Historical Friction

"Historical Friction" is an upcoming episode of Season 2 in Steven Universe, and will be aired in the 3rd StevenBomb event as the 4thepisode.

Synopsis
When Steven and Jamie put on a play that teaches all about how Beach City was founded, the residents learn interesting things about their city.

Plot
The episode begins with Jamie approaching the beach house and calling Steven's name. Steven races to him and they greet each other. Steven asks him if he has "the goods" and Jamie takes out an ad flyer that advertises his play. He is holding auditions tonight for his play, which is about Beach City's origins. Steven offers himself as an actor while saying it in a foreign accent. After some confusion, they get to work.

At the stage during rehearsal, Steven asks Jamie where the other actors are. Jamie says that they are the only ones, but is optimistic and says that most plays only have one actor in them, so they have a great start. Jamie hands Steven a copy of the script, titled, "Beach City or Bust: The Tale of William Dewey." Jamie says that since this is his first production, the play must be well written. Jamie disappoingly says that the play is funded by Mayor Dewey, with the consequence that he wrote the entire play himself. Steven asks Jamie what the play is about, and Dewey comes on stage to explain the premise of the play. It is a play that documents the founding of Beach City by Mayor Dewey's great great great great grandfather, William Dewey. It is an important play because it has a lot of sentimental and political importance to Mayor Dewey. Jamie is about to start the rehearsal, and offers Dewey to stay, to which he agrees and promptly seats himself.

Since Steven is the only one who showed up, Jamie gives him the lead role of William Dewey, while he himself plays the rest of the characters. The show shifts to painted slides of a crew on deck of a ship, with Captain Dewey addressing his crew. William Dewey is thankful to his crew for joining him in search of a place where he can found a new city. His crew compliments the captain. Suddenly, a sea creature appears and assaults the ship. Captain Dewey reassures his crew that he will save them using his heroic, supernatural ability. He grows into a fifty-foot giant and carries the boat safely to shore. The crew thinks that he is such an exemplary captain that he was voted to become the first mayor of Beach City, ending the play.

Steven compliments Mayor Dewey on his "fantastic" storytelling, while Jamie suggests that although Captain Dewey is a great character, the play would be far better if they brought out his other side and his struggles. Mayor Dewey objects, however, stating that he was faultless, and accomplished everything on his first try, exactly like he himself when he wrote the play. He asserts that nothing needs to be changed. As Jamie tries to speak, Dewey interrupts him to remind him that he is funding this play. As Dewey exits the stage, Jamie says that this will be a disaster. The story is terrible, and William Dewey is an absolutely unbelievable character, not because he grew fifty feet, but rather because he has no character. Steven is confused, and states that the script kept saying that Captain Dewey was very good, but Jamie only takes this point as proof and explains that to be human is to be flawed, and real heroes must struggle. Steven eventually realizes Jamie's point and agrees, while Jamie sadly says that this will be his first and last play.

Steven returns to the Crystal Temple and greets Pearl. He tells her that showbusiness is rough. Pearl offers help, and Steven says that William Dewey must be an interesting character. Pearl is confused as to how Steven knows who William Dewey is, and he responds by saying that he will play Dewey in the upcoming play. William Dewey is a boring character because he is absolutely flawless, to which Pearl says that she wishes she could be so. Steven tells her that it's impossible to be flawless, because everyone gets something wrong some time or another, and people simply must keep going. The satisfaction of accomplishment after struggle makes the character and the experience great. Pearl wonders when Steven got so smart. Pearl opens the script and reads it through. After reading it, she says that not only is the play boring, it is historically inaccurate, and asks Steven who wrote the play, to which he responds with Mayor Dewey. Pearl laughs and says that he wasn't even there during the time, however, she was there. Steven asks what truly happened, and Pearl begins to explain the story.

The scene cuts to Jamie on stage shakingly holding the rewritten script. He lauds the new script as being very real as though it was written by a primary observer, to which Steven says that it actually was. Jamie praises the new story as being gritty, passionate, historically accurate, and dramatic, and wants to use this script for the play. Steven implores Jamie to do it tonight, but he says that it'll be impossible, since they need new supplies and they simply do not have time, along with the fact that Mayor Dewey withh certainly be very displeased with the new performance. Steven comforts him by repeating Jamies own words, that "a real hero struggles." He agrees, and says that the play will be performed tonight, with Steven as William Dewey and Jamie as the rest of the cast.

It is now night time, and the play is about to start. Mayor Dewey seats himself next to Pearl, and nervously says that he wrote the play. Pearl stands up and seats herself at the back. Steven and Jamie are speaking to each other backstage.

Characters

 * Steven
 * Pearl
 * Jamie
 * Bill Dewey
 * Buck Dewey
 * William Dewey (pictured)
 * Barbara (cameo)
 * Nanafua (cameo)
 * Unknown Gem Fusion
 * Ronaldo Fryman (cameo)
 * Sadie (cameo)
 * Lars (cameo)
 * Rose Quartz (mentioned)

Objects

 * TBA

Locations

 * Steven's Room
 * Beach City Beach

Songs

 * TBA

Soundtracks

 * TBA

Trivia

 * This will be the 4th episode to air in StevenBomb 3, on July 16.
 * This episode is symbolized in the promo art for the 3rd StevenBomb by the theater masks of comedy and tragedy.
 * Only Garnet and Amethyst's sillhouttes are shown.
 * This is Jamie's second major role.
 * It's revealed that Mayor Dewey's ancestor founded Beach City.

Cultural References

 * TBA

Errors

 * TBA