Previously on The Mole: Ali and Bribs pretended that they were offered an exemption, but it was all a joke, and Al got mad about it. Anderson revealed that the contestants' bags were never actually burned. Four contestants played blackjack and lost $20,000 from the pot. Dorothy and Lisa earned an exemption by convincing Katie and Darwin to leave their hotel rooms, even though it was against the rules. Ali was executed.
I'm going to start listing the order in which the contestants are listed in the credits each episode, because some people on the forums are convinced that it's a clue as to the identity of The Mole. This week, it goes Al, Heather, Bribs, Elavia, Bill, Katie, Rob, Lisa, Patrick, Myra, Darwin, and Dorothy.
In a series of interviews, we see the contestants' thoughts on the game thus far. Al says that he doesn't care who gets executed , just as he's sure that no one else cares if he gets executed. Katie doesn't want to go home, because she's more into the game than she has ever been. Dorothy can't worry about the team getting money, and instead has to worry about lasting in the game. With a weird echo-y sound, Elavia says, "It's a game, people. It's just a game. Why are you not enjoying yourself?" Um, because there is a million dollars on the line? I don't like Elavia.
Day Eight. St. Moritz. Anderson voice-overs that the players are discouraged after losing money in the last round, and while they eat breakfast, they miss an obvious clue sitting right in front of them. In the center of the table sits one of the journals that each contestant was given. The journal has no number. Anderson comments that the contestants have poor observational skills. In an interview, Al tells us that he picked up the journal with no number and started reading it. Al reads aloud that the journal is "property of The Mole," and should be destroyed if found. Everyone urges him to read it aloud. Patrick points out that it could be a trap of some sort, and Rob grabs the journal from Al's hands, saying that they should destroy it. Dorothy protests, saying that she wants to read it. Rob hands it over.
Dorothy reads the journal aloud. "Round One. Executed player: Bob. It was almost too easy. He may have hit the bulls-eye, but he was way off target. If only he had spent less time schmoozing the ladies, and more time paying attention. When will they ever learn?" Everyone giggles over the dig at Bob. Dorothy continues, "Round Two. Executed player: Ali. Her drink cost them. Drowning her sorrows over Bob's execution? Well, she joins her buddy now. Hope the rest get serious. Round Three. To-do list. Sabotage the pot. Pit one against the other. Put a chill down their spine. Make them beg." "Put a chill down their spine"? The players share a spine? I think we can conclude that The Mole was not an English major. Then again, I was, and I still make a lot of mistakes. There goes that theory. The contestants begin furiously taking notes in their journals.
Anderson asks whether their journals are important, and Patrick says that they are "indispensable." Patrick says that he writes notes and theories on who is The Mole in his. Anderson asks them to pick a number between one and ten, and they somehow collectively come up with four. Anderson asks them to hold their journals up in front of them, and then says that the problem in the game is that you don't know whom to trust. So now, they will get a glimpse into what at least one other player is thinking. Anderson tells them to rotate their journals four players to the left. They groan but follow instructions. Anderson says that they are now holding their new journals, and they can write in them. He adds, "If there's anything juicy about me in them, let me know." Heh.
Heather voice-overs that she wrote a lot in her journal, about her feelings and thoughts. Al voice-overs that he felt sicker and sicker as his journal went further and further down the table. In an interview, Elavia says she felt sorry for Patrick, because he had taken elaborate notes in his journal. In an interview, Patrick says that his journal went to Katie, and he feels like he opened his soul to someone, which he would never want to do in this game. Patrick asks Anderson whether they can do what they want with the journals. Anderson asks for clarification, and Patrick asks, with a hopeful grin, whether they may trade the journals back. Anderson says no, and that they are not allowed to damage or destroy the journals. Katie stupidly tells Patrick that she won't read his journal if he doesn't want her to, and Patrick jumps on that promise. So dumb! One of the men tells Katie she's crazy if she doesn't read it. Katie starts thumbing through Patrick's journal and exclaims, "Holy Schnikes! There's no room for me to write in here." Meanwhile, Patrick is all, "Come on! Stop!" In an interview, Katie says that it would be silly for her not to look through the journal. Exactly.
Anderson voice-overs that the group has little time to look at the new journals before a waiter's entrance signifies the beginning of a new game. The waiter brings in an envelope, which Elavia opens. The players have to choose one person to find another green envelope in the city, using only some photographs as clues. Patrick suggests that they choose someone who knows the language a little bit. Patrick, I think, quickly nominates Myra. Myra says that she'll do it if no one else wants to, and no one else does. Everyone votes for Myra, so Anderson gives her an hour to find the envelope, and she runs out of the room.
In an interview, Elavia reveals that she got Rob's journal, and that Rob didn't take any notes. Rob says that he didn't care when they switched journals, since he didn't write anything down anyway. Elavia shows the camera a section Rob wrote called "The Mole Observations," and it's all about Elavia, including how she winked at him. Elavia says that now she winks at Rob all the time, to fake him out. Would The Mole really wink at someone? It's not like they're playing Drug Dealer.
Bill says that he has Heather's journal. Bill looks through it and says that, like the rest of them, Heather thinks at any given moment that any of them could be The Mole. In an interview, Heather says that she was expressive, which others might consider suspicious and thus be leery of trusting that information.
Lisa shows us that she has Bill's journal. Lisa says that it's very poignant, and it's written like a letter to his wife. Aw. Unless he's The Mole and it's all fake. Oh. Dorothy says that she has Elavia's journal. Elavia had come up with potential Mole profiles, a male one and a female one. Dorothy says that she is one of Elavia's suspects, because she is "not overly attractive." Dorothy has a good laugh over that one.
Dorothy wonders why so many people think she is The Mole. Lisa replies that Dorothy is quiet, and that some people equate "quiet" with "suspect." In an interview, Dorothy says that Lisa is her ally. In an interview, Lisa says that if Dorothy isn't The Mole, they will work well together, and if she is, Lisa thinks she'll be able to recognize that and work on getting rid of other people. In an interview, Darwin says that Lisa told him that Dorothy isn't The Mole, and that Dorothy wants a coalition with Lisa. Darwin told Lisa to go ahead, because then he has access to Dorothy's information as well. In an interview, Lisa says that she hopes Darwin and Dorothy don't find out about her coalitions with each of them.
The contestants arrive at a beautiful lake at the foot of the Alps. It's picture perfect. Anderson tells them they have two minutes to pick one player who is good at matchmaking. No one says anything, so Al volunteers, and everyone supports that decision. Anderson explains that he's feeling sorry for them, since they're not making money. All they have to do to earn money in today's game is get across a bridge; the bridge is two logs bound together and placed over the water. For each person who gets across the bridge, they get $5000 in the pot. Anderson tells them that, as always, there's a catch. He reminds them of the story of Robin Hood, and how he met and fought Little John on a bridge. Well, I remember when Daffy Duck played Robin Hood and fought Little John on a bridge. That's one of my favorites. Anderson introduces their version of Little John and Little Jane. A gigantic man walks out of the woods, accompanied by a fairly large woman. In an interview, Al says that one of the mountains in the mountain range started moving, and then Al realized that it was a man, not a mountain. Little John is big. Biiiiiig.
Anderson explains that, while crossing the bridge, each player will battle Little John or Little Jane, using what look like oversized Q-Tips -- big sticks with large pieces of foam at either end. Al will decide whom each player will battle. If a player touches the water, he or she is eliminated. The players who make it across the bridge don't just add $5000 to the pot; they are eligible for a second round, and the winner of the second round earns an exemption.
The players get into wet suits. Al, Anderson, Little John, and Little Jane cross over to the other side of the bridge. Anderson announces that Al has already earned a place in the second round. At least three players must battle against Little John. Lisa is up first, and Al decides that she will battle Little Jane. Lisa manages to knock Little Jane into the water and crosses the bridge. In an interview, Al says that after Lisa won, he thought, "Giddyap! We're in the bucks." Al is kind of like Kramer.
up is Patrick versus Little John. Patrick goes down. Heather gets to fight Little Jane. Heather loses her balance before she even reaches Little Jane, and falls into the water. In an interview, Lisa says that Heather claimed that she used to be a gymnast, so it's odd that she fell off a log that's twice the width of a balance beam. Bill faces Little Jane. They both get knocked off-balance during the fight, but Bill manages to stay on the bridge while Little Jane falls into the water. So now, Lisa and Bill have successfully crossed the bridge.
Al decides that Dorothy will face Little John. I guess his strategy is that Dorothy has no chance of beating either of them, so he might as well put her up against Little John and then allow someone else to go up against the far-more-beatable Little Jane. Dorothy can't even hold up the stick, because it's too heavy. In an interview, Al says that Dorothy is "like Mr. Magoo without her glasses," and is "making out shapes, trying to swing at the mountains." Who knew Al was such a comedian? Predictably, Dorothy doesn't last too long against Little John.
It's Rob against Little John. After a lot of tough talk, Rob's foot slips and he falls off. Myra has to go up against Little Jane. After a few pokes with the stick, Myra calls out, "Head shot!" and runs off the bridge. Al voice-overs that you're not supposed to hit in the head, and that Little Jane did, so Myra won by disqualification. The winnings are now up to $15,000.
Al declares that Bribs will face Little Jane. Bribs actually has a brilliant strategy. He runs across the bridge and catches Little Jane off guard, since she was just starting to walk out to the middle. Bribs is easily able to push Little Jane into the water and make it across. Al pits Elavia against Little Jane. Elavia falls into the water like a tree after it's sawed down. I expected one of the other players to yell, "Timber!" Elavia has apparently gotten a bunch of water up her nose, but she's fine.
It's down to Katie and Darwin, and one of them has to go up against Little John. In an interview, Al lays out his options. He could have Darwin go against Little Jane, probably win, and have to fight Al for the exemption. That would also mean more money in the pot, but it would basically mean sacrificing Katie. Al announces that Darwin will face Little Jane. Both players lose their balance, but Darwin manages to leap back to the shore, while Little Jane falls into the water. The winnings are now up to $25,000.
Katie has to go up against Little John. Al voice-overs that "all the blood dropped out of [Katie's] face." Katie tells Little John that he's going down. Katie actually does a decent job, but loses fairly quickly. The final addition to the pot is $25,000.
For the exemption, the players who made it across (Bill, Bribs, Darwin, Myra, and Lisa) will have to fight matches set up by Al until only one remains. Al will fight the winner for an exemption. In an interview, Al says that everyone wants the exemption, and is putting his or her own needs ahead of the needs of the team. Well, that makes sense to me. The team doesn't win the money -- an individual does.
Al says that the first battle will be Darwin and Bribs. In an interview, Al says that those two are most like him physically, so he wants to get rid of one of them right away. Darwin wins that round. up is Darwin versus Bill. Al explains that his strategy is to tire Darwin out. Bill stays solidly on the bridge while Darwin falls into the water. In an interview, Darwin says that he hit Bill, but Bill didn't move an inch. up is Bill versus Lisa. In an interview, Myra says that Al wanted to weed out the big boys. Lisa looks deadly serious as the match begins, but Bill manages to push her into the water. Bill immediately apologizes. Bill versus Myra is the last match, and as expected, Bill wins quickly. In an interview, Bill says that he didn't like going up against Lisa and Myra, but that he also didn't want to lose to them. In an interview, Al says of Bill, "He's big. He's strong. I don't care how old he is."
While Al prepares for the match, Anderson asks Bill about his strategy. Bill replies, "Don't fall in the water." Heh. Bill and Al face off. They both fall into the water at about the same time. In an interview, Al explains that it's considered a draw, and that they have to fight again. This time, Al knocks Bill into the water, and then struts around happily. He does, however, extend a hand to help Bill out of the water. Anderson reminds everyone that Al won the exemption. In an interview, Bill says they noticed that Anderson was far too dry. The contestants then gang up to knock Anderson into the water. Actually, Anderson kind of runs away from them and jumps into the water himself. Either way, it was funny. After Anderson gets out of the water and jokes that he will remember this, Darwin tells him that it was for the "burn, bags, burn" remark. Anderson soaking wet? Not bad.
In the van on the way to the hotel, Heather comments that it was a guys' exemption. In an interview, Lisa says that the game was a good way to get out aggressions without hurting the team. Heather tells Al that she's glad he got the exemption. Darwin points out that Al earned the exemption, so he shouldn't feel bad about it. In an interview, Lisa says that she's happy Al will be around for another round of play.
The players get to go to a local spa, where they mostly go swimming and bond. Anderson joins them at the pool to inform everyone that Al doesn't only get an exemption for himself; he also gets to pick someone to get a second exemption. Anderson tells Al that his decision must be announced at dinner just before the execution, which takes place the day. Bill immediately walks up to Al and talks to him, but we don't get to hear what Bill is saying. Al looks torn as he gets up and walks off.
More swimming. Rob really doesn't know how to swim underwater. Hanging out with the others, Al says that "it's a curse" to have this decision to make. In an interview, Al says that this is "a psychological game." Al sits alone and drinks some water. Patrick asks Myra whether she's planning on making a pitch to Al, and Myra says no. Patrick says that he was "goofing with [Al]." Darwin says that Patrick was the first one there. In an interview, Darwin says that Patrick was the first one to talk to Al, which may have been smart. In an interview, Myra laughs that she has one hundred forty francs, which she doesn't think will go far.
Anderson voice-overs that, after spending a week together, the players began to open up to each other about their hopes and fears, knowing that any of this information could end up on The Quiz. At dinner, Bribs speaks, and the others furiously write in their journals. Bribs says that he has a fear of commitment, because he wants to go and find adventures, and he's not able to do that and be committed to someone. Bribs is very, very young. Al says that being a nobody is his biggest fear, that he wants his friends and family to remember him when he's dead, and that he wants to make a difference. Lisa says that her greatest fear is failure, but she doesn't know whether "fear" is the right word. She just doesn't want to have any regrets.
The players hang out in the hotel while waiting for the pre-execution dinner. Bribs and Heather talk about forming a coalition. Bribs doesn't really understand how that would help him. In an interview, Heather says that she has a coalition with Katie, and she's considered pulling in Bribs. Bribs makes to leave, just as Al and Darwin show up and tease them about forming coalitions. Al asks to come in and sit after Bribs leaves. Heather tells Al that she's happy he got the exemption, and that she's not kissing up to him. Heather doesn't think she'll make it very far. In an interview, Heather says that she thinks Al has already made up his mind about granting the exemption.
At dinner, Anderson asks how various players would choose who gets the exemption, were they in Al's position. Darwin says that he would choose the person he thinks is The Mole. His reasoning is that it's not really an exemption that way. Heather says that she would give it to the weakest player, because then it's more likely that a strong player will be eliminated. Bribs says that he would give it to the person whose company he enjoys the most, because he doesn't have a definite feeling on who The Mole is.
Dessert is served, and Al has to announce which player is getting the exemption. Al lists off his whole thought process. His first thought was to give it to Bill, because Bill was second in the competition, but Bill came right up to Al and asked not to get the exemption. Because he's insane. No, actually Bill said he only wants an exemption that he earns. Whatever. In an interview, Darwin suddenly doesn't have a moustache as he says that he thinks Bill really wanted the exemption, and was using reverse psychology on Al. , Al says that he feels the men had the advantage in the bridge-crossing game, so he won't give the exemption to any of the men.
Since Dorothy is neutralized, Al can't give the exemption to her. Al says that because Elavia and Lisa have already earned exemptions, they are out of luck this time. That leaves Myra, Katie, and Heather. According to Al, Myra made it across the bridge, so she had "more of an opportunity than the other two," and thus won't get the exemption. Al finally announces that because Katie had to go up against Little John and Heather had to go up against Little Jane, Katie gets the exemption. Everyone applauds, and Katie thanks Al. In an interview, Elavia feels that Al did right for the group and for himself. Anderson offers up a toast to Al. In an interview, Al says that Katie is probably not The Mole and is the weakest player. Katie asks the waiter for a beer.
It's time for the quiz. Bill points out that Heather got knocked off the bridge without even getting hit. Elavia says that Dorothy has been really quiet, and stayed in the shadows, and is smart. Lisa thinks that tonight would be a bad night to be executed, especially for her, because the day before was the last possible day that she could get her job back. She's been gone a week! What place only gives you a week off? Elavia says that if Al is The Mole, he deserves an Academy Award. Dorothy thinks that Elavia could be The Mole because of her arched eyebrows. Oh, good one. Katie thinks that Myra could be The Mole because "she's so good and revealing not too much, but revealing just enough." Bill says that anyone who claims to know who The Mole is must be "blowing smoke."
The players gather to find out which one of them was executed. Anderson announces that the total pot is at $91,000. Al and Katie have exemptions. This week, there was a tie for the lowest score, and thus the player who completed the quiz the slowest will be executed. Anderson starts entering names into the computer, and if a green screen comes up, the player gets to stay. A red screen means execution. Heather gets the green screen. Patrick gets the green screen. Darwin gets the green screen. Dorothy gets the green screen and barely smiles. Lisa...oh, they've waited a beat too long. And...red screen. There are many groans from the collected players, so I gather this was a surprise. Darwin, in particular, looks very upset. I think Bill is crying.
Katie (who suddenly has a cast on) says that Lisa was her roommate, and that they talked about everything. Dorothy is floored that Lisa was executed, because she had a great memory for detail. Darwin thinks that Lisa was the smartest player. Well, she was also the slowest. Lisa wishes everyone luck, and says that she will miss them. She will miss Dorothy and Darwin a lot, and says that they are both good players. Bill notes that Lisa just said that you have to trust someone in the game, and Bill thinks that you can't trust anyone. Anderson gives Lisa a big hug goodbye and promises to go to a ball game with her when he goes to Chicago time. I hope he's treating, because she's unemployed. Dude, that sucks.
week: the players go to Italy. Patrick says that he will use deceit to continue. The players have to rappel down the side of a wall, face-forward.