Chapter Text
A Male teenager voice-over narrates “Our story is about a town. A small town. And the people who live in the town.” In Bird eye-view we see Nondescript Suburban Streets, anonymous, mysterious As the camera passes-through Riverdale’s Main Drag. Store-fronts, local businesses. People, different ages, sizes, races, walking “From a distance, it presents itself like so many other small towns all over the world.” As we cycle through City Hall, Pickins Park, the Bijou Movie Theatre, the Fire Station, the Comic Book Shop, The high school, the 24-hour Diner, POP’S.
“Safe. Decent. Innocent. Get closer though and you start seeing the shadows underneath.” as we see the “Welcome to Riverdale” sign. Its faded motto “The Town with Pep!”. “The name of our town is Riverdale.”
SWEETWATER RIVER - EARLY MORNING
A beautiful, slow-moving river, eternal, hypnotic. A red convertible drives along the road carrying three impossibly gorgeous teenagers, both red-haired, step out of the car. “And our story begins, I guess, with what the Blossom twins did this summer.” They are Jason, Cheryl and Afina Blossom, and really, they could be models from an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. They look out at the river’s shimmering, rippling surface, start walking towards a dock,
On the fourth of July, just after dawn, Jason, Cheryl and Afina Blossom drove out to Sweetwater River for an early morning boat-ride. And as they near the dock, the blossom girls on either side, Cheryl, and Afina turn to Jason. “Are you scared, Jason?” Cheryl asks as Jason turns to her and Afina looks at Sweetwater River as it shines under the early morning sun. Jason shakes his head and smiles at her, his perfect teeth glistening. At that moment Afina looked at her brother and sister how she loved so much and at that moment she thought to herself she had never seen her brother so happy, She smiled to herself.
SWEETWATER RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
Jason, Cheryl and Afina are in the rowboat, the blossom sisters are sitting across from their brother, as the rowboat slides across the water towards an outcropping of rocks. At the shore of Sweetwater River later that same morning, and as Storm clouds brew overhead a Nerdy, glasses-wearing high school geek DiIton Doiley guides a troop of boy scouts along the river's edge. They all carry binoculars. Dilton’s pointing to birds on trees.
The next thing we know that happens is that Dilton Doiley, who was leading Riverdale’s Boy Scout Troop on a bird-watching expedition, came upon Cheryl and Afina by the river's edge. Dilton and the Scouts stop short. There was Cheryl and Afina, huddled by the lapping water, knees tucked under their chin, arms around their legs, shivering because they were sopping wet, Numb, in shock, as Cheryl and Afina turned to him. Her face is streaked with tears, Ja...Jason Cheryl’s says as one tier fall from her eyes,
At Sweetwater River later that same day, after Dilton found Cheryl and Afina and called the police. By the time policies got to the scene the word of what happened had spread to People of Riverdale. They rushed to the scene to see if they got a glance of Jason blossom’s dead cold body. as a police boat moved along the river. Cheryl and Afina’s parents, Cliff and Penelope, are onboard the boat as it searches for their son's body. Cheryl and Afina are in shock and their mascara has been smudged. Riverdale Police dragged Sweetwater river for Jason’s body, but the body was never found. Alice Cooper stands with her husband HAL on the riverbank, she and her husband look over the police boat searching for Jason and says "If he is dead, how I hope in those last moments he suffered. May Jason Blossom burn in hell”
“So a week later, the Blossom family buried an empty casket, and Jason’s death was ruled an accident.” At POP’S Chock’lit Shoppe Diner that Evening Open 24-hours. A skinny teenager with dark, shaggy hair sticking out from under a weird hat ( that looks like a felt crown) sits in one of the diner’s booths, sipping coffee and tap-tap-tapping away on his laptop. “As the story that Cheryl and Afina told made its way around. Cheryl dropped a glove in the water, and Jason reached down to get it, and accidentally tipped the boat, and panicked, and drowned. As for us, we were still talking about the July 4th tragedy on the last day of summer vacation. When a new mystery rolled into town.”
At the Pembrooke apartment building, a car pulls into the apartment building’s driveway. Two dark-haired beauties were in the car and it was Hermione Lodge and her teenage daughter Veronica, they climbed out of the car, looking up at the Pembrooke’s ornate facade. Now brace yourself, the apartment is small, a pied-à-terre, but.. Started Rermione “quality, always” Veronica said at the same time as her mother and smiled with her after. “Plus Veronica started “it was the only piece of property in my name and not your father’s” she says as They walk towards the entrance. Various shots of the extravagant yet dark interior are shown.
The Pembrooke’s doorman, Smithers, in a uniform, approaches the two of them. “Ms. Hermione! Welcome home.” He says with a joyful smile. “Smithers! You're a sight for sore eyes' ' said Hermione as she walked to him with a smile. “How was the ride?” he ask No traffic, thank God. " Smithers, ( Hermione turns to her daughter ) I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Veronica.” “It’s a pleasure, Miss''. “Hey” she responded “I’ll get the bags. as he does that “And would you like some menus, Ma’am, so you can order in?” “Oh, no,” says Hermion. “I've been craving one of Pop Tate’s cheeseburgers since noon -- is his Chock'lit Shoppe still open?” “What is a Chock'lit Shoppe ? And why does it sell burgers?” Veronica asks, confused, thinking they were talking about a chocolate shop.
That same night at the Cooper's house in Betty’s bedroom, 16 year old prettyful Betty Cooper is correctly in jeans and a bra, getting dressed and putting on her makeup, as a cute and cheerful brown-haired 16 year old Kevin Keller lounges on her bed, scrolling through his Phone. “Are you excited? Nervous? Ask Kevin looking up from his friend “Both say Betty with a shy look at him through the mirror “I haven’t seen him all summer”. “which is why nerves are acceptable, but we agreed, Betty It’s time. You like him, he likes you, "Kevin says with a smile. “Then why, Kevin, why hasn’t he ever said or done anything?” She asks, turning to look at him. “Because Kevin says rolling his eyes, “Archie’s swell, but like most Millennial straight guys, he needs to be told what he wants. So please tell him, finally. He finished with another playful eye roll. “We’ll see. It depends on-” “oh, my God! Interrupted Kevin as he walked to the bedroom window. “What” asks Betty, her eyes following him to the window. Kevin is looking out Betty’s window, towards the house next door, into the bedroom opposite hers. Archie Andrews, a 16 year old, red-haired boy, (finally on the right side of puberty), is also getting dressed but is also on his phone. In jeans, slipping on a t-shirt, his abs showing. “Game-changer! Archie got hot! He's got abs now! Six more reasons for you to take that ginger bull by the horns tonight. Says Kevin not taking his eyes off the window. Betty looks through the window, her mouth is open in shock saying Archie.
At POP'S CHOCK'-LIT SHOPPE DINER that night Archie and Betty sit in a booth, in mid-conversation “So what was the highlight?” asks Archie. “Of my internship? The Judy Blume book release party I organized, by far. At the end of the night, Tony Morrison, who is, as you know, my literary hero.” “ Yes, yes” says Archie, nodding and chuckling. “So he says to me, “Don't rush this time, Betty. It goes by so fast at your age. One summer can change your life.” “Wow. That's so true.” he says agreeing “How was working for your dad?” ask Betty “It was…pouring concrete, every day, all day long. To pass time I would start composing these...poems, in my head. And at night, I’d go home, I’d write them down.” “You don't even like reading poetry” says Betty surprisingly “They weren’t poems, they were song lyrics. And working on them made me like… Archie pauses “What, Archie?” Almost ashamed to admit it, “I feel like I've finally broken through to something real. About my life, and what I should be trying to do with it. Music! Starting this year, tomorrow.” he added smiling “Amazing! Will you ask Miss Grundy to tutor you? Betty asks, smiling at Archie “I'm not sure, maybe.”
“What about football? Can you do both?” ask Betty “I’ll try-out, at least.” he replies “Well, have you told your dad?” “ No. Until I’ve got things more figured out, you’re the only person I’m telling, okay?” said Aschie nervously “Well, I'd love to hear them sometime, your songs.” says Betty happily, “ Yeah?”
“Yes!”
“Yeah, I'm finishing a couple demos tonight.” “Great. Oh -- and also? I’ve been thinking about us, Archie, and our friendship, and how it’s time we -
-suddenly Betty's voice fades, as the BELL above Pop’s front door jingles. And in comes Veronica Lodge , wearing a fetching cloak. She turns and makes eye-contact with Archie, and Archie is automatically smitten with her. Veronica walked toward Pop Tate, “Hi, I called in an order? For Lodge?” greets Veronica. “Two burgers, yah, almost ready, but you gotta wait.” Pop says kindly as he walks away to get Veronica's order ready. Veronica looks around while she waits, but then her eyes land on Archie, who’s staring at her, which Betty clocks. Veronica walks over to them, “hey” she greeted smiling at them mostly looking at Archie. “Hey” he greeted, grinning back.How are the onion rings here? She asks, trying to make conversation. “So good” he replied with his stupid grinning, over her shoulder, to Pop "Can we get some onion rings, too, please?” “Yeah” replied Pop, back to Archie and Betty. “Thanks. My mom and I just moved here, so…” “From where” asks Archie, overly cheerful “New York.” reply Veronica with a nod. “ Wow.” said Archie, still way too cheerful. “Do you guys go to Riverdale?” “We do. Both of us. Together.” Butty says, quickly to interrupt. Trying to get Archie to stop looking at Veronica with that lovesick look on her face. But Archie ignores her and still can’t take his eyes off her. “Yeah we’re sophomores.” Me, too. I’m filled with dread. She says not taking her eyes off of him. “Why is that?” he asked. “Are you familiar with the works of Truman Capote? I’m Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but this town is strictly In Cold Blood.” they have no idea what she’s talking about, but Archie laughs way to joyful then, she reach out a hand to him introducing herself
“ Veronica Lodge” Archie taking her hand says “ Archie Andrews. This is Betty Cooper.” “Wait, are you-” Betty interrupted a little bit annoyed “ supposed to give you your tour tomorrow? Yes, I’m your peer mentor.” “Do you want to join us? And maybe we can un-fill you with dread?” Betty shoots daggers at Archie. Veronica smiles, demurs. “ My mom’s waiting for me. But...to be continued?” she says walking away. Archie turns back to Betty and asks “What were you going to say?” “Nothing.” Betty responds with a fake smile and then takes a sip out of the milkshake she had ordered.
The next morning at the Thistle House Afina blossom was in her room sitting in front of her vanity, she was wearing a silk long black sleeve tie-neck blouse tucked into a midnight blue skirt with black high heel shoes, she was doing her makeup at less trying to but she couldn’t for focus she keeps glancing at her phone waiting for a very important message, she was worried because she and her sister has been waiting for a week for that message. She put down her brush and picked up her phone, opening it and checking her email and message for what could’ve been a hundred times. When Cheryl, her fraternal twin, opens the door, she turns around to see her sister leaning on the door stock, with tears in her eyes she says. “ He should have called or text by now, shouldn't he?” turning back around staring at her phone open scene. “what if something bad has happened?” Cheryl came in and closed the door, beheaded her and walked behead her and left Afina head to face the mirror and wiped the tears from her face and said " do not worry my dearest sister I’m sure brother dearest is fine.” she says with a shaking voice “now let's fix up your makeup, and go to school kk Si-Si.”