AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 1: FAMILY
CHAPTER 15: BOOMERANG
Note: In this episode, sound effects look like THIS.
We fade in on the back of Ta's head. She's facing towards the window. Above her is a gibbous moon.
There's a knock on the door, and then we hear an unfamiliar voice.
Woman
Princess?
Ta turns around with a sad look, but a sparkle in her eye.
Woman
It's ready.
Ta nods, then she walks out of frame, revealing an unfamiliar skyline behind her.
We cut to Ta's silhouette, trudging down a flight of stairs, carrying a bindle over her shoulders. On each side of the bindle is a large pot full of a hot liquid. Two people are behind her, also carrying bindles.
Ta gets to the bottom of the stairs and continues forward.
We cut to a wider shot and we see that Ta is in a place that we've seen before, but only in an illustration.
There are large, swooping, curvilinear ice monuments behind her, and ice statues that look almost modernist in how abstract they are. We hear the hustle and bustle of a crowd in the background.
Ta gets to a large table in the middle of an amphitheater, and we see her parents, Kobo and Tara, and a number of young people standing behind it.
There are already several pots on the table. Ta gets to the table and drops the bindle, out of breath.
Ta looks up at a young man who is standing at the other side of the table. She smiles at him, and he gives her a shy smile in return, scratching his head. She then turns to her parents.
Ta
That's the last of it.
Tara nods, while Kobo has a thousand yard stare. Ta looks with worry at her father, and then out at the crowd.
We cut to see thousands of Aikirans gathered in the amphitheater, carrying bowls. A man lets them through and they approach the table. Ta and the other young folk start bending from the pots and pouring what looks like seaweed soup into the people's bowls.
A young girl with messy hair approaches the table, holding her bowl up. Ta fills the girl's bowl with soup and the girl shakily takes it, looking up at Ta.
Girl
Thank you, Princess.
Ta smiles sadly down at the girl.
Ta
You're welcome, Kia. (She hands her an extra piece of food, and then holds her finger to her lips) Shh.
The girl smiles and nods, and then walks away. Ta greets the next person and bends them some soup.
We pan up to the sky and see the gibbous moon. The shot fades to later on, when the moon is much lower in the sky.
We pan back down and the pots are nearly empty. Ta bends out as much as she can into the bowl, and looks out at the crowd. There are still so many people without food. Her face sinks.
Then she grabs a chair and stands up on it.
Ta
Citizens of Aikira!
The people turn to her.
Ta
I know things look bad right now. I know you're hungry, and you're tired, and it feels like this famine may never end. I'm not going to stand here and tell you that I've talked to Nuaka-sia. (She looks at the moon) Or that she's talked back… Because... She hasn't.
Ta takes her crown off of her head, looking at it for a moment, before she places it on the table.
Ta
I can't tell you that I have all the answers… (Looks back up) But what I can tell you is that no matter how bad things get, I will never give up on you! I will give everything that I have to you! And if I must starve so that one more of my people can eat, then I will starve for you!
The crowd stands up and cheers in deference to their Princess. Tara claps with tears flowing. We cut to King Kobo, who claps in solemn admiration, before looking down with a guilty expression.
Ta
(Tears in her eyes) And I will never stop fighting for you!
SLAM!
We cut to a shot from outside of the cracked palace window. The crack grows as Ta slams her ice block into it. She slams it again, and again, and again, causing it to crack a little more each time.
We cut to inside Batua's room, and Ta lets go, letting the ice block land on the floor with a heavy thud.
She catches her breath and hunches over, grabbing her knees. Then she looks up at the window with frustration, before she slowly gets back into form and lifts the ice block again. She winds back and then slams it, causing a few more cracks.
Ta
Come on!
We cut to a profile shot of the block hitting the window again. Ta's knees are starting to buckle, and her arms are shaking. With a pained groan, she slams the block again and again, straining her muscles. Then she hears a knock on the door.
Guard
(From outside) Princess? What's that noise? (Knocks) What are you doing in there?
We cut back to Ta, whose bloodshot eyes widen. She winds back and slams the window again, winding back before an explosion rings out in the background, shaking the room.
Guard
(Knocking) Princess?
We cut to Ta's POV and through the cracked window she can see Lao and the theater troupe running towards Kirin's ship. Then she hears the guard start to unlock the door.
Her brow furrows and her teeth grit. She summons all her strength as she slams the block again, letting out an exhausted scream.
Ta
COME ON!
We see the window crack a little bit more.
Then the door starts to open.
We cut to Ta's wild expression as she shrieks in fury, slamming the block over and over and over until-
SHATTER!
We cut to the young waterbending couple from last episode, Hoda and Kimi, sleeping in bed. Hoda opens one of his eyes. The camera lingers on him for a moment before he hears another crash. (But much quieter this time)
Hoda and Kimi both open their eyes and look at each other. Then they start to hear footsteps in the other room. Hoda puts his hand on Kimi's arm and gets out of bed.
We cut to Hoda walking through the hallway, armed with water, as he hears more footsteps and moving about. Kimi is a few steps behind him, holding their child.
Then we cut to Hoda peeking around the corner to the kitchen.
We see Akoro, in his prison rags, going through the couple's pantry. He's bending fish sauce all over a loaf of bread and eating it. The shattered pieces of a vase lie on the floor and the front door has been blown off its hinges. Behind the door, we see a hint of the chaos outside.
Hoda looks at Akoro with fright, carefully walking towards him, about to strike, when he steps on a shard of glass and cuts his foot.
He lets out an involuntary groan and Akoro turns around. Hoda gasps and bends water at him, but Akoro dodges it and reuses it to make a few ice daggers.
Hoda desperately stumbles out of the room and just misses the daggers which fly into the wall behind him.
Akoro
I'm commandeering your fish sauce, citizen! (Chuckles)
We cut to Hoda and Kimi in the hallway. Hoda is limping over to the back of the apartment.
Kimi
Do something!
Hoda
I'm a professor, not a soldier! Do you want me to give him a math lesson?
Hoda and Kimi sneak out the backdoor of their apartment.
We cut back to Akoro, who puts the bottle of fish sauce, as well as another bottle in his pocket. He grabs the bread and heads out of the door to join the chaos.
Cue action music.
We cut to Kamui running out of the palace with a group of city guards. He looks over to his left and sees that the door to the palace dungeon is wide open, then he looks forward again. He raises an ice wall between himself and an oncoming fireball, which shatters the ice wall.
Kamui raises the shattered pieces and prepares to use them defensively, running forward. The camera zooms out to become a wide shot of him running into the chaos of the main plaza. Prisoners V. guards.
We see Taisong, battling 5 guards at once, and faring pretty well. He gets one in a headlock and shoots a fireball at the head of the statue of Kanakui the wise, melting his face. Taisong laughs at this.
We cut to the two guards, Asuko and Matak, who Inuk knocked out in the alleyway.
Matak wakes up and rubs his head. Then he sees Akoro turn the corner and run down the alleyway. Matak looks at him with confusion, and then turns his head to see a group of city guards running after Akoro. Asuko and Matak get trampled by their comrades.
We cut to General Ato running out in his pajamas. He gets to the guard station, and opens the chamber, grabbing the massive horn. Then he blows on it. We see the guards on the city wall jump on their eelhounds and descend into the city.
We cut to Kamui. He entraps an escapee in ice, and then another one, but Taisong remains elusive. Kamui tries to trap him in ice, but Taisong is too beefy and he breaks out. Kamui then engages Taisong in a fight.
Taisong is OP, but Kamui is extremely efficient and precise. Kamui gets an ice dagger through Taisong's leg, bringing him to his knees.
Kamui runs over to Taisong and grabs his head. He's about to interrogate him when an ice dagger flies into Taisong's heart, killing him. Kamui looks in anger at the guard responsible.
Kamui
I want them alive!
Guard
Oh…
Kamui looks around and sees the rest of the prisoners he trapped in ice have daggers through their necks, etc. Then he looks back at the guard.
Kamui
Go!
The guard nods and starts running after the escapees. Kamui narrows his eyes, then he barely dodges an ice boomerang flying at his head.
He turns and engages with the prisoner who threw it, trading blows before eventually encasing him in ice. He walks towards the prisoner for a moment before the boomerang comes back around, heading straight for his head.
At the last second, Kamui turns around and freezes the boomerang in midair. He crumples it into a ball of ice and lets it drop on the ground.
We cut to multiple people, men and women, in prison rags running through the streets of the city. Some of them get apprehended by the guards, others manage to find places to hide. Some of them are breaking into shops, finding food, valuables, and other things.
We see a room full of sleeping earthbenders. A prisoner breaks open the door of the room and all the earthbenders wake up, screaming.
We cut to Zota Phong, hiding behind a wall.
She hears a group of guards running from around the corner. She waits for them to approach. Then, she closes her eyes before running out with her hands up.
Zota
Wait!
The guards stop and eye her with suspicion.
Zota
Please, listen to me! This is all just a big misunderstanding! I'm a student!
Guard 1
Oh, really? If you're a student, where's your badge?
Zota looks down at her prison rags, then she looks up at the guards.
Guard 2
She's lying!
One of the guards goes for her.
Zota
NO!
Zota looks down at her hands, which are sparking up. She looks away, then she throws her hands forward, bending a large spark in the guard's direction.
BOOM!
The explosion destroys the guard, along with part of the street, spraying blood and ice in all directions. Zota shrieks in surprise, looking down at the blood all over her. Then she runs for it as the guards chase after her.
Zota
I'm sorry! I just wanna go home!
We cut to her hand, which is continually throwing explosions at the guards while she runs. One of the explosions rips open a bag of flour, which hangs in the air.
When the flour settles, Zota has vanished. The guards look around, confused.
We cut to Zota one last time. She runs down an alleyway, then she finds a drainage pipe and shimmies through.
We cut to a series of knees falling on the ground. Then, we cut to Kamui, Ato and his guards in the main plaza.
Kamui is holding up the prison roster and going through it. We see that there are over 50 names on the roster, then we see that there are only 11 prisoners on the ground in ice shackles.
The bodies of other prisoners and members of the city guard are scattered around the destroyed plaza.
Kamui
Han Chao?
Guard
Dead.
Kamui marks this.
Kamui
Pema?
Guard
Dead.
Kamui
Mhm. Zota Phong?
Guard
Missing.
Kamui
(Angry sigh) She was a bargaining chip. Make sure she's found alive.
Guard 2
Um… She killed a lot of men.
Kamui
Yes, well… Her father is very wealthy. Now he may never show up. (Marks it, lowers the clipboard) Excellent work, gentlemen. You truly are this city's finest.
Guard 3
Hey! Asuko and Matak were on dungeon duty. They dropped the ball, Not us!
Kamui
And where exactly are Asuko and Matak?
The guard shrugs. Kamui turns to Ato.
Kamui
You realize this is unacceptable, right?
Ato
I've sent out messengers to all the units. They'll catch the stragglers.
Kamui
This city is a lot bigger than you think. (Sighs and looks down the list) What about our artist friend? Baka?
Kamui looks up and sees the guards looking at each other and shrugging.
Guard 2
I don't think I saw Baka with the other prisoners…
Kamui
Really? Did anyone see him?
We see the guards shaking their heads.
We cut to a guard walking down the stairs to the dungeon. He looks around at the emptiness, then he spots Baka in his cell, before walking over to him.
Baka looks up as the guard steps in front of him. He waves.
We cut to the sun rising behind a servant, who is sweeping. We cut to the plaza. Various servants are cleaning up the dead bodies all over the ground. We pan up to see the melted face of the statue of Kanakui the wise.
We cut from the face of the statue to a tableau of Batua in his room.
He's sitting at the foot of the bed, hunched over, head in his hands. The wind is still blowing in through the broken window. We stay on this for a moment before we cut to a close up of Batua from a low angle. He doesn't even look sad, just filled with self disgust.
Then we cut to the familiar shape of the entrance to the unfinished tunnel. (Last seen in the opening flashback from Episode 10.)
We see a hand wrap around the entrance before Batua walks into frame. He stands there, staring at it.
Then we cut to the tunnel. It's still open after all these years. We see the monk statue that the pendant fell off of, which itself has fallen off of its pedestal and lies broken, covered in snow.
Batua sighs and walks into the tunnel. He steps over the crumbled statue and ends up at the edge, looking out at the sea. He looks around at the inlet surrounded by an icy mountain cliff.
We cut back to Batua. As he looks out, a wind sweeps across the sea and hits him, blowing his hair back.
WHOOSH!
We (finally) cut to Kato, his hair also being blown back from the great speed he's traveling at. We see a cloudscape swooshing behind him. Yamani sits in front of him in a similar predicament. The two are both wearing firebender outfits.
We cut to a wide shot of Shira, wings spread out, gliding through the clouds.
Suddenly, the clouds break and they see the wide open horizon. The flying turns more calm and Yamani and Kato take a moment to look at the view.
They see the vast northern ocean. There are some islands scattered about and then a long white line curving from left to right; The great ice gate. Further than that, way off in the distance, they see a little sparkle; The Capital.
Kato and Yamani look at each other, then look back at the view. Towards the bottom of the frame is a tiny speck, traveling across the sea.
The sound of rushing wind stops abruptly as we cut to a shot of Shira from sea level. She's now a tiny speck, traveling across the sky in the opposite direction.
We pan down and see the back of Ta's head. She's standing aboard Kirin's ship.
Beat.
Then we cut to a close up of Ta, staring in the direction of the capital. The roiling of the ocean matches the veiled thunderstorm crashing behind her eyes.
In the background, Lao walks out from the cabin. The focus shifts, and we can see her looking at Ta with worry.
Then we cut to a wide shot of the fancy refurbished cell that Kyana was kept in.
Baka, the sculptor, sits at the table, looking down. He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose.
We cut to the door opening and Kamui walks in with a cup of tea. Kamui gives Baka the cup and sits down across from him. Baka grabs the tea and takes a large sip. He closes his eyes and savors it, then he places the cup on the table.
Kamui and Baka stare at each other for a moment, then Kamui rubs his hands together and cracks his knuckles.
Kamui
Alright. Is there anything you'd like to say before we get started?
Kamui is about to stand up.
Baka
Yes. (Kamui stops and gestures for him to continue) You could put the screws to me, scramble up my brain, or I could just tell you what I know.
Kamui
By all means, Baka. After all, as the other animals ran wild, you remained here. Your loyalty to the Empire is clear.
Baka
(Smirks) I appreciate that... (Takes another sip, then looks at Kamui) There were two airbenders involved. But last night it was only one of them. Her- (Pause) She was one of the girls who... Delivered the rice balls... She came down and unlocked the theater troupe. Then she said that she needed to cause a distraction and unlocked everyone else. (He looks down, thinking) She had a master key so I'm guessing there was another partner involved, possibly someone on the city guard.
Kamui
I see… It sounds like you've known about this plot for some time.
Baka
(Nods) I have.
Kamui
And yet you said nothing.
Baka sighs and takes another sip.
Baka
That's because... (Looks up) I wanted her plan to succeed. (Kamui's eyebrow raises) I loved her.
Kamui
...Who?
Baka
The airbender.
Kamui
(Looks aghast) Are you serious? (Shakes his head) A stiff and a servant lover. Your ancestors would be proud.
Baka looks down, then he cracks a grim smile.
Kamui
Well? What's your little sweetheart's name? Who is the wind pusher responsible for this mess?
We cut to Baka. He takes a sip, then he looks back, sadly.
Baka
Her name is Lao.
We cut to Kamui, his eyes wide.
Beat.
Kamui
Excuse me?
We cut to Inuk at home, looking at a piece of parchment with the stamp of a two-headed Koi at the bottom. He's startled by a knock on the door. Then he rolls up the parchment and stuffs it in his pocket.
He breathes deeply and then goes to open it. Batua is standing there.
Inuk
Oh. It's you.
Batua walks past Inuk and steps inside, pacing. Inuk closes the door and watches Batua warily, trying to read him.
Inuk
Is there something I can do for you?
Batua stops, looking at the jug of wine on the table and the cups. He looks at Inuk and points at them.
Inuk
Help yourself...
Batua pours a huge glass of wine and drinks it all in one gulp. Inuk looks at him with disgust. Batua wipes his mouth and puts the glass down. Then he narrows his eyes at Inuk.
Batua
I know what you did. I think… (He looks at Inuk's expression) Yeah. You're making that face that Ta always used to make...
Inuk clicks his tongue and looks down. Batua snickers and pours himself another glass and starts drinking it.
Inuk looks up at Batua, not knowing how to react. Batua finishes his second glass before looking back at Inuk.
Batua
Tell me something. The men under your command. Are they loyal to you? Or to the Empire?
Inuk
What? I don't have time for these games, Batua.
Batua
I'm not playing games. I swear. (Paces) I just have this weird feeling. Like something is coming. I don't know, I can't explain it. But for reasons that neither of us wanna get into, I think you might be the only person I can actually trust right now.
Inuk
...Trust with what?
Batua walks around the room and groans, then he looks at Inuk and puts his hands together.
Batua
So… You know how everyone thinks Kato is dead?
Inuk's eyes widen.
We cut to Yamani on Shira's back, sporting big, sparkly anime eyes.
Yamani
Great winds of Laghima...
We pan over to Kato, who gulps, looking down.
We cut to their view of the capital, a shiny, sprawling, city of ice.
Shira tilts downwards, causing Kato and Yamani to scream like they're on a roller coaster, then swings back up and makes a graceful landing on the icy cliffs across from the city.
Then Shira lies down and rests. The two of them pet Shira and dismount, their feet landing on the snowy ground.
Kato stumbles, feeling dizzy, while Yamani walks over to the edge of the cliff, gazing upon the capital. Her head tilts in wonder.
Kato finds his bearings and joins Yamani, looking down with determination.
Yamani
So. There it is.
Kato
Yep.
Yamani
It's a lot… (Tilts her head) Messier than I imagined. Considering the way your people act. (Looks at Kato) Oh, sorry... I mean those people.
Kato
No, it's ok. My people.
Yamani
Considering the way they act, I don't know... I expected this place to be nothing but straight lines. But it's all jumbled up. It's like a deranged buzzard-wasp hive made of ice.
Kato looks at the capital and nods.
Kato
Welcome to the ugly truth.
Yamani
(Shakes her head) I think it's different for you. It's personal. But for me, this is like… This is like… I mean, look at the way everything works together. The canals, the bridges, the pyramids, it all fits together like a giant puzzle. It's a marvel of engineering.
Kato looks upon the city, remembering the spark of imagination it used to give him. His eyes soften and he nods. Yamani's eyes dart from point to point all across the city, and then she looks up at the sky above.
Yamani
Huh…
Kato
What?
Yamani takes a step back.
Yamani
This city is completely vulnerable to an aerial attack.
Kato
(Looks worried) Oh… You're not thinking of…
Kato looks back at Shira, who raises her head
Yamani
No, of course not. Shira is a gentle soul. It's not in her nature.
Kato
Ok, good…
Yamani
(Smiles at Shira) Yeah, we're talking about you.
Shira raises her eyebrow, and then puts her head back down, keeping an eye on them. Kato and Yamani look back at the city for a while.
Kato
I remember that night in the desert. (Yamani looks at him, confused) You know, that night when you said I was an 'important' person? (Yamani nods her head and looks away) I think about that a lot, actually...
Yamani
(Looking embarrassed) Oh, do you?
Kato
...Yeah?
Yamani
Um, so… I only really said that because you were getting too close to my beeswax. I had to throw you off the trail.
Kato laughs.
Kato
Your beeswax?
Yamani
Yeah! My business!
Kato laughs even harder.
Yamani
Sorry!
Kato
No, that's good! Because... I'm not an important person.
Beat. He sighs and looks at the city
Kato
I spent… Every day of my life trying to make this city a better place for everyone. But in the end? (He blows a raspberry)
Yamani pats Kato on the arm.
Yamani
Welcome to the world of the regular.
Kato
Yamani, I didn't even know what was going on outside the city walls. What my people were doing to the rest of the world... And that… Led me to a question.
Yamani turns to Kato, raising her eyebrow.
Kato
If my people really have been doing this… We would be evil… And if we are evil… Why hasn't the Avatar stopped us?
We cut to a shot of the city. Then we cut to Yamani, who stares down with a contemplative expression.
Yamani
You want to hear my theory?
Kato nods. Beat.
Yamani
She doesn't care.
Kato turns to Yamani in disbelief.
Kato
She's the Avatar!
Yamani
Sure, she might be the bridge between two worlds. But she's still a person. And people are complicated.
Kato
But it's her duty.
Yamani
So?
Kato
So, Jang said he was meeting with her and her army. Which means she's been planning something.
Yamani
Does it really take twenty years to raise an army? There are people suffering now. And she's down south, taking her sweet time? Does that make any sense to you?
Kato blinks, and then looks forward, processing this.
Yamani
Look, I don't know much about this Miyuki… But I do know one thing. She didn't choose to be the Avatar. (Pause) And, as far as we know, she's not the first one who failed to take down the Kamakoi. Two hundred plus years equals three Avatars, does it not?
Kato nods solemnly
Kato
It does…
Yamani shrugs. We cut to Kato. The camera slowly zooms in as something clicks in head. Then he turns to Yamani.
Kato
You can't join me on this mission.
Yamani
(Looks at Kato and chuckles) Uh oh.
Kato
Look… We missed our window. The guards are back in position and this plan just got ten times more dangerous. I can't let you come with me.
Yamani
Yeah, I had a feeling this would happen... In case you've forgotten, I chose to help you. Of my own free will. And I have about fifteen years of fighting experience on your novice behind. If anything, it's going to be far more dangerous without me.
Kato
You're right. But that doesn't change anything. I have to do this alone.
Yamani
Wow. I gotta hand it to you, Kato. This is your worst idea yet.
Kato
Yamani… Don't you understand? You have a long, full life ahead of you. You're gonna do some incredible things. But me? (Shrugs) This is the end of the road.
Yamani
Oh, come on.
Kato
Be realistic! You know there's almost no chance this plan works out. It's insane!
Yamani
Then why do it at all? What, do you wanna die?
Kato
No! I want to save Ta. And if I do, great. But if I don't? Well… Then I died doing something I believe in, in the place where I was born.
Beat.
Yamani
Kato, that's salmon talk.
Kato rolls his eyes and chuckles.
Yamani
Let me reiterate. This is incredibly, monumentally stupid. I'm coming with you.
Kato looks over at her.
Kato
I'll think about it, okay?
Yamani
Yeah, you will. (Beat. Then, as she bends a curl of wind at him) Think fast!
Kato dodges her attack and bends his sand into position. The camera slowly zooms out as the two of them spar on the ice cliff.
We cut to Batua, lying down in his bed. He's holding up the sheet of parchment with the two-headed Koi stamp at the bottom.
We cut to a close up of the scroll. The end of a sentence is visible.
'-Dragon spotted over Ratakano.'
We cut back to Batua, who rubs his chin in thought.
We cut to a shot of Inuk from below. He has a bewildered, slightly hopeful expression on his face.
We pan down to his guard, Lohkan, who crouches down and grabs the handle of a hatch. The hatch opens, making a creaking metallic noise, and we see Inuk and Lohkan staring down from above. There is a ladder descending from the opening.
As Lohkan stands up, the two look at each other.
Inuk
This could work.
We cut to a wide shot of the two of them standing above the hatch. They are right by the unfinished section of the palace.
Lohkan
You really think he has a shot?
Inuk
I don't know. I don't know anything anymore.
Inuk closes the hatch with his foot.
CREAK. SLAM.
Inuk and Lohkan walk over to the unfinished tunnel. Inuk then takes out a small scroll and hands it to Lohkan. Lohkan reads it, then looks surprised.
Lohkan
You're promoting me to General?
Inuk
It's my recommendation. Assuming that still carries any weight after today. (Bows) Good luck.
Lohkan bows back, then stares at the paper as Inuk walks away.
We see Inuk walk out of the palace and across the plaza. Then we see him step into his neighborhood of high ranking officials. He walks up the stairs towards his street, then turns the corner, seeing his house.
Kamui and Ato are standing outside of his door. Inuk breathes deeply.
We cut to Inuk sitting down in front of the council.
He looks across the room. We see from his POV as he pans from left to right. First we see Ato, looking concerned, then we see Ahlaq looking judgmental, Kataia, her arms crossed, looking suspicious and Takai, looking outraged.
Then he finally pans over to Kamui, who looks calm and dead-eyed. We stay on Kamui as Ahlaq talks.
Ahlaq
There are no secrets in this empire, General Inuk.
We cut back to a shot of Inuk, as he looks over at Ahlaq.
Inuk
I know. And I'm prepared to tell you whatever you want to know.
Ato
Say it isn't true, Inuk. Tell me you didn't conspire with this airbender. Tell us we're wrong!
Inuk
(Sighs) I can't. Because you're not.
The elders turn to each other and start murmuring. Ato looks at Inuk with outrage.
Takai
General Inuk, explain yourself!
Inuk
I'm sure you know this already, but the jailbreak last night was just a smoke screen.
Ahlaq
Yes, yes. To spring the theater troupe. But to what end?
Ato
Have you been working with them this whole time?!
Inuk
No. This has nothing to do with the West Kyoko Theater Company. All they did was provide transportation.
Ahlaq
For whom? Lao? And this other girl, this… Sarai? Why would you do this for a couple of airbenders?
Ato
Oh, come on! You know why! Kamui knows why! We all know why he did it. We just heard a big old speech about it! (Looks at Inuk and stands up) I always knew you were prone to low morals, but ever since Kana died, you've gone off the deep end!
Ahlaq
Ato!
Ato
What? It's true! (He walks over to Inuk and grabs his collar) A lot of good men died last night because of you and your weakness! Their blood is on your hands.
Ahlaq
Ato, that's enough!
Ato narrows his eyes at Inuk, then lets go of his collar and sits back down. Beat.
Ahlaq
(Looks back at Inuk) But he is more or less correct, is he not? You smuggled this servant out of the city because you harbored feelings for her.
Inuk
No… I had no such feelings for Lao. I do miss her, though…
Ahlaq
And yet you told Kamui just before the incident that you had been intimate with her. Care to explain?
Inuk
(Glancing over at Kamui, with just the slightest hint of a smile) I lied.
Kamui doesn't look up.
Takai
Then who was it about? This Sarai person?
Ahlaq
Who is that? I don't remember seeing her name on the roster.
Inuk
There is no Sarai. It's an alias.
Ahlaq
For whom?
Inuk
(Looking off to the side) Princess Ta.
Takai
What?!
Ahlaq
Are you telling us that Batua's wife is no longer in the capital?
Inuk
Yes.
Rabble, rabble. The Elders talk amongst themselves.
Takai
Does Batua know?
Ahlaq
The boy's gonna blow his top.
Kataia continues eyeing Inuk, while the other two go back and forth. Ato stares at Inuk with disbelief.
Ahlaq
General Inuk, are you aware that Ta's father, King Kobo, was allegedly funding rebellions across our earth territories?
Inuk
(Shrugs) I don't care about any of that.
Takai
What do you care about, General Inuk? Hmm? Who's got your ear?
Inuk
Oh, drop the bucket! This wasn't like that.
Takai
Then what was it like? (Slams his fist down) Tell us!
Inuk looks down and shakes his head, then he looks back up with honest eyes.
Inuk
The people of Aikira were our brothers. We had a pact with them, and we broke that pact. What does that say about us? That we can't follow the few simple rules that we set for ourselves? (Sighs) Princess Ta had a life, and we demolished it. All so we could use her as a… As a Pai Sho tile. It was disgraceful.
The elders all shift in their seats, glancing at Kamui.
Kataia
(Under her breath) It does merit some discussion.
Ahlaq
Oh, fuff! (To Inuk) Do I have to remind you that you were the one who suggested she marry Prince Kato in the first place?
Inuk
No. I remember.
Ahlaq sighs. Ato looks like he's holding back tears.
Ato
You'll hang for this. You stupid fool...
Inuk looks up at Ato sympathetically. Then he looks over at Kamui. Kamui is slouched in his chair, picking at a loose thread in the lining of his coat. His facial expression is hard to read.
Inuk
(To Kamui) You're unusually quiet.
Ato and the elders look over at Kamui, waiting for him to respond. Kamui slowly looks up at Inuk, but says nothing.
Inuk
What? No lecture?
Ato nervously glances at Kamui and then looks back at Inuk.
Ato
General Kamui is clearly upset with you, as we all are, and rightfully so! Leave him be.
Inuk
I don't know… (Looks at Kamui) I don't think he's upset about what I did. I think he's upset because he didn't see it coming.
Beat.
Kamui narrows his eyes and smiles.
Then he raises a stream of water and slits Inuk's throat. Inuk grabs his throat as blood pours out. He falls off of his chair onto the floor, bleeding out.
Kamui stands up, adjusts his coat, and walks out of the council chambers. Ato and the elders watch him leave, speechless.
We hear Inuk struggling to breathe for a while, then he finally goes silent.
We cut to Yamani snoring on Shira's back in the middle of the night. We hold on this for a moment before Kato rises up in the background. We cut to Kato. He tiptoes past Shira, who opens her eyes.
Kato
Shh.
Shira raises her eyebrow and then closes her eyes again. Kato walks over to the snow and writes a message with his foot.
'Thank you, Yamani. Off to Friendly Town.'
Kato looks down and smiles. Then he looks up at Yamani and bows deeply toward her. We see one final shot of Yamani sleeping before Kato swings his bag over his shoulder and puts up his hood.
We cut to Kato tying a rope around a rock, then he throws the rope over the cliff. He grabs the rope and slides down it, keeping his feet against the cliffside to control his speed. The rope ends about 15 feet above the ground. He dangles off the rope and then lets go, and we see his feet land on the shore. Then he jumps in the water and starts swimming towards the palace.
We cut to the inside of the tunnel in the unfinished wing, looking out at the sea.
SPLASH.
Kato's head pops out from the bottom of the hole. He lifts himself up and walks inside, looking down at the crumbled statue of the monk.
We cut to the entrance of the tunnel, leading out to the side street beside the palace. Kato inhales and exhales, then he opens his bag and bends the sand out of it, keeping it at his side.
Kato
You can do this, Kato. I believe in you. (Then he narrows his eyes) Thanks, Mushi...
Kato does a ninja jump out of the tunnel and onto the main street.
He moves forward, looking all around himself, on alert. We see Kato creep around a corner, and then continue.
He looks up and we see from his POV. Kato can see the window to his (Batua's) bedroom from below. He smiles, and presses on, then we see his shoes stepping over shards of broken glass.
Kato rounds another corner, heading toward the entrance to the servant's quarters and the kitchen. The coast seems to be clear, but then he hears the scrape of a footstep. He stops and turns around to see a member of the city guard.
Kato's eyes widen, and then he smiles, getting into a fighting stance.
Kato
(Twirling the sand around) Come on, let's see what you got.
Guard
Not today, kid.
Kato raises his eyebrow before someone puts a sack over his head from behind. Then another person shackles his hands behind his back in ice.
His sand falls to the ground. Kato squirms around and tries to scream as the two guards lift him up and carry him. We see the 3rd guard behind them, Lohkan, checking to see if there are any witnesses.
We cut to a wide shot of the palace in the dead of night. We hear Kato's muffled screams in the distance, and the guards' footsteps as they carry him. Then we hear the metallic sound of the hatch opening up.
A moment passes...
CREAK. SLAM.
TO BE CONTINUED...