MONTAGE BEGIN - DAY
The news of Avatar Makami's discovery spreads like wildfire over the airwaves. We watch the heads of state and groups at large respond to the revelation.
- Inside of a brightly lit, humming casino, we see a huge circle of armored security protecting Fire Lord Ichiro as he pulls a slot machine's arm down with a radio right next to him. His eyes dart to the box as the wheels spin, a grim line on his face.
- In a Southern Metropolis boat shop, a thick television draws the attention of an elderly man running his lathe against a new slab of wood. On the television is a replay of the automaton attack. Several children are watching as well with wide eyes.
- A group of bald children in monk outfits - Air Benders all - listen to a whisper-quiet radio announcer beneath a pile of hay. We can only see the antenna sticking out of the stack and hear the gentle voice.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
In a stirring revelation, these brave busters of baddies-
A huge pair of flying bison teeth open and descend for the top layers of hay. The three children are revealed, but aren't bothered by the open air, listening intently. A grown-up air bending master walks along a grass path in the background.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
-the international scene is positively ablaze with well-wishers and curious fans.
MASTER PAYA
Hm?
MASTER PAYA (52) turns towards the children. He is a thin master with tanned skin, wearing the crimson, orange, and yellow of the Air Nation with his blue arrows painted deeply into his wrinkled skin. He has yellow eyes with a small, rounded beard.
MASTER PAYA
(loudly)
Do I see children shirking their studies?
All three of them poise themselves onto air balls and speed away, leaving the old man with nothing but chagrin and the radio.
MASTER PAYA
(sighing)
No, please, let ME get that for you.
He comes over and is greeted by his bison - Mai-ya.
MASTER PAYA
Good afternoon, Mai-ya.
The bison roars and falls to its back, awaiting belly rubs. Master Paya playfully hops onto the soft belly and begins to rub vigorously. Mai-ya lets her tongue hang out and kicks her massive rear leg.
MASTER PAYA
(baby voice)
Oh, you's just a big ol' itchy thing, aren't you? Aren't you, yeah you are!
RADIO ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Many are left wondering where is this Avatar Makami?
Paya stops rubbing and looks towards the radio.
RADIO ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And what will be her first major action?
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. DAIZIN ISLAND HARBOR BAR - DAY
Makami has a payphone clutched to her head, looking both tired and bored. The phone is attached to a rotten-wood wall, chiseled nearly all the way through by years of lively patrons.
MAKAMI
(monotone)
Yes, I'm calling in sick today.
She fakes a cough as Kota brings over a glass of ash banana juice.
MAKAMI
(sounding more sickly)
I think I've caught that bug going around. I'll likely be out for...two to four weeks, tops.
Kota waits, unable to hear what the person on the other end is saying.
MAKAMI
(voice suddenly all better)
Yeah, well, turn on a television - I'm the new Avatar, and I'm taking time off to discover new...theories and...and bring about world peace! Put that on my timecard!
She slams the receiver down on the cradle and melts her face into her crossed arms.
KOTA
Didn't buy it?
MAKAMI
(muffled)
No, of course not. Kin's had it out for me since day one. How did you swing this with her?
KOTA
I didn't - I quit that dumb place.
Makami's eyes sharpen as her friend shrugs.
KOTA
Yeah, while you were in the bathroom. It's not like this is a three-day trip we're on.
MAKAMI
You don't know that, Kota. I don't want to be gone for too long.
KOTA
You realize my brother's baby-fresh skin isn't coming back for a while too, right?
MAKAMI
It's not just about him. I want to have something normal to go back to.
KOTA
You're the Avatar now, Ami. Do you even WANT that job to still be yours when you go back to Capital City?
Makami sits up, shrugging awkwardly while spinning her glass.
MAKAMI
Maybe, so what if I do?
KOTA
(chortling)
Then, I say aim wayyyy higher, girl.
MAKAMI
(defensively)
I never said I wanted any of the "world saving" stuff. All I wanted was a mover and some new desserts.
She picks up her juice.
MAKAMI
(meekly)
Maybe I'll just be the type of Avatar that discovers a new classic snack and we'll be back in a week...?
Kota raises her glass, looking unsure.
KOTA
To snack discovery.
The friends clank their glasses together before they down the contents in full.
CUT TO:
INT. AIR NATION TEMPLE - DAY
Master Paya rushes through the peaceful, naturalistic interior of the carved stone cathedral. There are red and yellow velvet carpets and drapes that run along lines of meditation mounds - quite ostentatious for air benders.
He abandons his air ball at the top of a low staircase and pushes open a large wooden door.
INT. ELDER MEDITATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Paya's panting fills the chamber, interrupting some unseen hustle and bustle. We see a few masters decorated with prayer beads and blue arrows running in four directions along their bodies. The traditional colors of the Air Nation take the form of business suit proxies across their outfits.
MASTER PAYA
(breathlessly)
The...they...the Avatar...
The view is around to show the room full of air bending masters in fancy suits with briefcases. There is a sign that reads "Milo and Paya Council." The faces of the elder masters are all shocked with slack jaws.
MASTER PAYA
(after a deep breath)
The Avatar has been found!
CUT TO:
EXT. DAIZIN HARBOR - DAY
The small speedboat bobs softly next to the dock. In the background are massive cargo liners bellowing their great horns into the air while pulling away.
Coming up from below deck of a small scooner are Toyo and Shii, arguing with a rolled-up map in the older man's hand.
SAGE SHII
It's the safest way, Toyo.
SAGE TOYO
Agreed.
SAGE SHII
And secrecy is a paramount necessity.
SAGE TOYO
Without a doubt.
SAGE SHII
I believe we should change clothes - especially Makami.
SAGE TOYO
As soon as possible.
SAGE SHII
And we shall have to acquire passage to the Southern Water Metropolis.
SAGE TOYO
Your wisdom is unsurpassed, Sage Shii.
Shii sighs and turns to the younger, smiling sage as a large Hawk-Gul lands upon a log with a hot dog in one claw just behind them.
SAGE SHII
(sighing)
Then why won't you lend me just a little ban to accomplish this?
SAGE TOYO
Because of leverage, oh wise one.
SAGE SHII
Leverage?
SAGE TOYO
Yes, over you. You've already got an in with Makami because, well, old people are endearing - like stuffed animals. I know you probably see me as the muscle of the group-
SAGE SHII
I do not.
SAGE TOYO
Oh...well, I also have eyes to the future. I want to be the one to lead our group, and the one that gets all the juicy praise for Makami's progress.
SAGE SHII
You want to take everything and leave me down in the cargo hold?
SAGE TOYO
(happily)
Can you imagine the press? The pictures? The magazine cover photo shoots?
Shii audibly grumbles as he turns and walks off screen to the right with his arms thrown up.
SAGE SHII
The insanity of youth - I'll just go sell the hat from my head to make ends meet!
CUT TO:
INT. HARBOR BAR
Makami is in the background seated with a sliver of chalk wiggling in her thoughtful fingers. She has been writing and crossing out several things on the wooden table. Above her head is a black chalk board with various slashes and circles next to numbers one through ten.
Now looking at the crowd, Kota holds a small, featureless pewter coin with one eye closed. She is focused on a group of narrow-mouthed baskets at the other end of the bar. There are similar coins in the baskets with several other patrons pointing and cheering.
Kota suddenly leans forward and flicks the coin off her thumb like a bug. It smacks the well-peppered wall above the baskets before dropping into the center opening.
KOTA
(exclaiming)
Makami - did you see that!?
Makami looks up from her writing.
MAKAMI
No, what was it?
KOTA
(still excited)
What was it?! Oh, just my university experience finally paying off!
She takes an excited moment to compose herself into a heroic pose.
KOTA
They called me The Phoenix Gamer!
MAKAMI
What do you think about Choco-cheese-creamy-steaks?
The door bursts open with Shii coming in, still in a huff. He's taken off his hat to reveal just a few long, grey swirls of hair left on his head. He plops down at the bar, much to the delight of the large, elderly woman bartender.
BARTENDER
What's your flavor, handsome?
Shii juts out the hat in his hand.
SHII
(angrily)
Whatever this will get me!
Toyo files in from the background as Makami comes over, snatching his hat and smiling to the tender.
MAKAMI
He'll have a Lemon Spiker on me.
SHII
(mumbling)
What happened to respect...hmph.
MAKAMI
What's the matter?
Makami turns to Toyo, giving him an inquisitive look.
Shii has the beverage well in hand as he very slowly spins back to face Toyo with a bitter, angry look. Makami looks between them quickly before sliding out of the frame.
TOYO
(clearing his throat)
I, uh, I wish to ascertain some ways in which we might, um, reach our destination.
SHII
(brusquely)
Fooey on your ascertations.
He throws his voice up into the bar loud enough to attract all the patrons at once.
SHII
(loudly)
Who here is going to the Southern Metropolis and could use some strong crewmates?!
There is a moment of silence accentuated by Toyo's disbelieving stare - like an intelligent Rabbit-Hog knowing just in that moment that a car was swerving for him.
Finally, a pirate-looking gentleman named SIGRID (42) with an eye patch and a hooked hand loudly hobbles out of the shadows on one wooden leg.
SIGRID
(deep raspy voice)
A pair of lasses, and elderly trout, and a skinny-armed crab-snatcher are yer strong crewmates, aye?
All four are watching him, only Shii looking relatively relaxed.
SIGRID
Well, who's to speak up fer ye mettle?
Makami steps forward.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
If you have a job, we four are the best at...completing random tasks.
Sigrid glares down to Makami with his jet black moustache and skulls carved into three of his teeth. After a long moment, he finally moves, leaning forward quickly with his teeth still bared.
SIGRID
(ominously)
We'll see how you and yers handle my dreaded Sloth-Sheep!
The area zooms out to show a handful of the fluffy creatures at the feet of the patrons. Toyo is happily petting one in the foreground as it, very, very slowly, steps forward and chews a cud. Makami gazes at the creatures as Sigrid begins to hobble out.
SIGRID
Me ship is in bay five - we'll set sail once the fluffy ones are stowed.
The one Toyo is rubbing begins to bray. It is extremely slow and loud, causing everyone but Toyo to cover their ears.