[tense music playing]
I'm not gonna lie to you.
What awaits us is like nothing we've ever faced.
But we will not be afraid.
-Do you know why?! -[all] 'Cause we're Bulldogs!
And Bulldogs never give up.
Men, your mission is to penetrate the enemy's defenses,
retrieve your fallen brother and return safely to base.
-Are we clear? -[all] Sir, yes, sir!
[Bulldog 1] Let's do this!
[Bulldog 2] Let's do this thing! Yeah!
[all clamoring]
[gunfire]
[Bulldog 3] Hut 32! Hut 32!
Reggie!
[high-pitched ringing]
[Vixens chanting] Let's go!
Let's go, Bulldogs, let's go!
-[girl] One more time! -Let's go, Bulldogs, let's go!
When I say "bull," you say "dogs."
-Bull! Bull! -Dogs! Dogs!
When I say "bull," you say "dogs."
-Bull! Bull! -Dogs! Dogs!
[dramatic music playing]
Archie. Just a little help.
[shouting indistinctly]
Archie!
[gunshot]
[man] Rise and shine, sergeant.
At ease, Andrews.
Ready to go home, son?
Home?
No, sir. No, I'm ready to get back in the fight.
Sergeant, you've given seven years to the Army.
Seven good years.
Every man in your unit will attest to that.
They're alive because of you.
Not all of them, sir.
I've done some digging.
The RROTC program at your old high school has been inactive.
I can't think of anyone more qualified to bring it back.
All due respect, sir, I didn't join the Army to be a desk jockey.
This is not a request, sergeant.
It's an order.
Sign your papers.
And by the by, Corporal Jackson just transferred in.
"In the late summer of that year, we lived in a house, in a village
that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains.
[tender music playing]
In the bed of the river, there were pebbles and boulders.
Dry and white in the sun.
And the water was clear and swiftly moving.
And blue in the channels."
[Jackson] Look who cleans up respectable.
Give me a break.
How you feeling?
Actually, they got me on so many pain meds, I'm good.
You? Going somewhere?
Yeah, home.
Riverdale.
Taylor wants me running the RROTC, working enlistment.
Dude, that's messed up.
Jackson...
I just wanna tell you how sorry I am.
I really wish it was me in that bed.
I do too.
Sarge,
only reason I'm still breathing is 'cause of you.
Riverdale, huh?
Sounds nice.
This is my address.
When you get out of here, look me up.
Thanks, Sarge.
Will do.
[tender music playing]
[air brakes hiss]
[bus door closes]
[dramatic music playing]
[rock music playing over speakers]
[bell jingles]
♪ I used to see you throwing rocks ♪
[woman] Something wrong, soldier boy?
No. No, everything's fine.
If you're hungry, grab a stool. Coffee's fresh.
Or if you want something stronger, head downstairs.
[band playing "After Dark"]
[indistinct chatter]
[Fangs] ♪ In her eyes ♪
♪ A distant fire light burns bright ♪
♪ Wondering why ♪
♪ It's only after dark ♪
♪ I find myself in the room ♪
♪ Feel the fever of my doom ♪
♪ Falling, falling through the floor ♪
♪ I'm knocking on the devil's door ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Burning, burning in the flame ♪
♪ Now you know my secret name ♪
♪ You can tear my temple down ♪
♪ But I'll be back and rule again ♪
[both] ♪ After dark, after dark ♪
♪ After dark ♪
[cheering and applause]
[Archie] Damn, Toni. It's good to see you.
Yeah. You too. You're all grown up.
I don't know about that.
-But you, you're, uh-- -Pregnant?
Yeah, I am.
Still a badass though. Who's the dad? Can I ask?
You can.
But I'm not gonna answer you. It's--
It's a secret. Just for now. Glad to see you're back in one piece.
Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm good.
-Who owns this place now? -Me and the Serpents.
We all put our cash together and bought it from Hiram Lodge.
A girl's gotta be creative to survive in Riverdale these days.
Toni, the bus ride into town...
I can't explain it. It--
Everything felt or feels--
Different? Weird?
Yeah. To be honest, it doesn't feel like Riverdale.
Yeah. Well, a lot has changed since we graduated high school.
Yeah, no kidding.
For starters, where's Pop Tate?
Well, haven't you heard?
I thought that's why you came back.
No, I was reassigned here.
[dramatic music playing]
Toni, what happened to Pop Tate?
[dramatic music playing]
How are the nightmares, Betty? Are they still keeping you up at night?
-No. I haven't had one in weeks. -Good.
I'm more than ready to get back to work.
You are working, I thought.
I've been assigned to cold cases, which means I'm filing all day.
Betty, you suffered severe trauma.
You were, and still are, only a trainee.
I caught serial killers in high school, Dr. Starling.
Not like the Trash Bag Killer.
You'd be surprised.
[Betty] I found something, Glen. A connection.
There was a set of murders in Odessa, Texas,
that stopped without the killer getting caught, no explanation.
Months later, in Fargo, North Dakota, there's a similar string of killings.
The victim profiles match, as well as the methods used,
and, again, the killings stopped for no reason.
You're thinking we have a migrating serial killer?
Yes, Glen. I have a hunch.
Betty, stop.
You're supposed to be logging cold cases, not sewing a crazy quilt out of them.
-The last time you followed a hunch... -The Trash Bag Killer.
I get it. I messed up bigtime.
How am I supposed to make up for it if I'm locked in a basement?
How am I supposed to redeem myself?
Listen, it's late.
How about we call it a day?
I can pick up some pizza and beer, meet at my place.
I can't tonight. I have plans.
Oh. Do you?
I'm meeting friends for Thai.
[woman on TV] Watch as the hunters take off, chasing down their prey.
The gazelle, while badly wounded, tries to run.
But after a long and meticulous stalk,
the hunters show no fear as they chase down and kill their prey.
[dramatic music playing]
With their sharp teeth and claws,
they are bred for violence.
[woman speaking indistinctly on TV]
[Betty screaming]
[cat whimpering]
Where are you, kitty?
[cat whimpering]
[licking noises]
-[chain saw starts] -[screams]
[static crackling on TV]
[cat meows]
[Starling] Any nightmares this week, Betty?
No. Sleeping like a baby.
Unless you're willing to open up to me,
about what you went through while you were held captive by TBK,
I won't be able to help you, Betty.
You know, when I got to TBK's lair...
Theresa was already dead.
It wouldn't have mattered if I'd gone in there with a SWAT team.
He'd already killed her.
That's true.
But if you'd waited for backup, you might not have been captured.
The Trash Bag Killer might not have escaped.
Yeah.
That was a mistake.
I regret that.
You haven't said much about your time in captivity.
-Two weeks. Do you think about it a lot? -[clears throat]
I think about where TBK might be right now.
I think about the people he might--
He might hurt
because of me.
[buzzing]
Sorry. I usually have it off.
[tender music playing]
[Betty] I have to go home for a few days.
To Riverdale.
Okay. Yeah, sure.
While you're there, pack up the FBI satellite office.
-Okay. -Where you and your killer brother worked.
Yes, I will pack up the office. No problem.
You have to watch my cat, Toffee.
Sure. Yeah, I can do that.
But I will need a key.
And since I won't be seeing you for a few days,
do I get a kiss goodbye?
[clears throat] Mm-hm.
To one glorious year of marriage.
To you and me forever, babe.
Happy anniversary.
Happy anniversary, Chadwick.
[classical music playing over speakers]
The only thing we're missing is
a little Chad or a little Veronica running around.
I have a feeling this could be the year. Don't you think?
Hopefully.
Maybe it's time to think about cutting back your hours at Lacy's.
It's 2021, Chad. Haven't you heard? Women can have it all now.
I just-- I don't want you to be unduly stressed.
I'm not stressed.
I miss being on the trading floor with you,
all that adrenaline, the highs of a filthy huge sale,
talking smack with the guys.
[chuckles] They called me "The She-Wolf of Wall Street."
-[bell rings on TV] -[man speaking indistinctly on TV]
Wrap this one up for me, will you, doll?
He wants to put a dime on it? With that spread?
[cell phone ringing]
Vinny, Vinny, Vinny.
-Hold on. -I'm not letting you walk out of here
with this pathetic excuse for an apology gift.
[door chimes]
You know you're insulting your own merchandise?
Not at all. You're looking at off-the-rack items
when you committed a specialty- showcase haute-couture offense.
Trust me on this one, Vinny. You gotta go big.
Or your wife will never forgive you.
-T Dubs! How are you? -Good, Ronnie.
Your tip took my portfolio through the roof.
-You got the magic touch. -I call them like I see them.
Oh, did Kendra like the bracelet?
-So about Kendra... -Oh, T. Not again.
-[cell phone ringing] -One second.
-Hey, stud. -[Chad] How's work, babe?
Great. Katy and I are just a little slammed.
-You wanna meet us for dinner later? -That's funny.
'Cause I went to Lacy's to surprise you, and I'm standing next to Katy.
Hi, Katy. You, however, are nowhere to be seen.
Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is
not even knowing where my wife is?
Forget that you've been lying to me. What happened to Lacy's?
-We decided you would work-- -I tried Lacy's,
but I needed something with a little more edge.
-We were working towards having a baby. -Oh, my...
-Or did you forget that? -No. No, Chad.
You forgot. You forgot who I am.
Who you married.
[dramatic music playing]
Remember how it was in the beginning?
Things were so good.
You and me working side by side.
We were the power couple to beat.
And the sex?
The sex was amazing.
What happened?
The accident.
Chad...
you use the accident as an excuse to try and control me...
-You almost died. -So did you!
You didn't want me going back to Wall Street
because it was too stressful,
and I didn't wanna keep having the same argument, so I agreed.
But that was a mistake. That's not who I am.
And the sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be.
[bell rings]
Ready, everyone.
And action!
From small town to big city,
my killer instinct always gets me what I want.
-[woman] And cut! -[bell rings]
Oh, Hermione, my one-take wonder.
-You're my angel, you know that? -Thank you.
-I wish all the Housewives could be you. -Well, I try.
Wow, Mom. You make it look so easy.
Oh, please. For women who've been through what we've been through?
This is a cake walk, mija.
Which reminds me, Andy wants to know when you'll join us for an episode or two.
Mom, no.
I can't put my life on display. Especially not when it's in utter turmoil.
What's wrong?
You're married to a successful man who gives you whatever you want.
You don't even have to work.
I love working, that's the problem.
Chad wants to turn me into a baby-making machine.
You don't wanna have kids? Since when?
We have plenty of time for that.
Right now? I don't wanna be a mom.
-No offense. -Mm-hm.
I wanna be the She-Wolf of Wall Street.
Let me ask you something.
When you and Chad worked together, you outperformed him. Right?
Almost every week.
Okay. That's threatening to an alpha like Chad.
He's vain. Like Hiram.
Every marriage has its ups and downs.
And as for believing that you have plenty of time to start a family?
I think the accident might have shown you that's not the case.
[dramatic music playing]
[elevator dings]
Let's try this again.
Happy anniversary.
I hate it when we fight.
Especially when it's my fault.
We never used to.
What happened?
The accident.
When our helicopter went down on the way to Marcia's Vineyard...
I said a prayer, Veronica.
"If only one of us will survive," I thought...
"Please let it be my wife.
Let it be the woman I wanna build a life with.
The woman I wanna be the mother of my children."
We both survived, and all I could think is now we can do those things.
I don't wanna waste a minute.
Does that make any sense to you at all?
It does.
But we're partners.
If I tell you that I wanna do something
and that I can handle the stress of that thing...
you have to trust me, Chad.
I will.
Hold on.
You...
have got to open your gift first.
A new one comes out each year, so you can start collecting them.
Well, Yvonne, I can see that Josh was absolutely right about you.
-You are a woman of exquisite taste. -Yes, I am.
I think I have just the thing.
We usually don't carry items that are so high-end.
But I know a guy.
Best of all, a new Glamergé egg is released each year.
You could start a collection.
Oh, my God.
-It's perfect. -[cell phone ringing]
Archie?
Is everything okay?
[jazz music playing]
[screams]
What the hell, Jones?
-[Jughead] Hey, Samm Pansky, please. -Hey.
-Jess, please.
Samm, it's me. Can we talk?
You'd rather talk to your agent than your girlfriend? That's awesome.
Uh, can we meet for lunch at that place you like?
Yeah. Great. I'll see you soon. Bye.
I have writer's block.
So do I. But I'm not punishing you for it.
Can we talk about this when I get back?
Samm, just give it to me straight.
Am I still in the running for the staff writer job at The New Yorker?
No, kid. I'm sorry. Just found out this morning.
You shouldn't be trying to get a job as a reporter.
You're a fiction writer. You should be working on your book.
How's that going, by the way?
-I have writer's block. -Mm-mm.
You got a lousy work ethic and a toxic relationship.
You drink too much.
So did Kerouac and Hemmingway and Fitzgerald.
You want it straight?
Whatever heat you had coming off of your first book is long gone.
A year ago, you could've had a story published anywhere,
but now you're spoiled goods, past your sell-by date.
Just need more time.
Scribner's called. They're threatening to take back their advance.
-Did you hold them off? -They wanna see pages!
It all comes down to, do you want a career or be a one-hit wonder?
I can't hear you!
[dramatic music playing]
What?
Hey. Hey, Jess!
Did you see this?
Did--?
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's going on? -I'll stay with Hailey.
-Why? -This isn't working anymore.
We haven't been working for a long time.
Also, debt collectors are pounding at the door.
Wait. When?
Today. After you blew me off to meet with your agent.
Okay. Jess, please, wait--
Don't do this. All I need is just--
I don't know what you need, Jones.
But I'm definitely not it.
Good luck with your book. It's the only thing you care about anyway.
[blues music playing over speakers]
Excuse me. This is you, isn't it?
It is you. Oh, my God.
I was sitting there, reading your book, then I look up,
and there you are.
"Forsythe Pendleton Jones III."
-My friends just call me Jughead. -Cora.
I'm a grad student at NYU. English, of course.
It's wonderful, by the way. Your book.
The Outcasts, which is an homage--
To The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
The love story between the Viper leader and the homecoming queen?
It's just so...
Romantic?
Sexy. I was gonna say.
["Katchi" playing]
It's a very sexy book.
♪ Doo wop a doo wop Shoopi doobi doo wop ♪
♪ She give me Katchi ♪
♪ All night long ♪
♪ She give me Katchi ♪
♪ All night long ♪
-Morning. -Morning.
Where'd you get that?
In one of your drawers. Is that okay?
Yeah. Not a big deal. There's coffee brewing.
Hey, I remember this.
New York Magazine, right?
-They called you the-- -"New Brat Pack," yeah.
"The wunderkinds."
"The season's best and brightest young writers
with so much potential."
Full disclosure, I've read the article like a hundred times.
It's how I knew that bar was--
Is your usual hangout.
What?
Okay, so I really am a fan of your book. Honestly.
[suspenseful music playing]
But I do have an ulterior motive.
Would you mind reading my novel?
It's 342 pages. If you like it, maybe you could give it to your agent?
Okay. Hold on.
Last night was a ploy to get me to read your book?
[knocking on door]
-[man] Forsythe Jones, open up! -[pounding on door]
Who are they?
-Debt collectors. -Are they gonna hurt you?
[man] Jones, we know you're in there. We can see your shadow.
-We can hear you shuffling. Let's go. -I'll read your book, I swear.
Could you just do me a favor?
-[man] Not going anywhere, Jones. -Please?
-Can I help you? -Where's Forsythe Jones?
Uh, he's not here. I'm apartment-sitting for him.
He got a job writing in L.A., just left this morning.
Can I give him a message for you?
Tell him to call us. It's urgent.
You got it.
Will do.
Thank you.
No problem. But I'll expect to hear from you by the end of the week.
-The end of the week? -About my novel?
-And about giving it to your agent? -Mm-hm.
And if I don't hear from you,
I know who I'm gonna call.
[dramatic music playing]
[cell phone ringing]
[Archie] This is nuts. I haven't seen you guys in, what, six years?
[Toni] It's been seven.
Wow. Lots of catching up to do.
I had a job lined up after graduation with Riverdale Social Services,
but their offices got shut down.
Lucky for her, we needed a counselor at Riverdale High.
You're looking at the new Mrs. Burble.
Wait. You're working at Riverdale High too, Kev?
Yep. Drama teacher.
Got my BA from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, where...
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.
Whoo.
We stayed boyfriends, believe it or not.
-And now we live together here. -Mm-hm.
With me. In an apartment on Cloverfield Lane.
-That's amazing. -[Toni chuckles]
Sweet Pea, what about you, bro?
Mostly held down the fort here while these guys were gone.
Then, when Toni got back...
We decided to revive the Serpents. Under my leadership.
I was crowned the Serpent Queen.
Well, I gotta say, this place is sick.
Pulls in a different crowd though. What's with the truckers?
Serpents drive trucks, including me and Fangs.
-Toni had the hookup. -[Archie] Impressive.
Hey, what about Cheryl?
It's cool, guys.
-After graduation, Cheryl and I broke up. -RIP, Choni.
After I got back from Highsmith, I went to check on her a couple times...
[Cheryl] Hello, Antoinette.
[Toni] Cheryl.
-I thought we could talk. -[construction noise in background]
I'm afraid now isn't a good time.
We're in the midst of renovating Thornhill.
And I've got my painting to finish. Perhaps another day?
Uh... Sure.
Cheryl, are you okay?
I'm perfectly fine. Do I appear to be otherwise?
My mistake.
And? Did you go back?
I did. Not too long ago.
But this time, I wasn't Thornhill's only visitor.
Hiram was there with his right-hand man Reggie.
Reggie's working for Hiram Lodge?
[Cheryl] I will never sell you my maple groves, you vulgarian.
Nana and I plan to be buried amongst those trees.
-We could make that happen. -Goodbye, would-be usurper.
-Business with Hiram Lodge? -No.
He comes by every other week, offering to buy my maple groves, but...
I'm really glad to see you, Toni.
I wonder if you would do me the honor of letting me paint you.
Uh...
Cheryl, no one's seen you in town in years.
[Cheryl] Don't worry about me.
Nana and I are just fine.
-There's no reason for us to leave. -Okay.
Well, don't you wanna hear about me?
Let's see.
You graduated with a 3.9 GPA.
You majored in social work with a minor in photography.
And you did extensive charity and social work.
Am I missing anything important?
Well, other than the fact I'm having a baby.
I'd heard that, yes.
Congratulations, Toni.
I won't ask who the father is.
I'm completely out and open with my family.
We've talked about you.
They recognize and acknowledge everything you've done
to make up for your ancestors' sins.
I think that they'd approve of us being together.
[dramatic music playing]
I'm so happy to hear that, Toni.
But it's not nearly enough.
The Blossom curse runs deep. I'm doomed to a life of unhappiness.
You think you're cursed.
Beloved Tee-Tee...
are you familiar with the Winchester House?
I've seen the movie with Helen Mirren.
Sarah Winchester came from a family of rifle-makers.
Winchester rifles.
One by one,
family members suffered painful, horrific fates.
Cursed by the deaths brought on by their family's stock and trade, rifles.
Only Sarah survived.
So she started to build a house.
The Winchester House.
She believed that as long as it remained under constant construction...
the curse couldn't consume her.
Is that why you're rebuilding Thornhill?
Toni...
I'm glad you're doing so well.
You deserve to be happy.
[Toni] She didn't say another word.
She just painted me for 12 hours,
and when she was done, I left.
A week later, a package showed up, and it was my portrait.
She didn't keep it as a reminder of what you guys had?
I guess she didn't want it.
[Nana] Well done, my dear.
It's exactly like the original.
It's a perfect copy.
You've learned well.
Now, the question is...
would you be able to replicate the work of a master?
Like, say, um...
Rembrandt?
[rock music playing over speakers]
Toni, earlier you said the town had changed.
I'll regret asking this, but can you tell me how?
-I think it might be better to show you. -Okay.
Where are you staying?
I'm crashing at the El Royale. My mom's renting out our house.
Right.
The renters. Um...
-I'll pick you up at the gym. -Okay. Thanks, Toni.
-You mind if I stay to make a few calls? -Go for it.
[line rings]
[objects clattering]
-Archie? -[Archie] Toni.
I figured a steel gate would be enough to keep this gym intact,
but this place is like a war zone.
Wait till you see the rest of the town. Come on, my bike's out front.
[dramatic music playing]
[Toni] This was the fire station, remember?
It was a burnt-up shell when I got back from college.
No one's trying to rebuild it?
The town's funding has been stripped by--
-Hiram Lodge. -Bingo.
Not only is the fire department gone,
but the Sheriff's Office is down to one man, Kevin's dad.
I don't understand. What are people doing?
Fending for themselves? The town's lawless now.
[alarms blaring in distance]
This was Pickens Park.
[toy squeaks]
Where is everybody?
Whoever could afford to leave is long gone.
Only the people who are too poor or too proud to move on are still here.
[dogs barking]
This was Sketch Alley.
Now we just call it what it is. Skid row.
Those dogs are everywhere. Packs of them.
Some are rabid.
[Archie] This is the fifth bus stop that's been trashed, melted.
Five of dozens.
There's always a fire burning in Riverdale.
Why burn a bench for no reason? Where will people sit for the bus?
That's the thing. Buses don't pass by here anymore.
Sometimes, my trucks do,
but only if they have to and rarely at night.
Bad things happen here after dark.
They call this the Lonely Highway.
Why destroy an entire town for nothing?
-What does Hiram Lodge have to gain? -I'll show you.
-I don't get it. Where are the houses? -This isn't SoDale proper.
This is where Hiram's building a turnpike that leads to SoDale,
about half a mile due east.
He's catering to the rich folk who can commute into the city.
So he's strangling Riverdale to boost SoDale?
Their kids will go to SoDale High?
Stonewall Prep. That place is the same.
Except Hiram bought a seat on the board.
And so the nightmare continues.
There's one more place I think you should see on the tour.
But you'll have to brace yourself.
[rock music playing inside house]
[Archie] The Ghoulies moved into my house?
-Wanna go in there and knock some heads? -As a matter of fact, I do.
First things first, Toni. Can we go back to Pop's?
-See if any of them actually came? -Okay.
[bell jingles]
Archie. I heard you were back.
Pop. It's good to see you. I missed you.
Same. I missed all of you.
[tender music playing]
Archie. Toni.
Veronica.
-Betty. Jughead. -Hi.
I'll leave you guys to it, then.
No. You're as much a part of this as any of us.
Look, guys.
Toni gave me a tour of Riverdale today and it's--
It's a hellscape.
I know I called you here for Pop's retirement party...
but we have a much bigger agenda now.
Riverdale's dying.
We might be the only ones who can save it.
[rock music playing over speakers]
Are you sure I can't convince you to stay, Squeaky?
I'll give you more shifts if it would help.
I appreciate that, Tabitha, but Riverdale is done with me.
And I am done with Riverdale.
Well, take care of yourself.
Will do.
[bell jingles]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Jughead] Her name is Lynette Fields.
"Squeaky" to her friends, not that she has many.
Mostly, she keeps to herself.
She came to Riverdale two years ago for a fresh start that never happened.
Now she was 21, and it was time to go.
"Maybe things will be different in San Francisco," she thought.
"Maybe I'll be happy there."
Unfortunately for Lynette,
she'll never make it to California.
[theme music playing] o California.