There Is No War Without Casualties

There Is No War Without Casualties is the third episode of Survivor: Mozambique - Island of Advantages.

Previously On Survivor...

 * The tribes swapped. On the new Qamea tribe, rivals Markus and Trixie ended up being forced into an uneasy partnership to survive being in the minority…

Markus: I know it was rough but we’re the only two Qamea members left here so I hope we can move past last night’s events and work together to survive this tribe.

Trixie: Yeah, I know.

Markus: We cannot be against each other right now because they have the clear majority. If we work with one another, we might still be able to get through this. So, are we cool?

Trixie: Yeah. Let’s just find a way to work ourselves into the Waya majority.

"qamea"

- Markus wants to work with me to exploit the cracks in the Waya tribe so that we can both survive being in the minority on Qamea. But to be honest, I don’t give a crap what happens to him. I’d rather see him get voted out than not. So am I keen on working with him to survive? Not really. I think I’m just fine surviving on my own. If anything, I’m perfectly happy to throw him under the bus to help my own game.


 * Trixie threw Markus under the bus, and it worked.

Leroy: I say, let Markus go at the first Tribal.

Carter: I mean, he was their tribe leader. We take him out at the next Tribal, that’s a big hit to the Qamea tribe.


 * On the Waya tribe, Annabeth and Summer connected over the Legacy Advantage that she’d willed to her from the start of the game…

Annabeth: So that was you?

Summer: Bingo.

Annabeth: Wow...thank you. I don’t know what to say.


 * While Percy grew paranoid that his former tribemates were isolating him out of distrust…

Percy: You sure you weren’t just discussing the vote without me?

Albert: What? We were just talking about the new dynamics on the tribe, but that’s all.

Percy whines, huffing irritably.

Percy: Next time take me along with you too. I thought we were sticking together as Qamea.

Albert: We are! Look, it didn’t mean anything.


 * And Nicholas took advantage of Percy’s paranoia and emotion…

Percy: It’s just...I’m so nervous around all these people. I was nervous around you guys from Waya even though I know you g-guys pr-protected me by Exiling me and I’m gr-grateful and I…[sniffing] I just…[sob]...

Nicholas: Take it easy, just calm down…

Percy: They think I’m weird and odd and they don’t like me or trust me after I went to the Island twice but they don’t understand, I had to go! I had to go because I know I would’ve been voted out otherwise, I just know it! And so I wanted to stick with them, but then they’re having group discussions without me, and it’s like, what does that tell me? They just don’t trust me! They don’t value me as a player, they just need my vote! What’s the point?


 * Qamea lost the Immunity Challenge after a disastrous performance by Zoe.

Jeff: Zoe falls off yet AGAIN!

Charlie throws his hands into the air, annoyed as Zoe falls off the rope bridge and back into the water.


 * The plan was for the Waya majority to keep their numbers by voting out Trixie, the only Qamea member left on Qamea after Markus was Exiled to the Island of Advantages.

Charlie: She’s the outsider on the tribe. We don’t need to complicate matters. Right now, it’s too early for any of us to be thinking of flipping because that’d just be stupid. There’s no reason to, this early. Trixie doesn’t benefit any of our games, and it’s one less Qamea member in the game.

"qamea"

- Originally, we were all on board to vote Markus out, but obviously that’s no longer an option. So we have to settle for Trixie, because she’s the only other Qamea member here. There’s obviously a lot in play here because there are seven of us and only one of her. People could flip and change the vote if they wanted to, but I’m praying that no one wants to because it would be so dumb to do so.


 * But Wanda wanted to take advantage of the tribe swap to turn the tables on Charlie, Carter and Zoe…

"qamea"

- Back on Waya, I never really felt I had the trust of people like Charlie and Zoe and Carter. They were loyal to Nicholas, it was obvious they were part of his big party, a party that me, Reyna, Jacobiah and Leroy were not invited to. And now, they’re here without half of their numbers, and so are we. I don’t think they realize how much power us four outsiders have right now. People like Charlie and Carter were getting comfortable when they had Nicholas and the numbers on their side, but now they need to worry about the wild cards like us. I’m thinking we can use the Qamea members to our advantage to make a big move against the three of them.


 * At Tribal Council, Trixie survived yet another vote…

Trixie is smiling deviously, her eyes lit up with excitement.

Jeff: Third person voted out of Survivor: Mozambique...Charlie. You need to bring me your torch.


 * As Wanda, Reyna, Jacobiah and Leroy flipped the script, sending Charlie home.

Carter looks like a lost child, shaking his head at Charlie. Zoe’s jaw is still on the floor, as she whirls around in her seat to watch Charlie leave.

Charlie: [shaking head] Damn…

Jeff: Charlie, the tribe has spoken. [snuffs torch] Time for you to go.


 * 17 are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

Night 9
As the Qamea tribe returns to their beach, Carter is the first one to react.

Carter: Wow, guys. Good job. I gotta say...that was a hell of a move. I totally didn’t see that coming.

Leroy shrugs at him, a cocky smirk on his face.

Leroy: Sorry, bro. That’s the game for you.

Carter: Yeah, I know...no hard feelings. It’s the game, that was a ballsy move. Props to you guys...I was totally blindsided.

"qamea"

- Tribal Council was sweet, man. We blindsided the heck outta Charlie...and now he’s gone. It’s good that we chose Charlie to vote out because without him, Carter and Zoe are lost. They’re like chickens running around with their heads cut off. They don’t know what to do without him, it’s obvious. And now they know they’re the new minority, not Trixie and Markus no more, so they’ve gone from the top of the tribe to the bottom and it’s fun seeing them scared and vulnerable now. I’m sure they’re probably cursing themselves on the inside, wondering how they landed themselves in this position. To that I say, sucks to be them. [laughing] But it doesn’t suck to be me right now. This is awesome. This is the kind of game I signed up for. I love it.

Carter: Just...wow. [shakes head]

Zoe: So whose plan was it? You all voted for Charlie?

Wanda: Obviously.

Zoe’s face turns sour, and she scowls.

Zoe: I don’t see the reason why, but...okay. Whatever.

Wanda: Well, do you want to talk about the reason why? Because I’d be more than happy to explain.

Zoe: No, no, that’s fine. I don’t need to hear it.

Reyna: Zoe, we can talk about it. There’s no need to get upset-

Zoe: Oh, I’m not upset. I’m fine! I’m totally fine. I get it. It’s a game, right?

Reyna: Yeah, but-

Zoe: Seriously, forget about it.

"qamea"

- I...am pissed. [eyes glinting dangerously] The vote tonight should’ve been simple. There was one easy vote, one obvious target in Trixie, and we had the clear advantage in numbers. But no, of course, nothing in Survivor is easy. I say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. We were in a good position, and we should have stayed there! But no, the four of them - Leroy, Reyna, Wanda and Jacobiah - they went and ruined it! And for what? For the sake of making a big move, taking out a threat they didn’t need to? I don’t like not knowing exactly what’s going on and I am not going to stay in the minority now and let them do what they want with me and Carter. It pisses me off but that just means I need to scramble harder to flip things back around.

Zoe is confronting Carter down on the beach, far away from the others.

Zoe: This [censored] sucks, don’t it?

Carter: I just can’t believe they would do that…

Zoe: This means war. They’ve clearly put us in the minority now! We were supposed to be the majority! Yet, here we are! What are we doing in the minority, it should’ve been Trixie going home and Markus at the bottom. Not this! We were just played like a couple of fools, Carter!

Carter: I know, I know...listen, just calm down, alright?

"qamea"

- Zoe is really not happy that the vote went all over the place tonight. Granted, I’m not too happy about it either. I just lost my closest ally in the game in Charlie, over nothing. I feel stupid, I feel betrayed. I really thought I had Leroy’s trust, at least, and I thought the others were being genuine with us. But...nope. All lies, all a heaping pack of lies...none of it was true...and we paid for it. On one hand, I respect the move, but on the other hand...I don’t want to become the next target because of this.

Carter: We’ll figure something out, alright? I promise.

Zoe: We better! Because I’m not going home over something dumb like this.

Day 10
Markus is returning from the Island of Advantages, and Wanda and Reyna are the first to spot him walking up the beach.

Reyna: Oh, hey. It’s Markus! Markus is back.

Wanda: Welcome back!

Markus: Heh, thanks.

Markus hugs Wanda as she approaches, and Reyna is gathering the rest of the tribe. He is clearly looking over the sea of heads to see who is gone, and looks surprised when he realizes who got voted out.

Markus: Wow. Where’s Charlie? You voted Charlie out?

Wanda: Yeah. Long story, we’ll catch you up.

Markus: Wow…

The camera cuts to Trixie standing behind the group, watching Markus’ reaction with a smug look on her face.

"qamea"

- I can tell Markus is surprised to see me still here in the game. He totally thought I was going home last night, I’m sure. Well, sucks to suck, Markus! I’m still here! I don’t die easy. And I don’t intend on letting our feud rest easy too soon, either. He probably thought he’d have one less troublemaker to deal with if he let Waya take care of me. But once again, he’s underestimating me. Just like everyone else likes to underestimate me. Let last night be a lesson - that I’m not to be underestimated.

Markus: So what was the vote?

Jacobiah: It was...5-3, between Charlie and Trixie.

Markus: Oh, wow…

"qamea"

- Coming back from the Island of Advantages, I feel good, knowing I have an idol in my pocket for my troubles. But what really shocked me was learning that Charlie got sent home, and Trixie’s still in the game. On one hand, I’m glad that a fellow Qamea member survived Tribal Council and Waya lost one of theirs, but I wanted to work with Charlie and Carter. I saw an opportunity to work with them and their allies on the other side, but it seems in the war waging within Waya, it was the coalition of Wanda, Jacobiah, Leroy and Reyna that ultimately won out, which means now, they’re the foursome in power on this tribe.

Later, Markus is meeting with Carter and Zoe in the woods.

Markus: Look, I’m really sorry Charlie went home. I didn’t want that to happen! Seriously, I was going to work with you guys when we went to Tribal.

Carter: Yeah, you don’t have to apologize, it’s not your fault. We were going to vote off Trixie anyway, so I don’t blame her for retaliating.

Markus: Still, I would’ve been fine voting Trixie off too. I didn’t expect Charlie to get blindsided.

Zoe has a sour look on her face even as Markus is apologizing profusely.

"qamea"

- Markus keeps saying that he didn’t mean for Charlie to go home, that he swears he was going to vote with us and it’s not his fault Charlie went home. I mean, yeah, he didn’t join in on the vote, but who’s to say he wouldn’t have aligned Wanda and Reyna and them four and voted Charlie out anyway? I don’t trust Markus anymore, his apology just reeks of desperation.

Once Markus leaves, Zoe turns to Carter.

Zoe: I don’t buy it for a second.

Carter: No?

Zoe: He’s being so fake.

Carter: He might be our only friend left on the tribe who wants to work with us though. I mean, we can’t trust Trixie, clearly. And the other four are tighter with each other than they will be with either of us.

Zoe: I don’t trust anyone of them anymore.

Carter looks frustrated, running a hand through his hair.

"qamea"

- Right now, me and Zoe are in a precarious position on this tribe because we were just blindsided last night and we don’t know where we stand in the game right now. So we need...allies! And yet Zoe’s adamant that Markus is playing us and that she doesn’t trust him, and it’s very hard for me to have to look out for both her and myself right now when she’s being this difficult to work with. Maybe for me to survive now being in the minority, it’s best that I let Zoe take the heat on this one.

The camera cuts to Carter looking at Zoe with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Meanwhile, on Waya…

The girls are having a talk as they braid each other’s hair.

Annabeth: And you have no clue how it ended up in your bag?

Summer: None whatsoever. Like I said, I have no idea why but someone must have planted it in there. You believe me, right, Marisa?

Marisa: That was ages ago. I’m over it.

Marisa waves dismissively but Summer still looks unconvinced even as she continues braiding Marisa’s hair.

"waya"

- I’ve never trusted Summer ever since I caught her with my bracelet. I just don’t think someone’s got the time to be wasting on stupid pranks. So I still don’t trust her fully, and I don’t think I ever will. Even though we’re in the same alliance right now, with the majority on Waya, I’m always going to have my eye on her. She’s already really friendly with the others from Waya, like Annabeth, and she’s really good at making friends. To me, she’s a threat, and I don’t lose anything if I lose her.

Christine: So you think someone was secretly messing with you guys back at your camp?

Becky: I would hate for that to be true, but I think that’s what it is.

Annabeth: Who would be doing that?

The camera cuts to Christine listening with a mischievous expression on her face.

"waya"

- So...I don’t usually get these kinds of ideas, but…[laughs] I heard that the Qamea tribe had a bit of a um...Saboteur incident back at their camp, where people were hiding things and putting them in other people’s bags. And so that got me thinking...if those kinds of incidents don’t continue again here, on Waya, then the five of them from Qamea that are here will know that the person behind those incidents will have been either Markus or Trixie, the only two people who stayed on Qamea. So...why not make them think the person behind the thefts made it onto the new tribe with them? It’s a pretty devious idea, honestly [laughing] and I do feel a little bad for coming up with this idea. But...I’m in the minority so what do I have to lose by causing a little bit of a paranoia?

Night 10
That night, when the Waya tribe has gone to sleep, Christine is the only one awake. She slowly gets out of the shelter, entangling herself from the web of limbs, and creeps over to Becky’s bags.

"waya"

- I don’t normally get these kinds of ideas, I swear! [laughing] I felt awful doing it, but at the same time, I know I’m in the minority. There is nothing stopping those five just teaming up to send one of us three from Waya home at the next Tribal so if this move creates a little bit of tension among them, then great. And I don’t think they would suspect the sweet petite Christian girl of being behind this.

Christine pilfers Becky’s necklace from her bag, and buries it in the sand a ways away, down by the shore, before creeping back into bed and going back to sleep.

Day 11
When Becky awakes the next morning and finds her necklace missing, she is understandably distraught.

Becky: Seriously? I don’t believe this…

Annabeth: What’s wrong?

Becky: Now my necklace is missing…

Marisa: For real?

Summer: I swear I didn’t take it. [nervous laughter]

Becky: No...no, I know it’s here somewhere, it has to be!

"waya"

- My necklace was the only thing I brought with me to the island that had sentimental value. It was a gift from my kids and it was meant to be a reminder of the people I left behind while I’m out here, a reminder of…[choking back sob] a reminder of who I’m out here f-fighting for...so for it to go missing, I...I just can’t imagine how they’d react if they know I lost something so important to me.

Becky is tearing up the shelter, snooping through everyone’s things, looking like she is trying her best to hold back her tears. Annabeth is clutching her shoulders in an attempt to soothe her, and Summer is saying comforting things to Becky.

Summer: It can’t have just disappeared. You sure you had it last night?

Becky: I-I think...I just...I can’t remember right now, but I’m sure I must’ve had it…

Annabeth: Not to worry, we’ll help you look.

Off to the side, Christine is watching guiltily.

"waya"

- Me taking Becky’s necklace was my attempt at causing conflict among the majority but if anything I think Becky was just more grateful seeing everyone come together to try and help her find her missing necklace. And when I heard about the sentimental value of the necklace, that was a gift from her kids and not just another accessory...I’m not gonna lie, I felt pretty guilty about it. That was when I decided that even if this tanks my game, I can’t go through with doing this. I just can’t.

Secretly, Christine sneaks down to where she buried Becky’s necklace and digs it back up. Then, she returns to camp and pretends to find the necklace in the dirt.

Christine: Becky, I think I found it!

Becky: You did? Oh, thank you, thank you, Christine!

Becky rushes over to take her necklace back and envelops Christine in a massive hug.

Becky: Oh, thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me…

As Christine pats Becky on the back, Summer looks a little suspicious.

"waya"

- It seems pretty fishy to me that Christine just happens to find Becky’s necklace, especially since we were only just telling her about Marisa’s missing bracelet the other day. I’m not sure, but I just found the whole thing a little too much of a coincidence. Christine might be sneakier than we all thought.

The camera cuts to Christine apologetically comforting a thankful Becky, as Summer wrinkles her nose with suspicion at the touching scene.

Meanwhile, on Qamea…

Carter moves down the beach and sits down with Jacobiah and Leroy.

Carter: Mind if I sit with you guys?

Jacobiah: No, not at all.

Carter: I just wanted to talk.

Carter makes himself comfortable with the two guys, as back up by the shelter, Zoe is sitting with her legs crossed, eating bits of coconut and watching the trio of guys talking.

Carter: So I just wanted to clear the air and make this known. I don’t harbor any hard feelings about the Charlie vote.

Jacobiah: Right.

Carter: I understand you guys - that is to say, the four of you - felt like you were out of the loop back on Waya. So I get why you did what you did and I can see why you saw Charlie as a threat. And yes, he was a friend of mine so I’m gutted that he went. But it’s a game and I get that, and I don’t want to burn any bridges just because of it.

Leroy is nodding and listening quietly as Carter continues.

Carter: I still want to play with you guys, honest. I’ve always been about that Waya-strong mentality and I’m still sticking to it.

Zoe’s eyes narrow as she watches Carter go on in the distance. Evidently coming to a decision, she gets up and begins walking over to them.

Carter: Like, I’m still thinking either Markus or Trixie has to go...like, next round. Whichever you guys want.

Leroy: And what would be your reason for getting rid of either of them?

Carter: Markus, because he was the glue keeping the Qamea tribe together. He’s a big threat down the road, so getting rid of him earliest would be best. And he’s just likeable, and a tough competitor. Trixie, she’s sneaky. To have evaded elimination like she did, she’s got nine lives and she’s all kinds of shady.

Leroy is shown nodding, considering all this.

Carter: Think about it, would ya?

He takes his leave. When he is out of earshot, Leroy turns to Jacobiah.

Leroy: He’s not wrong. I still think he should be the one to go just because of his affiliation with Nicholas…

Jacobiah: Mhm.

Leroy: But he brings up good points to consider.

And that is when Zoe gets to the guys.

Zoe: What were you guys talking about?

Leroy: I beg your pardon?

Zoe sits down without invitation.

Zoe: I saw you guys talking with Carter. What was he saying?

Jacobiah: He was just saying there were no hard feelings over the last vote.

Zoe looks considerably distressed.

Zoe: Did he mention my name?

Jacobiah looks confused.

Leroy: [laughing nervously] Why...would he mention your name?

Zoe: Because he thinks it’s either me or him now that we’re on the bottom.

Jacobiah: You’re not at the bottom. What happened with Charlie was just-

Zoe: Well, we’re damn sure not at the top, are we?

Jacobiah continues trying to placate Zoe as the camera cuts to the incredulous expression on Leroy’s face.

"qamea"

- This chick is crazy. As soon as things don’t start to go her way, Zoe begins freaking out and getting all paranoid - over absolutely nothing at all. Carter was just sitting with Jacobiah and I, and the next thing I know she’s panicking and almost in tears that he’s turning the whole tribe against her, and I’m like…[censored], say what now? She needs to get a grip.

Zoe does not look at all comforted even after Jacobiah’s best efforts. Later, the two boys are gathering with Reyna and Wanda to talk.

Jacobiah: Zoe feels nervous.

Wanda: Does she now?

Jacobiah: She’s afraid she’s on the chopping block because of the Charlie vote.

Leroy: If she’s on the chopping block, it’ll be for a lot more than just that. She’s paranoid. She got all freaked out that Carter was throwing her under the bus when he never even mentioned her name. She needs to grow up.

Reyna shakes her head at this.

"qamea"

- Zoe is feeling insecure about her place in the game since she got blindsided with Charlie going home. I understand it’s a scary thing not having a secure alliance but it’s like she doesn’t know where she wants to go or what she wants to do now that she’s in this tight spot. That, combined with her weak challenge performance, could make her a target. But for my game, it’s not always about getting rid of targets that are weak, but rather targets that are threats. And between Zoe and Carter...it’s clear who the bigger threat is. Zoe may be freaking out right now, but that won’t change the fact that Carter is a much bigger threat than she is, and there’s still the Qamea two to consider.

Meanwhile on Waya…

Axel is swinging in the hammock, and Marisa, Becky and Summer are sitting in the shelter near him.

Becky: You look troubled. What’s wrong?

Summer: Just thinking about what we’re going to have to do if we go to Tribal.

Axel: Well, there’s no question. It’s one of the three of them, right?

Becky: Right. No need to rock the boat.

"waya"

- At our last vote, Axel and Marisa flipped to take out Ethan. In doing so, they saved our original target Trixie and got rid of one of our allies. I don’t like to look to the past and so I’m willing to say that it’s water under the bridge. But the fact that they could blindside us once means they could do it again. I don’t want them joining forces with the Waya folk if they think they want to make a big move or that they don’t trust me and Albert and Summer. So it’s best we cement a vote now, so we can all be on the same page if we lose the next Immunity Challenge.

Becky: I say we discuss who we’d vote out now.

Marisa: Well who do you think is the biggest threat?

Summer: The biggest threat? It’s got to be Nicholas.

Marisa: Yeah, I agree with you there.

Becky: Agreed.

"waya"

- Nicholas is easily the biggest threat among the three people from Waya. He’s just intimidating. He’s strong in challenges, and in all our conversations I’ve always got the vibe that he’s smart and thinking two steps ahead. Like Markus, he’s clearly proven something by stepping up to the plate as the leader of the Waya tribe. That makes him the biggest threat on this tribe for us, plain and simple.

Summer: My only fear would be...that Nicholas has an idol. And it’d be too obvious if we all voted for him, wouldn’t it? He has to know he’s a bigger threat than Annabeth or Christine right now.

Axel: Then why don’t we take one of the girls out? Annabeth’s his right-hand woman, you can tell.

Summer: I’ve got a bond with Annabeth. I think we could use her down the road so I don’t think it’s wise to vote her off so soon.

Marisa: Then Christine?

Becky: Oh, I couldn’t do that. Not after what she did for me, finding my necklace like that…

Marisa rolls her eyes.

Marisa: Then what?

The others think it over.

Axel: You know...there is one more person we could vote out and not have to suffer any ramifications from.

Summer: And who’s that?

Axel: Easy. Percy.

Becky looks stunned.

Becky: Percy…?

Axel: Yeah. Think about it. It’s not like any of us are close with him, he ain’t close with any of us either. I mean, if his two trips to the Island wasn’t proof enough. And if any of the Waya three had an idol, they wouldn’t want to risk wasting it on Percy. We’d be voting out someone among our Qamea six that no one trusts, and who would be least likely of having an idol played on him by the Waya trio.

The girls consider this.

Marisa: You know, he’s got a point. Why don’t we just get Percy out?

Becky: What…?

Marisa: Think about it. It makes sense.

"waya"

- Switching the vote to Percy is a risky play...but it’s more fun that way. Sometimes you’ve got to straddle the balance between making a big, flashy move...and the smart one. Voting Percy off...I think, is both. If we pull this off...it just might work wonders for us.

Becky: But Percy’s paranoid. It’s like you said, he’s been to the Island two times. Twice! He might have an idol or some other kind of advantage. We vote him and he might not even go home, and we lose his trust later.

Axel: Not if we make him feel safe. He’s never been to Tribal before, he doesn’t know how to read the room right. I’m telling you, he’s not going to be smart enough to suss it out.

Albert shows up now.

Albert: What’re you guys talking about?

Marisa: We were thinking of changing the vote...to Percy.

Albert: Percy? What, why?

Marisa explains their discussion up to that point, as Axel continues swinging in his hammock, leaning back and looking smug.

"waya"

- If this plan works out, I think it’s brilliant. It’s the perfect play because neither the Waya trio nor Percy are going to see this coming at all. They’re all thinking it’s Waya vs Qamea still, and it is. But you know...there is no war without casualties, and Percy’s going to be one of them. I just can’t see him being smart enough or experienced enough with Tribal that he’ll ever see this one coming.

Albert: That’s crazy…

Marisa: I know. But it just might work.

Later on in the day…

Summer is waiting for Annabeth, who comes down the path to meet her in secret.

Summer: Hey girl!

Annabeth: Heyyy…

She pats her on the back as she arrives.

Annabeth: So, you wanna walk and talk?

Summer: Sure.

They set off on the path.

Summer: How are you feeling so far?

Annabeth sighs.

Annabeth: Gotta be honest, it’s still a little scary, you know, because of the obvious numbers advantage you guys have. I really do feel like I like all you guys, especially you.

Summer: Yeah…

Annabeth: But it’s nerve-wracking because I don’t know where you guys’ heads are at.

"waya"

- I want to continue to gain Annabeth’s trust. I like her a lot, I’ve liked her since Day 1 and I feel confident in my decision to have given her my Legacy Advantage and that it would help forge a strong connection between us. The way I see it, my alliance isn’t going to vote her off. I may need her help in the future so I want to continue to build trust with her and the best way to build trust with people in this game is with information.

Summer: Well, I can tell you that...you don’t have to worry.

Annabeth: No?

Summer: Yeah. No one’s looking to you as a threat.

Annabeth: So it’s Nicholas, then. He’s the most obvious threat on this tribe.

Summer: He is. But, don’t tell anyone I said this…

Summer makes sure no one is eavesdropping before leaning in closer.

Summer: We’re actually thinking of voting out Percy.

Annabeth: What? Percy, why?

Summer: In case Nicholas has an idol.

Annabeth: I don’t even know if he has one.

Summer: If he does, tell him to play it on himself. We’ll flush his idol, but Percy’s going home.

Annabeth: Wow…

"waya"

- Summer tells me that the plan from the Qamea five...is to vote out Percy! Looking at it from a numbers perspective, it makes sense, because they already have a big advantage over us in numbers. They don’t need Percy to vote with them. And if they want to avoid an idol being played on one of us the three of us Waya folk, voting Percy is the safest option. But this is huge news. This information could change the course of the game being played on this tribe because Percy has no idea he could be the next target. If Summer trusts me enough to tell me such important information, I have to make use of it.

Annabeth meets up with Nicholas by the well.

Annabeth: Summer just told me they want to vote out Percy.

Nicholas: You sure she’s not lying to you?

Annabeth: The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. They want you gone because you’re a threat…

Nicholas: Right. Just by being me, I guess. Whatever.

Annabeth: And they’re scared if you have an idol, the plan’s screwed. So they think you’d never play an idol on Percy.

Nicholas is stroking his beard in thought.

"waya"

- Annabeth told me a very juicy little nugget of info, that Percy might be the Qamea fivesome’s new target. And if that’s the case, that’s great news for us three, because it means we can use this to splinter them from the inside. I’ve been working on Percy the last few days, and he’s been paranoid his alliance doesn’t trust him. Letting him know that they’re conspiring against him could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for him, and get him on my side for good.

Day 12
Jeff: Come on in, guys!

Waya comes in first, followed by Qamea.

Jeff: Waya, getting your first look at the new Qamea tribe. Charlie, voted out at the last Tribal Council.

There are a few surprised faces on Waya. Nicholas’s face is stormy, and Carter glances at him from the blue mat and shrugs in response. Zoe is shaking her head, scowling.

Annabeth: Wow…

Christine: Damn.

Jeff: Alright. Ready to get to today’s challenge? First things first, Becky, I will take it back.

Jeff takes the idol back from Waya.

Jeff: Immunity back up for grabs. For today’s challenge, one member of each tribe will act as the caller, and direct three pairs of blindfolded tribemates to collect three bags of puzzle pieces. Once you have those puzzle pieces, the caller will then direct one blindfolded tribe member to solve the puzzle. First tribe to solve their puzzle wins immunity. Waya, you have one extra member, sitting somebody out. Who’s it gonna be?

Marisa: Me.

Jeff: Alright. Marisa, take a spot on the bench. Rest of you, let’s get started.

Everyone gets into position as Marisa sits by the sidelines.

Jeff: Survivors ready? Go!

The caller for Qamea is Markus; the caller for Waya is Annabeth.

Jeff: Markus and Annabeth, yelling out orders.

Markus is now yelling for a blindfolded Carter and Reyna to get the first bag of pieces, as Annabeth directs Percy and Christine.

Markus: Carter, Reyna, to your left a little bit-

Annabeth: Straight ahead, Percy, straight ahead!

Carter grunts as he stumbles into a low pole, and Reyna bumps into his back.

Reyna: Oof-

Carter: Ow- Sorry…

Percy and Christine aren't having much luck. Christine stumbles over a pole, and Percy struggles to hold her upright.

Christine: Ouch!

Annabeth: Oop- Sorry!

Jeff: Reyna and Carter close to their first bag...

Reyna raises her arms and snags the bag.

Jeff: Qamea with the first bag of puzzle pieces!

Annabeth: Straight ahead, Percy! Oh, be careful-

Percy cries out as he rams his crotch right into a pole.

Annabeth: Sorry...

Carter and Reyna return to their mat, and now Markus is directing Leroy and Zoe.

Christine has the second bag, and now Annabeth is directing them back.

Markus: To your left, Zoe!

Zoe: Ugh, where?

Zoe is flailing about in the air.

Markus: Just a little higher, to your left!

Leroy: You got it...?

Zoe: Trying here...

Annabeth is now sending out Becky and Nicholas.

Zoe finally snags the second bag after much difficulty.

They return, and now Markus is sending out Trixie and Jacobiah.

Nicholas: Annabeth!

Annabeth: You're right there!

Becky snags it.

Becky: I got it.

They begin returning, as Jacobiah and Trixie continue heading out.

Trixie stubs her toe on a post and howls shrilly, hopping on one foot.

Trixie: Damn it!

Jacobiah: You okay? What happened?

Trixie: Just fine!

Becky and Nicholas return, and Axel and Summer are heading out for the final bag.

Jacobiah is feeling around for the bag but cannot find it. Still limping a little, Trixie jumps up and pulls it down by accident.

Markus: There you go, you got it, Trixie!

Trixie: I know that!

Trixie has dropped the bag into the mud and she gets to her hands and feet to search the floor for it, and Jacobiah almost trips over her.

Trixie: Watch it!

Jacobiah: Sorry...

Annabeth: Summer, it's above you!

Summer reaches up and grabs the bag.

Annabeth: Good, come back to my voice!

Trixie picks up the bag and she and Jacobiah begin making their way back to Markus as well.

Jeff: Both tribes back with their bags at almost the same time! It is Wanda working on the puzzle for Qamea, and Albert for Waya.

Markus and Annabeth begin directing their respective puzzle-solvers, as, still blindfolded, Wanda and Albert begin emptying their bags of pieces onto their puzzle tables and start moving pieces around blindly.

Annabeth: And that piece goes there, that's a corner piece-

Markus: That piece by your right hand? The one with the two adjacent holes? Yes, rotate it-

Jeff: This is not an easy puzzle...

Ten minutes pass, as Annabeth and Markus continue barking out instructions.

Annabeth is clearly getting tense, sweat dripping down her face.

Annabeth: No, not that one, Albert. Take that piece out. Take it out!

Albert: Which one? This one?

Annabeth: No, to your left!

Albert: This one?

Annabeth: Down a bit-

Markus: Wanda, there are five pieces left. Reach out for the one by your left hand...

Jeff: Markus and Wanda making good progress...

Annabeth glances over, face stricken with nerves.

Marisa: Come on!

Marisa yells at Annabeth from the sidelines.

Markus: Yes, that's it! One more piece!

Jeff: Can they do it?

Annabeth: Shoot.

Wanda finishes putting in the last piece of the puzzle.

Jeff: That’ll do it! Qamea wins immunity!

The Qamea tribe explodes into celebration as everyone sans Markus takes their blindfolds off.

Markus clambers down from his post to hug Wanda as the rest of the tribe gathers around them for a hug. Even Trixie looks happy, and Zoe is beaming widely.

In contrast, the Waya members look sweaty and dejected.

Becky: Damn it, we had that…

Everyone returns to their mats.

Jeff: Qamea, congratulations. For the first time, the tribe with blue buffs has won. Maybe you’re not cursed after all.

He hands an exhilarated Trixie the idol.

Trixie: Just glad not to be back at Tribal tonight, Jeff.

Jeff: Alright. Before you leave, Qamea, once again, you’ve got a decision to make. Choose who among the Waya tribe you will send to the Island of Advantages, saving them from Tribal Council and exempting them from voting.

The Qamea tribe members all glance at one another and huddle to discuss.

Wanda: I don’t really care who we send, to be honest.

Carter: Can we send one of our Waya members?

Leroy: Yeah, that’s not happening.

Jacobiah: You wanna just send Percy again?

Trixie scoffs.

Trixie: Absolutely not.

Zoe pouts.

Markus: I don’t think we can all agree on one person, can we?

Reyna: We could just let it go to rocks. That’s be perfectly fair for everyone.

They turn back to Jeff.

Jeff: So what’s the consensus?

Reyna: We have decided to let them draw rocks.

Marisa looks surprised. Albert is biting his lip.

"qamea"

- We weren’t unified on our tribe on who to send to the Island of Advantages. Carter and Zoe obviously want to protect the remaining members of their alliance, Markus wants to protect his, and Trixie wants to go against Markus, and then there’s the four of us who don’t have allegiance to Nicholas’ crew on the other side. So we can’t come to a unanimous decision; let’s do the fair thing and have it come down to fate.

Jeff: Alright. Waya, everyone draw a rock from this bag but don’t look at it until I say so.

He goes around and everyone dips their hand into a covered bag Jeff is holding, taking out a rock.

Jeff: White rock means you are going to the Island. Everybody, reveal.

They all open their palms.

Jeff: Becky, you have drawn the white rock.

Becky winces, nodding.

Jeff: Head out to the Island of Advantages. A boat will be waiting to take you there.

Becky grabs her things and waves to her tribe.

Becky: Bye, guys...good luck…

They wave back.

Jeff: Well, I got nothing else for you. Qamea, head back to camp and enjoy the night off. Waya, I will see you at Tribal Council tonight where one of you will become the fourth person voted out of Survivor: Mozambique.

The camera focuses on Albert as he joins the others to leave the beach.

"waya"

- Tonight, we have decided our best course of action is to blindside Percy. He’s never really been closely aligned with those of us on Qamea and it’s the best way to avoid an idol being played by any of the people on Waya. The only thing that could thwart our plans is if Percy himself has some sort of mysterious advantage he got from the Island of Advantages. So we need to make sure he feels safe and comfortable tonight so he doesn’t see it coming.

The Waya tribe returns to camp.

Nicholas: That was rough.

Marisa: Tell me about it.

"waya"

- As soon as we got back to camp, you could feel the tension in the air. It’s like, it was immediately obvious, when everyone started to go off into their own separate groups to talk. Like, I haven’t even been to Tribal yet, and I’ve never even voted for someone before. But it was obvious that everyone else was getting ready to play.

Nicholas is folding his arms and watching, as the camera cuts to the various groups of people peeling off to talk.

Albert and Axel are huddled by the hammock and whispering in low voices. Summer is pulling Annabeth down the beach to discuss.

Nicholas approaches Christine, who is sitting in the shelter and dusting her sandy feet.

Christine: What’s the plan?

Nicholas: I don’t know, I think I’m going to try and work on Percy a bit.

Christine: You think he’d flip?

Nicholas: If he hears he’s their target, yeah, he might.

Christine: And if he doesn’t?

Nicholas: ...Maybe Axel or Marisa. They’ve been known to flip before. They might do it again.

Christine: Well, we don’t have a choice. Just gotta keep on pushing.

Nicholas: You know if we don’t pull this off, they’ll vote for me, right?

Christine: You think you’re the target?

Nicholas: If they’re not voting for Percy, they’re voting for me. You girls aren’t the target, I’m sure of it.

Christine shrugs.

Nicholas: It is what it is.

"waya"

- I have two plans of action for tonight’s Tribal. One, is to try and convince Axel and Marisa to flip on the core Qamea alliance. They’ve blindsided their alliance before, they might do it again. And the other course of action is to get Percy to flip. If he belives that the rest of his alliance is targeting him, which they very likely may be, then he might be willing to play ball with the rest of us.

Nicholas sits with Axel and Marisa by the rocks in the woods.

Nicholas: So I want to talk.

Marisa: Right.

Nicholas: Obviously, I know my spot in the game is precarious at this point. You have no reason to save me because you have no allegiance to me. But when you go deeper in this game, you’re gonna need allies on the Waya side too. You can’t stick with the Qamea folk forever; at some point, you’re gonna want to peel off. And when that happens, I could be a valuable asset to you guys.

Axel is silently listening, stroking his beard and staring at his feet.

Nicholas: I know the both of you are willing to play this game and make moves, so I’m imploring you guys to join me in making one tonight. Whichever person you want, we will write down. Albert and Summer, they’re both threats in their own right. He’s smart and charismatic, she’s sociable and charming. And you’ve got Becky, who no one on the tribe dislikes. They clearly hold the power in the alliance, and you two are the outsiders.

Axel: So you’d want to blindside Albert or Summer tonight?

Nicholas: I’ll do what I have to to stay in the game. I can tell you’re a gamer, Axel. I am too! Let’s make this move together. We’ll do better playing with one another than against each other.

"waya"

- Nicholas is a very smooth talker. He knows just what to say to get into your head and he’s planting these little ideas into mine, trying to make it seem like it benefits me more than it benefits him if I were to flip. Yes, I am a gamer, and I want to play hard, I want to make moves...but I don’t want to make stupid moves. Is Nicholas a gamer? Yes. But he is just as good and as cunning as I think myself to be, if not more. That threatens me. I am willing to flip on my alliance if need be, but if it’s to save someone like Nicholas who I just think is sly and slimy enough to make and break deals on a moment’s notice...then we have a problem. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dissing on his gameplay because it’s exactly the same way I would play if I was in his shoes. Thankfully though...I’m not in his shoes.

Axel and Marisa discuss when Nicholas leaves.

Axel: The thing is, I do believe he has a point. We don’t want to play with only Qamea forever.

Marisa: I agree. There’s merit to what he’s saying but I just don’t trust him.

Axel: I guarantee you, he’d make those same promises to anyone to save his own skin. I don’t blame him, but there’s a time and a place for blowing the game up. He’s desperate.

Marisa: That makes me think he doesn’t have an idol.

Axel: He reminds me of me, and I wouldn’t want to play with me, you know what I’m saying?

Marisa: I think it’s safest to just stick with Qamea for now.

The camera cuts to Nicholas reconvening with Annabeth and Christine down by the beach, away from Axel and Marisa.

Christine: How do you think it went?

Nicholas: Not good. I’m not hopeful.

Annabeth: So now what?

Nicholas: Now we try Percy.

"waya"

- Percy right now could be our last hope at staying alive in this game. I am just praying that we can get him to flip with us, at least even the numbers out, and that he’s just the right amount of paranoid to believe us when we tell him the truth that his allies are not to be trusted. They’re just using him! But we really need him on our side because without him, the three of us are completely vulnerable and I would hate for one of us to go home because of a tribe swap we couldn’t control.

Meanwhile, the Qamea four are meeting up near the shelter to talk.

Marisa: So who’s the vote?

Summer: Are we still sticking with the plan?

Axel: It stays the same.

Albert: Right. We’re all set on voting Percy. He won’t see it coming and the Waya trio won’t either.

Marisa: Then whose name do we tell him?

Summer: Shh, I see him coming!

Albert: Tell him it’s Nicholas.

Percy joins the group, having walked over from down the beach.

Percy: What’s going on?

Albert: We were just discussing the vote. You alright with Nicholas?

Percy: I think he’s okay. You want to vote him out?

Axel: He is the biggest player on their side.

Albert: We can’t lose this opportunity to take out a big threat.

Summer: Percy? Are you fine with voting Nicholas?

Percy: Yeah, I guess. I mean, I don’t really want to vote anyone out but I’ll do it.

Axel: That’s the name of the game, man. It’s all about voting people out.

Percy is quiet. The camera cuts to Summer watching his face nervously.

"waya"

- Tonight’s vote hinges on Percy sticking with us. If he suspects even the slightest thing going wrong against him, we may not have the numbers to make sure the vote stays on him. Just one person flipping would screw tonight up. It’s up to us to make Percy feel good as much as possible, and that just makes it feel even worse knowing we’re trying to send him home tonight. I really feel terrible about it! I mean, he’s a good kid. But...it’s the safest option to prevent an idol being played.

Percy heads down the beach later on in the day, where Nicholas intercepts him.

Nicholas: Hey. I wanted to talk with you.

Percy: Y-Yeah? What’s up?

Nicholas sits Percy down.

Nicholas: Okay, so, this might be hard to hear. I know it’s going to seem like I’m just spitballing here and trying to stir the pot, but I’m not. You have to trust me on this because what I’m going to tell you is nothing but the truth, alright?

Percy’s face pales.

Percy: Uh...okay.

Nicholas: Albert, Axel, Summer and Marisa - you can’t trust any of them.

Percy: Why?

Nicholas: Because each and every one of them is trying to vote you out tonight.

Percy swallows.

Percy: What…?

Nicholas: I know this may be hard to hear, but it’s true. Annabeth heard about it from Summer. She said they’re planning on voting you out tonight because they’re scared that one of the three of us has an idol.

Percy shakes his head slowly, as if unable to believe his ears.

Percy: Seriously…?

Nicholas: Listen, I didn’t want you to go out like that. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Annabeth, Christine and I - we don’t have any allegiance to those four, and Becky. If we can make a move tonight, this is the time.

Percy is putting his head in his hands, looking petrified, like he cannot believe his name is actually being thrown out there.

Percy: Wow.

Nicholas: It’s not too late to change it.

Percy: I don’t believe it…

He bites his lip, which is quivering a little, and his whole body is trembling.

Percy: Why would they lie to me like that…? I don’t…

"waya"

- I feared it would happen for weeks, I kept putting it off and trying to get out of Tribal at every opportunity. People would tell me I was being paranoid, that I was safe, and even here and now, I should be safe, part of a big ‘majority alliance’ of Qamea-strong, and yet now I’ve become the target like I always feared and knew I was going to be. Hearing my name is coming up, my heart is pounding, my blood is rushing and I just- I’m freaking out on the inside. I’ve never even seen Tribal Council before. The people who I thought were my Qamea folks, they don’t really want to play with me. They probably just see me as a number, a pathetic, pitiful nobody to drag along with them as and when they need my vote. And now they’re prepared to cast me aside because I’m the safest option for them. And it really hurts. Knowing that Tribal Council is inevitable tonight and I can’t run and hide on the Island of Advantages anymore, the fear of going home is looming. I don’t want to go home. I can’t go home, not like this, not in this fashion.

Nicholas: If us four vote together, there might still be a chance of surviving.

Percy: You’d go to rocks for me?

Nicholas: If we don’t try and even the vote out, us three are just going to get picked off next, one by one. I didn’t come all the way out here for that.

Percy’s lower lip shudders and he shakes his head, his eyes shining and watery.

Percy: I don’t know what to say…

Nicholas: I just hope you can trust me on this.

Percy: I need to tell you something.

Nicholas: Anything.

Percy: I uh...I have an idol.

Nicholas blinks, and his eyes widen.

Nicholas: Whoa. Seriously?

Percy: Yeah. Two trips to the Island of Advantages and I didn’t come up short.

Nicholas: Oh, wow. ...This changes things.

Percy: So I should play it tonight?

Nicholas: Hold on to it first. Bring it with you and we’ll plan on what to do it with it from there.

Percy: You’ll tell me if I need to play it, right?

Nicholas: Of course. Just trust me on this and I promise you, I’ll make sure you don’t go home. Cross my heart. We’re in this together.

Percy: Th-Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do with my idol without you.

"waya"

- Percy having an idol...is huge news! I suspected he might have gotten something from the Island, I mean, you don’t go there twice and not get at least one advantage out of it. And there you go! This completely changes everything because now, if we use this idol correctly, then tonight, we might end up controlling all the power. Right now, the power is not in their hands, but in the hands of this little idol in Percy’s pocket. You can plan and scheme all you want but an idol could cancel all that out just like that [snaps fingers].

The sun begins to set, and the camera cuts to everyone else getting ready for Tribal. Albert is putting his clothes on, and Marisa is grabbing her torch. Nicholas is shown whispering to Annabeth and Christine.

Nicholas: Percy’s got the idol.

Annabeth: Really?

Christine: No way.

Annabeth: So what do we do?

Nicholas: Just follow my lead. I’ve got a plan.

"waya"

- I came into this game telling myself I was willing to play hard, no matter what the cost. If I go down tonight, I’d want to go down swinging. I’m going to blow it up at Tribal and see where things go from there, and if all works well, I’ll still be in the game and I’ll be sitting back here again tomorrow. Those Qamea folk better watch out, because they may have been to more Tribal Councils than I have, but they’ve yet to get a taste of me in this game. I’m not one to roll over and die. I’m going to make sure there are some fireworks tonight.

The Waya tribe arrives at Tribal Council as night falls.

Jeff: Nicholas, Annabeth, Percy and Christine - behind each of you is a torch. Grab one, dip it in and get fire. Fire represents your life in this game, when your fire is gone, so are you.

The four of them light their torches. The camera cuts to Albert watching them, then Summer, shadows from the firelight cast across their faces.

The four of them put their torches down and take their seats.

Jeff: So, this is the first time I’m meeting you guys as the new Waya tribe. And right now, as it stands, half of you have never been to Tribal Council before. Nicholas, Annabeth and Christine, this is the first time you’ve lost an immunity challenge.

Annabeth nods.

Jeff: Annabeth, worried that you, Nicholas and Christine are the odd ones out because you are in the minority, just based on tribal lines?

Annabeth: That’s definitely a concern of mine tonight. It’s very easy for the five people from Qamea to just decide not to stir the pot, to vote along tribal lines and just like that, the game’s over for one of the three of us. But I think there’s always more reason to vote someone out than just based off of the buffs we put on on Day 1, and I’m hoping that’s the case tonight.

The camera cuts to the various Qamea members listen to her plea. Albert meets Axel’s eyes, and the latter gives a small shake of the head.

Jeff: Meanwhile, Percy, you’re in the unique situation of having lost before, but managing to avoid Tribal Council twice in a row by volunteering to go to the Island of Advantages.

Percy: Yes.

Jeff: Let’s talk about those decisions. You asked the original Waya tribe to send you to the Island of Advantages, twice. Clearly you were feeling scared of going home. Was it just paranoia, or did you genuinely not trust your tribe to keep you in the game?

Albert turns to watch his answer.

Percy: Ah...I guess it was a little bit of both. I was just really scared of being one of the first to go home so I wanted to take whatever measures I could to prevent that. And I was worried about my place on the tribe.

Jeff: Still worried about your place on the tribe, now that you’ve been through one tribe swap? Because looking at it from a numbers standpoint, you should be safe. You’re in a majority of five, against the three newcomers from Waya.

The camera cuts to Nicholas, Annabeth and Christine all looking at Percy.

Percy: Um...I uh…

Axel frowns at Percy’s hesitation. Percy gulps and shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Summer raises an eyebrow at him.

Percy: I’d like to say I feel totally safe, but the truth is, I uh...I don’t.

Marisa’s brows are furrowed.

Jeff: You don’t feel safe?

Nicholas: No, he doesn’t. And for good reason.

The attention shifts to Nicholas.

Jeff: And why do you say that, Nicholas?

Nicholas: Because I know, for a fact…

He raises a finger to emphasize the last word, and Marisa rolls her eyes.

Nicholas: ...that Percy is not safe in his alliance. He is the obvious outsider, it’s why he sent himself to the Island twice in a row and that should speak volumes as to his position not only on this tribe, but within his own alliance. Matter of fact, I’m just going to come right out and say it.

Albert’s eyes flash with warning. Summer’s mouth is slightly open, as she frowns.

Jeff: Say what, exactly?

Nicholas: They’re going to try and vote Percy out tonight.

Albert does a sharp double take at Nicholas’s words, alarmed. Summer’s jaw drops in shock. Cursing under her breath, she turns back to stare at Albert and Axel.

Percy looks down at his feet, dejected.

Nicholas: Yeah, I said it. Sorry guys. Your little plan isn’t as under wraps as you all thought it was.

Axel glances at Albert with an arched eyebrow. Albert shakes his head, nonplussed. Marisa is scowling.

Jeff: Wow…

Albert tries to laugh it off.

Albert: [nervous laughter] Um...that was…

Nicholas: What’s wrong, Albert? Got nothing to say?

He deliberately angles his body to look at Albert, as the latter tenses up, looking down as if trying to choose his next words carefully.

Albert: That is...so not true.

Nicholas: Mhm, sure.

Annabeth’s eyes are wide and she is grinning uncertainly to herself, watching as Nicholas continues with his antics out of the corner of her eye.

Nicholas: You’re going to deny the fact that the four of you have decided to vote Percy out tonight, in case one of the three of us has an idol?

Albert: Yeah. You’re making it up.

As they bicker, Summer glances reproachfully at Annabeth. Annabeth glances at her, then quickly avoids her gaze.

Nicholas: Oh, is that so?

Albert: Yeah, you are.

Nicholas: Percy, what do you think?

Percy: Ah, I- I don’t…

Albert: Percy, that’s just-

Summer: Percy, that’s nonsense-

Axel: Yeah, bro. Don’t listen to him.

Nicholas: I don’t believe this! Percy, they were going to try and vote you out tonight. Heck, they may still try to that tonight. Look me in the eyes. You know I’m telling you the truth.

Axel: This is so stupid…

Marisa: Give me a break…

Marisa is sulking, rolling her eyes obviously at Nicholas.

Marisa: What do you think this is going to accomplish?

Nicholas: I’m on the bottom, aren’t I? I gotta do what I can.

Axel: Yeah, which includes lying out of your ass.

Nicholas shrugs.

Nicholas: Let Percy decide for himself who the real liars on this tribe are.

Annabeth is hiding her grin behind one hand, and on Nicholas’s other side, Christine is nodding with a slight smile on her face.

Jeff: Albert, obviously, this was a big bombshell. Nicholas claims he’s outing your plan to vote Percy out.

Albert: Yeah. But it’s totally untrue. It’s completely false.

As Albert tries to patch things up, Summer turns behind to Axel and beckons him closer. He leans in and she whispers into his ear.

Summer: [whispering] Are we still sticking to the original plan?

Nicholas’s eyes narrow, watching them.

Axel whispers something incoherent back to Summer.

Albert: Nicholas obviously feels like his back is against the wall so he’s trying to lie his way out of the sticky situation he’s found himself in. But I think he’s just making himself seem like more of a target.

Summer is now whispering in Marisa’s ear, and Percy is skittish, his legs bouncing up and down as he tries to calm his nerves.

Jeff: Axel, obviously when someone’s on the bottom, they’re going to say and do anything to get the target off of them.

Axel: Right. I don’t blame Nicholas for trying. But it’s his word against ours. Percy’s name has never even left our mouths so I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling with his nonsense.

Percy looks back at Albert, who nods at him.

Albert: [mouthing] It’s fine. Stick to the plan.

Percy: [whispering] Are you voting me out?

Albert: [whispering] No! He’s lying to you.

Percy looks even more conflicted than before.

Nicholas taps Percy on the shoulder and leans in to whisper in his ear. Albert looks on in worry.

Jeff: Christine, pretty intense.

Christine: You’re telling me. [laughing]

Jeff: Is this just a war between two tribes right now, and you’re both vying for control of the tribe in Percy’s vote?

Christine: It’s more than that. We’ve been nothing but kind to Percy. Us three from Waya genuinely want to play with all these people and when we heard Percy’s name being thrown out there, we decided something had to be done about it.

Marisa is whispering to Summer and Axel, where Percy and the others cannot hear her.

Marisa: [whispering] How did they find out?

A brief flash of guilt flickers on Summer’s face.

Nicholas is now pulling Annabeth in to whisper to her. Albert is whispering to Axel. Summer is whispering in Percy’s ear.

Jeff: Wow! Everyone is getting in on the whispering action now.

Nicholas is huddling Christine and Annabeth together.

Nicholas: [whispering] The same vote. Same vote.

Albert is gathering the others too, putting an arm around Axel and Marisa’s shoulders and beckoning Percy to join the group.

Albert: [whispering] Stick to the plan.

Axel: [whispering] He’s lying.

Percy is gnawing on his lower lip, fear etched across his face. He takes his glasses off and rubs at his eyes, looking uncertain.

Jeff: Percy, how do you know who’s telling the truth and who’s lying?

Summer taps Annabeth on the shoulder, and whispers in her ear.

Summer: [whispering] Did you tell Percy?

Marisa is leaning back to listen to Albert.

Marisa: [whispering] Is it still the same vote?

Percy: Jeff, I’m just really scared and nervous right now. I don’t know where the votes are going anymore, I can’t tell who’s lying to my face and who’s being genuine with me and I’m terrified that...I’ll make the wrong decision.

Axel: Stick with us, Percy. There’s no need to throw the numbers away out of fear. You need to trust us. We’ve been with you since Day 1.

Summer: Yeah, Percy…

Percy: …

Nicholas: You know who’s bullshitting you deep down, Percy. Trust your instincts.

Marisa: Ugh.

Annabeth shakes her head.

Annabeth: Wow...

Jeff: Well, this has been a very interesting Tribal Council and I can only imagine how the vote’s gonna go. It is time to vote. Annabeth, you’re up.

Annabeth nods, smirking as she gets up to go.

Summer turns back to look at Albert with a questioning look, and Albert simply nods curtly at her, murmuring something incoherent in reply.

Axel fidgets in his seat, beady little eyes darting around at the rest of the tribe.

Percy glances nervously at Nicholas, who winks once at him.

The camera cuts to Annabeth getting to the voting booth.

Annabeth: [whispering] Crazy…

The camera fades away as she uncaps the pen and begins to write down a name.

One by one, the tribe heads up to vote.

The camera cuts to Marisa slipping in her vote, then to Axel walking up to the booth.

"waya"

- Good game, but not good enough.

The camera cuts to Albert staring in the direction of the voting booth, watching Nicholas’s back as he votes.

The camera fades away to Christine slipping her vote into the urn, then to Summer rubbing her arms, a worried expression on her face.

At last, Percy gets to the voting booth, a bundle of nerves as he adjusts the parchment.

The camera cuts to Marisa, who glances over at Axel, as the latter leans on his knee, running his tongue over his teeth.

Finally, Percy returns.

Jeff: I’ll go tally the votes.

He leaves.

Albert glances at Summer, who turns to look at Percy. Percy is staring down at his feet, drumming his fingers against his knee, not acknowledging anyone.

Nicholas’s eyes are aimed at the back of his head, before he looks back up at Jeff returning with the urn.

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

The camera cuts to Marisa craning her neck to watch Nicholas.

Nicholas smirks at her, looking cocky. Annabeth is shivering slightly. Axel has an intense look on his face, his eyes flitting from one person to another.

Jeff: Alright. I’ll-

Percy: Wait.

Albert blinks in surprise as Percy sighs and digs around in his bags, and pulls out his hidden idol.

Summer: Oh wow…

Percy glances at his former Qamea tribemates.

Percy: Sorry guys.

He holds out the idol, and Nicholas, sitting beside him, promptly plucks it out of Percy’s outstretched hand and gets to his feet.

Nicholas: Jeff, I’d like to play this for myself.

Albert curses, whipping around to share a look with the others. Axel looks genuinely shocked for the first time.

Summer is clapping a hand over her mouth, and Marisa laughs humorlessly, as Nicholas walks on over and hands Jeff Percy’s idol.

Summer: No way…

Albert: Damn…

Nicholas returns to his seat. Annabeth shares a tense look with him.

Jeff: This is a hidden immunity idol. Any votes cast for Nicholas will not count.

Nicholas nods silently, nodding at Percy when the latter glances back.

Jeff: I’ll read the votes.

He opens the urn.

Albert looks over at Percy in disappointment, and Percy won’t meet his eyes. Axel is scratching his beard, heaving out a great sigh.

Summer straightens her back, her face tight with anticipation as Jeff takes out the first vote.

Jeff: First vote…

…

…

…

Jeff: ...Nicholas. Does not count.

Nicholas breaks out into a large grin, shaking with relief.

Nicholas: [whispering] Oh, thank God…

All across the board, the Qamea four look unhappy.

Albert shakes his head.

Albert: Damn it…

The camera cuts to Summer looking scared.

Jeff: Nicholas. Does not count.

The camera zooms in on the Waya trio, as Annabeth pats Nicholas’s leg comfortingly and Christine is smiling slightly, looking relieved.

Axel is glowering, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

Jeff: Nicholas. Does not count.

Nicholas continues grinning, looking smug. Percy looks nervous, his face pale and white.

Jeff: Nicholas. Does not count.

The camera cuts to Percy, glancing at the rest of his old Qamea tribemates with a slight tinge of remorse.

Albert sighs, dragging a hand over his face. Summer closes her eyes, breathing heavily.

Marisa’s eyes are wide as she anticipates the next vote. Axel is stroking his beard sinisterly, watching with a stony look on his face.

Jeff takes out the next vote.

…

…

…

Jeff: Albert. That’s one vote Albert. (1-0)

Albert winces, shaking his head, a resigned look of expectation on his face.

Marisa’s mouth is open in shock, and Summer looks distressed, turning to share an anguished look with Albert. Axel shakes his head, cursing, and his eyes flit to Albert, as the latter groans and hunches over, sinking his head into his hands.

Nicholas is snickering to himself, looking pleased.

Jeff: Albert. That’s two votes Albert. (2-0)

Albert nods listlessly, the devastation evident in his slumped shoulders and pale clamor.

The camera cuts to Annabeth watching the votes, plainly avoiding looking back for Albert’s reaction.

Albert: [muttering] I don’t believe this…

Percy glances at him guiltily.

Summer looks on with an almost tearful expression.

Jeff: Fourth person voted out of Survivor: Mozambique...Albert. That’s three, and tonight, that’s enough. You need to bring me your torch. (Final Tally: 4-0)

Albert lets out a long sigh, getting slowly to his feet, as if he still cannot believe what has just happened.

Summer turns in her seat to watch him, clearly upset.

Summer: No…

On the other side of Tribal Council, Nicholas is snickering to himself, patting Annabeth comfortingly on the back, then reaching out to squeeze Percy gratefully by the shoulders.

Percy still looks lost and a little guilty, looking on as Albert walks by him.

The camera cuts to Axel scowling at the floor, biting his thumb.

Albert dejectedly drops his torch down in front of Probst, scratching the back of his head, upset.

Jeff: Albert, the tribe has spoken. [snuffs torch] Time for you to go.

Albert slowly walks off, still looking a little dazed. Summer watches him go with her mouth open, distraught.

Nicholas is all smiles, and he again squeezes Percy on the shoulder, who smiles a little uncertainly in return.

The camera cuts to Annabeth coolly brushing her hair out of her face.

Jeff: Well, tonight’s vote just goes to show that you can have a good plan and the advantage in numbers, but they’re no match for a hidden immunity idol. Grab your things and head back to camp. Goodnight.

Final Words
Albert: To go home this early because of an idol is devastating. I felt I had so much more left in me, I could’ve gone all the way, I wanted to make it to the end, and I think that had it not been for this tribe swap, I really could’ve done it. But it’s in the name of the game to have blindsides, and I own that. There are always shoulda, coulda, wouldas after something like this; I should’ve talked more with Percy, I shouldn’t have made myself such a target, then maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here so soon. I’m more than disappointed to go out this early and I know it’s going to take some time before I fully recover from this.

Next Time on Survivor...

 * The tables are turned on the Waya tribe…

Nicholas, Annabeth and Christine are celebrating, and hugging Percy.

Nicholas: Don’t worry. You’re one of us now.

Annabeth: You should be proud of yourself. You made a big move!

The camera cuts to Axel looking pissed.

"waya"

- If Nicholas wants to go to war, then we can go to war. They won’t like me so much when I’m cornered, because when my back is against the wall, I play like an aggressive animal. I’ll tear this whole camp down looking for an idol if I have to.


 * And Carter tries to start a revolution…

Carter: I think she’s the most intelligent person on this beach, by far.

The camera cuts to Wanda across the fire, a calculating look on her face.

Leroy and Jacobiah glance at each other at his words.

Carter: I wouldn’t underestimate her.

"qamea"

- I’m starting to think...he’s right. Wanda is incredibly clever, and she’s the mastermind hiding in the shadows. No one should be overlooking her just because of her age, because she’s scary.