Stand or Fall

Previously on Real World: Awesome Ann the corporate trainer had a little too much enthusiasm during the roommates' orientation session. Marc told the roommates that he was troubled because they were unable to work as a team. In an interview, Arissa said that there is no team; some of the people work, some don't, and some kind of do. Sounds like every job I've ever had.

Arissa tells Steven that she's mad because some people aren't working at the job they were given. In an interview, Arissa says that she's been working since she was fourteen years old. Arissa explains that she's upset that some of her roommates would be given so much (referring to the suite and the situation and everything) and shit on it. In an interview, Arissa says that she knows she has to go into work whether or not she's hung over or sick or tired. Steven tells Arissa that if she could find a way to get her point across in a more "tactful manner," there would be "less friction in the house." He might want to work on that tactful manner, because Arissa gets all defensive about the situation. Steven says that he sometimes doesn't want to go back to the suite, because he knows Arissulan are going to yell at him. Arissa wants specific examples, but Steven doesn't offer any up, and asks why he would make something like that up. Because he's a drama queen? I think Arissa was trying to say that maybe Steven shouldn't do the things that cause them to yell, but it's hard to know because Steven kept interrupting her to deliver more of his condescending crap. Arissa gets more and more angry and Steven tells her to get out because he's trying to get a nap. Then suddenly I'm watching The Osbournes (I wish) because it's all bleep this and bleep that and Arissa storms out of the room.

Steven starts up a game of pool while Arissa sits on the sidelines and pouts. In an interview, Arissa says that she's "this big ball of emotion all the time," and she needs to change her attitude and realize that the world isn't out to get her all of the time. Well, there's talking about it and then there's doing it, so I'd like to see a little less of the former and more of the latter.

The roommates get in their van. Frank explains via voiceover that they are going to a team-building workshop. Oh, good Lord. In an interview, Steven says that he's looking forward to it because it's something new to do. Of course he's looking forward to it. It's one more opportunity for him to talk about how he's so evolved and his roommates should be more like him. In an interview, Trishelle says that she thought the workshop would be at Awesome Ann's house, "but no body really hears when [she says] that." Do you get the feeling that they all just ignore Trishelle a lot? Anyway, turns out Trishelle was right. I was kind of wondering why they showed Awesome Ann in the previously segment. Awesome Ann greets them at the door with, as you can imagine, a great deal of enthusiasm. In an interview, Brynn says that she sees Awesome Ann and she's not looking forward to the day. Can't say as I blame her.

The roommates sit in a semicircle in folding chairs on the lawn. Man, I was so wrong about Awesome Ann's income -- she is clearly raking it in if this is really her house. She's also wearing a really, really tight t-shirt and if it's distracting to me, a heterosexual woman, it must be really distracting to the straight guys and gay girls in the audience. Awesome Ann makes a comment about how grumpy the group looks. Also, most of them are wearing bandanas on their heads. Is this part of the team building? Ann asks if they are nervous, and Irulan says that she was scared that Awesome Ann would be leading them. Ann pretends to be offended and there's some awkward joking about that as we get a quick shot of Kim and Chris, Ann's assistants. Ann tells them that they are about to go through some "very, very tough training," and some of them will get to a point where they want to leave, but she asks them to hang in there. I think we should hire Awesome Ann to do some team building for the TWoP recappers. I think, as a group, we would last about thirty seconds before she kicked us out.

Ann asks which of them feel like there is some trust in the group. It seems like everyone but Arissa raises his or her hand, but it's hard to tell. In an interview, Alton says that Arissa has trust issues, starting with her parents. I don't know that many of the roommates have given her a reason to trust them yet. Steven and Alton have their bandanas tied in front and while Alton manages to pull it off, Steven's bandana is all falling off and just looks ridiculous. Ann says that she'll ask them the same question regarding trust later on.

Oh, my God. They are not doing a trust fall. We did this in my high school gym class. Ann's assistants bust out this rickety-ass aluminum ladder, so I guess Ann isn't making as much money as I thought. In case you've never done a trust fall, I'll describe it. The teammates stand across from each other, arms stretched out in front, palms up. One person goes up the ladder and falls backwards into the team members' arms. Ann adds a new wrinkle when she makes the faller announce, "I trust my team to help me with" and fill in the blank. Ann falls first to demonstrate. This is really bringing back some bad memories. Mostly things like the stupid stinky boys making jokes about how they wouldn't be able to catch the one "fat" girl (and I put fat in quotation marks because she probably weighed all of 170 pounds). Ugh. In an interview, Arissa says that there is no way that she's going to do this, because she can't even trust her team to clean the sink. Arissa concludes, "This bitch is crazy." Ann falls and they catch her and then applaud.

Trishelle goes first. In an interview, Arissa says that she doesnt know how Trishelle is doing it. Trishelle says in a bland voice that she trusts her team to help her be a better listener. But how does the team make her a better listener? And how does that involve trust? I think Trishelle kind of missed the point of the exercise there. Trishelle falls and is caught. Arissa voiceovers that she's not going to do this. Steven goes , but we don't get to hear what he trusts the team to do before he falls and is caught. We skip everyone else and only Alton and Arissa have yet to go. Arissa tries to duck out, but Steven keeps telling her that she only weighs ten pounds, not quite grasping the concept that the falling isn't about how much you weigh, but whether or not you trust your teammates. Arissa doesn't want to go, but everyone badgers her until she climbs the ladder. Once she gets up there, she starts crying. Arissa voiceovers and says that she's very angry, and her anger is to mask her fear and shame about crying. I can't believe she's crying. I can't believe she's scared. What is the big deal? Worst case scenario: they drop her and she lands on the grass. I'm sure they would break her fall a little bit, and it still wouldn't hurt that much. In conclusion, whatever. Also, shut up, Arissa. Also, shut up, Steven. You've just been bugging me a lot this week and I forgot to tell you earlier.

When we return from the break, Arissa tells us that Ann is urging her to go through with it. Arissa says that she trusts the team to help her learn to trust. She falls and is caught. Dude, it would have been really funny if they dropped her. In an interview, Steven says that he knows that he has to be there for Arissa, emotionally, and not give her a hard time for what she's feeling.

The team reconvenes at the folding chairs. Ann asks what the exercise was about, besides trust. I can't believe I have to recap their team-building exercises. What am I, the recording secretary? This episode is so lame, and I fear it will only get worse. Alton says that it was easier to catch someone as a group than it would have been as an individual. Ann asks how many of them felt better after Arissa went than they did when they went themselves. Nearly everyone agrees. Ann asks Arissa what's up with that, and Arissa says that her teammates want her to succeed. Frank says that Arissa's hurdle was a lot bigger than anyone else's. Ann suggests that they all really do care about each other even if they don't always show it. In a confessional, Irulan says that Arissa has been having a tough time and is ready to grow as a person and change herself.

Day turns to night. The roommates are gathering in a darkened room with a bunch of candles that Ann got for half off at Pier One. Or so I would guess. Ann sets the stage by telling the group that they are on a boat in the ocean, having a great time, but then they hit something and the boat starts sinking. Ann relays all of this information in the type of voice a camp counselor would use to tell the story about the man with the hook for an arm who preys on teenage couples at Inspiration Point. Ann continues, saying that they only have one life raft, and it only has room for one person. Here's why I would be no good at this exercise: I would immediately start questioning the lunacy of only having room for one person in the life raft, and ask if we couldn't stuff like Irulan and Arissa in there because they are both pretty skinny. And then I would get kicked out. Ann says that the sole survivor can take messages back to family and loved ones. The roommates get to decide who gets to go in the life raft. I would be like George Costanza, knocking down the old lady to be the first one on the raft. Anyway, each roommate has to go around the circle and look each person in the eye, and say either "You die" or "You live," but they can only pick one person to live. Ann demonstrates how it will go. The candlelight really accentuates how sunken Arissa's eyes are. It's not a flattering look for her. Ann seems to be getting into the exercise a little too much. In particular, she seems way too excited to say, "You die." Although, after spending all day with this group, I can't say as I blame her. Arissa asks if they get to decide who lives as a group. Ann explains again that it's an individual decision. In an interview, Steven says what Ann just explained, except he adds that they're on the Titanic, which makes this exercise even more stupid, if that were possible.

Ann asks Trishelle to start. Trishelle balks, but eventually moves to stand in front of Irulan. And then she starts crying. Crying! Does she understand that no one is actually going to die? Ann tells Trishelle that she can go last, and tries to elicit a volunteer to go first. Frank steps up. They cut from roommate to roommate, so we don't get to see each person's choice for survivor, which was like the only interesting part of this scene for me. Bitches. Steven chooses Frank to live. Brynn chooses Irulan. Trishelle chooses Arissa. In an interview, Trishelle says that Arissa hasn't lived yet, and this is her chance. When they finish, Ann says that by her count, none of them will live. Since we didn't actually get to see who got chosen each time, I have no idea what happened, but my guess is that each of the roommates picked a different person to live, thus creating a giant tie. Steven says that someone has to live, and Ann reminds them that no one will be able to take messages back to their families otherwise. Steven says again that someone has to live. Frank says that he chooses to die. Brynn does too. Arissa chooses to live. In an interview, Arissa says that she's been given a second chance. Okay, seriously. They do know that they're all going to pile into the van and go home in a few minutes, right? I can appreciate the whole theme Ann is going for here, but these guys are taking it way too seriously.

Ann asks them each to think about what message they want Arissa to take back to their families. Frank says that he doesn't want them to remember him by his last words, but instead to remember who he was throughout his life. Steven says that he wants everyone to remember who he became in the last few years of his life. A stupid slut? Isn't that how he describes himself? Trishelle wants her family to know that she met six wonderful people and now she's going to be with her mom. It seems weird to me that her last words to her family would be about her roommates, who she's known for like six weeks. Brynn wants to tell her roommates that even if she's been a bitch, she loves them all. Irulan says that if she were ever in this situation for real, she would never choose her own life over any of theirs. Oh, right. Irulan would look out for number one. Who is she kidding? Alton wants his mom to know that he'll look out for his little brother. Okay, I won't complain about Alton crying, because that's pretty sad. In an interview, Arissa says that she sees pain and guilt in Alton's eyes when he talks about his brother's death. Arissa puts a hand on Alton's shoulder as he cries. Trishelle asks Arissa to go to her mother's grave, because she's never been. She's never been to her mother's grave? Didn't she go to the burial? That mystifies me. Arissa says that she would go on to think about each of them every day, because each of them has taught her a valuable lesson. Arissa is sobbing at this point. She says they've taught her how to genuinely care about people, and she appreciates them all. This is horseshit. Are these people so self-absorbed that it takes a stupid Titanic exercise by candlelight to realize and vocalize how they feel about each other? I guess so.

Arissa sits alone at a table outside. Ann tells her that she's been given a huge responsibility, and asks Arissa to write down what she would do. In a confessional, Arissa says that she's cried more and felt more emotion there than anywhere in her life. Arissa thought that by going to Vegas, she could leave her problems behind, but they followed her, so now she needs to turn around and face them. This would be a lot more interesting if I had a freaking clue what her problems were. I mean, she has anger management issues, but this whole episode has led us to believe that her anger is just a front for some deeper pain. About what? Because she grew up poor? Is there more to it than that? This could be a sort-of interesting story arc if we had any idea what her problems are, but as it is, it's just boring. Arissa says that she feels good to make these difficult changes.

Steven tells the other roommates that a lot of the things they've been working on today are things that he's been working on for the last few years, and he knows he's made a difference in people's lives. Oh, Steven. He's so evolved and perfect. And condescending. And annoying. Shut up, Steven. Ann jokes that the roommates are all dead so they can't be talking. They laugh and say that it's the afterlife, so she shouldn't be able to see or hear them. Ann gasps and says that she sees the Carpathia, and asks if they know what it is. Of course they don't. Ann explains that the Carpathia is the ship that came to rescue the Titanic survivors, and that they've been rescued and will live. Ann tells them that they can take their emotions and thoughts for their families and each other and turn them into actions. Wow, I bet they will all love each other and never fight for the rest of the season! Or maybe until week. Or tomorrow. Or in the van on the ride home.

Arissa rejoins the group. Ann asks what the whole process was about. Irulan says that she wants everyone to know that they give to her, and she wants to give back, and also she's pretty okay with dying. Where did that last part come from? I guess her point is that if you live life to the fullest, you have no regrets when you die. Alton sobs and sobs. Ann asks what he's thinking about. Alton says that he was supposed to go out instead of his brother on the day when his brother was kidnapped and killed. Irulan says that Alton feels responsible about his brother's death, and he can't let it go, even though there's not much he could have done to prevent it. Ann tells Alton that when you have a loss in your life, it's normal to wonder why it happened. Okay, but his brother died like ten years ago, and Alton is still clearly suffering a great deal. Therapy. I'm just saying.

Ann asks Trishelle about her mother's grave. Trishelle says that she doesn't know if she'll ever go, because she doesn't feel worthy. Worthy of what? Being her mother's daughter? I totally don't get that, even knowing about Trishelle's massive self-esteem issues. In an interview, Trishelle says that it makes her feel better to talk about her mother, because she regains memories. Ann points out that if Trishelle were the one who died, she would want her mother to come see her. Trishelle agrees. Ann says that when they talk behind each other's backs, and lie either overtly or by omission, it's like saying, "You die." In a confessional, Arissa says that today is the first step to understanding the world through both her own eyes and someone else's.