Strange happenings occur in the town. Betty notices her typewriter and phone missing, Veronica bumps into a stranger in the elevator, and Mrs. Thornton is pulled out of the classroom. Principal Featherhead and Sheriff Keller escort her from the classroom.

Mayor Clifford Blossom says that Mrs. Thornton has been relieved of her duties. He makes Penelope Blossom the new teacher. He claims Mrs. Thornton is under suspicion of being a communist.

The students discuss the theories about Mrs. Thornton. Veronica talks about the troubles in Hollywood and the McCarthy list.

Jughead and Ethel want to purchase a copy of the comic, but the newspaper attendant says he'll no longer sell those types of comics.

Clifford and Penelope confront Cheryl about an accusation of her kissing a girl. Cheryl denies it, but her parents offer her a deal to help clear up her name. Her parents already have a list of teens who are suspected of being scandalous; her parents want her to corroborate the story to punish them. Clifford threatens to take away the River Vixens if Cheryl doesn't agree to help them.

Hiram Lodge returns to Riverdale to see Veronica. He gives her a glamourege egg. Veronica deduces that Hermione is mad at Hiram and kicked him out of the house due to his flirting. He says he also came to see her and meet her friends.

At school, Veronica introduces Hiram to all of her friends. He is invited to be the guest teacher for the English class.

During class, Hiram gives Julian a lesson about his acting.

Principal Featherhead tells Betty that he is shutting down the Blue & Gold. Betty is furious over his decision and she takes the typewriter.

Cheryl warns Clay, Toni, and Kevin that they're on the list. They encourage Cheryl to find out who made the accusation against her and who placed them on the list. Cheryl confronts Evelyn Evernever; she admits to being the one who made the claim. She saw Cheryl and Toni getting close at the diner.

Hiram is going to watch the movie while Veronica works. The man asks how Veronica knows Hiram.

Mr. Fieldstone tells Jughead and Ethel that people are boycotting Pep Comics and sending back all comics. He says they're going to weather the storm. Ethel keeps a copy for her, but Jughead and Ethel take a huge stack for a plan.

Betty writes an op-ed as an anonymous writer and delivers it to every student at Riverdale High. She is "The Girl Mystique."

Uncle Frank confronts Archie about poetry writing. He says it will give people the wrong idea about him.

Veronica asks Hiram why the FBI is asking about him. Hiram reveals the FBI is investigating him if he's a communist. Hiram says during his trip to Cuba, he was only there to get cigars and he didn't meet with any revolutionaries. He asks Veronica to lie for him and say the trip was a family trip; he wants her to lie for him.

The FBI agent offers to show Veronica proof about Hiram. Archie sees Veronica drive off with the agent. At the diner, the agent shows Veronica photos of her father meeting with a revolutionary and him on a date with another woman.

Mrs. Thornton reveals she's moving to Greendale to be a volunteer librarian. She gives him a copy of The Crucible for him to read. Mrs. Thornton encourages Archie to use his words for good.

At the diner, Ethel and Jughead run an underground comic dealing business. They sell comics to teens.

Toni, Clay, and Kevin come up with the idea to pretend to date each other. Kevin and Cheryl would date each other while Clay and Toni would date each other. The group reluctantly agrees to the plan.

Hiram arrives back in Riverdale and reveals that he is going to named in the accusations. Veronica confronts him about his trip and his affair with Kelly, his mistress. He won't reveal he was there with Kelly because he signed a morality clause with the studio; if he told the truth, he would be fired and the show ruined. Veronica refuses to lie for him.

Cheryl, Kevin, Clay, and Toni play their lie to all of the Riverdale High students.

For his English acting assignment, Archie performs a monologue from The Crucible.

Cheryl refuses to sign Clifford's list. She resigns from the River Vixens before the adults can take it away from her.

Veronica says Archie did a great job during his monologue. She gives him a kiss on the cheek before they kiss each other.

Ethel and Jughead are busted for selling comic books. Sheriff Keller shuts them down.

Veronica refuses to have dinner with Hiram.

Geraldine Grundy is the new English teacher at Riverdale High; her former mentor was Mrs. Thornton. Ms. Grundy offers the same help to Archie to help with his poetry. She has a husband who is a poetry; she offers to show his poetry to him.

Sheriff Keller gives all the confiscated comic books to Principal Feathered and Dr. Werthers. The adults say that full measures need to be enforced in town.

Veronica's monologue is from King Lear.

Veronica offers to write the affidavit for Hiram, but he'll have to tell Hermione the truth about Kelly. Also, she forces him to sign the Pembrooke's ownership to Veronica.

Betty checks her P.O. box and finds plenty of mail addressed to her newsletter.

Hermione visits Riverdale; she tells Veronica that "Oh Miha!" will be its last season. She plans to hold a press conference with Hiram in L.A. to reveal the news. Hermione says she's excited for the future. She wants to do Christmas in New York with her and Veronica.

Principal Featherhead offers to buy comic books from all the students. At night, all the parents hold a comic book burning in front of the school.