Riverdale (2016–…): Season 6, Episode 21 - Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen: The Stand - full transcript

When Archie and Veronica's attempt to negotiate with Percival doesn't go as planned, the forces of good and evil finally face off, leading to some unexpected revelations.

This may be
the last article I ever write.

Either I might not be here
tomorrow or the town might not be,

or both of us might be gone.

Our villain's name is
Percival Pickens.

He's an immortal,
inter-dimensional sorcerer

whose power is growing
by the hour.

He wants to claim Riverdale
or destroy it,

depending on the outcome
of a war that we're literally

pre-destined to lose.

In advance of our battle,

Percival shut down
the town's borders.



To keep people
from leaving, yes, but

mostly to keep
help from arriving...

but the truth was,
no one was coming.

No one knew what was happening
outside of the town.

Riverdale was a sealed-off
ecosystem.

We were on our own.

Not that we were giving up.

We had Archie Andrews
who'd served two tours

of duty in the US Army,

leading us,
planning our counter-offensive.

Step one:

Mitigate the sources
of Percival's power.

It turns out,

Pop's had been built
over a Hell mouth,



which, ever since we moved
the diner, "uncorking it"

has been feeding
Percival's strength.

So we had to seal
and sanctify the Hell mouth

with, in this case,
a sacred object like the Holy Grail

to catch the escaping darkness.

Step two: Raid his outposts.

Though, on this front,
Percival was a step ahead of us.

Yeah, he's cleared out
his whole shop.

All those weapons he's been collecting,
they're gone, Arch.

Probably he's armed his troops
with him.

- Yeah, but who are his troops?
- No clue.

What do you want us to do?

Burn it down. So he can't
use it as a safe house.

Copy.

You're up.
Archie says torch it.

With pleasure.

We were preparing
for combat as best we could,

given the horrific blow
we'd already been dealt.

Tom Keller, Frank Andrews
and Alice Cooper had been decapitated

as prisoners of war.

That bastard.

He did it out of spite.

To knock us off our heels
to win this stupid war of his.

What are we supposed to do now?

I just got you back,

and now he executes Mom?

He... chops off her head
like a barbarian.

It's horrible, Betty, I know.

- But if it's any comfort, I know...
- Don't.

If you say, "She's in a better place,"
I swear I will lose it.

Okay. I won't say it.

But, Betty, please try not
to let this rage consume you...

All I have is rage!

Polly, I just want Mom back.

Not in heaven
or wherever the hell she is.

- Just here! With us!
- She will be soon.

Cheryl will be able to
resurrect Mom and the others

with her Phoenix powers.

How? We don't have
their bodies.

She can't do anything
without them.

Well, have faith, Betty.

Oh, screw faith.

I... I just can't believe it.

I can't believe my dad...

He was under Percival's control,
he didn't deserve...

Of course not, Kevin.

It's still not over.

It's okay.

We thought after everything
you've been through,

you could use
a little extra support.

- Hey.
- Oh.

I slipped back in right before
the borders closed.

I'm so sorry, Kev.

Archie, I got your message.

How are you doing?

I couldn't sleep.
Can't keep any food down.

I meant, how are you doing
about your Uncle Frank?

Frank was a soldier,

he knew the risks of war.

If he were still here,
he'd be telling me to focus

on the living, the fight.

Okay, then. How can I help?

I've got Cheryl and Heather
looking for a spell to block the energy

Percival might be absorbing
from the comet.

Percival doesn't need to get
any stronger, that's for sure.

I sent word to him, and
he agreed to a meeting

at the Babylonium.

To establish some rules
of engagement.

If you're willing,
I'd love for you to come with me.

I'm going to need
an expert negotiator,

and there is no better
deal maker than you.

Of course, Archie.
When do we go?

Right after we meet up
with the others.

This is a mistake.

You're walking into
the lion's den.

We have to do it.

We're not just setting
parameters for the war.

We're trying to get Alice,
Frank and Tom back.

Negotiate their return.

Would Percival
really allow that?

And what crazy demands
would he make in return?

- Baby Anthony...
- Hell, no.

We're not going there, Toni.

But there are a few things
we should discuss offering him.

Like, maybe...
half of Riverdale.

What?

And go back to a North side
and South side again? No.

At the risk of sounding like
a broken record, Percival is but one.

Let me go all super-nova
on his ass

and burn him
off the face of the earth

like the pimple he is. Please.

It's too risky, Cheryl.

I've seen the future,

a possible future.
We are trying to avoid the apocalypse.

You going nuclear
on Percival might be the very thing

that destroys Riverdale.

Look, I'll get us
the best deal that I can,

but we have to assume
that Percival is going to demand

our complete
and immediate surrender.

Are we willing to go there?

And, if not, are we ready
to say goodbye

to those we've lost? For good?

Hey, guys, um...

look, I didn't want to say this
in front of everyone, but, um,

you know how I saw
all of those different scenarios play out

when I was looking for a way
to beat Percival?

Yeah. Only two out
of 1,000 plus were successful, right?

Well, one of them
involved the two of you

going to the Babylonium
and meeting with Percival.

And what exactly did we do
in that scenario?

Percival's immortal
but not invulnerable.

So you shot him point blank.

Twyla Twyst.

I'm confused.

No disrespect but didn't
all the Ghoulies die?

Who are these people?

Take a closer look, doll face.

They're your friends
and neighbors

under our control.

Maybe you shouldn't have
blown up his ghost train, ya think?

Ms. Lodge, you should know
that I have filters in my nostrils,

and my body is coated
in a special sealant.

So any kind of venomous
attack by you will fail.

Luckily, I'm just here
to negotiate a way out of this mess.

Hm.

And the first thing we want
is... our dead back.

In exchange for what?

Me. I'll be your prisoner.

You can do whatever
you want to me.

Starve me. Chain me up.

- Sounds great.
- Force me out of the final battle.

And need I remind you,
Archie's still invulnerable,

so that's got to be
worth something to you.

Do you know what this is?

This is a mace forged
in the fiery pits of Asgard,

strong enough to break
anything, even forged skin.

Like the daggers of Megiddo.

I call it my great equalizer.

And it's the reason I don't have
to make deals with any of you.

What if we split Riverdale
in half,

along the former North side
South side line?

Mmm.

My dear Ms. Lodge,
here's what I want.

It's what I've wanted
from the beginning.

My revenge on your friends.

And the town of Riverdale
under my complete control,

why would I accept
anything else?

So, surrender.

Turn over your property,
revoke your town's charter

and pledge
your undying allegiance to me

on your knees.

Yeah, we talked about that.
All of us.

And we are not surrendering.

I tried.

You know, Percival,
before you came along,

Riverdale had another
great tormentor... my father.

He spent years
trying to destroy this town,

but ultimately,
I put a hit on him.

My only regret is that
I didn't kill him myself.

Oops. Hm.

The time
for negotiation is over.

We shall meet again tonight
for the final act.

8:30 at the Chock'lit Shoppe
work for you?

Wherever that is these days.

For war or your surrender.
But be assured.

If you submit to my authority, I
shall be merciful and generous.

To that end, take your dead.

Mourn them, bury them.

Perhaps this gesture will prove
that not everything

need be bloodshed
and destruction.

Confused
and suspicious,

Veronica and Archie headed back
down to the casino floor...

where, sure enough, three
caskets were waiting for them.

Are you getting soft
on me, Boss?

Why give them what they want?

Oh, Twyla. How little you know
of true warfare.

Mr. Andrews and his meddlesome
associates scuttled my plans for the dead.

It's only right
that I pay them back in kind.

Archie and Veronica
brought the dead back to the El Royale...

back to their loved ones.

Cheryl, are you sure
this is going to work?

It should.

But I need to conjure
my Phoenix powers in the mines.

Otherwise, everything here
will be toast.

- Guys...
- Wait.

I want to see my mom.

If Cheryl's spell doesn't work,

I want to feel like
I at least got to say goodbye.

Bee, what is that?

Is it not her?

No, it's her.

What is it then?

Her head's missing.

Oh, my God.

Cheryl...

The bodies need to be whole.

Or the resurrection won't work.

It was psychological
warfare at its most diabolical.

Percival was twisting
the knife,

making us relive the death

of our loved ones
all over again.

Are you sure
you don't want one?

Jughead, you need
to leave Riverdale.

Like, right now.

You don't survive the final
battle or did you forget?

No, I didn't forget.

But as you said,

if there's even an outside
chance that we beat Percival,

then my mental abilities
are going to be key.

You can open up a portal
to literally anywhere.

Tabitha...

I'm not going to leave you

or anyone else.

I came back from the dead
for this.

And if it means going up
against Percival mano-a-mano,

then I'm going to do it.

I knew you'd say that.

And you said that
in every scenario

that I visited.

But I couldn't...

- I had to try.
- I know.

That's why I love you.

I love you, too.

Meanwhile,
unbeknownst to us,

Percival was preparing to
launch a ghoulish stealth attack

in direct violation of his
agreed upon terms with Archie.

So, Arch, what's your plan?

How's this battle
going to go down?

Given everything, Reg, I think
we should leave the houses.

We're sitting ducks out here.

So you're saying
we bail and run?

Not run. Hide.

In Fox Forest. Let Percival
and his army come to us.

Will that work? I mean,
with how powerful he is.

He's got magic.
We've got Cheryl.

He's got telepathy.
We've got Jughead.

The rest of us?
We get down and dirty.

And we take out his troops.

Smart.

Hey, bro, can you grab me
another brewski?

Yeah, sure. I'll be right back.

I'm sorry, Polly.

I know that you mean well,
I just can't...

I just want to be alone, okay?

Yes. I love you too.

Okay, bye.

Who's there?

It's me,
mi nieta, tu abuelite...

Can I please come inside?

Cheryl, I've checked various
astronomical texts

for any and all references
to Bailey's Comet.

And we have been making an
incorrect assumption about it.

Pray tell, what do you mean?

Cher-Cher.
Want to play?

Jay-Jay, Heather and I are
a little busy right now,

but maybe later?

Why are you always
so mean to me?

Mean to you?

- Jay-Jay...
- Cheryl, something's wrong.

Go, go, go!

Reg?

Bingo?

You know what, bro?

You're not that smart.

This is one of Percival's magic daggers.

Hey!

Glen?

Please, mi nieta, let me in.

Abuelita, why didn't
you call to say you were coming?

Because I want this
to be a surprise.

What? What is it?

Something's wrong.

My sense of the divine
is tingling.

- What?
- It's a heightened awareness.

I'm Riverdale's
guardian angel, Jug.

And one of the souls
of the town is dying.

You killed my son!
Murderer!

Marco...

Come on, Cher-Cher.

Polo.

Come get some.

You're going to burn in
hell for everything that you've done.

Abuelita, I don't know
what you've heard,

but before you do anything
you regret, let me explain.

I'll start with the neurotoxin
I coated the doorknob with.

It won't kill you,

but it has paralyzed you.

Don't worry, the effects
of it should wear off soon.

Archie?

- Marco...
- Polo.

Jason, this isn't you.

You're being controlled
by an evil sorcerer.

We're playing a game.

Jay, I'm so sorry.

I never should have
brought you back to life.

It was a mistake.

Please forgive me.

Archie! Oh, my God.

Tabitha... am I dying again?

Not if we can help it.

I don't know what happened,
mi nieta.

I just heard this voice inside
that told me

that I should come here
and punish you,

for killing Heraldo, your papa.

Then I don't remember
what happened after that.

It's not your fault, Abuelita.

I believe a very bad person
sent you here to hurt me.

I was getting anxious, so I
thought I'd come and check on you.

What... what happened here?

I'm not really sure.

I think it was Percival who launched
some kind of crazy stealth attack

using my old boss, Glen

as some stitched-together,
patchwork man.

His body parts are twitching
in the garage.

Heather, I feel terrible that
my brother did this to you.

Sabrina was right.

I shouldn't have
resurrected him.

Don't apologize.

Your brother was clearly
possessed by Percival.

It wasn't his fault.

Before Jay-Jay pierced you
with an arrow,

I believe you were about to tell
me something about the comet?

Oh. Merciful Hecate, yes.

This is unbelievable.

All my stab wounds are gone.

Or does it make complete sense?

Bingo has healing properties,

as does his saliva, clearly.

Ergo, him licking you
regenerated all of that torn tissue.

Healed your wounds.

How ya feeling, Reg?

I'm so sorry, bro.

I don't know what happened.

I was with my dad and suddenly I
heard Percival's voice in my head,

telling me to find out what your
plan was and to then kill you.

Toni, what's up?

Fangs, Kevin, Moose
and I came up with a plan.

A crazy-ass plan.

There's a saying
we Serpents have.

Always kill a baby snake
in its egg

so it doesn't grow up
to bite you.

That's exactly what Percival's
trying to do with Baby Anthony.

The only true threat
to someone who's immortal

is someone else
who's also immortal.

Anthony can hold someone like Percival
in checkmate for centuries, if need be.

Even as everyone else
dies out around them.

The last man standing
is the winner.

Okay, what are you
thinking, Toni?

Simple. We kick some
Ghoulie ass.

The Serpents and I break into
the Babylonium with Baby Anthony,

who Percival is terrified of.

We bust up his army.

And then we look for
those missing heads.

I mean, we know they've
got to be in there somewhere.

And then Baby Anthony
can take out Percival.

I... hear you.

But Toni, Anthony's a baby.

Right now he is.

But we've had the privilege of
seeing Baby Anthony in the future,

and he's a warrior, Archie.

So what if Tabitha
speeds up time?

Just for Baby Anthony?

Ages him up.

We would miss his childhood,

but that's a sacrifice
I'm willing to make.

Percival would never
see him coming.

Damn, that's some
Looperlevel crap.

In Rivervale, I created
a time-loop.

I might be able to create a
time-bubble around Baby Anthony,

in which I accelerate
his and only his aging.

I mean, it could actually work.

Did it work?

It did.

Anthony... are you
in there, son?

Yeah... I'm here.

So are we kicking
Percival's ass, or what?

Yeah.

I got the weapon for it.

Percival's dagger. If
it'll hurt me, it'll hurt him.

Serpents, remember,

we're not trying to kill the
Ghoulies, just subdue them.

They're our neighbors.
They're being mind-controlled.

We seize command of the casino
and clear a path to Percival.

- Got it?
- Yeah!

You've seen all
the scenarios play out, Tabitha.

Do you really think this Serpent
surprise attack is gonna work?

I mean, the Battle of the Babylonium
is one of two possible ways

we beat Percival.

So maybe, maybe not.

Like they say,
hope for the best,

prepare for the worst.

Yeah, I wanted to talk to you
about that.

Whatever happens to me,
don't mourn, okay?

I want you to chase your
dreams. Live your life.

Jughead, how can you be
so casual about this?

I am choosing to look at it
like this.

I've lived a wonderful life.

I've fallen in love.
I published a book.

I've gone
to an alternate universe

and met other versions
of myself.

There's not many people that
can say that they've done that.

Alternate universes...

Oh, my God,
I don't believe this.

Jughead, you need to open
up another portal. To Rivervale.

- Like, right now.
- Back to River... Why?

Yes. All of those scenarios in
which we lost against Percival,

those happened in Riverdale,

but we have access
to an alternate universe now.

I have some maje tea to spill
about Bailey's Comet, Archie.

Did you find a spell to keep Percival
from absorbing more power from it?

No, but that may be moot
at this point.

Turns out Bailey's Comet
isn't arriving tonight.

It's passing over Riverdale
tomorrow night.

What? Percival's been
talking about,

how this comet will give him
the ultimate advantage.

Well, we've set up
Nana's telescope,

so once it's dark out, we'll be
able to track its progress in real time.

Okay, cool.

And with any luck,
Toni and the Serpents

will have ended things
before the zero hour.

Yep.

I'm worried about
the army, Boss.

What is that, my dear?

You're controlling them.

But they're newbies.

Oh, Twyla.

As if my victory hinges on
those feeble misfits down there.

That band of Ghoulie-surrogates
are simply shields to be shattered.

Cannon fodder.
Pawns to be sacrificed.

As are you, for that matter.

You're really messed up
in the head, you know that?

Why don't you go and
investigate that, Twyla, my love?

See what Big Bad Wolf
is banging on my door?

Don't open that door!

Topaz...

Don't even try it, bitch!

And who are you supposed to be?

I'm your match.

I'm the guy that kills you.

I don't think so.

Now do you know
who I am?

- Anthony.
- That's right.

Like you,
that gun won't kill me.

But this blade
will hurt you plenty.

I just got word
from inside the Babylonium.

The good news is, Toni and the
Serpents took the Ghoulies off the board.

Bracing for the other shoe...

Percival escaped and
trapped them inside the building

with some kind of
sealing spell.

And there she drops.

My God, is everyone okay?

Kevin's injured,

but they think they've got
the bleeding under control.

And any sign
of the missing craniums?

Not yet, but they're turning
the place upside down.

Where the hell
have you guys been?

Our parallel universe.

And we have a plan.

So Jughead opened up a portal
to Rivervale,

and I went through and started
exploring different future scenarios.

- Did we win in those?
- Our odds were better.

In Rivervale, we had a
fighting chance, at least.

Okay, not that I want to hear the
answer, but why is that, exactly?

The energies
are different there.

The supernatural exists there.

These different variables
affect all probable outcomes.

I knew I shouldn't have asked.

We have an idea, though, that
might beat Percival. It's a long-shot.

But for it to work,

the final battle
has to take place at Pop's...

at the diner's
original location.

How would that happen?

Well, we'd need to move
the diner back to where it was.

That would take days.

We have two hours
until this battle.

Well, the same way I was able to
speed up time for Baby Anthony,

I might be able to speed up
us moving Pop's.

Which is what
Tabitha did.

She formed a time bubble

around all of us
at the El Royale.

While some of us loaded out
the gym, the diner was rebuilt,

matching the original exactly.

Then everything was moved back
into place,

brick by brick, piece by piece.

Man, even in hyper-speed,
moving blows.

Once everything
was back where it belonged,

we all went to our respective
houses to rest, regroup and recharge.

And then,
it was the appointed hour.

Time for our final stand.

What an interesting
choice of weapon.

Oh. And you brought
reinforcements.

Good.

I always knew it would come
down to you and your cohorts.

Where's your back-up?

Comet's a day away.

Yeah, but it's been
bolstering me for weeks.

First the end
of Archie Andrews.

Then the end of Riverdale,
as you've known it.

And I'm so glad
your friends will...

Wait, where's...

Where did they go?

As far as this being the end of
Riverdale, I wouldn't hold your breath.

This is our town, bitch.

You're outnumbered, Percival.
You've lost.

Now... will you surrender?

Never.

I never surrender.

I'm a magic man, Mr. Andrews.

And I've always got
another trick up my sleeve.

And I'll be bathing
in your blood by morning.

Percival turned
our powers against us.

He poisoned Veronica.

Excuse me.

Archie?

- He blinded Betty.
- Veronica?

He froze Cheryl.

He turned Archie
into an iron statue,

and Reggie
into a life-size dummy.

Where are you guys?

And then,
it was just me.

Guys?

Ah.

Mr. Jones.

The last line of defense.

And our ghosts
are here to bear witness.

Good of you to dress
for the occasion.

And what do we have here?

I was thinking,
let's play a game.

Winner... takes the soul
of Riverdale.

And the loser...
gets lobotomized.

You know, I've been
looking forward to this.

A test of our mental prowess.

I must say,
I admire your hubris.

And while your psychic
abilities have been impressive,

you'll never break
into my mind.

We'll see about that.

I'm a believer
in beginner's luck.

May the best man win.

And may the other's memories
and cognitive abilities

be shredded
like so much cabbage.

Damn. That was easy for you,
wasn't it?

Well, I have broken into your
mind before, if you remember.

Oh, I remember. That's how
we came up with this plan.

Plan?

Well, "plan." "Trick."
"Trap." Take your pick.

We beat you.

While you were in here
inside my mind,

you left your body vulnerable
to my friends.

Mr. Jones.

All of your friends
are incapacitated.

And didn't Ms. Tate tell you,

you cannot and will not beat me
in Riverdale...

ever.

I know.

But these are
different friends.

And you're not in Riverdale
anymore, Percy.

So, how do those
stab wounds feel?

Hm.

How?

I defeated them already.

Oh, no,
these are different friends.

These are my Rivervale friends.

It's confusing, I know, but when you
stepped through the doors of Pop's,

you walked through
one of my portals

into Rivervale's Pop's.

Doesn't matter.

Doesn't matter who they are,
or where I am, you can't kill me.

I'm immortal.

Right now you are.

But 440 years ago, before you
made your deal with the Devil,

you were very, very mortal.

Mm!

Welcome back to 1580.

Ms. Tate...

what have you brought me
this fine evening?

Mr. Cypher,
an old friend.

We softened him up a bit, but
he's still dying to reconnect with you.

If I'm not immortal, then I haven't
sold you my soul yet, have I?

In fact, this contract,
which exists in perpetuity,

in all continuities, into the
past as well as the future,

suggests otherwise.

Oh, don't look at me.

I'm terrible
with time paradoxes.

But maybe, that's just
how things roll in Rivervale.

If I can't have Riverdale,
then no one will.

Okay.

Mr. Cypher, get him
the hell out of here.

You know, I believe I will.

So... it's over?

It's over.

We did it. We... we beat him.

But there was still
important work to be done.

After Percival's death, the
casino was no longer sealed.

More good news...

Toni and Fangs
found the missing heads.

They were, naturally,
in a fridge

in the Babylonium's kitchen.

Betty supervised Dr. Curdle

as he re-attached the heads to
the corpses' respective bodies.

At which point, Cheryl brought
our loved ones back to life.

And then she returned
to Thorn hill.

There was one last surprise
waiting for her.

Heather.

Oh, no.

What's the matter?

There's something
very, very wrong.

It's the comet.

It's fine. No, it's fine.

Percival is toast,

and the comet is going to pass
over Riverdale, no biggie.

But that's just it, Cheryl.

You'd better see for yourself.

How are you feeling?

A little foggy.

Truthfully, just relieved.

Uh, I am confused, though.

You saw what happened to me

in every one of your
time-traveling scenarios, right?

I died. It was a fixed point.

Why am I still here?

I'm not sure.

I know that's not
a great answer, Jug,

but I was only exploring scenarios
in Riverdale, not Rivervale.

Maybe something shifted
between universes.

Yeah, I guess we'll never know.

Similar scenes
were playing out across town.

Everything was
a jumble of emotions.

Shock and gratitude
that we'd survived.

But with so many questions
hanging in the air.

Like, what happens now?

How do we rebuild?

How do we start over?

Would our powers last forever?

Would the dead remain alive?

Was the threat really,
truly over?

Archie?

Cheryl? What now?

Rally the troops tout-suite.

Turns out, it's not over yet.

Riverdaliens, we have one last
cataclysm to face.

Bailey's Comet is not simply going
to pass over Riverdale tomorrow night.

We think Percival
did something to it

because now the comet
is headed straight for us.

Based on Heather's
latest calculations,

Bailey's Comet is going to crash
into Riverdale in less than 24 hours.

And it is going to be
an extinction-level event,

killing everyone
and everything.

Oh, my God.

If I can't have Riverdale,
then no one will.

That's the destruction
I saw in the future.

Not fallout from the war
with Percival...

from... the comet.