Riverdale

Previously on Riverdale...

Polly's our woman on the inside.

Blossom's had something to do with Jason's death.

And I'm gonna prove it.

My dad hired Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in.

Dad, did you have anything to do with Jason Blossom's death?

I'm no killer.

- Do you believe him? - I do.

Hiram Lodge's daughter is here.

She said something about her father being connected to Jason's murder.

These kids are more on the ball than the Sheriff.

I'm messed up, Veronica...

Every day I wonder,

what if I had left Riverdale with my mom?

Hi, honey.

People like to say that the death of Jason Blossom

changed everything at Riverdale High.

But certain things, certain traditions

never change.

Take Homecoming, for instance.

Though Jason's jersey had been retired,

the Riverdale Bulldogs would still be playing their arch-rivals,

the Baxter High Ravens,

with the River Vixens cheering them on.

I'm just handing off some of my decorating duties to Ethel

so I can keep focusing on the Blue and Gold.

Unacceptable.

You made a commitment, Ms. Cooper, you need to honor it.

Especially since this Homecoming is also a Reunion Weekend.

As in previous years,

graduates from days of Riverdale Past

will come to town to relive their more youthful,

more carefree days.

Or to make up for lost time.

Archie, the reason why I came...

You came because of the divorce.

Because I called Dad.

You know, I thought that Riverdale would be better for you than Chicago.

- It would be safer... - It's okay, Mom.

Really, I'm okay.

And I mean, it hasn't been all bad.

My friends are amazing.

Dad and I are closer than ever right now. And also...

You've been singing.

Songwriting, yeah. And singing.

And your dad tells me that you're great.

I hope you'll play me some songs before I go.

Yeah, for sure.

I'm playing at the dance. So, if you want to see me play live...

That's incredible, Paul.

You will keep us posted, won't you?

Okay, thanks... Thank you.

Some good news for a change?

That was your dad's attorney.

Turns out, our statements did make a difference

and the judge seems inclined to give your father a break.

How much of a break?

Time served. A few more months, if that.

And then what?

We move back to New York?

Or your father moves here.

What about the crimes he's committed?

Including, maybe, Jason Blossom.

Stop it, Veronica.

There is no proof that your father had anything to do with that.

He's in jail because of the Blossoms, Mom,

that gives him a motive.

Okay. Veronica, you need to be supporting your father,

not demonizing him...

Again, for things that you have no proof of.

Dad,

have you been body-snatched?

Oh, I feel good, Jug.

Wanna look good, too.

Shave. Clean the place up a bit.

A little paint...

Oh, I got us some coffee and donuts.

And I read your, uh... Your essay?

Manuscript?

- You did? - Yeah.

- Really? - I asked you for it, didn't I?

Yeah, I don't know. I figured you were just pretending to be interested.

This is excellent.

Me, I can barely string two sentences together,

but you... You got a gift.

Thank God you're not wasting it.

Mind if I ask you a couple questions?

Yeah. Of course.

Why Jason Blossom, huh?

Out of all the things you could write about,

why pick a dead kid?

I don't know. It was sort like he picked me.

Tell the story that no one was gonna tell.

Or even know how to tell.

From the outside, looking in.

Who do you think killed him?

I mean, you and Betty are in this deep. You gotta have an opinion.

To me, I don't think the question is,

"Whodunnit?"

I think the real question is

whether Riverdale is a place of good

or a place of darkness and evil.

Or both.

Most things are both.

Can I make one suggestion?

That's what Betty says, and then it's about a dozen suggestions.

I think, at a certain point, you should

move on.

You can't let this be the only story you're gonna tell, Jughead.

Hell, it shouldn't even be the most important one.

Ronnie, wait up.

Hey, I just wanted to explain why I didn't call you after the party.

My mom showed up out of nowhere.

It's fine, you don't owe me an explanation.

Wait, Veronica,

are we seriously not gonna talk about what happened between us?

Archie.

We had a moment. A beautiful, but fleeting moment.

- We spent the night. - We crashed, in separate beds.

I don't regret anything we said, Veronica, or did.

Me neither,

but I think you might be boyfriend-worthy.

I agree. Let's test that theory at the Homecoming Dance.

Unfortunately, I don't have the bandwidth

to explore anything with anyone right now.

Well, in that case,

what if we just finally get to sing that duet together?

I kind of told my mom I was performing.

Look, Archie, I'm sorry, but for a million reasons,

we're going to have to pretend our moment never happened.

I'll see you later.

Oh, finally, close that door.

Ladies, I need you to look around the room.

Whoever is not in this room is on the table

as a possible murder suspect.

Including those Pussycats.

Oh, my God, Mom...

Now, let's talk about your father.

He has an epic grudge against the Blossoms, so yes.

It's totally within the realm of possibility

that he hired someone from jail to kill Jason.

Maybe Jughead's dad.

You really believe that?

My dad paid Jughead's dad to trash the drive-in.

- Maybe he paid him to... - Commit murder.

And, for all we know, that gay Greaser Serpent is an accomplice.

And what are you basing that off of?

That you saw FP and Joaquin talking?

It didn't look like they were talking.

It looked like they were conspiring.

Conspiring about what?

That's what I need you to find out.

Either through Jughead or FP directly,

without raising suspicion, of course.

Which is why I have prepared a seemingly innocuous list of questions.

I already asked Jughead, point-blank,

if he thought his father had anything to do with Jason's death,

and he said no.

And I believed him, and I still believe him.

Betty, you're too close to this.

I'm not going to insult Jughead

or betray him by entertaining this.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Homecoming Dance to plan.

Come on, Vee, let's go.

Mrs. Cooper?

Yes?

I understand why Betty doesn't want to get in the middle of this.

But I don't feel the same loyalty for the Jones family that she does.

- I'm listening. - Helping you find out the truth

FP will help me find out the truth about my dad.

And whether or not he hired FP to kill Jason.

What exactly are you saying, Veronica?

I'm saying,

if you want to go after Jughead's dad, Mrs. Cooper, I'm in.

Sorry to interrupt,

but I have an announcement to make.

One that tangentially involves you, Betty.

I'm bringing Polly to the dance as my date,

and we're campaigning as co-queens of Homecoming Court.

- Because why? - Because, Nightmare Smurfette,

by all rights, it should've been Polly and Jason on that stage being crowned.

This is the next best thing.

So... Don't forget to vote,

and I'll see everyone at my coronation!

Betty, about the Homecoming Dance,

can I play a couple songs? I kind of told my mom that...

Whoa, you don't want me to?

No, no it's not that, Archie, it's just, um...

This dance needs to be fun.

And your songs, as amazing as they are...

They make you wanna slit your wrists.

- In a good way. - In an amazing way.

But no need to fret, Betty.

'Cause Archie asked me to sing with him,

and we're thinking about doing some upbeat covers.

We are?

Aren't we?

Not that I'm complaining, Ronnie,

but why the change of heart?

Because I'm hoping you'll say yes to the favor I'm about to ask you.