-[narrator] Previously on Riverdale: -Hi. Is Chic home?
[Betty] I can't eat, I can't sleep. I'm just obsessing over this shady man.
His car was outside our house for two days.
Jughead and I took care of it.
Let me stay here. I can't stay in the same house as Chic anymore.
You wanna turn the town into a prison.
We are leaving now.
-Come on, Archie. -I'm staying.
You think a prison is bad for Riverdale, but the Lodges have thought this through.
I won't support Hiram and Hermione. I'm gonna run for mayor against them.
I'm running for student body president.
-Be my co-president. -Okay.
-I'm not a quitter. -[Archie] Me neither.
-I wanna be your running mate. -I'd like that.
First things first. Nana, then Cheryl.
Of course, our house must be put in order.
[Penelope] You've gone mad.
-You leave us no choice. -What do you mean no choice?
-[Toni] I'm looking for Cheryl. -She's gone.
Boarding school in Switzerland. Don't come here again.
[Jughead] Welcome to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Home for troubled youths.
Where a certain Cheryl Blossom finds herself more troubled than usual.
It's time, girlie.
[Jughead] With nary a thing to look forward to, except for movie nights,
during which times Cheryl would imagine what her friends might be doing.
[man on screen] Seems innocent enough, but look closer.
Hey, Frank, hey, Dick.
We're going to the diner with the girls. You coming?
We'll catch up.
[man] My, my. What do these seemingly all-American boys have planned?
Boy, Frank, that water sure looks great. Wanna take a dip?
Wish we could, but I didn't bring swimming trunks.
[man] The boys should have found another activity,
but instead, they succumbed...
Then again, maybe we don't need them.
[man] ...and were ensnared by deviance.
[Jughead] As Cheryl Blossom withered,
her friends were squaring off on the most public of stages.
Now, just a reminder that this School Hall is a PTA-sponsored event.
-Oh! We have our first question. -[Sweet Pea] Yeah.
No offense to the current administration, but it feels like no one's looking out
for the students being bused in from the Southside. Will that change?
Absolutely, Sweet Pea. It's our priority. No one should be marginalized or excluded.
Jughead and I will be representing all students, North and Southside alike.
-Next question. Yes, Midge. -My question is for Archie and Veronica.
Your parents will soon be on opposite sides of the mayoral election.
Won't that negatively affect your working relationship?
Archie and I adhere to the old maxim:
Politics are never discussed at the dinner or the cafeteria table.
[crowd chuckling]
Veronica and I are on the same page, including her family's plans for a prison.
In the meantime, we're committed to improving life at Riverdale High.
More extracurriculars--
Reggie and I agree, except add the fact that we can, and will, deliver results.
And we're chill, unlike these guys.
[crowd chuckling]
[Jughead] Shouldn't we be hobnobbing--?
No, we have to go before my mom attacks us.
She's a heat-seeking missile.
[gasps]
-You can't keep dodging her forever. -Maybe not, but I can try. Let's go.
[Alice] FP, you should be ashamed.
Letting my sweet, innocent daughter live in sin in that trailer.
You think I'm a fan of this?
I'm sleeping on a sofa with my son so your daughter can have his bedroom.
You're doing that?
Look, Alice, take it from a guy whose son chose being homeless
over living with his old man.
Make things right with her, before it's too late.
[Hiram] Mary, Fred.
Riverdale is buzzing about you running against my wife for mayor.
I've lived here my whole life.
Never went to New York or to prison. There's no one more qualified than me.
Hiram, we're waiting for you to sign those papers
finalizing Fred's separation from Lodge Industries.
Huh. Like how we're still waiting for you to sign the NDA that we sent over.
Now, now, Mom and Dad. There's no need to become the Montagues and the Capulets.
We were saying, can't this be a fair fight, no hitting below the belt,
and everyone signing whatever it is they need to sign?
Mr. and Mrs. Lodge, you have some unexpected guests.
Lenny. Carl. How are you, fellas?
-We have some business to discuss, Hiram. -In private.
I'd invite you to my study, but it's late.
Please, Hiram. A few minutes of your time. Is that so much to ask for?
No. Not at all.
Take Veronica and Hermione upstairs.
-Mr. Lodge-- -It's okay, Archie. Just a friendly visit.
[Mary] I need to ask a favor, Archie.
Your father is announcing his run for mayor on Friday.
And his campaign, as you know, is based on promoting a wholesome view of Riverdale.
The place where he raised his family.
Having us both there, standing with him, it's an important moment.
Then why isn't Dad asking me himself?
He's a proud guy, your dad,
but I know it'd mean the world to him, and to me, if you showed up for this.
Mom, of course I'll be there for Dad.
Hey, Chic. Are you hungry? Do you wanna order a pizza?
Mom, you need to see what they found.
[man on tv] Authorities are searching for witnesses.
Anyone who may have more information
is encouraged to contact police immediately.
Easy, Alice, hold on. Turn to Channel 8, right now.
[man] It is not yet known how or when the car first entered the swamp,
-but foul play has not been ruled out. -They found it, FP.
They found it.
We should've known better.
I should've known better. We should've driven that car out of town.
No. You couldn't have known Junkyard Steve drags the swamp for people's castoffs.
It's dumb luck.
-It's Jones luck, you mean. -Chic should be here. He brained the guy.
-Don't worry about Chic. -Normally, I'd disagree. Worry about Chic.
But he doesn't know about the car.
-We wiped the thing clean of prints. -Wearing gloves?
-I think so. -I'm pretty sure.
-What do you mean you think so? -No, we 100 percent were.
If anybody comes asking, we don't know anything.
Don't talk to anyone. Act like everything's normal.
Including you coming home, so you're not with a bunch of Serpents.
No. You're not gonna use this to manipulate me, Mom.
-I come home when Chic leaves. -Everybody, be cool.
In the unlikely event that something happens, we batten down the hatches.
Until then, life goes on, and nobody goes anywhere near that car.
[Hiram] About last night, Archie,
my associates, Lenny Kowalski and Carl Martin,
my wife's mayoral campaign is making them anxious.
I thought Mrs. Lodge being mayor would be good.
Men like Lenny and Carl see this as hubris
that could bring us, and our business, unwanted attention from the authorities.
I'm having dinner with them tonight.
In the meantime, keep a close eye on Veronica. Do you understand?
I will. But what if I came with you? They know me from the poker game.
Andre and Adams will be there, but you do always find a way to make yourself useful.
I'm trying to get my old crew down, but they've gone silent on me.
All right. You're in.
You promised us a war, then you're on stage, sucking up to the Northside?
We need those votes. It's the only way we can affect change.
Whoever's elected gets on the school board.
That means we're inside, they can't silence us.
You and the Northside princess?
Wait, is that why you guys are pissed? Betty's on our side.
Yeah, I've helped the Serpents on numerous occasions.
I helped find the Pickens statue's head.
I got Cheryl to testify in court so FP, your king, could get early parole--
You did all that for your boyfriend, not the Serpents.
-All right. Take it down, Sweet Pea. -What?
Only a matter of time before she bails on us, like her mother.
So your objections are about my mom.
Her legacy. She's an enemy of the Serpent State.
Taking shots at us in The Register. Blaming us for crimes.
Running with a turncoat's daughter is a slap in the face,
and for that reason alone, you're not getting the Serpent vote.
[Reggie] Let's settle this once and for all.
We're both Bulldogs who, like wolves, support the alpha.
Now, we risk splitting our boys' votes, which I told Josie I could deliver.
Hence this contest.
Mantle versus Andrews.
Winner gets the Bulldogs' backing.
[crowd shouting]
[both grunting]
Give up. You're gonna lose, Andrews.
Same as your dad.
Talk about my dad like that again, and next time, I break your arm.
[crowd cheering]
[Veronica] What do you mean Cheryl's missing?
Do you remember how paranoid Cheryl was?
Saying her mom and uncle were out to get her?
-I think they did something to her. -What?
Her mom said they sent her off to some boarding school in Switzerland.
That's easy to check. There's only Surval Montreux.
If Cheryl was in the Swiss Alps, she'd be posting parka selfies.
-Her social media's been dead for days. -Wait. That's a sure sign of foul play.
Yeah.
-Whatever you need, Toni. I'm in. -Me, too.
Even if we have to storm Thistlehouse.
I believe I've deduced what's caused this imbalance in you, Cheryl.
And what would that be, Sister Livingston?
I've spoken to your mother about your brother Jason,
and how close you were.
So close, in fact, that your Nana would sometimes mix you up, isn't that right?
She would dress you in Jason's clothes, and he in yours.
Nana's always been half-blind, Sister.
Cataracts.
But if anything's affected my psyche,
it's the fire hose of abuse directed at me by my parents.
You've suffered many traumas, it's true,
but that does not excuse your willful behavior.
Now, you will report to the undercroft immediately,
where you will undergo physical therapy until you're ready to listen.
I'm not gonna mince words, Hiram.
Your wife's campaign is risky. Putting the families in the public eye.
[Carl] But we understand ours is a risk-reward business,
and your idea for a private prison is intriguing.
So, the reward we want for our risk is a cut of the Riverdale pie.
How's 25 percent sound?
After your cut, I'd be operating at a loss,
so, Lenny, Carl, respectfully...
I decline your kind offer.
With all due respect, Hiram, you're all alone here.
Your boys from Montreal, New York, work for us now.
Who've you got out here? Hmm?
A couple low-level capos and some zit-faced high-school kid?
Mister Kowalski, Mr. Martin,
respectfully, don't underestimate Mr. Lodge or me.
Archie.
I rearranged Nick St. Clair's pretty-boy face for him.
I took care of Poppa Poutine after he conspired with you, Lenny.
And when some hillbilly threatened Mr. Lodge's daughter, I did the same.
So, don't think for a second that we're defenseless.
[both laughing]
You nearly had us there, Red.
Hiram, consider our offer.
Yeah.
In the meantime,
we'll be sticking around Riverdale, taking in local flavors. Sound good?
-You were a mad dog. You realize that? -I wasn't gonna let them disrespect you.
Not in our town.
Nevertheless, you fire a warning shot like that, be ready to back it up.
Good. You're a good boy, Archie.
[Betty] What do Sweet Pea and Fangs want from me?
What will it take for them to accept me? Wear plaid?
Do I need to get a leather jacket or a snake tattoo?
To be fair, your mother is Serpent Enemy Number One.
The shady man's car is out there. We have no idea what's going on with it.
I've been thinking about that.
Our parents told us to act normal and let sleeping dogs lie...
but riddle me this, what is our normal?
Normal is...
investigating something when the world tells us we shouldn't.
Pumping our sources for information.
[Kevin] Why do you guys care about this car?
We don't. We care about the environment.
And we're writing about how people use Swedlow Swamp as a dumping ground.
-The car is just part of a larger story. -My dad said it was claimed by its owner.
The owner... who's in Riverdale?
Yeah. Now they're trying to figure out who stole it in the first place.
Has shacking up together driven you both completely insane?
You didn't think talking to the sheriff's son was gonna raise red flags?
-Kevin didn't suspect anything. -At least we know what's going on.
Yeah, Chic's drug dealer stole someone's car before he ran to our house.
Dwayne didn't have wheels. He borrowed his girlfriend's.
Someone called the shady man's phone. She sounded crazy.
But not like there was love lost between her and Dwayne.
-Could be Darla. -Is Darla somebody to worry about?
I don't really know her.
Shocker. Gee, Chic, have you ever been helpful to anyone?
-Enough, Elizabeth. -[FP] Stick to the plan.
This has nothing to do with us. Dwayne stole Darla's car, Darla got it back.
Let's hope it ends there.
And pack your things, Betty. This honeymoon is over. Over.
Playing house and running around like loose cannons is beyond the pale.
We don't want Hal to find out. We don't need him sticking his nose in.
I'll move out.
I'll get a place. It's your house.
Fine. I'll come back home after Chic's gone.
I'm done with your ultimatums. You're coming home.
If you don't back me up, FP,
I will tear this trailer apart with my bare hands.
[sighs]
Fine.
-I'll get my stuff. -I'll help you pack.
[Cheryl grunting]
But, foolish girl, what have you done?
You stacked the bags in the northeast corner,
when I told you the northwest.
-What? No, no. You said-- -Start over.
And next time, listen, child.
You'll never get better if you don't listen to me.
Now that you've barged your way in, go ahead, girls.
Ask your questions.
You said Cheryl was away at some boarding school?
Honestly, I'm not in the habit of explaining myself to school girls.
Maybe not, Mrs. Blossom, but you may have heard that my mother...
is dating Sheriff Keller.
If you won't tell us, then maybe you'll tell him.
All right, then.
The truth is that Cheryl
started exhibiting strange, deviant behavior,
so, I sent her abroad to a wellness institute
where they're trying to help her. You don't have to believe me.
But let me show you something.
-Oh, my God. -She's drawn dozens like it.
-I don't understand. -No, but Josie does, don't you?
Cheryl was obsessed with you.
I was afraid she might hurt you...
or herself, or both.
So, if you'd like me to tell that to your mother and her boyfriend,
and show them, and the town, Cheryl's drawings of you,
I'd be happy to.
But hopefully you have the decency to keep this private.
[Toni] Josie, wait.
Slow down. We need to regroup.
If what Mrs. Blossom said is even a bit true,
that means that Cheryl threatened me, sent me a bloody pig's heart.
I'm out, you guys. I'm done.
Sulk all you want, Betty.
I'm not.
I was gonna see if you'd sign something for me. A consent form.
Are you trying to get emancipated because I made you move back?
It's so I can get a tattoo.
A Serpent tattoo.
You have lousy timing, kiddo.
Act normal, right? Life goes on, doesn't it?
You are not getting a tattoo just to prove something to your boyfriend.
-I'm practically a Serpent. -Do not say that.
Do not think I won't find a tattoo parlor that will do it.
[Chic] Mom.
Betty.
I was trying to help.
[Darla] You must be Alice.
And you must be Betty.
Hi, I'm Darla.
[Jughead] Okay. Well...
What about something like, uh...
"I'm about investing in the citizens of Riverdale, not just profiting."
[Fred] I like that, Jug. That's great.
-It's simple-- -Dad.
-Hey. -Jug.
-What's going on? -Oh, Jug's helping me out with the--
Your mother calls it my announcement address.
I'm not much for speechifying, but Jug is a great writer.
You need to meet more writers, Mr. Andrews.
By the way, your mom told me you'd be stopping by at the announcement.
I appreciate that.
I'm not surprised that deadbeat Dwayne borrowed my car without asking.
[chuckles] Does it all the time.
What did surprise me was the car turning up in a swamp in Riverdale.
And just as I was getting ready to head back to Centerville, Chic called me.
Why would you do that?
[Darla] He thought he could sniff out how much I knew. Isn't that right?
But there's no playing a player. I saw through him.
It's okay. Dwayne was a heel.
I wouldn't be surprised if he stole my car to pick up some floozy
only to get himself killed.
Like I told Chic...
I don't particularly care what happened to Dwayne.
I don't see any reason to ask any questions about him,
especially not if I get the 10 grand he owes me.
I get that, I'm a happy camper who'll be out of your lives forever and ever, amen.
If not, well, then...
I might just have to have a long talk with that handsome sheriff of yours.
-We have nothing to do with that-- -We don't have that money on hand.
But if we get the money, we're done, right?
-You'll leave, no questions asked? -Zip my mouth and throw away the key.
-Okay, we'll make a withdrawal. -[Darla] Uh-uh.
One of you goes.
Betty, then. Betty will go.
Mom, the bank's not open until 9 tomorrow morning.
I don't mind waiting. Got any board games?
It's messed up, Ronnie. Me and my dad don't know how to talk anymore.
You'll work it out. You always do.
And God and Gucci willing, Cheryl's safe, wherever she is.
[men grunting and shouting]
Andre?
-Hey! -Archie, don't!
Oh, my God.
It's all right. It's okay.
Adams? You double-crossing piece of-- [grunts]
[grunting and shouting]
Tell your girlfriend's father to take the deal.
So, God knows how long Adams has been working against us.
Kowalski and Martin must have offered him a tidy sum.
Or he sensed we were weak and chose to align with our enemies.
-Either way, he's made a grave mistake. -Yeah.
The message is clear. "Cut us in or suffer the consequences."
With Adams a turncoat and Andre in the hospital, we are unprotected.
I'll keep watch. I did it for my dad, I'll do it for you.
That's selfless. But, alas, a short-term solution.
-So, what do we do? -We circle the wagons.
Hermione, you do the campaigning from here.
Veronica, if you're not at school, you're here.
-I don't want you out. Archie, escort her. -Absolutely.
Long-term? What's the plan?
Long-term.
I have no idea.
It's our account. You shouldn't have trouble.
Okay.
Hey. Straight to the bank and right back, blondie.
Roseanne, you behave. You've been fed, you've been to the water closet.
You should be all set till I come back. If you have to go, hold it.
Spend the day watching your programs.
[tv hums]
[Ross on tv] Right there. There he comes.
We should've done this with a two-inch brush. It'd be faster. There we go.
Just drop it in.
Wherever you think it should be.
All right.
You are the creator on this piece of canvas. You can do anything.
[grunts]
This is a monster tree.
[grunting]
On the 14th of July in 1789,
a state prison on the east side of Paris, known as the Bastille--
[Doris on pa] Antoinette Topaz to the principal's office.
Antoinette Topaz, please report to the principal's office.
[chattering]
Call for you. She said it was urgent.
-Hello? -She's not far away.
Who is this?
Cheryl. She's nearby.
Nana Rose?
Nana Rose, where is she?
With the Sisters.
[line disconnects]
-[dial tone] -Hello?
Nana Rose?
What do you think you're doing, Mother?
[cell phone ringing]
Mom. I'm just about to head out.
[Alice over phone] No, Elizabeth. There's another one in the house now.
-What are you talking about? -The guy that attacked Chic at the hostel?
-That manager? -Oh, God. Should I call someone?
I don't know. Just, Elizabeth, whatever you do, do not come home.
[Chic] Mom!
[cell phone disconnects]
[Veronica] Wait, so that was Nana Rose Blossom who paged you?
[Toni] Yeah. Although, we got disconnected
before she could say too much beyond the fact that Cheryl was nearby
-and that she was with the Sisters. -The Sisters? What Sisters?
I don't know. Maybe there's some reeducation camp called The Sisters.
Well, there's the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, but that's more like an orphanage.
I don't think they do gay conversion there.
Who would know for sure?
Oh, my God, of course.
[Kevin] Yes, it could be the Sisters of Quiet Mercy.
It's one of a few places in the country that still does conversion therapy.
-Off the books, of course. -What the hell decade is this?
During Prohibition, the Sisters ran a distillery in the basement.
They smuggled booze out to Sweetwater River via a tunnel
that still exists.
A tunnel we could use to get to Cheryl?
Potentially. Gay boys in the program use it to sneak out
to hook up with young men like myself in Fox Forest.
Wait, Kevin, can you lead us to this secret gay-hook-up tunnel?
I can probably find it, but we should go at night.
Why did you come back?
Took a week to get that pepper spray out of my eyes.
Next time, maybe don't attack my brother.
It's all here. Nice work.
-You have your money. Now go. -What are you talking about?
-I just got here. -[Darla] Yeah.
And Riverdale's so much nicer than Centerville.
And this house, I could get used to this house.
You said if we gave you the money, you'd leave.
-Chic. -Or what? You think you three can take us?
-Try it. -[Marcel] Sit your ass down, Chic,
or I'll cut out your sister's eyes.
You think you two can take all of us?
-Try it. -You brought backup.
Does that mean you want me to go to the sheriff, start making a stink?
That's your call, but my backup and me,
we're friends with the sheriff's son, so, whose side do you think he'll pick?
The Coopers are one of the most respected families in Riverdale.
You two are just Centreville scumbags.
Anything that was in your car washed away,
else we'd have heard about it. Why don't you grab the money and run?
[sighing]
Sorry about your door.
Thank you, Jughead. Thank your friends for me.
We're Serpents. It's what we do.
You've been telling me something I didn't wanna hear,
and I'm sorry.
But, Chic...
you've put us in danger twice.
I think that...
you should do what you said, and leave.
I will.
I'll find a place.
Do it quickly, because you're not gonna spend another night here.
I appreciate you escorting me home, but I'm in for the night,
so, you, Archiekins, are officially off duty.
Archie. Do you have a minute?
-Yeah, of course, Mr. Lodge. -I'll see you tomorrow.
[Hiram] I've made my decision. If I don't let Kowalski and Martin
invest in the prison, they'll destroy everything I'm trying to build here.
They don't share my ambition to go legitimate.
You mean you'll pay them a cut for protection?
I won't risk a war, nor my family's safety.
Not when we're defenseless.
[cell phone buzzing]
Mr. Lodge...
you haven't told them you're agreeing, have you?
No, I am meeting them for dinner.
Why? What are you thinking?
I think we should just start.
Yeah, you're right.
I'm sorry, Fred.
It's okay. You know, he's busy. I get it.
I'm glad you're here, though.
Good afternoon. My name is Fred Andrews.
And I stand before you today, a humble resident of this town,
to announce my candidacy for mayor.
We're on opposite sides. Why should I help you?
At school, we're on opposite sides, yes.
But bigger-picture, where do you stand,
-with the Lodges or against them? -I'm against the Southside.
-My dad's for the prison, so am I. -Me, too. It's the future.
But somebody from the outside is threatening that.
We need to show them that is not how things go here.
Stand with me tonight, and the votes are yours.
[Nick Waterhouse's "You Want Trouble (If)" playing]
♪ Trouble Well, if you want trouble ♪
♪ And if you want trouble Trouble ♪
Sorry, I had to wait for my parents to do bed check.
♪ Trouble And if you want trouble ♪
[panting]
Movie night.
Clean yourself up.
[Kevin] According to my intel, the tunnel that leads
-from the main residence comes out here. -That's our way in.
All right, Kevin, you stay here.
If we're not back in 15 minutes, call your dad. Okay.
When we get to the main building, what happens then?
We search each and every damn room until we find her.
[pop music playing]
Let's go.
♪ How far we get ♪
♪ Do you feel the same way? ♪
Let's split up. We'll cover twice the ground.
Okay, but be careful.
♪ I gotta see you ♪
[Toni] Cheryl?
♪ Do you feel the same way? ♪
[sobbing]
♪ They won't say... ♪
[Toni] Cheryl?
♪ ...how you feel ♪
Cheryl, are you in here?
-Toni? -We came to rescue you.
You did?
♪ I can't keep myself away... ♪
♪ And then I know this kind of love... ♪
Cheryl, Toni, there are a bunch of nuns coming. We have to go. Come on.
This way.
[alarm wailing]
Come on.
Let's go.
[phone rings]
I don't understand. Is he standing us up?
Maybe our first message wasn't clear enough.
Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Martin.
That was Hiram calling with his regrets.
And to say you should go outside to check on your car.
The hell is this?
[Archie] This is a message from the Dark Circle.
Hiram Lodge doesn't stand alone,
and Riverdale's protected.
Leave before it's too late.
[police sirens wailing]
Before I leave, I don't suppose you could tell me,
what was so important that you couldn't be there for your dad?
I had every intention of going.
You used to worship your father. You used to play music.
You, Jughead, Betty, you were inseparable.
But I'm looking at you now, and I don't know who you've become.
Who are you, Archie?
[cell phone buzzing]
[Alice] I asked Jughead to thank you for me.
But I reconsidered, because I wanted to do it myself.
So, thank you for what you did.
I also wanted you to hear it from me
that I am done attacking and disavowing the Southside.
It's where I'm from, and I should be proud of that.
And from now on, I will be.
And like my daughter, I will fight tooth and nail for it.
-[Hiram] There he is. -Came as soon as I could.
-New wheels, Mr. Lodge? -Indeed, but not mine.
The car's yours, Archie.
Ronnie, Mr. And Mrs. Lodge, I can't accept this.
Especially since, from now on,
you're gonna be driving our daughter wherever she needs to go.
Say yes, Archie. Say yes.
-Yeah. Yes. -Great.
I'll get the engine started.
Now, Archie, last night was the very definition
-of a short-term solution. -I'm aware of that.
[engine revs]
But our enemies will be back and not just for 25 percent.
-For everything. -We'll be ready for them, sir.
[car horn honks]
Get in, lover boy. I'll drive us to school.
[rock music playing]
Be careful.
So, now that you're free, what's your first move gonna be?
Well, Toni, if revenge is a dish best served cold,
my mother and uncle better brace themselves for a polar vortex.
But there's something more pressing than that.
Kevin, I hear I'm back in time for Carrie: The Musical,
-which you're directing. -You are.
I'm having auditions this afternoon.
Well, as far as the lead role's concerned, cancel them.
I'm obviously Riverdale High's Carrie White.
Oh.
And this school's gonna burn.