"Familiar" (Post-"Legs From Here to Homeworld")

Just an idea of what might happen in the episode after "Legs From Here to Homeworld".

Speaker	Dialogue
[Open Int. Pink Diamond's Palace]
Steven looks around.
Steven	What... is this place?
A white bubble arrives in front of Steven. It opens to reveal White Pearl.
Steven	What are you doing here?
White Pearl	My Diamond has instructed me to keep you company for the time being.
Steven	Is that a nice way of saying she sent you to spy on me?
White Pearl	That could be inferred.
Steven	What happened to my friends?
White Pearl	White Diamond is currently in her ship. Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond are-
Steven	No, not them! I mean the Crystal Gems! The ones I came here with! And Connie! You know, the human?! What happened to them?!
White Pearl	My apologies, but my Diamond has forbidden me from answering questions relating to them.
Steven	Well... what if I ordered you to tell me?
White Pearl	You may be a Diamond, but White is my Diamond. I'm sorry if that displeases you.
Steven	No, it's not your fault. I know you have to follow orders.
White Pearl	You honor me with your understanding, Pink Diamond.
Steven	Um... can you please call me Steven?
White Pearl	Is that an order?
Steven	Yes, just... assume that when I say 'please', it's an order. I'd feel really bad saying it each time.
White Pearl	Understood... Steven.
Steven's stomach growls.
White Pearl	Do you require food, Steven?
Steven	(angry but calm) I'm not hungry.
Steven's stomach growls louder, and he clutches his stomach.
White Pearl	Is your Gem damaged?
Steven	N-no. That just means I'm hungry.
White Pearl	But I thought-
Steven	I was lying.
White Pearl	Ah. My Diamond saw fit to prepare supplies you might have interest in. It includes food.
A purple fruit with an odd, geometric shape emerges from White Pearl's gem, and Steven catches it.
Steven	Thanks...
Steven looks at the fruit.
Steven	It looks like... the fruit from Pink Diamond's Zoo.
White Pearl	It is indeed from your zoo, Steven.
Steven	Oh... I guess I hadn't thought of that. Hehe. It is mine, huh?
Steven takes a small bite out of the fruit and chews it.
Steven	(muffled from chewing) Does that mean I can close it and release all the humans?
White Pearl	Of course, Steven. You're a Diamond; you can do whatever you desire.
Steven swallows quickly.
Steven	Really?! Can you take me there now, then?!
White Pearl opens her mouth, and then closes it.
White Pearl	My apologies, Steven. You are a Diamond, but my orders also prevent me from allowing you to leave.
Steven frowns, walks to a corner, and sits.
Steven	So I really am a prisoner. Guess I should be used to that by now.
White Pearl	You're no prisoner, Steven. You simply can't leave for the moment.
Steven	Uh, no offense, but that's exactly what being a prisoner is.
White Pearl	I wouldn't use such harsh language to categorize it. My Diamond wouldn't approve.
Steven	Who cares what she approves of?! She's the one keeping me here! And the one who took my friends! What's the point of this?! What does she want with me?! Is she gonna shatter me or does she wanna just... keep me here forever?!
White Pearl	I-
Steven	And the worst part is, I shouldn't even be mad at her because this is all my fault!
Steven throws his fruit on the ground and begins to cry.
Steven	I came here to get White's help for the Corrupted Gems! But all I did was get my friends captured or shattered! And now I'm locked here, and White clearly doesn't want me to leave, and the Corrupted Gems will never get helped, and I'm gonna die here!
White Pearl continues to stare off. Steven buries his hands in his face as he continues to cry. He eventually peeks through his hand and sees White Pearl, who still hasn't moved. Steven pulls the neck of his shirt up, blows his nose into it, and wipes his eyes.
Steven	I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell.
White Pearl	No apologies necessary, Steven. I didn't mean to imply that you were wrong for using harsh language. I was simply stating that I would refrain from it, considering my Diamond's abilities.
Steven moves his hands from his face.
Steven	What abilities?
White Pearl	My Diamond can sense the thoughts of other Gems, even when they aren't around.
Steven	You're saying she can read minds?!
White Pearl	That is not inaccurate.
Steven	So you never think bad things about-uh... n-never mind. I just wish I knew the point of all this...
White Pearl	While I am prevented from giving you the information you want, there is nothing preventing you from at least requesting an audience with White Diamond to ask personally.
Steven	But I thought I couldn't leave. How can I ask?
White Pearl	White Diamond's perception will likely allow her to sense your desires, so long as they are worthy of her attention.
Steven	But how will I even know if she's paying attention to me?
White Pearl	You are Pink Diamond.
Steven	Oh... right. I mean, I'm really not, but I guess it's all the same to her...
Steven looks up and closes his eyes.
Steven	White Diamond, if you're listening, I wanna talk to you. I feel like you owe me that much!
Nothing happens. He opens his eyes, exhales slowly, and turns to White Pearl.
Steven	Now what do I-
A white bubble encases Steven.
[Trans. Int. White Diamond's Ship]
Steven sees the walls of the bubble disappear. A bright, white light blinds him.
White Diamond	Starlight. I'm happy you desired to see me. I so missed our talks.
Steven begins to shake.
White Diamond	Something wrong, Pink? You're tense...
Steven	I... I'm not te-
White Diamond	Oh, Starlight. It's so adorable how you still think you can hide things from me. Things haven't changed as much as you think they have, Pink.
Steven	I uh... I kinda go by Steven now so-
White Diamond	Would you like to ask about leaving, or would you prefer to speak of something else first?
Steven	You... you know about... right. Of course you do.
White Diamond	There's the bright little Starlight I remember!
Steven	I just wanna know why you won't let me leave. Aren't I supposed to be a Diamond?
White Diamond	Of course you are, Pink.
Steven	Then why am I a prisoner?!
White Diamond	Oh... you shouldn't use such language. You must know how that upsets my poor Pearl.
Steven	You really were reading our minds during all of that...
White Diamond	I have to keep an eye on you two. You both mean so much to me. After all, that's why you were in your palace to begin with; because I love you.
Steven	Locking me away forever doesn't seem like love! I wanna leave! I wanna see Connie and the Gems!
White Diamond	And you will; all in due time. I wouldn't dream of locking you away forever; that would be wrong. But Starlight, try to see things from my perspective: you pester Yellow for a colony, which we all allow, and what do you do, hm? You put on an elaborate display and made Blue and Yellow believe you were shattered for so long while you... wandered around with your friends. Hurtful. That was hurtful, Starlight.
Steven	That was my mom! I am not my mom!
White Diamond	Oh, Starlight. We both know you're not as certain of that as you claim to be.
Steven's eyes widen.
White Diamond	Nothing in this universe would make me happier than for you to get back to being the Diamond you were meant to be. But it simply wouldn't be fair to Blue and Yellow if there wasn't some type of punishment: you're going to sit in your palace and think about what you've done.
Steven	Y-You're putting me in time out?!
White Diamond chuckles.
White Diamond	A human term? Cute. And appropriate.
Steven	Well... I... I guess I see what you're saying. That's...
Steven laughs nervously.
Steven	Wow, for a minute, I was really worried.
White Diamond	See, Starlight? You shouldn't always assume the worst of me.
Steven	Heh... o-okay. I guess that's pretty fair. So... how long do I have to say in time out?
White Diamond	Not long at all. Simply the length of time you were gone: 5,000 years.
Steven	Wait, what?!
White Diamond	Come on now, Starlight. It's only fair.
Steven	But... but you said I'd be able to see my friends!
White Diamond	Yes, you will; after 5,000 years.
Steven	I can't wait that long!
White Diamond frowns. Steven gulps.
White Diamond	Would you like to explain this sudden impatience, Pink?
Steven	Well, there are a lot of reasons. The most important one being: Connie won't even live that long!
White Diamond	Oh, you don't need to worry about your pet human; she'll be taken care of.
Steven	Pet human? She's my best friend! And what do you mean 'taken care of'?!
White Diamond	She'll live the rest of her life in your zoo.
Steven	The zoo! But I wanna see her while she's still alive! And she has a life on Earth! And a family! Connie wouldn't want this!
White Diamond	Then perhaps you should have thought of such things before your little escapade!
Steven leans back. Silence falls. White Diamond sighs.
White Diamond	Forgive me, Starlight. I don't blame you. After all, that human has clearly been giving you such distracting thoughts.
Steven blushes.
White Diamond	This will all be for the best. And your other friends will still be intact and well. They'll have plenty of time to settle into their roles quite nicely. You'll see, Pink. You'll feel so much better after you've had time to think. And time to transition out of... well, out of... this.
Steven	Out of what?
White Diamond	All of this... Earth matter around your gem. It's clearly confusing you. I suppose there are ways of getting it off faster. But I feel it's much more comfortable for you if we just let it... run its course.
Steven	But-
White Diamond	This has been a lovely chat. But I think it'd be best to send you back to your palace, now. After all, the sooner you get in time out, the sooner you can come out.
Steven	But-
White Diamond	Oh, and feel free to continue borrowing my Pearl. You both seem quite attached. Don't worry about me. I'm sure I'll manage without her somehow. But just remember, Starlight: I'm only doing this because I love you.
Steven opens his mouth out of anger, but a white bubble encases around him.
[Trans. Int. Pink Diamond's Palace]
The bubble opens, and Steven lands on his knees.
White Pearl	Steven. You're back.
Steven stands still with a worried expression.
White Pearl	Steven? You seem troubled. Are you-
Steven runs up to White Pearl and hugs her. He cries with his face pressed against her.
Steven	She wouldn't even listen to me! She didn't care at all! She's gonna make me stay here until I die and until my mom comes back! And Connie'll be dead too!
White Pearl	It's alright.
Steven	This is all my fault.
White Pearl	It's not your fault.
Steven	She's so awful!
White Pearl	I understand why you have that opinion. It's alright, my Diamond.
Steven sniffles.
Steven	I'm... not your Diamond. I'm just Steven, remember?
White Pearl	I... yes. Of course. I was simply... confused for a moment. That's all.
Steven raises an eyebrow, stops hugging White Pearl, and takes a few steps back.
Steven	You... why don't you move?
White Pearl	You haven't ordered me to.
Steven	Well... okay. You can move... if you want.
White Pearl	Is that an order?
Steven	No, I... I want you to move if you feel like it.
White Pearl	Are you ordering me to want that?
Steven	No, I... fine, yes, I order you to just... move however you want.
White Pearl keeps still but begins to sweat. Steven notices the atypical scarring on White Pearl's right eye. He puts his hand out in front of him and licks it. He touches White Pearl's right eye with his spit-covered hand. Her gemstone and physical form glow. Her color palette and gem turn pink, and her right eye no longer features the atypical scarring. She falls to the floor, blinks rapidly, and looks up at Steven, whose pupils are now star-shaped. White Pearl smiles.
White Pearl	Thank you, my... thank you, Steven.
[END]