- Prince Zuko: This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here.
- Uncle Iroh: Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.
- Katara: I've got it! I know how we're gonna see the Earth King!
- Toph Beifong: How are we supposed to do that?
- Toph Beifong: [Mimicking Joo Dee] One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King.
- Katara: The King is having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear.
- Aang: You mean Platypus-Bear?
- Sokka: Certainly you mean his pet Skunk-Bear.
- Toph Beifong: Or his Armadillo-Bear.
- Sokka: Certainly you mean his pet Skunk-Bear.
- Aang: Gopher-Bear?
- Katara: Just... Bear.
- Toph Beifong: This place is weird.
- Sokka: Why won't you let us talk to the King? We have information that could defeat the Fire Nation!
- Long Feng: The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day to day minutia of military activities.
- Aang: This could be the most important thing he has ever heard.
- Long Feng: What's most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It's my job to oversea the rest of the city's resources, including the military.
- Katara: So the King is just a figurehead.
- Toph Beifong: [Furious] He's your puppet!
- Long Feng: Oh, no, no! His majesty is an icon, a god to his people. He can't sully his hands with the hourly change of an endless war.
- Sokka: But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the Fire Nation defenseless. You could lead an invasion...
- Long Feng: [Stands up suddenly, cutting Sokka off] Enough, I don't want to hear your ridiculous plan! It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war not be mentioned within the walls. Constant news of an escalating war will throw the citizens of Ba Sing Se into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined. Our peaceful way of life, our traditions would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia. The last one on Earth.
- Katara: You can't keep the truth from all these people. They have to know.
- [first lines]
- Sokka: Look, the inner wall! I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece.
- Toph Beifong: Hey, don't jinx it. We could still be attacked by some giant, exploding Fire Nation spoon, or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp.
- Toph Beifong: You been hitting the cactus juice again?
- Sokka: I'm just saying weird stuff happens to us.
- Katara: The palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd.
- Toph Beifong: Won't work.
- Katara: Why not?
- Toph Beifong: Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd would spot you a mile away. You've got no manners.
- Katara: Excuse me? I've got no manners? You're not exactly Lady Fancy Fingers.
- Toph Beifong: [Toph burps] I learned proper society behavior and *chose* to leave it. You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late.
- Uncle Iroh: Euch! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice.
- Prince Zuko: Uncle, that's what *all* tea is.
- Uncle Iroh: How could a member of my own family say something so horrible!
- Jet: [Trying to expose Iroh as a firebender] You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do.
- Prince Zuko: [Zuko holds back a Dai Li agent] You want a show?
- [Zuko draws out his swords]
- Prince Zuko: I'll give you a show!
- Joo Dee: This is the lower ring.
- Katara: What's that wall for?
- Joo Dee: Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls. There are the ones outside protecting us, and the ones inside that help maintain order. This is where our newest arrivals live, as well as our craftsman and artisans, people that work with their hands. It's so quaint and lively.
- [Cut to a shot of two shady men conversing in an alley. One of them is holding a large sword that glistens in the light. Both glare at the carriage as it passes]
- Joo Dee: You do want to watch your step, though.
- Katara: Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?
- Aang: This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live.
- Sokka: [about Joo Dee] Is that woman deaf? She only seems to hear every other word I say.
- Toph Beifong: It's called being handled. Get used to it.
- Joo Dee: This is the middle ring of Ba Sing Se, home to the financial district, shops and restaurants and the university.
- Sokka: Yeah, we met a Professor from Ba Sing Se University. He took us to an ancient underground library, where we discovered information about the war that is...
- [Speaking with emphasis]
- Sokka: ...absolutely crucial for the King to hear!
- Joo Dee: [Cheerfully] Isn't history fascinating? Look! Here's one of the oldest buildings in the middle ring, Town Hall.
- Long Feng: Until now, you've been treated as our honored guests. But, from now on, you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. If you mention the war to anyone, you will be expelled from the city. I understand you've been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest. Now Joo Dee will show you home.
- Uncle Iroh: Would you like a pot of tea?
- Prince Zuko: We've been working in a tea shop all day. I'm sick of tea!
- Uncle Iroh: Sick of tea? That's like being sick of *breathing*!
- Joo Dee: Hello. My name is Joo Dee. I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se. And you must be Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?
- Sokka: Yes. We have information about the Fire Nation Army that we need to deliver to the Earth King immediately.
- Joo Dee: Great. Let's begin our tour, and then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it.
- [Joo Dee turns around and attempts to lead Aang and his friends]
- Sokka: Augh! Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the King about the war. It's important.
- Joo Dee: You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here.
- [Everyone has a confused look on their face in reaction to Joo Dee's odd statement]
- Pao: Shh. Shh. Listen, you can't mention the war here. And whatever you do, stay away from the Dai Li!