Previously on Survivor: the whole season. Read the recaps.
The real previouslies: Lex Loser won immunity and Teresa "played her final card." Not, however, in a game taught by expert card player Kimj. "A little birdy" whispered in Teresa's ear. And never again will the words "little birdy" be used to describe Tom Buchanan. Despite her machinations, Teresa got voted out anyway. Four remain, and according to Peachy, "one will outlast all the rest and become the sole survivor!"
We open the show at Mofo Maji on Night 36. Cape buffalo eyes really glow in the dark. They look like cheap Buffy demons. As the S4 return from Tribal Council, they congratulate each other on making the final four. Kimj and Ethan hug, and a close-up shot reveals Ethan grinning giddily. He's both grinning and giddy -- that's a lot of emotions packed into one expression for Ethan. Lex Loser tells us in a voice-over that they're in the home stretch, and emotions are "just all over the map." He says the game extends over thirty-nine days, and "the whole thing is like a giant puzzle." Teresa's confession and revelation about Tom's "treachery" helped him fit some of the loose pieces into that puzzle. This is followed by a close-up of Tom's vacant eyes looking particularly vacant. Lex Loser whispers to Ethan that Teresa cast the mystery vote due to "one thing and one thing only": Tom's claim that Lex Loser couldn't be trusted. Ethan's head is bowed throughout this exchange; actually, Ethan is slumped over throughout much of this episode, even after winning a million dollars. Kimj tells us in a confessional that Teresa "came clean" and revealed that, during the nearly unanimous Tribal Council against Clarence, Teresa cast the mystery vote "that upset Lex so much in the beginning." Kimj also says that, according to Teresa, Tom had been lobbying during that time to get Lex Loser voted off. Lex Loser sits with his head in his hands, and we're supposed to think he does so in dismay over Tom's betrayal, but it's more likely his neck is just tired.
Kimj whispers to Ethan about the situation; Ethan is skeptical of Teresa's claims. Kimj would be skeptical too, she says, except that Tom approached her on two different occasions about voting off Lex Loser. In a confessional, Lex Loser says that "Mama Cat" was approached a couple times by Tom, who told her that if she "happened to" vote against Lex Loser in a Tribal Council, it would be fine by Tom. Ominous drumbeat. Tom sleeps with his nose jammed into the ground, and that can't be comfortable! Lex Loser whispers to Ethan that Tom's rationale is that he can't "write the vote [against Lex] down, but if someone else does, that's okay." Lex Loser says that he'll know the facts about the situation tomorrow, because he's going to have a "man to man" discussion with Tom the day. He's going to "make [Tom] shake on it...on his son's name." What's with all the hand-shaking and accepting of people's "word"? What holds an evil person to a handshake, anyway? Evil person: "I'm going to blow up the world! Mwa! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! (But if I shake your hand on it, I would never harm your puppy.)" See what I'm sayin'? In any case, Lex Loser says that if Tom won't shake, then Lex Loser will know the truth, and he gets all "I will always wave my finger in your face" into this -- without the finger-waving, but with the requisite head bobbing. Tom sweetly rubs his face in his sleep, and then Lex Loser says he's worked too hard and he's not that easily going to let himself "get led to slaughter." If there is some fat, happy, cuddly animal in Africa that is prey to hyenas, the editors have missed a chance to show a symbolic feeding clip here. They do show some cape buffalo, a giraffe, and Mofo Maji's calendar.
On Day 37, Lex Loser wants to know what's up with Kimj. She says they're in the same place and nothing's changed -- it's the "same old, same old." Lex Loser examines his fingers as Kimj tells us that it's Day 37, which she claims is "exactly five weeks today" that they've been in Africa. How five weeks exactly equals thirty-seven days, I can't compute. Also, if she's not sure it's exactly five weeks, then why use the word "exactly" in the first place? In any case, she thinks it's been a long time. Long enough, evidently, to forget how many days are in a week. Over cornmeal, the tribe marvels that they've made it to Day 37. In a confessional, Lex Loser tells us that the four remaining members are all surprised they're still in the game. He says he couldn't have imagined the competition would be as crazy as it has turned out to be, and that "it's good, it's bad, it's bitter, it's sweet." Lex Loser and Tom then head off together for some of the "bad" and the "bitter." The Bad and the Embittered. That sounds like the name of a great soap opera...or maybe as a subtitle for The E! True Hollywood Story on the former cast members of . Kimj exclaims that the "men are goin' off to work," and she's happy because there's some more trouble she's managed to help cause without implicating herself. In a confessional Lex Loser says, "Now more then ever, brains are focused on, well...is there anyone tryin' to burn me?"
Africans wail and dust tornadoes spin. As Tom and Lex Loser exit the boma on a wood-fetching mission, Lex Loser tells us in a confessional that there was a good chance that Tom had "pulled a bit of treachery when it came to him and" Lex Loser. He plans to confront Tom to see if he'll confess. Lex Loser tells Tom that they need to talk, so they throw the wood stretcher on the ground. The stretcher clatters to the ground to symbolize the clattering of Tom and Lex Loser's relationship. Or whatever. Lex Loser says he heard some stuff that made him really unhappy yesterday, and Tom says, "Okay, bro." Lex Loser says he believes in "havin' everything right out in the open," and Tom tells him, "Okay, then you put it out here."
Finally, Lex Loser gets to the point: he wants to know if, when the tribes merged, Tom told Teresa that Lex Loser couldn't be trusted. Tom exclaims, "Absolutely not!" He says it's not even a question, and that there should be no doubt about it. In a confessional, Tom wants to know, "What kind of question is that to ask this far down in the game?" He says that as far as he knows, he doesn't think he made that suggestion to Teresa (which, I hate to say, seems like an admission of guilt), but says if he did, it was because Lex Loser had won all the challenges and was so clearly in control of the game. Tom concludes, "If you're gonna run in front of the pack with a white horse, you're gonna be shot at!" And if you're gonna open a can of beans in Africa without the consent of seven other people, same thing. Lex Loser also wants to know if Tom ever told Kimj to vote for Lex Loser in his stead to avoid betraying the alliance. Tom flibbertigibbets around a bit, and then admits that the accusation is true. He mumbles some stuff about Survivor being a game, and Kimj being one of the players in that game, and his having no control over her. Lex Loser wants to know why Tom told Kimj to vote for him despite their pact, and Tom answers, "Why dig up bones?" Lex Loser doesn't think it's bone-digging; he thinks it's "current events." Tom then says that when they first joined Samburu, Lex Loser was the first to tell the original Samburus, "Well, don't vote for me." Lex Loser's voice drops an octave as he says he didn't do that at all. He thought it was "only fair and right" for them to say that none of them had votes against them; Tom says, "I felt like you saved your ass." Lex Loser insists that Tom is wrong.
The argument continues in the background as Lex Loser tells us in a confessional that a situation has "arisen" in which he and Tom do not see eye to eye. He says that Tom "had the impression" that Lex Loser wasn't working for or with him, but against him. Tom then points out that all he had to do was vote for Lex Loser one time, and Lex Loser would have been voted off. Lex Loser knows this. Tom repeats that he could have voted Lex Loser off anytime he wanted by just going like this: "L-E-X." Here, he spells out the letters in the air, probably to make sure he gets the spelling right. Lex Loser says he could have done the same thing, and Tom agrees, but I don't see how that's true. Lex Loser wants to go back to camp "square" with Tom, and he doesn't want Tom thinking the only reason Lex Loser is still in the game is "by [Tom's] good graces." He then completely spazzes out and yells, "I'm not here because anybody carried me along! No one carried me here! You're responsible because you're here! I'm responsible 'cause I'm here! It's not because Big Tom did Lex [Loser] a favor that I'm here!" Clearly, he puts the "lex" in "complex." Tom punctuates Lex Loser's rant with "no!"s and adds that he hasn't saved Lex Loser. The two men agree that they have covered each others' asses throughout the game. Tom tells Lex Loser that they have three more days, and he's not going to "fall out" with the alliance during that short a period of time.
In a confessional, Tom says that the situation is "basically a case of paranoia and worry-ation." That is a real word, by the way. You'll find it in the English/Tomglish dictionary. He tells us that his alliance with Lex Loser and Ethan has not "quivered," but when Lex Loser asks Tom to shake on it, Tom says, "I don't have to!" Lex Loser is surprised, but Tom insists that with the forthcoming Tribal Council, he doesn't need to make another alliance because he doesn't want Lex Loser to feel obligated. In a confessional, Lex Loser tells us that he can't forget what Tom has done for him in the past, and that they can "thank each other equally" for getting so far in the game. He doesn't say, "We're both responsible because we're both here!" He concludes that he would not "feel right about cutting [Tom] off at the knees because on a couple of occasions he's fallen from grace." So "cutting him off at the knees" would feel right under different circumstances? A piece of wood falls from grace. We then see Tom cowpoking around in the background as Lex Loser tells Ethan about Tom's refusal to shake his hand; Ethan thinks something is "a gamble." Lex Loser then feels out Ethan to see if he's ready to dissolve the original pact. Ethan flatly says he isn't, so Lex Loser says he isn't, either, although clearly he was hoping for a different answer. But don't lose hope -- there's still knee-cutting ahead!
The music swells dramatically, accompanied by a shot of the fast-moving boma and what looks like a coconut tree. As the S4 walk together, Lex Loser tells us that the past evening and morning "were some tough and trying times," so he and the other members of Mofo Maji decided to "Zen out for a while." They each stand on their own high rock, which reveals a view of their boma. First we see the view of the S4; then we see the view of the boma seen by the S4; then we see the view up each of the S4's shorts. Lex Loser tells us that it's very peaceful on the mountaintop, and they all agree that it's an incredible view. He says you get a different perspective from up there -- some might call that an aerial perspective -- "and you just can't help but think about stuff." Meanwhile Ethan marvels that they've been living in "that little circle" for thirty-six days. I guess it's better than living in a little square. Unless it was Meghan's box onFelicity, which might be kind of fun. And if that sounds perverted, it's not. Anyway, Ethan says in a confessional that Survivor has been the "ultimate adventure," and then Kimj says something about the mountaintop revealing the "remoteness" of the habitat. Because, after being in Kenya for thirty-nine days, she needs to stand on a mountaintop to know that their location is remote.
As the four stand side by side, Ethan and Lex Loser pose like bold explorers with with one leg raised, and then Tom lifts his arms in gesture of victory. Kimj, of course, does it, too. Tom says in a confessional that walking away with the million takes a lot of luck, and so far he's been pretty lucky. He is happy to have made it this far and concludes, "I'm gonna suck it in a little bit and enjoy it." Ethan's calf and foot tell us that they only have a few more days to look at the vista, and Kimj advises the others to "take it all in, cowboys." Kimj tells us in a confessional that it feels great to be the "last woman standing." She says she can make it to the final three, but that it will have to be "under [her] own power." If she had any. She acknowledges having won neither an immunity nor a reward challenge in the game, but insists "that's not to say that it can't happen." This was met with lots of "whatever"s in my viewing circle. A bird soars to prove us wrong, symbolizing the inner strength of Kimj. She insists that if she can pull it off and buy herself another day in Africa, "Nobody would be happier than [she]." Who would she expect to be happier?
Now the S4 are all seated on the same rock on the mountaintop. Lex Loser tells us that, at this point, the game is suddenly "all about winning." Because for the other thirty-eight days it's about great food, good company, and physical fitness. He says, "Dammit, I am gonna walk away with that prize!" That's exactly what Richard Hatch said in Pulau Tiga, and look what happened to him. Aside from being arrested for child abuse, that is. Now it's just the three men sitting together while Kimj is off somewhere applying Harness Honey Leather Conditioner to her luggage...or maybe that's sunscreen to her skin. In any case, then she's back -- softer-looking, too -- and holding hands with Tom. Lex Loser continues, "I am here for one thing and one thing only: to take that million dollars and to run with it. It's mine." Or Ethan's.
A creepy-looking bird. "Kumba-yay!" must mean "It's almost over" in Swahili. The S4 strut about camp and find a torch bearing a message in their treemail. Lex Loser reads the clue: "Names of dogs, college degrees, I hope you paid attention. You may just be the to go if your memory lacks retention." Rhyming "attention" and "retention" is quite the accomplishment for the Survivor poets. Kimj licks her lips, and Tom looks perplexed. Ethan nibbles on his fingers, and then points and says, with a straight face, "What's your name again?" He's Deadpan Man. Tom's more likely to be Bedpan Man. That's not an age comment -- it's all about the lifestyle.
With wind-blown hair, Ethan tells us that they'll have to answer questions about the remaining members of Mofo Maji, as well as the members of the jury. He tells us that whoever gets the most answers right will win immunity. Which is good, because that's usually the way games work. Tom remembers Hunter and Sage, but asks Lex Loser the name of Frank's third child. Lex Loser claims not to know. Bastard. And if it turns out that Lex Loser is indeed a bastard, please spare me the email commentary on my lack of political correctness. I mean no harm by it. In fact, some of my best friends are bastards. (And incidentally, the dictionary lists a third definition for "shifty" as "able to accomplish what is needed; resourceful." Of course, that's what I meant last week.) In a confessional, Tom says of the challenge, "That's another mental game and, uh, I'm not that strong in that game." Tom asks Ethan the same question about Frank's child's name while they appear to be stretching; Ethan pauses and says he has no idea, either. He then worries in a confessional that if he gets a question wrong about one of the jurors who he's "supposedly close with," that juror might think he was just not genuinely interested. Who does Ethan think he is "supposedly close with," anyway? As they look at a torch that has the names "Teddy" and "Danielle" written on it, Ethan, Lex Loser, and Tom agree that Kimj is going to be strong in the challenge. Ted, Jr. is one of Kimj's sons. I don't know who Danielle is. Lex Loser tells us in a confessional that he thinks Kimj has the best chance of winning the challenge because she's got a good mind for facts, good retention, and has taken a genuine interest in everybody. Or in other words: because she's just got to be good at something.
Kimj, Tom, Lex Loser, and Ethan are spaced far apart as they walk into the Tribal Council. Obviously, this entrance is being staged; they're like bridesmaids in a wedding. Now there's a picture to liven up your night. Peachy is whispery and serious as he greets them. The jury enters, and Brandon is quite the hip swiveler. It looks like Ethan checks out Kimp's butt, but I don't know why he would now, since it was on much better exhibit while she was a competitor. Maybe he's thinking, "So that's what it looks like without that stupid buff tied around it!" Kelly is wearing a cute outfit...for sorority rush; this week, it's Teresa's turn to wear the communal skirt.
Peachy says that the night's immunity challenge is called "Fallen Comrades," and will demonstrate how much they've learned about their fellow tribe members during their time in Africa. He says they've had a lot of conversations, but "how much listening have you really done?" They're doing the challenge at Tribal Council because "ultimately, this is a game about relationships" and the vote will immediately follow the challenge. If that sounded like a non sequitur, it was. In any case, Peachy will ask eight questions about the "original tribemates" of Boran and Samburu. They are to write their answers down, and not reveal them until instructed to do so. These rules are difficult for Tom to grasp, I'm sure, so Peachy states them explicitly.
The first question asks, "What rank did Frank reach in the army?" Frank's face reveals no expression, and none of the S4 look confident. Kimj answers "2nd lieutenant;" Ethan says "sergeant"; Lex Loser guesses "colonel," and Tom says "lieutenant private." The correct answer is "staff sergeant," so no one gets it right.
The question asks, "Which survivor listed 'manipulating men' on their application as one of their favorite hobbies?" The camera focuses on Kimp, then on Teresa, then on a wickedly grinning Brandon, and finally on a very cat-who-swallowed-the-canary Kelly. All of the S4 think that it's Kelly, and they're all right. She makes a cutesy gesture that she probably thinks is actually cute. Really, if "manipulating men" is one of her hobbies, shouldn't she be at least decent at it?
Peachy wants to know, "Who was the first to hit a target in the archery competition?" Ethan grins and shlumps over; Tom covers his eyes. Ethan, actually, may or may not have just fallen asleep. Kimj and Lex Loser think it was Clarence; Ethan says it was Kimp; and Big Tom guesses Lindsey. Ethan has about five other names crossed out. Lindsey hit the target, Big Tom takes the lead, and for some reason Kimp nods and looks very smug. She has very active eyebrows throughout these Tribal Councils, as my husband pointed out.
Peachy reveals a photograph and wants to know, "Whose children are these and what are their names?" Teresa looks pleased that her kids are getting some airtime. The S4 reveal their votes; Kim has Clarence and Kelly crossed out. Huh? Oh, I see; those are her answers for the questions. All know that Ellie and Tyler are Teresa's children. Tom is now in the lead with three correct answers, while everyone else has two.
The fifth question asks, "In which city and state is Jessie a deputy sheriff?" Ethan's asleep again, but manages to eke out the correct answer: Orlando, Florida, as does everyone else.
, Peachy wants to know, "Which survivor has a tattoo of a black widow spider, and for an extra point, where is it?" Kimj and Lex Loser say it's on Brandon's back. Ethan thinks it's on Brandon's left ankle, and Tom thinks it's on Brandon's butt. Lex Loser's answer actually said "small of back," but he gets it right, as does Kimj. Technically, I think Tom's answer might have been a two-pointer as well, but Peachy only gives him one point. Ethan also gets a point, and Kimj and Lex Loser each get two. This leaves Lex Loser, Big Tom, and Kimj tied with five correct answers, and Ethan with four.
Peachy asks, "Who are Sage, Hunter, and Jocelyn Rose?" Surprisingly, they're not the children of Mr. I. M. Crayola. They're Frank's kids, and what kind of stupid question was that?
The last question asks, "Which female survivor does not have anything pierced, including her ears?" We see close-ups of naked ears as Peachy warns the S4 to keep their last answers "very private" as they deliberate; he then encourages them to take a guess. Kimj hams it up trying to look like she doesn't know the answer, but I think she does. She answers that it's Kelly, and Peachy removes any suspense from the others' answers by telling her she's correct. Ethan guesses Linda, Lex Loser guesses Lindsey, and Tom guesses Jessie. Peachy doesn't even bother putting the immunity dog collar around Kimj's neck; he just hands it off to her and phones in the "well-earned" line. Kimj is now "immune" to the Tribal Council voting, and thus guaranteed a spot in the final three. Peachy cites her participation in "every single challenge we've had" as "a great achievement." That's like congratulating someone on good attendance. It doesn't mean anything except they never had anything better to do. But also, did Kimj never sit out on any of the team challenges when the numbers were uneven?
As the S3 and Peachy head off together at daybreak, the bird that is the spirit of Kimj soars above again. Peachy tells them that they'll participate this morning in "a final rite of passage." An aerial shot shows a clumping of red in the middle of the land; a close-up reveals a group of Masai dressed in red. Peachy tells the S3 that this is a chance to think about what it took for them to get to Day 38. They will be participating in a Samburu ritual, so the S3 will "follow [the Masai's] lead," always working north with fires on the east and west and "never looking back." Lex Loser is completely crazy-eyed during Peachy's explanation. The ritual will begin with a blessing from the elders, who will "beckon the spirits with their sticks." By this he means the elders will have the sticks, not the spirits. Though that might be more interesting. The elders will ask the spirits to forgive the S3 for injustices they've committed, and Peachy wants the S3 to focus on -- in addition to their crimes -- what they think they'll need to do to get through the three days. In the second part of the ritual, they will follow "a trail of staffs representing [their] fellow survivors." This is their chance to reflect on the impact the former survivors had on the lives of the S3 and vice versa. It's full daylight now, but Peachy is still leading the way with his torch. In the part of the ritual, they'll "come upon" a group of Samburu tribe members who will lead them through a "ceremonial cleansing" representing new life. A mixture of goat fat and blood will be washed over their bodies and the S3 will be asked to celebrate their rebirths. Peachy claims, "This. Is. For you." He encourages them to "give [themselves] over to the experience." Kimj rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out; I think the expression is meant to express excitement and not disdain.
The ritual begins. The elders wave their sticks and chant as Ethan, Lex Loser, and Kimj walk through their group. That part's over pretty quickly, so I guess the spirits just give up on hopeless causes.
Then, the S3 start on their journey, first passing Diane's staff. This is accompanied by a clip of Big Bird taking over the map when they first arrived in Africa. In a current voice-over, she talks about her age and how Survivor was the chance of a lifetime. She says she did something she really wanted to do, and that was all that mattered. A montage of the S3 mourning over the others' staffs, clips from the Outback, and voice-overs follows. Jessie's staff says Survivor is very hard and that she felt accomplished just by being there. Notice how all the losers say that? Carl talks about his "charmed and wonderful life." He says he likes crawling into bed at night. Linda's staff doesn't try to hug them, but we do see a clip of her bloody tongue as she embarrasses herself with further talk of Mother Africa. Silas carries a goat and tells us he planned on winning the whole thing. He lets Mark Burnett know he'd play again if he were asked. Lindsey manages to whine even in this short segment; she says she loves to compete, but would much rather do it "in a civilized environment" where she's not "battling manipulation and backstabbing." Then, Tom pulls the tick out of her butt. Clarence puts on makeup and talks about having led his tribe until the bean incident, which "threw [him] down to the bottom." He says he went from "like, the CEO of the company to the janitor." Ethan seems particularly emotional over Kelly's staff, which is strange in light of her later accusations. We see the clip of her white man's overbite, and she tells us that she can't help being herself; it was hard for her not to have friends "in different places," and that screwed her. She is proud to have made it past "the boulders and what not," and then she calls herself a "skinny girl" for the second time. Once, I can forgive. Brandon says he'll miss the challenges the most; he claims to have finished in second or third in all of them. He claims that after winning "the most physical one" with Frank, "Nobody will ever take me for granted again." Frank says Survivor was a challenge, but that the isolation was therapeutic. Kimp says the game was never about the money, as we see Tom pour water down her bikini top. Obviously, the game was about the experience of having a fat older man ogle her breasts. Teresa couldn't be as vocal in Africa as she was at home. Finally, Tom does his slow-motion arm flapping dance, wins a challenge, and skips with Lex Loser, causing Kimj to cry and act like she gives a damn.
As the S3 stumble upon the third part of the ritual, three Kenyans in red robes greet the S3 and make them kneel. The Masai tribesmen rub their temples and then make the S3 get on their feet again. The throwing of the goat fat and blood is not nearly as fun as it could have been; then, suddenly, other Africans dressed in red start popping out from nearby hiding places and creeping toward the S3. It's kind of disturbing, actually, but then they start jumping in rows in front of Lex Loser, Kimj, and Ethan. The dancers put necklaces around the necks of the S3 and continue dancing. It looks like one of the men is rubbing some shit into Kimj face; it probably makes her feel comfortable and reminds her of the Mofo Maji watering hole. Then the S3 join in the jumping, and Kimj has a really hard time with it. If her feet left the ground at any point, I missed it. Lex Loser and Ethan, though, have the whole jumping thing down. Then the S3 join hands with the other dancers, and they all start skipping around. They also stand in a line and jut their necks forward and back. Everyone would have far more enjoyed Big Tom's participation in this, so the S3 suck for voting him out and depriving the viewing audience of such hilarity. Close-up clips of the S3 show that Lex Loser is way into it (perhaps mistaking this ritual for some sort of communion with the devil); Ethan is fairly passive; and Kimj is about to pass out. But then a slow motion of Ethan makes him look orgasmic, which I'm sure resulted in much mockery from his friends back home. Finally, they manage to get a shot of each of the S3 looking happy -- as opposed to manic, bored, and dying -- and then the ritual is finished.
The S3 hobble over to where Just Peachy is waiting for them, to a pole. Peachy says that the last challenge will come down to one thing: will power. He asks, "How. Badly. Do you. Want this?" and explains that it's a test of endurance. Each Mofo Maji member will place one hand on a giant immunity idol and each foot on a raised stump. Once hands and feet are committed to a spot, they can't be moved. Whoever lasts the longest gets a spot in the final two and -- just as importantly -- gets to choose who goes along for the ride. Peachy advises the S3 to remember to "keep [their] feet on the wood and be careful with [their] hands." He blathers on further about not losing contact and maintaining concentration before proclaiming, "The game is on!" I guess he's learned that "Let's get it on!" was scaring the more delicate tribe members.
Cingular salutes Kimj again. What do I have to say? Bring back Tom!
Antelopes race and giraffes walk slowly as we see Kimj lead Lex Loser and Ethan back into the boma. Kimj tells us in a confessional that "in your wildest dreams," things like this happen, but not usually to her. She thinks it's proof that dreams come true. Has the woman never been to Disneyland? She must not be young at heart. She says she never thought she'd see the immunity dog collar again, but then she never thought she'd see it in the first place. We see a quick clip of Lex Loser grinning and attempting to use his crazy eyes to hypnotize Kimj into picking him. Kimj continues in her confessional that she's stunned to be in the final two, especially considering that she thought she'd be the first one voted off when they arrived in Africa.
Kimj orders Lex Loser and Ethan to dinner. As they eat, Lex Loser brown-noses that he's glad the three of them are in the finals together. Kimj says, "Thank you. I'm glad we're here, too." Then Lex Loser massages Kimj's feet while Ethan removes his shirt and feeds her grapes. Lex Loser tells us that thoughts of the final two are weighing heavily on all of their minds. He tells us that either he or Ethan are out of the game, and "that's all up to Mama Cat." Lex Loser tells Ethan that, regardless of what happens, he's proud to have had an alliance with Ethan. Ethan agrees that it worked out "really well." In a confessional, he says it's a scary feeling to have his "destiny in someone else's hands." He tells us that his stomach is in knots as we see a shot of him sitting in a contorted way. Because he's knotted up. See? Ethan doesn't know what to expect; he could be out of the game tonight, or he could still be here tomorrow. Ethan and Kimj then whisper about what a tough decision it will be; Kimj says, "It's a hard decisions just anyway. You know? Making two where they are three." Deep, man.
Then we watch as Lex's and Kimj's shadows have a discussion. Kimj seems very smug to me as she says she's been thinking of everything that will help her make the decision easier. She loves them both equally and thinks the situation is horrible; it's not just the biggest decision in Africa, but the biggest decision of her life. ["I'd say she's had a pretty uncomplicated life, then." -- Wing Chun] Lex Loser tries to look empathetic and maintain his "choose Lex Loser, choose Lex Loser, choose Lex Loser" hypnotic transmission simultaneously. He tells Kimj that it's a "tough, tough, tough situation" and that her victory was "bittersweet" but with "great reward." What is he, a fortune cookie? As they pack their stuff up to head off to the Council, Kimj says it would be a more strategic move for her if she thought either Lex Loser or Ethan would be easier to beat than the other. Winning immunity, she claims, is as "double-edged sword" because she'll "pain" herself and whoever she doesn't bring along with her. Not to mention all of us she's paining back home.
As Kimj walks back to her dwindling tribe, Lex Loser looks very alert, and Peachy says, "I'll go tally...the vote." This whole thing is really kind of silly -- Kimj should have had to make the decision to their faces. She continues looking straight ahead while Lex Loser consoles her; Ethan just looks uncomfortable. Brandon, by the way, is wearing a scarf. In Africa. In 100 degree weather. Throughout this Tribal Council, it's like Kimj's leg is the Immunity Idol and they both need to keep a hand on it at all times.
Peachy returns, the "decision is final," blah, blah. The fourteenth person voted out of the tribe is Lex Loser. All together now: whew-hoo! Lex Loser graciously hugs Kimj and whispers something to her that we don't hear but is most likely, "I know where you live." Kimj shoves Ethan into her armpit. She looks only slightly regretful; as she rubs her eyes, I don't see any tears. Peachy attempts to extinguish Lex Loser's torch, but it won't go out. Because fire is the devil's toy. As Ethan and Kimj hold hands, Peachy tells them that the power is now completely in the hands of the jury. The S2 have tonight and tomorrow to think of what they'll each say to convince the jury -- each member of which they had a hand in eliminating -- to reward him or her with the million dollars.
Lex Loser can honestly say he spent thirty-eight days in Kenya and played "straight and honest and true." He has no hard feelings toward Kimj and concludes, "You had to vote for somebody. It was a tough call." But as Ethan and Kimj walk away, they're already snarking over it. Kimj says that Lex Loser was really upset, but claims, "I did the right thing, I really did the right thing." Ethan says, "No regrets." None for him, anyway.
Back from commercial, it's already daybreak. Thank God we're spared the dramatics of their last night together. The screen just reads "Final Day" instead of Day 39. Ethan wakes up and greets Kimj with a slightly flirty "good morning" as he rolls over and puts on his glasses. She obsessively fluffs out her hair in response. Kimj thinks it's hard to believe that there are no more nights in Africa ahead, and Ethan says, "No, it's not." Kimj tells us that yesterday she was concerned about voting off one of her two tribemates, but today she just relishes being there on the last day with Ethan. They both think it's "huge" to still be in the game.
Ethan says in a confessional that it's a very good day; he feels relief, joy, and gratitude toward Kimj for picking him. Kimj tells Ethan that she "really couldn't be with a better person," and she's very excited about it. Kimj claims in a confessional that the decision was increasingly difficult to make, but Lex Loser thought he deserved it, and she's not sure Ethan felt so confident, so that made the decision easier for her. I'm not complaining about the end result, but that's the lamest reason ever! Ethan has his hands tucked into his pockets as he says he only won two challenges and people might think he got lucky. He got lucky? With the sunrise in the background, Kimj tells Ethan that you don't succeed on Survivor "just by being a nice guy," and that his acts in Africa are akin to his acts in real life. She philosophizes, "You are who you are." They agree that being who they are is what got them on the show in the first place, and into the final two.
Ethan summons Kimj to the calendar so that they can cross off their last day together. As they use Kimj's paints, they agree that it's something neither of them ever thought would happen. Kimj says the game will "go down as one of the ultimate experiences of your entire life." She's very precise as she draws a line through the 38; then she and Ethan smooch loudly. Kimj carefully circles the "39" on the calendar in red. They both write their initials to the circled 39, agree that they like the way it looks, and hug each other.
As the S2 prepare to leave Mofo Maji for the last time, Kimj needs help just to put on her backpack. She has backpack tan lines. Ethan tells us in a confessional that he thinks it will be a "one-vote jury." He expects to get the "guy votes" of Lex Loser and Tom and Frank, and he believes Kimj will get the "girl votes" of Teresa, little Kim, and Kelly. Brandon, he thinks, is the "swing vote." ["No comment." -- Wing Chun] As they stare at their packed-up boma, Kimj tells Ethan to "say [his] piece now." Ethan tells her to take one last look because they'll never be in that spot again. They leave behind all their colorful tents and pots and garbage and the fire and the empty ostrich egg because anything American -- even trash -- is a gift to the third world.
As they head off to Tribal Council, the S2 discuss what lies ahead. Ethan thinks Tom will lighten up the atmosphere, but he is sure that "Lex [Loser] is gonna ask a deep question." He concludes that the questions asked by the jury are "gonna be deep, and they're gonna be heavy."
The abandoned cart. Gourds. The tree in the middle of the boma. Wind blows through the deserted camp, symbolizing the emptiness we now all feel as we realize that Lex Loser will no longer be in our lives each week. Or not.
It's now time to hear from each member of the jury. Kimp tells us that tonight's Council will be tense because it's a big deal. She says it's more important to her that a deserving person win the title of Survivor than that she win the million dollars herself. She's a Survivor in the Jenna mold; she looked much cuter in the bush. And you may or may not to get to see her in the bush again (if you know what I mean) in Playboy. Kimp says that Kimj and Ethan were an unlikely pair to have made it to the final two: Kimj was at risk to go early because she was oldest and, "you might have thought, weakest"; and although Ethan may have flown under the radar, he didn't make worthwhile bonds with people during his time in Africa. Kimp thinks it's interesting that an introvert and the oldest person in the tribe are the last two who remain.
Kimj and Ethan walk.
Lex Loser tells us that no one makes the final two "by luck or coincidence." He says that a person could make it to the final four by being lucky, but that the final two is "on your own valor and on your own merit." Notice he skips from final four to final three. Lex Loser thinks tonight's vote will be interesting because the seven members of the jury "run the gamut." He says they're all different kinds of people with different opinions of the final two, and "it is still anyone's game."
Kimj and Ethan walk some more.
Teresa squats in the brush and tells us that tonight's Tribal Council will be bittersweet because the game is over and she didn't go as far as she wanted to go, which was "first or second; ideally first." She says it's also bittersweet because she respects and genuinely likes both Ethan and Kimj, and that it will be a hard choice for her. She concludes, "Of course the whole game's been pretty difficult, so why should it change now?"
A giraffe looks directly into the camera.
Brandon tells us that there's a lot of revenge involved in tonight's decision for him. He then clarifies that it's more "satisfaction" than "revenge," because he doesn't "care for one of the people that are up there tonight." He doesn't tell us who it is, though. Brandon says that the ultimate satisfaction for him will be to cast a vote against that person tonight. He adds that the fact that they made it thirty-nine days among so many big personalities means that both Kimj and Ethan are due some credit. If Brandon gave me credit for anything, I think I'd be pretty happy about it.
They're walking; they're walking.
Frank tells us that there's loyalty in the game of Survivor, which can be seen in the final two of Kimj and Ethan. He says that sort of loyalty to each other will "catapult you up," but insists that "everything gets cut loose at the end" because there can only be one final survivor.
Ethan doesn't trip; Kimj doesn't fall over.
Big Tom says in a confessional that he decided who to vote for in "2.9 seconds." He tells us that as soon as he got voted off, he said to himself, "Self, I know who I wanna vote for in the thing!" He says that his question might be serious, or it might make them "scratch their heads and say, 'What kind of stupid question does he ask?'" He wants to make them wonder just "how stupid is Old Tom Buchanan?" How stupid, or how drunk?
Walk, walk, walk.
Kelly says she doesn't know what approach she'll take in tonight's Tribal Council. She wants to see Ethan and Kimj squirm because she's the first to admit that she's the "sorest loser out there." She bitches about the "Kelly-Voted-Off Debacle," and once again insists that she didn't vote for Lex Loser, so clearly she's not over it, even though she claims "that's fine." Kelly can't wait for tonight; she hopes she will make them "quake in their little Reeboks." She doesn't say "little pink Reeboks," which would have been funnier. She says she wants to see fireworks because she's been sitting around for a really long time. Besides, she just likes to watch things happen. She then raises both arms in a gesture of victorious victory and yells, "I wanna go now!" About fifteen of Kelly's different personalities made an appearance during this confessional.
Tribal Council Trill. After watching this show for thirteen weeks, I can finally ask: what's with all little huts? Do they mean anything? Are they just for decorative effect? And why do the huts have slatted windows? I kept thinking throughout the season that the huts would serve some strange purpose, but all season long they haven't, and now the game is over and there are the huts. But anyway. Kimj and Ethan smile as they arrive at the Council and sit down. The jury comes in; Big Tom is wearing his overalls without a shirt, but no one else looks particularly interesting. Teresa is still tacky. Peachy welcomes both the jury and the final players to the last Tribal Council. He points out that there are two "significant differences" from prior Tribal Councils: the S2 don't vote, and the jury will now voting for a winner, as opposed to against a loser. Peachy spares us the usual preaching and jumps right into the interesting stuff by inviting Ethan and Kimj, "State your case." He asks them to explain to the jury why they think they should win the money and the title.
Kimj takes a deep breath and says in her best Valley Woman voice, "I can't ask you guys, like, to vote for me." She thinks that being in Africa has given her an experience with people she's never had before -- even amongst her own family. It would be hard for her at this point to tell them something about herself that they haven't already decided for themselves. She can tell them, however, that as the oldest person in the tribe, she was made to feel young and important. Because it was all about how she felt. She says that each member of the jury helped her to be she best person and competitor possible, and that no matter the outcome, she's "leaving here, like, a winner. Big-time."
Ethan says that he set goals when he got to Africa -- obviously to stay as long as he could -- but also to return home with integrity, having proved that "good, honest people can get far in the game." He thinks that the game "consumes so much of everyone, and sometimes it clouds people's personalities." He also thinks that Survivor clouds people's behavior, and the way they treat each other. He says that staying true to his goals was important to him, and that he wants the jury to "look at the whole picture and kind of vote within your heart." Ethan then grins, sits back, and says, "That's all I have to say." He seems relieved to be finished and a little proud of himself, too. Kimj claws at his back in anger. Or rubs it in support.
Peachy tells the jury to take some time and think about what Ethan and Kimj just said. In a moment, each of the J7 will have a moment to ask the S2 a question to help decide who will be "the ultimate survivor." Pause for suspense. Suspense? Anyone?
Peachy tells the jury that this is their big chance; he gives his typical "here's how it's gonna work" spiel. Each jury member will ask a question and/or make a statement. Peachy calls on Brandon to "get us goin'."
Brandon struts over, lowers his head, and bobs on his heels. He thinks it's "kind of funny," because he doesn't know yet who he's going to vote for tonight. He says he didn't know either of the S2 until after the merger, and he's not sure he even got to know them in the few days they spent together. He says, "So then I started thinking, who got to know me and liked me the best? And I realized, neither one of you liked me around to keep me around three days longer than Frank, so you couldn't like me that much." Hee. He then wants to know who Ethan and Kimj would choose from the jury to take their place in the final two. Ethan misunderstands the question and says that he would most like Lex Loser to be sitting to him, and of course Lex Loser looks smug. Ethan says that Lex Loser was confident, "had extreme will," and won so many challenges that beating Lex Loser in the finals would be "one of the greatest accomplishments that [he] could...accomplish." Brandon keeps cocking his head back and forth. Kimj would also choose Lex Loser because he was supportive of her. She explains that she was berating herself after a failed challenge because she didn't have a good excuse, and Lex Loser said, "Like, yes you do -- you have fifty-six excuses." Kimj thought that was a very thoughtful and sincere thing to say. Brandon then asks which member of the J7 Ethan and Kimj think least deserves to "set up there." He just wants a name -- no explanation. Ethan looks at Brandon and says, "Um, you!" Brandon goes all steely-face and points at Kimj. Kimj says it's a tough question, but then says she guesses Big Tom. She feels he was not "in favor" of women at the end, and claims this belief is based on nothing but her feelings. Ethan keeps a straight face, and Brandon grins. Kimj thinks Tom is cool "because he's a guy's guy," but that if she has to pick a reason, that's it. She apologizes to Tom, and he dismisses it, but he's not happy about her apology, nor is she particularly earnest making it.
Lex Loser wants to know what is the first "selfless act" Kimj and Ethan plan to perform once they arrive home. Ethan looks at Kimj with a big grin on his face, and she's just kind of staring back at him. I think Ethan is laughing because Lex Loser asked exactly the type of question he expected Lex Loser to ask; and Kimj is staring at Ethan because he's staring at her. Kimj says that she plans to do what they all have said they want to do -- work on the Wamba project. She then spouts statistics about AIDS in Africa and says, "It's something that I feel really strongly about doing." Really, I'd say it's fairly common knowledge that AIDS is a huge problem in Africa; it seems fairly hypocritical only to want to do something about it once you've seen it for yourself. Ethan wants to do something closer to home. He says that playing hackysack with the children in Wamba touched him immensely, and that he plans to volunteer his time to starting an inner-city soccer league. Lex Loser thanks them for their answers.
Frank is . He's dressed very casual but stands very seriously at attenTION! He formally greets Kimj and Ethan and congratulates them on their achievements. He then launches into his expository question. When they first arrived in Africa, he says, they were warned about Africa's big five: the rhino, the cape buffalo, the elephant, the lion, and the leopard. He wants to know what are the "big five characteristics" of being successful at Survivor. Ethan begins counting on his thumb and answers: will power, strength, integrity, intelligence. He has some trouble with the fifth, but finally comes up with "a little bit of luck." I really hoped Kimj would say "three strong men on their tribe, some acrylic paints, and a whole lot of luck," but instead she cites respect, thoughtfulness, flexibility, love, and understanding. Frank thanks them and returns to his seat in disbelief that neither of the S2 answered "guns."
Kelly wants to say "hi" because she hasn't talked to them in a while. The S2 look amused and can obviously tell they're in for an attack of the Sue Hawk variety. It's a pale, pale shadow, though. Kelly says she's had fifteen days to think about who would be sitting across from her on this big night. She says that, "to be totally honest," she hoped both Kimj and Ethan would be on her side of the jury, but that it could have been worse. Behind her, Brandon examines his fingernails, and Lex Loser fidgets around. Kelly's voice cracks as she tells Kimj that she was "surprised and disappointed" by her "conduct" throughout Kelly's last few days on Mofo Maji. She points out that Kimj did some good things, too -- most importantly, she gave Kelly something she's been wanting for a long time: Lex Loser's own "walk of shame." She says that even though Kimj "totally sold [Kelly] out," Kelly still admires Kimj's accomplishments. She wants Kimj to know, however, that part of her success came at Kelly's expense. She finishes her diatribe against Kimj thus: "If you think you did this with high integrity, don't flatter yourself." Lex Loser grins at this; Brandon covers his face and rolls his eyes, most likely wishing he'd said that himself; Kimp wears her unflattering Tribal Council facial expression. Those furrowed eyebrows! As Kelly turns toward him, Ethan twitches and slumps. She says she listened at length to Peachy blabber on about the importance of relationships in Survivor, and snarks at Ethan, "I certainly didn't see you trying to make one with me. I don't know about anybody else." She says she's in a dilemma now, and will need their help: she wants them to pick a number between one and a thousand. Kimj picks three. Ethan twitches, looks over at Kimj, closes his eyes, and says 888. Has he never seen The Price is Right? Kelly remembers her manners at the last minute and says, "Thank you. I've very proud of you both."
Kimp tucks her hair behind her ears and smiles as she greets them. Sad music plays, because they've momentarily confused her with Elisabeth and think we've developed some sort of attachment. She says that she learned some things about herself from people like Tom and Frank that she wouldn't have learned otherwise. She wants to know from which of the jury members Ethan and Kimj learned the most about themselves, and from which of the jury members they learned the least about themselves, and why? Kimj's nose turns brown as she says that, "strangely enough," she learned the most from Kimp. She blathers on that it wasn't what tribe they were on or that Kimp was "particularly supportive of her," but that Kimp had the guts to call off her wedding. Kimj says she's always done exactly what was expected of her, and that she wasn't too old to learn from Kimp that that's not always the right path. Kimp is crying because that's what she does. Kimj also points out that when Kimp got "dealt a blow" by one of her tribe members, she was upset, but as soon as she got over it, she wanted to be friends with him again. Kimp shoots a look at Brandon, who doesn't look at her, but grins. Kimj continues, "You may not forget, but you are a forgiver." She says that's "huge," and thus she learned an "amazing amount" from Kimp. Kimj then insists that she's not picking on Tom, and that she had a lot of laughs with him, but that she didn't learn "a whole lot." Ethan earnestly says he learned the most about himself from Teresa. He felt a bond with Teresa and she was like his "safe place" in the game because he felt so comfortable with her. He found her will power and desire to win both admirable and inspirational. Ethan says he wants to be like Teresa, and that he'll take that knowledge away with him from Africa. He learned the least from Kelly because "it seems" like he didn't take the time to get to know her. He's sure she's a great girl and he's sure he could have learned things from her. Like how to be a bitch?
Big Tom congratulates both of them on their success in the game, and compliments their "great accomplishment." He says, "So I've got to ask you a question, and I will." And it goes a little something like this: "In camp, I lost a little bit of weight, and it was because of the mush. Ethan, if a hyena came through camp and eat our mush and then after he eat it he turned around and licked his heinie. Did he do it because that was the animal instinct, or because to get the taste of the mush out of his mouth? What do you think?" The jury members try to balance shock and amusement, as does Ethan as he answers that if he were the hyena and had eaten the mush, it would probably be just to clean his hind end because he didn't hate the mush as much as Tom did. Tom then exacts some revenge and exclaims, "Kim, you cooked that mush!" He thinks that, for that reason, it might be a "double standard" for her, and I have no idea what he means but that doesn't mean I enjoy watching him ramble on any less. He wants to know whether Kimj heard and understood the question. She's surprised that she's answering it, too, and then shows that the one thing she most certainly did not learn from Tom was a sense of humor. She also thinks the hyena was just cleaning his hind end, and that the mush was for survival. She says, "When you get hungry enough, you eat what you have to eat, and taste is one of the first luxuries that goes out the window." The jury snickers while Tom thanks and congratulates both of the S2.
Teresa stands before them and opines that Big Tom is a tough act to follow. She says that even when trying to play the game with integrity, there are times when you say something that you wish you hadn't. She wants to know, if the S2 could take back words said about any member of the jury, what were the words and about whom? Kimj says it's not so much something that she said, but something that she did. She insists that she didn't sell Kelly out, but she claims she didn't know enough to defend her, either. She didn't think the "mystery vote" was Kelly's, but adds that it all happened very quickly. She says she's not making excuses for herself, and that she was wrong not to have further investigated the situation. It's the one thing she regrets about Survivor more than anything. Ethan also talks about the "mystery vote." He says he thought it came from Frank and was very vocal about doing something about it. He feels bad now because he knows that the vote wasn't Frank's, and he would have made the wrong decision if he'd acted on his beliefs. Somehow, I don't think Teresa thought this question would end up where it did. In any case, she congratulates the S2 and calls them deserving. She's crazy about both of them, she says.
Peachy points out that the jury has a big decision to make, because they'll be awarding the million, as well as the title of Survivor, to one of the S2. And on to the voting! Peachy reminds the jury once again that they're not voting against somebody, but for the winner. And he's right; it's bound to happen one of these days: the selection of a competitor stupid enough to cast the wrong vote. ["Good thing they voted out the Survivor from Florida so early in the game." -- Wing Chun] He says they'll choose as the winner the most deserving person, or perhaps "the lesser of two evils."
Brandon saunters over to vote. As he writes down Kimj's name, he tells us it's a "pretty funny game." He says he'd already decided to vote for Ethan, and that his question was just meant to be one last jab at Frank. But then: "Ethan was so stupid...he slammed me on my own question!" Brandon is amused, bitter, and slightly disbelieving as he tells us, "You don't slam somebody on their own question" and then expect the voter to pick you. He thinks Kimj did well for her age, and is just as deserving as Ethan; besides, he says, "She didn't slam me on my own question!" He shakes his head and says, "Dumb, Ethan. So stupid."
Kimp removes the lid from the pen as if that alone is a difficult decision. After deliberating for a while, she votes for Kimj and tells us that it was an incredibly difficult decision. She says she originally thought she'd vote for Ethan, but then she realized that both were "absolutely amazing competitors" in very different ways, and she's been amazed and impressed by them both. She then pays Kimj some gratuitous compliments in return for the gratuitous compliments Kimj paid her earlier.
A furious Tom votes for "Eathen" and says, "Just like the Indian woman in my home town that stuck a knife in my back, everything that goes around comes around!" He addresses Kimj as he says he felt sorry for her when she lost the challenges, but he decided they'd keep the weakest one around. He says, "And you was the weakest one." He says that Kimj rode on the coattails of the Boran alliance through the end but, he says, "You're not Dorothy, and you can't click them shoes and do something...miraculous this time, because your fate has caught up with you." And then he proves he may be one cell over from Lex Loser in the Survivor loony bin by adding, "And no, I'm not whispering like you tell me every morning! Tonight it's my turn to tell you. Shh, I'm hushin' you! Shut up! You're done. Ethan, the best man has won. The weak one just run off. And I don't care if they do hear it!"
Teresa thinks her vote is "well-deserved."
Kelly struts up to the podium and attempts to look flirtatiously into the camera before quoting some lines from The Graduate. She uses a semi-Southern accent, and says "568" in Mrs. Robinson's voice when I think it's Ben's line. I'm not sure this performance will help her on her route to becoming a "very famous actress." In any case, she says that The Graduate is her favorite movie, and then congratulates Ethan on having picked the number closest to the one of which she was thinking. She says nothing about how stupid they both were for picking numbers like three and 888. Oh, and I just saw The Graduate stage production here in Baltimore with Jason Biggs, Alicia Silverstone, and Kathleen Turner. If you liked American Pie and Clueless, this is the play for you. Kathleen Turner's fabulous, though. And she gets completely naked.
Peachy heads off to tally the votes while the jury fanatically whispers amongst themselves. I thought they weren't allowed to do that?
We're now back from commercial, and the S2 must have done some serious eating during the two-minute break. Ethan and Kimj look like they just split a healthy portion of Tom. Also, Kimj's skin has cleared up and Ethan's hair has gotten shorter. He's still awfully shlumpy, though. Peachy struts out and greets Ethan, Kimj, and the jury, who are all attired in the clothes they had on in the last Tribal Council to make us believe they're still in Africa even though they all look fatter and we'll soon be informed that this part of the telecast is live anyway. Peachy insists on pretending that it's still the thirty-ninth day in "what has been without question the most physically demanding and mentally challenging Survivor" yet. He says that the game is "life-changing" and then quotes Lex Loser, who said that you don't get to the finals in the game completely on luck or coincidence. No matter what happens, Peachy insists, Kimj and Ethan have earned their places in the final two. With all the votes cast and nothing left that could help or hurt them now, Peachy wants to know if Kimj has anything to admit that she wouldn't have during the game? She says that if the truth must be known, she was really scared in Africa a lot of time. No one responds, so she says, "I may not have covered it as well as I thought." She says she was also scared of letting both herself and the others down, and she didn't want anyone to think she didn't belong there. At some point, though, that changed, and she became more confident. Peachy wants to know when she "got the power." Kimj says she's "not so sure [she] got power," but that the final immunity challenge was a chance for her to prove that she deserved to be there and wasn't carried because of an alliance, nor because of her "great cooking." She says she just held on because she needed to prove herself. Peachy wants to know to whom she was proving herself; she says she likes to think she was proving it to the other players, but for the rest of her life she'll know she proved it to herself, as well.
Peachy asks Ethan what he thought "after enduring a certainly tough Tribal Council" where he was evaluated and even "attacked" at certain points. Ethan then slams Kelly and says, "For someone so smart and so knowledgeable about the game," he was surprised that she decided her final vote by an arbitrary number. He thinks it's frustrating because they worked really hard in Africa, and having it come down to that is "a little bit silly." Peachy wants to know if Ethan is okay with the fact that the deciding vote may come down to a number picked between one and a thousand; Ethan says, "I guess I have to be, don't I?"