We Need to Talk

"Narwhal Blast!"

"HiYA!"

Scene: Mr. and Mrs. Diaz are on the sofa in the living room. Mrs. Diaz is reading the newspaper while her husband, holding her around the waist, reads a romance paperback. The sounds of Marco and Star fighting echo down from the second story, but they seem to take no account.

"STAR!"

"Waricorn Stampede!"

Mrs. Diaz looks up as the sound of hooves grows and crashing intensifies. "Honey, is this one of those times we should be more involved?"

"With what?"

The sounds of fighting suddenly stops. Marco and Star appear on the stairwell.

"Hey guys," Marco calls out without actually looking at the two, "me and Star are going out for Tacos."

"Victory Tacos!"

"Oh that sounds great, I'll drive." Mrs Diaz is on her feet looking for her keys as Mr. Diaz and the kids turn to her in surprise.

"You don't need to..." Marco isn't even sure why he thought this was a bad idea, but this isn't like her.

"Oookkkaayyy, victory tacos for everyone!" Star is confused, more from reading the crowd than anything in her head

"But, mi amor, the house to ourselves..." Mr. Diaz expresses his naked disappointment.

Mrs. Diaz speaks directly to the kids under her care, "Me and your father will take you out for dinner, and you can tell us about your day."

"Oooh, we fought a crazy octopus monster." Star jumps around making tentacles at her mouth.

"A Great Old One." Marco clarifies.

"Not that great, he couldn't take a Waricorn stampede." Star is riding high on the victory.

"Well you can tell us all about it, at La Perla."

Marco looks impressed, Star excited. She whispers, "What is La Perla?"

Cut to the four of them at a sit down Mexican restaurant.

"Oh wow this is a lot nicer than eating in a parkin' lot." Star is looking around very impressed as they are being seated. Marco and his mother both sit down, unroll the napkin around their silverware and place the napkins on their laps. Star is amazed there are already chips on the table and Mr. Diaz as to show her they are meant to be there, takes one and eats it, dramatically.

"So Marco was... 'captured' by the octopus monster." Mrs. Diaz bringing them back to the story.

"Distracting it," Marco 'corrects'.

Star with a mouth full of chips gets back into the story, "Oh yeah he was totally wrapped up, completely helpless. I was so worried, I mean he could die... so I blast the ugly in the face. It was awesome."

Mr. Diaz, also with a mouth full of chips is staring open mouthed. Mrs. Diaz looks composed, but concerned. "...and so you saved him." She tried to let that make it better.

"Oh yeah, happens all the time."

"Yeah she saves me, I save her; happens all the time." Marco wants to save face.

"Yep I am always saving him, and sometimes Marco even saves me. It is so much fun." Star is totally oblivious to Marco.

Marco starts angry at the suggestion he is always being saved, but then he notices his mom's face. She has tears in her eyes despite holding it all together. She decides to reassure herself, out loud: "Well Star is always there."

"Yeah, I'm almost always there, I mean when nothing else is happening."

"What do you mean?"

"Well sometimes I'm not around, or I am busy, or whatever." After getting another read on the crowd, "but Marco doesn't need saving, he has his karate and human... abilities. See nothings happened to him." Star grabs Marco's face to show his mom there is nothing wrong there.

"Yes, but... what about next time? What if a strange octopus monster attacks when your not there?"

Star can't find what to say; she feels something between betrayal and sympathy. Luckily. before she has to, there is an explosion. Star turns to find a large cute, pink squid attacking.

"GREAT OLD ONE," Mr. Diaz shouts pointing at the monster

Marco takes this in stride. "No, no, no, the Great Old One was more octopus-y and ugly, this guy is cute and... squid-ish. Wait didn't he attack us last week, Star."

"Narwhal Blast!" Star is gone, fighting her monster, avoiding the problem.

"I guess I need to help with this." Marco is unsure, he doesn't want to hurt his mom's feeling.

Mrs. Diaz does indeed looks hurt, so Mr. Diaz jumps into action. "No, no, no I will help Star. You two talk." Raphael stands, a bit awkwardly and then runs off, even more awkwardly, to catch up with Star.

"Mom, Star needs me." (Off camera: "Hahaha, Narwhal Blast!") "Well not right now. He wasn't difficult to take down last time." (Off camera: "Mr. Diaz, avoid the tentacles.") "Maybe I should get dad, though."

"No your father is fine." (Off camera: "Oh wow nice punch Mr. Diaz." "Thank you, Star.") "But I'm worried." (Off camera: "Okay Star, I need help now.") "I am worried about us. I don't know about your life anymore." (Off camera: "Wonderful Star, wonderful.") "You fight monsters, travel through dimensions..."

"Yeah... once, I even spent 16 years in one." Marco chuckles

(Off camera: "We got him Mr. Diaz!" "This is so fun!")

"What!?"

"Well, I mean, it wore off, obviously."

"Dear! Marco spent a decade and a half in another dimension."

Off camera: "Must have worn off. (Do another Narwhal Blast, Star.)"

"See Dad is okay with it." (Off camera: "Wait for this. Rainbow Punch!")

"Why didn't you tell me earlier." (Off camera: "Amazing. Take that.")

"I don't know... It just never came up. It's not like I always told you everything." (Off camera: "I surrender, let me go, I will never try to steal your cheek hearts again") Mrs. Diaz sits there looking down, she doesn't really have a response to the least surprising fact in the world: her teenager doesn't tell her everything. "I mean I'm still Marco; I'm still your... kid." (Off camera: "Wait. What? Why?)

"I know, and it is good that you're not running to tell me every little thing. You are growing up, and I am proud of you and who you are becoming, but I want to know all about it, too." She begins crying slow tears. "I'm sorry this is not your problem." (Off camera: "They are sooooo cute and monsters don't get anything on our cheeks.")

"No, no, no, no. I love you, mom. I don't want to hurt you. I just didn't think... Or what I mean is that I didn't realize... Or... I'm sorry. You are a super important part of my life. I... I didn't mean... I'm sorry."

Mother and child smile at each other, holding hands. (Off camera: "But... But, how?" "Uhmm... Star I should get back to the table.") Mr. Diaz returns to his family. "Is everything okay?"

Mrs. Diaz, still crying, "It is wonderful."

A waiter walks up to the table, "I am going to have to ask you to leave... and... never come back..." A very angry manager stares daggers as she cleans up the wreckage.

Marco embarrassed, but also in a very familiar situation, "I am so sorry."

"And... well... the damages"

Marco is still overly familiar with the situation, "Say no more." "Except... how much."

"650"

Marco sight, "Of course."

Cut to the outdoor taco place. As Star walks off shot with Mr. Diaz, "I didn't know lengua meant tongue. I am so gonna eat some tongue."

Marco stops, "Mom, there is something I should tell you."

Marco is very hesitant, but his mom doesn't seem to notice. "Oh it is fine, you don't have to tell me right now."

"No. I should have told you a while ago. Mom, I'm... I am your daughter."

There is a moment when Mrs. Diaz is shocked, confused, silent. Then she hugs her girl.

We Really Need to Talk

Open on Marco and her mom cooking breakfast on a Saturday. Mr. Diaz struggles down the stairs and into the kitchen, pours himself a cup of coffee, takes a sip, and is immediately his normal energetic, up-beat self. "Good morning, mi hermosa marida" and kisses his wife, "y buenos días, my beautiful daughter," kissing Marco on her forehead.

"Shhhh! Star still doesn't know." Marco starts looking all around, checking for Star. "She can be so quiet and sneaky. Plus, interdimensional scissors."

With that, a door loudly swings open and hits the wall, there is audible stomping down the stairs, a loud yawn, and more stomping, before Star shows up in the door way and stomps her way over to the coffee pot, and begins drinking straight from the pot. She then pours herself the last of the pot into a mug, and brews more coffee. Star still looks morning-angry. She sits down at the table sipping the coffee.

"Hi Star, I got a great Saturday planned."

"Need Pancakes."

Marco flips a pancake theatrically on top of a stack of 4 others, and carries it over to Star before returning to the griddle. Star, still morning-mad spreads a ton of butter on top and then drenches the whole stack in syrup, before eating it all in a terrifyingly few bites. She immediately changes into her happy, up-beat self. "Ooooo... what is the plan Marcooo."

"Well first, a long walk, good for talking, to the mall. Where we will meet up with Janna, we can mall for a while, and then I got tickets for us for the 6:30 showing of Love and Hearts."

"Marco. This is a well planned out day full of fun. Did I do something to earn this? No I don't think so. Did you screw up? Like is this is an apology?" Star squints at Marco, inspecting her.

Marco already nervous begins acting entirely suspiciously while denying everything. "Why would I need to apologize? I, Marco Diaz, have never screwed up. I certainly never lied to you, or misused any magic you lent, never hid who I truly am or failed to trust you with your own life choices. I have no need to apologize for anything, I am not a fraud and I never wanted to have a monster arm."

"Like half of those aren't true, but you already apologized, so..." Star squints an inspection once more, "I guess today is just awesome." Star than grabs Marco and pulls her out the door before she gets a chance to eat her pancakes.

Mr Diaz stares after them, "This is such a great day for Margo, telling Star that she is a girl. I love our daughter" He stares happily after them, then takes Marco's seat and inhales her pancakes. Mrs. Diaz smiles at her husband, but there is a worried look afterwards.

Cut to Star and Marco walking down by the river. Star is obliviously happy, but Marco is entirely preoccupied in her thought, shuffling behind. "Hey Star, I need to tell you something."

"Oohhh, I didn't actually think I would lose the imaginary bet I made against imaginary Glossarik. So what did you mess up, Marco." Star looks kinda happy again that Marco is screwing up.

"No. Wait? Imaginary Glossarik? Nevermind. I just meant I should have told you this sooner, but I didn't 'screw up'. No. It is just that... Well, Star, I am a girl."

"No you aren't." Star hasn't really shown any signs she noticed anything yet, happy as could be kicking rocks into the water as she walks. "You are Marco, the boy, and I am Star, the girl."

"No Star I am a girl. I am transgender."

"What does transgender mean?" Star is paying attention, but she isn't really taking the attitude Marco was hoping for... something maybe a little more... open, that would be nice. Star doesn't seem like she is getting the idea, or going to get it.

"It means that I am a girl, even though I was born with... like... I was... 'assigned male' at birth... It is hard to describe."

"Yeah sounds like it." Star is still smiling but it is easy to tell there is something wrong. Her smile has became too big, her whole being forced in it.

"I am a girl, but like I got a boy's body, but it is mine so it belongs to a girl, so it is a girl's body really... I guess..." Marco trails off, she is too stuck in his own mind. Her brain keeps running though: How have I spent so much time thinking about this and still can't explain any of it? Star just doesn't get what I am saying.

"But Marco, you" she gestures to all of 'him,' red hoody, jeans and all, "are a boy." She is still smiling, but it is becoming less and less convincing.

"No. Star, that is what I am telling you, I am not a boy." Marco has given up. This isn't working, now what? The two besties stood their for a long minute, not looking at each other.

Star turns her back to Marco and says "I'm gonna go meet Janna." She opens a portal with the interdimensional scissors and jumps through, without looking back.

Marco standing all alone, falls to her knees and begins to cry. From behind she hears Jackie call out "Hey Marco."

Cut to Star at the mall running around looking for Janna. She calls out at random, but she isn't having any luck. Finally there is Janna leaving a car waving. Star runs over as the car pulls away, grabs Janna's face and says "Hi Janna."

"...Hi Star" Janna tries to say through Stars palms squeezing her face.

"I need you."

"Okay... I need my face."

"Okay," Star moves her hands off of Janna's.

"...So..."

"Marco is saying he is a girl," Star blurts out without control.

"Uhmm..."

"He made up a word and now he is a girl and I think he is mad at me and I think I was awful to him, but Marco is a boy and..." Star runs out of breath and stops to breathe.

"Wait. What? Do you mean Marco is trans?" Janna is more confused than surprised.

"That's the word he made up."

"It isn't made up Star, that is actually a terrible thing to say." Janna is still confused, but now Star turns bashful.

"I am being awful, aren't I?"

"Sort of... Well, yes. Why? I mean this doesn't seem like you."

"Because boys can't just be girls, I mean that isn't a thing, not even on Mewni, and I have transformation magic." Star holds up her wand, like it means something.

"First of all Marco is a girl, I guess. Secondly people are a lot of things, you can't tell them who they are. And last of all, you shouldn't have told me. This is Marco's to tell, and it is super messed up you told me, and I am his friend. Definitely don't tell anyone else."

"But I am his best friend. I live with him. I have a crush on him, and... and... and I only have crushes on boys." Star turned beet red finally admitting what her problem was.

"Well evidently not, you have a crush on Marco, a girl. Get over it."

"But girls don't have crushes on girls."

"I had a crush on you when you first showed up."

"What!?"

"Yeah, like nothing serious, but I am into all this witchy stuff... and then a real magical girl shows up... sooooo coool. Plus you are cute."

"Oh... Well... Thanks... I think. But a princess can't... shouldn't... doesn't... I don't know." Star is hopelessly confused, and upset. She stops to take a big breath. "I only have crushes on boys, on Mewni girls like boys, boys like girls everything is simple... Oh no what about Jackie Lynn Thomas."

"What about..."

"She should know.

Smash cut to Marco and Jackie at the Diaz's watching a movie in the living room. The two

are cuddling on the couch and Marco is in a dress.,

Smash cut back. "It is hers to tell," Janna sounds a little angry at this point. "Plus I don't think it'll be a problem for Jackie."

Cut to flashback of Janna and Jackie in Kindergarten, they are both dressed exactly the same, just smaller and rounder.

Jackie: "You are pretty."

Janna: "Thanks"

and Jackie quickly kisses Janna and then walks off.

Cut back to Janna and Star.

At this point Star is holding her head in hands, just giving up. "I am so wrong, aren't I?"

Janna lightens up, "Yeah but whatever. You didn't get it. You were dumb, a butt even, but now you are better." After a moment of silence. "You are better, right?"

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I was a butt, Marco is a girl, I had a crush on a girl. But... I still don't get it."

"You don't have to. I mean I don't really, but that doesn't matter. Marco is who she says she is."

"Okay." The two sit there in silence for a while, until Star says, "Janna you are awesome."

"I know."