BEAR PROTECTOR
EPISODE 1: #NEWINTOWN
Disclaimer: I don´t own Degrassi or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: This AU story was a reader request from FeralG3, who came up with the main storyline. It´s set right after season 3 of Next Class, before season 4 would start. I´ve planned it to run for six episodes.
Together (although it was mainly FeralG3), we came up with a cast list for the OC´s in the story. A very expensive one for Degrassi, it should be said, but Fan Fiction is the exact right place for those kinds of ideas. It goes as follows:
Gabriel Severn - Alexander Ludwig
Marcus Severn - Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Jane Severn - Julianne Moore
Master Mei - Donnie Yen
If you get any ideas of your own, that you´d like to see me do, don´t be afraid to hit me up with a PM. I promise that I won´t bite!
1. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Zoe is waiting with Rasha for someone outside of the school and is clearly looking forward to seeing them. She checks her watch.
Zoe:
It´s not like him to be late. He´s usually so punctual, that you could set your watch by it!
Rasha:
Have you tried it?
The girls smile at each other and Zoe eases up.
Zoe:
Sorry. It´s just that he´s my cousin and I feel an obligation to help him fit in.
Rasha:
What´s he like?
Zoe:
Gabriel? You´ll get along with him easily, like most people do. Just don´t get him angry, because he does have a temper.
Rasha:
I´ll try not to. Does he know about us?
Zoe:
He does and he´s totally cool with it. The main thing to him is that I´m happy.
Rasha:
But does he practice, what he preaches?
Zoe:
He does. Now do you see any physically imposing blonde guys?
They look around for him and don´t notice him sneaking up behind them and looking around with them. He´s a very big guy, standing at well over six feet tall and close to 200 pounds of mostly muscle.
Gabriel:
Who are we waiting for?
Zoe turns around and they smile widely at each other, before giving each other a hearty hug.
Zoe:
You, super ninja!
Gabriel:
We both know that you´re the fighter of the family.
Zoe:
I don´t do that anymore!
Gabriel and Rhasa shake hands and smile at each other.
Gabriel:
You must be the girlfriend, she can´t stop talking about.
Rhasa:
I hope so!
Gabriel:
Anything I should know, before I head into Toronto´s version of Mordor?
Zoe:
It´s not too bad, trust me. They´ve managed to make a halfway functioning girl out of me, so they must be doing something right!
Gabriel looks at the school and smiles to himself, looking forward to this new chapter in his life.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Cafeteria. Day.
Zoe is introducing Gabriel to Frankie, Winston and Miles. It looks to be going well.
Gabriel:
Do any of you guys know, where there´s a decent gym around here?
Zoe:
Do these guys look like they spend time at the gym?
The boys laugh mockingly at her joke.
Winston:
Bony is the new black, I´ll have you know!
Gabriel:
According to who? Taylor Swift?
Frankie:
I´m starting to see the family resemblance!
Zoe:
He´s like the brother, I´ve never had.
Gabriel:
And she´s like the sister, I always wished I had.
Zoe:
I´m so glad you´re here!
Gabriel gives her a small hug. Miles and Winston are happy to see Zoey this way, open and comfortable, like they´ve rarely seen it before.
We cut to Goldi and Rhasa, who come into the cafeteria. Goldi is looking reluctant.
Rhasa:
It´ll only take a minute.
Goldi:
But there´s so much, I should be doing ...
Rhasa:
This is important to Zoe, which makes it important to me. Am I not important to you?
Goldi:
Of course you are, but ...
Rhasa:
Then you can do this one little thing for me! It´s not like I´m asking you to swim across the British channel! Just smile politely and be yourself. You can do that.
Goldi:
Let´s get it over with.
Rhasa:
Your enthusiasm sure is infectious today!
They look over at the table and Goldi´s demeanor changes, when she looks at Gabriel. In fact, she smiles a little, which Rasha finds amusing.
Rhasa:
Handsome, isn´t he?
Goldi:
In a ... classic sort of way he is, I suppose.
Rhasa shakes her head at it and they walk over to the others. Gabriel and Miles are in deep conversation about MMA.
Gabriel:
Royce Gracie was an unbeatable beast! Anyone who lasted a minute with him deserved a medal.
Miles:
Lesnar would make him tap out in a minute flat!
Goldi:
Personally, I think that Cain Velasquez would make both of them bitches tap out, but maybe that´s just me.
They look up at her and Gabriel is immediately impressed.
Gabriel:
You think so, huh? Who might you be?
Zoe:
Gabriel, meet Goldi. Goldi, this is my dear cousin Gabriel.
Gabriel:
I would offer you a handshake, but I don´t know if it´s appropriate to.
Goldi smiles to herself, happy that he´s clearly a very tolerant type.
3. Int. Hallway. Day.
Goldi and Rasha are heading to class after meeting Gabriel.
Rasha:
So?
Goldi:
He seems nice.
Rasha:
You like?
Goldi:
I don´t know. I haven´t made up my mind yet.
Rasha takes her answer in.
Rasha:
How do you know so much about MMA? I´ve never heard you talk about it before.
Goldi:
I read an article in an in-flight magazine on my last flight.
Rasha giggles.
Goldi:
I know. Honesty is one of the ground rules of Islam and ...
Rasha:
Come on! You know me better than that. Anyway, where does it say in the Quran, that girls aren´t allowed to bullshit the boys for fun once in a while?
Her answer makes Goldi smile.
Goldi:
It would have surprised me, if those exact words had been in there!
Rasha:
Do you think our great, great, great grandmothers didn´t do the same?
Goldi:
I´ve never thought of them that way.
Rasha:
Men have to be put in their place once in a while and if that involves us being able to laugh at it, then so much the better, I say! As a Canadian girl would say: You go girl!
The two of them giggle.
4. Int. The Dot. Day.
Zoe and Gabriel are having milk shakes at one of the tables, while she quizzes him.
Zoe:
Miles?
Gabriel:
The one I talked MMA with.
Zoe:
Good. Frankie?
Gabriel:
His sister, who could easily win a "Can You Fit into a box" contest!
Zoe laughs and they smile at each other.
Zoe:
She isn´t exactly big, little Frankie. She´s cute though, don´t you think?
Gabriel:
Are you trying to fix me up?
Zoe:
Just answer the question!
Gabriel:
I guess so, but it feels like I´ve already had my share of Frankie´s. I´m ready for something more exotic this time around.
Zoe:
If you´re looking for diversity, Degrassi isn´t the perfect place for it.
Gabriel:
There was that one girl. Rasha´s friend.
Zoe:
Goldi? I don´t know if I´d bark up that tree, if I were you.
Gabriel:
Why not?
Zoe:
Do I have to say it? She´s a muslim.
Gabriel is a little amused by her answer.
Gabriel:
That´s a little conceited, don´t you think?
Zoe:
I´m just saying that you´re from very different worlds. She´s not the kind of girl you bring to a kegger with your friends. You´re much more likely to find her in a prayer group somewhere.
Gabriel:
A challenge, huh? Isn´t that interesting?
She can see his mind racing and smiles it off.
5. Int. Rec Center. Evening.
Goldi is one of the organizers of a woman´s group, who are preparing a demonstration and many of them have shown up to help prepare banners and the like. Rasha is with her, but keeps looking to the door. It makes Goldi smile.
Goldi:
Waiting for someone?
Rasha:
Zoe said, that she would try to come by.
Goldi:
Did she now? You two are becoming serious.
Zoe:
We´re still in that early phase, where we´re getting to know everything about each other. It´s exciting.
She smiles, when she sees Zoe come in and waves her over to them. Zoe gladly does.
Zoe:
I feel so liberated already!
Goldi:
Wait until the actual demonstration and then you´ll really feel liberated.
Zoe and Rasha hug.
Rasha:
I´m so glad, you came!
Zoe:
How could I miss out on a chance to spend time with you?
Goldi:
Rasha, can I talk to Zoe alone for a moment?
Rasha:
Sure. I´ll get us some more signs.
Her and Zoe smile flirtingly at each other, as Rasha passes by her.
Zoe:
Anything, you need me to do?
Goldi:
I wanted to ask you about your cousin, Gabriel. Is he ... seeing anyone?
Zoe smiles to herself.
Zoe:
You want to date Gabriel?
Goldi:
Am I crazy? I don´t even know him. Just forget it!
She tries to go back to her work, but Zoe won´t give it up that easily.
Zoe:
Well, he´s very nice and friendly, so there´s nothing to be afraid of there.
Goldi can´t help smiling a little and turns her attention back to Zoe.
Goldi:
What else can you tell me about him?
Zoe:
He´s a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, so I wouldn´t pick a fight with him.
Goldi:
I meant, as far as girls go.
Zoe:
Oh, that. He´s pretty normal, as far as boys his age go, I would say.
Goldi looks a little disappointed.
Goldi:
So, he´s been with lots of them?
Zoe can´t help being a little offended.
Zoe:
Sexist much there, Goldi?
Goldi:
Sorry Zoe. I didn´t mean it like that ...
Zoe:
Yes, he´s had a few girlfriends and I would be very surprised, if he´s still a virgin. But he´s no more someone, who jumps from partner to partner, than the average high school girl. Anyway, there´s only one thing that matters and that´s "Is he single now". The answer to that is yes.
Rasha comes back with the supplies, ending their little talk. Goldi doesn´t look too deterred though.
6. Int. Dojo. Evening.
Gabriel is having a training match against another fighter (an adult), while his Sensei, master Mei, gives him instructions. Gabriel´s dad Marcus, who´s in a wheelchair and is missing most of both of his legs, watches on from the sideline too from his wheelchair. It´s clear that we have two very evenly matched fighters and none of them can seem to get the upper hand on the other.
Mei:
Focus, Gabriel! He´s only better than you in your mind!
Gabriel finally gets the opening he was looking for and gets his opponent down by the leg and tries to catch him in a submission move. He´s too offensive though and it backfires, as his opponent trips him up and the tables get turned in an instant. Now it´s Gabriel who´s caught in a leg lock, that there´s no way out of and Mei comes in to call off the match.
Mei:
Break!
Gabriel´s opponent let´s go and they both stand up and bow to each other. Gabriel´s disappointment is written all over his face.
7. Ext. Parking Lot. Evening.
Gabriel is helping his dad get into their handicap friendly car, that his dad can drive using only his hands. Gabriel opens the door for him and Marcus climbs in directly from his chair. This is clearly something they´re not too unfamiliar with.
Gabriel:
I´ll put the chair in the back.
He folds it up and puts it in the back seat, before getting in the car next to his dad.
Marcus:
It was just a training match. Losing doesn´t matter in those, as long as you learn from them.
Gabriel:
I was sure, that I had him.
Marcus shoots him a reassuring smile.
Marcus:
Why do think I was a mediocre boxer? I was the same as you!
His words make Gabriel smile a little.
Gabriel:
You were?
Marcus:
I was all offense and no defense. Of course, I was too dumb to listen to my trainer, when he tried to explain that ducking once in a while wouldn´t be the worst idea! You have a great Sensei in Master Mei. Listen to him, learn from him and for god´s sake, be a little smarter than your old man here! You have the talent to make it to the UFC some day.
Gabriel:
I can settle for Strikeforce or Bellator, if they pay me enough.
He shoots his dad a cocky smile and his dad smiles back at him.
Marcus:
Smart ass! You got that from me too!
Gabriel:
What did I get from mom?
Marcus:
Your nose.
Gabriel:
Lucky me!
Marcus starts the car up. It´s clear that they have a very close father/son relationship.
8. Int. Gabriel´s House. Evening.
Marcus comes rolling into his wife Jane´s study. She´s an architect by the looks of it and is burning the midnight oil, working on some blueprints.
Marcus:
There will be another day tomorrow, you know?
Jane:
Just five more minutes, I promise.
Marcus:
You also promised me after I got my legs blown off, that we would never go to sleep apart again.
She smiles at him and puts her work away. before sitting down on his lap and putting her arms around him.
Jane:
I did promise you that, didn´t I?
Marcus:
How are you liking it here?
Jane:
It´ll start to feel like home soon enough. Anyway, something had to change, or we would be visiting our son in jail in a few years time.
Marcus:
The change in scenery seems to have done him good, don´t you think?
Jane:
Let´s hope, it´ll keep him out of trouble this time. With what he already has on his permanent record ...
Marcus:
If it doesn´t work out, we´ll just move to France.
She smiles at the suggestion.
Marcus:
You speak French.
Jane:
Yeah, but you don´t.
Marcus:
Sure I do. Baguette, Escargot, Foie Gras, Paris ...
Jane:
What do you say we give this an honest try first?
Marcus:
I like that idea better.
They kiss and are obviously a couple, who are still very much in love.
9. Int. Car. Morning.
Gabriel is being driven to school by his mother. He checks his hair one last time in the side mirror, which she notices.
Jane:
Anyone, you´re looking to impress?
Gabriel:
I wouldn´t tell you, if there were!
Jane:
There is. A mom can tell.
He sees that he might as well give it up, since she has him read like a book.
Gabriel:
I don´t even know if it´ll amount to anything yet.
Jane:
So? Tell me about her.
Gabriel:
I don´t even know her yet. She knows her UFC though.
Jane smiles to herself and shakes her head.
Jane:
Was that all it took?
Gabriel:
It was enough to make we want to know her.
Jane:
That´s how these things usually start. With me and your dad ...
Gabriel:
You´ve told me the story a hundred times. About how you were taking a year to study in the US and you met this handsome American soldier and so on. If I didn´t remember it from you, it would be the dozens of times, I´ve heard it from dad´s point of view.
Jane:
My point is that we took a crazy chance on each other and we can both agree, that it´s the best thing either of us have done. Give it a chance and see where it takes you. If it doesn´t work out, at least you´ll know.
Gabriel:
Know what?
Jane:
Whether she could have been the one.
Gabriel smiles to himself at the thought of it.
10. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Zoe and Gabriel are walking up the hallway. They run into Zig and Grace.
Zig:
Have you heard?
Zoe:
Heard what?
Gabriel:
I think, he means T-Swift´s latest single.
Zoe:
Ooh, I love it!
Grace:
We have vastly different opinions on that subject! Sadly, that isn´t the subject of discussion today.
Zig:
There´s a bona fide psycho going here!
Zoe and Gabriel can´t help finding it a little funny.
Zoe:
I´ll let you know, if I see any huge guys in hockey masks holding machetes walking around!
Grace:
It´s all over Face Range. I´m surprised you didn´t know.
Zoe:
I have a life now, thank you very much! I was having a nice evening with my girlfriend.
Gabriel:
You´re gonna trust what it says on social media?
Zig:
Usually not, but where there´s smoke, there´s fire.
Grace:
Even if there isn´t one, you at least check to make sure! I did, in a more modern sense. The account is legit enough, but I don´t know who it is.
Gabriel:
Are you some sort of computer wiz?
Grace:
The best around these parts.
Zoe:
What has this supposed psycho done?
Zig:
Only broken both of some guy´s arms!
Zoe and Gabriel both try not to react to it, but it´s hard not to and they make eye contact.
Grace:
If you´ve done that, then you can´t be right in the head!
Zig:
Scary, huh? Here I thought my ex was one for the nuthouse!
Zig:
Are you coming to class?
Zoe:
In a sec.
Grace and Zig leave them. Gabriel looks frustrated.
Gabriel:
Well, that´s it! It was nice knowing you, Degrassi!
Zoe:
They don´t know, that it was you.
Gabriel:
It won´t be long, until they do. People already stare at the big freak, as it is. Once they find out what I did, they´ll start pressing themselves against the walls, when I walk by and I can forget about getting a fresh start.
Zoe:
The guy deserved it.
Gabriel:
It doesn´t matter now. I did what I did and I have to live with the consequences.
He starts to walk towards the door.
Zoe:
Where do you think you´re going?
He turns around and looks at her.
Gabriel:
Home. Do yourself a favor and save what will be left of your reputation.
Zoe:
If you´re leaving, then I´m leaving too.
He´s annoyed with her, but she´s standing firm.
Gabriel:
That´s ridiculous. Bye.
He turns around again, but she still won´t give up.
Zoe:
Where to next then, Gabriel? Montreal, Vancouver, maybe the Yukon, where you can try to make friends with the Grizzly Bears? You won´t find anywhere better for you than here. Or are you a coward?
The final words are what gets him to turn around and walk back to her. They stare each other in the eyes defiantly.
Gabriel:
You know that I´m not a coward!
Zoe:
Prove it. A coward would run away in this case, wouldn´t he?
He can´t help smiling a little that she got him.
Zoe:
Do you want a list of all of the horrible things I´ve done here? We´re talking drugging a guy to be my date, which I followed up by tricking a girl, who liked the same boy as me, l into thinking that I was her friend, before I slut shamed her on-line! That´s just for a start! Trust me, it does not get prettier after that! Quite the opposite, in fact!
She gets a slightly bigger smile out of him and smiles back at him.
Gabriel:
And they still haven´t kicked you out?
Zoe:
This school is amazing, when it comes to those of us, who are seeking forgiveness. I shudder to think where I´d be now, if I hadn´t had Degrassi in my life. Let it do the same for you.
He nods and gives in.
Gabriel:
It sounds like you could use having me around.
Zoe:
Let´s get to class. You won´t want to be late.
They head off to class, the giant of a teenage boy and the tiny girl in comparison to him.
11. Int. Classroom. Day.
The students are doing presentations on their heritage for the class. Zig is doing his and is just finishing up.
Zig:
So to sum it up, almost all of the men in my family were killed in wars. It makes me happy, that we don´t have any of those up here!
He gets a small laugh from the class.
Teacher:
Thanks, Zig. That was one of your better reports.
Zig sits back down and the teacher turns to Gabriel.
Teacher:
Gabriel, you don´t have to give a presentation, if you don´t want to. It wouldn´t be fair with no preparation time.
Gabriel:
No, it´s okay. I can´t promise that it´ll be good, though.
Teacher:
I won´t grade you on it.
He gets up in front of the class and tries to think of what to say. His nerves are calmed a little, when he makes eye contact with Goldi (sitting next to Rasha) and they smile shyly at each other. It looks to be like a shot of courage for him.
Gabriel:
My mom was born and grew up here. My dad is from the US.
Teacher:
Which state?
Gabriel:
Montana. Our family on his side have a long history of serving in the armed forces, going back to the war of independence. I don´t really know a whole lot about them apart from that, but from what I know, they were mostly farmers or farmhands. Regular folks. No one did anything spectacular or anything like that. My mom´s side is kind of the same.
Teacher:
Is your father in the army?
Gabriel is a little annoyed by the question, but decides to get it out of the way.
Gabriel:
He was. Until has had his legs blown off by a landmine in Iraq.
A hush goes over the other students and the teacher, who´s taken aback by his answer.
Teacher:
Gabriel, I´m so sorry.
Gabriel:
I wanted to say it, so there won´t be more stares than usual, when you will eventually see him. It was a huge shock to all of us, but it was six years ago and we´ve learnt to deal. He´s still the same great dad, he´s always been. There´s just parts of him, that aren´t there anymore. It doesn´t make me love him any less.
He looks glad to have gotten it out of the way. We can see from Goldi´s facial expression, that this doesn´t make her any less interested in him, that´s for sure! Zoe and Rasha make eye contact across the room and smile at each other, both picking up on what´s going on, maybe even before Goldi and Gabriel are.
CLOSING CREDITS