05x02 - Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Preppy Murders

[bunniefuu]

[Jughead]

Previously, on "Riverdale"...

I'm Charles, your brother.

You have the serial k*ller gene?

That's why I joined the FBI, to control those impulses.

Because in all your plotting, you didn't k*ll me.

[Veronica]

So, after graduation, we go our separate ways, Archie.

No big drama.

- [sobbing]

- It's okay.

They found him.

The guy who k*lled my dad?

[man]

His name is George Augustine.

- Not Fred Andrews.

- That's the man you k*lled.

You left him there to die, you coward!

[Charles]

FBI.

David, can we ask you a couple of questions?

We're assuming you know about the videotapes being delivered around town.

[people screaming]

[Mary]

Archie!

What's going on?

It's the middle of the night.

Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.

I'm still wired from prom, I guess.

It's okay.

Why don't I make you some chamomile tea?

No, don't worry about it, Mom.

I'm going for a run.

[telephone ringing]

[ringing continues]

- Hello?

- Sorry to wake you, Ponytail, but it's urgent.

Bret?

It's 3:00 in the morning.

I don't have much time, so listen up.

I've come across a bit of privileged information that I think you and Slughead would be very interested in, and I'm ready to talk, in exchange for a favor.

It's Bret?

Okay.

What do you want?

Your friend's father owns this prison, right?

I need you to get me transferred to solitary immediately, and then I'll spill.

And trust me, you'll wanna know about this.

I'll talk to Veronica.

When do visiting hours start?

[panting]

[Archie]

It doesn't make any sense.

You loved this town.

You tried to make it better every day.

And even now, it finds ways to insult you, to degrade you.

It's not right, Dad.

[door clangs]

Hi.

We're here to see Bret Weston Wallis.

[officer]

I'm sorry, he's no longer here.

What do you mean?

Where is he?

Earlier this morning, he was found dead in his cell with multiple wounds.

An ambulance took his body to the morgue.

[Cheryl]

Prom was a bust.

I just found out that Highsmith College disbanded its cheerleading squad, and now you expect me to wear some hideous blue hue at graduation?

I specifically ordered crimson.

Fix this or perish.

Yoo-hoo, Archiekins.

Over here, lover boy.

Play along.

Look who finally decided to show up.

Betty and I were in the middle of a m*rder investigation, and we still had the time.

Yeah, well, I didn't think a gown was as important since, you know, I'm not graduating.

We don't know that for sure.

And surely Mr. Weatherbee will at least let you walk with us at the ceremony?

I'm not doing that.

Arch, is something wrong?

Are you kidding me, Betty?

What isn't wrong?

Now, now, Archie, let's get you some water to cool off.

Ronnie, what the hell are you doing?

I'm trying to keep our last week of high school from imploding.

If people find out we broke up, they'd start asking questions.

And then we'd be forced to tell Jughead the truth about what you and Betty did, or lie.

But neither of those sound like good options to me.

Agreed?

So, we're gonna pretend.

At least until graduation.

It's really our only option.

Yeah, for you, maybe.

- I'm getting the hell out of here.

- Archie?

[Toni]

Hey, babe.

I heard you getting into it with Miss Bell.

Are you okay?

T.T., my love, all will be fine.

Well, I just wanted to say I'm sorry I didn't go home with you after prom.

I know it's not what either of us wanted, especially me.

But it's family and...

mon amour.

But since your family made it abundantly clear how they feel about my ancestral lineage, there is some Blossom family business I need to attend to.

Well, in the meantime, I'll keep working on Nana, I promise.

Do you always get bodies from Hiram's prison?

Indeed, I do.

But Mr. Weston Wallis is a curious case.

"Curious" how?

There were multiple s*ab wounds to his abdomen, but that's not all.

- His eyes...

- Were gouged out.

Yes.

Did you really think there wouldn't be any consequences to breaking my daughter's heart, huh?

Huh?

You stay the hell away from me, Mr. Lodge.

She's the best thing that ever happened to you.

You spat on that.

You're a disgrace.

Stepping out on my daughter with her best friend.

What kind of man does that?

So, what do you want?

- You want a rematch?

- What am I saying?

I know exactly what kind of man does that.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it, huh?

- Come on!

- No, wait!

- Pull it together.

- You're done!

You're done!

Get out of my gym.

You heard him, Hiram.

Something bothering you, Veronica?

Little trouble Gingerito?

What?

No.

Everything's fine, Hermosa.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to take out the trash, and you're lucky that doesn't include you.

[r*fle cocking]

You're the Malloys, right?

Good.

You know who we are.

Yes.

One of you b*at my father to within an inch of his life.

Yeah.

And your daddy k*lled our daddy as payback.

So guess what I am going to do to you.

Wait...

Now, turn around!

Please.

Please.

Please don't do this.

- [g*nshots]

- [groans]

Hermosa?

- Oh, my God.

- Don't worry.

It's registered and I have a license.

But you...

It was self-defense, hermanita.

[exhales heavily]

Were they your enemies?

Not mine.

[breathes deeply]

Daddy's.

Which is a problem.

I'm never gonna get that image out of my head, Bret's d*sfigured face.

And isn't it weird that the Auteur left us a sign that said, "God is watching," and then we find Bret with his eyes cut out?

- You think it's a coincidence?

- Betty's instincts are good.

We should trust them.

Well, in that case, we already have a connection.

We know that Bret and David crossed paths.

Bret was selling him illegal sex vids.

Who knows what else.

Bret was trying to tell you something, Betty, reveal a secret.

Maybe he had privileged information that David was the Auteur.

David suspected Bret was gonna rat him out.

It could be what ended up getting him k*lled.

But how would David have been able to k*ll Bret in prison?

With the right connections and the right amount of money, you could easily put a hit on someone in jail with a single phone call.

He was probably just trying to tie up loose ends before he left town.

Bret was loose-lipped.

Maybe.

My agents in the field are looking for David right now.

In the moment that he slips up, and they always do eventually, we'll bring him in.

Thank you all for convening on such short notice.

My agenda for today's board meeting relates to the future of our Maple empire, our legacy.

Speak up.

I can't hear you.

Earlier today, I met with Governor Dooley, who, pending your sign-off, has agreed to purchase a parcel of our land to be declared sanctuary grounds for the wronged Uktena people.

We would then take the money from the aforementioned sale to rebuild and reopen the factory and rebrand Blossom Maple Syrup once and for all.

And who would run this rebranded business?

Of course.

Cousin Cheryl, we have no interest in reopening the factory.

Or in giving the Uktena anything.

- In fact...

- [mutes speaker]

You can't make a move without our approval, which you'll never get.

Why, you hatemonger?

Consider this our revenge for you k*lling our beloved Bedford.

Mom...

We want to talk about Daddy.

Do you know that he's back into his old mafioso ways?

No comment.

He's putting his life in danger, Mom.

More importantly, his behavior is putting our lives in danger.

He has to stop.

You know that, right?

Your father is a fool.

What do I need to do?

Well, first, we'd like you to sell us your shares of Lodge Industries.

You also need to give us a copy of his little black book, the one with his underworld contacts.

We know he has one.

Sounds to me like you two are planning a hostile takeover.

I am so in.

- [Jughead]

Thanks for meeting me.

- Forensics is on the way.

It looks like you were right, Jughead.

David was tying up loose ends.

First Bret, then himself.

So much for answers.

Dead men tell no tales.

Did David seem suicidal to you?

Maybe he decided su1c1de was his only way to escape.

Plausible.

I don't know.

It...

It all just feels a little too...

neat.

[Archie]

What's going on, Mom?

Hey.

I want to talk to you about a call I had with a defense lawyer for your father's hit-and-run case.

The judge is getting ready to make his decision.

And the lawyer reached out to me, to us, as your dad's family, to see if we would be willing to make a statement in court asking the judge for leniency.

For the dad or the son?

Well, George Augustine plead guilty to keep his son out of it, and he's not contesting his role in the accident, but he might get a lesser sentence if we publicly forgive him.

"Forgive him"?

Mom, I still have nightmares about how Dad d*ed.

I know it's a lot to ask, so I thought that maybe we could write a letter and send it, and we don't have to relive seeing him again.

I see him every day.

- Ten, 20 times a day.

- I can only imagine.

Well, do you want to consider it at least?

Are you both insane?

Scaring off my associates with false threats about the FBI?

Taking control over Lodge Industries board?

What do you think you're doing?

We're shutting you down, Daddy.

You need to retire for our safety and yours.

Your reign is done.

It's time for you to let the next generation take over.

You don't understand.

Reverting back to my true nature has given me back my strength and my stamina.

That's not how medical science works, Daddy.

Anyway, we've cut you off at the knees.

The hell you have.

Girls, all I need to do business are my fists and a g*n.

Now, get the hell out of my study before I throw you both out.

Get out!

[cell phone vibrating]

Holy crap.

Jug, what?

What is it?

What's wrong?

Um, nothing's wrong.

I was accepted to the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop.

Are you serious?

I mean, it's no Ivy League and it's in the Midwest, but it's one of the greatest creative writing programs in the country.

Damn.

My boy's going to college.

I'm so proud of you.

[Alice]

This calls for a celebration.

Yeah.

Let's get in the car and go to Pop's.

All the cheeseburgers and banana splits that we can eat, huh?

[Jughead]

Come on.

Mumsy.

Lately, I've begun to think I've got some work to do here in Riverdale.

Important work.

Our family's redemption.

I tried to reanimate the Maple business, but the Blossom board shut me down, out of spite.

They have always been a bunch of hateful b*tches.

All of them.

Make yourself scarce, Cheryl.

Go away.

But don't go alone.

You'll need an alibi.

T.T., I know things have been somewhat strained since prom night interrupted, so what do you say you and I take a mini vacation away from both of our families?

I say let's get this weekend started.

No!

Shut up!

Stop!

He didn't do it.

What?

It was me.

It was my fault.

I'm sorry.

[voice breaking]

I'm so sorry.

[cell phone vibrating]

Hello.

[Donna]

You have to help me, Betty.

Donna?

What the hell?

[whispering]

Somebody is k*lling us.

What are you talking about?

First Bret, then Joan, and I think I'm next.

My life is at stake.

I'm going into hiding.

Oh, God.

Give me a break, you narcissistic psycho.

There's no m*rder conspiracy against your preppy cabal.

We know who k*lled Bret, and now he's dead, too.

Then what about Joan?

Sorry, Donna.

I'm not being drawn into your twisted reindeer games again.

Whoever's doing this, it has to be related.

Oh, when you tried to k*ll my boyfriend with a rock?

Yeah, never call me again.

Bye, Donna.

Hi.

Can I speak to Joan Berkeley, please?

No, I'm afraid not.

Joan's passed away.

- Who's this?

- Oh, my God.

Um...

I'm a classmate of hers from Stonewall Prep.

Donna?

Yes, it's Donna.

I don't mean to upset you further, but how did it happen?

Joan was m*rder*d.

She was walking home from school through the woods, and someone ran up behind her and hit her in the head with a rock.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Please accept my condolences.

Okay.

Donna may not have been lying.

So, now we have a preppy m*rder*r on the loose?

Apparently.

I hope Donna's somewhere safe.

I've been thinking about stubbornness.

I may have a way of breaking him off it.

It's a one-two punch.

I deliver the first blow, you deliver the second.

What are you talking about?

Delusions.

He thinks that acting like a street brawler is what's keeping him healthy.

But you told me the last time he got roughed up, he called you for help, which you gave.

So, it's time we burst his bubble and show him that you in no way condone his behavior.

And what would you have me do instead?

The exact opposite.

- [door opens]

- [George]

Archie Andrews?

Mr. Augustine?

What are you doing here?

Look, if this is about the letter, I haven't had a chance to write it yet.

Well...

There's actually been a slight change in the proceedings.

My son took it upon himself to confess to the hit-and-run.

They're charging him as an adult.

Could you write the letter for him and not me?

Your words can mean the difference between months or years of jail time for Jeffery.

Mr. Augustine, I've...

I've thought about what your son did over the last few months.

He hit my dad.

And that was an accident, yeah.

Something I might have done.

But I'll tell you one thing that I never would have done.

I never would have kept driving.

I never would have left him or anyone.

Okay, that...

That wasn't an accident.

- He was so scared.

- And what do you think my dad was, Mr. Augustine?

[videotape clicks]

So, David wasn't the Auteur?

Or maybe this is one of his accomplices.

[gasps]

Oh, my God.

He did it.

He's finally gotten in the house.

Wait, that's me.

Okay, that's it.

We're getting out of here.

We have to leave now.

Everybody, pack a bag.

We're going to check into the Five Seasons.

Let's go.

[cell phone vibrating]

[Veronica sighs]

Here we go.

[sighs]

Oh, my God.

Daddy, what happened?

Got jumped outside the Mayor's office.

Some hoods were waiting for me.

Hey, can you get the first-aid kit, like last time?

No.

Your astrological sign might be the Scorpion, Daddy, but, in fact, you're like a dog.

A dog who needs to be trained.

When a dog soils a carpet, you know what you do?

You rub his nose in it.

How many times is this going to happen?

How many times are you going to be att*cked and beaten by younger, stronger men?

What's the point of battling a disease if you're just gonna get yourself k*lled on the street, like some mangy dog?

Be smarter than that.

Go out on top, exit gracefully and with dignity.

Better that than to die on the street, blood flowing into the gutter.

Think about that as you lick your own Perito.

- [sighs]

- [Hermosa]

Good job.

Looks like you are a Lodge after all.

What did you have your men do to him?

He's worse than last time.

Needed to be taught a lesson, and that's exactly what we did.

Nana?

Pray tell, who are you mourning?

The entire Blossom family has sailed into the underworld, Cheryl.

It's just us now.

What?

What happened?

They poisoned themselves.

A, um, su1c1de note in Cricket's pocket stated that our extended family wanted to sacrifice themselves to atone for all the ancient Blossom sins.

Hmm.

How... timely.

And, Mumsy, I'm sure you had nothing to do with this.

Consider it an early graduation gift, Cheryl.

With the Blossom board no more, you now have full control of all Blossom holdings to do with as you please.

Okay.

So, our parents have calmed down, Jellybean's asleep, and I'm filled with dread.

Yeah, me too.

Jug, if the Auteur got into the house, that means he's probably been inside many times before.

Definitely.

And given the supposedly privileged information he seems to have about us and our friends, maybe he's been doing a lot more than just watching.

Like what, listening?

Wait, you're not saying...

Who likes to bug phones?

And who else would have the resources and abilities to k*ll Joan in the outside world and the connections to k*ll Bret inside prison?

We have to go back to the house.

Fun times, Cooper.

[door opens]

I got your message.

[sighs]

Thanks for coming, Charles.

Found your bug.

On the phone.

Same kind you gave me to use on the Stonies.

You got sloppy or overconfident.

Maybe I wanted to be caught.

Just waiting for you to catch up to me.

You've been listening to our phone conversations since Halloween, if not before.

Yes.

But only to protect you, Betty.

You k*lled Joan and Bret.

Don't lie to me.

I'll know.

I did.

Yes.

And you tried to k*ll Donna, but she slipped away.

Why?

Donna and her friends committed a heinous crime and got away with it.

It didn't sit well with me.

Bret didn't get away with it.

He was in prison.

- Bret was odious.

- [Jughead]

Yes, he was.

You know, it took us a second to figure out how you did it, k*lling Bret in prison, and then it made so much sense.

Your boyfriend, Chic, k*lled him.

I love you, babe.

I love you, too.

That's what Bret was going to tell us, that you and Chic were still in deep.

True love knows no boundaries.

I'm gonna guess that Joan and Bret aren't the only people you've k*lled.

That's correct.

How did you guess?

Because you taught me everything I know about serial K*llers...

because that's what you are, isn't it, Charles?

You're so good at identifying us.

That was your blind spot.

And I only k*ll people who deserve it.

Horrible people who hurt those that I love.

[scoffs]

Betty, I'm putting myself in your hands.

You're going to prison for the rest of your life.

You're coming with us, and you are going to confess to all of your crimes, including the videotapes.

No, no.

I'm not the Auteur.

Yes, you are.

You k*lled David.

You made it look like a su1c1de, and then you framed him as the Auteur because we were getting too close.

[chuckles]

Well, yes, I...

I k*lled David, but he was a degenerate who helped scumbags like Bret.

- But I'm not behind the videotapes.

- Then who is?

What kind of teacher would I be if I just gave you the answer, baby brother?

You'll figure it out.

I have no doubt.

[Hiram]

I have given some thought to what the two of you have been saying about me retiring.

And as much as I hate to admit it, maybe you have a point.

Though, if I do choose to step down, what would that even look like?

You would take a break while I go to Barnard and Hermosa handles business affairs.

[Hiram]

After graduation, I'll take a long, nice sabbatical to the Caymans.

How does that sound, mi amor?

Sounds wonderful.

But I won't be joining you.

See, I've also decided to make a life change.

To do what, exactly?

Three years ago, Andy Cohen asked me to become a Real Housewife of New York.

I turned him down to focus on my family.

Remember?

But, really, Veronica, I did it to protect you.

Honey, the only reason I got back together with your father in the first place was to keep you safe.

But now, you're going off to college, and Hermosa's back in the picture, so I really don't see any reason to put my ambitions on hold anymore.

So, Hiram, I'm divorcing you.

I am moving back to the city, and I am becoming a Real Housewife.

- And, yes...

- [scoffs]

For real.

Wow, Mom!

You win.

But do take that trip to the Caymans, Daddy.

You need a break from Riverdale, and Riverdale most definitely needs a break from you.

[sobbing]

Mom, what the hell are you doing?

Is that what it was like for you?

Is that what the Black Hood did to your father, did to you?

I was a coward.

- No.

- Yes.

Mom, I let him down.

No, Archie, just listen to me.

I called your Uncle Frank after George Augustine came to see you.

Wait.

How did you know about that?

Because he came to see me, too.

Archie, please just talk to me.

I need to know what's going on inside you.

Nothing, Mom.

I wish you hadn't called Uncle Frank, and I really wish you hadn't watched this tape.

We need to send that to the sheriff or to Betty and Jughead.

So more people can see it?

I got a better idea.

No one's gonna watch this crap again.

Archie, no, no!

[shrieks]

Archie!

Archie, please stop!

You're scaring me.

[sobbing]

They're getting their stuff together and then coming home.

Jeez.

Your poor mother.

First Chic and now Charles.

Two sons, one real and one fake.

Both psychos.

How are you doing?

Are you okay?

Fine.

[hesitates]

I don't know.

Like, of course my brother is a serial k*ller.

What I can't stop thinking about are...

The videotapes.

Yeah.

Yeah, it just made...

It just made perfect sense that Charles was the Auteur.

I mean, he bugged the house.

He would have overheard everything that he needed to make those recreations.

I don't even know who else could have had access to all that information.

Could have poss...

What?

What is it, Jug?

What the hell are you doing here?

Your mom called me.

She's worried about you.

So am I.

I'm sorry, but you don't get to worry about me.

You left.

You have no idea what I'm going through.

Oh, you're wrong about that, kid.

I know it better than most, that feeling of hopelessness, the pain.

We have both seen people die, and we survived.

The guilt that you carry with you, you can't just fight all that pain...

I don't want your advice.

I don't want anything from you.

You're a fraud, you're a coward.

Is that all you got?

I know you wanna hit me so come on, do it.

Give me your best sh*t.

Pathetic.

If you wanna take me down, take me down!

Let it out, Archie.

Let it all out!

Let go of that anger, son.

[Archie sobbing]

[Archie]

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Jellybean, I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest.

Are you the one making those videotapes?

Yes.

Why?

I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't showed up, Uncle Frank.

It's a long road you're on, kid.

Takes years to heal.

Maybe even your entire life.

I really appreciate you being here, Uncle Frank.

Anytime, Archie.

But if I'm being honest, you're not the only reason I came back.

I'm finally ready to turn myself in.

Answer for the things I did back when I was a mercenary.

Really?

Are you sure?

The only thing I need is representation.

You don't happen to know any good lawyers in town, do you?

Eh, I might be able to think of one.

What's this about, Jug?

Figured we should do this over drinks.

Betty and I found out who's filming those videotapes.

It's Jellybean.

[chuckles uneasily]

What, is this a joke?

No.

Do you remember that first video we were sent?

It was right after I went to Stonewall Prep, right?

It wasn't a coincidence.

What?

What is this?

[Jughead]

Fast forward.

It's literally six hours of our house.

Boy, you better start making sense.

The videos had the intended effect, to unsettle us, but that wasn't the reason why Jellybean made the videos.

What?

What was it?

She wanted me to stay.

The big brother she had just gotten to know was already leaving to Stonewall and then to college.

She'd figured the best way to keep me in town was a mystery.

How?

How did she even get the idea to make videotapes?

Do you remember that weird kid that she was hanging out with and playing G&G, Ricky?

- Yeah.

- Well, they started hanging out again, and then he introduced her to Blue Velvet Video.

And after watching some of their weirder videos, she got the idea.

To film all those houses, Jellybean and Ricky did that?

At first, it was just the two of them, but I guess they roped in some of their friends.

Just some kids from Archie's community center.

And once the simple voyeur footage wasn't making enough of an impact, especially to me, she decided to up the game.

Guys, I have an idea.

Let's make a movie, a real movie.

[Jughead]

That first recreation, you remember it?

It was Betty and I.

She wanted to get my attention, and it worked.

And then she moved on to the Jason Blossom recreation and Midge's m*rder.

Her and Ricky just rented the original videos from Blue Velvet.

She and those kids made all the masks, and the props and the sets.

It's actually... pretty impressive.

- Did they realize what they were doing?

- I don't think so.

I think it was a game to them, like make-believe.

So much so that they ended up breaking into Riverdale High to recreate that k*lling Mr.

Honey video after she snuck on to my laptop to read the story I was working on.

- Where did they do all this?

- All over town.

Their secret hideout was the Lodge's cabin in the woods.

The m*rder cabin.

And then, David, before he was k*lled by Charles, gave them permission to sh**t the prom m*ssacre video inside the Scarlet Suite.

And that one was bad, but not nearly as bad as the one with Mr.

Andrews being sh*t by the Black Hood.

And the video inside our house?

That was her and Ricky, too.

And she did all this to keep you in Riverdale?

That's what she told me.

I don't think she understands the enormity and the darkness of what she did.

Sorry.

It's okay, JB.

It's okay, honey.

[FP sighs]

Uncle Frank and I are gonna go visit Dad's grave, but I wanted to give you the letter for the Augustines.

I'll make sure the judge gets it.

Thank you, Archie.

To the Honorable Judge Britton.

Losing my dad has been the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life.

I miss him every day.

It hurts me and my mom, and anyone who was ever lucky enough to have known him, but I also that it also hurts Jeffery Augustine and his father.

When my dad passed, I made a vow to honor his memory every single day.

My dad didn't believe in an eye for an eye.

He believed in forgiveness, and kindness and compassion.

What happened was a terrible accident, but Jeffery's life doesn't need to be ruined.

That's not what my dad would have wanted.

It's not what me or my mom want.

Fred Andrews believed in lifting up those around him and in second chances, and I'm asking you to do the same.