“Welcome to Fairmont Crest.”

CBS proudly swung open the wrought iron to the exclusive gated community on today’s premiere episode of Beyond the Gates. But viewers had to wait until the show’s climactic final moments to hear which character delivers that official welcome — the grand dame of The Real Housewives of Potomac herself, Karen Huger.

Let’s back up to see how we get there.

The premiere episode opens with a sequence set to The Emotions’ “Best of My Love.” A luxury sedan hugs the curves of a leaf-lined suburban road before pulling into a spotlessly manicured gated community. This is Fairmont Crest, a refuge for the elite Black families of the wealthy Maryland suburb of Fairmont.

At series’ center are the Duprees: Anita, the silver-haired, EGOT-winning matriarch played by Tamara Tunie; Vernon, the soft-spoken former Civil Rights leader played by Clifton Davis; Nicole, their level-headed psychiatrist daughter played by Daphnée Duplaix; and Dani, their younger daughter, an impetuous former model played by Karla Mosley.

“Have you spoken to Dani?” Anita asks Nicole in the series’ first exchange. Nicole replies that she hasn’t with a snarky exhale that indicates, What would you expect? “Well, I hope no news is good news and Dani’s not out there giving her emotions free rein. If so, God help us all,” Anita rejoins.

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We cut to the kitchen of a suburban McMansion where a sobbing Dani, clad in a shiny, feathery gown and 3/4 sleeve duster in her signature color — fire engine red — is taking some mugs down from the cabinet. Coffee time! Wrong. It is time for violence.

Dani throws two mugs at the wall and starts screaming and crying. “Well, so much for ‘Stop by for a cup of coffee!'” says Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli), Fairmont’s top realtor and a friend of Dani’s who stops by for a check-in.

Dani reveals that she’s recently been left by her husband of decades, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett), for a younger woman. But not just any younger woman — Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), a former paralegal at his law firm who also happened to be best friends with Bill and Dani’s daughter, Naomi (Arielle Prepetit). “It’s bad enough Bill’s marrying that traitor, but do it here? I will be the laughing stock of Fairmont!” Dani proclaims. Vanessa reminds her that “your family rules this community. Your grandfather built it!” but Dani remains dejected and furious.

Conflict, tension, betrayal, and intrigue abound in Fairmont, including Dani’s anxious momaging of her influencer/model daughter Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla), an illicit flirtation between married nurse Ashley Morgan (Jen Jacob) and Nicole’s nephew-in-law Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman), and Bill’s less-than-wholesome criminal law dealings. But the impending wedding between Bill and Hayley assumes center stage.

Multiple characters drop hints throughout the premiere that things are not going to end well for Hayley. Nicole tells Anita, “Bill’s about to marry the proverbial younger woman and Dani’s a powder keg about to explode.” Vanessa tells Hayley that the “upstanding citizens” of Fairmont will “rally around all things Dupree, and freeze you out” if they intend on getting married in Fairmont. And when Anita expresses concern about Dani’s mental health, she vows, “Oh, I’ll be healthy again, as soon as I make a couple of cheaters pay for blowing up my life!”

Beyond the Gates‘ first episode reaches its climax where real business appears to get done in Fairmont Crest: the country club.

Anita delivers a heartfelt address to the assembled Dupree clan that becomes extremely funny, given what follows. “Vernon and I make it a practice to count our blessings and express gratitude every day,” she says. “And this is today’s moment for me.” Enter Vanessa with a vibe killer: “The house for sale on Marigold Road. Bill bought it. Hayley picked up the keys this morning.”

Dani immediately starts fuming — “So now the plan is to flaunt this woman in my face forever? I am done being disrespected,” she says, then catches Hayley stroll in. “Done.” Dani strides over to Hayley with a look of pure, righteous hate in her eyes. “You have a hell of a lot of nerve,” she says, but you can hardly focus on what she’s saying as Huger comes into view, delivering over-the-top side eye while sitting at the bar, obtrusively eavesdropping.

Dani asks Hayley how she can “move into this community and expect me to live down the way from my cheating ex-husband and his piece of trash new wife?” Hayley has demonstrated herself as a peaceful, even meek person, and now she’s contending with the added pressure of the entire Fairmont Crest country club staring her down. “Dani, you’re upset, but let’s not do this here,” she pleads. But Dani is not persuaded.

“Maybe it was your idea” to move behind the gates, Dani speculates. Resolve fortifies in her eyes as Huger’s side eye grows absolutely lethal. “Well, let me be the first to give you a housewarming present,” Dani says, and punches Hayley square in the face. The whole Dupree clan mean mugs the battered bride-to-be as they walk out one by one. Then the camera cuts to Huger, who delivers the final blow with words.

Welcome to Fairmont Crest indeed.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, and will also be available to stream on Paramount+.