A/N: And finally, we approach the chapter, "Steak me Amadeus". But this time, it'll have a bit of a happier ending. And Mordecai's end goal for the day would be similarly different as well. And in this chapter, a certain song from Led Zeppelin would play as a sort of song at a certain point. Won't say what, though.
Close Enough: A Regular Show
Chapter 13: Steak Me Amadeus
One day, at the house, Mordecai was washing his eyes out in the bathroom.
"So, Margaret... there's something I wanted to ask you. Noooooooo. Hey, Margaret, I think you and C.J. would be great, you'd be great friends together, you know? Nah. Hey giiiirlll, you and C.J. should be friends!", Mordecai said, talking to himself.
But then, Rigby and C.J. came into the bathroom overhearing Mordecai talking to himself in the mirror.
"Hey girrrrrlll.", Rigby greeted.
"Why are you talking to yourself, giiiirrrrl?", C.J. asked.
"I'm trying to think of a way to help you and Margaret be friends at dinner tonight, and I'm kinda nervous, okay?", Mordecai replied to C.J.
"Oh, Mordecai. You don't need to do that. You should just let us be friends with each other on our own.", C.J. advised.
"Come on. I only want nothing but the best for you. Speaking of, I know just where to take you: Steak Me Amadeus.", Mordecai responded.
"Seriously? That place is CRAZY expensive! And even if I did wanna go, how are you gonna pay for it?", C.J. asked.
"BAM! Amadeus dollars! Remember when Pops gave these out as Christmas gifts? I traded everyone for them in exchange for favors, and now I got MAYD STACKS!", Mordecai answered, pulling out yellow dollar bills reading "AMADEUS DOLLARS".
"Huh. So that explains all the extra work you've been doing.", Rigby said.
"Oh, yeah. Though, I don't think I was there for the christmas gift thing.", C.J. said.
"Yeah, you just had to be here.", Rigby said.
"This dinner is big dude. Everything has to be perfect.", Mordecai said.
"Mordecai, it's okay. Really.", C.J. said.
"Well, if that's what you want, man."
Rigby then gave Mordecai some more Amadeus Dollars.
"Use 'em well, man."
"Thanks, dude.", Mordecai thanked.
"No problem...now get out of here, I gotta use it.", Rigby said.
Later, Mordecai was now in a shirt and tie driving the cart to pick Margaret up as C.J., now wearing a nice crimson dress with a light pink jacket. The time at that point was evening as he was again practicing what he was going to say to Margaret.
"Margaret, this is C.J. You met her at the coffee shop. Ugh, no...", Mordecai groaned.
Then, his cell phone rang. He picked it up and answered.
"Margaret, C.J. and I were just on my way to get you. What's up?", Mordecai asked.
"Hey, something came up, so I'm going to be late. I'm sorry, can I meet you at the restaurant?", Margaret asked.
"Yeah, totally! Don't worry about it! We can't wait to see you!", Mordecai responded.
"Cool, see you there.", Mordecai said before hanging up.
"Hey, Mordecai?", C.J. asked.
"Yeah?"
"I think getting us here is a big enough favor. So, when we do get there, leave the talking to her with me, okay?", C.J. asked.
"Yeah. You got it.", Mordecai nodded.
The two then arrive at Steak Me Amadeus and walked in. When they entered, they walked up to the receptionist there.
"Hi, I have a reservation for three under 'Mordecai'.", Mordecai said.
The receptionist was typing on her computer.
"Ummmmm... ah! There you are!", the receptionist said.
"Is there like an extra nice table you could sit us at? If it costs extra, I can pay upfront.", Mordecai said, giving the receptionist his Amadeus Dollars.
Seeing them, the receptionist looked at them hesitantly.
"No, no extra charge.", the receptionist said.
"Wait. Why do you look so nervous?", C.J. asked.
She gave no answer. Instead, she went for a red button located underneath the top part of the desk, and pressed it. Within a second, an entire SWAT team moved in, and apprehended both Mordecai and C.J.
"WHAT THE-?", Mordecai exclaimed.
"HECK?!", C.J. added.
Next, it cut to a close-up of a sign reading "INTERROGATION ROOM". In said room, the park gang was now in handcuffs, all except Candice, who worriedly held Emily by the pants. Mordecai and C.J. were being interrogated by an FBI agent named Morelli.
"People like you make me SICK.", Morelli spoke angrily.
Then, two cops entered the room, one male, and one female.
"Take five, Morelli, we got this.", the female cop named Kessler said.
Morelli then left the room as ordered.
"What's going on?! Why are we locked up?!", Mordecai asked in panic.
"What did we do wrong?!", C.J. added.
To answer, Kessler threw a bag of Amadeus Dollars to Mordecai and C.J.
"You tell me. You and your buddies' prints are all over these counterfeit Amadeus Dollars.", Kessler said.
"Counterfeit?!", Mordecai exclaimed.
"Well, we didn't know.", C.J. added.
"Don't be cute with me, you two. We've been on the case for months. Your funny money scam is GOING DOWN! DOWN TO PRISON TOWN, YOU HEAR ME?! PRISON!", Kessler snapped.
"Easy there, Kessler. All of the evidence is stacked against you and all of your friends. Unless you can prove you're innocent, we're gonna take you all in.", Kessler's partner warned as the whole park gang were all very worried.
"But what about Candice?", Emily asked.
"Is she gonna be all right?", Josh asked.
"Well, maybe you should've thought of that before you started doing the dirty work.", Kessler glared, earning his partner's clearing his throat.
"Look, this is ridiculous, we don't even know what you're talking about!", Benson shouted.
"Yeah!", Fives agreed.
"I want my one phone call, bro!", Muscle Man added.
"We're innocent, let us go already!", Rigby added.
"Wait, didn't you say that Pops got you guys those dollars for Christmas?", C.J. asked.
"Oh, yeah, I did.", Rigby said.
With that, he and the others turned to Pops in concern, especially when he now had an ashamed look on his face.
"IT WAS ME! I gave them the funny money! Hat man! Christmas!", Pops sobbed.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Pops, calm down. Use your words.", Benson said, calming him down.
"Well, I met a gentleman who sold them to me for half price.", Pops explained calmly.
"He got a name?", Kessler asked.
"I don't know, he just approached me on the street.", Pops responded.
"What did he look like?", Kessler's partner said.
"Well, his hat was covering his face. But, he gave me his card.", Pops answered.
He reached into his pocket, and took out the card before walking over and giving it to Kessler.
"It's just a number. You've got nothing. Let's take them to the van.", Kessler said.
"Hold on. A number? That's it!", C.J. shouted.
"What now? This better be as important as doing my job.", Kessler groaned.
"She's good at it, too. Too good.", her partner added.
"Look. I'm not sure either of us were the counterfeiters you're looking for, but what I do know is how we can catch the real mastermind.", C.J. assured.
This somewhat intrigued Kessler as she raised her eyebrow.
"Go on.", Kessler said.
"This number is on the card that the guy gave to Pops, right? So, it might be possible that this number belongs to the guy who gave him that counterfeit Amadeus money.", C.J. said, astonishing Mordecai and the others.
"Oh, my.", Pops said, surprised.
"That could work.", Mona added.
"That actually makes a lot of sense.", Skips added.
"Look, we'll catch the real counterfeiter! If we bring him, and the fake bills in, then there would be no problem with us! Just let us go on this date, please!", Mordecai pleaded.
"Ugh, fine! If you can bring us the perp, and prove he's got the counterfeit bills, you guys are off the hook.", Kessler groaned in agreement before Mordecai and C.J. looked at the park gang, who now had smiles on their faces.
"Pops, call the guy!", Mordecai said.
At that moment, a montage of a set up to the sting operation began. while Pops was calling the counterfeiter, the cops were outfitting Mordecai, Rigby, and C.J. with equipment for the sting operation. After the call was made, Pops hung up and gave a thumbs-up to the trio, who nodded.
At the restaurant, Mordecai, Rigby, and C.J. were now wearing full suits, ties, and a dress.
"You know, you don't have to do this, dude.", Mordecai responded.
"Hey, dude, I wanna be your bro and help you two out!", Rigby responded.
"Thanks", C.J. grinned.
"Margaret is here.", the Kessler's partner said before a waiter showed Margaret, who is now wearing a purple dress, her and Mordecai's table. Margaret sat down. "As soon as the suspect arrives, you two gotta leave her. Got it?"
"Got it.", Mordecai and C.J. said in unison.
"Remember, Mordecai, C.J., no dollars, no deal.", Kessler warned.
"Consider us warned.", C.J. responded.
Mordecai and C.J. then walked over to Margaret and sat down with her.
"Hey, you made it!", Mordecai beamed.
"Hey.", C.J. grinned.
"Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late, I-", Margaret began.
"No, no. It's fine.", Mordecai assured, making Margaret smile at him. "You look amazing."
"So do you.", Margaret grinned.
"Oh. Margaret, you've met C.J.", Mordecai said.
"How are you doing? I hope today wasn't inconvenient with work and all.", C.J. said.
"No, no, I wanted to see you guys!", Margaret responded. "Listen, there's something I wanted to tell you, something kinda important."
"And what's that?", C.J. asked.
But before Margaret can begin, the male cop spoke over Mordecai and C.J.'s headset. Unfortunately, Margaret heard it.
"The suspect has arrived.", the male cop said.
"Uh, Mordecai? C.J.?", Margaret asked.
"Time to go, Cassanova.", the male cop said.
"Come on, just give us more time!", Mordecai whispered.
"Are you okay? Time for what?", Margaret asked.
"Sorry, Margaret. Mordecai and I need to take care of something real quick. We'll be right back.", C.J. said before she and Mordecai then took their leave.
As they left, though, Margaret had a suspicious look on her face as Mordecai and C.J. went over to Rigby, who nodded before the trio walked over to the suspect, who was wearing a tan coat and a brown hat. His face was also covered in a shadow.
"So, you three work for Pops?", the suspect asked.
"Yeah, show us the goods.", Rigby responded.
In response, the suspect then pulled out a brown briefcase. Rigby reached for it, but the suspect soon pushed it near himself.
"Un, un, un. Let's me see my payment first.", the suspect said.
C.J. then snapped her fingers trying to contact the waiter.
"Give me the ribs, extra juicy.", C.J. responded.
The waiter had a confused look, but nonetheless pulled out a box reading "RIBS" on it.
"There you are, ma'am.", the waiter said before walking away.
The suspect opened it up, and inside it were dollar bills in it. He pushed the briefcase over to Mordecai, Rigby, and C.J. across the table.
"Mmmmmm. 10,000 Amadeus Dollars.", the suspect said.
"Make them admit they're fake, and we can end this.", Kessler said.
Both Mordecai and C.J. became nervous as they looked at Margaret who was starting to walk toward them before the two nodded to each other.
"So, these Amadeus Dollars are legit, right?", Mordecai asked.
"Hey, these are coupons, not cash."
"Look, just tell us if they're actually the real deal.", C.J. responded.
"Touch 'em, they don't get any more real than that."
But C.J. growled angrily, turning dark grey as lightning sparks emitted from her body.
"Look man, if you don't stop lying to us and fess up, things are gonna get crazy!", C.J. warned.
"Mordecai? C.J.?", Margaret asked, worrying the two as C.J. even turned back to her normal skin color with the sparks gone.
"Why is Rigby here?", Margaret asked.
"Busted.", Rigby added.
"We're really sorry, Margaret, can you wait at the table?", C.J. asked as Mordecai held both of Margaret's hands.
"We'll be right there.", Mordecai responded.
"But, I really need to talk to you.", Margaret began.
"Then why don't you join us, little lady?", the suspect requested.
"What? No!", Margaret responded.
"I said 'JOIN US!'", the suspect shouted.
"Uhhhhh...", Mordecai began in worry.
"Come on, there's no reason why we can't have fun here. After all, that's what I was made to do: SHOW PEOPLE A FUN TIME!", the suspect said as his eyes glowed red in the shadow.
"'A fun time'?", C.J. asked before gasping.
"Wait a minute...! I know you!", C.J. shouted.
"That's right, girlie.", the suspect responded, flipping the table.
He then pulled out a rifle, but it came out backwards. Puzzled, he then flipped the right way. The rest of the patrons saw this and fled the restaurant in fear. The suspect laughed hysterically, revealing himself. It turned out he was actually the bear from the Capicola Gang, only now, parts of him were just metal, while the rest of him is fur.
"It's that dice guy from the Fun Fun Zone!", Rigby shouted.
"We never properly introduced earlier. So, just call me Dominic.", Dominic smirked.
"How are you alive, dude!", Mordecai shouted.
"Yeah, we thought you were DEAD!", C.J. shouted.
"That's what they all thought.", Dominic said before it then cut to a flashback of the night of the shootout at the docks.
There, C.J., in thunderstorm cloud form, rained down both an outpour of rain and lightning on the bar, shocking the bear robot, who stammered as he suffered the consistent strike. It wasn't long before the strike finished and finally knocked him into a boat. The bear robot's head, now half torn, showing the metal, knocked a gear, which caused the boat to go across the ocean as the searchlight of a helicopter watches from above.
"Smoke 'em.", the pilot ordered.
As ordered, the man carrying a rocket launcher fired at the boat, which hit and destroyed the boat.
Moments later, a piece of Dominic's fur was floating in the water. As he explained presently, in the past, Dominic reached the shore while electricity volted out of his body.
"I was in pretty bad shape after the cops got us. But I survived."
Next, he was in a run-down apartment room, making as many repairs to himself as he could.
"I laid low for a while. And started making plans for revenge."
Even in the midst of his repairs, the bear was watching a commercial on a TV of the restaurant Steak me Amadeus.
"A fine culinary experience for ALL! Especially for the couples! And now, you can pay for it with special Steak Me Amadeus dollars!", the announcer spoke before Dominic glared with a smirk with his left eye and even typed on a computer hooked up to a printer.
"I knew I could lure you guys in with affordable steak. So I created thousands of fake Amadeus Dollars!"
Dominic hit "PRINT" on his keyboard, and fake Amadeus dollars came out. As a result, thousands of fake Amadeus Dollars came out of his printer. Once it was done, he gave Pops the fake dollars, who ran back to the park with them.
"I knew once you have cheap steak, you'd be back for more."
Back to the present, Margaret, Mordecai, C.J., and Rigby all had shocked expressions on their faces.
"And BAM! Here we are! The Capicola Gang will have its revenge!", Dominic said.
"Don't you mean you? Because I only see one of you.", C.J. said.
"Ah, don't worry. Louie and Amelia will be here. I helped make sure of that myself with the repairs to prove it."
"So, let me get this straight. You made fake Amadeus Dollars which nearly got us all arrested and then got real money off it to fund your own repairs?!", C.J. asked.
"In a nutshell, yeah.", Dominic responded.
"Dude, that's really weird.", Rigby commented.
"Well, it worked, didn't it? And now I have you right where I want you!", Dominic smirked before cocking his rifle and pointing it at the four.
"Heh. How do you know that WE'RE not the ones who have YOU right where we want you?", C.J. asked with a smirk, opening her dress jacket to show wires on both sides of the inside of her jacket.
Play Led Zeppelin Music: "Kashmir"
"The jig is up, bear!"
"Whaaaaa...?!", Dominic said in a deep voice, despite the shock.
Just then, the gang came in, all having guns in their hands pointed at the bear. Benson, HFG, Josh, Emily, Skips, Mona, and Muscle Man arrived with guns.
"FREEZE, BEAR!", Kessler shouted.
"Bros! The feds said we could help save you!", Muscle Man spoke up.
"Can it, Mitch.", Kessler responded.
"Good thing Candice is staying with Pops.", Josh said.
"Yeah, I'm a little worried about what she'd see.", Emily responded.
In the interrogation room, Candice was eager as Pops was a bit nervous.
"Oh, my...", Pops said.
Meanwhile, Kessler moved toward the bear.
"Okay, Papa Bear, the jig is up. Drop the gun, and no one gets hurt.", Kessler warned.
Unfortunately, Louie from the Capicola Gang was there too, as he cocked his pistol, now re-assembled with a robotic arm.
"I'd be careful if I were you.", Louie laughed before Kessler's partner moved in behind him, aiming his gun at him.
"Drop the gun, big guy!", the officer shouted.
Unfortunately, the Duck Robot, now named Amelia, who was now wearing an eye-patch with a mark alongside a cape, from the Capicola Gang moved in from behind a curtain with a 12-gauge shotgun.
"Hold up square! Y'all gonna put yo' guns down, NOW!", Amelia warned, clocking her gun.
Everybody had their guns pointed at each other. Margaret was scared and C.J. worried. In case they die, the three hold each other's hands tightly. The announcer from the commercial, known as Amadeus, brought out some steak on plates.
Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race
This world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed
He gasped, and dropped the plates, which shattered upon impact. The silence broken, the gigantic shootout began. While everybody was shooting at each other, especially Dominic, who fired at Kessler and her partner as they ducked, Rigby ran under a table while Mordecai, C.J., and Margaret, still holding hands, ran for their lives.
"GET DOWN!", Skips and Mona shouted before they, Pops, Benson, Josh, Emily, High-Five Ghost, and Muscle Man flipped the table so it was on its side.
During the entire shootout, Rigby ducked under another table flipped on its side while C.J., Mordecai, and Margaret were still looking for cover.
"Ugh, I knew this was a bad idea!", C.J. growled as her skin turned dark grey and began to emit lightning sparks again.
This time, she transformed into a giant thunderstorm cloud, leaving her clothes behind on the ground, immediately turning loose the winds of her fury, quite literally, halting the Capicola Gang in its tracks.
In the interrogation room, Candice giggled immensely from seeing the Capicola Gang in imminent danger as Pops was in awe.
Meanwhile...,
"Then, why'd you even wanna go?!", Margaret shouted.
"It wasn't by choice! Mordecai wanted to make this night special for us, even though we would've been cool with a normal get-together! And those Capicola animatronics had to ruin it for us!", C.J. roared, launching her thunder bolts at the gang, forcing them to dodge, making them keep on their toes.
"Uh-uh. I know you did NOT just strike lightning at us!", Amelia shouted before C.J. struck at her again at the same spot.
"Thing is, I just wanted us to be friends on our own terms.", C.J. added to Margaret.
"Me, too!", Margaret shouted.
"Really? You do?", C.J. asked.
"Yeah!", Margaret replied.
Hearing this, C.J. grinned before gasping from seeing Amelia opening fire.
"Duck!", C.J. shouted before striking at Amelia by the gun this time, disarming her and frying the gun somewhat.
"Uh-uh. That ain't right.", Amelia glared.
"Quick! In there!", C.J. shouted, pointing to a nearby table.
Both Mordecai and Margaret crawled behind the table.
"Margaret! There's something I want to tell you!", Mordecai said before a bullet smashed a plate on the table in front of them.
It even showed Muscle Man squealing as he shot off his machine gun uncontrollably.
"Oh, come on!", C.J. groaned before raining down hail on the Capicola gang again, this time, disarming them and destroying their guns to prevent any future use.
Stop Led Zeppelin Music: "Kashmir"
"CEASE FIRE!", Kessler shouted before everyone else stopped shooting.
"Ah, finally...! Okay, Mordecai. You can go ahead.", the storm cloud sighed in relief, the winds dying down to a breeze as the rain falling from her dwindled to a light shower.
"Thanks, C.J. Anyway, the last few weeks I have spent with her have been the best weeks of my life. I feel like we are growing closer every day, and it just wouldn't feel right to leave you out of said happiness. No one else seems happier with us than you do. Margaret, do you and C.J. wanna be friends?", Mordecai asked.
Margaret bore a warm smile on her face.
"Of course, Mordecai. We've wanted to be friends on our own terms, anyway.", Margaret said.
"Really?", Mordecai asked.
"Yeah. Besides, they say some storm clouds follow people wherever they go, but in a literal sense, I'd feel safer with this storm cloud.", Margaret responded.
"Well, got me pegged there, I guess.", C.J. grinned.
"Yeah. But as long as we're talking about important things, there's something I need to tell you, too. It's about this."
Margaret showed him a torn open envelope with a letter inside it, that shows it's from Milten University. Both Mordecai and C.J. have a surprised expression on their faces.
"Wait. You're serious?", Mordecai asked.
"Yeah. I got into my dream school.", Margaret replied.
"That's great, Margaret!", Mordecai grinned.
"WHOO! Go, Margaret!", the storm cloud cheered.
"Aw, thanks, you guys. I mean, it may take a while before I have to leave, but still...", Margaret grinned.
"Aw, don't sweat it. It may be a while before you leave like you said. But until then, we'll both be there for you. So, you guys cool?", Mordecai asked.
"Yeah. We're cool.", C.J. responded.
Frankly, everybody looked at Mordecai, C.J., and Margaret, happy that the two girls can be friends. Well, almost everybody. In fact, Dominic interrupted.
"YOU KIDDING ME?! Friendship and school are overrated! I didn't go to school, or even get into a relationship and look at me!", Dominic jeered.
As if by sheer irony, a rocket was fired at him, blowing him up. While the rest of the Capicola Gang was shielding themselves from the light as it dimmed along with the smoke, another rocket descended, blowing them up too.
"Whoa, what?!", C.J. shouted in surprise.
It turned out the rocket didn't come from the cops. It came from none other than the restaurant owner, Amadeus.
"Nobody talks that way about friendship and college education in my restaurant.", Amadeus spoke intensely.
"Maybe I should be careful picking restaurants from now on.", Mordecai suggested.
"Uh, yeah.", C.J. replied.
Later, Mordecai, C.J. (now back to normal form and in her dress), and Margaret were at the park house celebrating Margaret's college acceptance in the form of a party with everyone (especially Josh, Emily, and Candice), almost akin to the last one they threw, only this time, it was for a good cause. Even a 3'6" mole girl in her early 20s with tan fur was present. However, her appearance was very humanoid, excluding her toes and tail.
"So..., you and C.J. are a thing now?", Margaret asked.
"Yeah. It... kinda looks that way. And I'm not exactly sure whether you did have feelings for me or not, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry.", Mordecai apologized.
Margaret sighed as she took a breath.
"Well, I am sad. But... I understand. Or at the very least, I'll try to. So..., yeah. I think I'm okay with being friends.", Margaret grinned.
"Cool.", Mordecai grinned.
Then, Margaret shook hands with both Mordecai and C.J.
"See you at the Coffee Shop?", C.J. asked.
"See you at the Coffee Shop.", Margaret responded.
Just then, the mole girl went over to Margaret.
"Hey, Margaret. Who's this?", the mole girl asked.
"Oh, hi, Eileen. This is C.J. My friend.", Margaret greeted with a wink to her, earning C.J.'s returning wink to her.
Rigby then turned up, bringing a case of soda.
"You guys want something to drink?", Rigby asked.
"This isn't Radicola, is it?", C.J. asked jokingly.
"Nah, but it's the next best thing. Plus, it doesn't make you as hyper like at the last party.", Rigby said.
"Good call, Rigby.", C.J. said before she and the others take a sip from their sodas and sighed after finishing.
A/N: And there we have it. Not only do we have a happier ending, but for those who were awaiting Eileen, we have a first visual appearance of her. Honestly, no matter how many perceived "Steak me Amadeus", the funniest thing that made me laugh was the Capicola gang getting blown up for what Dominic said about College Education. I think it made me laugh so hard the first time I saw it. What are your thoughts about the original and rewritten versions of this episode?