"Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Seven: American Graffiti" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the one hundredth and twenty-seventh episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 31, 2023.
Synopsis[]
THE MYSTERY OF BRAD RAYBERRY — Jughead and Tabitha team up to investigate a mystery involving Brad Rayberry. Cheryl asks Toni if she can attend an afterschool book club with her and other Black students. Betty and Veronica ask Archie and Reggie out on a double date, and Fangs prepares for his first big gig.[2]
Plot[]
Jughead has agreed to help Sheriff Keller investigate Mr. Rayberry's death. He asks if Jughead knows if Rayberry had a next of kin. Jughead doesn't have a name or address, but he recalls Rayberry mentioning a wife in passing and agrees to do some digging at Pep Comics for more information.
Archie and Reggie debate whose sexier between Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. To Archie's disbelief, Uncle Frank agrees with Reggie. He then reveals that he got a call from Principal Featherhead, who informed him that Archie's grade point average has risen to a B+, meaning he's earned back his car, which Frank has already taken the liberty of parking in the garage. Archie and Reggie race to the garage, where they admire Archie's hot rod. Reggie's always sought one of his own but could never afford it. Neither could Archie, which is why he and his dad fixed up an old junker they found at the junkyard. It took years, but they finished it before he left for the war. Archie and his dad were best friends, and he taught Archie everything he knows about cars. Reggie asks a series of questions surrounding the car, most importantly if it can lay rubber. Archie proposes they play hooky and find out.
Jughead breaks the news of Rayberry's death to Mr. Fieldstone and asks if he knows anything about Rayberry's alleged wife. Mr. Fieldstone doesn't know much, but he reveals that Rayberry instructed for half of his salary to be sent to a small town in South Carolina. No name or address, but they do have a post office box.
At the school, Toni hosts her first ever Black Athena literary club meeting with Tabitha, Toni, and two other black students. They discuss the writings of black author Ralph Ellison, which Tabitha isn't necessarily a fan of, though Clay greatly admits his work and credits Ellison with speaking through a larger truth of their existence. Cheryl just so happens to pass by the classroom and catches a bit of the conversation.
Archie and Reggie joyride through Riverdale in his hot rod. Meanwhile, back at school, Fangs checks in with Midge and their unborn child. He has good news, revealing that he booked a small gig in Centerville that music producers will be present for. Midge hopes to attend, but Fangs warns her against doing so, as the show takes place in a rougher part of Centerville. He doesn't want her to get hurt or for her parents to find out. He has to be a rich and famous musician the next time he sees them or elsewhere they'll never accept Fangs.
Jughead informs Tabitha how Mr. Rayberry has half of his paycheck sent to a PO Box in South Carolina, which isn't the actions of a suicidal man. Jughead is tempted to sneaked into Mr. Rayberry's apartment and hopefully learn who the PO Box belongs to and finds some evidence to support Jughead's theory that he didn't kill himself. Much to his surprise, Tabitha offers to assist.
Betty and Veronica discuss celebrity men whom they desire, at which point, Veronica mentions that Betty is positively glowing, likely due to the fact that Betty's mom is making good on her threat to stay out of Betty's life, which has lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders. Archie and Reggie then pull up for school in Archie's hot rod, gaining the attention of their classmates, including Betty and Veronica.
Veronica hopes to make up with Reggie for not making their date at the Babylonium. He's not scared of the chase, but in his experience, some people don't really want to be caught. He wonders if this applies to Veronica, but she tells him he'll have to find out. His curiosity piqued, Reggie asks to borrow Archie's car for his date with Veronica. Archie is initially hesitant, but agrees to allow Reggie to take his car.
Toni tells Cheryl how Black Athena is everything she hoped it would be and that she finally feels like she's doing something worthwhile. Although, Clay tends to monopolize most of the conversation, as he has the hots for James Baldwin. As for Cheryl, as of late, she's been missing Toni. With everything going on, they barely get to see each other, and when they do, it's three feet apart. She hopes to catch a flick tonight, but Toni needs to finish reading her next book for Black Athena. Cheryl asks to attend the next meeting, insisting that she wouldn't say a word, but with them having only just started, Toni asks that they hold off until Black Athena is more established.
Betty asks Archie out on a date. Unfortunately, he's already agreed to allow Reggie to take his car, meaning they have to either catch the bus or walk, with Archie settling on the latter.
Jughead and Tabitha rifle through Rayberry's apartment for clues of some kind, at which point, Tabitha finds a photo of a black woman named June Simpson, as well as a series of love letters written to Rayberry by June from South Carolina. They conclude that this is Rayberry's wife. Jughead finds her number in Rayberry's address book and calls her to deliver the news of his passing. She asks how he died, but Jughead remains unsure. June agrees to come as soon as possible, with Jughead promising to meet her when she arrives.
Cheryl learns from Kevin that he was allowed to attend a Black Athena meeting to hear Clay perform his latest poem.
Betty revels in the freedom of not having her mother constantly breathing down her neck and watching her every mood, which she expresses to Archie, who appears otherwise preoccupied with Reggie and his car during their date at Pop's. Archie can't help but wonder where else Reggie could be given that Pop's is the only go-to spot in town.
Cheryl confronts Toni about Kevin being allowed to attend a Black Athena meeting despite Toni previously telling her they were waiting until the club was more established. Cheryl wishes she could share the experience, and so Toni invites her to attend and allows Cheryl to read her copy of Native Son by Richard Wright, who'll be discussed at the next meeting.
Reggie returns home in the late hours of the night, where Archie awaits, upset. Reggie claims that after he dropped Veronica off, he hit the freeway, which angers Archie, as Reggie could've wrecked his car. As punishment, he forbids Reggie from ever getting in his car again.
The following morning, Archie and Frank discuss his and Reggie's argument. Frank recalls him and Fred sharing a car when they were younger. It resulted in a lot of fights, but Frank reminds Archie that Reggie is far from home and his family. He grew up scraping by and working hard for things that guys like them take for granted. He says that to say that Archie should give Reggie a break.
Veronica asks Betty about her date with Archie, which wasn't stellar. The same could be said for Veronica's date with Reggie. He, too, seemed preoccupied. Betty proposes they switch partners, but Veronica suggests a double date for Fangs' concert in Centerville.
Having read June's love letters to Rayberry, Tabitha informs Jughead that they got married in New York before moving to June's hometown in South Carolina to start a family. However, their lives were threatened by white thugs who threw a brick through their window and burned a cross in their yard. Brad and June went to the police, who threatened to arrest the Rayberrys in response. Tabitha saw similar instances during her tour with Mrs. Till. The Rayberrys were terrified for themselves and June's family, which is why Mr. Rayberry left and settled in Seaside. The plan was to save up enough money to get June's family to safety, and then they would go on to live in Paris, suggesting that Rayberry didn't take his own life after all.
Archie apologizes to Reggie for overreacting last night. Reggie apologizes for his actions as well. As they exit the school, they find Betty and Veronica waiting at Archie's car to inform them of Fangs' concert in Centerville and how they've elected the boys to take them on a double date.
Clay kicks off the Black Athena meeting, revealing that he's read Native Son three times. He allows the others to speak first. Tabitha and Toni agree that the dangers of white ignorance are ever so prevalent in the tale. Clay asks for Cheryl's opinion. She nervously says that it was the most powerful novel she ever read and that the Daltons from the book reminded her a lot of her own family in some unpleasant ways, though she's happy to have read it. Admittedly, this the first novel by a black author she's ever read. Fortunately, Clay maintains a syllabus of black authors he believes everyone should be reading. He's given it to Kevin and offers to share it with Cheryl as well.
Jughead shares his theory that Rayberry was murdered with Sheriff Keller, who is highly skeptical. He tells Jughead that he didn't know Rayberry as well as he thinks, revealing that Rayberry was a card-carrying member of the Communist Party. He also protested the Korean War and was a dope fiend who spent a month as a mental patient at St. Vincent's in New York City. Someone whose got as many secrets as Rayberry, Keller believes it's a miracle he didn't take his life sooner.
Admittedly, the meeting went better than Toni thought it would. She was worried that people would feel uncomfortable around Cheryl or that she would feel uncomfortable around Toni's friends. Cheryl was concerned that she wouldn't say the right thing at first, but then everything settled in nicely. While Cheryl was grateful to have attended, she admits Toni was right to be so protective of Black Athena and says that moving forward, she'll attend the more public events, like the open mic night next month at the Dark Room. In the meantime, she can read some books off of Clay's list, which she and Toni can discuss together. Also, Toni reveals that there's a concert in Centerville and asks Cheryl to join her.
With her, June has brought the last letter she received from her husband, which would've been just before his death. In it, he wrote about wanting to have his novel published so that they could at last have the money they need to buy June's parents a place in the city and move to Paris. Rayberry was optimistic, which again, doesn't sound like a man planning to take his life. Jughead asks if it's true Rayberry was a war protester, a communist, and an addict. June reveals all this is true. However, Rayberry served in World War II and became addicted to opium due to a war injury, for which he checked himself into St. Vincent's. And yes, while he may have attended a couple of communist meetings while he was young and curious during the Great Depression, he was a good man who was an optimist and never lost his sense of humor, which leads them all to the conclusion that he was murdered, and his death was framed as a suicide, but none of them have any suspects.
As planned, Archie and Reggie take Betty and Veronica out on a double date, but during dinner at Pop's, they're more interested in the cars in a local news article. The girls reminds them of the show in Centerville, at which point, they prepare to leave, though Archie and Reggie have a slight disagreement about who will drive.
Mrs. Simpson intends to bury Mr. Rayberry where they first met, and then she's going to look into getting his novel published. Bradley always loved comics, and she's certain he'd be thrilled for Jughead to continue adapting his stories. Not only is he honored, Jughead will talk to Mr. Fieldstone about doing a tribute issue with all the proceeds going to Mrs. Simpson's family. Before leaving, she asks if Jughead and Tabitha are dating, but they nervously reply that they're only friends. Nevertheless, she tells them to take care of each other.
On their way to Centerville, Archie's car breaks down on the side of the road after running out of gas. With Pop's five miles back, Archie and Reggie are forced to walk back as Betty and Veronica remain in the car.
Archie and Reggie attempt to hitch a ride back to Pop's, but are without much luck. Archie proposes that Reggie see if Clifford Blossom can get him a car, but Reggie refuses to be any deeper in Clifford's pockets than he already is. He asks if Archie only sees him as a germ looking for handouts, but Archie insists that wasn't his intent. Still, the tension between the two of them builds until it cannot be ignored anymore, and they begin to fight on the side of the road.
While waiting for Archie and Reggie to return, Cheryl pulls up alongside with Toni and Midge, who are all headed to Fangs' performance and offers them a ride.
Jughead and Tabitha head to Pop's, where she reveals her plans to go back on tour with her parents. She was planning to take some time off and reevaluate but after meeting June and reading her letters to Mr. Rayberry, it was a reminder of how much she's fighting for. She then jokes that maybe this time around, Jughead will actually send her homework, which he assures her he will, as well as some letters.
After finally arriving at the diner, Pop Tate fills a gas tank for Archie and Reggie and asks for the story behind their predicament. Assuming their argument was about Archie's car, Pop informs them that he has an abandoned jalopy in his garage and asks Reggie to take it off of his hands.
Archie and Reggie make their way back to the car. On the path back, Reggie reveals that the night he took Veronica out, he didn't go riding on the freeway afterward. He actually went home to see his parents, as he was homesick, though he was too embarrassed to admit it. Archie has always felt a bit home sick ever since his dad left for Korea. Archie's dad was his best friend, and he hasn't really had one since, though Betty and Jughead are the closest friends he has. As for Reggie, his folks are working hard as always. They miss him but are happy to see him with good people. By the time Archie and Reggie return to the car, they discover that Betty and Veronica are gone.
Fangs arrives at school, where he is bombarded by his classmates, all asking for an autograph. After signing a poster, he follows Midge into the Blue and Gold offices, where she tells him there was never a chance she was missing the biggest performances of his career. As it turns out, she was his good luck charm, as Fangs reveals he was given the business card of a music producer from Phantom Rock Records. Midge is in disbelief and kisses Fangs.
Archie enters the workshop to find Reggie working on a junker he recovered from Pop and has named Bella. Archie offers his assistance, but Reggie has already sought out Betty, who tells them that they missed an incredible show and that Fangs is the next big thing.
While browsing through Rayberry's apartment, Jughead hears a knock at the door. It's an old lady named Mrs. Martin, whose run out of milk for her cat and asks if there's any in Rayberry's refrigerator. When Jughead opens the fridge and sees that it is empty, Mrs. Martin reveals that a couple nights ago, she heard the Milkman making an unusually late delivery. She never saw him, but she heard the distinct rattle of his glass milk bottles.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Special Guest Star[]Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Soundtrack[]
- Al Hazan - Little Cruisin' Street Machine
- Chuck Berry - You Can't Catch Me
- Scene: Archie and Reggie go on a joyride together.
- Bill Walker - Party Time
- Bumps Myers & His Frantic Five - I'm Clappin' and Shoutin'
- Scene: Archie and Betty's date at Pop's.
- Ressie Mae Jones & Her Combo - Automatic Daddy
- Four Mints - Night Air
- Scene: Archie and Betty, Reggie and Veronica go on a double date at Pop's.
- Slim Rhodes - Do What I Do
- Scene: A stranded Betty and Veronica get a ride from Toni, Midge, and Cheryl.
- Little Milton - Next Time I See You
- Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires - Death Of An Angel
- Scene: Archie and Reggie walk back to the jalopy and talk.
- Drew Ray Tanner - Tutti Frutti
- Scene: Fangs is becoming famous after opening for Ritchie Valens.
- The Five Tinos - Don't Do That
- Scene: Archie is jealous that Betty and Reggie are working together on Reggie's new old jalopy.
Trivia[]
- The episode title comes from the 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film of the same name directed by George Lucas.
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