing my mascara,” Samantha smiled when Martin said that she, Smitty, and Tyrell were his life.

Martin casually noted a young man who had been shadowing Samantha; she became quiet. The congressman pointed out that she had finally been allowed to date as long as she was transparent. Samantha said the boy's name was Nathan, but he hadn't asked her out – yet. Then Martin got a text from Nicole that Chelsea was officially a missing person; he sidestepped Samantha's concern and told his perplexed daughter that she was vulnerable now that she was out in the real world. “There are dangers everywhere,” he cautioned after Samantha insisted that he couldn't keep her from growing up.

Nicole called Martin, who passed along Kat's idea for Martin to get up in front of those assembled and call off the launch – telling them the truth about Chelsea's disappearance and requesting that they all use their own social media accounts to put out the word.

Vernon and Bill worked together to arrange a press conference, where Bill and Dani would announce a reward to anyone who could aid in locating their daughter. Dani planned to recruit Andre to live stream the presser and told Nicole that Anita had reached out to Sharon and Tracy to put all Articulettes fans on alert. Jacob apprised everyone that the address Allison had given to the hospital was bogus; Madison wailed that they had to find Allison, because that would lead them to Chelsea. Suddenly, Kat's tablet pinged, and she saw a DM meant for Chelsea from an “Edie,” a “number one fan” who was coming for her.

Madison and Jacob were in agreement that the message could have been from a disguised Allison; the timing was too coincidental. Naomi found it suspect that “Edie” would leave a trail for the police, and Kat saw that “Edie”'s account was relatively new; Kat reasoned that Chelsea's most dedicated fans would have been following her for years. Madison continued to be adamant that Chelsea would be with Allison. Jacob began searching for a real address while Vernon prepared to go to someone he knew at the FBI.

Chelsea woke up to find herself shackled to a bed. She called out for help and reached for a phone resting on a dresser, but the tether wasn't long enough for her to get to it. The designer began panicking, then had a vision of arriving at the club with the awareness that she'd been kidnapped; “Dani” assured her that the family was looking for her. “Dani” advised Chelsea to use her modeling skills to gain her freedom: be who her abductor wanted and tap into their fantasy to find a loophole. Chelsea flailed that she didn't even know who had taken her. “Don't you?” asked “Dani.” “Work your angles,” her mother's illusion added.

While searching the room as far as she could reach for anything that could help her, Chelsea heard movement from the other room and called out for Allison – who appeared, very happy that Chelsea had known she was there; it signified they were meant to be together. Allison ducked out, after which Chelsea went back into her vision and saw herself chained to a table in the country club banquet room. “Kat” sauntered in and snarked that Chelsea should know how to pick a lock, since she was into handcuffs.

“Kat” softened and told Chelsea that she had more power than she thought, as captors usually underestimated their victims. “What does she know that you need to know?” the fantasy “Kat” exhorted Chelsea to explore. Back in reality, Allison returned and remarked that most people didn't know how smart Chelsea was. Chelsea took exception to her captivity and to being forced to miss her launch; Allison had no intention of hurting Chelsea, but observed that Van Gogh sold more paintings dead than alive.

Allison promised she wasn't going to “unalive” Chelsea and wondered where her carefree spirit had gone. The kidnapper recalled how Chelsea had admitted that Allison had made her feel again. Chelsea retorted that they hadn't been “some great love story” – they had taken part in a three-way hookup, and Allison had rejected Chelsea's further intentions to stay with her husband. “Stop saying mean things!” Allison yelled when Chelsea spat that it wasn't her fault Craig had turned into “an abusive prick.”

Remembering the advice from her visions, Chelsea apologized to Allison and confessed that she had felt something for her – but what they'd had ended up not being something real. Allison felt otherwise and had no doubt that Chelsea would forget about Madison when she was apart from her long enough. “It's gonna be really fun making you love me again,” Allison beamed as Chelsea sat stoically.

Chelsea was positive her family would find her. Allison begged to differ – not only were there millions of suspects in the form of Chelsea's followers, but Allison had invented a fake fan, “Edie,” who had become obsessed. Chelsea insisted that phones could be traced; Allison vowed that, by the time anybody found their current location, they would be long gone – and in a place only Allison knew. Allison ordered Chelsea to get some rest – something she would need for what was coming. Chelsea returned to her vision and saw “Bill,” running to him and telling her about her involvement with Madison.

“Bill” didn't react at first, but eventually said that she didn't need to hide herself – except from the woman who had captured her. He needed Chelsea to buy him some time by playing nice with Allison and getting into her head. Chelsea realized she needed to pile on the “Bill Hamilton charm” and let Bill guide her through a series of boxing moves, which in real life would be a series of acts meant to keep Allison off center.

Allison had gotten all of Chelsea's favorite dishes from Uptown and prided herself on knowing everything about her. It dawned on Chelsea, from Allison divulging that she had been following Chelsea online, that their first meeting hadn't been random. “I'm your biggest fan,” Allison boasted. As Allison went over Chelsea's likes and dislikes, Chelsea retreated into her vision and found “Anita,” who reminded Chelsea that her abduction wasn't because of her fame – it was because Allison was broken.

“Anita” exhorted Chelsea to listen to everything Allison had to say because there might be clues within her words. “No one takes a Dupree,” the fantasy matriarch proclaimed as she upheld that the dynasty would be using every resource to find Chelsea. Coming back, Chelsea objected to Allison's flex that she knew her better than anyone, and averred that there were things about their time together that she hadn't posted about. When Allison countered that she had paid attention to everything, Chelsea blurted out, “It doesn't even seem like you like me!...Love doesn't chain you to a bed!”

Allison demanded that Chelsea stop talking, because the scenario wasn't playing out the way it had in her head. After Allison left the room, Chelsea went back into her mind and found “Madison,” who ran the highly agitated Chelsea through mindfulness exercises. “Madison” urged Chelsea to calm herself and focus on finding her way back to her. Returning to real life, Chelsea saw that Allison had prepared a dinner table for them. Allison tried to kiss Chelsea as she took her seat, then raised her wine glass in a toast, wanting to drink to their new beginning now that “all this Meredith stuff” was behind them.

Chelsea cheered Allison, whom she deemed “unequivocally insane.” The abductee warned Allison that her family was coming to rescue her – then threw her wine in Allison's face. Allison tried to move on as if nothing had happened, but Chelsea followed by throwing the table over. “Stop being an ungrateful bitch!” Allison demanded, shrieking that Chelsea was ruining everything. “I am the one who decides when this is over!” Chelsea scowled in response.

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