Me: Okay so you guys ready?

All: yup.

Me: okay lets start.

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BOOK 2: EARTH.

CHAPTER 15: TALES OF BA SING SE.

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(The title slide for the tale fades into an exterior shot of the gang's house in Ba Sing Se. It then cuts to a shot of Aang's head in a mirror covered with shaving cream as he shaves it off with a razor blade. )

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Zuko: how much times do you shave your head?

Aang: like Once a week.

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(Shot pans left to Sokka's head in the mirror to show he has a few hairs growing above his lip which he cuts off with the end of his machete. He then clicks his tongue and points at his reflection. )

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Suki: you can grow a mustache?

Sokka: yup.

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(Camera pans left again to show Katara in the mirror as she fixes together her hair loops. Once they are placed, she smiles and the camera cuts back to show the whole room, with them all staring at the mirror, and Momo off to the side on a stool giving himself to bath like a cat. )

(Shot cuts to a dark room where, Toph, her hair a horrible mess, lays face-down on her bed, her blanket sloppily laying over her. A sliver of light cuts through the darkness as the door opens. Katara enters the room and gasps at the sight.)

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Zuko: is she dead?

Toph: yes.

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: Huh! Toph, aren't you gonna to get ready for the day?

(Toph whips her head up causing her wild bed-head-hair to fly about. She quickly spits a large loogy into a nearby spittoon which spins upon impact. Cut to Katara's face as she looks shocked, then cut back to Toph as she gets to her feet and brushes a large amount of dust off her sleeping shirt.)

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Suki: wild hair.

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I'm ready.

You're not gonna wash up? You've got a little dirt on your... everywhere actually.

You call it dirt. I call it a healthy coating of earth.

Hmmm. You know what we need? A girl's day out!

Do I have to?

It'll be fun.

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Suki: yes!

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(Cut to outside of a large building that is decorated with pictures of flowers and plants, Toph and Katara stand near the entrance. Fancily dressed woman in beautiful robes walk out and smile at each other.)

The Fancy Lady Day Spa? Sounds like my kinda place.

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Sokka: no it doesn't

Toph: 🤦‍♀️

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Are you ready for some serious pampering?

Sure Katara, whatever you say. As long as they don't touch my feet.

(They walk in, Toph with her head hung low. Cut to an interior shot where Katara sits happily having her feet scrubbed. Shot cuts again to a close-up of Toph's foot as the attendants, who have to hold the girl down, are hard at work trying to scrape the massive amounts of dirt off her feet. A close up of Toph's angry face show she isn't pleased with this.)

Arrrr! Rrrrr! Errrr!

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Zuko: they touched the feet.

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(Cut to a shot of an empty hallway within the spa as suddenly an explosion of dust erupts from one of the doorways as the frame is crumpled and an attendant flies out and hits the opposite wall, Toph having just performed some earthbending apparently out of annoyance. )

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Sokka: ouch.

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(The shot cuts to Toph and Katara each taking mud baths, with mud covering their faces in a mask, cucumber slices over their eyes, and their heads rapped in towels. An attendant with arms full of fresh towels walks over to Toph.)

( Cut to Toph's face as she breaths in then exhales which it apparently some form of earthbending as the mud on her face begins to move strangely and creating a scary appearance. The attendant, having seen this, screams and runs off. Katara and Toph laugh, as the mud around Toph's mouth forms a large goofy smile.)

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they all laugh.

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Hahaha!

(Shot fades into a pile of rocks in the sauna that Toph and Katara now occupy. Toph kicks the ground once causing a rock from the cold pile to fly onto the pile of hot rocks. Katara, using waterbending, slashes the hot rocks with some water creating steam. They both sigh.

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Aang: that looks relaxing.

Katara: it is.

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Fade into Toph walking down the streets of Ba Sing Se with the front of her hair, which usually hangs to cover her forehead, now combed back behind her ears and her face now with lots of make-up.)

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Suki: WOW! SO PRETTY!

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Well, that wasn't so bad. I'm not usually into that stuff, but I actually feel... girly.

(Cut back to show them both walking together, Katara's face has make-up as well.) I'm glad, it's about time we did something fun together.

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Suki: we should all do that.

Katara: yes we should.

Toph: sure.

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(Cut to a shot of the two crossing a stone bridge over a creek. As they do, they pass three girls going the other direction. They wear fancy dresses and robes, one sporting a fashionable umbrella.)

Wow, great makeup.

Thanks.

For a clown!

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All: (* ￣︿￣)ಠ_ಠ

Suki: this girl is about to die.

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(Toph's face drops into a frown as the stop walking.)

Don't listen to them, let's just keep walking.

I think she looks cute. Like that time we put that sweater on your pet poodle monkey.

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All:

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Good one, Star!

Let's go Toph.

No, no. That was a good one! "Like your poodle-monkey"... Ha ha! You know what else is a good one?

(Toph pounds the ground once causing dust to rumble up as her earthbending shoots across the bridge to where the girls stand. A hole opens up in the stone bridge where Toph's earthbending reaches them and all three fall through into the creek.)

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Ahhh!

Now that was funny.

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All: they all laugh.

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(With one move of her arm, Katara waterbends a huge wave that sweeps the girls away and down stream as they scream. Cut to a shot of Toph walking away from the bridge as Katara jogs to catch up.)

Those girls don't know what they're talking about.

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sokka: They obviously not.

Aang: yeah.

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It's ok. One of the good things about being blind is I don't have to waste my time worrying about appearances. (Cut to her frowning face.) I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am. (They stop walking, shot cuts back to show the both of them.)

That's what I really admire about you, Toph. You're so strong and confident and self assured.

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Suki: Yes!

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And I know it doesn't matter, but... you're really pretty.

(Smiling) I am?

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Suki: absoluty! I mean is that even a question.

They chuckle at suki's response.

Toph: thanks suki.

Suki: no problem

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Yeah. You are.

(Shot cuts to show them walking away together from behind.)

I'd return the compliment, but I have no idea what you look like.

(Laughs)

Thank you, Katara. (She punches her in the shoulder in a friendly way.)

Ow!

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Toph: since I know how you look now. You look really pretty too katara.

Katara: thanks toph.

Toph: :)

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(Stops at 1:21)

(Title card for this tale fades into a shot of a marketplace in Ba Sing Se from overhead. Cut to a shot of the street that shows Iroh walking pleasantly down the lane and stopping to examine a basket being sold by a merchant.)

If this is for a romantic picnic, may I suggest this lavender one?

No, it is not a romantic picnic, but it is a special occasion. (He hands the merchant a few coins and picks up the basket. Iroh turns to leave the market stall when a closed flower in a vase catches his eye. He slides the vase out of the sunlight and into the shade) The moonflower likes partial shade.

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Sokka: that's a nice flower.

Aang: yeah its pretty. Some people forget that that type of flower likes partial shade.

Katara: I like that flower.

Sokka: where did you see that?

Katara: forgot where but I've seen it some where while travelling.

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(Iroh bows to the merchant and walks away. Shot fades into Iroh examining another merchant's stall which sells 'liuqins', which are a type of Asian lute which is a stringed instrument. The sound of a crying child catches Iroh's attention and he turns around to see a boy sobbing the middle of the street and his mother trying to console him.)

(crying) Wahh!

Shhh. It's ok. Shhh.

(The sound of music being played on one of the liuqins is herd as Iroh approaches, singing a tune with a smile on his face. He gets down on one knee next to the boy as he sings.)

(singing)

Leaves from the vine, falling so slow.

Like fragile, tiny shells,

Drifting in the foam.

Little soldier boy, come marching home.

Brave soldier boy, comes marching home.

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Zuko: uncle iroh used to sing that to me and lu ten we were kids.

Aang: its a nice song.

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(The boy's frown instantly turns to a smile as he reaches up and pulls Iroh's long beard.)

Yeowch!

Hahaha!

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they all chuckle.

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(Iroh smiles and pets his beard. The boy's mother takes her son by the hand and leads him away as Iroh stand and looks after them with a very pleasant look on his face. Scene fades to a courtyard as Iroh enters to pass through. Four boys are in the courtyard with a white ball playing a game. One of the boys hits the ground with his foot and the ball shoots up and back down. )

(He kicks it and then follows up with some earthbending. A patch of earth rises to create a path for the ball as it rolls along. Another player earthbends to impede the path of the ball before it reaches the goal. )

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Aang: that looks fun to play.

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(This causes the ball to launch up and into the direction Iroh is standing. He moves out of the way just in time, but the ball rips through the window directly behind where he was. A crash and a loud voice can be herd from inside.)

Hey!

(Iroh walks over to the boys as they gather around him to listen to what he has to say.)

It is usually best to admit mistakes when they occur, and to seek to restore honor-

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Zuko: (⓿_⓿)

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(Honor- 21)

(Loud smashes are herd and all five of them look up, startled. Shot cuts to show the window as a very large body and head are visible through the hole.)

When I am through with you kids, the window won't be the only thing that's broken!

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Sokka: I would run.

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(Cut back to Iroh and the boys.)

-but not this time. Run!

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they all chuckle.

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(The boys and Iroh all run in different directions. Shot changes to show Iroh running down the marketplace street quickly. He hides in an alley, places the basket down, and the shot changes to shot him looking around the corner to see if he's being chased.)

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Aang: wow iroh runs fast.

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You. Give me all your money!

(Shot changes to show a messy looking man with a dagger pointed directly at Iroh standing behind him, but the shot pans down to show his legs bent at a very odd angle as he stands.)

What are you doing?

I'm mugging you!

With that stance?

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they all chuckle.

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Wha- What are you talking about? Just give me your money, old man!

With a poor stance you are unbalanced, and you can be easily knocked over.

(In one swift move, Iroh grabs the arm of the mugger and disarms him, while simultaneously proving his point by pushing his attacker and knocking him to the ground)

Ugh!

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All: woah.

Sokka: That's cool! I wanna learn how to do that.

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(Iroh twirls the dagger in his hand then helps the man to his feet.)

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Sokka: ooh that's cool.

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With a solid stance, you are a much more serious threat. (Iroh demonstrates a proper stance for the mugger. The mugger attempts to imitate Iroh's stance, but is still not assuming the correct form. Iroh walks over to him and holds his attacker's head still while he adjusts the man's stance by nudging his backside forward with his foot. After helping him assume the correct form, Iroh is now pleased with the man's stance.) Much better! But to tell you the truth, you do not look like the criminal type.

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Sokka: he doesn't and did itoh just give advise on how to mug people better.

Zuko: that's uncle iroh for you.

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I know. I'm... I'm just confused.

(The next shot shows a close up of the mugger's hands holding a cup, while off screen Iroh pours hot, steamy tea for the man.)

So you really think I could be a good masseur?

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Sokka so they just drank tea and talked.

Zuko and toph: yup.

Toph: is very therapeutic.

Zuko: it is.

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(Shot cuts back to show the two still in the alley, sitting on the ground sharing some tea and talking.)

Of course!

This is so great! No one has ever believed in me.

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Sokka: that's quite sad.

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While it is always best to believe in one's self, a little help from others can be a great blessing.

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Aang: wise words Iroh. Wise words.

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(The scene fades into the next which is a shot of a tree on a hill within the city as the sun is setting; very similar to the tree from Iroh's flashback in Bitter Work. Leaves gently fall from the tree as Iroh approaches the trunk and looks out over the city as a softer version of Iroh's liuqin music from earlier plays in the background. I)

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Sokka: what is he doing?

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(roh places the basket down and removes his hat. He then rests on his knees and piles some rocks at the tree's base. Searching though her basket, he removes several things and places them at the bottom of the tree. He pulls out a sheet of paper and looks at it for a few seconds, closing his eyes and bowing his head, before placing it down as well. )

(Finally he pulls two joss sticks, which are sticks of incense that burn, and lights them with his fingers by clicking the tips and places them down as well. The shot then shows that Iroh has just made a small memorial for his passed son, Lu Ten. )

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all: oh.

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(The memorial is little more then the burning joss sticks, a few apples, and a bag of unknown contents. Most importantly, a sketched picture of Lu Ten sits against the rocks. He was quite handsome and had the same hair features that his father once did.)

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Zuko: it's Lu ten.