Actor Zuko quotes from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Ursa

I was just coming to get you. Uncle Iroh sent us a letter from the war front. ...You're soaking wet.

Zuko

Girls are crazy!

Who... Who are you?

Zuko

My name is Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai, Prince of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne.

Azula

(to Aang) Do you really want to fight me?

Zuko

(to Azula) Yes, I really do.

Aang

Zuko!

Azula

I was wondering when you would show up, Zuzu.

Aang

"Zuzu"? (stifles a laugh)

Iroh

Lightning is a pure expression 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.

Zuko

Great! I'm ready to try with real lightning!

Iroh

[taken aback] 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!

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

No, she's crazy and she needs to go down.

Zuko

What's going on? Is the club meeting over?

Iroh

Everything is taken care of. We're heading to Ba-Sing-Se.

Zuko

Ba-Sing-Se? Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom capital?

The city is filled with refugees. No one will notice two more.

Iroh

We can hide in plain sight there and it's the safest place in the world from the Fire Nation. Even I couldn't break through to the city.

Iroh

(Sips tea) Blech! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!

Zuko

Uncle, that's what all tea is.

Iroh

How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?

Zuko

This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here.

Iroh

Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.

Iroh

(to Zuko) Would you like some tea?

Zuko

We've been working in a tea shop the whole day. I'm sick of tea.

Iroh

(stops making tea and lifts his hands in exasperation) Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!

Iroh

How was your night, Prince Zuko?

Zuko

(quietly) It was nice.

Zuko

(looking at the tied-up Appa) Uncle?

Iroh

(walks into the cell) So, the Blue Spirit? I wonder who could be behind that mask?

Zuko

What are you doing here?

Iroh

I was just about to ask you the same thing. What do you plan to do now that you've found the Avatar's bison? Keep it locked in our new apartment? Should I go put on a pot of tea for him?!

Zuko

First I have to get it out of here.

Iroh

And then what?! You never think these things through! This is exactly what happened when you captured the Avatar at the North Pole! You had him, and then you had nowhere to go!

Zuko

I would've figured something out.

Iroh

No! If his friends hadn't found you, you would have frozen to death!

Zuko

(very angry) I know my own destiny, Uncle.

Iroh

Is it your own destiny, or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?

Zuko

Stop it, Uncle! I have to do this!

Iroh

I'm begging you, Prince Zuko! Its time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions: Who are you? and What do you want?

Katara

I thought you had changed!

Zuko

I have changed.

Zuko

Uncle, I don't understand. What are you doing with the Avatar?

Aang

[faces him] Saving you, that's what.

Zuko

[makes angry noise and attempts to lunge at him. Iroh holds him back]

Iroh

It's time we talked. [to Aang, smiling] Go help your other friends. We'll catch up with you.

Aang

[bows to Iroh and rushes out with Katara]

Katara

[stares sadly over her shoulder at Zuko as she leaves]

Zuko

[not looking Iroh directly in the eye] Why, Uncle?

Iroh

[seriously] You're not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger, and wiser, and freer than you have ever been. And now you've come to the crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose. It's time for you to choose good.

Zuko

[eyes widen and makes a loud sound of surprise as the green crystals shoot up and imprison Iroh]

Azula

[comes over with two Dai Li Agents behind her] I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle. But Zuko, Prince Zuko. You're a lot of things, but you aren't a traitor, are you?

Zuko

[angrily, eyes narrowed] Release him immediately!

Azula

[slyly] It's not to late for you, Zuko. You could still redeem yourself.

Zuko

Why did you do it?

Azula

You're going to have to be a little more specific.

Zuko

Why did you tell Father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?

Azula

Can't this wait until morning?

Zuko

(firmly) It can't.

Azula

Fine. You seemed so worried about how father would treat you because you hadn't captured the Avatar. I figured, if I gave you the credit, you'd have nothing to worry about.

Zuko

But why?

Azula

Call it a generous gesture. I wanted to thank you for your help, and I was happy to share the glory.

Zuko

You're lying.

Azula

If you say so.

Zuko

You have another motive for doing this. I just haven't figure out what it is.

Azula

(stretching up her arms) Please, Zuko. What ulterior motive could I have? What could I possibly gain by letting you get all the glory for defeating the Avatar? Unless somehow, the Avatar was actually alive. All that glory would suddenly turn to shame and foolishness. But you said yourself that was impossible. Sleep well, Zuzu.