04x09 - Chapter Sixty-Six: Tangerine

[bunniefuu]

[JUGHEAD]

Previously on Riverdale Do you see those people over there?

They're Dodger's family.

I'm not sure what you're here for, but you and your boys need to leave.

We've got kids here, we don't want any trouble.

Mr.

DuPont, the first book in the Baxter Brothers series, was written by my grandfather.

I k*lled Caramel.

No, Betty, that wasn't you, that was your deeply screwed-up dad.

Someone is trying to drive me mad.

But, once I find out who this depraved monster is, I will unleash a wrath upon them so wicked, they will wish they had been consumed in their mother's womb.

You've reached the Riverdale hotline.

If you wish to report a problem in your neighborhood, leave a message.

Anonymity is your choice.

We're here to help.

"And as Buddy and Bobby Baxter sat down at the dining room table, exhausted and bruised, they felt satisfaction.

The Case of the Boy in the River had been solved.

Tomorrow, there would be another mystery.

But tonight, their only concern was dinner.

" Outstanding, Mr.

Jones.

I believe the Baxter Brothers has found their newest ghostwriter.

Wait, I won the contract?

Like, right this second?

That is correct.

Professor DuPont, you can't actually believe that garbage was better than my submission.

Oh, I can and I do.

Your contract, Mr.

Jones.

Your first step into a larger, better life.

Provided you play by the rules.

I don't understand.

Dartmouth was my safety school.

I guess you should've accepted Harvard's invitation.

Nice try, Daddy, but I still have my interview with Columbia.

Interview, huh?

Good luck with that.

Columbia's extremely competitive.

But, I believe Riverdale Community College has a rolling admission policy.

So if you study there, you could launch your rum empire.

If that's still happening.

Oh, it's happening, Daddy.

Hey, wake up, Red.

Mr.

Jones?

Ah!

What are you doing here?

Investigating a vigilante.

Now be honest with me.

Is that you?

Yeah, it is.

You're not gonna arrest me, are you?

I should.

What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?

Helping.

People are too scared to call you or the cops, so I set up a hotline.

What happens if you get hurt?

Or worse?

People die changing tires on the side of the road, Mr.

Jones.

At least I'd die with a shred of honor.

[SCOFFS]

What a load of smug BS.

You think that's gonna comfort your mom?

Why aren't you focused on the center, - protecting these kids?

- I am.

But trouble shows up here about every other day, starting with the Dickensons who are still out there, by the way.

You're doing good work here, Red.

Here.

Honorable work.

Maybe I can help you.

[JUGHEAD]

What do you say, Chuck.

Can you help me?

So you want me to use FBI resources to track down your Sorry, our grandfather.

Why the sudden urgency?

Well, look, it's probably something I should have done months ago, but I have an important decision to make.

And I can't until I know the truth.

His truth.

Can you help me?

[VERONICA]

What's wrong, Pop?

Our liquor license has been revoked.

As of Sunday, the speakeasy won't be allowed to serve alcohol.

What?

According to whom?

The mayor's office.

Figures.

This is payback for me vowing to challenge Daddy's precious rum empire.

Long-term, we're fighting this injunction.

Short-term, we're hosting a no-holds barred blow-out at La Bonne Nuit before the boom falls.

No offense, Veronica, but your father, he wasn't raised right.

Actually, he was.

And you've just given me a great idea.

[CREAKING]

Betty.

Betty, wake up.

What?

What's happening?

Honey, it's your sister.

She mutilated a nurse at Shady Grove.

She almost clawed her face off.

[BETTY]

Maybe this is a mistake.

Polly's messed up, but she's not a literal monster.

This is security footage from Shady Grove.

[BETTY SIGHS]

Okay, Polly is sitting there, looking like a zombie, but she's not hurt Oh, my God.

Oh, my God!

What the hell happened?

She att*cked that nurse for no reason.

She'll only talk to you, she says.

And alone.

Okay.

Well then I'll go talk to her.

First, there's one more thing you should know.

The nurse that Polly d*sfigured, her name is Betty.

[BETTY]

Heard you wanted to speak to me.

Betty.

Oh, thank God.

You're the one I can trust.

Can you tell me what's going on?

Polly, can you tell me what's going on?

You att*cked a nurse named Betty.

That's impossible.

I can't remember any of what they're saying.

I was in the rec room, and the next thing I remember, I'm in here and I'm chained to this bed.

Please, Betty.

You have to believe me, Betty, please.

I didn't do this.

Please believe me.

I didn't do it, Betty.

I didn't do it, it wasn't me.

[CRYING]

Please, I didn't do it.

I didn't do this, Betty.

I didn't do it.

Damn, Mr.

Jones, where did you get a metal detector?

From Southside High when they shut it down, but between that, and the security cameras we're hooking up, think you're in pretty good shape, Red.

Yeah, well, I'll be in even better shape once Dodger and his family are in jail or out of town.

But all this is awesome.

Thank you, sir.

Hey, uh, I can help you find Dodger.

I know the alleys, and a bunch of us used to work for him.

We're good, Eddie.

The last thing I need is you out there kicking up dust, okay?

[VERONICA]

I've missed you, Abuelita.

[LORDES]

You've been so busy these days, mi ahijada.

- Godmother.

- Mm?

I've been thinking about expanding my business, getting into rum production.

But there's a real craft to it, and my father refuses to teach me.

- How did he learn?

- From me.

It is my recipe that he's using.

Could you tell me the recipe?

[CHUCKLING]

Of course!

But what about college?

Have you heard back from Harvard?

[SIGHS]

Abuelita, you won't even believe, the things that your son has been doing.

What kind of things?

[PHONE VIBRATES]

Hey, Charles, any luck?

[CHARLES]

Yeah.

I found him.

More specifically, the U. S.

Postal Service did.

Wait, seriously?

How?

Evidently, Forsythe has a P. O.

box in Seaside.

He checks it once a month when he comes in from the forest.

Wait, did you say forest?

The crazy thing is, I actually believe her.

Honey, we saw it with our own eyes.

Well, no, obviously, she did it, but not consciously.

It's like she was fuguing or something.

Wait a minute.

The doctors at Shady Grove said Polly received a phone call about an hour or so before the incident.

[PHONE RINGING]

Charles is trying to figure out the caller's identity.

[PHONE CONTINUES RINGING]

Cooper-Jones residence.

What?

Was it about Polly?

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

Mom.

Listen to Mom!

You're acting just like Polly.

You're acting hypnotized.

[CLAPS HANDS]

What's going on?

Why am I holding a Kn*fe?

You don't remember?

Did somebody Did the phone ring, or did I imagine it?

No, it rang, you answered Whoever called must have said something that I don't know, triggered you into attacking me.

Is that even possible?

We need Charles to trace that phone call.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

Mami.

What a surprise.

When did you get here?

[SHOUTS IN SPANISH]

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Picking fights with your daughter.

Your father is turning over in his grave.

[FOOTSTEPS DEPART]

Really?

Turning my own mother against me.

Oh.

And guess what she shared with me.

Our family's secret rum recipe.

So brace yourself, Daddy.

It's on.

[MARY]

Archie, I need for you to sit down for this.

Vic, your dad's foreman, came by earlier today and he wants to buy us out of Andrews Construction.

Well, tough, Mom, 'cause we're not selling.

I'll tell Vic that myself right after I fire his ass.

Toby, now is not a good time.

[TOBY]

It's about Eddie.

He and Malcolm went looking for Dodger and his brothers.

- And they found him.

- What?

Where are they?

They're b*at up, Archie.

Bad.

Eddie's in the hospital.

Again.

[BETTY]

What'd you find out, Charles?

[CHARLES]

Our hunch was right.

The calls received by Polly and Alice came from the same place.

Shankshaw Prison.

Charles, something must have been said on those calls that made Mom and Polly enter a trance-like state that turned them into deranged K*llers.

As if they were hypnotized.

I thought the same thing.

And who do we know that uses auditory cues and hypnotism to control its members?

The Farm.

Edgar may be dead, but his lovesick lackey Evelyn sure isn't.

She's in prison.

Any chance that prison is Shankshaw?

[MAN]

You hold it right there, boy.

Now, you are trespassing on private property.

If you're Forsythe Jones the First, then I'm your grandson.

I I I I guess you'd better come in, then.

Jason, Julian, thank you for joining me, brothers.

[SIGHS]

The day has finally come.

I'm ending our collective misery today.

The Chernobyl-grade roach bombs I've set up throughout Thistlehouse are discharging a toxin strong enough to k*ll anything that crawls within these walls.

I was born in poison and I shall die in poison.

[GAS HISSING]

[CREAKING]

[COUGHING]

Mumzie, what a surprise.

[BODY THUDS]

Whatever your dad said about me is probably true.

I'm actually not here to talk about that.

Yet.

I'm here to talk about one of your old classmates, Francis DuPont.

Well, I remember Francis, all right.

Look, I think you wrote the original Baxter Brothers book, not DuPont.

I think he stole your idea and then he published it under his name.

Oh, you got it all figured out, haven't you, boy?

Except your facts, little mixed up.

Well, why don't you help me sort them out?

Eddie and Malcolm are in the hospital.

Munroe is with them, they went after the Dickenson brothers.

Bill and Fagan b*at the living hell out of those kids.

- I'm not gonna let that go.

- All right.

All right, then.

Your dad would pound the tar out of me if I let you do this on your own, but this is it.

We handle these Dickenson boys and then you're putting this vigilante business to bed, all of it.

If I agree, will you help me?

Yeah.

Just let me get changed first.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Well, lookie here.

Bill and Fagan Dickenson.

You guys are the scum of the earth.

Going after kids.

[SPITS]

[FP]

Big man, huh?

b*ating up teenagers.

Let's see how you do against someone your own size.

I'll break your bones, old man.

Not before we break yours.

[GRUNTS]

[CHERYL]

Time to rise and shine, mother dear.

[COUGHS]

Cheryl.

What Did you really think I was gassing myself to an early grave?

No.

That was a ruse.

But riddle me this, Mumzie.

Do you remember when I was a little girl, and you used to read me Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

Cheryl, you release me this minute!

You would ask me if I thought I was Alice.

And I would say, "No, Mother, I'm the Red Queen.

" So as the Red Queen did to Alice, I am putting you on trial.

Lunatic child.

What are the charges?

They are as follows.

Prolonged gaslighting in hopes of driving me cuckoo-bananas, attempted m*rder of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, and actual m*rder of my father, Clifford Blossom, Claudius Blossom, and Hal Cooper among others.

How do you plead, mother most foul?

I gotta say, that felt good.

Yeah?

- We kicked ass, Mr.

Jones.

- Mm-hmm.

It's been a while since these fists delivered some proper street justice.

The old jacket still fits like a glove.

- [CHUCKLES]

- And your old man, he's looking down on us, probably shaking his head, but still he'd be glad your crime-fighting days are over.

[FORSYTHE]

And I always loved detective stories, so, uh, I come up with this notion to write a book about teenage detectives.

Right, the Baxter Brothers.

So how did DuPont steal it from you?

[SCOFFS]

You're getting ahead of the story here.

You see, I was burning out at Stonewall, so, uh, I quit.

The only thing I had to show for it all is this one Baxter Brothers story.

I didn't know what to do with it.

Francis said he did.

He offered to buy it from me.

How much?

$5,000.

$5,000?

That franchise is worth millions now.

Over the years, When I saw how popular Baxter Brothers became, I grew bitter, started drinking and took my anger out on the world, and on my son.

Eventually I figured it'd be best for all concerned if I just Went out for a pack of cigarettes and didn't come back?

Yeah.

[SCOFFS]

Mr.

DuPont asked me to be the next ghostwriter.

Is that a fact?

All this time, I I had thought that Mr.

DuPont was k*lling people in order to keep the secret that he stole the book from you.

[CHUCKLES]

That's quite the theory there.

If that was the case, he would have k*lled me too, wouldn't he?

Yeah.

Yes.

A word of advice for you.

I messed up my life.

I messed up your father's life.

You seize the opportunities you're being given.

- [PRISON DOOR BUZZES]

- Took you long enough.

You weaponized my family against me by calling them and triggering some post-hypnotic suggestion.

What's the directive?

How exactly are you getting your sleeper cells to turn?

When I deliver the activation, the receiver turns into you.

What the hell does that mean?

They become Betty.

As in, Betty Cooper, as in, you.

Why did Polly att*ck a nurse named Betty?

Why did my mom come after me?

When triggered, they become Betty.

They try to k*ll dark Betty, evil Betty, other Betty.

You mean they try to m*rder me.

Elegant, isn't it?

It was Edgar's idea.

When they hear the trigger word, they become you.

And therefore, try to k*ll you.

You're a psycho.

[EVELYN]

Mm-hmm.

So what exactly is the trigger word, Evelyn?

Tangerine.

Repeated three times in a row.

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

Tan - What do you say we call it a night, Red?

- [SHOP BELL JINGLES]

You need a ride back to the center?

Mr. Jones.

[g*n COCKS]

- [GRUNTS]

- [PEOPLE SCREAMING]

[FP GROANING]

I can't believe it.

Mr. Jones, I'm so sorry.

For what?

Hey.

It'll take a whole lot more than a flesh wound for me to regret what we did tonight.

It was Dodger Dickenson.

We don't know that.

Yeah, we do.

Word on the street, it was Dodger and his crazy-ass mom Darla.

That was a parting sh*t before the Dickensons get out of town.

So they're still in Riverdale?

Yep.

Loading out the arcade.

How about you keep your damn mouth shut, Fangs?

You're already on thin ice with me.

And you, you don't even think about it, Red.

We talked about this.

You agreed to hang it up for good.

Hey!

They're leaving town.

Archie!

I left before she could say it a third time.

But what the hell would happen if I heard the trigger word three times?

Would I be activated and wanna k*ll myself?

One way to find out.

We try it here.

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

I don't understand.

Nothing happened.

Maybe because you're already Betty?

Well, the good news is, you're officially not a ticking time b*mb.

[PENELOPE SIGHS]

Why must we endure this farce?

It's clear no matter what I say, you're just looking for a reason to k*ll me, Cheryl.

On the contrary, Mumzie, despite your wicked machinations, I'm looking for a reason to spare your life.

You're my mother.

And yet, you've always been so cruel to me For why?

You brutalized me my entire life.

You tried to k*ll my friends, and then you hid in Thistlehouse to keep torturing me.

You saw me happy with Toni and you couldn't let that be, could you?

[LAUGHS]

It wasn't your happiness with the she-goblin that I wanted to destroy.

It was your happiness with Jason.

How can I live knowing that you are happy with my dead son?

You don't get what I can't have!

In that case, Mumzie, you're guilty of the worst crime of all: being hateful to your rotten core.

Hmm.

So, there.

You've condemned me.

[SIGHS]

Execute me, then.

Or cart me off to prison.

Oh no.

Not jail.

At least not in the traditional sense.

You're going to a place so vile, so revolting, you'll wish you were bricked up in Thistlehouse's walls.

TT, prepare the chloroform.

[MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY]

Thanks.

You're dressed to k*ll me, huh?

Am I in any danger?

Not tonight.

Just cutting loose before the clock strikes 12.

- [HIRAM]

Mm.

- [REGGIE]

Hey, Ronnie.

You got someone asking for you.

Says it's official.

Are you a bourbon gal?

I can whip you up a k*ller old-fashioned.

Veronica Luna, I'm Shoshana Rutherford.

The recruiter from Columbia?

What are you doing here?

I My interview's on Monday.

Your assistant called my assistant, and requested that I come down and see your thriving business in action tonight.

I'm so sorry, Miss Rutherford, for the miscommunication, but can we talk in a bit?

Um I promised the crowd a floor show.

No!

You don't get to hurt my kids, sh**t somebody in front of me and leave without any payback.

Dodgy, care to pump this bozo full of lead so we can take his truck with us?

No, Mom.

It's all right.

Look at him.

Bill and Fagan got their licks in, didn't they?

But if it's a fight you're after, let's have ourselves a good old-fashioned brawl.

["SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGH FOR FIGHTING" PLAYING]

It's getting late Have you seen my mates?

Ma, tell me When the boys get here It's seven o'clock And I want to rock Wanna get A belly full of beer My old man's drunker Than a barrel full of monkeys And my old lady She don't care My sister looks cute In her braces and boots A handful of grease in her hair Oh, don't give us none Of your aggravation We had it With your discipline Oh, Saturday night's All right for fighting Get a little action in Get about as oiled As a diesel train Gonna set this dance alight Well, they're packed Pretty tight in here tonight I'm looking for a dolly Who will see me right I may use a little muscle To get what I need I may sink a little drink And shout out "She's with me!" A couple of the sounds That I really like Are the sounds of A switchblade and a motorbike I'm a juvenile product Of the working class Whose best friend floats In the bottom of a glass Oh Don't give us none Of your aggravation We had it With your discipline Saturday night's All right for fighting Get a little action in Get about as oiled As a diesel train Gonna set this dance alight Stop!

You'll k*ll him!

I told Dodger, if we ever fought again, he wouldn't be able to walk.

So you drag his ass out of here, Darla.

And if you or any of your sons step foot in this town ever again, I'll k*ll all of you.

[BOY]

Archie.

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday Saturday night's all right [MUSIC STOPS]

[ALL CHEERING]

[MAN]

Love you!

Well, I hope the song and dance was fun, 'cause at midnight, you turn back into a pumpkin, Cenicienta.

And all this, it goes away.

I may not be able to serve rum, but that won't stop me from making it and burying you.

Hmm.

About that.

Do you know what this is?

It's a patent.

That rum recipe that my mother so graciously gave you, I own it.

So if you use it to make rum, I will sue you for everything you have.

Oh, and good luck with your interview.

I can't wait to hear what Columbia thinks about underage party girl Veronica Luna.

Mm.

Hello.

Hello.

Are you here to k*ll me like I k*lled Caramel?

I leave you alone for one day and you get sh*t.

Well, I've had worse and I'll be home tomorrow morning.

Where you been anyway?

I should probably sit down for this.

I, uh I found Grandpa.

He's living in Seaside.

He's in a converted bus.

Sounds about right.

What'd you do that for?

Mr.

DuPont offered me the Baxter Brothers contract.

[SCOFFS]

I wanted to talk to Grandpa before I signed or not.

- And now that you have?

- It turns out I was wrong.

DuPont did steal the idea from Grandpa, but he did it legally.

And for what it's worth, he feels bad about the way he treated you.

He knows what he did to you and Grandma.

And he knows that he was a bad father.

Yeah, that he was.

But maybe this wild goose chase I went on could be worth something.

Like what?

Would you be willing to talk to him if I brought him here?

Doc has me here overnight.

I guess if he wanted to stop by, couldn't exactly say no could I?

Oh.

Hello, Mumzie.

Cheryl?

What is this?

I trust you approve of this bunker.

After all, it's larger than the cell you would have gotten at Shankshaw.

With food, electricity, plumbing.

You wretched child.

You can't keep me Oh.

On the contrary, Mother, you need time and solitude to seek penance for your crimes and cruelty.

Toodles.

Cheryl.

Cheryl.

Chery!

[BETTY]

It was terrifying, Charles.

When I saw the red door, I fugued.

I slipped into a trance.

Why?

I don't know, maybe a combination of hearing the trigger earlier and then returning to a familiar setting.

What I saw, me about to k*ll Caramel, I think that's when the dark part of me was born.

If that's true, if you can go back to the moment of dark Betty's birth and stop it from happening, it will essentially be k*lling my shadow self before she was even born.

We could try it.

Yeah.

[SIGHS]

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

Wait.

Let me take that from you.

But what am I gonna do now?

You can go play.

Really?

I can go and play?

Yeah, go ahead.

Thank you.

[CHARLES]

Betty.

I I I'm not sure, but I think I did it.

Well, that's great news.

You're all right.

You're okay now.

I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Miss Rutherford.

I'm guessing my sh*t at Columbia is pretty much blown.

Not necessarily.

At Columbia, we're always looking for people with good stories.

I don't know what happened here tonight, but I'll bet it's a good story.

It is indeed.

Well, how about you tell it to me?

[INHALES]

[TONI]

Babe, are you okay?

Are you having second thoughts about your mom?

No, but I was ruminating that perhaps [SIGHS]

it's time to bury Jason.

Cheryl, are you sure?

Yes.

[SIGHS]

There's been so much pain and poison in this house.

And Jason, more than any of us, deserves the peace my mother spent years denying me.

[MARY]

Archie?

What's going on, honey?

Why are you sitting in the dark?

What happened?

Who did this to you?

I did.

I did it to me, Mom.

The Dickensons were leaving town.

They were done with Riverdale.

But I wanted to hurt them, to hurt Dodger.

Maybe even k*ll him.

Archie.

Doesn't make any sense to me, Mom, how predators like Dodger get to live, but Dad, he [SIGHS]

And the worst part about it is, some of the kids from the center were there, and they saw me standing over him, angry, bloody, - and a monster.

- No.

You're not a monster.

You're just still hurting.

When will this end, Mom?

How does this end?

I've never felt further from Dad than I do now.

[MARY SIGHS]

Let me guess, my old man didn't wanna come.

No.

He ran away.

I'm so sorry.

I feel like a fool.

No, you're not.

You would be if you turned down that contract, though.

No, I'm signing it.

[SIGHS]

I think it's time to let go of the past.

Evening, Forsythe.

Oh.

This is the part where you k*ll me?

No, you ass.

It's an initiation.

Welcome to the Quill and Skull Society, Jones.

[ALL APPLAUD]

[PHONE VIBRATING]

Cheryl, what's up?

[CHERYL]

Thank you all for coming.

You all were here last time I was at this river.

When I tried to take my own life.

It's only fitting that you're here now.

[TEARFULLY]

My beloved Toni, as I give Jason, at long last, the funeral he deserves.

[CRYING]

[CONTINUES CRYING]

He was a good brother to me.

I wish you could have met him for real.

I know.

[DOOR BEEPS, OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[ARCHIE]

Yeah?

Can I help you?

Archie?

Archie Andrews?

I am.

It's good to see you, son.

My name is Frank.

I'm, uh I'm your dad's brother.

Tangerine.

Tangerine.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

Betty.

Honey.

What happened?

I wanted to make sure that it was gone.

The dark part of myself.

And it was.

He's dead.

What did you do, Betty?