Me: okay are you guys ready?

All: yeah!!!

Me: okay lets start!

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BOOK 3: FIRE

CHAPTER 14: THE BOILING ROCK PART 1.

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Sokka, Zuko and Suki: Oh.

the rest: oh?

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(The episode opens up to night time at the Western Air Temple.)

: (Cut to a tray full of tea cups with Zuko's hand holding a kettle and filling up the empty cups) No one can make tea like Uncle. (Camera pans up to Zuko's face) But hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?

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Sokka: haha here we go.

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: Sure. (Cut to an overhead of the group sitting around a fire)

: I like jokes.

: Bring it. (Zuko stands up with his tray)

Okay. (Cut to Zuko kneeling between The Duke and Haru) Well, I can't remember how it starts but the punch line (the boys help themselves to the tea) is, "Leaf me alone, I'm bushed." (They give a dead panned look. Cut to show the rest of the group giving Zuko the same look as well) Well, it's funnier when Uncle tells it.

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Suki,Katara and Toph: oh I wonder why.

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: Right. Maybe that's because he remembers (grabs a cup) the whole thing.

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Toph: no kidding.

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(Aang laughs and helps himself to a cup. Cut to show the group laughing as well. Cut back to Zuko who smiles.)

: It's nice to get a chance to relax a little. (Zuko walks between Toph and Teo and hands them their drinks.) It hardly ever happens. (They proceed to drink their tea)

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Toph: yup but look at us now.

Sokka: that is until this, the relaxing will probably be limited.

Katara: at least we won't have to be on our toes anymore.

Aang: yeah it will get busy but we won't have to worry about anyone hunting us down.

Zuko: I will garuntee that.

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: (Cut to Sokka who is sitting by himself at the side, thinking) Hey, can I talk to you for a second?

(He gets up and walks away. Zuko places his tray down and follows. They walk to the area where Appa is resting.)

: So (Appa wakes up and looks at them) what's up?

: (Cut to the side view of the area as they continue to walk further into the dark) If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?

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Suki: Boiling rock.

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: What do you mean? Who was captured?

: When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just want to know where (gestures both hands out) they might be.

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Suki: well how about the boiling rock but if the others a regular prison I guess.

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: I can't tell you.

: What? Why not?

: Trust me. Knowing would just make you feel worse. (He turns around and Sokka grabs his shoulder)

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Sokka: maybe maybe not.

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: It's my Dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put him

through.

: It's not good Sokka.

: Please.

: (closes his eyes) My guess is... (opens his eyes) They were taken to the Boiling Rock.

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Suki: there we go.

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: (frowns slightly) What's that?

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Suki: volcano prison.

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: (off screen) The highest security prison in the Fire Nation. (Sokka's mouth goes slightly agape) It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. (Sokka turns towards the camera, folds his arms and looks serious) It's inescapable.

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Suki, Sokka and Zuko: hahahaha.

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: So where is this place?

: Why do you need to know? What are you planning?

: Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid. (waves his arm dismissively)

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Zuko: nope no I was not.

Suki: clearly.

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: (warily) It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here.

: Thanks Zuko. (yawns and pats Zuko's shoulder as he walks past) Just knowing makes me feel better.

Yeah, I'm sure it does.

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Katara: definatly not.

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(Cut to an area behind both of them as they walk back to the fire. Camera fades to show Aang snoring in his sleep. A boot walking tip-toed comes into screen. Cut to show Katara sleeping in her sleeping bag. Camera zooms out to show the others are asleep as well as Sokka silently walks towards Appa with his belongings. Cut to Sokka as he lets out a sigh after successfully not waking anyone. He turns as the music lets out a surprised tune. His eyes widen. Camera pans down to show that he nearly tripped over a sleeping Momo. He walks over him and patters his way towards Appa.

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Katara: of course.

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He starts to climb up as Appa wakens. Sokka shushs him and Appa goes back to sleep. Cut to an overhead view of Sokka as he ascends. Cut to his hand reaching the saddle and pulling himself up to reveal Zuko already waiting for him.)

: Not up to anything, huh?

(Sokka yelps in shock and loses his grip ashe falls down on the hard stone floor with a loud thud and groan.)

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they all chuckle.

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: Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my Dad. (puts back his belongings back into his bag) You happy now?

: I'm never happy.

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All: um...

They all slightly chuckle.

Aang: that is a LIE.

Zuko: ehhh.

Aang: you know it is.

Zuko: well now it is.

Aang: uhmm

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: Look, I have to do this. The invasion plan was my idea. It was my decision to stay when things were going wrong. (Cut to a side view of Sokka walking towards Appa as Zuko jumps off the bison) It's my mistake and it's my job to fix it. (Cut back to Sokka who looks determined) I have to regain my honor. You can't stop me Zuko.

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They all luagh.

Toph: wow you said the line right in front of he man himself.

Zuko: right, how original. 🙄

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: You need to regain your honor? Believe me, I get it. I'm going with you.

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Aang: well of course you get it.

Katara: no one knows it better than you after all.

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: (Sokka climbs up near the saddle) No. I have to do this alone.

: How are you going to get there? On Appa? Last time I checked, (Cut to a back view of Sokka) prisons don't have bison day cares.

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Aang: they should consider.

Zuko: I'll take note of that.

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(Sokka touches the saddle before he sighs and looks at Zuko.)

: We'll take my war balloon.

(Sokka jumps off. Cut to show both boys walking off screen as Momo and Appa continue to slumber. Time quickens and shows the same scene again but it's already morning at the temple. The Duke walks into screen with an armful of hay as he throws it into Appa's mouth. Katara walks into screen as well. Cut to Momo sleeping on his back with a piece of crumpled paper in his arm like a blanket. Katara's gloved hand retrieves it.

Cut toToph and Aang who sleepily rubs his eyes as they walk to Katara's side.)

: What does it say?

Need meat. Gone fishing.

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Toph: LIES I TELL YOU LIES.

Sokka: hey we needed an excuse and that was the best one.

Toph: oh I know I just wanted to scream that.

Sokka: oh.

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(Turns the paper and her head as she tries to decipher the handwriting) Back in a few days. (Aang turns around and yawns.) Sokka and Zuko. One more thing. (Cut to an area in Aang's sleeping bag as he walks back) Aang, practice your firebending while I'm gone. Do twenty sets of fire fists and ten hot squats every time you hear a badger frog croak. (Aang lies down and proceeds to go back to sleep) Zuko.

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Suki: yikes there are alot there.

Aang: there sure was.

Katara: hey aang remember when you made that volcano.

Aang:......yeah....

katara(in her head): should have not mentioned that.

Toph: oh what is this tension I feel right now.

Suko: oh.

Sokka: what is this volcano you speak of.

Katara: never mind forget it.

Toph: but oh please do tell.

Katara: no it's okay let's just watch please.

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(A badger frog croaks and Aang opens his eyes with irritation and stands up.)

: Nobody else has homework. (Cut to an overhead view of Aang as he proceeds to squat with his hands behind his head) One hot squat. Two hot squat. Three hot squat. Four hot...

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Zuko: well you're the one who needs to learn firebending.

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(Cut to an area full of clouds as Zuko's war balloon appears from behind them. Cut to show the burner's flame. It grows bigger for a while before going back to its normal size. Cut to a side view of Zuko to show him firebending into the fuel tank with one hand and Sokka resting in the background. They look at each other. Zuko firebends again. They stare at each other again before looking away in awkward silence.)

: (looks up) Pretty clouds.

: (raises head) Yeah, fluffy.

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Toph: awkward.

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(Cut to show a full side view of the war balloon as it sails through the air. A whistle pierces the silence. Cut back to inside the basket to show Sokka was the source of the whistle.)

: (turns towards Sokka) What?

: What? Oh, I didn't say anything. You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons.

: No kidding.

: Yep. A balloon. But for War.

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Suki: oh this is so sad.

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: There's one thing my Dad's good at, (turns back to the tank and firebends) it's War.

: (nonchalantly) Yeah, it seems to run in the family.

: Hey, hold on. Not everyone in my family is like that.

: I know, I know, you've changed.

: I meant my Uncle. He was more of a Father (Cut to Zuko who looks saddened) to me. And I really let him down.

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Katara: I would agree to that.

Aang: same.

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: (emphatically) I think your Uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard.

: It wasn't that hard.

: (Cut to a side view of the basket) Really? You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?

: Well I did have a girlfriend. Mai.

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Zuko: Mai.

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: (He goes closer to Zuko with a surprised look on his face) That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?

: (Cut back to show Zuko grinning goofily) Yeah.

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Aang: never happy he says.

Zuko: yeah yeah.

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(his face turns serious) Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. I couldn't drag her into it.

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Aang: I would do the same.

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: (Cut back to Sokka who leans back on the basket) My first girlfriend turned into the Moon.

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All: 😬😬😬😬😬

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: (looks up) That's rough buddy.

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Aang: that sure is rough.

Sokka: really rough.

Suki: it's okay (suki hugs sokka.

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(Scene changes to night as the war balloon is still sailing in the sky. Cut to an overhead shot of Sokka who is snoring with his mouth open. Cut to the inside of the tank as Zuko firebends into it. Cut to the outside as Zuko closes the door and wipes his hands. He leans on the basket and spots something.)

: There it is.

(Sokka awakens instantly. Cut an area behind the balloon to show them nearing a volcano-like area with steam coming out from it.)

: There's plenty of steam to keep us covered. As long as we're quiet we should be able to navigate through it without being caught.

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Katara: good thing you didn't

Sokka, Suki and Zuko look at each other.

Sokka: you could say that.

Katara: oh no.

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(Cut to an overhead view of the steaming crater. Cut to the fuel tank's door opening and Zuko's hand appearing into screen, firebending into it. Cut to the burner as it flames weakly.

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Aang: won't the steam-

Katara: bring it down.

Aang: cause it's so hot and all.

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Cut to show the war balloon slowly descending into the crater. Cut to the inside of the basket as Sokka looks down at the steaming water.

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Sokka: yes. Yes it would.

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Cut back to the burner again as it begins to lose its power. Cut to an outer view of the war balloon as it rapidly goes down into the crater. Cut to an overhead view of the balloon getting lost through the sea of steam.

(Cut back into the basket as Zuko rapidly firebends into the tank.)

: We're going down. The balloon's not working anymore!

(Sokka appears frantic as he rushes to the other side of the basket.

Cut an area inside the vent looking down at the tank of fire and Zuko who decides to firebend into the vent instead.)

: The air outside is just as hot as the air inside so we can't fly.

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Toph: clearly.

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(Cut to show the war balloon continuing its descend. Cut back into the basket as it slants and Zuko loses his balance.)

: So what are we supposed to do?

: (Cut back to Sokka who grabs onto the tank) I don't know. Crash landing?

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Aang: how will that not attract attention?

Sokka: I have no idea.

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(Cut to show the war balloon dangerously near the water. Cut to show the basket touching the surface of the water. Cut back to Sokka as the water splashes onto his hand. Sokka flails his hand as he covers his mouth and struggles not to scream.

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Katara: ouch.

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Cut to a side view of the balloon as it glides on the water and crashes onto land, shattering the basket into pieces.

Cut to the ground as both guys get thrown into screen with their belongings. Cut to show the vent slowly deflating onto the broken strips of wood and metal. Zuko and Sokka gets up as he spurts out the stuff in his mouth. Both of them slowly turn towards the carnage.)

: How are we gonna get off the island if the balloon won't work?

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Toph: with another balloon.

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: We'll figure something out. I suspected it might be a one-way ticket.

: (looks at Sokka as he walks away) You knew this would happen and you wanted to come anyway?

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Katara: of course it's sokka.

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: (Cut to a back view of Sokka walking towards the fallen vent) My Dad might be here. I had to come and see.

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Suki: don't forget me.

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: Uncle always said (Sokka proceeds to gather more of the vent and places them into the broken basket) I never thought things through, but this, ugh, (grabs his head) this is just crazy. (Cut to a front shot of Zuko as he throws out both arms)

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Toph: no kidding.

Katara: sokks will come up with something he always does.

Aang: he sure does.

Sokka: thanks.

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: (Cut to an area inside the basket as Sokka turns back to Zuko) Hey! I never wanted you to come along in the first place. And for the record, (throws the fallen cloth into the basket) I always think things through. But my plans haven't exactly worked, so this time I'm playing it by ear. So there.

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Katara: okay that's stupid.

Sokka: hey I thought you were on my side!

Katara: I am but apart of that is calling you out.

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(He pushes the basket but yelps as his hand automatically withdraws since the basket scorches him. He proceeds to kick it. Cut to a side view of the broken balloon as it slowly sinks into the water)

: What are you doing?

: It doesn't work anyway. (Cut to an area behind their heads as both of them look at the vent slowly going underwater) And we don't want anyone to find it.

: I hope you know what you're doing. (Both of them turn around) There's no turning back now.

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Aang: no turning back.

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(Cut to show a huge metal building hidden behind the steam. Cut to commercial break.)

(Scene returns back to the metal building the next day. Cut to a dark room with lights only illuminating the shelves full of helmets, shoulder pads and boots. The door closes as the light diminishes. Cut to the outside of the door to show 2 guys in prison guard uniform closing the door.)

: I hope these disguises work.

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Suki: they do.

Sokka: they work too much.

Aang: isn't that good.

Sokka: it is.

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: We just need to lay low and find my Dad as soon as possible.

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Suki: well that defiantly didn't exactly happen.

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(The corridor is suddenly filled with running guards. Sokka and Zuko grin nervously, hoping that they won't be noticed.)

: (stopping at the opening of the corridor to address the 2 boys) Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on.

(Cut to the corridor as Zuko and Sokka run behind the last of the group. Cut to the legs of the running guards to show them running towards a mass of people wearing red in the yard. Cut to an overhead view of the yard to show prisoners forming a circle around 2 people in the centre as they circle round each other.

Cut to show the guards shoving the spectating prisoners aside. Cut to the front shot of the prisoner in the centre as the guards attempt to form a barricade in front of the crowd.)

: I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell.

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Aang: oh it's that nice guy.

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(He walks away. Cut to the ground looking up at Chit Sang and the guard as the guard firebends a whip and lashes it near Chit Sang's legs.)

: Stop right there Chit Sang.

(Cut to Zuko and Sokka as Zuko walks forward, trying to interfere. Cut to Sokka gripping onto Zuko's elbow)

: (whispers) We can't blow our cover. (Cut back to a front show of Chit Sang as the guard approaches him from behind)

: I've had it with your unruly behavior.

: (turns back to the guard) What did I do?

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Katara: the power abuse is really sad.