Avatar: The Last Airbender (2003–2008): Season 3, Episode 13 - The Firebending Masters - full transcript

KATARA: Water...

Earth...

Fire...

Air.

Long ago, the four nations lived
together in harmony.

Then everything changed
when the Fire Nation attacked.

Only the Avatar, master of all
four elements, could stop them.

But when the world needed him most,
he vanished.

100 years passed and my brother
and I discovered the new Avatar.

An airbender named Aang.

And although his airbending
skills are great,



he has a lot to learn before
he's ready to save anyone.

AANG: Oof!

But I believe Aang can save the world.

[♪]

[MAN READING]

AANG: So what's the new plan?

SOKKA: The new plan is the old plan.

You just need to master all four elements

and confront the Fire Lord
before the comet comes.

Where am I supposed to get
a firebending teacher?

Hello.

Zuko here.

I think it's time I joined your group
and taught the Avatar firebending.

And I know my destiny is to help you
restore balance to the world.



I think you are supposed to be
my firebending teacher.

[MEN VOCALIZING RHYTHMICALLY]

ZUKO: I know you're nervous,
but remember, firebending

in and of itself is not something to fear.

[SIGHING]

Okay.

Not something to fear.

But if you don't respect it

it'll chew you up and spit you out
like an angry komodo rhino.

[GASPING]

Now, show me what you've got.

Any amount of fire you can make.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Maybe I need a little more instruction.

Perhaps a demonstration?

ZUKO: Good idea

You might want to take
a couple steps back.

[INHALES]

[GRUNTING]

What was that?

That was the worst
firebending I've ever seen.

I thought it was nice.

[GRUNTING]

[GROANING]

Why is this happening?

Maybe it's the altitude.

Yeah, could be.

[GRUNTING]

[YAWNING]

Just breathe, and...

That one kind of felt hot.

Don't patronize me.

You know what it's supposed to look like.

Sorry, Sifu Hotman.

And stop calling me that.

SOKKA: Hey, jerks.

Mind if I watch you two jerks
do your jerk bending?

Get out of here.

Okay, take it easy.

I was just kidding around.

[CHUCKLING]

Jerk bending.

Still got it.

[GROANING]

ZUKO: Listen, everybody.

I've got some pretty bad news.

I've lost my stuff.

Don't look at me.

I didn't touch your stuff.

I'm talking about my firebending.

It's gone.

[KATARA LAUGHING]

I'm sorry.

I'm just laughing at the irony.

You know, how it would've been nice for us

if you'd lost your firebending
a long time ago?

Well, it's not lost.

It's just weaker for some reason.

Maybe you're just not as good
as you think you are.

Ouch.

I bet it's because I changed sides.

That's ridiculous.

I don't know.

Maybe it isn't.

Maybe your firebending comes from rage

and you just don't have enough anger
to fuel it the way you used to.

So all we need to do is make Zuko angry.

Easy enough.

[LAUGHING]

Okay, cut it out!

Look.

Even if you're right, I don't want to rely
on hate and anger anymore.

There has to be another way.

You're gonna need to learn to draw
your firebending from a different source.

I recommend the original source.

How's he supposed to do that?

By jumping into a volcano?

No.

Zuko needs to go back to whatever
the source of firebending is.

So is it jumping into a volcano?

I don't know.

For earthbending, the original benders
were badgermoles.

One day, when I was little,
I ran away and hid in a cave.

[CRYING]

[CRASHING]

That's where I met them.

[GROWLING]

[LAUGHING]

They were blind, just like me, so we
understood each other.

I was able to learn earthbending,
not just as a martial art

but as an extension of my senses.

For them, the original earthbenders,
it wasn't just about fighting.

It was their way of interacting
with the world.

AANG: That's amazing, Toph.

I learned from the monks, but the
original airbenders were the sky bison.

Maybe you can give me
a lesson sometime, buddy.

[GROWLING]

Well, this doesn't help me.

The original firebenders
were the dragons and they're extinct.

What do you mean?

Roku had a dragon, and there were
plenty of dragons when I was a kid.

Well, they aren't around anymore, okay?

Okay, okay.

Sorry.

ZUKO: But maybe there's another way.

The first people to learn from the dragons
were the ancient Sun Warriors.

AANG: Sun warriors?

Well, I know they weren't around
when I was a kid.

No, they died off
thousands of years ago.

But their civilization wasn't too far
from where we are now.

Maybe we can learn
by poking around the ruins.

It's like the monks used to tell me.

Sometimes, the shadows of the past
can be felt by the present.

SOKKA: So what?

Maybe you'll pick up some
super old Sun Warrior energy

just by standing where they stood
1,000 years ago?

ZUKO: More or less.

Either I find a new way to firebend,
or the Avatar has to find a new teacher.

[WHOOSHING]

We've been riding for hours.

I don't know why, but I thought
this thing would be a lot faster.

[GROWLING]

Appa's right, Zuko.

In our group, typically we start out our
missions with a more upbeat attitude.

[GROANING], I can't believe this.

AANG: Don't worry.

You'll get the hang of it.

Whoa!

ZUKO: Even though
these buildings are ancient

there's something eerily
familiar about them.

I can tell the fire sages' temples are
somehow descended from these.

AANG: Okay, we've learned something
about architecture.

Hopefully, we'll learn something about
firebending too.

The past can be a great teacher.

[SCREAMING]

[AANG GRUNTING]

[WHIMPERING]

Zuko, I think the past
is trying to kill me.

I can't believe it.

This booby trap must be centuries old,
and it still works.

There's probably a lot more.

Maybe this means we shouldn't be here.

Where's that upbeat attitude
you were talking about?

Besides, people don't make traps unless
they've got something worth protecting.

Look.

This seems promising.

Though I'm not sure this tells us
about the original source of firebending.

They look pretty angry to me.

AANG: I thought the dragons were
friends with the Sun Warriors.

ZUKO: Well, they had
a funny way of showing it.

Zuko, something happened
to the dragons in the last 100 years.

Something you're not telling me.

My great-grandfather Sozin happened.

He started the tradition
of hunting dragons for glory.

They were the ultimate firebenders.

And if you could conquer one, your
firebending talents would become legendary

and you'd earn the honorary title, dragon.

The last great dragon was conquered
long before I was born, by my uncle.

But I thought your uncle was,
I don't know, good?

He had a complicated past.

Family tradition, I guess.

Let's just move on.

[GRUNTING]

It's locked up.

Wait.

It's a celestial calendar.

Just like the fire sages
have in their temples.

I bet that sun stone opens the door

but only when sunlight hits it
at just the right angle on the solstice.

Monkey feathers.

The solstice again.

We can't wait here that long.

No, we can't.

But we might be able to speed time up.

Let's see if we can outsmart
the sun stone.

Nothing's happening.

Come on.

[RUMBLING]

You know, Zuko, I don't care what everyone
else says about you.

You're pretty smart.

[GASPING]

Relax.

They're just statues.

It says this is something
called the Dancing Dragon.

Zuko, get over here.

I want you to dance with me.

-What?
-Just do it.

[ZUKO GROANING]

Let's follow the steps of the statues.

Don't you see?

These aren't dance moves.

These statues are giving us a lesson.

I think this is some kind
of Sun Warrior firebending form.

This better teach us some
really good firebending.

Hooray!

Wait.

What exactly is that?

It's some kind of mystical gemstone.

Well, don't touch it.

Why not?

Remember what happened out there
with those spikes?

I'm just very suspicious of giant,
glowing gems sitting on pedestals.

It feels almost alive.

[SCREAMING]

Oh, no, it's another trap.

[GROANING]

I can't pull free.

It's like some kind of glue.

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[GROANING]

I can't move.

Zuko, do something.

Me?

I can't move either.

[GROANING]

It stopped.

At least we have air.

Maybe if we stay calm,
we can figure a way out of this.

You had to pick up
the glowing egg, didn't you?

At least I made
something happen.

If it were up to you, we'd never
have made it past the courtyard.

Help!

Who are you yelling to?

Nobody's lived here for centuries.

Well, what do you think we should do?

Think about our place in the universe?

[SIGHING]

Who is down there?

For trying to take our sun stone,
you must be severely punished.

We didn't come here
to take your sun stone.

We came here to find the
ancient origin of all firebending.

MAN: yeah, right.

They are obviously thieves,
here to steal Sun Warrior treasures.

AANG: Please.

I don't normally play this card,
but I'm the Avatar.

Just hear us out.

My name is Zuko,
Crown Prince of the Fire Nation.

Or at least, I used to be.

I know my people have distorted
the ways of firebending,

to be fueled by anger and rage.

But now I want to learn the true way,
the original way.

When we came here, I never imagined

the Sun Warrior civilization
was secretly alive.

I am truly humbled to be in your presence.

Please, teach us.

If you wish to learn the ways of the sun

you must learn them from
the masters Ran and Shao.

Ran and Shao?

There are two of them?

When you present yourselves
to them, they will examine you.

They'll read your hearts,
your souls, and your ancestry.

If they deem you worthy,
they'll teach you.

If they don't, you'll be
destroyed on the spot.

CHIEF: If you're going to see the masters,

you must bring them a piece
of the eternal flame.

This fire is the very first one.

It was given to man by the dragons.

We have kept it going
for thousands of years.

I don't believe it.

CHIEF: You will each take
a piece of it to the masters

to show your commitment to
the sacred art of firebending.

Um, Mister Sun Chief, sir?

Yeah, I'm not a firebender yet.

Couldn't my friend here
carry my fire for me?

No.

This ritual illustrates
the essence of Sun Warrior philosophy.

You must maintain a constant heat.

The flame will go out
if you make it too small.

Make it too big,
and you might lose control.

I'm sorry.

I'm just a little nervous.

It's like a little heartbeat.

Fire is life, not just destruction.

You will take your flames up there.

The cave of the masters
is beneath that rock.

Hurry up.

I can't.

If I walk too fast, my flame'll go out.

Your flame's gonna go out
because it's too small.

You're too timid.

Give it more juice.

But what if I can't control it?

You can do it.

I know you can.

You're a talented kid.

Facing the judgment of the firebending
masters will be very dangerous for you.

Your ancestors are directly responsible
for the dragons' disappearance.

The masters might not be
so happy to see you.

I know I wouldn't be.

But once they find out I'm the Avatar...

Have you forgotten that you vanished

allowing the Fire Nation
to wreak havoc on the world?

The decline of the dragons
is your burden too.

We could turn back now.

We've already learned more
about fire than we'd hoped.

No, we're seeing through to the end.

We're gonna meet these masters
and find out what's so great about them.

What if they judge us and attack us?

Well, we're the fire prince
and the Avatar.

I think we could take these guys in
a fight, whoever they are.

Bring 'em out.

Chanters!

[MEN VOCALIZING RHYTHMICALLY]

MAN: Those who wish to meet the masters
Ran and Shao will now present their fire.

CHIEF: Sound the call.

[HORN BLOWING]

[CRASHING]

What's happening?

[GASPING]

Zuko, my fire went out.

What do you want me to do?

Give me some of yours.

[GRUNTING]

-No, just make your own.
-I can't.

[GRUNTING]

ZUKO: Get some from one of those warriors.
Hurry.

Stop cheating off me.

AANG: Quit being stingy.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[CRASHING]

BOTH: Uh-oh.

[DRAGON GROWLING]

These are the masters.

You still think we can take 'em?

Shh.

I never said that.

Oh, here it comes.

Any moment now.

Dinner for the masters.

Quiet, Ham Ghao.

What?

Everyone's thinking it.

Zuko, I think we're supposed to
do the dragon dance with them.

What?

What about this situation makes you think
they want us to dance?

Well, I think they want us
to do something.

Let's just try it.

Fine.

Judgment time.

[DRAGON GROWLING]

[WHIMPERING]

[AANG AND ZUKO SCREAMING]

[GASPING]

I understand.

Their fire was beautiful.

I saw so many colors,
colors I've never imagined.

AANG: Like firebending harmony.

Yes.

They judged you, and gave you visions of
the meaning of firebending.

I can't believe there are
still living dragons

My uncle Iroh said he faced
the last dragon and killed it.

So your uncle lied.

Actually, it wasn't a total lie.

Iroh was the last outsider
to face the masters.

They deemed him worthy
and passed the secret on to him as well.

ZUKO: He must've lied to protect them,
so no one else would hunt them.

All this time, I thought
firebending was destruction.

Since I hurt Katara,
I've been too afraid and hesitant

But now I know what it really is.

It's energy, and life.

Yeah.

It's like the sun, but inside of you.

Do you guys realize this?

Well, our civilization is called
the Sun Warriors, so yeah.

That's why my firebending
was so weak before,

because for so many years,
hunting you was my drive.

It was my purpose.

So when I joined you,
I lost sight of my inner fire.

But now, I have a new drive.

I have to help you defeat my father
and restore balance to the world.

Now that you have learned the secrets
and you know about our tribe's existence,

we have no choice but to
imprison you here forever.

Just kidding.

But seriously, don't tell anyone.

AANG: With this technique the dragons
showed us, Zuko and I will be unstoppable.

[APPLAUSE]

SOKKA: Yeah, that's a great
dance you two learned there.

It's not a dance.

It's a firebending form.

We'll just tap dance our way
to victory over the Fire Lord.

It's a sacred form that happens to be
thousands of years old.

Oh, yeah?

What's your little form called?

The Dancing Dragon.

[LAUGHTER]

[MEN VOCALIZING RHYTHMICALLY]

[♪]