Riverdale – Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight: Halloween II

After speaking with Rayberry’s neighbor (Eileen Barrett), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) heads to Sheriff Keller (Martin Cummins) and tries to convince him to reopen the case. Keller is still convinced that Rayberry (Christopher Shyer) took his own life and rebuffs Jughead’s theory. Unless there is concrete proof that someone saw the milkman at Rayberry’s door, the case will remain closed. The next morning, Jughead’s paranoia about the milk supply in his fridge begins to grow.  

With Halloween approaching, Veronica (Camila Mendes) looks to drum up business at the Babylonium and dons a witch costume to Riverdale High. While her outfit turns the heads of many students, Betty (Lili Reinhart), Archie (KJ Apa), and Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) shut down her macabre celebration with Riverdale’s own rebuffing of the holiday in question. Stemming from the death of four Riverdale High students a few years back, the town avoids Halloween like the proverbial plague. But Veronica’s persistence to celebrate the holiday and keep the tradition alive has the gears turning….only to be interrupted by Jughead walking in and ranting about avoiding the fresh milk in town. 

Rayberry’s death prompts Jughead to call Ethel (Shannon Purser) at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy and tell her about the potential second sighting of this dairy death knell. Ethel suggests Jughead find out about the original milkman comic author and see if they can provide some answers. Taking Ethel’s advice, Jughead heads to Fieldstone (Garry Chalk) at Pep Comics but is met with a dead end. However, all is not lost when Fieldstone says that the author may be at the company’s Halloween party….and Jughead is invited.  

Working on Reggie’s (Charles Melton) car with Reggie and Archie has proven to be quite the challenge for Betty….especially as she finds herself interested in both boys. Even going so far as to imagine the both of them lavishing attention on just her. But Betty’s daydream is interrupted when they find out that Reggie has never really celebrated Halloween before. Seeking to change that, Betty proposes a few fun ideas for the three of them to do in order to introduce Reggie to a real Halloween celebration. With a plan in place, Betty finds herself seeking Veronica’s help in determining who she should go for: Reggie or Archie. Veronica advises that Betty should just spend time with both of them in order to determine who she is more interested in.  

While finishing up business before turning in for the night, Veronica hears some noise coming from the projection room at the Babylonium. Going to investigate, she finds Clay (Karl Walcott) and Kevin (Casey Cott) trying to have some alone time. Both parties question each other about their presence in the theater, but Veronica then pitches her idea for a “ghost show” on Halloween night at the theater. This way, the teenagers would stay off the streets and they could generate some real bank. With Clay and Kevin on board, Veronica opens up ticket sales at Riverdale High the next day and the students are eager to join in, despite Alice (Madchen Amick) later visiting her at the theater to boast how RIVW’s annual Halloween show will still come out on top.   

Toni (Vanessa Morgan) asks Cheryl to come with her to the ghost show, but Cheryl is set to hold her annual Vixens sleepover on Halloween night. But despite the need to keep with tradition, Cheryl becomes a little less enthused with the idea as her mother Penelope (Nathalie Boltt) tries to tamp down any inclination towards girls by moving the sleepover into a more public area of the mansion. Later when Midge (Abby Ross) tries to get out of the annual sleepover to go see Fangs (Drew Ray Tanner) at the Babylonium, Cheryl decides to ask Evelyn (Zoé de Grand’Maison) to host and wants to attend with Midge. Because both girls harbor their own secrets, Cheryl is eager to find a confidante for her secret….as is Midge. 

After Uncle Frank (Ryan Robbins) tries to warn the Bulldogs not to pull anything on Halloween night, Julian (Nicholas Barasch) is ready to break the rules. However, Fangs, Archie, and Reggie are set with other plans for the night. But no matter, the rest of the Bulldogs are eager to go with Julian and wreak some havoc.  

While tossing all fresh milk and stocking up on his powdered supply, Jughead hears someone at the door of his trailer. Thinking it’s an intruder, he finds that Ethel has escaped from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy and needs a place to stay until she turns 18 and can go of her own free will. She confides that Jughead’s call gave her the push to run away and Jughead then offers Rayberry’s apartment to her until she is of legal age. Ethel accepts and the two find a way to get Ethel to the Halloween party at Pep Comics. When Jughead is later interrogated at school by Principal Featherhead (Malcolm Stewart), he is able to provide a solid alibi as Ethel is not hiding at his place.  

On Halloween night, Archie and Reggie get ready for their night with Betty. Both sense that she is giving them serious vibes of interest, so they may a pact: whoever Betty chooses….the other will back off. The boys agree and finish getting ready before heading over to Betty’s house to wait, Dilton Doiley (Daniel Yang) tagging along to help complete their costume theme. Betty comes down the stairs dressed as Goldilocks, ready to start their night of fun. Unfortunately, the night starts to go awry during trick or treating as the four catch Julian bashing mailboxes with bats. Dilton decides to bail and the three go on without him.  

The Babylonium’s festivities are in full swing with Fangs onstage. Midge and Cheryl arrive at the party and Toni is more than happy to see her redhead paramour.  

At Pep Comics, Jughead tries to get to the bottom of the milkman story. After striking out on a lead, Jughead finds out that Tad Sullivan wrote the story. Unfortunately, Tad was found dead after killing himself and left a note. Jughead gets more than he bargained for in learning that the milkman story was a metaphor for the enemy within….something that seems to disturb him. 

In Riverdale Cemetery, Reggie and Betty spend some quality time together before realizing that Archie is missing. Betty finds him in front of his father’s grave and the two share stories about their childhood. Reggie finds Betty and Archie at Fred’s (Luke Perry) grave and interrupts them to head to their next destination: the Klump house. Betty goes to investigate the fridge and Reggie takes the chance to tell Archie he is bowing out as he could tell Archie and Betty share a special bond. 

The ghost show goes off without a hitch as Toni, Kevin, Clay, and Cheryl play the resurrected students of Riverdale in a rendition of “Rose Tint My World” for eager patrons. As the group joins Veronica onstage, Alice stops in to sneak a peek. See a shirtless Clay and a wild crowd, Alice is shocked at what she finds. After the show during cleanup, Clay and Kevin ask Veronica about her staying at the Babylonium. Rather than telling them the truth, Veronica says that the Pembrook is undergoing renovations and she will be back there in no time…later alone partaking in the same traditions that she used to have with her parents.  

Walking home to give Archie and Betty some time, Reggie is approached by Julian and his goons. Julian offers Reggie a chance to join them, asking if he has anything better to do. With no better plans, Reggie joins Julian while Betty and Archie get closer in the Klump house. They share a kiss but Betty sees a strange man in a milkman outfit outside of the window. Archie goes to check the window and sees nobody, but Betty is thoroughly freaked out and suggests they leave. On the way out of the house, a fresh delivery of milk is seen on the counter. 

Post-show, Cheryl, Toni, Midge, and Fangs are enjoying milkshakes at Pop’s Diner and sharing their secrets. Cheryl is happy for Midge and Fangs, with Midge and Fangs happy for Cheryl and Toni. Unfortunately for them though, the happiness will be short lived as Evelyn sees the four of them in a booth together. 

After their scare at the Klump residence, Betty and Archie head home. Archie walks Betty to her door and they are about to kiss for a second time when Alice interrupts them. While she is still refusing to be a mother, she scolds Betty for being out so late and ushers her inside. Archie heads back to his house. 

Jughead walks Ethel to Rayberry’s apartment after the party. While Jughead refuses to come in, Ethel goes into the apartment….but she is not alone. When the neighbor comes out and thinks Jughead is the milkman, he realizes that Ethel may be in danger. But after busting down the door, Jughead sees that the milkman is dead and Ethel has killed him….the bloody knife still in hand. 

Archie is woken up by Uncle Frank, who tells him to get dressed. Confused, Archie asks what happened. Frank explains that there was an accident where a car full of Bulldogs went into the Sweetwater River. Looking over at Reggie’s side of the room, the bed is empty. As to whether they are alive, Frank says they don’t know.