"Say Goodbye, Uncle"

FADE IN:< @Ln2 Heading 1 Ctrl+1>

EXT. BEACH OUTSIDE OF TEMPLE; DAY TIME

Steven is on the beach, alone; he's trying to coax out his shield, stepping forward, forcing his arm, bent, outward, a look of determination on his face, trying different footing/arm positions each time.

Steven

Aaaand Activate! Uh, shiiiieeeeld GO! Shield... power up?







Steven sighs, and flops down onto the ground, staring out at the ocean.

Whats wrong with me? And why couldn't ice cream sandwiches have been the answe-r-r!

ENTER: CONNIE

CONNIE

Hey, Steven! ...Steven?







She gives him a concerned look, as he lays on his back, looking up at her.

CONNIE

Steven, whats wrong?





Steven

Its just... I'm supposed to be a gem! And I've been getting better, but, I still can't get my shield to work when I want, and, I should be better at this!







CONNIE

Steven, its okay, you're doing the best you can...





Steven

Exactly! And its not good enough, and, the gems just keep saying I'll learn, and theres nothing they can really do to help, but, I need to learn NOW. Things are getting crazy, and without my mom around... Without her, they're missing a gem on the team, a REAL gem.







CONNIE

Well... maybe someone besides the gems could help!







EXT. THE STREETS OF BEACH CITY, DAYTIME

We see the two of them walking in town, heading towards IT'S A WASH.





STEVEN

I don't really think

that my dad can help,

Connie, this is gem stuff.

CONNIE

Well, besides the Garnet

Amethyst, and Pearl,

who else has even KNOWN

another gem?







INT. ITS A WASH; DAY TIME

Greg sleeps behind the counter, startled as the kids walk in.





CONNIE

Hi Mr. Universe!





STEVEN

Hey Dad!







GREG

(STARTLED) Oh! Hey, hey kids.

Just..(YAWN) meditating, like I

always do, at 3... no, 4 PM, on

the mark, you know me! Definitely

not sleeping on the job (COUGH).

So, whats up kiddo?





STEVEN

I've been trying to make

my shield come out all day.

GREG

And no luck?







STEVEN

(FROWNING) Yeah...

Did mom ever...?

GREG

Go through a rut? I dunno.

But, your mom was thousands

of years old, Steven, she

you can't compare yourself to that.

STEVEN

But everyone ELSE compares me to her! What am I SUPPOSED to do?





Connie

I was thinking, I dunno, is there anyone

else you know that might be a

good life coach? Or, like, a guru?

GREG

(EXCITED) Uncle Grandpa!

STEVEN

Uncle who?

GREG

You know, Uncle Grandpa! I know you two have met!

STEVEN

I have no idea, dad, but, is he my Uncle, or my Grandpa...?

GREG

Steven, he's your Uncle Grandpa.

GREG

I'll give him a call! He's great with

this kind of stuff, trust me. I had writers

block for a month, that crazy old man came

to town, and next thing I knew, I wrote a

whole album! I'm sure he could handle something like this!

Connie

Well, it couldn't hurt! Steven, what do you say?

STEVEN

If you think he can help, I'll try anything... Thanks dad.

DISSOLVE/WIPE, TO THE NEXT DAY







EXT. THE PORCH OF STEVEN'S HOME

Steven is checking the time on his phone, tapping his foot, until he sees Uncle Grandpa on the beach, feverishly waving to him. Excited, he rushes down.

STEVEN

Hi! I'm Steven!

UNCLE GRANDPA

I know! And I'm your Uncle Grandpa!

STEVEN

Yeah, uh, I know, haha... ha.





THIS SCENE HAPPENS:





The gems RUN DOWN FROM THE HOUSE









STEVEN

… he's not a stranger, he's Uncle Grandpa!





PEARL

So is he your Uncle...?

AMETHYST

Or your grandpa?

GARNET

He's his Uncle Grandpa.

ALL STARE AT HER

PEARL

Steven, get away from him!

UNCLE GRANDPA

Whats wrong?

AMETHYST

Yeah, back off, buddy, who even ARE you? You can't be his Uncle AND his Grandpa... So... Back off!

STEVEN

Guys, calm down! Dad knows him! He said he's my... Uncle Grandpa, I'll be honest, I'm still confused too, but, he's nice!

PEARL

Steven, stop it. Where did you meet this man?!

STEVEN

Dad called him! Guys, calm down!

pearl

Oh, GREG vouched for him! (ROLLS EYES) I'm sorry, Steven, I do NOT trust this man, and he needs to leave, NOW! (She summons and levels her spear at him, Amethyst summons her whip and threateningly cracks it)

STEVEN

Guys!

UNCLE GRANDPA

Steven, its okay. They take care of you, and if they don't want me around, that okay, kiddo.





STEVEN

But, I need your help!

UNCLE GRANDPA

It'll be okay, buddy, you're fine, you just gotta do your best. Thats the best cure for the belly blues, as much of a let down that might be, the whole, power inside thing, but trust me, you can do this!

STEVEN

And you're fun! And your MY Uncle Grandpa, and guys, stop!

AMETHYST

Grrrr...

UNCLE GRANDPA

(TO THE GEMS) But, why don't you guys like me? I know I'm goofy, but, you just met me, and I just came here to help Steven! He's a smart kid, and he wants me here... And, if you care about him, then you should care about what he wants, too. You could have at least heard me out, not threaten to attack me and boss the little guy around. I guess I'll go, I'm sorry Steven. For a bunch of rocks, you guys are really hard headed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntv9R1She5A STARTS PLAYING (SAD HULK WALKING AWAY MUSIC), LISTEN FOR FULL EFFECT.

(FOR MY EASE, I'M GONNA BREAK FORMAT AND WRITE JUST THE SEED IDEA I HAD THAT PROMPTED THE REST OF THIS)





He look back once more as he walks away, and says, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help..." as the Gems stand, arms crossed, stern looks on their faces. Steven starts sobbing and tries running to him, but Pearl grabs him by the back of the shirt, and keeps glaring, all the Gems' standing in place, still and unmoving.





Amethyst looks up at Garnet and says, "This isn't right, Garnet..." Pearl snaps in response, "NO. I knew he was going to be bad for Steven the second I saw this... this IDIOT, and he needs to go, NOW. And we're NEVER speaking of this again," holding Steven back as he sobs, trying to break free and follow UG until UG walks all the way off camera, turning a corner. Steven breaks down and falls onto the ground, crying, "why... why?" on his hands and knees, tears dropping into the sand, unable to even look at them. Pearl looks down at him, and, simply says, dispassionately, "Steven, you just have to trust us. We know whats best for you, we love you, Steven. And that maniac is nothing but bad news."





Pearl walks inside, Amethyst moves her hand to comfort him, but, before touching him, curls her arms around herself, and stares at the ground, walking away. Garnet just stands there, and after a moment, kneels down, looks into Steven's eyes, takes off her glasses, eyes watering, and says, "I'm sorry, I thought we were... better than this, we shouldn't have been so aggressive, I should have said something. But, we just can't Steven. We can't let you be around a man like that. We care about you, Steven, we love you. I'm sorry but sometimes you have to trust us, he can't be anything but trouble, trust me, I'D know..."





Steven screams, "IF YOU CARED, YOU'D LET ME MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS!" and runs away, as Garnets face falls into her hands, crying, mumbling, "I'm trying, Rose, I'm trying..." before the camera pans up, to Pearl, in the house, in the distance because of where Garnet is, who'se still on the beach, staring out the window, eyes narrowed, looking down at them, before dropping the shades.





Steven runs towards where UG walked, hoping to catch up. As he turns the corner, theres no one there. Slow pan out of him from above. We see Garnet start to walk inside, Amethyst is running into town. Steven is tiny and alone, and we hear one tiny last, "...why?" before it fades to black.





You don't deserve to see the little star you usually see.