The Return (Steven Universe)

[Close-up shot of the counter of Beach Citywalk Fries]

(Slow motion of Steven's fists hitting the surface of the counter.)

Steven: Give me the *attempts to bang counter* [In regular time] *interrupted by a bag of fry bits put in front of him by Peedee* Oh, thanks!

Peedee: Eh, I saw you guys coming.

Greg: Are you closing up all by yourself?

Peedee: Yeah, it's just me tonight.

Greg: Wow, that's a lot of responsibility for a kid your age. Your dad must really trust you.

Peedee: *makes an annoyed face* Don't patronize me, sir.

Steven: See you, Peedee!

(Steven and Greg leave Beach Citywalk Fries and walk towards the beach.)

Steven: So, like I was saying, Peridot's been shooting huge robots here from space. And when you smash them, they explode into goo!

Greg: That sounds scary. You know, I'm not sure if... Do you ever feel like this Gem stuff is too much for you?

Steven: What are you-

[Loud explosion noise]

(Steven drops the bag of bits.)

(Windows of local businesses shatter.)

Peedee: *carrying garbage bag* Ngyaaah!

Greg: What the hey was that? ... Steven?

(Steven is looking up at the sky, where a giant green hand is floating.)

Steven: Is that... a hand?

[Trans. Beach]

Pearl: The Light Cannons should be ready.

Steven: Guys! Did you see that thing in the sky?

Pearl: It's a ship. We have to assume it's Peridot.

Garnet: Lapis told us she'll be coming. With advanced weapons and reinforcements.

Greg: It's happening...

Steven: I wanna see. *looks into telescope and sees the green hand* Woah.

Garnet: [Camera zooms out from Garnet's face] Ready the light cannons.

(The Quartizine Trio appear from under the deck. Amethyst pushes the fourth Laser Light Cannon into position.)

Garnet: Steven, light them up.

Steven: *talks into walkie-talkie* If every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs.

(Cannons shoot beams into sky at the spaceship. The warship opens itself and blocks the crossed beam with the palm area.)

Garnet: No effect.

Greg: What now?

Garnet: *lifts the telescope and looks into it* We'll have to take them head on. The whole town might be in danger.

Steven: *gets phone and taps on Mayor Dewey's name* I better make a call. Time for some... political favors.

[Trans. Int. Mayor's Office]

Mayor Dewey: *worriedly* Hello?

Steven: Mayor Dewey! It's me, Steven Universe!

Mayor Dewey: *hides behind curtain* Universe, what's this thing in the sky? As a politician, pointing fingers make me very nervous.

Steven: Mayor Dewey, the whole town's in danger. We have to evacuate the city.

Mayor Dewey: Evacuate? Hmm. Evacuate. Could be tough. I'll need a catchy slogan.

[Trans. to Mayor Dewey driving his van through town]

Van: E-VA-CU-ATE. E-VA-CU-ATE. E-VA-CU-ATE.

Mayor Dewey: People! I need everyone to consider evacuation! Evacuation is something we all depend on in times of... *voice fades out*

[Camera pans to Steven, Greg, and the Crystal Gems]

Steven: Hey! That's a great idea, Dad. You should leave with the rest of the- *spies his cheeseburger backpack* is that my luggage?

Greg and Pearl: Uuuhh...

Greg: *looks at Pearl* Who wants to tell him?

(Both look at Amethyst, who turns away defensively.)

Amethyst: Hey, I'm not good with this stuff!

Garnet: Steven, I know you don't think we trust you. I know more often than not we treat you like a human child. But the truth is, we rely on you. Your voice inspires us, binds us, reminds us why we promised to protect the planet. You must now be that voice, for them.

[Camera switches to Beach City's boardwalk, all of the citizens in chaos]

Fryman: Peedee, come on!

Peedee: But are we coming back!?

Fryman: Ronaldo, help me with your brother!

[Camera switches back]

Garnet: If anything happens, you need to be there to protect them. Like your mother once did. It's your destiny.

Steven: I won't disappoint you!

Garnet: I know.

[Trans. Steven and Greg getting in the van]

(They drive off, leaving the sad Crystal Gems.)

Garnet: We did everything we could. Alright, pull it together!

[Trans. Steven and Greg leaving Beach City]

Steven: Maybe when Peridot gets to Earth, she'll see how nice all the people are and she won't want to hurt anyone.

Greg: Just like your mother. *sighs*

Steven: Yeah?

Greg: Yeah. But these other Gems aren't like your mother. They aren't like Garnet, Amethyst, or Pearl. They aren't gonna start caring about people now. They didn't the first time they...

Steven: The first time they what?

Greg: I mean, it was thousands of years ago! It's-it's not like I was there! *looks at Steven* The Gems should be telling you all this stuff but I get it. I mean, they don't want you thinking of them like that!

Steven: Like what? Dad, like what?

Greg: Like aliens, Steven! Aliens who invaded Earth!

Steven: What!?

Greg: All they do is try to make up for it. They just can't forgive themselves, you understand? Look, they were doing something awful to the planet and your mother couldn't stand it anymore. She told me that's why she had to turn on her own kind. She gave up everything just to stop what they started here and drive the invading Gems off of Earth.

Steven: So sh-she saved the world, that's good!

Greg: No such thing as a good war, kiddo. Gems were destroyed, people too... In the end, your mother could only save a handful of her closest friends. If it weren't for her shield, man, I don't know. *looks at Steven's face* B-but hey, let's look on the bright side! We're gonna drive past that waffle place in a couple miles!

Steven: We gotta go back! Turn the van around!

Greg: No way, the Gems don't want you going back!

Steven: I know they're just trying to protect me, but I have to protect them! I have Mom's shield, they need me!

Greg: I need you too!

Steven: Please Dad, what if they get hurt? Dad, turn around! Dad! Turn the van around, please!

(Steven punches the panel in front of him. The airbags inflate and he is launched out of the van in his bubble. Greg stops the van and runs out after him.)

Greg: Steven!

Steven: Dad...

Fryman: Yo, Greg, are you and your kid okay?

Greg: Yeah, yeah! We're fine, we're fine. Ugh...

Steven: Dad, please. I have to go back. I have to! They don't have my shield, do you understand?

Greg: Yeah, okay. Just... be careful, or I'm gonna run fresh out of family.

Steven: Stay with everyone and keep them safe. I'll figure out some way to get back to Beach City.

(Lion appears behind Steven and places a paw on his head.)

Steven: Oh, this'll work!

[Trans. Steven riding Lion back]

(Steven dials his phone.)

Steven: Come on, pick up...

Answering Machine, voice of Dr.   Maheswaran: You've reached the Maheswaran residence. Please leave a message after the beep. And keep it short.

Steven: Hey, Connie, it's Steven. Just... seeing what you were up to. Don't know if you knew, but there's some crazy stuff going on with a giant space hand and we all might die, so, uh, I guess call me back when you get this and talk to you soon! Uh, bye!

(Once Steven hangs up, Lion teleports them to the beach in front of the Crystal Temple, where Opal has been called upon to try to attack the spaceship with her arrows and stands by Garnet.)

Garnet: Fire!

(Opal fires a barrage of arrows at the ship to no effect.)

(Steven dismounts Lion.)

Steven: Stay here! If something happens, Dad'll need a new son!

(Garnet and Opal watch as the ship increases speed in its descent.)

Garnet: At least Steven is safe...

Steven: Hey guys!

Garnet: Steven!

(The surprise of seeing Steven at the beach causes Opal to separate into Pearl and Amethyst. The recoil forces them to the ground.)

Amethyst: You came back!

Pearl: What are you doing?! Get out of here!

Steven: But-

Garnet: It's too late! Just stay behind us!

(The ship lands.)

Steven: Ah...

(A ball appears from the palm of the hand. It opens, revealing Jasper, Peridot, and Lapis.)

Peridot: That's them, all right. They're the ones who keep breaking my machines.

Jasper: This is it?

Peridot: Jasper! They keep interfering with my work!

Jasper: *sighs and steps forward* Looks like another waste of my time... Hey, get over here!

(She drags Lapis Lazuli out from behind her.)

(Lapis breaks free from Jasper's grip and gasps at the sight of Steven.)

Steven: Lapis!

Jasper: This is their base?

Lapis Lazuli: Yes...

Garnet: You need to leave immediately!

Amethyst: Yeah, step off!

Pearl: This is not a Gem-controlled planet!

(The three jump onto the beach.)

Jasper: And neither of you saw Rose Quartz? Oh, what a shame. I'd hoped to meet her. I was looking forward to beating her into the ground!

Steven: Euegh...

Jasper: But this is all that's left of her army? Some lost, defective Pearl, a puny overcooked runt, and this shameless display? *glances at Steven* What is that?

(The three Crystal Gems bare their weapons in preparation.)

Peridot: It calls itself the Steven.

Lapis Lazuli: He's just a human! He isn't a threat at all! He's not one of them!

Jasper: I know what a human is. You don't need me for this. Just blast them with the ship.

Peridot: Ugh, fine.

(The ship lifts up, the pointer finger takes aim. Peridot draws a wide circle on her screen and taps the middle. It begins to charge power.)

Garnet: Steven! Get out of here!

Steven: No!

Garnet: I won't let you risk your life!

Steven: But this is my home! And you're all my family!

(Steven's gemstone begins to shine.)

Peridot: Firing.

(A beam fires out of the ship.)

Steven: I- I'm a Crystal Gem too!

(He jumps in front of them. Rose's shield forms, stopping the blast. Jasper turns around in shock.)

Jasper: That shield! That symbol!

(The shield falls, and Steven collapses.)

Jasper: You! You have the power of Rose Quartz!

Peridot: Now do you believe I needed an escort?

Jasper: Fire a barrage! Widespread!

(Peridot swipes a finger right across her monitor. Garnet pushes Steven out of the way. The ship cuts a line across the beach, causing an explosion with Pearl and Amethyst getting caught in it. The smoke clears, revealing Steven to be safe.)

Jasper: Rose, why do you look like that? Why are you so weak?

Lapis Lazuli: Don't hurt him!

Jasper: You knew about this!

Lapis Lazuli: It wasn't relevant to the mission!

Jasper: Forget about the mission!

Peridot: What!?

Jasper: Yellow Diamond needs to see this... thing.

Steven: Uh...

(Garnet jumps at Jasper.)

Jasper: Good.

(Jasper summons her weapon and the two clash blows, creating a powerful draft that pushes back both Garnet and Steven.)

Garnet: *recovering from the knock back and running towards Jasper* Steven, run!

Jasper: *pulls out weapon* Priming Gem Destabilizer. *dashes towards Garnet*

(Jasper hits Garnet with the destabilizer in the chest, destroying her physical form.)

Pearl and Amethyst: Ah!

(Garnet looks at Steven before disappearing and retreats to her gemstones. Two lay on the ground, one red, one blue.)

Jasper: *to Steven* I was there, you know. At the first war for this garbage planet. I fought against your armies. I respected your tactics. But this... ? *lifting Steven by his shirt* This is sick!

(Pearl and Amethyst charge at Jasper.)

Pearl: Unhand him!

Jasper: I don't get what you're planning, Rose. But look! Your base is taken. Your armies are ruined! You have failed!

(Jasper headbutts Steven in the eye, knocking him out.)

[END]