BEAR PROTECTOR
EPISODE 4: #CHALLENGED
1. Int. Gabriel´s Room. Day.
Gabriel and Zoe are sitting on his couch getting ready to watch a video on his phone, that he´s holding.
Gabriel:
I don´t even want to hear, what he has to say.
Zoe:
You´d rather find out, when he comes at you out of nowhere? We both know, that it´s not beneath him.
Gabriel:
I guess, you´re right.
He starts the video and we focus on the screen, where John is challenging Gabriel.
John (voice over):
Nice stunt, Grizzly! It just goes to prove, what I´ve always thought about you. That you´re a coward, who could never take me in a straight fight! What I´m proposing is this: One fight and we go our separate ways. I don´t come to your town and you don´t come to mine. Whoever loses, just has to live with it.
The video is paused and we cut back to Gabriel and Zoe.
Gabriel:
Like I believe him for a second, when he says that!
Zoe:
Let it play. I wanna hear the rest.
Gabriel:
He can´t be trusted any further, than you could throw him!
Zoe:
Humor me.
Gabriel reluctantly gives in and starts the video up again. We go back to focusing on the screen.
John (voice over):
I´ll even let you name the time and place, but I choose the rules. Firstly, there will only be three people there. You, me and a referee, who we´ve both agreed to. I need to have some sort of assurance, that you won´t use it as an excuse to go psycho on me again. Secondly, there´s only one way to win. To make your opponent beg for mercy. This is a moment I will savor for the rest of my life, unless you really are a coward, Grizzly. Then again, it wouldn´t surprise me, if you were. Sayonara, dirt bag!
The video ends and Gabriel starts pacing the room, wrestling with what to do.
Zoe:
I won´t look down on you, if you say no.
Gabriel looks her in the eyes and shakes his head at her.
Gabriel:
It´s not gonna work on me every time, Zo.
She rolls her eyes, seeing that he´s on to her. She gets up from the couch and walks over to him.
Zoe:
Okay, so I will. I mean, if you can´t put that S.O.B. in his place, who can?
Gabriel:
The law, perhaps? I shudder to think what he´s up to right now. It´s bound to land his sorry ass behind bars someday.
Zoe:
Then how about closure? Let´s face it, the stuff you went through, that´s gonna stick with you for the rest of your life, no matter what happens. But can you honestly stand there and tell me, that there is anything you want more than to see this finally come to an end?
Gabriel can´t hide, that she´s absolutely right in what she´s saying.
Gabriel:
I suppose, I have a fight to prepare for then.
Zoe looks proud of him, giving him a little extra encouragement.
OPENING CREDITS
2. Int. Zen Garden. Evening.
Master Mei is doing something as peaceful as trimming a Bonzai tree, when Gabriel comes in. The garden truly is a sight of beauty and it´s clearly been created with love and passion. Gabriel is impressed too.
Gabriel:
It doesn´t matter how many times I see this place, it still knocks my socks off.
Master Mei slightly smiles to himself, as he turns around to face him.
Mei:
Are you here for gardening advice? That isn´t like someone of your age.
Gabriel:
Maybe later in life, who knows? My mom´s become pretty obsessed with her tulips, since we moved here. I need some extra training in the weeks to come, I was hoping we could make a schedule.
Mei:
You didn´t have to come here for that. You could have called the dojo during office hours.
Gabriel:
It´s important. I ... ehm ... have a fight coming up.
Master Mei looks at him sternly, making him feel a tenth as tall, as he is.
Mei:
You know the rules. What I teach is only for self defense. It is not to be used to commit street violence.
Gabriel:
I know, but he´ll be coming after me, no matter what I do. I either fight him, or I´ll be looking over my shoulder forever.
Mei:
No.
Mater Mei looks firm in his decision, making Gabriel desperate.
Gabriel:
Please! I ... I ...
He can´t get the words out and has to take a moment to compose himself.
Gabriel:
I´m not sure, that I can win, okay?
Mei:
I take it, that it´s the one, you´ve talked about before?
Gabriel:
Wasn´t hard to figure out, was it?
Mei:
No. Which is the same answer, that I will give you again. You have school tomorrow, you should get home.
Gabriel:
Can you at least tell me why?
Gabriel clearly fears the answer and braces himself.
Mei:
I don´t believe, that you can win this fight. Your hatred makes you lose focus and one split second of it against a skilled fighter is all it takes, for you to get seriously hurt. Perhaps in ways, that will damage your health for the rest of your life. Do you understand now?
Gabriel looks defeated mentally by the conversation and nods to himself.
Gabriel:
You´re right. I should get home.
Gabriel leaves. Master Mei looks concerned.
3. Int. Hallway. Morning.
Gabriel comes walking up to Zoe, who´s getting things from her locker. She smiles at him.
Zoe:
How´s the hero doing?
Gabriel:
I´m no hero.
Zoe:
Face it, this is as black and white as Luke vs. The Emperor in "Last Jedi"!
Gabriel:
Only Luke didn´t high tail it all the way to the other side of the universe to get out of the fight, did he?
She looks disappointed in him.
Zoe:
What´s changed since yesterday afternoon?
Gabriel:
I talked with Master Mei. He thinks I would lose, if I fought John.
Zoe has to stop herself from laughing.
Zoe:
Seriously?
Gabriel:
It´s not funny, okay? He´s afraid that I´ll lose focus at the wrong time and as much, as I hate to say it, he´s not alone in it. No offense, but he knows a heck of a lot more about fighting, than you do.
Zoe:
Clearly, you weren´t there to see my epic fourth grade brawl with Suzie Peterson!
Gabriel:
Could Suzie have left you disabled for life?
Zoe sees what he means.
Zoe:
She was kind of butch for a ten year old, but I guess not.
Gabriel:
I see and feel every day, how my dad being in a wheel chair has effected both me, him and my mom. There´s no saying how far John will take it and one member living with a chronic disability is enough for our family.
Zoe:
Gabriel ...
Gabriel:
This is one thing, you´ll never understand. I´ll see you in class.
He looks defeated, as he heads off to class, while Zoe tries to be understanding.
4. Int. Computer Lab. Day.
Zoe is trying to get some work done, but her head clearly isn´t in it. Goldi comes over to her and sits down next to her.
Goldi (whispering):
Hi, Zoe. I need to thank you.
Zoe (whispering):
For what?
Goldi (whispering):
Your help with the demo being a success. You have a clear knack for it.
Zoe (whispering):
It´s never too hard, to bring back the angry girl within.
Goldi (whispering):
It´s not that I don´t get angry too, I just try not to show it.
Zoe (whispering):
You have to get it out some way.
Goldi (whispering):
There is. I do Yoga.
Zoe smiles at her.
Zoe (whispering):
I would have thought, Yoga was a little too new agy for you.
Goldi (whispering):
It´s great actually. After we´re done, I feel focused and ready to do just about anything.
Zoe gets an idea.
5. Int. Classroom. Day.
Gabriel is sulking at his desk and doesn´t even notice that Esme is trying to catch his eye to make Zig jealous, which annoys her. Zoe comes in, more or less dragging Goldi with her and they come over to him.
Zoe:
You say, you need to learn to focus? Well, do I have the girl for you!
Gabriel looks a little confused, as he looks up at them. Goldi looks kind of nervous and puts her hand up.
Goldi:
That girl would be me.
They smile nervously at each other.
6. Ext. Degrassi. Day.
Gabriel and Goldi leave the school together.
Gabriel:
When you do wanna do some Yoga? There´s some words, I never thought, I´d hear myself say!
Goldi giggles. They´re clearly very comfortable around each other, when nothing else gets in the way of it.
Goldi:
Like me saying, that I´m sad, I missed a school wrestling meet?
Gabriel:
I´m sure the story was way exxagerrated, by the time you heard it.
Goldi:
I saw a video of it on Face Range, It was very impressive.
Gabriel:
Doesn´t Islam basically preach against violence?
She looks surprised, that he mentioned her religion.
Goldi:
You´ve read the Qu´ran?
Gabriel:
I gotta be honest, I´ve only read the Wikipedia page. If my dad saw that book in our house ...
He shudders just at the thought of it. Goldi looks understanding.
Goldi:
He´ll react the same way mine would, if I came home with a bible?
Gabriel:
Sad, isn´t it? He´s bitter over giving his legs for a people, most of whom never wanted them there in the first place. In stead of gratitude, all he got was being called a murderer, by those he fought to protect.
Goldi:
If you ask my father, he´ll tell you that it was all a war fought, so the Americans could get the Iraqi oil.
Gabriel:
Either way, we´ll probably never know.
Goldi:
Then you understand, why it isn´t as easy as saying "Are you coming over tonight?".
Gabriel:
You´re allowed to talk to men, aren´t you?
Goldi gets a little insulted.
Goldi:
It´s not like they´re members of the Taliban!
Gabriel looks apologetic.
Gabriel:
I´m sorry. It´s just that you hear all sorts of things, especially growing up with a dad like mine.
Goldi:
I´m allowed to talk to whoever I want to.
Gabriel:
Spending time alone with a white boy, would be over the line. I get it.
Goldi:
It´s lucky for you, that my weekly class is tonight then. Isn´t it?
He looks pleased.
Gabriel:
Cool!
Goldi:
It´s up the street at number 620. Seven o´clock.
Gabriel:
I´ll be there.
Goldi:
I´m looking forward to it. There´s Rasha. I´ll see you later.
She leaves him to go and join Rasha. He watches them leave, as Zoe comes up to him. She shakes her head at him.
Zoe:
You like her, don´t you?
Gabriel is almost shocked at her hitting him with that particular question out of the blue.
Gabriel:
I´m not ...
Zoe:
We´ve known one another, since we were two. When you like a girl, you get nervous and stutter. It´s just like how it was, when you had your first crush on Suzie Peterson all those years ago, when we were what. Eight, maybe?
He has to take a second to take in how well Zoe knows him.
Gabriel:
Is that why you got in a fight with her?
Zoe:
Nah. She was talking trash about me to the other girls. Seriously, you have a great thing going on with Lola, who´s head over heels crazy for you. Save you and Goldi for the spank bank and stick to what you have.
Gabriel nods in understanding and raises an eye brow at how well she knows the teenage boy mind.
7. Int. Car. Evening.
Marcus is driving Gabriel to his Yoga class.
Marcus:
If you ask me, this was a great idea, Zoe had. A true warrior is in control of all of his senses, all of the time.
Gabriel:
Is that one of Master Ip´s words of wisdom?
Marcus:
Since I have no idea, where I first heard it, I´ll claim that one as my own.
They smile at each other.
Gabriel:
Fair enough, dad.
Marcus:
It´s good that you´re broadening your world in a positive way. You´re on the right track, now that whole John business is over and done with.
Gabriel becomes quiet, not wanting to tell him dad the truth.
8. Int. Car. Evening.
Goldi on her part is getting a ride from Rasha, who looks to be a bit of wild driver! She´s thrilled, where as Goldi is holding on to the door and making sure, that her seatbelt is well fastened.
Rasha:
Can´t you feel the freedom of the road, coursing through your entire body?
Goldi:
Yes and I´d like to feel that way again, so can we slow down?
Rasha:
Okay!
Rasha semi reluctantly slows down, as Goldi starts to ease up.
Goldi:
It´s meant to be an evening of no stress, not maximum stress!
Rasha smiles teasingly at her.
Rasha:
Because Gabriel will be there?
Goldi:
We´ll both be meditating. It doesn´t exactly involve a lot of flirting.
Rasha:
You´re saying, that you want to flirt with him?
Goldi:
Now you´re putting words in my mouth.
Rasha:
How is he going to know that you´re attracted to him, if you never tell him?
Goldi:
It´s for the best, if I don´t. I shouldn´t have to explain why.
Rasha looks full of sympathy for her friend.
Rasha:
Goldi, cultural barriers can be broken. It wouldn´t be the first time, it´s happened.
Goldi:
I´d rather not talk about it, if that´s okay.
Rasha:
Of course, it is. I told you, that I can´t pick you up afterwards, didn´t I?
Goldi:
You did. My dad is coming to pick me up.
Rasha gets a worried look on her face.
Rasha:
You´re saying that your father, who hates all things American, will be waiting in the same small parking lot as Gabriel´s dad, the former Navy Seal, who lost both of his legs fighting in Iraq?
Goldi now gets a little worried too.
Goldi:
I´m sure, they can act like adults and as a minimum, ignore each other.
Rasha:
Then you have more faith in them, than I do!
Goldi tries not to worry too much over it.
9. Int. Community Center. Evening.
Gabriel is getting quite a few stares from especially some of the elder members of the Yoga class, but he´s taking it with a smile. Goldi comes in and comes over to sit next to him.
Goldi:
Hi. I wasn´t sure, if you´d come or not.
Gabriel:
I said, I would. Didn´t I?
They smile warmly at each other.
Goldi:
I´m glad. You did. Zoe didn´t explain to me why you need, what was it, focus?
Gabriel:
My Jiu-Jitsu trainer thinks so.
Goldi:
You agree with him?
Gabriel:
It can´t hurt. No matter what, I´ll finally get to know you a little better.
The teacher, a woman in her 30´s, comes in.
Teacher:
Good evening everyone. It´s nice to see so many of you here tonight.
She notices Gabriel, who stands out with his size.
Teacher:
You´re new, aren´t you?
Gabriel:
The name is Gabriel.
Teacher:
Welcome to the class, Gabriel. Is it your first time?
Gabriel nods.
Teacher:
Then a whole new world is about to open up to you. Am I right?
Everyone (including Goldi):
Yes!
Gabriel looks pleased that he came.
10. Ext. Community Center. Evening
The class is over and everyone is leaving. Gabriel looks like he really enjoyed it, to Goldi´s delight.
Goldi:
So?
Gabriel:
She wasn´t kidding. I feel completely at ease with my Zen.
Goldi:
Are you into Asian culture?
Gabriel:
Kind of. There´s a lot of very interesting aspects, to what their old philosophers were thinking. My dad got me into it.
Their smiles fade, when they hear two mean loudly arguing. Their fathers.
Gabriel:
Speaking of ...
Goldi:
That´s your dad?
Gabriel:
Yep!
Goldi:
Meet mine.
They go down to try to stop them.
11. Ext. Parking Lot. Evening.
Marcus and Goldi´s dad are in a loud argument, making everyone else want to keep a distance from them.
Marcus:
How dare you, you ungrateful maggot! We saved you from Saddam!
Goldi´s Dad:
So that ISIS could take over?
Marcus:
That has nothing to do with it! Saddam was a butcher and you know it!
Goldi´s Dad:
He also kept the country from falling apart at the seams, like it is now! You Americans, always thinking you know what´s best for everyone! Before the war, they might not have had much, but at least they knew, what they had!
Marcus:
And what was that, exactly? A dictator, who wiped out entire ethnic groups, because he was essentially a fascist?
Goldi´s Dad:
They had peace and hope for the future! You took that away from them, when you destroyed their country and left them with nothing!
Marcus:
Don´t gimme that! We would have helped, if you had given us the chance!
Goldi´s Dad:
Like you did at Abu Ghraib?
Gabriel and Goldi come rushing to, to try to end their argument.
Gabriel:
Dad, we need to get out of here, now!
Marcus:
I couldn´t agree more!
Marcus and Goldi´s Dad give each other the evil eye, as Gabriel helps his dad get in the car. Goldi´s dad tries to calm down.
Goldi´s Dad:
Is that boy in your Yoga class, Goldi?
Goldi:
I also see him at school.
Goldi´s Dad:
Don´t talk to him, unless you must. His father is crazy, you hear?
Goldi clearly wants to say something, but decides that it´s not worth the fight at this time.
Goldi:
I won´t.
Goldi´s Dad:
Let´s get home. I need to calm down.
Her dad gets in their car, just as Marcus and Gabriel drive off. Him and Goldi make eye contact, as they drive by them and look sad at what just happened.
12. Int. Car. Evening.
Marcus is trying to calm down, while Gabriel is clearly annoyed with him.
Gabriel:
Did you have to start a huge fight with a stranger, there of all places? They´ll ban me from coming to that class ever again!
Marcus:
You won´t believe, the things he said!
Gabriel:
That doesn´t matter! The war is over for you, so why won´t you move on and accept it?
Marcus calms down and looks apologetic.
Marcus:
If I could explain it, I would. I´ll go down and have a talk with them tomorrow and tell them, that you´re nothing like your crazy old dad.
Gabriel calms down too and smiles slightly at him.
Gabriel:
I don´t know about that, You do have some not so terrible qualities.
Marcus:
Shooting my mouth off just isn´t one of them?
Gabriel:
Bingo!
Marcus:
I´ll try my best not to in the future.
Gabriel sees the chance to get his secret out.
Gabriel:
John has challenged me to a fight. A sort of one final showdown to end it all, kind of deal.
Marcus doesn´t look too surprised.
Marcus:
Are you gonna accept his challenge?
Gabriel:
Do you think, I should?
Marcus:
I´m not you.
Gabriel:
If you were?
Marcus makes eye contact with him.
Marcus:
I don´t think, I could say no, if it were me at your age.
Gabriel:
What if I lose? Will I ever be able to look at myself the same way again?
Marcus:
Only you know. But I think another question you need to ask yourself, is whether you can live the rest of your life not knowing, what would have happened.
Gabriel:
Master Mei doesn´t think, I should take the fight.
Marcus:
That´s one piece of advice for and one against.
Gabriel:
Zoe is DEFINITELY for!
Marcus:
Is she gonna get the deciding vote?
Gabriel thinks about it for a few seconds, before smiling and nodding.
Gabriel:
I think, she is!
Marcus:
Do you want to stop by Mei´s house on the way home?
Gabriel:
Yeah, let´s.
Gabriel looks like he´s got his confidence back.
13. Int. Mei´s House. Evening.
Mei is reading a book, when there´s a knock on the door. He goes to open it and it´s Gabriel.
Mei:
You´re lucky, that I was still up, Gabriel.
Gabriel:
I won´t make a habit of coming here late in the evening, I promise. I just want you to know, that I´m taking the fight, despite what you said. I also want you to be our referee for it, so you can end it, if things go too far. Let´s face it, you´re the only one, who could.
Mei looks torn over the offer.
Mei:
This won´t be just another fight, Gabriel.
Gabriel:
I know that better than anyone!
Mei:
Will you be able to accept it, if he defeats you? Is it not better not to know?
Gabriel:
Not in this case. It´ll be a whole lot tougher to me, if I let him get the last word. Please, I need you to train me! Do I need to get down on my hands and knees to beg you?
To Gabriel´s surprise, the slightest of smiles comes on Mei´s lips at the suggestion of it.
Mei:
Don´t you think, the neighbors would stare?
Gabriel eases up a little.
Gabriel:
Probably. Please, Master Mei. I wouldn´t be asking this way, if this wasn´t practically life or death to me.
Mei:
Tell your foe, that we will have the fight at the dojo two weeks from today. I will make sure, that it´s empty.
Gabriel looks glad.
Gabriel:
You´ll train me?
Mei:
We start tomorrow after school. Goodnight, Gabriel. Give your parents my best wishes.
He closes the door and comes back into his living room, where he takes a moment to consider, whether he´s doing the right thing or not.
14. Ext. Mei´s House. Evening.
Gabriel takes his phone out and starts recording his message for John.
Gabriel:
Two weeks from now at Master Mei´s Dojo. I´ll send you the details and don´t be late! It will be an evening none of us will ever forget!
He finishes the recording and sends it, looking pleased with his decision.
15. Ext. Degrassi. Morning.
Goldi and Rasha arrive for school. Gabriel and Zoe are waiting for them and Zoe gets a long good morning hug from Rasha. Goldi rolls her eyes.
Goldi:
It´s only been ten hours, since you saw each other and you spent most of them sleeping!
Zoe:
It´s still more than long enough!
Gabriel:
Goldi, can we talk for a moment? I really need to apologize to you.
Rhasa:
I feel the need for an early morning sugar boom. What do you say, Zoe?
Zoe:
I say, to the vending machine, we go!
Rhasa and Zoe leave Gabriel and Goldi to talk alone. He looks apologetic.
Gabriel:
I´m so sorry about what happened.
Goldi:
It´s alright. They probably both played their parts, in it getting started in the first place.
Gabriel:
I love my dad, but he´s stubborn as a mule, when it comes to these things. He doesn´t want to see, that unless someone budges a little, it just ends up as another shouting match, that benefits no one.
Goldi:
Could you tell my dad that, while you´re at it? That man can be so frustrating sometimes!
Gabriel:
Hey, I know, what you mean! Are we still ... cool?
Goldi:
We´ve never not been, have we?
Gabriel:
Not to my knowledge.
Goldi:
Then why wouldn´t we be now?
They smile at each other. A passing Esme just catches a glimpse of it and smiles deviously to herself.
CLOSING CREDITS