INT. TEMPLE – NIGHT
CLOSE ON: A few bones are seen in the flames of a fire. A wrinkled hand reaches into the fire and pulls out a bone.
ANGLE ON: An ORACLE reads the cracks of the bone. SOZIN waits patiently for her to finish.
SOZIN
What does it say?
The ORACLE holds her hand up as to silence him. She reads the bones further.
CLOSE ON: Her finger traces the cracks.
SOZIN (O.S.)
What of the comet?
ANGLE ON: The ORACLE places the bone down on a plate.
ORACLE
The comet shall appear in two days time. As it did a century ago, your power will be greatly enhanced.
SOZIN grins maliciously.
ANGLE ON: The ORACLE then shudders and grips SOZIN’S ARM, working up to his forearm.
ORACLE
Be warned.
SOZIN leans closer in to listen.
ORACLE
As you assume control, a powerful bender will come. Your efforts will be halted, your army decimated, and you shall be defeated.
SOZIN widens his eyes.
SOZIN
What kind of bender?
CLOSE ON: The ORACLE squints, reaching out.
ORACLE
Air… Water… Earth… and Fire.
ANGLE ON: SOZIN leans back.
SOZIN
(whisper)
The Avatar.
He grips the ORACLE’S arm at the forearm.
SOZIN
Where shall the next Avatar be born into?
ORACLE
The Air Nomads.
SOZIN
(desperately)
Who shall he be? What is his name? Where-
ORACLE
(furiously)
Silence!
SOZIN recoils in fear.
ANGLE ON: The ORACLE relinquishes her grip.
ORACLE
Such things cannot be told so early.
SOZIN groans and stands.
SOZIN
Then I shall exterminate all of the Air Nomads!
ANGLE ON: SOZIN turns away from the ORACLE.
SOZIN (CONT’D)
My plans have come too far to be uprooted by a remnant of a past age. There will be nothing to stop me from my goal.
ORACLE
Take heed, Sozin. The tighter you grip on the Four Nations the farther they shall slip from you.
SOZIN turns to face the ORACLE.
SOZIN
I fear nothing. The world shall burn before me!