Riverdale

Previously on Riverdale:

Hiram's gonna follow you or us, wherever we go.

Where is he?

- I've heard of this game before. - It's an urban legend.

We definitely have to play it.

We dubbed ourselves the Midnight Club.

Welcome to the Ascension Party.

What about these drugs?

- I don't know how they get them. - A Serpent dealer. Fangs Fogarty.

Go undercover. Join the Gargoyle Gang.

Need a man inside Hiram Lodge's drug operations

- to take him down. - Your dad's out there.

If we're together, he'll hunt me down. Everyone close to me is his target.

If you loved me, you would come home.

If I ever wanna go back to Riverdale,

I have to destroy that part of me that's weak.

I was attacked by a grizzly. I'm in bad shape.

Come on. Wake up, kid.

At 8:47 on a Wednesday morning,

Archie Andrews died.

At least, the Archie we knew.

What returned to Riverdale was something far different

from the redheaded boy next door.

He was now a stranger,

with dark hair and scars...

both inside and out.

What, Vegas?

Archie.

Hey, Dad.

What? What's wrong, son?

It's a long story.

I don't remember the rangers finding me.

Then I woke up in the hospital, knowing that... I couldn't keep running.

It was time to come home, back to a normal life, if that's possible.

What about Hiram?

I survived a bear attack, Dad.

I can't live my life in fear of when he might come after me anymore.

I'm more worried about him gunning for you.

I survived the Black Hood.

Twice.

Hiram doesn't scare me.

He's not the only one in this town with friends.

What about Veronica? You reach out to her?

Veronica?

Archie?

What are you doing here? Where have you been?

- Why haven't you called me? - I wanted to.

Every day. But after the last call...

What the hell happened to your hair?

I dyed it, so I wouldn't get recognized, in case...

your father came looking for me.

Right.

Veronica, I'm sorry.

If you don't wanna ever talk to me again, I completely understand that.

Don't be crazy, Archie.

I'm just so happy that you're home.

And safe.

Two chocolates, one vanilla, and a root beer float for Archie.

- Welcome home. - Thanks, Pop.

Since when do you drink root beer floats?

I'm just not in the mood for a milkshake.

New drink, new hair...

new haunted, vacant look in your eyes.

Guys, Archie lived through The Revenant. Let him order what he wants.

So, what'd I miss while I was gone?

Well, thanks to the town quarantine orchestrated by my father,

Pop's was shut down, and just reopened.

He's also been attacking shipments to the speakeasy.

But I've hired the Serpents as my full-time protection,

and that service extends to you, Archie.

Don't worry about Hiram's goons coming after you or your dad.

You won't see them, but I have guys watching you.

I have a possible lead that could diffuse this threat permanently.

What, Jug?

You can't tell anyone.

Fangs is deep undercover in the Gargoyle Gang.

Hasn't met the King. He's working on it.

When we get access, we'll take him down.

My bet is it's Hiram underneath the mask.

- Sorry, Veronica. - Don't be.

- I wouldn't put it past him. - Well, there goes studying for the SATs.

What?

SATs?

Yeah, they're this Saturday.

Don't worry. I will help you study and catch up.

Okay? We all will.

I'm sorry, Betty, but your debit card was declined.

I got you, Bee. Just put it on my tab, Pop.

This is a new low. I was on the phone with the Bank of Riverdale,

who told me that all of my accounts, including my college fund,

have been completely drained of assets.

Not drained, just transferred.

Most of it was blood money

- you inherited from the Blossoms. - Okay.

Tell me where that money went.

It was wired to the Farm, as a tax-deductible donation.

You gave my money to the Farm?

To help support the children you liberated from the Sisters.

- You just gave away my tuition money. - Or...

of course, you could always study at the Farm for free.

Mom, I swear to God,

you are not cornering me into joining your cult.

Fred Andrews.

FP Jones.

What can I do for you fellas?

Came to let you know that my son is home permanently.

He is?

- That's just great, Fred. - Cut the crap, Hiram.

- We all know you have it out for his kid. - I'll stop you there.

I've never wished any harm to...

either of your sons.

Hiram, if you harm a hair on Archie's head, I will kill you.

Make no mistake about it. And I'll be at peace

with whatever the consequences of that are.

As you transition back into your life at Riverdale High,

I would advise you to be realistic in terms of your goals.

I am, Mr. Weatherbee.

I just wanna get caught up, and I wanna be a normal student again.

The SATs are this coming Saturday.

I'm guessing you haven't really had a chance to adequately prepare?

Not yet, sir.

Mr. Andrews, given your situation,

I would strongly recommend...

that you repeat your junior year.

And not graduate with my friends?

In the long term...

I believe it would be best for you.

Everything all right?

- You didn't text me back last night. - Reggie.

Cool it.

Archie's back.

- Archie's back? Since when? - Look.

I know we were...

But I can't tell Archie that one of his best friends

and his ex-girlfriend got together while he was away, so,

- you and I, this has to... - No, I get it.

Archie's back.

'Nuff said.

How's he doing?

He's feeling...

unsettled,

and stressed.

I can't do anything about the former,

but I definitely can about the latter.

With something that'll help all of us blow off some steam.

She can't do this, can she?

She can as long as both of your parents signed off

to release your funds.

And from these, it looks like... your father did sign.

No, that's impossible. She never goes to see him.

Is this his signature?

No. That's a forgery.

And I know because I, myself, have forged it in the past.

As part of an investigation.

Well, you need to get your real father to sign an affidavit,

attesting to the fact that he never agreed to liquidate your funds.

Then we can pursue legal action.

Which means...

I have to see my dad.

I'm sure you've heard, Hiram,

the Sisters of Quiet Mercy estate is up for auction.

Appears to be a competitive situation with multiple bidders,

including the Farm, coming in with strong offers.

I have other plans for that property.

For my brothel?

The Sisters will not be turned into a brothel, Madame Blossom.

So, then why did you summon us here, Hiram?

Because we need a new sheriff.

Someone who'll allow our various enterprises

to continue without scrutiny.

And I'm nominating you, Claudius.

The last sheriff, Minetta, was found decapitated.

- You're out of your mind, Hiram. - Oh, I'm sorry.

Did I make it seem as if you had a choice in the matter?

It's where I want you.

It's not a request.

Iconoclast?

Iconoclast.

Okay, iconoclast.

That is...

A person who attacks another's beliefs.

I'm in high school. How should I know?

Let's start thinking about the SATs in terms of strategy.

When in doubt, why don't you just fill in all the bubbles marked D?

Betty, how'd I do on the practice test? I tanked it?

Um...

I got 600 on this part.

That's your combined score, Arch.

It's in the bottom 10th percentile.

- I gotta go. It's Fangs. - Want me to come?

No, stay, get a couple extra hours of cramming in.

- Betty's gonna catch you up to speed. Bye. - Bye.

Good luck.

What's the point? It's hopeless, right?

You said that when you were in second grade and couldn't read.

- Remember? We got you caught up. - You did, you mean.

Maybe Weatherbee's right. Maybe I've just missed too much here.

I've changed too much.

Well, in one respect, maybe you have.

Do you trust me?