The episode picks up right where the previous episode left off – with Cheryl being escorted away by Sheriff Keller and Principal Weatherbee. Jughead’s narration explains that in the wake of Cheryl’s arrest, nothing in Riverdale makes sense anymore.
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Cheryl takes a seat in Weatherbee’s office, as crowds of people watch outside the window. Cheryl explains that while she didn’t kill Jason – who she loved profusely – she’s guilty of lying about the details surrounding his death.
She says that the last time she saw her brother was July 4th, when they had concocted an elaborate plan. Jason wanted to permanently leave Riverdale, and the pair staged the boating accident so their parents wouldn’t go after him. They safely made it to the other side of the river, and Jason promised to contact her when he was out of their parents’ reach.
Keller questions her story, believing it’s just a coverup for her guilt in the murder. Cheryl asserts that she didn’t kill Jason, and begins to describe the gunshot that the pair heard on July 4th. Keller asks why she didn’t come forward with that information, and Cheryl says it’s because she was too upset about Jason’s murder.
Suddenly, Cheryl’s parents burst in and escort Cheryl away.
In the Cooper house, Alice shows Betty the cover of the newest issue of the Riverdale Register, which says that Cheryl is guilty. Betty asks her mom to stop sensationalizing the murder, but Alice asserts that it’s her responsibility to inform the people. Betty believes that Alice should not be using what happened between Polly and Jason as an excuse to write this way, and instead should be writing about the mystery surrounding the murder. Alice suggests that Betty write for the paper herself, since she’s clearly so interested in reporting the story.
At Riverdale High, Archie watches through a window as Grundy plays a chello. He then goes to Weatherbee’s office, where he tells Weatherbee and Keller that he heard the gunshot on July 4th as well. Keller asks what Archie was doing at the river that early in the morning, and Archie explains that he was working on songs. Keller asks if Archie was alone, and Archie says no. He almost reveals that he was with Grundy, but instead says he was with his dog, Vegas.
In the student lounge, Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Kevin all sit. Kevin tells everyone that they are under suspicion because of Sheriff Keller. Kevin suggests that they all hang out, but Veronica reveals that she can’t, because she has a date. The group finds out that it’s Chuck Clayton and congratulates her for going on a date with him.
Jughead meets Betty in the defunct school newspaper room. She tries to convince him to reboot the school paper with her, saying that the people of Riverdale would want to hear what Jughead has been writing in his novel. He agrees, and Betty him his first assignment – to interview Dilton Doiley, who was also at the river that night.
Archie arrives home. Fred confronts him about his alibi at the river, saying that he believed Archie and Jughead were on a road trip on July 4th. He tells Archie he should’ve come to him with that secret, so Fred could accompany him to the authorities. Archie gets upset, and Fred grounds him for two weeks.
Veronica and Chuck are on their date, sitting in the car in the Pop’s parking lot. They take a selfie together. The pair remark about both feeling like outsiders at Riverdale High, and then they share a kiss.
The next day, Grundy confronts Archie, asking why he came forward about the gunshot. Grundy believes that even though Archie left her name out of it, any further investigation could lead to a reveal about their relationship. Grundy decides to suspend their music lessons.
In the hallway, Kevin and Betty ask Veronica about her date with Chuck. She says that while he was nice, his conversation skills were lacking. Veronica is suddenly approached by Cheryl’s minions, who ask her about a “Sticky Maple” that Chuck gave her on their date. Veronica is confused.
Everyone’s phones start to receive a picture of Veronica and Chuck, with something photoshopped over Veronica’s face. Veronica realizes that she is being slut-shamed, and quickly decides she needs to get revenge on Chuck. Betty suggests that Veronica tell Weatherbee, or let Betty write about it in the paper, but Veronica refuses. Veronica storms off, asking if Betty is going to come along and help her, and Betty reluctantly agrees.
Veronica, with Betty close behind, barges through the boys locker room. Archie – wearing only a towel – sees them and asks why they’re there. Veronica tells him to stay out of their way.
The pair confront Chuck about the picture, but he laughs it off. He suggests that Veronica is already regarded as promiscuous after the events with Archie. Veronica tells Chuck off, but he tells her that trying to further confront him will only make things worse for her.
Jughead finds Dilton, who is leading a local Boy Scout troop. Jughead asks him about the gunshot on July 4th, and Dilton doesn’t cooperate, saying that he already told Sheriff Keller that he didn’t see anything weird.
Cheryl whispers to Archie while they’re in a class together. She thanks him for providing his alibi and helping validate her story of what happened to Jason. As a reward, Cheryl offers to do any one thing for him that he wants – besides sex. Archie suggests that there is one thing she could do.
Archie plays music in the student lounge. Josie comes in, saying that she is only doing this because Cheryl asked. Josie invites Archie to sit in on the Pussycats’ rehearsals this week. Archie mentions that even though he’s grounded, he’ll try to be there.
Veronica sits at home, reading all of the negative comments on her photo and growing upset. Hermione comes in and asks about her date with Chuck, and Veronica explains that he isn’t her type anymore. Veronica receives a phone call from Betty, and leaves the room to answer it.
Veronica arrives at Riverdale High and makes her way to the newspaper room. Betty sits in there, alongside a group of girls. Betty reveals that all of the girls also were harassed by players on the football team. One of the girls, Ethel, reveals that after talking to Chuck in the library for ten minutes, he’d started to spread sexual rumors about her.
Cheryl walks in, interrupting Ethel’s story. She starts to get a few of the girls for River Vixens practice, but Ethel continues on. She explains that the guys keep track of their conquests in a secret book. Cheryl denies that theory, saying that Jason – who used to be co-captain of the football team – never would have allowed a book like that to exist. Veronica confronts her, saying that either way, she’s going to get her story and the other girls’ stories believed.
At Pop’s, Jughead confronts one of the kids from Dilton Doiley’s scout troop, while eating the kid’s milkshake. The kid says Dilton actually shot the gun on July 4th, while teaching the kids how to shoot targets.
Archie sneaks out of his room to meet the Pussycats for practice. At practice, Josie asks Archie why exactly he wants to observe their practices. Archie suggests that the band could play his songs, but Josie says that his white male privilege means he wouldn’t write songs that fit her and the band’s experiences. Archie agrees.
Ethel goes to see Betty in the newspaper room. Accompanying her is Trev, Valerie’s brother and a former Riverdale football player. He explains that after seeing Chuck’s playbook, he quit the team, but that he still knows where the book is.
Later that night, Kevin, Betty, Veronica, and Ethel go snooping in the school for information. They are startled by Cheryl, who offers to help with their investigation. Ethel finds the book in a supply closet, and the group begins to look through it. Betty discovers that Polly’s name is in the book under Jason’s conquests, and gets upset when Cheryl refuses to believe it. Cheryl admits that maybe she didn’t know everything about her brother. Betty suggests that the group get revenge for the book, and that she has a plan on how to do so.
Back at the Pussycats’ practice, Archie helps the group with a struggling lyric on Archie’s song. They perform the song, and Josie asks to see more of Archie’s songs.
Betty sits in her bedroom, applying lipstick. Alice criticizes her for picking out that color, which used to be Polly’s. Betty ignores her mother, saying that the color makes her feel powerful. Alice asks Betty to go with her to the mayor’s event, but Betty says she’s going over to Veronica’s to study. Alice wipes the lipstick off of Betty’s face and hands her a different one, telling her not to hang out with Veronica.
Betty arrives at Pop’s, wearing a particularly revealing outfit. She approaches Chuck and sits at a booth with him. She comes onto him, saying that she wants to feel more like a bad girl. They agree to meet up the next night, and Betty suggests Ethel’s place, because her parents are out of town and she’ll leave a key.
Archie sneaks back home, and is quickly caught by Fred. Fred confronts him about it. Archie asks if he can go to the mayor’s event to hear his song, but Fred says no. Archie says that because Fred doesn’t understand music, he doesn’t understand how important of a thing this is to Archie.
Chuck shows up at Ethel’s, where he is greeted by Veronica. She explains that she and Betty agreed to share Chuck, and she leads him to the hot tub. Suddenly, Betty walks out, in a black wig and lingerie. Both Chuck and Veronica are shocked.
Mayor McCoy introduces the Taste of Riverdale event. Fred says hi to Hermione, who’s working the food table. They are quickly interrupted by Grundy, who Fred recognizes. He introduces himself and asks if they can talk in private.
Mayor McCoy approaches Cheryl’s parents, who are instantly confrontational. Alice asks to get a quote from Penelope for her article, but Penelope slaps her. The crowd is shocked, and Josie and the Pussycats take the stage to get everyone’s attention. They perform Archie’s song as Jughead and Archie watch from the rafters. Jughead leaves, saying he needs to go confront Dilton.
Down in the party, Fred asks Grundy if Archie really is musically talented. Grundy assures that he is, and that he at least deserves to try to pursue a career in it. Fred asks why Grundy takes an interest in Archie, and she says that he’s a special kid.
Alice confronts Hermione, asking if she knows about the things that have been said about Veronica at school. Hermione grows worried and calls Veronica.
Veronica ignores the call as she watches Betty pour drinks. Betty slips a muscle relaxer into Chuck’s drink, in hope that it will get him to tell the truth about the playbook. Betty asks if Chuck wants them to slow down, and he says no.
Jughead confronts Dilton about the gunshot on July 4th. Dilton begins to justify his actions, but Jughead tells him to save it for the statement he’ll give to Sheriff Keller, and makes him agree to meet in the school paper offices tomorrow.
Chuck wakes up in the hot tub with both of his hands handcuffed. Veronica starts recording Chuck on her phone, as Betty turns up the temperature of the hot tub. She tells him to tell the truth about what happened with Veronica. He does, but Betty decides to take it a step further. She puts her heel on Chuck’s head, pushing him further into the hot water until he apologizes. Ethel cracks open a nearby door and watches. Chuck apologizes, but Betty grabs a bottle of maple syrup and begins to pour it on Chuck’s head. She starts referring to him as Jason, and talks as if she herself is Polly. Veronica stops her.
The next day, Archie finds Fred outside. Fred reveals that he’s sound-proofing the garage for Archie to practice his music. Fred talks about his conversation with Grundy.
Betty holds a stack of issue of The Blue and Gold. Veronica compliments her on the article, and both girls reveal that they weren’t able to sleep the night before after everything that happened. Veronica asks Betty about the wig, and the comments she made where she sounded like Polly. Betty says that she doesn’t fully remember it, but that either way, she was doing it to teach Chuck a lesson.
Betty, Veronica, and Hermione sit in Weatherbee’s office. Jughead’s narration reveals that Hermione was able to negotiate a lesser punishment for the girls for what they did to Chuck.
In the school hallways, Chuck and his posse walk shamefully through the hallway, as a myriad of girls watch. Jughead reveals that the group was cut from the football team, an event that would have consequences in Riverdale High for weeks to come.
Betty and Veronica thank Ethel for coming forward in the story, and Cheryl remarks that Ethel received justice. Jughead explains that going forward, Betty and Veronica’s friendship had been forged by this experience.
Outside of Riverdale High, Betty and Cheryl throw out the burn book, and light it on fire. Cheryl apologizes for the hurt that Jason caused Polly.
Archie walks into the music room, startling Grundy. He thanks her for what she said to his dad, and she says it was genuine.
Dilton begs Jughead and Betty not to run a story about his involvement in July 4th, instead offering up a ‘better story.’ They agree. Dilton reveals that he saw Grundy’s car by the river that day. Jughead’s narration reveals that he is conflicted, saying that he’d do anything to protect Archie, but isn’t sure that he’ll be able to now that this information is getting out.
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Riverdale airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. “Chapter Three: Body Double” premieres on Thursday, February 9.
