Riverdale (2016–…): Season 7, Episode 11 - Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight: Halloween II - full transcript

After my encounter
with the crazy cat lady

down the hall
from Mr. Rayberry's,

I went back to Sheriff Keller.

But he wasn't buying
what I was selling.

Walk me through this again.

Mr. Rayberry's neighbor
heard milk bottles the night
that he was killed.

Ethel saw a milkman the night
that her parents were murdered.

So, if you put
two and two together,

I think it's no sweat to say

that we have
a killer milkman at large.

-Do you agree?
-Mr. Rayberry killed himself.



We have established that.

No, you have established that.
I have not established that.

Unless that neighbor

said that they saw someone

dressed as a milkman...

saw, not heard...

then I am not reopening

that case again, Jughead.

So I think it's time
that you dropped this,

and don't forget
our ban tomorrow night.

Halloween is for kids, right?

It's not for teenagers
looking to make trouble.

Rise and shine, Riverdale.

It's October 29, 1955,



which means it's high time
to get in the mood
for Halloween.

Killer milkman
in Riverdale?

Better safe than sorry.

I admit,
I usually get a better response

when I pull my witch costume
out of the mothballs.

What gives?

Well, it's not
your costume, Vee.

You look...

like everything plus.
It's just, um...

Riverdale has a funny
relationship with Halloween.

Dare I ask?

Unfortunately, we don't
embrace All Hallows' Eve

the same way Greendale does.

We have rules in Riverdale.

Trick or treating's for kids.

Teenagers aren't allowed
into the streets after sundown.

Why not?

There was a, uh...

a tragedy a few years back
on Halloween night.

A carload of
Riverdale High students
were out raising heck,

and they ran off the road.

They died, all four of them.

Two Vixens, two Bulldogs.

So what are teenagers
expected to do on Halloween?

Nothing much.

Stay at home.
Hand out candy to ankle biters.

My dad and his officers
drive around,

make sure
no one's cruising the roads,

raising Cain.

Back home in Duck Creek,
we never celebrated Halloween.

But teenagers need Halloween.

To dress up in costumes
and masks and pretend
to be someone else.

To be a kid again,
even if it's just for a night.

To kiss a girl or a boy
in the dark

and blame it
on the Halloween spirit.

To honor the dead.

The... The dead?

Back in Los Angeles,
my parents used to throw

the most lavish costume balls
every Halloween night.

Then afterwards,

in the wee hours
of November first,

we'd all gather around
the family altar,

just the three of us,

and light votive candles
to honor the dead.

And celebrate
Dia de los Muertos.

It was one of our
only family traditions.

And my favorite by far.

In any case, it sounds like

our gatekeepers are trying
to put the kibosh

on one of the most
phantasmagoric nights
of the year.

Little do they know,

Halloween is practically
my middle name,

and I have every intention
of celebrating it.

I mean, really,

just when you think this town
couldn't get any kookier.

Put those milk cartons down!

No!

All right, everyone, listen!

Don't drink fresh milk anymore.

Just drink powdered milk.

Ethel, how are you?

I'm okay, Jughead.

I miss you.

I miss school.

Gosh, Ethel,

I... I don't mean
to upset you further,

but there's been
another murder.

Do you remember
the writer Brad Rayberry?

The guy who wrote
November County?

He's your favorite, right?

Yeah, he was.

I was working with him,
but I... I...

I suspect that he's part of
the milkman murders,

or he was killed
by a milkman.

Murdered? Why?

Well, that's what
I'm trying to figure out.

Did your parents have any
connection to Mr. Rayberry?

No.

But this can't be just
some big coincidence, can it?

I don't know, Jug.

But you know
what I have been noodling on?

What?

The milkman comic book?

The original one?

Maybe whoever wrote it
in the first place

knows something.

Say, that's a good tip.

-I tell you what,
I'm gonna look into that--
-Oh, gosh.

Jughead, I gotta go.

Sister Woodhouse
is giving me the evil eye.

But hopefully,
I will see you soon.

Yeah. I can't believe
you've never experienced

a real Halloween before, Reg.

Uh, just like any other night.

Wake up early the next morning.

Same as always.

So does that mean
you've never worn a costume

or gone trick or treating
before?

I've been cow-tipping
with my cousin once.

...all right, Betty?

Sorry, what?

I was just saying,

since Reggie hasn't had
a real Halloween growing up,

why don't we give him one?

Yeah, absolutely.

What is a real Halloween
anyhow?

Well, one,

trick or treating.

Two, visiting a graveyard.

And three...

necking in a haunted house.

All very possible things to do
in a town like Riverdale.

The projection room.

At this hour?

And what are you two doing here
at the witching hour?

We were just--

We were on our way home
from the dark room,

and I forgot my keys earlier,

so we were just swinging by
to pick them up.

Well parried, Clay.

What are you doing here?

Some late night brainstorming.

Oh, and I have good news.

I know exactly
what we're going to do
for Halloween night.

We're going to host
a ghost show

here at the Babylonium.

And the powers that be
won't be able to object,

as technically,

we'll be keeping
the teeny boppers
off the streets.

I'm thinking 1920s glam
for the dress code.

Ginchy idea, no?

Yeah, um, what's a ghost show?

It's a little bit of this,
a little bit of that.

Monsters, movies, burlesque.

And then at midnight...

we raise the dead.

Hear ye, hear ye.

Come one, come all to the
Babylonium's hair-raising

Halloween Burlesque
and Ghost Show.

One night only.

There will be music.

There will be mayhem.

And then,
as Halloween gives way
to the Day of the Dead,

there will be a resurrection,

as the four
Riverdale High students
who oh-so tragically died

on Halloween night
all those years ago

return from the dead
before your very eyes.

Get your tickets fast
before they vanish
without a trace.

Mr. Fieldstone,

do you remember who wrote

the milkman story
inside this issue?

I just want to ask him
a couple questions.

Kid, I haven't the foggiest.

But most of our, uh,
Pep Comic freelancers

will be at the annual
Halloween office party.

Why don't you come by
and sniff around?

You might find the guy.

Uh, thanks, Mr. Fieldstone.
I'll do just that.

So, beauty queen,

any plans for Halloween?

Because I was thinking
we could spend it together.

Veronica's got me roped
into her ghost show,

but it would be a gas

if you joined in
on the fun, too.

She's got some sort of
floor show planned,

complete with a kickline.

That we would perform?

In... In front of people?

Yeah.

You and me, and Kevin and Clay.

Don't tell me
you have stage fright.

No, but it is tradition
that I host a sleepover

for the Vixens every year.

No big whoop.

I just thought Halloween's
the one night of the year

where everyone wears a mask,

and people like us,

you and me, and Kevin and Clay,

we don't have to, you know.

All right, fellas, bring it in.

Just one last thing
before we break.

Now, I know Halloween
is coming up fast,

and it used to be
Bulldog tradition

to go out wilding.

I have one thing to say.

Don't do it.

Not on my watch.

Understood?

- Understood?
- Understood, Coach.

All right, then.

Bravo!

Gold star, fellas.
Even I almost believed you.

What are you
bugging about, Julian?

It's Halloween, Andrews.

Of course, the Bulldogs

are going out wilding,

despite what Coach says.

Count me out.

I'm playing the ghost show
at the Babylonium.

No one asked you, greaser.

What about you two?

You coming or what?

No, I'm gonna sit this one out.

I promised my folks

I wouldn't cause trouble
while here in Riverdale.

Good God, Mantle.

Let me know
when you grow a pair.

For those of you who
actually care about tradition

and aren't namby-pamby
cream puffs,

we're meeting tomorrow night,
school parking lot.

At sundown.

Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo,
hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo,
hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo.

I still can't fathom

that Reggie's never

celebrated Halloween.

Well, go figure.

That's why Archie and I

are showing him what it's like.

In that case,

you're excused

from my phantasmagoria

at the Babylonium.

But tell me, Betty,
what's your skin in this game?

Because I'm sensing
you have some.

Well, I used to get
butterflies for Archie.

I still do.

But now I think I'm also
getting them for Reggie.

You know...

you should use Halloween night

to figure out which way
your love compass
is truly pointing.

And then?

And then,
let the spirit move you.

And then, tell me
all about it the next day.

So, Cheryl, I've been thinking
about tomorrow's slumber party.

I think you and the girls,

instead of sleeping
in your bedroom,

should decamp
to the grand hall.

It's more open,

less opportunity
for inappropriate hanky-panky.

Yuck, Mother!
I'm trying to eat here.

Just make sure
that's good and secure, boys.

I don't want
any lawsuits on my hands.

Wise words, Veronica.

Mrs. Cooper.

What a lovely,
yet unexpected surprise.

-Hmm.
-What can I do for you?

I was in the neighborhood.
Just thought I would pop in.

How are ticket sales going
for your little ghost show?

Briskly.

We should be sold out.

You're new in town,

but this is how we celebrate
Halloween in Riverdale.

Everyone stays home

and watches Mr. Cooper and I
host Shock Theater on RIVW.

We dress up in singed clothes

and we introduce
old horror flicks,

we have a little banter
in between.

- Oh.
- It's quite the event.

We really give families
a tickle.

Well, we're not really
expecting a family crowd.

More... teenagers, exclusively.

You like to cause trouble,
don't you, Veronica?

You're a natural born
rabble-rouser.

I can tell.

At any rate, I will allow
this little ghost show
to happen.

It's not gonna
affect our ratings.

But I want you to know,
young lady,

you've been put on notice.

Whoa.

Ethel.

How the heck did you escape
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy?

I started hearing
about secret tunnels
beneath the nunnery

right when I got there.

I spent every free moment I had
looking for them.

Found them a couple days ago.

It was your call

that gave me the push I needed
to make a break for it.

I really couldn't...

bear to be there
for another second.

The sisters are cruel,

and abusive.

Well, they'll probably
come looking for you.

What's your plan?

My birthday
is in a couple months.

Once I'm 18,

I won't be a ward
of the state anymore,

and I can live on my own.

I just need to make it
until then.

Where are you gonna
hide out In the meantime?

This place
isn't exactly safe, Ethel.

It got ransacked
by John Law, remember?

But I do know a place
that you could stay.

It's Mr. Rayberry's apartment.

I mean, it's still empty,

and he's got rent paid
until the end of the year.

As long as staying
in a dead guy's apartment

doesn't give you
the heebie-jeebies.

It could be haunted.

I would rather ghosts
than the sisters.

Well, then you're made
in the shade.

And I can go down
to the five-and-dime

and get you a cheap
Halloween mask,

so you can walk
the streets incognito.

Once we get
to the Halloween party,

you won't have
to worry about the fuzz.

And you could help me
suss out who wrote
that milkman comic.

How's that sound?

Yes, Midge, how can I help you?

Do you have
a special request
for the sleepover?

Um... that's the thing. I...

I wanted to see
if I might be excused
from the slumber party.

You see, Fangs is performing
at Veronica's ghost show,

and it would be gangbusters
to see him.

Midge, with all due respect
to your greaser boyfriend,

this is a Vixen tradition.

The center must hold.

Of course,
I... I figured as much.

But I had
to at least try.

Wait.

As it happens,

I, too, am intrigued by
Veronica's midnight burlesque.

So if I asked Evelyn
to host the slumber party

and you know
that witchy witch would,

and we went to the Babylonium,

we can never ever speak

of what we did or saw
at the ghost show.

I'd be okay with that.

I'm good at keeping secrets.

Me, too, dear Midge.

Perhaps it's time we both
confide in each other.

Maybe on Halloween night,

after the festivities?

I'm on pins and needles.

Mr. Jones,

are you aware
that your friend Ethel Muggs
went missing last night?

She escaped from
The Sisters of Quiet Mercy.

Ain't that a bite?

No, no, I had no idea.

So if we searched
your train car,

she wouldn't be there?

Oh, please, go ahead.
Door's unlocked.

Uh, but, uh, if you could
just not trash it
like you did last time.

The place is practically
The Waldorf now.

Can I go?

Dang.

Your mom's costume work
is top notch.

Yeah, she was keen to do it.

Started to get the weeps
'cause she said it was
probably the last time

she'll be sewing
Halloween costumes.

Until she has grandkids.

What do you think
Betty's going as?

Maybe a princess?

Or Rosie the Riveter?

Man, I can't believe how much
she knows about fixing up cars.

Yeah, how'd that happen anyway?

Her fixing your jalopy.

Did you ask or did...

-Did she offer?
-Nah, she offered.

But the truth is, I was kind of
getting vibes off her.

You know? Vibrations.

Well, trust me, I know.

If I'm being honest, I've been
getting vibes from Betty

since way before
you got to town, so...

And I still am.

You don't think Betty
wants to make it

with one of us tonight, do you?

I hadn't considered that,

but...

She ain't blind.

Well, she might
want to get with me, Reg.

Like I said,
we do have a history.

Yeah...

Well...

Let's make a pact then.

If something goes on
between Betty and one of us,

as soon as we start feeling
which way she's leaning,

then the other guy peels off
and vamooses.

What do you say?

You got yourself a deal there,
Buck Rogers.

Jughead!

Welcome to the
Madhouse of Mystery.

Who's your friend?
Or should I say fiend?

Bernie, this is Ethel.

You-- you may have met.
She's been here a couple times.

Hi. Happy Halloween.

And to you!

Uh, get yourself
a snootful and settle in.

It's gonna be a crazy night.

Okay, let's enter the fray.

Ask around. See if anyone
knows about the origin
of the milkman comic.

Good evening, ghouls and boils,

to what I'm sure will be

the most electrifying night
of your life.

I'm your host...

Well, thanks for volunteering
to be our kid tonight, Dilton.

Yeah, Doiley. You're really
going above and beyond
your duties as waterboy.

It's no sweat, fellas.

It's kind of hard to say no
to a girl like Betty.

Well, boys, how do I look?

Wow! Gee whiz, Betty,
you look... tremendous.

Ring the bell. I'm knocked out.

Who are you supposed to be?

Goldilocks, of course.

You know,
she couldn't decide on a bed,

so she tried all three.

Shall we head out and see
where the night takes us?

A doctor of dentistry.

Well, what are you
complaining about?

Trick or treat!

-Whoo!
-Yeah!

That's it. I'm going home.

Wait, Dilton.
We're just getting started.

I'm dressed as a pumpkin head,

and Julian and those clowns
have baseball bats.

I'm doneski.

It's okay, Dilton.

You've been
a swell sport tonight.

You can go home.

Yeah, we've got a cemetery
to get to anyhow.

You made the scene.

As promised.

Well, you look
fab as a flapper.

How did it shake out
with the rest of the Vixens?

As far as anyone else
is concerned,

Midge and I have been stricken
with a 24-hour influenza

and we're self-quarantining.

Well, it means a lot to me
that you came

and that
you're willing to perform.

Veronica is over the moon
about it.

So am I.

Well, as you say,
it's Halloween.

If we can't let our
masks slip tonight,
then when can we?

Come on, let's get you ready.

So, Randall, you didn't write
The Milkman Cometh?

No, but I sure wish I had.

Best story Pep published
last year.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Jonah, did you write
The Milkman Cometh?

No, and between us,

I didn't think it was
such great shakes either.

Did you write
The Milkman Cometh?

Or do you know who did?

The Milkman?

Yeah. That was one
of Ted's stories.

-Ted?
-Ted Sullivan.

-Journeyman writer.
-Ted. Ted Sullivan?

Is he here?

Uh, no.

Ted's dead.

A few weeks
after his milkman story
was published,

they found him kaput
in his apartment.

Dead? How?

Hung himself,

left a note saying
he'd never write

another story
as good as the milkman one.

It's a metaphor.
A critique of America.

It's saying
that the enemy is us.

What are you talking about?

The enemy is here at home.

It's not Mother Russia.

It's not the communists.

It's not the Axis of Evil.

It's us.

We're the enemies.

Wholesome, conforming,
homogenous America.

You know why wolves howl,
don't you?

To attract a mate.

And how do you know that?

We've got lots of wolves
in Duck Creek.

Packs and packs of them.

Well, must have made it

pretty scary growing up there.

More like exciting.

Hmm.

Though they never
caused me any trouble.

Maybe because
they recognized a fellow...

alpha.

Is that what you think you are?

An alpha?

Uh...

Damn.
Julian and his goons are still out.

Well, that's not good.

Wonder where
the rest of our wolf pack is.

Gosh, Archie, I'm so sorry.

I didn't even
think about the fact that--

It's okay.

I'm okay.

I was just thinking
about how my mom and dad

used to take us
trick or treating.

Remember that?

Of course.

You remember the year
we dressed as Becky Thatcher
and Tom Sawyer?

Of course I do.

I went barefoot,
stepped on a nail.

Right.

We've been friends
for a really long time.

Yeah, we have been.

Feels like I've known you
my entire life.

I feel the same way.

Hey, so where's this
haunted house, anyway?

Well, come on
and let me show you the way.

If you're brave enough.

So this is
where it happened.

The murder you guys
were telling me about.

Yes.

It's hard to imagine your life
ending so...

suddenly, violently.

My dad used to say,
"Seize the day."

Like, is your next moment
gonna be your last
before the big chill?

I'm gonna go see
if there's any Eleven-Up
in the refrigerator.

Hey...

I'm gonna cut out of here.

No, you don't have to do that.

Come on, Andrews.

I saw you two
in the cemetery holding hands.

You don't need a seismograph
to pick up those vibrations.

Okay, Reg. If you say so.

I do.

Well, they're warm,

but I found some orange sodas
in the icebox.

Where'd Reggie go?

Oh, he got tired.

Called it a night.

That's too bad.

Yeah, isn't it?

Gals and ghouls.

Thank you all
for coming out tonight.

In just a few minutes,

we'll be screening
our midnight feature,
Frankenstein,

starring my godfather,
Boris Karloff.

But before we do that,

you were all promised
a resurrection tonight
and a floor show.

Well, Veronica Lodge,

or should I say
Victoria Frankenstein,

keeps her promises.

So without further ado,

I give you
the electrifying return

of the four dead
Riverdale High students.

So enjoy.

And don't dream it, friends.

Be it.

Well, well, well.

If it isn't
Mantle the magnificent.

I'm just walking home, Julian.

Oh, come on.

Don't be such
a stick in the mud.

We're going across the bridge
to Greendale

to raise some hell. Hop in.

Come on. Join the fun.

Unless you've got
something better to do.

Move over.

Attaboy.

Well, here we are, I guess.

Here we are,
just the two of us.

I'm really nervous.

And I think I wanna kiss you.

I feel exactly the same way.

- Oh, my God.
- What is it?

There's someone out there.

There's no one out there.
What did he look like?

This is gonna
sound Looney Tunes,

but he looked like
a... a milkman.

-A milkman?
-Let's just go, Arch.

Let's... let's go.

All right, let's punch it.

Well, gents,

looks like we had ourselves
a smashing success.

For the ages.

I was in on the gag,
and even I had goose pimples.

All of which makes me think.

What if we institute
a weekly midnight movie,

a monster flick,

or something fun and campy?

It sounds like a gas.

But, uh, Veronica,

Kevin and I, we, um...

wanted to talk to you
about something.

Oh.

What's that?

How long have you been living
at the Babylonium

and... and why?

Is it trouble
with your parents?

Look at you two Hardy Boys.

All right,
you fellas got wise to me.

I am staying here.

But there isn't a problem.

There's nothing wrong.

The Pembrooke is merely
undergoing renovations.

That's all.

I'll be back in my regular digs
before Thanksgiving.

Now skedaddle.

And truly, everything's peachy.

Midge, Fangs...

I don't know what to say
about your happy news,
except congratulations.

Oh, Cheryl, I've been dying
to tell you the truth for ages.

Well, of course
your secret is safe with me.

Not to take anything away
from my honey bun,

but you two had
a pretty big moment
during the floor show.

That was some kiss.

Yeah, I'm not complaining,

but it was pretty brazen,
Cheryl.

If I'm ever
challenged about it,

I will simply explain
that I was possessed

by the Halloween spirit.

Can I just say that
I'm really happy that us four
put our masks away?

Even if it was only
for one short, magical night.

I wholeheartedly concur.

Well, despite our
boogeyman ending,

this was the best Halloween
of my entire life,
Betty Cooper.

Mine, too.

Elizabeth?

Mrs. Cooper?

Why are you out so late?

Mom, I thought you weren't
my mother anymore.

I'm not, but you still
live in this house,

so get your butt inside
right this instant!

Get!

Damn it.

Do you want to come in?

Oh, I... I would,
but I'm pretty tuckered out.

Plus, I haven't fed
Hot Dog tonight,

so I'll just see you tomorrow.

Or later today, I guess.

Is that hunky-dory?

Yeah.

Sure. Good night, Jug.

Good night.

Oh...

I thought you were the milkman.

Milkman?

I heard his bottles
earlier today.

I thought he might
have come back.

You heard his...

Ethel!

Jeepers.

I told everyone
it was a milkman.

Archie.
Archie, wake up.

Archie, wake up.

Come on, get dressed.

Uncle Frank, what's wrong?

There's been
some kind of accident.

Car full of Bulldogs
went off the bridge
and into Sweetwater River.

When was that?
Are there any survivors?

We don't know yet.