"I saw the best minds of my generation
destroyed by madness,
starving, hysterical, naked.
Angelheaded hipsters
burning for the ancient heavenly connection
to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night,
floating across the tops of cities contemplating jazz."
Is that from Howl, by Allen Ginsberg?
Yeah. He... he performed it
in San Francisco earlier this year.
Ginsberg, he's a Beat poet, isn't he?
That's right, Betty.
Yeah, he was there at the beginning, at Columbia,
with Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs.
Sorry, but... who are the Beats?
The Beats are...
Vagabond rebel writers
who reject institutionalized American values
like materialism, conformity and heteronormativity.
Heteronormativity?
The Beats have a lot of sex, Archie.
And a lot of it with each other.
Even the men's men, like Kerouac and Cassidy,
they have girlfriends.
But they also have each other.
Bully for them. Sounds like my kind of literary movement.
The Beats are a whole counterculture
dedicated to living their lives a certain way.
Always exploring,
experimenting, hustling,
pushing the boundaries of human experience.
You know, really living.
Uh...
Uh, Ms. Grundy,
are we allowed to continue reading Howl?
Yes, I already made copies.
Read it, and we will discuss it at our next meeting.
Bettie Page sure is a dolly and a half.
Oh, she's an icon in fishnets.
Even you will have to agree, Lizzo.
Yeah, she's not bad,
but I wanna let you two kittens in on a little secret.
That mag's nowheresville
compared to what I just got in the mail.
What are my eyes beholding?
The latest issue of Femme-and-In magazine,
an underground lesbian pin-up mag.
Lizzo, can we borrow this?
Oh, you can keep it, Topaz. I always buy two copies.
Just, uh, don't get caught
with your hand in the cookie jar.
Whatever you wet rags are doing tonight, drop it.
I got my hands on a stag film.
Wait, what's a stag film?
Jeez, Andrews, maybe it's time
to get your nose out of those poems.
It's a skin flick,
complete with naked women.
Sometimes more than one.
Where'd you get something like that?
A buddy of mine from Stonewall Prep,
lent it to me.
So who's game?
Oh, come on, Fogarty, you've got to be horny
with your honey under lock and key at the Sisters'.
Where would we watch it?
We can hang a blanket up in my parents' barn.
Only glitch is, we need a projector.
You two work at the movie theater, right?
Can you help a brother out?
The Babylonium does have a smaller projector, but--
We wanna come, too.
Fine.
Just don't expect it to be like
one of those wrestling movies you like to watch.
So, Robert Frost.
You in?
-Yeah, we're in. -Right-o.
From all accounts you won't be disappointed.
My pal told me that there's nothing they don't show.
Jeepers, Mr. Fieldstone, it's like a funeral in here.
Did something happen?
Yes. I got a letter from that crackpot Werthers.
Apparently wants to follow up his bonfire
with some cockamamie comic book code
he wants to ram down our throats.
A code to do what?
To censor our content,
like the Hays Code censors movies.
Now, I didn't spend two years fighting Nazis in France
to kowtow to fascists at home.
He and his "board of experts"
want to have a sit-down meeting with you?
Yeah, and look who that geezer's
got on his side of the table.
Mayor Blossom, that chrome-dome principal,
some fuddy-duddy nun
from The Sisters of Quiet Mercy.
Well, golly, Mr. Fieldstone, you have to do it.
It might be the best way to defend Pep Comics
before this code becomes official.
Okay, fine, fine. I'll, I'll try and get my hands
on a draft of Werthers' "recommendations"
before we go into the lion's den.
"We"?
You have tangled with Werthers before
and lived to tell the tale.
So far.
What do you say?
Will you step up?
You betcha.
Let's beat 'em at their own game.
You know, babe,
what if we did a pin-up shoot of our own.
Color me curious.
I've got a camera.
And it has a timer,
so we could both be in the pictures.
In that case, afterwards,
we could pick our favorite photo,
and then I could turn it into
the most fantabulous oil painting
in the tradition of our favorite
pulp novel covers.
I know exactly
where our clandestine photoshoot can be.
Tell me. Where?
Thornhill's chapel.
No one in my unholy family ever uses it.
Well, if it isn't the Bobbsey Twins,
up to their old tricks again.
How many times do I have to tell you boys
that you're free to watch your wrestling movies
in our auditorium.
After hours, of course, and provided you clean up.
Oh, uh, it's, it's not that, Veronica. Um...
Julian...
got his hands on a stag film,
and he needs a projector to screen it.
You don't say.
I've heard about these "smokers" before.
So-called because they're typically screened by men
in the back rooms of their private clubs
while smoking cigars and enjoying hot toddies.
But I've never actually seen one.
Though I've always been curious.
Exactly. Same as us.
Yeah, that's why we're helping the creep.
Why don't I make you a deal?
You tell Julian
that he can do a proper screening
here at the Babylonium tonight,
and invite all his horndog friends.
But I get to come, too.
And invite a gal-pal.
I thought you'd given me the brush-off.
I know. I'm sorry.
I had to wait for my mom to take her sleeping pills.
I'm just glad you made it.
I didn't want to be the only girl here,
and I knew you'd wanna take a gander.
Oh, yes.
Ever since reading about stag films
in Dr. Kingsley's book.
Well, the boys are already in the theater,
panting like a pack of rabid wolves.
It's showtime, fellas.
So settle down,
and welcome to the Riverdale premiere of...
The Wedding Night.
- Yeah! - Yes.
In which a young, blushing bride
is initiated into the mysteries of matrimony.
Okay!
Now, behave yourselves, fellas.
Keep the roughhousing and catcalling to a minimum.
And with that, enjoy the show.
- Take it off! - Yeah.
Oh, my gosh.
Betty, what's wrong?
Stop! Stop the movie! Stop!
That woman is my sister.
-Your sister? -Polly?
Cut the reel and, uh, hit the lights, Clay.
Well, safe to say that was a twist no one saw coming.
When was the last time you saw your sister?
A couple of years, but, Vee, this doesn't make any sense.
Polly is a dancer on Broadway.
Maybe you should call Polly.
See if you can get some answers.
- Hello. - Polly.
It's Betty, I...
I found your number in Mom's address book.
I'm sorry to be calling you so late, but...
we need to talk.
He didn't pass it to you, he--
So last night was a bust.
Tell you what, though,
I got Keller and Walker to lend me a projector,
and I watched another movie I got
from my buddy at Stonewall Prep
after Cooper shut us down.
And, guys,
it's like the tenth Wonder of the World. Mm.
And guess what?
For two bucks,
I'll rent you the projector and the movie,
which you can watch
in the privacy of your own home,
this time, with no interruptions.
What do you say, boys?
Okay, so you and Polly actually spoke?
Yes, but it was quick.
She's on her way to Riverdale, now.
We're gonna meet at Pop's
so she can explain everything to me in person.
But she says she doesn't do those films anymore.
Right. She's on Broadway.
No, actually, that's her cover story.
What she told me last night is she does...
burlesque.
Really?
Do your parents know that?
Apparently.
I didn't ask them this morning.
They don't even know that I reached out to Polly.
Well, for what it's worth, burlesque is a legit art form.
In fact, some burlesque performers
are huge stars.
Gypsy Rose Lee, to name one.
Josephine Baker, to name another.
Well, she says her stage name is Polly Amorous.
Cut the gas.
Polly Amorous?
Betty, she's the berries. I'm gonna flip.
What?
Have you seen her perform?
No, I wish.
But I recognize that name from the trades.
I always thought she sounded so glamorous and flossy.
I mean, I'd flat-out die and go to heaven
to have her perform at the Babylonium.
Uh, she kind of already did.
Her burlesque show, you tickler.
Say, come to think of it,
maybe this is why your mom is so terrified of S-E-X.
Maybe she's threatened by Polly.
Her independence,
her sexuality,
her devil-may-care ways.
Well, hi-de-ho, I must say it's official.
You're a genius.
Well, photography is no big whoop
when you have subjects as stunning as, well, us.
By the way, I was reading the back pages
of Femme-and-In magazine,
and they publish amateur photos,
if that's something that you're interested in.
Perhaps after we graduate high school.
In the meantime,
how do you feel about me
painting a version of this for us?
That's my favorite one, too.
I can't wait to see how you pulpify us.
I know how you feel about comic books, Veronica,
but I also know that you're the top negotiator in town.
And though I'm not necessarily a fanatic of comic books,
I don't think they should be burned or banned.
But this code...
Yeah, my boss, Mr. Fieldstone
got us a copy ahead of the meeting.
What that crackpot Werthers is proposing is insane.
I mean, it is straight out of 1984.
Big Brother is watching,
and he's trying to take your comic books.
These rules are more outrageous than the Hays Code.
How can you possibly spin any yarn
with all these kinds of blanket restrictions?
Heck, he's even trying to ban the words
"horror" and "terror" from our covers.
And some of these rules are incredibly vague.
Werthers wants to outlaw stories with
"horror, bloodshed, depravity, lust,"
but he doesn't define what those terms mean.
I think he's trying
to specifically target Pep Comics.
And if he gets his way, the good doctor
is going to run us out of business.
So you came to me.
Smart.
Well, first,
don't get the gringles.
If they smell fear,
they will pounce on you.
Technically, this isn't a code.
It's a proposal.
Their first offer.
So you and Mr. Fieldstone should make a counterproposal.
Go through this draft point by point.
Be crystal clear about what you want.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's good.
You're in the right on this one, Jughead.
Don't doubt yourself.
It's really nice to see you again, Polly.
I missed you.
Aw. I missed you, too, Betty.
I'm sorry that we're reconnecting
under these circumstances.
Oh, I figured you'd want this back.
Yes, hmm, thank you.
Can I ask,
why did you do it, Polly?
I got hoodwinked into filming The Wedding Night
when I first got to New York.
I was young and naive,
and I fell in love with a fink who steered me wrong.
I spent a year
trying to track down every copy I could find.
Thought I got 'em all.
Hmm.
Well, how did you... how did you get into burlesque?
It's funny.
Um, I auditioned for the Rockettes.
But I wasn't tall enough.
And then I saw Gypsy Rose Lee perform
at the Ziegfeld Follies, and I thought,
that is what I wanna do.
And whatever you might think about burlesque,
I'm proud of my career.
It's on my terms. I make good money.
People respect me,
and I respect myself.
So you don't have to worry.
I wanted to tell you that face to face.
I'm so happy for you, Polly, really.
And... to be perfectly honest,
I did a little burlesque show of my own
just for one person, Archie.
Archie from next door?
In our windows.
Well, you always were sweet on him.
How much did you say Mom and Dad know about...
My life?
Well, they don't know about The Wedding Night.
Thank God.
But they do know about Polly Amorous.
I invited them to my show a couple years ago.
They walked out in the first five minutes
without saying a word.
Not a peep.
And then I started hearing that Mom was telling people
I was doing Guys and Dolls, and I thought,
"Well, that is it for me."
In their eyes, at least.
But it's fine.
I'm past that. Truly.
I came here for you, Betty,
and I booked a room at the Cozy Time Motel
because I figured Mom and Dad have no interest in seeing me.
And anyways, I don't wanna step foot in that house...
ever again.
I understand.
Believe me.
But I thought we could do something fun tonight.
Go shopping, to the movies. My treat, of course.
Actually, if you're not rushing back to the city,
I was wondering if you might be willing
to meet a friend of mine.
She's a big fan of yours,
of... of Polly Amorous.
A fan in Riverdale?
Absolutely.
I never say no to a fan.
Be still my beating heart.
The Polly Amorous sitting in my humble living room.
Now that we're gal pals,
you must tell me everything about everything.
How's Gay Paree and Old Madrid and every city in between.
I will let you know just after I get back
from my all-expenses-paid first-class European tour.
-Polly, you're going to Europe? -Mm-hmm.
Your sister is living the dream.
A new city and a different paramour every night I bet.
Well, not exactly.
Oh?
I...
I'm engaged.
You're engaged?
To... to who?
His name is Langley Huggles.
He's a stockbroker, completely devoted to me.
Keeps me grounded.
And housed in a penthouse on the Upper West Side.
Ooh, la, la.
Polly, you were going to invite me to the wedding,
I hope,
whatever tension there is with Mom and Dad.
Sure, I was.
Actually,
I was gonna ask you if you would be my maid of honor.
Aw.
Well, I wouldn't be Veronica Lodge if I didn't ask.
What do you think about doing a one-night-only show
at my theater, The Babylonium?
I know Betty would love to see you perform, as would I.
It's true, and maybe Mom would even come,
since it's right here in town.
I wouldn't hold your breath on that, Betty.
But as a matter of fact,
I am working on a new routine.
Well, then it's kismet.
And we'll keep it on the hush-hush. Girls only.
This is gonna be the best two dollars we've ever spent.
I'll say.
Tonight we become men.
You ready?
Yeah.
What, uh...
What is this?
Don't know. Maybe they're gonna fight over a girl or something.
-Right. Yeah. -Yeah.
Yeah.
Dang nabbit!
That joker Julian
must have switched films on us as a gag.
Yeah, didn't Julian say something about
Kevin and Clay watching wrestling videos?
I don't know. But we should probably
turn this off, right? I mean...
Yeah. Yeah, we probably should.
Maybe we just give it a minute
just to see if a girl comes in or something.
Yeah, that's a good idea.
Let's do that.
Hey, that was... wacko, right?
Do you think the guys in that movie were...
you know...
Well... some guys are that way.
Yeah, so...
Are Kevin and Clay?
I think...
yeah.
Maybe.
And, you know, there's an in-between.
What do you mean, an in-between?
Like a little wiggle room to... explore.
We've been talking about it in Mrs. Grundy's workshop.
These Beat poets would...
experiment with each other.
Even though they were men's men,
with girlfriends, wives, families.
They would...
with... other guys?
Do stuff.
Yeah, with their buddies.
Just to see, just to...
try it on for size.
I gotta take a cold shower.
Yeah, me too. Well, I'll go after you.
And tomorrow you can bet your ass
that Julian Blossom is gonna give us our two dollars back.
Yeah.
Hey, Blossom!
What's the big idea giving us a wrestling movie?
Aw, aren't you two in love with each other?
I thought that flick might break the ice, you know,
get the ball, or balls, rolling.
Give us our damn money back or I'll pound you.
All right!
Get your filthy meat hooks off of me.
There you go, ladies.
There's your two clams.
If anything I should be paying you.
Your faces are priceless.
What about the damn stag film?
The one with Cooper's sister.
Betty took it, numbskull.
But I do have another smoky.
This one about a guy with two girls.
If you're interested.
This time I'll lend it to you gratis.
What does that mean?
It's free.
'Cause I'm that kind of guy.
Hey, all you hep kittens!
May we have your attention, please?
Clear your dance cards, ladies,
because the Babylonium is proud to present
a very special, one-night-only performance
by international burlesque star and chanteuse,
the sensational Polly Amorous.
Who?
My sister Polly.
Wait.
Your sister's a burlesque star.
Things are starting to make a hellish sense now.
In any case,
this is going to be a ladies night only.
No boys allowed.
Well, sounds like my kinda night.
So, who's in?
"Scenes dealing with
or instruments associated with walking dead,
torture, vampires and vampirism,
ghouls, cannibalism,
and werewolfism are prohibited."
Wooden stakes are used to kill vampires.
But if Super Duck used wooden stakes to pitch a tent,
would that be okay or is that banned, too?
Mr. Jones, please.
Clearly, context matters.
And shouldn't you be in class?
It's my lunch period, sir.
"Suggestive and salacious illustration
or suggestive posture is unacceptable"?
Could you be a little more specific
about which postures you mean?
Um, Sister,
uh, perhaps you and the doctor
could, uh, demonstrate for us numbskulls.
Buffoons.
What about this item?
"All scenes of horror, excessive bloodshed,
gory or gruesome crimes, depravity, lust, sadism
and masochism shall not be permitted"?
This code in its current state violates the First Amendment.
Oh, surely you're not suggesting
that tripe like this is protected by free speech.
Freedom of speech is protection of speech
that you don't agree with, Dr. Werthers.
What you are advocating for is censorship.
You even wanna ban the word "mystery"
from appearing on our covers.
Mr. Fieldstone, as an educator,
I believe this code to be quite even-handed.
Well, I believe it to be
intentionally vague and confusing
so that you can apply it to anything you want to censor.
And who exactly defines what "lurid",
"unsavory" or "perverted" is?
Is that you, Dr. Werthers?
Are we done here?
No, we are not done here.
We have a counterproposal.
In the form of a rating system.
A rating system?
Yes, printed clearly on our covers.
A comic might be rated "K" for "Kid"
or "T" for "Teen" or "A" for "Adult."
Don't be so naive.
Stamping an "A" for "Adult" on a comic book
would only make it more desirable
for young readers.
Riverdale's children and teenagers
must be protected.
At all costs.
Yeah, you, you keep saying this,
but "protected" from what?
From the corrupting filth
that you and your colleagues peddle, Mr. Jones.
Tales of... of murder, lust, sex and violence
that would in turn prompt the same in their behavior.
Do you want to know what else has all of those themes?
The Bible, the plays of Shakespeare,
Bullfinch's Mythology--
Apples and oranges.
Wrongdoers are punished in the Bible.
Show me one Pep Comic book
that glamorizes violence.
I don't read such depravity.
No, you just burn it.
Gentlemen, Sister,
I think it's time we wrapped this up.
Don't you concur?
Wrap it up? We haven't even begun to reach compromise.
This meeting was never a negotiation.
It was offered to you as a courtesy.
All of your competitors have already agreed
to comply with our Comic Book Code.
You are, at the moment, the only holdouts.
I mean, if you do not abide by our strictures,
then you will not be able to print
the Comic Book Code Seal of Approval on your books.
No! No.
Not even Super Duck,
which means that no newsstand in America
will sell or even carry your comic books.
They will be relegated to the trash heap,
where they belong.
I know it's been a busy week,
but did you all have a chance to read Howl?
Good. Let's open it up for discussion.
What did you all think?
Dynamic and hallucinogenic.
A subterranean toppling of idolatry
and an awakening.
Very good, Clay.
Archie, what did you think of Ginsberg's poem?
I...
couldn't sleep after reading it.
Where does a humdinger like Howl even come from?
Well, Allen's lived a lot of life.
My husband says,
"You can't be a real poet without really... living."
Well, in that case,
I'm never gonna be able to write anything like Howl.
Why would you say that, Archie?
Because look at me, Ms. Grundy. I'm a square.
What am I gonna write about?
Jack Kerouac played football in small-town Massachusetts
before going to Columbia to study writing.
Maybe it's more about
keeping an open mind about things.
Being open to trying new things,
with different people.
Or more than one person, maybe two.
Let me ask you this, Archie.
Have you ever seen the sunrise?
Sure.
You mean like waking up early for basketball practice?
No, no, I mean staying up all night.
With your friends, drinking coffee and,
and getting into deep philosophical conversations
that last until the sky streaks pink and yellow
with the dawn's early light.
My husband and I do that, once a month.
Let me tell you, it is...
transcendent.
It's like... being reborn.
Betty,
what's your take on Howl?
To be honest, Mrs. Grundy, I'm halfway through it, and...
so far, I appreciate how...
How it isn't afraid to ask the hard questions?
To have the difficult conversations
that many of us are...
too afraid to even begin?
Lady's Leisure?
Any interesting article--
What can I do for you, Elizabeth?
I came here to see if you wanted to join me
and my gal pals tonight at the Babylonium.
Polly's performing.
What?
Polly's here? In Riverdale?
And she's performing?
She is. I called her.
When were you planning on telling me that my sister
is a world famous burlesque dancer?
Never, if I had my druthers.
So is that why you've been so down on me all this time?
Are you punishing me
for Polly's choices,
or trying to make sure
that I don't follow in her footsteps?
I can't believe your sister's here, performing.
Well, she is.
She's living her life, Mom,
without us because you decided to cut her off.
Oh, did you know that she's engaged?
To a stockbroker.
Don't you want to go to her wedding?
Please, just come to the show tonight, Mom.
Imagine what a great surprise that it would be for her,
not to mention the best chance we have to...
just be a family again.
In what world
would I wanna go and watch my daughter
debase herself for dirty old men?
It is not for dirty old men.
It is just for girls.
Well, I don't care if it's for the Virgin Mary.
Well, I'm going.
And don't even try to forbid me.
Because I'm proud of Polly
and I want to support her,
and show her that I love and accept her no matter what.
Unlike her mother.
You ready?
Ready.
What--
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! No!
What are we supposed to do now?
I'm horny as heck!
Me, too, Reg.
Me, too.
Wait...
I got an idea.
Now it's little raunchy,
but, I mean, if you're up for it...
Well, well, well.
Looks like Twyla hit the jackpot tonight.
Now, which one of you hunks
of Wisconsin man-cheese is coming in first?
Or maybe you both wanna come in...
at the same time?
Ladies and...
Ladies.
The Babylonium takes great pleasure
in presenting the one, the only, Miss Polly Amorous!
Polly, that was spectacular.
Oh, it was okay.
Still working out the kinks.
Well, some of them.
I'm just glad I finally got to see
a bona fide burlesque star in the flesh.
But interestingly, not too much flesh.
Well, that is correct.
If you're good enough, you can suggest more than show.
Well, you, my dear Miss Amorous are better than good.
I'm just sorry that Mom didn't come.
I really thought that she might rally.
It's okay. She doesn't believe in what I do.
But that's on her. Not me or you.
Look, Betty,
if you take anything from my visit, let it be this.
When you find the thing that you love,
just promise me that you'll do it.
No matter what Mom or anybody says.
I promise.
And I want nothing more than to be your maid of honor.
Oh, Betty.
Oh, consider yourself booked.
Wow.
Mrs. Grundy was right.
Staying up all night really does make the dawn look...
Different.
Somehow.
Yeah.
And now that we've...
expanded our horizons...
It seems like...
anything's possible at this point.
I love you, Reggie.
I love you, too, bud.
Sweetheart.
Something wrong?
Perhaps you should pray on it in the chapel.
I don't get to go as often as I'd like,
but when I do I find such comfort there.
Toni, I have a question for you.
Do you still have the negatives from our photoshoot?
Of course. Why?
My hideous mother
and by extension, my father.
I can't keep living at their mercy.
I wanna shut them up and shut them down,
once and for all.
Didn't hear you come in last night.
I presume Polly's on her way back to New York City?
Yes.
And I'm so jealous.
She has... freedom,
a career she loves,
someone in her life who worships her.
That's more than any one of us here can say.
Don't pick a fight with me, Elizabeth.
I'm not in the mood.
So when are you going to stop?
Stop sabotaging our family?
-Oh, is that what you think I'm doing? -Well, isn't it?
Did you forget when you disowned me as your daughter?
-Oh... -You drove Polly away.
We couldn't even have one night together,
the three of us, because of your hang-ups.
-Oh-- -You know what?
You are a sad, lonely woman.
And it is all your own doing.
But I'll tell you this, Mom,
I am not giving you any more power over my life
because you will ruin it.
I'm going to do exactly what Polly did.
And the second I can leave this town, I'm gone.
Fine.
Go!
Oh, you should know, after last night,
I'm thinking of following in Polly's footsteps
and becoming a burlesque dancer, too.
Except maybe I'll take off all my clothes.
And then what will you tell your friends?
Or will you just pretend that I don't exist
or that I died tragically?
-Elizabeth-- -It doesn't matter
because I won't be in this house.
I will be far away from you
doing whatever I want, and you can't stop me.
I'm surprised it took you this long to do that.
So what happens now?
Well, if we don't follow their code,
we can't publish our comics with their "Seal of Approval."
And if we can't get that,
then publishers won't print our comics.
Distributors will not ship them,
and newsstands will not sell them.
So, we either follow their cock-eyed rules,
or we go the way of the dodos.
How could I have been so naive?
I, I really thought that there was a way through this.
You weren't naive, Jughead.
You were fighting for what's right.
For what this country stands for...
or what it's supposed to stand for.
Well, shucks,
who even needs the Russian invasion
when we're happily destroying ourselves?
Don't you worry, Nick Charles, we'll figure something out.
Oh, "we" will?
I mean,
I just sort of said that
to say something.
But here we find ourselves...
once again,
just the two of us.
We...
kind of blew it last time, didn't we?
We did.
But as I said...
here we are again.
Here we are again.