In the opening series of interviews, Craig recounts how he almost died, Nicole wonders why she hasn't been executed yet when her Mole picks keep getting executed, Clay thanks God for keeping him healthy and in the game, and Paul promises us that things are going to get better because he's slowly getting under everyone's skin. Slowly? Because he was getting under my skin from the jump. I do wonder why Nicole hasn't been executed if she's doing poorly on the quizzes; I can only assume that there's at least one other person doing just as poorly, but answering the questions more slowly.
Uspallata, Argentina. Jon welcomes the players to an abandoned train station, and explains that it was formerly a holding cell for prisoners awaiting transport. He promises that this mission will be all about trust, which makes some people nervous. Craig mentions that he's still not feeling well, plus it's super cold out. Seriously, couldn't production get him some better outerwear or something? He's still just wearing a hoodie.
The players follow Jon inside the building as the sun sets. Once inside, the players are chained by the ankles to a wrought iron fence. Across from them is a jail cell with a key inside. Jon explains that the players are chained together in such a way that, by working together, they can create enough slack in the chain for one person to reach the jail cell and, when the window opens every ten minutes, extract the key. The player that extracts the key can only free him or herself, and will then join Jon by the warm fire. Presumably, the key then goes back and the process starts all over again. Jon states that if all of the players are freed by sunrise, they'll earn $25,000 for the pot. The catch is that beside the key is an exemption card. If a player chooses to take the card, no money will go in the pot, and no one will be unchained, so they'll all have to spend the night in the chained cold (which is the opposite of chained heat).
The contestants stand around and stare at each other for a minute, and then Craig volunteers that he'd really love to get out of the cold, and promises not to take the exemption. Mark isn't too sure about that idea. Paul interviews that Mark has changed since his journal was burned. Like how? Now instead of Super Veiny Soccer Dad, he's Slightly More Veiny Soccer Dad? Nicole says that she wants to get out of the cold too. Craig promises Mark that he won't take the card, and Paul points out that Craig's been having health issues. Everyone relents and moves so that Craig can advance, except Clay. He finally relents as well, and Craig gets the key and unlocks himself.
Kristen and Paul both claim that they don't want the exemption. Clay thinks that if they let Kristen go, it's going to lead to a breakdown eventually, presumably when more and more people claim they want the key, and then someone takes the card. Paul and Alex are both adamant that they just want to get out of the cold, and Mark gets all touchy and thinks that Alex is insulting him. Nicole interviews that she wouldn't have released anyone. The others start settling in for the long haul. Alex and Paul are disgusted with everyone and they get everyone to vote for Kristen to go. She also takes the key and leaves.
Paul keeps bullying everyone to let him go get the key . He swears on his daughter, which he hasn't done before. Mark reminds Paul that he has claimed all along that they shouldn't trust him, so what's different now? Everyone quickly agrees to let Paul go, since he swore on his daughter and all. Paul fakes like he's going to take the exemption but takes the key instead, causing everyone to break the tension by giggling.
So now Clay, Mark, Nicole, and Alex are left. Mark admits that he can't promise he won't take the exemption. Clay interviews that he feels like he's the voice of reason right now and if he leaves, only the crazies are left. Alex says he'll stay out there all night, but he doesn't want to. Nicole reminds them that if they stay out there all night, no money goes in the pot. Meanwhile, the other players are eating a nice dinner with Jon.
Clay tries to lawyer it up to get Mark to get , but Mark says he doesn't even want to go. He adds that he can't even trust himself, and Clay interviews that their coalition started unraveling at that point. Clay realizes that Mark has crossed over into CrazyTown so he goes , takes the key, and leaves.
Mark and Alex finally let Nicole go, because she apparently gave Mark a really honest look. Nicole takes the key and goes. Back at dinner, Clay tells everyone that he is really sure that Mark is going to take the exemption, because he has changed. Nicole joins the dinner party and Paul is surprised that she didn't take the exemption.
Alex decides to go , and Mark lets him, since that means that Mark has the choice whether or not to take the exemption. Alex interviews that it's an evil exemption, which it kind of is, because taking it means totally screwing everyone else over. Once Alex is gone, Mark walks up to the cell and contemplates his fate. The gate lifts, and Mark... does something we don't get to see yet.
At the dinner party, everyone is discussing whether or not Mark is going to take the exemption. Clay doesn't think it's enough money to stop him. Mark joins everyone and Jon asks him what he did. Mark pauses and then asks what everyone else thought he would do. Paul says that he thought Mark would do the honorable thing because he'd feel too guilty to take the exemption. Clay brings up how Mark wouldn't give his word. Mark gets all dramatic and says that he has something green in his pocket, but it's a pack of mints. So he didn't take the exemption, and the total pot is $177,000. Clay interviews that now he's thinking that Mark might be The Mole, so he doesn't need the exemption. Mark interviews that he knew taking the exemption would ruin the social part of his game. Jon walks up to the table with fresh new journals for everyone. Mark interviews that his original journal was irreplaceable. Dude. It's not a child. It's paper. Relax.
The day, the contestants drive to Mendoza, Argentina. Alex interviews that the drives are the only time that they can relax and enjoy the scenic views. Yeah, I sure wish this show was in HD. Although given the crappy ratings, I guess I should just be glad that the show is on. On the drive, the players start exchanging information for their journals, like birthdates. Paul refuses to give up his at first, but then does, although it causes an argument with Clay. Paul starts going at Clay for being a criminal defense lawyer and a Christian, because Paul claims that you can't be both? I guess he assumes that everyone who is put on trial is guilty. Clay really gets the better of Paul, who gets mad and starts cursing. Clay offers to take it outside of the van. I would definitely ask for a transfer to the other van. And hey, Craig does just that! He joins Alex and the girls in the other van. Clay interviews that he knew he would shake Paul up, but he didn't know it would be that effective. I do kind of enjoy seeing Paul unravel when someone finally stands up to him. Finally, Clay moves to the other van, and Kristen joins Paul and Mark.
Over in Alex's van, Craig and Alex start making up a song about Paul which quickly turns into the chorus of "Paul free! In van number two!" which is not only hilarious, but also sounds pretty good. Not since the days of the Kidney Stone song in Real World: Chicago have I so enjoyed an impromptu song made up while riding in a van. But also, if people are making up a song about how happy they are to be rid of you, maybe it's time to reassess your values. PAUL.
The morning, everyone arrives for breakfast, and Paul is still pissed and sighing all over the place. Clay interviews that, as a Christian, he tries to have forgiveness. Jon points out that it's warmer there, but Craig is still kind of sick. He jokes that he thinks he deserves an exemption due to illness. Nicole hopes that in the mission, they get to shoot someone. Yikes!
Later, the players arrive in some open area as Jon explains the mission. They'll be split up into teams and have to travel via various means of transportation to a monument about five miles away. Each team that arrives earns money for the pot. Since they have an odd number, Jon has designated one person to be the transportation captain: Craig, because he was the first person to say the word exemption during breakfast. Craig will determine the teams and the forms of transportation. If none of the teams make it to the statue in time, Craig gets an exemption and no money goes into the pot.
Craig and Jon walk off to make the arrangements. Everyone else discusses how badly Craig wants an exemption. Jon takes Craig to an area where there are a number of modes of transportation laid out, including stilts, a donkey, tiny bikes, and a llama costume. Craig interviews that he was hoping for the exemption so he wanted to make it difficult for everyone.
Craig returns and explains that this is like the Race to the Summit, where no one faulted Mark and Kristen for going after the exemption. I get what he's saying -- if the players don't want Craig to get the exemption, they just have to try really hard. It's not like the last mission where getting the exemption screws everyone else over. Craig makes Alex dress as a conquistador and lead a donkey, and he'll be teamed up with Mark, who has to wear a scuba outfit with slippers. Clay will be riding a unicycle with Kristen, who will be using stilts. And finally, Nicole will be in the front part of the llama costume while Paul is in the rear. That's awesome. Especially because Nicole looks PISSED. Craig doesn't think that anyone else would have done anything differently. Mark starts bitching and says he won't even try, and he gets some of the others to start agreeing with him. They only need one team to get there, though, right? Jon said, "If none of the teams make it to the monument," then Craig gets the exemption. So one team couldn't try?
Mark and Kristen immediately claim they're going to give up. Alex puts on his suit and interviews that they didn't even think that there might be a loophole or a twist. Craig and Jon sit at the halfway point and wait. Craig interviews that he was waiting for Jon to bring up the twist. Meanwhile, everyone else gives up and hops in the van to drive to the monument. Everyone is bitching the whole way. When they arrive, Jon asks if one person led the mutiny, and everyone claims that it was a mutual decision. Craig interviews that this is the second time that Mark has opted out which is suspicious. Jon can't believe that they didn't even try. Clay interviews that he's never quit something without trying. Jon announces that Craig gets the exemption and no money goes in the pot. These people kind of disgust me. I liked the earlier seasons where the people actually worked together, which is the only way to sabotage The Mole. Horseshit.
At dinner, Craig says that he feels guilty, not for taking the exemption, but because he didn't acknowledge that everyone let him get out first in the first mission in the episode. Craig interviews that everyone thinks he's The Mole. The others agree that they all would have gone for the exemption too, but claim they wouldn't have been so mean about it. Oh, for Christ's sake. What show did these people think they were signing up for? That classy reality show where you don't have to humiliate yourself to win? Because that's about none of them. Even on The Amazing Race, people wear silly costumes and shave their heads and throw up in bowl and then eat it. Seriously. Nicole claims that there's not enough money in the pot to make it worth it, which Alex disagrees with in an interview. Craig interviews that Paul has a temper, Mark is paranoid, and Nicole is a psychopath, so he feels like he's surrounded by crazy people.
Jon brings up how difficult it is to miss your friends and families. Mark says he's dying and Paul points out that he's been talking to a lemon that he drew a face on. Clay claims he's doing okay, and then interviews that it's his strategy to be quiet and reserved. Everyone toasts to The Mole's victim.
The players take the quiz. In interviews, Alex thinks that Mark is playing the game too hard, and it's a facade. Kristen has been gunning for one person as The Mole the whole time, knowing that many of the other players are answering the questions to maximize their odds. Or at least that's what they're telling you. Paul says that Craig has been at the top of his list since the beginning. Mark thinks tonight is the turning point in the game, because he might start targeting one person in his answers. Clay thinks that Nicole is a wild card, because she might be lying about everything.
The players assemble to find out their results. Jon reminds them that Craig has an exemption, and then says that there was a tie once again, so the slowest player will be executed. And the difference in time was only one second. Alex is... safe. Paul is... safe. So we're not Paul Free in Van Number Two just yet. Kristen is... executed. Damn. I didn't see that one coming since she barely got any screen time this week. Good job, editors.
Kristen tells Jon that her strategy in the quiz was to focus on one person, so her number was up sooner or later. Nicole is sad to be the only woman left. Damn. What's up with that?
My Mole pick is still Clay, though I'm doubting that more and more with each passing week.