Weapons I Never Dreamed Of

"Weapons I Never Dreamed Of"
Season	Survivor: Martinique
Author	Tangle
Episode Number	8/14
Episode Chronology
Previous	High Stakes Election Nightmare
Next	Not Even a Robbery

This is the eighth episode of Survivor: Martinique!

Challenges

Reward Challenge: The Big Buoy Race
In the first round, castaways will dive down to retrieve a buoy. The first three to get back to shore with a buoy move onto the next round. In the final round, the three castaways will swim along a submerged track to unclip ten buoys on the way back to shore. The first person to unclip all ten buoys and make it back to shore wins reward.
Reward: A hot, home-cooked meal of spaghetti bolognaise with wine and garlic bread.

Immunity Challenge: Teeter Tower
The castaways would use one hand to hold on to a rope to steady a balancing board. With the other hand, they would build a house of cards with wooden tiles on one end of the balancing board. The first castaway to build a tall enough house of cards to reach the finish mark would win.

Story

Night 20

Following Stephanie’s blindside, the eleven members of Vauclin make their way back to camp. There is an ominous silence, broken only by the leaning of torches against trees. Dark music plays.

Nicole: You know the most obvious way to tell if someone is a good person, Cameron? They don’t have to say it fifty times a day.

Cameron: I know what I am, Nicole, and no amount of bitterness is going to take that away from me.

Nicole: Bitterness? Sure, I’m bitter, because I have been telling people who you are from day three and you keep slipping by, but today, once and for all, you’ve proved me right.

Cameron: I don’t regret what I did at all. I’m sorry that you feel that way, but I had to do what was best for me, and it wasn’t losing five jury votes.

Nicole: Well, you’ve just lost three right off the bat. And to be honest, I don’t see you winning over anyone else’s after you flipped and flopped. You gave me and Sylvia your word that you were coming over to us, then changed your mind. I hope everyone sees that you’re unreliable and takes you out.

What happened tonight disgusted me. I’m angry at everyone involved. The fact that Leslie turned her back on me and our final five to go with Cameron? Mwangi turned on Sylvia to go with Cameron? Thornley jumped ship to go with Cameron? There’s just no hope left for this world if people like Cameron come out on top. Sylvia and I laid into him when we got back to camp. If he had any sense at all he would have sided with us, but he should have at least gotten me off the jury. I know I have to bite my tongue with some of the others if I want to stay here, so I’m not calling out everyone, but I will make it clear where I stand.It is my life’s mission to ensure he and his friends don’t win the million dollars.

Nicole Papadakis

Cameron: Nicole, you and Sylvia tried to manipulate me over to your side and it didn’t work, so you can claim you’re good people too, but it’s not true.

Sylvia: You want to talk about manipulation? How about showing me your husband’s letter and saying “my husband thinks I’m a good person. I want to change so everyone else can see that too.” I hope your husband is thrilled.

Cameron: He will be when I prove you all wrong and win this thing.

Nicole: You will win this thing when I drop dead, Cameron. We shook hands and you looked me in the eye, and said that you wanted to change your game, too. Using your husband’s name to further yourself in the game and going back on it is revolting, and I can’t believe Leslie, Thornley and Mwangi fell for it.

Cameron: They played the game, just like I had to do what was best for mine. I don’t regret a thing.

Sylvia: Well, I regret voting to keep you around, and I can’t believe that you said you were prioritising Mwangi and I then went back on it.

Cameron: You’re the one who put Mwangi in that position, Sylvia. You could have come with us and you wouldn’t be on the bottom right now. We’ll see who’s standing at the end.

Cameron shakes his head as he walks away.

I knew that Nicole and Sylvia were going to be mad at me but I honestly don’t care. They can say I manipulated them, but they manipulated me just as much, if not more, even if I was smart enough to see through it. If I had voted Duong out tonight I would have lost so many jury votes. I can deal with losing Sylvia and Nicole’s if it works out in the long run - and I will make it work. I have Mwangi now and he, Ricardo and I will go as far as we can make it. My only regret from tonight is that we were too spooked by the idol to boot Nicole from the jury. I maybe could have won over Stephanie, but it doesn’t matter; Nicole is going home next now that we have such a strong majority.

Cameron Cervantes

Following Cameron’s confessional, Sylvia and Mwangi go off to talk to each other.

Sylvia: Kenyan pride, huh?

Mwangi: (sighs) Sylvia…

Sylvia: No, you and I made a deal to stick with each other and you left me in the dust. Out of everyone in this whole game, I trusted you with my life. I thought we were in this for so much more than the game. I feel like you used and abused our culture to get me to trust you.

Mwangi: No. Sylvia, I know you’re hurt right now, but I promise I did not use our country to manipulate you. On my children and my wife, I would never do such a thing. I wanted to work with both you and Cameron, but I was in an impossible position.

Sylvia: I voted for Dakota under the promise that we would all work together, and we always said that we were the closest. I have not lied to you this entire game; before tonight, there was no one you could have trusted more than me, especially over Cameron, who has lied so many times. He said he would work with us and changed his mind. The second he did that, that should have been your cue to jump with me.

I was convinced we had the numbers tonight, because I believed that I could count on Mwangi. From day one, I thought we were the closest people, not just because we shared a country and a culture, but because we had become tight friends. When Cameron and I split, I thought he’d take my side, but I guess I was a fool. It seems like he was tighter with Cameron all along. (she hangs her head for a moment and her shoulders shake) The worst part is I feel like my culture, country, pride, and who I am as a person has been used to lull me into a false sense of security for so many days. (sniffs) I got rid of Dakota because I put all my faith in Mwangi and that faith has been shattered into a million pieces.

Sylvia Tikolo

Mwangi: In the end, the thing that swayed me to Cameron’s side was that I didn’t think that I could make it to the end with Stephanie’s side, and even if I wanted to, Leslie and Thornley didn’t want to, either. I couldn’t have done anything beyond 7-5.

Sylvia: Then you should have taken the final five we got offered with Dakota instead of putting your trust in Cameron. Or you should have pushed for me as hard as I would have pushed for you if the situations were reversed. I’m sure if you wanted it bad enough, Leslie and Thornley could have been swayed.

Mwangi: I’m so sorry. I never meant for this to happen when we booted Dakota. I had to make a judgement call and I went with what was best for my game. Even if I’d managed to swing Leslie and Thornley, I just couldn’t see how I would have made it near the endgame.

Sylvia: Then you should have put as much faith in me as I put in you. I would have moved mountains to get you to the Final Tribal Council, Mwangi, because when I said Kenyan pride, I meant it.

Sylvia begins to tear up.

Sylvia: I’m sorry, I have to go.

Mwangi: Sylvia, please, I’m sorry…

Sylvia walks away. Mwangi puts his face in his hands and sits on the ground.

Tonight was genuinely the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I am not a mean or malicious person. I never wanted to see Sylvia so upset, and I certainly never set out to hurt her or make her feel like I abused our culture to get her to trust me. I bleed with love for my country and its people, and it’s an important part of my life. When it comes to this decision, I had to think about my chances of winning the million dollars. No matter what, I couldn’t see myself winning on Stephanie’s side. I was with Leslie and Thornley, who both felt the same, and we had to make that jump. My friendship with Sylvia is incredibly important to me, and the last thing I want is to tarnish that, or have her believe it was inauthentic. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mwangi Ndung'u

We are then taken back to Duong’s majority alliance, where the mood is much higher.

Ricardo: Thank God we got through that. I wouldn’t have been able to stand it if Nicole’s side got the majority.

Thornley: Well, we don’t have to worry about that, because we can just pick them off one by one.

Duong: I know they’re mad, but thanks to you, Leslie and Mwangi for sticking with me. This is gonna be the best move for all of us.

Kang: We’ve got three easy boots locked up and then we’re all into the final eight. None of us have any reason to screw the next few votes.

Duong: I can’t believe I’ve gone to three Tribal Councils and voted out gays more often than straights. I feel like such a self-loathing homophobe. (giggles) But this is gonna be the most iconic final eight that ever existed. Let’s put our hands in.

Everyone puts their hands in.

Duong: Final eight!

Wooo! My side came out on top tonight. We’ve got an eight person majority and three easy next votes. Nicole and Sylvia came back furious, so I know the target isn’t on me. I don’t think tonight could have gone any better, but I’m well aware that this is just the battle, not the war. I still have an alliance to manage, and I’m still kinda unofficially seen as the head of it, so the target is still on my back. I have to be careful about my next few moves and treat them just as importantly as this vote. But for tonight, I’m celebrating!

Duong Minh Tran

Following Duong’s confessional, the group breaks apart. Kang and Thornley are speaking to each other one on one.

Kang: So, you pulled through. I knew I could count on you.

Thornley: Yeah. There was a bit of back and forth, but no way was I signing up for seventh place.

Kang: No one would have expected you to. And notice how the anger is directed at Leslie, Mwangi and Cameron. The anger comes from emotional investment and betrayal. It proves that we were right about you not having the connections there.

Everyone was talking as if seven was the magical number tonight, but it was six. If we threatened a deadlock, we would strongarm the undecided voters on our side. We already had five, so I zeroed in on Thornley as the one who was most likely to connect with us. As a result, we have a majority of eight. Based on Leslie and Mwangi’s relationships with the other side, I don’t know if we would have gotten Thornley without intervening. Now, of course, I can’t let Thornley go. I need to push him up the order and make him feel secure enough to stop him jumping with Leslie and Mwangi if they want to make a move in the future.

Kang Bohai

Thornley: So what’s next for you and me?

Kang: Well, since you held strong, I’ll stick by what I said, too. There are people in my alliance who I know are going to be making moves later. You’re very high on my personal totem pole. I would be happy to take you all the way to the endgame.

Thornley: I’d like that. As long as you have my back, I’ll have yours,

Kang: I’ve been with the same people since day one. I know how to be a loyal person. All I need from you is to stop Mwangi and Leslie from making any moves, because the last thing we want is for Sylvia and her allies to get the game back.

Thornley: True. I’ll stop them. We can go directly to the final eight because my vote isn’t wavering.

I was set on voting for Stephanie tonight. There was no way that I was going to be the seventh placer. My problem all game has been forming deep connections with people, which Leslie had with Nicole and Mwangi had with Sylvia. By severing those and joining with Kang, I have multiple options when we pick off the rest of the other side: I can go with Mwangi and Leslie, or I can go with Kang. Either way, I’ll be finding a way to keep everyone I need in the game, because this is the most secure position I’ve had in three weeks. I won’t be doing anything to damage it.

Thornley Noel

Following Thornley’s conversation with Kang, he catches up with Leslie and Mwangi.

Thornley: Good job tonight. We made the best decision for all of us.

Mwangi: I know we did, but Sylvia is really upset with me.

Leslie: How is she?

Mwangi: She cried while we were talking. I feel so horrible for her.

Leslie: I’m surprised Nicole didn’t lay into me as much as she did Cameron. She really thought we were together.

Thornley: Haven’t heard a peep out of Na’ama. Haven’t really seen her since Tribal ended, actually.

Mwangi: I knew there were emotions involved, and I’m feeling all kinds, but I didn’t know people would take it this hard.

Leslie: Well, we’ve made the choice we’ve made, so we have to figure out what’s next for us. I don’t want to go down as the idiot who made the wrong move in a swing situation.

Mwangi: We won’t. Cameron and Ricardo will stick with us and we’ll make a group of five. That way, we’ll have the majority. Cameron and Ricardo are in the situation where they can’t burn any more jury votes if they want to have a hope of winning, and we’ve had similar heat to them.

Leslie: I like that idea. Kang and Duong have been running the show since day one so we can’t let them get to the end.

Thornley: Kang has spoken to me a fair amount, too. We can go down that road if we want to, but he must feel really secure to be reaching out to me already. I say no matter who offers us a deal from that side, we take it.

Leslie: Yeah, and then we can decide who we go forward with. We’re in a good spot right now because I think everyone on our side wants to get rid of Nicole.

Mwangi: Cameron will, at least, after that.

Leslie: As long as we don’t burn too many more people, make a commitment and stick to it, then I think we can get all the way to the end and win.

The three confirm their alliance and part ways. The camera cuts to Leslie’s confessional.

Voting Stephanie out was a difficult decision for me. Nicole really believed in her heart that I would do what Atlantis would have done and picked her side. If Atlantis had been here over her, it wouldn’t have been a question. I can’t play with the spirit of my best friend, though; I have to do what is best for me, and I couldn’t see Nicole delivering on her promise of a final five. I’m aware that there’s a lot of heat and anger floating around and I’m surprised neither Na’ama nor Nicole have said anything to me. I might not be in the best position when it comes to jury votes, but I am happy that I have three people to rely upon. I came out here to win this game, though, not just get to the end with my friends. If I can find a way to make myself more favourable in the eyes of the jury, I’m going to.

Leslie Dale

Following Leslie’s confessional, emotional music plays as we are taken to Na’ama, sitting on the beach and crying.

I took the opportunity to slip away during all the commotion because I could feel myself about to cry. I feel like I’m such a fool. This is deja vu. I truly believed that we were safe and so I didn’t feel the need to play my idol, and now because of that, my closest friend and ally is gone. I don’t know why Leslie and Thornley flipped, whether it was because of me, but I tried my hardest to let them know that I would be loyal to them. I stood on a mat and shouted to everyone here that I was on Stephanie’s side. (deep sigh) I think what tonight has told me is that I can’t be trusted to decipher on my own whether I’m in the majority. I can’t keep this idol to myself anymore if me, Sylvia and Nicole are going to have any chance of fighting out of this.

Na'ama Mizrahi

Day 21- Pre-Challenge

The morning of Day 21 begins by showing some establishing shots of the camp. It is completely empty, except for Nicole, who is lying flat on her back in the shelter and staring at the roof.

Last night I was angry and now I’m completely miserable. It’s hard for me to know I’m drawing dead and people I hate are succeeding. I’ve gone through too much in the last year to surround myself with negative people, and after last night, the only people I have any respect for are Kang, Sylvia and Na’ama. Leslie broke my heart when she went with Duong last night; it’s not what Atlantis would have done. Mwangi siding with Cameron showed me a negative, cutthroat side to him that I didn’t know existed. People like Thornley and Zydrunas have had chance after chance to go against people who don’t have their best interests at heart. Duong is too aggressive, and I’m not wasting any more of my energy on Ricardo or Cameron. I know they won’t touch Cameron this vote, so I’m focusing my energy on Ricardo. He’s the reason a lot of this situation exists, and to be honest, I want him out of the game more than I want to be in it. I’d sign someone’s million dollar cheque myself if it meant Ricardo went home.

Nicole Papadakis

When we go back to live time, Nicole is joined by Na’ama and Sylvia.

Sylvia: It looks like you feel just as terrible as I do.

Nicole: (scoffs) I challenge you to find someone who feels worse than me.

Sylvia: Well, last night, the person whose hands I would have put my life in stabbed me in the back and went with the guy who used his husband to guilt trip me and lied directly to my face about siding with me. So… I might have you beat.

Nicole: Well, that’s par for the course with these people. Even the ones who I thought were good ended up showing their true colours.

Na’ama: I can’t help thinking it’s my fault. I never should have voted against Betrys. I tried everything to have Leslie and Thornley trust me, and if I’m the reason we’re here right now, I’ll never forgive myself.

Sylvia: It’s not your fault. Don’t you dare.

Na’ama: Well, for the second Tribal Council in a row, my best friend and closest ally went home and I could have done something to stop it. I cried over it. That’s why I disappeared after the vote.

Sylvia: I cried too. I tried to be strong in front of Mwangi but I just broke.

Nicole: I was too angry to cry last night. Now I’m too miserable to feel anything.

Sylvia: We have to pick ourselves up. What are we going to do next?

Nicole: Well, I’m gone in two days, and I think you should honestly go on without me.

Na’ama: No, we’re not giving up on you. We’re all going to try and survive this vote. I’ll go down with the ship.

Sylvia: Me, too. So, what are we doing?

Nicole: Well, right now, I would sell my soul to have Ricardo out before me. I’m probably going to barter my jury vote in exchange for it. They’re up 8-3 so I’d hope they could spare one person for my sanity.

Sylvia: Do you think anyone would go for it?

Nicole: Kang and Zydrunas both said they didn’t trust him, so maybe, unless they’re lying like everyone else. I’ll talk to Leslie, too. I think that she would be stupid not to get rid of him.

Sylvia: I guess I can talk to Mwangi and see if he’d be willing to throw me a bone and earn some trust back. Because right now I’m not feeling any Kenyan pride from him and I think I’d only vote for him over Cameron in the finals.

Na’ama: Well, I’ll vote for Ricardo no matter what. And, I should have told you this from the beginning, but I have an idol.

Sylvia: That’s the best news I’ve heard since the merge hit.

Na’ama: Only Stephanie knew. I didn’t trust Leslie and Thornley enough to tell them and I’m glad I didn’t now. But I’ve watched Raymond and Stephanie go home when I could have pulled the idol out. That ends now.

Nicole: The part of me that wants Ricardo out of the game more than I want to stay here is warring with the part that knows you should hold onto it until after this vote unless it’s literally your name written down on the paper.

Na’ama: It can be our ace in the hole if we need it, but for now, we can focus on putting our energy into a Ricardo vote. I think it would be best for me to stay in the background, though. If all three of us are making noise and trying to flip the game over, I think it’s going to work against us.

Sylvia: Don’t worry, if I can get Mwangi to throw me a bone and Nicole can get Leslie, maybe they can sway everyone not named Cameron to give us some mercy before we’re sent to the jury. Because let me tell you, my jury vote isn’t coming easy.

The three of them confirm their plan. The camera cuts to Sylvia’s confessional.

Nicole, Na’ama and I were all a bit miserable this morning. Nicole already has one foot out the door because she feels like she’s the next one to go, and there’s about a 99% chance it’s either me or her. Na’ama has an idol, which is great to know, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with her using it unless we managed to get more permanent numbers. (sighs) It’s strange to think about how fast this game has gone downhill. We’re all hurting, and the only move we can really think of to save all three of us for this vote is to put our votes on Ricardo. He might be the only person people are willing to cut loose ahead of us, and we'd like what could be our last vote to be for someone we don't like. Ricardo dragged Cameron away from me, and Cameron dragged Mwangi away from me, so it’s a little personal. I know he’s made enemies, and the other side is up 8-3. I hope someone will do something.

Sylvia Tikolo

Following Sylvia’s confessional, we see Cameron, Ricardo, Mwangi, Leslie and Thornley together.

Mwangi: Okay, I think we should lock down this alliance. We can be the majority within the group of eight, if that sounds good to everyone?

Cameron: Hell yeah. I wanted you anyway, Mwangi.

Ricardo: Kang and Duong are massive threats anyway. They were always going to be the first people I went after once we got to eight. This is the best five for all of us because we each have an equal chance of winning.

Mwangi: Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.

Part of going with Duong’s side was the agreement that I would slot us in with Cameron and Ricardo to make a majority. We did that this morning. I know that I can trust Cameron one hundred percent, as we’re very close friends. I don’t feel the same about Ricardo, because we’ve never been on a tribe together, and I only have Cameron’s word to go on. That’s okay, because it was the same with Thornley and Leslie last night and we turned out fine, so I think this alliance will work out.

Mwangi Ndung'u

Ricardo: We’ve got to get Nicole out next. Obviously we should have done it the first vote but everyone was spooked about the idol. Now that we’ve got the majority, she has to be our first priority.

Cameron: She’s long overstayed her welcome. She’s gonna hold a grudge against us until either she or we are gone.

Ricardo: Cameron and I can’t be safe until Nicole is gone, no matter what the numbers say. If there’s an idol and Nicole finds it, we’re in trouble, and I think she’d be looking now.

Cameron: She’d one hundred percent blow it just to get one of us out. For God’s sake, Thornley and Mwangi, you saw how she played her idol for Dakota when the vote was 7-2. She’d absolutely play it to get rid of one of us, even if she only had three votes on her side.

Ricardo: And if she’s found one idol before, I don’t want to put myself up against the odds of her finding a second one, so if we can vote for her ASAP, that would be great.

Thornley: Don’t worry, I have no problem getting Nicole out, and I’m happy with this group, too. Is everyone else okay with that?

Leslie: Sure.

Mwangi: Yeah, I’m fine.

Ricardo: Cool, I’ll spread it around to the other three.

The five of them agree. The camera cuts to Ricardo’s confessional as he walks away.

Being in a five person alliance within the majority is the best place I could be right now. Cameron and I are number ones, and Cameron and Mwangi are really tight. If Leslie and Thornley are with Mwangi, I trust that, even if Leslie and I have history. Nicole is my number one target, because I know she’s going to keep targeting me or Cameron until she’s out. I understood having to vote for Stephanie the first time because the majority wasn’t secure and we had the threat of an idol. Now we’ve got the majority secure and the threat of an idol is still very real, against me. It’s critical for me that Nicole is voted out as soon as possible so she has as little time to find the idol and screw me over as possible. I won’t accept any other vote.

Ricardo Quispe

Directly from here, Ricardo speaks to Duong, Kang and Zydrunas.

Ricardo: It’s got to be Nicole next. Remember how I wanted her gone last time, and you all said we had to be careful of an idol? I let go then and Stephanie got voted out, but now we have the majority, we can safely get rid of her.

Zydrunas: If that’s what you want, then let’s do it. I’m happy as long as it’s one of those three.

Kang: Have you given any thought to Sylvia?

Ricardo: At this point, Nicole is my biggest threat, so I want her out first. We can get rid of Sylvia after that. Duong, you know what it’s like to have someone constantly on your back for ages. It’s stressful, so I’d like to take care of it.

Duong: Yeah, I do know. Not fun. Now that she’s gone, it feels good.

Ricardo: I wanna feel good like that, and you did all kind of say to me that Nicole would be next after we got the majority.

Duong: Yeah, fair is fair. If everyone’s in agreement with Nicole we can get rid of her first.

Ricardo: Awesome, thanks guys.

Ricardo leaves. The camera cuts to Duong’s confessional as he watches him go.

Ricardo came to us wanting Nicole out. He said that we’d all promised him Nicole was next, but dude must’ve created a false memory or something, because he said we would do Nicole next and we all just kinda nodded. I can’t get hung up on taking stuff literally, though, because alliance management is important. I think, and I’m pretty sure Kang does as well, that Sylvia is the biggest threat by far. She’s strategic, she’s social, and she’s the best player physically. In an ideal world we’d boot her next, but if Nicole is who people feel strongly about then I’m happy to do it. We have a majority, but things can change any second, especially with the group we’ve got. I don’t want to stir up trouble.

Duong Minh Tran

Directly after the conversation, Zydrunas, Kang and Duong are talking.

Zydrunas: Tell me I’m not the only one who feels the majority slipping away from us.

Duong: No, I feel it too. Like, the majority within our majority, not the actual majority. Cameron and Mwangi were tight, and if Ricardo and Cameron are together, then Mwangi is with them. Leslie and Thornley are with Mwangi, so that would make five, if they all stick together.

Zydrunas: So we’re going to have to do something about that, otherwise we’re going eighth, seventh and sixth. I don’t think working with the women is a good idea.

Kang: It’s not, but Thornley can be our ace in the hole. I talked to him to get him over here, and again last night. I promised he would be pushed up the order. If we promised final four with him, maybe he’d be more inclined to bring someone over and break from Cameron and Ricardo.

Duong: Well, it’s our only shot. Cameron and Ricardo are going to start making moves eventually and we need a backup plan.

Kang: Let’s talk to him now.

The three men walk on until they get to Thornley.

Kang: Thornley, remember last night when I said that you would be pushed up the order? Well, consider yourself part of my final four.

Thornley: (beams) Wow, that’s great. With these two?

Kang: Yeah, with these two. Remember when I told you, I’d been with the same people this entire game? These guys are in.

Duong: Can confirm that Kang was, like, one of my first ever allies and we’ve stuck together this whole time.

Zydrunas: And I can confirm that Kang and I were tight on Calinda. He told us about this and we’re all on board.

Thornley: Well I’m delighted to be part of your group. You think we can manage this?

Kang: We absolutely can, but we need something from you. Ricardo and Cameron are the two wildcards in our alliance. We believe they’re going to make moves soon, against one of us. They’ve got Mwangi in their corner, and Leslie is the one who could go either way. It’ll be a power struggle, but if you stick with us, it’s final four all the way. As I said last night, we just need you to stop any one of those other four from making moves. If you do that, we can guarantee your safety.

Thornley: And when push comes to shove, obviously I’ll choose you and bring a fifth.

Kang: That sounds good.

Thornley: I need all three of you to shake on the final four deal with me before I commit to anything.

Thornley goes and, one by one, shakes Kang’s, then Zydrunas’s, then Duong’s, hand.

Thornley: Okay, I can go with you. But if you’re screwing me, all three of you can kiss my jury vote goodbye.

Duong: We’re not screwing with you, dude. We’re down with you until the final four.

Kang: Yeah, you can count on us.

The group confirm their deal and part ways. Kang and Duong go, but Zydrunas stays behind.

Zydrunas: Do you want me to confirm that you can make it to the final four and beyond?

Thornley: I would love that. But what’s your idea?

Zydrunas: I will make a deal with you right now. Everyone seems to think that I’m Kang and Duong’s loyal soldier, especially them. Instead, I’ll go with you to the Final Tribal Council.

Thornley: Wow, that’s amazing if it’s true.

Zydrunas It’s true. Whoever you bring forward as your fifth can be the third person in our deal. No one would expect me to be in with you, and we can change up the game. Now, it would have to be someone who’s good at challenges to prevent number four from getting into the Final Tribal. I’m not good at them and I don’t think you’re much better.

Thornley: No, I’m not. (chuckles) Don’t worry, I’ll think about it. And no one would suspect that I’m in a deal with you, either. I mean, we’ve barely interacted, but I’ll go in on this if you do.

Zydrunas: If I wasn’t in, I wouldn’t have offered. Shake?

The two men shake.

Thornley: Pleasure doing business with you.

The men part ways. Zydrunas is smiling as the camera cuts to his confessional.

I’m trying as hard as I can to play under the radar and not poke my head above water too much. With Thornley, the opportunity presented itself. As long as he’s as serious about this as I am, and we can stop anyone from shifting our power, then I think I’m in a strong position to win. No one will expect this to be happening, because I’m seen as a loyal soldier to Duong and Kang, and Thornley bringing in a fifth was part of Kang’s plan anyway. Thornley is going to make sure the fifth is a person who’s strong in challenges, and then at the eleventh hour, I’ll flip my vote from Kang’s side to Thornley’s, and we’re in the final three. It’s all about setting myself up for the Final Tribal Council. If everything pans out successfully, I won’t have to put my head up again until the final five.

Zydrunas Kazlauskas

The camera then switches over to Thornley, who is all smiles.

Thornley: Everything is falling into place!

With every second that passes after Stephanie’s elimination, I’m more and more confident that I’ve made the right decision. In twenty-four hours, I went from almost no close bonds, to everyone falling over their feet to align with me. I have a final five alliance with Leslie, Mwangi, Cameron and Ricardo; a final four alliance with Zydrunas, Kang and Duong; a trio alliance with Leslie and Mwangi, and a duo alliance with Zydrunas. If I can manage these correctly, I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. I have everything at my disposal to get myself into a winning situation.

Thornley Noel

Following Thornley’s confessional, there is a transitional nature shot. Nicole approaches Leslie.

Nicole: Hey, I need to talk to you about last night.

Leslie: Sure.

The two sit down.

Leslie: I’m surprised you didn’t yell at me last night.

Nicole: Because I’m not angry at you, I’m hurt. Crushed. So many things. I really thought that you were with me because Atlantis spoke so highly of you. I just need to know why.

Leslie: (sighs) The honest truth is I didn’t think you had it in you to get me to the final five. I thought that I had a better shot to slip through Duong’s group.

Nicole: That kills me, because you had the final five with me. Me, you, Sylvia, Mwangi, and whoever we wanted as a fifth. They would have followed through with it, and you’re with Mwangi right now.

Leslie: I’m sorry, I just couldn’t see it.

Nicole: Yet if it was Atlantis, you would have jumped without question, even if you weren’t sure a final five could be delivered?

Leslie: I would have, because we’d been tight since day one. I would have followed her to the Final Tribal Council.

Nicole: So even though I offered you the same thing… basically all I could have done was be Atlantis?

I went to talk to Leslie about switching her vote, but first I needed to know why she didn’t side with me. Basically, if Atlantis had offered her the exact same deal I had, she would have taken it without a moment’s hesitation. But because my name’s Nicole, she thought about it, and she decided it would be better to go with Duong’s side. Never mind the fact that I would have done everything to get her to the final five and taken her to the end. It crushed me. It didn’t matter to her that Atlantis was my number one and we would have been working together if she was here. I’m hoping that she can see our relationship is fixable and I can convince her to vote for Ricardo. If she were to send me home next, I’d struggle to vote for her if she made it to the end.

Nicole Papadakis

Leslie: Please don’t put it like that. It was a hard decision for me.

Nicole: How else am I meant to put it? Atlantis was my number one on Calinda, and she was your number one on Biguine. If Atlantis was here, you’d be working with her, and if Atlantis and I were both here, you’d be working with me anyway. But because it’s just me, you had to pause, and then you went the other way.

Leslie: Okay. You’re telling me right here and now that you would have taken me to the end.

Nicole: I’d lost Atlantis and Dakota back to back. I had loyalty to Stephanie and Sylvia, but I didn’t have anyone who was a ride or die, like I told you yesterday. I am telling you that you would have had a guaranteed spot at the end that is now up in the air. You probably could have won against me, because God knows that entire side hates me.

Leslie: Well, I’m sorry. What do you want me to do about it now?

Nicole: At this point I’m the next to go, and I’m being entirely serious, I don’t think I’d be able to vote for you in any combination. It hurts too much that the only reason I’m on the bottom is because I’m not Atlantis. But it’s not too late. Our relationship is still fixable. I want to work with you still, I just don’t have time to sit around and be hurt again.

Leslie: Okay. What are you suggesting?

Nicole: (sighs) Atlantis and I both knew we couldn’t trust Ricardo as far as we could throw him. He was our target on Calinda, and you know I wanted him out yesterday. I’m pretty much drawing dead unless you change over, but if I am going to go home soon, is it too much to ask that Ricardo be voted out before me?

Leslie: No, that’s not too much to ask at all.

Nicole: Ricardo isn’t someone to be trusted. No matter what deal you have with him, he’ll break it if he finds something better. I’m not asking you to completely flip again if it’s not in your best interest, but you’re up eight to three and I’m just asking to outlast one person. Beyond that, if you don’t want to work with me, by all means vote me out. I’d go to the jury feeling better about myself and about us.

Leslie: Okay, I promise I’ll think about it.

Nicole: Please. That’s all I ask.

Nicole leaves. The camera focuses on Leslie’s thoughtful expression before cutting to her confessional.

I kept wondering after last night why I hadn’t been yelled at by Nicole. Turns out she was upset with me and that’s worse. I flipped against her because I didn’t think she’d be able to take me to the final five. I had to tell her the truth, that basically, she wasn’t Atlantis and that made me think differently about things. Now she’s telling me that she’s asking for nothing except to outlast Ricardo and I’m seriously thinking about it. Not just for the jury situation, but because I really upset her and by all accounts, she was willing to take me to the end. I’m not a heartless person; I don’t like to see people upset, and part of me thinks I do owe her something. Ricardo is someone who will cut any deal to save himself. I have a final five with him, but if I got rid of him, we’d still have four and a majority of seven. Is it really going to take that much out of our plans to get rid of one person when we have such an overwhelming majority? I don’t think so.

Leslie Dale

Day 21- Reward Challenge

Courtland: Alright, y'all, let's get this challenge underway!

The castaways walk in and stand on the mat.

Courtland: This challenge is for reward and it's another two-parter. For the first round, all eleven of you will swim out to a station, dive down, unclip a buoy and bring it back to shore. You've gotta be fast, though, because only the first three will move on. For the second round, the three of y'all will swim along an underwater track, releasin' ten buoys along the way. Once you've released all ten, you've gotta get back to shore again. The first person to do this wins reward. Now, let me tell you what you're playin' for.

The castaways get excited.

Courtland: I imagine y'all will be cold after all that swimmin', so what better way to warm up than a hot, home cooked meal of spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread!

The castaways cheer.

Courtland: And of course, what kind of Italian meal would be complete without wine? All the wine y'all can drink will be on offer as well. In addition, the winner sends one person to Exile Island. Let's draw for spots and get started.

The castaways are awaiting Courtland's signal.

Courtland: For reward, Survivors ready? GO!

Reward Challenge: The Big Buoy Race
Cameron	Duong	Kang	Leslie	Mwangi	Na'ama
	Nicole	Ricardo	Sylvia	Thornley	Zydrunas

Challenge Summary- Round One:

• Everyone swims out to their buoys. As usual, Sylvia is the first one out there and already diving down when the others follow her. Duong, Mwangi and Cameron are all at their buoys shortly after, with Ricardo, Kang and Leslie following shortly after.
• Sylvia unclips her buoy and swims back fast, taking the first spot in the second round. Things are tight between Mwangi, Duong and Cameron, but Mwangi struggles to unclip the buoy, giving Duong and Cameron. A little behind them, he tries to make up for it by swimming fast. He cannot catch Duong, who takes the second spot, but it is neck-and-neck between him and Cameron. As they reach the shore, Cameron barely gets over the line first.

Courtland: Sylvia, Duong and Cameron are movin' on!

Challenge Summary- Round Two:

• It is neck-and-neck between the three castaways in the beginning, all of them getting their first three buoys unclipped at roughly the same time. After this, Cameron falls behind a little bit, but Duong remains close to Sylvia.
• Later on, both Duong and Sylvia are on eight buoys, while Cameron is on six. Diving down for the ninth, Sylvia misses unclipping and tangles with it a couple of seconds too long, allowing Duong to take the lead. Duong gets to ten buoys first, and despite Sylvia trying to catch him on the race to shore, Duong gets to the end first and wins.

Courtland: Reward goes to Duong!

Duong: Oh my God, that was so intense.

Duong turns around to Sylvia and she gives him a congratulatory hug and pat on the back. Cameron makes it to shore shortly after, and shakes Duong's hand. The scene resets and the castaways are back on the mat, with the exception of Duong standing next to Courtland.

Courtland: Duong, congratulations on the win! You've got a hot meal waitin' for you soon.

Duong: Good, because I'm freezing. (laughs)

Courtland: This meal is gonna be so great that I think you'll need some friends to enjoy it with. You can take three people with you. Who's goin'?

Duong: Three? Okay. The first choice is so obvious that I think everyone would make it. Zydrunas was the only one who didn't get to eat at the feast and I know my guy is starving, so he's getting this one.

Zydrunas: Thank you so much.

Zydrunas walks over and stands next to Courtland.

Duong: Next I'm gonna take Leslie, because foes to friends is the best timeline, and she saved my ass last night. Come over here, queen.

Leslie beams as she joins Zydrunas and Duong next to Courtland.

Courtland: Okay, Duong, one more pick.

Duong: Alright, uhhhh... I'm gonna take Ricardo.

Ricardo goes and stands next to Courtland.

Courtland: Okay, Duong, one last order of business. Who's goin' to Exile Island?

Duong: I'm gonna send Thornley, please.

Courtland: Alright, Thornley, take this map to Exile. The boat is waitin' for you.

Thornley takes the map and waves goodbye to the group before heading out.

Courtland: Okay, Duong, Zydrunas, Leslie, Ricardo, your transport is waitin' for you too, so head out. We'll see you soon.

The four castaways going on reward leave.

Courtland: Unfortunately for the rest of y'all, the only thing waitin' for you is an afternoon back at camp. You can head out and I'll see you at the next challenge.

The remaining castaways head back to camp.

Day 21- Exile Island

Following the reward challenge, Thornley makes his way up the path and looks around at the island before him.

Thornley: Exile is right. Let’s see what we’ve got here.

He walks up the three urns and reads the note.

Dear Castaway,

Now that you are here on Exile Island, you will be supplied with the bare minimum for your stay. You have the choice between comfort or risking it for a clue to the location of the immunity idol at the merged tribe’s camp. If you choose comfort, you will be able to sleep in a shelter, eat fruit in addition to the rice supplied, and a flint to start the fire. If you choose to go for the clue, you will not have access to anything except water, rice, and whatever else can be found during your stay. You will not be able to use the flint to make fire.

There are no idols or advantages hidden on Exile Island, and this is the only way you may get a clue to its whereabouts. Choose wisely.

Thornley: And I will obviously be going for the clue, so let’s hope I’m lucky today!

Thornley takes the centre urn.

Thornley: Centre for the guy who was in the middle this past vote.

Thornley takes the centre urn and tips it out. He unfurls the scroll and sees a clue for the Vauclin Hidden Immunity Idol.

Thornley: (pumps fist) Yes! Oh, yes!

Thornley jumps up and down with happiness.

Thornley: This is the best thing that could happen to me. The buzz from this is going to get me through the next twenty-four hours.

Duong never sends anyone to Exile without good reason, so I took today as a compliment. We all know the idol clues are here, so I felt that Duong was saying to me that he was serious about taking me to the final four and wanted to give me protection. An idol would be great for the plans I’ve got going, so I took a shot in the dark and ended up picking the correct one! Getting the clue is just the cherry on top of today. I’m feeling incredible and I don’t want anything to change.

Thornley Noel

Day 21- Reward

Jovial music plays as the four castaways going on reward - Duong, Leslie, Ricardo and Zydrunas- make their way into the eatery area. They sit at the table, where there are already bottles of red and white wine. Some servers bring them out piping hot serves of spaghetti bolognese and freshly baked garlic bread. The server then goes around with some parmesan and a grater, and each castaway gets their desired amount of cheese. They then all dig in.

Zydrunas: I can’t tell you whether it’s just the indescribable starvation I’ve been feeling for the past three weeks, or if this is genuinely the most incredible meal I’ve ever eaten, but this is so good.

Duong: Nah, I think this is the best meal I’ve had. The garlic bread is so good, they literally must have just gotten it out of the oven. I’m glad you’re liking it, though. I felt so bad when you got sent to Exile.

Leslie: Me too. I would have been so mad if that was me. You took it better than I ever would have. (laughs)

Zydrunas: Eh, it was just a few hours on Exile. You’ve been there before.

Leslie: Not instead of missing out on a massive feast! Speaking of, thank you so much for picking me, Duong!

Duong: No prob! I felt it was the least I could do after you saved my butt last night.

Ricardo: (pouring himself a glass of wine) Thanks for picking me, too. This is awesome.

Duong: Ooh, and that reminds me. No getting drunk! This meal is too good to waste by potentially vomiting it up and I am declaring drunkenness illegal under the Law of Duong Tran. So eat and drink up! But not too much, because if you get drunk and vomit, I think I’ll have to kill you.

Everyone laughs and gets back to eating. The camera cuts to Duong’s confessional.

Okay, this was the best reward I could have won. Perfect time, perfect food, and I beat Sylvia in a physical challenge! Some skinny little dancer beat the professional athlete. I love life sometimes. (laughs) My picks for reward and Exile were strategic, obviously. I sent Thornley because I wanted him to know we were good. I picked Zydrunas for the reward because he needed to eat, but also because I knew he’d give me updates; I picked Leslie because I wanted us to bond so she was less tempted to jump ship later on, and I picked Ricardo because I wanted to keep an eye on him. Out of the whole group, he’s the one I trust the least, even if he does have the same goals as me, so if he’s here, then he won’t be able to pull any tricks. I’m looking forward to this afternoon! I have control and it’s important I don’t relinquish it.

Duong Minh Tran

Following Duong’s confessional, we head to a time where everyone has finished eating. Leslie is lying down on a chair, cradling her stomach.

Leslie: If I move a muscle I think I’m going to explode. I’m so full right now.

Ricardo: (laughing) Good, then you’re trapped so I can talk to you. All part of my evil plan!

Leslie: (smiles) Don’t make me laugh, this situation is pretty precarious right now.

Ricardo: Okay, let me get back to being serious, then. I was hoping you and I could talk about the future, clear some stuff up so you know I’m with you.

Out of the five I’m with, the one I’m least confident in is Leslie. I know we were against each other during our time on Biguine and I know I promised her that I would vote Zydrunas out, so I’m not sure how much she trusts me or wants to work with me. I don’t want her to feel like she’s in any sort of danger with me around, because I know that this group is the best one for me. Zydrunas, Duong and Kang are a tight trio and the latter two are massive threats. This reward is a perfect time for us to catch up. When Duong picked Leslie, I was hoping so bad that he would pick me too. I have an opportunity to smooth things over and make sure the group is comfortable, and I’m gonna take it.

Ricardo Quispe

Leslie: I bet you’re about as surprised as I am that I’m working with you, huh? Day one Leslie never would have.

Ricardo: And day one Ricardo would have been so suspicious of you. I don’t think we could have worked together even if you wanted to.

Leslie: What was it about me that had you and the boys so nervous?

Ricardo: I guess Duong was so nervous about you being so alike to Stephanie that you would go to her, and it caught on. You went for the women anyway, and no offense, but you are pretty headstrong. I think a lot of people were more on guard with you than Atlantis or Betrys.

Leslie: I tend to intimidate a few men. (smiles) That’s just me. Being a woman in app development and IT, too, I faced a lot of stuff that men wouldn’t get. I hardened up once I hit my twenties and decided I wasn’t going to take it anymore. I don’t like to be pushed around and I don’t make apologies for it.

Ricardo: Nor should you. I think that’s pretty cool. Kind of like me, actually. I don’t like to be a pushover. I think you and I have more in common than we thought. It’s why I’m excited to finally work with you.

Leslie: Yeah, me too. So you’re down with the five we talked about?

Ricardo: Yeah, I think it’s the best for all of us. I want to get rid of Nicole, Sylvia needs to go, and Na’ama will sneak under the radar. Once we get down to the eight, Kang and Duong are the biggest threats. I mean, surely you see that.

Leslie: I see it, don’t worry.

Ricardo: And Zydrunas is like their puppet. He’s gonna stay loyal to them the whole time. I know it was Kang and not me who got him to stay loyal on Calinda. So if we stick to the group of five, we can all make it there, then it’s everyone for themselves.

Leslie: Sounds like a plan to me.

Ricardo: Is there anything you wanna clear up about me? Because I can answer them too.

Leslie: I guess I’d just like to know why you’re so aggressive, because that’s the main reason people don’t trust you, and it’s not just me. You’re always scheming.

Ricardo: I think it’s not coming from money, and then a million dollars staring me in the face. There’s a lot of poverty in my area and it impacted my family too. I know I’m an only child because they couldn’t afford another, and they sacrificed a lot to let me chase my dreams. It’s about making them proud and knowing their efforts weren’t wasted, I think.

Leslie: Yeah, cool. I didn’t know that about you, but thanks for telling me.

Ricardo: I didn’t really want to go around telling everyone because, you know, they might think I have a sympathy story at Final Tribal and kick me off. But yeah, that’s me. I’m down with the five, Leslie. You don’t have to worry about anything.

Leslie: Thanks. I’m down, too.

As the conversation concludes, the camera cuts to Leslie’s confessional.

The food on this reward was incredible. I don’t remember the last time I was ever that full, but I knew I wasn’t being taken because I’d enjoy the food. The strategy talk was going to come, even if it did while I was virtually stuck to a chair. Ricardo wanted to assure me that he was committed to the group of five, but even so, I’m wary of him. His game mode is always on, the wheels are always turning, and I know that if the circumstances changed, he’d turn against me or someone else in a heartbeat. Even when he was telling me his story, he was straight back to how it would impact him in the game. Nicole asked me to vote Ricardo out before her and I’m yet to see anything that could be a negative about it.

Leslie Dale

Next, we are taken to a conversation between Duong and Zydrunas.

Duong: I hope you enjoyed the food!

Zydrunas: It was great. It definitely makes up for missing out on the feast.

Duong: I’m glad. Anyway, has anything else happened that I should know about? Any deals or something?

Zydrunas: Aside from trying to make Thornley one of our numbers instead of one of Cameron and Ricardo’s, no. But I think we’re making good progress with that. I doubt he would flip with them even if he was asked.

Duong: I think that they made a five with Thornley, Leslie and Mwangi. Did he say anything about that?

Zydrunas: No, but he’s probably just holding his cards close to his chest. I have no doubt that it’s happened, but if he sells out the alliance, it will reflect badly on him.

Duong: Yeah, fair. But you think he’s with us?

Zydrunas: I think so for sure.

Duong: I’m probably gonna talk to Leslie and see where her head is at. Ricardo wouldn’t make a move on us while Nicole is still in the game, but who knows what Sylvia’s group are going to do?

Zydrunas: That’s a good idea. I probably won’t get approached about anything while we’re here, but if I hear anything back at camp, I’ll tell you.

Duong: Thanks! I know I can always count on you, Zydrunas.

Duong and Zydrunas part ways. Zydrunas is smiling as the camera cuts to his confessional.

Duong took me on a food reward, which I’m so grateful for. I was the only one who didn’t get to eat at the feast, so I’ve been extra starving on top of the regular Survivor starving. He knew that, and even though he is a schemer, I know it was also out of the kindness of his heart. Duong’s a good guy. The thing that’s even better than the food is the confirmation that my strategy is working. Duong went right to me for updates and I told him that Thornley would be sticking with us for sure. What he doesn’t, and won’t, know is that I’ve made a deal with him. As far as I want everyone to be concerned, I’m riding the coattails of Duong and Kang, and I’m hoping that they’ll be hated enough that I can get votes against them. Duong believes wholeheartedly that I am stuck to him like glue, and he will keep believing that.

Zydrunas Kazlauskas

We are then taken directly to a conversation between Duong and Leslie.

Duong: Hey Leslie!

Leslie: Strategy talk?

Duong: Am I that transparent?

Leslie: No, I just needed to know in advance so I could warn you not to take it personally if I fall into a coma. It’s not because you’re boring, it’s because I’m so full I can hardly move. (smiles) Also, don’t make me laugh. I don’t trust myself.

Duong: Jesus Christ, are you okay? I wanted to do something nice for you, not kill you. (laughs)

Leslie: I’m fine! I promise. I just need to grin and bear it. I’ll be fine soon when the food settles down. What’s up?

Duong: I just wanna bury the hatchet between us and make sure we’re okay. We haven’t always seen eye to eye but I wanna change that.

Talking to Leslie was important for me because, apart from Ricardo, I feel like she would be the most likely to change things up. Sort of a last to arrive, first to leave thing. There has been some animosity between us in the past because I wanted her out for ages. I want to make sure that there’s nothing lingering so I don’t have to worry about her again. At least on my end, I have no reason to want her out. She’s not on my radar and I hope I can show her that.

Duong Minh Tran

Leslie: There’s no hatchet to bury. I know why you wanted me out. It was because I intimidated you, wasn’t it?

Duong: Uh, well… yeah. (laughs)

Leslie: Funny, that’s what Ricardo said. I guess I intimidate men a lot. (she laughs, then groans) Also, <expletive> you for making me laugh.

Duong: Sorry! I know it’s totally anti-feminist of me, but yeah, you’re a smart woman and the Duong vs. Stephanie thing was just beginning and I thought you were the most likely to go to her and bring people with you, so I wanted you gone.

Leslie: Aligning with her was what I wanted, but then she dropped the ball hard.

Duong: I’m glad she did. I respect you, and I think you’ve played well so far. I’m excited that we’re working together. Speaking of, do you have any plans for beyond now?

Leslie: No, not really. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to you to know that I’m with Thornley and Mwangi, right?

Duong: Nah, I figured you were anyway. We’d have to be pretty stupid not to think the three swings got together. But I was more curious because I wanted to know if you thought you were on the bottom.

Leslie: It has crossed my mind. I know you, Kang, Zydrunas and Ricardo have been together more or less since day one.

Duong: Well, you’re not on the bottom. There’s people in the group who I don’t trust and would send out over you.

Leslie: Like who?

Duong: I’m not gonna get away with being vague, huh? Well, Ricardo is one of them. He’s always scheming and he was gonna sell Zydrunas out. I know he’s got a deal with Cameron and I don’t see him sticking with me in the near future, you know?

Leslie: I do know. I’m wary of him myself. The plan is still Nicole, right?

Duong: Yeah! It’s still her. Ricardo really wanted her out. At least we know he won’t do anything while she’s still in the game.

The conversation finishes and the camera cuts to Leslie’s confessional.

I had an interesting conversation with Duong. What started with burying a nonexistent hatchet ended with him telling me that he doesn’t trust Ricardo. He has the same fears about him as I do, and this thing with Nicole is the only way we’re one hundred percent sure he’s being honest. I took it as a green light from him that I could vote Ricardo out and still make my way back into the alliance. For me it’s about weighing up the pros and cons, and I don’t think it would be too much skin off my back to get him out and save face with Nicole. I know he’s part of a final five with us and he swears he’ll stick to it, but Ricardo has promised a lot of things throughout the game. We’d still have a four to three alliance within the majority, so there’s nothing holding me back. I need to make the best move for my game.

Leslie Dale

Day 21- Vauclin Camp

Following the reward scenes, we are taken back to the Vauclin camp, where those who have not gone on reward or been sent to Exile Island- Cameron, Kang, Mwangi, Na’ama, Nicole and Sylvia- have returned after the challenge. After a little bit of small talk, the castaways quickly break off to do their own thing. Nicole, Na’ama and Sylvia are having a conversation.

Sylvia: So let’s go over our plan. I’ll talk to Mwangi. It’s a shame that Thornley isn’t here, because Na’ama probably could have talked to him.

Na’ama: I think it’s better that I’m not talking to anyone, because if all three of us are, they’ll think we’re up to something.

Sylvia: True. I’m nervous about talking to Mwangi. I don’t want to break down again. I hope he’ll at least save me over Ricardo. He has no ties to him, just to Cameron, and they’re up by so much. Ugh, I can already feel myself getting worked up again.

Nicole: If he doesn’t, then he’s not the person we all thought he was, and I’d feel like a total idiot.

Sylvia: I don’t think anyone feels more like an idiot than me. What are you doing this afternoon?

Nicole: Still pushing Ricardo. I could speak to Kang if he hasn’t been blowing smoke this entire time.

Sylvia: Okay. (deep sigh) Let’s do this.

The three women part ways. The camera cuts to Na’ama’s confessional.

I think a lot of people might believe that me sitting back and doing nothing whilst the other two women fight for our safety is lazy and cowardly, but it helps both the group, and me individually. It will help the group because, at this stage, what we’re doing is pushing ourselves ahead of Ricardo. All three of us trying to sway people will make it look more like we’re planning something sinister, and Nicole and Sylvia need to save themselves more than I do. It will help my personal game because I think the attention will remain off me, and there will be no thoughts about my idol. Sometimes the best move is no move at all.

Na'ama Mizrahi

Following Na’ama’s confessional, Sylvia takes Mwangi down to the beach.

Sylvia: I’m not looking forward to this, but I really need to talk to you.

Mwangi: Okay. Sylvia, I’m sorry about everything-

Sylvia: I don’t want that right now. I don’t want to risk crying again. You know you’ve crushed me, and you know I’m clinging to life in the game. I need your help and I really hope we can do something this time.

It’s easy for people and players to say that it’s just a game, but with Mwangi and I, it always felt like more than that. I will never stop talking about our culture because it’s a central part of my life. I believed that Mwangi and I would play similar games, and for twenty days, he gave me the impression that he and I were always on the same page. Instead of choosing me, he chose Cameron. No matter what Cameron did, he was forgiven, and no matter what I did, I was asked to trust him. He threw away our bond and our loyalty for someone who broke bonds and promises like they were made of glass. I never envisioned him as the cutthroat and dangerous player, but he has shown me that he is, and it kills me that I need his help again and am setting myself up for failure. I have no one else to turn to and I hope that whatever small spark of our bond that remains is enough for him to vote out Ricardo over me.

Sylvia Tikolo

Mwangi: Sylvia, I wish that things were different. Our friendship is important to me. I don’t want to leave it like this.

Sylvia: Then you need to make sure that I don’t go home. And I don’t just mean voting Nicole or Na’ama out over me, because if your idea of repairing our friendship is making sure that I’m the last to leave out of the minority, then try again.

Mwangi: What do you want me to do?

Sylvia: I want you to come over with us just for this one vote and send Ricardo home.

Mwangi: (sighs) I don’t know if I can do that.

Sylvia: You absolutely can, because as far as I’m concerned, you’re up eight to three. Surely there is no scenario in which going down to seven is going to be detrimental. If you’re worried about losing your own majority, no one trusts Ricardo anyway, and if you’re more worried about losing a majority than trying to fix a friendship, then I misjudged you.

Mwangi: Sylvia, I know it doesn’t feel like I care about you at the moment, but on the inside, I am hurting. I never wanted things to go down this road.

Sylvia: You’re right, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like you displayed a completely different side of yourself to me for twenty days and only just now revealed the real side of you; the cutthroat, the villain, the guy who’d step on anyone to get ahead. I saw that in Cameron, Ricardo and Duong, but not you. It feels like I was tricked into giving up my game by putting trust in a guy who I thought was like me. I get this is a game, Mwangi, and I get that people will try to win, but you used weapons I never dreamed of. You gave me comfort, a friend, someone who shared my life and my culture, someone who reminded me of home, and then took it all away. I was too blind to see it.

Mwangi: I didn’t use our culture and way of life as a weapon. I promise you that. Until last night, I intended to go to the end with you.

Sylvia: Coulda, woulda, shoulda, that means nothing to me.

Mwangi: I was stuck in an impossible situation between my two best friends.

Sylvia: And you chose the one who lied to you, who betrayed us, who constantly made different bonds and excuses. I was the one who was going to stick with you, who had the means to get you to the end, and you turned your back on me. And to add insult to injury, you made a group with two people you had barely spoken to or interacted with.

Mwangi: I don’t want this animosity between us. I hate that you think I’m some fraud who manipulated you for three weeks because I’m not, and I hate that you’re so upset. What would getting rid of Ricardo do for us?

Sylvia: It wouldn’t repair us but it would go a little way to you at least showing me that you’re addressing what we had, and all the faith that I placed in you. It would show me that you have a heart and maybe you care about the people around you.

Mwangi: I’d have to think about it, but if voting Ricardo out would fix some of what was lost and show that I care about you, then maybe I could do it.

Sylvia: You should. You’d still have Cameron and you’d be able to cut the influence of Ricardo out. There is nothing holding Ricardo here and no benefit to keeping him around.

Mwangi: I’ll talk it over with Leslie and Thornley when they get back, but Sylvia, no matter what happens, know from the bottom of my heart, I mean it when I say I want to fix this rift between us.

Mwangi and Sylvia part ways. The camera cuts to Mwangi’s confessional.

It breaks my heart, truly and genuinely, that Sylvia sees me as a manipulative supervillain. I didn’t fake any of our friendship and I never wanted her to believe that I would use our culture as a weapon to make her trust me. I had every intention of working with her until I had to make a hard choice. I hope that she can watch this back and realise that I was never doing what she thinks I was. And you know, I have a five-person alliance with Ricardo, but maybe it would be more beneficial for me to take him out. Ricardo does have influence over Cameron and he doesn’t have any loyalty to me. I’d still have a majority within the majority if everyone else is true. I picked Cameron’s side initially because I thought it was my best chance of winning, but maybe the message I need to send is that friendships can’t have a price tag put on them.

Mwangi Ndung'u

Following this conversation, there is a transitional nature shot to where Nicole is shown talking to Kang.

Nicole: So, Kang, you know me. I deal with honesty and I’m not going to waste your time or mine by saying things that aren’t true.

Kang: Yes, I know. You’re the most honest person out here.

Nicole: You’re the one person in the game, outside of my alliance, that I respect. Everyone else has gone to the dark side and played dirty. You’ve made your plays but you’ve done it in a respectful way that doesn’t shove it in our faces.

Kang: I appreciate that. I’ve always tried to be clear about my game and how I’ll play it. No one likes arrogance.

Nicole: Exactly. On that note, I think we could strike a deal. I know that I’m drawing dead and I have no chance of winning, but there are some people who I want out of the game even more than I still want to be here. Arrogant people who I want to outlast for my own personal satisfaction.

Kang: Ricardo?

Nicole: Yes, and a couple more, but I’m reasonable. I know that you can only afford to get rid of one, which is why I’m asking for you to make sure Ricardo goes first before me, Na’ama or Sylvia. In return, I would promise you my eventual jury vote.

I have nothing left to offer at this point other than my jury vote. No one outside of my alliance is going to work with me, nor do I want them to. I don’t have the energy in my life right now for false hope. I spoke to Kang today because he’s the one person left who I respect, but that respect will vanish if Ricardo stays in the game. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable ask to just outlast one person in exchange for my locked vote at the end, and I don’t think Kang has a reason to reject the offer. He said to me all through Calinda that he didn’t trust Ricardo, and unless that was just a boldfaced lie, then it would work to his advantage to send Ricardo home. I clearly don’t know a lot about the social politics here, but one thing I do know is that Ricardo has absolutely no intention of staying loyal to Kang.

Nicole Papadakis

Kang: That’s an interesting offer. I’m flattered.

Nicole: It’s one that you should accept. Obviously I would give my vote to Sylvia or Na’ama if they managed to make it there, but at the moment there’s very little chance of that. Aside from them, you’re the one I want to see win.

Kang: Well, thank you. So, outside of Ricardo going home, you wouldn’t ask me for anything else?

Nicole: No, this is the one thing I’m requesting, and I think it would benefit you, too. Unless you’ve been lying to me this whole time, you don’t trust Ricardo.

Kang: I haven’t been lying to you, Nicole.

Nicole: Good. I understood getting rid of Atlantis, but right now, I don’t think there’s anyone who should go other than Ricardo. You and I both know there is no chance Ricardo works with you beyond the next couple of votes. He already tried to sell out Zydrunas and you’ll end up on his radar, too. So why not take this opportunity to get rid of someone who’s just going to target you later, and pick up some jury votes at the same time?

Kang pauses for a moment to reflect on this.

Kang: You’ve got a good point. But how do I know that you three aren’t planning something else? You could use this to stab me in the back, or use this to climb further up the ranks.

Nicole: No, not going to happen. If I give you my word on something, you could stake your life on it.

Kang: I’d need you to shake on that and put your word on the line before I committed to even thinking about it.

Nicole: I’ll shake on it right now. If you boot Ricardo, I will not ask you for anything else and I will not stab you in the back.

Nicole shakes Kang’s hand.

Kang: I need you to understand that this is not a commitment to me doing it, but to thinking about it. I need to assess everything else first, okay?

Nicole: Okay, I understand.

The two part ways. The camera cuts to Kang’s confessional.

Nicole has prided her game on two things: her hatred of Ricardo and Cameron, and her honesty. Today she offered me a deal that sounds extraordinary on paper: I send Ricardo home over her allies, and in exchange, she gives me her jury vote, and will ask for nothing else. At first glance it seems like I can’t lose, but nothing in life is ever that simple. Sylvia is a dangerous player and, while I trust her hurt is genuine, I think she’s definitely using it to sway votes back in her direction. Eliminating Ricardo gets rid of a future threat and takes me down to seven. My concern is that Leslie or Mwangi could get sucked into going back to their side. That makes five, and all it takes is for one more person to join them and I’ve lost the numbers. I need to make sure that the rest of my alliance is secure before eating one of my own.

Kang Bohai

Directly following Kang’s confessional, we see him talking to Cameron.

Kang: Cameron, the women are up to something and I’m not sure how many people are being swayed.

Cameron: What’s going on?

Kang: They’re trying to bargain Ricardo in exchange for better treatment once they get to the jury. Nicole obviously wants to outlast him, Sylvia is trying to push herself one step further, and Na’ama will vote with them. I think some people might be tempted to go for it.

Cameron: Are you one of them?

Kang: I’ve been asked, yes, but I don’t trust that this will be the end of it. For Nicole, I would say she’s only in it to outlast him. Sylvia, on the other hand, she’s hurt for sure, but I think she’s using it to her advantage.

Cameron: She’s manipulative as hell. She’s the most dangerous person in this game. We can’t let her get any further. Obviously Ricardo wants Nicole, but Sylvia makes me nervous.

Kang: The biggest concern for me is that, yes, Ricardo is a player who wants to win the million dollars and I don’t think I factor into his endgame plans. But if Sylvia gets this one, she might convince people to jump back permanently and we could lose our numbers. I’m not prepared to risk everything, even if I am wary of some people in our group.

Cameron: Ricardo won’t touch you, man, I’ll make sure of it. We can’t give Sylvia any more power than she already has, and she’s on the bloody bottom.

Kang: I need your help to make sure we maintain our alliance. Can you do that?

Cameron: I’ll talk to Mwangi right now. He’s a good guy with a heart of gold and she’ll take advantage of that.

Kang told me that the women are trying to get Ricardo out. Honestly, I’d be pretty annoyed if anyone went for it, because the “vote for this one person and I’ll respect you again” is, like, primary school level of blackmail. We’re not kids out here, we’re full grown adults. I understand that some people are hurt, and others are upset that they’ve hurt those people, but that’s no reason to throw away our majority. Mwangi is one of the people who could be swayed, because I know he wants to make things up to Sylvia, but this isn’t the way. Mwangi and I have a really strong friendship, so I don’t want to see him be taken advantage of like this. I need to talk to him.

Cameron Cervantes

Cameron makes his way over to Mwangi and begins talking to him.

Cameron: Hey, man, I’ve heard that Sylvia’s alliance are trying to get rid of Ricardo.

Mwangi: Yeah. Sylvia is really upset, and she’s asked that we get rid of him as a one time thing.

Cameron: It’s never going to be one time, though. Sylvia’s hurt, but Kang and I both think that she’s using this for the game as well. How long is she gonna hold it over your head? I doubt that she’s just gonna let it happen once and be done with it. Suddenly it’ll be brought up again at ten, then nine, then eight, and suddenly you’re back in with her going to the end.

Mwangi: That’s not going to happen, and I wish you two would stop slinging insults back and forth at each other because it’s getting tiring. What happened to our day one friendship?

Cameron: I really wanted it, Mwangi, honestly I did. But no matter how hard we tried, Sylvia kept pulling in the other direction, and we couldn’t stop her. I’m sorry to keep bringing up that she’s manipulating everyone, but it’s the truth. I’m only saying it because you’re my friend. You’ve stuck with me through everything, even when other people were pressuring you, and our bond is really strong.

Mwangi: I know our bond is. From the first day I’ve felt something genuine about you, even through the mistakes you’ve made. I want to be around genuine people in my life, and you don’t try to hide your flaws, but make them a part of who you are.

Cameron: Right back at you. You’re one of the only people who believed me when I said I wasn’t a bad person, and let me say the same to you. You are not a bad person no matter what Nicole, Na’ama, or Sylvia would have you believe. Sylvia put you in a bad position, and you made a choice. Making the one she doesn’t agree with isn’t a crime.

Mwangi: Thank you. There is a part of me that feels like I owe her something. We were friends from day one and I’ve hurt her.

Cameron: You owe her nothing and don’t make her think you do. If she was a real friend she’d know that you were just doing what’s best for your game. Don’t let her get in your head, man.

Mwangi: I promise you that I would never let their side get the numbers back, but if Ricardo goes, then we’d still have a 4-3 majority within our group.

Cameron: Man, I know you want to make things better with Sylvia, but trust me, this is just gonna be held over your head. Flipping back and forth makes you look bad. Don’t get rid of Ricardo. Stick with me, and we can go to the final five with the original group. You and I are locked solid.

Mwangi: Thanks, Cameron. I really appreciate our friendship.

Cameron: It’s not gonna go away for anything. Listen, man, Sylvia and Nicole tried their tactics on me and I nearly wavered for the exact same reasons you are: I felt bad and I felt like I owed people something. Keep in mind I never broke my agreement with Sylvia, she refused to go where I wanted to go and expected me to destroy my game. Those women are in that position for a reason, and we need to take them out.

The two finish their conversation. The camera cuts to another of Mwangi’s confessionals.

It seems as if I’m stuck in a never ending time loop. I’m still choosing between Sylvia and Cameron. On one hand, Sylvia wants to repair our friendship and believes eliminating Ricardo would go some way towards that. She has been a close friend of mine for three weeks and I do feel like I owe her an olive branch. On the other hand, Cameron is insistent that we stick to our plan of Nicole, as this would continuously be held over me. He believes that Ricardo going would signal the end of our alliance as the women would be able to bridge the gap and find extra numbers. I fee like I owe him, too, and I wouldn’t want to be the cause of an alliance I just flipped to going down. That being said, if everyone keeps to their agreement, then what is there to lose from voting for Ricardo first? My head keeps spinning. I need to break out of this predicament once and for all.

Mwangi Ndung'u

Day 22- Immunity Challenge

Courtland: Alright, y'all, let's get this challenge underway!

The castaways walk in and stand on their mat.

Courtland: Before we begin, we need to bring back Thornley from Exile Island.

The castaways applaud Thornley as he returns.

Courtland: And for the second order of business, Sylvia, I need the necklace back.

Sylvia unhooks the necklace and hands it to Courtland.

Courtland: For the challenge today, you'll use one hand to pull a rope and steady a board. With the other hand, you'll build a stack of tiles like a house of cards, aimin' to get the stack tall enough to reach the white line and stay up for three seconds. If we get to half an hour in and no one has reached the line, the person with the tallest stack will win. That person guarantees themselves a one in ten shot at winnin' the game. We'll draw for spots and get started.

The castaways are awaiting Courtland's signal.

Courtland: For immunity, this challenge is now on.

Immunity Challenge: Teeter Tower
Cameron	Duong	Kang	Leslie	Mwangi	Na'ama
	Nicole	Ricardo	Sylvia	Thornley	Zydrunas

Challenge Summary:

• Everyone is in this challenge at some point, but a few have troubles. Thornley cannot get the tower above a couple of feet; Zydrunas can hardly build a tower at all; Cameron and Ricardo continuously tip the board.
• Duong, Kang, Sylvia, Na'ama, Mwangi and Leslie are all in with good shots of winning the challenge. Nicole is there for a while, but runs out of tiles and has to start her stack again, effectively taking her out of it.
• As the game nears the end, and people start getting to the white line, Na'ama runs out of tiles and has to start again. Leslie and Duong both accidentally drop their stacks. Sylvia is ahead, followed by Mwangi, and Kang.
• With a few tiles to go before reaching the white line, Sylvia makes the ultimate mistake and accidentally touches her stack in the wrong place, sending the entire thing toppling down. She is devastated.
• Mwangi and Kang are the only two in it, racing against each other to hit the white line. In the end, it is Mwangi who hits the line first. Kang watches on as Courtland counts to three and declares Mwangi's stack stable, and Mwangi the winner of the challenge.

Courtland: Immunity goes to Mwangi!

With relief, Mwangi lets his stack drop, as does Kang. Kang gives Mwangi a congratulatory handshake and smile. The camera focuses on Sylvia, who has put her head in her hands in despair. The scene resets and the castaways are back on the mat.

Courtland: Mwangi, come on over!

Mwangi is applauded as he goes over to Courtland, who then puts the necklace on him.

Courtland: That was a tight finish in the end, but Mwangi, you pulled it out. As a result you are the only one here who can walk into Tribal tonight with a guaranteed spot in the final ten. As for the rest of y'all, someone will be voted out tonight and the jury will begin. You have the afternoon to figure out who's goin' to the Jury House. Grab your stuff and head out. I'll see you tonight.

The castaways leave. The camera focuses on Mwangi's smile for a moment before fading away.

Day 22- Pre-Tribal

Following Mwangi’s immunity win, the castaways head back to camp ahead of their next Tribal Council.

Kang: Congratulations, Mwangi. That was a tough challenge.

Mwangi: Thank you. Yeah, you gave me a run for my money.

Sylvia: I’m so annoyed with myself. I almost had it but I accidentally knocked over my tower.

Ricardo: I knocked over my tower about a billion times. It was so frustrating.

Sylvia: Tell me about it.

Mwangi hangs his necklace up outside the shelter and everyone goes off to strategise. Kang is looking determined as the camera cuts to his confessional.

Sylvia was so close to winning her third immunity challenge. For me, that was the final straw.I’m not getting rid of Nicole; Sylvia is the most dangerous player here and she needs to go immediately. In addition to being physically dominant, she has worked tirelessly to change votes around to Ricardo. She has come very close to destroying my alliance before, and with all the animosity and hurt feelings around now, she could succeed. She’s the biggest roadblock to our alliance’s success. I don’t care how many people hate Nicole. We can’t afford to appease personal grudges when our games are in danger.

Kang Bohai

We then see the alliance of eight - consisting of everyone except Nicole, Na’ama and Sylvia- as they discuss the vote.

Cameron: So it’s gonna be Nicole, right?

Ricardo: Yeah, she’s been a thorn in my side for so long. It’s gonna be so fun to take her out.

Kang: No, I think we need to switch to Sylvia while we have the chance. She’s the biggest roadblock to our success.

Cameron: No, come on, we agreed on Nicole.

Kang: Nicole is no threat to us. Sylvia is physically strong and she’s playing hard strategically. She’s working so many people to get the votes changed and she wants to stay here so badly.

Duong: Honestly, I agree. Sylvia nearly won the challenge today. We might not get another chance to take her out for a while.

Kang: I think she’s taking advantage of the animosity and hurt feelings to guilt people into changing sides. It nearly worked on Cameron last vote. The other side is going to be so much weaker with just Nicole and Na’ama.

Ricardo: What difference does it make if Nicole goes first? We’ll all stick to our numbers and get rid of Sylvia next. This is bull<expletive>. I wanted Nicole out last time and you said no, we needed to be careful of an idol. Then you said we could get her out this time, and all of a sudden, things have changed? She might not be a danger to you guys but she is a danger to me. I am being targeted and I want to feel safe in this game for once.

Kang: Ricardo, you are being targeted anyway. You’re the name that Sylvia is throwing out to guilt everyone into switching over. It’s going to be so much easier for all of us if she goes.

Mwangi: Oh boy, putting Sylvia in the minority and then voting her out is going to be tough for me.

Ricardo: See? We have to stick to our plan.

Thornley: No, I think that Sylvia’s the most dangerous. If she’s doing this, she’s our number one priority.

Zydrunas: Yeah, I agree. I want to switch to her.

Cameron: Guys, if we all know she’s doing this, then why would she be a danger to us if we kept her one more vote?

Duong: One more vote gives her one more chance. Leslie, what do you think?

Leslie: I agree with you. I think if people are pushing for Sylvia and she’s dangerous to us, then let’s change.

Ricardo: This is ridiculous, but fine, whatever. If the majority of you want Sylvia, then we’ll do it. But so help me if you screw me over, or next vote you try to take out Na’ama. This is the very last time I’m holding out on this.

I’m so sick of this. The vote was always Nicole, and then all of a sudden, it was changed to Sylvia. I asked for Nicole the first time to kick her off the jury and was ignored then, and I’m being ignored now. Sure, she’s not a danger to these guys, but I’m getting votes tonight, and if Nicole is still in at the next Tribal, I’ll get votes again. Nobody seems to understand that. They’re all so scared of Sylvia but literally no one is going to give her an opening. They should be more scared of me because this is clearly showing my position in the alliance. I have no choice but to go along with this because the other option is me, but I’m not happy.

Ricardo Quispe

Directly following this conversation, Duong speaks with Cameron and Mwangi.

Duong: I know we’re changing a plan and it’s hard for you two especially, but are you both okay?

Mwangi: Yeah. I’m just saying that it will be hard.

Cameron: I’m fine, I’m just aware that we promised Ricardo it would be Nicole for two days then went back on it.

Duong: I know, and if I didn’t feel like this was a matter of urgency, I’d be voting for Nicole too, but Sylvia is so dangerous.

When Kang wanted to change the vote to Sylvia, I knew we had to get rid of her. I think she’s the most dangerous and she could go on an immunity run, but the decision made a few people unhappy. Alliance management is super important to me and I don’t want us to collapse because a few people disagree on who should go next. That’s exactly what the other side want. As soon as the conversation was done, I pulled Cameron and Mwangi aside just to make sure they were heard, and I understood, but we needed to do this for our alliance as a whole.

Duong Minh Tran

Cameron: I know how strong a player Sylvia is. I know she needs to go, but I’m nervous because Ricardo wants her out so bad. Part of me is like, we should do this and just get rid of Sylvia later.

Duong: I understand that, but my point is there might not be a later. I think we’ve got a chance and we have to take it.

Cameron: Yeah, I get that. Don’t worry.

Mwangi: My biggest concern about this is Sylvia’s going to go to the jury absolutely hating me. She took being in the minority so hard, and if I were to vote her out immediately afterwards, it would be so much worse.

Duong: I understand that, Mwangi. Like, if I was in your position I’d be thinking about the exact same thing. Saving her for one vote isn’t going to do anything except tell her that she can keep coming back to it, and she will. It’ll look bad on you, too, because you’d be flipping back and forth, and honestly, saving her once and giving her hope would be worse because the voteout will hurt more. If you rip the bandaid off now, then there’s more time for her to process things.

Mwangi: I see what you’re saying.

Duong: Listen, if I didn’t feel like this was such an urgent thing, I would be more than happy to vote for Nicole tonight, but we have to have our priorities as a group of eight so that we can stay together. Her manipulation tactics have nearly worked before and things are close to shifting again. Are you guys happy to vote for her?

Mwangi: I know why she has to go, it will just be hard.

Cameron: Yeah, we’ll vote for her.

Duong: Awesome, thanks guys.

Cameron: Thanks for talking to us.

Tonight is difficult because I know it needs to be Sylvia, but I wanted to push for Nicole to stand by my friend. It’s gonna be bad for Ricardo because Nicole is gonna keep targeting him. If I was in Ricardo’s position, I’d feel the same way. If anyone else in our alliance was in that position, they’d be pushing for Nicole, too. It’s bad for Mwangi because Sylvia’s gonna hold this against him, but it’s her manipulation and hard strategic play that makes her the biggest threat. I don’t want our alliance to be screwed so I’m doing what’s best for us.

Cameron Cervantes

Following Cameron’s confessional, we see Na’ama, Nicole and Sylvia talking.

Sylvia: Ugh, I’m so annoyed that I didn’t win today. Knocking over that damn tower is probably going to cost me the game.

Nicole: No, we’re going to get the numbers for Ricardo! And if anyone from our group goes, it’s going to be me. Ricardo and Cameron have it out for me.

Sylvia: We’ll definitely vote for him, but I’ve been let down a lot these past few days. I talked to Mwangi and he said he’d think about it.

Nicole: I’ve spoken to Leslie and Kang. If we can get Mwangi, Leslie and Thornley, though, that’s the majority anyway. Kang and Zydrunas have both said to me several times they don’t trust him.

Na’ama: Why don’t we talk to Thornley now? If he’s on board, it will be easy to convince the other two and we can get our six votes.

The three of them make their way over to Mwangi, Leslie and Thornley

Nicole: So, Thornley, since you weren’t here yesterday, let me catch you up: we’ve been asking around about the possibility of sending Ricardo home. We’ve spoken to Leslie and Mwangi already, and we’re hoping that, being up 8-3, you’d throw us this bone.

Thornley: Okay.

Na’ama: We don’t hold a grudge against any of you, so please don’t think that.

Sylvia: We just want this one vote so we can feel a little better about ourselves. We’re not asking for a permanent alliance, just to please push us above Ricardo, who is a dangerous threat anyway. Leslie, Mwangi, have you had a chance to think?

Leslie: Yeah. I mean, it sounds like a good deal, but we need to make sure we’re doing the right thing.

Mwangi: We’d just need a little longer, and to discuss this with Thornley properly, before we commit to anything.

Na’ama: That’s fair. I hope we can reach an agreement.

Leslie: Yeah, like you said, it makes sense to do this when we’re up 8-3, but we can’t jump without Thornley.

Thornley: And I’d like a chance to talk to both of them before I say yes. Two days ago this wasn’t even on the radar for me, and I’ve just come back from Exile Island to things changing. Is that okay?

Sylvia: That’s fine. I promise you, I’m not trying to drag you into something permanent.

Thornley: Thank you. We’ll get back to you.

The group parts ways. The camera cuts to Thornley’s confessional.

A lot has changed in the last couple of days and I’m glad that I’m back in time to correct it. As part of my deal with Zydrunas, I was asked to stop anyone from flipping and it looks like Mwangi and Leslie might be interested in getting rid of Ricardo. At the moment I’m not planning to go to the final three with Ricardo, but that’s beside the point. Sylvia is the most dangerous player left and the fact that this is almost succeeding proves it. In order to best protect my position, I have to stop this flip from going through under any circumstances. Luckily, without me, they won’t have the numbers, so it shouldn’t be too hard.

Thornley Noel

Following this, the three women in the minority remain talking to each other.

Sylvia: Well, that conversation led nowhere. If I have to hear one more “I’ll think about it”, I’ll lose my mind.

Nicole: I wish they’d just outright tell us that they weren’t voting with us.

Sylvia: I guess we can hold out hope that they’re actually talking to Thornley and can convince him to vote Ricardo out.

Nicole: All I want to do is outlast Ricardo. I literally don’t care what happens to me as long as I screw his game. It’s probably going to be me tonight, though.

Sylvia: No way, I think it’ll be me.

Na’ama: Let’s just hope that we can flip a few people so that the three of us can stay. I’d be happy with the final ten.

Nicole: I’m going to talk to Kang. If he’ll do it, we can flip two people instead of three. I’ll let you know what happens.

Nicole leaves and goes over to Kang.

Nicole: Have you thought about what I’ve said?

Kang: Well, you’re right, it is a good proposition, but-

Nicole: Oh for God’s sake. (rolls eyes)

Kang: No, listen to me, please. I acknowledge that Ricardo does have to go, but does it have to be tonight?

Nicole: Yes! I don’t get why it wouldn’t be. You’re still up 8-3 and I don’t know why 7-3 is that big a deal to you. You know he has to go, you’ve said you can’t trust him, so what’s going on? Why can’t it be tonight?

Kang: Everything I’ve told you is true, but I have to look out for my own game. At the moment, I don’t know if Ricardo being voted out is doing that.

Nicole: It is looking out for your game! What’s more important than that?

Kang: Listen, there are other threats that I have to take care of. At the final ten, it’s all yours. Ricardo will go home, but he can’t tonight. I just need you to hold on, and then you can make the final nine.

Nicole: (huffs) Great, Kang.

Kang: I promise you that it’s not you, and I am committed to sending Ricardo home, but it needs to be next, not now.

Nicole rolls her eyes and walks away. The camera cuts to Kang’s confessional.

I understand Nicole’s frustrations, but this is an individual game and I do have to look out for myself. Ricardo is someone I’d like to see go home, but Sylvia is far too dangerous. To let her into the final ten would be damaging to everyone. Who knows what she could do? Nicole was annoyed with me, but I told her that I would take her to the final nine and get rid of Ricardo next time. That is what I intend to do, but now the ball is in Nicole’s court. She could do anything, but I don’t think she’d side with him, so I took a calculated risk to let her know she had to wait one more vote rather than lie to her and have her betrayed. I hope it doesn’t backfire.

Kang Bohai

Following this, a frustrated Nicole makes her way back to Sylvia and Nicole.

Nicole: Nope, Kang’s out. And you were right, they’re voting for you, Sylvia.

Sylvia: (sighs) I knew it. What did he say?

Nicole: It was just ridiculous. He was like, “there are other threats I have to deal with now, but we can get Ricardo out next. I want him gone.”

Sylvia: Great.

Nicole: “We can’t do it tonight, but we can do it next” sounds like code for “I just want you to hold onto a thread of hope but I’m going to let you down.”

Sylvia: Mmmhm. Just like “I’ll think about it” is code for “I’m not going to do it but I’m not game enough to tell you.” Well, I wish I could say it’s been fun…

So, as I thought, the vote is on me and I’d give myself about a 99% chance of going home. Kang wants Ricardo out but won’t do it until I’m gone, and I otherwise have to rely on the same three people who put me in this position to begin with. The last three days have been hard for me and I’m not holding out hope that people are going to have a change of heart. I learned when Stephanie went home that I can’t put my faith in people. I guess I’ll be reliving knocking over that tower for quite a long time. It’s a shame that it has to end like this, but I’m done being disappointed.

Sylvia Tikolo

Na’ama: Sylvia, it doesn’t have to be this way. I can give you the idol and we can change our votes to somebody else, or we could still vote for Ricardo.

Sylvia: No, don’t bother. It would just make things worse for you and Nicole and then you’d have no protection. We’ll just have to hope that Leslie, Mwangi and Thornley can jump across and save us.

Nicole: And that’s totally going to happen. I’m so sick of being let down time and time again. I just want those guys to fail.

Sylvia: You and me both. Good luck. I can’t believe, three days ago, I thought I had a shot to win the game, and now I’m going to be out because I knocked over my tower.

Nicole: If Leslie and Mwangi want our jury votes, you won’t be out tonight. God, please tell me there are still some decent people in the world.

Kang basically told me that he needed to take out Sylvia first, but he wanted to get Ricardo out later. He asked me to wait one vote, and that was when I lost all hope. I mean, what’s to stop Kang from dangling a thread in front of me and cutting me loose at the final ten? It would be in line with what everyone else has done to me out here. I don’t even know what my priority is out here anymore. I wanted to beat Ricardo, but now I think I just want to make sure he doesn’t win. I would love to be able to write his name down and send him home, but will everyone else give me that chance? I thought that some people were still playing respectful games, but that’s not the case.

Nicole Papadakis

The day then fades into the late afternoon. Mwangi, Leslie and Thornley are on the beach discussing the vote.

Thornley: I can tell you right now that I will not be voting for Ricardo. I’m voting for Sylvia and I’m not changing my mind on that.

Leslie: Wow, so much for an alliance. At least have the common decency to listen to us, because I actually want to do it.

Mwangi: Yeah, man, at least hear Leslie out.

Thornley: Proceed.

Leslie: Don’t condescend me.

Mwangi: (sighs) Come on, let’s not.

Leslie: Well, I was going to say that, out of our five, I trust Ricardo the least. I think that we could still go forward as a group of four with Cameron and our position wouldn’t be affected. We can get rid of Na’ama, Nicole and Sylvia 10, 9 and 8.

Thornley: Okay, but Cameron won’t want to work with us if we betray him, and what’s to say Kang and the others won’t turn against us and use the women themselves?

Leslie: Please, have you seen how desperate those guys are to get rid of Sylvia? And Nicole wouldn’t work with Cameron even if she was held at gunpoint.

Thornley: Sorry, but I still don’t want to do it.

Leslie: (sighs) Well, I really do. Mwangi, what do you think?

Mwangi: Well, I think I would at least like to pay Sylvia back for our friendship so she doesn’t leave thinking I hate her, and it would be nice to not have three people refusing to vote for me outright.

Thornley: Sylvia’s manipulation tactics are working on you. If we flip and then flip back, we’re sending a bad message and sinking our jury hopes even further.

Mwangi: We’re not flipping, though. We’d be getting rid of one person and then going back. It’s not like we’d be getting rid of Kang, or Duong. It’s Ricardo, who’s on the bottom of every combination of people in the group anyway.

Our alliance of three is already hitting its first roadblock. Leslie very badly wants to send Ricardo home, whilst Thornley is refusing to entertain the idea. Personally, I’ve been thinking a lot over the last couple of days. I know that Sylvia could be manipulating me and holding this above my head, but our friendship means a lot to me. Ricardo is the person I trust the least out of the five, and who I know other people don’t trust. I think sending Sylvia to the jury without having put this olive branch out would be disastrous and I would rather not have people think that I’m someone I’m not. I can’t flip without Thornley, though, and I don’t want to see this group crumble.

Mwangi Ndung'u

Thornley: It makes no sense to me, especially since Sylvia could win challenge after challenge.

Leslie: I can’t believe you’re refusing to even consider this. It doesn’t just impact us, but you, too. We have the chance to send three people to the jury who, yes, we helped put there, but we at least extended an olive branch to. We would go from no chance at their jury vote to having a chance to argue for it.

Thornley: Na’ama would never vote with us and I doubt one vote would change Nicole or Sylvia’s minds. We’re risking a lot for little to no gain, and aren’t you worried about Sylvia going on an immunity run? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to flip, and you can’t flip without me. If you did, it’d still be six to five, and you’d just go on the bottom.

Leslie: Oh my God, you’re being so stubborn about this. Of course I’m worried about Sylvia going on a run but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. I think the payoff of having three people who don’t hate me on the jury works out better than anything.

Thornley: And Ricardo?

Leslie: Stop! For God’s sake. Ricardo knows the game, and he’d respect a move we made to further ourselves. Mwangi wants to flip, I want to flip, and for you to stand there and say you’re not doing anything completely disregards our opinions. I didn’t come out here to be walked on. I’m not going to let this go. Change your vote.

The three continue to talk as the camera fades into Leslie’s confessional.

Thornley is making me question every decision I’ve ever made. I can’t believe he’s being so stubborn about this to the point we had to ask him to even let us state our case. The more we talk, the bigger a divide is being made in our alliance. I want to vote Ricardo out. I don’t see a single downside to it. I’d get Nicole, Sylvia and Na’ama back to at least respecting me; everyone still wants Sylvia and Nicole out, and we’d still have a majority. Thornley is refusing to entertain the idea, and in normal circumstances, people would say “I tried everything but I was blocked.” I’m not going to let myself be blocked from doing what’s best for my game by anyone. I won’t back down. I won’t let this go. Something is going to have to give and if Thornley doesn’t concede this, he’s not going to get much further, I can promise you that.

Leslie Dale

From Leslie’s confessional, the sun sets and we fade to black.

Tribal Council

The castaways walk into Tribal Council and sit down.

Courtland: Welcome back to Tribal Council. Duong, there was a lot of tension and emotion when we were here last. How has that impacted the game?

Duong: You could feel the shift in mood. A lot of people were upset, and some people took it really personally. I know a lot of people are worried about how the jury will perceive them, and people on the bottom are trying to bargain for their survival.

Courtland: Kang, the jury does start tonight. How are y’all balacin’ jury management and what’s best for your games?

Kang: It’s a hard balance for sure. On one hand, you don’t want the jury to hate you, but on the other, you do have to prioritse yourself. If there are moves proposed that would make people happy but don’t work out for you, sometimes tough choices have to be made.

Nicole rolls her eyes.

Courtland: Sylvia, after such an emotional vote, what’s the criteria for who is the next one voted out?

Sylvia: Well, Courtland, as one of the three people left who voted in the minority, it has been an uphill battle for me. I took a lot of stuff hard, particularly as there were people I thought were with me who turned out not to be. I’ve been trying as hard as I can to maybe push myself one spot further by working through some cracks in the group of eight.

Courtland: Ricardo, are there cracks in the eight?

Ricardo: Yeah, I think so. I mean, there’s cracks in every alliance. I know that, when there’s a big group, not everyone’s opinions can be heard and sometimes people get mad about that. I know that I’ve had my share of anger throughout this game at times where I’ve felt my pleas are falling on deaf ears. I know the people in the minority have felt powerless these past few days and I’m kind of starting to understand what that feels like.

Cameron looks alarmed and exchanges a look with Duong. Nicole rolls her eyes.

Courtland: Thornley, if there are cracks in an alliance that might make it unsteady, does it cross your mind to maybe go somewhere things look a little more secure?

Thornley: No, I can’t say it does. There are cracks, but I feel secure enough with the bonds that I have that I can say the cracks don’t apply to me. I do want to advance far in this game and win, and I have to focus on the things that will allow me to do that.

Leslie is shown frowning. For the third time, Nicole rolls her eyes, and this time, she lets out a groan.

Courtland: Nicole, you look like you’re done. I’ve noticed you rollin’ your eyes at almost every answer that’s given.

Nicole: I am done. I’m done with the crap that a lot of people are speaking. I don’t think Ricardo knows anything about what it’s like to be in our position, and I don’t think that anyone left has respect for me, Sylvia or Na’ama. I certainly don’t have respect for any of them at the moment.

Courtland: That’s a weighted statement.

Nicole: I guess I’m sick of getting my hopes up to be let down constantly. The three of us have been trying to make deals that I think are fairly reasonable. This group has a majority of eight, and no one is willing to give us an inch. We’re three people, two of whom are average at best when it comes to the challenges, and who have people who wouldn’t work with us if it was their last option. That last one especially applies to me. And yet these people are all so scared, and they’re refusing to budge. It has become increasingly clear to me tonight that Sylvia is going to be sent home.

Courtland: Zydrunas-

Nicole: No, I’m not finished.

Courtland: I’m sorry. Continue.

Nicole: I’m nearly forty-nine and I’m just coming out of a relationship and civil union that took the last fifteen years of my life. It put things into perspective and allowed me to hit the reset button on my life. I don’t have time to be around people who don’t respect me, and who I don’t like. People think they have this vote locked up, but as long as I’m still in the game, I can do something to change it. I have a voice and a vote and I will be switching things up.

Courtland: What do you want to do?

Nicole: There are people who I would never work with and vice versa. I have said there are people I want out of the game more than I want to stay, and there are people whose games I would happily sink even if it meant sinking my own. At the same time, there are people who I want to succeed. I’m sick and tired of hearing “I’ll think about it” or “just hold on for one more vote.” Everyone has the power to do what they think is best. I look at myself and my position, and I look at Sylvia and Na’ama’s positions, and I know that I can make one move for my alliance that will help them out more than any other.

Courtland: And what is that?

Nicole: There will be no vote tonight. For personal reasons, strategic reasons, and out of pure spite for everyone left, I will be quitting the game.

Everyone looks stunned. Mouths drop open, Sylvia puts her face in her hands. Kang and Duong shake their heads. Ricardo smiles.

Nicole: I am not going to sit here as a pawn for other people’s plans and wait until I’m convenient for them. I’m changing things up now.

Sylvia: Nicole, no, you don’t have to do this.

Nicole: I do. And I want to. And I will. I refuse to wait around for one more vote, or for people to think about things. I want to throw a spanner in the works of this eight, because I know there are cracks there, and I know that not everyone is happy about the way the vote was going to go. If I’m here, I don’t think there’ll be much success.

Na’ama: Nicole, I’m so sorry.

Nicole: Don’t be. I just hope that people sit up and take notice. Some people are on the bottom and letting themselves be walked on.

Courtland: Nicole, you are voluntarily leavin’ a game for a million dollars.

Nicole: I was never going to win anyway, and I always said that I would make the best move for my alliance. This is it. I feel like I’m better suited at the Jury House and on the jury, so people will know I’m there and they can think about their futures. Because let me promise all of you, I will hold a grudge and I will be watching.

Courtland: Okay, I just need you to confirm for me that you are officially quitting.

Nicole: Courtland, I am officially pulling myself out of the game.

Courtland: Then there will be no vote tonight. Nicole, grab your stuff and bring your torch over so we can make this official.

Kang, Cameron and Duong look despondent. Leslie looks over furiously at Thornley, and Zydrunas looks completely stunned. Nicole takes her fully packed bag and gives big hugs to Sylvia and Na’ama, then makes a point of walking past everyone else. She grabs her torch and brings it over to Courtland.

Courtland: Nicole, you are officially out of the game. You will become the first member of the jury.

Nicole: Thank you.

Courtland snuffs Nicole’s torch.

Courtland: It’s time to go. Head out.

Nicole turns around.

Nicole: Some of you have been given a golden opportunity. Take it.

Nicole turns back around and walks down the path before disappearing into the night.

Sylvia: (shaky sigh) Oh my God…

Courtland: Well, Nicole said it best: as long as anyone is still in the game, they have a vote and a voice. This game ain’t over yet. There’s still a lot of days left and we’ve had a major shakeup tonight. Grab your stuff and head out. I’ll see you soon.

The ten remaining members of Vauclin leave.

Tribal Council 9: Vauclin
QUIT: Nicole

Final Words

Quitting was my final act of defiance against a group that I had lost all respect for. I threw a spanner in the works and I hope that things change because of it. Some people really need to wake up because the game is slipping away from them. I will absolutely hold a grudge on the jury. No one is getting off easy and I expect those people who are in danger to take a stand and fix things up. Screw how much of a threat Sylvia is. I hope she takes down every last one of them and I hope Na'ama does it with her. Even if they go tenth and ninth, I have no regrets about what I did. I wasn't waiting for people to use me when it was convenient and I'm confident I've made the best decision I could.

Nicole

Jury House

To read Nicole's Jury House, click here when the link is blue.

Jury Members

Jury Members
Nicole

Still in the Running

Arthit 19th

Lyudmila 18th

Eve 17th

Betrys 16th

Raymond 15th

Atlantis 14th

Dakota 13th

Stephanie 12th

Nicole 11th

Cameron Vauclin

Duong Vauclin

Kang Vauclin

Leslie Vauclin

Mwangi Vauclin

Na'ama Vauclin

Ricardo Vauclin

Sylvia Vauclin

Thornley Vauclin

Zydrunas Vauclin

Twitter Reaction

Fan Reactions

Kol Chen (@KolwithaK)

Woah, did not expect that to happen. Welcome to the quitters club, Nicole! A far more iconic member than me. #SurvivorMartinique

Clara Alcott (@DallasDemon)

Is it just me or is Sylvia hardcore manipulating Mwangi? I feel like everyone in that game is pulling out emotionally manipulative tactics but only a few are getting called out for it. #SurvivorMartinique

Mercedes Triffitt (@ImNotACar)

Go Nicole for standing up to that alliance, saying "screw it" and leaving because she wanted to. Can't wait to see the majority group fall apart. #SurvivorMartinique

Will Donovan (@WDDoesntCare)

Thornley is a f**** idiot. At this point you're giving away that you have alliances elsewhere. You were all going to get rid of Ricardo anyway, so just suck it up and do what Leslie says. #SurvivorMartinique

Castaway Reactions

Duong Tran (@Duongyyy)

Yeah we were one hundred percent all voting for Sylvia that Tribal Council. #SurvivorMartinique

Nicole Papadakis (@Papadakadaka)

Still no regrets for quitting! I wasn't going to stay around for people who just wanted to use me as a chess piece! #SurvivorMartinique

Sylvia Tikolo (@Tikoloclock)

What you saw was a lot of hurt and anger, and I apologise if people feel I stepped over the line. As for the vote, I was going home that night until Nicole quit. What a wild way to hang on. #SurvivorMartinique

Next Time on Survivor...

• Reeling from the events of the last Tribal Council, cracks begin to show and alliances threaten to break down.
• Na'ama and Sylvia get closer than ever, but as they fight for survival in a tribe where they trust no one, can they get out alive or will their ship sink?
• As dissatisfaction lingers, some castaways begin to question their place, as others scramble to maintain their order.
• With a fierce, looming presence on the jury, the Final Tribal Council is on everyone's mind despite there being many Tribals to go.

Author's Notes

• The episode title was said by Sylvia as she believed Mwangi had taken advantage of things outside the game to get her to trust him.
• This episode establishes the precedent that quitters during the jury stage will be allowed on the jury. PRISM does this because they feel that quitting is a personal choice and should not be punished.
• Duong, Leslie, Nicole and Mwangi all had the most confessionals this episode, with five each.
  • Zydrunas and Na'ama had the least, with two each.