AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 3: JUSTICE
CHAPTER 6: HOURGLASS
Batua is lying in bed, staring at the ceiling of his bedchamber. On the other side, Captain Shamo is folding his sheets. He arranges his blanket perfectly square, tucking the corners in under the mattress.
Batua turns to see a woman walking into the cabin. He slowly rises out of bed, defensively.
Batua
Who are you?
Medic
Kamui sent me.
Shamo looks over to Batua to see how he will react to this. To his surprise, Batua seems terrified.
Batua
Wha-... What does he want?
The Medic points to the badge on her coat.
Batua
Oh… Um… (Rolls his eyes) Okay…
She makes her way over to Batua and inspects him.
Medic
Lift up your shirt.
He lifts it to reveal the damage from last night.
Medic
Hmm.. Some bruising but nothing serious. Lie down.
Batua lies down on his side. The Medic raises a stream of water, holding it over the bruise. The water begins to glow blue just before Batua flinches.
Shamo observes this, his eyebrows sinking with worry. The camera stays on him for a while, before he goes back to making his bed.
Zamuto
Grab him!
There's a struggle. Azuran grabs the Minister of Shipping by the torso, and another crony grabs his legs. Soto, the Minister, is trying to scream with a rag stuffed in his mouth.
Zamuto
(Hand to ear) What'dja say?
Ta watches as they drag him out of his pool house.
Some time later, Azuran throws Soto onto a wooden chair in the guest cabin on Zamuto's ship.
The camera slowly pans across the room, past Azuran, to the door on the other side, where Ta and Zamuto are looking in.
Zamuto looks over at Ta to find her forlorn.
Zamuto
Hey. You know I'll keep up my end of the deal.
Ta looks back at him.
Zamuto
Once this is settled, we start our search in earnest. (Beat) For your parents.
Ta looks to the side, thinking it over. She shrugs.
Zamuto narrows his eyes, trying to get a read on her, but she walks away before he can get anything. He waits at the doorway, trying to play it off for a moment before he enters.
Soto looks up in disgust as he approaches.
Zamuto
Hi.
Zamuto slowly opens his palm and a flame dances on his hand, growing bigger and bigger.
Soto tries to show no fear, but he flinches when Zamuto gets close enough to burn him. Zamuto just lights a candle and places it on the shelf beside him. Then he gets on his haunches and looks Soto straight in the face.
Zamuto
(Sighs) I'm hurt, Soto.
Zamuto takes the rag out of his mouth.
Ta watches the rag land on the floor.
Soto
(Spits) Phong. You think your little clown show scares me? (Snickers) I've seen tougher goldfish.
Zamuto
A fish made of gold… Now that's interesting.
Soto kind of reflexively jolts his head back in surprise, slamming into the back of his chair.
Soto
Agh, fishhook!
He looks down at his tied up hands, before looking back up at Zamuto with weary annoyance.
Then he turns his attention to Ta.
Soto
Typical, am I right? These flame-dames. Any excuse they can find to throw a little temper tantrum.
Ta
…Flame-dames?
Soto chuckles, then he looks her over with intrigue.
Soto
What, he kidnap you too?
Ta doesn't answer.
Zamuto
Soto…
He pats Soto on the face. Then the camera pans back over to him.
Zamuto
Can I tell you something a little embarrassing? All this time… (Chuckles like it's stupid) I thought we were friends.
Soto
Yeah, well... Friendship ain't everything.
Zamuto
But business is. And I thought we shared something special.
Soto looks at Zamuto with a smidge of pity.
Zamuto
Was it not lucrative?
Soto
Come on, buddy… Don't embarrass yourself.
Zamuto's teeth suddenly gnash.
Zamuto
You know… Since you're not my friend, you're really not in a position to be speaking to me this way.
Soto
(Big sigh) Okay. Alright, alright. I hear you.
Zamuto narrows his eyes.
Soto
It's just… (Contorts his face with a million emotions) I never thought I'd be here, like this, with you…
Zamuto
Just answer the question.
Soto
Uhuh… (Looks up again at Zamuto and grimaces) You really wanna hear the truth?
Zamuto incredulously glances at Ta, then back at Soto.
Zamuto
That's why we're all here!
Soto shifts in his seat uncomfortably, reluctant to spit it out.
Zamuto
Come on!
Soto
It was that move, Zammy. Your little power play.
Zamuto raises his eyebrow.
Soto
(Shrugs) The Koi Boys didn't like it.
Zamuto
Really.
Soto
They thought it was in bad taste. (Looks at Zamuto) We have ways of dealing with royals.
Zamuto tilts his head, finding it almost funny.
Zamuto
Who cares what your flunkies think? They answer to you!
Soto
That's right. And who do you answer to?
Zamuto
(Confused) …What? Kato was costing us money! I don't…
Soto sighs at having to make his point crystal clear. He leans forward, his eyes becoming hateful little slits.
Soto
You think you can off a prince without my say? You're a firebender. You don't decide shit.
Zamuto
But… I was just…
Zamuto chews on his lip for a while, coming to a slow realization.
Zamuto
I see…
Then Soto looks down and his eyes do something. They shift. And Zamuto notices.
Zamuto
Wait. You're lying.
Soto rolls his eyes, looking away.
Zamuto
I mean, I've no doubt you hate me. But that's not why I got the axe now. (Eyes narrow) What are you not saying?
Soto
(Groans) Oh, come on! You don't have the grapes to torture me! Drop the act!
Zamuto
Yeah, you're right… I do like to keep my hands clean.
Zamuto looks down at his hands, reveling in his expensive manicure.
Soto looks down and shakes his head. Then he looks over at Ta, but she's gone. Soto tilts his head, wondering where she went.
And then he feels a pair of hands wrapping around his head.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
Azuran, in the other corner of the room, looks shocked, his face glowing bright blue. Zamuto nods at Ta, and she nods back. Then he pulls up a chair and sits across from him.
Zamuto
Soto. Can you hear me?
Soto
(Monotone) Yes.
Zamuto
Excellent.
Zamuto takes out a pipe and lights it with his finger, reclining in his seat as smoke billows around him.
Zamuto
Riddle me this; You could have kicked me out of the guild at any time. Why wait until now?
Ta keeps her fingers centered on the temple.
Soto
You were a major force in our organization.
Zamuto looks surprised, almost smiling proudly, but he shakes it off.
Zamuto
That's right. So what gives? Why are you trying to burn this bridge?
Soto
Me and the boys found a new market, completely untapped. I wanted to cut you out of the whole thing.
Zamuto slowly nods, exhaling, looking almost relieved at how petty it turned out.
Zamuto
I see. (Puff) Why? Was it jealousy?
Soto
The Koi Boys and I agreed to vote out all firebenders.
Zamuto
I'm the only one!
Soto
Yes… And your ties to the royal family… That was a factor…
Ta adjusts her fingers.
Zamuto
Ties? You mean Kamui? If you were at that meeting, you would understand the extreme lack of ties.
Soto doesn't respond.
Zamuto
It's not just me… You're trying to hide this from the Empire, aren't you?
Soto
Yes.
Zamuto
You naughty nectarine. Why hide it?
Soto
Access to this market is a bottleneck, from the north, anyway. One fortress has control over the spout. And that fortress is currently occupied by rock pushers.
Zamuto blinks, and then starts to laugh hysterically.
Ta watches Zamuto, intrigued. He wipes tears out his eyes and sizzles them on his fingers. Then he looks back at Soto.
Zamuto
Tang's fortress. You know they're about to be fish food?
Soto
Yes. And there goes our one chance to dig into the riches before our military snatches it all up.
Zamuto
…But they don't know about the trade network. They just wanna spank Tang.
Soto doesn't respond.
Zamuto
Who else knows about this market?
Soto
The royal family of Aikira. But they're gone, so that's it.
Ta's eyes shoot open, and she looks at Zamuto. He looks back at her. Then her fingers start to press into Soto's head.
Soto
AGH!
His brain lights up catastrophically, before Ta eases up and lets go of him. Soto's eyes roll around and then he vomits all over his lap.
Soto
Oh, fishhook…
Soto stares at the floor, shaking his head and crying.
Ta walks around him and uses a stream of water to clean up Soto's face a little bit.
Ta
The royal family of Aikira?
Soto jolts his head back in fear and hits it on the chair again.
Soto
OW! (Looks at Ta) Get away from me! You're a freak!
Ta
(Shrugs) No more than your dear leader.
Soto looks back at Zamuto, pleading with him.
Soto
Please. I'm sorry. I'll give you whatever you want. Anything you want! (Glances at Ta) Just don't let her inside again!
Soto breaks down, sobbing. Ta rolls her eyes and stands up, quickly walking out of the room.
She slams the door behind her.
Yamani is walking through a large stone room of some kind, holding a clipboard. She is looking around at the citizens of Tang's fortress, working on… Something… Earthbenders are guiding an unseen object outside the walls of the room, bringing it up and over the ceiling.
Yamani
Okay. Centered?
The earthbenders nod and set it down on top of the ceiling.
Yamani
Make sure it's snug!
They let it rest. Then they use earthbending to crush part of the ceiling. Once the rocks have fallen, the camera reveals a vertical stone tube jutting out from where the ceiling used to be.
Yamani nods and looks down at her clipboard. Her drawing depicts the room she's standing in with a long tube leading up to… Somewhere…
Then the tube springs a leak and water starts gushing in. The earthbenders quickly plug it up, but by the looks on their faces, this process is clearly a long and tedious one.
Earthbender 1
(Turns to Yamani) There was something in the way. I don't know. We have to see.
Yamani
Remember, it has to be completely form fitting.
EB2
(To the other earthbenders) You heard her. Let's scan the perimeter.
Yamani watches patiently as they set about doing it, then a door to the side of the room opens. Yamani turns to see Gyan walking in.
Yamani
Yes?
Gyan
You're needed.
She sighs and nods, stowing away her clipboard.
Yamani
That's what a lady loves to hear.
Mid-Day. Sunny.
A Kamakoi ship is sitting on the horizon. Yamani, Tang and Gyan can see it from the shore. Just barely.
Tang
They're early.
Yamani
But it's just one. (Squints) They don't even have their flags up.
Gyan
What should we do?
Gyan turns to Tang, who turns to Yamani. She looks back at them.
Yamani
Listen.
Suddenly, they hear the sound of flapping wings. They turn to the sky and see a hawk approaching.
CAW
With a big to-do, the hawk lands on the beach, bearing a message. The first thing it does is jam its beak into the sand and pull out a worm, chomping it down. Then it looks at the 3 of them.
CAW
The hawk unstraps the note from its own neck and then flies off, leaving them bewildered.
We cut to a close up of the quiver, emblazoned with the fierce, dagger-wielding Koi.
Tang unrolls the parchment and slowly scans over it with his eyes, then they suspiciously crumple.
Tang
I see.
He looks up at Yamani, who is staring back, waiting for an explanation.
Tang
They want to meet… (Frowns) You.
Yamani
(Blinks) Say what now?
Tang hands her the letter so she can see for herself.
Tang
The 'Great Yamani'.
Yamani reads through it in surprise.
Yamani
'Tang and his apprentice. The Great Yamani'. (Laughs) Well… I am pretty great.
Tang
Eh…
Yamani smirks and elbows him, before she hands back the letter. He laughs once and scratches his head. Then Yamani makes a quick glance at the ship-shaped dot in the corner of her eye.
Yamani
It's a trap. Right?
Tang narrows his eyes, thinking about it.
Yamani
What could they possibly have to tell me? With words?
Tang
I don't know. But it doesn't really matter. (Smirks proudly) They're outmatched.
Yamani blushes and looks down.
Yamani
Good point.
Tang
(Sing-songy) Come on…
Tang looks at the ship.
Tang
Aren't you curious?
Yamani looks back at him. We stay on her face for a while, as the camera slowly zooms in, and her mind runs through a million different things. Then she blinks.
Yamani
Sure.
Underneath the water stands an enormous eight-armed statue of an octopus deity. A furious god, the ripples of their longboat pass by and almost seem to give him a smile.
Yamani, Ziri, Tang, and an airbender named Suyi are on the longboat, heading for the imperial ship on the horizon. Their longboat is dwarfed by it.
No music. Just the sound of the water.
Yamani
The signal is 'Monkey Feathers'. If you hear me say that, Suyi is gonna blast you back to shore.
Ziri
Or I can just set their hair on fire.
Yamani
(Nodding) You can give a whole new meaning to the word 'barberism'!
Ziri laughs, and then looks angry.
Ziri
Don't joke with me right now!
Yamani
(Confused) You… Made a joke first…
Ziri
No, I'm serious. I will set their hair on fire.
Yamani smiles and takes Ziri's cheek in her hand.
Yamani
Yes, you will.
She kisses Ziri on the lips and Ziri blushes, looking around at Tang and Suyi. They don't really have a reaction. Then she looks back at Yamani.
For a split second, she sees the worried look on Yamani's face, but it's instantly wiped away, replaced with a brave face for her partner. Yamani rubs her hand. Then her tone of voice completely changes.
Yamani
By the way…
Tang turns to look at her, and Yamani takes a small wooden box out of her pocket. She places it in his hand.
Yamani
Remember that idea you had?
Cut to a close up of Tang's face. He has a cigar in his mouth. Things wrapped in a leaf. Down the corridor he goes, Yamani behind him.
And with a burst of music, we see the close up of a Kamakoi insignia, bouncing up and down. Medals clinkling, imperial plaques lining the walls.
This is Kamui's ship.
There are 2 guards ahead of them and 2 guards behind them. The corridor is only wide enough for a single file line.
Tang looks back at Yamani and they meet eyes, then they look away before arriving at a door.
The guard in front pulls out his key and unlocks the door. It opens. Tang and Yamani step into the room, and we cut to a wide shot.
-On the right, Tang and Yamani.
-And on the left, Kamui and Batua, a table in the middle.
The guards leave the room and lock the door behind them. We stay on the wide shot for a while and nobody moves.
Batua
Emperor.
Tang looks at Batua sheepishly. As they walk closer, he can suddenly see Batua up close, and Tang looks shocked at the state of him. Batua still seems a little roughed up.
Tang
Emperor?
Batua blinks and then looks down in dismay.
Kamui
And apprentice.
Suddenly Yamani strides forward, exuding hobo energy.
Yamani
Yeah, hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey-
She pulls out a seat and sits real casual, feet up on the table. She made sure to leave some foliage and a stick in her hair for this very occasion, and now she plucks one of the sticks out, filing her nails with it.
Yamani
So, you wanted to meet or something?
Beat.
Kamui
Yes.
Now we get a close up of Kamui. He doesn't know what to make of Yamani, so he turns his attention to Tang.
Kamui
Come. (Gestures, as if to a servant) Join us.
Tang obliges, flashing a fake smile. He settles down next to Yamani, then he points to his cigar.
Tang
You mind?
Kamui
Not at all. Smoke up.
Tang takes a candle off the table and lights his cigar with it, taking a few puffs. The smoke wafts into Batua's face and he coughs.
Batua
What is that, a fig leaf?
Yamani looks surprised.
Yamani
Yes, it is…
Batua
Why would you use that? There are plenty of better leaves- Ow.
Kamui gives him a jab in the side.
Kamui
I'm glad you decided to sit down with us. I think every great war ought to start with a conversation.
Yamani
Uhuh. So talk.
Kamui deflects her obviously impatient energy and slowly sits back, getting comfortable.
Kamui
I wanted to congratulate you.
Yamani
Hmm.
Kamui
(To Yamani) You. (Turns to Tang) Not you so much.
Tang doesn't react.
Yamani
Okay… So, you're congratulating us. Why? Because we kicked your ass?
Kamui chuckles.
Kamui
It was hardly our ass. More like… A fingernail.
Yamani smirks, nodding her head.
Yamani
Sure.
Kamui
But that's not why I'm congratulating you.
Yamani
(Utterly bored) Then why?
Kamui
I'm congratulating you because you get to live.
Tang rolls his eyes. Yamani sits up, about to respond, but Kamui cuts her off.
Kamui
Word is out. Big bad Tang is out for blood and apparently he's getting it. But I know who the real threat is. (Pause) Miss Yamani, son of Jang.
Yamani barely flinches. She sits back down and shrugs.
Kamui
You deny it?
Yamani thinks for a moment, then she slowly lowers her head onto the table, pointing to her temple.
Yamani
Why don't you find out?
Kamui blinks.
Yamani
No? You don't want to interrogate me? (Lifts her head up) I thought it was your thing.
Kamui
Oh, I don't need to interrogate you. I already know what you're thinking.
Yamani
And what's that?
Kamui
You're terrified. For yourself. For your people. And you should be.
The camera slowly zooms in on Yamani, and we see another twitch of nervousness.
Kamui
You're a smart girl. You know what I have to do to Tang's Fortress.
He glances at Tang, then back at Yamani. Then he leans forward, almost whispering.
Kamui
But you don't have to die with the rest of them.
Yamani
What are you talking about?
Kamui
Tell me. Why would I waste a talent like yours?
Yamani
(Derisive snort) Like I'd wanna be a fish-head!
Kamui
You'd rather die? No. Give up right now and surrender, and I'll put you on a ship headed for the Capitol. You can spend the rest of your days dreaming up those war machines you're so fond of.
Yamani's eyes narrow, before she stands up.
Yamani
You have my stuff. You stole my blueprints.
Tang coughs up smoke, surprised by this.
Kamui
(Shrugs) I might have come across them… (Tilts his head) Do you want them back?
Yamani
Psh! Small potatoes compared to my recent work. But what am I telling you for? You'll find out soon enough.
Tang looks back to grin at her, but her face suddenly changes. She looks down and sighs.
Yamani
It didn't have to be like this…
Kamui
(Eyebrow raise) Hmm?
Yamani pulls the chair out and sits across from Kamui, looking him in the face.
Yamani
Go back home. This is so pointless.
The camera slowly zooms in on Yamani as she reckons with it.
Yamani
And I don't want to kill more people…
Yamani catches Batua in the corner of her eye. His expression. She turns and stares at him.
Yamani
You get it. Don't you?
Before Batua can nod-
Kamui
You do not talk to the Emperor, you talk to me.
Yamani narrows her eyes, then she stiffly turns back to Kamui. He stares her down.
Kamui
You think I buy your little act? Before you go yanking on my heartstrings, try and remember who among us stooped to savagery first.
She shakes her head, forever not understanding.
Yamani
We told you 'Don't fish in our lake'! How is that savagery?! You come in here and you-
Kamui
No! (Hissing) You know what I'm talking about! My comrade's head in a box!
Yamani
(Blinks) …What?
Kamui
Oh.
Then Kamui looks over at Tang, who has the slightest hint of a grin forming on his face. Kamui is suddenly fascinated.
Kamui
Well, look at you…
Yamani tries to meet eyes with Tang, but his attention is firmly on Kamui. Then Kamui looks back at her.
Kamui
You didn't even know. That's bad.
She sputters for a second, and then resets, slamming her hands down on the table.
Yamani
Of course I knew. That's what… Happens to people who mess with us!
Kamui
(Unconvinced) Uhuh…
She crosses her arms and turns to the wall, hiding behind her hair.
Kamui
Well… Then it's settled.
Yamani
(Unsure) I guess it is.
Kamui
Tomorrow, Tang's Fortress will be destroyed. Sleep well.
Yamani motions for Tang. As he stands up, he leaves his cigar still burning on the chair. They turn and walk towards the door, closing it behind them.
Kamui sits in thought for a while. Then the camera slowly pans to the side, revealing Batua, similarly lost in thought. Kamui rolls his eyes.
Kamui
I know what you're thinking.
He doesn't even look at him, but Batua shakes his head in response.
Batua
No. I promise-
Kamui
You think she's noble? Trust me, she'll do whatever it takes to protect her people. Just like me.
Batua
'Protect your people'?!
Kamui turns to look at him.
Batua
I'm sorry! (Backing away) Sorry…
Kamui just shakes his head in disdain.
And Batua looks down, trying to crawl out of his own skin. Then he sniffs the smoke in the air.
Kamui
I heard the rock pushers make pipes out of big leaves. But to see it for myself… (Shakes his head and chuckles) And he leaves it on the chair!
Batua
It smells weird…
Kamui walks over and picks up the cigar, inspecting it.
Kamui
Who knows what they pass off as tobacco down there.
Batua
It's not tobacco… It's not even-
Kamui
That's what I just said.
The camera zooms in on Batua's face as he picks up the scent.
Batua
It's string.
A stream of water bursts out of Batua's pouch and he soaks the burnt end of the cigar, snuffing it out.
Batua slowly bends the water back into his pouch.
Kamui looks over at Batua, then back at the cigar.
Sudden string stabs, rising…
Kamui takes the wet cigar in his hands, and as he unwraps it, the unfolding music matches the unraveling of the fig leaf as it reveals its inner secrets. Kamui pulls off the final layer, revealing a fuse… And a payload of Yamani's 'Fire Without the Firebender'.
Batua
It's that stuff! The jelly!
Kamui looks up at Batua.
Batua
Tang lit the fuse and we didn't even know…
Kamui puts the time bomb down on the table. Then he looks back and shakes his head.
Kamui
That's your job, Batua.
Batua gulps.
Batua
Wha?
Kamui
You will be responsible for capturing her.
Batua
What?! She's… She's an airbender! She can just fly away!
Kamui narrows his eyes, and Batua nods.
Batua
But you know what? Screw it! Why not?!
Batua shakes his head.
Kamui
Good. (turns to the door, where Yamani just left) I'll drag her back kicking and screaming if I have to.
Suddenly, we cut to the mass of guards on the far side of the meeting hall. Behind some veterans, Hakoi is standing in disguise, listening in.
Zota Phong is sitting at the table, studying for an exam, muttering under her breath.
Zota
'Moiyak the Medic was responsible for,'
Zota thinks for a second.
Zota
Tax reform.
She flips the flash card.
Zota
Bath-houses. (Frowns)
Zamuto and Ta are in the kitchen. She's watching him throw together a meal in a pan, with lots of hot pepper powder. He's also drinking something out of a clay bottle.
Zamuto
Did I tell you I have a theory?
Ta looks at him. He takes another swig.
Zamuto
When I was a kid, I knocked over an idol of Tui and La. It belonged to an emissary of the Empire from way back. And it broke. And they came apart, Tui and La. The Yin and the Yang.
Ta nods.
Zamuto
And now everything I try to do, ends up going the opposite.
He takes another long swig.
Ta
Uhuh…
Zamuto
In a long string of sudden disappointments, the latest (Hiccups) Is that the rock pushing prince is still out there! (Laughs) My genius plan, which cost me my reputation, couldn't even get rid of him!
Ta
(Raising her eyebrow) The rock pushing prince?
Zamuto
You know the one. The scumbag who bought you, for the price of Aikira.
Ta looks mildly offended.
Zamuto
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just mean… Come on, don't you hate him?
She doesn't respond for a while.
Ta
You think he's still out there?
Zamuto
(Nods) Kamui's spy said she saw him at Tang's Fortress.
Ta smells smoke and then looks down to see Zamuto's food burning. She jumps and takes it off the flame.
Zamuto
Aw, flame it all!
Ta
Shut up.
Zamuto
What?
Ta
You're acting like a drunk fool.
Zamuto
Listen to me. Listen, listen, listen.
Ta
Yes?
Zamuto
Nothing can change what happened to your parents. (Hiccup) But you can always make them pay, Ta. And that's what we're gonna do. You're gonna go to Tang's fortress and you're gonna make Kato pay for what he did.
Ta's eyes go wide.
Zamuto
And then you can get me in there. Give me an in.
Ta
Wait… You want me to-
Zamuto falls over. By the time he hits the floor, he's already snoring. The camera pans up to Ta, who is looking down on him. She shakes her head and then steps over him to dump all of the burnt food into the compost.
Ta smells the food and looks intrigued, taking a bite. She shrugs and puts some of it on a plate. Then she sits down at the table and starts chomping down.
Ziri is in the kitchen, drawing something in a sketchbook. A stately, distant dragon. She looks over at Yamani, who is lying down in bed.
Ziri
I know I should sleep… I'm just so scared…
Yamani looks flabbergasted and upset.
Yamani
Yeah. And you should be.
Ziri
Yamani. Why would you say that?
Yamani
Something happened.
Ziri
What?
Yamani
…Something.
Ziri starts to walk over to the bed.
Ziri
Tell me.
Yamani just looks up at her, locked with fear.
Ziri
You have to tell me.
Yamani
(Shaking her head) I can't…
Ziri
Come on, Yamani…
Yamani
I can't!
Ziri
Then how am I supposed to help you?!
Yamani continues to stare up at her. She begins to hyperventilate. Then she shoots out of bed.
Yamani
I have to go.
Ziri is surprised as Yamani suddenly rushes out the door. She walks back to her seat. Then she drops her head onto the table and starts banging it a bunch of times before she just sits there.
Tang is sitting in his office, fiddling with a piece of jewelry, trying to get one of the gems back into place.
The camera starts to slowly pan to the right, and we pass by the hourglass on his desk. The last grain of sand is precariously perched on the foot of the hole and just as it drops through and lands at the bottom, the hourglass slips from our view.
Eventually, the camera lands on the curly haired shadow of Yamani, projecting out from beneath the giant stone door.
Tang raises his arms and bends the door open, and Yamani steps into the room. Tang lets go, letting the door drop behind her.
Dreary, uneasy strings
Yamani walks over and sits down with a little smile on her face. Tang doesn't exactly smile back. He just waits for her to say something.
…
…
She finally shrugs.
Yamani
I guess I should congratulate you. Your plan worked.
Tang
(Tilts his head) Yamani…
Yamani shakes her head, looking him in the eyes.
Yamani
I can't believe it. I just… I just can't believe it, man.
He raises his eyebrow.
Yamani
I saw you in the crowd. With a box in your hands. (She chuckles and shakes her head) And I wondered, 'Why is Tang carrying a wooden box? What's in there?" But I never asked you about it. Because-... (Gulp) I never could have even imagined… That.
Tang's eyebrow goes down and he looks distant.
Yamani
You have nothing to say to me?
He looks all around the room, and then finally into her eyes.
Tang
You're welcome.
Yamani
Excuse me?
Yamani bends an airball, spinning it around and shaping it, nervously. He suddenly looks stern.
Tang
You know what your problem is? You're too damn smart, Yamani! Your brain never knows when to quit it. And that means you spend so much stupid time thinking about all the people that you've killed.
Yamani
And you don't?!
Tang
(Chuckles) Well, I haven't killed as many as you…
Yamani stands up, glaring at him with wet eyes. She points the airball at him, suddenly a growing missile of potential energy.
Tang
(Laughing) I'm sorry! But you're really good at it, Yamani! And I needed you.
Yamani
Yeah, you needed me to commit mass murder for laughs!
He looks confused by that statement.
Yamani
I saw your face, Tang. When he mentioned the box. Like it was so funny.
He says nothing. She suddenly has a big blank stare. The missile is still aimed in his direction.
Yamani
What if I decide to do nothing, let us all die? What then?
Tang
No… You'll do the right thing, just like you always do. And you can hate me all you want. You can kill me after this war, or, hey, even right now! But it won't make a difference. I've already set the wheels in motion, and I have a feeling you'll do whatever it takes to protect my fortress.
Yamani
Your fortress.
Tang
(Nods) And when you're done, Yamani, and the fish-heads are all gone, (Maniacal laughter) You'll be a hero! Greater than the Avatar herself!
Yamani's eyes go wide.
Suddenly, the strings blow up with intensity
Yamani shoots forward and grabs Tang by the throat. He looks up at her with a calm smile.
Yamani
Did you really just say that?
He shrugs. He knows she won't do anything. And she doesn't.
With hate in her eyes, she slowly lets go of him. He stares back at her.
…
SLAM OF PERCUSSION
Tang
Well? Better get back to work!
Yamani blinks. She starts to hyperventilate again. And he stands up with concern.
Tang
Are you ok?
Yamani steps back and shakes her head.
Yamani
No… No, no, no no-
She turns around and sends her air missile at the door. The whole door cracks and flies off its track, slamming into the hallway outside. Yamani jumps over it and runs out of sight.
Tang continues to look concerned. Then he shakes his head and smiles, sitting back down.
Tang
It's a new day…
HIGH INTENSITY FLUTTERING FLUTES, ALMOST ATONAL
Yamani slams another door open. A large circular door on a horizontal hinge leading to her cavernous underground workshop.
Tears are falling down her face.
She staggers inside, gazing upon her own work, going back years. Failed flying machine prototypes. Blueprints for imaginary cities. Jars and vats of Laghima-knows-what. Then she finds her latest flying machine in the way back. Number 11.
The thing is a wooden behemoth.
Yamani growls and twitches her fingers, before she starts kicking the machine over and over again.
She screams out, kicking the delicate wing-frame until it snaps. Then her eyes jolt open.
Yamani
No!
She starts gathering the pieces of the frame, holding them in her arms.
Yamani
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
She pets the wooden machine, apologizing to it over and over. Then she sits down on the ground, head in hands.
Jang is in his apartment, cooking something on a skillet, whistling while it sizzles.
Knock knock
Jang turns his head.
Jang
Mushi?
He sets the skillet down and walks over to the door. Then, shock. He doesn't know what to say.
The camera lingers on his nervous face before cutting to Yamani, standing on the other side of the doorway. Her face is one we've never really seen before. She looks utterly lost.
Jang suddenly understands her expression and gives her a small nod of reassurance.
Jang
Hey.
Yamani
Hey.
Zamuto is on the kitchen floor, passed out. We pan over to the door, and then out into the hallway and the sound of his snoring fades into the background.
We pan through the darkness into Zamuto's mobile office, aboard his ship. There is a jumble of silhouettes coming up from the floor, and one jostles around, revealing itself to be the top of Ta's hair.
Ta is snooping around Zamuto's office. She finally finds a candle and takes a bit of flint out of her pocket. She strikes the flint and lights the candle, setting it on the desk. Then goes back to close the door.
She takes a seat at his desk. Then she starts opening up the drawers, starting from the bottom, looking for anything interesting.
She finds a notebook and opens it up to a random page.
Ta
'What's the point of playing if you can't win? At least at the game hall you have a chance. I'm gonna end up just like my folks thought I would.'
She rolls her eyes and flips to another page.
Ta
'Zota is so strange. She keeps wanting to talk to me every minute of every day. I know she's only 5, but doesn't she understand the concept of boundaries?'
Ta shakes her head and puts the notebook away. She opens another drawer and finds a big book labeled 'Financials'. She picks it up and slams it down on the desk.
With curiosity, she starts flipping through the pages.
Ta
'Haicho garments. Staked for thirty thousand Kue. Wan's Best Fish Sauce. Staked for seventy one thousand Kue.'
She flips to another page and starts scanning through it.
Ta
'Goran Mining Company. Bought majority ownership for two hundred thousand Kue. Name change went through. Now known as-'
Suddenly, she stops dead in her tracks. Her eyes start to widen.
Ta
'Now known as… Zofo Mining Company.'
Ta closes the book, and her eyes slowly wander up to a drawing of Zamuto and Zota, sitting on his desk. Cut to a close up of Zota Phong, as she appears in the drawing. With a growing realization, she says the name out loud.
Ta
Zofo.
TO BE CONTINUED…