| “ | Grief is a terrible thing. When you've suffered a loss as I have, the death of my mentor and literary idol, Brad Rayberry, time falls into a slow, sad rhythm. And a moment feels like an eternity. Even as the rest of the world continues to tick on. | ” |
— Jughead
| ||
"Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Betty & Veronica Double Digest" is the ninth episode of the seventh season of Riverdale and the hundredth and twenty-sixth episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 24, 2023.
Synopsis[]
SAVING THE BABYLONIUM — After devising a plan to bring in some money at the Babylonium, Veronica is surprised to learn somebody may be sabotaging her. Elsewhere, after beginning sessions with Dr. Werthers, Betty begins to question his motives.[2]
Plot[]
Jughead mourns the death of Mr. Rayberry, sulking in a booth at Pop's while the rest of the world continues around him.
Betty's first sexual memory
During his therapy session with Betty, Dr. Werthers reveals that both he and Alice agree that the River Vixens is too sexualized an environment for Betty and therefore, she will no longer be part of the team. Though, Betty argues that high school in general is a highly sexualized environment, whereas Werthers argues it's an academic institution. They're meeting because Betty stripped for Archie and also flashed her underwear on live television, leading Werthers to conclude that she's a nymphomaniac. Given her recent behavior, he asks what is her first sexual memory, which consists of her and Archie playing a game of Operation, but Betty claims not to remember. When asked how often does she think about sex, Betty truthfully reveals that she thinks about it all the time, adding that she's simply curious and that waiting until marriage doesn't make sense to her. She then reveals to Werthers that she found girly magazines hidden in her father's sock drawer last year, though Werthers reminds Betty that the session is about her. Admittedly, their conversations have provided Betty with some insight. She's now realizing that she doesn't want to get married; she wants to make an impact on the world, rather than just having a family.
Betty returns home that night, where she is joined in her room by her mother, who bombards Betty with wedding magazines and says that she just knows that it'll be the happiest day of her life when she sees Betty standing at the altar.
Veronica invites Cheryl to her double feature
Veronica invites her classmates to the Babylonium's James Dean double feature. As president of his fan club, Cheryl confronts Veronica, who reveals that she had a print of East of Eden. In an attempt to persuade Cheryl and her club into seeing the film at the Babylonium, Veronica is offering free passes on the conditions that Cheryl spreads the good word. Fulfilling her end of the arrangement, Cheryl agrees to deliver her fan club, the Vixens, and the Bulldogs, though Veronica insists she'll handle the latter. Kevin wonders why they're giving out tickets for free, to which Veronica replies that they make most of their profit from concessions. Clay then asks about Veronica's plan to invite the Bulldogs, as they suspect she's only actually interested in Reggie.
Veronica tells Reggie about James Dean
As a fan of the Bulldogs, Veronica personally delivers free passes to the James Dean double feature at the Babylonium. She's hoping that Reggie will join her, revealing to Reggie that much like himself, James Dean was a basketball star in high school.
When Reggie arrives at the Babylonium that night, Veronica asks him to treat her to a milkshake after the show. Not only does he agree, he pays her for the free popcorn. As Reggie heads inside, Kevin and Clay inform Veronica that the print they received from the studio has been over exposed and therefore unplayable.
The crowd throws popcorn at Veronica
Veronica gets on stage and reluctantly informs the crowd that they are unable to screen the James Dean double feature. The crowd is outrage, led by Cheryl, who demands a refund for the money they've spent on popcorn and soda. When she tries to offer a voucher, Fangs demands their money back and leads the crowd in throwing popcorn at Veronica, who relents and agrees to refund them in full.
With so much to account for, Veronica has to cancel her milkshake date with Reggie. She'd however happily take a rain check.
Veronica calls Mr. Roth
Veronica contacts Mr. Roth to confront him for sending her unplayable prints. Mr. Roth claims he has no idea how this mishap occurred, and, to make matters worse, there's no more available prints for him to even rectify the issue. He tells Veronica that this is as much her problem as his own and accuses her of being too green. Clay questions how a major studio could possibly run out of prints for their biggest release of the year. Veronica isn't sure, but luckily, there are other studios in town. And so, she puts in various calls to various studios, but she is turned away by each one, with the last owner revealing that Veronica is being blacklisted by her parents, who want everyone against them to fail, including their own daughter. Clay suggests they contact smaller independent studios, who may be more likely to work with Veronica.
Betty has sex dreams
Betty attends another session with Dr. Werthers, who asks about her dreams, which are admittedly sexual at times. She reveals that she frequently has a dream about being a biology teacher, tutoring one of her students. The student varies between each of her friends, but most often it's Archie. The two of them have sex on the desk, at which point, Betty realizes that they're being watched by the rest of the class. Betty never shared these dreams with anyone but her diaries, which Werthers writes down in his journal. He then asks where she thinks her urge to be seen in a sexualized way comes from. Betty argues that it's not about being seen sexually and that it's more so about being seen as a person. Her interest in understanding sex is more so about understanding herself.
Jughead offers Veronica some advice
After placing at order at Pop's, Veronica approaches Jughead at his booth to ask if he's ever heard about a film called The Crawling Eye, which he has, revealing that it came out a couple years ago and included a cool monster. After calling every independent studio, this is the only feature she can get her hands on. And so, Jughead proposes she go the William Castle route and sell the movie with a gimmick to attract customers.
Betty sneaks into Dr. Werthers office
Betty returns home to find her mother in the living room with Reverend Lowe. He's going to hear Betty's confession and perform an exorcism if need be. Betty then notices her diaries on the table and realizes that her mother has read them. Alice claims that they were prescribed to her, likely by Dr. Werthers, Betty concludes. If she's so inclined to talk to Werthers, Betty invites her mother to join their sessions, but Alice insists that she doesn't need therapy. Upset, Betty leaves the house, ignoring her mother's calls and sneaks into Dr. Werthers office in the late hours of the note and breaks into his locked drawer with a bobby pin. Inside, she discovers a book titled Lolita.
Betty then heads to Pop's, where she asks Jughead if he's ever heard of the book Lolita, which he has. It's pretty salacious and is about a professor named Humbert Humbert and a young 12-year-old girl named Dolores Haze. Jughead asks Betty if she's read it yet, which is what she's about to do, Betty reveals.
Veronica plays a brief showing of The Crawling Eye
Veronica plays a brief showing of The Crawling Eye to hopefully entice her classmates into seeing the film at the Babylonium. She claims that it's a re-release in 4D. Cheryl is skeptical, as is Dilton, who reveals that time is the fourth dimension and questions if that's what she's referring to. Veronica tells him to shut up and explains that 4D is a visceral experience unlike any other.
Veronica has tasked Kevin and Clay with covering two beach balls in adhesive and newspaper, which she will paint when she returns. In the meantime, she recruits Archie and Reggie for her 4D experience and offers to compensate them handsomely.
Dr. Werthers approaches Betty about their appointment, which she didn't forget, but also won't be attending. Instead, she has some interesting reading to finish, and tomorrow, Betty assures him they will have plenty to discuss.
The Crawling Eye
To Veronica's surprise, Cheryl arrives at the Babylonium for the feature. Veronica jokes that she should take out a life insurance policy should she die of fright. Additionally, they have Midge dressed as a nurse on standby, which Cheryl is very vocal about her disapproval of. She also threatens to demand a refund if she's not thoroughly satisfied by Veronica's alleged 4D experience. Fortunately for Veronica, the crowd is amazed by the 4D experience of Archie and Reggie dressed up as monsters who attack the moviegoers, at which point, Cheryl applauds, Midge kisses Fangs, and Dilton squirms in his seat in fear.
Betty confronts Dr. Werthers
Betty confronts Dr. Werthers for his possession of the Lolita novel, which she admits to having found in his desk. Werthers claims that he was hoping that reading the book may better help him understand Betty, as both she and Dolores are sex craved young women, though Betty explains that Dolores is a 12-year-old girl who is being coerced against her will. What Betty learned from the book is that Werthers is a creep who is out of line for asking her about her sexual fantasies and experiences, as well as manipulating their conversations and writing down every word that she says. Betty deduces that Werthers is obsessed with sex and that he's reading Lolita for pleasure. And so, she no longer feels comfortable being in a room with him.
Archie and Reggie quit
Word has gotten out about the Babylonium 4D experience, resulting in various sold out shows. She's looking for Archie and Reggie to reprise their roles, but they're otherwise busy with basketball, even as Veronica offers to pay them more. She accuses them of trying to squeeze her and says that she'll have Kevin and Clay play the monsters, which is fine with Archie and Reggie, with the latter of the two asking Veronica out on a date, but with the Babylonium's popularity growing, she doesn't think she'll have the time. However, she urges Reggie to stop by tomorrow.
Betty pleads with her mother
Alice confronts Betty after learning that Dr. Werthers wants to end his sessions with her, though Alice refuses to allow him to give up on Betty, as she needs him to fix Betty, though she insists that she's fine and demands that her mother put the phone down. If her mother truly wants to help her, Betty pleads with Alice to talk to her, starting with how unhappy she truly is. Alice deflects, but Betty questions why her mother can't be honest with her and what happened. Things haven't always been so fraught, and she isn't sure what caused the current state of their relationship. Alice once said she was afraid of what the world might do to Betty, but now it seems like she's afraid of Betty. Just as it seems Alice is about to tells Betty the truth, Hal intervenes. He's heard their entire conversation and tells Betty to stop. He says that Alice is the most wonderful wife and mother in the world, and the way Betty has been acting, she doesn't deserve her. That said, he sends Betty to her room to think about what she's put her mother through.
Alice is no longer Betty's mother
The following morning, Betty comes downstairs, where she tells her mother that she wants for them to figure out a path forward, but it's not Dr. Werthers, which is something they both agree on, as Alice has already relieved him of his duties. Alice has spent her life sacrificing for Betty and protecting her, but given how clear it's become that Betty doesn't want it, Alice will do so no more and tells Betty that she's no longer her mother.
Reggie has left
As Reggie waits for Veronica in the lobby for their date, Veronica continues to grow the Babylonium's reach. Mr. Roth has is pleased to read about her recent 4D success and has chosen to reconsider his decision to not let the Babylonium screen any of his new releases. That said, the print of East of Eden is already headed her way. After ending her call with Roth, Veronica heeds out for her date with Reggie, but he got tired of waiting and left, leaving behind flowers for Veronica.
Veronica returns to the Pembrooke, where Smithers reveals that the locks have been changed, as her parents feel that she no longer needs nor deserves their financial support. As soon as she has a new address, he's to move her belonging. Veronica suspected as much would occur and moves into the Babylonium for the time being.
Sheriff Keller asks for Jughead's help
Jughead has not left his booth at Pop's, but after reading all of Rayberry's work, he's noticed some recurring themes. Time passes, seasons change, and life moves on. Jughead isn't quite done mourning, but he's done wallowing and is prepared to move on. But just like that, he's pulled back in when Sheriff Keller enters the diner and asks for Jughead's help on solving Rayberry's death.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Soundtrack[]
- Fats Domino - Ain't It A Shame
- The Chordettes - Lollipop
- Scene: Betty's fantasies.
- Jess Duboy - Puppy Love
- Scene: Betty is in her room and Alice brings her bridal magazines.
- L.C. Williams & Conney’s Combo - That's Alright
- Scene: Veronica promotes the Babylonium at school.
- Al Hazan - It Happened
- Scene: At the Babylonium, Veronica asks Reggie on a date.
- Joan Joyce Trio - Captured
- Scene: Betty imagines feeling seen.
- The Four Mints - Busy Body Rock
- Scene: At Pop's, Veronica goes to Jughead for advice.
- Ray Smith - Shake Around
- Scene: Veronica promotes her 4D cinema in class.
- Billy Lee Riley - Flyin' Saucers Rock'n'Roll
- Scene: Veronica's 4D show at the Babylonium.
- The Newton Brothers - Start At The Bottom
- Scene: Veronica moves in to the Babylonium, while Jughead is done grieving.
Trivia[]
- The episode title is a reference to Archie Comics double digest releases.
- This is the third episode of Riverdale to directly mention a character by name in its title; it is also the first one to mention more than one character. In this case, Betty and Veronica.
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