EXT EARTH KINGDOM BACK ROADS - NIGHT
The only car on the road zooms along a dirt path, the headlights showing various scared wildlife making for safer ground.
ZOOM TO:
INT BRAND NEW CAR
Makami drives with heavy lids while nearly everyone else is asleep in the backseat. Alrund is in the passenger seat with her head leaned against the door.
Makami's head nearly hits the horn before she sits up, the sudden movement waking Alrund.
ALRUND
(sleepily)
Switch off?
MAKAMI
No, nope, I'm good.
ALRUND
(sleepily)
You've been making good time. You need to be rested when we arrive to help Voso.
Makami keeps her eyes forward for a moment before sighing back into the chair.
MAKAMI
Fine...
She pulls the car to the side before they switch. Alrund slides under Makami while she flexes up and flops into the passenger seat.
MAKAMI
Don't slow down unless there's a platinum mountain in your way, alright?
ALRUND
We'll be there soon.
She pulls onto the road and pushes the engine. Makami curls down towards the door but her eyes remain open.
MAKAMI
So how'd you get to be Voso's driver?
ALRUND
He and I...an employment opportunity of mine fell through and he was there to give me a new one.
MAKAMI
Kinda secretive, aren't you?
ALRUND
I'm not proud of where I came from, and Voso has sworn me to secrecy for a lot of his dealings.
MAKAMI
Even from me?
Alrund shifts uncomfortably.
ALRUND
I was told to protect you, so I will.
Makami snatches Alrund's jacket and pulls it over herself.
MAKAMI
I'm glad he can trust someone besides just his family and me. He never fit into crowds completely. There was always a jagged piece that-
ALRUND
Avatar, you need to sleep.
Makami looks over her shoulder before finally closing her eyes.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Wake me when we get there.
Alrund readjusts her hand on the wheel while looking pained.
CUT TO:
INT UNDERGROUND HOLDING CELL
Voso rocks back and forth in his cell, barely able to move its large weight at all. He flexes to little give while looking around. He's able to stand from his knees, but do very little else.
He stands still, breathing deeply through his restraints while his eyes close.
VOSO
(thoughts)
Guys? Can you all hear me? Hello?
He reaches for his head in pain with the chains keeping his wrists locked.
PI-RAN (O.S.)
(echoing)
I know all about your little power. I've read your spirit - I know all about what you've done and who you've lied to, Voso.
He falls to his knees.
PI-RAN (O.S.)
(echoing)
Since you're so eager to reach out to someone...
Voso's eyes are wide in horror.
PI-RAN (O.S.)
(echoing)
Why don't you and I have a little chat?
The view plunges into Voso's eye, spiraling through a wall of fog.
EXT SPIRIT PLANE - CONTINUOUS
Voso's spirit is upside-down in the air with chains around his torso. His eyes flutter open to deal with the bright white light of a wide-open horizon. Pi-Ran stands atop nothing in the sky, turning to face Voso.
PI-RAN
This looks familiar, doesn't it?
VOSO
What are you talking about? Why can't I move?
PI-RAN
Oh come on, V. You recognize the spirit plane. This is where you came to escape from the human world. You were all of six years old when you first came here.
VOSO
You're trying to scare me by reading my mind?
PI-RAN
(chuckling)
Your mind?
Pi-Ran's spirit floats over as Voso's turns right-side up.
VOSO
Hey, hey, HEY!
Pi-Ran's hand grips across Voso's forehead. A wave of energy takes his skin away, revealing his spirit in a wonderous tangle of blue nerves and bundles. Dark spots pepper some areas, and running up the spine are the colorful glows of chakra points in unevenly illuminous balls.
Voso floats away, looking down to his spirit as it is lain bare.
PI-RAN
You of all people should know a person's spirit is what truly keeps their history. If you look close enough at the veins of spiritual power, you can see a person's memories play out.
Close on one of the knots at Voso's elbow, Pi-Ran's hand comes close. The memories of him controlling people have built up here, playing on loop in wrapping guilt.
PI-RAN
Here we have some of your worst deeds. And this knot...
Voso pulls his arm away.
PI-RAN
A bit guilt-stricken, are we?
VOSO
(rattled)
Let me go back to my body.
PI-RAN
Why would I do that? You wanted to speak to your little spirit friends, didn't you?
He waves his hand to bring the spirits into the space with them, all hanging limply.
VOSO
(angrily)
Leave them be! They've done nothing to you!
PI-RAN
You've turned them into weapons. Your spirit is able to reach out through them and exhibit influence. That's how you subdued my scientists in the catacombs.
He waves one of the creatures into his hand, gripping the small gerbil tightly.
PI-RAN
(menacingly)
Do it - command me through your pet!
VOSO
(shaking)
Let him go!
Pi-ran squeezes more before Voso's eyes grow sharp.
VOSO
(echoing)
Let him GO!
Pi-Ran snatches at his wrist, blue light entering his skin in webs. He's struggling against the fingers as they slowly unfurl, dropping the spirit animal.
PI-RAN
(struggling)
You...can't...
A wave of purple pushes over his hand, removing the blue light as the spirit floats back up out of his grasp.
PI-RAN
(sighing)
You've got more strength in you than any human should.
VOSO
Any human?
Pi-Ran floats close, peeling back one of his sleeves.
VOSO
What are you if you're not human?
The wrist of his spirit is revealed, glowing in green and red veins of power that curl on jagged edges. He smiles menacingly.
PI-RAN
I am a harbinger, boy, to the coming of a new age.
CUT TO:
INT BRAND NEW CAR - NIGHT
Alrund shifts her eyes between the road and Makami, who is soundly asleep. She narrows her eyes as visions of Voso's reaching hand begin to play across the windshield in a flash.
VOSO (V.O.)
You will obey me. These are your orders. Do you understand me? Do not fail me!
The image of Voso's hand multiplies across the glass, all of them reaching for her.
She slams her eyes shut for a moment and brings herself back without waking anyone. Her eyes flick down to the speedometer. She lets it trickle down slowly to nearly half speed.
A bump rattles the inside, bringing Makami's head up.
ALRUND
(whispering)
Sorry.
MAKAMI
(grumbling)
Stupid dirt roads...
ALRUND
(chuckling)
Yeah.
Makami rolls over and curls tightly again. Alrund scowls for a moment, looking around the cab. Her eyes lock onto the patch of earth highlighted by one of the headlights.
After one more glance to Makami, she jerks her chin up and to the left.
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM DIRT ROAD
A spike of mud and rock shoots up to the tire, snapping off on the rubber.
CUT TO:
INT BRAND NEW CAR
Alrund's head jerks up again multiple times.
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM BACK ROADS
The front tire rolls over them with a little more bump.
CUT TO:
INT BRAND NEW CAR
She looks frustrated for a moment before reaching for her window handle, squeaking the glass all the way down. After making sure no one is stirring, she slides her hand out the window.
EXT EXTERIOR OF THE CAR - CONTINUOUS
Her hand lowers as far as it can with her palm flat down. Her fingers curl into a fist that shoots up with some force, then down.
CUT TO:
EXT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD
A row of the road depresses into a dangerous trench with spikes in the center. The car's headlights are coming on quickly.
When the front tires hit the spikes, loud pops disturb the peace of the night.
CUT TO:
INT BRAND NEW CAR
Everyone is awake and in distress while Alrund spins the wheel in her hand.
ALRUND
(shouting)
Almost got it!
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM BACK ROADS - NEARING DAWN
The car grinds to a halt, the metal ticking from the heat of the engine while their disturbed dust cloud envelopes them.
Alrund and Makami are the first two out, the Avatar moving towards the tires while Alrund looks back.
ALRUND
(distressed)
I-I didn't see what it was. A bad rock or...or...are you alright?
MAKAMI
Yeah, just bumped my head. You?
ALRUND
(sighing)
Fine.
She looks into the backseat.
ALRUND
Everyone else?
There is a blob of humanity and robes with hardly any form. Finally, Shii's head emerges.
SHII
(shouting)
Will someone please get their elbow out of my ribs?!
Alrund opens the door, allowing all three to fall out and recalibrate. Abe stands up with a cow lick and closed eyes while Shii rolls off of Toyo.
TOYO
(groaning)
Are we there?
ALRUND
No, still a few hours away.
MAKAMI
How long until dawn?
SHII
(sleepily)
Maybe an hour.
TOYO
Your window...
Toyo gets up to one knee, looking at Alrund with narrow eyes.
TOYO
Why was your window down?
ALRUND
I was trying to stay awake. I thought the wind would help.
SHII
Abe?
Shii waves his hand in front of Abe's closed eyes a few times before clapping once, which shocks them awake.
ABE
(surprised)
Huh - who's clapping!?
Abe looks around, immediately seeing the car's damage.
ABE
(shocked)
MY NEW METAL CHILD!
Abe springs to the tires on their knees, hugging the wheel well.
ABE
(heave crying)
Why. Did. I. Ever. Let. Them. Touch. Youuuuuuuu?
Toyo stands up while Makami pats Abe's shoulder.
MAKAMI
It was only going to lose value anyways, Abe.
Abe snaps angry eyes towards her.
MAKAMI
It's...just economics.
ABE
(sharply)
Oh, well, this is just my ripped heart!
Abe splashes atop the metal hood again with their arms hugging it tightly.
ALRUND
We can try to find the closest town, get it towed?
MAKAMI
No time...
ALRUND
Well, it's not like the note set a time limit, right?
Makami is at the front of the car, looking down at the ground. Toyo eyes Alrund as they both come forward as well.
ALRUND
He may be able to wait a little longer.
TOYO
Capital City sent a telegram to the Avatar knowing it would call attention to her in a time of war. I'd say it's pretty serious.
The two share a look while Makami ignores them both, widening her stance. Her hands shoot out with the earth cracking beneath them.
SHII
The vehicle can still be useful to us with Makami's inventive mind.
ABE
(shouting)
Oh no you don't!
Makami turns with an annoyed expression while Abe sits up.
ABE
(shouting)
You're not going to turn this into one of your wind-powered frickle-frackle machines!
MAKAMI
(annoyed)
I'm bringing the car with us. We have three earth benders - one in the middle, one front, one back. We skate along the surface of the road.
TOYO
I'll take back.
Toyo moves to the rear of the cracked earth.
MAKAMI
You and Shii just relax.
ABE
(sadly)
How can I now after my talents were wasted?
SHII
C'mon Abe. Maybe you'll feel better behind the steering wheel?
Abe sadly nods before melting off the hood and into the car. Alrund hesitantly moves to the center.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
And slide - left!
The left arms of all three slide forward in unison, turning the ground into a loose gravel that wills them forward.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Right!
Now their speed increases down hill, taking them into the breaking morning.