EXT. BA-SING-SE WATERPARK - AFTERNOON
Looking down, there is a very slow moving moat of water filled with floating people on innertubes. Voso moves beneath some shade towards Alrund, who is sunbathing in a one-piece on one of the tubes in the shape of a floating, googly-eyed serpent.
He leans down, bringing down his sunglasses.
VOSO
(whispering)
You were supposed to meet at the entrance.
ALRUND
Eh, I wanted to relax - these negotiations have taken it out of me.
She removes her sunglasses with a smile on her small face.
ALRUND
So did finding a little intruder in my sister's abode. Your name is Vichi or something, right?
VOSO
(whispering)
Voso. You're the one that didn't turn me in.
ALRUND
(smugly)
Never throw away a pebble without making sure it's not platinum.
She is up and out of the moat, using earth bending to form a staircase out. Voso steps back, taking her innertube as she smacks him with it.
ALRUND
I can tell you're shiny, but I don't know what you're made of yet. As long as you're useful to me, I'll work on convincing myself to keep you around.
VOSO
I came to say stop torturing Khonsu. He's a wreck already, and there's nothing more you can squeeze out of him.
ALRUND
Hm...?
A moment of silence draws out an uneasy look from him.
ALRUND
Must I come out and ask for it?
VOSO
I don't have anything.
ALRUND
(tsking)
Oh, sure you do. You just don't know it yet.
She reaches up and rubs at his cheek as his eyes hold steady.
ALRUND
And you'll tell me, or-
VOSO
(quickly)
If you gave me something, I might be able to use it to get more from my grandfather.
Alrund pulls her hand away and cocks a dark eyebrow.
VOSO
He doesn't share anything with anyone. I'll need something to push him into talking.
Alrund slides her sunglasses back on with her face stoic again.
ALRUND
Leave me a note with something at the entrance to the waterpark tonight, or I'll make sure the world knows that a boy, in over his head, brought peace talks crashing into the ground.
She takes her innertube away from the hapless Voso as he looks away.
ALRUND
My sister and I have been playing this game and stacking bricks too long to play games with you, rocky.
Don't ever try to play me again.
CUT TO:
INT. WATERPARK UNDERBELLY
Nabendu is teaching a much smaller, portly boy how to water bend in the proper order.
NABENDU
There are two-hundred-seventy-three seams that you have to water bend into. Ready to learn the sequence?
CHILD
(unsure)
Uhh...
NABENDU
Down in your stance.
The more experienced bender is down in front with his arms out to the left. The boy is mimicking with his arms, but not with the devotion in his legs.
Nabendu moves from left to right with his arms splitting, hooking under, and coming up sharply. His jets of water slide into the tight spaces perfectly while the boy's splash against the ceiling.
NABENDU
It's okay - keep going. Remember, all movement is energy, and bending is guidance.
Makami sneaks to the bottom of the stairs, sliding now into the low stance to mirror Nabendu.
NABENDU (O.S.)
Let your hands guide your body and your hips pull the water.
She begins to sway lightly.
NABENDU (O.S.)
Keep your fingers tight.
Now, she is fully moving, mimicking the entire series of bending moves. Her eyes are closed as though she can feel the energy of the bend itself. She looks almost divine as the sweat flies from her brow.
NABENDU (O.S.)
You're doing great!
CHILD
I am?
Nabendu turns with a smile that quickly drops into confusion. The child stands in a puddle of water, his eyes up. Nabendu follows, watching the weave like poetry unfurled. He turns to see Makami continue the routine. Even her own sweat lifts off of her face and joins the surrounding jets of water.
Her eyes snap open and blush comes to her cheeks. The water splashes loudly to the ground and she snaps up straight with her hands behind her back like a disobedient student.
MAKAMI
(softly)
I'm sorry.
CHILD
(happily)
Can you teach me?
MAKAMI
I'll...leave now.
She turns and heads back up the stairs quickly.
CUT TO:
INT. MAKAMI'S ROOM - EARLY EVENING
Several men are moving a desk, a typewriter, and stacks of paper into Makami's old room, pushing aside her bed and setting it up like an office. Zura watches over all of this with a lost expression standing next to Kin, who glowers over the process with crossed arms.
KIN
And you said she's where, again?
ZURA
At the doctor's. Something about sharp, deadly, hungry beasts deep in her bones.
KIN
(grunting)
Hrm.
The typewriter bangs down harshly on the thin wooden desk, drawing a glare from Kin.
KIN
That's the last of it. A courier will be by every - are you writing this down for her?
ZURA
Oh!
Zura slides behind the typewriter, zipping a piece of blank paper into place.
ZURA
(excitedly)
Ready!
As Kin speaks, the long arms of the typewriter slap black ink against the page.
KIN
A courier will be by every day to collect her assignments. She will have weekly phone check-ins with myself, and if she falls behind, even in her predicament -
The typing stops.
KIN
- she will find me less than forgiving.
ZURA
How do you spell...um, per-dict-ilment?
Kin looks down to the small girl with something approaching pity on her features.
KIN
P-R-E-D-I-C-A-M-E-N-T.
The keys quickly finish the rest of the message before a loud zip completes the message.
ZURA
Do you want to sign it?
Kin's mouth, ever so barely, cracks a smile. She brings a custom fountain pen from her breast pocket, unscrewing the top before swiftly curving an elegant "K".
KIN
See that she receives this, post-haste.
Zura nods. Kin slides out the door before the child lets out an exasperated raspberry from her lips.
ZURA
(grumbling)
What am I going to do? Ugh!
She picks up one of the papers from the tall stack on the desk and reads it over.
ZURA
(robotically)
"Type four copies of this letter, no cor...cor-rections needed."
The page drops and her eyes sparkle with delight.
ZURA
(excitedly)
Hey, this'll be easy!
She slides into the chair again, looking sneakily around.
ZURA
(menacingly)
Hehehe, Operation Zura-Is-Makami is go!
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE NATION AMBASSADOR QUARTERS - NIGHT
Adachi, looking positively terrible, wavers where he sits. His eyes are bloodshot and he clearly hasn't shaved in some time. Voso comes in with a candle in his hand, looking worriedly towards his grandfather.
ADACHI
(drowzily)
Fire...fire those lazy trees. What have...have they done?
Voso's eyes look down as he raises his right hand.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(deep, echoing voice)
Use your ability, boy.
He looks around quietly, unable to pinpoint where the voice is coming from. Adachi is unmoved, still unaware of his grandson's presence.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
Yes, that ability you've kept secret your entire life. The one you used once on your teacher by accident, then a professor on purpose. Use it on him.
He raises his hand as he slowly comes up behind his grandfather.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
Fret not about the end of the world tonight. Give him a moment's peace.
The fingers grip at the base of Adachi's neck gently.
VOSO
(quietly)
Go to sleep.
Suddenly, a slack takes over the entire man's body, causing him to fall upon the table into a deep slumber.
Voso turns and looks into the rafters.
VOSO
(quietly)
Where are you?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
I am everywhere you allow me to be.
VOSO
(quietly)
What does that mean?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
Come now. You have another appointment to keep.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE SAGE HALL - NIGHT
The moonlight splashes across the kitchen tile floor as Kozan and Yasuhiro come into the room.
YASUHIRO
(angrily)
We could've found more information from the family!
KOZAN
(calmly)
We found out that the Avatar has left Capital City with sages - likely that fool Shii. There is no use revealing more about our cause to no advantage.
The door closes, leaving only the faint flicker of a flame from off-screen. Yasuhiro and Kozan look towards it cautiously.
AKIRA (O.S.)
I knew the first ones to travel to the Avatar's home would be traitors.
The two of them creep forward with fists coiled tight.
AKIRA (O.S.)
And I knew you'd be wasting your time.
The two of them round the corner to see Elder Sage Akira with one of the wooden chairs turned towards the doorway. Around him hover two bright balls of flame, showing his morose, focused face.
AKIRA
The Avatar is in safe hands, far from the Red Lotus. You have failed.
YASUHIRO
Your foretold malarkey is wrong as usual, old man.
Kozan, showing great respect, slowly drops down to the ground, sitting with prostration on his shins. He smirks with his hands out.
KOZAN
The Red Lotus are gone, Akira. Remnants of the past. We seek the Avatar to protect against the future.
AKIRA
(grunting)
Hrm. I see spirits of a new enemy in your eyes. You will reveal yourselves to me!
The angle is such that Kozan and Yasuhiro are both shown, their smiles growing.
Suddenly, flames shoot into spires directly towards the elder. The old man holds up two hands - one for each blast - and catches them in his fingers. His face shows no exertion.
His hands angle the flame into his wide mouth as Kozan and Yasuhiro cease their blasts and stumble backwards.
The old man swallows down the fire with steam running from his nose and ears.
AKIRA
An old dragon doesn't yield to old tricks, emberlings. Tell me your master's name-
A blast of endless, jagged blackness outlined in white crashes through the door behind Yasuhiro and engulfs his body. It is black lightning - cast by an unknown bender in the shadows.
Akira drops down as his flames dissipate. The other two , holding their own flames in hand, bow down to the unseen figure.
CUT TO:
EXT. RUBBER LAND - NIGHT
Makami ties a jacket tightly around her waist with one hand while her other holds to a plastic bag of groceries. Kota has her hands full of bags and her mouth covered with fur.
KOTA
(muffled)
Do you think we got enough snow-lizard milk?
MAKAMI
I think any is too much, but it'll do.
NABENDU (O.S.)
Good evening.
The two of them turn to see him putting on his own jacket, complete with a rubber nametag. The other, younger employees of the park are scattering behind him as the gate is locked for the night. Without a moon in the sky, there is only the low, twinkling light of the stars above them.
MAKAMI
Good evening, Master.
KOTA
(indignantly)
Psh, master of the kiddie pool. Let's go, Makami.
NABENDU
You've got an apology coming your way, if you wouldn't mind me trying again?
Without looking, Makami shoves the bag into Kota's arms.
KOTA
(struggling)
C'mon, Ami, forget this loser.
MAKAMI
(through her teeth)
I need a water master - shut up.
She takes a step forward.
MAKAMI
I'd love to try again.
He has his mittened hands gripping the bars to the waterpark as Makami walks up, ordered like a student.
NABENDU
Do you know anything about this park?
MAKAMI
No, Master.
NABENDU
Please, call me Abe.
They nod to one another, her with wide eyes.
NABENDU
Anyways, this park was donated by President Inca of the Earth Kingdom in the name of international good will. She wanted to bring smiles and joy.
MAKAMI
Just like Toyo in the village?
NABENDU
Heh, he wishes. I don't know how well you know Toyo yet, but you know that grain of salt some people warn you to take advice with? Well, he's the entire block of the stuff.
(waving hand)
Anyways, the pack - at the time, it felt like a brand new type of wind blowing through here. Everyone wanted to grow together. Now, other countries want to destroy all this.
He turns towards her with a pained look.
NABENDU
What do you plan to do to stop that?
Makami visibly gulps.
CUT TO:
EXT BA-SING-SE ROYALTY ROW AND WATER PARK - NIGHT
As Voso walks up to the rocked-up waterpark gate, he looks over his shoulders with paranoia. There is very little light from a sparse few lamps that buzz loudly.
VOSO
(whispering)
Who are you?
The night meets him with nothing but the chirping of insects in the summer.
VOSO
If you're real, answer me!
ALRUND (O.S.)
I'm quite real.
From the shadows comes Alrund in a cloak, looking smudged with oil and dirt. Regardless, she smiles as she approaches.
ALRUND
This will be a memorable night. I think you'll be glad you came. First thing's first - my information?
Voso brings his sweating hand forward and drops the paper, but it is just a wet mess.
VOSO
Sorry, my hands are sweating. It said that he is delirious and wants to go back to the Fire Nation as soon as possible. Whatever terms you want to bring, our next meeting will be the time.
Alrund's smile grows.
ALRUND
And the terms he'll seek?
VOSO
He wants to walk away with peace, that's all. The specifics he keeps hidden from me.
ALRUND
No matter. You've done as I asked.
Voso begins to walk away, but is caught by Alrund.
ALRUND
Don't just run off. Stay and watch with me.
VOSO
Watch what?
CUT TO:
EXT. RUBBER LAND
Makami has her head down as she speaks to Nabendu, both of them now sitting atop an ice and stone statue dedicated to the spirits Yin and Yang. The ocean is behind them with dark mountains in the distance.
NABENDU
You really didn't know you were the Avatar before a few days ago?
MAKAMI
Nope, and when Shii told me, I was so mad I screamed his head off.
NABENDU
(sarcastically)
Oh, well, you didn't tell me you were on the run from the police for yelling.
MAKAMI
Heh, it's more than I would've done before...
NABENDU
Well, you've always been the Avatar - you never even had any hints?
MAKAMI
I'd had...some weird stuff happen as a kid. Spirits kept stealing my toys and playing with me.
NABENDU
Have you been to the Spirit World?
MAKAMI
Sure, there are so many great tourist spots. Kota and I did a tour after we graduated. Heh, while I was there...well, let me just show you.
She hops down to the ground and turns to face him. Her eyes close and her hands frame her chest. From there comes the briefest glimpse of the glowing symbol of Raava - the spirit that gives the Avatar its power. It then dissipates as a grey, semi-translucent spirit unwraps itself from her chest.
The grey creature FORNEUS (ageless) emerges, looking like a sting ray with a cattail for a tail. Beneath its wide flippers are tentacles that come from its small body. The creature has soft eyes and a small mouth, looking excited to see Makami again.
Makami
(giggling)
Hey there, Forneus.
Nabendu looks on with amazement as the two of them hug.
MAKAMI
I gathered this little guy from a dark part of Spirit World off the beaten path.
NABENDU
(excited)
I've never seen anything like this.
CUT TO:
EXT BA-SING-SE ROYALTY ROW AND WATER PARK
Voso and Alrund sit atop a marble statue of Inca holding up an innertube. They're both looking over the soft city light from the below circles. Alrund sits relaxed while Voso struggles to contain his antsy hands.
VOSO
What are we doing?
ALRUND
Waiting.
She glances at her wristwatch one more time before moving closer. She pulls her cloak up to cover his eyes, even as he tries to lean away.
ALRUND
You don't want to look directly at it at first.
CUT TO:
EXT. RUBBER LAND
Nabendu holds Makami's hands excitedly as Forneus spins in the air. In the background is wide-open sky and still, oceanic waters, glaciers as still as pillars.
MAKAMI
Really? Toyo doesn't seem to think so.
NABENDU
(exuberantly)
To Koh what Toyo thinks - I believe in you! It would be my honor to-
A sudden white flash in the air behind them fills the screen. Screams come from the sprawling metropolis below.
CUT TO:
EXT BA-SING-SE ROYALTY ROW AND WATER PARK
Now looking at the two of them hidden behind the cloak, they watch the strong light cut through the seams in the black.
VOSO
What is that?
Just like that, the light fades down and Voso turns, pulling down the cloak.
VOSO
Is it fireworks?
Alrund turns with her eyes large and bright, the energy of the moment giving her goosebumps. In the reflection of her large eyes, we see the blast - a halo of white, red, and orange that has pushed the clouds out like a halo atop the planet.
ALRUND
How's that for information to take back to Adachi?
CUT TO:
MONTAGE START
- Several small children of an Earth Kingdom village gaze up to the halo as it blinks too rapidly to see, spinning with the force of the planet.
- Fire Lord Ichiro gazes out of his glass side door with his face foolishly agape. We see the blast in the reflection.
- Down at the street level, Yasuhiro and Kozen gaze up with their faces grim. A puddle beneath their feet shows the explosion.
- Looking over the Southern Metropolis, dozens of people gawk from their stoops and windows, looking confused and fearful. The red and orange reflect off of the ice sheets.
- Close in on Kota, Shii, and Toyo, Kota is letting her milk pour out onto the ground with an agape face. The sages are taking it a bit better, giving one another piercing, telling looks. The explosion reflects in the glass bottle of the milk.
- Finally, we are on Makami and Nabendu again. Forneus is hiding behind Makami, stealing a glance over her shoulder as Nabendu looks back to her.
NABENDU
You never answered my question, Avatar.
The view is around to show us the blast first-hand in the background. The ocean below rips large waves that unsettle the glaciers, turning the peaceful night into a chaotic nightmare.
Nabendu watches her critically.
NABENDU
How in the world are you going to stop that?
The view holds on Makami's terrified eyes and absence of answer, the explosion reflecting in either pupil.