Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks

"Behold, Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe. For decades, the heart of Riverdale. Now, the latest casualty in the town's ongoing battle against darkness."

- Jughead

"Chapter Fifteen: Nighthawks" is the second episode of the second season of Riverdale, and the fifteenth episode of the series overall. It aired on October 18, 2017.

Synopsis
SAVING POP’S — With the gunman still at large and the residents of Riverdale on edge, Betty leads the charge to save Pop’s after learning that the diner may be forced to close its doors forever. Meanwhile, the gang becomes increasingly concerned for Archie’s well being after noticing a string of unusual behavior from him. Elsewhere, Betty and Veronica approach Cheryl and Josie for their help saving Pop’s, while Jughead’s attempt to find FP a new lawyer may have some serious repercussions. Finally, when a past betrayal unexpectedly comes to light, Veronica finds herself at a crossroads with Hiram and Hermione.

Plot
SPOILERS AHEAD


 * NOTE: PLOT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Betty phones Veronica, possibly to talk to Archie, as she hasn't seen him in his room for while since his father has come home from the hospital, the reason being is that he's guarding the house just in case the Black Hood attacks again. Veronica talks to Archie and suggests that he should go talk to a counselor.

At the courthouse, Betty and Jughead talk to Mayor McCoy and ask for leniency over Jughead's father, FP, and/or Pop's. As she's not interested in contributing to either problems, Jughead becomes angry and tells her to "remember this moment" as this is the moment that the mayor of Riverdale turned her back on his father and Pop Tate.

Jughead is desperately reaching out for help with granting leniency to his father's prison sentence. He ends up finding Penny Peabody, who is a lawyer. Her office is in a tattoo shop, which may raise a few red flags, but Jughead is very focused on saving his father. She suggests to ask the victim's family for forgiveness in front of a judge, and instead of FP spending time in prison, he'll be serving time with parole. He is extremely grateful and asks if he should pay her. She denies the offer and replies, saying that it was a favor. "I do a favor for you, and maybe, sometime in the future, you do something for me."

Reggie is dealing a certain drug called jingle jangle. Archie becomes interested, as he is desperately trying to find a way to stay awake in order to protect his father. Previously, Midge met up with Reggie so that she can acquire the drug herself, and Reggie does not want Midge to talk about this around a public place.

Veronica, Kevin, and Betty are in the newspaper office, discussing about an event at Pop's. Betty explains the importance of the place to her, and why the diner to stay open. Suddenly, Hiram Lodge, Veronica's father, comes in with a bouquet of flowers, to both Betty and Kevin's shock. Veronica goes outside to talk to Hiram, and is annoyed that Hiram is trying to win her over. He offers help for the event, but Veronica denies it.

The students learn that the former music teacher, Ms. Geraldine Grundy, has been found dead in her home in Greendale. Archie was in the class when the news walks told, and he abruptly leaves the classroom. He immediately assumes that the Black Hood must've murdered Grundy, and continues to assume that the murderer is apparently going after the people he cares about, which puts him even more off the edge.

At the home of the Coopers', Archie proposes to Betty's mother that she could talk to the coroner, who has the body of Grundy. The coroner says that this was a "crime of passion". There was no sign of forced entry, which means that Grundy must've known the killer. Archie is the only person in Riverdale that believes that the crimes are connected.

Betty receives a call that Pop's is being bought by an anonymous buyer. Veronica immediately assumes it was her parents, specifically Hiram, who is the subject of accusations most of the time. Hiram swears that it wasn't him.

In the ladies's locker room at the high school, Betty barges in, to Cheryl's shock. She tells Cheryl to grant FP leniency and show some mercy. She continues by saying if she does not, Betty shall release the video of Cheryl's father, the true killer, shooting Jason. If she does accept to grant FP leniency, Betty will erase all data of the aforementioned video. Betty also asks for the Vixens, the cheerleading team of the high school, to help in the event at Pop's.

The next day at court, Cheryl testifies in front of the judge on behalf of her mother and herself. She asks for leniency, but to no avail. She flat-out lies and says that she saw with her own eyes that her father had threatened FP. The judge says that he will hold back the sentencing until another time, while he reconsiders what Cheryl said.

Starring

 * KJ Apa as Archie Andrews
 * Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper
 * Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge
 * Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones
 * Marisol Nichols as Hermione Lodge
 * Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom
 * Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy
 * Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge
 * Casey Cott as Kevin Keller
 * Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones
 * Mädchen Amick as Alice Cooper
 * Luke Perry as Fred Andrews

Co-Starring

 * Sean Amsing as Public Defender
 * Emilija Baranac as Midge Klump
 * Chris Britton as Judge
 * Mackenzie Gray as Dr. Curdle
 * Cody Kearsley as Moose Mason
 * Kelly Konno as Prosecutor
 * Tom McBeath as Smithers
 * Scott McNeil as Tall Boy
 * Stephan Miers as Andre
 * Alvin Sanders as Pop Tate

Guest Starring

 * Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom
 * Martin Cummins as Sheriff Keller
 * Major Curda as Dilton Doiley
 * Robin Givens as Sierra McCoy
 * Sarah Habel as Geraldine Grundy
 * Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle
 * Brit Morgan as Penny Peabody
 * Asha Bromfield as Melody Valentine
 * Peter Bryant as Mr. Weatherbee

Quotes
"Oh, Betty. I did not emerge from the frozen depths of Sweetwater River, nor the flames of Thornhill, to allow my Vixens to sling milkshakes at some death curse diner. The answer is a double cherry on top 'NO'."

- Cheryl to Betty about the River Vixens helping out

Trivia

 * The title and the producer's draft image for the episode is based on the 1942 oil on canvas painting by American realist painter Edward Hopper.
 * Archie Comics character, Ms. Burble, is confirmed to exist in the Riverdale universe as the guidance counselor for Riverdale High School, much like in the comics.
 * Midge Klump made her Riverdale debut in this episode.
 * The episode ends with the notes of "Season of the Witch", a psychedelic rock song written by Donovan and released in 1966. Most likely a reference to the forthcoming The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Gallery

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