EXT. NORTHERN AIR TEMPLE - THE PAST
Avatar Makami is a hapless spirit, floating around without a single clue as to where she is. She is sitting with her hands over her face as the wind blows around her. Her structure is familiar, if not older, Air Nomad construction that whistles with empty, centripetal wails.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Okay, okay - there has to be a rational explanation for all of this.
Her hands come flying off her face.
MAKAMI
(even quicker)
I've gone insane and this is the edge of my snapping mind!
Forneus comes from above, doing spins in the air and making a small, cute noise to grab her attention.
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
Forneus!
She stands and grabs the creature, spinning in place with it.
MAKAMI
My little incorporeal manifestation of energy and light!
The creature is dizzy, floating unevenly in the air.
MAKAMI
Sorry. Hey, do you know where this is? It doesn't look like any part of Spirit World I've read about.
The spirit has regained its senses and flies off.
MAKAMI
Wait!
Outside now, the world looks layered - the middle ground individual spires of meditation in foggy, grey-toned detail while the background is blotched and undefined.
She runs around rocks, levitates up to the top of spires, and hops unsteadily. Her fists attempt to make a fire blast to push herself forward, but nothing appears.
MAKAMI
I don't have my bending?
Not paying attention, she glides straight through a rock spire as though it wasn't even there.
MAKAMI
(shrugging)
Good thing I can fly, I guess.
She puts her hands to her side and quickly catches up to Forneus, who has stopped at the edge of a rock basin.
MAKAMI
What do you want to show me?
Her head turns and her eyes light up.
She overlooks a valley of a living photograph. Sky bison and children play with one another at the pace of a slideshow with missing frames. The laughter and roars all echo as though through a radio. All of them play in a round courtyard with an irregular circle of dried magma around the exterior.
MAKAMI
(softly)
Whoa...
Makami looks to Forneus.
MAKAMI
What did we break?
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE NATION AMBASSADOR QUARTERS - DAY
Adachi has a phone on top of the large table. Voso is in the background with a concerned look, but his stance is steady in formation.
VOSO
What is it, grandpa?
ADACHI
After this call, Voso.
Adachi has the receiver up, dialing.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE LORD'S PRIVATE QUARTERS
Ichiro and Kouichi sit by the phone in the foreground with Ichiro's fingers tapping in wild anticipation. Kouichi works on some puzzle inside his folded paper. The room itself is clad in red with a large, circular bed in the background next to a large stack of fruit on a table.
A servant quietly sneaks in with a gilded bowl in the background.
SERVANT
Shall I switch out yesterday's fruit, sire?
ICHIRO
(angrily)
Yes, quickly! And with more almond melons this time!
A line of servants quickly rush in with bowls in hand and work as lemmings, passing the filled bowls between their hands.
The phone ringing startles the Fire Lord. The servants have quickly finished and softly close the door - so softly that the lord turns without knowing they're gone.
ICHIRO
(loudly)
Leave!
Kouichi makes eye contact with the lord as he turns and snaps up his ludicrously tall collar. The ringing phone is picked up by Kouichi at last.
KOUICHI
Adachi? You're on speaker with-
ICHIRO
(impatiently)
Give your report, Commandant.
ADACHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
We have a tenuous deal in place.
The relief is palpable across the face of the Fire Lord. Kouichi isn't as thrilled.
KOUICHI
Contingent upon what?
ADACHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Rescinding our expanded borders, the removal of two naval bases from their shores, and a written promise to never match their display of force the other night.
The lord looks confused and unhappy.
ICHIRO
I don't understand - we have to give THEM things? Why couldn't you just make them kneel to our flaming will?
KOUICHI
What else was on the table?
ADACHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
This was our offer.
Ichiro turns redder as Adachi talks.
ADACHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
This was what they jumped at, and our return is-
ICHIRO
(whining)
Your 'return' sounds more like we handed them the keys to the empire in return for three copper ban.
A hand from the advisor mutes the speaker quickly.
KOUICHI
(sternly)
Fire Lord Ichiro - may I speak with the Commandant alone, please? I will size the deal and you can rely upon my insight of the matter.
ICHIRO
(quickly)
We will not give those mud-movers a single grain of sand we've already taken, do you understand me?
KOUICHI
Yes, sir.
ICHIRO
(quickly)
Not a single box of my precious fruit will fall into their greedy hands.
KOUICHI
Of course not, sir.
Ichiro walks into the background. Before he leaves, Ichiro shoots off towards the fruit and fills his arms with purple and green, looking back with daggers as Kouichi picks up the phone.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE NATION AMBASSADOR QUARTERS
Adachi has his hand against his forehead, leaning his elbow down on the table.
KOUICHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
Adachi? It's just us now. How are you?
ADACHI
Near my wits end, but surviving. How against the deal is he really?
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE LORD'S PRIVATE QUARTERS
He glances over his shoulder at the closed door.
ICHIRO (O.S.)
THESE ARE AHZEL FRUITS - NOT ALMOND MELONS!
KOUICHI
He's going to take some convincing, I think.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE NATION AMBASSADOR QUARTERS
Adachi peers out the window.
KOUICHI (O.S.)
(over the phone)
What would be our losses if we agreed?
ADACHI
Next to nothing militarily. The bases are out of date and understaffed, and we have no substantial trade in our gained region. But Kouichi, there's another stipulation. This one, won't go over well...
CUT TO:
INT. CAPITAL CITY CAPITAL HALLWAYS
The elder statesmen are gathered around again with Ichiro now holding a plate full of black fruit with pink leaf tops. He chews away like his mouth is filled with tar with aggRaavation on his face.
ICHIRO
Avatar? What's an Avatar? You mean that guy on the mini-mover box?
Kouichi looks sternly towards him as he spits the pink leaves into another bowl.
ICHIRO
What I do NOT want is to lose something of value. You talked him down from giving away our national reserves, right?
Kouichi doesn't miss a beat with a sly smile.
KOUICHI
Your Lordship is very wise indeed to focus only upon what matters. That is what your Lordship's legacy will be remembered by, is it not?
ICHIRO
(lips smacking)
No one shall say that I wasn't a ruler that remained focused on the big issues.
He spits another group of leaves into the bowl to a satisfying twang.
KOUICHI
Then let's break this whole war-to-end-all-wars issue down to what matters, shall we? What do you believe matters here, your highness?
He tosses aside the fruit and wipes his hands while sitting up straight.
ICHIRO
Well, the projected strength is what matters. We are, after all, trading in perception on a world scale.
Kouichi's smile remains as he drops down to his knees, showing the Fire Lord the utmost respect.
KOUICHI
All that matters, my lord, is that this war never come to pass.
ICHIRO
But what if-?
KOUICHI
(quickly)
What will the people three centuries from now remember, my lord? Will they remember the names of defunct naval bases and rotten fruits? Or will they remember this as the moment-
Kouichi stands, looking more confident.
KOUICHI
Or will they remember a fearless dragon-of-a-man that put aside his pride - laid down his very reputation - to prevent needless death amongst his people?
He bows his head again.
ICHIRO
(shocked)
A kneel and a bow, Kouichi? This can't be-
KOUICHI
It is, sir.
Still bowed, Kouichi snaps his head up dramatically.
KOUICHI
It's the super-secret, super-respectful tradition only the best Fire Lords have ever seen. The Great Prostration.
Ichiro stands with his bowl of fruit in hand.
ICHIRO
Well, that seals it then! My people will remember me as a ruler as strong as Ozai!
He walks away as Kouichi's eyes follow him.
ICHIRO
Without, you know, the world-domination thing.
KOUICHI
Then the deal is adequate, sir?
ICHIRO
Oh, flame-no, Kouichi. Tell Adachi to do better.
Kouichi stands up straight, looking after the Fire Lord with a tense fist.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE NATION AMBASSADOR QUARTERS
The seasoned hand of Adachi slams the receiver down into the cradle. Voso takes a step towards his grandfather in the background.
ADACHI
(grumbling)
That ungrateful...
VOSO
You want to give them the Avatar?
Adachi spins with force.
ADACHI
(angrily)
The Avatar is the least of my worries!
VOSO
But she's - you've known her for years, and you're just going to give her up? Without her say at all?
ADACHI
(simmering)
You will not speak this way to your commanding officer.
VOSO
(angrily)
You're not my commanding officer, and you can't do this to her!
Adachi shakes his head, waving Voso away.
ADACHI
(growling)
What would you know about sacrifice?
VOSO
(angrily)
Nothing at all, right? Not like you - the commanding officer that sent my parents to die!
The wake of the bomb just dropped cracks Adachi's angry aura. He has his back to Voso with sorrow on both of their faces.
Voso breaks first, turning to speedily walk out.
ADACHI
(bitterly)
You haven't been dismissed.
Voso stops with balled fists at the door.
ADACHI
(pleading)
I need your help to save our nation, Voso. I need you to talk to your contact again. Get me a better deal to serve to Ichiro, or you and I will fail our mission.
Voso turns with anger and surprise mixing on his face.