Absolute Madness

This is the seventh episode of Survivor: Maldives - Island of Secrets

Previously on Survivor...

 * Tensions reached a boiling point after Alifu returned from tribal council between Aneal and Katie, and Dev and Natalie.
 * Katie began to worry that blindsiding Tony may have been a mistake.
 * Fabian won his second duel in a row on Redemption Island, making Tony the fifth castaway to leave the competition for good.
 * Alifu won Immunity!
 * Feeling the pressure of Tribal Council, Jillian and Pasha did their best to babysit Dorothy for the afternoon in order to avoid Marcus and Nick from talking to her. However Nick refused to let them deter him and proposed to Dorothy flipping on her current alliance right in front of them. Although Dorothy wavered, in the end she decided it was best to remain loyal to the women and Marcus was sent to Redemption Island in a 3-2 vote.

11 remain, who will be eliminated in tonight's duel?

Dhaalu
It's a still night. With no breeze, the ocean water rests eerily calm while the moonlight from the clear sky shines down to illuminate the Alifu tribes walk back into camp. Everyone remains fairly quiet, the only sound that can be heard is a single yawn from Pasha. Nick, who trails behind the rest of the group, drags himself into camp looking discouraged.

Pasha raises her hand up to her shoulder, and using her index finger, guides the strap of her bag down her arm, allowing her possessions to fall to the ground.

Pasha (relieved): Ugh, come here!

Pasha extends her arms, walks over to Dorothy, and the two women hug.

Pasha: (Rubbing Dorothy's back) Thank you so much.

As Pasha and Dorothy let go of one another, Dorothy smiles.

Dorothy: Of course, you know I've got your back.

Nick sits down on a log near the fire, and stares silently into the small burning flames. Dorothy walks over to him and rests her hand onto his shoulder.

Dorothy: I'm sorry.

Nick looks up to her and forces a grin, but Dorothy can tell it's insincere.

Alifu
It's a brand new day, hot and sunny. The members of Alifu carry on with their daily chores until Katie emerges out of the bushes with a piece of paper in her hands.

Katie (shouting): Tree mail!

Everyone quickly huddles around, intrigued as the days directly following Tribal Council are typically uneventful.

Natalie (curious): What does it say?

Katie unravels the rolled up paper.

Katie: Lets see...

The camera focuses onto Katie's near blank facial expression as she looks to the paper. She then turns it around for everyone else to see.

Katie (confused): Nothing, it's just a map.

Natalie immediately takes a deep inhale, leaving her mouth partially parted. Excitedly, her muscles tense up.

Natalie: Oh my god, are we merging? (Turns to Dev) Is that where Dhaalu's camp is?

Dev just shakes his head.

Dev: No, Dhaalu's somewhere over here... (motions in the air just to the left side of the paper) It's not even on this map.

Natalie wrinkles her brow.

Natalie: Oh...

Prepared for whatever may await them, the five members of Alifu push their canoe out into the water from the sandy shore, hop in, and all row forward toward the unknown destination.

Redemption Island Arena
A few fancy camera angles open the next scene, showing off the Redemption Island Arena.

Jeff Probst: Come on in, guys!

The Alifu tribe enters the arena in single file, everyone staring around in awe. As they take their seats in the bleachers the camera focuses specifically onto Natalie as she sits down. 'Wow', she mouths. As soon as everyone has taken their place, Dhaalu follows in behind them.

Jeff Probst: Alifu getting their first look at the new Dhaalu tribe, Marcus voted out at the last tribal council.

Justin's jaw drops as him and Dev look to one another in shock. Natalie can be seen smiling, clearly pleased with the outcome. As soon as she can see Jillian, Natalie winks. Jillian smiles in return. The camera then focuses onto Dhaalu as they get situated.

Jeff Probst: Welcome, to Redemption Island Arena! I'm sure you're all wondering where you are and why you are here, well, today is the day that this game is about to change for good. It's time I let you all in on one of the many secrets that this game has to hold.

The camera shows Natalie listening intently.



Jeff Probst: ...It's time I let you all in on one of the many secrets that this game has to hold. As each and every castaway this season has had their torch snuffed, they did not go home. Instead, they were sent to a secret third island. It was there they were forced to live alone until joined by the next voted out castaway. Once two people inhabited the camp they came here, Redemption Island Arena. It was here they would duel against one another to stay alive for a chance to re-enter the game!

Jillian is shown looking shocked, covering her mouth with both hands.

Jeff Probst: The winner of each duel would be permitted to return to camp while the loser was eliminated for good. Today, is the day, the final duel. In a matter of moments the two challengers will come out, and the winner will be granted a brand new buff, and with that, a new life within this game.

Pasha (whispering to Jillian): Oh, my god...

Jeff Probst: Lets bring out today's first competitor, Marcus, voted out at the last tribal council.

Marcus walks out into the center of the duel arena with a serious look upon his face. A muffed whisper, "oh my god", is heard from someone within the crowd. He takes his place standing next to Jeff. A close up reveals that he's sweating immensely in the heat.

Jeff Probst: I'm sure you're all anxious to see who else has managed to survive their time on Redemption Island, so without further adieu, lets bring them on out.

Everyones head turns toward the entrance for a chance to see the first glimpse at who the mystery second person is. Fabian walks out, also with a serious expression, not acknowledging the presence of both tribes. Jillian and Pasha turn to one another, surprised that Fabian had managed to make it this far.

Challenge: A Leg Up Survivors must balance a ceramic vase on the end of a balance beam with one leg. When they can no longer take the pain or they lose their balance, their vase will drop and smash, eliminating them. The last person left wins.

Challenge Highlights:
 * Fabian's leg began to shake, causing Marcus to look over in his direction. Losing concentration, Marcus' vase drops.
 * An overzealous winner, Fabian cannot help but cheer and holler upon his win. Leaving the castaways still in the game with a disgusted look on their faces.

Both men reassemble in front of Jeff. Elated, Fabian's legs shake as he bares a ginormous smile upon his face, all while Marcus remains emotionless. In the bleachers, Aneal can be seen leaning over to Katie and whispering.

Aneal (whispering/subtitles): That aint right.

Jeff Probst: Marcus, after nineteen days in this game, your journey has come to an end. Head on out, you can throw your buff in the urn on your way.

With a nod of his head, Marcus graciously accepts his face. He turns to Fabian, and regardless of his attitude, shakes his hand. Walking toward the exit, Marcus throws his buff into the flames and then turns around to his former tribe mates one last time and waves goodbye. The camera then changes its focus to Fabian as he takes a deep inhale.

Jeff Probst: Well Fabian, after three duels you have successfully won your way back into this game. Congratulations.

Fabian nods his head with a smile.

Fabian: Thank you.

Jeff Probst: I think you'll be needing this.

Jeff then tosses Fabian his brand new green buff. Fabian catches it, and holding it in his hands he stares long and hard at it, then looks up to everyone else as they stare back at him with wide eyes at the new colored buff.

Jeff grins.

Jeff Probst: We have merged tribes.

Immediately the group erupts into commotion as some castaways stand and cheer while others remain seated and hug. Back down in the arena, Fabian can be seen proudly wrapping the buff around his wrist. Aneal is the first to jump down out of the bleachers to hug and congratulate Fabian on his return. He's soon followed by everyone else as the sea of people floods down from their seating.

Jeff Probst: Nick!

Nick, who's standing on the outskirt of the group, turns and looks over his shoulder. Jeff holds up a sack full of the brand new green buffs, Nick extends his hand and is tossed the bag. Everyone begins to savagely reach into the bag, pulling out their brand new buffs. As everyone finds a different way to put it on, the camera then focuses directly onto Jillian, who's enjoying smelling the clean fabric.

By now everyone has formed into a group standing in front of Jeff, all excited and smiling. He informs them that their new tribe name is Meemu, to which Pasha can be seen nodding her head in acceptance. The newly formed Meemu tribe is told to return to the Alifu beach as it'll be their home for the next twenty days, and that any belongings that had been left at Dhaalu will already be awaiting them at their new home.