07x12 - Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Nine: After the Fall

[bunniefuu]

[ALARM RINGING]

[JUGHEAD] This is the
story of two teenage boys

living under the same roof.

They go to the same school.

They think about the same things,

mostly cars and girls.

But very different passions drive them.

On a normal typical morning,

the first thing these two boys do

is go for a run through
the still-asleep town.

For Reggie, a run is a warm-up,

before he turns to his
true love, basketball.

For Archie,

it's a different kind of warm-up,

before putting pencil to paper.

Mind you, today isn't a
normal, typical morning.

It's the day after Halloween,

when a car full of Bulldogs

drove off a bridge and
into Sweetwater River.

Team captain Julian Blossom
had been behind the wheel.

All the Bulldogs most likely would
have drowned if not for Reggie,

who pulled them from
the water one by one.

But Julian Blossom was unconscious,

hovering between life and death.

Even as Frank Andrews was doing his best

to calm down an enraged
Clifford Blossom.

I knew bringing that
punk in was a bad idea.

It's his fault, it had to have been.

And I want him off my team.

Mayor Blossom, we're still

piecing together what happened,

but it's my understanding

that it was Julian behind the wheel.

You know what I do know?

That that thug has been trouble
since the day he got here

and I want him gone.

Mister Mayor, you shouldn't

be thinking about the team right now.

You should be focusing on your son.

Everything else can be sorted out later.

[JUGHEAD] And the
Bulldogs weren't the only

Halloween tragedy that night.

The milkman had tried to
m*rder my bud, Ethel Muggs.

It's the same milkman that I saw

leaving my house after he
k*lled my parents, Sheriff.

But I wrestled the Kn*fe out of his hand

- and then...
- It was self-defense, Sheriff.

In case you're getting any funny ideas.

Well, at least all our questions
have finally been answered.

Are you joshing us?

Now I have even more questions.

Should I go to the station
and make a statement?

No, uh, that won't be necessary.

It strikes me as a open-and-shut case.

Open and shut?

Sheriff, whoever this maniac
is, k*lled Ethel's parents,

k*lled Mr. Rayberry and
tried to bump off Ethel.

If you have all the answers, who is he?

Huh?

Who is the milkman?

I will get to that.

Maybe his fingerprints
are on file at the office,

but in the meantime,

we need to get Ethel
back to the Sisters.

- No!
- [JUGHEAD] No, no, no.

The Sisters were abusing Ethel.

She'll come with me.

She needs to be in the
care of an adult, Jughead.

Well, that may be so,
but not the Sisters.

[PHONE RINGING]

Frank, Archie, do you have any news?

Wait. Jughead, slow down.

What is this about Ethel?

Ethel, dear.

Mary and I have been
discussing everything,

and we've made a decision.

[SIGHS] Given everything
that's been going on,

we both think that it might be best

if you stay with the Coopers.

What, again?

No, the last time that I
stayed with Mrs. Cooper,

she sent me away to that horrible place.

Oh. Honestly, Ethel,

sending you to the Sisters
was more Mr. Cooper's idea.

So let's get you settled
in my sewing room.

Come along, dear.

If you hadn't been there,

those Bulldogs would've drowned.

You saved their lives, Reg, even Julian.

- You're a hero.
- I'm no hero.

When I realized I was the only one

who'd gotten free from the
car and kicked to the surface,

I knew that I had to
dive back down there

and get everyone out.

Even in that moment, I knew
that if any of those guys d*ed,

especially Blossom, that
I'd be blamed for it.

They would have locked me
up for the rest of my life.

Or done worse than locked me up.

[CUTLERY CLINKING]

Good morning.

I'm heading to school now, Ethel,

if you wanted to walk with me?

- Sure.
- Don't be ridiculous, Elizabeth.

I'll be driving Ethel
to school this morning.

[SCOFFS]

My mom is such a phony-baloney.

She sent Ethel away to
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy,

and now she's playing nice with her

and treating me like
I'm some unwanted guest?

Yeah, I tell you, Vee, I have
half a mind to run away from home.

You don't have to sell me
on the pain of phony parents.

And I'd invite you to stay
with me at the Pembrooke,

but, truth be told, I've
been living at the Babylonium

ever since my parents locked
me out of our apartment.

What? You're living
at the movie theater?

Veronica Lodge is nothing more

than a common squatter.

Let me ask you, have you
tried breaking back in?

I know that this is a difficult time,

but I did want to share aloud

a poem that one of you
turned in last week.

It's titled "Phantom."

"They tell me I'm solid.

They pat me on the back.

They see a son, student, a team player.

They see a boy like any other.

But I look in the mirror,

and there's no one there.

Just smoke and mirrors,

and I do not know how to be solid."

Any thoughts, class?

It was beautiful.

[KEVIN] Yeah.

That was incredible, Clay.

I agree, but I didn't write it.

No. It was not Mr. Walker's poem.

It was Mr. Andrew's work.

[STUDENTS MURMURING]

I wish you'd speak up
more in class, Archie.

Based on this poem, it's clear.

You have a lot to say.

All right, fellas, listen up.

Now, we're scheduled for our big game

against Stonewall
Prep this Friday night,

but after recent events,

we've decided to name a new captain

while Julian, God willing, recovers.

And that captain...

will be Archie.

[ALL MURMURING]

Now, let's all take a knee,

say a prayer for our
Bulldog brother in distress.

We're so happy to have
you back with us, Ethel.

Yes, I admit, it's quite the reversal,

but you proved your sanity

by single handedly
dispatching that, uh, drifter.

A drifter? Who said that
the milkman was a drifter?

Sheriff Keller, if I'm not mistaken.

It's obvious what
happened, this drifter.

His mind was poisoned by the
dreck Pep Comics publishes,

and he was inspired to
go on a murderous rampage,

much like the original comic book.

And then he must have stolen

a milkman's uniform and begun k*lling

to satisfy some insane bloodlust.

[WHISTLES] Well, that
does make perfect sense.

Except why would he k*ll Ethel's parents

and then Brad Rayberry,

and then tried to get Ethel herself?

Do you really think that
a drifter would do that?

Yes. Don't drifters usually move on?

Drift.

Neither of you are in
a position to theorize.

We have told you exactly what happened.

Now, I hope that you both

finally see the very real danger

in what comic books pose to society.

- Uncle Frank?
- Hey, Archie.

[SIGHS] I, uh... I'm honored

to be named captain of this team,

but shouldn't it be Reggie?

He's our strongest player, by a mile.

Well, that may be so, Archie,
but this wasn't my call.

Clifford Blossom wanted you to step up.

And given the fact that
he sponsors the Bulldogs,

I thought it would be
best to respect his wishes.

Clifford Blossom's had it
out for Reggie since day one.

The Bulldogs are the mayor's
pride and joy, Archie.

My strong advice, leave this one alone.

But I'm glad you came to see me.

There's something I want to give you.

- Is that...
- Your dad's captain's patch.

I know he'd want you wearing it

for your first game as team captain.

Okay, Uncle Frank.

I'm leaving.

I'm going to stay with
my friend, Veronica.

It'll just be the two of us

in her apartment doing whatever we want.

When have you not, Elizabeth?

[POP MUSIC PLAYING]

Where did you learn how to do that?

Pick a lock with a bobby pin.

Don't laugh, but my Tracy
True Teen Detective Handbook.

Laugh?

Betty, I love those books.

Okay, question.

How quiet do we have to be
in here so as not to alert...

His name is Smithers,

and we can be as loud as we want

when we're in the apartment.

It's just when we're going
up and down the back staircase

that we have to be mindful,

I told the boys that too.

What boys?

- Archie and Reggie?
- God, no.

I actually want to have some fun.

So I invited Kevin and Clay

to come over after closing
up at the Babylonium.

[GIGGLES]

Father.

I just got back from the hospital.

Please tell me the rumors about
basketball season continuing

whilst Julian languishes
are just that, rumors.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Your brother's always been a dunce.

He made his bed, let him lay in it.

[SCOFFS]

As for the season,

yes, Cheryl, it will
continue as scheduled.

It must.

Are you truly so desperate

to relive your glory days as a Bulldog

that you would forsake your own son?

Yes.

I was a Bulldog...

and I'd do anything to go
back to those days again.

When I first realized
that a winning team

can unite a town.

[SCOFFS]

You give the people that,
they'll follow you anywhere.

I certainly won't be shaking my pom-poms

while my brother hovers
between life and death.

- Oh, yes, you will.
- [SCOFFS]

You will put on your little happy face

and you will cheer your little heart out

until your spoiled pink lungs bleed,

or you'll suffer a fate
worse than Julian's.

- [GASPS]
- Do I make myself clear?

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ I'm gonna wash that
man right out of my hair ♪

♪ I'm gonna wash that
man right outta my hair ♪

♪ I'm gonna wave that
man right outta my arms ♪

♪ And send him on his way ♪

♪ Don't try to patch it up ♪

[ALL] ♪ Tear it up, tear it up ♪

♪ Wash him out, dry him out ♪

[ALL] ♪ Push him out, fly him out ♪

♪ Cancel him and let him go ♪

♪ Yea, sister ♪

Sing it, Betty.

♪ If the man don't understand you ♪

♪ If you fly on separate beams ♪

♪ Waste no time ♪
♪ Make a change ♪

♪ Ride that man right off your range ♪

♪ Rub him out of the roll call ♪

♪ And drum him out of your dreams ♪

[ALL] ♪ Oh-ho! ♪

♪ If you laugh at different comics ♪

♪ If you root for different teams ♪

♪ Waste no time ♪
♪ Weep no more ♪

♪ Show him what the door is for ♪

♪ Rub him out of the roll call ♪

♪ And drum him out of your dreams ♪

[ALL] ♪ Oh-ho! ♪

♪ Oh-ho! ♪

♪ We went and washed that
man right outta our hair ♪

♪ We went and washed that
man right outta our hair ♪

♪ We went and washed that
man right outta our hair ♪

♪ And sent him on his way ♪

[ALL LAUGHING, CHEERING]

- [VERONICA] Care for a top-off?
- [BETTY] Yes, please.

Thank you, Vee. This rum
is so sweet and yummy.

Isn't it? I'll say
this about my parents,

they keep their liquor
cabinet well-stocked.

Mm. Kev, this is so much more of a kick

than when you and I were going steady.

Oh, I agree.

And speaking of dating,

how was your Halloween
with Archie and Reggie?

With everything that
happened, I forgot to ask.

Ah... [SIGHS]

It seemed like something
was percolating with Archie

and we did kiss,

but then...

I'll be honest. I thought
you and Reggie might've

made a love connection.

[BETTY] Mm.

Well, now that we're talking
about both Archie and Reggie,

Kevin, Clay,

you fellas are always in the
boys' locker room together.

Tell us. Who's packing the most heat?

- Veronica!
- [CHUCKLES]

- Uh...
- Hard to tell.

Oh, come off it. We
all know how it goes.

It's after gym class.

You're having a steam.

You're snapping towels.

Are you seriously telling
us that neither of you

has ever cast an eyeball their way?

I will say that both Archie and Reggie

both have a lot to be really proud of.

I am not surprised.

- I felt as much with Reggie.
- [CLAY] Okay,

but, uh, the real story

- coming out of the boys' locker room.
- Oh.

- Yes. Julian Blossom?
- No.

- Fangs Fogarty?
- [BOTH] No.

Dilton Doiley.

[BOTH SCREAM]

- No!
- [CHUCKLES]

It's always the little ones.

Well, to Dilton Doiley

and all the boys of Riverdale High.

[ALL] To all the boys.

[CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING]

[CHERYL] And now that you've
met our starting lineup,

please give a big Riverdale welcome

to the man who's going to lead us

to certain victory against
the Stonewall Stallions,

and our new team captain...

Archie Andrews!

[CROWD CHEERING]

Are you okay, Cheryl?

I'm fine.

Just doing as is demanded of me.

Captain Andrews,

will you please say a few
words to your loyal fans?

- [BOY] Yeah, take us to victory, Archie!
- [GIRL] All right!

Um... [CLEARS THROAT]

[FEEDBACK SQUEALS]

Uh, the fact is, I'm not
really great with words,

- but, uh...
- [FEEDBACK SQUEALS]

It was nice, what you said in the gym.

Come on, Mrs. Thornton.

I was awful.

Well, it might not have
been the Gettysburg Address,

but it's hard to speak
off the cuff like that.

However, when you write,
you do so with passion,

clarity, heart.

Well, that's swell of
you to say, Mrs. Thornton,

but we both know that I'm not...

No, no. Stop right there.

I know putting pencil to
paper is not as exciting

as... as being captain of a sports team,

but I assure you it can be.

And I hope you'll think about

putting as much energy into your writing

as you do into basketball someday.

Holy hell, freckles.

Well, from what I've been hearing,
you survived those crazy nuns,

took out a k*ller and cleared your name.

That's not bad for a teeny bopper.

Not bad at all.

Thank you, Mr. Fieldstone.

I'm really just jazzed to be back.

Well, let's get you drawing
another story ASAP. Hmm?

Jughead here will
write a script for you.

- Oh, golly, we'd love that.
- [FIELDSTONE CHUCKLES]

I am looking at the dream team.

So, pitch me. Sky's the limit.

Name it. Anything you want to do.

Well, in that case, I
would love to do a sequel

to the "Milkman Cometh" story.

I think that we could
really just make something...

Anything but that.

Forget about the milkman.
The milkman is dead.

I mean, literally, you k*lled him.

- He's old news.
- Well, Ethel and I were discussing that.

Uh, "The Milkman Cometh" is still

one of your best-selling
issues of all time.

With everything that's
happened recently,

why not capitalize upon it?

Because the heat's on us right now.

Everybody's talking
about the latest editorial

that quack Werthers wrote.

Hell, even the AP picked it up.

We gotta be circumspect.

For a little while, at least.

So give me a story about
a zombie or a goblin.

Anything but a milkman, capisce?

From now on, consider
me lactose intolerant.

As Coco Chanel allegedly said,

"The best cure for a hangover

- is spending money on new clothes."
- Hmm.

It sounds better in French,
but the point still stands.

Are you girls finding
everything all right?

Mrs. Andrews, these pieces are stunning.

Your taste is tres magnifique.

[MARY] Thank you.

Could you please have
these two dresses boxed up

and sent over to the Pembrooke?

Of course.

- And yours too, Betty?
- Yes, please.

You're staying there as well?

Yes, ma'am.

But don't worry, my mother
is copasetic with it.

"Copasetic."

[TIRES SPINNING]

What the hell? They've got Peppy!

Give our mascot back.

Hey, simmer down, Red.

You'll get your chance to
win him back on the court.

Of course, Mantle there, he's a choker.

Yeah, you put him under
pressure and he cracks.

That's how it was when he
played for us at Stonewall.

And dollars to donuts,

he's gonna fold like a
sheet again this weekend.

Shut your mouth before I give
you a freaking knuckle sandwich...

Save it for the game.

You know, we're real
sorry to hear about Julian.

It was such a tragedy.

But, hey, you know, we were, um,

we're thinking of getting a
wager going with you chumps

but, uh, Stonewall doesn't
play for food stamps.

- [ENGINE REVVING]
- [BOYS LAUGHING]

[BOY WHOOPS]

Come on.

I know these turkeys.

I played with them, so
I know how to b*at 'em.

First up, Weston Wallis
has legitimate skills

but can't sink a sh*t
from outside the key.

Fangs, it's your job to keep him there.

That way, he'll be tossing
up air balls all night.

Nothing I dig more than
humiliating a rich boy.

Consider it done.

Good man. Next up, t*nk.

Looks like Boris Karloff,
but panics when you crowd him.

Archie, that's your target.

Stay on him like the paint
on the side of a barn.

Andrews, you with us?

He's a barn, I'm paint. Got it.

Righteous.

What's eating you?

Is it because Peppy got dognapped?

Don't worry. We'll get
him back, guaranteed.

It's not that.

It's...

I feel like an imposter.

I shouldn't be the
captain of this team, Reg.

You should be the captain.

I mean, you're made for it.

Heck, it's your dream.

I don't think about that kind of stuff.

As far as dreams, I don't have any.

I have a plan.

To win the game this Friday night

and then the game after that,

and to keep on winning until I go pro.

You got your eyes on the prize

and you know what to do to get it.

I wish I could say
the same about myself.

Can't you, Captain?

I play basketball

because it's a way for me
to feel close to my dad.

Not because it's my passion.

So what's your passion?

Cars? Girls?

You wouldn't believe it if I told you.

Hey, we talked about this.

Didn't you hear what
Mr. Fieldstone said?

We got an ixnay on the ilkman-may.

I can't.

I can't, Jughead.

Well, what gives?

Is it really so important
to do another milkman story?

You know, since this
whole thing started,

no one but you

has believed me.

People were telling me
that I was delusional

or that I flipped a lid or
that I k*lled my parents,

to the point where I... I
I started to doubt my sanity.

And now, the milkman is dead...

and everybody is still trying to tell me

what happened and how it happened.

Why, I don't know.

But I do know that I am so tired,

of people telling me what I went through

and what I experienced.

I want to tell my story.

Or at least a version of it.

Even if it's just in a comic book.

Well, hey, that makes a lot of sense.

And you'll draw the heck out of it.

We just have to figure out

a creative way to have
our cake and eat it.

Without a glass of milk,
of course. [CHUCKLES]

[SIGHS]

This particular shade of pink
is Grace Kelly's favorite.

It's from the most fantabulous

makeup shop on Larchmont Boulevard.

My mom used to take me
and we'd do exactly this.

She'd paint my nails
right before bedtime.

My mom stopped tucking me in

after I got my "gift"
from Mother Nature.

She said that I was now a woman
and didn't need to be coddled.

It's funny.

I practically ran away from home,

and she... doesn't seem to care.

Will you look at us?

Sixteen years old,

living without our mothers,
effectively orphans.

- Can I tell you something, Vee?
- Of course, Bee.

Anything.

I feel so different from
everyone else in my family.

Sometimes I wonder if I was adopted.

Is it just you and your parents?

I have an older sister, Polly.

But she left Riverdale
as soon as she turned .

Do you ever talk to
her about how you feel?

She's so busy.

Well, if you were adopted,

your family is the luckiest on Earth

because you, Betty Cooper, are aces.

Not to mention, beautiful to boot.

You know, if we're divulging
our deepest, darkest secrets,

I've always had this
paralyzing fear that...

That I was a mistake,

unplanned, and that my mother and father

never stopped resenting me for that.

I mean, they were fine having me
around when I was a little doll

they could dress up however they wanted,

but when I finally became old enough

to have my own mind
with my own thoughts...

It was bye-bye, Veronica.

Let's make a pact.

To never grow up to be
anything like our parents.

[KISSES]

You know who I do think are
a happy and healthy couple?

- Kevin and Clay.
- [SIGHS] Ah.

- Aren't they the dreamiest?
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

I'm so happy for them.

Me too.

I'm also slightly jealous.

On some level,

it must be easier for two boys
to date than a boy and a girl.

None of that "battle of the
sexes" stuff to navigate.

Fun fact,

I read in Dr. Kingsley's book

that % of girls experiment

with other girls before they turn .

Isn't that shocking?

Sounds about right to me.

I mean, I've... I've
kissed a girl before.

[CHUCKLES] I won't say
who, but you would know her.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Oh, my gosh.

Have you ever?

No, I haven't.

But I've thought about it.

It's only natural.

With who?

With you.

Is it okay that I said that?

I'm glad you did.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Do you...

Do you want to try it?

Me too.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[SMITHERS] Miss
Veronica, we're coming in.

Smithers.

I stand corrected, Mrs. Andrews,

You were right about the squatters.

A mother's intuition always is.

Okay, girls. You need
to tell me everything.

Julian.

I know we don't always get along, but...

I love you.

[CHUCKLES] Call me crazy, but I...

I miss your grating voice,

I miss your horsey laugh.

Brother, dear...

[SOBBING] Please come back to me.

If not for your own sake,

then for mine.

I beg of you.

Oh, jeez. Would you stop
it with the waterworks, sis?

- You're embarrassing both of us.
- [CHUCKLES] Julian?

Told a guy in a coma
he has a horsey laugh.

[LAUGHS]

I'm gonna remember that.

Alice told you what?

"I'm not your mother anymore."

Unspeakable.

A mother disowning her own child.

And Veronica, your parents evicted you?

Via telegram, via Smithers.

[GASPS] You poor things.

I knew something was wrong.

But don't worry.

I'm going to fix everything.

[FEATHERHEAD] Are we worried
that the Mantles may try

to take legal action against
us or the school board?

[CLIFFORD] Oh, don't be daffy, man.

Oh, they'd never be
able to find a lawyer

to represent them in a case like that.

And even if they did, they
wouldn't be able to afford the fees.

[FEATHERHEAD] Of course
you're right, Mr. Mayor.

[CLIFFORD] Yeah, well, in any
case, uh, tell me a little bit more

about the Mantle boy's replacement.

Difficult keeping it
all hush hush, Mr. Mayor,

but we just finalized the papers.

Your new ringer from Boston, KO Kelly,

will transfer to Riverdale
High as soon as next week.

Once Mantle gets us that
win against Stonewall,

we'll just swap him out

for a normal, red-blooded
American lad, a real one.

One that's just as good a
player, but more like us.

Then I will send that Mantle packing.

Of all the no-good rotten
things in this world.

What kind of mother
disowns their own child?

When you have a child,

do you know what your
middle name becomes?

- Sacrifice.
- [SCOFFS]

I mean, we mothers
were put on this planet

to nurture our children.

And here I thought
Penelope Blossom was bad.

And you can bet your bottom dollar

that I said the same
thing to Hermione Lodge.

That you should both do
everything in your power

to write these horrific wrongs

and to regain your moral footing.

And you had best pray

that you can repair the
damage that you've done.

Here you go, sweetie.

Oh, so am I your daughter again?

[SCOFFS] Of course.

You and Ethel are.

[CHERYL] Archie.

Cheryl.

I heard the good word
from the bird about Julian.

It is truly a miracle,

but I need to talk to
you about something else.

Namely, Reggie, and my father's
nefarious plans for him.

[REGGIE] They're planning what?

After we play Stonewall,

Clifford Blossom's gonna
cut you from the team

and bring in some goofball ringer

from Boston named KO Kelly.

How much you want to wager

the new ringer is a few
shades lighter than me?

Look, I'm in knots about this, Reg.

What do you want to do?

I want to finish what I
was brought here to do.

I want to lead the Bulldogs

to their first championship in a decade.

And I want to do it as captain.

Well, that's what I want too.

Same with all the guys on the team.

So let's see if we can
make it happen for you.

What do you think, Mr. Fieldstone?

It's not about a milkman.
It's about a mailman.

- In case that wasn't obvious enough.
- Hmm.

It's subversive.

But, uh, it's kinda
cheeky and I like that.

Says something without being ham-fisted.

It's...

Well, kiddos, I don't
know how to tell you this,

but, uh, I think it's
brilliant. [LAUGHS]

Oh, gee, thanks, Mr. Fieldstone.

We tried other things.

We just kept circling back to, uh...

The mailman. Yeah, I get it.

That's a pretty neat
workaround, I must admit.

But Werthers and the powers that be

will not be as tickled as I am.

You know, if we publish
this, it's... [CHUCKLES]

It's gonna thicken the
storm that's coming,

and believe me, a storm is coming.

Like the wrath of
God, a storm is coming.

Well, the way I see it
is we have two options.

We either bury our heads in the sand

and pray that the
storm will pass over us.

But, like you, I don't
really see that happening.

Or, we run headlong into the thunder

and thumb our noses at it.

Jughead, you are wise beyond your years,

- you know that?
- Shucks. [CHUCKLES]

Well, what do you think, girl genius?

I vote we thicken this milkshake.

Ah, to hell with it!

I've always been a thumb my
nose at the world kind of guy.

Bernie, call the printers!

We got a comic book to publish.

Shouldn't you be resting up
before the big game, boys?

I want you at your best.

We know what you have planned, sir.

We're here to give it to you straight.

We're not letting you replace
Reggie with another player.

In fact, I'm turning over
my captainship to him.

It's what he deserves.

You don't have the authority
to do that, Andrews.

Not even your uncle does, only I do.

Well, in that case,

if you don't make Reggie captain

for the rest of the season, then I walk.

Me too.

And if Archie and Reggie walk,

we all walk. We're a team.

We stand together.

[BOYS AGREEING]

I'm guessing it'd be pretty embarrassing

for the mayor of Riverdale

to derail a championship season

out of what, spite?

Well, let me make one thing
abundantly clear to you boys.

I do not take kindly to threats.

This isn't a thr*at, Mr. Mayor.

Just laying out your options.

So what will it be, sir?

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[PHONE RINGS]

- Hello?
- Phew, it's you.

I was so worried your
mom was going to pick up.

Veronica.

That is so strange, I was
just about to call you.

Well, I was only calling
to say good night,

and that I miss you.

What were you calling about?

Same.

Great minds.

I love you, Bee.

I love you too, Vee.

Say,

were you gonna go to
the big game tomorrow?

Against Stonewall.

I almost forgot, I guess I am. You?

I suppose so.

You want to sit together?

That way, you can explain
all the esoteric rules to me.

The few I picked up as a River Vixen?

[CHUCKLES] Fab.

What should we wear, do you think?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Before we head out,

is there anything you'd
like to say, Captain?

Just thank you.

I know the only reason Mayor
Blossom rubber-stamped me

is 'cause of the way
you fellas supported me.

No one's ever done that for me before.

Also, um...

my folks made the trip from Duck Creek

to watch my first game as captain.

So...

So let's win this for Reggie's folks.

[PLAYERS AGREEING]

And for Peppy!

[ALL] For Peppy!

[PLAYERS GRUNTING AND WHOOPING]

Hey.

Don't even give 'em a second to breathe.

Count on that.

[CROWD WHISTLING AND APPLAUDING]

[ANNOUNCER] From the opening tip-off,

the Riverdale Bulldogs,

led by team captain Reggie Mantle,

dominated the Stonewall Stallions,

who broke school records

in points, rebounds and assists.

Indeed, all the
Bulldogs treated friends,

family and neighbors to a
night they won't soon forget.

Playing bravely in
honor of their teammate,

Julian Blossom, who, as we
understand it, is on the mend.

While proving beyond
any shadow of a doubt

that this was the team, led
by Mantle the Magnificent,

that could take Riverdale

all the way to the state championship.

At the final buzzer,

in a show of good sportsmanship,

the defeated Stallions shook hands

with their victors at center court

before returning the statue

of Riverdale's beloved mascot, Peppy.

So how's it feel?

MVP and record breaker? [SCOFFS]

[EXHALES] I'm not gonna lie.

I'm happy my parents got
to see me win tonight.

Oh, they were so proud of you, Reg.

They were on cloud nine.

You earned it.

Which is why I, uh, I
wanted to give you something.

Your dad's captain patch?

Archie, I... I can't.

I want you to, Reg.

It'd mean a lot to me.

And to him.

I'll honor him, I promise.

And then, I'll give it back to you

at the end of the season.

So are you, uh,

sticking around on the team or what?

Well, I guess.

Maybe for a little while.

I gotta watch your back.

What about writing poems?

That's what you love to do, right?

That's your passion, isn't it?

Maybe.

I don't know. I'm not
sure the world's ready

for, uh, Archie Andrews, beatnik poet.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Maybe.

Ha, maybe not.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[JUGHEAD] For a brief moment,

they were two teenage boys...

friends, practically brothers,

on the cusp of pursuing
very different dreams.

Unaware that a storm was coming,

as Mr. Fieldstone said.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

Like the wrath of God, it was coming,

and that all of us would
be smashed to pieces by it.