Chapter Text

BLACK SCREEN

In the black there are the indistinct noises of many people being respectfully quiet or whispering in low tones. Then the sound of an iron bell begins, such as one might hear in a temple. There are four clangs, then silence filled with the sound of a hushed crowd.

MALE VOICE (TENZIN)

(Speaking to a great crowd)

The Avatar is dead. The Avatar is reborn!



MAIN TITLE



EXT. NORTHERN OCEAN - PINE FOREST COAST - DAY

Open on a frigid ocean under grey skies as if seen from a low-flying plane. In the distance the mainland can be seen with snowcapped mountains and pine forests.

The scene shifts and the mainland is now closer and on the right. A boat, about 150 feet long, is under way and heading horizontal to the land. It is of a design and technological level which would put it at home in the 1910's and has clearly seen hard years of service in harsh climates. A whale spout blows in the distance.

A huge shadow in the shape of a whale passes under the boat. Then the shadow starts to glow with stripes and spots of bioluminescence in pink and green, showing that the whale-creature has four flippers in addition to its tail. This is the first indication that we are not on earth.



EXT. NORTHERN OCEAN - BARREN COAST - DAY

Seen close up from the side, details of the boat show influence of east-asian design. The ship name is in Chinese characters. It flies a green flag with a gold circle like an old Chinese coin. Above it is a blue flag with a stylized white lotus flower. Behind the ship the landscape rises up sharply and is now much more barren and rocky than it was previously.



EXT. NORTHERN OCEAN - GLACIER COAST - DAY

Now the boat is passing before a great cliff of a glacier ending in the water. Huge, yet very weathered shapes can be seen carved deeply into the ice-face. They look like geometric designs and inhuman faces in the style of Pacific Northwest Amerindian art.



EXT. WATER TRIBE VILLAGE - EVENING

Seen from behind, the boat approaches its destination. The sun is setting. There is a small arctic village clinging to the side of a steep slope above the sea between two cliffs. The box-like hide-walled buildings are arranged vertically, held up by stilts as they crawl up the steep incline. The only flat ground is at the water line and that is occupied by a little wharf at the rocky beach which houses a few small boats. Above the village the sheer headland transitions to peaks and ice.

Down at the shore the denizens of the village are gathering to meet the incoming boat. They wear clothes mostly made of leather and fur reminiscent of Yupik dress in our world but they have accented these with embroidery of bright blue. Strange, unearthly penguins squawk from a small rock a few yards off-shore.

The boat's engine starts and stops in small bursts as the captain makes adjustments to slow down, running in reverse. The ship is very close now but it is clear that stopping at the little wharf is not going to work. The sailors rush forward to the gunwales with long poles to fend off impact. Then three important looking men emerge onto the deck.

These three men are all over forty and wear high quality robes of very dark blue emblazoned with the same white lotus flower symbol that flies over the boat. The first man, WHITE LOTUS MEMBER, steps forward raises his hands with open palms. The cuff of his robe sleeve is trimmed bright blue. Then he begins to sway in smooth motions resembling Tai Chi. In response to the man's motions the water below bulges up between the boat and the land, pushing the ship back. The man continues his smooth and fluid motions and a shot from above the boat shows whirlpools form at the bow and stern, carefully turning it and governing its motion as he commands the water.

Now it is the second man in the white lotus robes who steps forward. He widens his stance and plants his feet firmly on the deck. The bottom hem of his robe is a strip of green fabric. This man curls his fists and brings his arms out in a series of strong and sharp movements. The rock that houses the penguins shudders and the creatures jump into the water with an angry squawk as rock slabs burst forth from the sea, connecting the penguin rock to the mainland. With a few more jabs and stomps from the man in green a new stone pier has been formed and the WHITE LOTUS MEMBER guides them in.

The sailors rush to tie up the boat to their new mooring spot and they throw down a walkway as the village crowd rearranges its self to meet the new direction of arrival. The White Lotus men are the first to descend and the third of their number, WHITE LOTUS LEADER, leads the procession. In a close up of his mouth and chest we see him breath in deeply. The collar of his robe is bright red. In his out-held hand a bright flame bursts into life, floating in the air above his palm. The leaders of the village welcoming committee bow to the men and make way for them to walk to the rough stairway that allows access to the village above.

From the distance, the light of their magical fire makes its way up the switchbacks through the night among the houses in the village. Their destination is one little house near the top.



INT. KORRA'S FAMILY HOUSE

It is a small house furnished in something resembling traditional Yupik fashion. Several of the furnishings show sign of mistreatment, repaired breaks or singe marks. Only one room is seen but a doorway leads off to another chamber. By the central fire-platform made of unmortared bricks there is an open clay pot of water. A woman in her mid to late twenties, SENA, is hurriedly sweeping or straightening up while her husband, TONRAQ, anxiously looks around making reaching hand motions as if he is going to start rearranging things in the house but never actually does. Their door opens and the three White Lotus men step inside.

SENNA

(Quickly straightens up and hides the broom behind her back)

Welcome. It is an honor to have the Order of the White Lotus in our home. We're so excited to see you!

TONRAQ covertly reaches behind her to take the broom and maneuvers it behind his own back to place it off to the side of the room. The WHITE LOTUS LEADER inhales and exhales heavily, both from the long climb and from having heard similar naive hope so many times before.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

You should not get your hopes up. Over the years we have inspected hundreds of children who were born on the day of Avatar Aang's death. All their parents were disappointed.

The SENA and TONRAQ share looks of contained excitement. Not looks of hope, but of secure knowledge that something good is about to happen.

SENNA

(A bit triumphantly)

Well, your search is over.

The White Lotus exchange their own looks. They have heard this before too.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(patiently)

I realize that as a mother you wish the best for your daughter. However, such confidence is premature. There is only one Avatar and the process of identifying each new incarnation is very delicate. Even when the child is found those results are kept secret.

Another WHITE LOTUS MEMBER breaks to this talk in while in the background faint epic music begins to swell. This is clearly foreshadowing a magical heroes journey.

WHITE LOTUS MEMBER

(With a distant rapturous tone)

But when the young Avatar reaches sixteen years of age they will be informed of their true identity. Then they will spend decades mastering all four elements one by one with instruction from teachers of the Water Tribe, the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom and the last remnant of the Air Monks. It will be a long, amazing adventure to nurture the fulfillment of the Avatar's ancient destiny to restore balance to the world!

The music abruptly cuts off as the WHITE LOTUS MEMBER realizes he has been going a little overboard.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(coughs)

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. We should get started. In a five year old any signs will be very subtle.

SENNA

(involuntary snort of laughter)

I don't think that's going to be a problem.

(She turns to yell toward the other room)

Korra!

A small girl, CHILD KORRA, comes running into the room yelling out a battle cry. When she gets to the center of the room she kicks forward. An invisible force shoots a nearby brick from the fire-pit to fly at the wall next to the very startled guests. As part of that same headlong motion she gives a punch and in front of her fist a little bit of fire bursts into existence to lick the nearest Lotus' robe hem. Her eyes go wide as she sees the now smoldering cloth so she quickly makes an open palmed throwing motion which causes the water pot to fall over and magically spill its contents sideways over the poor Lotus' lower half. That settled she takes a step back to regain control of her perviously planned entrance. She puts her hands on her hips with all the intimidation that a little kid can muster.

CHILD KORRA

I'm the hero and you gotta deal with it!

She punches out towards the camera and fire fills the screen.



EXT. - WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND - 13 YEARS LATER - DAY

The fire fades away to reveal KORRA, now 18. With a flick of her arm she extinguishes the flame she had been holding above her open palm.

The compound mostly consists of a large open courtyard surrounded by walls constructed of ice. At one end of the long space, in a slightly elevated position, lies a large three-storied building constructed in a vaguely Tibetan style. The other end of the courtyard is full of obstacle course equipment that might be suitable for training an entire army platoon or a single young Avatar. In the middle, near a stables, is a clear space marked out into large rectangles and circles like game-fields in front of a roofed dais.

KORRA is dressed in padded protective clothing and settles into martial arts fighting position. She bounces slightly on the balls of her feet like an eager boxer. Three groups of two fighters in similar padded uniforms are spread out across the open space. Each group is dressed with either red, green, or blue. From above KORRA is standing at a "T" intersection in three rectangular fields which are each occupied by one of the teams. The blue team field, instead of being shoveled clean of snow like the others has the snow packed info several piles spaced evenly along it.

Extreme close up of KORRA'S mouth as she breathes out, a bit of fire flickering into existence in her frosting breath. She grins wolfishly.

At the center of the dais stands the WHITE LOTUS LEADER. He is older now and his hair has more grey in it. To right of him stand three people dressed in elaborate traditional costumes in each of the three colors symbolizing three of the elements. The FIRE MASTER is dressed in a mix of traditional Japanese and Thai fashions that are predominantly red and black. The WATER MASTER's costume is blue and white, adapted from Yupik and northern Amerindian dress. The EARTH MASTER is dressed in archaic Chinese fashion done in green and gold. To the left of the White Lotus there is one man in his fifties, TENZIN, dressed in a manner similar go a Tibetan Buddhist monk in saffron and orange. His head is shaved and blue tattoos in the shape of an arrow points down on his forehead, from there stretching down the back his neck out of sight. Similar tattoos mark the back of his hands. Beside him are a small knot of other spectators and in the distance behind them, near the stables, there is a massive white bison-like creature the size of a small bus. It has an arrow marking on the fur of its head like that of its master.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(loudly so KORRA can hear him.)

Avatar Korra, the demonstration of elemental mastery is an ancient and sacred ritual. Each of these disciplines is the core embodiment of an entire culture. To schedule three of them at once is... it is unheard of!

KORRA

(yells back the obvious answer)

Well, yeah. No one else can use more than one element.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER opens his mouth to speak again.

KORRA

(interrupting him and now attempting to placate)

I know, I know. Four nations, four cultures, four elements and only the Avatar can embody the union of all the... (mumble, mumble) I get it. But come on, I have an important guest watching!

She glances back at TENZIN with a smile, who in turn looks patient and pleasant but resigned to exasperation.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(trying to marshall another argument)

Korra, your previous incarnation, Avatar Aang, entrusted us with-

KORRA

(Yells over him while smacking her fist into her palm)

Yeah, yeah! Come on, let's start this thing!

WHITE LOTUS LEADER looks at TENZIN who gives a very slight shrug. WHITE LOTUS LEADER turns back and sighs.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

All right. Begin!

(He gestures to the blue water team in the central field.)

That pair runs forward and with a few fluid motions of their arms the nearest piles of snow instantly melt into water and begin to sweep though the air in fluid ropes as the martial artists rush forward like a deadly rhythmic gymnastics ribbon floor-routine. Both attack at once but KORRA is ready. She moves in swaying, twirling motions to catch the jets of water in mid air with her own magical force and sends them rushing around back at their source. Then she goes on the attack, turning water into ice spikes and walls and back again.

KORRA

(Laughing)

Are we doing this or what? Let's go!

(She beckons over to the other two combat teams.)

The earth and fire teams look at each other uncertainly and then to the WHITE LOTUS LEADER for conformation. He just hangs his head and waves permission.

The earth team steps forward with a stomp as they sink into their stances. They kick on the ground to rip loose large slabs of earth which fly up before they kick them forward with magical propulsion. KORRA spins to face this and plants her feet, moving her fists up to raise up a wall of earth in front of her to catch the projectiles. Then she punches to send huge chunks of the wall flying back at the opponents before she thrusts her arms down to set the ground rippling like a wave in the earth.

Then KORRA jumps backwards as a blast of fire scorches the spot where she had just been standing. Both fire team members are running forward while punching, jumping and kicking out jets of fire in a constant assault like super-powered Shaolin monks. KORRA dodges and begins to attack back faster, letting loose with a barrage of fire-blasts larger than any her opponents were throwing. KORRA ignites balls of fire under the heels of her feet and skates off down the field, making a tight sweeping turn like a rocket propelled speed-skater. But then she has to dodge a large flying boulder and a tumbling sheet of ice. The other teams are focusing on her all at once.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(Frowning at the chaotic display)

This is absurd.

TENZIN is watching the same display and the flickering firelight and sparkling reflection of shattering ice wash across his face. But he has an expression of wonder and wistfulness.

TENZIN

This is incredible.

A stray chunk of smoking rock comes bouncing up towards his face but with a wave of his hand he safely cocoons it in a swirling ball of air before flinging it off to the side. The arrow-headed bison behind him lets out a grumbling groan as the rock lands near it.

TENZIN

Oh, hush.

KORRA finishes her test in an omnidirectional battle of three entangled elements. But soon enough the other combatants go flying backwards one by one to slide to a halt on the ground, groaning. KORRA lands back at her starting place and triumphantly rips off her helmet to toss it in the air.

KORRA

(Excited)

Ha, ha, ha! Yes!

(She catches sight of the watchers on the dais.)

Uh, I mean...

(She regains composure and smoothly bows the the assembled masters.)

In the moment that follows the WHITE LOTUS LEADER turns slightly to TENZIN.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(In a voice that is not meant to carry.)

So, what do you say, Master Tenzin?

TENZIN

She's incredibly powerful, but reckless. I don't see much evidence of caution.

KORRA

(waves at them from her spot a few yards in front of them.)

Hello? I'm right here. And why should I be afraid of anything? In case you've forgotten, I've been in here training to fight my whole life! That at least I've got down.

TENZIN

There are problems that can't be solved by force.

KORRA

Yeah, but there are a whole lot more that can.

(She turns back to the White Lotus leader.)

So...?

WHITE LOTUS LEADER looks down at the line of the three other elemental masters. One by one they nod.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

(Sigh)

You pass.

THREE ELEMENTAL MASTERS

(Together)

Avatar Korra, you are recognized as a master of the element!

KORRA

Woohoo! Yeah! Three down, one to go! Now to train with Air-Master Tenzin!

(Turns to TENZIN eagerly.)

So when do we start?

Her eager excitement melts as she sees the regret on his face.

TENZIN

Unfortunately, that will have to wait.

KORRA

What? Why? Isn't that the whole reason you came all the way out here? To teach me how to master air? That's the last element I have left to learn!

TENZIN

(Shows a twinge of guilt)

Not exactly. I'm sorry, but I can't stay. The United Republic is too unstable for me to remain away for long. My position on the ruling council means I have to return to protect the country my father helped found.

KORRA

But it has to be you who trains me! You're Avatar Aang's son. Since he died, you're the only air master left in the entire world. Aang would understand. He's my past life. I used to be him! I...

(in a voice mimicking a man)

You train me right now young man!



TENZIN

(unimpressed)

That is not how reincarnation works.

KORRA throws her arms down in anger and impotent frustration.

TENZIN

(sympathetically)

Korra, I know you're upset, but though it's true I came down here to seek guidance from the Order of the White Lotus, I can now also join you in celebrating your achievement today! Maybe in a year or two we can think about you coming to the city for...and she's walking away.

KORRA has turned her back and is rapidly stamping off across the torn and mangled testing field. TENZIN opens his mouth to call after her but then choses otherwise and turns around with a sweep of his saffron cape. He walks towards the main compound building followed by the White Lotus masters.

EXT. BASE OF THE COMPOUND WALLS

KORRA walks along in the shadow of the compound's ice walls, shrugging off her practice pads and grabbing a blue and white, fur-lined coat that was lying thrown over a piece of training equipment. Her hands are balled in fists at her side and her face is tight with her refusal to cry. The walls are very tall and loom above her as she walks by well-worn training equipment and obstacles, some sized for a small child.

KORRA comes to the compound's main gate. It is a massive structure. There is a White Lotus guard standing at attention by the control mechanism. She looks up at him, and the fire is gone from her voice.

KORRA

(tired)

Hey, could I go outside for a bit?

The GUARD bows.

GUARD

(respectfully)

Of course, Avatar.

He blows a sharp blast on a whistle around his neck and ten other guards quickly rush out to gather around KORRA.



EXT. OUTSIDE THE WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND FRONT GATE - LATE AFTERNOON

The main music theme swells as the huge doors of the compound gate slowly crack open and the squad of guards march out forming a wide circle around KORRA. Cut behind her to reveal that all this caution is to let her out into a vast empty frozen plain. The only sign of humanity beyond the walled compound is the single snow dusted dirt road that winds down from the compound gate and off into the distance. A sweeping arial shot hammers in the sense of desolation as the camera gradually rotates round the compound to focus on one of the windows in the main building.



INT. WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND MEETING ROOM

TENZIN stands by the window where in the distance he can see KORRA'S guard convoy wandering outside the compound walls. He turns away to look back down at the maps of a costal city spread out on the table before him.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

She is ready, you know.

TENZIN

I know. But if she can just wait a year or two longer. It's too unstable back in the city to throw an Avatar-in-training into the mix. The power of the criminal Triads is provoking protest movements and the council is just barely managing to hold it all together. The world is changing, old traditions are giving way to new ones. And the Avatar Reborn is not yet...ready The United Republic is my father's legacy, a new country people of all four nations to live together in harmony. I must protect that dream.

WHITE LOTUS LEADER

And so must she. It is the Avatar's duty to keep balance across the world.

TENZIN

Yes, and she will. One day.



EXT. WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND STABLES - SUNSET

KORRA approaches a crowd of White Lotus around TENZIN. She is rehearsing a speech to herself, making little gestures as she acts out both sides of the upcoming argument.

KORRA

(to herself)

Look, Tenzin, I understand that you have responsibilities but I do too and if...

Then she sees that TENZIN is loading things onto his bison in preparation to leave. She freezes. He sees her and his face briefly lights up. But KORRA's expression settles into anger and betrayal as her gaze focuses on his packed bags. She adjusts her path slightly and walks past him towards the main compound building. TENZIN shakes his head and with a swirl of his hands jumps up on top of his bison, gently propelled by a vortex of air. The shaggy bison roars and flexes its long tail as it begins to rise into the air with a huge blast of wind, floating with a magical power at odds with its hulking appearance. They fly off into the setting sun. KORRA'S hand clenches into a fist as the music rises.



INT. KORRA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Her room is furnished with well-made items, but looks very lived in as the sole refuge of a teenager who has spent nearly her entire life in seclusion from society. It is strewn with cheap dog-eared paperback books. The fancy and expensive volumes her tutors would prefer her be reading are dusty and unopened. Outside the window KORRA sees guards walking along the fortified wall. She glares with determination and grabs an empty backpack.



EXT. WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND - NIGHT

KORRA sneaks out and crosses the yard to the outer wall. She pauses for a moment before the ice wall. Then she sweeps her arms around in broad arcs as the ice turns to liquid before her. She easily makes a tunnel through the massive wall, busting through rock and ice. She rebuilds the wall behind her just as easily.



EXT. OUTSIDE WHITE LOTUS COMPOUND - NIGHT

KORRA runs forward down the hill slope and forms a board or sled out of ice drawn from the snow. She slides off down the mountain into the night.



EXT. WATER TRIBE VILLAGE - NIGHT

KORRA travels along the coast on a raft made of ice propelled by her water-bending. KORRA's home village rises up over the starry sea.



INT. KORRA'S FAMILY HOUSE

KORRA stands before her parents, SENNA and TONROQ, with her pack in her hands. They are a little older with a little more grey in their hair from worrying about her. There is an awkward power dynamic as her parents are uncomfortable standing before their daughter who is also the most highly ranking individual in the world. Then KORRA rushes forward to hug them and the tension breaks.



EXT. WATER TRIBE CITY - HARBOR - DAWN

This city is not large or particularly advanced or indeed worthy of being called more than a town in most countries but here on this continent it is the pinnacle of modernity. In the distance to one side of the city are the hints of an open pit-mine carved into the side of a mountain. To the other side are glaciers. The buildings in the city are a mix of traditional hide houses, modern metal roofed constructions, and large ice buildings that look like they had been frozen from a single mold. The harbor is almost larger than the rest of the city combined. Half the ships docked there are small, weathered cargo boats carrying ore or fishing boats waiting to head out to the shoals. The other half are giant transports waiting to transport the spoils of this southern continent back to the rich countries.

Even at this early hour the docks and harbor are being governed by water-benders who manipulate the element with graceful ease. One of the larger ships is flying the Water Tribe flag, a stylized moon and wave in white on blue and someone, KORRA, is walking up the gangplank from the pier towards it.

Sailors move to stop this trespasser at the railing, but then she lowers her hood to reveal that it is KORRA. All the sailors show instant recognition and retreat with amazed reverence. The captain rushes up to see what all this commotion is about. When he sees KORRA he stops as suddenly as his crew. KORRA bows her head slightly and makes a pleading gesture. In response the entire crew starting with the captain bow deeply.



EXT. SHIP AT SEA - ICY SEAS - DAY

Icebergs float around the ship as it powers forward across the ocean.



EXT. SHIP AT SEA - OPEN SEA - NIGHT

The moon is bright. In the distance a sea serpent breaches.



EXT. SHIP AT SEA - OLD AIR NOMAD ISLANDS - DAY

KORRA rushes to the railing as the ship passes near an island mountain that comes down to the waterline as a shear cliff. Just above the waves a massive statue is carved into the rock in the shape of a meditating monk with arrow tattoos on his head and limbs. The statue is broken and unmaintained after long neglect. In places the rock is still blackened from old fires. There are other carvings on the cliff above that look like the bison Tenzin rode. High on the mountain above, the hints of ruins can just be made out through the clouds.



EXT. SHIP AT SEA - EARTH KINGDOM WATERS - EVENING

On the coast there is a wide, lush valley filled with rice paddies. On one of the valley's sides there is an ancient walled town that rises out of the stone itself, built long ago from the living bones of the mountain. The cliff above is embossed with the images of local gods and heroes. On a promontory rising up at the edge of the sea there is a small yet elegant house in traditional Chinese style. The very edge of the promontory has been cleared into an octagonal practice space and there an old earth-master with a long beard slowly practices the forms of his art. The master halts in his practice and lets his chosen slab of stone fall still as he watches the ship pass by in the distance.



EXT. SHIP AT SEA - FIRE NATION WATERS - MORNING

The ship passes by a tropical volcanic isle. A stream of smoke rises up from the peak of a visible mountain. Near the coast is large red temple with a tall multi-story pagoda of Tai design. Closer to the beach there is a line of train tracks. Between the ship and the temple there is a train platform with a engine stopped there. On the platform are a line of Fire Sages in red robes and tall fabric hats. They are overseeing people unloading a shipment from the train and they hold floating flames in their hands. A man in a black eastern suit is checking the goods against a clipboard before he glances out over the water to see the passing ship. In the sky over the island a long serpent-like dragon soars on spread wings.



INT. KORRA'S CRAMPED STATEROOM

Sun streams in through the small porthole as KORRA dozes on a small bed platform in a stateroom.

MALE VOICE

(Ship-wide announcement)

Republic City! All ashore!

KORRA jumps up with sudden excitement and grabs her little pack which now has her coat stuffed inside it.