Riverdale (2016–…): Season 7, Episode 14 - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One: Archie the Musical - full transcript

[alarm ringing]

♪ Please tell me it's Sunday ♪

♪ There's still
One more fun day ♪

♪ Another day of summer ♪

♪ Please give me
One more day of fun ♪

♪ Not this bummer one ♪

♪ Why is life so cruel? ♪

♪ Today
I'm heading to school ♪

♪ The first day
The worst day ♪

♪ The same old teachers ♪

♪ Yapping in our ears ♪



♪ The worst day
The first day ♪

♪ But at least
It's our senior year ♪

♪ It's finally here
I've waited so long ♪

♪ For this one day
Monday, yeah ♪

♪ I hope it won't
Go too fast ♪

♪ Last year was nothing
But good times ♪

♪ Nothing but fun ahead ♪

♪ My final page
In the yearbook ♪

♪ Come on, nothin' to fear ♪

♪ Lookin' ahead and I can see ♪

♪ I'm the model "A" student ♪

♪ I'll be perfect and prudent ♪

♪ Come on, world
I'm takin' you on ♪

[both] ♪ The first day
Our first day ♪



♪ Monday, senior year ♪

♪ Riverdale
Are you ready for me? ♪

♪ 'Cause this new girl
Is coming in hot ♪

♪ With looks and style
And brains and class ♪

♪ And money
Well, I do have a lot ♪

♪ Mirror, mirror on the shelf ♪

♪ Have I outdone myself? ♪

♪ Usin' Versace, Prada, Klein ♪

♪ Lookin' fine ♪

♪ I'm gonna tag him, bag him ♪

♪ Make him mine ♪

♪ Four years, feels like
I've done it before ♪

♪ Four years, feels like
So much more ♪

♪ Four summers spent so cruel ♪

♪ No more summer
No more summer school ♪

♪ Ready, set and blast it
Steppin' up, I passed it ♪

♪ And I'm takin' my place ♪

♪ Kickin' back with my pals
And finding myself ♪

♪ And finding pizza boxes
Under my bed ♪

♪ Lunchtime
So many more cafeteria ♪

♪ More burgers aplenty
More eating for ♪

♪ Twenty more minutes
Till breakfast ♪

♪ Eggs and bacon it ♪

♪ Making it all we can
Sandwich ♪

♪ Bow down, freshies ♪

-♪ I shan't repeat ♪
-♪ All hail ♪

♪ Your new River Vixen Queens ♪

♪ High school
Is a pyramid of mean ♪

♪ We run the halls ♪

♪ So act accordingly ♪

♪ Tip-off, ready to score ♪

♪ Playing to win one more ♪

♪ Seniors, let's go ♪

♪ Go, seniors ♪

♪ Last batch
Of high school prudes ♪

♪ Next year
It's college girls ♪

♪ College girls with attitude ♪

♪ Sophomore, junior
Soon you're rulin' the school ♪

♪ Partyin' supreme year
Senior ♪

♪ Slam dunk, homecoming king ♪

♪ Class ring... ♪

♪ No look pass
Last shot, cue the band ♪

[all]
♪ Varsity State champs ♪

♪ Most likely to be year,
me year ♪

♪ My year, school year ♪

♪ I rule year ♪

[all]
♪ And our band on the stand ♪

♪ And my friends, amazing ♪

♪ Our song
Plays on the radio ♪

♪ Our song
Plays on the radio ♪

♪ These are the days ♪

♪ These are the days ♪

♪ These are the days ♪

♪ These are the days ♪

♪ All our friends
Till the end come together ♪

♪ We'll make it one day
Monday, senior year ♪

Wow, that was incredible.

Was that not
so incredible, Clay?

For first sing-through,
that was the most monster!

You two wrote this song?

And all of the songs
you'll be rehearsing this week.

This is a lot of
music to learn.

Well, for the first time ever,
Principal Featherhead

is open to doing
an original musical
this spring,

as opposed to, say, Oklahoma!
for the millionth time.

So, Kevin and I decided
to write a show about,

well, all of us and our lives
at Riverdale High.

But Featherhead needs to see
a workshop presentation

before he gives it
the official go-ahead.

But why the heck are we playing
seniors in the show?

I mean, we're juniors
in real life.

Well, senior year
is just so much more
kickin' for the storyline.

Teens on the cusp
of the rest of their lives.

But dramaturgically
I'm still the "new girl"?

"Coming in hot"?
Does that make sense?

And why am I a bit player?

And know your groceries,
I'm the best singer
in this damn school.

Fangs is the best singer
in the school.

I'm the best singer
in the school.

You're also Archie's
understudy, Julian.
Don't forget.

And Archie
is the main character.

But you just said
the show was about all of us.

Yeah, and Cheryl and I
aren't here to play
glorified chorus girls.

[chuckles nervously]
Everyone's gonna have
at least a solo line or two

in the closing number,
which is all about,

wait for it...

Prom night!

[Midge exclaims]

[whistles] And I am out.

I am sorry, Kevin, Clay.

I cannot in good conscience
participate in this.

In my opinion,
there is no lower art form

than American musical comedy.

[Reggie] Yeah, I'm gonna
back-window it too.

I've got the looks for acting,
but I'm not much

for singing and dancing.

Okay, that's fine. Not ideal.

Clay and I will
write you both out of the show.

In the meantime, everyone else
is dismissed until tomorrow.

Except for Archie and Julian.

We are going to workshop
Archie's "I want" song.

So hang back, fellas,
would you?

Traditionally,
the "I want" song in a musical

tells the audience
what our hero is searching for,

their innermost
dreams or desires.

[Clay playing
"Archie's All-American"]

♪ I just turned 17 ♪

♪ I'm master of my scene ♪

-♪ Still something's
Sorta not completely cool ♪
-Julian.

♪ Guess I'm talkin' bout
The problem that I got ♪

♪ When things get chilly
That is when I want them hot ♪

♪ It might sound silly
But it bothers me a lot ♪

[both]
♪ Archie goin' left ♪

♪ Archie goin' right ♪

♪ Archie runnin'
Any road that he can find ♪

♪ Archie never making up
His All-American mind ♪

♪ Making up
His All-American mind ♪

♪ I look at other guys
With fire in their eyes ♪

♪ They know their way
Their whole lives
Will play out ♪

♪ Me, I don't have a clue ♪

♪ Of what I'm gonna do ♪

♪ Or even what
My story is about ♪

[both]
♪ Think it's time
I make a big decision ♪

♪ Attack my problems
With a slick precision ♪

♪ Only then can I
Get rid of the vision of ♪

♪ Archie goin' left ♪

♪ Archie goin' right ♪

♪ Archie runnin'
Any road that he can find ♪

♪ Archie never making up
His All-American mind ♪

-♪ Making up
His All-American-- ♪
-No, stop, stop, stop!

Hell, man, we were humming.

I don't wanna be a drip,
but it's super distracting

when my understudy is singing

-literally at
the same time as me.
-Oh...

Also, I'm not really
jibing with this song.

That's funny, I am.

Well, Archie, as we said,
this is your "I want" song--

It seems more to me like an

"I don't know
what I want" song.

Not to worry, we can figure
something out. Um...

What do you want
your "I want" song
to be about, Archie?

What do you, Archie Andrews
want to do in real life?

What's your secret
passion or dream?

I... want...

Who is Archie Andrews?

Do you even know
what you want?

Is it romantic?
Do you wanna date Betty?

Do you wanna date Veronica?

Do you really wanna be
on the basketball team?

Or do you wanna
write poetry?

What is it?
All of these things?

Well, I don't know.

But, yeah, I mean,
maybe... Maybe all of them.

No, I'm sorry.
That doesn't work.

The "I want" song
can only be about one thing.

Otherwise, it confuses
the audience.

Not to mention it means
you have a poorly
defined main character.

No biggie, though.
Kevin and I can take

another stab at your
"I want" song, Archie.

But if I don't really know
what I wanna do with my life,

how are you gonna
write a song about it?

Listen, we'll figure it out.

And you are gonna love it.
I promise.

[exhales]

[sighing] Golly, is there
anything more stressful

than workshopping
a new musical?

Especially when
it's about your friends?

If there is, it beats me.

But you're handling
it all like a champ.

Especially given everything
you're going through
at home with your folks.

Listen, the only reason
I'm getting through any of this

is because of how supportive
and incredible you are, Clay.

♪ Heaven sent me an angel ♪

♪ In my soul
A mystery unfolding ♪

♪ Nothing more than chances ♪

♪ I miss you yesterday ♪

♪ Collecting midnights ♪

♪ And the evening is gone ♪

[both]
♪ The world so far away ♪

♪ When I stand with you ♪

♪ This ain't
No ordinary feeling ♪

♪ This is love ♪

♪ This is love ♪

[Clay]
♪ Time takes a picture ♪

♪ And we vanish in the light ♪

[both]
♪ This dream ♪

♪ This moment ♪

♪ All it wants is you ♪

♪ You came my way ♪

♪ And stole my heart ♪

♪ I wanna be your shelter ♪

[both]
♪ The wonder of you ♪

♪ This ain't
No ordinary feeling ♪

♪ This is love ♪

♪ This is love ♪

♪ This ain't
No ordinary feeling ♪

♪ This is love ♪

♪ Baby, this is love ♪

I know who I'm hoping takes me

to the Valentine's Dance
on Friday.

But who are you
fuzzy ducks chasing?

[upbeat music playing]

♪ I'm not the kinda girl ♪

♪ Who's gotta twist and twirl ♪

♪ Every boy 'round
My little finger ♪

♪ There's just
One special guy ♪

♪ Who always catches my eye ♪

♪ In my heart
He always lingers ♪

♪ He needs a Betty ♪

♪ All set and ready ♪

♪ He and I
Make a perfect pair ♪

♪ Beware to
A certain beauty queen ♪

♪ Who comes between us ♪

♪ The girl for him is me ♪

♪ I'm not the kinda girl ♪

♪ Who comes in second place ♪

♪ I don't sit
And wait for a date ♪

♪ I serve it up
On a silver plate ♪

♪ Somewhere chic and fun ♪

♪ If that doesn't work ♪

♪ I bring out the big guns ♪

♪ He needs a Ronnie
I bring it on ♪

♪ He and I are the perfect pair
Beware ♪

♪ Goody goody ♪

♪ Why would he with you ♪

♪ When the girl for him is me ♪

[Betty and Veronica]
♪ The boy is mine ♪

♪ Next Friday
Valentine's dance ♪

♪ My chance
Of ending the chase ♪

♪ Can't hardly wait ♪

♪ To be the one, hot fun ♪

♪ Next Friday, Valentine ♪

♪ Archie's mine ♪

♪ P.S. I must confess ♪

♪ Archie met me
At Pop's yesterday ♪

♪ He asked
For a ride on my bike ♪

♪ He's looking at me ♪

♪ In that certain way ♪

♪ I sped around
All over town ♪

♪ Yesterday with Archie ♪

-♪ I bet you heard
my engine rev ♪
-[engine revving]

[Cheryl]
♪ Toni, please ♪

♪ FYI, Archie was at my house ♪

♪ Day before yesterday ♪

-♪ There must have been
a storm outside ♪
-[thunderclap]

♪ 'Cause whaddya know ♪

♪ The lights went out ♪

♪ And me and Archie got close ♪

♪ His hand in mine ♪

-♪ We had a good time ♪
-[snaps fingers in rhythm]

♪ I pulled out my pompoms ♪

♪ My moves were sublime ♪

♪ And Archie leaned in ♪

[all]
♪ The boy's mine ♪

♪ Tomorrow Valentine's dance ♪

♪ My chance
Of ending the chase ♪

♪ Can't hardly wait ♪

♪ To be the one, hot fun ♪

♪ Tomorrow ♪

♪ Valentine ♪

♪Archie's mine ♪

♪ One boy ♪

♪ Plus four best friends ♪

♪ Pretty girls getting ugly ♪

♪ Scratch and fight
Kiss and hug me ♪

♪ Best frenemies ♪

♪ Me and my best frenemies ♪

Yowza, so fun, right?
What a bop.

A bop on the head maybe,
you twit.

[Veronica] Kevin, what is this?

We're all friends,
not frenemies.

And what does
that word even mean?

-I invented it.
-Is this how you see us?

Vapid, khaki-wacky girls
fighting over some guy who

doesn't have any
interest in any of us?

Don't worry,
we can work up a new song.

No, we will.

We deserve a song
with more depth,

written from our point of view.

Since when
do you two write songs?

Oh, we're not gonna write it.

I'll get one of my Oscar
and/or Tony winning pals
to write it for us.

I'm thinking Cole Porter.

Also, not to pile on,

but this song
was obviously intended

to be a Betty
and Veronica duet.

Which you clearly added us to
at the last minute.

Well, to be fair,
you did ask for
more stage time, so...

You know what?

I'm challenging you
to write something truthful.

Not just about Toni and I,
though that would be lovely.

But something more honest
about you two, as well.

[bell ringing]

All right, we heard
your notes, Archie.

Wow. I didn't
really have any notes.

And we wrote you
a new "I want" song.

Strong musicals
always have a romantic core.

So that's why we decided

to focus on
your quest for love.

My quest for love?

You wanna give it a whirl?
See how it fits?

Sure, jelly.
Let's roll.

♪ I've never been the type
To know for certain ♪

♪ I'm always
Looking for a better view ♪

♪ I'm wondering what's behind
That other curtain ♪

♪ I wanna have my cake
And eat it too ♪

♪ All this talk
About growing up ♪

♪ Well, I can't help
Feeling a little stuck ♪

♪ Between wanting and needing ♪

♪ Living and dreaming ♪

♪ All I ever wanted was a love
That's so, so true, yeah ♪

♪ And I got two ♪

♪ I could have a penthouse
In the city ♪

♪ Be in the suburbs
With a picket fence ♪

♪ They're both so different ♪

♪ But they're both pretty ♪

♪ It's hard to choose ♪

♪ I guess it just depends ♪

♪ Sometimes I crave
A little cotton candy ♪

♪ Sometimes I wanna
Have some onion rings ♪

♪ They're both delicious ♪

♪ Please understand me ♪

♪ How can I choose
between two perfect things? ♪

♪ Like wanting and needing ♪

♪ Living and dreaming ♪

♪ Gotta make a choice ♪

♪ But I don't know
What to choose ♪

♪ 'Cause I want two ♪

-[record scratches]
-I'm sorry, guys, can we stop?

I just, I'm at sixes and sevens
by what you asked me last time.

I mean,
"Who is Archie Andrews?"

"What does he really want?"

Yes, that's why we focused
your "I want" song

on choosing
between Betty or Veronica.

But it's not that simple.

I mean, that's not
really the big question

that I'm wrestling with here.

In our musical
or in real life?

[exhales]

Fellas, I'm sorry
to do this to you,

but I have to step away
from this musical for a while

for my own mental health.
It's too real, too raw,

and... [inhales deeply]

I have to figure out
some major stuff for myself.

Really, Archie?

[Clay] Good luck
to you, Archie.

I hope you make
the right decision about...

whatever it is
you need to decide.

[Veronica] Excellent news, Bee.

I just got off
with Cole Porter.

And he is willing to take
a crack at writing us

a little ditty
for Kevin's musical.

Wow. I'm sure whatever
Cole comes up with
will be the tops.

Much better than
"Friday Valentine."

Betty, Kevin's
royal shaft of a song

did bring up something
that's been eating away at me.

Oh, no...
[chuckles nervously]

What is it?

You recall when
the Red Scare came to town?

-Yeah.
-Well, in a moment
of weakness...

Archie and I kissed.

Do you like him?

I... I do.

But...

I like you more.

I feel closer to you
than anyone else in this town.

I've known Archie
my entire life,

but I feel the same way.

Maybe this is the universe
telling us to swear off Archie

and...

focus on our friendship...

right now.

[both chuckle softly]

So, Dad, how is the new cot?
More comfortable?

Yeah.
I'm used to it by now.

How's your mother doing?

All right, I guess,
considering.

-What about school?
-It's fine.

I'm working on that
new musical I told you about.

The one about
you and your friends?

Yeah.

It's... It's just
a workshop right now,

but if Principal Featherhead
digs it,

-we'll do a full production
in the spring.
-Uh.

I keep imagining you,
me and Mom
in the audience

celebrating
my opening night together.

Why don't you
just come home, Dad?

Or just...
just come to dinner?

Heck, one meal,
that's all I'm asking.

So you can talk to Mom.

There's, uh...
There's more to the situation
that you don't understand.

Like what?
I... I want to understand.

It's adult stuff, serious stuff
between your mother and I.

You, uh... You stick
to your musicals

and your...
your singing and dancing.

[sighs]

Thanks for
coming back in, ladies.

We heard your feedback.
Accepted your challenge.

And last night, after a...

fraught dinner with my father,

Clay and I regrouped

and cooked up a new song
for the four of us.

We wrote it from the heart,
about people like us,

who have to be careful
about who we love.

We'll kick it off
and then you two

should just
feel free to join in.

We'll see what happens.

♪ Do you know what it's like ♪

♪ To be in love with you ♪

♪ To have my heart
Still love you ♪

♪ When my mind knows
It can't be true ♪

♪ Do you know what it's like ♪

♪ To be in love with you ♪

♪ Not to remember
What my life was like ♪

♪ Before I first met you ♪

♪ Do you know what it's like
When I lie in bed ♪

♪ And I think of you
And the things you've said ♪

♪ How they're almost
Exactly all the things
That I've said too ♪

♪ Oh, do you know? ♪

[Kevin and Cheryl]
♪ I know I'll never find
Your lovin' in anyone else ♪

[Toni and Clay]
♪ In anyone else ♪

[Cheryl and Kevin]
♪ Though I'll try ♪

[all]
♪ Oh, and I'll try ♪

[Cheryl and Kevin]
♪ And I know I'll never find
Your smile in anyone else ♪

[Toni and Clay]
♪ In anyone else ♪

[Cheryl and Kevin]
♪ Though I'll try ♪

[all]
♪ Oh, and I'll try ♪

[Toni and Clay]
♪ If someone
Were to come up to me ♪

♪ And say that they knew how ♪

♪ To love you better ♪

♪ I'd say, buddy ♪

♪ Step into the ring
You're going down ♪

[Clay]
♪ I'd fight a guy for you ♪

[Toni]
♪ I'd fight a girl for you ♪

[all] ♪ I'd fight myself
You know I would ♪

♪ If I thought
It'd do any good ♪

♪ Oh, do you know? ♪

♪ Do you know what it's like
When I lie in bed ♪

♪ And I think of you
And the things you've said ♪

♪ How they're almost
Exactly all the things
That I've said too ♪

♪ Oh, do you know? ♪

[Cheryl]
♪ How to look into your eyes ♪

[Clay]
♪ To let go of your hand ♪

♪ To start another life ♪

♪ I just don't ♪

♪ Understand ♪

[laughing]
Kevin and Clay. Wowza.

You completely
captured the longing

of being in a queer,
interracial relationship
in the 1950s.

[Cheryl] Dare I say
this is going to be

extremely powerful
once we put it on stage.

Oh, um, Clay and I
wrote this song for you

and... and for us to sing
and enjoy in private.

It's... It's not gonna
be in the musical.

-Why not?
-Why the hell not?

Riverdale's too provincial.

I'm under enormous pressure
from Featherhead

to deliver something
that's mainstream
and commercial and--

But maybe one day,
when the world's
caught up to our song--

In that case, Kevin, Clay,

when the world does catch up,

and this beautiful song
is included in your musical,

Toni and I will be there too.

But in the meantime...

we do enough
play-acting in our real life.

So with all due respect,
Cheryl and I

would like to be written
out of Archie: The Musical.

Until we can act
as our authentic selves in it.

[Pop] Soup or salad?

Archie?

What would you like
with your grilled cheese,
soup or salad?

I...

I don't know, Pop.

I...

I just... I don't know.

Oh, we'll just take both, Pop.

-Thanks.
-[softly] All right.

You were saying?

Kevin's writing
this musical about me,

and I don't know why.

I mean,
the character he's writing
isn't the person I am.

Like he's got me
picking between

Betty and Veronica in the show,

but for me, in real life,
the choice is actually

between basketball and poetry.

Ah, the classic conundrum.

You, my friend,
are cuttin' a rug

on what Camus would call
"an existential crisis."

A what now?

Your dilemma is real, Archie.

But it's not about
having to decide

between basketball or poetry,

artist or athlete,

Betty or Veronica, no.

It's... Well, it's about
having to make a choice,

any choice, right now, today,

that could affect
the rest of your life,

and that's... scary.

Especially for a cube like you.

Jeez, Jug, you're right.

That is why I'm so unsettled.

And I'll stay unsettled
until I make a decision.

[piano ballad playing]

♪ 'Cause now it's time
to take a stand ♪

♪ To pick a path ♪

♪ To be a man ♪

♪ Sometimes you gotta choose ♪

♪ And give it
Everything you've got ♪

♪ You only get one shot ♪

♪ And you can't pick two ♪

♪ I can't pick two ♪

Here you go, Archie.
A grilled cheese sandwich

with a soup and a salad,
as requested.

Thanks, Pop.
But, uh...

I only want the grilled cheese,
and make it to go, will you?

I gotta have a conversation
with my uncle that can't wait.

I'll take the soup and salad.
Thanks, Pop.

[Jughead exhales]

[whistles]

Uncle Frank, I'm not gonna be
on the basketball team anymore.

I wanna focus
more on my poetry.

Is that who you are now,
some kind of beatnik poet?

So you're just gonna
bail on the Bulldogs
halfway through a season?

Well, I need you on the team.

You got Reggie, Uncle Frank.

I mean, he is the team.

Well, I can't approve of it.

I won't approve of it.

You're gonna regret it.

Well, maybe.

Look, Uncle Frank,
if I don't follow my heart,

I'm worried
I might regret that even more.

Respectfully,
I... I've made my choice.

[Mrs. Keller] Kevin?

Holy mackerel,
we overslept!

[Mrs. Keller]
Honey, are you awake?

Just... Quick! The window!

[Mrs. Keller] Can I come in?
Just for a quick chat.

Just a second, Mom.

[mouthing] I love you.

Good morning, sweetheart.

-Did you sleep okay?
-Um, yeah, I did.

I'm just, you know,
anxious about the musical.

Oh, I can only imagine.

But... But I was thinking.

What do you say
the three of us
have dinner tonight?

You mean
you, me and Dad?

At Pop's.

We think
it would be good for us.

A... A good step.

Yeah, let's do it.
Sounds great, Mom.

Wonderful.

Now, you get dressed and...
and I'll drive you to school.

So, Veronica,
which one of your famous

Hollywood friends
wrote this song?

Cole Porter did,
as I knew he would.

And I trust you'll agree

it's worthy
of our complexities.

[piano ballad playing]

♪ Have you ever ♪

♪ Caught a glimpse
of your reflection ♪

♪ In the mirror? ♪

♪ And wondered if the person
That you saw was even you ♪

♪ Everyone applauding ♪

♪ It's a perfect presentation ♪

♪ Nobody would
Ever have a clue ♪

[Veronica]
♪ They look at me and figure ♪

♪ She's a girl
Who's got it easy ♪

♪ I cruise through life
While Daddy feeds me ♪

♪ With the silver spoon ♪

♪ But if they
Caught a glimpse ♪

♪ Of all my doubts
And hesitations ♪

♪ Tell me, would they sing
A different tune? ♪

[both]
♪ There's a universe inside ♪

♪ That no one else can see ♪

♪ A world inside ♪

♪ Where I'm alone with me ♪

♪ You can spend a lifetime ♪

♪ Looking deep
In someone's eyes ♪

♪ And never see
The universe inside ♪

♪ I'm scared to show
What's underneath ♪

♪ I cover it with makeup ♪

♪ It's dark and petty, I know ♪

♪ But I need to be the best ♪

♪ And all they ever see ♪

♪ Is only part
Of the equation ♪

♪ Don't they realize
I'm so much more ♪

[both]
♪ If only I could find a way ♪

♪ To show them all ♪

♪ So they would say ♪

♪ How we want
To see the real you shining ♪

♪ Then I would
Never have to be ♪

♪ Afraid of nightmares
Or my dreams ♪

♪ So if you want me ♪

♪ You know where to find me ♪

[Veronica]
♪ There's a universe inside ♪

-♪ There's a universe inside ♪
-♪ You must have one too ♪

-♪ A world inside ♪
-♪ Inside me ♪

♪ No one ever knew ♪

♪ I wish I noticed, but I... ♪

[both]
♪ Never took the time ♪

♪ To look beyond the surface ♪

♪ And finally
see the universe inside ♪

♪ Inside you ♪

♪ Inside you ♪

♪ I hope that someday ♪

♪ Someone looks into my eyes ♪

♪ And finally sees
The universe inside ♪

That was... stunning.

What... What just happened?

[both chuckle]

Some kind of
energy exchange, I think.

Yeah. A seismic one.

[Kevin] I don't
know what to say,

but I completely felt the pain

of your isolation, your...

your desperate need to be seen.

Now that
that's squared away,

I think we should talk about
whatever just happened

-during that song.
-Okay. Yes. Super. We should.

It felt primal.

I felt the same,
charged and intense.

All this time
we've been thinking,

"When are we going
to climb Mount Archibald?"

-When in fact...
-Maybe there are other,

more... emotionally
complex mountains to climb.

There you both are!

I've been looking all over
to tell you something.

I've been doing
some soul-searching
and, um...

Well, I realized
I've kissed both of you,

-and I'm fond of you both.
-[both] "Fond"?

But I'm in a period of growth
and self-discovery.

So I'm gonna take a little time

and... and not kiss
anyone for a while.

At least,
I'm gonna try not to.

Okay, then. Later, gators.

So we've had a few speed bumps
but now we're jumpin'.

The new Archie, Julian,

he's even better
than the real Archie.

Kevin...

We... We have to talk to you
about something serious.

[sputters] The papers
are signed, Kevin.

It's all been finalized.

-Your, father and I--
-We're getting a divorce.

So that's it?

You're just...
you're calling it quits?

This isn't something that
can be fixed, unfortunately.

Sometimes a man and a woman

come to find that there are

too many differences
between them.

Sounds like
you've got it all figured out.

Well, if you will excuse me,

we are presenting to
Principal Featherhead tomorrow,

so I've got
a lot of work to do,

and, yeah, thank you
for a swell dinner.

-Kevin.
-Kevin--

♪ Come on everybody
Put your school books down ♪

♪ Come shake it up
And feel all right ♪

♪ Summer's almost here
And it's senior year ♪

♪ Now, it's party time
At Riverdale High ♪

[all]
♪ No one's saying ♪

♪ But one thing is weighing
On everybody's mind ♪

♪ Sure is getting
Close to prom night ♪

♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

♪ We're getting ready ♪

♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

♪ So come along now ♪

♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

♪ Are you ready
For the greatest
Night of your life? ♪

♪ Shu bop, shu bop ♪

♪ I've been busy waiting
'Cause I don't know
What he's thinking ♪

♪ But I'm praying
That he asks me soon ♪

♪ Don't wanna
Seem needy ♪

♪ I'm just hoping it'll be me ♪

♪ And I don't know
What to do ♪

♪ With his cool red hair
He's beyond compare ♪

♪ I've been waiting
My whole life ♪

[all]
♪ Archie ♪

♪ Waiting for Archie ♪

♪ Meanwhile Jughead said ♪

♪ I plan on staying in bed ♪

♪ Chowing down on
Burgers and fries ♪

[Julian and Fangs]
♪ Hey, Jughead
You're coming with us ♪

♪ To prom night ♪

♪ Hey, Arch
What have you been up to? ♪

♪ I've been writing
An awesome song ♪

♪ Playing football
Out on the lawn ♪

♪ Got no worries, you know me ♪

♪ Everything is peachy keen ♪

[all]
♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

-♪ We've waited so long ♪
-♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

-♪ We're gonna make it last ♪
-♪ Shu bop, shu bop, ooh ♪

-♪ Are you ready
For the greatest... ♪
-♪ Shu bop, shu bop ♪

-♪ ...night of our lives ♪
-♪ Shu bop, shu bop ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

[laughing] Bravo.

Very well-sung.

Mr. Keller, may I
see you in my office?

Kevin, I'll get right to it.

We're not going to produce
your musical this spring.

Wh... Why?
May I ask why?

In this climate, so soon after
our brush with communism,

we think it's better to do
something more traditional.

Something people
can get behind.

Furthermore, original musicals
are tough sells, Kevin.

I don't wanna say
that the drama club's funding

depends on your
box office receipts,

but if you put up a sign

for Archie, The Musical,
will people come?

I don't know.

But if you put up
a poster for Oklahoma!,

I'm certain
we'd have a complete sellout,

all three performances.

Well, everyone,
congratulations.

We're gonna be like
every other high school
in the world

and do Oklahoma! this spring.

So, enjoy, um,
singing about wheat.

Oh, Kevin, we're so sorry.

Are... Are you sorry?

Because all of you nitpicked

every song that Clay
and I wrote for you.

You questioned
our vision at every turn.

And who knows,
if you actually supported me

even a little bit,
we might have pulled it off.

But you didn't.
So, now, all that time,

and energy and effort,
it was all for nothing.

So, thanks for that.

-[crashes]
-Whoa! What snapped his cap?

That outburst
wasn't just about the musical.

Kevin was gonna give you
the lowdown after the workshop.

But, um, he recently found out

that his parents
are getting a divorce.

That's why he's been pouring
everything he's got
into this show.

[Mrs. Keller]
I am so sorry all of this

-is happening at once, Kevin.
-Mom.

It isn't my fault, is it?

I feel like all this fighting
between you and Dad

started around...

when Betty and I
were calling it quits.

No. No, Kevin.

What's going on between
your dad and I

has nothing to do with you...

or who you are.

You have nothing
to feel guilty about,

or ashamed of.

You are my son...

and I love you unconditionally.

[piano music playing]

[humming]

Hey, Kev, uh, you got a minute?

Well, I wanted to say thanks.

Thank you, buddy.

For what, Archie?

Well, I know
I left you high and dry.

But working on your musical
this week...

made me take
a long, hard look at myself.

Forced me to make
some decisions that...

Well, that I needed to make.

Well, I'm glad
some good came of it.

As I'm sure you've heard,
we're not doing

-Archie: The Musical
in the spring.
-Yeah, I did.

I'm all broke out
with the blues about it.

And I was looking forward
to seeing

how the whole
she-bang would turn out.

And what was...
What was that
you were playing before?

For the musical?

No, it's just something
I stayed up all night writing.

After my mom and I
had a long talk about stuff.

Well, come on.

Will you keep
playing it for me?

[piano music playing]

♪ An empty stage
Is set for all of us ♪

♪ But never before ♪

♪ Has home felt so far away ♪

♪ 'Cause never before
Have I been without you ♪

[both] ♪ Friends forever
Never say goodbye ♪

♪ And through the years ♪

♪ Friends for always
You and I ♪

♪ Take a photograph ♪

♪ Tuck it away ♪

♪ These are the times ♪

♪ These are the days ♪

♪ These are the moments of us ♪

-[guitar chords playing]
-♪ When we stand ♪

♪ On the edge of time ♪

♪ Don't you know I'm here ♪

♪ Holding on ♪

♪ With room to grow ♪

♪ Know that
I'm waiting in the wings ♪

♪ So many memories are ♪

♪ Waiting in the wings
With happy endings ♪

♪ Since when has
Life been so much change? ♪

♪ The buds don't show
When there's no rain ♪

♪ Since when has
Growin' up seemed ♪

♪ Not so very
Not so far away ♪

♪ Since when
Since I sing without you ♪

♪ It's not the song
That saved our world ♪

♪ But it's the song
Whose melody ♪

♪ It keeps you in my heart ♪

♪ It brings you back to me ♪

♪ This is our song ♪

♪ It's not the song
That saved our world ♪

♪ But it's the song
Whose melody ♪

♪ It keeps you in my heart ♪

♪ It brings you back to me ♪

♪ This is our song ♪

♪ It's not the song
That saved our world ♪

♪ But it's the song
Whose melody ♪

♪ It keeps you in my heart ♪

♪ It brings you back to me ♪

♪ This is our song ♪

♪ This is our song ♪

♪ This is our song ♪