06x13 - Chapter One Hundred and Eight: Ex-Libris

[bunniefuu]

[Jughead] The fog had cleared
and the world had changed.

For Betty and Archie, the
results of her pregnancy test

had come with mixed emotions.

All tinged with a hint
of what might have been.

I'm relieved.

Are you? I mean, what would we have done

if there had been two
lines on that thing?

Yeah. There would have
been a lot to figure out.

Starting with, how do you raise a
kid without totally screwing them up?

[chuckles softly] I mean, look
at the examples I had. My mom...

Is my mom and my dad was
a serial k*ller, so...

Does the opposite of
what my mom and dad did

count as a parenting style?

I don't know.

I think we would have gotten
the hang of it together.

Are you disappointed?

Look, I know that timing
is completely wrong.

But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't

a little bit excited about the idea
of starting a new life with you.

Everything has been so dark.

A baby would have been...

A light.

My dad loved being a young dad.

I mean, he talked about it all the time.

Your dad is the world's best father.

No question.

Yeah.

[soft instrumental music playing]

It will happen... Someday.

Maybe the universe just wants
us to stop the bad guys first.

[Jughead] For Veronica and Reggie,

the new day dawned with
bitterness and bile.

Don't forget this.

You definitely won't be
waking up here anymore.

So it's going to be like that?

The more I think about what
you said the other night,

giving me ultimatums, the
less well it sits with me.

Especially since you stole from us.

For the record, Ronnie,
I was going to share

the income from the satellite casino.

[scoffs] Sure.

You know, I've really been trying to see

this whole thing from
your point of view,

but, sadly, I can't seem to
get my head that far up my ass.

You know what? Good thing
I'm getting out of this now.

I wouldn't want to end up dead.

What is that supposed to mean?

First Chad, then Hiram.
What was it they called you,

the "Black Widow of Wall Street?" Hmm.

Unless you're ready to
hear the long list of names

I'd like to call you right now,

I'd quit while you're ahead.

Go for it. You've never
spared my feelings before.

Plus, now you can hook up with Heraldo.

Oh, my God. With who? Heraldo?

Oh, come on.

I saw how you guys looked at each other.

You'll text him soon as I leave.

You're flailing and it's pathetic.

Whatever. First it was Archie.

Then it was me.

- Then it was Archie.
- [sighs]

Then it was Chad.

Then it was Archie.

And then you came back
to me without a break.

You...

You can't be alone.

[whispering] It's not in your nature.

Hmm.

[sighs]

[Jughead] As for us, Tabitha was
in Albany working to get Pop's

declared a historical landmark

and I, like so many of us, was waiting.

Percival was Riverdale's
new self-appointed Mayor.

What would Percival's first move be?

We wondered.

Though, when it came, I admit
we were all caught off guard.

The hell are you guys doing here?

We're here on behalf of
Riverdale Public Library.

It's closing, you might have heard.

[Jughead] Huh!

- Why?
- Well, eventually, of course,

it will be a hotel to
service the new railway.

[scoffs] Riverdale, a town
without a public library.

- Nice.
- [Percival] In any case, I've been going over the library's

outstanding accounts tracking down
books that were never returned.

And according to my records,
you have an outstanding copy

of Kafka's The Metamorphosis,
you little intellectual.

What?

I must have checked that
book out, like, ten years ago.

May I have it, please?

Are you serious?

I was homeless ten years ago.

I have no idea where that thing is.

Let me just pay you the fee

and you can replace it with a new one.

Well, the late fees are in the
thousands of dollars by now, Mr. Jones,

and it was a very particular edition.

Any replacement would have
to be that exact version,

and I'm afraid it's out of print.

Okay. If you're shutting down the
library, why do you need this book?

It's the principle.

I mean, that book is
property of the town.

Currently stolen property.

Just replace it and
all fees will be waived.

Fine. I'll look for it.

Do. In the meantime, I'll
need collateral. Um...

How about this?

Uh, no. My grandfather
wrote that and gave it to me.

It's inscribed.

Take, um... Take the signed first
edition of DeLillo's Underworld.

No. This is the item we require.

Isn't that right, gentlemen?

[g*n cocking]

But fair is fair, Mr. Jones.

Find the book you owe the town,

you get yours back.

[Jughead] And surprise, surprise.

Mine wasn't the only home visited
in search of overdue library books.

[Percival] According to
my records, Mr. Andrews,

you checked out
Songwriting From The Heart

and never returned it.

Yeah, I borrowed that book
when I was in high school.

[Percival] Mmm.

On the recommendation
of your music teacher

Geraldine Grundy, I believe.

Uh, maybe. Look, I have
no clue where that book is.

Well, in that case, you'd
need to replace the book

with a copy from the exact same edition,

and I think that publish
has gone out of business.

[chuckles]

This is ridiculous.

Sure. I'll find a copy
of the book for you.

Good man.

Until then, I'll need some collateral,

something so I know
you're taking me seriously.

How about...

Ah, that guitar?

The one Ms. Grundy taught you
on feels appropriate, doesn't it?

[intense music playing]

If you touch one more thing in my
house, I'll break both of your arms.

This little nugget says different.

Excuse me.

We won't take up too much
of your time, Ms. Lodge.

We're looking for an overdue
library book of yours.

Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig.

What are you, the library police?

With a book as overdue as this,

the late fees run into
the thousands of dollars.

Just tell me how much I owe you.

Um, well, if the book is
lost, uh, you could be charged

with a misdemeanor subject to jail time.

But all late fees will be waived...

- If I find the book?
- Yes.

I'll try to track it down.

Good. In the meantime, we'll
just take that as collateral.

[chuckles]

Knock yourself out.

- [Cheryl] Flowers in the Attic?
- By V.C. Andrews.

[chuckles] Yeah, I know who wrote
it, you crumpet-eating buffoon.

Do you have it or not, Ms. Blossom?

[Cheryl sighs]

The last time I read that
book, I was with an old friend

who I haven't seen in a very long time.

I believe she must have it.

Yes, Heather, wasn't it?

Um, how did you know that?

Oh, I'm very perceptive.

Well, until you find it
or an exact copy of it,

I'll need some collateral.

Um, how about...

Ah!

That trunk.

[intense music playing]

You can't have that.

I'll take the trunk
or you to the stocks.

You know, we haven't spent
much quality time together yet,

but I should warn you,
you're playing with fire.

Hmm.

Would you burn all of us, Ms. Blossom?

- No, just you.
- Indeed.

Which is why my men have
a very specific instruction

if I get even the least bit flushed...

Aim for her head.

Take the damn trunk, but
I have to empty it first.

No! I'll take the
trunk and its contents.

But don't worry,

we'll take very good
care of your brother.

[music intensifying]

[cell phone ringing]

Hey, Mom, What's up?

Hey, honey, uh, do
you remember that book,

Small Engine Repairsthat you
checked out of the library?

You mean when I was ? Vaguely.

Mayor Pickens is collecting
all overdue library books.

He needs it back.

Uh, might be in my room somewhere.

No, I checked. It's not there.

Well, you're going to need to find it

or at least an exact copy.

I gave him your diary as collateral.

You did what?

Yeah. Aren't you glad I didn't
let you burn that last one?

So I am cooking yummy beef stroganoff
for dinner. How does that...

[sighs]

[Percival] Well, you remember,
Mr. Mantle, it's a workbook.

One that teaches children
with dyslexia how to read.

- [Reggie] Give me a sec.
- [Percival] Mmm-hmm.

[exhales]

[Percival chuckles]

Fifteen years after it was checked out

you actually still have it.

I'm impressed, Mr. Mantle.

I've long suspected there's
more than meets the eye with you.

So what? Do I have to
pay a fine or something?

Oh, no.

We'll just leave the matter
of your debt for another day.

[Jughead] By nightfall, we
realized that Percival and his g*ons

had paid all of us a visit.

So I convened a meeting.

My father pulled off some pretty
bizarre villainy in his day

but shutting down a library?

There is a purpose behind
what Percival is doing.

Books promote ideas and free thinking.

They're terrifying objects
to would be despots like him.

If people stop reading
and thinking and dreaming,

it makes it easier for them
to just follow Percival.

But shaking us down for
overdue library books

with g*ons and g*ns?

What is so special about our books?

Or the agitators?

Maybe it's a distraction,
for his next move.

Well, he's not interested in the money.

Though he did thr*aten to arrest
me if I didn't find my book.

Yeah, but have you ever heard of people

being thrown in jail for
an overdue library book?

Yeah, actually. Some states consider

the failure to return
library books as theft.

Well, I have no idea where my book is.

Yeah, me neither.

I lent a bunch of my books to
Doc, my friend, on Sketch Alley.

And then Percival suggested that he
and the other unhoused just leave.

I mean, they could be
anywhere and so could my book.

Cheryl?

You've been pretty quiet.

Methinks there is a whiff
of sorcery about all of this.

Books are objects of immense power.

Every reader imprints
on the book they read.

Every book changes
the reader in some way.

If Percival knows what books we
read during our formative years...

[sighs] My mind reels
of what he might do

with that secret forbidden knowledge.

[Kevin] I can't believe they
actually gave these things up.

[Percival] Men with g*ns, Kevin.

Most potent form of persuasion.

Yeah, but all this for library books?

Oh, Kevin.

If you steal from a town,
even if it's just a paperback,

you tear at that town's civic
fabric, its sense of order.

We must hold the line, especially
against these demagogues.

Now they claim to love Riverdale,
to want to save it, to fight for it.

But can anything be worse than stealing

from the very place you profess to love?

They're hypocrites.

And we must punish them accordingly.

That, and test their
psychological mettle.

You're not going to hurt them, are you?

Doubting me, Kevin?

That's interesting.

Because according to my records,

there's still one more
book left to collect.

Lord of the Flies. And
unless I'm very much mistaken,

the last person to
check that out was you.

I loved that book as a kid.

Well, then find it, Kevin.

And bring it unto me now.

I still have work to do tonight,

and I don't want any
naysayers in my midst.

Loquere, objecta, da mysteria tua.

Ex libris ad animas,
frequenta manus unde venistis.

[continues indistinctly]

[indistinct chatter]

[boys laughing]

Oh, my God.

What's so funny?

Say it ain't so, Sarge.

You played guitar at the
Variety Show? And sang?

That was about a million years ago.

What are you even doing
with that yearbook?

I just found it on a table in
the library just sitting there.

Well, put it away. It's time for class.

[man] What d'ya got, kid?

Hey, kid...

[Reggie] Uh...

I've got nothing.

I'm out.

[dramatic music playing]

[woman] Agent Cooper?

This is the latest profile the
psychologist came up with for TBK.

"Intelligent, antisocial,
highly skilled,

lacking empathy, likely a loner."

They couldn't be more
boilerplate if they tried.

Ugh. What is that smell?

Oh, my God. I feel
like I'm gonna throw up.

It's bleach I think.
Should I get you some water?

[intense music playing]

Dad?

Agent Cooper?

You all right?

Uh...

[Veronica] Hello, Heraldo. I'm
calling to check in about my abuelita.

[Heraldo] Seems to be doing fine. Why?

Actually, Heraldo, can I call you back?

Nope, not today, spider.

[keyboard clacking]

[Jughead] I spent the morning on
my laptop. Not writing, no, hunting.

For copies of The Metamorphosis ...

Which is when I noticed that
my fingers were bleeding.

Ms. Cooper, are you by any
chance here to return your book?

Small Engine Repairs?

No, but my mom had no
right to give you my diary.

So I want it back.

What do you...

What are you doing with this?

Oh...

Just a little bit of cleaning.

Did you know, Ms. Cooper,

there is no more powerful memory
trigger than a potent scent.

Isn't it fascinating what
the mind is susceptible to?

Imagine a normal
household item like bleach,

unlocking a door that
hadn't been opened in years.

What's behind it, I wonder.

Some crippling secret?

Give me my diary.

No.

I could maybe let you read it here.

I have a wonderful reading nook and
my men would help you get settled.

Fine.

[kids laughing in background]

[laughter continues]

[laughter continues]

Hello?

Is someone there?

[breathing heavily]

Heather?

[heavy breathing continues]

[music intensifies]

Heather?

Is that you?

[breathing heavily]

[kids laughter]

Flowers in the Atticindeed.

[bell ringing]

[cello music playing]

[music continues]

Ms. Grundy?

[music stops]

[cello music starts]

[panting]

[Jughead] It was like something
out of a David Cronenberg movie.

My hands were getting
itchier, rawer, more painful.

I was either coming down
with a horrible case of eczema

or I was turning into a cockroach
like in The Metamorphosis.

Either way,

I had to find that book.

Bro, I need my book back.

When I was a kid, I was
diagnosed with dyslexia,

and that kid's book
taught me how to read.

I never thought I'd
need it again, but I do.

So please, can I have it?

No. But can I interest you

in this very fine limited edition

Glamerge egg?

Why would I want that?

Doesn't Ms. Lodge collect them?

Yeah, but we just broke up.

It was brutal.

Well, maybe, in that case,
the egg could serve as

a parting blow.

I just want my book back.

Take the egg to Veronica. [echoing]

[in normal voice] And then,
maybe we can discuss your book

and any other opportunities.

You strike me as the sort of
man who is always on the lookout

for the next great opportunity.

[Betty sighs]

I had an episode today.

I was working the TBK
case at the FBI office

and there was a janitor there
mopping the floor with bleach,

and I had a visceral
response to the smell.

I mean, I almost threw up.

And I saw a flash of my father.

- Oh, my God.
- Yeah, the smell dislodged...

something in me, like a memory.

So I went to Percival's
shop to get my diary back

so I could confirm it.

And did you get it back?

No, but I read it, and
there was something.

It was an entry from when I was ,

and at the time, I didn't
think anything of it.

But that's when I checked out Small
Engine Repairs from the library.

I couldn't get enough of that book.

And one night, I was so excited
to show my dad what I learned

about spark plugs and carburetors.

I went down to the garage.

Daddy, what are you doing?

Oh, just a little clean-up.

What's that smell?

Oh, that... That's bleach.

Your mommy uses that
sometimes. It's a disinfectant.

It can get pretty dirty working on cars.

So it's always good to keep some
handy. It covers up everything.

[Betty] Looking back on it
now, it seems so obvious.

I mean, we had never known precisely

when my dad started k*lling people,
but I'm thinking about it now.

And when I was a little girl,

I was smelling the
bleach my dad was using

to scrub the blood of his
victims out of our family car.

It was right there.

It was right under my
nose, and I missed it.

Hey, you were years
old, and he was your dad.

Every child should be
able to trust their parent.

Percival knows what he's doing, Archie.

I mean, playing these mind games with me

and making me relive these things.

Anything weird happen to you today?

Nothing. Nothing I want to talk about.

This is not a good feeling.

It's like someone's picking
through my brain with dirty fingers.

Hey.

Hi there.

Uh...

My name is Jughead Jones.

I actually used to
live on the alley here.

- Hank.
- Hi, Hank.

I was hoping that you could help me.

A bunch of people used to live here,

including a friend of mine named Doc.

Yeah, I know Doc.

Do you know what happened
to him and the others?

A man came, British.

He gathered us up, Doc included.

Told us to start walking west and
not to stop until we hit the ocean.

And that's what everyone did.

Gathered their things
and started walking

like they had no choice.

Why didn't you go?

The man said "walk."

That's the one thing I can't do.

Doc has something of mine.

It's, um... It's a book,
and I-I actually need it.

You don't know where
he ended up, do you,

or how I can get this message to him?

Yeah.

I may have the number for
a payphone in Venice Beach.

Venice... Like California?

The man said "head west."

[Veronica] Reggie
dropped this off, you say?

He did, Ms. Veronica.

[Veronica] Huh.

Fascinating.

Oh, and, Smithers, any luck
finding Kiss of the Spider Woman?

Uh, not the edition you're looking for.

It's elusive, I'm afraid.

Try the Strand in New
York, would you, please?

Thank you, Smithers.

[music box playing]

[screams]

[exhales]

[music playing]

Sorry, it took me a while to track
down. My dad's house is a mess.

No, it's... It's cool.

I'm just glad you still have it.

I didn't even remember
you lent it to me.

It's a wild book.

[both chuckle]

I was in lust with the hero, Ralph.

Oh, same, but I mostly
identified with Piggy.

The guy that gets crushed by a boulder?

Why?

You remember, Moose?

I was husky as a kid.

I used to wear these glasses.

- Thick ones.
- Mmm.

I was super awkward, physically.

I felt like the character
of Piggy was written for me.

If it makes you feel better,
you are definitely Ralph now.

Totally hot.

Maybe on the outside, but
once a Piggy, always a Piggy.

[Veronica] Okay, Cheryl, what
the hell is going on with us?

I'm glad you asked, Veronica.

That's why I brought us here.

I've been doing some
reading, occult volumes

I've collected over the years.

I may have further insight
into Percival's machinations.

Okay, when spell casting, an
enchanter uses personal items

to focus their magic on their targets.

Strands of hair, fingernail
clippings, clothing, or, in our case,

the collateral he received
from our missing library books.

I believe Percival is
using these items as totems

to harness or manifest phantoms

from our past or our
subconscious to haunt us,

test us, torment us.

Does that resonate with anyone?

Maybe.

Percival took a book my grandfather
had written and given to me.

My grandfather d*ed back when
I was in New York. He, uh...

He was covered in eczema.

Especially his hands...

Which were completely d*sfigured.

Oh, my God, Jug!

One of my greatest fears is
that I'll die alone like him,

only having written one book.

How do we stop what's happening?

It's pretty straightforward.

Find our missing library books,

get back our confiscated
items, break his spell.

But would Percival even return
our things at this point?

He said he would. "Fair is fair."

Indeed. There are rules
when spell weaving.

A certain order that
needs to be maintained.

You seem pretty blase
about this, Cheryl.

I've always dabbled in the supernatural.

And I'm pretty
comfortable with the ghost

that's been invoked from my past.

We gave Percival the tools to hurt us.

What if we can't find our books?

Then we have no choice
but to face our demons

and hope we survive the encounters.

[glass breaking]

[dramatic music playing]

[Percival reading]

Hey, again.

Did you get ahold of Doc?

Yeah, I got ahold of him.

You doing okay?

No. Definitely not doing okay.

That's why I need my book.

About that.

Doc said he sold it as
they were heading west.

Had to shed everything
they were carrying with them

to travel light.

Okay. Uh...

Do you know where he sold it?

Matter of fact, I do.

Place called...

Barney's Book Barn right
off Route in Allentown.

Allentown, Pennsylvania?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

[laughs] He did pretty
well. This is pretty good.

What the hell are you looking at now?

Hey, Sarge, we just figured out why

you were so into music back in the day.

If my music teacher looked like that,

I'd be signing up to play guitar, too.

[all laugh]

You think you're funny?

If I see this or any other
yearbook in this class,

you're out of my RROTC program.

Am I clear?

Yeah, you're clear.

Sorry.

[cello music playing]

[dramatic music playing]

Very good, Kevin. Well done.

Tried to re-read it, but to be
honest, it made me sick to my stomach.

Let me guess.

Reminded you of someone you
don't ever want to be again.

Basically, yeah.

I understand, Kevin, but...

That part of you that feels
that you're unattractive

and undeserving of love,
let it go. Let it die.

You are a gorgeous, gorgeous man

and you deserve everything
your heart desires.

That's easier said than done.

But it needn't be.

Align yourself with me, and
you need never feel like a...

Piggy again.

How did you know that?

You see, those dark secrets that
we all carry in our hearts...

I am those secrets, Kevin,

and only I can release you from them.

Hey.

Hey, I picked us up some Cucina Sacasa.

I hope you're hungry.

What are you doing wearing those?

Uh, they're for my migraines.

I got it at the drugstore.
I thought they were cute.

Betty, take those off.

Please take them off.

Okay.

They're off. What's the problem?

It's Percival. Look, when you asked

if any weird things
happened to me, I lied.

He's bringing back all
this stuff with Ms. Grundy.

It's like everywhere I look, I see her.

Those glasses, she wore
a pair exactly like them.

I know it shouldn't... trigger me.

Uh, yeah, it should.

And he got me thinking
about music and...

how I stopped playing. It was
such a huge part of my life.

And is that because of Ms. Grundy?

Because every time I pick up a guitar,

it may send me back to that
music room, back to her.

We didn't really use this word
back then, but the truth is...

she groomed you, Arch.

And that does have an effect on people.

Percival is bringing up all
these traumas back to the surface.

Why?

Because it's like
Cheryl said, to hurt you.

Us.

He finds a wound just
so he can press on it.

Jug texted me.

He said he's got a lead on where
he might be able to find our books.

It's a long sh*t, but still.

Really? Where?

[exhales] Some book
barn in Pennsylvania.

[kisses]

[instrumental music playing]

I'm glad we both had a
free night to do this.

Get to know each other better.

Without a corpse between us.

I agree.

Cheers, Heraldo.

I do have to ask...

Where is Reggie?

Gone.

For good. God willing.

So what does that make me
then? Am I your rebound?

[chuckles]

I think it's too early to
put a label on this, Heraldo.

But what you are...

is an attractive man

who intrigues me.

And I am a woman who'd
rather not be alone tonight.

Can't it just be as simple as that?

Whatever you want.

In that case...

[moans]

[exhales]

That was exactly what I needed.

I'm so glad you came over.

Heraldo?

Heraldo?

Heraldo!

[gasps]

Yeah, Reggie, I just want you
to know that I got your gift

and now a man is dead.

Good going, idiot.

Ronnie, what are you talking about?

Those black widow spiders in
the Glamerge egg you sent me,

one of them bit Heraldo,
and now he's dead.

Hold on. What was Heraldo
doing at your apartment?

You know exactly what he was doing.

Ronnie, yeah. I sent you a Glamerge egg

but there weren't any spiders in it.

Maybe you just imagined that.

Well, I certainly didn't
imagine the corpse Betty's bestie

Dr. Curdle just carted out of here.

Where did you even get that gauche egg?

The curiosity shop.

[scoffs]

You fool.

Hot off the fax. We finally
have a full, detailed statement

from TBK's survivor, Katherine.

Oh, great. Anything of note?

No big bombshells.

One weird detail, though.

She mentions that he always left
the light on for her at night.

Daddy, I'm scared.

Of what, sweetie?

I hear monsters at night in the house

and in the garage sometimes.

You know what?

I have just the thing.

Well, there you go.

One anti-monster
nightlight to keep you safe.

[clears throat]

But I'll tell you a secret, Betty.

You don't have to be
afraid of any monster.

Do you know why?

Because you and I are much
scarier than any monster.

Agent Cooper?

We've had TBK's profile
wrong this entire time.

We always assumed he was a loner,

a drifter leaving a trail
of bodies in his wake.

But what if he has a
family he goes home to?

What if he's a father?

Very few serial K*llers have families.

My dad did.

Let's broaden the search
to include fathers,

ones who travel for work,

with a specific focus on
ones who have daughters.

- On it.
- Okay.

[cell phone ringing]

- Archie.
- [Archie] Betty, Jughead just texted me.

He's got the books.

Okay.

Ah, Mr. Mantle. How did the egg go over?

I think you can probably guess.

Oh.

Something funky is going on.

I give you a book and
suddenly I can't read.

I call Veronica a black widow

and then the egg I gave
her is filled with spiders

even though when I
checked it, it was empty.

What are you?

A wizard?

[scoffs]

I mean, I have a trick
or two up my sleeve. I...

I am a... a magic man, you might say.

Your magic.

Is that something you could teach me?

Oh, I'm sure we can work something out.

How... Where did you find these?

Pennsylvania. A place
called Barney's Book Barn.

It's like Powell's in Seattle,
but they have literally everything.

Bravo, nerd, who knew your
bookish ways would one day save us?

So we just go to Percival,
turn over these books

and he gives us our things back?

- That's what he said.
- He better.

And if he doesn't, we'll burn
down his shop with him in it.

You guys, I don't even know if
I want my father's portrait back.

That's your choice.

But it would be risky to leave
your totem in Percival's hands.

And speaking of burning...
Once we get our objects back,

we'll have to perform
a ritual with them.

Fair warning.

You're not gonna like it.

Yes.

Those additions all seem comparable.

Give me a second. I'll get your items.

Just like that?

Well, fair is fair,
Mr. Andrews. Besides...

They've served their purpose.

What purpose was that?

Collateral, Ms. Cooper.

What other purpose would I have meant?

Can you just get our things so
we can get the hell out of here?

Of course.

Oh, um, where's Kiss
of the Spider Woman?

Oh, you can keep my father's portrait.

I don't need it.

No one has power over me, not my father

and definitely not you.

Very good.

I'll just get your items.

[guitar strumming]

Getting in one last strum before
we perform Cheryl's ritual tonight?

Yeah.

How are you doing with everything?

I'm not sure.

Percival's mind games dislodged
two pretty hardcore memories.

It just made me think that...

I've only just started
to scratch the surface

of what's hidden inside me.

Do we really have to do this, Cheryl?

[Cheryl] I'm afraid so.

These objects were in
Percival's possession.

Most certainly they've been polluted.

Tainted by some kind
of dark enchantments.

Cheryl, where's your trunk?

Oh, I already b*rned Jason. A
second cleansing is unnecessary.

Shall we begin?

Wait, wait.

Now what?

My grandfather doesn't
even have a headstone.

You could walk over his grave,
not even know it was there.

If I burn this, it's
like he never existed.

I don't care if it's cursed or hexed.

I'm not... I'm not doing it.

It's a book. I'm not burning it.

What would Ray Bradbury say?

You all are coo-coo
bananas. But whatevs.

You've been warned.

[exhales]

[Jughead] For those of us keeping score,

we would soon learn that Percival

had added two soldiers to his army.

Kevin and Reggie.

Claimed by the dark side.

As for the rest of
us, we'd survived, yes,

and that was a win.

But this week had cost
each of us something.

And every instinct told me

we weren't nearly done paying yet.

[Veronica] Thank you for
getting back to me, Dr. Curdle.

What's the verdict?

The toxicology report
came back and it was indeed

black widow venom that
stopped Heraldo's heart.

I knew it.

I knew I wasn't imagining things.

It is interesting, though.

A black widow spider doesn't
typically have enough venom

to k*ll a grown man.

Well, maybe it was multiple
spiders that bit Heraldo?

Yes.

Except there wasn't a single
puncture mark anywhere on his body.

Moreover, I have identified
the spot where the venom

entered the young man's body.

Okay. And where is that?

His lips.

His death, it seems sealed with a kiss.