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Me: okay you guys ready cause this one will send chills down your spine.

Katara: oh gosh.

Sokka: hmmmm

Aang: I think I'm ready.

Toph: lets just get started.

Zuko: yeah.

Suki: ooh I'm excited.

_

BOOK 3: FIRE

CHAPTER 8: THE PUPPETMASTER

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Aang, Sokka, Katara and toph: ........

Katara: is this the one with ham-

Sokka: I mean it has to be.

Aang: yeah it has to be.

Toph: oh gosh. This is about to get creepy.

Suki: It can't be that bad.

Zuko: yeah.

Katara: it's not but it's still REALLY creepy.

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[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(The episode opens with a shot of the waxing moon hovering in the night sky, almost full. Cut to a shot of a field of red flowers. A single, large mountain is seen in the background underneath the bright moon. Cut to a shot of Appa fast asleep inside a cave. The camera pans right to Aang and his friends gathered around a campfire underneath a gnarled and twisted tree. Cut to a close up of Sokka.)

Suddenly, they heard something down the hall, in the dark. Oooh... It came into the torchlight. And they knew the blade of Wing - Fun was haunted! Aah-ah...

(Sokka dramatically pulls his sword out and wails in an attempt to be scary. Aang, Katara, and Toph are unimpressed.)

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Zuko: really?

Sokka: what do you have a better stories.

Zuko: probably.

Sokka: Next time you- me story telling contest.

Zuko: really?

Sokka: oh come on.

Zuko: no.

Sokka: oh come on! Why are you sacred you'll loose.

Zuko: no. I won't loose.

Sokka: prove it.

Zuko: I will.

Sokka: HA!

Zuko: dang it.

_

I think I liked "the man with a sword for a hand" better.

Water Tribe slumber parties must stink.

No, wait, I've got one, and this is a true Southern Water Tribe story.

Is this one of those "a friend of my cousin knew some guy that this happened to" stories?

No, it happened to Mom. (everyone focuses their attention on her) One winter, when Mom was a girl, a snowstorm buried the whole village for weeks. A month later, Mom realized she hadn't seen her friend Nini since the storm. So mom and some others went to check on Nini's family. When they got there, no one was home, just a fire flickering in the fireplace. While the men went out to search, Mom stayed in the house. When she was alone, she heard a voice, (little girl's voice) "It's so cold and I can't get warm." Mom turned and saw Nini standing by the fire. She was blue, like she was frozen. Mom ran outside for help, but... when every one came back, Nini was gone.

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Suki: oh.

Zuko: that's not that scray.

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(Aang wraps Momo's ears around his head nervously. The camera pans left to Sokka, who is hiding behind a tree trunk and peering over.)

Where'd she go?

No one knows. Nini's house stands empty to this day. But sometimes, people see smoke coming up from the chimney, like little Nini is still trying to get warm.

(The camera zooms out from a shot of the gang huddled around the fire, looking through the twisted tree limbs. Ominous music is heard in the background. Cut to a close up of Toph. She gasps and places a hand to the ground.)

Wait. Guys, did you hear that? I hear people under the mountain, and they're screaming.

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Zuko: sure you do.

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(Aang, Katara, Momo, and Sokka all hug each other, trembling with fear. Sokka soon regains his composure.)

Pft, nice try.

(Cut back to the shot looking through the tree limbs.)

No, I'm serious, I hear something.

You're probably just jumpy from the ghost stories.

It just stopped.

All right, now I'm getting scared.

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Suki: same.

Zuko: nah.

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Hello, children. (Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Momo all scream and run off, revealing her. They all gather around and hug Toph. She walks into the fire's light)

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Zuko: AHHH! *cough* *cough* Sorry something got stuck on my throut.

Katara: Yeah sure.

_

Sorry to frighten you, my name is Hama. You children shouldn't be out in the forest by yourselves at night. I have an inn nearby, why don't you come back there for some spiced tea and warm beds?

(The camera pans across the faces of the group, stopping at Sokka.)

Yes, please.

(Hama smiles and walks away. The scene shifts to a shot of several houses situated on a steep slope. The camera tilts up to an old in at the top of the slope. Cut to a close up of a small cup being filled with hot water. Cut to a panning right shot of everyone gathered around a square table under a single lit lamp in the dining room. They all have cups of tea, and Hama is pouring Katara's.)

(ends 2:28)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Thanks for letting us stay here tonight. You have a lovely inn.

Aren't you sweet? You know, you should be careful. People have been disappearing in those woods you were camping in.

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Suki: hmmm

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What do you mean, disappearing?

(ominously) When the moon turns full, people walk in, and they don't come out. (cheerfully) Who wants more tea? (she frowns. The camera pans across the table, showing the fearful expression the kids all have) Don't worry; you'll all be completely safe here. Why don't I show you to your rooms, and you can get a good night's rest?

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Suki: will you really?

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(The scene shifts to Sokka's room and zooms in on him lying in his bed. Momo is asleep on the floor. The creaking of old trees is heard outside. Cut to a close up of Sokka rolling over, unable to fall asleep. He shuts his eyes, but opens them in terror when he hears a high pitched squeak from inside. Sokka grabs his sword and quickly sits up, drawing it. Momo chirps and hides under his covers. He looks around, but nothing is there, so he sheathes his sword.)

I know Momo, this place is creepy. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to fall asleep.

(Sokka pulls the covers up to his eyes and looks left and right nervously. The screen slides upward like a roll of film and transitions to a shot of Sokka fast asleep, snoring and drooling. Cut to the wide shot of the room and pan right.)

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They all laugh.

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( The scene fades to morning and Sokka is now lying over the side of his bed on the floor. Cut to an upside down close up of Sokka snoring. Someone walks up to him, casting their shadow over his face and waking him.)

Wakey-wakey. (Sokka wakes up and rubs his eyes. Cut to Sokka's perspective as she leans over him and smiles) Time to go shopping.

(Katara walks into Sokka's view, smiling happily. Cut back to the close up of Sokka. The camera turns counter-clockwise and fades to a similar close up of Sokka dressed and carrying grocery bags with his sword in the town market. The camera quickly zooms out to a close up of Hama handing three coins to a merchant. Cut to a shot of Hama and Katara walking away as the old merchant smiles and waves goodbye. Cut to a close up of Katara.)

That Mr. Yao seems to have a thing for you. Maybe we should go back and see if he'll give us some free komodo sausages.

You would have me use my feminine charms to take advantage of that poor man? I think you and I are going to get along swimmingly.

_

They all chuckle.

Sokka, Zuko: really?

Katara: Hey sometimes it works quite well.

Sokka: isn't that bad.

Katara: not really you just have to make sure you don't go to far.

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(Katara and Hama walk off camera and reveal a townsman talking to a different merchant.)

You won't have any ash bananas till next week?

Well, I have to send the boy to Hing-Wa Island to get them, and it's a two-day trip.

Oh, right, tomorrow's the full moon.

Exactly, I can't lose another delivery boy in the woods.

(Sokka, Aang, and Toph walk past the townsman and merchant, overhearing their conversation.

People disappearing in the woods, weird stuff during full moons... this just reeks of spirit world shenanigans.

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Suki: It kinda does.

_

I bet if we take a little walk around town, we'll find out what these people did to the environment to make the spirits mad.

And then you can sew up this little mystery, lickety-split, Avatar-style.

Helping people...that's what I do.

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They all chuckle.

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(Cut to an overhead shot of the entire group. Hama stops and turns to Katara.)

Why don't you all take those things back to the inn? I just have to run a couple more errands. I'll be back in a little while.

This is a mysterious little town you have here (looks right into Hama's face).

(Cut to an extreme close up of Hama.)

(cryptically and smiling) Mysterious town for mysterious children.

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they all get shivers.

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(Hama walks away. The camera zooms in on Sokka, who has an odd, confused expression. Cut to a shot of Hama's inn, then to the kitchen inside. Sokka places the wooden bucket of groceries on the table and the camera tilts up to him.)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

That Hama seems a little strange. Like she knows something, or she's hiding something.

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Sokka, Toph, Aang and Katara(Whispers): No kidding.

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That's ridiculous. She's a nice woman who took us in and gave us a place to stay. She kind of reminds me of Gran-Gran.

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Katara, Sokka and Aang: eeehh

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But what did she mean by that comment, "mysterious children"?

(sarcastically) Gee, I don't know. Maybe because she found four strange kids, camping in the woods at night? Isn't that a little mysterious?

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Suki and Zuko: pretty much.

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I'm gonna take a look around.

(Sokka walks out of the kitchen and up a nearby flight of stairs. Katara, Aang, and Toph follow after.)

Sokka! Sokka, what are you doing? You can't just snoop around someone's house.

It'll be fine.

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Suki: ehhhh

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(Sokka proceeds to open one of the doors upstairs and glances inside the dark room. It is only a simple bedroom and he closes the door back.)

She could be home any minute.

(nervous) Sokka, you're gonna get us all in trouble, and this is just plain rude.

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Suki: yeah but snooping isn't so bad....

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(Sokka finds a cabinet in the wall and grabs the door handles, trying to open it, but they are stuck.)

I'm not finished yet. [grunts] Come on...

(Sokka yanks the doors open. Cut to a close up of several marionettes falling forward, being held in place by their strings. They all yelp in surprise. Sokka jumps back and draws his sword at the puppets in fright, his back against the wall and sliding to the floor.)

Ok, that's pretty creepy.

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Toph: no kidding.

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(closes the doors) So... she's got a hobby. There's nothing weird about that. Sokka, you've looked enough. Hama will be back soon.

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Suki: puppets are just creepy sometimes.

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(Sokka makes his way up into the dark attic and tries to open a nearby door, but it is locked. The other three walk up the stairs and join him.)

Just an ordinary, puppet-loving innkeeper, huh? Then why does she have a locked door up here?

(angry) Probably to keep people like you from snooping through her stuff.

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Zuko: I mean why else.

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We'll see. (peers in through the keyhole. Cut to his perspective. The camera zooms in on a small chest, sitting in the light shining through the attic window) It's empty except for a little chest.

(excitedly) Maybe it's treasure.

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Zuko: doubt it.

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(Sokka smiles gleefully at the thought of treasure. Aang and Katara frown at Toph. Sokka draws his sword and begins to pick the door's lock with its tip.)

Sokka, what are you doing? You're breaking into a private room.

I have to see what's in there.

(There is a click and the door opens. Cut to a close up of the chest. The group can be seen walking up to it from behind.)

We shouldn't be doing this.

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Suki: no kidding.

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(Sokka reaches down and picks up the chest. He tries to open it, but the chest is locked.)

Maybe there's a key here somewhere.

Oh, hand it over.

(Sokka hands Toph the chest. She takes the armband made of space earth from her arm and bends it into the shape of a key. Toph pushes the key inside the chest's lock and begins turning it.)

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Suki: that's cool.

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Come on, come on!

This isn't as easy it looks.

(Katara looks over Toph's shoulders, blinking nervously. The sound of a bell is added to her blinks for humorous effect.)

(nervous) Guys, I don't know about this.

This is crazy, I'm leaving.

Suit yourself. Do it, Toph.

(Katara begins to walk away. Cut to a close up of the chest as a click is heard. Cut to a shot of Toph as she gives a thumb up to Sokka and Aang. Both gather around the chest and even Katara runs back to try and look inside.

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All: hahaha

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They all inadvertently push Toph to the side. Their cheeks are pressed together comically. The lid of the chest is slowly lifted until a voice is heard behind them)

I'll tell you what's in the box.

(Aang, Sokka, and Katara yell with fear and alarm. )

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They all laugh.

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(The four quickly turn around and Sokka hides the chest behind his back. Cut to a tilting up shot of Hama standing in the attic doorway as she walks forward. Cut to a shot of the kids. Sokka, Katara, and Aang look down with guilt as Sokka hands the chest to Hama.

Cut to a shot from inside the chest as Hama opens it and reaches inside. Cut to a close up of Sokka's eyes, wide with fear and anticipation. Hama begins to lift the object from the chest. Cut to a shot of the four kids. They look up in fear as Hama lifts the object in front of the camera. The tension is lifted when the object is revealed to be nothing more than a simple blue comb made from whale bone. Hama smiles at them cheerfully.)

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Zuko: a comb?

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(disbelief) An old comb?

It's my greatest treasure. It's the last thing I owned from growing up in the Southern Water Tribe.

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Suki: oh she's from the southern water tribe!

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(The camera zooms in on Sokka and Katara as a wave of shock goes through them.)

(The episode returns to a shot of the kids staring at Hama in shock.)

(ends 1:28)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

You're from the Southern Water Tribe?

Just like you.

How did you know?

I heard you talking around your campfire.

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Suki: kinda werid.

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But why didn't you tell us?

I wanted to surprise you. I bought all this food today so I could fix you a big, Water Tribe dinner. Of course, I can't get all the ingredients I need here, but ocean kumquats are a lot like sea prunes, if you stew them long enough.

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Suki: that's nice.

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(grimaces in utter disgust) Great.

I knew I felt a bond with you right away.

And I knew you were keeping a secret, so I guess we're both right.

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Katara and Sokka: more or less.

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Katara punches him in the arm) But I'm sorry we were sneaking around.

Apology accepted. Now let's get cooking.

(The scene cuts to the outside of the inn. It is night, and lights can be seen in the windows. The camera pans left as Aang runs outside to a small barn. Cut to the inside of the barn where Appa and Momo are staying. Aang opens the door and tosses a cabbage into Appa's mouth. Momo jumps to the ground and chirps furiously as Appa. Appa spits the cabbage out. Momo grabs the cabbage and carries it off screen.

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They all laugh.

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Cut to a close up of Hama placing a bowl of soup on the table inside the inn. Cut to a panning right shot of everyone seated at the dinner table, empty bowls placed in front of them. Cut to a shot of Aang leaning over to Toph.)

I'd steer clear of the "sea prunes".

I thought they were ocean kumquats.

Close enough.

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Aang: seriously.

Toph: yeah I know.

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Who wants five-flavor soup?

(Aang, Katara, and Sokka raise their hands. Hama places her hand over the bowl of soup and bends the liquid out of it. With a flick of her fingers, Hama bends the soup into everyone's bowls, much to their amazement.)

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Suki: that's useful.

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