EXT THE GREAT ELEVATOR - MID-DAY
The line all bows and parts in good nature as Meelo leads Makami and her crew through to the fixed elevator car. Makami smiles to them all, some with arrows on their heads and most bald, as Toyo stays hunched behind Shii.
They all gather and turn in the elevator car with glass panels closed by hand.
A blast of air sends them up the tube.
MAKAMI
Whoa, the whole thing is air-powered?
MEELO
Yes - for now, manually so. Although Paya found this marvelous machine that pushes and pulls at the exact right air pressure.
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
Yes, that's what they use at the poles to help the tunnel run efficiently. It's sooooo cool.
In the back, Kota and Abe lean towards one another.
ABE
(whispering to Kota)
So, straight shooter question - she's always this weird, right?
KOTA
(whispering)
Since the day I met her at Ember Camp. She helped us make this vegetable launcher that sent it from one side of the island to the other.
ABE
(whispering)
And that helped you win something and you've loved her ever since?
KOTA
(whispering)
Well, yeah, duh - the girl's a winner.
Kota winks at Abe and leans back.
ABE
So, you know what she's talking about?
KOTA
No, but it's more charming if you just give up.
MAKAMI
(continued)
-and the pressure is actually recycled within its own ecosystem through a series of aquafers-
MEELO
(sharply)
Ah, watch - we're about to cross over.
Makami turns out the glass to see them approaching a puff of cloud.
KOTA
Ah, no way - we're going into the clouds!?
Sure enough, their ascent is blinded for a few moments while everyone gasps and rubs at their shivering arms. Soon enough, the car breaks into the pure blue azure sea of the sky.
EXT. AIR NATION CAPITAL - CONTINUOUS
The group is out atop a sprawling, massive stone platform filled with raised highways that facilitate passage via air bending. Nearer to the ground are various monks exchanging goods, walking with balanced parcels on their heads, and playing music just for the fun of it.
The architecture is carved like open cathedrals, encouraging breezes to push through the structures. There are multiple signs that warn of Sozen's Comet and several people setting up lean-tos.
Makami and Kota are wide-eyed at it all. Meelo smiles at the wonderment while Shii continues walking on his own, leaving Toyo vulnerable without a shield.
Toyo looks around quickly and hops behind Abe.
MAKAMI
(excited)
These buildings must've taken ages to carve to such exact standards!
MEELO
Well-
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
And this stone is porous to decrease wind resistance!
MEELO
Yes, it-
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
Wait, are those four legs that go all the way to the surface!?
Makami is off to check her assumption while Kota leans close to the confused Meelo.
KOTA
Nothing personal, she talks to herself when she's super excited.
MEELO
Ah-ha, well I'm glad she-
MAKAMI (O.S.)
(screaming)
OH NO WAY - THEY GO ALL THE WAY DOWN!
Meelo and the others walk over to her at the edge. Everyday citizens hurry their children away from the crazy Avatar.
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
The angle is perfect to hold the weight distribution - IT'S SO GREAT!
MEELO
Yes...yes, the four pillars hold us up from the base of our four original temples. We never have to worry about being rained on as a plus.
ABE
Oh, yeah, how do you deal with storms up here?
MEELO
We just use air bending, my boy! Clouds are quite easy to move. Now then, shall we go prepare for this evening?
Everyone follows along with Abe trying to push Toyo off his back.
ABE
Will you let go?
TOYO
(nervously)
Hey, c'mon! I'm afraid of heights!
ABE
(smarmily)
Then maybe stop reaching for the stars, huh?
Toyo clutches at Abe's hair, climbing his bangs.
ABE
(shouting)
Not the do!
CUT TO:
INT. AIR TEMPLE - MID DAY
Paya stacks the money into a tall safe, stopping to slide the discs of an abacus back and forth. Shii walks by the doorway and stops with a scowl.
SHII
All this talk of progress and moving out from the dark ages, and your finances hinge on a chunk of wood.
PAYA
Ahem, well, some ways are still the best ways.
SHII
The inventor of the Number-adder-ator would disagree.
PAYA
If you have so very many ideas about how our civilization should progress, then I suggest you become apart of it again. Otherwise...
He stops, realizing that Shii's look is one of pleading, not anger.
PAYA
Otherwise, she's down that hallway to your left. Just go until it dead-ends, then follow the torches.
Without a word, Shii leaves the doorway.
INT AIR TEMPLE HALLWAYS
Shii shuffles his way through the ancient architecture, looking into doorways that look shockingly modern with wooden desks and Flinstones-looking phones.
He comes to the corner and turns, looking at his destination with a faint smile.
INT AIR CAPITAL MEMORIAL - CONTINUOUS
Shii's eyes roam the tall ceremonial chamber with speckled stone set into squares, adorned at the bottom with the names of the honored deceased. Above the names are reconstructed stone faces that depict them as their loved ones remember them. At the bottom of the wall are small benches and a trench of sand to write messages.
He comes to a section at the center of the room, depicted in a tall statue of family members that have been lost. Shii slides down to the bench in front of Tenzin, Jenora, and Iggy - the royal family of the Air Nation's rebirth - all fully in stone and holding balls of wax.
Shii takes a deep breath, his tanned face smiling widely.
SHII
(quietly)
Hello, Jinora. I see you brought your father to yell at me again.
He chuckles deeply to himself, letting it warmly echo against the walls.
CUT TO:
INT. AIR CAPITAL LEAN-TO - EARLY EVENING
Kota and Abe are under one of the cloth lean-tos with a deck of cards surrounding a stack of ban. Kota swiftly shuffles five cards around with Abe watching intently. In the background is Makami, watching as a stone tube is readjusted by the young bender.
Abe picks a card that makes Kota smile.
KOTA
Nope, wrong. Over here, water sprit.
She pulls the money towards herself.
ABE
No, wait, best eleven-out-of-twenty!
MAKAMI
(to air bender)
So, these tubes will capture Sozen's Comet?
AIR BENDER 1
Well, it will project an outline of the light into this smooth pit of sand. Then, everyone will be able to look at it safely. Since we're so high, looking at the comet directly would burn your eyes.
MAKAMI
Ah, yes, I get it now.
She looks around.
MAKAMI
Hey, where's Shii?
KOTA
Inside, somewhere.
MAKAMI
Well, he's going to miss this!
She snatches a paper umbrella and pulls back the curtain.
EXT. AIR CAPITAL - CONTINUOUS
The umbrella opens to shield her from the crimson light. All around the empty streets is a warm bath of red from the incoming comet. She walks quickly towards the opening to the closest temple with Forneus appearing as well.
INT. AIR TEMPLE - CONTINUOUS
MAKAMI
Alright, Forneus, find Shii!
She folds her umbrella in while rushing after the swift spirit. They push past several rooms of excited air benders, all huddled around similar mirrors to protect themselves from the bright comet.
They both round a stone corner to a pathway of torches, and she slows down as his voice reaches her ears.
SHII (O.S.)
(echoing)
And I'm trying to be a good leader to her. After all, I found her. I feel beholden to her, like I used to when we were fighting crime.
She slowly rounds the corner.
INT AIR CAPITAL MEMORIAL - CONTINUOUS
She stops at the doorway, looking in at the beautiful memorial to fallen air benders. Shii doesn't turn as she carefully steps closer. The flame dances off the rounded faces, and near Shii's feet are baked goods, flowers, and other offerings.
Shii holds a stick with the soft sound of moving sand in the air.
SHII
(quietly)
I've become a fire sage and taken a new name since I left here. Shii - I know, too many vowels.
He pauses.
SHII
You can come in, Makami.
She stands up from the corner with Forneus on her shoulder.
MAKAMI
Oh, no, I can go. I just didn't want you to miss the comet.
SHII
No, please, come meet my wife. I need to tell you both something anyways.
She slides her feet carefully along the stone floor to avoid disturbing the dead. Finally, she stands next to the bench, but he smiles and taps the cold stone to have her join him at last.
While she is uncomfortable in the following silence, he smiles with a green reed in his hands. At their feet is a sand pit with various doodles in the tiny dunes.
MAKAMI
So...Jinora?
SHII
Yes. One of the greatest leaders to ever grace the Air Nomads.
He points the stick to Makami.
SHII
(to the wall)
Dear, this is Avatar Makami. Reminds you of Korra, doesn't she?
(chuckling)
That's how I found her too. She was bounding around a building just like Korra would've done.
Her smile finally shows through as she glances to the bust.
MAKAMI
You know, your husband saved my butt a few times. And if it weren't for him, I'd still be a typist.
SHII
No, I don't think so.
He leans up, bringing out a tattered legal pad.
SHII
Let's see what skills you have.
Makami cranes over to see the original list he'd made when determining if she was the Avatar. Crossed-off still are entries about spirits and bending, but his old finger runs under some of the last entries.
SHII
Can you...punch through a brick wall?
MAKAMI
Uh, maybe?
SHII
Well, if so, you can go into construction.
MAKAMI
Or demolition.
SHII
What about metal bending?
MAKAMI
Nope.
SHII
Hrm, what about ripping open a portal in the middle of a formerly very nice place to take one's girlfriend?
MAKAMI
You know, I think I can handle that one.
He crosses it out on the list several times as she chuckles.
MAKAMI
Life comes at you fast, huh? There was this one time-
SHII
I'm sick.
She looks towards him as he does a double-take between her and the bust.
SHII
Well, you said it yourself - life is fast. That was the best segue I could've asked for.
MAKAMI
I haven't heard you cough in a long time - are you sure?
SHII
(nodding)
Mm-hm, have been. The thin air up here helps me breathe, but it's always just beneath the surface.
MAKAMI
Then...then why not just stay up here?
He stops playing with the stick and lets his eyes lock on the bust of his late wife.
SHII
Paya and I used to work together under Meelo after she passed. He is Jinora's brother, so our people believed he shared her vision.
MAKAMI
What was her vision?
SHII
To be what we were - nomads.
He draws four circles in the sand.
SHII
Before the hundred-year war, air benders travelled and lived at the four temples.
His stick drags four bridges between the points.
SHII
She imagined us returning to those roots, but instead of shying away from the other nations, we would help them seek spiritual harmony with our new spirit friends. We would work with governments to protect all nations and peoples.
His eyes started to darken.
SHII
Paya seeks only to modernize and isolate these people, and Meelo does nothing to stop him. They have turned air bending into a heartless business. I can't be a part of that.
MAKAMI
But can you just sit by and let it happen? Let them take away what Jinora fought to protect?
SHII
I...I couldn't do it alone, and everyone I could count on was already gone.
MAKAMI
You won't have to, Shii.
She has her arm around his shoulders, much to his comfort. He pats her hand before standing and taking the reed with both hands. He furiously writes in the sand.
SHII
I'm grateful that I could tell you both this. Not telling Jinora weighed heavily upon my heart, but I kept going.
He's finished and sets the reed aside.
SHII
As long as I can, Avatar Makami, I will keep fighting for you as well.
Makami beams with pride as she stands and hooks his arm.
MAKAMI
Then let's go fight for a good seat to the show.
As they walk out, the writing in the sand is shown in kanji that translates to "Help me fight the good fight."