[narrator] Previously on Riverdale:
If we don't face the reality of who and what we are,
what happened to Jason could happen again.
Or something even worse.
"I'm gonna be with Jason"? Where would Cheryl go to be with Jason?
[ice cracks]
-No! Cheryl! -Cheryl!
It's the only way we can truly start over. Be purified.
Your father's facing jail time. Your mom's overextended and out of state.
[Tall Boy] Serpents take care of their own. We got your back.
Juggie? He's moving in with a foster family.
Why are you trying to push Fred out of this deal?
Your father is coming back. He and Fred will not get along.
I'm not selling, Hermione.
[man] Give me your wallet!
[gunshot]
[Jughead] Our story continues.
The mayor's jubilee was supposed to change everything,
be a new start.
But when we woke up the next morning, Riverdale was still, at its heart,
a haunted town.
Meanwhile, Archie Andrews,
who doesn't even have a driver's license yet,
is at this very moment careening down the streets of Riverdale,
-trying to outrace death. -[horn honking]
-[Archie] Hold on, Dad. Hold on. -[Fred groaning]
Dad, we're almost there. They're gonna fix you up.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
[Jughead] Now, I don't believe in miracles, usually.
But it was a miracle that Archie got his dad to Riverdale General
without wrecking the truck.
[Archie] Help, please.
Help! Hey!
Someone help me and my dad!
[nurse] Gurney!
-[Masters] What happened to him? -[Archie] He was shot.
Does he have medical problems? Any conditions?
[Fred wheezes]
[nurse] Can you hear me? Tell me your name.
His name's Fred Andrews.
-One bullet hole, no exit wound. -[nurse] Massive blood loss.
Sir, I'm sorry. I need you to stay here.
One, two, three.
[monitor beeping]
I'm right here, Dad. I'm right here.
Okay? I'm right here. I'm right here.
-Dad? What gives? Take the picture. -The ceremony starts in ten minutes.
Yeah, Dad, what's taking so long?
I-- I just can't believe we're here.
Archie. We're at your graduation. I-- I didn't think I'd live to see this day.
Yeah, except you didn't, Mr. A.
What?
You didn't live to see this day.
Don't you remember? In Pop's?
[bell jingles]
[Veronica giggling]
Everybody, down!
[fabric tearing]
Good morning. What did you and your friends do after the jubilee?
We went to Pop's.
And then Jughead and I went back to FP's trailer.
Oh. Betty. If that beanie-wearing cad defiled you, at least,
-please tell me that you were safe. -What? No, Mom, we didn't.
I mean, we almost did, but then we were interrupted.
-Thank God. -By the Southside Serpents.
-Excuse me? By those thugs? Oh, see? -[clears throat]
I knew that Jughead was gonna follow in FP's criminal footsteps.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, not when there's a snake in its limbs.
[cell phone ringing]
If that's Snake Plissken, I want him blocked.
-It's Archie. -Block him, too.
Hey.
What is that?
A chocolate almond croissant from Bean & Beluga.
-I only have the one. -The other thing, Veronica.
Oh, this. A mimosa.
There was a bottle of champagne in the fridge.
Okay, that was a bottle of Cristal for your father.
[cell phone ringing]
I have to take this.
-If that's your guest from last night-- -It's Betty. Hello?
[cell phone chimes]
Hey, Betty.
[engine revs]
[Veronica] Arch?
Oh, my God.
My God.
I came out of the bathroom and there was this man, a thief...
wearing this hood, with a gun on Pop Tate.
He pointed it at my dad and he fired.
-[Veronica] Oh, my God, Archie. -And then he--
-And then he what? -And then he bolted.
And I was holding my dad.
Pop Tate called an ambulance, and it didn't come, so, I drove here--
I should've waited. I made it worse.
No, dude. Are you kidding me?
You saved your dad's life. First Cheryl, and now your dad.
Keep this up, you'll need a superhero name. Like Pureheart the Powerful.
There isn't any new information.
Your dad's in surgery. He'll be there for a while.
Archie, have you spoken to your mother about any of this yet?
No. No, I haven't called her.
I'll be right back.
[sighs]
-What? -Mom, do not start this.
-Start what? -Of course, I can't help but wonder
if your Southside associates had anything to do with what happened.
-Do not do this. -[Jughead] Unbelievable.
At least you can't accuse my father. He's in jail.
Oh, my God. I can't handle this.
Hey, Mom, how are you?
Good. Yeah, good. We're-- We--
Actually, Mom, we're not. We're in trouble here.
Dad's in the hospital.
There was a robbery.
And he was shot.
I don't know what's gonna happen, but you should come here, in case--
In case we have to say goodbye.
-Sheriff. -How's your dad doing?
He's still in surgery.
I know this is a hell of a time for you.
Perhaps we could go somewhere and talk.
Is it cool if I tag along?
-If you don't mind-- -That would be great.
[Archie] He was maybe 5'10", 160 pounds or so.
And he was wearing dark pants and a dark jacket?
Anything on that jacket? Symbol or insignia?
-You mean like a snake? -It was just a jacket. No snake.
-And this ski mask he had on-- -No, it's not a ski mask.
It's a hood. Homemade, like he'd cut the eyes out himself.
And the guy's eyes were green.
[Keller] Now, Pop Tate had a fairly good idea of what happened
up until when your father was shot. And then, well, there are some gaps.
And I need you to help me fill those.
So, what did he do? Our masked man?
After he shot my dad?
He--
[bell jingles]
Nothing. He shot my dad and ran out.
Who did this, sheriff?
Archie, it's too early to speculate.
But he was probably out of his head on meth or the jingle-jangle,
some Southside lowlife that was just looking for a cash grab.
How much did he get? How much cash?
We're waiting to hear from Pop Tate.
Since this is Riverdale, I have to ask, what if robbery wasn't the motive?
-What else it could be? -[Keller] I suppose it could be
someone who has a grudge against your dad,
wanted to make it look like a robbery.
I mean, it's just too early to tell.
[Veronica] There are things no one does better than Veronica Lodge.
Makeovers, party planning, dance-offs,
dropping vintage bon mots as if they were bonbons.
Conversely, there are things that I'm not good at.
Grief, bedside vigils, comforting boyfriends.
-That's the old Veronica talking. -Old Veronica would've bolted by now,
but new Veronica doesn't want to let Archie down.
And you won't.
Oh, and speaking of.
Archie. Hey, were you not telling Sheriff Keller something?
My dad told me he and Mrs. Lodge fired the Serpents on their crew.
I know your dad vouches for them,
but what if one was pissed off enough to do something?
Let me see what I can find out.
[Archie] Thanks, bro.
Archie? I'm Steven Masters, your father's doctor.
-[Archie] How is he? -Well, we got the bullet out
and stopped the internal bleeding.
But what's most worrisome is he's not breathing on his own yet.
I need to see him.
And you will. Soon as we've got him set in a room.
-An hour or two, at most. -Until then, what am I to do? Nothing?
Maybe-- Maybe you should go home and get changed.
No. I'm not leaving.
No, Archie, wait. Veronica's right.
Your dad's clothes and belongings. Everything he had on him.
Another reason to go. You can get your dad a change of clothes.
-Veronica will go with you. Right, V? -We'll hold the fort down here.
Archie, try not to worry. Your dad is strong stock.
He's a fighter.
Fred Andrews isn't one to leave unfinished business.
[Archie] Dad, the car's waiting. You're gonna be late.
I'm not ready to go, Archie.
Something doesn't feel right.
I'm gonna be fine, Dad. Don't worry about me.
It's what I do, son. It's what I've always done.
Yeah, and you deserve a break. Okay? I'll handle things for now.
It doesn't feel right.
It's too soon.
You can't change your mind now, Dad. They're waiting for you.
-Who's waiting? -Uncle Oscar. Grandpa Artie.
What are you talking about, son? They're dead.
[banging on door]
That's them.
[banging on door]
[monitor beeping]
Hey, Vegas.
Nobody's walked you, have they?
I bet you must be wondering what the hell happened.
Come on. Let's go for a walk.
-Wait, Archie. What are you doing? -I have to walk Vegas.
Like that? You look like you're auditioning for The Shining.
-No, take your shower. I'll walk him. -Veronica. You ever walked a dog?
I've had dogs walked for me. Does that count?
Before we got Vegas, my dad was like, "He's gonna be your dog, little Archie.
Your responsibility. Are you ready to walk him,
give him his food, fill his water bowl, take care of him when he gets sick?"
I wanted him so bad, I was like, "Yes, Dad, I'm ready. I'm so ready."
Cutest origin story ever. And?
And now, when I get home late from football practice...
my dad's already walked him.
Saturday mornings, Dad takes him out so I can sleep in.
Every time Vegas gets sick, Dad always goes with us to the vet.
The truth is, no one loves Vegas more than my Dad.
[Tall Boy] Got nervous when you said to meet at the hospital.
Wondering about when you said the Serpents had my back.
Does that extend to a guy who's like my brother?
And a man who's like a second father to me?
-What do you need? -Fred, my buddy's dad, was shot
during a robbery at Pop's. The guy was in a black hood.
Serpents don't wear masks.
Yeah, I get it. But some Serpents were working for Fred Andrews
when he decided to let them go. Maybe someone took it personally?
You guys know every hidey-hole in town.
Someone has to have heard about what went down.
All right.
We'll knock some heads. Let you know.
[shower running]
Archie?
You okay?
I'm okay.
I'm fine.
Thought you might want company.
Of course, all any of us can think about is Mr. Andrews.
But if we weren't so focused on his well-being,
-I'd be asking if you-- -We didn't.
Jughead and I didn't do it, if that's what you were asking.
-But, wait, like, heh, nothing? -He told me he loved me.
Wait, what? Jughead Jones said "I love you"?
-Mr. I'm-Weird-I'm-a-Weirdo--? -And I told him I loved him back.
Oh.
-And then things got complicated-- -Weird?
In a "my boyfriend may be joining the Serpents" kind of way.
Betty, no. No way. Did you learn nothing from me and Joaquin?
Oh, come on. Joaquin was... nice.
When he wasn't dumping bodies in Sweetwater River or mopping up blood.
What the hell?
Cheryl?
[Betty] Cheryl?
What's going on? Is that your mom? What happened?
Oh. Haven't you heard? There was a terrible fire at Thornhill last night.
I might've perished if not for Mommy's heroics.
Oh, my God, is this the apocalypse?
After my... ordeal at Sweetwater River, I was asleep when the fire started.
They think it was a breeze knocking over a lit candle.
Mommy got home and rushed headlong into the blaze,
risking her life to save mine.
She suffered third-degree burns and acute smoke inhalation.
What are you two doing here?
[sighs]
What's going on?
I took your dad's things out of the bag. I hope that's okay.
Where's, uh--? Where's his wallet?
I'm... not sure. That's all that was in there.
Well, it would've been in his coat. Are you sure you didn't see it?
I didn't. Maybe it was in the truck? Or back at the hospital?
No, this is everything they had. You heard the nurse.
Okay, worst-case scenario, it's just a wallet.
Everything important is in that wallet.
-He doesn't go anywhere without it. -For all we know, it's at Pop's.
-Why did you even open the bag? -I thought--
-I wanted to help you-- -No, seriously. Why are we here?
I didn't ask you to come. I didn't want to come here.
[sighs] Just forget it.
Just go. I'll take care of this. I'll see you at the hospital or call you.
-You really want me to go? -I do. Yeah.
-I'm sorry, no. -What?
I'm sorry, but I'm not going.
Archie, you shouldn't be alone right now.
You're angry and hurting and probably terrified.
I know I am.
So, go ahead.
Yell at me and try to push me away, but I'm not going anywhere.
[whispering] Okay?
-Come here. -[sobs]
Come here.
[ringing]
-Is it the hospital? -It's Sheriff Keller.
Hi, sheriff?
What, right now?
-[intercom buzzing] -Come on in, guys.
So, this is who we've picked up so far.
All have a history of armed robbery or some other violent crime.
So, you feeling up for this?
Yeah.
All right.
Put them on.
One, step forward.
No.
[Keller] Step back.
Number 2, step forward.
[gunshot]
No.
[Keller] Step back.
Three, step forward.
No.
-[jingles] -No.
-Archie's where? -[Veronica] At the station,
doing a lineup. He asked me to be here with Fred.
That's gonna be traumatizing. We should go there.
Can you do me a favor? Mr. Andrews' wallet is missing.
We're thinking it might be at Pop's.
That, or the guy who shot Fred might have it.
If it's just some rando robbing Pop's, he probably took the money.
Unless it wasn't just some rando. Unless it was premeditated.
What? Is that an actual theory?
Not according to Sheriff Keller.
But if you ask me, people have grudges, people have enemies.
Think of where we live. Fathers are killing sons.
It's conceivable this was a hit.
Okay. Or the wallet's just at Pop's, so, we'll check it out, V.
-[Betty] A motorcycle? -Hop on.
Without a helmet?
You can use mine. Or we can walk.
We can take a bus or we can call your mom.
Oh, no, we'll just-- Go slow, okay?
Oh.
No, no, no. It's actually much more dangerous if we go slow.
You are gonna need to hold tight.
[engine revs]
[speaking Spanish]
What are we praying for?
Fred's speedy recovery or a quick death?
[in English] Veronica, why on earth would I pray for that?
Jughead said that what happened to Mr. Andrews may have been... a hit.
But who would be evil enough to do that? And why?
I remembered how you wanted Fred to sell his share back to you and Daddy.
Because he and Daddy wouldn't get along.
Which is a threat if I ever heard one.
You are so determined to paint your father as a villain,
you assume he must've put a hit on Fred Andrews. Brilliant.
Not him.
You.
I don't think you're an innocent pawn, Mom.
I think you're Daddy's eyes and ears on the ground, calling the shots.
You genuinely believe that.
If the Manolo Blahnik fits.
Mija, your disrespect will no longer be tolerated.
Not by me, and certainly not by your father when he comes home.
So, a word of advice?
Get back in line with this family.
Because you are a Lodge before anything else.
Now, I should slap you for what you're insinuating...
but I'm not a violent person.
[Archie] Thanks, Reggie.
Bulldogs are here for you.
And so are the Pussycats.
We're sending your dad our prayers,
giving him as many of our nine lives as he needs.
Thanks, Josie.
Veronica said that you were down at the sheriff's station?
That maybe they got the guy?
Yeah, but it wasn't him. He's still out there.
[Masters] Archie.
-He's in Room 12. You can see him. -Okay, great.
Listen, he hasn't woken up yet. But talk to him.
Coax him back. Keep it positive. That can make all the difference.
[monitor beeping]
[Archie] Dad?
I don't know if you can hear me. Hopefully, you can.
I'm only supposed to talk about good things, which limits my options, but--
What can I tell you?
I'm doing it, Dad. I'm asking her tonight.
Would you look at that? You know, Veronica's gonna love it.
Well, she better. She picked it out.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Pop, you are not gonna believe this. Archie is getting married.
Is that right? Well, well, well. Time dies.
What?
[bell jingling]
[bell jingles]
Oh, my God.
[clattering]
Sorry, kids, we, uh-- We're closed today.
-There was-- -Pop.
We heard about what happened.
We got back from the hospital, to look for Mr. Andrews' wallet.
-Is he--? -He's out of surgery.
-We'll know more when he wakes up. -All right.
The police have already looked,
but if you wanna double-check, he was in that booth, there.
So, uh... what happened, Pop? From your point of view?
[Pop] I wish I knew.
As soon as that gun turned off of me, I--
God help me, I dove. I don't even remember calling the police.
But I guess I did.
How much cash did the creep end up taking?
Not a penny.
[snaps fingers] I knew it.
What kind of thief shoots up a joint,
-then doesn't take a single dollar bill? -He wasn't a thief.
This place has been robbed many times.
Bricks through the windows, even, during the riots.
I've looked plenty of thugs in the eye. But this man?
His goal was something else.
Darker.
It was like the angel of death had come to Riverdale.
Jeez, Pop, lighten up.
You sound like the cranky old guy in the Friday the 13th movies.
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
The wallet's not here.
Hey. You kids hungry?
-Always. -No, we're good, Pop.
In times of crisis... some people lose their appetite.
But me?
Mine increases tenfold.
I haven't eaten since last night.
I don't want to be thinking about this while Mr. Andrews is how he is...
but last night, when you put on the Serpent jacket...
it meant something, Jug.
It meant there were ten biker dudes standing in front of me
-and I didn't think I could say no. -It fit you like a glove, Jug.
Like a second skin. And the look on your face?
You weren't acting for the Serpents.
Now you're riding a motorcycle, which you've never done.
Betty, I'm not a Serpent, okay? That's--
Might be my dad's life, but it's not mine.
What about your foster family? They're from the Southside.
If they have ties to the Serpents, they could try to--
Indoctrinate me?
Don't worry. I've made a decision about that.
They'll cover for me with my social worker, but I'm not staying with them.
-I'm gonna be at the trailer. -What? Why?
Betty.
[sighs]
Archie almost lost his dad.
He may still.
Facing facts, my dad is going away for a long-ass time.
Wearing that jacket and riding his bike, living in the trailer...
It does mean something.
I was hoping that it means I'll always be close to him, no matter what.
I don't wanna see you get hurt. Or hurting someone else.
Not because you did it on purpose, but because that's the Serpents' world.
That's how they live. Isn't it?
[Cheryl] Good. You're awake.
Now here's the reals, Baby Jane.
I'm telling everyone you ran back into that inferno to save me,
not that hideous family portrait you love.
And that what happened at Thornhill was a terrible, tragic accident.
If you tell anyone the truth about what happened with the fire,
I'll tell everyone about what really happened in the barn with Daddy.
[grunts]
You were cruel to me, Mother. It was abuse, plain and simple.
So, henceforth...
if you breathe, it is because I give you air.
If you drink, it is because I've poured your cup myself.
And if you move, it is quietly, and with my blessing.
[gasping]
[Cheryl sighs]
Things are going to be different now, Mommy. Better.
You'll see.
For your dad, when he wakes up, which he will. Very, very soon.
[both chuckle]
Just to tide him over until we find his tried and true.
-When did you go to Barnaby's? -I didn't. I sent Smithers.
You are the best girlfriend ever.
-And I do not deserve you. -Why do you say that?
Ronnie.
Can I, uh--? Can I tell you about this--?
This thing that happened at Pop's, with my dad?
-Yes. -[Jughead] Who's hungry?
We've got burgers and fries and onion rings.
-[student] Oh, nice, Jones. -[woman] Excuse me.
Your dad would be so proud of you, Arch.
Yeah, you've really been just a rock-star god through all of this.
Archie, what is it?
Talk to us.
Maybe we can help.
[Archie sighs]
Guys, there's something I haven't told you, because I'm so--
I'm so ashamed.
After the guy fired, I should've rushed to my dad straightaway.
Or I should have tackled the guy, but I was-- I was paralyzed.
I didn't move, not even when the guy walked up to me.
And he held his gun to my head, and I just closed my eyes.
I don't know how long. Long enough
for the guy to have taken my dad's wallet.
But I didn't open them until I heard the bell.
-[bell jingles] -[Archie] Pop's bell.
Which meant he was gone.
-There was nothing you could've done. -Not true.
I could've done anything, to comfort my dad, to get the gun away from the guy.
I was a coward.
And now me and my dad, we're witnesses. Pop Tate, too.
This guy may have my dad's wallet. All his information.
What if he comes back?
Cheryl? What are you doing?
Paying you back for saving me at Sweetwater River.
You gave me the kiss of life, Archie Andrews.
Now I've given it to your dad.
He's going to be just fine.
Toodles.
I've been thinking about what I can say to you.
I started imagining what we would've talked about at Pop's
if things hadn't gone to hell.
You would've asked me about Veronica.
I would've told you how crazy I am about her.
You would've said, "That's great,
but take it slow, Archie. No one's getting married."
[Pop] Today, we celebrate the love between two incredible young people.
I've had the privilege of knowing Archie Andrews all his life,
and the lovely Veronica Lodge for quite some time now.
[mouthing] Archie.
[inaudible dialogue]
[Fred groans]
Dad?
Dad. Can you hear me?
Thank God.
Dad.
Dad, I'm sorry I didn't do more at Pop's.
-Archie. -Whether or not Sheriff Keller
finds the person who did this or not, don't worry.
I'm gonna protect you. Nothing like this is ever gonna happen again. I swear it.
Son.
That's why I came back.
To protect you.
[thunder rumbling]
-You sure I can't give you a ride home? -I think if my mom saw me
getting off your motorcycle, she'd come out with a shotgun.
-That's fair enough. -[chuckles]
Jug.
What you said at Pop's...
I heard you.
And whatever you need to do or explore, I support you.
What the hell? What is this?
Went out like you asked. Guy was holding court at the Whyte Wyrm.
Talking about how if Andrews
was gonna let Hiram Lodge's bitch run the show,
-fire his crew, it's good he was gutshot. -We thought we might press him.
-See if it was all just talk. -And?
And after a lengthy cross-examination,
yeah, we've concluded, he was just being a loudmouth.
What did you bring him here for? If he didn't do anything?
So you could see we done what you asked.
So you could tell your old man. That's important to us.
With or without the jacket, you're a Serpent.
[Hermione] Veronica.
[Hermione speaking Spanish]
I came home earlier to surprise you.
When imagine my surprise when you weren't here.
-[in English] And she drank your Cristal. -So disrespectful.
Not like you at all, mija.
I've changed.
You have no idea.
The question is, have you?
Not so much that I still don't want a kiss hello from my daughter.
By the way, in case either of you were wondering, Mr. Andrews woke up.
He's going to make it.
I know we're all really happy about that.
[Jughead] Once Mrs. Andrews got to town...
and Mr. Andrews was back at home, recovering in his own bed...
Archie's true vigil began.
He'd made a promise, a vow,
to protect his father from harm.
And as long as the man in the black hood was out there, in the night...
Archie intended to keep that promise.
Never imagining the angel of death was stalking different streets tonight,
in the small town of Greendale, just on the other side of Sweetwater River.
How was that, Ms. Grundy?
Very good. You're making wonderful progress, Ben.
-You'll come by tomorrow, then? -Absolutely.
I'll see you tomorrow.
[grunting and gasping] w, then? -Absolutely.