AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 3: JUSTICE
CHAPTER 2: FREEZE TAG - PART 2
Lao
Sixty-three, sixty-four-
Lao hurriedly flicks through the dozens of keys dangling off the master keyring. Suddenly, we're back in the palace dungeon, 8 months ago on the night of the Dance of the Flying Peacock.
Zota Phong watches through the bars as Lao reaches her number.
Lao
-Seventy-one. That's it.
Then she unlocks the door to her cell. Zota eyes Lao with suspicion, scanning left and right, before she slinks out. On her way to the stairs, she turns and looks back at Lao, who is already unlocking the next cell.
Zota is very confused, but she shrugs and continues up the stairs.
Moments later, Zota is hiding behind a wall, almost out of breath.
She hears a group of guards running from around the corner. She waits for them to approach, then she runs 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, 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.
Zota runs down an alleyway, then she finds a drainage pipe and shimmies through.
Cut to black, before a small flickering flame ignites from Zota's hand. She takes a look around the large sewer tunnel, wondering where to go.
Then she takes her first step and falls into a puddle of sludge.
Zota
Agh! Blech! Bleeding rat-vipers!
Then something scuttles past her, casting a furry, serpentine shadow.
Zota
What was that?!
Sometime later, she is inching along the wall of the tunnel, avoiding the stream below her.
Zota
I think… If the marketplace was that way… Then the palace is this way…
Cut to another storm drain. Zota peeks her head out and almost immediately, dozens of jackboots storm past her. She whines anxiously and disappears behind the drain.
In a quick succession of cuts, we see Zota meander through the sewer tunnels, lunge unsuccessfully at a rat-viper, and once again fall into the stream of sewage.
Then we cut to Zota lying down miserably on the cold, wet stone. Her stomach is growling.
And with a sad bit of music, Zota shrinks smaller and smaller in the frame, until she's just a dot in the enormous Capitol sewer system.
3 WEEKS LATER
Cut to a pair of airbenders manning a pickle stand in the marketplace. As the sun sets, AB1 glances at their inventory. An entire tub is sitting there, filled to the brim.
AB1
(Sigh) It's the same as yesterday.
AB2
Yeah, I don't know why, but that pickled cabbage is just not selling.
A1 shakes his head as he slides the tub onto a cart and wheels it out of there.
AB1
Since when do people get sick of cabbage?
Cut to Zota sitting under a sewer grate. AB1 opens the grate and a tub-load of pickled cabbages falls onto Zota's lap. Then he closes the grate back up.
Zota laughs maniacally as she shoves the pickled cabbage into her mouth. Then a viper-rat scuttles by and steals the majority of it. She looks down with wide, angry eyes.
Zota
No… NO!
Zota starts screaming her head off, pounding her fists on the ground.
Zota
NO NO NO NO NO!
Then she sighs.
Cut to Zota climbing out of a storm drain, finding herself on an empty street. There's a loud commotion coming from several blocks away. She walks down the street in a daze, shielding her eyes from the harsh sun.
Zota spots several people running over to the source of the commotion, and she decides to follow them down the avenue toward the Great Pyramid of Atakami. An enormous crowd is gathered on both sides of the canal, which runs underneath the pyramid.
Zota makes her way through the crowd, and eventually she sees a coffin suspended over the canal. Her view goes from the coffin to the platform below it, where the royal family resides.
Batua wipes some sweat off of his forehead. He stands above the crowd, holding a large scroll.
Batua
So, we lay the Emperor's body to rest on the sacred river. A river which leads to… I don't know what this word is. So, here we go. Lowering… My father… Into the river.
Batua shakily grabs hold of the ice platform with his bending. He begins to gingerly lower the platform, but it gets caught on the ornate display of battle carvings behind it.
Batua loses one of the corners and the platform tips over, causing the coffin to slide out and fall into the water.
SPLASH!
The crowd gets soaked and Atakui's coffin bobs up and down in the canal, before drifting along the current, upside down.
Batua
Aw, fish-hook…
In the dead of night, Zota skulks around the University, heading toward the student lodging. A guard sits at the gate, surveilling the entranceway.
In the shadows, behind a column, Zota narrows her eyes. She ponders for a second, before shaking her head. She sighs.
The guard sits in his booth, playing some sort of solitary card game. He flips a card over, then his face gets lit up bright orange.
BOOM!
An explosion rings out on the other side of the entryway.
Guard
What in carpnation?
He's out of his booth, running over to the smoking wreckage and the camera pans over to Zota. She slides out of the shadows and over the fence.
Cut to a group of students, hanging out and drinking wine inside one of the student houses.
Zota peers in through the window. Her old apartment is filled with strangers.
She slowly lowers her head, before one of the students inside looks toward the window.
Cut to Zota sleeping on a bench outside the palace. People walk past her, paying her no mind. Then suddenly she gets poked with a stick.
Kamui
Wakey, wakey.
Zota slowly opens her eyes, then she quickly sits up in fear, looking away.
Zota
General Kamui…
Kamui
Yes, dear. And who is this sleeping in the street like a peasant? Could it be Zota Phong?
Zota slowly shakes her head. Then Kamui narrows his eyes.
Kamui
Are you sure? Think carefully.
She stares at him for a moment, before breaking down.
Zota
(Tearing up) I'm sorry! That airbender let me out of jail and… And I didn't mean to hurt all those guards. It was an accident! I'm so sorry!
Kamui puts his hand on her cheek.
Kamui
Shhhhhh… Quiet now. You don't belong here.
He turns toward the palace, motioning for her to follow. Zota nods and follows him.
Kamui
It turns out your father did me a favor.
Zota looks confused.
Zota
A favor?
Kamui
Yes.
Kamui opens the door to his office. Zamuto is standing there, puffing on his pipe. Zota's eyes light up and she runs over.
Zota
DADDY!
Zota crashes into Zamuto with a hug. He loses his balance and awkwardly hugs her back with one arm.
Zamuto
Hey, Zotie… Wow, you smell awful.
He takes another puff on his pipe as she looks up at him.
Zota
…Where were you?
Zamuto
Doesn't matter. I'm here now! And I'm gonna take you back home to Kiriko for some father-daughter time, whaddya say?
Zota nods, holding onto him.
Zamuto
But first, let's get you in a bathtub.
Cut to Zamuto's ship leaving the dock, heading out to sea. Zota, fresh and new, is staring ahead. The camera slowly pans over to Zamuto, puffing up a storm of smoke.
Sparse, tense music starts building…
In a quick succession of cuts, we see: Zamuto's party, Ta knocking Zamuto out with the giant ice block, Zamuto waking up tied to a chair surrounded by Ta and Co., and Ta staring down at Zamuto, her hands hovering around his temples.
Then Zota shows up.
Zamuto
You're home! Oh, thank the flames!
Zota
What's... Going on here?
Zamuto
Zotie, you have to help me! These robbers, they wanna kill daddy!
Ta
(Blinks) What?
Zota
WHAT?!
BOOM!
The explosion fades to black.
And we slowly fade to Zamuto in the near present, sitting in his room at the Grand Kiyuga Gaming Hall. He narrows his eyes and a searing image of Ta comes to his mind, like a thunderclap.
Her hands inch toward his head, glittering and blinking electric blue.
Zamuto
(In a trance) Princess Ta… Who are you? (Snaps out of it) Concierge!
The concierge nods and steps forward, holding some parchment.
Zamuto
Here's what I want it to say: Dear Zotie, I've changed my mind. Bring the princess to me alive and intact. As for her friends…
The concierge looks up, waiting for Zamuto to continue.
Zamuto
…They serve no purpose. Do what you like with them.
The concierge nods and finishes writing his note. Then he rolls it up, stamps it, and slides it into a little pouch. He ties the pouch around the hawk's neck, whistling to it.
The hawk flies off into the sky.
Woodblock…
Cut to Zota, behind bars once again. But this time she's on the other side. She's standing in the dark brig aboard her ship. Azuran is standing behind her, looking away. We can hear Ta murmuring something under her breath.
Zota glances at Azuran, before peering back inside the cage.
Zota
Look at me.
Ta is pacing back and forth, but finally she turns to look at Zota, who stares back at her tensely. Zota muscles up to the bars and sticks her face between them.
Zota
Where's your crew?
Ta
Hmm?
Zota
Where's your crew? Are they coming for you?
Ta looks down for a moment, then she turns away to look at something else.
Zota
(Snapping) Hey! Don't ignore me!
Ta starts humming, staring in the other direction. Zota makes her way around the cell and into Ta's eyeline again.
Zota
Ta! If you and your friends are planning something, that is very, very bad.
Ta shakes her head and looks down.
Zota
Tell. Me. Where. They. Are.
Ta takes another beat, her eyes planted to the floor.
Ta
(Quietly) They're gone. Killed.
Zota
(Flame goes out) Oh…
Zota briefly looks sympathetic, but she brushes it off.
Zota
Well, you killed a lot of people at my father's party, so…
Ta nods.
Awkward beat.
Ta
Are you gonna do the same to me?
Zota narrows her eyes, sizing Ta up.
Ta
Who knows?
Then she turns and walks out of the room.
Zota
Come on.
Azuran soon follows her. The door closes, leaving Ta in the darkness.
A beam of red light pierces through the single, small window. Sunset. Ta is sitting on the floor, her hair covering her frazzled face. She slowly looks over to the side.
Ta
Don't look at me like that.
…
Ta
You don't think I feel bad enough?
She continues to stare in that direction, unnerved.
Ta
You're not even gonna say 'I told you so'?!
Creak…
The door opens. Azuran's silhouette stands in the doorframe. He pauses.
Azuran
Um…
Ta looks over at him, then she hides her face.
Azuran slowly walks over, holding a tray.
Azuran
I brought you something…
He places the tray on the floor, then he passes the contents through the iron bars.
Azuran
Some saltbread. And tea. I don't know what kind.
The plate and the steaming mug land on the floor. The steam crawls up through the air in front of Ta, distorting her.
Azuran
You should eat.
Still no response. Azuran slowly turns away, heading for the door. Then he stops and looks back at her.
Azuran
I'm sorry… About your friends…
He closes the door behind him.
Cut back to Ta, behind the bars. She eyes the food, skeptically. Then she shakes her head.
Ta
Don't.
She turns away. The camera slowly zooms in, until Ta runs her hand across her face. Then she snaps with an angry whisper.
Ta
I know that already.
She looks back at the offering.
Cut to a wide shot. Ta leans her head back in the soft moonlight, her hair sliding off of her face. She moans in despair, which inexplicably turns into a cackling laugh. Then a cough. Then silence.
2 WEEKS LATER
Early morning. Slightly cloudy. Zota's ship pulls into the port of an enormous complex of some sort.
The sun shines gray through the small window. Then the camera pans down to Ta, who is in a fetal position on the floor of her cell. The stale bread remains on the floor all these days later.
Ta suddenly jolts up as the door slams open.
Zota
It's the round key.
In marches Zota, along with various members of the crew and some guards, led by Azuran. He unlocks the door of the cell and heads for Ta, who goes limp as he picks her up.
Ta
(In a daze) Where are we?
Zota gets all up in Ta's face.
Zota
We're at my father's factory. Finally.
Ta
Okay.
Zota is perplexed by Ta. She shakes her head and gestures for the door.
Zota
Get her out of here. I'm sick of looking at her weird face.
Azuran nods and escorts her out of the room, along with the others. Ta gets carried up the stairs and suddenly into the blinding light of the outside world.
They carry down a long path heading toward a building. On either side of her, vast acres of land stretch out. Rows and columns of ceramic pots, containing salt and fermented fish, line the landscape in both directions.
The crew-members cover their noses, their eyes watering.
CrewMember 1
I forgot about this smell…
Guard
Brings you right back, doesn't it?
CM1
Brings me to my knees.
Guard 2
(Chuckles) Nobody likes seeing how the fish sauce is made.
They bring Ta into the building. After a series of entrances, they stop at a large circular door.
Azuran glances at Ta. It takes 3 guards to open the door.
Creak…
The door opens and Ta walks into an obscenely large room built out of brick. Inside the room are 8 massive bronze pots sitting over a fire, keeping them at a light simmer. In the center of the room is a fish tank, twice as big as a bronze pot. There are large, intimidating looking fish swimming around inside it.
Ta blinks, taking in what she's seeing, and then she sees someone out of the corner of her eye.
Zamuto walks into the room, carrying a large, wet sack. He walks over to the tank. Ta watches him climb up the staircase, step by step, until he reaches the top. There lies a platform, overlooking the tank.
Zamuto walks over to the edge of the platform and rustles inside the sack, and the fish go wild. They all dart to the closest side of the glass, hungrily waiting.
And Zamuto takes a cartoonishly large flank of meat out of the sack, tossing it in. The thing is stripped down to the bone in less than a second, and the carnivorous fish look up at Zamuto for more. So, he grabs the sack and empties it out over the tank, letting them gorge themselves on meat and garbage from the factory.
The CM's usher Ta over to one of the side doors. She takes one last look at Zamuto, before the doorway blocks him from her view, and then she turns back to the hallway which Azuran is marching her down.
A bead of sweat falls down her forehead.
They arrive at a door and Azuran once again fumbles with the key, before getting it in there and unlocking the door.
Ta inhales as she looks in, but to her surprise, it's just a dormitory with a bed and some shelves. The CM's let her in and then close the door behind her.
She waits for the sound of the lock, but it never happens. Ta is confused by this, listening to the group just walk away from the unlocked door.
Ta slowly turns and looks down at the bed. We see a close up of her fingers pushing into the soft mattress. She reluctantly sits down on it, and as soon as she does, she sinks into it. She sighs with delight, and then collapses onto her back, falling asleep instantly.
Slow fade to black as Ta snores loudly…
Woodblock…
Ta screams herself awake, clutching the blanket in her sweaty hands. Then she turns to the doorway as she catches her breath.
She can hear 2 people talking outside. She leans over, trying to get a good angle on them, and then when she finally sees them, she darts back to the bed.
Footsteps…
She tenses up, and then something runs through her mind and she goes slack. Her face clouds over with grief.
Zamuto Phong steps into the room, standing in front of Ta, but the camera focuses on her as she lazily sits up out of bed.
Zamuto
The valley of lost souls. How was it? Would you recommend it?
Ta
…Huh?
Zamuto
You look terrible. That's what I'm trying to get across here.
Ta is indeed a mess. Zamuto sighs and sits down across from her making himself comfortable. But we still only see him from the back.
Zamuto
You know… When you present yourself to the world, you ought to be conscious about the kind of statement you're making.
Zamuto takes out a pipe and ignites it with his fingers.
Zamuto
Who do you want to be? (Puff) Who do you want to appear to be?
Ta tilts her head ever so slightly.
Zamuto
The last time I saw you… I called you 'the girl with the scary eyes'. That's good. That's the kind of thing people wanna see. That's the kind of show they'll buy a ticket for, even if it scares them. (Takes a long puff) But this?
He motions at Ta.
Zamuto
This is a different story.
Ta looks off to the side.
Zamuto
What happened to you?
She only smirks.
Zamuto
You remind me of my daughter. (Chuckles) Strange, isn't it?
Ta narrows her eyes. Then Zamuto rises, leaving the room, but not before fetching a towel and some clean clothes for her.
Zamuto
The bath is around the corner.
PSHHHHH!-
Water hits the bottom of a wooden tub.
Ta sits in the bath, the water up to her neck. The camera slowly zooms in on her as her lip quivers. Then she sighs and shakes her head.
Ta
I'm so stupid. I'm so, so, so stupid.
Lao
Ta…
Ta swivels to catch the ghost behind her, splashing water to the floor.
Ta
Stop it!
Cut to Ta in her new clothes, her wet hair clinging to her head. The camera slowly pans out as the silhouette of Zamuto sits across from her. And then we finally see him from the front.
Zamuto gestures to her.
Zamuto
Let's go.
Zamuto leads Ta down a long, windowless corridor lit by candles. For a while, they walk in silence.
Zamuto
'Where is he taking me? Is it some kind of horrific torture room?' That's what you're thinking, isn't it? …Well, you're half correct.
Ta raises her eyebrow, glancing at Zamuto.
Zamuto
That got your attention. (Ta looks away) But no… I didn't come all this way to torture a little girl. I could've done that back home!
Zamuto bursts into uproarious laughter. Ta looks bemused, almost smiling in embarrassment. He reaches the end of his laugh, sighing and wiping a tear from his eye.
Zamuto
Not that you don't deserve it…
Then he flashes her a scary look, gone in an instant.
Zamuto
But no… That's not why we're here.
No response. They continue walking down the corridor, their shadows bouncing back and forth in the candlelight…
Eventually they reach a door. Zamuto fishes his key out of his pocket, then he slowly turns to rest his gaze upon Ta.
Zamuto
My partners, my workers, nobody, not even Zotie knows about this room. Only you and me.
Ta looks back at him, skeptical. He inserts his key into the door and unlocks it, and as it opens, a man in farmer's getup is revealed.
Zamuto
And him.
Ta blinks in surprise. The man is chained to the wall with a rag stuffed in his mouth. His shirt has the earthbender insignia on it.
Ta
You kidnapped someone?
Ta glares at Zamuto in disbelief.
Zamuto
You think he's an earthbender? Look closer.
Cut to a close up of the man's eye. Bright blue. Ta looks back and notices this.
Zamuto
Naktui is a soldier in the Imperial Army. He was impersonating an earthbender named Deng Hua when we found him. You wanna know why?
Ta doesn't respond, keeping her eyes on Naktui, who stares back at her.
Zamuto
He was collecting information. (He turns to Ta) And I want it.
Ta looks back at Zamuto.
Zamuto
(Narrows his eyes) Maybe you can get it for me.
Ta shrinks back, turning away from him, but he grabs her shoulder, turning her back around.
Zamuto
Ta…
Ta
Don't say my name.
Zamuto
(Grins) You prefer Kimiko Ukuye?
Ta shakes her head.
Zamuto
No, no, no. You're not gonna wiggle out of this one. When you had me tied up, you put your hands on my head just like this. (He grabs his own temples) And it wasn't because you wanted to heal me, was it?
Ta steps back.
Zamuto
You think you're the first person to try and figure out Kamui's little trick?
Ta looks down in shame. Zamuto clocks this and tilts his head sympathetically.
Zamuto
It's a good thing. Don't you think? I mean, it saves this guy a beating.
Zamuto points to Naktui.
Zamuto
And It's fairly painless, so I hear. That is… If you've actually figured it out.
Woodblock…
We cut back to a close up of Ta.
Ta
(Shaking her head) I did it once… But I don't know if I can do it again…
Zamuto tilts his head with a skeptical smirk.
Zamuto
Come on, give it your best shot! And if you fail, well, one less Kamakoi in the world, am I right?
Ta turns back to Naktui, who is bug-eyed, freaking out. The camera slowly zooms in on Ta as she stares at him, then she looks over her shoulder.
Ta
I shouldn't…
Zamuto
You think it's wrong?
Ta looks back. Zamuto studies her for a moment. Then he leans in close, speaking slowly and quietly in her ear.
Zamuto
They destroyed your home. They married you off to that cretin, and then that other cretin. Not to mention what they did to your parents.
Suddenly Ta's eyes go wide with fury. A piercing sound rings out.
Zamuto
(Almost whispering) Yes. The king and queen, made to work like dogs. Don't you want justice?
The camera continues to zoom in on Ta, the music building to an intense crescendo. Then she slowly nods her head.
Ta
Yes.
Zamuto
Go get it.
Zamuto grins as he watches Ta slowly walk toward Naktui. Cut to a close up of Naktui's face as Ta squats beside him.
Ta
Hello.
Then she pulls the rag out of his mouth.
Naktui
Wait, wait, wait! (Spits) He's lying! I wasn't anywhere close to Aikira! That was Tarakano's battalion!
Zamuto doesn't respond. He's waiting to see Ta's next move. She rolls her eyes.
Ta
Nobody gets what they deserve.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Zamuto's face is lit up blue. He takes several steps over and the camera follows him, panning across the room until it lands on Ta's focused expression. Then it pans down to Naktui's glowing head.
He looks at Naktui, then at Ta with astonishment.
Zamuto
Is this for real? …Can I?
Ta nods. Zamuto giddily claps his hands, then he cranes over Naktui, staring him in the face.
Zamuto
Naktui. What's your mother's name?
Naktui
(Monotone) Kani.
Zamuto
Where is she right now?
Naktui
She's in a grave on Indigo Island.
Zamuto
How did you feel about your mother?
Naktui
I enjoyed her sense of humor. But I resented her for needing me so much. Especially after my father passed.
Zamuto
What's the last thing you said to her?
Naktui
'The noodles are undercooked'.
Zamuto glances at Ta and she glances back.
Zamuto
You questioned her cooking?
Naktui
Yes.
Zamuto
And how did she respond?
Naktui
She never did respond. She passed moments later.
Zamuto
(Snickers) I see. Hmm… (Thinks for a moment) I suppose I should ask… How many of your buddies make up this little spy network?
Naktui
Me and twelve officers. But there are other teams, working under other generals.
Zamuto
And who do you report to?
Naktui
General Ato.
Zamuto
I don't know much about him. Yet.
Zota knocks on the door to Zamuto's office.
Azuran
(Through the door) Um! Wait!
Zota throws the door open in confusion, finding Azuran, who hastily closes a desk drawer and looks up.
Azuran
Hey…
Zota
What are you doing in here?
Azuran
Nothing… (Looks down, thinks for a moment) Um, so, It's your dad's birthday soon and I don't want to embarrass him like last year…
Zota
(Nods) Yeah, that would be bad.
Azuran
Zota, I'm completely out of ideas. I need some sort of clue. Anything.
Zota narrows her eyes and walks over to Azuran. She adjusts his collar, pats it down.
Zota
Azuran, my boy… Don't overcomplicate this. He loves lizards.
Azuran
That's it?
Zota
Yep… Anyway, I'm guessing he's not here since you're snooping around his office. Where is he?
Azuran
(Concerned) He told us to leave him alone with Ta.
Zota
What?
Azuran
Mhmm… Lizards, eh?
Blue emanates from between the door and the frame leading to Zamuto's secret room.
Zota
(VO) How long has he been with her?
Azuran
(VO) Almost two hours now…
The camera creeps under the door and into the room.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Zamuto
-And what was the arrangement? What did he want in exchange for the land?
Naktui
(Monotone) He wanted ten gold bars and a camelephant.
Zamuto
A camelephant?
Naktui
The queen is a poet. She wrote a sonnet about the camelephant.
Zamuto
…Did you hear this sonnet?
Naktui
Yes.
Zamuto glances at Ta with a smirk.
Zamuto
Can you recite it for me?
Naktui
I don't remember it.
Zamuto
Why don't you make one up? Right now.
Naktui
I don't want to.
Zamuto
Phooey. (Looks at Ta) I guess it doesn't work like that.
Ta winces. The glowing stutters.
Ta
I'm getting tired.
Zamuto
Okay, okay, okay… One last question. (To Naktui) What was the Empire planning for Yao's kingdom?
Naktui
They were setting the stage for a humiliation campaign. Sometime in the next three years.
Zamuto
(Nodding) I see…
Zamuto gives Ta a nod. She takes her hands off of Naktui's head and everything returns to normal. Then Naktui vomits, before leaning his head back and moaning.
Naktui
(Dizzy) Oh koi… I can't believe I told you everything…
Ta looks away.
Zamuto
(Ruffling Naktui's hair) You did great.
Then he stuffs the rag back in Naktui's mouth and covers his eyes with a blindfold. We see from Naktui's POV as everything goes black…
The camera slowly zooms out from the darkness of a bowl full of fish sauce. The bowl is ceramic, covered with stylized, painted lizard-fish.
Ta is staring at Zamuto as he eats, chewing loudly on his fish and letting fish sauce drip from his face onto his shirt. She looks back down at her own food.
Zamuto turns to her.
Zamuto
You know…We have a shared interest, you and me.
Ta looks back at Zamuto.
Zamuto
Just because I'm aligned with the Empire doesn't mean I'm against some… Fact finding.
Ta doesn't respond.
Zamuto plays around with a piece of fish before popping it in his mouth.
Zamuto
I heard your parents are still out there.
Ta's eyes widen. Then she nods her head.
Ta
Zofo mining company.
Zamuto
You know that place is a nightmare to get into. Many have tried. Many have failed.
Ta
I know.
Zamuto
But… (Pops another piece of fish) With my connections, and your abilities… Who knows?
Ta's eyes sharpen again.
Zamuto
So what do you say? You in or out?
Ta puts her chopsticks down and locks eyes with Zamuto. He has his hand outstretched, ready for a shake.
Ta
You think I'm going to work for you?
Zamuto
(Smirks) You don't work for anyone. You're a princess, I know-
Ta
You are responsible for the death of my friend's brother. You're responsible for a lot of things, aren't you?
Zamuto looks astonished, then he playfully taps his chin.
Zamuto
And you've kept your hands sparkly clean, yes? I'm sure you gained your abilities by planting flowers and singing songs with the little birdies.
Ta
No… But you don't care. That's the difference.
Zamuto
What? I care… I care about so many-
Ta
That's a joke. You'll do anything. Anything. Like a desperate little flying lemur banging on a harp, hoping the Empire will toss you a coin.
Now Zamuto looks annoyed.
Ta
My answer is no.
Ta stands up and walks out of the room.
Zamuto takes another bite of dumpling. Then he looks over and the camera pans to reveal Zota, sitting right next to Zamuto.
Zota
Are you gonna let her talk to you like that?
Zamuto narrows his eyes.
Zamuto
Eat your fish.
Then he crosses his arms and pouts.
The camera is pointing straight down at the massive tank, watching the carnivorous fish swim around each other in hypnotic circles.
Then the camera slowly pans to the side and we hear steps.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ta is walking up the stairs. She eventually reaches the top and takes another step onto the platform.
And the Music sinks…
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
She meanders across the platform, carelessly. And then she gets close enough to peer over the platform and see the tank.
Her breathing quickens.
The fish are magnificent and deadly. They see Ta and their hypnotic spiral grows faster.
Now Ta is standing on the very edge of the platform. The camera slowly zooms in on her expression, of pain and morbid curiosity.
She plants her feet.
Lao
Ta.
Woodblock…
Ta inhales and turns her head around. And there's Lao, standing on the platform behind her.
Lao
You want to explain to me what I'm seeing?
Ta blinks, and then shakes her head.
Lao
Why not?
Ta
Because you're not here.
Lao walks over and grabs Ta by the arm, pulling her back from the ledge.
Ta
(Tearing up) Lao.
Ta pulls Lao in for a hug. Then they step back.
Lao
Not so skeptical now?
Ta is wiping the tears from her face.
Ta
You're really here!
Lao nods her head.
Ta
Where have you been? What have you been doing since… The incident…?
Lao
I'm trying to learn all five thousand psalms.
Ta
…From the Book of Winds? Aren't there only eighty eight psalms?
Lao
(Shrugging) They found more, I guess.
Ta sighs and nods her head, looking away.
Lao
So?
Ta
I don't… I don't know…
Lao
You don't know what you're doing here? Tempting fate is what they call it. You really don't want to fall in there.
Ta
Maybe I do.
Lao raises her eyebrow.
Ta
Maybe it's what I deserve.
Lao
Oh, come on. What a weak answer.
Ta
…Excuse me?
Lao
You don't have to punish yourself. Just be better! Change! You realize you never have to hurt another person ever again?
Ta turns around and faces the edge again.
Ta
Yeah. I realize.
Lao
That's all it takes.
Lao grabs Ta by the hand.
Lao
Be the person you want to be.
Ta doesn't respond.
Lao
You can do it, Ta. I know you can.
Lao waits for Ta to respond. Eventually Ta sighs.
Ta
You're right, Lao. You're always right.
Lao smiles.
Ta
But it's not going to happen.
Lao
…What?
Ta grabs Lao by the collar and brings her to the edge of the platform.
Lao
Ta, what are you doing?!
She pushes Lao into the fish tank.
SPLASH!
Ta stares down at the carnage. We can hear the snarling sounds of the fish, but no screams… And then Ta closes her eyes and jumps in after her.
SPLASH!
Ta wakes up in her bed, utterly still. She sighs, and a tear falls down her cheek.
A little later, Ta is getting dressed. She clasps the final clasp and then heads out the door.
Meanwhile, Zamuto is in his office, looking through some folders. Ta walks into the room and he reflexively hides them, then he realizes who it is.
Zamuto
Oh, you're not Zota.
He puts the folders back on his desk, but his expression goes sour.
Zamuto
What do you want?
Ta
I suppose you haven't decided to kill me yet?
Zamuto raises his eyebrow.
Ta
I woke up today. In my bed.
Zamuto smirks and then he pretends to look through his documents some more. He goes through this charade for a while, before glancing up at Ta, who is staring him in the eyes.
Zamuto
You're still here.
Ta narrows her eyes and imperceptibly tilts her head.
Ta
Did I hurt your feelings?
Zamuto blinks and now the camera is slowly zooming in on him. He closes the folder and stands up with an icy glare.
Zamuto
I don't have feelings. So you should be very careful what you say next.
Ta
I'm in.
Zamuto's glare melts away. Ta turns and walks out of the room, leaving him gawking at the doorway.
He slowly comes back to life and turns back to his folders. Looking pleased, Zamuto opens them up, then he starts going through them, whistling a little tune.
Fade to black.
Whistling…
TO BE CONTINUED…