Man Up Or Ship Out

Man Up Or Ship Out is the season premiere of Survivor: Seychelles - Battle Of The Sexes.

Day 1
The scene opens up over the ocean, as Jeff Probst begins to speak.

"fanfic"

- For this season of Survivor, 16 brand new castaways are currently heading across the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles Islands, which will be, for a few of them, their new home for the next 39 days. It is the ultimate test on reality television, as 16 strangers all from different walks of life battle it out for a million dollars and the coveted title of Sole Survivor. And this season, we have a twist, as each castaway will be competing on tribes based…on their gender!

The camera pans over the water to a pair of speedboats zipping across the surface of the ocean, on their way to the shore. It zooms in on one speedboat in particular, focusing on a tan, gruff looking man with red hair and a beard, dressed in a motorcycle jacket and ripped jeans.

"seuntjie"

- Most people who see me, they think I’m a vagrant, they think I’m tough and rough and mean, and yeah, I probably am most of those things. But they don’t realize that I’m a widower, that I’m raising a six-year-old daughter at home and we’re struggling to make ends meet. I need the money at the end of this. It pained me enough as it is to have come out here and have left her with her aunt, but that just fuels the fire underneath me. I’m prepared to push and shove and kick anyone out of the way if I have to, just to get to the end for my daughter.

The camera switches over to a young man with a five o clock shadow dressed in a red letterman jacket, gazing out over the water.

"seuntjie"

- To finally be out here on the island, it feels surreal, to know that is actually going to be the beginning of what could the one of the toughest, most arduous journeys on reality TV. I’m a sportsman, and in my line of work, sportsmanship is very important, and so is teamwork. You need to work well with the players around you for you guys to get far, both in the tournament and in this game. And the conditions in this game? I train for hours on end each week for the big game. I’m built for this.

The camera switches to the next speedboat, which is, in contrast, full of women. The camera zooms in on a girl with dark blue hair, whipping in the wind, as she leans back against the side of the boat, watching the others with beady eyes.

"meisie"

- People see the girl with blue hair, who’s a dancer, and they probably think, ‘oh, she’s a ditz, she’s a klutz’. But they don’t know I’m very intelligent. I’m a logical person, I’m a critical thinker, and I know how to be strategic. There’s a fine line to straddle between loyalty and intelligent gameplay, and I think I know that balance pretty well.

The camera now focuses on a black woman in a khaki denim jacket, jeans and combat boots, sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, enjoying the sea breeze.

"meisie"

- These people – I know their types, they’re catty and bratty and here for fun. They’ve not experienced hardship like I have. They’re not mentally prepared to survive out here, but I am. I’ve got a tongue sharp enough to cut bread and everyone here needs to learn that and know to stay out of my way, because I want that million dollars at the end of this, and I’m sorry, but I didn’t drag my ass all the way out here just to make friends.

"fanfic"

- These 16 castaways will be challenged physically, mentally, and socially, in the harsh conditions of the Seychelles wilderness for more than a month. Which gender will ultimately prove superior in the game of Survivor?

"meisie"

- I still can’t believe I signed on to come out here! [laughing] I’m the kind of girl who likes sitting in bed with a big bowl of ice cream, and binging on Netflix, and yet here I am, willingly putting myself through this! I must’ve done gone off the rails and lost my damn marbles!

"seuntjie"

- The big mistake people make when they come out here is talking a big game that they can’t back up. They’re too set in their ways on how they want to play. But me? I’m adaptable. I know how to manipulate a situation to my advantage, and I’m quick on my feet going about it. I’m out here to win that million dollars, and nothing is stopping me. You can bet on that.

"fanfic"

- It’s the adventure of a lifetime and the craziest show on television! Who has what it takes to prevail in Survivor: Seychelles – Battle Of The Sexes? It all begins…now! 39 days, 16 people, 1 SURVIVOR!

The theme song plays.

When it ends, the boats have arrived at shore, and everyone is getting out and walking up the white sandy beaches, as Jeff Probst stands on his mat, arms crossed, awaiting them with a smile. The castaways split themselves up on their separate mats – the girls on the lilac mat and the boys on the dark cyan mat.

Jeff: Welcome to Survivor: Seychelles – Battle Of The Sexes!

He is greeted by an ecstatic chorus of cheers, hoots and whooping.

Jeff: You’ve already been split into two tribes of men and women respectively, but before we get down to tribe names, buffs and camps, there’s a twist we have to get out of the way.

He points past them, into the forest by the beach.

Jeff: To kick off this season of Survivor, we’re having a special Reward Challenge. Hidden somewhere in that forest…is a Medallion.

Everyone turns their heads to look.

Jeff: What the Medallion does…remains a secret, but if used wisely, it could give your tribe a big advantage in this game and in future challenges. The person who returns wearing the Medallion claims it for their tribe.

Everyone stares at him.

Jeff: You can go anytime you want.

At this statement, Abraham is the first to turn and start running towards the forest, as the others begin charging after him.

There are castaways scattered all over the place, climbing up trees, diving into the bushes, chasing each other through the foliage.

Jeff: You are looking for one medallion, and you don’t know what it looks like or where it could be! But it could give your tribe an immense advantage in future challenges! Being the person to find it first could be a great first impression to make for the rest of your tribemates.

The tallest guy in the group, Dillan, is at the base of a large tree, with Mary-Anne, Sasha and Lydia close by. He looks up and spots a gleaming object peeking out from between a couple branches. Seeing the Medallion, he rushes to scale the tree.

Sasha: Up there!

Lydia: Hm? Where?

Sasha: There, he’s climbing!

Sasha is quick to chase Dillan, as he nimbly makes his way up the tree, clinging onto branches for dear life, moving as fast and as carefully as he can.

Lydia: Oh hell no, I ain’t climbing up that!

A couple of guys are hurrying over too, attracted by the commotion.

Dillan is almost at the Medallion, Sasha still nipping at his heels. Now, Mary-Anne is beginning to climb, Mallorie joining her. Lydia is shouting words of encouragement from below.

Lydia: Go, girls!

Greta is hobbling over, squinting up to where Dillan and the two ladies are.

Greta: What in the world…?

"meisie"

- I see the tall guy up in the tree, going for the Medallion, and I’m just thinking there’s no way an old woman like me would ever have been able to scale that tree. [laughing] Like, what in the world were they thinking putting it up there? I could never get up to that dang thing!

Dillan reaches one of his long arms out and snags the Medallion, to the delight of the guys gathered down below.

Abraham: Nice job, man!

He makes his way down, the girls following him, looking disgruntled, as everyone heads back to their tribe mats. The guys are congratulating Dillan on grabbing the Medallion for them.

"seuntjie"

- Being the one to grab the Medallion before anyone else and to have won this for my tribe…it’s a great way to start off my game. I’ll be known as the guy who did our tribe a solid. I couldn’t have asked for a better way for me to kick off this season of Survivor.

Jeff: Alright, so Dillan, you got the Medallion before anyone else.

Dillan: Thanks.

Jeff: Now, you don’t know what power it is or how much power it has, but you’ll now have to make a decision. You can choose to hold onto this unknown power to use it later on in the game, or you can choose to trade it right now for…[unveils supplies]…fire in the form of flint…a tarp to keep out the rain…and…a crate of fishing gear: masks, fins, hooks, a net and spear.

Kim whistles appreciatively.

Jeff: Bear in mind that whichever reward you choose to give up will go to the other tribe. This could be an important decision that will have a larger impact in the future, and it has to be a tribe decision. If you need to discuss anything, you can do so now.

Dillan turns to the guys as they gather around him.

Dillan: So, what do you want to do, guys?

Sven: Right, so, here’s my thought process. We’re going to need that fishing gear. I’m a good fisherman. I practically live my life out in the water. I can fish.

Abraham: Can you?

Sven: Yeah. I’m a really good fisher, with those fishing supplies, I’ll be even better and I can help provide for our camp.

Logan: I just don’t feel comfortable giving up power in the game, to the other tribe, especially this early on. What if giving up this power now…comes back to bite us later?

Brandy: We can deal with that when it comes down to it.

Abraham: Starting the game with those supplies will be a big help at camp in these first three days. I think we can handle not having the power, whatever it is.

Westin: Personally, I’d like the power in the game, but it’s your call.

Abraham: Is everyone good with that?

Kim: I mean, I’m down for whatever you guys decide.

Brandy: You guys good?

Graham: I mean [shrug] I guess…

Jeff: So what’s the consensus?

The guys turn back to face him after wrapping up their discussion.

Dillan: As a tribe, we have decided…we’re going to give up the Medallion and trade for the supplies.

The girls are turning to share knowing looks with one another. Felicity is nodding, looking pleased.

"seuntjie"

- I think those girls are going to need the power a lot more than us guys do because I doubt they’re going to do very well in these challenges. I don’t want to come off as a jerk but that’s just the way it is. Even without the Medallion’s power, I think that…we’re still going to kill these challenges unless one of us slows the group down, and the fishing gear is really tempting for a man like me, because I know that I can help get fish for the tribe.

Jeff: Alright. Dillan, hand the Medallion over to one of the girls. The rest of you, come grab your rewards.

Dillan passes the Medallion off to Mary-Anne, who steps out of the group to take it from him.

"meisie"

- If the boys want to give up power to us, so be it. [laughing] I think they honestly made a mistake. I would’ve taken the Medallion over the supplies anyday, but maybe it’s because we’re not that desperate for them yet. It’s only Day 1.

Jeff: Mary-Anne, hold onto the Medallion and bring it with you to the next challenge. I will explain the rules of the Medallion and what it will do to your tribe there. In the meantime, it’s time to get down to your tribes.

He turns to the men.

Jeff: Men, your tribe name is Seuntjie. You’ll be wearing cyan.

He tosses them a bag of buffs and a map, then does the same to the girls.

Jeff: Women, your tribe name is Meisie. You’re wearing lilac. Put on your buffs and follow your maps to your respective beaches. Survivor: Seychelles is on!

The castaways grabs their belongings and set off in opposite directions with a few final hoots and cheers.

The women are first to arrive at the Meisie camp, where the girls are hanging their belongings up on tree branches or wandering around the beach, looking excited to start the game. People are shaking hands and introducing themselves, smiling.

Lydia: Nice to meet you! I’m Lydia!

Mary-Anne: Oh, Lydia, Mary-Anne. The pleasure’s all mine.

Sasha: I’m Sasha.

Lydia: Sasha, hi! Nice to meet you!

Sasha: We’re the only two sisters out here, huh?

Lydia: The only two black girls! [laughing]

Bridgette: Hey! What’s your name?

Lilly: I’m Lilly. Lilly King.

Bridgette: I’m Bridgette!

This goes on for a while until…

Mary-Anne: What do you think, girls? Is it a good look on me?

Mary-Anne puts the Medallion around her neck and poses, as the others laugh.

Sasha: I think those boys made a mistake giving this baby up. They’re gonna regret it at the next challenge.

Bridgette: Yeah, those guys have more to lose if one of them is the first boot, I can’t wait to give ‘em what’s coming to them. [laughing]

Mallorie: I would never have given power in this game up for anything, let me tell you that much.

"meisie"

- Starting out this game, you know, we’re all still fresh off the boat and we still haven’t really gotten to know one another. We don’t have a shelter or a fire or anything going for us so it’s going to be a long day of setting up camp. And no one really seemed to want to step up to the plate and take on the role of the leader, so I thought, why not try and take charge?

Mallorie: We should get a shelter going, obviously. That’s top priority.

Bridgette: I agree.

Lydia: Where do you think it should go?

Lilly: Maybe like…over here, kinda? So it’s a little closer to the water?

Greta: Oh, I think it’d be a better idea to put it more…inland. Like, maybe between these two trees…

Mallorie: Yeah, okay, that sounds good.

Felicity: We should go get materials. I’ll go get bamboo.

Bridgette: Anyone wanna weave palm fronds with me? I’ll just be over here!

The girls split up to do their different duties. Greta looks a little out of place, as she squats down next to Bridgette and Lydia, as Bridgette helps the latter with weaving.

Bridgette: Greta, right?

Greta: Oh, yes.

Bridgette: You want to help me with the weaving?

Greta: Oh, I would love to.

"meisie"

- Coming out here at the age of 56, it’s no secret that I’m the oldest female out here, and probably the oldest player overall on the season too. And that’s really tough because my age is going to be a big factor in these first few days. I fear that if we lose the first challenge, people are going to target me for being…well, for being the oldest. I don’t want to be put into the category of the…old lady archetype on Survivor. I want to be an asset to this tribe in spite of being the oldest woman out here, and so I had to pitch in as best as I could and show them that…I was genuinely trying.

Greta: I know I’m not young and nimble and agile like all you young ladies, but I’ll do my best-

Bridgette: Oh, don’t worry about it, Greta, you fit in just fine! It’s only the first day.

Lydia: Yeah, girl. Like, me, I’m terrible at this weaving stuff.

The palm fronds Lydia is working on look like they are in bad shape.

Lydia: I am not a…dexterous person. [laughing]

"meisie"

- To start my Survivor journey, I don’t want to be seen as a tough player, I want to be seen as a…fun, likeable, perky woman, and so I want to make friends with people who I can relate to! One of those women would be Greta. You know, she’s an older woman, I’m an older woman, that’s a bond, right there!

Lydia: Look at us, us two older women out here.

Greta: Oh yeah, I know, right? My grandchildren were so stoked to hear I was going onto Survivor, after my daughter recovered from the heart attack I gave her.

Lydia laughs.

Lydia: My friends reacted the same way! They were like, ‘Lilly? You can barely work up the strength to get out of bed to use the doggone bathroom, and you’re willingly going on Survivor?’ They could not believe their damn ears.

"meisie"

- Another person I wanted to, you know, lock it down with…was Sasha. She’s a black gal, I’m a black gal, and you know, we look out for one another. [laughing]

Lydia: Right away, you know I got your back, girl. [laughing]

Sasha: Oh, yeah?

Lydia: Totally. You and I – we’re the only two black girls out here. I got you!

Sasha: Hey, you know, you watch my back and I’ll have yours!

Sasha holds out a fist and Lydia bumps it in return, chuckling.

"meisie"

- Lydia is like this…ball of energy. She’s so exuberant and perky, and that’s not a bad thing, you know. Her optimism is very refreshing, and she seems genuine enough. If she wants to align with me just on the basis of us being the only two black girls, I sure as hell am not going to complain about it!

Sasha: You don’t worry, as long as I’m here, I got you, boo; you can count on that!

Meanwhile, out getting bamboo for the base of the structure, Felicity is walking along in the forest, Lilly trailing behind her, as they talk.

Lilly: Can you believe…what’s-her-name?

Felicity: Who?

Lilly: The grandmother.

Felicity: What, Greta?

Lilly: Yes! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe she came out here! At her age, too! I mean, I’m impressed, I’m in awe, but at the same time, I’m…lowkey worried she’s going to have a heart attack at some point and is going to need medical attention.

"meisie"

- Like, I’m honestly scared [laughing] that she’s gonna like…collapse, or something, and then they’ll have to evacuate her. I mean, what was she thinking, coming out here at her age? She’s either going to pull the tribe down in challenges and be voted out first, or she won’t be able to cope with the conditions out here and have to be pulled. I feel bad for her, honestly. [laughs]

Lilly: Like, I mean well for her. I’m just saying, I don’t want our tribe to have to be bogged down because we have to look out for and constantly be taking care of an older woman, you know what I mean?

Felicity: Yeah…

Lilly: I mean, we’re already going up against a tribe of fit strong guys. We need all the help we can get.

"meisie"

- Lilly honestly strikes me as a bit of a Gossip Girl. She loves to talk about people behind their backs. But if it makes her feel better, like me and her are actually growing closer by it, then by all means, let her gossip her heart out. I want her to think she can trust me. Matter of fact, I want everyone in this game to believe that I’m on their side.

Later on in the day, Felicity is now approaching Greta by the water’s edge, hands on her hips, to talk to the older woman.

Felictiy: People see you as the older woman and they probably overlook you for your strengths, but, you don’t have to worry about that from me.

Greta: Oh, th-thank you. That’s very kind of you, dear.

Felicity: The way I see it, I want to work with players who are smart and mature, and you being the oldest one, you probably have a lot of wisdom and life experience and I think that’s a great addition to the tribe!

Greta: Well, thank you, honey, that’s very kind of you to say.

Felicity: I know some of these younger girls are going to be harping on you and giving you a bad time for it, though. But I promise that…if you stick by me…I’ll make sure to keep your name out of their mouths.

Greta: I can work with that.

"meisie"

- My strategy in this game, is to just have as many alliances as I possibly can. Better yet, to have a separate alliance with every single girl on my tribe. If everyone thinks I’m with them, no one is going to come after me.

Felicity is now hacking open a coconut with a machete, kneeling in the sand by the firepit with Lydia squatting next to her.

Felicity: As far as I’m concerned [raises machete] if you have my back…

She brings the machete down, cutting into the coconut with a satisfying hack.

Felicity: I’ll have yours. Deal?

Lydia: Oh yeah. Deal.

They have a covert handshake and turn away hurriedly.

Next, Felicity is cornering Mary-Anne in a secluded part of the forest, making sure no one is listening in.

Felicity: You and me, we can go far.

Mary-Anne: Oh yeah? [laughing]

Felicity: Yeah.

"meisie"

- I’m a very perceptive player. I’m finding all kinds of ways to appeal to different people. Different people will open up to different things. If Greta wants to not be a target because of her age, I’ll appeal to her for that. I’ll tell her, ‘no worries, I’m not an ageist, you stick with me and I’ll protect you from the younger girls’. It’s simple.

Mary-Anne: Oh, sure, I mean…I mean it’s not like you’re on my radar or anything, I’m not coming after you. [nervous laughter] It’s only the first day, I mean…[laughing]

Felicity: I’ve got to say, coming in, you were one of the first people I zeroed in on wanting to work with.

Mary-Anne: For real?

Felicity: Totes.

"meisie"

- Then you have Mary-Anne, with the pink highlights and the light blue hair and the low cut lime green top, and I know, she’s a free spirit! I pick up on the cues that other people overlook.

Felicity: I like to live life to the fullest. I’m very carefree, I don’t let rules or societal standards govern my life, and I can tell that’s what you think too.

Mary-Anne: Yes! You nailed that on the head. It’s part of why I came out here, I wanted to experience this adventure…

Felicity: That’s exactly how I feel too. And like you, I don’t want my adventure to be cut short. If we look out for one another, we can be a tight pair.

Mary-Anne: Well, let’s just focus on the challenge coming up. You won’t hear…schemes from me.

Felicity now is approaching Mallorie in the shelter, which is almost completed, and takes a seat next to her.

Felicity: These girls seem like they’re here for a vacation.

Mallorie: [laughing] I know, right?

Felicity: But not you. You and me, we’re likeminded individuals, we came here to play, I can tell.

Mallorie nods empathetically.

Mallorie: Right.

Felicity: I want to align with people who want to play this game, you know?

Mallorie: Yeah, I get you.

"meisie"

- Felicity is coming off as very…aggressive. I know what type of person I am, and heck, I would NOT want to align with me. [laughing] I sure as hell don’t want to align with her. I want to align myself with people I can trust. I don’t trust her one bit, and frankly speaking, I don’t much like her either. The way she comes onto you, it’s like she thinks she’s being manipulative when she’s really being domineering. It’s not going to work on me. I doubt I’m the first person she’s approached today with the whole ‘I want to align with you’ scheme. So if anything, now, I have my eyes on her. I can backstab easily in this game without batting an eye. And I know a fellow gamer when I see one, especially one that plays the game way too hard right out of the gate.

In the meantime…

At the Seuntjie camp, the men are almost done constructing the base of their shelter. Most of the guys are shirtless, busy doing strenuous work, sweat shining on their foreheads and dripping down their faces. Brandy is busy using a rock to hammer a nail in, Abraham helping, as Sven takes a step back, folding his arms, standing next to Logan as he checks out the progress the tribe has made.

Abraham: How is it?

Logan: It looks good to me.

Graham is loitering by himself on the sidelines, looking a little out of place, scrutinizing the shelter without much satisfaction.

Graham: Don’t you think it looks a little…out of place? I think maybe we ought to have built it…somewhere further down there. That way, when we get up, we can…you know, sort of, see the ocean clearly and everything.

Sven: No, the shelter has to go here, because otherwise when it rains, we’re all going to get wet, do you understand?

Graham: Yeah, okay.

Brandy: It doesn’t matter. The shelter’ll go here. It’s fine.

"seuntjie"

- Us guys were all hard at work building our shelter. We want to get a nice place going here, a place where we can sleep and rest when we return from challenges; that’s the most crucial part. And everyone is pitching in in their own way, and I do not like it when I catch people slacking off. Graham – the kid was doing nothing. It irritates me when people expect others to do all the work for them. So if he’s not going to pitch in and help out, that pisses me off.

Kim is trotting over, a bundle of palm fronds in his arms.

Kim: This should make for a good roof.

Dillan returns, dumping a bunch of firewood on the ground, and Westin is kneeling in the sand, inspecting the small firepit the men have made near their shelter.

Westin: You guys wanna try getting a fire going?

Abraham: Yeah, let’s do it.

Sven: I can do it. Toss over the flint.

Sven squats down as Kim tosses the flint over to him, and he begins working on starting fire. Hard at work, he keeps scraping the magnesium. Sparks fly every now and then… . . . Time drags on… . . . …and on… . . . Sven sits back, looking exhausted. Westin is still hovering over him, hands on his hips, looking slightly incredulous.

Westin: Uh…did it work?

Sven: I’m beat. Someone else take over.

Brandy: Let me try.

Brandy takes over the job.

Brandy: I got something!

Abraham and Sven are practically elbowing each other out of the way to help Brandy rekindle the quickly dwindling flames, before the fire sputters out for good.

Kim peers over their heads to try and see what they are doing.

The flames flicker a bit, before steadily growing, and with enough coaxing from the trio of guys, it grows into a stronger blaze. The guys cheer and clap.

Abraham: Nice one, man!

Kim: We have fire! Whoo!

Sven: I could’ve done it too.

Brandy high fives Abraham, both guys grinning triumphantly.

Kim is applauding the guys’ effort with the others.

"seuntjie"

- Having fire already, this early on, is a huge advantage, not just to improving our general conditions around camp but it’s also a big boost to our morale as a whole. We won the Medallion and then we traded it for supplies that have been a big help. We can fish, we have fire, we have a sturdy shelter, and we seem to have a good group of people. These guys are my bros, and I love hanging out with them already. The only one I would say is a little bit of an outcast from the very beginning...uh...is the kid Graham.

Westin: That is totally rad, dude.

Brandy: Fire already! This is a great start.

Abraham: Alright – [getting up and dusting himself off] we should finish up with the shelter.

Sven: I’ll go check out the fishing equipment, make sure it’s all good.

Logan: I can go get us some fruit.

Abraham: Right, nice.

Kim is nudging Graham, who is sitting by himself in the shelter, looking a little out of place.

Kim: You cool, man?

Graham: Yeah. Just chilling.

Dillan comes over.

Kim: You want to go help get some firewood?

Graham: Sure.

Graham and Kim set off.

Kim: You doing okay, man? You seem a little down.

Kim is bending over, grabbing some suitable twigs and branches off the ground, as Graham leans against a tree.

Graham: Yeah, I’m alright. I just…didn’t really have much to contribute in terms of…building the shelter.

Kim: Don’t worry about it, with Brandy and Abraham doing majority of the work, you don’t have to sweat it out much. Just relax a little, alright?

Graham nods, looking uncomfortable.

Kim: So what do you do for a living, Graham?

Graham: I’m a scriptwriter, a freelance scriptwriter.

Kim: Really?

Graham: Yeah. I got my degree in screenwriting. Writing is my passion, so, I’m glad to do it.

Kim: That’s interesting. I’m a graphic designer myself. You ah…you a fan of Survivor?

Graham: Heh, like you would not believe. I love this game with an undying passion.

"seuntjie"

- I consider myself the embodiment of a stereotypical Survivor superfan. It has been my number one obsession on reality TV since I was young. I’ve not once given up on the show even through its lackluster seasons throughout the years, and I’ve stuck to it and stayed loyal from the very first episode of the very first season. To finally be out here after years of watching and hoping to be on, it’s a dream come true. It’s the one thing in life I’ve wanted more than anything. Saying that out loud kinda makes me sound like I have terrible life goals, because I probably hoped to be on Survivor more than anything else, more than starting a family or travelling the world or getting rich or having a big house or the kinds of goals most people would set for themselves. Me? I just wanted to get on this TV show. [laughing] I’m a total nerd, I know.

Kim: You must be ecstatic to be out here.

Graham: I am, if a little nervous.

Kim: Don’t be nervous, man. No one’s judging you out here. We all love the show…some more than others.

Graham: I guess I just feel a little out of my element here, perhaps. It’s a vastly different experience experiencing it in the flesh than from the comfort of the couch.

Meanwhile…with most of the guys dispersed around the beach, trying to help out, Abraham is pulling Brandy into a secluded part of the woods, pushing leaves and branches out of the way as he leads the path through the thick foliage.

Abraham: Hey man.

Brandy: Yeah?

Abraham: What are you thinking of the tribe so far?

Brandy: I like some of them. Not everyone is pulling their weight.

Abraham: Well, I’m with you there.

He pauses.

Abraham: So listen.

He turns to face Brandy.

Abraham: The way I see it, this game is played almost from the moment people set foot on the beach.

Brandy: Yeah, I don’t doubt it.

Abraham: So here’s where I’m coming from.

Brandy: Yeah?

Abraham: You and me? – As far as I’m concerned, we’re good.

Brandy: Yeah, you’re good in my book too.

Abraham: You’re a hard worker and I’m a hard worker-

Brandy: I agree with that.

Abraham: If you’re down for working together in the long run, I’m down too.

Brandy: It’s a done deal. But who else?

"seuntjie"

- So, right off the bat, I wanted to form a strong alliance on Day 1, one that I plan to keep with me all the way to the end. And the first person I wanted with me, was Brandy. He and I – we are very similar people. Almost instantly we knew we could work together. We’re bros. He’s got a good work ethic and I respect that. He may seem a bit of a meathead, but that makes me look good next to him. At the end of the day, this is a social game, and I’ve got to meet new people and form bonds, friendships, connections, and above all, alliances. And if I want to win this game, I’ll need my own little group of people who will follow my lead and do as I say.

Abraham: I was thinking…we rope in Dillan.

Brandy: Dillan’s good. Yeah, Dillan’s good, I like the kid. Who else are you thinking?

Abraham: I’m thinking...we can get Sven…and maybe Logan on our side; that’s five, that’s majority.

Brandy: I’m down for that.

"seuntjie"

- Sven took charge today, helping build the shelter. I like that. I like someone who steps up to the plate. And if he rubs people the wrong way, the better for me. He’ll be a good meat shield. Logan’s, like, a scholar, or something. The guy’s clearly super smart. I’ll need brains on my team as well. And Dillan? He pulled one out for the team, getting the Medallion for us all. We’ve got a solid group going.

Abraham: That’s a majority on our tribe. It’s a set alliance.

Brandy: I love it. Let’s get talking.

Abraham now approaches Sven by the edge of the water, as the latter is inspecting the supplies in the fishing kit with great interest.

Abraham: So I’m thinking…it’s you, me, Brandy…Dillan and Logan. Is that good with you?

Sven: One-hundred percent.

The two shake hands.

"seuntjie"

- I wanted to be part of an alliance with strong reliable guys like me, and this group, I think, fits the bill perfectly.

Now Abraham is talking with Logan and Dillan, counting down on his fingers.

Abraham: You two, me, Brandy and Sven – that’s five. That’s all we need to control the votes. What do you guys say?

Logan: I love it. It’s great.

Dillan: Perfect for me.

Abraham: Excellent. [laughing]

"seuntjie"

- We’ve formed our little alliance. That leaves…Graham…Westin…and Kim on the outs. But Kim can be our sixth, unofficially. He’s a laidback guy, doesn’t seem like he’ll cause much trouble. Graham, on the other hand, sadly just doesn’t fit in. I don’t see a place for him on our tribe or in my alliance. So he can be the first to go if it comes down to it. I mean, it sucks for him. He’s told us all about how excited he is to be out here and how badly he’s wanted this but…you know, it’s in the name of the game. If you can’t fit in, you’ve gotta go, no matter how badly you wanted to be out here. Life’s unfair like that.

The sun is beginning to set, as it moves closer and closer to the edge of the horizon. Brandy and Kim are sitting around by the shelter, and Dillan is coming over, slumping down next to them.

Brandy: So what kind of name for a guy is ‘Kim’ anyway? [laughing] It sounds like a girl’s name to me.

Kim: It’s just a moniker. [laughing] I’m Korean, my friends call me something a lot more complicated so I think sticking to Kim will work just fine for now.

Abraham: Well, we’re happy to have a guy like you on the team to keep the mood light.

Kim: That’s what I do.

"seuntjie"

- Where I fit in the tribe, I just want to act like I’m the comic relief in all this. [laughing] I try to keep the mood at camp a little light-hearted, a little cheerful…and hope people appreciate me for it. I don’t want them to look at me and target me for being a threat in any way, shape or form. That is going to be my strategy moving forward, to be a straight shooter who just wants the best for the tribe. And if that’s what people see me as, for now, it works for me, because I’ll just sail on under the radar.

Night starts to fall, and the stars have come out. Abraham, Brandy and Sven are sitting in a circle, Kim, Dillan and Westin in the sand near the fire, as Brandy regales them with a preposterous tale.

Brandy: She was a literal tree hugger.

Abraham: You’ve got to be kidding me, man, I don’t believe that.

Brandy: It’s true! She was so passionate about it, I thought she was going to end up banging the tree instead of me!

Sven sniggers. Logan, lying on his side in the shelter, cracks a small guilty smile. Graham is returning, making his way up the beach, squinting in the darkness

Westin: Yo, Graham!

Kim: C’mon Graham, join us!

Graham: Nah, guys, I think I’m just gonna…sit in the shelter and rest for a bit. I’m beat.

Brandy narrows his eyes with distaste.

Graham: Mind scooting over?

Logan: Sure, no problem.

Logan lets Graham into the shelter.

Logan: You feeling alright, buddy?

Graham: Yeah, I’m fine. My uh…my body’s just getting adjusted to the conditions out here.

Logan: Take it easy, alright man.

Graham lays down in the shelter, next to Logan, who pats his thigh comfortingly, as the other guys continue their uproarious laughter and conversations.

Logan: You seem depressed. Are you quite sure you’re alright?

Graham: Oh yeah, I’m fine. It’s just so surreal to be out here, you know?

Logan: I know how it feels. I can scarcely believe it myself. My students would be amazed to know it.

Graham: Yeah, you’re a teacher…right?

Logan: In university, yes.

Graham: That’s awesome.

Logan: I heard that you…ah…you’re a big fan of the show?

Graham: The biggest. I love it to death.

Logan: You must be excited to be out here, huh?

Graham: Yeah, definitely. It’s just…a lot to get used to. [nervous laughter]

"seuntjie"

- Graham seems very unsure of himself, and it’s like he…doesn’t really feel…comfortable, out here. It’s sort of a case where…he’s a fan of the show, a huge fan, but the kind of fan who comes out here and realizes that…the adventure’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Survivor’s a lot tougher experiencing it in the flesh as compared to watching it at home, on TV, curled up on the couch with a bag of chips and a chocolate smoothie. It’s a complete 180 of an experience, and I can see that getting to Graham early on. It makes me worried for him, but on a gameplay standpoint, I also think that it could hinder us moving forward as a tribe. Now, with that being said, I am a teacher and have been for years. I don’t like seeing the way some of the other men – namely Brandy – seem to be giving Graham a bit of a hard time for not being as used to outdoorsy experience as he is.

Brandy is smirking as he continues talking about the ‘hippie tree-hugging chick’ he used to date, which appears to greatly interest Westin, who is pestering him for more info.

Graham is watching them talk and laugh from within the shadows of the shelter, lying on his side, his eyes open and gleaming in the semi-darkness.

"seuntjie"

- I am a huge superfan of this game, and I’ve listened to podcasts, written blogs and kept up to date with everything in the community, but nothing could’ve prepared me for actually coming out here and living the dream, which is fast becoming a nightmare. Now, I know I’m an introvert. I’m meek, I’m shy, I have low self-esteem and I’m a total recluse. You’re probably wondering why the hell I came out here if I’m all of those things and honestly I’m starting to ask myself the same questions. [laughing] I am not getting off to a good start right now. The thing is…I don’t like any of these people. I feel like a complete fish out of water.

Dillan: Graham, you alright?

Graham: Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I’m just chilling.

Dillan: Alright, cool.

"seuntjie"

- I feel so out of my element here, it’s not even funny. I…did not want to be on a tribe full of men. [laughing] I just…don’t. I’ve always gotten along more with girls. I feel like…I’m always being judged with guys, especially guys like Brandy, and Abraham, who seem to be bristling with confidence, perfectly content with their lives and totally in their element – their self-confidence is jarring, for someone like me, who has so little of it. But I love this game so much…too much…to just give up on it now. Even if it means having to deal with the likes of Brandy, I’m forcing myself to suck it up and go through it.

Day 2
Morning dawns on the Meisie tribe, as the ladies wake up on their second day out in the Seychelles Islands.

Mary-Anne: Morning, girls!

Bridgette: [yawning] Morning…

Sasha cricks her neck, glaring out at the sun.

Lydia: Our first morning on Survivor…can you believe it?

Greta: I loved…hearing the sound of the ocean while I slept. It was very soothing.

Bridgette: Oh yeah, it was, definitely.

Greta: I let the sound of the waves crashing down on the beach lull me to sleep. It was surprisingly peaceful.

Bridgette stretches, getting to her feet.

Bridgette: Hey, Mary, you want to go get water?

Mary-Anne: Sure, let’s go.

The two girls take off.

"meisie"

- It’s our second day on Survivor and…we had a very nice morning. Our tribe seems to be very united as of now. I know that undoubtably there are going to be troublemakers in our bunch, but for now, we’re just working along to get adjusted to life out in the wilderness. And so just, right away, me and Mary-Anne seemed to click. I know the pace with which the game is played and it is fast. So I wanted to find some solid allies to stick with and I wanted to solidify something with Mary-Anne that could potentially be very good to work with down the road.

Bridgette and Mary-Anne are at the well, and the former is pouring water into the canister the latter is holding upright.

Bridgette: So, like, I wanted to pull you away for a little bit…

Mary-Anne: Oh yeah?

Bridgette: Like, honestly, it’s only been a day and I already feel like I’ve known you my whole life, you know what I mean?

Mary-Anne: Oh, yeah, me too! It’s crazy!

Bridgette: It’s like, you’re exactly the kind of girl I’d be friends with back home.

Mary-Anne: Girl, say no more, I know exactly how that feels.

Bridgette: And honestly, like, I’m not sure who else I’d have on this tribe to be besties with, you know? I mean, it’s a wide range of personalities and I was just looking for that one cool girl I could instantly [snaps fingers] lock it down with.

Mary-Anne: I ain’t complaining, Bridge, I was hoping you’d feel the same way!

"meisie"

- Bridgette approached me with the proposal that…the two of us be allies in this game. I do have a bit of a connection to her, we both seem like two of the more free-spirited women on this tribe, so I’m definitely open to working with her in this game because I think we’re both very in tune with one another and it’s important to have that one person who you can really connect and relate to.

Bridgette: So what do you think of everyone so far? I wanted to pick your thoughts.

Mary-Anne: Oh, man…where do I begin? [laughing]

Bridgette: We can talk the whole day if you want. [laughing] And don’t worry, I won’t spill; both the water, and whatever you tell me.

Mary-Anne: Um, well…everyone’s been nice enough so far. Greta is really sweet and motherly.

Bridgette: She is, yeah.

Mary-Anne: I think she’s a little afraid about being pegged down as…you know, the ‘mom’, the older woman of the tribe.

Bridgette: Yeah…I know that’s what she’s really afraid of.

Mary-Anne: And I feel for her, you know? Like, it’s a lot of pressure to come out here at her age and try to do…all of this. I have nothing but respect for her. I don’t know, um…Lydia’s perky? She’s really laidback and chatty, like, you never feel as if…you never feel the conversation getting dry when you talk to her.

Bridgette: That’s very true. Sasha seems a little more reserved, but she’s got an acid tongue.

Mary-Anne: She’s sassy and I love her so much for it, oh my gosh. You should’ve heard her…railing about the boys, yesterday. She was really spitting fire about them and their decision to give up the Medallion. And Mallorie…Mallorie told me she was, at one point, a cheerleader, in her life.

Bridgette: For real?

Mary-Anne: I know! I don’t know why, but Mallorie always looks so serious, and it just took me by surprise!

Bridgette: Well, she’s a dancer, she’s very graceful.

Mary-Anne: You’re right, she is. Anyway, I was a cheerleader in high school too, so right away, that was like a little bond.

Bridgette: You too? I was a cheerleader as well!

Mary-Anne: Really? No way! We should, like, form our own squad.

The two girls laugh.

Bridgette: But anyway, what about…er, Lilly? What do you think of her?

Mary-Anne: She seems okay, a bit of a gossipmonger if you ask me. It’s actually kind of ironic since we’re gossiping about the girls right now.

Bridgette: I asked Lilly what her occupation was and she told me she was a wedding photographer.

Mary-Anne: Mhm.

Bridgette: And then she tells me, she doesn’t believe in true love.

Mary-Anne: Wait, what?

Bridgette: I’m dead serious.

Mary-Anne: I knew she was a wedding photographer but…wow. A wedding photographer that doesn’t believe in love? I never thought I’d see the day.

"meisie"

- Isn’t the whole purpose of your job to capture love? [laughing] Like, this just boggles my mind. That’s like saying you’re a chef that hates cooking, or a babysitter that hates kids.

Bridgette: And Felicity?

Mary-Anne: She is so dangerous.

Bridgette: You think so?

Mary-Anne: I know so. She approached me, like, hours after we first met, and instantly wanted to align with me, barely after we’d shared more than a few sentences. She was just so…in my face, that I was like, a little overwhelmed.

Bridgette: She seems like a very headstrong woman.

Mary-Anne: That’s a nice way of putting it. [laughing]

The two girls return to camp, carrying the full canister of water. Mary-Anne heads off on her own, as Bridgette sinks back into the shelter, with a contented sigh, joining Mallorie and Lilly.

Bridgette: Hey Mallorie, did Lilly tell you about her job?

Lilly smirks at the mention of her name.

Lilly: Oh boy, here we go.

Mallorie: No…? Why?

Bridgette: It’s just…Well, go on, Lilly, tell her what you told me!

Lilly: Oh, gosh, don’t make me repeat that. [laughing]

Bridgette: She told me yesterday that she’s a wedding photographer that doesn’t believe in love!

Lilly: Hey, I’m just scared of commitment! [laughing]

Mallorie raises an eyebrow.

Mallorie: Wow, really?

Lilly: I just…I’ve been through my fair share of break-ups. I don’t believe in true love.

"meisie"

- I’m not entirely sure why, but I just get bad vibes from Lilly. She claims she’s scared of commitment, so what’s that going to translate to in this game? She doesn’t strike me as a straight shooter or as someone who’s going to stay loyal to an alliance, she strikes me as a flip flopper. And that is dangerous. People like her are unpredictable!

Mallorie: What about your parents?

Lilly: [sighing] Oh, well, my dad was an asshole, who cheated on my mom and then dumped her, leaving the two of us alone, so…

Mallorie: Ah, jeez. I’m sorry.

Bridgette: Yeah…that’s tough.

Lilly: It’s fine. It’s been years, and I’m over it.

The day drags on, as the clouds zoom on by through the sky.

The camera takes the scene into the forest, where Greta is seen sitting on a tree stump, her head in her hands…quietly sniffling to herself.

She is wiping away tears, pulling her legs up to her chest and weeping into her dress, turning her red bloodshot eyes to the sky.

"meisie"

- [sniff] I just…today…I just needed a moment to myself. I’ve been…having a bit of a hard time…trying to [sniff] get used to living like this. Away from home…away from my family…my kids…it’s a big adjustment and it’s…hard. That’s all I can say. And I just missed them…so…so…much. I had to take a moment to myself, to tell myself that I was stronger than this.

Greta is shaking her head, drying her tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

Geta: [addressing camera] This is…like…it’s only been two days on the island but I already miss them so much. When I went to bed last night…[sniff] I felt like crying thinking about them back home. [sniff] I wanted to see them again and…and remember them. They told me to be strong before I…b-before I came out here, and I’m trying my best, but it is hard. I get paranoid. I feel like I’m doing horrible, and I can feel the other girls judging me.

Back at camp, Lilly is gossiping in low voices with Bridgette and Mallorie. Sasha and Lydia are cooped up in the back of the shelter, listening in. Felicity is standing by the fire, tending to it.

Lilly: I think I saw Greta crying when she ducked into the forest.

Bridgette: Crying? What’s happened?

Lilly: Beats me. If she’s already breaking down this early in the game…

Lydia: She just has a harder time out here, I guess.

Lilly: I just worry that she may cause troubles for us in challenges. I mean, I hope not, but…

Mallorie nods.

At that very moment, Greta is indeed squeezing her eyes shut and letting the tears silently roll down her wrinkled cheeks.

Mary-Anne is coming down the path. Spotting Greta by herself, she hurries over.

Mary-Anne: Greta? Oh my goodness, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hurt?

Greta: Oh, honey, it’s [composing herself] it’s nothing, please, no, don’t worry about it-

Mary-Anne: What’s wrong? Greta, are you alright?

Greta: I’m just…[holding back tears] I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry and break down, I just…I was just thinking of home…of my family…

Mary-Anne: Oh, Greta…you don’t have to apologize for that, c’mon.

Greta: I know…[sniff] I just feel like a fool. We haven’t even had our first challenge and I’m already losing it. I don’t deserve to be out here.

Mary-Anne: Stop saying that. You can’t beat yourself up like this. Come on, Greta, I’ll take you to go freshen up. We can sit in the water and talk for a bit. I find that very soothing.

Greta: Oh, thank you, Mary. That’s very kind of you. I just needed a breath of fresh air, it’s fine.

"meisie"

- To be caught having a little cry session in the forest…it was embarrassing. And worse still, I’m worried it makes me look bad. If their perception of me as a weaker older woman wasn’t already strong, it just got stronger. Being caught breaking down already could be bad for my game, so I have to be strong and play this game. It’s what my kids would tell me. They want me to succeed, for them.

Greta: Thank you, by the way, Mary. I promise you I’m made of more steel than this. [laughing]

Mary-Anne: Oh, don’t worry about it. Everyone breaks down sooner or later.

Greta: You’re very kind to have checked up on me. I won’t forget that. I promise you, I’m a very loyal person.

"meisie"

- Greta was crying, earlier in the forest. On a human level, I feel bad for her, because she’s a mom and a grandma and obviously she misses her children and she’s homesick. But on the other hand, it also worries me that she’s already breaking down on Day 2. This is not the time to be breaking down, Greta. That being said, I think she feels like she owes me one now, because I comforted her before anyone else did. If that makes her feel like she wants to be loyal to me, that’s good for me moving forward. I think Greta is indeed a very loyal player as an older woman and she’d be a good ally to have in the votes.

Mary-Anne is leading a still red-eyed Greta out of the forest, and the other girls notice the two of them.

Felicity: Greta? What’s wrong?

Lilly: Oh my goodness, Greta, are you okay? What happened? Were you crying?

Greta: No, it’s nothing, ladies, please, I’m fine.

Mary-Anne: I was just taking her down to the water.

Felicity: You feeling alright, Greta?

Greta: I’m fine, thank you girls.

Lilly: Have a good rest today, Greta, don’t push yourself too hard.

Lilly casts Felicity a knowing look. Sasha is raising an eyebrow.

"meisie"

- Lilly is killing me with how fake she is acting right now! You were whining about Greta being out here barely ten minutes ago and now you’re pretending to be her best friend, like, you need to stop acting fake because it is not a good look for you, honey. I cannot stand it when people act fake.

Sasha turns to Lydia, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

Greta is taking a deep breath as she wades out into shallow water. Mary-Anne has stripped down to her bikini and is joining her to talk. Bridgette and Mallorie are walking down the beach to talk with her as well.

Greta: Oh, girls, I appreciate you coming to talk to me, but I’m fine, really.

Mallorie: Everyone has a tough time every now and then. A rough start is nothing to be ashamed of.

Bridgette: Yeah, Greta. No one’s discriminating against your age out here.

Greta: I would hope not. [sighing]

She splashes water on her face, turning to face the others, reinvigorated.

Greta: I just worry that…the other girls will judge me for being…well, older.

Mallorie: Lilly probably is.

Greta: Everyone of you have been very kind and understanding to me so far, and I’m really thankful. I’m just scared I could be the first one off.

Bridgette: Well, if you’re worried about that…we could make a pact, right here right now, to keep you safe.

Greta: You girls would do that?

Bridgette: Yeah, I mean…us four could be strong moving forward.

Mary-Anne: I’d be down for that, I mean…it’s not a majority but we could be a lowkey foursome.

Mallorie: I’m a hundred percent for it, if y’all are.

Greta: I would absolutely be an advocate for that. I just don’t want to be the first one out because that is my biggest fear. I know I’m not young and fit but I will do my best to prove to you girls that I can be a valuable member of this tribe, I promise you.

Mary-Anne: Aw, Greta-

Greta: And I can make up for that by being loyal, I am a very loyal person, both in life and in this game. I’m not a schemer. If you girls have my back, I’ll have yours all the way. I can swear that…I’ll never write any of y’all’s names down.

Mallorie: Can I just say I love this deal right now? That I love this four?

Bridgette: This is perfect, I mean, this is a perfect group to move forward with. If we stick together, we can run this game.

Mallorie: I like it, now you’re talking.

Mary-Anne: That’s awesome!

"meisie"

- I’m actually being invited into an alliance! I'm playing this game! I don’t know if the girls are being truthful about having my back but I don’t want to be the first boot, so I’m hoping and praying that Bridgette and Mallorie and Mary-Anne will keep me safe. I know there are some on the tribe who do not think highly of me and I want to change that impression of me because I want to prove that this older lady has mettle.

Bridgette: This is amazing. [laughing]

"meisie"

- Having Greta and Mallorie in our alliance is great. Me and Mary-Anne are tight, and Greta does strike me as a very loyal person. And Mallorie, she is very strategic but she also knows how to be cool when she has to be. I like this group of four the most on this tribe and I think it’s the ideal group to have for me. I just hope it works out for us.

From her spot in the shelter, Felicity is watching the foursome talk in the water, her eyes narrowed.

Felicity: What do you think they’re talking about, down there?

Lilly and Lydia look over to where the four women are.

Lydia: I don’t know, but I feel bad for Greta. I love her and I feel like she’s worried about being on the bottom.

Felicity: She won’t be. I want Greta on my side too, she’s a good number to have.

Lydia looks away.

Felicity: I think that…Bridgette and Mary-Anne are a thing.

Lilly: You think so?

Felicity: I know so. They’ve been talking a lot this morning and have been pretty attached to the hip. It alarms me, honestly, that they’re so close right out of the gate, and personally I haven’t connected much to Bridge myself.

Lilly: You think they’re trying to…pull Greta in?

Felicity looks worried.

Felicity: If they are, I think we should counter them.

Lydia: I have Sasha on board with me.

Felicity: That’s good.

Lilly: Well, I’m down with that, Felicity.

"meisie"

- There are perks to being a more…upfront and forthright player. People tend to flock to players that carry themselves with authority. Lydia and Lilly are quick to let me take charge. I think that…if I can get Greta and Sasha on my side, that’s a majority of five. I mean, yeah, I’ve made promises and deals with every girl at one point in the first day, but, I only plan on staying truthful to some of them. Bridgette and Mary-Anne are starting to get too close for comfort, and Mallorie, I think, acts very cunning and closed off. Greta, she’s too motherly and sensitive and I think she’ll be easy to manipulate. Sasha, if Lydia has her, will be easy to pull over too. But I have to work fast to make sure Bridgette and Mary-Anne don’t get to Greta first, because she could be easily swayed.

Elsewhere, on Seuntjie, Sven is heading out to go fishing. Rowing the boat out with Abraham and Dillan in it, he has a snorkel on and a spear in hand, ready to test them out.

Sven: Wait here.

He dives into the water.

Dillan leans over the edge of the boat, watching, as Abraham rocks the boat gently.

Abraham: So what do you think of the guys so far?

Dillan shrugs.

Dillan: Everyone seems alright.

Abraham: The kid…Graham-

Dillan: He’s the youngest but he’s not that young.

Abraham: Sorry. Graham…he’s a superfan, right?

Dillan: Yeah. We talked a little last night before he nodded off. He said it was his dream to come out here for years.

Abraham: I feel bad for him, honestly. He doesn’t really seem to have found his calling out here.

Dillan: He’s kind of awkward, but he means well. I’ve noticed Brandy and Sven’s been giving him a harder time than most though.

Sven is resurfacing, with no fish.

Sven: I heard my name.

Abraham: We were talking about Graham.

Sven: Oh, that guy. He is so weird, honestly.

Dillan chuckles.

Dillan: How so?

Sven: He just clams up all the time. Like, he wrinkles his nose a little when I talk to him. And he’s not a team player. I don’t think he likes us very much, which makes it easy for me to say that the feeling’s mutual.

Abraham: Yeah, honestly, I feel the same a little.

Sven: I wouldn't mind having him as a first boot, to be honest.

Dillan licks his lips.

Sven: Like, honestly, if I had to pick someone to be the first one out, I’d probably pick him. I know he’s, like, dreamed about this since forever but screw his dreams. If he’s not cut out for this game or this tribe, you know, we have to take control.

Abraham: Bro, the fish. Shut up and get us our dinner!

Sven cackles and heads back out into the water. Abraham shakes his head, grinning.

"seuntjie"

- Graham is most likely on the bottom of this tribe right now. That’s the general consensus I’ve heard from most. Most people fight tooth and nail to get on this show but there are situations where…well, not everyone is…built for this game, and I think that’s Graham. He is so on the bottom right now, and I don’t see that changing. Then again, plenty of crazier things have happened.

The guys return to the beach. Sven has caught only one fish, and it does not look big enough to feed the whole tribe of men.

Brandy: Ah, well. Better luck next time, huh?

Sven sets the tools down.

Sven: Where…ah…where’s Graham?

Kim, sitting in the shelter, shrugs.

Kim: I think he said he was going to take a walk.

Meanwhile, off by himself in the forest, Graham is looking inside tree stumps, underneath rocks and around boulders, on the hunt.

"seuntjie"

- Any respectable fan of Survivor knows that there’s always an idol hidden out there, and I want to be the one to find it. I know I’m the clear fish out of water on this tribe so I need that idol to ensure I stay safe. I already know a few of the guys have been talking smack about me.

The camera cuts to Brandy and Sven, sitting in the shelter and talking.

Brandy: Honestly, Graham should just go join the girls’ tribe.

Sven: We’re in agreement there.

Brandy: I don’t like people who don’t pull their weight, people who come off as weak or lazy, especially on this tribe. He needs to man up or ship out.

"seuntjie"

- I want to be the nerd taking the bully down, and that idol could be my saving grace. Finding one is going to rewrite this disaster of a beginning for me so I’m not going to give up until I find that damn thing. I am very persistent and I will search all over for it.

Sven: You don’t think he’s…

Brandy: He’s…what?

Sven: You know, looking for an idol?

The guys look up sharply.

Abraham: [shrugging] It’s a possibility.

Brandy: [snorting] That little rat! He has to be looking for an idol, I don’t know why that didn’t just occur to me. We oughta go into the woods and crash his little scavenger hunt-

Abraham: Relax, Brand. I’ll go check up on him. You guys just chill here.

Abraham heads into the woods, just as Logan and Westin return from the well.

Logan: What’s going on?

Sven: We think Graham’s kinda…looking for an idol.

Logan: Oh. Really?

Sven: Yeah…

Brandy: Heh. Punk.

Abraham is quick to find Graham, who is inspecting the area by a lake, about to step into it.

Abraham: Graham!

Graham: [whipping around] Oh, hey.

Abraham: Am I interrupting something?

Graham: No, no, I was just…

Abraham: Wading out into a lake for fun?

Graham: Come on, don’t pretend like it didn’t cross your mind to look for an idol.

Abraham: [smirks] I respect your drive, Graham, but you weren’t very subtle about it.

Graham: That didn’t answer my question.

Abraham sees Graham’s knowing look and turns away.

Abraham: C’mon, man. A little advice: people are going to paint a target on you if you make yourself one.

The two of them walk back to camp.

Graham: From what I’ve observed, I’m already a target.

Abraham: Don’t put yourself down. There have been plenty of players making comebacks.

Graham: I appreciate it, but I know the guys have been talking smack about me.

Abraham: Perhaps…some of them may give you flak, but, you just gotta shrug it off, you know what I mean?

Abraham pats Graham on the shoulder as they emerge back at camp.

Kim is cooking, preparing to cut up the fish.

Kim: Hey, Abe, you’re a chef, right? You should be the one doing this, not me.

Abraham: Alright, alright, leave it up to me. Gimme a sec.

Graham takes a seat back in the shelter, looking a little embarrassed still to have been caught by Abraham. Seeing him moping around, Brandy gets to his feet and comes up to him.

Brandy: You know, Graham, you need to start pulling your weight around camp.

Graham: I’m sorry?

Brandy: You don’t really help out much.

Kim looks up at the pair of them, looking incredulous. Dillan’s eyes are flickering back and forth between the two men.

Graham: Um…okay.

Brandy: Like, I’m just keeping it real with you, homie. I do not respect the fact that you’ve been sitting around, looking sorry for yourself, these past two days. We need to work together to survive out here, and you are not helping out. I’m just trying to give you a little friendly wake up call here.

Graham: Uh…

Brandy: If you’re not going to help out, then you might as well just join the girls, because we don’t need or want slackers here.

Sven is having a silent fit of laughter, watching Brandy grill Graham on the sidelines. Logan looks uncomfortable.

"seuntjie"

- Brandy just comes up to me and he’s all like [imitating Brandy’s gruff voice] ‘you suck, you’re not pitching in enough, you should go join the girls’ camp’, like, okay. That’s not a very good way to make friends, you know? But I know guys like Brandy, I know his type. He’s the kind of guy that’s all about masculinity, about strength and testosterone and chivalry and chauvinism and being a big, strong, tough alpha male. I am everything that he’s not, and I can’t see us ever getting along. And with me being on a tribe with him, that clash in personalities could spell my doom.

Logan: Graham, how about you come with me to get some firewood?

Graham: Sure, I guess. Since I’m not ‘pitcing in enough’.

Brandy smirks, and Sven grins.

Logan: Westin, you can come too.

Westin: We just got water, man.

Logan: C’mon, don’t be lazy.

Westin: Yes, sir.

The three of them head off to get more wood for the fire, as the others watch them go.

Brandy turns to Abraham and the others and shakes his head.

Brandy: What a punk [censored].

Kim: Graham?

Brandy: Yeah!

Sven: I know, man. He’ll be gone soon, don’t worry. He’s the first one we cut if we ever go to tribal. Like, I literally can envision no scenario in which he isn’t the first one to go.

Dillan: I wouldn't jinx it, man. [laughing] I don’t want you to have to eat your words.

Brandy: ‘Superfan’, my ass.

In the woods, picking firewood off the ground, Logan and Westin are listening to Graham rant.

Graham: He was all like, ‘ugh, you’re not pitching in enough, you should pull your weight more, or go join the girls’, etc etc. I’m over it.

Westin: Don’t let it get to ya, little buddy. He’s just rambling.

"seuntjie"

- I just don’t get people with that kind of wacko sense of humor where…they find it funny to…put another person down, and to mock them, and then step back and say, ‘I’m just trying to help, bro.’ Like, thanks. It’s a real help and real nice of you to put me down so savagely in front of everyone, like, yeah. It’s real nice and sensitive of you. I wear my heart on my sleeve, so maybe I’m letting this get to me more than it should. But I’ll tell you one thing…I hate having to live with these guys. I want to strategize and make big moves and be with people I like and I’m doing none of that with these boys because they all suck and I hate them. Maybe Logan is fine, but I’m just so…bitter at them all.

Graham: And Abraham too is just so…overbearing at times.

The scene cuts to one of Abraham sitting by the fire, laughing uproariously as he shovels another spoonful of rice into his mouth.

Graham: He’s one of those guys that just makes their presence known, even if they’re just keeping silent. He’s a loud personality.

He viciously snags a branch off the ground and adds it to their pile, looking cross. Logan looks more uncomfortable than he’s ever been.

"seuntjie"

- I took Graham to the side because I want him to let off some steam. As a teacher, I have a tendency to look out for my students and I see Graham as one of them. I can see he feels like he’s getting bullied by the guys, like Brandy and Sven, and it’s starting to make me feel not only less comfortable about aligning myself with Abraham and the guys, but also more sorry for Graham. But with that being said…Brandy isn’t entirely incorrect. Graham hasn’t been pulling his weight as much as the other guys. He’d much rather sit around and talk, or rest. I understand why a chauvinist personality like Brandy would be dissatisfied with that behavior.

Graham: I’m so done with them. Especially Brandy…and Sven…and Abraham…

He trails off, looking upset.

Westin: It’s the hard truth.

Graham: Whatever. I’ll probably just vote against them because screw them.

"seuntjie"

- Graham was feeling a little jilted by the Muscles around camp. He was badmouthing the guys like Abraham and Brandy and Sven. So of course, I immediately went to Abraham and Brandy and Sven, to tell them about it.

Later on in the day, Westin is repeating the things Graham said to Brandy and Abraham, sitting cross-legged in the sand.

Westin: Graham was like…spouting bad stuff about you two.

Abraham looks up sharply, to where Graham is across the beach, walking and chatting with Kim in the sand.

Brandy: What’s he saying?

Westin: Just silly stuff like…‘oh, [censored] Brandy, he’s a controlling douchebag’-

Abraham: Whoa.

Westin: …and just talking smack about you too, like, ‘Abraham strikes me as the kind of guy who’d…catcall at women across the street’ or something like that-

Brandy: Little runt-

Abraham: Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, c’mon, I don’t pull [censored] like that, that [censored] isn’t cool. It’s uncalled for for him to lie about things like that.

Westin: You’ll have to tell him that.

"seuntjie"

- I am enjoying this so much. I really am. I like seeing Brandy get his knickers in a twist over Graham, it’s almost laughable how easy it is to rile this guy up. What I said wasn’t total bullcrap, I mean, some of it was true. Graham really was badmouthing the guys. I just…may have exaggerated some of the things he said. [laughing] You shouldn’t trust me, man! I can’t keep secrets! I have no filter! If Graham was going to rant and pour his heart out to me, he should’ve expected something like this to happen.

Brandy is clearly getting heated now.

Brandy: If he’s asking for a confrontation, I’ll be more than glad to give him one.

"seuntjie"

- If Graham wants to talk bad of me, fine, but he doesn’t have the guts to say it to my face? He has to go behind my back to do it? He’s a rat. Mark my words, he is a rat who doesn’t have the stones to say what he wants to to my face.

The day is starting to wind down, and the castaways are getting ready as night begins to fall. At the Meisie camp, people are preparing for their second night.

Greta is getting ready for bed, and Felicity approaches her, the wind howling as it ripples her hair and clothing.

Felicity: Hey Greta. I wanted to talk to you.

Greta: Hmm?

Felicity: I know that you’ve been having a hard time out here so far.

Greta looks down.

Greta: It’s fine, really. I just had a bit of a rocky morning but I can handle it. But thank you for checking on me.

Felicity: I just want you to know that…I have no issue with you. Like, I really trust you.

Sasha is watching the conversation from afar; Felicity unaware of it.

Felicity: There has been talk by some of the girls that they are not sure about you, but you don’t have to worry about that from me. I was mentored by a woman who reminds me of you and she is the wisest, most independent, strongest woman I’ve ever met in my entire life. I have nothing but respect from you and I promise you that you will never hear me throw your name out.

Greta is a little taken aback.

Greta: Oh, well, I appreciate that, Felicity, really, I do.

Felicity: Lilly has been saying a lot about you.

Greta: Has she?

Felicity: Yes. I’m telling you this because I want you to know I’m not keeping anything from you. And if you ever want to talk or confide in someone, I am all ears.

Sasha is snorting derisively in the distance.

Greta: Thank you, Felicity, that truly warms my heart.

The two hug it out for a little bit.

Felicity: I want to move forward in this game with someone who has more life experience.

Greta: Me too.

Felicity: Like, I feel that…the younger girls…don’t really know what they’re doing out here. They haven’t truly been tested in life. But…you are more mature than they are and I value that.

Greta: I…am totally open to working with you too.

Felicity: I just wanted to make sure you know that I’m on your side.

"meisie"

- Watching Felicity cozy up to Greta was pretty nauseating. Felicity thinks she’s slick, getting into all these deals and alliances, but they’re going to blow up in her face if she doesn’t learn a hint of subtlety! I’m onto you, sister, and you better watch your back.

Felicity smiles innocently at Greta.

Over at the Seuntjie camp, the guys too are getting ready to turn in. Graham is polishing off the last of his dinner, when Brandy walks up to him.

Brandy: You talking smack about me?

Graham looks fearful. Dillan and Logan, nearby, sensing drama, quieten down. Westin, nearby, sensing drama, leans in closer.

Graham: Excuse me?

Brandy: I asked you a question. Are you talking smack about me?

Abraham looks over Brandy’s shoulder.

Abraham: Graham, just…don’t make this any harder than it has to be.

Graham: I don’t know…what you’re talking about.

Brandy: If you wanted mollycoddling, then you shouldn’t have come out here, because no one’s going to stop and make sure your feelings aren’t hurt. I’m just spilling the truth tea here.

Dillan coughs, looking down at his feet. Logan is fidgeting, looking like he wants more than anything not to be here. Westin leans back on his hands.

Brandy: Don’t be butthurt just because I’m telling you the truth, that nobody respects the fact that you’ve done jack[censored] for this camp, letting everyone else do your jobs for you.

Graham: What do you mean, I’ve pitched in as and when I can! Okay, I got firewood, I helped get water earlier tonight-

Brandy: You didn’t lift a finger to help build the shelter. You didn’t cook the food, you didn’t help fish, you didn’t do nothing-

Graham: That’s because you and Abraham and Sven have basically got everything covered, what do you want from me?

Brandy: I want you to stop acting like you’re suffering from depression and stop moping around.

Logan puts his head in his hands. Abraham is nodding sadly.

Brandy: Okay, you act like everyone here is antagonizing you, no one here feels like they know you, at all.

Graham: Is this really necessary to blow up at me like this?

Brandy: Oh, I’m not blowing anything up, you blew it up when you started talking [censored] about me and Abraham behind our backs.

Logan’s eyes widen. Westin looks to the side.

Brandy: Okay, if you’re going to slack off and let the rest of us keep this camp running so you can lie on your back all damn day in the shelter, that’s bad enough. But then you go one step further and try to badmouth me and my boy behind our backs and you’re asking for trouble.

Graham splutters, as Kim very obviously clears his throat and takes his leave from the shelter. Logan puts his hand on the roof of the structure, leaning against it casually, watching everything go down with a grim expression on his face. Dillan is silent, pulling his knees up to his chest, as Brandy continues his tirade.

Graham: I didn’t say [censored] about you-

Brandy: Oh, so now you’re lying, plain and simple.

Graham: Okay, then, who told you?

Brandy: It doesn’t matter who told me.

Graham: Who told you?

Brandy: I said it don’t matter!

Graham: You’re afraid to tell me.

Brandy: I’m afraid of nothing out here. It’s you who should be afraid.

Graham: Okay, whatever, I’m done with this conversation.

He looks away.

Graham: I don’t want to discuss this.

Brandy: Fine. But everyone here…will remember this.

Graham glares at him as Brandy turns and leaves. Abraham follows Brandy away. In the distance, Abraham can be seen laughing softly.

Abraham: Dude, that was jacked up.

Brandy: I know.

Abraham: You hammered him, and I thought I was the alpha one.

Brandy: You are. I just get hot-tempered way too easily. But he deserved that. He needed a lesson.

Graham looks more awkward than ever, watching as the two figures in the distance that are Abraham and Brandy grow smaller and smaller, the further they walk from the shelter. Looking alone, he sits quietly, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

Westin is grinning quietly to himself, staring out at sea. Logan is looking at Graham with a mix of pity and concern.

Dillan clears his throat.

Dillan: Don’t mind him. He’s just abrasive like that.

Graham: Yeah. Whatever.

Logan: Let’s try to get a good night’s sleep, guys. C’mon.

Graham curls up on his side, as Dillan too gets ready to turn in.

Graham: He didn’t have to be such a [censored] about it, right?

Logan: Right.

Dillan: Give him time to cool off, man…

Westin is smirking, looking pleased with himself at causing an argument.

Away from the beach, Abraham and Brandy are sitting in the beach; the latter rolling seashells between his fingers dismissively. Abraham turns to look back at the shelter, a look of concern crossing his face.

"seuntjie"

- Brandy’s my no. 1 out here but his explosion worries me. And I know it was in part, due to Westin. Westin was just trying to create chaos and paranoia, he wanted dissension on the tribe and he drove a wedge between Brandy and Graham. And honestly…I think Westin enjoyed it. He was smiling the whole way through. I’m starting to think, like…Westin may be a bit of a snake, and he could be much bigger trouble for this tribe down the road than Graham may be. We need to be unified as a tribe to move forward successfully, and there are snakes and rats in this bunch and that could be a recipe for disaster.

Day 3
Jeff: Come on in guys!

Meisie is first to arrive. Mary-Anne again has the Medallion around her neck, wearing it proudly. Sasha puts the tribe flag down. Seuntjie is right behind them, Abraham toting the flag high and proud.

Jeff: You guys ready to get to your first immunity challenge?

Everyone cheers and whoops.

Jeff: Alright. For today’s challenge, you will race out through a series of obstacles to a drawbridge, which you will need to untie. Once the drawbridge is released, make your way through, and one contestant will chop through a piece of rope, releasing a series of lettered blocks. Two tribe members must then arrange these lettered blocks to form a phrase. The first tribe to decipher the correct phrase from the letters wins immunity. Want to know what you’re playing for?

The tribes chorus ‘Yes’ back at him.

He unveils the immunity idol.

Jeff: Tribal immunity! With immunity, your tribe is safe from tribal council, and no one from your tribe will be going home. For the losers, tribal council with me, tonight, where one of the eight of you will be the first person voted out of Survivor: Seychelles – Battle Of The Sexes, and I’m sure that is a title none of you would want to have.

Lilly nods empathetically. Mary-Anne pouts, looking solemn. Graham shifts back and forth on his feet, nervous.

Jeff: But before we get to the challenge, we still have one more twist in the game to address. Mary-Anne, you have the Medallion for Meisie. You guys ready to know what the Medallion does?

The girls cheer and clap, excited.

Felicity: Let’s hear it, Jeff!

Jeff: Sorry to let you girls down, but…that Medallion you have right there in your possession is a Cursed Medallion.

People are reacting with surprise and confusion. Felicity frowns. Sasha is biting her lip. Westin looks excited, craning his neck to look at the girls. Sven is smirking.

Jeff: For the rest of this game, whoever and whichever tribe is holding the Cursed Medallion will suffer a disadvantage in their next challenge, be it reward or immunity. They can only choose to pass the Medallion on to the next tribe at the next challenge. So, that means, girls, you will unfortunately be facing a disadvantage in this immunity challenge, and you may only be allowed to pass the Medallion and its curse onto the boys at the next challenge.

The girls do not look happy. Greta is gnashing her teeth, looking twice as concerned as she was before. Sasha is shaking her head, and Mallorie is scowling.

Jeff: Bridgette, how does it feel to know you’ll be kicking off your tribe’s first important immunity challenge with a disadvantage? Nobody wants to be the first boot and with this Medallion, your tribe’s chances of winning just took a hit.

Bridgette: I mean, it sucks, you know, like…we were all psyched, thinking this was going to give us an advantage in today’s challenge, not set us back even more. We’re going up against a pretty strong tribe too, so…it’s just bad news. But we have no choice but to not give up and just persevere and maybe by a stroke of luck and determination alone, we can pull through today.

Jeff: Alright. With the disadvantage that Meisie has, they will have three extra lettered blocks added to their pile, making it harder for them to solve their word puzzle. We’ll get started.

Soon, the tribes are geared up and ready to go.

Jeff: Survivors ready? …Go!

The two tribes race ahead, tackling on the obstacles. Abraham, Brandy and Sven all kick out to a big headstart, ducking and sliding under net crawl, flying through mud and climbing up and over barriers. The rest of the guys are keeping relatively good pace.

The girls are not far behind, moving as quick as they can, working together. Greta is notably at the back of the group, as Bridgette, Mary-Anne and Felicity all try to help her along.

Felicity: Go, Greta, come on!

Bridgette: You got this, Greta, c’mon.

Greta: [pant] I’m with you…

Jeff: Seuntjie is first to their drawbridge!

As soon as Graham and Logan arrive at their mat, Abraham and Dillan respectively go to work on untying the separate knots, trying to release the drawbridge.

Jeff: Greta, you need to step on the mat so your tribe can proceed!

Greta stumbles onto the mat, Felicity hauling her along.

Jeff: That’ll do it. Meisie, get to work on those knots!

Mallorie and Sasha now step up to the plate, their fingers flying as they work on untying.

Jeff: Abraham done with the first knot!

Dillan is hurrying to finish with his. Abraham is working on the second section of rope, Sven trying to help too.

Brandy: You got this, bro, you got this!

Sweat is stinging Abraham’s eyes, as he blinks them away. Sven is fighting to get his hands around the rope, tearing them off the drawbridge.

Jeff: Mallorie done with her ropes!

Mallorie is getting to work on the second section.

Jeff: Dillan done with the top half of the ropes! Seuntjie is almost through…

Abraham unties the final knot, and the drawbridge falls to the floor.

Jeff: Seuntjie is through! Meisie, falling behind!

The guys all charge through, running over the fallen drawbridge.

Sasha’s face is a mask of intense concentration as she works her way steadily through the ropes. Mallorie’s fingers are swift and nimble, pulling and tugging at her ropes.

Jeff: It is Brandy chopping the rope for Seuntjie!

Brandy is viciously hammering away at the block of wood concealing the rope, bringing the hatchet down over and over again with tremendous strength, the muscles in his biceps and back rippling with the effort. Wood is splintering and flying everywhere over his shoulder.

Sasha: Got it! Go, go, go!

The women’s drawbridge falls as Sasha releases the final rope and the girls are clambering through, rushing to catch up.

Jeff: Meisie is through! It is Felicity chopping for the women!

Felicity is chopping as fast as she can next to Brandy. Brandy finally severs the rope and the lettered blocks fall to the ground.

Jeff: Brandy is through the rope! Go get your puzzle pieces!

The Seuntjie tribe surges forward, converging around the blocks and gathering all the lettered pieces up, placing them on the puzzle table.

Bridgette: You got this, Felicity, come on, don’t give up.

Jeff: Felicity is almost through the rope…

The rope snaps and Meisie’s pieces fall.

Jeff: …And she is! Meisie has their puzzle pieces!

Mallorie: Go!

The girls converge around their blocks and begin grabbing as many lettered blocks as possible.

Soon, both tribes are at their tables, inspecting the letters they have before them.

Jeff: Because of the Medallion, Meisie has three extra letters that don’t fit into this puzzle, making it harder for them to solve the correct phrase. But will they overcome this obstacle to win immunity?

Mallorie is hovering over the board, moving pieces around, trying to make sense of it. Lydia and Greta take a step back and are pointing at the letters, reading them out loud.

For the men, Kim and Logan stand at the table, looking at the pieces, moving them here and there to see if they can form a phrase or word. The guys are studying the puzzle over their shoulders. Graham’s brow is furrowed, focused.

Jeff: It will be a common phrase said in this game. It could even be something I’ve said just now. I say a dozen different things on this show and I repeat them over and over and over again.

It is as if a light bulb goes off in Logan’s head, and suddenly, he is whispering in Kim’s ear and hurriedly rearranging pieces.

Jeff: Logan thinks he has something…is it right?

Felicity casts the guys a worried look. Mallorie is frantically moving lettered blocks around, in a feeble attempt to make some sense of it.

Jeff: Logan and Kim are spelling something…what is it, is it right? Felicity and Mallorie are at a loss.

Felicity is peeking over at their puzzle, trying to spy on what they are doing.

Logan: H-Here, move this here!

Jeff: They’re spelling out a phrase, are they getting close? Do they have it?

Brandy is chuckling madly to himself, pumping his fist as he nuzzles Dillan on the head.

Brandy: We got it! They’ve got it!

Logan and Kim put the last piece down together and beckon Jeff over.

Logan: Jeff!

The girls look over helplessly as Jeff runs over to the men.

Jeff: ‘SAFE AT TRIBAL COUNCIL’…Seuntjie, wins immunity!

The guys erupt into cheers. Abraham is pulling everyone into a hug, and ecstatic high fives, overjoyed pats on the backs and congratulations are exchanged. Graham looks relieved, grinning from ear to ear. Westin does a little dance, bumping chests with Kim. Sven is roaring with jubilation.

On the flip side, the girls all look disappointed. Mallorie curses, dropping a lettered block to the ground at her feet. Felicity has her arms on her hips, shaking her head. Sasha can only scowl fiercely.

Mary-Anne pats Bridgette and Greta on the shoulders.

Mary-Anne: It’s alright.

Greta is almost in tears.

Greta: This is my fault.

Mary-Anne: Stop. Don’t say that.

Jeff: Seuntjie, congrats on immunity.

The guys clap and applaud, grinning, as Abraham steps out of the crowd to take the idol from Jeff.

Jeff: No tribal council for you boys tonight, nobody on your tribe going home.

Graham is beaming widely. Abraham and Brandy bump fists.

Jeff now turns to the dejected Meisie tribe.

Jeff: Meisie, unfortunately for the eight of you, one of you will become the first person voted out of your tribe and out of Survivor: Seychelles, and that is a distinction that nobody wants. You have the afternoon to figure out who it’s gonna be. Head back to camp, I’ll see you guys at tribal.

The girls move to grab their bags and belongings, and begin heading back down the beach to their camp. As they walk in single file, in slow motion, the camera focuses on Lilly as she walks.

"meisie"

- We lost our first challenge of the season, and it totally sucks. And just like I feared, Greta pulled us all down. We all like Greta, she’s not a bad person. But old people don’t tend to do well in this game, and we need to be strong to win challenges. So unfortunately, that means she has to go, and I’m just hoping everyone sees that too.

The Meisie tribe returns to camp, where everyone is in low spirits.

Bridgette: Well…we tried our best, everybody.

Mary-Anne: Yeah. It’s nobody’s fault.

Lydia: This just means we’ll bounce back from this even better! [laughing]

"meisie"

- The mood when we got back to camp was really sad. I feel like we really got along well as a tribe these first three days and now one of us is going to be voted out and it’s not a happy thought, knowing one of the eight of us is going to have our hopes and dreams crushed.

Greta is taking a moment to herself, standing by the shelter.

Greta: I was so bad in that challenge…I’m sorry…

Mallorie: Greta, you don’t need to apologize! Alright, no one here blames you. You need to be more confident in your abilities, okay? People here value you.

Bridgette: Mal’s right, Greta. Come on, I’ll take you to go wash up.

Greta: No, it’s fine, I think I just need to walk on my own.

Bridgette: Okay then…

Greta is taking a walk into the forest, weeping as she goes.

Felicity is quick to follow.

Felicity: Greta, are you alright…?

Greta: I’m sorry…I know…I know…I shouldn’t be crying…

Felicity: It’s okay, everyone breaks down.

Greta: I feel awful because I can’t help but feel that because of my age, I lost that challenge for our tribe. I want so badly to prove my worth to them but I feel that all they do is judge me, even when they tell me that they don’t, it keeps nagging on me over and over and over again! Maybe I’m just not cut out for all this… I just feel like I’m such a failure…I really didn’t want to let the tribe down.

Felicity: You haven’t let us down, alright? We were losing that puzzle anyway, with the stupid Medallion. Quit being too hard on yourself, the girls and I have your back.

Greta: But what about tonight? Someone’s getting voted out tonight, and it very well could be me!

Felicity bites her lip.

Felicity: I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. I have a target in mind, if you’d be on board.

Greta: Of course, Fel, you’ve been way nicer to me than a lot of the other women. Please, just…I just don’t want to be the first one gone. My children would be so disappointed in me…

Felicity: C’mon, Great. It’s okay, just let it all out.

Felicity takes Greta to the well, where Lydia, Lilly and Sasha are gathered and waiting.

Felicity: Hey girls.

Lilly looks a little perturbed to see Greta there. Greta sniffs, clasping her hands together.

Sasha: So what’s the plan?

Felicity: As far as I’m concerned, this here…this could be Final Five.

Lilly does a double take. Lydia looks up sharply. Greta appears meeker than before.

Felicity: Have you girls seen how close…Bridgette and Mary-Anne are?

The camera cuts to a clip of an oblivious Bridgette and Mary-Anne, both out in the ocean in their bikinis, with Mallorie, laughing together as they wade out into the water.

Felicity: The two have been inseperable the last two nights. They’ve done everything together. They go do chores together, they go swimming together, and it’s clear they’re a duo. I think that…if we form an alliance of five…and we split those two up, we can run the rest of the pre-merge.

Lydia widens her eyes. Sasha is looking at the floor, thinking hard.

Felicity turns to Greta.

Felicity: I promise you that you are not the target tonight, alright? We’ll vote off one of those two girls and then we can move on as a strong alliance, and a strong tribe. As long as us five stay loyal, this is a good pact. Alliances run this game, and this is it.

Lilly nods, though her eyes betray nothing.

Lilly: Sounds like a plan to me.

Felicity: I say we do Bridgette, personally. She’s just too chatty, too cheerful. Mary-Anne, I can stand to talk to.

"meisie"

- My strategy when we got back was…to rally up the troops. I have Greta, who is weak and emotionally unstable and will follow the first person to swoop in and steal her loyalty. I have Lydia, who is a friend to me, and thus, by association, I also have Sasha. And Lilly…she’s my little gossip girl. That’s five and that’s all we need for this vote. Bridgette, your fate is sealed.

Felicity: Let’s just not go crazy and be casual for the rest of the day.

Sasha: Oh, you can count on me to be casual, don’t worry.

The five of them go their separate ways, Felicity nodding reassuringly to Greta as they go.

Lilly is making her way back to camp, lost in her own world.

"meisie"

- Felicity has the bright idea to go after Bridgette. Granted, I don’t have much of a relationship with her, it’s only been three days. But I do know that I think Greta is weak both in challenges and in camp life. I don’t want to work with Greta and I don’t want Greta in my alliance! She’s an old has been who’s of no use in this game, and so, I think she needs to go for our tribe to win challenges. Bridgette’s a competitor! She can help us win immunity! Greta cannot! I’m taking the reins of this game into my own hands because I want my target to go home, not Felicity’s.

Lilly now approaches Bridgette and Mary-Anne, both of whom are out of the water and are eating fruit by the shelter. She sits down, and nods at the pair of girls.

Lilly: Hey.

Mary-Anne: What’s up?

Lilly: Penny for your thoughts? I wanted to pick your brains for tonight.

Bridgette thinks, looking up at the sky.

Bridgette: Honestly, I’m not too sure myself. Everyone seems really nice and no one is floating up as much of a target so far.

Lilly: How would you girls feel about…Greta’s performance today?

Bridgette casts Mary-Anne a look.

Mary-Anne: She…wiped out a little, but I don’t blame her.

Bridgette: It’s these harsh conditions, they’re not…optimal, I guess, for someone her age.

Lilly: The thing is, I think we need to, as a tribe, weed out the weakest members. And Greta is, undeniably, our weakest member.

Mary-Anne looks away, counting her toes.

Lilly: And uh…I have to be honest with you, I’ve heard your name pop out today.

Bridgette blinks.

Bridgette: Excuse me?

Lilly: Cos Felicity has been talking a lot of smack about you.

Bridgette: She has?

Lilly: Oh yeah, she thinks the two of you [pointing between Bridgette and Mary-Anne] are really close.

"meisie"

- To hear from Lilly that Felicity thinks me and Mary-Anne are very close is a tad bit worrying, because, if she thinks we’re a threat together, she might want to come after us, and I’m just not all that sure about Felicity. I think she’s a very sneaky player and honestly, it concerns me, having to deal with her.

Mary-Anne flashes a look of concern at Bridgette.

Bridgette: So, wait…what do I-

Lilly: I’m thinking…Felicity thinks she has the votes, but…if us four, including Mallorie…can get either Sasha or Lydia to flip…we can have the majority to take out…Greta.

Mary-Anne: Why Greta? If Felicity’s targeting one of us, why is Greta the one going home?

Lilly: Because Greta is the weakest player!

Bridgette: But you just said…that Felicity is targeting one of us.

Lilly: Yes, and she thinks Greta will help her with that. If we cut Greta loose, our tribe benefits and you get rid of one of Felicity’s numbers.

Bridgette: I’m going to talk to Felicity.

Mary-Anne: You’re going to confront her?

Lilly: Please, don’t drop my name.

Bridgette leaves.

Lilly: I say Greta still has to go.

Mary-Anne chews her lip thoughtfully.

Lilly: We have to win challenges. That’s just the hard truth of it. I’mma go talk to Sasha and Lydia about it first.

She leaves.

Meanwhile, Bridgette finds Felicity further down the beach, by the rocks, resting.

Bridgette: Felicity. Can we talk?

Felicity: Sure, Bridge. What’s up?

Bridgette: This is a hard subject to bring up but…I heard you were saying that…me and Mary-Anne are a tight couple?

Felicity’s eyes flash with warning.

Felicity: What? Who told you that?

Bridgette: So you did say that?

Felicity: No, I mean, I want to know who said that about me.

Bridgette: Lilly did.

"meisie"

- Lilly, being the Gossip Girl that she is, decides to run to Bridgette and Mary-Anne and parrot back the things I’ve been telling her because she can’t resist keeping her big fat mouth shut, EVEN AFTER we agreed we’d vote Bridgette off! Lilly is on my last nerve now and I have to do damage control because she just focused a whole lot of eyes on me.

Felicity: Bridgette, that is a total lie. Okay, I said nothing of the sort!

Bridgette: Okay, well then, why would Lilly say that?

Felicity: I don’t know, she…what did she want to do? Come after me?

Bridgette: She wants to target Greta, because she thinks Greta’s the weakest player.

Felicity scoffs, looking ticked off.

Felicity: Lilly is…she’s a liar, okay?

Bridgette: Okay?

Felicity: She told me that you were gunning for me.

Bridgette: What? I never threw your name out before this.

Felicity: Exactly, and it’s the same on my end. Lilly’s been spreading a lot of rumors. A LOT of rumors. She LOVES gossip, she feeds off the stuff.

Bridgette: [folds arms] Yeah…

Felicity: I love Greta, I think she’s awesome. I have nothing but respect for her, I don’t want her to go.

Bridgette: I will not vote for Greta. [shakes head] I just…I won’t do that.

Felicity: Neither will I.

She looks past Bridgette’s shoulder to ensure they are far from prying eyes.

Felicity: You know, if Lilly is going behind my back and spreading tales about me to drag Greta down, I’m not so sure if she can be trusted.

Bridgette: You want her to go?

Felicity: Yeah. I wouldn't miss her if she left.

Back at the shelter, Greta sits down with Mary-Anne. Mallorie is emerging from the water, toweling herself off.

Greta: Mary, Felicity’s coming after you.

Mary-Anne: What?

Greta: Felicity, she wants either you or Bridgette gone. I had to tell you. She thinks the two of you are too close, she knows you’re aligned.

Mallorie scoffs.

Mallorie: She thinks she’s smart?

Mary-Anne: Lilly told us before.

Greta: Really?

Mary-Anne: Yeah. Lilly’s trying to turn the vote against you.

Greta’s lower lip trembles.

Greta: What? Why me?

Mary-Anne: She thinks you’re the weakest link because of your age.

Greta: What? B-But….

Mary-Anne: Don’t worry, alright? Us girls have your back.

Mallorie: I say we show Lilly and Felicity that they don’t control the votes at all.

Across the beach, Sasha is sitting on a fallen log, as Lydia sits crosslegged by her side, playing with some leaves.

Lydia: What are you thinking for tribal council?

Sasha considers this.

Sasha: I don’t trust Felicity.

Lydia: You don’t?

Sasha: No. I have to tell you, I don’t trust her one bit. Do you really think you’re the only one she’s approached for an alliance?

Lydia falls silent.

Sasha: I’ve seen her in action. I’ve seen her running around this camp, talking to everybody. She’s probably approached almost everyone on this beach for an alliance. She has no loyalty to anyone, all she does is make false deals.

"meisie"

- Felicity and Lilly are…so shady right now. She is so shady. So shady! Lydia wants to align with Felicity, but I don’t, and that’s where the two of us have reached a stalemate. I want to work with Lydia in this game but not Felicity. I have to look out for my sister of another mister here, so I’m going to see if I can make Lydia see the light and realize sticking with the likes of Felicity and Lilly doesn’t just mean death for her game, but mine too. I know Felicity’s game, and I don’t trust or like it. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her, and I need to make sure that I get Lydia to see that, so we can turn on Felicity and Lilly instead.

Lydia: But then…what about the plan to take out…Bridgette?

Sasha: I’m not swinging that way. I think Bridgette has the majority by her right now. Greta is close to Mary-Anne, who’s close to Bridgette. Felicity is not.

Lydia: I am really out of the loop on this. [laughing] I was…I was thinking it would be a fun little vote.

Sasha: It still can be. We can blindside Felicity tonight. She’s playing far too aggressively.

Lydia: I don’t want to vote her off. I’m sorry, I don’t feel right about it.

Sasha: Alright, then, who would you rather see go home?

Lydia thinks about it.

Lydia: I don’t know, Lilly, maybe?

Sasha: Why?

Lydia: Everyone else has been nice to me. Not Lilly. I think she’s unkind, and has been closed-off to me.

Sasha: I think the majority is going after Felicity and Lilly. If you don't want Felicity to go-

Lydia: I don't. I think that Felicity and I can get something goin.

Sasha: Bridgette and Mary-Anne have the numbers and I think they are going to split the votes between Felicity and Lilly. We just have to put our chips into the right pot if you really want Lilly gone, and we're golden.

Lydia: I trust your judgment.

Sasha: Aw, you really shouldn't. [laughing] I'm messing with you, relax. I’ll go talk to the others and see where the girls’ heads are at, okay? Just trust me on this, and I’ll get back to you. If it works out, we can make that final push on what we want to happen.

Lydia nods as Sasha takes off.

The camera cuts to a nice transitional shot of a centipede crawling down the bark of a tree, before zooming out, and focusing on Bridgette, Mary-Anne, Greta and Mallorie having a conversation by a body of water.

Bridgette: Felicity is a snake. She’s a very crafty player, and I think she tried and failed to take a shot at us.

Mary-Anne shakes her head.

Mary-Anne: I said I didn’t trust her.

Mallorie: I’d be fine if Felicity went.

Bridgette: She’s good in challenges though.

Mary-Anne: Who else do you propose?

Bridgette: I’d rather do someone like Lilly myself.

Mallorie: Why?

Bridgette: She’s been parroting information back and forth between Felicity and I. I don’t know where her head’s at. And…she’s coming after you.

Bridgette points at Greta, who pales almost instantly.

Greta: I know, but I don’t understand! What? Why?

Mallorie: She thinks you’re the weakest link.

Bridgette: But don’t worry, we have your back.

Mary-Anne: Yeah, Greta. Our alliance is staying true.

Mallorie: I say we split the votes between…Felicity and Lilly. We can get Sasha and Lydia to vote with us, right now they’re the swing votes.

Greta: Is that the way it’s going to go tonight?

Mallorie: The vote’s coming down to either Felicity or Lilly. That’s the truth of it.

Mary-Anne: Are you good with that?

Greta: I don’t want to vote off Felicity.

Bridgette: You don’t?

Greta: No, I would rather vote out Lilly, because she’s coming after me. I have no feud with Felicity.

Bridgette: I do, apparently.

Mary-Anne: I don’t trust her. None of us do.

"meisie"

- We have two candidates for elimination tonight. Felicity, who’s gone around making deals with everyone behind everyone’s backs, thinking she’s so clever and smart; and Lilly, who gossips and spreads rumors and lies and paranoia all over the place and who Greta wants gone, period. Either one leaving is fine by me, but I want to think through each and every move I make with as much careful thought as possible.

Sasha comes up to the crew.

Sasha: ‘Sup?

Mallorie: We’re voting off either Felicity or Lilly tonight. Are you good with that?

Sasha: [shrugs] I’m good with it.

Mallorie: Alright. Will you tell Lydia?

Sasha: I’ve got Lydia by my side, no worries.

Lydia is sitting in the sand, arranging seashells, as Felicity approaches her.

Felicity: Hey, we have to talk.

Lydia: Right, we do.

Felicity: There’s been a change of plans. The cat’s out of the bag. The alliance has crumbled. No one’s voting for Bridgette.

Lydia: I wanted to tell you too, Lilly ratted you out. She’s trying to rally up votes to blindside Greta. And I think Sasha and Greta may be on board for taking her out instead.

Felicity is silent, nodding.

Lydia: I think that…at this point, everyone is against you and Lilly, only one of you is going to survive to see tomorrow. I’ve tried to change Sasha’s mind but she’s dead set on siding with the majority and that’s Bridgette, Mallorie, Greta and Mary-Anne. They’re splitting the votes, and I think the best option for you right now is to-

Felicity: …vote for Lilly, right. Yeah…I thought so.

"meisie"

- It looks like my whole strategy of…aligning with everyone…kinda blew up in my face a little. Now, no one trusts me. Only Lydia is throwing me a bone here, and I’m grateful for that but…it’s either me or Lilly going home tonight. If I hadn’t thrown Lilly under the bus to Bridgette, she wouldn't even be an option and I would be getting voted out, point blank and period. I saved myself here, but now I have no choice but to vote for her, or else I’m going home. And in spite of all this, poor sweet Lilly is entirely oblivious to everything that’s happening on the tribe, how much has changed and how everyone is against her and I. I just hope that I can trust Lydia, and, ironically, Bridgette, when they say that Lilly’s going home and not me. If I do survive, I’ll need to tone it down if I want to recover from this.

Felicity: Alright. [pats Lydia on the back] Thanks for the tip.

Tribal council looms closer. Lilly is nodding at Bridgette as she passes her and Mary-Anne.

Lilly: You good with taking out Greta?

Bridgette: Yeah. I’ve got Sash in on it.

Lilly: Okay.

She leaves, and when she is out of sight, Bridgette turns back to Mary-Anne and shakes her head. Mallorie is rolling her eyes on the sidelines, smirking.

Looking a lot less confident than before, Felicity slings her bags over her shoulders and follows the girls as they leave the beach in single file.

Night falls, and as the moon and stars come out, the camera zooms in amidst the darkness, picking out the lit up Tribal Council set. The girls arrive, craning their necks and looking around them with wide open mouths and starstruck gazes.

Jeff: Behind each of you is a torch. Go ahead and grab one, dip it in and get fire.

The girls follow suit, the fire making their expressions look gloomier and more foreboding than ever.

Jeff: This is the ritual of Tribal Council. Fire represents your life in this game and when your fire is out, so are you.

The last torch is put in its slot and the girls all take their seats.

Jeff: Girls, welcome to Tribal Council.

Bridgette smiles nervously. Mary-Anne nods, not looking happy to be here. Lydia is looking around the set, still in awe. Sasha appears glum.

Jeff: Alright, so, Lydia.

Lydia: Yes?

Jeff: Three days in, and you have to vote someone out already.

Lydia: [sighing] Yep. It’s not a fun thing to do, Jeff. I love these girls, each and every one of them, no matter what kind of game they play. We’ve bonded as a family these past couple of days, and it pains me to have to see one of them go.

Jeff: Mary-Anne, today, you came into the challenge wearing that Medallion, all proud and excited.

Mary-Anne: [laughing] Yeah. Sad to say I did.

Jeff: And it turns out to be a bit of a slap to the fact because it ends up hurting your chances of winning. Do you think that led to you girls coming here, to Tribal Council?

Mary-Anne: Uhh…I don’t think we would’ve won it even if we hadn’t had three extra letters added to our pile. But who knows, really?

Jeff: Bridgette, shed some light on the group dynamic of this tribe.

Bridgette: Uh, well, I think we’ve all been getting along quite well. There hasn’t been any…well, we are still getting adjusted to living out here, with everyone.

Jeff: But with every happy family, there is bound to be a few rotten eggs in the basket. That’s why someone’s getting voted out tonight! So give me the juicy details.

Mallorie: I can, you know, shed a little more light on that.

Jeff: Go ahead, Mallorie.

Mallorie: I think people have an idea of what’s happening tonight. I myself have heard from multiple sources that…Felicity’s been going around making deals with…EVERYONE!

Felicity looks at her, perplexed. Lilly turns to Bridgette with a wide-eyed expression.

Mallorie: And it’s got everyone on edge.

Jeff: Felicity, is this true?

Felicity: No, I wouldn't say all of that is true.

Mallorie scoffs.

Felicity: I mean, yes, I have made alliances and I have spoken to people, but that’s the name of the game. And tonight, I’m sticking with the plan people know about. I’m not doing anything shady right now.

Mallorie: For three days, you’ve run around the camp, trying to get everyone on your side. The game is all you talk about.

Jeff: Felicity, it seems that what Mallorie is saying is that you’ve been putting people off, perhaps, by acting a little too…aggressive.

Felicity: [nods] Yeah.

Jeff: Do you think there’s truth to that or…?

Felicity: Perhaps. But uh…you know, maybe that’s just who I am as a person. I’m a little aggressive, a little feisty.

She shrugs.

Felicity: But when people told me it was getting on their nerves, I nodded and I decided to tone it down a little. I know it’s made me a bit of a target but I think there are other fish to fry tonight, and I’m hoping that I can trust in not just myself and the conversations I’ve had with people, but these girls themselves, who have told me…what’s about to happen tonight.

Bridgette lets this sink in. Lilly is rubbing her arms, nonchalant.

Jeff: Greta, you’re the oldest woman out here.

Greta: Thanks, Jeff.

A few girls laugh.

Jeff: Has that come up as a topic for discussion yet? That you may be looked at or treated differently for your age?

Greta: I…I have worried about that. And yet there are girls here who do value who I am as a person and what I bring to the table, and look past my age. I think my merits lie in helping to cook for the tribe, helping to hang up our wet clothes and do the laundry.

Mary-Anne nods.

Greta: You know, I want them to see me as a valuable and hardworking ‘mom’, I guess. [laughing] And it does worry me that…my age, a factor I cannot control, will end up meaning the end to my game, but I do believe that…other people have surfaced on this tribe as potential targets for tonight. And I hope that that…um…that that will keep me in.

Felicity bites her lip.

Jeff: Lilly, it’s been a few days. Have you noticed anyone on the tribe seeming particularly close or really tight right out of the gate?

Lilly: Oh, yeah, totes. I think that…it’s common knowledge Bridgette and Mary-Anne are very close.

Bridgette turns to stare at her, nonplussed. Mary-Anne frowns. Mallorie is rolling her eyes.

Lilly: [laughing] I mean, a lot of girls here know that. They’re perceived as a bit of a pair. They’re like BFFs.

Jeff: Mary-Anne, this ring true to you?

Mary-Anne: Y-Yeah, I guess so…? Me and Bridgette did bond a little at the beginning, and I…I think, you know, we’re just…friends, of a sort. I don’t think people are going to look at us any differently because of that, though, and I would hope not.

Jeff: There are plenty of reasons to target someone for a first boot.

Mary-Anne: Exactly.

Jeff: And tonight, there will be enough reasons for one of you. With that, it is time to vote. Lydia, you’re up.

Lydia smiles as she gets up to vote.

The camera goes down the line, passing over the girls’ stony faces and serious expressions over what is about to go down.

Felicity sighs, catching Bridgette’s eye, who nods at her.

One by one, the girls head up to vote. Sasha goes to vote…then Mary-Anne…then Mallorie…

"meisie"

- From one strategic player to another, this is why I’m making the first strike.

The camera cuts to Felicity, her chin resting on her hand, as she stares off into the darkness.

"meisie"

- I’m sorry, Lilly, I know how much this experience means to you. But I don’t want to be the first one out. And if you’re coming after me, I have to take a shot at you first.

Lilly leans back, tilting her head, counting the stars in the sky.

Next, she heads up to vote…

"meisie"

- You’re too old for this game, sorry. This is just the logical vote to keep our tribe strong.

The camera cuts to Greta, looking depressed, as she looks at the fire crackling in the pit.

Bridgette heads up to vote…and finally, she returns.

Jeff: I’ll go tally the votes. [leaves]

Bridgette turns to Mary-Anne and they smile and nod at each other. Felicity glances at Lydia out of the corner of her eye, worried.

Jeff returns with the votes.

Jeff: If anyone has the hidden immunity idol and you’d like to play it, now would be the time to do so.

Mallorie sweeps her blue hair out of her face, turning to regard Felicity. Bridgette peers down the row at Lilly. No one else budges.

Jeff: Alright, once the votes are read the decision is final. Person voted out will be asked to leave the tribal council area immediately. I’ll read the votes.

Greta composes herself as Jeff takes out the first vote.

Jeff: First vote…Felicity. (1-0)

Felicity bites the inside of her cheek, a worried expression on her face.

Jeff: Lilly. (1-1)

Lilly raises an eyebrow, chuckling slightly.

Jeff: Greta. One vote Felicity, one vote Lilly, one vote Greta. (1-1-1)

Greta grabs Mary-Anne’s hand for support. Bridgette narrows her eyes as the votes are read.

Jeff: Felicity. That’s two votes Felicity. (2-1-1)

Felicity leans back, looking solemn. Mallorie nods, turning back to the votes.

Jeff: Lilly. That’s two votes Lilly. (2-2-1)

Lilly frowns. Sasha licks her lips.

Jeff: Lilly. That’s three votes Lilly, two votes Felicity, one vote Greta. (3-2-1)

Lilly takes a deep breath, looking confused. Lydia is smiling slightly.

Jeff: Felicity. We’re tied. Three votes Felicity, three votes Lilly, one vote Greta, one vote left…(3-3-1)

Felicity bites her lip, evidently concerned. Lilly is turning back to look at Bridgette, puzzled. Bridgette avoids her eyes. Mallorie tosses her hair back, confident.

Jeff: First person voted out of Survivor: Seychelles – Battle of the Sexes… . .  .  .  . Jeff: …Lilly. That’s four, that’s enough. You need to bring me your torch.

Lilly lets out an audible gasp of surprise. Felicity hangs her head, letting out a breath she’d been holding, her shoulders shaking, as Lydia pats her on the back.

Lilly: Wow. Why?

Mallorie winks as Lilly gets up to go. Bridgette turns to Greta and nods.

Greta: Thank you.

Felicity looks up, to see Lilly go.

Lilly puts her torch down in front of Jeff, smiling through the disappointment.

Jeff: Lilly, your tribe has spoken.

She winces as he snuffs her torch.

Jeff: Time for you to go.

Lilly: Good luck, ladies!

She smiles and leaves as a few other girls bid her goodbye. Felicity swallows, watching her go. Bridgette is nodding her head. Greta is breathing a sigh of relief, smiling at Mary-Anne. Sasha sweeps a lock of hair out of her eyes.

Jeff: Your first vote, and your first blindside. You girls are here to play this game and it is a cutthroat game you are playing. I love it, and I can’t wait to watch the rest of it unfold. Grab your bags and head back to camp, goodnight.

Challenges
Reward Challenge: Medallion of Power [Nicaragua] The castaways raced into the forest to look for the mysterious Medallion, which they were told only to have great power in future challenges. Unlike the original Medallion of Power, the Medallion was a Cursed Medallion, unbeknownst to the castaways, that would carry a disadvantage for the tribe or player with it in their possession. Winner: Dillan

Immunity Challenge: Thrash, Smash and Bash [Philippines] The two tribes will race through an obstacle course to a drawbridge. They must then untie the drawbridge, have one contestant chop through a piece of rope and release a series of lettered blocks that two members of the tribe will then use to solve a word puzzle. The first tribe to decipher the correct phrase wins immunity. As Meisie had the Cursed Medallion, they had three extra lettered blocks that did not fit in the word phrase, making it harder for them to solve the puzzle. Winner: Seuntjie

Voting Confessionals
"meisie"

- Lilly told me you were coming after me. We're splitting the votes and I need to play it safe.

"meisie"

- I don’t know where this vote’s gonna go, but I know I’m perfectly fine writing your name down. You and Felicity are both horrible at this game, but if Lydia wants your ass gone, I honor my allies' wishes. I cannot, will not and never will trust you.

"meisie"

- Girl, you tossed your own game down the trash. This is just me trying to save myself.

Final Words
"meisie"

- It’s safe to say that I did not see this coming, those girls really pulled the wool over my eyes. It was definitely a blindside, I was…completely taken aback, and if anything, this was definitely a wake up call for me. I was not playing as stealthy of a game as I thought I was. Props to Greta. She weaseled her way out of this one, but I uh…I fully expect to have her join me in a few days. [laughing]

Next Time on Survivor...

 * The Seuntjie tribe is thrown into disarray.

"seuntjie"

- You’ve got Westin the snake, and Graham the weakling. One of them’s gotta go!


 * And Felicity is left to scramble to save herself in the game.

Mallorie: I suppose Lilly was just more of a loose cannon.

Felicity: I get that, but I feel like, with all your comments, you girls were telling me that, ‘I’m the outcast, I’m on the bottom.’

Mallorie: Well, you kind of are.

"meisie"

- Felicity may have been given another chance with us keeping her over Lilly, but mark my words, she’s still very much on the bottom of this tribe and if I have anything to say about it, she’ll be leaving at our very next tribal council.

"meisie"

- I should not even be here, I survived that first vote by the skin of my teeth, and right now, I am SO on the outs of this tribe. Even Lydia can’t help me because the majority is against me. My back is up against the wall and I need a miracle to stay here more than a week.

Author’s Notes

 * The episode title ‘Man Up Or Ship Out’ was coined by Brandy, talking about his fellow tribemate Graham.