EXT VARRICK EXPRESS - NEAR DAWN
The train slows as it enters the low brush of the edge of the Spirit Swamp. The desert sand gives way to yawning greenery, then explodes into thicker vines and branches that the train has to rumble over on the tracks.
Finally, the brakes squeal to stop in front of the only building in sight - Spirit Crossing Station.
CUT TO:
INT VARRICK EXPRESS
Makami and Abe stretch up from their chairs and look around with several other passengers doing the same. The train isn't packed with too many people, giving some enough room to do floor yoga.
ABE
(stretching)
Is this Be-Sing-Se?
MAKAMI
No, it's a little too green outside. Are Kota and Shii in the bathroom?
ABE
(disgusted)
Ew, I hope not.
MAKAMI
Not like that...
TRAIN ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Attention passengers, this is your...*sigh* very, very, Varrick conductor. The vegetation on the tracks has become impassable, so we're sending a team ahead to clear it out. We're going to be here for a few extra hours, so feel free to disembark to stretch your legs.
Makami walks up to one of the train attendants, who is checking a pocket watch and opening the door.
MAKAMI
Excuse me - have you seen the rest of my group that came on the train with me?
ATTENDANT
What did they look like?
MAKAMI
One is Kota - she has a resting concave smile about six millimeters wide with a nose at around a one-sixty-three angular slope-
Abe comes up from behind her, pushing her down the stairs.
ABE
(to the attendant)
Sorry about her. The confusion will pass soon.
EXT SPIRIT CROSSING STATION - CONTINOUS
Makami stumbles out with Abe lazily stepping to the wooden platform. The train staff meet at the opposite end while several people with foliage on their heads and torsos emerge from the small station.
MAKAMI
(annoyed)
Hey, he could've helped us!
ABE
Not with you describing Kota's face like a science project. Besides, they have to come out eventually, right? Where else are they gonna go?
Makami leans to see the group of locals moving towards the train workers. They point down the tracks to a blind curve.
ABE
Some maniac was snoring like a ground-hammer last night, so they might've - hey!
She moves towards the group of officials. They notice her walking up with confidence.
MAKAMI
(sternly)
Avatar Makami - what seems to be the trouble here?
Abe stops behind her while the officials stare at her, melting her confidence away.
CONDUCTOR
Please step back, ma'am.
LOCAL 1
(in southern twang)
We've go'it from here.
The group of locals drop off the platform onto some of the vines. Their bare feet use the vines to surf up the tracks.
She turns and stops the one remaining local - BREAD (28). He has short, light brown hair that runs into a tied pigtail beneath his caterpillar-eaten leaf hat. He's sporting a healthy tan with a tattoo on one shoulder of an egg, and on the other, a chicken-snake.
MAKAMI
Excuse me, where's everyone going?
BREAD
(southern charmer accent)
Clear'em outta tha way, miss. The vines, that is.
MAKAMI
You can do that...?
She slaps her forehead with the heel of her hand.
MAKAMI
Duh, of course - there's water in the vines and you can bend that.
BREAD
That's right, ma'am. Hit the nail on the other nail.
MAKAMI
(cheerfully)
Well, wouldn't you know it - you have one of the world's best water benders in town.
She juts double thumbs over to Abe, who scratches his head nervously.
ABE
I...wouldn't say all that-
MAKAMI
Could you use some help out there?
BREAD
(happily)
Surely could!
He turns to Abe and juts out his hand.
BREAD
Th'names Bread, amigo!
ABE
(slowly)
Bre-okay - my name's Abe.
Bread whips Abe onto his back and leaps off the platform with Makami waving in the background.
ABE
(bouncing)
I'm known to get motion sick!
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Do me proud, Master!
She turns towards the building, which looks like a treehouse amongst the greenery. The few windows show a busy waiting room inside, but Makami wanders up to the lone pamphlet still in the information board.
MAKAMI
(reading)
Welcome to Spirit Crossing.
Her hand yanks hard on the pamphlet, but it doesn't release. After some more cajoling, the information filer opens like a door with a small girl sliding out in pain while sitting on a stool.
INFORMATION GIRL
(in pain)
OW OW OW - LET GO!
Makami obeys and jumps back.
MAKAMI
Whoa, sorry there...information sprite.
INFORMATION GIRL
That's some grip you got.
MAKAMI
I didn't know you, you know, were a person. You have water in there, right?
INFORMATION GIRL
A whole bucket full - want some?
MAKAMI
No, no - nope.
INFORMATION GIRL
Suit yourself. Anywho-zzil, what info ya need?
MAKAMI
Uh, I dunno, my train is caught here for a few hours and I was wondering what's around here to see?
INFORMATION GIRL
Well, the swamp ain't great for swimming right now 'cause of Old Woman Sheerps emptying her, uh, business into the swamp around this time.
MAKAMI
(mumbling)
Oh my...
INFORMATION GIRL
Yeah, about all that's open right now is the ferry to see the Spirit Tree Sanctuary.
MAKAMI
(excited)
Wait, the Spirit Tree?!
CUT TO:
EXT TRAIN TRACKS - MORNING
Abe brings up the rear with several layers of local benders already on sight, many of them with crossed arms and clueless looks. Around them are very thick, snaking vines that almost entirely cover like webs. The background shows the train, hopeless against the thick greenery.
ABE
(quietly)
Hey there, Bread, look, I've-
BREAD
Now, I know we may be a little un-re-fined based on your fancy trainin', but we do mighty well ourselves.
ABE
I bet you do.
LOCAL 2
(loudly)
Keep in-sync, boys!
The benders move forward with synchronic arm swings, but the vines resist.
BREAD
Wassit doin', boss?
LOCAL 2
Them vines ain't bending away. Mama Tree's putting up a fight.
BREAD
Well, we got's us a big-bender from out of town.
He slaps Abe hard on the back, moving him towards the frontline, but Abe does not look eager.
BREAD
Goo'n now, give them vines what'fur!
ABE
(mumbling)
Right, push to the limit, I will...
Abe drops down quickly into a stance and brings his fist up...to no avail. Nothing moves.
He does it again, and again with more exuberance.
Then, he spins looking agitated.
ABE
(growling)
Are you even sure there's water in these?
Bread walks up beside him, the vines carrying him forward.
BREAD
Dere's water in there, for'ure. Maybe you can bend the swamp just behind the vines? Water'rted ta seep up through the ground.
ABE
Sure, sure...can anyone just...get it started for me?
BREAD
Surely.
Bread pushes and pulls the water into waves while the locals come closer from behind.
LOCAL 1
(snickering)
Ya need us to getcha a cup to move that water, boy?
The locals elbow one another and hoot while Abe moves in-sync with Bread. The waves grow and froth.
ABE
I got it now, Bread.
Bread backs off as Abe pushes and pulls harder, splitting his arms to do the same to the waves. He swings his arms up past his head to bring blades of water through to the vines, slicing them out of the way.
The locals look on, trying not to be impressed while Abe tugs on his vest.
ABE
Can you get me that cup after all? I can use it to collect tips for saving the day.
As he brags, the vines come back in force, almost completely sealing the view of Abe and the others.
ABE (O.S.)
(muffled)
Have you tried, fire, by chance?
CUT TO:
EXT SPIRIT SWAMP - DAY
Makami is being slowly rowed forward atop a tied bamboo boat. The captain of the boat is using a long pole to push them forward as they whistle.
MAKAMI
(humming)
Is that a song from your childhood?
PILOT
Huh? Nah, sorry, just som'in I heard on the radio this mornin'. You from the Big City?
Makami turns back to them.
MAKAMI
Republic City? No, I've only ever been there for a few field trips. What about you?
PILOT
Naw, not me. We don travel much here. Can't handle all them weirdos in the world.
MAKAMI
Preachin' to the choir there. Do you get a lot of people out here go to the tree?
PILOT
Jus' them guards.
MAKAMI
Guards?
PILOT
Yeah, and bless their hearts too! Keepin' our little town alive and well. Tourists come from all over to just pose next to'em for a self-mover, then shack up in town for knick-knacks. Anywho, here we are now.
Makami ducks slightly to push through the hanging vines into the full sun.
EXT SPIRIT TREE SECURITY CHECKPOINT - CONTINUOUS
Makami gazes up to the overwhelming canopy above - the lush greenery of the largest tree in the world. Down the massive trunk of the Spirit Tree are ages of history sewn into the healthy bark that houses an incredible amount of life and energy.
At the very base of it is a security fence and a few patrolling guards beside a metal detector and weapons. They eye her carefully as the boat comes up to the small pier. Makami stands and hops over to the wood, smiling dreamily up past the approaching guard.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Ecce terra...
GUARD 1
Excuse me, ma'am - can I help you?
She refocuses, bouncing on her heels.
MAKAMI
Hello, fellow guardian of justice. What brings you and yours here?
GUARD 1
(slowly)
Uh, that's my line, ma'am. We're assigned to guard the Spirit Tree. Do you have a pass?
MAKAMI
Nope.
GUARD 1
Then, I'll have to keep you behind the fence.
MAKAMI
Well, let me ask - what would someone need to do to get a pass?
GUARD 1
Well-
MAKAMI
And why would someone need a pass? What secure things are happening at the tree?
GUARD 1
You need an official pass from an elder statesperson based on the international Spirit Tree Conservation Act.
MAKAMI
(confused)
And people go in to...?
GUARD 1
You don't need to know if you don't have a pass, ma'am.
MAKAMI
Do you think the Avatar would need a pass?
GUARD 1
Yes, even the Avatar needs a pass.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
Aw, oh, you were doing so well, too...
(clears throat)
The S.T.C.A. accord fell under the Republic City jurisdiction code one-one-one-point-three, which automatically attaches the Avatar Clause to the act - do you know what that clause says?
GUARD 1
Uhh...
MAKAMI
It states "All legal requirements for entrance, action, or representation from a statesperson shall be waived for and at the whim of the Avatar." Then there's more yada-yada after that, but the main gist is that the Avatar can go anywhere.
GUARD 1
(grumbling)
Yeah, well, it's too bad then that the Avatar isn't even around, isn't it?
MAKAMI
Oooh, now you're on a losing streak - I'm the Avatar. Avatar Makami, and I'd like to see the Spirit Tree, please.
GUARD 1
And your proof of that?
She holds up her hands to produce flame, and accidentally splash him in the face with water at the same time. Makami uses her air bending to dry him hard enough to rip off his toupee.
He moves aside.
GUARD 1
(dizzily)
Right this way, Avatar.
MAKAMI
Thanks, buddy.
She walks by before he drops down limply to smack against the wood planks.
CUT TO:
EXT TOP OF THE SPIRIT TREE - DAY
Makami, sweating a fair amount, climbs the last few wooden steps to the inset cave inside of the trunk just at the base of the canopy. Forneus floats around the air as she catches her breath, turning back to see the view.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Look at all that, buddy. Amazing, isn't it?
Forneus mews in response. Makami turns back to the tree.
MAKAMI
This tree is older than the Avatars, I think. Korra...
She looks down.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
What was in Korra's memory? Something about some...
She snaps her fingers.
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
That's right! Kuvira - the Putrid Uniter herself - came here and tore you up, didn't she? Hence the guards down there.
Forneus mews again while landing on the bark.
MAKAMI
Right? The energy up here is insane. I can see the temptation to use it. I feel...
She shivers as she sits next to Forneus.
MAKAMI
Alive up here. Like I can launch into space from right here. Like I can...
She lets her eyes drift off for a moment before shaking her head and gathering her body into the lotus position.
MAKAMI
(grumbling)
Like I can find that bully Kyoshi and take her down...
A deep breath later, she closes her eyes.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Focus on Kyoshi.
Quickly, her eyes open with white light.
CUT TO:
EXT KYOSHI'S MEMORIES OF THE SPIRIT TREE - THE PAST
Makami, sitting straight and facing the same way as her corporeal body, sits with her eyes closed suddenly. The background has the faded grey tone of memory. Eventually, her brow begins to furrow and a deep sigh escapes her lips.
She crosses her arms with her eyes still closed.
MAKAMI
(growling)
I hate when experiments fail...
KYOSHI (O.S.)
You again?
Makami shoots her eyes open in surprise.
Flipping the view around, Kyoshi is standing from her meditative position to her full, intimidating height. She glowers down to Makami with her eyes fiercely painted. Missing from her outfit is her metal headdress and her gloves. The background flitters by in the same awkward framerate as Korra's memories.
KYOSHI
This time, I'll deal with you the right way.
Makami flinches back as Kyoshi's bare hand curls into a fist.