EXT CAPITAL CITY SUBURBS - DAY
The calm neighborhood has no idea the gurgling issues arising from the chimney of the Ayame household.
CUT TO:
INT AYAME HOUSEHOLD - DAY
Sitting across from one another are Makami - arms crossed and eyes judging to the extreme - and Kin - nervously folding a napkin in her hands. The two sit in silence. The staircase is in the background with a backpack leaned against Makami's leg.
VOSO (O.S.)
No, I think we'll be back before then.
TOYO (O.S.)
I'd like to be...
Voso and Toyo come in with adventuring outfits and small backpacks.
TOYO
I'm not exactly sure how long it takes to find a secret island in the middle of the world's...largest...ocean.
Both men look between Kin and Makami before slowly backing out of the frame. Kin shifts under Makami's icy gaze.
The door quietly closes off-screen.
BAKI (O.S.)
Gents, where's...Makami!
She rushes in, still in her uniform, and places a hand on Kin's shoulder while swinging around the couch.
BAKI
(to Kin)
She tends to stare at problems until they go away.
(to Makami)
It never worked as a child, and you're the Avatar now. Grow up.
MAKAMI
(growling)
It's comforting.
Baki settles in and takes Kin's hand. Makami finally leans forward.
MAKAMI
So, you are dating my mother?
KIN
(nervously)
I am, Mrs. Avatar.
BAKI
Wait, are you trying to be the parent here?
KIN
(softly)
I know that you and I did not have the...best working relationship.
MAKAMI
(deadpan)
You had me cart a stack of paper through a hurricane and screamed at me when one of the boxes got wet.
KIN
(nervously)
I never commended you for only one of the boxes getting wet? How silly of me, ha...ha.
BAKI
You two love math - talk like math geniuses. Pretend I'm not even-
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Sixteenth digit of Recaman's Sequence.
KIN
Twenty-four.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Eighth number of pi?
KIN
Five.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Cube-root of seventeen-thousand-five-hundred-seventy-six?
She bounces her head for a few moments.
KIN
Twenty-six.
Makami turns to her mother like a robot.
MAKAMI
(deadpanned)
You're right, this is riveting.
Kin stands, grabbing her suitcase and glass-blowing rod.
KIN
I have to go.
Baki comes up after her.
BAKI
Wait, don't go, Kin.
KIN
(mumbling)
Big client coming in today. Lots of books to clean, er ink to sharp...en...good-bye.
She pauses at the door, turning with a bright red face.
KIN
I shall return this evening with food from Saucy Edamame.
She clacks out with the door closing. Baki turns to Makami with fire in her eyes.
BAKI
(angrily)
Could you not see how hard that woman was trying to keep it together?! You're an international icon glowering down upon a helpless woman.
MAKAMI
Yeah, helpless - ever since she stopped sprouting extra heads that spit hot acid.
VOSO
Would the acid being hot really change anything?
Makami's dagger-shooting eyes turn to him.
VOSO
(mumbling)
Save me, Toyo.
TOYO
(mumbling)
Those daggers in her eyes would tear through us both.
BAKI
(angrily)
You really don't think she's changed?
MAKAMI
No, Mom, I don't. Change takes time and pressure.
BAKI
(angrily)
How does there get any more pressure than one of my children going missing!?
MAKAMI
Mom, can I just get the box from my room, please?
Baki stands and bends behind the couch. Toyo and Voso scootch into view. She comes back up with a small suitcase that is very heavy, tossing it into Makami's lap.
BAKI
(sarcastically)
Anything else I can do for you while you bash my girlfriend?
MAKAMI
Nope.
BAKI
Good - then out!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT AYAME RESIDENCE - DAY
The door slams behind them with Makami handing the briefcase to Toyo, who struggles with it at first.
VOSO
You don't think you were a little hard on them both?
MAKAMI
I believe change when I see change, not when I hear about it.
TOYO
(grunting)
What the heck is this thing for?
MAKAMI
Looking for clues. C'mon.
ADACHI (O.S.)
Hey kids.
All three of them turn to see Adachi, dressed in an old, grey jumpsuit with a bandana around his neck. Slung over his shoulder is a thick backpack.
Makami smiles towards him while Voso and Toyo hesitate.
MAKAMI
Hey Adachi, you nearly missed us.
ADACHI
Sorry, I wanted to be prepared after looking at the area you have us searching.
TOYO
Why's that?
ADACHI
Most of the islands are near the Molten Ring. And you all didn't pack a single thing to help you breathe under a thick cloud of volcanic ash and poisons, did you?
MAKAMI
I did.
TOYO
I...brought some snacks.
VOSO
And I brought some water.
ADACHI
(grunting)
Great, we're prepared for a picnic then.
She whistles loudly into the sky between her fingers. From over the mountain comes Forneus, still in his massive form. Voso and Makami smile up to the spirit as the tail drops down to them.
VOSO
Is that a ladder?
MAKAMI
Yeah, I thought it'd be good for Shii and those that don't want to, you know, free climb a hundred-foot tail.
TOYO
(grunting)
And how do you get up there if you're carrying a stupid-heavy thing?
MAKAMI
It's made of metal, Toyo.
TOYO
(grunting happily)
Oh, why didn't you say so?
It floats up under his power while Voso and Makami make their way up the tail. Adachi cuts in front of him up the ladder, but Toyo doesn't seem bothered with both hands in the air.
TOYO
Go, team efficiency!
CUT TO:
INT KOTA'S OFFICE - DAY
The grand office holds several dozen phonebooks, stacked with thick orange pages with some as a light grey. More are coming in with Abe looking angry at the added bulk.
ABE
(groaning)
No, c'mon! How many different books are there?
WORKER
Uh, this is the last of half of Republic City...'s northeast business district. But the Air Nation doesn't have any phone books!
ABE
(sarcastically)
Whoa, well, there's a week of my life back! Where's your boss?
WORKER
She said if you asked to say 'Any room where you aren't, Abe, get back to work.'
ABE
(loudly)
Oh, she is sooo lucky I'm working off a ticket!
SHII (O.S.)
Keep it down, slacker!
Abe pushes aside some of the piles, revealing Shii resting in a chair with a cream and cucumber slices on his face. His feet are in a warm bath and he sports a luxurious robe.
ABE
(harshly)
You're a traitorous old man! Giving up your loyalty for a washed face.
SHII
A steam-rinsed, exfoliated, charcoal-pressed, lotion-stimulated face.
ABE
(angrily)
Oh, well, let me see what this paper facial gives me.
Abe slams an open phonebook against their face, balancing it there.
ABE
(muffled)
Ah, so refreshing!
CUT TO:
INT RESORT LOBBY - DAY
Sunlight splashes through tropical greenery that punctuates the entrance to Kota's lobby. Zura picks food out of her teeth using a shiny column for a mirror. Kota slowly walks up behind her.
KOTA
Hey there, cutie.
Zura spins with a clean smile.
ZURA
(excitedly)
Reporting for work, Madame Emperor of Entertainment!
KOTA
Heh, yeah, well job interviews usually happen first.
ZURA
Yeah, but you've known me forever and I have excellent preferences.
KOTA
You have...oh, references, yeah. Look, Zee, you wrote your job history in wax and handed it in on the lid of a pizza box.
ZURA
Well, I wanted to stand out from the crowd,
KOTA
But that's not how to do that.
ZURA
Would it have been better on pizza? Because I did that once already so I didn't want to repeat myself.
KOTA
No, wouldn't want that...
She puts her hand on Zura's back to push her forward.
KOTA
But this resort is a paradise away from politics or world events. This is where people come to feel like dreams can come true. To maintain that, I need to maintain pristine hiring standards. This isn't a place for any old high-schooler to end up.
ZURA
Yeah, but I don't go to high school any more.
KOTA
You're not hearing me, girly.
ZURA
I know, I get it, but I am good enough, okay? Give me a chance to show you how hard I can work.
KOTA
I...alright, I do have something. Come with me.
CUT TO:
INT KOTA'S OFFICE
Abe is surrounded by several open phonebooks, using a rotating desk fan to flip the pages randomly and looking morose. Kota and Zura walk in through the main door.
KOTA
How's it going Abe?
ABE
(sarcastically)
Oh, great. Me and the moisturizer man over there are having a swell time. Hey Zee.
ZURA
(nervously giggling)
Hey, Nabendu, hi. What, uh, what is all this?
KOTA
These piles are all the phonebooks from the various civilizations in the world. We're helping out your sister by looking for references.
ZURA
References?
KOTA
Yeah, to a Fuu-Ki or Castle Top. We figure we might get lucky.
ZURA
I've heard about the Funky guy. What'll she do if we find them?
KOTA
What she does best.
ABE
Leave us out of the fun.
KOTA
(rolling her eyes)
Abe's just gonna be this way until this gets finished, so the quicker it goes, the happier they'll be.
Zura immediately takes off her nice jacket and throws it aside. She finds a pile on the opposite side of the room while Abe comes over to Kota.
ABE
(softly)
Why are you doing this to me, Kota? You know the kid's got a crush on me.
KOTA
Yeah, and she'll work harder because of it. She wants to impress the great war hero, or whatever you called yourself when that policeman arrested you.
ABE
(whispering)
I told that man nothing but the truth, but he just hated history! Plus, he arrested every single person going three-times the speed limit on that road that day! Seems real fishy to me.
KOTA
It's not my fault you got caught.
ABE
(whispering quickly)
But it is your fault that I'm flipping half my life away through phonebooks!
KOTA
(chuckling)
Then you better hope to be one of those people that have a better second half of their life.
She smiles curtly and turns, but Abe follows behind.
ABE
(whispering)
Whatever I did to hurt your feelings, I'm sure there are better ways to take it out on me, right?
KOTA
I'm sure I don't know what you mean.
ABE
Oh please, you've got it out for me. Your lawyers approached the judge asking for me to work off my fine under you.
KOTA
Some would call that saving your bony butt.
ABE
(smoothly)
So this is about my bony butt, huh?
KOTA
Maybe I just like messing with you.
ABE
Yeah well, it's-
They both turn to see Zura putting on her jacket again.
KOTA
You need a bathroom break, Zee?
ZURA
Hm? No, I'm done.
Kota rolls her eyes.
KOTA
(sighing)
Zura, you can't just quit after five minutes.
ZURA
Okay, well, what else do you want me to do?
KOTA
What I asked you to - help Abe.
ZURA
I did.
She points back to a single stack of books, all folded over to bookmark themselves on the proper page. Abe and Kota stare at it confused while Shii sits up in the background, eating his eye fruit.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON DOCK - DAY
Makami is on the dock, surrounded by several dozen people giving her dirty looks. Voso is turned towards them, but they're not much interested in him beneath the shadow of her island-sized spirit friend looming above them.
VOSO
So, when you think about it, the real enemy to your fishing village is the fish.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Ready, Toyo?
He waves his hand from the top of the island.
MAKAMI
(to Voso)
And you?
VOSO
Ready and waiting, Mrs. Avatar.
MAKAMI
(to Adachi)
Adachi, ready?
He nods seriously before turning to the crowd, reaching into a pack, and tossing out candy.
ADACHI
(loudly)
Candy for everyone!
Even the old, crusty crones squeal with delight.
Makami smiles while jamming her feet down and raising her arms. The island just off-shore begins to rise. Toyo grunts and strains on top of the island while Makami continues on the ground, pushing past the suction of the water.
As they do, the water roils into high waves that Voso bends back down beneath the bobbing wooden docks.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Forneus - NOW!
The people cower as the giant spirit beast swoops down and under the lifted island, taking it onto its back and hovering close to the ground.
Makami relaxes with a sigh while Voso nods in satisfaction. In the background, a couple march forward as Adachi empties the bag of candy.
WOMAN
(shouting)
Get that thing out of here - you'll scare the fish even more!
MAKAMI
We're out of here.
VOSO
The Avatar deeply regrets any and all hardship this...landfall may have caused you.
MAN
Phooey on that!
The woman spits harshly towards Makami, but she simply bends the loogie back into the woman's face.
MAKAMI
I don't regret that one.
Voso backs up while Makami shoots her arm up for a stone staircase to the top of Forneus.
VOSO
(quickly)
Please consider forgetting all about this incident when it comes time to vote again - have a good'n!
They pull up to where Toyo is sat down in fatigue.
VOSO
What's up with that anger, Ami?
MAKAMI
Defending myself isn't anger, hun. Unless you want to admit to trying to get some extra votes too, hm?
ADACHI
That's hardly the worst thing he's done.
Voso and Adachi lock eyes while Makami smiles, turning towards Forneus' head.
MAKAMI
Let's go, Forneus!
They lift from the bay as Makami brings out her map.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
We're heading south-south-east, buddy!
She flings it open, showing three black circles on the map, slapping a finger to a point not too far off.
MAKAMI
We're here, so we'll head to Tofi first.
TOYO
All three of these are owned by Paya and his weird little vacation company?
MAKAMI
That's right. They manage over a dozen islands, but these are the ones that looked close from the pictures.
ADACHI
Close to what?
MAKAMI
Close to Mei You Ren's memories.
VOSO
All of these are pretty close to the Molten Ring.
MAKAMI
Yeah, just like Adachi said.
VOSO
Yeah, so if we fly in at this height, we're going to be pelted with ash and rock.
TOYO
Wait, like pumice stone? I could go for an exfoliation.
VOSO
At this speed, your bones will be exfoliated.
He cranes to look at the waves.
VOSO
Can Forneus swim?
MAKAMI
He can skim the waves, it'll be quicker.
She stands up and folds the map, turning from them.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Down to those waves, Forneus!