Previously on Riverdale:
He calls himself the Black Hood.
It's like the angel of death had come to Riverdale.
A family of four was murdered.
There was a third child.
You know who killed your family?
A preacher passing through town.
A group of men killed him. Justice had been served.
I know about the Snake Charmer.
If you cause a stink, I will make sure
that video goes straight to the sheriff's office.
I love you, Ronnie.
Archie, whatever deep-seated issues I have,
I can't let myself go there with you.
How many times are we gonna push each other away?
Used to be, in ye olden days, every December,
a lord of misrule presided over the winter holidays,
called, back then, the Feast of Fools.
What do you say, Pop? Is it okay?
The best tree yet. Thanks, Archie. Thanks, Fred.
No, thank you, Pop, for letting us set up shop right in front of the diner.
You guys gonna stay in town for break?
Yeah. We were gonna visit my mom, but she booked a single's cruise, so...
- How are you and Veronica? - We've been better.
If it's any consolation,
Betty and I haven't been in the greatest place either, so...
Jughead, you want a Christmas tree? You and your dad, on the house?
It would have to be a small one, Mr. A.
So, I'll see you at Kevin's Secret Santa thing?
Yeah, because that sounds like a great idea.
So, Christmas was happening.
Even though this year's lord of misrule was none other than the Black Hood.
Wake up, it's time.
- Polly? - He's here.
- What? Who's here? - He's waiting for us.
You know who. Come on.
- Merry Christmas. - Hey, Merry Christmas.
- Betty. - Betty, Merry Christmas!
- Okay. - All right, honey,
I hope you like it.
- Santa? - Tear it open.
- Where's Jason's stocking? - I couldn't find it.
And anyway, there's nothing to put in it.
And what, pray tell, is this?
It's going to be a hard-candy Christmas this year, Cheryl.
Time to face facts. We have no money.
Dad, what is that? That a letter from the Black Hood?
No, it's worse.
Riverdale General. My hospital bill.
How much is it for?
- Eighty-six thousand. - What, dollars?
That can't be right, can it? Or doesn't your insurance...?
They probably made a mistake.
I'll call them tomorrow.
Kevin's Secret Santa had a strict $20 limit, V.
Kevin needs to relax.
Also, these aren't just for Secret Santa, obvi.
I got an Hermès scarf for my mom,
a leather passport case for my dad now that he can travel again,
and a little something for my best girl.
And... a bauble for Archie.
Because You're getting back together?
Because it was purchased pre-breakup.
Haven't you heard? We're still friends.
Oh, yeah. Isn't everyone?
I was thinking about our Penny problem.
My problem, not ours.
I'm the one that she has on camera delivering drugs.
How I deal with Peabody is not your concern. I'm handling it.
By pimping the Serpents out as drug runners?
Boy...
- Toss them in the corner. - Hey, what's in the bags, Tall Boy?
Hey, what did I just say? Mind your damn business. Get to school.
Veronica, it's your turn.
Hmm.
Oh, a gift certificate for a couple's massage.
- Thanks, Josie. - You can go with Betty.
- Or your mom. - I can go with your mom, if you want.
Dear God, can we please get this torture over with?
Betty, you're next, and mercifully last.
I think I know who picked my name based on these wrapping skills.
Archie.
My dad and I were cleaning out the garage, and I found it.
Swiss Family Robinson?
Yeah, it's this old read-along record we used to listen to
when we were, like, 5. Oh, my God.
- I love it, Arch. Thank you. - Hey, Merry Christmas.
- Moose. - Hi.
- Hi, Midge. - What's up?
- How are you? - Why are you rushing off?
Look, Betty, I don't wanna be that guy.
But I see Moose, all I think about is the Black Hood
and the pain he's caused to the people that I car about,
including you.
I know.
And the fact that he's still out there is giving me anxiety nightmares.
Making me paranoid. It's like everywhere I look, all I see is...
What? All you see is what?
Excuse me, who are you?
You mean, my name?
Uh, where's Mr. Svenson?
No idea. He's been out a few days.
They just called me in.
Arch, you and Veronica confronted Mr. Svenson
- about his connection to the Black Hood. - And now he's not here.
What if something happened to him?
Betty, we found out Mr. Svenson's secret.
What if we led the Black Hood to him?
What if we got him killed?
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Mr. Svenson? He's been out all week with a cold.
Oh, sounded terrible on the phone.
So, I dropped off some chicken soup at his house a few days back.
- You saw him? - I left it at his door.
But between us, he often gets this way during the holidays, you know? Depressed.
No family.
Thank you.
Hey, I... stayed behind, 'cause...
Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
Look, I'm sorry.
For how it all went down between us.
As Serpents, my dad and I specifically are in a precarious place.
I just don't want you in those crosshairs.
That's not your decision to make, Jughead.
Even if you think it's to protect me,
it's my choice what I risk and for whom.
I know.
I should go. Check in on my dad.
Jug.
I got you something, too.
Archie.
- I got you a little something. - Thanks.
I didn't realize...
Oh, no, no, it's all good. Just open it.
- Ronnie, this is... - Turn it over.
- _ - I got it before...
I don't want things to be forced between us.
What?
No, did I make it worse?
I just... I wanted you to know that I still care about...
No, you didn't.
Things at home aren't great right now.
It's my dad.
Anything I can do to help?
Come on, we're still friends.
He just... He got his hospital bill, and he owes...
$86,000, Ronnie,
and it's like we're selling Christmas trees
just for extra money so we can keep our heads above water.
Oh, my God, Archie.
I wanna help, but...
- I wanna hug you. - That's okay.
I shouldn't have said anything. The watch is great, Ronnie.
- Thank you. - Yeah.
What is all this?
It's Serpent tradition. Every year, we give back to the Southside.
Toys for Tots, Meals on Wheels, kids and old folks living alone.
The Hells Angels do it.
I'm always down for charitable works. Hey, have you seen my dad?
Why aren't you in school?
Uh, it's a half-day before break.
Well, in that case, you can hold down the fort here, Jug.
Or I could come with you guys.
Nice try. The answer's no.
We do need another set of hands, boss.
There you go. Let me pull my weight.
Dad.
I don't know what the Snake Charmer has you doing...
Sweet Pea, you're with us.
- Hey, Betty, what's up? - Hey, I can't let this Svenson thing go.
I think we should stop by his house and check up on him.
Yeah, I agree. Let me just tell my dad, and then we'll go.
- Give me ten. - Okay.
Team Paul Bunyan. I'd like to purchase your finest tree.
Actually, Cheryl, I was just about to take a break, but Vic here can help you. Vic.
What can I get you, miss? We got some nice spruces.
There's the chicken soup.
Mr. Svenson!
Can I help you?
Jughead Jones?
Maybe.
I'm Jack Walsh, your dad's parole officer.
He's not home.
Doesn't need to be. Do you mind if I come in for a moment?
Like I have a choice.
Hiram, was that a Spiffany's bag I saw come into the lobby earlier today?
Looked about the right size for a Glamergé egg.
That depends, mi amor. Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Don't worry, mija. Santa has your list, too.
And please don't go snooping for the gifts this year. He hates that.
Santa can rip up my list for all I care.
I mean, look at us,
throwing money away on bejeweled eggs like we're a family of Russian oligarchs
when there are people in this town who can't even pay their own medical bills.
Since when are you a communist?
Since Archie told me that he and his dad
are drowning in Fred's medical bills
to the tune of $86,000,
which is why I was thinking...
- Absolutely not. - That's a lot of money.
The Lodge charitable trust has made its donations for the fiscal year.
Fred Andrews will have to tighten his belt.
Said Ebenezer Scrooge.
Fred's selling Christmas trees for extra cash, dad.
I mean, that's the kind of man... The kind of father he is.
You know...
I believe I have some work to finish in the study.
Cheryl Marjorie Blossom, what have you done?
Isn't it obvious, Mother? I've saved Christmas.
Look how happy Nana Rose is.
You spoiled, wretched little brat.
How do you expect to pay for all this?
Oh.
I was thinking maybe you could go to Mr. Lodge for a job.
Of course, he'd probably ask what skills you have, and you'd be forced to admit
that the only skill you have is being a terrible mother.
So, I guess you're gonna have to get creative in the new year.
You should've drowned them at birth, like a basket of kittens.
Mom? Dad?
Betty.
- Hey. - Hey.
How are you?
Fine, I just iced some ginger bread cookies.
Polly's favorite.
Just in case there's a Christmas miracle and she comes home.
Oh, by the way, there was a gift for you on the steps.
Your secret Santa.
I took it up to your room.
Secret Santa?
_
"Enclosed is a finger that belongs to the sinner Joseph Conway."
He's talking about Mr. Svenson.
"You have one final trespass to unearth.
Find the truth, reveal it to the town,
and you'll perhaps save his life."
He kidnapped Mr. Svenson, Arch.
And now he's mutilating him.
Arch, Arch. Hey.
- Betty, please. - Mr. Svenson, is that you?
It is, Betty, but his name's Joseph Conway.
He's lost a lot of blood.
Though it's nothing compared to the blood on the hands of this town.
Exhume the past,
find where the primal sin was committed
and you'll find the sinner Conway may be alive.
- And as always, don't... - What?
You maniac. Don't tell Sheriff Keller?
Archie, what sin? What can Mr. Svenson possibly be guilty of?
Veronica and I talked to him.
Betty, his entire family was murdered by some crazy preacher.
Maybe the people who adopted him know something we don't.
Wait, wait, Betty. Before he was adopted,
Mr. Svenson lived as Joseph Conway
at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy.
- Will they talk to us? - They better.
Merry Christmas, Mom.
Pop's?
_
- Did you open them? - No, Dad.
Out of respect for you.
But your parole officer, Mr. Walsh, he sure was curious.
Walsh was here?
Yeah. Don't worry. I got rid of him.
But he already has heard that the Serpents
are moving into narcos territory.
Ta-da.
Gift boxes?
- With drugs in them? - No, with gifts in them,
for you, your mom, Jellybean.
Christmas Day, I thought we'd take a ride to Toledo and deliver them in person.
Dad, this isn't gonna work.
Today, it's gifts, tomorrow, it's drugs, or weapons, or God knows what.
- How long is this gonna go on...? - As long as Penny wants.
And if her favors keep getting bigger,
which you know that they will,
what happens when she asks for more Serpents on this?
Then I'll bring more Serpents!
You know what? You're right, this isn't gonna work, you and I living together.
So maybe you can go back to Fred's or to Betty's.
Betty? I split with Betty to
- get in with the Serpents. - What in the world do you want me to say?!
I just want you to let me help fix this mess that I made.
Get this through your thick skull, Jughead.
We're trapped.
We got no leverage.
If that means I gotta be Penny's dancing monkey for the time being,
then that's how it goes.
I'm gonna get some rest. I have a long night ahead of me.
Yes, hello, I'm calling to settle an account
for one of your patients, Fred Andrews.
Of course, I'm his business partner.
Uh-huh.
I'd like to pay the bill in full and keep it anonymous,
an angel donation.
Yes, I'm aware of the amount.
My name?
Hermione Apollonia Lodge. And it's a black American Excess card.
Number 29572300...
Penny Peabody has got my dad dealing drugs.
I know this, 'cause she had me doing it before him.
Now she's roped in Tall Boy and Sweet Pea.
Man, if you're pissed because your old man tapped me
- instead of you... - No, Sweet Pea,
I'm pissed because I don't want the Serpents
to end up like the Ghoulies.
And I doubt that any of you became Serpents
just to be at the beck and call of a drug queenpin.
I know where this ends.
Death, jail.
Which is why in the interest of self-preservation...
we have to take out Penny.
Snake Charmer's helped some of us.
Oh, yeah? What did she ask for in return, Sweet Pea?
How many favors?
Now, if we don't stop Penny tonight...
she is going to get every single one of us in on this.
I promise you. I promise you, Sweet Pea.
What I'm asking is, are you willing to risk your necks
to save my dad's life?
- What is the first law? - No Serpent stands alone.
I'm in.
Me too.
Let's do this.
Joseph Conway,
Joseph Svenson as you know him, was a troubled youth.
- There was no saving him. - Meaning, he was a sinner?
- No, he was a child, a victim. - Did he suffer from survivor's guilt?
I've already said too much.
- No. - Betty.
Sister Woodhouse, when my sister escaped this dungeon,
she told me all about the corporal punishment.
So, please help us with this,
or I will expose the Sisters of Quiet Mercy
for the house of horrors that it really is.
After his family was massacred,
young Conway... young Svenson
identified the man responsible.
Then a small group of Riverdale citizens
took matters into their own hands, and, well, executed him.
It was only later when he was with us
that Joseph admitted that, in his terror and shock,
he may have pointed a finger of accusation...
At the wrong man?
Oh, my God.
Svenson's sin was sentencing the wrong man to death.
Did Svenson...? Did Conway ever talk about who carried out the execution?
They came here once to see Joseph.
It was a group of men and one woman.
I don't know their names.
And I can't remember what they looked like.
Just that the woman had the most striking hair.
White, save for a cherry-red stripe.
Nana Rose Blossom?
FP?
Well, you're early, old hoss.
Penny.
Ho, merry, ho.
Jughead Jones.
Nice crowbar.
This? Yeah, I brought it in case I need to pry the door open.
Are you gonna give me a hand with this stuff?
Your dad will be here in, like, what, 15, 20 minutes?
He probably won't be too happy to see you, huh?
I wouldn't worry about that. Neither of us are gonna be here.
Is this supposed to scare me?
I would not do this if I were you. You are making a big mistake.
You are making... Are you out of your mind?!
Hey, guys.
Finishing up some last-minute shopping?
We were, but then we got the most fascinating call from our bank,
confirming a charge that was made to my credit card, the amount of $86,000.
So that went through.
Great.
Yeah, I decided that you would cover Fred's medical expenses.
I mean, if you can afford to buy Pop's
and then lie to my face about it.
So, how is it that we can now suddenly afford an entire diner?
You wanted a more active role in Lodge Industries
and we let you have it.
Then you break into my office and try
to use whatever you find as leverage.
Now, I admit, there's a lot you don't know, and that's on purpose.
How can I be part of this family if you keep hiding things from me?
Mija, you think you wanna know everything, but you don't.
My name is on all of those documents in your desk, Daddy.
Doesn't that mean I have the right to know?
Yes, yes, it does, Veronica.
But that means the time for being daddy's little girl is over.
It's time to work now.
All of us in lockstep.
She deserves to know the truth, Hiram.
All right.
Follow me to the study.
- Where am I? - You're in Greendale.
Your new home.
But frankly, Penny, I don't care where you set up shop.
But it's not gonna be in Riverdale, and it's not gonna be with the Serpents.
You wanna deal drugs? You wanna extort people?
That's your business.
But not on the Southside. That belongs to us.
You stupid, cocky kid.
The Serpent law says you can't hurt one of your own.
Oh, Penny, it's time you learn.
Grab her.
What are you doing? Get off of me! Get off. Get off of me!
- That tattoo doesn't make you a Serpent. - No, no.
No, no, no.
Cheryl, we need to see your grandmother.
Nana Rose seldom has visitors. She'll be pleased.
Entree.
Nana Rose, we have some questions for you
about something that happened in Riverdale a long time ago.
A man killed his family, and a group of people decided
- to take justice into their own hands. - Oh, dear.
Here in Riverdale?
Yes, and you were part of that group, weren't you?
What is this, a Christmas inquest?
Cheryl, a man's life is at stake.
Were you with this group when they...?
When you killed this man for revenge?
Oh, no.
No girls allowed.
They told me to stay at home while they took care of the bad man.
Nana Rose, this is so important.
Where did they hang the bad man?
Oh, they didn't hang him.
Oh, no. They gave him a proper burial.
Buried him alive.
Where? Where did they do that?
Ask your grandfather, Polly dear. He was there.
My...? My grandfather?
I had a picture of them smiling at the place.
Standing under the devil's hands.
Picture? What picture?
Cheryl?
I wonder if you might take me to my room.
I suddenly feel quite ill.
Satisfied, you vultures?
Your reindeer games are over. Now get the hell out.
Archie, my grandfather helped murder an innocent man.
Betty, who even knows if what she was saying is true?
That picture Nana Rose mentioned.
When Grandpa Louis died, we packed up his house,
and we donated most of his stuff.
But he had pictures. We kept them and we organized them.
Okay, Betty. Take a breath. Where are they? Where are the pictures?
My house. They're at my house.
- That's great. - Archie,
my grandfather killed a man in cold blood.
An innocent man. What if that's why he picked me?
The Black Hood. That's why he's been calling me.
- Revenge for something I didn't even do. - Betty, Betty, listen to me.
This is the part... where we end this.
Where we save Mr. Svenson and stop the Black Hood tonight.
But I need you with me. I can't do this alone.
Tomorrow, we're gonna wake up and everything is gonna go back to how it was.
But right now, I need you with me.
- I need Betty Cooper. - Arch.
Betty.
We have to hurry up.
Well, Veronica.
Now you know.
You know everything.
So, mija, what do you think?
I'm in.
But I have ground rules.
Well...
one ground rule.
By all means.
- I refuse to do anything illegal. - Well, that's fine.
Especially since we're not doing anything illegal either.
Let me share two words to live by.
Plausible deniability.
Also... that charge I made for Fred's medical bills?
- I want that to stick. - Mija, it's gonna complicate matters.
- Fred is a proud man. He's not... - We'll smooth that over though.
And the truth is, we'll need Fred for what comes next.
Fine. Assuming the Fred situation can be finessed...
do we have a deal?
We do, Daddykins.
We have a deal.
- Hey, Dad. - What's all this?
This is a celebratory dinner.
Penny didn't show up for your pickup, did she?
No.
No, she didn't. Why? Do you know something about that?
She's gone, Dad.
I rallied the younger Serpents. We drove her out of Riverdale.
- I got my pound of flesh in the process. - Are you nuts?!
- She'll be back. Better believe that. - She won't!
I was very persuasive.
And even if she does, we will take care of it.
You and me and the other Serpents.
- In unity, there is strength. - Oh, God...
That's the sixth law. While you were in jail,
I recited that every day. I lived by that.
You wanna take my jacket?
You wanna relegate me to Toys for Tots? Fine.
But I'm still a Serpent, Dad. And this?
This life you wanted to protect me from?
I'm proud of this.
I'm proud of who I am.
You can't take that away from me.
Nana Rose said it was a group of men.
I mean, there's one photo that I kind of remember.
Dad said it was taken after Grandpa Louis and some friends
planted some trees in Pickens' Park.
Wait.
Is this it?
Look at the ground.
That's where they buried the preacher, where Svenson could be maybe still alive.
Yeah, look at the branches.
- The devil's hand. - That tree is in Pickens' Park.
We'll call Sheriff Keller on the way. Come on.
Look around. There.
_
Yeah.
Oh, my God, Archie.
Where's Mr. Svenson?
Why would the Black Hood bury an empty coffin?
What if it's a...?
Get in the coffin.
No. No way.
Get in the coffin or I shoot her in the head. Right now!
Shut the coffin and step out of the grave.
Betty, do it.
I'm sorry.
Pick up the shovel.
Fill in the grave.
Please don't make me.
We know what Mr. Svenson's sin is.
What he did.
That's the town's secret sin.
That's what you want revealed, right?
We can do that. I can do that.
Mr. Svenson, wherever he is, he doesn't have to die.
Archie doesn't have...
Archie.
- Where is he? Where'd he go? - This way.
Hey!
Stop!
Right down now!
Get down or I'll shoot you. I swear to God, I'll do it.
You tried to kill my father.
And my friends.
You're gonna pay for your crimes.
You are not escaping. This ends tonight.
I said stop!
Archie, put the gun down.
- It's okay. - Sheriff Keller.
Stay back, Betty.
He's dead.
Who is he?
The town demanded blood for blood.
Give me the gun.
Your instinct about Svenson was right, Ronnie.
You thought he was the Black Hood.
We could've ended it
right there at school, where we confronted him.
I didn't see it, I didn't see it in his eyes.
Forget his eyes.
I can't believe he cut off his own finger.
The finger of accusation.
So, we know who done it. Why did he do it?
Mr. Svenson accused an innocent man
of murdering his family and got the man killed.
So maybe in some backwards way,
he thought that targeting sinners
would balance the scales somehow.
I don't know.
No, no. It makes sense.
I mean, Svenson was always around, lurking in the hallways.
He could've seen me and Miss Grundy in the music room.
Yeah, he could have seen Moose and Midge buying Jingle-Jangle.
Oh, guys, this is starting to feel like that wierd last scene in Psycho.
The truth is...
I... have nothing, actually.
Except that he's in a body bag and we aren't.
I think that's enough for tonight.
Mother? Nana? Is it time to open presents?
Santa?
Who's this one from?
Archie. He dropped it off yesterday.
Let me guess, that's from Betty.
It's a vintage Underwood. It's the typewriter of champions.
You, uh... You maybe wanna swing by later?
Say thanks in person?
Oh, I'm...
I mean, I'll probably just call her or text her.
_
Wow, that sounds amazing, Mom.
You know, it's been quiet.
You too. I love you, too, Mom.
All right, here's Dad.
Hey there.
- _ - Merry Christmas, lady.
How are the Bahamas?
Hey.
Merry Christmas.
Look up.
Mistletoe alert.
Hung by moi.
Now we have no choice but to kiss.
Archie.
You're so good. It's like you're filled with it.
And I know that I need goodness in my life.
I need you in my life.
In other words...
I love you, too, Archie Andrews.
And so another mystery was wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow...
just in time for Christmas.
_
Throughout the Black Hood's reign of terror,
Betty had stared into the blackest of voids.
The place where Joseph Conway's soul had once perhaps existed.
And in that void, she had seen a dark reflection.
A truth that could not be burned away.
A truth that whispered to her:
"This isn't over."
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