Maximum Capacity

[Open on sidewalk]

(Steven and Greg are seen walking down the street towards the U-Stor, carrying a cardboard Greg, and we see from the view of the top.)

(Steven's end of the cardboard Greg starts to slip as he gets distracted talking about fireworks.)

Steven: (Offscreen) And I really like the ones that shoot up kind of spirally with the long tails.

Greg: (Offscreen) Steven, I'm slipping. Hold that end up a little more.

Steven: Oh, sorry.

Greg: That's okay. I'm not sure the "Summer Wax Special" sign was that effective anyway. But I can't bring myself to throw myself out. Might as well store it for the rest of the winter.

Steven: So, which firework is your favorite, Dad?

Greg: Oh. Uh, I don't know. I just like watching them together with you.

Steven: *blushing happily* Yeah, me too! I can't wait for New Year's Eve tomorrow. It feels like I've waited a whole year!

Greg: Well, you feel that way for a reason.

(Having reached U-Stor, Greg opens his storage unit and prepares to put the cardboard Greg away. He looks inside and sees that it's overflowing with junk.)

Greg: Mm. *holding up a hose and trying to see where it will fit* Mm. *places the hose around the neck of a flamingo lawn ornament* Hmm.

(There is a rumbling and then a crash as all of the junk in the U-Stor unit suddenly spills out.)

Both: Woah!

Greg: I haven't really cleared this place out since your mom— *coughs* Maybe this is good timing! A new year coming up... I should just get rid of all this stuff.

Steven: *picks up a jacket and a sweater* I could take these off your hands.

Greg: *chuckles* That's a start, but I'll need a little more help than that and *motions to cardboard Greg with a thumb* this guy's not gonna do it. *scratching head* Who would organize a mess this big though?

Steven: Ah! I know just the Gem! *runs off*

[Time Skip—later that day]

Steven: Here's Amethyst!

Amethyst: Surprise.

Greg: *awkwardly* Oh.

Steven: Something wrong?

Greg: Well, no. I just... thought you meant Pearl. *pushes a box that was about to fall back up* *grunts*

Steven: What?! I'm not letting Pearl see this! Amethyst's room is full of junk. She knows how to handle a mess.

Greg: I don't know about this.

Amethyst: *walks inside the U-stor* Hey, man, it's cool. I've seen your junk before. *surveying the mess* What you need here is a system— Something to separate the trash from the garbage.

Steven: *writing on a box* *Stands up* Well, how 'bout this?

Both: Huh?

Steven: *standing behind a box that say 'keep', a box that says 'sell', and a box that says 'burn'* I made organizational boxes. This way we can sort everything into easy categories: *pointing to each box* Keep, sell, burn. What do you think?

Greg: *chuckles* I don't know if we should burn anything.

Amethyst: *Punches Greg on the shoulder* Ah, come on, Greg! What are you afraid of?

Greg: Fire?

Amethyst: *laughs* *walks over to a junk pile and grabs a boot* Keep. *grabs a broken tennis racket* Keep. *grabs a checkerboard* Keep. *is about to put the stuff in the 'keep' box*

Greg: *runs over* Woah! Hold on. Aren't we supposed to be throwing stuff away?

Amethyst: *puts the boot, tennis racket, and checkerboard into the 'keep' box* Are you crazy?! You've got some seriously good junk in here, man, like...

Steven: *rummaging through box* BOOOOKS!

Greg: Ah, so, books are cool again.

Steven: Yeah, ever since you guys grounded me from TV for a thousand years.

Greg: We did what, now?

Steven: Can I have these?

Greg: *sits beside Steven to look into the book box* Uh, hold on. Let me see some of those first. Yeah, I think you'll like this one and this one, and, uh, maybe we'll save this one for when you're a little older. *pulls out a book with an alien lady and a human man on the cover entitled 'Passions of Xanxor' from the box* *blushing* *chuckles* *awkwardly tucks the book under his arm*

Steven: *pushing the book box outside of the U-stor and grunting* Ugh!

Amethyst: *rummaging through pile and tosses a singing fish placard over her shoulder* Ha! You bought this?! Ha!

Greg: Uh... I guess I don't need these old dumbbells. *drops it, directing the drop to the 'sell' box*

Amethyst: *snatches the dumbbell up before it can hit the box* Ah, come on. Don't you want to get *transforms into the Purple Puma* *deep voice* Yoked?! *flexing* (She tackles Steven and playfully wrestles with him.)

Greg: Come on, Amethyst. Knock it off. *notices broken picture of him and Rose on the ground* *kneels and picks it up* Oh, no. How did this happen?

Steven: (He walks over to inspect it with Amethyst.) A photo of you and Mom.

Amethyst: *blushes angrily and turns away*

Greg: Ah, it's- it's okay. It's just the frame.*puts the photo down somberly*

Amethyst: He-e-e-e-ey! I found something that definitely doesn't belong with all this junk. *holding box*

Greg: Is it the deed to my Uncle mansion?

Amethyst: *withdraws contents from box, which are a stack of VCR tapes* Even better. *spreads the tapes out in a neat line proudly*

Greg: Is that... "Li'l Butler"? *picks up two VCR tapes* *tearing up joyfully* Oh, where have you been all these years?! *laughing happily and holding tapes against chest*

Amethyst: ♫ Li'l Butler, that's you! ♫

Steven: *whispering* Amethyst, what's "Li'l Butler"?

Greg: Oh, man. *leaning towards Steven intensely* Steven, we used to watch these all the time when you were little. You gotta see this! *runs towards TV, grabs it, plugs it in, and pops in a tape*

Steven: Hey! I-I'm still grounded, you know!

Amethyst: Come on. Just one, for old times sake.

Greg: Okay, but just one.

[Mid-tempo music plays]

(Steven has his back turned determinedly but turns a little and glances at the TV out of the corner of his eye curiously.)

(On the TV Li'l Butler knocks on the door of a house and a red-haired lady patting a golden retriever answers the door. She's standing next to a golden haired man and a teenage girl with lighter red hair.)

(The TV plays the Li'l Butler Intro.)

Li'l Butler on TV: You people have too much money. *winks* [Twinkle sound effect]

Steven: Woah. *covers face* Ah, no! Grounded! Sh-sh-shouldn't we finish cleaning the storage unit?!

Amethyst: *laughing* Oh, man! Is this the Pilot? They didn't even have the dog yet.

Greg: *laughing* Oh, yeah! They just had a cat named "Money!"

Both: *laugh*

(Steven appears angrily over the top of the couch they're sitting on to watch Li'l Butler.)

Greg: Hey, Steven, it's getting pretty late. Why don't we just call it a day? We can pick this up again tomorrow.

Steven: Uh... okay. *running towards the exit of the U-stor* See you tomorrow, Dad!

Man on TV: Did any of you order a baby?

[Time Skip—next morning ]

[Trans. ext. Beach Citywalk Fries]

Steven: Hey. I'll take two breakfast-only breakfast specials, please.

Peedee: Sure. *turns and yells* Ronaldo! Can I get a double order of hash browns?

Steven: Yeah. My dad and I got a big day cleaning the storage unit. Got to start the year off right, you know?

Peedee: Wow! That's really practical of you, Steven. My dad and I are restocking all the condiments. I get to clean the bottles. We're supposed to wash them twice, but I always wash them three times. Odd numbers just feel cleaner.

Steven: *stares blankly for a few seconds* Hey, are you going to the New Year's fireworks tonight?

Peedee: Yeah! It's supposed to be *deep voice* "pretty darn spectacular"! (He motions to an advertisement for the fireworks show with Mayor Dewey's face on it.) Mayor Dewey's been setting up all morning. *chuckles* There are gonna be blue ones! *places Steven's order on the counter* I love the blue ones.

Steven: It's gonna be so awesome. *grabs his order*

[Trans. Ext. U-stor]

(There is laughter and applause coming from the TV.)

Steven: You guys? Dad?

Teenage girl on TV: I'll look like a fool if I show up to school on just one pony!

Both: You people have too much money! *studio audience laughs*

Amethyst: What a surprise. Li'l Butler does it again.

Greg: You can always count on Li'l B.

Amethyst: *chuckles* Yeah. *longingly* Everything's always right with him. One more?

Greg: Do it!

Steven: Hey! *covering his face so he can't see the TV*

Greg: Oh, Steven! What are you doing coming over so late?

Steven: It's... morning.

Greg: Oh, wow. I guess we lost track of the time.

Steven: You never stopped watching "Li'l Butler"?! Ugh!

Amethyst: When you get to season three, it really starts getting good. That's when the uptight neighbors, the Richingtons, move next-door. Ha! They're a riot! *laughs*

Man on TV: Well, I never!

Li'l Butler on TV: Well, I always! *audience laughs*

Steven: Well, you want to get started?

Greg: Oh, yeah. *groans* *starts to get up*

Amethyst: *stops him* Ooh, this part is so good.

(A horse neighs on the TV and the audience laughs again.)

Steven: I guess the storage unit can wait. *sets food bag down*

Greg: Yeah, buddy. That sounds like a good idea.

Amethyst: *notices the food bag* Alright! Snacks! *picks the bag up and begins eating, sharing with Greg*

Steven: Want to just meet at the fireworks?

Greg: Sure.

Steven: Okay. I'll see you there *turns and walks out*

[Trans. on the beach]

(Garnet puts on the 'cool dad' jacket that Steven got from the storage unit earlier while Pearl puts on the sweater.)

Pearl: *holds collar of sweater* Like this?

Steven: Yeah! You guys are killin' it! *sets down box* *hands pots and pans to each Gem* And here are some pots and pans. We got to make lots of noise. Dad and I do this every year. I brought some for Amethyst, too. They should be here any second.

Pearl: Why would she come with Greg? *gasps* Are they hanging out again?

Steven: What do you mean, "again"?

Garnet: They'd better not be watching that dumb show.

Steven: "Li'l Butler"?

Garnet: Tsssssssssss...

Pearl: Un-be-lievable! They really are! They used to disappear for days, watching those obnoxious tapes over and over and over. Until...

Steven: Until what?

Pearl: I don't know. One day, they just... stopped.

(The fireworks begin and there are cheers and applause as Steven and the Gems watch the fireworks.) (Steven looks down timidly at his pan and blushes, grasping the handle.)

Pearl: Happy New Year, Steven! *hits her pan lightly with a wooden spoon* *blushes* How's my volume?

Garnet: *stands up* It's low. *clangs pots together loudly, causing everyone to cover their ears*

[Trans. Ext. U-stor]

(Steven glares at it and walks in angrily.)

[Mid-tempo music plays] [Whirring noise as tape ends]

Greg: *hears booming noises from outside* What's that? I'm missing the fireworks! It's past midnight! How did I get so sucked into this show again? It's like everything else just disappears! *gets up* *groans*

Amethyst: *grabs his hand* Woah, woah, don't go! *pushes him back towards the couch* We're having a really good time! *holds up a tape* Here. Look. I've got the 2 part Hawaii special. *pushes the tape into the VCR*

Greg: But Steven really wanted me to do New Year's.

Amethyst: He'll be fine. He's Steven. He's tough.

Greg: I wanted to be there! *begins attempting to walk out again*

Amethyst: *holds hand out, preventing him fromleaving* Here. Here. It would have been like this. *shape-shifts into Steven* (as Steven) Whoa! Fireworks! *laughs in Steven's voice* Hey, Dad, come on! Now let's watch some Li'l Butler!

Greg: Amethyst, you know how I feel about shape-shifting.

Amethyst: (as herself) Geeze, sorry. *blushing dejectedly* I was just trying to cheer you up. *shapeshifts into Greg* *leans against Greg and twirls hair* Oh, that's right— I forgot. *mockingly* You're soooo sensitive.

Greg: *backs away* I know you like making me uncomfortable, but it's not funny. I can't stay here and humor you. I have to be there for my son.

Amethyst: *shape-shifts back to herself with a look of rage* Well, what about me, huh? I had someone who was always there for me until she started hanging out with YOU! *points accusing finger*

Greg: Don't do this, Amethyst. Seriously.

Amethyst: I bet you'd stay for her.

Greg: You wouldn't.

Amethyst: What? Do this?

(Amethyst shape-shifts into Rose and Greg quickly turns around to prevent himself from seeing it.)

TV: Where are you going after Hawaii?

Amethyst: Hey, Greg. *chuckles* Turn around. Check it out! (She walks closer to Greg and looms over him.)

Greg: *pained* *holding head with eyes screwed shut* I know you're doing it! I want to be friends again. I really do. But I can't let you do this to me again!

Steven: *runs over and climbs atop the couch* STOP!

(There is laughter from the TV.)

(Amethyst turns around with a shocked look on her face, still in Rose form. Steven's eyes widen in horror and he quickly shuts his eyes. The TV suddenly goes to static and Amethyst shape-shifts back to herself in total shock and horror.)

Steven: What are you two doing?! (Amethyst and Greg look fearfully at Steven.) I get it. It's hard to deal with stuff from the past. You want to put it off because there's tons of it and it's really heavy and it means a lot to you, so it's hard to let anything go. But you got to. Because this thing is full! *picks up cat carrier* Seriously, when did you even have a cat?! *throws and breaks the carrier*

(The static from the TV continues and Amethyst looks at Steven with wide eyes. She closes them in devastation and runs out of the U-stor. Steven walks over to Greg and places a comforting hand on his arm and Greg turns off the TV.)

[Time Skip—next day]

Greg: *running towards the U-stor* Okay. We're finishing this today.

Steven: Right. *notices Pearl carrying a box out of the storage unit* What? Pearl?

Pearl: Hello, Greg. Nice of you to join us.

Greg: *looks into the empty compartment* I don't believe it!

Steven: Woah!

Greg: I'm so sorry about the mess.

Steven: Was this... your idea?

Pearl: Well...

Garnet: *walks out holding a tall stack of boxes on one hand* It was Amethyst's idea. *casually drops the stack*

Amethyst: (She sadly walks out holding a single box that says 'keep'.) *blushing* I-I just thought we could take all this stuff back to the temple. It can fit in my room. That way, you don't have to throw anything away. *runs over to Greg and holds out the 'keep' box, not looking at him* But— But you can keep this. *runs back over to the Gems*

(Greg opens the box and pulls out the photo of him and Rose. The photo now has a new frame and new glass, no longer broken. Greg tilts it back and an image of him and Steven looking happily at the picture reflects in the glass.)

Greg: Uh... Thank you, Amethyst.

(Amethyst turns slightly, grabs one of her arms shyly, and walks off with the Gems. Steven and Greg smile at one another and Greg shuts the storage unit for a final time.)

[END]