Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof

"In Riverdale, everyone wears a mask, not just the Black Hood. But every so often, the mask slips, and our true selves are laid bare, for all the world to see. [...] So we scramble to put it back on, like a kid in a cheap Halloween costume, but it's too late. People have already seen what's underneath... And it's terrifying."

- Jughead

"Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof" is the sixth episode of the second season of Riverdale, and the nineteenth episode of the series overall.

Synopsis
THE SUGARMAN — After a charge led by Mayor McCoy threatens to further escalate tensions between the North and Southside, Jughead along with Archie, tries to put a stop to a dangerous alliance being considered between the Serpents and a long-time rival. Betty turns to Veronica for help when she's thrust into the center of a burgeoning mystery surrounding The Sugarman. Finally, Cheryl confronts her mother Penelope after a traumatic run-in forces her to make a stark realization.

Plot
SPOILERS AHEAD


 * NOTE: PLOT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Jughead Jones is in his trailer, writing yet another chapter to his ongoing story about the crime in Riverdale. Toni Topaz comes in, presumably in his own clothing, and asks if he's hungry. Jughead replies, saying that she didn't have to ask him that.

Feeling guilty over choosing Nick St. Clair to be killed by the Black Hood, Betty races to the Five Seasons to Nick's suite, hoping to save him. She slowly opens the door, and is shocked to find him alive and unharmed. He’s dress in a bathrobe and twirling a knight on the wood drawer. Nick asks if she’s here to finish what the girls already did to him last night. His parents walks in and ask why he’s not dressed, and Sheriff Keller is with a fellow cop to escort Nick to the police station due to a complaint. The sheriff is shocked to see that Betty is also here, and tells her to go home. Betty calls the Black Hood outside of the hotel, asking why he did not go after Nick. The Black Hood explains that he didn't kill Nick because he was not one of Riverdale's residence. However, Betty has giving him the most wonderful gift, which is showing him her true colors. After this, he says, the true work can begin. In the middle of asking a question, the Black Hood abruptly ends the call. Then, Archie Andrews texts her, asking if she's up.

At the Pembrooke, the Lodges are talking with Penelope Blossom about Nick St. Clair’s sexual assault on Cheryl Blossom, and Penelope concludes by saying that she’ll not file charges on Nick St. Clair, since Nick didn't get the chance t actually rape her. Their conversation is spied on, from the other side of the wall, by Veronica Lodge and Cheryl, who is upset that Penelope will not help her. Veronica truly wants the best for Cheryl and asks if she still needs to file a lawsuit against the family. Cheryl doesn't want to take the offer, saying that if she's facing off Nick St. Clair in the courtroom, she'd become the laughing stock. Veronica reveals to Cheryl that Nick assaulted many girls before her, including herself. Cheryl asks if she’s talked to her parents yet, and Veronica denies. She becomes furious, telling Veronica that she won't be a puppet for her "thirst for vengeance", and rushes out of the apartment.

At Pop's, Toni and Jughead are having breakfast. Toni thanks him for letting her sleep over in his trailer home in Sunnyside Trailer Park. Jughead replies by saying that if it's his trailer, it's hers as well. She tells him that she doesn't want a relationship with him, as she knows that he still has feelings for Betty, and that she's "more into girls".

Betty is walking with Archie, talking to him about being done with the Black Hood's games, letters, and Simon Says. Archie asks what will happen if he calls her again, and Betty replies saying that she won't answer, continuing by saying that she can't keep playing, as its destroying her friendships, and her relationships. Archie asks if he was actually going to harm Polly, and she says that the people at "the Farm" are going to help her disappear for a while, just until it's safe again. They walk up to Pop's and see Jughead and Toni eating breakfast. Both of their phones start to ring, and it's their parents, Archie's dad, Fred Andrews, and Betty's mother, Alice Cooper.

At the Cooper house, Alice Cooper is hosting a meeting with all the parents of the children that came to Nick St. Clair's party. Sierra McCoy, the mayor of the town, thanks her for hosting. Alice says that after she heard about what happened at the party, she felt like the parents should all come together to deal with "this motley crew of liars, dope-fiends, and fornicators", who consist of Cheryl Blossom (not present), Reggie Mantle, Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Archie Andrews, and the mayor's own daughter, Josie McCoy. She continues by saying that she was glad that Betty left before it descended into a "bacchanalian free-for-all". The kids are whispering to each other when Alice tells them to hush, with Hiram Lodge telling her to be careful "throwing stones". Hermione wants to know who brought the jingle-jangle to the party, and Reggie Mantle reluctantly raises his hand. His mother, Melinda, says to not say a word until they get a lawyer. Hiram stands up and says that all he needs to say is how he acquired it. Reggie continues by saying that he has some dealer on the Southside that gets the drugs for him, and his mother is filled with disgust. Hiram continues by saying that the Southside is the currrent source of all their problems. Fred Andrews asks Reggie a question about its location, and mentions Southside High School. Archie fires back saying that not all Serpents are drug dealers. Veronica butts in, saying that they shouldn't taken the "JJ", and she reveals that Nick is the one that asked Reggie to get the drug, and is now putting the blame on them, and continues by saying they should be the one in the hot seat. She repeats the fact that Nick was the one that roofied Cheryl and tried to rape her. Sheriff Keller said that it would be difficult to prosecute the man, due to all of the witnesses being high off the drug. Veronica fires back, saying that she and Josie saw Nick attempting to assault her, and they apparently weren't on the drug, but Tom Keller drops some intellect, saying that the drug stays in the system for three days, and continues by saying that if he drug-tested her right now, you'd have a credibility problem. Sierra is extremely disappointed in Josie, saying that her husband struggled with addiction, and Josie knew. Sierra makes a statement that bringing the Southside under control is now her number one priority as mayor of town, if it means razing it to the ground, or arresting every single Serpent in sight.

At the Red and Black office, Robert Phillips is reading Jughead's current article for the paper. He is impressed, and asks when Jughead had the time to put out an issue onto the newspaper, whilst pledging the Southside Serpents. He restates the pact that they made which allowed Jughead to be part of staff: no gangs, and no drugs, especially not jingle-jangle. Robert is interrupted when Jughead receives a text from Archie, telling him to meet him outside right now, in an urgent tone. Jughead races outside of the office, and Archie races towards him, telling him they need to get out now. Right when Jughead is about to ask why, Sheriff Keller, Sierra McCoy, and an army of cops barge into the campus, as Sierra is pointing left and right to any student that has an indication of the Serpent logo, whether on their shirt or jacket, especially Toni Topaz, who sneaks a glance at Jughead and Archie as they make their exit.

At Riverdale High School, Kevin and Veronica are walking through the halls. He asks about what she meant by "doing it" to her, referring to Nick St. Clair. She said that she tried to, and Kevin replies by saying that he hopes Nick will choke on "his silver spoon". He continues by saying that she needs to tell someone, his dad, or her dad. She says that her father cannot know, asking Kevin if he's ever seen Godfather. She continues by saying that if her father ever knew about what happened between Nick and her, his head would end up in his parent's bed. She says that she doesn't want Nick's blood on her dad's hands or on hers. They bump into Betty in the halls. Betty attempts to exchange greetings, but to no avail. She tries to say something to Veronica, but Kevin cuts her off, telling her to not even try. Veronica tells Kevin to chill, and says that she's not worth it.

Betty receives another call from the Black Hood, and she enters into a different room. She says that she's done everything he's asked of her, and why can't he leave her alone. The Black Hood replies by saying that business is unfinished. He brings up the fact that he spared Nick's life, and because of him, she doesn't have Nick's blood on her hands. He continues by saying that if she doesn't help him, Betty will be responsible for much worse, saying that the town's streets will run red. Whilst the law enforcement go after the low-ranked drug dealers, Betty and the Black Hood will pursue the true sinner, the one who hides behind a name, the Sugarman. Betty fires back, saying that the fact that he's asking her to find him means that the Black Hood is unable to. She brings up the fact that she's only a school newspaper report, and the Black Hood fires back, saying that she happens to be friends with the daughter of the Sugar Man's former supplier, Clifford Blossom. He reiterates her assignment with adding the fact that if she doesn't, someone will be purified of his or her sins.

Toni and Jughead are taking a walk throughout the school, when Jughead spots a pair of cops walking past. He's curious, when Toni says that they found out the true identity of the Sugarman, who happens to be their teacher and advisor for the Red and Black, Robert Phillips, trailing behind with Sheriff Keller keeping an iron grip on him.

At the Andrews house, Fred and Archie are in a room, talking about the recent arrest at Southside High that was just made. Archie reveals that he tried helping Jughead with something and it "sort of" backfired. Fred pops a pill, presumably for his health, and Archie is concerned, asking if he's okay, and Fred replies saying that he's getting better with every passing day.

At the Pembrooke, the Lodge family receives a call, and it's revealed that the St. Clairs have been involved in a car accident; their car ran off the road. Nick will recover with time, several months. However, the status of his parents is still unknown.

Betty and Jughead are sitting together on the couch in his trailer at Sunnyside Trailer Park. Betty is reading "The Silence of the Lambs", as Jughead is writing yet another section to his ongoing book about Riverdale. This section is about Robert Phillips, the Sugarman. Robert is sleeping in his holding cell, as the shadow of the Black Hood looms over him, with a gun pointed at him. It cuts back to the trailer, with Jughead whispering, "Sweet dreams, Sugarman."

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

 * Kaiden Berge as Ghoulie #1
 * Mark Brandon as Xander St. Clair
 * Michelle Brezinski as Simone St. Clair
 * Scott McNeil as Tall Boy
 * Alvin Sanders as Pop Tate
 * Donna Soares as Mrs. Mantle
 * Drew Tanner as Fangs Fogarty
 * Lester Thomas as Verne

Guest Starring

 * Robert Baker as Robert Phillips
 * Nathalie Boltt as Penelope Blossom
 * Jordan Connor as Sweet Pea
 * Martin Cummins as Sheriff Keller
 * Robin Givens as Sierra McCoy
 * Tommy Martinez as Malachai
 * Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle
 * Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz
 * Graham Phillips as Nick St. Clair

Soundtrack

 * K.Flay - High Enough
 * Scene: Archie and Jughead escape Southside High as Toni and Sweet Pea are arrested during Mayor McCoy and Sheriff Keller's drug raid.
 * MARILYN MANSON - Revelation #12
 * Scene: Riverdale Drag Race; the Southside Serpents race the Ghoulies over control of the Southside. Archie pulls the safety breaks as Jughead nears Herk Harvey bridge.
 * Erick Serna and The Killing Floor - Dig Your Grave
 * Scene: Jughead and Toni watch as Mr. Phillips aka the Sugarman is arrested / The Lodges learn that the St. Clairs got into a supposed car accident / Archie and Fred talk about Jughead / Betty and Jughead cuddle at the trailer / the Black Hood pays Mr. Phillips a "visit" in his jail cell.

Trivia

 * The title for the nineteenth chapter comes from the 2007 American exploitation film of the same name.
 * Madelaine Petsch's favorite scene of the series was filmed during this episode.

Gallery

 * -|Promotional=

Promotional Images

 * -|Screencaps=