2.3 Downhill From Here

The lights slowly illuminate onstage once more, revealing the setting has changed to that of a throne room, bedecked in Earth Kingdom colors. The Aang Gang lounge in poufs and beanbag chairs, making themselves quite at home, though the Earth King is nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a loud recorded ding echoes, followed by a mechanical voice saying "You've got mail!"

A sound can be heard of a mail shoot opening, and several envelopes flutter down from above. Katara, Aang, and Sokka each catch one. The fourth envelope drops all the way to the floor, as Toph was unable to see it arriving to catch it in the first place. Aang stoops and hands it to her.

The four rip into the envelopes. Then they all exclaim at once, talking over each other as they explain who their missives are from.

Sokka: "It's from Dad! He wants some father-son bonding time!"

Katara: "Ooh! The Kyoshi Warriors are in town and they're inviting me to a slumber party tonight! Sounds like fun!"

Aang: "Some random guy I've never met and never heard of wants to teach me about the Avatar State! This doesn't seem suspicious at all!"

Toph: "The king of the badger moles is asking for my hand in marriage!"

Katara, Aang and Sokka gape at Toph, mouths open. "Wait, what?" Sokka asks.

Toph holds up the letter, then waves her hand in front of her sightless eyes. "Just kidding. Could anyone help me read this?"

Katara takes it and skims the contents before telling Toph, "Your mom is in town and wants to see you."

Sokka whispers to Aang "See, that makes more sense."

Toph smiles widely. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

The four split up and walk to four parts of the stage, with Aang in the middle, and the other three each claiming a different corner. Sokka is joined at his place by an older man bearing a distinct resemblance to him—his father. Hakoda hands Sokka a fishing rod, and the two sit down at the end of the stage, letting their lines trail down into the orchestra pit.

Aang is also joined by another person, a bearded man wearing a loincloth and little else. The two sit cross-legged side by side, meditating.

At her position at downstage left, Katara is suddenly surrounded by three girls wearing Kyoshi Warrior garb and makeup. Though they all hold pillows and sleeping bags to support their 'slumber party' story, Katara is not fooled. She gasps in horror as she recognizes Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai behind the heavy makeup, but there is nothing to be done—she is trapped.

Meanwhile, a heavy metal cage falls down around Toph, trapping her as well. The two girls gasp in dismay at their respective predicaments, but the boys remain oblivious.

From their different positions around the stage, the members of the Aang Gang face the audience and begin to sing together, holding up their hands to display the envelopes that they received.

"Split Problems"

To the tune of "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears

Sung by The Aang Gang

The Aang Gang: We got these letters,

They're pulling us all away

To very different places

And now these letters

Have led all of us astray

And now we're separated

Katara: I'm here

but I've been imprisoned

Sokka's gone,

he's off to help our dad to fight the war

Toph: They've locked me up,

A metal cage (but I)

I will get out

I'll metalbend (Metalbend!)

Aang: I'm learning how to control my mind

And not to pine

The Aang Gang: For the friends I've left behind!

Toph grabs the bars of her cage and slowly begins to pull them apart, bending the metal with her bare hands. Meanwhile, Aang opens his eyes and glances towards Katara's side of the stage, at last noticing that she is in trouble. He jumps up to his feet, cutting his meditating short. The guru grabs his arm, attempting to stop him from rushing to Katara's aid.

Aang: The guru tells me

To enter the Avatar State,

I need to check my feelings

But now I've sensed it

That Katara is in tough straits

And now I'll rush to her aid

Katara: I'm here

but I've been imprisoned

Sokka's gone,

he's off to help our dad to fight the war

Toph: They've locked me up,

A metal cage (but I)

I will get out

I'll metalbend (Metalbend!)

Aang: I was learning to control my mind,

But now I'll find

All the friends I left behind!

With one last effort, Toph breaks open the cage that is holding her and steps out between the bars. At the same time, Aang breaks free of the guru's grasp and brings his fingers to his mouth. He gives a sharp, piercing whistle.

"Aang Gang! Assemble!"

Sokka and Toph both rush over to Aang, and the three exit the stage, on their way to save Katara—but taking the long way around. Katara tries to join her friends as well, but is prevented by Ty Lee and Mai. The two seize her arms and force her into the same metal cage that Toph has just escaped from, closing the door and tying it clumsily together again with rope. Azula stands back and watches with satisfaction.

"Now, don't worry!" Azula assures Katara. "You won't get lonely—we have a friend for you!"

The sound of a doorbell rings across the stage. Azula smiles even wider. "And here he is now!"

Zuko enters stage left, carrying a large teapot. "Someone ordered takeout?" he asks, before he catches sight of his sister. He drops the teapot and settles into a fighting stance, but he is not quick enough. Mai and Ty Lee seize his arms as well so he can't firebend, and shut him into the cage with Katara. As the cage is not meant for two people, they have difficulty shutting the door again, but still manage in the end. Then Azula gestures for her cohorts to follow her as they exit the stage, laughing uproariously.

From her rather cramped position inside the cage, Katara groans loudly. "As though things couldn't get any worse, now I'm stuck in here with you!"

Zuko frowns. "Well, I didn't ask for this! This is like a bad fanfiction story, where two people who hate each other are shut into a closet together. What are we supposed to do now, fall in love?"

They both snort in derision.

"Fat chance!" Katara says. "You're evil!"

Zuko pauses. "Actually…no I'm not. I've had a change of heart—a major one. My character has been as tortured as my face ever since my father burned it, but I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm a redeemable character, I swear."

Katara looks at him skeptically, but still a bit hopeful. "Really?"

Zuko nods and sings:

"Shades of Grey Reprise"

To the tune of "Endangered Love" by Veggie Tales

Sung by Katara and Zuko

Zuko: I'm trying to change

Katara: You are?

Zuko: Sure am, since being on the lamb, ma'am.

Katara: Well if that's the case,

You've given up your chase

I'll try to heal your face

Using this bottle that I got that's full of water from the spirit world.

Zuko: Wow. So tell me, can it really do all that?

Don't lie. Can it really do all that?

Katara: Yes it can.

Zuko: It can?

Katara: Yes.

Zuko: But I can't.

Katara: Let's be friends.

Zuko: I can't.

Katara: Be friends.

Zuko: I can't.

Katara: Friends!

Zuko: Can't!

Katara: Friends, friends!

Zuko: Can't, can't!

Zuko: As I choose my way,

I face shades of grey!

As Zuko holds out his last note, the remaining members of the Aang Gang enter the stage. Iroh follows behind them a moment later, puffing heavily. "Man, I really need to work out!" he says to no one in particular.

Aang sees Katara in the cage. "Don't worry, we'll get you out! Toph just invented metalbending ten minutes ago, so that's definitely a thing now!"

Aang seems to see Zuko for the first time and draws back a little. His voice has a slight hint of jealousy when he speaks. "What is he doing in there with you?"

Katara waves away his concern. "Don't worry about it! Haven't you heard? He's really nice now, right Zuko?"

Zuko offers a weak smile, and Katara is convinced. Sokka shrugs. "Okay, if you say so. Do your thing, Toph!"

"What thing?" Iroh asks. "The door isn't even locked. Did neither of you think to check that you were actually trapped?

Zuko reaches out a hand and pushes at the door. It swings open easily. Embarrassed, he and Katara step out of the cage.

"Now," Aang says. "We need to find Azula before she completely takes over Ba Sing Se!"

Toph feels the ground with her feet. "There she is now!"

The light dims slightly on their group as the focus shifts downstage, where Azula has suddenly appeared. Ty Lee and Mai both stand behind her, as well as several members of the Dai Li. Facing them is Long Feng, standing alone.

"So to make a long story short," Azula says, her voice rather bored. "The Dai Li belong to me now. Finders keepers."

Katara moans. "Oh no! That means Azula's completely taken over Ba Sing Se!"

Long Feng sputters in indignation. "But you can't do that! The Dai Li are my friends, not yours!"

Azula examines her nails. "You, Long Feng, are a traitor to your nation. You have no honor."

Zuko seems to spasm at her words, and takes a step towards his sister and away from the group of good guys.

Azula smiles, looking at their group out of the corner of her eye, but still addressing Long Feng when she begins to sing.

"Fall of Ba Sing Se"

To the tune of "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

Sung by The Aang Gang, Azula, Zuko, Aang, Iroh, Katara

Azula: Well, you're out of prison and you're ready to lead now

But I'm afraid you'll have to forfeit your greed now

I'm leading the Dai Li in a twist you should've seen

And you know it's your fault that your people distrust you

With the treason you've pulled I've no choice but to bust you

But in the end you get to choose, to give up or lose

The Dai Li—led by Ty Lee—dance a jive behind Azula as she sings. Mai on the other hand remains motionless, her arms crossed over her chest and a sour expression on her face. She hates dancing. The group of good guys—Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Iroh, and Zuko (?)—mimic the Dai Li's movements when they begin to sing their part in the chorus.

The Aang Gang and Iroh: For Ba Sing Se will fall, it's clear, it's clear

We've done our all, we fear!

Zuko breaks away slightly from the group, facing the audience as he addresses his crossroads dilemma in song.

Zuko: Well now I have a choice that I will make

Have to choose the path that I will take

Have to choose my sister or the Avatar, oh

In the end I know I'll choose my sister

though she's such a pain

'Cause my honor I'll regain

And I'll finally catch up to the Avatar, oh yeah!

Zuko shoots a fireball at the Avatar. Though Aang is able to avoid the attack easily, the effects of Zuko's betrayal against their group is immediate: Iroh throws his hands up into the air in frustration, and Katara visibly deflates, her hopes of his redemption dashed. The entire Aang Gang seem to lose heart, and their next version of the chorus sounds slightly more hopeless than the first they sang.

All: For Ba Sing Se will fall, it's clear, it's clear

We've done our all, it's near!

The Fire Nation has taken hold so strong

We cannot shake our fear!

Aang gets ahold of himself, realizing the inevitability of their loss.

Unless…

His tattoos and eyes begin to glow blue as he enters the Avatar state. While the Dai Li all cower in fear, Azula sneaks on her tiptoes to try to get around to his back, where he will not be able to see her.

Aang: Now I've finally arrived

And found the Avatar State

At last accepting my fate

Azula shoots a bolt of lightning at Aang's back—a cowardly attack, through and through. Even Azula's own teammates seem disturbed. Katara, Sokka and Toph are all standing below Aang, and between the three of them, they are able to catch him when he falls.

Iroh: The Avatar is down and he's critically injured

He may never recover from the pain that he's endured

And I can't believe my eyes

And so I'm choosing my new allies

My nephew and my niece have both decided to betray me

And yet I know there's no way Zuko'll ever try to slay me

He'll come around one day

To Ozai's dismay

All: For Ba Sing Se will fall, it's clear, it's clear

We've done our all, it's near!

The Aang Gang escape to the foot of the stage, carrying Aang's unconscious body between them. Iroh jumps into the fray to distract Azula as the Aang Gang tries to revive their Avatar.

Katara: Well now I have a choice that I will make

Have to choose the path that I will take

And yet I find it easy for me to heal this boy

I'll heal him, heal him, heal him!

The Fire Nation has taken hold but they won't know he's safe

We've done, we've done, we've done our all,

We fear!

In the final notes of the song, Iroh is defeated and shut into the now over-used metal cage—though this time, Azula ensures that it is locked. All the same, Iroh has achieved his purpose—the Aang Gang has managed to escape.

Perched at the foot of the stage, the Aang Gang gathers around Aang's prone body. Katara reaches into her belt and pulls out her oh-so-special spirit water—a Super-Soaker. Aiming at Aang's back, she pulls the trigger and drenches the Avatar with water.

Upstage, Azula faces Zuko with a smirk on her face. "We've won, Zuzu. Father will treat us like heroes, give us the highest honors. We've done what no one—not even Uncle could: Ba Sing Se is fallen. And what's more…the Avatar is dead!" Her laugh fills the theatre as the lights dim for the second intermission.

Just before the curtain closes, Aang's finger is seen to twitch.

END ACT II