"Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three: Stag" is the sixteenth episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the one hundredth and thirty-third episode of the series overall. It premiered on July 26, 2023.
Synopsis[]
CURIOUS MINDS — Veronica sets up a screening at the Babylonium after Julian gets his hands on a stag film and invites Archie, Reggie and the guys over for a watch party. Betty unexpectedly reunites with Polly and learns about her sister's new life in New York. Elsewhere, Jughead goes to war with Dr. Werthers over his censure of comic books.[1]
Plot[]
Archie, Betty, and Clay attend Mrs. Grundy's poetry workshop. She recites the poem Howl from Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. Clay explains that the Beats are vagabond rebel writers who reject institutionalized American values, such as materialism, conformity and heteronormativity. The male Beats have sex with each other despite also having girlfriends. They're a counterculture, dedicated to living their lives a certain way through experimentation and pushing the boundaries of human experience, leaving Archie to question if they're allowed to continue reading Howl, which they are. In fact, Mrs. Grundy hands each of them a copy to read so that they may discuss it for their next meeting.
Lizzo shares a copy of her underground lesbian magazine with Cheryl and Toni, which she allows them to keep, though she advises them not to get caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
Julian announces in the locker room that he got his hands on a stag film from a buddy of his at Stonewall Prep. He asks whose game, assuming Fangs must be horny given that Midge was admitted into the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. They can hang a blanket up in his parents' barn, but the only glitch is that they need a projector, at which point, he looks to Kevin and Clay. Given that they work at the Babylonium, he's hopeful they can get a projector. Kevin and Clay agree, so long as they're allowed to attend as well. Julian agrees to their terms but tells them not to expect it to be like the wrestling movies they like to watch.
Jughead arrives at Pep Comics, where Mr. Fieldstone reveals that Werthers is threatening them with a new comic book code to censor their content. He and his board of experts wants to have a sit down with Fieldstone, who asks Jughead to attend the meeting with him, given that he's tangled with Werthers in the past.
At the Dark Room, while browsing the magazine they received from Lizzo, Toni suggests that she and Cheryl do a photo shoot of their own. Toni already has a camera with a timer. And afterward, they can pick their favorite photo, and Cheryl can turn it into an oil painting in tradition of their favorite pulp novel covers. They can shoot it at Thornhill's chapel, as no one in her family ever uses it.
Veronica catches Kevin and Clay leaving the Babylonium with a projector, which she presumes is for their wrestling films, but they reveal that Julian got his hands on a stag film, and he needs a projector to screen it. Veronica is intrigued and makes Julian a proposition. He can do a proper screening at the Babylonium so long as she and Betty can attend.
In Thornhill's chapel, Cheryl and Toni shoot their very own photoshoot in lingerie.
Veronica has invited Betty to the Babylonium to watch Julian's stag film The Wedding Night. She's a bit late, as she had to wait for her mother to take her sleeping pills. Veronica briefly takes the stage to welcome those in attendance and instructs them to enjoy the show. The boys cheer and applaud as the film plays and the leading lady undresses, but Betty exclaims for the film to be shut off after realizing that her sister Polly is the half naked leading lady. And so, Veronica orders Clay to shut it down.
Veronica and Betty retreat to her office, where they further discuss Polly, who Betty last saw a couple of years ago. This doesn't make any sense, as Polly is a dancer on Broadway, or so Betty thought. Veronica recommends that Betty call her sister to get some answers. Following Veronica's advice, Betty goes home and calls Polly to talk.
Toni develops the photos of her and Cheryl.
Julian enters the locker room and reveals that he watched another stag film he got from his buddy at Stonewall Prep after Betty shut down their Babylonium screening. For $2, he offers to rent Archie and Reggie both the projector and movie, which they can watch in the privacy of their own home without interruptions.
Betty shares with Veronica that she and Polly spoke on the phone and that she's on her way back to town to explain everything in person. But she says that she doesn't do the films anymore and dancing on Broadway is just a cover story. She told Betty that she does burlesque, which their parents are already aware of. Her stage name is Polly Amorous, much to Veronica's surprise, revealing that Polly is a big name in the trades. She'd die to have Polly perform at the Babylonium. Veronica hypothesizes that this is why Betty's mom is so terrified of sex, because she's threatened by Polly's independence and sexuality.
Just outside of Riverdale High, Cheryl and Toni go over the photos from the shoot to decide on the perfect picture for Cheryl's oil painting. Toni was looking through the magazine and saw that they publish amateur photographs if that's something Cheryl's interested in, though she isn't at the moment, at least not until after they graduate high school.
While she's not necessarily a big fan of comic books, she is the best negotiator in town, so Jughead seeks out Veronica's help regarding Werthers' proposed comic book codes. The codes consist of blanket restrictions and vague terminology. Jughead fears that he's specifically targeting Pep Comics to run them out of business. Technically, this isn't a code, rather a proposal, so Veronica advises Jughead to go through the drafted code and make a counterproposal.
As planned, Betty and Polly convene at Pop's, where Betty returns the film to Polly and then asks why she shot it to begin with. Polly got hoodwinked into filming The Wedding Night when she first got to New York City. She was young and naive, and fell in love with a fink who steered her wrong. She spent a year tracking down all the copies. Polly got into burlesque after she saw Gypsy Rose Lee perform at the Ziegfeld Follies, and she knew then that was her destiny. Polly is proud of her career. Plus, it's on her own terms and people respect her. And she respects herself. Betty is happy for Polly and reveals that she did a burlesque show of her own for Archie. Betty then asks how much do mom and dad know. They don't know about the film, but they do know about Polly Amorous, as Polly invited them to a show a couple of years ago. They walked out in the first five minutes without saying a word. And then Polly started hearing that mom was telling people that she was doing Guys and Dolls, and she figured that was it for her in their eyes, but Polly is past that and came to town for Betty. She booked a room at a nearby hotel, as she figured mom and dad have no interest in seeing her, nor does she have any interest in ever stepping foot in that house again. Polly was hoping they could do something fun tonight, but Betty has a better idea. She wants Polly to meet a friend of hers who's a big fan of Polly Amorous.
Betty takes Polly to the Pembrooke to meet Veronica, who wants to know everything about her life, under the impression that she's well traveled and lives a life of luxury. Polly reveals that she has an upcoming European tour. However, her lifestyle isn't as luxurious and sex filled as Veronica imagines, with Polly revealing that she's engaged to a man named Langley Huggles, who's a stockbroker and is completely devoted to her. He keeps her grounded and housed in a penthouse in the upper west side. Polly had every intention of inviting Betty to the wedding and even asks her to be the maid of honor. Veronica then asks if Polly could do a one night show at the Babylonium. Betty would love to see her perform and is hopeful their mom will come. Polly isn't convinced she will but agrees nonetheless, as she's been working on a new routine.
Archie and Reggie set up the projector in the garbage and turn on the stag film. To their surprise, it is a gay film featuring two male wrestlers, clearly a gag by Julian. Archie and Reggie discuss turning the film off, but ultimately decide to watch it in its entirety. Afterward, they lie in bed and discuss the film, as well as Kevin and Clay, who they surmise are also gay. Archie believes that it's not as simple as black and white and that there's wiggle room to explore, which they've been talking about in Mrs. Grundy's workshop. Two men would explore each other despite having girlfriends and wives, at which point, they both jump to their feet with plans to take cold showers separately.
Archie and Reggie confront Julian at school the following day, demanding their money back. Not only does he refund their money, he reveals that he has another stag film, this one about a guy with two girls. And this time, he lends it to them for free.
In the girls' locker room, Betty and Veronica invite their female classmates to a one time performance by Polly at the Babylonium for a ladies night.
Jughead and Mr. Fieldstone meet with Werthers, Principal Featherhead, Clifford, and Sister Woodhouse to discuss their proposed comic book codes. Jughead accuses them of trying to violate the First Amendment. Fieldstone sees this as nothing more than a thinly veiled attempted at censorship; he believes the code is intentionally vague and confusing. They now have a counterproposal in the form of a rating system, however, Werthers believes that stamping an A on the cover for adult comic books would only make it more desirable for young readers. Children and teenagers must be protected at all costs from the filth that Pep Comics peddles with tales of sex, lust, and violence, however, Jughead counters that Shakespeare and the Bible has those same themes. Clifford argues otherwise. Featherhead decides to wrap up the meeting, which was only offered to them as a courtesy. All the competitors have already agreed to abide by the new comic book codes. Pep Comics are the only hold out, and if they do not abide by the new structure, they won't be able to print the comic books code seal of approval on their books, meaning no newsstand in America will sell or even carry their comic books.
Archie, Betty, and Clay attend Grundy's workshop. Clay was rather impressed with Ginsberg's poem Howl, whilst Archie couldn't sleep after reading it and asks where something like Howl even comes from. Grundy replies that Ginsberg has lived a lot of life. Her husband says that you can't be a real poet without living. In that case, Archie fears that he's never going to be able to write anything like Howl, as he's a square, but Clay argues that it's more about keeping an open mind about things and being willing to try new things with different people. Grundy asks if Archie's every seen the sunrise after staying up all night and getting into deep philosophical conversations until the sky streaks with the dawn's early light. Grundy and her husband do it once a month, and it is transcendent, like being reborn. As for Betty, her take on Howl is that she appreciates how it's not afraid to ask difficult questions or have the hard conversations that many are too afraid to even begin.
Betty returns home to ask her mom if she's wants to stop by the Babylonium to watch Polly's show. She asks when her mom was planning on telling her that Polly is a world-famous burlesque dancer, but Alice was never going to tell her, if it was up to her. Betty wonders if this is why her mother is so down on her all the time, punishing her or ensuring that she doesn't follow in Polly's footsteps. She reveals that Polly is engaged to a stockbroker and begs for her mother to come to the show tonight, as it would be the best chance they have to be a family again, but Alice refuses to watch Polly debase herself for dirty old man, though Betty argues it's just for girls. Even still, Alice refuses to participate. Regardless of her mother's opinion, Betty is proud of Polly and is intent on showing her support.
Like last time, Archie and Reggie set up the projector in the garage with the latest stag film they retrieved from Julian. However, the projector is fried. Fortunately, Archie comes up with an idea. He and Reggie head down to the motel to see Twyla Twyst, who invites them both inside her room.
The Babylonium is packed for Polly's burlesque performance. While watching from the crowd, Betty pictures herself on stage in place of Polly.
At the Cooper house, Alice can't help but question where it went wrong as she goes through Polly's burlesque fliers. Meanwhile, at Thornhill, Penelope discovers Cheryl's painting of herself and Toni.
Back at the Babylonium, Polly concludes her performance and receives a standing ovation. Afterward, Betty, Veronica, and Polly head back into the office where they further discuss her performance. Veronica noticed that Polly didn't show much skin, to which Polly replies that if you're good enough, you can suggest more than show. Betty is sorry their mom didn't come, but Polly never thought she would. She advises Betty to chase the thing that she loves when she finds it. Betty promises and accepts Polly's offer to be her maid of honor.
Archie and Reggie sit on the steps of Riverdale High, watching as the sun rises. Mrs. Grundy was right about staying up all night and watching the dawn. And now that they've expanded their horizons, it seems like anything is possible. Archie then tells Reggie he loves him, and Reggie reciprocates that expression.
Cheryl enters the chapel to discover her portrait destroyed, as well as her photos. She confronts her mother, who tells Cheryl to pray on it in the chapel, which she doesn't visit often, but when she does, she finds much comfort in it.
Cheryl meets with Toni at Pop's to ask if she still has the negatives from their photoshoot, which she does. Cheryl explains that she is tired of living at her parents' mercy and wishes to shut them down once and for all.
Betty returns home and confronts her mother for sabotaging their family, recalling how Alice disowned her as her daughter. She also drove Polly away, and they couldn't even have one night together because of Alice's hang ups. Betty accuses her mother of being a sad and lonely woman through her own doing. That said, she will give her no more power over her life, because she will ruin it. Betty intends to follow in Polly's footsteps and leave town the first chance she gets. And after last night, she's considering becoming a burlesque dancer as well. Betty intends to do whatever she wants, and there's nothing her mother can do to stop her. In a fit of rage, Alice slaps Betty, who appears rather unfazed and says that she's surprised it took her mother this long to do it.
Jughead updates Veronica on the state of his negotiations with Werthers, though they aren't in the best of positions. If they don't follow the codes, they can't publish their comics with the seal of approval. And in that case, they'll essentially be shut down. So either they get in line and go out of business. Jughead feels so naive for believing he could do something to stop Werthers, but Veronica tells him that he was fighting for what's right and what the country is supposed to stand for. She offers her assistance to Jughead in his crusade, at which point they kiss.
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