Transcript:Bitter Work
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| The episode opens in a mountainous terrain at sunrise as it pans down and to the right. All of Team Avatar is sleeping, until Aang rises and jumps up with airbending, barefoot, and filled with excitement. | |
| Aang | [Very excitedly.] Today's the day! Can you believe it? After all that time searching for a teacher, I'm finally starting earthbending! And this place, it's perfect, don't you think? Sokka? [Sokka grumbles.] Oh, you're still sleeping, huh? [Sokka again grumbles.] Sorry. |
|---|---|
| The ground shakes, and an earth tent is destroyed. Toph reveals herself. | |
| Toph | Goooood morning, earthbending student! |
| Aang | Good morning, Sifu Toph. |
| Katara | [Disappointed and tiredly.] Hey, you never called me Sifu Katara. |
| Aang | Well, if you think I should... |
| Sokka once again grumbles. | |
| Toph | Sorry, Snoozles, we'll do our earthbending as quietly as we can. [Earthbends a rock under Sokka, causing him to fly into the air several feet screaming as everyone watches, and then he lands on the hard ground. Sokka, still in his sleeping bag, gets up, mumbles angrily and incoherently at Toph and Aang, and angrily hops away.] |
| Aang | [Excited to begin.] So what move are you going to teach me first? Rock-a-lanche? The Trembler? Oh, maybe I could learn to make a whirlpool out of land! |
| Toph | [Puts hand to chest to stop the excited Aang.] Let's start with... [Makes the gesture.] move a rock. |
| Aang | Sounds good, sounds good! |
| Cuts to another part of the canyon where Toph and Aang are standing in front of two rocks as Katara watches. | |
| Toph | The key to earthbending is your stance. You've got to be steady and strong. Rock is a stubborn element. If you're going to move it, you've got to be like a rock yourself. |
| Aang | Like a rock. Got it. |
| Toph | Good. Now the actual motion of this one is pretty simple. [Slams the rock against the canyon wall.] Okay, you ready to give it a try? |
| Aang | I'm ready. [Tries to move it, but instead he is forced backwards into Appa.] |
| Sokka | [Amused.] Rock beats airbender! |
| Iroh has a flashback in a dream about Lu Ten. Lu Ten pretends to firebend at Iroh who fakes a groan and falls over. | |
| Lu Ten | I got you, Dad! [Playfully jumps on top of Iroh.] |
| Both laugh as the scene fades to Iroh in a dream sitting over Lu Ten's tomb. | |
| Iroh | My beloved Lu Ten, I will see you again. |
| The scene fades again as Iroh wakes up to Zuko calling him. | |
| Zuko | Uncle... you were unconscious. Azula did this to you. It was a surprise attack. |
| Iroh | Somehow, that's not so surprising. [Groans.] |
| Zuko | [Hands Iroh some tea.] I hope I made it the way you like it. |
| Iroh | [Grimaces.] Good. That was very... uhhh... bracing. [He is handed another cup, which he throws out secretly behind his shoulder.] |
| Zuko | So Uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her. |
| Iroh | [With the exact opposite of Zuko's thoughts.] No, she's crazy, and she needs to go down. [Rises.] It's time to resume your training. |
| Back at the canyon. | |
| Katara | I don't understand what went wrong. He did it exactly the way you did. |
| Aang | Maybe there's another way... what if I came at the boulder from another angle? |
| Toph | No. That's the problem. You've got to stop thinking like an airbender. There's no different angle, no clever solution, no trickety-trick that's going to move that rock. You've got to face it head on. And when I say head on, I mean like this... [Jumps up and destroys the rock with her head.] |
| Aang | Whoa! |
| Toph begins to walk away, but Katara stops her. | |
| Katara | [Trying to help Toph teach.] I've been training Aang for a while now. He really responds well to a positive teaching experience. Lots of encouragement and praise. Kind words. If he's doing something wrong, maybe a gentle nudge in the right direction. |
| Toph | Thanks, Katara. A gentle nudge. I'll try that. [Moments later; yelling at the top of her lungs.] Keep your knees high, Twinkle Toes! |
| Aang struggles to hold a rock on his back, while Toph bends up the ground, sending him off-balance. | |
| The next move shows Toph digging through rock with her fingers. Aang tries this, but smashes his hand off the rock. | |
| Toph | Rock-like! |
|
Next, Toph gives Aang one of Sokka's weapons, much to Sokka's dismay. He is blindfolded as he tries to smash rocks Toph brings up. He finally gets one after about five times. During their next session, Toph builds herself into a shield of rock which Aang has to push back over a marked boundary. He is successful. His training begins to move smoothly. During another training session Aang is standing on two pillars of earth tossing a rock into the air while switching hands to catch it each time. Toph walks between the two pillars of earth and uses earthbending to shake the pillars. | |
| Toph | Rock-like! |
| The camera pans up to reveal Aang holding a solid stance without losing his balance. Toph appears on a pillar near him and nods. Aang smiles, knowing he is finally getting the hang of it.
In another part of the canyon, Sokka is looking for food when he stumbles upon an animal. | |
| Sokka | You're awfully cute, but unfortunately you're made of meat. Just a bit closer... [Jumps but falls into a crack that is in the ground. He looks at the cub.] Gotcha! [Sinks further in.] You are one lucky little meat creature. |
| Back at Iroh and Zuko's setup. | |
| Iroh | Lightning is a pure form of firebending, without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly, like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind. |
| Zuko | I see. That's why we're drinking tea, to calm the mind. |
| Iroh | Oh yeah, good point! I mean, yes. [Outside.] There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang. Positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and in a moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together, you provide release and guidance, creating lightning. [Steps up, and generates lightning, and shoots it away from the two.] |
| Zuko | I'm ready to try it! |
| Iroh | Remember, once you separate the energy, you do not command it. You are simply its humble guide. Breathe first. |
| Zuko takes a deep breath. He tries to generate lightning, but instead an explosion launches him back. Iroh shakes his head in disappointment.
Back at the canyon, Aang's earthbending training continues. | |
| Toph | This time we're going to try something a little different. Instead of moving a rock, you're going to stop a rock. Get in your horse stance! I'm going to roll that boulder down at you. If you have the attitude of an earthbender, you'll stay in your stance and stop the rock. Like this! [Stretches out, still in stance.] |
| Katara | Sorry Toph, but are you really sure this is the way to teach Aang earthbending? |
| Toph | I'm glad you said something. Actually there is a better way. [Blindfolds Aang.] This way, you'll actually have to sense the vibrations of the boulder to stop it. Thank you, Katara. |
| Aang | [Sarcastically.] Yeah, thanks, Katara! |
| Toph sends the boulder down. Aang jumps over the boulder as it approaches. The boulder crashes into the cliff. Toph comes toward Aang. | |
| Aang | I guess I just panicked. I don't know what to say. |
| Toph | There's nothing to say, you blew it! You had a perfect stance, and a perfect form. But when it came right down to it, you didn't have the guts! |
| Aang | [Disappointed.] I know. I'm sorry. |
| Toph | Yeah, you are sorry! If you're not tough enough to stop the rock, then you can at least give it the pleasure of smashing you instead of jumping out of the way like a jelly-boned wimp! Now, do you have what it takes to face that rock like an earthbender? |
| Aang | No, I don't think I do. |
| Katara | Aang, it's no big deal. You'll take a break and try earthbending again when you're ready. Besides, you still have a lot of waterbending to work on. Okay? |
| Aang | Yeah, that sounds good. |
| Toph | Yeah, whatever, go splash around until you feel better. |
| They all exit. | |
| Back to Zuko and Iroh. Another attempt by Zuko to generate lightning fails. | |
| Zuko | Why can't I do it? Instead of lightning it keeps blowing up in my face... like everything always does. |
| Iroh | I was afraid this might happen. You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you. |
| Zuko | What turmoil? |
| Iroh | Zuko, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away. |
| Zuko | But I don't feel any shame at all. I'm as proud as ever. |
| Iroh | Prince Zuko, pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the only antidote to shame. |
| Zuko | Well, my life has been nothing but humbling lately. |
| Iroh | I have another idea. I will teach you a firebending move that even Azula doesn't know, because I made it up myself. |
| Back to Sokka, who remains trapped with the small, brown animal. | |
| Sokka | You probably think I deserve this, don't you? Look, I'm sorry I hunted you, but that's just the natural order of things. Big things eat smaller things, nothing personal. But this time it didn't work out that way. I admit it...you're cute. Okay, you convinced me, if I get out of this alive, it's a comically correct, vegetarian existence for me. No meat. Even though meat is so tasty. [The cub brings an apple.] Hey, looks like my karma is already paying off! That's okay, I got it. [Tosses his boomerang at it in a desperate attempt.] Now, come back boomerang. |
| In a pond in another part of the canyon. Momo tries to grab a frog. Aang and Katara move a single blob of water back and forth amongst each other in a circular motion. | |
| Katara | You know this block you're having is only temporary, right? |
| Aang | I don't want to talk about it. |
| Katara | You do realize that's the problem, don't you? If you face this issue instead of avoiding it– |
| Aang | [Frustrated at himself.] I know, I know, I know, I know! I get it, all right? I need to face it head on like a rock, but I just can't do it. I don't know why I can't, but I can't. |
| Katara | Aang, if fire and water are opposites, then what's the opposite of air? |
| Aang | I guess it's earth. |
| Katara | That's why it's so difficult for you to get this. You're working with your natural opposite. But you'll figure it out. I know you will. Think fast! [Throws a piece of grass at him, but Aang stops it with waterbending.] Excellent. You have the reflexes of a waterbending master. |
| Aang | Thanks, Katara. Sifu Katara. [Bows.] |
| Katara also bows at Aang. Back to Zuko and Iroh. | |
| Iroh | Fire is the element of power. [Draws the firebending insignia in the dirt.] The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy to drive and achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. [Draws the earthbending insignia.] The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring. Air is the element of freedom. [Draws the airbending insignia.] The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor! Water is the element of change. [Draws the waterbending insignia.] The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything. |
| Zuko | Why are you telling me these things? |
| Iroh | It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. [Divides the four insignias into separate sections.] Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations will help you become whole. [Draws a circle around the insignias.] |
| Zuko | All this four elements talk is sounding like Avatar stuff. |
| Iroh | It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful, too. You see the technique I'm about to teach you is one I learned by studying the waterbenders. |
| Back to the campsite. Aang is meditating when Toph enters, holding Aang's staff. | |
| Toph | Aang, I found these nuts in your bag. I figured you wouldn't mind. And besides, even if you did, you're too much of a pushover to do anything about it. |
| Aang | As a matter of fact, I don't mind. I'm happy to share anything I have. |
| Toph | You know, I'm really glad you feel that way. Because I also have this great new nutcracker. [Starts breaking nutshells with the staff.] |
| Aang | Actually, I prefer if you didn't... [Crack.] That's an antique, handcrafted by the monks... [Crack.] It's a delicate instrument! |
| Toph | It's not the only delicate instrument around here. [Walks away, hitting the staff off rocks.] |
| Aang | [Resumes meditating.] Ohm. |
| Katara | Hey Aang, have you seen– |
| Aang | [Frustrated.] Meditating here! |
| Katara | It's important. It's almost sundown and Sokka isn't back yet. I think we should search for him. |
| Aang | We'll find him faster if we split up. [The two begin to search.] |
| Back to Sokka. | |
| Sokka | Okay, karma person or thing, whoever's in charge of this stuff. If I can just get out of this situation alive, I will give up meat and sarcasm. Okay? [Sokka's warrior's wolf tail gets yanked out of his hair by the cub.] Ow! That's all I got. It's pretty much my whole identity. Sokka, the meat and sarcasm guy. But I'm willing to be Sokka, the veggies and straight talk fellow. Deal? [Aang shows up.] Aang! Thank goodness! Have you got any meat? |
| Aang | Sokka! Are you okay? [Tries to pull him out.] |
| Sokka | Aggh, stop, stop! You're going to pull my fingers off and I don't think the rest of me is coming! |
| Aang | Hmmm... I bet I can airbend you out of here. [Blows up a gust of wind but Sokka remains trapped.] |
| Sokka | Seriously Aang, I know you're new at it, but I could use a little earthbending here. How about it? |
| Aang | I can't... I can't do it. |
| Sokka | Well, if you can't earthbend me out of here, go get Toph. |
| Aang | I can't do that either. |
| Sokka | You can't? Why not? |
| Aang | It would just be really...uncomfortable. |
| Sokka | Uncomfortable? [Sarcastically.] Well, I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable... |
| Aang | Thanks, Sokka. This whole earthbending thing really has me confused. There's so much pressure. Everyone expects me to get it right away. It puts me in a really awkward position. |
| Sokka | Awkward position, I think I know the feeling. |
| Aang | If I try, I fail. If I don't try, I'm never going to get it. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. |
| Sokka | Hmmm... how about that. Aang, this is my friend, Foo Foo Cuddlypoops. Foo Foo Cuddlypoops, Aang. |
| Aang | Awww, what a cute name for a baby saber-tooth moose-lion cub. |
| Sokka | Really? He looks nothing like a saber-tooth moose-lion. |
| Aang | It's hard to tell before their giant teeth and horns grow in. What are you doing out here little guy? Did you lose your mama? |
| Suddenly, a large moose-lion appears. | |
| The scene then cuts back to Zuko and Iroh. | |
| Iroh | Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy. A waterbender lets their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' energy against them. I learned a way to do this with lightning. |
| Zuko | You can teach me to redirect lightning? |
| Iroh | If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder, then down into your stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the sea of chi. Only in my case it is more like a vast ocean. [Laughs.] From the stomach, you direct it up again, and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical. You must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly. You may wish to try a physical motion, to get a feel for the pathways' flow, like this. [The two begin to practice the redirection motion.] Now, are you focusing your energy? Can you feel your own chi flowing in, down, up, and out? |
| Zuko | I think so. |
| Iroh | Come on, you've got to feel the flow. [They practice the motion for a few minutes.] Excellent! You've got it! |
| Zuko | Great, I'm ready to try it with real lightning! |
| Iroh | What, are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous! |
| Zuko | I thought that was the point! You teaching me to protect myself from it! |
| Iroh | Yeah! But I'm not going to shoot lightning at you! If you're lucky, you will never have to use this technique at all! |
| Zuko | Well, if you won't help me, I'll find my own lightning. [Rides away.] |
| Back to the canyon, Aang begins to talk to the saber-tooth moose-lion mother. | |
| Aang | Hey there, we found your cub! See, we have no problem with you! We're friendly! |
| Sokka | Aang, this is bad, you've got to get me out of here! |
| The moose-lion charges at Sokka, but Aang sends it over his head with airbending. | |
| Sokka | This is really bad! Please Aang, you have to earthbend me out, there's no other way! |
| Aang tries, but all his attempts produce nothing. | |
| Aang | Oh no! [Gets on top of a rock to try and distract the saber-tooth moose-lion.] Woo-hoo, look at me! |
| The moose-lion charges again but is again held off. | |
| Sokka | Please, don't leave me again. |
| Aang | I won't. |
| He stands his ground, and at the last second, throws the moose-lion back with a blast of air. The beast leaves. Suddenly, slight clapping can be heard. Cut to shot of Toph sitting on a rock nearby. | |
| Sokka | What are you doing here? |
| Toph | Just enjoying the show. |
| Aang | What? You were there the whole time? |
| Toph | Pretty much. |
| Aang | Why didn't you do something? Sokka was in trouble! I was in trouble! You could have gotten him out and helped us get away! |
| Toph | Guess it just didn't occur to me. [Throws a nut down and attempts to crack it with the staff.] |
| Aang | [Grabs hold of it.] Enough! I want my staff back! [Takes it away.] |
| Toph | Do it now! |
| Aang | What? |
| Toph | Earthbend, Twinkle Toes. You just stood your ground against a crazy beast. And even more impressive, you stood your ground against me. You've got the stuff. |
| Aang | But– |
| Toph | Do it! |
| Aang slams the ground and sends a rock into the canyon wall. | |
| Toph | You did it! You're an earthbender. |
| Aang | I can't believe it! |
| Sokka | [Sarcastically.] Awww, this is a really wonderful, touching moment. So could you get me out of here so I can give you both a big, snuggly hug? |
| Aang | No problem, Sokka! |
| Toph | Actually, you should probably let me do that. You're still a little new to this. You might accidentally crush him. |
| Sokka | Yeah, no crushing, please. |
| Toph kicks up the rock and yanks him out. Nightfall hits. Katara meets up with them. | |
| Katara | You found him! [Embraces Sokka.] |
| Sokka | The whole time, I was in that hole, not knowing if I was going to live or die. It makes a man to think about what's really important. I realize– |
| Aang | [Interrupting Sokka.] Hey Katara, look what I can do! [Bends a rock and slams it on the ground.] |
| Katara | You did it! I knew you would! [Whispering to Toph.] You tried the positive reinforcement, didn't you? |
| Toph | [Happily.] Yep, it worked wonders. |
| Aang | Appa, Appa, I can earthbend now! The key is being completely rooted. Physically and mentally unmovable! |
| Appa licks him and sends him flying a few feet. Sokka laughs hysterically. Meanwhile, Zuko has tracked down a storm, seeking lightning. | |
| Zuko | You've always thrown everything you could at me! Well, I can take it, and now I can give it back! [Yelling as loud as he can at the storm.] Come on, strike me! You've never held back before! |
| No lightning strikes. Tears stream down Zuko's cheeks, and he yells at the top of his lungs. | |
| Fade to credits. |
Cast 
Edit
navigation
"The Chase"
↓
"Bitter Work"
↓
"The Library"
Main
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Minor
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Locations Edit
- Quarry campsite
- Abandoned house in Earth Kingdom
