I'm doing this in script form for two reasons: 1. It's more like the movie, which is one of my objectives. 2. Doing it scene by scene and act by act will prove a challenge as I've never really written something like that before. 3. It'll be easier to compare.
Also note that it is impossible to put anything resembling a script format on this website (believe me, I've tried. If anyone has any suggestions...). So I did the best I could to make it easier to follow. However, if it's too much or you're still having problems with it, I put a link at the bottom to my Deviantart site where it at least resembles a script.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
EXT. SOUTH POLE – EARLY EVENING
Opening shot at a clear sky. Pan down to view icy tundra stretching out to the horizon, broken every now and then by cracks, juts of ice and a few obscure views of water. Further pan shows an a large, Eskimo-like village behind a wall of snow.
KATARA (V.O.)
Every child in my village learned this saying:
Clear and calm brings a good hunt.
Pan leads down to a girl and boy (ages 7 and 9 respectfully) playing in the snow with other children about their age. They are having fun, laughing and yelling as they play.
KATARA (CONT'D)
Clouds and wind mean warriors training.
Boy and girl stop as their name is called out by a woman from a nearby tent. Boy gets hit in the face and falls down. Girl giggles.
MOTHER
(From Background)
Sokka! Katara! Time to eat!
Looking put out, the boy stands up and follows the girl back to the tent. Around them, other children are being called in.
KATARA (CONT'D)
White and soft will safely cover all,
Just before they reach the tent (where the mother has disappeared back inside), a single, black ash floats in front of the girl's face. She stops and looks up as more and more begin to fall. The boy stops behind them.
KATARA (CONT'D)
But the black snow-fall will always death bring.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH POLE WATER BENDER VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS
The village is in chaos as Eskimo men (and a few women) run around fighting men in black and red armor with the fire nation symbol on them. The Eskimo people are obviously losing, being pushed back. Focus on one official-looking man in red and black armor who walks through a doorway, flanked by 8-9 fire nation soldiers. Several families, mostly women and children, huddle together on the other side of the doorway as the man enters. After a few moments, he speaks.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
It has come to our attention that a Water Bender has been living in this village. Holding a Water Bender violates the conditions of the Treaty of Mozon. However, I have been given permission to overlook this if you turn the offender in!
The families look even more frightened, and glance at one another. Some even whisper, but are quickly silenced by the harsh looks from the Fire Nation Captain. An older woman who has obviously seen many long, harsh winters stands up.
GRAN-GRAN
Is that why you've attacked our village? There hasn't been a Water Bender here for over 40 years!
Continues, ignoring the woman's outburst with the exception of his expression going from harsh to downright fierce.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
If you do not turn them in, we will eliminate your pathetic village.
Gasps come from all over the room, and many people hug their children and/or loved ones closer, but even after a long silence, no one speaks up. Katara and Sokka cling to their mother, although Katara gasps when the previous threat is made. She starts to cry.
Their mother brushes a hand over her daugher's hair, shushing her gently. Then she carefully pushes their hands away from her clothes and stands up. Many people gasp, and Gran-gran (who is sitting just to the side) tries to grab the woman, hissing in protest. The children's mother looks down at the older woman and smiles sadly. The old woman shakes her head, but the woman ignores her.
The Fire Nation Captain notices the woman standing and immediately turns to her.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
You there! What do you know?
The woman takes a deep breath before she speaks.
MOTHER
I am.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
You are?
MOTHER
I am the Water Bender.
GRAN-GRAN
No!
(Covers her mouth in shock.)
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
(Sneers.)
Prove it.
MOTHER
As it has been pointed out, there has not been a water bender in the village for some time. I cannot control it.
The Fire Nation Captain looks angrily at her.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
I said PROVE IT!
As he says this, he throws an enlarged flame from a lantern one of his men is carrying at her. She gasps and steps back. Sokka and Katara both cry out. Suddenly, a misshapen ball of snow rises into the air in the general path of the fire. The flame melts most of it, but most of the stream is dispersed into the surrounding area of the tent harmlessly.
Everyone stares at the woman (who looks rather shocked herself) for several moments before the Captain walks up to her, grabbing her arm.
FIRE NATION CAPTAIN
Good enough for me.
He throws her towards the door, then smiles as his men assume defensive stances around her. They slowly walk her out. The tent flap falls shut behind him. Sokka and Katara have moved over to Gran-gran, clinging to her. Sokka is crying silently, as if he doesn't want to admit it, but Katara just watches the door in shock. A sudden, bright light explodes from under the tent flap, which blows in the wind. Katara's eyes widen and she runs to the door, breaking away from Gran-gran in her haste. Others follow her lead. She gets to the tent flap and opens it, rushing outside.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH POLE WATER TRIBE VILLAGE-CONTINUOUS
Camera from outside pans from Katara as people open the tent flap wider behind her to a burnt body smoking on the ground.
FADE OUT:
(Only show some charred material in the snow, and maybe a little steam.)
SCREEN SUDDENLY GOES BLACK AS THE LITTLE GIRL SCREAMS:
YOUNG KATARA
MOMMY!
KATARA
But she wasn't the water bender. I was. My mother died protecting me.
EXT. SOUTH POLE ICE FIELDS – DAY
Scene opens panning from left to right up close to frozen cliff face. Some water rises from the ocean below in a bubble, much of it spilling out, decreasing its size. The camera follows the ball of water as it moves.
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN IT SAYS: SIX YEARS LATER.
KATARA (CONT'D)
After that, our tribe decided to rejoin the war; a war that has lasted for more than one hundred years. Despite our treaty with the Fire Nation that allowed all non-bending tribe members to remain in the South Pole as long as we did not aid opposing sides in the war, most of our warriors left the village to join the resistance in the Earth Kingdom. My father lead them.
I don't think he knew I could bend. He wanted to avenge mom's death, and keep that from happening again. We haven't seen him since, and only receive letters a few times a year.
He left us, my older brother Sokka and me, with our Grandmother. With my father and mother gone, it fell to him to hunt for our family's food.
The ball of water falls down, splashing on something under the screen. A wet, 15-year-old Sokka stands up looking extremely annoyed.
Sokka turns around, glaring at his sister.
SOKKA
Katara! You know you're not supposed to do that!
KATARA (V.O. CON'T)
But I help when I can.
KATARA
(Smiling sheepishly)
I'm sorry, Sokka. I thought I had a fish trapped. You know I'm trying to help!
SOKKA
Well stop trying! Every time you do, I get wet!
Katara sighs and nods her head. Satisfied, Sokka turns back to what he'd been doing, tracking a bear seal by tracks.
SOKKA (CONT'D)
This way!
Katara nods and follows him. Shows them going between two small cliff faces and coming out to see a great deal of flat ice. The sun shins down, a rare, warm day. There are no bear seals in sight.
SOKKA
No! I know I did it right! I checked—
He starts to babble to himself as Katara sighs again, this time in disappointment as she shakes her head and looks down. Then her eye catches something underneath the ice.
KATARA
Sokka!
Sokka stops an looks at her, then follows her gaze.
SOKKA
(Totally clueless)
What?
A blue light glints through the water and ice. Camera zooms in on Katara's wondrous face. She kneels down, brushing away some of the snow.
KATARA
There's something there!
SOKKA
What?
KATARA
See?
She points down to the blue light. Sokka follows her finger, then scratches his head and looks back at her.
SOKKA
Katara, I don't see anything.
KATARA
(Exasperated)
It's right there!
SOKKA
(Looks again)
Nope. All I see is the sun glinting off the ice where it's melted.
KATARA
You're kidding! It's blue! How can it be the sun?
SOKKA
You're seeing things. Come on.
KATARA
(Starting to get angry)
Why is it that whenever I see something I'm seeing things, but whenever you see something it's right? Listen to me! There is something down there!
She jerks her hand downward, pointing at the blue light. With the sweep of her hand, a sweep of energy rushes through the ice and the sound of ice cracking stops both of them. The teens look at each other with a look of realization before they both turn and struggle to run. The ice breaks beneath them, but they are able to make it a safe distance.
Camera shot from in front of them, focusing on the large, blue dome that bobs to the surface, displacing ice. The two stop and turn around, both curious, awed and scared. The iceberg that has surfaced is circular and glowing blue.
SOKKA
Katara! What did you do?
Katara isn't listening to Sokka. She is enraptured by the ice, and gazing through the somewhat transparent material, she captures a glimpse of a slight figure with glowing arrows on his head and hands, which are locked together in front of him. As they stare, the figure opens its eyes.
KATARA
(Gasps)
He's alive! We have to help!
SOKKA
Katara! No! We don't know anything about this! Let's at least tell the elders! Katara!
She doesn't listen to him, and grabs his hammer before he can do anything, running up to the iceberg hurriedly, but carefully, as she has to step across the ice that cracked before. Once she nears the iceberg, the ground becomes more solid, and she can get a firmer grasp with her feet, and begins to pound at the ice. Sokka runs up behind her, but before he can reach her, he slips in his haste.
SOKKA
(Struggling to his feet)
Ow...Katara! Listen to me!
Katara continues to beat at the ice. After several swings, she apparently breaks through because both she and Sokka get blown off their feet. The iceberg begins to crack above them, and a brilliant pillar of blue light is discharged into the sky.
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH POLE OCEAN – DAY
Several miles away, a dingy ship is shown. It is made of metal, and has black steam pouring from its spout.
CHANGE VIEWS, CAMERA SHOT FROM THE LARGE BRIDGE SHOOTING UP AND LOOKING AT THE LIGHT AT A SLIGHT ANGLE TO THE LEFT.
The lone figure at the front of the ship looks startled from his posture. It's difficult to see him because the light casts him as a silhouette. He takes a hesitant step back, then quickly turns and runs towards the camera.
ZUKO
UNCLE!
CUT TO:
EXT. SOUTH POLE ICE FIELDS – DAY
Katara and Sokka have huddled together, shielding themselves from the wind. When they look up, the blue light is gone, as is most of the dome.
Katara gets up and begins to climb up the side of the iceberg.
SOKKA
Katara!
When Katara doesn't listen to him again, he starts to grumble to himself, gradually getting louder as he follows her.
SOKKA
Hey, let's ignore Sokka! Why not! He's only trying to stop his little sister from
(yelling)
GETTING HERSELF KILLED!
Once over the top of the ridge, she looks down and sees a large, furry beast with six legs and a beaver's tail. She also sees a boy, obviously not dressed for south pole weather. He has on a cloak over Asian Indian style clothes. They're yellow and orange as compared to Katara and Sokka's brown and blue clothes.
Katara carefully (and with one eye on the beast that doesn't seem to be moving) steps inside the dome, and climbs/slides down towards the figure.
KATARA
Hey! Hey are you okay?
The boy doesn't answer. She gets close to him, slipping off a glove to check for a pulse. Sokka comes up behind her. She gasps, and Sokka jumps, levels his spear at the boy.
SOKKA
What is it?
KATARA
He's...warm.
They glance at each other, and then back at the boy.
SOKKA
Okay, he can take care of himself.
(Scrutinizes the boy critically for a moment)
So let's get going. We need go be home before Gran-gran gets worried.
KATARA
What? We can't leave him here!
SOKKA
Well we can't take him with us!
KATARA
(Defiantly)
Why not?
SOKKA
(Glancing over at the animal)
What if that's his? Besides, what would we tell Gran-gran?
KATARA
How about the truth.
SOKKA
Oh yeah, that'll go over well. "Look what we found stuck in a giant block of glowing ice". I'm sure the village elders would love that.
KATARA
I don't care! I'm not leaving him!
AANG
(Fairly weakly)
Hey.
Both Katara and Sokka turn their attention down to the boy. Shot from below looking up at them as if from the boy's point of view.
AANG
Don't fight, please.
KATARA
(Smiling warmly)
What's your name?
AANG
Aang.
Sokka stomps up to them, spear in a defensive position, as if Aang will jump up and attack them at any minute.
SOKKA
How did you get out here? And why aren't you frozen?
AANG
I don't know. I was heading towards the south pole when I ran into a storm.
KATARA
Why were you coming down here?
AANG
(Face brightens as he looks up at her)
You mean I made it?
KATARA
Yeah, I guess.
SOKKA
You didn't answer her question. Why are you here?
AANG
(Looks sheepish, he scratches his bald head)
It's kind of stupid. I wanted to try penguin sledding.
Sokka and Katara both stare at him like he'd just sprouted horns. Before they can say anything, though, the Animal makes a low, deep, rolling noise. Aang's attention is immediately captured, and he turns to look.
AANG
Appa. I'm glad you're okay, friend.
SOKKA
You call that thing 'friend'?
AANG
(Looks affronted.)
Of course I do. He's my flying bison.
SOKKA
Animals don't fly.
KATARA
Hey, you need to rest. We're going to take you back to my village, okay?
AANG
But what about Appa?
Katara looks up at Sokka, as if asking for help.
SOKKA
So now you want to listen to me? How should I know?
AANG
We could fly on Appa's back.
Even Katara looks skeptical while Sokka just shakes his head back and forth.
KATARA
Um...He looks really tired too. Do you think he'd follow us if we walked out of here?
SOKKA
Katara, what about the water?
KATARA
It's only a few yards he'll have to swim.
AANG
Yeah, he can do that.
He moves to stand up, but has a hard time doing so without Katara's help. She finally assists him as he walks over to Appa.
AANG (CONT'D)
Appa, I need you to follow me. Yip.
The bison groans as it lifts itself up. Aang talks gently, as if speaking to a child, or a baby, but not condescending.
AANG
Good, good. Okay, we're ready.
Sokka turns and starts trudging up the side of the glacier.
SOKKA
(Sarcastic)
Wonderful.
Okay, here's the link to the Last Airbender Rewrite on DA (without spaces) obi-quiet .deviantart .com /art /The-Last-Airbender-Rewrite-A-1-173635068