INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE - AANG’s ROOM - NIGHT
WIDE ON: A dark child’s room is shown, with the sounds of scuffling and frantic panting heard. A figure in a brown cloak is seen pacing back and forth, leaving something on a table before rushing out of the door.
INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - NIGHT
WIDE ON: Another man, Gyatso, enters a large chamber, with seven men seated on large thrones before him. He has a letter in his hands, and is clearly quite distraught by something.
GYATSO
My friends, I have news.
TASHI
As do we, Gyatso.
MEDIUM ON: TASHI leans forward to speak.
TASHI
We’ve received news from the Eastern Air Temple. The attacks are growing stronger. They say the Western Temple has been eradicated completely.
CLOSE ON: MONK GYATSO turns shocked at the news he hears.
INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE - HALL - NIGHT
WIDE ON: The child, cloaked, sneaks down a wall, but disappears back behind it when he sees two monks coming down the hallway. He waits until they have passed, and continues down his way.
TASHI (V.O.)
If we have any hope of Aáng completing his training, we must remove him safely from the temple. He can resume elsewhere.
INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - NIGHT
CLOSE ON: GYATSO stressfully hangs his head before answering.
GYATSO
My friends, Aáng is no longer with us. He has run away.
PASANG
What?!
MEDIUM ON: The elders begin, in panic, to discuss amongst themselves.
GYATSO
It’s my fault.
GYATSO’s comment breaks the noise, as the elders’ eyes fall on him.
CLOSE ON: GYATSO holds up the letter and unrolls it, displaying it to the others.
GYATSO
I should never have submitted to his finding out at this time. You saw his performance at the presentation. He’s not ready for the responsibility.
EXT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE - BISON PEN – NIGHT
WIDE ON: AÁNG sneaks into a pen where the sky-bison are kept.
MEDIUM ON: AÁNG pulls back his hood to reveal his face, and finds one of the bison in the pen. It begins to growl. AÁNG tries to shush it.
AÁNG
(hushed)
Hey! Take it easy, Appa. It’s me, Aáng.
The creature lets out a content sigh.
AÁNG (CONT’D)
Listen, you’re coming on a little trip with me. All right?
He then starts to mount the creature.
INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBER – NIGHT
MEDIUM ON: GYATSO and the councilmen are both seen in profile.
PASANG
(furious)
You fool! The Fire Nation is coming, Gyatso! Aáng would have been the first they’d have suspected.
GYATSO
All the better that he escaped, then-
CLOSE ON: PASANG grows furious and points his finger to GYATSO.
PASANG
You don’t understand! Had he remained here, we could have hidden him, protected him! Now, there is no way to guarantee his safety.
CLOSE ON: The impact of the news hits MONK GYATSO, and he almost seems to mouth ‘What have I done?’ to himself.
EXT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE – BISON PEN – NIGHT
WIDE ON: AÁNG is now seated atop APPA, and begins to grip the reins.
AÁNG
Appa, yip-yip!
APPA begins to hover off of the ground, as AÁNG grips his reins tightly.
MEDIUM ON: GYATSO rushes out of the temple to see AÁNG leaving. He yells and rushes after him.
CLOSE ON: AÁNG sees GYATSO, but snaps the reins and APPA speeds away from the temple.
CLOSE ON: GYATSO pitifully watches AÁNG fly away. He mouths a ‘good-bye’.
INT. SOUTHERN AIR TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBER – NIGHT
CLOSE ON: GYATSO falters as he looks for words to say.
GYATSO
What do we do now?
CLOSE ON: PASANG has great grief on his face.
PASANG
Whatever we can.
EXT. – SKY – NIGHT
CLOSE ON: AANG clearly has much regret about what he has done, but keeps flying.
WIDE ON: APPA disappears into the night sky.