BEAR PROTECTOR
EPISODE 2: #DOUBLETROUBLE
Author´s Note: Thanks to all of you who decided to give this story a chance. As you might have figured out, some of the things that happen in this story goes against the things that happen in season 4 of Next Class. Putting in an important new character will do that, so my best advice is just to pretend that season 4 never happened, go with the flow and enjoy this as it´s own independent story. As always, your reviews and opinions are very appreciated. Knowing what you like and don´t like about my writing decisions are part of what helps me to grow as a writer and hopefully constantly improve.
1. Int. Gymnasium. Day.
The wrestling team are having tryouts, trying to find someone, anyone, who can win a match for them! Gabriel is getting some words of encouragement from Zoe, before his match is about to start. He´s looking as reluctant, as she is excited.
Gabriel:
Zoe, why am I wasting my time on this? I´m only here for half year.
Zoe:
So you won´t go tucking at my bra strap all the time! You know I love you, but it´s starting to feel like I have two shadows. This is a good way for you to meet people.
Gabriel:
I´ve already met plenty of people here.
Zoe:
Do you hang out with any of them, without me being there?
Gabriel:
I guess not. I´m just kind of shy that way, I guess.
Zoe can´t help giggling a little.
Zoe:
Sorry. It´s a little funny, that I´m here with a guy, who´s the size of Darth Vader and he´s complaining about being shy!
Lola and Frankie come over to them to say hi.
Frankie:
Hi, guys. Lola, this is the guy, I told you about. Gabriel, I want you to meet my best friend in the whole wide world, Lola.
Lola and Gabriel smile at each other and he gently shakes her tiny hand, in comparison to his.
Lola:
Frankie wasn´t lying, when she said you were a size XXL!
Gabriel:
More like XXXL.
Zoe:
If you´re looking to try out, I would think twice, if I were you!
Frankie:
We´ll stay on the sidelines, where it´s nice and safe!
Lola:
She´s doing this to help me take my mind off things. Good luck, Gabriel.
Gabriel:
Thanks. It was nice meeting you.
Lola and Frankie go to take their places on the stands. Gabriel can´t help following Lola with his eyes, making Zoe smile.
Zoe:
You really are a boy with a capital B, aren´t you?
Gabriel:
There´s nothing wrong with window shopping. Tell me about her.
Zoe:
Lola? She´s super sweet and a little quirky, but in a good way. She also just had an abortion.
Gabriel:
How do you know?
Zoe:
She made a video blog about it and posted it online. Pretty bad-ass, if you ask me. I would have done everything I could to hide it.
Gabriel:
She´s not like other girls, is she?
Zoe:
Keep your mind on the job at hand. Otherwise, she´ll see you get your butt kicked!
Coach Petrino comes over to them.
Petrino:
You´re on the team.
Gabriel looks surprised.
Gabriel:
Really? I thought, I had to have a try-out match.
Petrino:
Like I could find anyone, who´ll willingly get in there with you!
Petrino laughs and walks off. Gabriel and Zoe smile at each other.
Gabriel:
Well, that was easy!
Zoe:
Yeah, but you know what is never easy?
Gabriel:
Humor me. What?
Zoe:
Love.
She nods up at Lola and Gabriel makes eye contact with her. They wave at each other.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Hallway. Day.
Gabriel is standing by his locker by himself and is watching a video on his phone with his headphones in. Lola sees it and can´t help herself from sneaking up behind and taking a peek. Seeing that it´s one of her beauty tip videos, she can´t help giggling and it gives him a small shock, as he turns around to see her. He takes his headphones out and is a little embarrassed.
Lola:
I´m free after school, if you want to go lipstick shopping?
Gabriel:
I suppose, you can tell me what my perfect color is.
Lola takes a moment to consider it.
Lola:
I´d go with fire engine red. It would bring out your eyes.
They smile at each other.
Gabriel:
I was only gonna watch that one video, everyone´s talking about ...
Lola looks fine with him mentioning it.
Lola:
Ah, my addition to the feminist hall of fame.
Gabriel:
Was that why you did it? I´m sorry, I have no right to ask ...
Lola:
It´s okay. I wouldn´t have made the video, if I wasn´t prepared to talk about it. I guess, I wanted other girls out there in my situation to feel like, here was someone just like them, who was going through the same thing. Maybe that way, they would feel less alone with their problems.
Gabriel clearly loves her answer.
Gabriel:
That´s pretty amazing. Some would call you an everyday hero.
Lola:
I´m just me, a normal girl, who´s trying to get through high school life, the best I can.
Gabriel:
I´m pretty sure that normal is the last way, your friends would describe you.
She smiles at him, as she walks past him.
Lola:
Bye, Gabriel. I´m class bound.
Gabriel:
You can call me Grizzly or Grizzly Bear, if you want. Everyone at my old school did.
She turns her head and smiles at him.
Lola:
Nah, you´re too nice to be a grizzly bear. Maybe a cute little brown bear, but not a big scary grizzly bear.
She leaves him to ponder her answer and she´s clearly made an impression on him.
3. Int. Lobby. Day.
Goldi and Rhasa are handing out flyers for an upcoming demonstration, but very few are taking the bait. Zoe comes over to them, but it´s mostly to see Rhasa.
Zoe:
How´s it going?
Goldi:
Bad.
Rhasa:
Speak for yourself. I´m perfectly fine now.
Her and Zoe smile at each other. Goldi is looking less pleased.
Goldi:
This way, it´s gonna be a very small demo.
Zoe:
It´s because you´re not selling it properly.
Goldi:
"Selling it" has never been my strong side.
Zoe:
Then you´re lucky that it´s mine!
She stands on top of a bench to get everyone´s attention.
Zoe:
GIRLS! GIIIIIRLS!
She gets the attention of many of the girls there and some of the boys too.
Zoe:
ARE YOU AS SICK AND TIRED AS WE ARE OF LIVING IN A MALE DOMINATED WORLD?
The first one on board is Grace, who looks a little proud of Zoe. More girls start to come to.
Zoe:
HOW IN THE BLUE HELL IS IT FAIR, THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO BEING UNDERPAID COMPARED TO THE BOYS HERE? CAN SOMEONE TELL ME THAT? COME TO OUR DEMO AND SHOW THE WORLD, THAT YOU´RE NOT OKAY WITH IT!
She gets some cheers from the girls, while not all of the boys look happy with her message. Goldi looks pleased though, that Zoe was such a good help.
4. Int. Classroom. Day.
Zoe is talking to Goldi, who´s impressed with her.
Goldi:
It wish I had it in me to do that!
Zoe:
I´ve been a natural born performer since I was born! It was the least, I could do.
Goldi:
It isn´t something, everyone would do. Thanks.
Zoe:
You´re welcome. Anyway, I have to admit that I had somewhat selfish motives too.
Goldi:
What would those be?
Zoe:
It´s a chance to get to know my girlfriend´s BFF.
They smile at each other.
Zoe:
You´re an important part of her life and if mine and hers are gonna merge, then we´re bound to spend a lot of time together.
Goldi:
I guess so.
Zoe:
What do you say, we try hanging out after school today? Just the two of us.
Goldi doesn´t look all that pleased with the idea.
Goldi:
I don´t know. My parents aren´t happy about me bringing friends home.
Zoe:
I promise to be on my absolute best behavior. Believe it or not, I can be every mother´s wet dream, when I try to.
Goldi sees no way out of it, without being rude and slightly nods.
Goldi:
I suppose, we can try it.
Rhasa comes in and walks over to them.
Rhasa:
You wouldn´t believe the line, there was! Are you two becoming friends?
Zoe:
It sure looks that way, doesn´t it?
Rhasa:
Someone´s campaigning for the girlfriend of the year award?
Zoe:
I only care what you think. We´re hanging out after school.
Rhasa looks surprised.
Rhasa:
Cool, I guess.
Gabriel comes in and makes eye contact with Zoe, who gets out of her seat.
Zoe:
Later, girls. I have gossip to keep up on!
She leaves them and walks over and takes a seat next to Gabriel. Him and Goldi smile shyly at each other, while Rhasa tries to make eye contact with her.
Rhasa:
Earth calling Goldi! What will your parents say to you bringing a white girl home?
Goldi:
She isn´t white, white. Isn´t she Puerto Rican?
Rhasa:
Her mom is, but her dad is white. What are you thinking?
Goldi:
She asked me. I didn´t want to seem rude.
Rhasa:
It won´t end well.
Rhasa doesn´t look to pleased with her friend and Goldi looks like, she´d rather try to get out of it.
We cut to Zoe and Gabriel, who are chatting away.
Zoe:
So, what did you do on your break?
Gabriel:
I talked to Lola.
Zoe:
She doesn´t move slowly, does she?
Gabriel:
It was very innocent, I´ll have you know!
Zoe:
What about Goldi?
Gabriel:
I don´t know if I´ll ever get past the "smile nervously at each other" stage with her. Lola is ... accessible.
Zoe:
You can say that again!
Gabriel:
You shouldn´t talk about her like that. She seems really sweet.
Zoe:
Yeah, she is. I got to know her a little, when we were on the Power Squad together.
Gabriel:
I just can´t believe, that some ass-wipe would knock a girl like her up and leave her to deal with it on her own. Guys like that deserve a solid kick to the nuts, if you ask me.
Zoe:
There were circumstances, that should be taken into account.
Gabriel gets curious.
Gabriel:
You know who is it, don´t you?
Zoe:
Not for sure, but it doesn´t take a brain surgeon to figure out.
Gabriel:
Who is it?
Zoe:
Miles. He basically did a whole play, where he busted himself.
Gabriel gets quiet, making her worry.
Zoe:
Gabriel, you´re not gonna do anything to him!
Gabriel:
I´ll just have a little talk with him, is all.
Zoe:
As long as that´s all you do. He was in a bad place, when it happened. Don´t be too hard on him.
Gabriel:
When have I ever done that before?
She eyes him, not looking all that convinced.
5. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Gabriel is having a "friendly chat" with Miles, who he has pressed against the wall.
Gabriel:
How could you do that to Lola?
Miles:
Who told you?
Gabriel:
That doesn´t matter. Is it true?
Miles:
Let go of me and I´ll fill you in.
Gabriel does and Miles straightens his clothes out.
Miles:
Look, she didn´t tell me, until after she´d already had the abortion. She didn´t give me a chance to be there for her. If she´d told me, of course I would have. It´s not even a question.
Gabriel calms down, seeing that Miles isn´t too bad of a guy.
Miles:
There was a third person involved. It´s a long story ...
Gabriel:
Are you in love with her?
Miles smiles at the suggestion of it.
Miles:
I love Lola and I always will. She´s my little sister´s best friend and she´s practically been a part of our family, since we were kids. But I love her the same way, I love my sister. Plus, Frankie would freak out, if she found out that I did anything with her!
Gabriel:
Are you sure?
Miles:
One hundred percent. Are you looking to ask her out?
Gabriel:
I don´t know. Maybe.
Miles:
It´s just Lola. Even if she does turn you down, she´s sure to be as nice as possible in doing so.
Gabriel smiles to himself.
Miles:
Go for it. A great girl like her deserves a boyfriend, who treats her right and does all of the things for her, I should have.
Gabriel looks into the idea of it.
6. Int. Hallway. Day.
Lola is getting books out of her locker, when Gabriel comes over to her. He´s looking a little nervous, but her friendly smile calms him down.
Gabriel:
Hi, Lola.
Lola:
Hi.
Gabriel:
I ... ehm ... was wondering if you´d maybe ... I mean, only if you want to, of course ...
She smiles at his shy blabbering.
Lola:
Are you trying to ask me out?
Gabriel:
Yes. I know, I´m as bad at this, as I am big.
His joke lightened the mood a little.
Lola:
I´m gonna say yes, if that helps.
Gabriel:
It does. It creates sort of a comfort zone. So, do you want to go out tonight?
Lola:
I can´t.
He´s a little taken aback by her answer.
Gabriel:
I like that you´re unpredictable ...
Lola:
I mean, I have to work. Have you heard of "Lola´s Cantina"?
Gabriel:
I pass by there every day.
Lola:
It´s my family´s restaurant.
Gabriel:
Hence the name.
Lola:
Things get pretty quiet after nine o´clock. We can have a date there, if you come by.
Gabriel nods and seems to like that idea. Lola looks excited too.
7. Ext. Goldi´s House. Day.
Goldi´s house is in a middle class, suburban looking neighborhood. As they come up to the house though, it doesn´t escape Zoe´s eye that most, if not all of their neighbors are of Arab origin. Goldi looks nervous.
Goldi:
I should go in and ask first, if it´s okay.
Zoe:
Your parents are pretty strict, aren´t they?
Goldi:
Kind of. Please wait here.
Zoe:
Go ahead.
Goldi opens the door and heads inside, closing it after herself. Looking around, Zoe sees that two of the neighbors, who were talking when they walked up to the house, have stopped talking and are staring at her, like she´s somewhere, she doesn´t belong. It makes her uncomfortable and it doesn´t help, when she hears a man shouting from inside the house. She hears footsteps and braces herself, as the door is opened. Goldi is there with her father, a strict looking man in his mid 40´s, who speaks English with a heavy Arab accent.
Goldi´s Dad:
Are you the one, who´s been filling my daughter´s head with all of those crazy ideas of women´s liberation?
Zoe looks taken aback by his verbal attack on her.
Goldi:
Dad, she ...
Goldi´s Dad:
Shut your mouth. You disgrace this family enough, as it is! What were you thinking, bringing this walking scandal to our house?
Zoe:
Sir, I have made mistakes, but I´m reformed now.
Goldi´s Dad:
Reformed! What a joke! You´re like all other Canadian girls. Whores and Harlots, the lot of you!
Zoe has heard enough and gets feisty, making Goldi worried.
Zoe:
If that´s the way you feel, why do live here then?
Goldi´s Dad:
We would be back where things are good and proper, if your kind hadn´t come with your armies and bombs and forced us to flee from it. Now go and never come back here!
Goldi:
I´m sorry, Zoe. I tried.
Zoe:
It´s okay, Goldi. Your dad´s a real dick, though!
Zoe gives him the finger, as she hurries away from the house. We linger on Goldi and her dad for a while more.
Goldi:
It´s not her fault, what´s going on in the world.
Goldi´s Dad:
Wake up, Goldi! They´re all the same and they´re poisoning your mind at that school. I don´t want you to ever speak to that girl again, understood?
Goldi doesn´t like it, but nods anyway.
Goldi:
Yes, Father.
Goldi´s Dad:
Get back inside. Your mom needs your help in the kitchen.
Goldi:
Yes, Father.
Goldi´s Dad:
And don´t ever think of bringing a girl like that here again, is that clear?
Goldi:
Yes, Father. I won´t.
Goldi´s dad nods at her, allowing her to leave him, He has to take a few moments to calm down, before he can do anything.
8. Int. Bathroom. Day.
Goldi comes out to the bathroom, looking extremely frustrated with what just happened and in front of Zoe, none the less. She bangs her fists against the walls in frustration and anger, before sitting down on the toilet, where she hangs her head in her hands, as she tries to calm down.
9. Int. Lola´s Cantina. Evening.
Lola and Gabriel are having their date in the back of the restaurant. A few candles are on the table and the food looks very good, both of them eating a nice looking steak. Lola goes "Mmm", as she chews it.
Lola:
I should eat here more often!
Gabriel:
I was actually a little afraid, that you would be a vegetarian,
Lola:
Please, I´m Argentinian! No one does meat, like we do!
They both laugh.
Lola:
That came out wrong! Why would you think I was some straight laced, veggie girl?
Gabriel:
It´s the hair, I think.
Lola:
I´ve never seen the fun in being like everyone else.
Gabriel:
I love that philosophy!
Lola:
It does make some of our older customers stare, but it´s a small prize to pay for feeling unique. You must have things that make you unique, besides your size.
Gabriel:
Not really. I mean, I can fight, but I´m no one special.
Lola:
Haven´t you had an idea, that you thought was the greatest idea, anyone has ever had?
Gabriel takes a moment to consider it.
Gabriel:
I did come up with the four day weekend.
Lola giggles.
Lola:
I can see that being a hit! Being unique and not being afraid to be yourself, doesn´t have to mean looking different. It´s about liberating yourself in the way you think.
Gabriel:
You just decided one day to dye your hair blue out of nowhere?
Lola:
I had it pink before that.
Gabriel:
How did your parents react?
Lola:
My mom told me, that I looked like a blueberry popsicle!
The two of them laugh.
Lola:
My dad is so used to it from me, that he smiled it off. What are yours like?
Gabriel:
By the sounds of it, not too different from yours.
They smile at each other and their date looks to be going very well.
10. Ext. Grace´s House. Evening.
Goldi is waiting by the open front door, when Zoe comes out to talk to her. They smile nervously at each other.
Goldi:
I didn´t want to leave things, the way we did.
Zoe:
Me neither. Are you okay?
Goldi:
I´m used to it. I know that everyone thinks of me as this girl, who has it all together and loves her life. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Zoe:
Real life doesn´t work out that way, does it?
Goldi:
He´s not a bad guy, my dad. He´s just always had things be one way, from the time he was born. I can´t expect him completely go against his upbringing, just because I want him to.
Zoe:
Why is he so ... I don´t want to say the word.
Goldi:
Racist? It´s okay to say it, he is. I love him as a dad, but I don´t agree with him on most things.
Zoe:
I don´t get where all of the hostility comes from. I´ve never done anything to him.
Goldi:
He grew up in a world, where the propaganda against all things Western was everywhere. To him, all white people are part of the worldwide conspiracy to take down Islam. What´s happened these past years, first in Afghanistan and Iraq and now in Syria has only made it worse, I´m afraid.
Zoe looks at her with pity.
Zoe:
It must make it hard for you, sort of having one leg in each camp?
Goldi:
I can´t wait to go off somewhere, where I can be myself and not have to worry about those things.
Zoe smiles to herself.
Zoe:
So, you are like all us other high schoolers, after all? That´s good to know.
Goldi smiles back at her.
Zoe:
Do you want to come in and hang out? We´re watching "Dancing With the Stars".
Goldi:
Grace watches "Dancing With the Stars"?
Zoe:
Don´t tell anyone, but she gets really into it. It´s her guilty pleasure and truly a sight for sore eyes, if there ever was one!.
Goldi:
I´ll take a rain check. It took enough to convince my mom, to let me come over and I don´t want to rock the boat.
Zoe:
That´s okay. There´s a spot open for you on the couch, when you want it. Around here, we´re pretty loose, as far as formalities go. You´d like it.
Goldi:
I just might take you up on that offer. See you in school.
Zoe:
See ya.
Goldi walks away from the house, as Zoe closes the door behind her. She smiles to herself, glad that she got to know Zoe a little better and possibly making a friend in the process.
11. Int. Living Room. Evening.
Gabriel comes home to find his parents still up and watching a movie on TV.
Gabriel:
Hi, guys. I wasn´t expecting you to still be up.
Marcus:
Have you come home alone?
Gabriel:
It wasn´t THAT kind of date. She´s a nice girl, the kind you need to treat right and romance first, before you try anything.
His parents look at each other.
Jane:
I think we did something right with him!
Marcus:
Can we expect a new daughter in law in the near future?
Gabriel:
It´s too early to say, but I had a great time tonight and I think, she did too.
Jane:
Let things play out the natural way. That´s what my mom always told me to.
Marcus:
It worked for us, didn´t it?
They kiss and Gabriel rolls his eyes.
Gabriel:
That´s my sign to hit the sack! Goodnight.
He leaves them and they´re a little amused.
Marcus:
Kids today, huh?
Jane:
Like you or me were any different?
Marcus:
It´s good for him. Maybe this girl can help him find inner peace.
Jane:
Lord knows, he could use it!
They go back to following the movie.
12. Int. Gabriel´s Room. Evening.
Gabriel is sitting on the bed and is playing around with his phone before bedtime.
We see the screen and see, that he´s looking over Lola´s Face Range profile. The pictures on there, mostly of Lola with her family or hanging out with her friends make him smile, when he looks at them. She´s clearly made quite the impression on him, the little blue haired wonder. He gets a notification of a message having been sent to him and he presses the icon to pull it up. His smile quickly fades, when sees the message.
From John Dahmer:
It´s been a while, Grizzly. Guess who´s coming to town for the meet against your new school next week?
Gabriel is almost about to throw his phone at the wall in anger, but instead puts a pillow up to his face, that he screams into. Putting the pillow away, he sits up and tries to gather himself.
Gabriel:
Dammit!
He clearly isn´t looking forward to seeing this John person again.
CLOSING CREDITS