AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 3: JUSTICE
CHAPTER 5: FISH-HEAD
We open on a scene of mass confusion. A crowd has gathered in the amphitheater, and nobody knows what's going on. Some people are murmuring, some are shouting, others are shaking their heads angrily and spitting.
Citizen 1
It's five o'clock in the morning! They couldn't wait?
Citizen 2
Maybe it's good news.
Citizen 1
At five o'clock in the morning?
Citizen 2 shrugs.
Citizen 3
Maybe there's a plague.
They both look at C3, annoyed.
Citizen 1
Maybe it's an attack.
Citizen 2
We just had one!
In the distance, they see two dots climb up to the stage, Yamani and Ziri.
Yamani wipes some sweat from her brow before Ziri hands her a scroll. Yamani nods and takes center stage. Then she clears her throat.
Yamani
Hello, citizens! I am Yamani! But, you already know that…
There are murmurs and scattered applause. We cut from listener to listener, to each of their eyes.
Green, green, green, green, green…
Citizen 4
Why are we here?
Yamani
That's a really good question! Why are we here?
Yamani glances at Tang, who gives her nothing back, except shades of supervision.
Jinhai turns from Yamani over to Kato and raises her eyebrow, and he nervously shakes his head. Then she looks back at the stage.
Yamani
Um…
Yamani scans the scroll, then she sighs, before dropping it.
Yamani
Look, I don't want to give you the runaround… It's bad.
Tang narrows his eyes.
Tang
She shouldn't say that.
Ziri
I know.
Yamani
Maybe we should have sent them a gift basket! 'Sorry we kicked your ass, here's a muffin!' Would that have worked? Would anything have worked?!
The crowd takes note of her increasingly manic state.
Citizen 4
Excuse me?
Then they start questioning her, and the murmuring makes a comeback.
Citizen 5
What happened?
Yamani
Well… Yesterday, a visitor arrived. From… Up north… Really, it was some kind of a clown or a jokester, and um… (Scratches her head)
Citizen 4
A jokester?
Yamani
Yes! They sent a funny-man to tell us that we're all gonna be… Underground… Very soon.
Citizen 4
But… (Looks around) We're already underground.
Citizen 5
She meant they're gonna put us in the ground, dummy!
Citizen 4
Oh, okay. (Nods) …Wait, what?! (To Yamani) In the ground?!
Yamani
You know the fish-heads with their drama!
The crowd is in an uproar now. Jang cringes, looking away.
Tang
(Whispering) It's okay. Let me step in.
Yamani nods and runs off stage, leaving Tang. He walks up and unfurls the scroll, giving the crowd a booming voice.
Tang
The citizens of this fortress need not be afraid!
Jinhai
It's war, isn't it?
Jinhai turns to Kato. He nods and stares at the ground.
Jinhai
Can we just go?
Kato nods and they head out of the crowd.
Tang
Though our enemy is mighty, we are mightier!
Jinhai lies in the crook of Kato's arm. They are on the surface, lying down in a fluffy pile of grass, staring at the clouds. Kato is twirling Jinhai's hair around his fingers.
Jinhai
Nothing ever changes.
Kato
Hmm…
Jinhai
Clouds are gonna cloud. Grass is gonna grass. Empire's gonna empire. It's the natural order of things.
Kato
You don't think things can change?
Jinhai
How long have they been in power? A million years? More?
Kato
No… Not that long…
Jinhai
Nobody has the guts to change. The Emperor, his uncle. Not even Tang. They're all cowards.
Kato
Tang?
Jinhai
You know who had guts? (Cracks up) Prince Kato. And look what happened to him.
Kato looks back up at the clouds.
Jinhai
I heard he pissed off the merchant's guild so bad, they hired a stage crew to make it look like he was an earthbender.
Kato
…What? How would that even work?
Jinhai
That's a Tuesday for them. Trust me. You do not want to piss off the merchant's guild.
Kato's eyes dart around, and he looks at Jinhai with a strange interest.
Kato
You think the guild had something to do with what happened to him?
Jinhai
(Shrugs) That's what I've heard.
Kato
Huh… (Eyes narrow) Kato did have a meeting scheduled with them.
Jinhai
How do you know that?
Kato
(Blinks) …That's what I've heard.
Jinhai stares at Kato for a moment, into his eyes.
Jinhai
You are really weird, Mushi.
Kato looks back into her eyes, then he shies away, glancing up at a lopsided cloud. Jinhai sighs with just the slightest touch of annoyance.
Kato
So, this is what you and your friends talk about? The Earthbending Prince?
Jinhai
(Smirks) Jealous?
Kato
No. (Pause, deep thought) Well, maybe.
Jinhai chuckles and taps his leg with her foot.
Kato
We're about to fight in a war. And lose. And it's like you don't even care…
Jinhai
Oh, please. We have Yamani. Besides… (Shakes her head) It's not even about who wins or who loses. All this fighting is- The military is just an arm of the great money spirit. Kue. How do you fight a spirit? That was Kato's real enemy.
Kato narrows his eyes.
Kato
Kato's real enemy? Where did you hear all this?
Jinhai
Sana! She told me about The Guru. Chodak! (Shocked) You don't know Chodak?
Kato shakes his head.
Jinhai
Each misdeed ascends to become a spirit. And the biggest and oldest of these spirits is Kue. Greed.
Kato
Way to go, Chodak…
Jinhai
Kato was literally fighting a spirit. That's how messed up this whole thing is.
Kato
I always thought he was fighting to free the earthbenders…
Jinhai
Come on. (Grins at Kato) Do you really think he gave a dirt-clod about his slaves?
He gulps.
Kato
I don't know… I hope…
Jinhai
He was telling the guild, 'I can take away your toys anytime I want.' He was stirring the pot! And it worked!
Kato
So, you think he was lying?
Jinhai
In fairness… (Shrugs) I suppose time would have told.
Kato nods.
Jinhai
It's easy to make these big promises. Much harder to actually follow through.
Kato
Yeah…
Jinhai
And let's not forget…
Jinhai snuggles up and closes her eyes.
Jinhai
He was a fish-head.
Batua pushes a new recruit, Tarak, into a wall.
Batua
Stop saying that!
Tarak
What, you don't want me to call you by your title?.
Tarak throws a swing, which Batua ducks.
Batua
You're saying it all sarcastic!
Batua punches Tarak in the gut.
Tarak
I'm so sorry, Emperor.
Tarak punches Batua in the nose.
Batua growls, before he lunges at Tarak, pinning him to the floor, then he grabs his head and starts shaking it.
Batua
Don't mess with me!
Tahno pulls Batua off of Tarak and holds him back, but the crowd is hungry.
Crowd
EMP-ER-OR! EMP-ER-OR!
Batua grins and shakes Tahno off of him.
Batua
See? They love it!
Tahno shrugs and steps away, letting Batua tackle Tarak to the floor again. They wrestle on the ground for a while, before Batua grabs his ear and starts trying to pull it off of his face.
Tarak
Ow! Okay, okay! Uncle!
Batua
Ha ha!
Batua pushes Tarak off and stands up, jumping and throwing his fists like a boxer. The crowd is cheering him on.
He revels in the attention for a while, then he opens his eyes to look at Tahno.
Tahno has a completely blank expression.
Cut to a Kue flipping in the air. It reaches the zenith of its arc and then falls back down, landing on heads, sporting the severe profile of Emperor Kanakui. The camera pans up to Ta and Zamuto, who accept the decision of the coin. Zamuto nods.
Cut to a shipping clerk, sitting in his office on some river somewhere. He stamps a scroll and puts it onto a pile with some others before looking up. Then he nearly jumps out of his chair.
Clerk
Zamuto. (Nervous) What… What are you doing here?
Zamuto is leaning on the doorway, looking casual.
Zamuto
Hello again… What was your name? Yaku?
Clerk
San… But close! Hehe…
Zamuto
Yeah… Say, maybe you could help me out with a little problem! I've been looking all over for Trade Minister Kanoi. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?
Clerk
No… The Trade Minister is on vacation.
Zamuto
But you know where he is, don't you?
The clerk blinks nervously, then he glances down at a scroll on his desk.
Zamuto
What's that?
Clerk
Nothing…
Suddenly, the clerk stuffs the scroll in his mouth. Zamuto watches as he chews it to a pulp and swallows.
Zamuto
Aw, shucks…
Then Zamuto snaps his fingers. Ta walks into the room, staring down San. He narrows his eyes in confusion, wondering who she is. Ta looks at Zamuto and he nods, then she starts walking towards him.
Clerk
What's going on?! Who are you?
As the camera pulls in, we hear the faint hum.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Kamui and Batua are walking through the palace. Jantsi is behind them, going through a list of things on a large scroll.
Jantsi
You have your ruby ring?
Batua
I'm not taking it.
Jantsi
What about your wool underwear?
Batua
Jantsi!
Jantsi
It gets cold on a ship. I don't want you to get cold.
Batua
I'll be fine.
Jantsi
Kamui. Did you remember your notebook?
Kamui
Yes, Jantsi…
Jantsi
Alright, then. All done.
They make it to the library, and Jantsi walks off. Kato and Kamui share an awkward moment before Umi barges in, followed by Tahno. She gets all up in Batua's face.
Umi
You're taking my guard?
Batua glances at Tahno.
Batua
He serves me too.
Umi
But he's my best guard. What if something happens?
Batua
Such as?
Umi
You know what? That's it. I'm coming too.
Batua
What?! (Chuckles) No.
Umi nods, before Kamui steps in.
Kamui
You will do no such thing. This is a war, not a beauty pageant.
Umi
Please. Like it isn't really a beauty pageant. If Tahno goes, I go.
Batua
Then he stays.
Tahno
Sir?
Batua
Yeah…
Suddenly, this all makes sense to Batua.
Batua
Tahno stays here… In fact… (Looks at Kamui) I'm putting Tahno in charge of the Capitol while I'm gone.
Kamui raises his eyebrow.
Umi
Well, I don't know about all that… I mean, he is a lowborn…
Batua
He's proved himself. Hasn't he, uncle?
Kamui
(Nods) Indeed. He has.
Umi turns to Tahno, giving him a look. Then he gets down on one knee for Batua.
Tahno
I humbly accept this responsibility, your majesty.
Batua
(Smirking) I'm sure you do.
Cut to a pot of soup, simmering over a fire. Kato and Baka are hanging out in Ziri's art studio.
Baka
And?
Kato
She said it was all a lie. That Kato was just using the servants as a… A political bargaining chip.
Baka
I see…
Kato
Well?
Baka
(Shrugs) I don't know. What do you think?
Kato
I thought I cared… But what if I can't even trust my own mind?
Baka
That doesn't make sense.
Kato
I mean… Kamui thought he was doing good, right? My brother… (Swallows) He thought so, too…
Baka narrows his eyes, stirring the soup with a large wooden spoon.
Kato
What if I'm just lying to myself?
Baka
You stood up to the Merchant's Guild. That takes some sort of conviction.
Kato shakes his head.
Baka
For what it's worth, I thought you would have made a great Emperor.
Kato
…Come on.
Baka
I'm serious. (Shrugs) But either way… You were eventually going up against Kamui. Those battle lines were drawn up on the night you were born…
Kato looks over at Baka with intrigue.
A rock sculpture is bobbing up and down, being carried by Baka as he walks towards Tang's office.
The door lifts open and Baka brings the sculpture inside, setting it on the ground. Tang looks down in surprise, and then he stands up out of his seat and walks towards it.
Tang
This is it?
Baka
Yes it is, or at least, as close as I can remember.
Tang
Huh… (Turns to Baka) And how is Kato doing?
Baka
Why do you ask?
Tang shrugs.
Baka
He's a deep thinker… To his own detriment.
Then Tang nods.
Tang
That's what I thought.
Baka looks at Tang, studying him, then he turns back to the sculpture.
Baka
What do you think?
Tang narrows his eyes, looking the thing over.
Tang
Is this really it? I thought it would be more… Imperial. You know, with the straight lines.
Baka
Actually, the Empire has been moving away from that style for many years now. The tastes have shifted towards grand, sweeping forms.
Tang
Hmm… I see.
Baka stands there, nodding his head. Then he awkwardly looks at the floor, waiting for Tang to respond.
Tang
Thank you, Baka. See you soon.
He pats Baka on the shoulder and Baka turns to go. Tang shuts the door behind him, then he turns back to the sculpture.
Tang opens a hole in the floor and tosses the sculpture into it like a piece of trash. Then he closes the hole.
POP!
Pong watches a spout of red wine fill up a clear glass on the table. He has a beard now. Halfway up, the bottle tilts back and moves on to the second glass, set directly in front of Pong.
His nervous face gets slowly submerged under the red tide.
Clink
Kamui
To the Great Koi.
Pong
Sure.
Kamui sits across from Pong in his studio, amongst the ruins of his art. Not a single sculpture remains upright and unbroken. There are arms and torsos and a noseless face on the floor.
Kamui
(Swirling his glass) So… We ship out tomorrow. Under the dagger and scepter. (Pause. Looks up at Pong) Aren't you going to wish us good luck?
Pong is skeptically eyeing his glass, looking for a giveaway. Kamui notices this and shakes his head.
Kamui
Pong…
Kamui then drinks out of his own glass, a good few sips, before setting it back down.
Kamui
See? It's perfectly good.
Pong raises his eyebrow, then he shrugs and drinks the entire glass in one gulp.
Pong
Thanks…
Kamui
Trust me. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't use poison.
Pong
(Pouring another glass) Uhuh…
Kamui
That's just… Sad…
Then Pong sits back and downs another glass. Kamui examines him, looking him up and down.
Kamui
Like you.
Pong
Hmm?
Pong then grabs the bottle and starts absentmindedly pouring it directly in his mouth. His eyes flick up to Kamui.
Kamui
Yep… That face says it all, doesn't it. The portrait of a man defeated.
Kamui shakes his head, clicking his tongue. Then he suddenly looks disgusted.
Kamui
I'm done with you.
Kamui takes the wine out of Pong's hands and pours the rest into the fountain. When he's done pouring, he almost seems embarrassed as he walks out the door.
Slam!
Pong sits alone in his studio. The camera lingers on him for a while.
Then a close up of his face. His mouth slowly curls into a smirk.
Pong
(Quietly) Bon voyage.
Cut to a wide shot of the palace from a high angle. The thing almost looks precariously perched on its peninsula in the moonlight.
Gentle harp…
The glorious sun slips through a hole in the horizon, painting the sky a ghostly turquoise. Another sunbeam breaks through, and then another.
The harp is joined by triumphant horns…
The clouds circle a majestic orange light, shining above the Capitol. And then the camera begins to pan down to the water below. Slowly.
First one ship.
Then another.
Then five more.
Then fifty more.
The harp and the horns go sour…
There must be over a hundred ships surrounding the Capitol. They can't even fit inside the frame.
The music completely trails off into a menacing drone…
Some earthbenders are loading items onto the ships. One is wheeling an enormous barrel. A fish head with a bone sticking out is carved onto the side.
Another barrel follows, bearing the illustration of an edamame seed pod.
Then we cut to the insignia of the Kamakoi. The angry koi fish, bearing an ice dagger in one hand and a scepter in the other. This image is pressed onto a canvas flag, menacingly dyed seafoam gray and royal blue, and left to whip around in the wind on top of every warship.
Batua looks up at the flag, his own hair whipping in the wind. He watches as the earthbenders bring all of his luggage onto the ship.
Then he looks down and sighs.
Looming strings…
And the ships take off. We see them detach from the Capitol like fleas, engorged with crew and supplies.
From his window, Pong is watching the ships as they depart, sipping on a glass of wine.
Suddenly we hear the chatter of a dozen sailors and soldiers on the deck. But it's all just noise to Batua. He sits on his throne, munching on an apple. He swishes it around in his mouth, and then writes something in a notepad.
Batua
It's kind of… Chestnutty.
Batua looks up, then he spots Kamui talking to a group of new recruits.
He takes another bite of his apple, before stepping off the throne and walking over in a huff.
Kamui
-That's why you never want to use a crane's knot for that. A bowman's knot is far more effective-
Suddenly Batua sticks his head into the circle.
Batua
Hey, don't listen to everything this guy says! (To Kamui) You shipwrecked off the port of Taku, didn't you?
Glacial, awkward beat… You can almost hear the machinery as Kamui turns to Batua.
Kamui
…Unfortunately yes, but it wasn't an issue with the knots.
Batua
(Grinning) Was it knot?
Badum-Crash…
Kamui
Emperor… (Polite smile) A fish ought not try to climb a tree. You understand what I'm saying?
Batua raises his eyebrow, and then he looks at the new recruits.
Batua
Come on! Fish and trees? (To the cadets) Are you seriously telling me you wanna listen to this geezer?
R1
Well… Yeah…
R2
He gives really good advice.
Kamui
Something my nephew has little use for.
Batua takes another bite of his apple.
Batua
(Mouth full) That's right. (Swallows) I don't need his wisdom. I get it straight from the Great Koi. Maybe you've heard of her.
R2
And what does she tell you?
Batua stands there, then he smirks.
Batua
Wouldn't you like to know?
R2
(Shakes his head) No. I believe you.
Batua narrows his eyes. R2 doesn't seem like he believes him. And suddenly, everyone is staring at the two of them. Batua rolls up his sleeves, then he cracks his knuckles.
The chant starts quietly, but then sweeps over the crowd.
Crowd
Emp-er-or. Emp-er-or! EMP-ER-OR! EMP-ER-OR!
Batua smirks. His apple falls onto the deck and splits in two.
Moments later, Batua has R2 in a hold, twisting his arm back to the breaking point. The crowd is cheering him on as R2 slams his hand on the deck.
R2
Uncle! Uncle!
Batua lets go, then he stands up and holds his fists in the air victoriously. The crowd continues to cheer. He opens his eyes and looks out at his people.
And suddenly, we're in slow motion. As the camera pans across their faces, their cheering seems to be something else. Laughing.
And pointing.
Batua's eyes widen. All the sound drains out.
His gaze finally lands on Kamui, who looks embarrassed.
Batua inhales like he was submerged in freezing water.
Later, the starry night gently bobs up and down in the window.
Batua is halfway off of the bed, snoring. We stay on him for a while, and then we hear a loud drop, followed by the sound of several objects rolling across the floor.
Shamo
Oh, bother…
Batua yawns, then he sits up and scratches his back, before his eyes suddenly shoot open like Squidward.
Batua
Shamo?!
Shamo
Hiya, buddy!
Batua looks in horror, first at Shamo's smiling face, then down at the little ceramic baby heads rolling across the floor.
Batua
Why are you here?! What is this?!
Shamo is rushing to pick up all the heads. One of them is staring at Batua.
Shamo
I didn't mean to wake you up, bunkmate!
Batua
(Bug-eyed) No. Bunkmate? No.
Shamo
Batua… Are you worried about what happened the other day? (Chuckles) It's fine! I'm completely willing to overlook the fact that you're the offspring of a vicious, petty tyrant!
Shamo suddenly gets lost in his thoughts.
Shamo
I'm sure he didn't mean to… Do all those things that he did…
The camera zooms in as Shamo grows more and more irate, practically bursting a blood vessel. Then he snaps out of it.
Shamo
See? (Twitch) Already forgotten!
Batua runs out of the room.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK-
Kamui
BATUA!
Kamui slams the door open, finding exactly who he expected on the other side.
Kamui
What?! What do you want?!
Batua
Come with me.
Kamui
Are you serious? Do you know what time it is-
Batua
We need to talk, and um…
Batua starts peeking past Kamui into his room.
Batua
I don't know what you got going on in there- Ow.
Kamui shoves Batua out of the door and then closes it behind them.
Kamui
Fine.
Batua
Yeah. (Narrows his eyes) Fine.
Kamui raises his eyebrow and Batua leads him away from the cabins all the way down to the deck.
Kamui
Well?
Batua
I just woke up. And guess what?
Kamui
You just woke up?
Batua
…Yeah. And guess who I found in my room!
Kamui raises his eyebrow, his mouth curling into a smile.
Batua
Captain. Shamo.
Kamui
Oh… (Shrugs) Alright.
Kamui starts to walk back to his cabin.
Batua
(Blinks) Are you kidding me, right now?! Is this a joke?!
Kamui
Batua, there are only so many cabins on this ship. I don't know what you-
Batua
On this ship, maybe, but this fleet?
Kamui suddenly stops in his tracks. He turns around to look at Batua.
Batua
No. (Wide eyes) You know how much I hate Shamo. I told you again and again and again… Plus, you know the ladies who draw the manifest! You think I'm an idiot?!
Kamui quickly looks away, but Batua already saw it. He saw the way his lip quivered.
Batua
YOU'RE LAUGHING!
Kamui
(Walking again) Of course not…
He can't even get through the sentence. Batua starts to follow him.
Batua
Kamui, stop it! …HELLO?!
Then Batua stomps his foot.
Batua
GENERAL! STOP RIGHT NOW!
And he does.
Kamui
General…
Batua
Yes, you are a General in the Imperial Army. Now turn around.
Close up of Kamui. A calm snarl, then he slowly turns around.
Batua
Now tell me, what am I?
Kamui
Batua… I am well aware of the fact that you are the Emperor.
Batua
…That's right. And I know a little something about you, uncl- I mean… Um… (Clears throat, voice goes artificially deeper) I know you, General. I know you like to play your little games with people. With Pong… Well, let me make something perfectly clear. I am no Pong. I have the power here, and you will not play games with me.
A long pause. Eventually, Kamui gives him a small nod..
Kamui
I see…
Batua
Great. Now say it. Say 'I will not play games with you, Batua. You are not like Pong. You are the Emperor and… (Searches for it) I respect your authority'.
Kamui doesn't move a muscle.
And then a splash of fear ripples across Batua's face, but only for a second, before he confidently steps forward.
Batua
Say. It.
No response. Batua takes another step.
Batua
Are you disobeying your Emperor?
Kamui ruefully smirks. He looks down, shaking his head.
Kamui
Oh, nephew…
CLAMP!
Suddenly, Batua has an ice-knot tied around his neck. Kamui's hand moves on instinct, raising him high enough to lift his feet off the deck.
Kamui
Well?
Batua
(Choking) …Uncle!
Kamui marches forward, dragging Batua closer to the side of the ship.
Kamui
Tell me something. Do you feel like an Emperor now?
Batua looks down slowly and shakes his head.
Kamui
My nephew. Forever leaning on your one accomplishment. Forever satisfied. As if you had anything to do with that so-called victory. (Chuckles) So called, despite the fact that it was a STALE-MATE!
His words echo across the sea. Batua struggles, clawing in vain at the ice around his neck.
Kamui
But it seems to have slipped the minds of all those who witnessed it!
Batua
Kamui… Please…
And then his legs hit the side of the ship. Batua grabs on desperately with his feet as Kamui lifts him up and over. Now Batua is dangling above the freezing water.
Kamui
Where's your mom? Where's Tahno? Where are any of your allies? Do you even consider such things? Or is your mind simply a never ending stream of botanical factoids?
Batua shakes his head, tears streaming down his face.
Batua
I can't breathe!
Kamui
Hmm, no allies, no allies… Hey, maybe the Great Koi can save you!
Kamui looks down at the sea.
Kamui
She talks to you, yes? Take a closer look and see if she's down there!
Kamui begins to lower Batua, who starts screaming.
Batua
NO! PLEASE!
Batua desperately attempts to harness the salty sea, sending wave after wave at Kamui, missing each time and getting more water on himself than his uncle.
Kamui
Oh, you don't like that option? You're out here all alone, Batua, and you spit at the one man who thinks of you as a threat. Poor, sweet, Captain Shamo.
Batua
What?!
Kamui throws Batua back onto the ship. He hits the deck, coughing and choking, and then falls flat, trying to catch his breath as the ice melts off of his neck.
Then Batua looks up and hisses.
Batua
You can't do this to me! (Cough) I'm the-
Kamui kicks Batua in the ribs, leaving him moaning in pain. Then he kicks him again. Batua slowly withdraws into a fetal position, rocking back and forth.
Kamui leans over.
Kamui
You are only as much of an Emperor as I allow you to be.
Batua cowers, eyes closed.
Kamui
Now shh. Be a good boy and get some sleep. (Grins) Next to your new best friend.
Kamui goes on giggling as he turns and walks away.
Batua starts to cry, and he plants his face down on the wooden ship.
Batua
Fish-hook…
A little later, the door to Batua's cabin creaks open and Batua hobbles inside. Shamo watches with intrigue as Batua conspicuously avoids eye contact. The collar on his coat is raised high to cover his neck. Batua makes his way over to his bed and angles himself to get into it.
Shamo
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Another fight, Emperor?
Batua doesn't respond. Shamo leans off the side of his bed.
Shamo
You don't know how strong your flunkies really are. They lie to you.
Batua
Well, you don't know how stupid you really are. But don't worry, I'll give it to you straight- AGH…
Batua groans as he settles into bed. Shamo smirks.
Batua
You're very stupid.
Shamo
And you're in pain. How poetic…
Batua
New rule. Stop talking to me. Forever.
Shamo shrugs and gets back into bed.
Shamo
Fine.
-Whoosh
The candle goes out. Batua looks up at the ceiling, and the camera slowly zooms in on his shocked face.
Several moments pass, then he looks over at the other bed.
To Batua's shock and disgust, Shamo's beady eyes are glinting in the darkness, staring unblinkingly at him. Batua rises defensively.
Shamo
I see you.
Batua
Nope.
He quickly scrambles out of bed.
Knock Knock
Cut to Kamui. Suddenly his eyes open and he stands up out of bed. The camera follows Kamui as he marches towards the door, fists clenched.
He opens it to find exactly who he expected, and he slams him against the wall.
Kamui
You got a lot of clams coming back here.
Batua
(Choking) Maybe I'm desperate… (Sheepish) White flag?
Kamui's eyes slowly narrow and he lets go of Batua.
Kamui
You betrayed me and my teachings.
Batua
You know I'm a terrible student…
Kamui exhales, not knowing what to say.
Batua
Come on! We're family! It happens!
Batua goes and throws his arms around Kamui, who immediately backs up.
Batua
I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I betrayed you! I'm sorry for everything! Let's just go back to the way things used to be.
Kamui almost looks disgusted, but he stops himself and considers this. Then, he slowly nods and pats Batua on the arm.
Kamui
Alright, alright…
Batua nods, sighing in relief.
Kamui
I accept your apology. Now go back to bed.
Batua nods and turns around.
Kamui
(To himself) Emperor.
POP!
Umi watches as red wine cascades into her glass, then she looks up at the pourer with a smile.
A minimal Jazz bassline... A measured hi-hat and a sly piano…
The late afternoon sun is casting an inviting glow through the grand palace window.
In front of it, Umi comes together with her mystery pourer… Tahno. They both raise a glass.
Tahno
To Victory.
Umi nods, considering this, but she's not entirely sure. Then she turns to the window with a smile.
Umi
Look.
Soon, the two are gazing out at the sprawling, magnificent city. The camera pans across all the jumbled neighborhoods, and the pyramids and the winding canals. Like a beautiful, chaotic patchwork.
Again, Umi raises her glass.
Umi
To the Capitol.
He raises his. And then a mad hunger drips down both of their faces.
Umi
It's ours now.
Clink
TO BE CONTINUED…