Winter Forecast

[Open int. Beach House]

Steven: *sitting by the fireplace roasting a marshmallow on a stick* Mmm. You're roasting good! *withdraws marshmallow from fire and holds up to mouth* And... *blows* *eats marshmallow*

Connie: Good job not setting that one on fire.

Steven: Mm-hmm. What is it about marshmallows that make them so... good?

Connie: It's probably the animal by-product.

Steven: *slightly disgusted* You mean like... poop?

Connie: *chuckles while passing a marshmallow across her face then eats it* No. Stuff like hooves, bone marrow, collagen... and lots of sugar and corn syrup.

Steven: *yelling* CORN SUGAR!

Connie: *grabs a handful of marshmallows* Sugar syrup! *places the handful in her mouth* *muffled* Bone marrow!

(They both laugh as Connie's cellphone rings.)

Connie: *answers* Hello?

Dr. Maheswaran: *on phone* Have you been watching World Weather News?

Connie: Um... no. *swallows marshmallows* Steven's still grounded from watching TV.

Dr. Maheswaran: *on phone* I see. Well, there's a snowstorm on its way to Beach City, and I don't want you getting snowed in. You need to get a ride home this instant. *whispering* Otherwise your father is gonna try to pick you up.

Connie: *a little worried* Oh no. Don't send Dad. I'll be home soon. *hangs up* Looks like I gotta get going.

Steven: *muffled* Oh, no...

Connie: There's a snowstorm coming through, and my parents don't want me getting stuck here.

Steven: *swallows* Man! That stinks!

Connie: *sighs* Wouldn't it be fun if we got snowed in together?

Steven: *gasps* We could stay up all night and watch the snow fall!

(They smile at each other until Garnet walks in.)

Garnet: Hello, you two.

Steven & Connie: Hi, Garnet.

Pearl: *walks in with Amethyst* You all having a nice time?

Steven: *walks over with Connie* Yeah, but Connie has to go soon. There's a snowstorm-a-comin'.

Connie: Maybe the storm will miss us. Sometimes the forecast is completely wrong.

Garnet: Nope. It's definitely going to snow.

Amethyst: *makes a rap gesture* That's the 411, yo.

Garnet: Trust.

Steven: *gasps* *whispers to Connie* Garnet has future vision.

Garnet: You kids better get yourselves to Greg's.

Steven: Wait—We can't go yet. *to Connie* I've got to show you this TubeTube video really quick.

Garnet: Steven.

Steven: It's only, like, one minute long.

Garnet: *walks over and kneels in front of him* I know you don't want to go, but you have to make the right choice. *kisses him on the forehead* Mwah.

Steven: (He blushes and giggles then holds his forehead.) That tickles!

[Trans. ext. It's A Wash]

Steven: *holding hand out to catch snow* Wow! *gets pelted in the face by a snowball* Aah!

Connie: *laughs* Gotcha, Steven!

(They both laugh.)

Greg: Come on, kids. We got to go if we're gonna beat the storm. I'll start the van. *twirls keys* ♫ Carabeena~ Carabeena~

Steven: Aw, do we got to go?

Greg: Yes. The Maheswarans think I'm a responsible parent, and I've got to maintain that image.

Connie: *sighs* Guess this is it.

Steven: Well, Dad, *grabs Connie and smushes a snowball into her face, causing her to giggle* if you want to look responsible, you should probably change out of that sweatsuit.

Greg: But it's cherries. Everybody likes cherries. I'm a cherry man! *pauses* Okay, I see your point. Just give me a second to change. *walks to the back of his van*

Connie: *whispering* Steven, are you procrastinating?

Steven: *whispers back* Nah. I'm just killing time.

Greg: *rummages through clothing pile in back of van* *pulls out dark green turtle neck sweater from "Fusion Cuisine"* Aha! You can practically smell the responsibility.

Steven: Isn't that the turtleneck you wore the first time you met them? They're gonna think you only have one fancy shirt.

Greg: I do only have one fancy shirt.

Steven: Don't worry, Dad. We'll help you find the perfect, most responsible outfit.

Greg: I don't know. I haven't worn any of this stuff in years.

(A short scene of Greg trying on various outfits while Connie and Steven goof around in the snow. Whenever Greg comes out of the van with a new shirt, Steven and Connie stop playing and shake their heads 'no' to the outfit as Greg goes back into the van to find a new shirt. He comes out of the van one final time wearing a disco outfit.)

Greg: Okay, how about this one?

Steven: I can't lie. That is the best outfit I've ever seen.

Greg: *talking fast* Okay, great! Let's go!

(They all get into the van and Greg starts driving. Snow constantly covers the windshield and is wiped away only to cover it again, proving just how bad the storm really is.)

Greg: Holy molly! *turns up car heater and adjusts the windshield wipers to wipe faster* That snow is really coming down!

(The van rolls over a patch of ice, causing it to spin wildly on the road.)

* tires screeching*

All: Aaaaah!

* screeching continues*

(The van finally crashes into a snowbank on the side of the road.)

All: Aaaaah! *panting*

Connie: W-what are we gonna do?

Greg: Uhh... I guess we'll have to walk.

Both: WHAT?!

Greg: A responsible parent doesn't let two kids strand themselves in a van in the middle of nowhere.

[Trans. ext. van]

(They are all walking through the snowstorm as the wind is whistling.)

Greg: *strained yelling* A responsible parent escorts those kids through wind, sleet, and snow to avoid making the other parent angry!

[Trans. ext. Connie's house]

(There are rapid knocks on the door as the doorbell rings repeatedly.) (Greg, Steven, and Connie all stand outside the door shivering violently as it abruptly opens.)

Connie: H-hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.

Steven: H-hello, Dr. and Mr. Maheswaran.

Greg: Sorry we're late.

(Connie's parents stare blankly as Steven, Greg, and Connie walk into the house.)

Connie: Mom, Dad... *chuckles nervously* ... you remember Mr. Universe and Ste—

Dr. Maheswaran: *yells* Do you have any idea what time it is?!

Mr. Maheswaran: *yells* Why are the children blue?!

Dr. Maheswaran: What are you do—

Connie: *sneezes* Ah... choo! *stares at her parents nervously for a few seconds*

Dr. Maheswaran: She's sick! *grabs Connie by the arm* You're going straight to bed, young lady! *muttering* That's the last time I let you out during flu season.

Mr. Maheswaran: *crosses arms* I think you know where the door is. Since you're... standing in it.

Greg: Uhh, I kind of crashed my ride.

Mr. Maheswaran: Are you serious?!

Greg: *timidly* Yes... ?

Mr. Maheswaran: *groans* I'll go set up the pull-out couch. *walks away*

Greg: *holds hand out after him* Uhh... okay. So much for being responsible. *strokes hair while following after him* *sighs* Maybe I should have worn the floral print.

(Steven stares ahead intently, his concentration unwavering. His gaze is focused upon the trippy blue pattern on the back of Greg's jacket. Slowly, the blue pattern morphs into hypnotizing swirls and Steven holds his head and sweats nervously.)

[Trans. back in the interior of Greg's van, earlier in the day]

(The tires screech as the van crashes again.)

All: *panting*

Greg: Is everyone okay?

Connie: Yeah.

Steven: *looks around, dazed* W-wait. What— W-what happened?

Greg: We wiped out.

Steven: No, I mean, why are we in the van?

Greg: You're right. We gotta get out there and start walking if we wanna get Connie home.

Steven: Dad! No! We should stay put. It'll be way safer this way.

Connie: My parents are all about safety.

Greg: Heh. They can't argue with safety.

Steven: It'll be like camping!

Connie: But in cozy bucket seats!

(The wind whistles as the van slowly becomes more and more covered in snow, indicating a change in time. Greg cracks an egg over a waffle maker and it sizzles as it cooks.)

Connie: Thanks for dinner, Mr. Universe. *speaking in Japanese* Itadakimasu. *begins to eat waffle*

Steven: *grabs Greg's nearby guitar and begins to strum* [Mid-tempo music plays] Any requests?

Connie: Hmm. Let's hear a song about... a snack monster! That loves... animal by-products! (Steven laughs and Connie shoves her whole waffle into her mouth.) Om-nom-nom. (Connie's cellphone begins to ring and answers.) Hello?

Mr. Maheswaran: Connie, are you still at Steven Universe's house? I'm on my way.

Connie: Dad, no! You know how bad you are at driving in the snow! It's way too rough out here!

Mr. Maheswaran: I'm almost at Beach City, so start putting on your shoes.

Steven: I see some headlights. Is that him?

(An engine revs as Mr. Maheswaran's car pulls around the corner.)

Mr. Mahesawaran: Don't worry. I got it this time. Oh, wait. (The car begins to swerve a bit.) Ooh! Aaaaah!

Connie: Dad, stop the car! You're right in front of us!

* horn blaring*

Mr. Maheswaran: I-I got it! I got it! I— (The car begins to swerve in circles, mere feet from the parked van.) Ooh! Aah! I- I don't got it! (The car picks up speed, heading right for the van.) I don't have anything!

(Mr. Maheswaran's car smashes into the van and the hypnotizing blue Steven previously saw makes a reappearance.)

[Trans. back at the exterior of It's A Wash! earlier in the day]

Steven: *hit in the head by a snowball* Ugh! Aaaaaaaaah! (He looks at Connie in panic.)

Connie: Woah. Sorry, Steven. Are you okay?

Steven: Connie, what's going on?! Everything keeps repeating!

Greg: Hey, come on, kids. We got to get going if we're gonna beat the storm. I'll start the van. ♫ Car-a-bin-er, ♫ ♫ Car-a-bin-er! ♫ *Steven grabs his keys* Hey! What the—

Steven: *tosses Greg's keys into a nearby snowbank* *grunts*

Greg: My keys! I'm not gonna find those till spring!

Steven: *grabs Connie's arm and begins to pull her away* Come on, Connie!

Connie: What?

Greg: Hey!

Steven: *begins running back towards the Crystal Temple* Let's go back to my place.

Connie: But my parents—

Steven: *abruptly stops* *puts hands on Connie's shoulders* No, Connie! You have to listen to me! If we leave Beach City, bad things are gonna happen! I've seen it! Bad things! Several bad things! (Steven stares at her intently.)

Connie: Um... okay. Let me just call my mom and tell her.

(Steven and Connie are still running towards the temple.)

Connie: Mom, this is Connie. I'm staying at Steven's overnight.

Dr. Maheswaran: Oh, no, you're not, young lady!

Connie: Bu—

Dr. Maheswaran: You're coming home right now!

Connie: Mom!

Steven: *grabs phone* Dr. Maheswaran, you can't let your husband leave the house! He can't drive in the snow!

Mr. Maheswaran: *in the background* What? Y-Yes, I can!

Steven: Please, trust me! *tosses the phone into a nearby snowbank* *grunts*

Connie: Hey!

[Trans. int. Beach House]

Both: *panting*

(The Gems are in a triangle around the warp pad, levitating the Shooting Star in the middle of them.)

Garnet: Hold it steady. We have to send this to the Galaxy Warp without warping ourselves.

Pearl: This is too risky.

Amethyst: No, it's not. Get over it.

Pearl: If the shooting star goes off mid-warp, it could explode forever in warp space. And even if we do manage to destroy the entire Galaxy Warp, they could still find another way to get here.

Steven: Uhh, watcha doing'?

Pearl: *loses focus and pulls hand away from levitating the shooting star in shock* Steven?!

Garnet: Pearl! No!

(They all scream as the very tip of the shooting star touches the warp pad, exploding and destroying the whole temple. The blue hypnotizing pattern reappears.)

[Trans. int. of the temple, earlier in the day]

Garnet: *kisses Steven on the forehead* Mwah.

Steven: Uhhhh... What? Garnet, what happened?

Garnet: I passed my ability to you for just a moment.

Steven: You mean... I had future visions?

Garnet: Tell me what you saw.

Steven: I saw... some good things, but mostly bad things.

Garnet: And now you can make the right choice.

Steven: Hmm. Connie, we have to go right this instant. *grabs her hand and begins running*

[Trans. ext. of It's a Wash!]

Greg: Would you look at this? An entire inch of snow.

Steven: *grabs his hand and begins pulling him* Dad, there's no time! We got to go now!

Greg: Wha-huh?

(The van drives on the road with no hazards and parks in front of Connie's house safely. The door to the house opens as they all run towards it.)

Dr. Maheswaran: Connie! Oh, thank goodness you're safe. (They hug.)

Mr. Maheswaran: Nice sweatshirt, Greg.

Greg: Oh, thanks. (He puts a hand on Steven's shoulder and they look proudly at one another.)

Steven: Well, we better get going. Bye, Connie. Sorry we can't stay and watch the snow.

Connie: Yeah.

Mr. Maheswaran: It's starting to get pretty bad out there. I don't know if you Universes should be driving in this weather.

Dr. Maheswaran: Why don't you both stay here tonight?

Both: *gasp* Really?!

Connie: Wow, Mom. That's... really cool.

Dr. Maheswaran: It's... just safer that way. We Maheswarans are all about safety.

Mr. Maheswaran: I'll make up the couch.

Greg: A couch?! Ooh là là! Château Maheswaran!

[Time Skip—night]

(Greg is snoring on the couch and sleeping as Steven sleeps on a different couch. He opens his eyes and turns, noticing Connie standing at the bottom of the stairs. She sneaks over to the couch next to Steven and they silently watch the snow fall outside the window.)

[Wind whistles and episode ends]

[END]