An Anarchist's Dream Come True

This is the 3rd episode of Survivor: Bermuda - Brain vs Brawn vs Beauty!

Challenges
Reward/Immunity Challenge: Blind Leading the Blind One tribe member will be the caller. The rest of the tribe will be blindfolded. Using only verbal commands, the caller will direct the blindfolded tribe members to collect a series of very large and very heavy puzzle pieces. Once they have all the puzzle pieces, they will take off the blindfolds and work together to solve the puzzle. The first two tribes to finish win immunity.

Reward: Tarp, blankets, pillows & chairs (1st place), Tarp (2nd place) Winner: TBD

Gombey Tribe
(Following Gary's blindside, the Gombey Tribe returns to camp as an uneasy vibe surrounds them.)

Phyllis: I don't know what to say to you guys except... thank you.

(Phyllis leans her torch against a tree. The camera focuses on her as a smile comes to her face.)

"gombey"

- Everything went brilliantly at Tribal Council tonight. Gary is gone, I'm still here, I'm in the majority and I still have my idol! It was a really ballsy play to hold on to it and I very well could have gone with it in my pocket. Right before Tribal, Constance and Adrian told me they were "casting our votes in accordance with the outline proposed by you", as Adrian put it. I debated playing it anyway, but my gut said trust them, so I did. I started from the bottom, but now I've got a fighting chance. I'm going to use this idol, this new majority alliance, to fight my way to the end and win the game. (chokes up a little) I've got more motivation than anyone out here: I'm doing this for my husband, Patrick. He was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's and he fades each and every day. (wipes tears from her eyes) Survivor was something we always watched together, something we always talked about doing. It's too late for him, but not for me. Before his memory fades completely and he forgets who I am and all the memories we shared together, I want to make him proud. I want him to remember this experience for at least a little while. With every play I make, every day I'm out here, I've got Patrick playing with me. Now that I've been given this chance, I won't stop until I've got the million dollars.

Constance; You're more than welcome. It was the best move for us.

(Phyllis motions Constance a little closer and they drop their voices to a whisper.)

Phyllis: You've got my back from now on, yes?

Constance: Absolutely. We'll stick together moving forward.

(Constance and Phyllis head back to the shelter. The camera focuses on Constance, who is brimming with confidence.)

"gombey"

- One hundred percent, this was the best and only move I could have made tonight. I knew from the second that Phyllis left I needed to do this. I had to pressure Adrian into it a little, but there was no way I was letting this opportunity go. This whole thing about a united tribe? Yeah, great fun, but guess who probably would have gone fifth? Me. I'd rather be at the top of a divided tribe than at the bottom of a united one. They can be mad at me if they want, but I made the move I needed to make to get myself into a power position. Nine out of ten players would have done it and the one left over would have known they needed to but been too scared. The way things sit, it's me, Adrian and Phyllis against Luca and Veronica. And, knowing what I know, Luca and Veronica might not be sticking together too long. (laughs)

(Following Constance's confessional, the camera pans to Luca who, baffled, sets his bag down in the shelter.)

Luca: I'm... so confused. Who voted Gary?

Constance: Phyllis and I did.

Adrian: I also voted for Gary.

Luca: And... who voted for Adrian? Why was there even a vote for Adrian? I thought... (shakes head) Never mind, I'm too confused.

Constance: We can talk about this in the morning.

Luca: Yeah, that would be good.

(Luca settles down to try and sleep. The camera focuses on the sheer bewilderment that still remains on his face.)

"gombey"

- I'm... so out of the loop right now. I have absolutely no idea what happened, when the plan changed, who changed it... I feel like an idiot. It was supposed to be five votes Phyllis last I heard, but instead it was three Gary, two Phyllis and one Adrian! I voted for Phyllis and Gary must have voted for Phyllis, so... I just don't get it. I thought things were going to be so easy and straightforward and it would be the five of us coming back to camp without Phyllis, but I guess not. Oh my goodness... even Veronica must have gone against the plan, but why would she vote Adrian? I... you know what? This is too much to think about right now. I don't even know what to think. Obviously I'm in the minority, but was I even in the majority to begin with? (deep sigh) I need sleep.

Adrian: (standing up) In regard to that particular subject, Veronica, may we converse in an area that situates us a considerable distance from potential eavesdroppers?

Veronica: ...What?

Constance: He wants to talk privately with you.

Veronica: Oh... okay. It can't wait until morning?

Adrian: This matter requires immediate attention.

Veronica: Okay, let's go.

(The two of them walk away. The camera focuses on Adrian, who is frowning.)

"gombey"

- Tonight, as Jeffrey was announcing the outcome of the Tribal Council, I expected, in accordance with Gary's directions, there would be a solitary vote for Luca. The result, however, revealed that instead of voting for Luca, Veronica cast her vote against me. Seeing this vote resulted in feelings of substantial annoyance. Until that moment I had held the apparently fallacious belief that Veronica and I had resolved our situation. Some individuals at this moment may claim that I am behaving hypocritically given that I, too, deviated from the specifications; I anticipate Veronica herself may be experiencing annoyance to an even more substantial degree. However, Veronica's actions only reinforce my prior belief that I voted in accordance to the scenario that would produce the best outcome for me, for if I had adhered to Gary's plan the Tribal Council would have, consequentially, concluded with my ouster as opposed to Gary's. I am thus not remorseful for my actions in any way.

(The camera picks up again as Adrian and Veronica meet in a private area.)

Veronica: So I have a feeling that I know what you want to talk  about, but can I start first?

Adrian: If it is your wish to do so, then by all means.

Veronica: Can you explain to me why you voted Gary? The agreement was that there'd be four votes for Phyllis and the five of us would continue being a solid alliance. Instead, you kept Phyllis, the most untrustworthy person by far!

Adrian: Veronica, why don't you provide an explanation for your motives? You have no justification for directing anger towards me when you also deviated from the specified instructions!

Veronica: I voted against you, yeah. So what? I told you guys Luca would be loyal, but no one listened to me! What's the issue here? You and Constance are the ones who completely betrayed the alliance.

Adrian: The issue, Veronica, is that your deviation resulted in the critical endangerment of my survival. Had my vote remained as instructed, and had Phyllis possessed and subsequently elected to play a Hidden Immunity Idol, the remaining votes would have been equally distributed between Gary and I. Thus, at the following vote, unless Phyllis or Constance were prepared to endanger their own games, I would have been eliminated. Your actions tonight further substantiated my conviction that I was exploring the most beneficial scenario.

Veronica: Why are you placing all the blame on me? I wasn't comfortable voting for Luca!

Adrian: If you were uncomfortable with the task you had been delegated, you should have voiced your opinion and, therefore, Gary would have distributed the task to a more suitable and willing candidate from our selection of available individuals.

Veronica: What, and if I had, you would have voted Phyllis?

Adrian: I would have been left without any further viable options unless Gary assigned the task to himself. Had either Constance or I been requested to perform the duty, we would have had to do so. The only other scenario would have been to vote so as both Phyllis and Gary received three votes. Believe me, Veronica, being an accessory in the elimination of Gary was beneficial to my personal standpoint, but under no circumstances would I have risked my own elimination to do so.

Veronica: Wait... so you're saying you would have voted Phyllis if I hadn't been voting Luca?

Adrian: Affirmative. The only factor that led to the option of eliminating Gary becoming available to Constance and I was that there was a vote not belonging to us  being directed towards someone other than Phyllis. Had the vote been one of ours, we would have been unable to accomplish the task, as the one vote for someone else that is a prerequisite of achieving a majority of three in a six person situation could not be cast without the necessity of involvement from yourself or Luca. Having assessed the situation,it would be  factual to declare that such assistance would have been an impossibility. Therefore, to summise, had I been tasked with voting for Luca, I would have.

Veronica: So you're saying this is my fault.

Adrian: My intentions are not to, directly or indirectly, inflict blame upon you for the situation at hand. I am simply stating the fact that your vote not being cast for Phyllis allowed the possibility of me working with her. Furthermore, I am also stating that your asinine assumption that to vote for me was an appropriate alternative to the undesirable option of voting Luca only further confirmed that I was correct in my judgement.

Veronica: So you're calling me stupid. That sounded pretty condescending, don't you think?

Adrian: My next intention, Veronica, is to establish a motive as to why your vote had to be for me as opposed to Constance. Now, having assessed the interactions between the pair of us over the preceding five days, I can only draw to the conclusion that your decision has directly developed from the argument over the rights of the LGBT, which occurred on the second day of this experience.

Veronica: No, it was nothing to do with that! I told you that we were okay and I meant it.

Adrian: Then what other reasonable alternative can you offer? I can only offer that, subconsciously, you still bore me some ill will and therefore saw no negative outcomes in my elimination, therefore  deceiving me when you claimed you wished for us to become acquaintances once more.

Veronica: It wasn't that! It wasn't!

Adrian: Your lack of a second motive only reinforces that my hypothesis is true. Unless, of course, you can provide me with one instantaneously.

Veronica: I... I... I don't know, okay?

Adrian: Thus my hypothesis has been proven and you henceforth are devoid of any right and justification for your feelings of anger towards Constance or I. With no further matter of substance to be added, I am declaring this conversation to have concluded.

Veronica: What about us? Our alliance?

Adrian: The agreement which was previously in effect between us, as a result of our separate paths, has been terminated. In future, should you wish to engage in strategic partnership with me, I will be open to such a discussion. Veronica, it must be known that I bear you no ill will, nor do I hold in your regard any feelings of hate. Obviously, as a result of our mutual deception, the trust between us has been severed but is not irreparable. I have forgiven you for voting against me and I hope you, in turn, forgive me for voting Gary. We both did what we felt was necessary. Should the circumstances arise, I would work with you. Under the current situation, however, I will not prioritise your safety over that of those who were loyal to me. Now I believe it is important that we sleep.

(Adrian and Veronica walk back to camp. The camera focuses on Veronica, who is looking simultaneously disheartened and annoyed.)

"gombey"

- So apparently it's my fault that Gary went, or at least that's what Adrian just told me in the most pretentious and condescending way possible. I can't believe I was such an idiot! Ugh, he told me that he would have voted for Phyllis if I'd just spoken up and asked Gary if someone else could vote for Luca instead. Why didn't I do that? Why the hell did I think it would be a good idea to vote Adrian? Actually, why am I just getting the blame for this? Adrian lied to me just as much as I did to him. Had I known that they weren't voting Phyllis, I would have voted for her instead of Adrian. Why does he get off without any repercussions and I'm made out to be Satan for wanting to keep my closest friend out of danger, when I told everyone repeatedly that Luca would be loyal and none of them would listen? Yeah, all my fault, huh? (shakes head) Well I'm on the bottom now for being an idiot and Luca is all I've got left. I just hope that Adrian and Constance don't leak to him that he was actually supposed to receive the other vote, or I might have go from having four allies to none at all.

Somers Tribe
Dreary music begins to play as the camera opens on day seven of the Somers Tribe. A few nature and landscape shots are shown before returning to the campsite. Most of the camp are standing around as breakfast has been cooked. Gwen is standing over the rice pot slowly scooping the rice out. Celia, who is standing behind her, gets visibly annoyed.

Celia: Seriously? Come on! How long does it take to scoop out rice? What are you doing, going grain by grain?

Gwen: Leave me alone! Just because I don't do things as fast as you doesn't give you the right to yell at me for it!

Celia: A snail could do it faster than you!

(Ryan and Maria look at each other and roll their eyes as Gwen finally finishes scooping the rice out on to her plate. As Celia looks relieved, Gwen then pulls out her canteen and begins filling it with water.)

Celia: (raising arms in disbelief) Are you kidding me!?

Gwen: I might as well do it while I'm here! Just be patient! You don't have to be so mean all the time.

Celia: Yeah, you're one to talk...

Gwen: When have I ever been mean to you?

Celia: Just shut up and fill your god damn canteen.

(Disheartened, Gwen finishes.filling up her canteen.)

Celia: Good. (When Gwen takes a second to move away, Celia grows more agitated) Move!

(Gwen hangs her head and moves to sit back down. Celia pushes past Gwen and starts slamming rice on to her plate. She throws the scoop down in a huff and turns around, noticing Ryan standing behind her.)

Celia: Problem?

Ryan: (awkwardly shuffling past Celia, to the bowl of rice) Excuse me...

(Celia huffs and sits down. Ryan takes a deep breath, shaking his head as he scoops rice.)

Ryan: (under his breath) For crying out loud, can we trade our camp for a bomb shelter?

"somers"

- This tribe is just insane. The conflict between Gwen and Celia just rules our lives every single day. Celia always gets mad over nothing, which gets Gwen upset and it's just a repeating cycle that there's never any escape from and is constantly in your god damn face. I don't know what the hell actually happened between them a couple of days ago, but that somehow made it worse than it already is and now it just. Never. Freaking. Stops! Ugh, these girls either need to make up and hurry about it, or we need to go to tribal and vote one of their asses out. As much as I want Oswald gone, this is just driving me nuts, so I'm willing to put that on the backburner just to get my sanity back. (laughs)

The castaways eat their meal mostly in silence, save for an occasional comment about the weather or the rough sleep they all shared the night before. Throughout the entire meal, Gwen stares down at her plate, not making eye contact with anyone, a glum look on her face. Xavier notices this and his eyes fill with pity and sadness. He flashes a saddened look towards Gwen, before returning to his rice.

"somers"

- It breaks my heart to see Gwen this upset. It would hurt me to see any friend in this state. What's making it worse is that I know she's only feeling like this because I tricked her and put her in the situation where she had to talk to Celia, even though she told me over and over again she didn't want to. I was only trying to help, but it's just backfired horribly. I don't know what was said down there but it's completely shattered what little confidence Gwen has. I want to take her aside and find out what went wrong. I won't pressure her to talk to Celia this time, because I've done enough damage, but I want to be able to help her through these days as best I can.

Breakfast is finished and the dishes are cleared away. There is a timeskip and everyone is back in camp, still mostly silent due to the awkward tension between Gwen and Celia. After a period of silence, Xavier goes up to Gwen.

Xavier: Gwen, let's go for a walk, shall we?

Gwen: Okay.

(The two of them walk away. Celia sees this and rolls her eyes.)

Celia: (to Oswald) Ugh. Let me guess what's about to happen: (mocking voice) "Xavier, Celia's bullying me! She's so mean! She said this and this and this and of course I did nothing wrong! Waaaah!"" (normal voice) It's pathetic. Can we just get rid of her already?

(Oswald nods, acknowledging that he heard Celia, but does not contribute further to the conversation.)

Celia: You're not listening to me, are you?

Oswald: Are you planning on talking to Gwen about this?

Celia: Not unless she's planning on apologising. I hope Xavier knocks some sense in to her.

(The camera then transitions to Gwen and Xavier in a private area, somewhere in the forest.)

Xavier: Gwen, we really need to talk. I know you've been feeling incredibly down over the last couple of days and-

Gwen: I really don't want to talk about it, okay?

Xavier: Gwen... (sigh) Listen, I  feel really horrible about the part I played in this whole situation. I was hoping that the talk between the two of you would resolve issues, but I can see that it has only made things all the more difficult. I wanted you to know that it was never my intention to hurt you. I was only trying to help.

Gwen: I know you were, but I really wish you had just left it alone! (sigh) I'm not mad at you and I get why you did it but I'm hurt you went behind my back. I just knew that this was going to end badly, with Celia being rude to me and I wanted to avoid that! Now everything has been made worse and she hates me, even more than she already did!

Xavier: Things were very heated between you guys when you got back. I have to know... what was actually said back there? I want to help, I want to make this right. I know you want to make it right just as much, but I can't do anything without knowing all of what happened.

Gwen: Okay, okay. Celia and I talked and I told her how I felt about making her making fun of me and that she should be more tolerant of other people. Then she tried to tell me about being tolerant and gave me this story about how she's a lesbian and that apparently makes it okay for her to bully me!

Xavier: I'm sure that's not what she meant.

Gwen: It's what it sounded like! Then I told her that I felt she was using her sexuality to bully me and she started screaming at me.

Xavier: Gwen, please tell me you didn't actually say that to her?

Gwen: It's what she was doing!

Xavier: (deep sigh) Gwen, you can't say that to people.

Gwen: Now you're taking her side?

Xavier: I'm not taking any sides here, I'm trying to resolve this. No wonder Celia's angry at you. What you said to her was deeply hurtful and offensive. Celia was clearly not using her sexuality to bully you. In fact, I think she was telling you her story so you could understand where she was coming from. It sounded like she was offering you the chance for a genuine learning experience. Celia must have been through a lot in life. I think she was opening the door to you and you slammed it in her face.

Gwen: So I'm in the wrong here?

Xavier: You are.

Gwen: All I wanted was for Celia to apologise for treating me the way she did and she couldn't even do that! She told met hat people like me irritate her in real life and I basically just had to accept it!

Xavier: If you want an apology, ask for one.

Gwen: Are you crazy!? I can't talk to her now! She'll just yell at me!

Xavier: Offer her an apology first, then maybe she'll apologise to you.

Gwen: Okay... (deep sigh) I guess I have to do it then. Will you come with me?

Xavier: (thinks for a moment) No, I won't. You need to do this yourself.

Gwen: (panicked) What? B-b-but I can't go up to her on my own! I- I can't!

Xavier: Yes you can, Gwen. You've spent your whole life like this, too afraid to do things because of what might happen. This Survivor journey, it is a gift to you, to grow and learn and change your attitude towards life. This is a test that has been put before you, to see if you are ready for change. If you want to grow from this, you need to apologise to Celia by yourself. If you can do that, you'll be a lot stronger from it.

Gwen: Okay... I think I'll go now... what if this-

Xavier: Positive thoughts, Gwen. May you find strength and inner peace.

(Nervously, Gwen heads back towards camp. The camera focuses on Xavier, who has a smile on his face.)

"somers"

- In situations like this, the best approach is some tough love, to lay down the law. I am Gwen's friend, and as her friend I want her to be able to grow and learn from this experience so she can leave the island a completely different person to the shy and scared girl who set foot on the beaches that first day. From what Gwen told me of the situation, she said something deeply hurtful and offensive to Celia, which explains Celia's anger. The way Gwen reacted during the talk yesterday meant she passed up on a golden opportunity to rectify the situation, but through our discussion another similar opportunity has come to pass. Gwen owes Celia and apology for her actions, which will hopefully lead to Celia apologising to Gwen and fixing this horrendous tension around camp. I've given Gwen all the encouragement I can; now I just hope she can find the inner strength she needs to do what has to be done.

(The camera then focuses on Gwen, who is looking panicked and extremely nervous.)

"somers"

- Oh my God, I don't know if I can do this! I'm freaking out. I... oh my God, what if Celia yells at me even more? What if it makes all this worse? I'm not trying to talk myself out of it, I know this needs to be done, but I'm so scared! Xavier showed me that I was in the wrong and I suppose I didn't give Celia a true chance to talk to me. I just... I hope Celia apologises to me too, but the main thing is I want all this to be over with! I hate waking up in the mornings, I hate this awkwardness and tension around the camp and I hate everything about this experience so far. I want to enjoy this game and grow from it. I know there's only one way to fix this. I have to be strong, but I'm not sure I can.

(The camera then returns to the centre of camp, where Gwen is tentatively approaching Celia.)

Gwen: Um... C-Celia? Um.. I want to... um, I was wondering i-if I could.. t-talk to you?

Celia: (mocking) G-G-G-G-G-Gwen, wh-what... um... do you, um, w-w-w-want?

Gwen: I knew this was a bad idea! (she begins to turn back)

Oswald: Celia, be nice.

Celia: (cold) Fine. Gwen, stop. (she does) What do you want?

Gwen: (nervously)  Um... Celia, I... I...

Celia: (deep sigh) What?

Gwen: (pauses, takes a glance behind her, then a deep breath) I... wanted to say... sorry.

Celia: (not buying it) Sorry for what?

Gwen: For the talk we had on the beach. I'm, um, I'm sorry for... saying that you were using your sexuality to bully me. Because you weren't, like, um, I get that now. You were trying to... make me understand, I guess? And I just threw that back at you.

Celia: (arms folded) Yeah, you did, and it pissed me off.

Gwen: I know it did and that's why I'm saying sorry now. I... I really hate this fight we're having and the tension it's causing at camp. There are some mornings I don't want to get out of the shelter because I just dread this-

Celia: Are you seriously making yourself the victim again?

Gwen: (flustered) No I'm not! I'm screwing this up... look, I'm really, really sorry for offending you and I don't want to fight anymore. Can we please, please, put this behind us?

Celia: (sighs) Thank you for the apology. All I've wanted was to put this behind us; that's what I was trying to do down on the beach but you started victim-playing.

Gwen: Yeah I know...

Celia: I'm really glad you apologised. I'm sorry, too, for treating you so badly over the first few days.

Gwen: Thank you. I've been hoping for an apology about that. When you wouldn't do it on the beach, I felt like you were just telling me to get over it because that's who you are and I got angry. That's where all the comments came from.

Celia: (sigh) Look, I'm not going to lie to you and say that you won't frustrate me again because you probably will. I just suck at hiding my facial expressions and I'm easily irritated, so if I do get annoyed at you try not to take it to heart, okay?

Gwen: I'll try... So.... this is behind us?

Celia: Yeah, it's behind us.

Gwen: Okay, great!

(Gwen and Celia part ways.)

Oswald: See, now that wasn't so bad, was it? Now everything's good.

Celia: Yeah. I'm pretty happy.

"somers"

- Hallelujah, Gwen finally apologised! I don't know what magic Xavier worked on her but she managed to admit she was in the wrong and we reached a mutual understanding and put everything behind us. Does this mean Gwen and I are going to suddenly become best friends now? No, but at least we understand where the other is coming from and it should make life easier. I hate being angry at people for long periods of time like I was with Gwen, so now that it's settled, it feels like such a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and now I can finally enjoy my time out here.

(As the camp disperses slightly, the camera remains focused on the centre of camp, where Ryan and Maria are still sitting down in the shelter after watching the whole scene unfold.)

Ryan: Okay, can you believe that just happened?

Maria: No, but shh, don't question it. (laughs) I'm so relieved. Finally there's going to be some peace and quiet in the camp. Honestly, they were acting like teenagers and a peace offering was long overdue.

Ryan: Do you think it means that this whole sides thing isn't going to be a drama anymore?

Maria: I think sides have been established and there's no going back from that. Even though they've resolved their issues, I think it's still Celia and Oswald in one alliance, then Xavier and Gwen in another alliance. I don't think we're going to be forced to target Gwen or Celia, although I'd still want to probably off Gwen or Xavier first because of challenge weakness.

Author's Notes

 * Similar to the second episode, this episode's title went through numerous changes:
 * The first title was It's Outwit, Outplay, Outlast, not Out-Meditate. I changed this because it was boring.
 * The second was Can We Trade Our Camp for a Bomb Shelter? I changed this because I preferred the current title.