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The Puppetmaster

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.

BUT I BELIEVE AANG CAN SAVE THE WORLD.

♪

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ONLY WATERBENDER IN THE WHOLE SOUTH POLE.

THIS SHIP HAS HAUNTED MY TRIBE SINCE GRAN-GRAN WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

IT WAS PART OF THE FIRE NATION'S FIRST ATTACKS.

Woman: THE LEGENDS SAY THE MOON WAS THE FIRST WATERBENDER.

OUR ANCESTORS SAW HOW IT PUSHED AND PULLED THE TIDES

AND LEARNED HOW TO DO IT THEMSELVES.

Katara: I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED MY WATERBENDING IS STRONGER AT NIGHT.

Toph: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Katara: I'M MAKING MY OWN WATER.

♪

[CRICKETS CHIRPING...]

SUDDENLY, THEY HEARD SOMETHING DOWN THE HALL, IN THE DARK.

♪ OOH... ♪

IT CAME INTO THE TORCHLIGHT.

AND THEY KNEW THE BLADE OF WING-FUN WAS HAUNTED!

♪ AH-AH... ♪

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" STORY?

NO, IT HAPPENED TO MOM.

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.

"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.

Sokka: 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.

[GASPS] WAIT.

GUYS, DID YOU HEAR THAT?

I HEAR PEOPLE UNDER THE MOUNTAIN, AND THEY'RE SCREAMING.

PFT, NICE TRY.

Toph: NO, I'M SERIOUS, I HEAR SOMETHING.

Katara: YOU'RE PROBABLY JUST JUMPY FROM THE GHOST STORIES.

Toph: IT JUST STOPPED.

ALL RIGHT, NOW I'M GETTING SCARED.

Woman: HELLO, CHILDREN.

[SCREAMING]

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?

YES, PLEASE.

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.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DISAPPEARING?

WHEN THE MOON TURNS FULL, PEOPLE WALK IN

AND THEY DON'T COME OUT.

WHO WANTS MORE TEA?

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?

[WOOD CREAKS]

[GRUNTS]

[WOOD CREAKS]

[GASPS]

I KNOW, MOMO, THIS PLACE IS CREEPY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO FALL ASLEEP.

[SNORING...]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

Hama: WAKEY-WAKEY.

TIME TO GO SHOPPING.

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.

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.

PEOPLE DISAPPEARING IN THE WOODS,

WEIRD STUFF DURING FULL MOONS,

THIS JUST REEKS OF SPIRIT WORLD SHENANIGANS.

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.

Hama: 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.

MYSTERIOUS TOWN FOR MYSTERIOUS CHILDREN.

THAT HAMA SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE.

LIKE SHE KNOWS SOMETHING, OR SHE'S HIDING SOMETHING.

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.

BUT WHAT DID SHE MEAN BY THAT COMMENT "MYSTERIOUS CHILDREN"?

GEE, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE BECAUSE SHE FOUND FOUR STRANGE KIDS CAMPING IN THE WOODS AT NIGHT?

ISN'T THAT A LITTLE MYSTERIOUS?

I'M GONNA TAKE A LOOK AROUND.

SOKKA, SOKKA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU CAN'T JUST SNOOP AROUND SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

Sokka: IT'LL BE FINE.

Aang: SHE COULD BE HOME ANY MINUTE.

SOKKA, YOU'RE GONNA GET US ALL IN TROUBLE.

AND THIS IS JUST PLAIN RUDE.

I'M NOT FINISHED YET.

[GRUNTS] COME ON...

[SCREAMS]

Aang: OK, THAT'S PRETTY CREEPY.

SO SHE'S GOT A HOBBY.

THERE'S NOTHING WEIRD ABOUT THAT.

SOKKA, YOU'VE LOOKED ENOUGH.

HAMA WILL BE BACK SOON.

[SOKKA GRUNTS]

JUST AN ORDINARY, PUPPET-LOVING INNKEEPER, HUH?

THEN WHY DOES SHE HAVE A LOCKED DOOR UP HERE?

PROBABLY TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE YOU FROM SNOOPING THROUGH HER STUFF.

Sokka: WE'LL SEE.

IT'S EMPTY EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE CHEST.

[GASPS] MAYBE IT'S TREASURE.

SOKKA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE BREAKING INTO A PRIVATE ROOM.

I HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S IN THERE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS.

MAYBE THERE'S A KEY HERE SOMEWHERE.

OH, HAND IT OVER.

COME ON, COME ON.

THIS ISN'T AS EASY IT LOOKS.

Aang: GUYS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS CRAZY, I'M LEAVING.

SUIT YOURSELF, DO IT, TOPH.

Hama: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S IN THE BOX.

AN OLD COMB?

IT'S MY GREATEST TREASURE.

IT'S THE LAST THING I OWNED FROM GROWING UP IN THE SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE.

YOU'RE FROM THE SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE?

JUST LIKE YOU.

HOW DID YOU KNOW?

I HEARD YOU TALKING AROUND YOUR CAMPFIRE.

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.

[GAGS]

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.

[GRUNTS] BUT I'M SORRY WE WERE SNEAKING AROUND.

APOLOGY ACCEPTED.

NOW LET'S GET COOKING.

[MOMO CHIRPS]

I'D STEER CLEAR OF THE SEA PRUNES.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE OCEAN KUMQUATS.

CLOSE ENOUGH.

WHO WANTS FIVE-FLAVOR SOUP?

YOU'RE A WATERBENDER.

I'VE NEVER MET ANOTHER WATERBENDER FROM OUR TRIBE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE FIRE NATION WIPED THEM ALL OUT.

I WAS THE LAST ONE.

SO HOW DID YOU END UP OUT HERE?

I WAS STOLEN FROM MY HOME.

IT WAS OVER 60 YEARS AGO WHEN THE RAIDS STARTED.

[LAUGHING]

[MAN SCREAMS]

Hama: THEY CAME AGAIN AND AGAIN.

EACH TIME, ROUNDING UP MORE OF OUT WATERBENDERS AND TAKING THEM CAPTIVE.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

WE DID OUR BEST TO HOLD THEM OFF

BUT OUR NUMBERS DWINDLED AS THE RAIDS CONTINUED.

FINALLY, I, TOO, WAS CAPTURED.

I WAS LED AWAY IN CHAINS.

THE LAST WATERBENDER OF THE SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE.

THEY PUT US IN TERRIBLE PRISONS HERE IN THE FIRE NATION.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO MANAGED TO ESCAPE.

HOW DID YOU GET AWAY?

AND WHY DID YOU STAY IN THE FIRE NATION?

I'M SORRY.

IT'S TOO PAINFUL TO TALK ABOUT ANYMORE.

WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

WE LOST OUR MOTHER IN A RAID.

OH, YOU POOR THINGS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO MEET YOU.

IT'S AN HONOR, YOU'RE A HERO.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D MEET ANOTHER SOUTHERN WATERBENDER.

I'D LIKE TO TEACH YOU WHAT I KNOW

SO YOU CAN CARRY ON THE SOUTHERN TRADITION WHEN I'M GONE.

YES, YES, OF COURSE.

TO LEARN ABOUT MY HERITAGE, IT WOULD MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME.

Hama: GROWING UP AT THE SOUTH POLE

WATERBENDERS ARE TOTALLY AT HOME SURROUNDED BY SNOW AND ICE AND SEAS.

BUT AS YOU PROBABLY NOTICED ON YOUR TRAVELS

THAT ISN'T THE CASE WHEREVER YOU GO.

I KNOW, WHEN WE WERE STRANDED IN THE DESERT

I FELT LIKE THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING I COULD DO.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO CONTROL WATER WHEREVER IT EXISTS.

I'VE EVEN USED MY OWN SWEAT FOR WATERBENDING.

THAT'S VERY RESOURCEFUL, KATARA.

YOU'RE THINKING LIKE A TRUE MASTER.

BUT DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN EVEN PULL WATER OUT OF THIN AIR?

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND, KATARA.

THERE'S WATER IN PLACES YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT.

Aang: THIS HAS GOTTA BE THE NICEST, NATURAL SETTING IN THE FIRE NATION.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE A SPIRIT MAD AROUND HERE.

MAYBE THE MOON SPIRIT JUST TURNED MEAN.

THE MOON SPIRIT IS A GENTLE, LOVING LADY.

SHE RULES THE SKY WITH COMPASSION.

AND... LUNAR GOODNESS.

Aang: EXCUSE ME, SIR.

CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE SPIRIT THAT'S BEEN STEALING PEOPLE?

ONLY ONE MAN EVER SAW IT AND LIVED, AND THAT'S OLD MAN DING.

WHERE DOES OLD MAN DING LIVE?

Katara: WOW, THESE FLOWERS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Hama: THEY'RE CALLED FIRE LILIES.

THEY ONLY BLOOM A FEW WEEKS A YEAR

BUT THEY'RE ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING HERE.

AND LIKE ALL PLANTS, AND ALL LIVING THINGS, THEY'RE FILLED WITH WATER.

I MET A WATERBENDER WHO LIVED IN A SWAMP

AND COULD CONTROL THE VINES BY BENDING THE WATER INSIDE.

YOU CAN TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S A SHAME ABOUT THE LILIES, THOUGH.

THEY'RE JUST FLOWERS.

WHEN YOU'RE A WATERBENDER IN A STRANGE LAND

YOU DO WHAT YOU MUST TO SURVIVE.

TONIGHT, I'LL TEACH YOU THE ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE OF WATERBENDING.

IT CAN ONLY BE DONE DURING THE FULL MOON

WHEN YOUR BENDING IS AT ITS PEAK.

BUT ISN'T THAT DANGEROUS?

I THOUGHT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISAPPEARING AROUND HERE DURING THE FULL MOON.

OH, KATARA.

TWO MASTER WATERBENDERS BENEATH A FULL MOON?

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Aang: OLD MAN DING?

EH, OW...

AW, DAD BLAME IT.

WHAT?

CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY?

GOT A FULL MOON RISING.

AND WHY DOES EVERYONE CALL ME THAT, I'M NOT THAT OLD.

[GRUNTS]

AWW...

WELL, I'M YOUNG AT HEART.

NOT READY TO GET SNAPPED UP BY SOME MOON MONSTER, YET, AT LEAST.

Sokka: WE WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

DID YOU GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE SPIRIT THAT TOOK YOU?

DIDN'T SEE NO SPIRIT.

JUST FELT SOMETHING COME OVER ME.

LIKE I WAS POSSESSED.

FORCED ME TO START WALKING TOWARD THE MOUNTAIN.

I TRIED TO FIGHT IT, BUT I COULDN'T CONTROL MY OWN LIMBS.

IT JUST ABOUT HAD ME INTO A CAVE UP THERE.

AND I LOOKED UP AT THE MOON FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE MY LAST GLIMPSE OF LIGHT.

BUT THEN THE SUN STARTED TO RISE.

AND I GOT CONTROL OF MYSELF AGAIN.

I JUST HIGH-TAILED IT AWAY FROM THAT MOUNTAIN AS QUICK AS I COULD.

WHY WOULD A SPIRIT WANT TO TAKE PEOPLE TO A MOUNTAIN?

OH, NO!

I DID HEAR PEOPLE SCREAMING UNDER THE MOUNTAIN.

THE MISSING VILLAGERS MUST STILL BE THERE.

I CAN HEAR THEM, THEY'RE THIS WAY.

Hama: CAN YOU FEEL THE POWER THE FULL MOON BRINGS?

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

FOR GENERATIONS, IT HAS BLESSED WATERBENDERS WITH ITS GLOW.

ALLOWING US TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS.

I'VE NEVER FELT MORE ALIVE.

THIS IS THE PLACE.

Sokka: I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING DOWN THERE.

Toph: THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ME, LET'S GO.

WE'RE SAVED.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SPIRITS MADE PRISONS LIKE THIS, WHO BROUGHT YOU HERE?

IT WAS NO SPIRIT.

IT WAS A WITCH.

A WITCH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

SHE SEEMS LIKE A NORMAL OLD WOMAN.

BUT SHE CONTROLS PEOPLE LIKE SOME DARK PUPPETMASTER.

HAMA.

YES, THE INNKEEPER.

I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING CREEPY ABOUT HER.

WE HAVE TO STOP HAMA.

I'LL GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF HERE, YOU GO.

[OWL HOOTS]

Hama: WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU

I DISCOVERED IN THAT WRETCHED, FIRE NATION PRISON.

THE GUARDS WERE ALWAYS CAREFUL TO KEEP ANY WATER AWAY FROM US.

THEY PIPED IN DRY AIR, AND HAD US SUSPENDED AWAY FROM THE GROUND.

BEFORE GIVING US ANY WATER, THEY WOULD BIND OUR HANDS AND FEET SO WE COULDN'T BEND.

ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS MET WITH CRUEL RETRIBUTION.

AND YET, EACH MONTH, I FELT THE FULL MOON ENRICHING ME WITH ITS ENERGY.

THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING I COULD DO TO ESCAPE.

THEN I REALIZED THAT WHERE THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS WATER.

THE RATS THAT SCURRIED ACROSS THE FLOOR OF MY CAGE

WERE NOTHING MORE THAN SKINS FILLED WITH LIQUID.

AND I PASSED YEARS DEVELOPING THE SKILLS THAT WOULD LEAD TO MY ESCAPE.

BLOODBENDING.

CONTROLLING THE WATER IN ANOTHER BODY.

ENFORCING YOUR OWN WILL OVER THEIRS.

ONCE I HAD MASTERED THE RATS, I WAS READY FOR THE MEN.

[GRUNTS]

Hama: AND DURING THE NEXT FULL MOON

I WALKED FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES.

[MAN GRUNTS]

MY CELL UNLOCKED BY THE VERY GUARDS ASSIGNED TO KEEP ME IN.

ONCE YOU PERFECT THIS TECHNIQUE, YOU CAN CONTROL ANYTHING.

OR ANYONE.

BUT TO REACH INSIDE SOMEONE AND CONTROL THEM?

I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT THAT KIND OF POWER.

THE CHOICE IS NOT YOURS.

THE POWER EXISTS.

AND IT'S YOUR DUTY TO USE THE GIFTS YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN TO WIN THIS WAR.

KATARA, THEY TRIED TO WIPE US OUT, OUR ENTIRE CULTURE, YOUR MOTHER.

I KNOW.

THEN YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WE'RE THE LAST WATERBENDERS OF THE SOUTHERN TRIBE.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT THESE PEOPLE WHENEVER WE CAN.

WHEREVER THEY ARE, WITH ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

IT'S YOU.

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S MAKING PEOPLE DISAPPEAR DURING THE FULL MOONS.

THEY THREW ME IN PRISON TO ROT

ALONG WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THEY DESERVE THE SAME.

YOU MUST CARRY ON MY WORK.

I WON'T, I WON'T USE BLOODBENDING

AND I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO KEEP TERRORIZING THIS TOWN.

[SCREAMS]

[GRUNTS...]

YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THE TECHNIQUE BEFORE YOU TURNED AGAINST ME.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT OF MY GRIP.

I CONTROL EVERY MUSCLE, EVERY VEIN IN YOUR BODY.

[KATARA GASPS AND GRUNTS...]

STOP, PLEASE.

[LAUGHS...]

Katara: YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO DRAWS POWER FROM THE MOON.

MY BENDING IS MORE POWERFUL THAN YOURS, HAMA.

YOUR TECHNIQUE IS USELESS ON ME.

[HAMA SCREAMS]

WE KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, HAMA.

GIVE UP, YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED.

NO.

YOU'VE OUTNUMBERED YOURSELVES.

[AANG AND SOKKA SCREAM]

Sokka: KATARA, LOOK OUT!

[GRUNTS]

IT'S LIKE MY BRAIN HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN.

STOP IT, ARM, STOP IT!

Aang: THIS FEELS WEIRD.

[AANG GRUNTS]

I'M SORRY, AANG.

Aang: IT'S OK.

[SOKKA GRUNTS]

[SOKKA SCREAMS]

DON'T HURT YOUR FRIENDS, KATARA.

AND DON'T LET THEM HURT EACH OTHER.

[AANG AND SOKKA SCREAM]

NO!

[GRUNTS AND GASPS...]

YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOCKED AWAY FOREVER.

Hama: MY WORK IS DONE.

CONGRATULATIONS, KATARA.

YOU'RE A BLOODBENDER.

[LAUGHS...]

[KATARA CRIES...]

♪