INT MAKAMI'S ROOM - LATE NIGHT
Makami tosses things out of her wardrobe. Kota catches what she can and tosses the items into a bag.
MAKAMI
Where is it? Where did I put it?
KOTA
What's gone?
MAKAMI
My sash from Voso - it was here at the bottom.
KOTA
You've had a buncha people in here...
Shii and Abe enter, the latter yawning. Alrund is behind them, holding down the brim of her hat.
KOTA
Speaking of...
ABE
(yawning)
Is this a surprise party or something? Whose birthday is it?
MAKAMI
We're all in danger and need to leave here. Go back and pack your things. Then, focus on everyone else getting out safely.
ABE
Sure, but...oh wait, what was it...oh right - we're heading wherever you are, Makami, so don't you even try to ditch us.
Makami shoots them a look but her mouth just hangs open before Shii interrupts.
SHII
(chuckling)
Is this the part where you tell us it'll be safer away from you?
KOTA
Yeahhh because...duh, Ami. Of course it would be, you're a walking tangle of drama, attacks, and nerdism.
ABE
And we're...
They look at Alrund curiously.
ABE
Sticking by you - and you are, miss...?
ALRUND
Al. I'm an earth bender that can teach Avatar Makami.
ABE
(surprised)
Alright, someone finally answered the ad. I never thought we'd get anyone with a title like "Ground Parent For Needed Pebble Child."
KOTA
(to Abe)
And you now owe me three gold and an apology for losing that bet.
MAKAMI
Okay, you stubborn oafs...Kota and Abe, start knocking on doors and getting people moving.
Both of them move with a nod.
MAKAMI
Shii...fire Helga. She'll just be packing until the next Avatar comes around.
SHII
Ah, finally!
He trots out, leaving just Alrund, who looks eager.
MAKAMI
Al, right? Help me with moving the supplies to the car.
They both leave with Makami wearing a backpack of her possessions.
EXT MAKAMI GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS
Abe and Kota walk together beneath the overhang as rain begins to dribble down. The sound is pleasant against the clay roof top with several aquafers and large barrels refilling from the runoff.
ABE
Why does it feel like you haven't cursed my name in a while?
KOTA
Oh, that's because I burned the cursing shrine I made of you. All that hair product really set the tiny doll I made into a nice inferno.
ABE
Well, I bet I can wake more people than you can.
KOTA
(snorting)
You're on, sucker.
Abe takes off knocking on a few early doors. Kota smirks after them, calmly walking into the courtyard with her hands encircling her mouth.
KOTA
(screaming)
EVERYONE WAKE UP NOW!
The clarion resounds against the rocks, causing just about everyone to open their doors to see what the issue is.
Abe looks back, defeated, as Kota celebrates.
Out from one of the doors is Helga, moving without her hair or face on, looking close to an homunculus. Shii watches just from the side as she moves.
HELGA
(slowly)
Has thine Avatar of dull wit finally rained down upon us the end of days?
She realizes Shii is watching and meets his eyes with a glare.
HELGA
Verily.
SHII
Pack your things, verily.
The long car rumbles into the center of the square with its headlights on as people run around chaotically.
Makami jumps to the top of the cab and whistles.
MAKAMI
(loudly)
Everyone will need to pack up and find a safe place to stay! I need six satchels each of food and water in the trunk of this car!
The trunk pops open. Hands quickly drop large packages of food, blankets, and water inside until the ability to close the door comes into question.
A high, faint whistling slices through the patter of the rain.
Off to the side, Abe wiggles their pinky in one ear next to Kota.
ABE
Man, your scream made my ears ring. I'm hearing a whistle.
KOTA
I hear it too...
Makami and others look up against a flash of lightning across the sky, seeing four metal pods rocketing towards them.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Close the trunk - GET AWAY FROM HERE!
One of the pods smashes the tile ground at the hood of the car. At first, it just rests beneath the gentle patter of water on metal. Just as Abe goes to sigh in relief, bursts of steam release it into another humanoid robot that stands harshly straight.
It reaches its arm up towards Makami, but the rain suddenly moves sideways with enough force to knock it off its feet.
ABE
(loudly)
Get into the car!
Over a dozen people are trying to squeeze into the backseat at once. Al throws the limo into reverse with the window rolled down.
ALRUND
(shouting)
Hold on up there!
The car jerks backwards, and Makami has to fall immediately to the hood to avoid the overhang at the entrance.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Wait - whoa!
EXT JUST OUTSIDE MAKAMI SQUARE - CONTINUOUS
Makami climbs back up in the middle of the roof just as two pairs of metallic claws slam down - one in front and the other behind her.
ALRUND (O.S.)
What's going on up there?
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Just greeting some friends!
She stands still, looking confidently towards one of them. Behind her, the droid shoots a grappling hook that she dodges. The hook flies past the other one as its feet crunch the roof of the car.
Makami slides through the legs of the charging one, creating a sheet of ice beneath her that the droid slips on, tumbling into the other.
She slides down, slamming into the hood of the car. Al and Makami meet eyes as she recovers.
ALRUND
(shouting)
You okay?
MAKAMI
(grunting)
Head towards the tunnel!
With that, she bounds back up with the grappling hook end in hand and puts it into a bubble of water. That bubble swings widely around the bots as the car turns, tightly bounding them together.
She uses more of the rain to freeze the hook to them as they struggle to move.
ACOLYTE (O.S.)
Avatar!
Makami looks down to see the moonroof open and the many acolytes waving her down. She jumps down just as they come to the tunnel, the two bots slamming into hard concrete.
INT LIMOUSINE - CONTINUOUS
Makami swims through a sea of flesh in a full backseat, reaching for the driver divider as it descends.
Her hand pops out, followed by her gasping head that is kicked several times by a sandalled shoe.
MAKAMI
Cut it out!
She finally squeezes free into the passenger seat next to Alrund.
MAKAMI
(catching her breath)
Good driving.
ALRUND
Thanks.
MAKAMI
Now, swing around. We have to go back.
ALRUND
I can't do that, Avatar.
MAKAMI
(annoyed)
You're not leaving them to fight alone.
ALRUND
You need to be safe.
MAKAMI
(angrily)
Not at the cost of their safety.
ALRUND
I have my orders. I can't disobey them.
The two of them lurch forward suddenly. They look into the rearview mirrors to see sparks flying from the feet of more droids trying to lift the rear end of the limo.
MAKAMI
They're anchoring us!
CUT TO:
EXT. MAKAMI SQUARE
Abe and Kota dodge a pair of metallic hands that crack a cement pillar. The pillar is stuck between its claws as Abe catches a pistoned blow, redirecting the energy to the metal chest while Kota swings hard at the back of its leg, tripping the creature to the ground.
ABE
Where'd you learn that?
KOTA
Job training. You?
ABE
Fighting bears.
The creatures' eyes light again, sending the two running away. It rises with full three-sixty motion on each joint.
In the middle of the courtyard, Shii dodges three spinning grappling hooks from three other robots. His air bending mastery is on full display with blades of air slicing through some of the metal enemy limbs.
With a burst off the ground, he lands gracefully on top of the banner, pausing to take a large drink while holding up a finger - asking for just a moment from the bots.
CUT TO:
EXT. LING-BAO TUNNEL
Alrund opens the driver's side door of the moving vehicle.
ALRUND
Take the wheel!
MAKAMI
Where are you...whoa!
The car swerves as she nimbly hops to the roof. One of the bots shoots a net from its mouth towards her, which she slides beneath with her fingers curling up rock from the pavement.
She rises and shoots the asphalt like spikes that knocks the block off one of the bots, but the hands remain tight on the bumper.
More projectiles shoot towards her. She rolls back and forth across the roof of the car, coming dangerously close to rolling off the side but recovering nicely.
CUT TO:
EXT MAKAMI GROUNDS
Shii's pivot foot is caught, causing him to fall hard.
Abe has a metal tray up as a shield, taking a beating from a robot's fast hands.
KOTA (O.S.)
(shouting)
Hey!
The bot turns back towards her. She has both hands behind her back as she sticks her tongue out at the machine.
KOTA
I'm pretty capturable, wouldn't you say?
It pops open its chest with a single metal cord lashing out at speed. The cord splashes and locks around her torso and pulls her into the space.
Her hands come around with a sharp pipe that she uses to impale the machine's insides. It falls backwards with a satisfying thunk against the ground.
She stands with a self-satisfied grin.
KOTA
Now that's what I call a bad catch...eh? Huh?
Abe looks mortified with one hand on their arm.
KOTA
Oh, come on!
ABE
Nope, I'm letting them capture you.
KOTA
Wow, harsh...
CUT TO:
EXT LING-BAO TUNNEL
As the limo begins to slow, Alrund rains down earthen chunks that slam the bots, causing more sparks to fly.
INT LIMOUSINE FRONT - CONTINUOUS
Makami watches as one of the bots slams down in front of the car to anchor it further. She takes in a deep breath and blows with all her might into the air vents in the cab, which shoots the hood straight up, knocking the robot off balance and off the bumper.
EXT BENEATH THE LIMO - CONTINUOUS
The robot sparks and bumps along the underside of the lengthy car until it finally catches the muffler with one hand. Using its abnormal movements, it rises to its feet to help its kin.
EXT ATOP THE LIMO - CONTINUOUS
Alrund drops into a wide-legged stance, shooting her hands upwards. This brings the road up with perfect timing to catch the robots behind a chest-high wall of rock, but their hands simply will not let go.
The tires squeal and smoke from the new anchor as they've slowed to a crawl.
MAKAMI (O.S.)
(shouting)
Get behind the wheel! I have an idea!
Alrund moves up to the driver's seat while Makami climbs out towards the open engine.
MAKAMI
Foot off the pedal, but hold on to that steering wheel tight, alright?
ALRUND
Got it!
CUT TO:
EXT MAKAMI GROUNDS
Shii blows back two of the bots while anchored, but another shoots his wrist to the ground with a grappling hook. He looks up as the menacing creation approaches, but it is suddenly impaled by a large icicle. Voso appears from behind the crumbling bot.
VOSO
(shouting)
You alright, Shii?
Shii coughs as he stands, Abe and Kota chopping the second one down to size as Voso approaches.
SHII
(coughing)
Yes...the last one!
All four of them converge on the final one. Voso peppers it with ice crystals from the rain while Kota smacks it in the head with her pipe. Shii slings air at Abe, who uses their fingers like a filter to split the blast into four separate directions that slice through enough joints to end the battle.
Abe helps Shii stay standing while Kota hugs Voso.
VOSO
(panting)
Where is she?
KOTA
(panting)
Your driver took her somewhere. They were attacked too.
SHII
(weakly)
Those were the same robots from years ago.
KOTA
Yeah they were. First in the square, then the ones that kidnapped me and Shii.
VOSO
No time to worry about that now.
He brings out a very large radio.
VOSO
Al, come in.
CUT TO:
INT LIMOUSINE FRONT SEAT
The radio buzzes with an inconsistent signal, it unable to break through the tunnel walls.
Alrund stares hard at the side mirror.
CUT TO:
EXT FRONT OF THE LIMO
MAKAMI
(mumbling quickly)
Reveal this, expose piston, air flow at maximum...
(shouting)
Hold on!
She takes another massive breath and focuses the air tightly into the engine. The wheels spin with hitherto unknown power and speed, beginning to pull away.
At the back of the limo, the metal hands struggle to keep hold while their bodies spark against the road.
Finally, the bumper and part of the exhaust gives way and the limo shoots off like a rocket.
The swerving causes Makami to lose her balance, and a bump sends her into the hood. It snaps off and crashes against the windshield before flying off into the tunnel. Makami slams against the windshield too, bouncing to the roof and just barely catching the open moonroof.
Several hands emerge from the roof to help her stay gripped.
EXT OTHER SIDE OF THE TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS
The limo blazes up the straight highway for a few more moments before the wheels roll to a stop. Makami rolls onto her back from the roof and lets the rain cool her down as the car's engine pops with heat.
VOSO (O.S.)
(through radio)
Al - come in!
Alrund opens the driver's door and steps out with the radio.
ALRUND
I'm here. It looks like we got away.
VOSO (O.S.)
Where's Makami?
She shoots her thumb up from the roof.
ALRUND
She's fine.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRIVATE AIRFIELD - NIGHT
Spotlights show a small runway with a white plane turning using metal benders. Toyo is waiting alongside other sages by the building beneath an overhang.
VOSO (V.O.)
Drive up to the airfield and wait for us. Toyo should be there already.
Toyo and the sages leave the shelter with umbrellas opening as the limo limps to a stop. Everyone falls out of the backseat like spilled liquid. Makami and Alrund exit from the front, Makami holding her side tenderly.
TOYO
(shouting)
I heard you needed a lift?
MAKAMI
Toyo, yeah. I'm sorry to ask this of you.
TOYO
Fiddle-strings, think nothing of it. You'll all be very comfortable and safe...
(to the group in the backseat)
Wait, all of them are coming?
MAKAMI
No, they'll need rides down the mountain.
ALRUND
You can use the limo, I won't be using it-
The car bursts into flames from the front to the back along the top. Everyone is able to get away safely.
TOYO
I'll find them some toboggans down the mountain. Are you okay?
MAKAMI
(grunting)
Just a little bone bruising and internal bleeding.
A pair of rickshaws screech to a stop next to the wreckage. They both have little head umbrellas keeping the driver's faces dry. Voso, Shii, and the rest are the passengers.
Voso is down first, sliding across the water to Makami.
VOSO
I'm so glad you're okay...
She hugs him with one arm and a smile. His spirit friends come out and hug her face and hair as well.
MAKAMI
Is everyone else okay?
VOSO
Yes. Is the plane ready, Toyo?
TOYO
Yeah, everyone can get on board.
Makami and Voso turn and walk towards it with her arm slung over his shoulder.
VOSO
I changed my mind, I think. I don't want to be Avatar.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
Yeah, me neither some days.
CUT TO:
INT AYAME HOUSEHOLD - MORNING
Zura is in the kitchen in the background sizzling away on something delicious over a portable stove. Kin rises in the foreground without her glasses, her hair tangled and knotted. She's clearly just waking up and looks more comfortable than ever in very baggy pajamas.
BAKI (O.S.)
Smells great, Zee.
ZURA
It is great. Zura-fied guarantee.
Baki comes down the stairs in the middle ground while Kin tries to straighten her hair, but only succeeds in giving herself a cowlick.
KIN
My thanks for letting me stay the evening. I don't remember the end of the movie very well.
BAKI
No, me neither, I think we were...
ZURA
(laughing)
You two were toasted on wine by the second commercial.
BAKI
Yes. Thank you, Zee.
She moves to kiss Zura's head and slaps her back lightly.
BAKI
Go shower, I'll finish up.
ZURA
Mom, you can't cook...safely until you've read the instructions.
BAKI
(whispering)
Leave this floor or your birthday is cancelled.
Zura gets the hint and moves away quickly, dashing up multiple stairs at a time.
Kin walks over to the small table, quietly passing around utensils and plates for three. She even begins to fold the napkins into origami shapes. Baki sneaks a few glances over her shoulder while barely touching anything on the counter.
KIN
Thank you again. If my last thanks wasn't enough.
Baki spins.
BAKI
No, it very much was - and you are very welcome. We enjoyed the company.
KIN
Do you prefer your napkins in any specific shape?
BAKI
(confused)
I...don't think so. I've only ever had rectangular.
Kin smiles as her quick hands set down the last one - an origami monkey complete with eyes in the floral pattern of the paper napkin.
BAKI
Where did you learn to do that?
KIN
My first job was in a mailroom. I used to fold interoffice memos into various shapes to...stand out a bit from the crowd.
Smoke begins to rise from the stove.
BAKI
I bet that worked like a charm.
KIN
Well, it...it did help me cultivate my glass blowing hobby. Trained my fingers to be precise.
BAKI
Don't tell me you practiced by turning priceless vases into tiny frog sculptures or something?
KIN
(quickly)
You're smoking.
BAKI
(blushing)
Oh...well...thank-
Kin is over to the pan and has it off the heat. Baki shakes her head with her hand on her forehead.
KIN
It looks salvageable.
BAKI
Yes, I hope so. I don't suppose you know how to cook?
KIN
I know how to organize.
They look at one another and shrug.
INT AYAME HOUSEHOLD - FEW MINUTES LATER
Zura is coming down the staircase with her hair in a towel and her outfit in shambles.
ZURA
(quickly)
Mom? I smelled smoke but I haven't heard the fire truck yet - please tell me you didn't try to hit the fire with magazines again...
She stops at the bottom, seeing Kin and Baki eating calmly and quietly, not a single flame in sight.
BAKI
Just a little hitch, nothing to hit with a magazine this time.
ZURA
Wow. Well, okay. Great!
BAKI
Dig in, sweetie.
ZURA
If there's no disaster, I'll go finish getting ready.
Zura retreats up the stairs while Baki and Kin look at one another and smile.
BAKI
(whispering)
I can't thank you enough for the save. She'd have barred me from the kitchen if I'd started another fire.
KIN
(whispering)
Don't mention it.
BAKI
You know, I could cook once-upon-a-kitchen. I knew our old oven like Zura's sass. The old girl and I could go for hours, making delicious treats...
She trails off while Kin, as awkward as can be, doesn't know what to fill the silence with.
BAKI
So no kids? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Dog-chicken? Monkey-trout? Turtle-
KIN
(abruptly)
No, nothing.
She stirs her food.
KIN
My apartment is neat, beige, and empty. I do have a mother that stops by without warning, but I suppose that's common.
BAKI
(chuckling)
Oh yeah. My ex-in-law used to pop up from the hedges looking for impropriety. And her definition of hijinks was very loose.
KIN
That sounds maddening.
BAKI
Well, that trait ran in the family. He, that's my ex-husband, was no better - always into get-rich-quick schemes and rubbing elbows with the upper class. I knew that man would never be happy with just a humble family.
(laughing)
Of course, that was before Makami became the savior of the world...oh jeez...
KIN
What?
BAKI
I just had the worst thought of him trying to find her now. He's a beetle that one. Always finds a hole to spring from.
KIN
Then you should send Makami a can of bug spray.
Baki laughs enough to almost spit out her coffee while Kin's laughter is characteristically reserved.
ZURA (O.S.)
(loudly)
Mom?
BAKI
(laughing)
Yeah, Zee?
Zura's heavy footsteps resound on the stairs as a radio's volume comes closer.
DJ AL (O.S.)
(through radio)
To recap this morning's bizzare-o news, the Earth Kingdom has declared war upon Avatar Makami herself, and it sounds like the war came to the streets last night...
All three of them look concerned.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON ISLAND - LATE MORNING
Looking down on the titular island, the outer crust is mostly cooled igneous from a recent volcano eruption. The island's shape is eerily accurate to its name, and besides the rock, there are no other geological biomes to speak of. Upon the tallest peak are some remnants of a taller building that has since collapsed.
Upon one beach, some of the sages carry supplies and bags into an open cave. The rest of the landscape looks wrinkled and ridged by the remains of lava.
MAKAMI (O.S.)
I can't thank you enough for this.
CUT TO:
INT. CRESCENT MOON CATACOMBS
The wide cavern has multiple holes along the far walls for rooms with the center being a rectangular platform carved in smooth rock. Lines are painted beneath the laminate marking another former agni-kai stadium.
Makami stands with Voso, Toyo, and Kota looking out into it.
MAKAMI
This is an incredible space.
TOYO
Yeah, well, it was yours first. Roku gifted it to the sages of his generation, so the least we can do is lend it back to you.
She turns and hugs him quickly.
MAKAMI
We'll take good care of it.
Toyo gently pushes her away as the other sages start to elbow each other and giggle in the background.
TOYO
(clearing throat)
Ahem, yes, well, I know Voso needs to clear out soon, so I'll give you some time.
KOTA
Yeah, me too. I think I'll be dead weight this time around. Business to run and all that.
MAKAMI
Never to me.
The two hug tightly.
KOTA
I know, Ami. Maybe I can help your mom and sis avoid the worst of what's coming.
MAKAMI
I'll be forever grateful if you can.
They release sadly as she adjusts the pack on her shoulder. She punches her brother's arm as she walks by him.
KOTA
Don't take too long, or be too weird. Not like the world can keep you two apart for long anyways.
VOSO
(grunting)
Yeah, m'kay.
Voso recovers, turning Makami's arm to see the sizable bruise near her shoulder.
MAKAMI
It's an ink blot test. What do you see?
VOSO
I see...
He cocks his head.
VOSO
A pile of berry buttons. Remember those?
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
How could I not?! They were juicy on your tongue and rotted so many teeth out of so many heads. I'm having those at my next birthday.
VOSO
(laughing)
I'll have them flown in on Forneus' back.
MAKAMI
Wow, and I was just picturing that house we talked about.
VOSO
(sighing)
Yeah...we'll have to make that fence about twenty-times higher.
MAKAMI
(sighing)
Use my textbooks to reinforce the walls...
They hold hands as they walk towards the elevator out.
MAKAMI
Objectively, it's not all bad.
VOSO
Nope.
MAKAMI
We all got out, you're going to do your thing.
VOSO
Yes I am.
(whispering)
They've got me going back to the Earth Kingdom to gather a little more information. Should be done in a day or two. Then, I'll come help move you back to Capital City.
MAKAMI
I know you've got this.
They stop before the elevator. She straightens his outfit, disheveled with a night of sleeping on a plane, then her own as his smile grows.
MAKAMI
I'm stalling for time so I can find something poignant to say.
VOSO
I've got something if you don't?
MAKAMI
You always have something smooth to say. Let me have a turn.
VOSO
Okay, go ahead.
She swipes away dirt on his cheek.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
I already had the best words related to the coolest thing ever but I somehow lost the sash...
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls the wrapped sash out to brighten her gaze immediately.
VOSO
This one?
MAKAMI
(chuckles)
Yes, Mom. Searching my room...
VOSO
It was staring me in the face while I was looking for pants to steal. I haven't seen the new work yet.
MAKAMI
Well, don't. Not until after all this.
VOSO
You hold onto it. I think a letter from me slipped inside somehow.
She smiles, sliding it into her waistband as they both realize it's time to go.
MAKAMI
Just keep fighting, V.
VOSO
You too, Ami.
They hug tightly with a hint of desperation in the move.
VOSO
I love you.
MAKAMI
I love you too.
They release slowly as he walks to the elevator car.
MAKAMI
What was going to be your smooth thing?
He turns back with a smile as he closes the safety gate.
VOSO
I was going to tell you to learn how to fling rocks before you shake the world.
MAKAMI
Oh, that is smooth.
His hand is on the actuator.
VOSO
(smoothly)
Always.
He flicks the switch down, but it sends him further down instead of up, much to his surprise.
VOSO (O.S.)
Whoops, hold...one moment.
After a moment, he has it reversed and is moving up.
VOSO
(quickly)
That didn't happen!
MAKAMI
(laughing)
Go get'em!
Their eyes lock until the bottom of the elevator locks the screen in darkness.