Memory #4

[ferrocious]

(Fade to a shot of the Avatar's residence. Morning has come, and a blue jay is singing in the trees. Katara walks out from the front door, stretching and yawning. She grabs a roll of papers sticking out of a mail slot attached to the wall. Katara reads it briefly and gasps with excitement before running back inside. The others are all lounging around the upper part of the living room.)

Katara: I've got it! I know how we're gonna see the Earth King!

Toph: How are we supposed to do that? "One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King" (mimicking Joo Dee).

Katara: The King is having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear.

Aang: You mean Platypus-Bear?

Katara: (duly) No, it just says "Bear".

Sokka: Certainly you mean his pet Skunk-Bear.

Toph: Or his Armadillo-Bear.

Aang: Gopher-Bear?

Katara: Just..."Bear".

Toph: This place is weird.

(After a moment of silence where all seem to agree with this last statement, Katara speaks.)

Katara: The palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd.

Toph: (lying down) Won't work.

Katara: Why not?

Toph: Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd would spot you from a mile away. You've got no manners.

(Toph grabs a pastry from a bowl next to her and starts eating it.)

Katara: (hands on her hips) Excuse me? I've got no manners? You're not exactly lady fancy fingers.

(Toph burps.)

Toph: I learned proper society behavior and chose to leave it. (throws the half eaten pastry off to the side) You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late.

(She picks her nose and flicks the snot off her finger.)

Sokka: Ah-Ha, but you learned it. You could teach us.

Aang: Yeah, I'm mastering every element. How hard could manners be (grabs a nearby curtain and drapes it around himself like a noble's robe, and begins talking in a very sophisticated manner) Good evening, Mr. Sokka Watertribe. Ms. Katara Watertribe. Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty, your Momo-ness.

(Momo peeks out from a carpet he's hiding under and nods his head, the sound of a gong adding to the effect. Sokka is now wearing a curtain like Aang.)

Sokka: (mimicking a typical high class snob) Avatar Aang, how you do? Go on.

(Aang bows to Sokka and Sokka bows back. Aang tries to out do Sokka's bow with a deeper bow and Sokka returns this bow with an even deeper bow. Both of them try to bow at the same time, but they knock each other's foreheads' together and fall backward.)

Aang: Ow!

Toph: Katara might be able to pull it off, but you two would be lucky to pass as busboys.

Sokka: But I feel so fancy.

(Something small lands on Sokka's head.

Fade to a shot of the house. It has reached dusk now and the lights inside have been lit. Cut to a shot of Aang and Sokka's hands appearing on screen. Aang's is balled into a fist and Sokka is wiggling his fingers.)

Aang: Earth!

Sokka: Fire! Augh! Ooh!

(Sokka grumbles at having lost the game. Aang raises his hands in triumph before he flicks Sokka's forehead. The doors in the background slide open to reveal Katara and Toph wearing exquisite Earth Kingdom dresses and holding a fan. Their hair is tied around head dresses decorated with flowers, and both of them are wearing makeup. Toph and Katara stare at the boys calmly before giving in to a fit of giggles. Aang blushes and stares dreamily at the site of the two girls.)

Aang: Wow, you look beautiful.

(Sokka's hand inches towards Aang's head from off screen and delivers a flick to the airbender's forehead. Katara is about to say something when Toph places her fan in front of Katara's mouth.)

Toph: Don't talk to the commoners, Katara. First rule of society.

Katara: We'll get in the party, and then find a way to let you in through the side gate.

(Aang and Sokka watch as Toph and Katara leave the house. A moment later, the sound of a gong is heard as Momo walks past them, wearing one of the curtains as a cape. Aang looks at Sokka, who merely shrugs.)

. . .

(Cut to a shot of the palace gate. Several high class citizens are lined up and being admitted inside by a guard. He is checking out the invitation of one group before letting them pass. Toph and Katara are next in line and approach the guard.)

Guard: Invitation please.

Toph: I think this will do.

(Toph holds up the official seal of the Bei Fong family to the guard. The camera cuts to a closer, detailed shot of the seal.)

Guard: No entry without an invitation. Step out of line please.

Toph: (irritated) Look, the Pangs and the Yum Soon Hans are waiting in there for us. I'm going to have to tell them who didn't let me in.

Guard: (unyielding) Step out of line please.

(The guard points his finger to the side. Katara and Toph walk off disappointedly. The sound of a carriage grabs their attention. They see a high ranking government official step out of the carriage. Two guards bows to him. Katara smiles as an idea comes into her mind. She and Toph walk towards the official.)

Katara: Sir I'm sorry to bother you, but my cousin lost our invitations. (whispering) She's blind. Do you think you could help us? Our family's inside and I'm sure they're very worried.

Long Feng: (smiles and bows his head) I am honored, please come with me.

(Long Feng walks towards the guard at the entrance with Toph and Katara following closely. The guard bows to him and the three of them head into the palace. As they are walking in, Toph and Katara stick their tongues out at the guard while his back is turned.)

Toph and Katara: Nyah! Pssfft!!

(Shift to an overhead shot inside of the palace. Many guests are conversing around a long dining table with an assortment of foods placed upon it. At one end of the table is the Earth King's bear eating a steak, his drool dripping of his chin. He is dressing in a yellow shirt and a green hat. Seated to either side of him are two guests.)

Guest 1: He's taking all the good stuff!

Guest 2: Quiet, you don't know what I had to do to get seats this near the bear!

(The bear swipes what remains of the steak into the first guest's face before pouncing onto the table and devouring a large plate of meat in front of him. Cut to a close shot of the bear gorging. He pulls his head away as Toph, Katara and Long Feng walk into the hall.)

Long Feng: It's beautiful, isn't it? By the way, I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister to the king.

Katara: I'm Kwa mai, and this is Dung. (Toph frowns and tugs at a string hanging from Katara's headdress.) Ow!

Long Feng: Now where is your family? I'd love to meet them.

Katara: Um... I don't see 'em right now. But I'm sure we'll find them soon. Thanks for all your help.

(Katara and Toph walk away from Long Feng. A moment later, Long Feng mysteriously appears in front of the two girls.)

Long Feng: Don't worry, as your escort it would be dishonorable to abandon you ladies without finding your families first. We'll keep looking.

(Long Feng turns around and begins leading Toph and Katara.)

. . .

(Shift scenes back to inside the palace. Aang and Sokka are dressed as busboys and are serving guests. Aang is pouring a drink and Sokka is serving food on a plate. Both of them stand back to back. Momo's tail is sticking out from under Aang's hat.)

Aang: Where are Toph and Katara?

Sokka: Forget about them, just keep an eye out for the King.

(Momo's tail rises up to Sokka's face and begins wagging back and forth.)

Aang: I don't know what he looks like.

Sokka: You know, "royal", flowing robe, fancy jewelry.

(Sokka grabs Momo's tail forcibly, causing the hair on it to stand up on end. Cut to a panning right shot of the crowd of guests, who all fit Sokka's description.)

Aang: (voice over) That could be anyone.

(The camera cuts back to Aang, then quickly pans right to show Toph standing right next to him.)

Toph: Another crab puff please.

Aang: You found us.

Toph: I'd know your little footsteps anywhere Twinkletoes.

(Sokka smiles and presents his tray to Toph, who grabs a crab puff and begins to nibble on it. Katara joins the group. Aang blushes when he sees her.)

Sokka: (sarcastically) Thanks for letting us in.

Katara: Sorry, but the guy who escorted us in, won't let us out of his sight.

(Sokka peers behind Katara, trying to spot the escort.)

Sokka: What guy?

(Cut to an overhead shot of the group. Long Feng is nowhere in sight. Joo Dee approaches the group from off screen. Her normally cheerful demeanor is replaced with anxiety.)

Joo Dee: What are you doing here? You have to leave immediately, or we'll all be in terrible trouble.

(Joo Dee tries to push Sokka out of the way, but he blocks her with his tray.)

Sokka: Not until we see the King.

Joo Dee: You don't understand. You must go.

(Joo Dee shoves Sokka into Aang, causing him to spill the contents of the pitcher he is holding on to a guest.)

Female Guest: Aarrhhh! Oh!

Aang: Sorry! No, don't shout.

(Aang uses his hands and foot to airbend a gust at the guest. His hat is blown off, along with Momo. It dries her off, but also turns her hair, clothes and makeup into a mess. Aang smiles sheepishly. The guest is briefly shocked, but smiles in amazement.)

Female Guest: (inawe) The Avatar. Ooh, I didn't known the Avatar would be here.

(All the guests' attention is now focused on Aang. Joo Dee's large, happy smile quickly turns sour and is replaced by a frown and a look of pure dread. Aang looks around at the guests as Momo hides back under the hat on the floor and slinks away. Aang blushes and waves at the crowd, laughing nervously. Sokka leans in towards Aang.)

Sokka: (whispering)You keep their attention while I look for the King.

Aang: Watch this everybody!

(Aang leap out of his busboy clothes and on to the long dining table as Sokka walks off into the crowd. Aang swings his arms over the guests' drinks, waterbending the liquid out of the cups. He jumps onto a pitcher and balances on top of it. Aang brings the liquid above his head and creates a swirling multicolored ball. The crowd 'oohs' at the spectacle. The king's bear growls with delight at Aang's antics)