AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 2: TRADE
CHAPTER 11: HOME
With an eerie bit of music, we fade in on a large, vaulted room, ensconced with the decorative theme of owls. We are in Wan Shi Tong's study, within the great library.
Wan Shi Tong is humming a strange tune as he pores over something on a large bronze table. Then a fox comes into frame and drops something on the table.
WST
Thank you.
Wan Shi Tong puts his feathered claw on the forehead of the fox and it glows bright, then returns to normal.
WST
Go get lunch. That's an order.
The fox nods and runs out of frame. Wan Shi Tong then returns to his work.
We cut to a close up of the contents of his table. The half of the stone pendant that Kato gave him, and a scroll which the fox just delivered.
Wan Shi Tong compares the writing on the pendant to the writing on the scroll.
WST
Hmm…
We cut to a close up of the pendant from above. Then the camera slowly zooms in until we are engulfed by the strange writing, and then everything is black.
We fade in on the green waves of the sea, underneath a hazy, afternoon light. We watch as the water tumbles on itself for a while, before the camera pans up and we realize we are in the wake of The Lion-Turtle as it sails north.
We cut to Lao, who is steeping a kettle of tea in the cabin. She looks out on the deck and sees Ta, whose back is facing her.
She stares at Ta's back for a moment, then goes back to steeping her tea. We see Teepo walk up to Ta from the window of the cabin.
Teepo taps on Ta's shoulder and she reveals her strangely amused reaction to him. Then she turns fully towards Teepo and crosses her arms with an intrigued smirk, waiting for him to start.
Teepo
Hi Ta… So, um, maybe we should talk?
Ta takes a while to respond.
Ta
Go on.
Teepo
About us.
Ta
(Nodding) Yeah… So… You 'Love' me, huh? (Teepo nods) Can I ask why?
Teepo chews his lip for a moment.
Teepo
I don't know. I guess… It's because you're strong.
Ta
I'm not strong, Teepo. I'm shattered. I'm broken. I don't even know who I am anymore. You don't want that.
Teepo
(Looks down) I just… I want you to know… (He looks back up at Ta) You are the most beautiful woman I've ever… (Beat) Ta?
Cut back to Ta, she is staring over Teepo's shoulder with concern.
Teepo
What is it?
Ta spins Teepo around to look. With a distressing shift, we see a large ship on the horizon. Teepo and Ta stare at the ship in fear.
Teepo
You said they wouldn't be this far south.
Ta
They're not supposed to be. (Narrows her eyes) And that's not a Kamakoi ship.
We cut to Lao, who is still inside the cabin. She is staring out from the round porthole window.
Teepo
Then who is it?
The camera zooms in on Lao's eavesdropping face.
We cut to the face of a stone statue, a grotesque laughing man.
Then we cut to Kato, who is staring back at the laughing face. Jinhai slides in next to him with a confused expression.
We cut to a long shot. The two of them are in a large windy field of grass, empty if not for the strange statue jutting out of the ground. The Statue is pointing at them as it laughs.
Yamani and Baka are in the background, walking away.
Yamani
(From a distance) Come on!
We hear the sound of jingling chimes, then we cut to a half of an archway, sticking diagonally out of the grass. Some wind chimes are dangling from a string which has been hung on the jagged edge of the broken monument.
As Kato passes the ruin, he stares at the strange geometric details running up and down the front and back.
On the back of the arch is another laughing figure, pointing right at Kato.
Jinhai
What's so funny?
Jinhai is staring at the laughing figure as well.
Kato
Yes, I'm feeling insecure. Do I have something on my face?
Jinhai chuckles and looks at Kato.
We cut to Yamani and Baka who are still ahead. Yamani looks back at Kato and Jinhai and rolls her eyes.
Yamani
(Calling out) Hey, Mushi!
Kato hears her and runs, catching up with Yamani and Baka. Jinhai follows him.
Kato
What's up?
Yamani
Have you ever had sex?
Kato furrows his brow, surprised by the question, then he turns to Jinhai, who looks interested in the answer. He rubs the back of his neck.
Kato
No, I haven't.
Baka
(Surprised) Really?
Yamani
Me neither. But I'm looking forward to it.
Baka
(Intrigued) Really?
Kato
Why?
Yamani
Sex and bending are very similar. Or so I imagine.
Kato
Hmm…
Baka
It's like the public games.
Yamani turns to Baka and looks surprised at how much she agrees, nodding her head.
Yamani
Yes! Exactly.
Baka nods back.
Jinhai
One time I kissed someone in a cave.
Yamani
Once we get home, I'm going to find Ziri as fast as possible and we're gonna have sex. No doubt about it. I did everything she wanted. I went on my little spirit quest. I found my dad. I even met a dragon. We've been going back and forth for ages, it's time to finally seal the deal.
Just then, a large shadow passes overhead.
The group looks up and they see an air bison flying through the sky.
Jinhai
Who's Ziri?
Yamani looks at Jinhai with hearts in her eyes.
Yamani
She's the one. Or, my one, that is. She's like a fire-ferret who learned how to rule the world.
Baka
I can't wait to meet her.
Kato
Yeah, anyone who you love must be… Well, to be honest, I can't picture them.
Yamani
Why?
Kato
You always seemed like more of a loner.
Yamani
That's because nobody in my dad's village liked me. But it doesn't matter now. By the way, there's someone else you're gonna meet, Kato. When we get there.
Jinhai
(Eyebrow raised) Kato?
Kato
(Eyes bugging out) UM… WHO'S KATO?
Yamani
(Sheepishly to Jinhai) Oh, um… I call Mushi here Kato sometimes, because he looks like… Kato.
Jinhai
The dead prince?
Yamani
Yep.
Jinhai
(Shrugging) He was never on a coin, so…
Kato looks back at Yamani and wipes some sweat off of his face.
Baka
I've had sex.
The three turn toward Baka, who shrugs. In the distance, we see a small farmhouse. A family is watching as the group passes.
We cut to Ziri, who is sitting in Tang's office, along with him. Ziri is deep in thought, rubbing her fingers together.
Tang
Ziri, this is an auspicious day! Why do you look like you're about to throw up?
Ziri
(Looking up) Huh?
Tang
Talk to me.
Ziri
I don't know… I'm suddenly very nervous. I think I'm sweating. Am I sweating?
Tang
Yes.
Ziri looks down and furrows her brows.
Ziri
I've been looking forward to this day for so long, but now that it's actually here… Ahhhhhh!
Ziri then stands up and starts pacing around the room.
Tang
What are you afraid of, exactly?
Ziri
Nothing! Yamani's coming back! Everything is great! Everything is great! Everything is great!
We cut to the four pairs of feet, climbing up a hill. Kato, Yamani, Baka and Jinhai and making their way to the top of a large summit.
Yamani
Get ready. It's just over this ridge.
We cut to their point of view, as they climb higher and higher until they are at the top, and as the music swells dramatically, Tang's fortress finally reveals itself.
The dramatic music shifts to a little ditty played on the Banjo. Tang's fortress is nothing more than a mostly abandoned town. All of the houses are ancient, in decay and ruin, and half of the town fort is missing. There are a few people milling about, hanging laundry and cooking food.
Kato
Um… This is Tang's fortress?
Yamani
(Nods) What do you think?
We cut to Kato, hedging his words.
Kato
It's very… Rustic.
Camera pans to Baka.
Baka
It's quaint.
Camera pans to Jinhai, who blinks in disbelief.
Jinhai
What?! I thought I was going to be safe here! I might as well sleep in a tent!
Yamani's face drops.
Yamani
I know it's small, but it's got character. Come on!
Yamani launches herself down the hill with a gust of wind. K, J, and B run to catch up.
We stay on the shot for a while, before it slowly fades to a shot from inside one of the ancient homes. There is a skeleton still on the bed. We can see the group walk past the window and Baka peers inside, noticing the skeleton.
We cut to an intersection of two streets. On one side is a relatively intact ancient apartment. The group follows Yamani down the street before she stops at the doorway.
Yamani
Here's my house.
Yamani opens the door and a mountain of sand pours out of the house onto Yamani and the street. It takes a while. After the sand settles, Yamani bends herself out of it and then looks back at the group with a sheepish expression.
Yamani
Well, that's embarrassing. It's full of sand.
Kato, Baka and Jinhai all look at each other with confusion. Then suddenly, Jinhai bursts into tears.
Yamani's face also becomes very sad. She drops to her knees.
Yamani
(Over the top) Oh, how could I have been so wrong? To come here! (She hits the ground for emphasis) Did I forget what a cruel, desolate wasteland this is?!
We cut to the group, who are watching in horror.
Yamani
If only… If only… If only this wasn't a decoy, fools!
We cut to the dilapidated town fort. Yamani sneakily leads the group through the doorway into the main meeting space. There is a large tiger-elephant rug on the floor. Yamani grabs one corner of the large rug.
Yamani
Help me out.
Baka immediately comes to her aid, and the both of them roll the rug over to one side of the room.
There is a large square of stone in the middle of the floor. In the corner of the square, a tube made of flexible leaf material sticks out of the ground. Yamani pulls the tube out of the ground and holds it up. With her other hand, she blasts air into the tube while the others watch, until a large, unseen system of gears starts up from beneath the floor. She continues blasting air until she is satisfied, then she motions for the others to stand on the square.
Yamani
All aboard!
Kato, Jin, and Baka each step onto the square. We cut to a shot from outside of the meeting house, looking into the window. The group lowers into the floor and disappears. We stay on this shot for a while, then the camera slowly starts to pan down, and with a WHOOSH, we are underground as well.
Under this abandoned town, lies a cavernous city, a massive system of catacombs stretching far and wide. The walls are lined with glowing gems, lighting the whole place up.
We see the group on the stone platform, as an earth powered elevator takes them down.
Kato
Carp on a cobweb…
The group is amazed at the sight.
Yamani
Tsk, tsk, tsk. I can't believe you doubted me.
The group continues to take in the scenery as the platform descends. Then we cut to another close up of Yamani. She closes her eyes and focuses.
We hear the wind-chime sound effect as Yamani sends a spiritual communication out. The camera follows the communication, zooming through the air past various gems and structures until it lands in Tang's office, the top room of a large tower. The spiritual communication hits Ziri, and she stands up.
Ziri
She's here.
Down below, Tang and Ziri exit the tower and make their way towards the center of the town, where the elevator is landing.
We cut between Yamani and the group making their way over, to Ziri and Tang, making their way from the other side, until finally, they meet in the city center, between two canals.
From a distance, Yamani looks wide-eyed at Ziri. Ziri looks back with a calm, intrigued expression.
All we hear is the sound of their feet, walking towards each other. We land on a shot of the two of them in profile, standing a foot apart, gazing at one another.
Yamani is tearing up as she puts her arms on Ziri's shoulders. Ziri is grinning slightly, then she reaches up and takes a twig out of Yamani's hair.
Ziri
You brought me a souvenir.
Yamani laughs and nods her head.
We cut to The Lion-Turtle in the distance, from the view of a spyglass. The ship bobs up and down on the sea.
Then we cut to Zota Phong, who lowers the instrument from her eye.
Zota
That's them.
One of the firebender soldiers on the ship steps towards her.
FS
Are you sure, Zotie?
Zota
No. But… I have a feeling.
The FS grabs the spyglass and peers through it, scratching his beard.
FS
All these designer merchant ships look the same. And if we raid a legitimate vessel, the Empire's gonna cut off our clams.
Zota
Really lovely imagery. You're a poet.
FS
I'm just saying, we need to make sure before we do anything.
Zota sighs, nodding her head.
FS
We'll stay on their tail for now.
Zota grabs the spyglass back and looks once more at the ship in the distance.
A drumbeat starts, funky and earthbendery.
We cut to a large underground amphitheater, within Tang's Fortress. We are panning across an array of foods spread out on a long table. A feast.
The seats of the amphitheater are filled with an array of people, earthbenders, airbenders and firebenders, though no waterbenders in sight. They are eating and talking amongst themselves.
Citizen 1
I hear there's big news.
C2
A feast with an agenda? No…
We cut to another group.
C3
His daughter is back from her travels. That's what my uncle told me.
C4
Yeah, you can see her down there.
C3
Really? Where?
C4
Next to Tang, the one with the hair.
We cut to Tang, Yamani, Ziri, Kato, Baka, and Jinhai all sitting together at the bottom of the amphitheater, eating food. Tang proudly ruffles Yamani's hair.
Tang
I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.
Yamani
What?
Tang
Give me the ol' one two!
Tang puts his fists up, and Yamani does the same, then she sends two air blasts at Tang, who tries not to fall over.
Tang
Wow! You've been showing those fish-heads how it's done?
Yamani
That's right. I even went to the capital.
Tang
(Gaps) I can't believe it. (Yamani nods) It's a good thing you're here, Yamani.
Yamani
Why?
Tang
Well, I may have gotten us into a bit of trouble… We'll talk about it,
We cut to Ziri, who is sitting next to Kato. She looks at Kato and nods politely.
Ziri
Hello.
Kato
(Still chewing) Oh, um… (Swallows and nods) Hello. So, you're Ziri?
Ziri
(Smiling) Yamani told you about me?
Kato
Yes, she said many things about you. Today. But before that, no. She never really mentioned you.
Ziri
Oh… (Looks confused, then shrugs) I guess I never came up.
Kato
(Nodding, and eating more food) Well, you know Yamani.
Ziri nods, and then looks back at Yamani.
Kato looks over at Jinhai and raises his eyebrow. Jinhai nods.
Jinhai
(Whispering) She's kind of weird.
We cut to Tang, who looks at Yamani and Ziri, then stands up and walks to the center of the stage. The crowd goes quiet and waits for Tang to speak.
Tang
Hello, my citizens, it is I, your leader, Emperor Tang! I have gathered you here today to tell you that my best friend is returning tonight and we're gonna celebrate! I'm throwing you all a feast because I want you to grow up big and strong! Coincidentally, we may be seeing some retaliation in the near future… I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but shove it in King Yao's fat little face, what a puppet he is. When he asked me to share our riches with the Kamakoi. (Someone in the crowd whistles in agreement) And naturally the Fish-Heads will hear of my legendary stubbornness and they will say no, no, no. Not anymore. You are mine now. To jump and dance at my whim. (Inhales, then sighs) Call it an Emperor's Hubris, but I just had to make a stand. But come on. (Another whistle) We are Tang's mighty fortress, right?! Are we gonna let a bunch of fish heads tell us what to do? (Collective 'NO') Are we gonna let them come here and take what's ours? ('NO') Do they even stand a chance against us?! ('NOOO')
By the end of his sentence, the crowd is screaming and hollering in agreement.
We cut to Tang, walking to his office. Yamani, Ziri, and Kato are walking behind him.
Tang
We are screwed.
Yamani
I don't understand. How did this happen?
Tang
We'll talk about it. Come on in.
Tang lifts the door to his office with earthbending. He walks in and the three of them follow, but then Tang motions to Yamani.
Yamani nods, and then stops Kato from entering.
Yamani
Sorry.
Kato stays outside as Tang and Yamani and Ziri walk inside, then Tang raises his arms.
The door shuts in front of Kato.
We cut to the cabin of The Lion-Turtle. Ta, Lao, Teepo, Oni and Ayana are all huddled inside, silently. Then suddenly, the teapot starts to whistle.
Everyone's eyes bug out, before Lao stands up and takes the pot off of the fire, then she blows out the fire.
Ta
(Loud whispering) Lao, stay down!
Lao continues and takes some cups out of the cabinet. She begins to pour the tea.
Ta
Lao!
Lao
You need tea. We all need tea.
Ta
But the ship!
Lao sighs and opens the door of the cabin.
Ta
Lao!
Lao continues and walks outside, surveying the situation, then she looks back.
Lao
It's okay.
Oni
What? Really? They're gone?
Lao
No, but they're not heading towards us either. They're just… There.
The whole group stands up and heads out of the cabin to look. The ship is just sitting there in the distance on the horizon.
Lao
See?
Ta
Fine… Fine.
Lao
Tea.
Lao heads back in to continue pouring. Ta looks at the group and narrows her eyes, then she looks ahead.
Ta
Let's keep moving.
Teepo
Where are we going?
Ta
Aikira.
We cut to a long shot of The Lion-Turtle heading north. The camera slowly pans back, and we see Zota's ship following it from a distance. Then the camera pans away from Zota's ship and continues moving backwards, until we see Tarakano's ship also heading towards Aikira.
We cut to Tarakano, standing on the deck, looking out at the sea. A crewmember runs up to Tarakano and pats his shoulder.
CM
Sir, we have a problem.
Tarakano turns around and raises his eyebrow.
CM
The hardtack is infested with worms.
Tarakano sighs and puts his hand on the crewmember's shoulder.
Tarakano
So eat around them.
We cut to a scroll nailed to the wall. On the scroll are two handprints made of dried clay. We pan down from the scroll to the door of an underground apartment in Tang's Fortress. The stone door slides to the side and Yamani and Ziri walk inside.
Yamani
He was addicted. He couldn't stop.
Ziri
(Giggling) So?
Yamani
In the end I took him for everything. All his little trinkets and his dragon. That's how I met Shira.
Ziri
Aw. How cute. Of course, you didn't bring Shira here to meet me. (Flashes Yamani a look)
Yamani
(Shrugs) She didn't want to come.
Ziri closes the door behind them and they step inside. Ziri lights a candle with her finger.
The camera rotates around Yamani as she takes in the space.
Yamani
Wow. It looks different.
We see many scraps of artwork on the wall. There are symbols and icons, some of them are scratched out.
Yamani grabs a piece of paper off the wall and examines it. There is the stylized symbol for earth, with a circle around it. Yamani looks at Ziri.
Ziri
I wanted to create a symbol for Tang's Fortress. An insignia.
Yamani
(Looks back at the symbol) It's the symbol for earth. But… We're not earthbenders.
Ziri
(Grabs the paper) Well, it's a 'screw you' to the empire. I suppose there's a lot of that around here, lately…
Yamani
Yeah. But they deserve it.
Ziri nods. Then Yamani and Ziri look at each other.
Beat.
They both look down, giggling, before Yamani walks over and puts her arms around Ziri.
Yamani
I'm back.
Ziri
(Nodding) I know.
Yamani
Three long years.
Ziri
I know.
Yamani
But I'm back.
Ziri puts her arms around Yamani and snuggles into her.
Ziri
Did you find him? You never told me. Well, you never… Sent it to me.
We cut to Yamani, who pauses, then she looks at the ceiling.
Yamani
We can talk about that later.
Ziri
Okay. I understand.
Beat. They continue to hug. Then Yamani breaks off and looks at Ziri, narrowing her eyes.
Yamani
Look at you. Look at your face.
Ziri looks down, blushing.
Yamani
Those fiery eyes.
Ziri looks up again, showing them off.
Yamani
(Nodding) Yup…
We hard cut to Yamani and Ziri falling on the bed, making out, their hands all over each other. Yamani then breaks away with a smirk.
Yamani
I'm gonna make you so hot. So hot I'm gonna need fireproof gloves!
They continue, and Ziri ends up on top of Yamani. She grabs Yamani under her hair with both hands, before she breaks away, growling.
Ziri
You're right. I can feel it.
Ziri goes back in to kiss Yamani, and we cut to Yamani's face as a sizzling sound effect grows.
Yamani opens her eyes. Then she holds Ziri away at an arm's length. Ziri's hands are still buried in Yamani's hair.
Ziri
(Breathlessly) What? What happened?
Then Yamani's hair lights on fire. She quickly uses airbending to put it out, then she gets off the bed and stands up.
Yamani
Wow! That was a little too hot!
Ziri is shocked, her hands over her mouth.
Ziri
I'm so sorry! I almost turned you into a purist!
Yamani
(Confused) A purist?
Ziri
You know, a bald airbender.
Yamani pauses, then she starts to laugh hysterically, and Ziri's face goes from terrified to giggling.
Yamani
Yes.
Ziri
(Patting the bed) Lie down with me.
We cut to a close up of Ziri and Yamani's hands. Ziri creates a little flame between her fingers, and Yamani introduces an air current that twists the fire around, making it dance.
Ziri
It's okay… If you want to wait.
We cut to Yamani, who rolls her eyes.
Yamani
We've already waited so long.
Then we pan to Ziri, lying down next to her.
Ziri
Yes. Can I ask… Why did you spend so much time in your dad's village? I assumed after the first year you would have been done.
Yamani
(Shrugs) I don't know… Being surrounded by all those airbenders… Despite them being nuts… They were my kin.
Ziri nods.
Yamani
Plus, nobody talked to me, so I had a lot of time to work on my inventions…
Ziri
(Looks around) Where are they?
Yamani
Stolen! Probably by some big brute who couldn't tell a pulley from a plunger.
Ziri looks concerned.
Ziri
…That means someone out there has all of your designs.
Yamani
Yeah… You would have loved them, Ziri. One in particular.
We cut to a drawer in Kamui's office in the Capital. Stacks of plans and blueprints are sticking out, all of Yamani's work. We still hear Yamani and Ziri in voice over.
Ziri
Oh yes? Why?
Yamani
One day, I missed you so much that I came up with something to scratch that itch.
Ziri
I see. It's an invention?
Yamani
Well, no, it's more like a recipe.
The camera zooms in on one page specifically. We can only see the corner, but it looks like a part of that recipe and then an illustration of an explosion.
Yamani
It is devastatingly powerful, and surprisingly easy to make. I call it 'Fire without the firebender'.
Ziri
(In thought) Huh… Fire without the firebender…
We hear fighting in the distant background, as Batua's and Kamui's forces are still going at it.
We cut to Kato and Jinhai, in another small cave. Kato is lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Jinhai is sitting on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands.
Jinhai
I tried to find them, but… The soldiers, they… I never saw them again… (She sniffles)
We cut to Kato, who doesn't know how to react. He sits up and looks at Jinhai's back.
Kato
I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry.
We cut to Jinhai. The camera pans up from her hands as she slowly balls them into fists. Then we land on her tear soaked, angry face.
Jinhai
I swear, they're gonna pay for what they did to my friends. Them and their whole fishy empire.
Kato says nothing, then turns as a townsperson arrives at the door.
TP
Are you Mushi?
Kato nods.
TP
The Emperor wants to see you.
We stay on Kato for a while, as he processes this information.
Tang
Think fast!
Then we cut to Kato in the doorway to Tang's office. A basketball sized rock flies into his chest and knocks him over.
We pan over to Tang, standing in his office. He cranes his neck in worry.
Tang
Oh my! They told me you were an earthbender.
Kato stands up and dusts himself off, then he gets into position and bends the rock up to eye level, before sending it back to Tang. Tang catches it in mid-flight, keeping it airborne.
Tang
So you are.
Kato
Guilty as charged.
Tang
But you have no formal training. Why? (He sends the rock back to Kato)
Kato
(Catching it) Well. I was um… I was raised by a pair of gardeners. They couldn't even bend themselves. (He tosses it back)
Tang
(Catching it) Stiffs! Isn't that the phrase? (Tosses it)
Kato
(Catches it) …In some parts of the world, yes. (Tosses it)
Tang
(Catches it) Not here. (He lets the rock fall to the floor) I learned that word from a woman who traded walrus-bear hides.
Tang walks over to this desk and he picks up a long, bone pipe. He loads the pipe with smokeables and then sticks it in his lips.
Tang
Have a seat. (He grabs some flint and strikes, lighting the pipe) Mushi, is it?
Kato
Mushi it is, yes.
Kato walks over to the desk and sits down across from Tang.
Tang
You traveled the world with my daughter. (Puffs) What was that like?
Kato
(Raises his brow) You're not… Are you?
Tang
Well… (Puffs) Yamani doesn't have my blood, but she has my blessing. And one day, Mushi, this kingdom will be her's.
Kato
Wow… She never mentioned that…
Tang looks over at Kato and smiles an odd smile. Then he looks away and takes another puff.
Tang
But until then, it seems I have a war on my hands. With them. As you can understand, this is quite the undertaking. (Sighs, then looks back at Kato) Tell me, what do you know of the Kamakoi?
Kato
Um… (Scratches head) Not much. I left my home before they arrived. But of course, everybody hears things.
Tang
Mhmm. That's right. Everybody hears things. (He takes a puff, beat) I hear that the brother-killer prince has ascended to the throne.
We cut to Kato, who blinks. His heart jumps.
Kato
What? The brother killer…
Tang
You see the kind of thugs we're dealing with? This guy chops off his own brother's head, and now he's in charge of the biggest army in the world. What do you think about that?
Kato
…The Emperor died?
Tang takes another puff, observing Kato.
Tang
That's right. Emperor Atakui, as he was called. You didn't know he was dead, Mushi?
Kato
No… (He sinks into his thoughts for a moment, then he remembers where he is and looks back at Tang) But it doesn't matter, right? They're all the same. Occupiers.
Tang shrugs.
Tang
Maybe. Maybe not. (He ashes his pipe and begins to pack it anew) Batua wasn't his only son. And from what I heard, Kato was quite the oddity.
We cut back to Kato, and the camera slowly zooms in on him.
Kato
Odd how?
Tang
He lived by his own moral code, and he actually cared about the plight of the earthbenders. Nobody knows why he severed such dramatic ties with the fish-head way, but I certainly have a theory.
Kato
…What is it?
We cut back to Tang, whose eyes are locked on Kato.
Tang
I think it was because deep down he always knew he was an earthbender himself.
We cut back to Kato. His expression sinks, before he looks down, smirking in defeat.
Tang
Hello, Prince Kato.
Tang suddenly stands up and locks all the doors with earthbending, then he raises a large chunk of the floor and holds it over Kato. Kato falls out of his seat and shuffles backwards towards the wall, holding his hands up.
Tang
I could kill you right now.
Kato
Wait!
Tang
A son of the enemy. Royalty. In my office. Why shouldn't I end you at this very moment?
Kato
I don't know! You said I was different!
Tang
Are you?!
Kato
I try to be! I try to do the right thing! I tried to help people!
Tang
And who are your people?
Kato
Everyone! All of them…
Tang lets the boulder back down to the floor, and it crashes with a loud sound. Kato breathes heavily, still in defensive posture. His arms lower slowly and he looks up, to see Tang standing over him with his hand outstretched.
Kato grabs Tang's hand and he helps him up off the floor.
Tang
I think you're right. I think you are different.
Kato smiles, then he sighs, looking down.
Kato
Who knows… (Looks back up at Tang, gulping) What are you gonna do with me?
Tang sighs and turns around, walking towards the window, past the enormous chunk of floor.
Tang
Here's the thing of it, Kato. If it was just me, I would invite you over for a roast. But you're the son of the enemy, and those people out there, my people? They would never allow it.
Kato looks down.
Kato
So, I have to leave.
Tang
Hmm. That's one option. Here's another; You tell me everything you know about the fish heads, and in exchange, I keep your little secret. (Beat) Deal?
Kato takes a moment, then he nods.
Kato
Yeah… Deal.
Tang nods.
Tang
Good.
Then Tang takes off his large, ornate coat and hangs it on the wall.
Tang
Time for bed.
He turns around and reveals that he is wearing a necklace with an amulet. As Tang raises his hands to earthbend the door, Kato stares at the amulet in shock.
The amulet shares the exact same decorations and writing as the half pendant Kato once had.
The door rises with a loud thud, and then Tang looks over at Kato, gesturing to leave.
Beat.
Tang
…What?
TO BE CONTINUED…