05x19 - Chapter Ninety-Five: RIVERDALE: RIP(?)

[bunniefuu]

[Jughead] It's been almost a
year. Like the grown-ups and it,

we returned to our haunted hometown

and confronted the darkest monsters
we'd ever faced... ourselves.

We'd survived, but surviving
isn't the same as thriving,

and none of us, it
seemed, were thriving.

So how did it go? Did you pass?

I... almost passed.

Uh, Reggie?

No, I'm so sorry.

But don't worry.

You can take the Series exam again,

and you'll be a fully licensed
stockbroker in no time.

Yes.

Or I was thinking

we could open a casino here in town.

What are you talking about?

Don't you remember how much fun we had

running games at La Bonne Nuit?

I hold very fond memories
of that time, Reggie.

But I have decided

that after the school year ends,

I'm going back to New York.

Really?

What about Carrot Top?

Archie and I... are no more.

Oh.

He understands that my
future's in New York.

Well, glad to see I'm not
the only one day-drinking.

Are you here alone?

You just missed Jackson.

He moved back home.

Oh, thank you. Eric's such a good guy.

Yeah.

Is that why you look so sad?

[chuckles]

No, I'm happy for him.

I'm sure we'll see him again.

I, uh I don't know if you heard,

but Veronica and I broke up.

For good this time.

Oh, God. I'm sorry.

What happened?

Seven years happened. [chuckles]

We became different people.

Ronnie belongs in New York,

and I belong here, in Riverdale.

I'm reopening Andrews Construction.

Oh, well looks like we're going to be

neighbors for the foreseeable future.

I just got permission to
reopen the Riverdale FBI office.

Because by the way, you're now talking

to Special Agent Betty
Cooper officially.

- Wow, that's amazing.
- Yeah.

When's the graduation?

And can we go?

I missed it, but it's okay.
I got my diploma in the mail.

Well, damn.

Can I at least pay for the next round?

Sure.

[Jughead] And here I thought your days

of summoning me were over, Waldo.

The worm turns, Mr. Jones.

Some of the students are interested

in restarting the student newspaper,

The Blue and Gold.

Trouble is, none of our current faculty

have the bandwidth to supervise it.

You want me to?

Yes.

What do you say, Mr. Jones?

I say, get me that rewrite.

Cameron, put the word out
that She-Wolf of Wall Street

is coming back to take a
bite out of the Big Apple.

What, right now?

I wouldn't do that, Ronnie.

Why not? You said I could
come back whenever I wanted.

Yeah, but that was before
you k*lled Chad in cold blood.

That was self-defense, Cameron.

I'm sure. But I doubt any firm
in town would be willing to hire

the black widow of Wall Street,

which is what everyone's calling you.

Maybe call me again in six months.

[call ends]

Now are you sure you're not
scared to be toiling away

down here, dear Britta?

Not at all, Miss Blossom.

And the physical labor will keep me
in shape for football next season.

Glad to hear it.

Palladium is the missing
piece in my ministry,

the fabled Fifth Element.

It's the bridge between the
physical and spiritual worlds,

and it will grant me power over both.

- That sounds so cool.
- Indeed.

All right, Come come.

It's time to wipe the soot
off our faces for the day

before we're late for the big surprise.

Keep 'em closed. Keep 'em closed.

You know I don't like surprises, right?

Well, that really sucks.

Because...

Surprise!

Oh, my God, you guys.

Here's to Quantico's latest
and greatest field officer,

Agent Betty Cooper.

- Congratulations, sweetheart.
- Thank you.

Speech! Speech!

Speech! Speech!

- Speech!
- Oh, wow!

Okay, I was not expecting... this.

But it means more to me
than I could ever express.

So thank you.

It's been a rough year. But...

I love you all.

Elizabeth, you've given us a lifetime
of reasons to be proud of you.

This one takes the cake.

And speaking of cake...

[Betty laughing]

So what does this mean, B?

It means I'm staying in Riverdale,

just like I promised my mom.

God knows there's enough crime here

to last me several lifetimes.

Well, I don't know if you've
heard about me and Archie.

I did, V. I'm sorry.

But I'm sure you're excited
to get back to your old life

in New York, even though we'll miss you.

Should we head back to the diner?

I actually asked Delores
to cover the night for us.

Oh, really?

And why is that?

Well, I figured that we didn't
actually get to have our date

- at Cucina Sacasa, so...
- Oh, true.

I could definitely go for
some Italian right now.

- Right now?
- Mmm-hmm.

Well, glad you're doing better, Alice.

Yeah, it doesn't get any easier,

but every day it's hurts a little less.

You, um... You getting
out of the house at all?

I'm trying to.

Why? Do you have
something in mind, Frank?

Uh... [chuckles]

I actually have some news.

So Principal Weatherbee asked me to, uh,

come back and run the school paper.

Oh!

And as long as I don't mess it up,

he said that I could start
possibly teaching again in the fall.

Wow.

Maybe then you'd be able to
move out of Archie's garage.

Aw, man, I was just starting to love

the smell of mold and turpentine.

You know, um,

if you're going to be
working full time in the fall,

that's also when my
apartment's lease is up.

You and me? Cohabitating?

[cell phone chimes]

It's Delores.

Oh, it's probably just the
ice machine on the fritz.

Hey, Delores, What's up?

What?

- Got any threes?
- Go fish, bish.

[bell ringing]

[cell phones chiming]

Holy crap! Pop's is on fire.

Oh, what the hell?

They're slashed on this side, too.

Okay, guys, get the
spares. Fangs, get the jack.

[fire crackling]

[screaming]

I'm so sorry, Tabitha.

We should have gotten here faster.

Archie, come on.

You did everything you could.

You and your fireman are the only reason

this place is even standing at all.

It's true. I've never seen
tires changed so fast.

How do I call my grandpa in Florida?

And what do I tell him?

That our family business
went up in flames?

Delores said that it was a Ghoulie

who threw the Molotov cocktail.

A Ghoulie? To what
end? What's his motive?

Wasn't his motive.

I can pretty much guarantee

that Ghoulie was acting
on someone else's behalf.

Give you three guesses who.

Your dad?

I can't believe I ever
worked for that sorry SOB.

If the scumbag who
torches places a Ghoulie,

Fangs and I'll take care of
it. We'll get confirmation.

Yeah, do that, Toni.

But I don't need confirmation.

I don't think any of us do.

I mean, who else would set fire to Pop's

and slashed our trucks'
tires before we get to it?

I don't remember ordering room service.

Hiram Lodge, you are under arrest.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be
used against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford an attorney,
one will be provided for you.

Oh, I can afford one,

and he'll have me out before dinner.

Woodward and Bernstein.

Seymour Hersh, Ronan Farrow,

What do these people have in common?

Uh, they're all journalists.

Yes, they are journalists.

But more specifically,
they are journalists

who courageously spoke truth to power.

Freedom of the press.

This is one of the most
basic building blocks

in a healthy functioning society,

and we might take it
for granted out here,

but there are places around the world

where information is
controlled by dictators.

And the truth is shaped

to serve those who are in power.

Kind of like what the Lodge
Ledger does in Riverdale.

Yes.

Yeah, exactly like that.

Hiram was booked, but he's
right. He'll b*at the charges.

There's nothing we can do to
conclusively link him to the arson.

Not yet, but Toni's
gonna find that Ghoulie.

- In the meantime...
- Let's search his SoDale office.

There's got to be something in there

that ties him to this crime

or literally, any other
crime at this point.

And we'd be looking for...

Shady contracts,
financials, illicit receipts.

I mean it's not really my bailiwick.

Me neither. We need someone
who speaks that language.

Who also wants to take Hiram down.

[both] Veronica.

[panting]

The sooner you tell us who paid you

the sooner it'll be done.

Fine.

- Fangs, turn up the radio again...
- Okay. Okay, okay.

Okay, fine.

I'll tell you.

It was Hiram Lodge.

Not surprised.

Why would you agree?

Torching Pop's, which is
right on top of the Whyte Wyrm.

My place.

Why would you risk a w*r with the
Serpents to help out Hiram Lodge?

A w*r?

Come on.

The Serpents are a joke now.

Driving trucks and having babies.

You've gone soft.

And Hiram said that as
soon as Pop's was razed,

the Ghoulies would be
able to take back the town,

finally get what we deserve.

Oh, you're going to
get what you deserve.

Fangs, the radio.

- [music blaring]
- [Ghoulie screaming]

Guys, I think I found something.

[Betty] What are we looking at, Vee?

According to these documents,

my father incorporated SoDale,

even though it's only a muddy field.

Great. So he's done with Riverdale?

On the contrary.

Now that SoDale is legally a town,

he can petition the courts
to redraw its borders

and absorb all unincorporated lands.

In other words, he's going to annex

the former township of Riverdale,

claim eminent domain
and grab it for himself.

[Archie] Including the Palladium mines?

He thinks this is the wild, wild west.

Let me take this paperwork
back with me to the FBI office.

We'll see if this is even legal,

and if it isn't, we'll start
building a case against him.

[cell phone vibrating]

- It's Toni.
- [Toni] It's like we suspected.

Hiram paid the Ghoulie
to burn down Pop's.

And not just Pop's,

but all the fires that have
been breaking out recently.

Hiram promised the Ghoulies
the b*rned husk of the town.

- All he cares about is...
- The mines.

I'm sorry, Toni, Fangs, Archie.

Yet again, I find myself
apologizing for my father's actions.

Yeah, well, we don't want an apology.

We want justice.

Serpent justice.

We'll take care of him.

No offense, Veronica, but I don't think

you're going to be willing
to do what needs to be done.

Yes, we will.

Archie and I both will.

[scoffs] And what are the
Serpents supposed to do,

just sit back?

Actually, Fangs, what
we really need is someone

to go out and collect signatures,

so I can reincorporate the town.

[Toni] Are you kidding me?

The Serpents don't run errands, Archie.

Of course not, Toni.

But this is a different
kind of fighting.

As long as Riverdale is
unincorporated, we're sitting ducks.

And I'm not sure we've done
enough to inspire the families

that Riverdale is still
worth resurrecting.

So we've got to make our play,

that means getting % of people

living in our borders
to sign an endorsement.

Fine. We'll rally the troops.

But if you two don't take care
of Hiram, we will, our way.

[thunder rumbling]

[Veronica] Toni's right.

Something drastic needs to happen.

I thought my dad
would stop after he blew

up the mines, but he refuses to give up.

He doesn't know how to.

So, what you want to do?

- The only thing that's left.
- [thunder rumbles]

Let's say my father were to...

go missing.

Let's say he escaped from his jail cell.

Who would go looking for him?

Certainly not my mother.

And not Hermosa. She
feels betrayed by him, too.

And Sheriff Keller wouldn't.

And Betty would make sure
the FBI doesn't either.

We could take Hiram out
to the maple barrens.

It could be the last
thing we do together.

Somehow that would be fitting.

I'll call Tom, tell him
to take a long lunch.

[Veronica] What's up, Reggie? We're
kind of in the middle of something.

Yeah, it looks like
you're wrestling with

a Hiram-sized problem. Am I right?

Well, far be it for me to intrude.

I thought you might be interested

in this smoking g*n
I managed to acquire.

What's on it?

Irrefutable proof.

[thunder rumbles]

[telephone ringing]

Riverdale Field Office.
This is Agent Cooper.

[Trash Bag k*ller
breathing heavily on phone]

[Trash Bag k*ller] Pretty Betty.

[Betty screaming]

It's you.

[Trash Bag k*ller] Don't
bother with a trace.

We won't be on long enough.

What do you want?

[Trash Bag k*ller] To
congratulate you on graduation.

And to tell you that I have no
plans to come calling on you.

I hope you extend me the same courtesy.

You know I can't make that promise.

[Trash Bag k*ller] Pity...

Betty.

Hello?

- [dial tone beeping]
- Hello?

- How's the burger?
- Good.

Well, at least the kitchen
is still operational.

- True.
- That's a good thing, right?

[Tabitha] Mmm-hmm.

Did you call your insurance company?

Yes.

But they are not covering this.

Why?

Because the last couple of months,

I've had to choose between
paying my insurance premiums

or paying my waitresses.

I chose my waitresses.

Exactly what they teach you
not to do in business school.

What, be compassionate,
care about your staff?

On top of which, did you see what
the Lodge Ledger published today?

No. But funny enough, I was just
thinking about Hiram's fish wrapper.

Oh, what does it say?

It's an editorial.

"Out with the old.

Like the asteroid that
wiped the dinosaurs

off the face of the Earth,

nature or fortune has struck again,

toppling another dinosaur,

Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.

The struggling diner has
held on for far too long.

We can only hope that
its charred remains

will be swept away quickly,

lost to the winds."

Hey, I've got an idea.

I mean, it's not gonna bring back Pop's,

but it would hurt Hiram's
stranglehold on the town,

and it might make us feel better.

If you're intrigued,
we'd have to act quickly.

Move under the cover of darkness.

- [door slams]
- [lock clicking]

Let me guess.

You're not here to give
me my one phone call.

No, we're not.

Stand up.

[Jughead] Fire Department is on standby.

They will arrive in time to
keep the fire from spreading,

but this Ledgeris toast,

assuming that you still want to do this.

You know, Jughead, I pride myself
on always taking the high road,

but a person can only be pushed so far.

♪ But love ♪

♪ Love kills slowly ♪

♪ And it burns ♪

♪ With every fading memory ♪

[cell phone ringing]

It's Archie.

I can't stop thinking about
what that Ghoulie said.

"The Serpents are over."

The Serpents aren't over.

Well, they have been on
the back burner, though.

All I've been focused on is the school,

my guidance counseling
work, Baby Anthony.

You and I, we've been
Serpents since birth,

and no dumbass, freaky-deeky
Ghoulie can take that away from us.

You're right.

But as Queen of the Serpents, I
can, and I should be doing more.

Every year, our numbers dwindle.

And as the town reincorporates,

I want the Serpents to be a
big part of its reconstruction.

I'm down. What are you thinking?

We start by taking the Serpents off
the roads and back into Riverdale.

Find them a gig that pays
just as well as truck driving,

and we start building up our ranks,

- starting with Baby Anthony.
- [chuckles]

He will be a symbol of the
next generation of ass kickers.

Future King of the Serpents.

Exactly.

But we need a current one, too.

And that's you, Fangs.

I'm here for it, Toni, all of it.

In unity, there is strength.

[cell phone vibrating]

It's Veronica.

[Veronica] You ready, Daddy?

What is this?

A public execution?

What are you, my executioners?

You deserve death for
everything you've done,

but no, Daddy, this is not an execution.

This is an exile.

Yours.

After we show you something.

[g*nsh*t over laptop]

Where'd you get that?

- Reggie?
- Yeah, it was me.

The point is, we have
it, we've all seen it.

Irrefutable proof
that you're a m*rder*r.

You can't wriggle your
way out of this one, Daddy.

In one hour exactly,

Betty will turn that
video over to the FBI.

I'd start walking, Daddy,

and I wouldn't stop
for a long, long time.

You're turning against your
own blood like this, mija?

I blame Archie.

This is his influence.

Don't. We broke up.

This is all me.

What about my possessions?

[Veronica chuckles softly]

We'll sell what we can,

use whatever money we make from it

to rebuild Pop's and the town.

Tick-tock, Daddy.

Tick... tock.

[shotgun cocking]

So, uh, tonight got me to thinking.

What would you say about
being my deputy full-time, son?

I think that would be an honor, Dad.

But I can't.

Because I've decided once
the school year's over,

I want to give New York
and Broadway another sh*t.

Oh.

I've been thinking about
it ever since Josie visited,

and it's something
that I've got to do now,

or I'm gonna regret it
for the rest of my life.

- To new beginnings.
- To new beginnings.

I just drove past the Town
Hall, and it is a fire trap,

so we'll host the community
meeting at the El Royale.

How's it going with the signatures?

We're not at % yet,

but we still got a crew
out pounding the pavement.

Okay, great.

But, Archie, a lot of the
Serpents have been reporting back.

People are asking what kind of town

the new Riverdale is going to be.

And they want to know before
they agree to reincorporate.

Like, is there going to be a mayor?

If so, who?

Yeah, I've been turning that over, too.

I know who I would vote for.

You, Toni.

- Would you do it?
- What, mayor?

I mean, Archie, I can't.

I don't have the bandwidth.

I understand.

- Fangs?
- Hell no.

I just got crowned Serpent King.

Congratulations, bro.

In that case, why don't you guys focus

on getting people to the
El Royale for the town hall.

And we'll have answers for
people's questions, Toni, I promise.

[gasps]

[Britta] Miss Blossom.

Miss Blossom.

Look what I found.

Skeletons, Nana. Human skeletons.

Our mines are choked with
God-and-Jason knows how many.

Brittania and I discovered
a veritable bone yard.

Since you seem to know where
all the bodies are buried,

I'm assuming you know about these.

Yes, I was wondering
if they'd ever be found.

The Forgotten.

"The Forgotten"?

It all began with an ancestor of ours,

one Abigail Blossom.

The year was .

Thornhill still stood, of course,

but it was a girl's school then.

Riverdale was a hateful
and backward place then.

The townspeople were
suspicious of Abigail,

who had no husband

and no intention of taking one.

They'd harassed Abigail and the
girls in her care for months.

They knew there was
palladium to be found

in the mines under her groves and wanted

to buy them from her.

But she refused.

So, they decided to steal it instead.

[indistinct shouting]

[Nana Rose] They came to Thornhill

armed with pitchforks and torches.

[banging on door]

- [Abigail] No!
- [man] There she is!

No! No! No!

[indistinct shouting]

[Nana Rose] Oh, they
had it all planned out.

They accused her of being a witch.

And they b*rned her at the stake

in the groves surrounding Thornhill.

[screaming]

Who, Nana?

Who were these vicious
hooligans? These K*llers?

Brace yourself, child.

The primary conspirators
were the ancestors

of your so-called compatriots.

Archibald Andrews,

Jedediah Jones,

and Beatrice Cooper.

With her dying words,

she cursed them and the others,

damning them to tragedy, as well.

After her death,

the townspeople claimed the mines

and began to dig for palladium.

But there was a collapse,

k*lling and entombing
an entire generation

of Riverdale's fathers and sons.

Some say the collapse was caused

by Abigail's curse.

- Nana, how do you know all this?
- Why,

it's written in Abigail's journal.

Would you like to read it, child?

I shouldn't have called you, Grandpa.

It wasn't my intention that
you would come up from Florida.

The worst part of all this is

that I feel like I've let you down.

What are you talking about?

You defied your father

and took over a struggling business.

And don't forget, I know

the debt you assumed when
you took over the diner.

You've been paying it down every month.

None of that matters if
we can't pay for repairs.

We'll try to get some
of Hiram's leftovers.

And I'll cover the rest
with my retirement money.

What? Grandpa, no, I'm
not letting you do that.

I'd be doing it for me as much as you.

I miss the adrenaline of working.

I miss my customers.

So I'm giving you my nest egg

on the condition

that you let me come back
to Pop's and work with you.

Grandpa, I would love that.

You know, we could
propose a civil council.

It's a system that works, and it's fair.

Well, if fair is the criteria,
then we should govern by committee.

We can hold town meetings
for every big decision.

It's purely democratic, and
everyone would get an equal say.

That would be anarchy.

What if we had a mayor who
had to answer to a council?

Best of both worlds.

I think the mayor is a
non-starter for a lot of people

after the way my
father abused his power.

[Cheryl] How ironic yet fitting.

The descendants of those
who committed Riverdale's

original sin debating its future.

Well, I refuse to allow you four

to perpetuate any further
cycles of v*olence and bloodshed.

Cheryl, what the hell
are you talking about?

[Veronica] So, to be clear,

none of my ancestors were involved.

No. But the same can't be said
for your three conspirators,

who k*lled my dear Abigail.

Therefore, I'm demanding
a formal apology

and acknowledgement of this travesty.

Publicly and immediately.

Cheryl, this story really is tragic,

but those are our ancestors, not us.

Not to mention,

we need everyone's support
at tomorrow's meeting.

If we lead with this crazy story,

it might distract people
from the task at hand.

- Reincorporation.
- [Cheryl scoffs]

I've spent years atoning
for the sins of my ancestors.

And now you want me to
forget about it and move on?

Only until the town is stable.

Cheryl, please,

this is Riverdale's
one chance to be reborn.

[scoffing] "Reborn"?

This town sits over a vast
graveyard of dead miners.

The roots of the trees
in my groves have,

over time, become entwined
with those corpses.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

For decades, the trees
have been nourished

by the poisonous dead.

My sap, my syrup, the very life-blood

of Riverdale, has been
polluted by the remains

of so many fathers and sons.

The only chance this
town has of being reborn

is for you to come
clean and beg for my...

my forgiveness.

See you at the meeting.

And I pray you do the right thing.

Okay. Today, our families and neighbors

are going to decide on

whether or not to
reincorporate this town.

Whether Riverdale lives...

or whether Riverdale dies.

Regardless, we will be ready to publish.

But not as the Blue and Gold.

We are now the Riverdale Choice.

A new, free press for all of Riverdale.

Whatever happens in our
town, we're gonna be there

to report on it,
truthfully and without bias.

And whoever is in charge,

we will hold them accountable,

even if they're our friends.

Especially if they're our friends.

Okay. We have a town
meeting to cover. Let's go.

Reginald,

I've been thinking about your
idea for a casino in Riverdale,

and I think we should go for it.

Really? What about New York?

We could go back to New
York and to be two nameless,

faceless traders on Wall Street, yes.

Or we could stay in Riverdale

and the king and queen of the roost,

working for ourselves,
calling the sh*ts.

You're preaching to the choir.

And I was thinking maybe we can
use Pearls and Posh as a cover.

We may not even have to do that.

All right. Could I get
everyone's attention, please?

We'd like to begin the proceedings.

Now, some of you knew my father.

He believed in Riverdale,

not because it was perfect,

but because he saw the potential in it.

And tonight we're not
looking to reincorporate

a town that was, but a town

that might one day be,
with the proper leadership.

Which is why, as of tonight,

we're hoping that it won't be a
mayor who leads us into the future,

but instead, a council
of four who will guide us

- every step of the way.
- [Cheryl] Halt.

I've heard enough.

And who, pray tell

will comprise this council
of four narcissists?

Let me guess. You, Betty,
Veronica and Jughead.

Actually, we were going to
propose the council be...

Tabitha Tate, Toni Topaz,

Alice Smith,

and my Uncle Frank.

I see.

And what about the past, Archie?

Cheryl, tonight's not about the past,

- but I promise you...
- No!

No more empty promises.

Let the official, public record
show that from this moment on,

Thornhill and her lands

shall cede from the corrupt
township of Riverdale.

Whatever happens tonight,

you lot will have no
jurisdiction over it

or its blessed inhabitants.

- Cheryl, come on.
- Nay, cousin!

What is decreed is decreed.

Ta-ta. Come along, Brittania.

[indistinct chatter]

Just to be clear,

these four nominees have
deep roots in Riverdale.

And they'll fight to
make it better, stronger

and more inclusive than ever.

They will each swear an oath

to put Riverdale's collective needs

before any single individual.

Now, is there anyone here tonight

that opposes these four nominees?

In that case,

all in favor to reincorporate

the township of Riverdale
under this council of four?

Unanimous.

Along with the signatures collected,

the ayes have it.

Riverdale is officially back on the map.

At the risk of putting
the cart before the horse,

Reggie and I have an idea
for Riverdale. A big idea.

That we think you're really gonna love.

Okay, what is it?

Picture, if you will,

a stunning, full-service, white-glove,

family-friendly casino
within Riverdale's borders,

which will provide a slew of
new jobs for our residents,

as well as a fresh, robust cash flow.

With our expertise and your support,

our little town could be the next...

Atlantic City.

So, you're wanting to turn Riverdale

into the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah?

Look, we really
appreciate your enthusiasm.

It's just that we have traffic lights

and potholes to fix first...

Not to mention Pop's.

I think what we're saying
is that we're intrigued,

but how about you bring a full proposal

to next month's meeting?
And we'll take it from there.

Okay. See you next month.

So...

Riverdale lives to fight another day.

[chuckles] Nice job, Arch.

Yeah, we'll see.

What about Cheryl? Should we be worried?

No, she'll come around.

- Yeah.
- What you doing later tonight?

[Nana Rose] How did it go?

Was our Abigail avenged?

- Hardly, Nana.
- Oh.

They don't give a whit
about the sins of the past.

[sighs] Will Riverdale ever learn?

Well, perhaps.

But they will need help.

And Abigail must be honored.

[Cheryl] What's that?

The last words she ever spoke

as she was being b*rned
alive at the stake.

You mean the curse?

Speak the speech, child.

It will be a fitting
tribute to our ancestor.

[Cheryl] It's only fitting that

these words spoken at the
end of one Blossom chapter...

shall be uttered as a new one unfurls.

From this day on,

Thornhill will no longer
be home to a ministry,

but to a school

modeled after Abigail's.

An academy for lost and wayward girls.

As Abigail herself
once said these words...

"Archibald Andrews,

Jedediah Jones, and Beatrice Cooper.

I repudiate you with my dying breath.

And in Satan's name, I curse you.

Burn me, but you will
never escape my wrath,

nor Satan's.

The unchained elements of
the power of darkness are

lying in ambush.

Beware.

My revenge will strike down
you and your accursed houses.

And I will bathe in the blood
of your sons and daughters.

Immortal, I shall
return, again and again,

to torment and destroy you."

[Abigail] And destroy you!

- [wind blowing]
- [gasps]

What do you guys think?

I think it's your best work yet, Archie.

Thanks, Alice.

But I mean, it's just a plywood sign.

- [chuckles softly]
- Nah.

It's everything you've
done this year, Arch.

[wind whooshing]

That's bizarre.

RIVW weatherman didn't
call for wind today.

[shivering] Ooh.

This wind.

Yeah, it feels like someone's
walking on my grave. Come on.

Very good.

From a classroom to a boiler room.

Only in Riverdale.

How are we looking back here, partner?

Well, it's not the Caesars Palace...

but we'll get there.

Of that, Reggie,

I have no doubt.

["Cross My Heart" playing]

[both laughing]

♪ And hope to die... ♪

Betty...

♪ To tell a lie ♪

♪ Cross my heart... ♪

I... [sighs]

I want to try again.

Us.

Not as friends with benefits, but...

but for real.

All in.

[both chuckle]

I mean, can we try again?

We can.

I want to be with you, too, Arch.

♪ To tell a lie ♪

♪ Cross my heart ♪

♪ And hope to die ♪

♪ I know that I'm
Losing my credibility ♪

♪ But I know what I saw ♪

♪ And I know that it saw me ♪

♪ I swear on the grave
Of my late darling ♪

♪ He had a song
He'd always sing ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na... ♪

[faint ticking]

Can you hear that?

Yeah. What is that?

The clock?

[ticking grows louder]

[ticking and beeping]

- Betty.
- What, what is it?

Tick. Tick.

- [beeps]
- Boom.

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na ♪

♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na ♪